Patent ID: 6888452
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A method of warning a following vehicle that a vehicle in front, a leading vehicle, has applied its brakes, the method comprising: in connection with each respective discrete application of said brakes of said leading vehicle during a braking process that results in a deceleration of said leading vehicle: (a) illuminating a brake light during a retention period of illumination such that said brake light displays a retention period visual format which is correspondingly indicative of the actual maximum rate of deceleration of said leading vehicle during the braking process, (b) during a fading period of illumination that commences at the end of said retention period of illumination, changing said retention period visual format of said brake light to a different visual format such that said brake light continues to be illuminated but has a different illuminated appearance during said fading period of illumination than its illuminated appearance during said retention period of illumination, said fading period of illumination having a prescribed blackout time at which the illumination of said brake light will cease, and (c) based upon a determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop, alternatively (1) ceasing the illumination of said brake light at said prescribed blackout time in the event that said prescribed blackout time is not earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop or (2) delaying the time at which the illumination of said brake light will cease to a later blackout time which is no earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop in the event that said prescribed blackout time is earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop, whereby the actual time after an application of its brakes at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop will vary as a function of the speed of said leading vehicle and the manner of application of its brakes and the illumination duration of said brake light of said leading vehicle varies in correspondence with the actual time for said leading vehicle to come to a complete stop to ensure that said brake light remains illuminated until said leading vehicle comes to a complete stop.