Auxiliary vehicle lighting control system

An auxiliary vehicle lighting system is provided for use in a vehicle having an engine and an electrical system. The system has at least one auxiliary vehicle light; a control hub, connected to the vehicle electrical system and to each auxiliary vehicle light; and a system shut down function or program, connected to the control hub and configured to de-energize the auxiliary lighting system. The control hub is constructed and arranged so that upon illumination of the auxiliary vehicle lights and with the engine turned off, the vehicle battery voltage is monitored. If the battery voltage reaches a designated low voltage target, the system shut down function or program is activated, which de-energizes the auxiliary lights.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to vehicle lighting systems and, more specifically, to auxiliary vehicle lighting systems equipped with remote vehicle lighting control.

Vehicle enthusiasts, particularly in the off-road vehicle market, are a group of consumers that are especially akin to after-market vehicle customization. There are a number of customizations available in the vehicle industry, one subset of which includes auxiliary vehicle lighting systems (i.e. installing auxiliary vehicle lights in addition to, or as substitution for, stock vehicle lighting systems that are put in place by the vehicle manufacturer). As customization options for auxiliary vehicle lights are plentiful, and auxiliary lights can be mounted virtually anywhere on the vehicle, it is important for a vehicle owner or customizer to have an adequate system for controlling the auxiliary lights.

Conventional control systems include after-market solutions that have little interaction with the vehicle itself, short of drawing power from the vehicle's electrical system. As these conventional systems do not rely on vehicle electrical system feedback, there is the potential for electrical system drain. Such an electrical drain not only affects the auxiliary vehicle lighting system, but other systems within the vehicle that rely on the vehicle's electrical system—most notably the engine startup systems.

An additional drawback of conventional auxiliary vehicle lighting control systems is the lack of feedback to the user as to the status of the auxiliary lighting system—particularly in the event that no auxiliary lights (i.e. user indicators) are connected to the system or a portion of the system. This lack of feedback creates a likelihood of accidental energization of the system for long periods of time, thus leading to electrical system power drain.

Thus, there is a need for an improved auxiliary vehicle lighting control system that addresses the above-listed drawbacks of conventional systems.

SUMMARY

The above-listed needs are met or exceeded by the present auxiliary vehicle lighting control system which features a battery voltage monitor and shut down function or program, constructed and arranged so that the system is shut down before the battery drops below a certain low voltage level. Additionally, in the event that the system is inadvertently triggered without connection to auxiliary lights (i.e. without user indication), a feature is provided to turn off the system after a specified period of time, to avoid a power drain the controller may pose to the vehicle electrical system. The present system features a separate remote control unit that is used to control the respective lights, and is also optionally usable on a smartphone with a dedicated smartphone application.

More specifically, an auxiliary vehicle lighting control system is provided for use in a vehicle having an engine and an electrical system, and at least one auxiliary vehicle light. The system has a control hub, connected to the vehicle electrical system and to each auxiliary vehicle light; and a system shut down function or program, connected to the control hub and configured to de-energize the auxiliary lighting system. The control hub is constructed and arranged so that upon illumination of the auxiliary vehicle lights and with the engine turned off, the vehicle battery voltage is monitored. If the battery voltage reaches a designated low voltage target, the system shut down function or program is activated, which de-energizes the at least one auxiliary light.

Optionally, the vehicle lighting control system includes a remote control unit with a series of controls corresponding to at least one of the energization, de-energization, and dimming of the auxiliary lights and a transmitter or transceiver for wireless communication with the control hub. Importantly, a timer is provided for monitoring a duration of time between the present moment and the moment when the most recent wireless transmission was received from the remote by the control hub. To reduce power drain to the system, the timer triggers the system shut down function or program if the duration between the present moment and the moment of the most recent wireless transmission reaches a specified timeout duration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle is generally designated10and includes an engine housed in an engine compartment and an auxiliary vehicle lighting system designed for use with auxiliary vehicle lights12. As is known in the art, the auxiliary lights12include at least one such light, and preferably a plurality of such lights. Power for the present auxiliary vehicle lighting control system, generally designated14, is provided by the vehicle electrical system which, in a typical embodiment, is supplied by one or more 12 VDC, rechargeable sealed lead-acid batteries (though other power sources are anticipated). In a preferred embodiment, control of the auxiliary vehicle lighting system14is provided by a control hub20(FIG. 2).

The control hub20is designed to accommodate mounting on the vehicle10, specifically within the engine compartment of the vehicle10, adjacent to and/or in close proximity to a firewall. Placement proximate to the firewall results in relatively few firewall openings needed to route wiring to the auxiliary vehicle lights12. In the preferred embodiment, the control hub20is electrically connected to the auxiliary vehicle lights12, and to the vehicle electrical system via a wiring harness22, as shown generally inFIG. 2. To facilitate connection to the auxiliary vehicle lights12, the control hub20includes at least one set of terminal blocks24, accessible to the installer. Optionally, up to eight auxiliary vehicle lights12are electrically wired to the control hub20. As discussed above, the number of auxiliary lights12may vary to suit the application.

In another embodiment, the control hub20optionally includes at least two of the terminal blocks24for connection to the vehicle lights12and a number of fuses equal to the number of terminal blocks. In this embodiment, each fuse corresponds to exactly one terminal block24and protects the vehicle lights12connected to that terminal block. Typically, the configuration includes two terminal blocks24and two fuses, however, additional configurations with more terminal blocks and fuses are anticipated. Multiple fuses provide more user flexibility in wiring auxiliary vehicle lights12and allow for a greater power draw from the control hub20when compared to single fuse configurations.

Functionally, the control hub20is designed to control the energization, de-energization, and/or dimming of each of the auxiliary vehicle lights12. The control hub20also includes a system shut down function or program25, configured to de-energize the auxiliary lightings12. The shut down function or program25is preferably a software routine, program or component, programmed into and controlled by a processor/microcontroller26(FIG. 3B) of the control hub20, or a hardware circuit, such as a transistor, relay, mechanical switch, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the control hub20, upon illumination of at least one auxiliary vehicle light12, with the engine turned off, monitors the vehicle battery voltage via a battery monitor circuit28(FIG. 3B). If the battery voltage dips below a designated low voltage target, the system shut down function or program25is activated to de-energize the auxiliary lights12. The low voltage target is typically set to 9.8 VDC±0.3 VDC, at which point the vehicle battery still has enough power to start the engine (after which the vehicle's alternator will re-charge the battery to its nominal voltage).

As an alert to the user and to maintain the battery in a state that is sufficiently charged to start the vehicle10, the control hub20is constructed and arranged so that upon the auxiliary lights12being deenergized, as described above, the vehicle engine must be turned on for the lights12to be re-energized. As an additional safeguard against battery drain, re-starting the vehicle's engine alone will not re-energize the auxiliary vehicle lights12; the auxiliary lights are re-energized only upon user activation (i.e. the user must both restart the vehicle10and actively re-energize the lights).

As shown generally inFIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment of the vehicle lighting control system14, a remote control unit30is provided. Thus, the system14includes the control hub20, the remote control unit30, and optional related connecting cables. The remote control unit30is typically powered by a battery31(FIG. 5) and provided with a series of controls corresponding to at least one of the energization, de-energization, and dimming, of at least one of the auxiliary lights12. The controls optionally include buttons32, indicators34, and/or control labels36corresponding to control of the auxiliary lights12. To communicate with the control hub20, the control system14additionally includes any combination of a transmitter/receiver or transceivers for wireless communication. Accidental depression of a button32being common, especially when the remote control unit30is placed in a user's pocket, a timer in the processor26is provided for monitoring the duration of time between the present moment and the moment when the most recent wireless transmission was received from the remote control unit30at the control hub20.

FIGS. 3C(1),3C(2),3C(3),3C(4),3D(1),3D(2),3D(3), and3D(4) generally show a control unit with eight auxiliary light circuits38A-38H. Depending on user needs, additional or fewer auxiliary light circuits38A-38H may be needed.FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C(1),4C(2),4C(3),4C(4),4D(1),4D(2),4E(1),4E(2), and4F show an exemplary alternate embodiment of control hub40in which four auxiliary lighting circuits42A-42D are provided. Elements of the control hub20that are shared with control hub40are identified with identical reference numbers.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a schematic representation of one embodiment of the remote control unit30is shown. In this embodiment, the remote control unit30is powered by a battery31. As is well known in the art, the battery31may be replaceable or rechargeable. Energization, de-energization, and/or dimming of the various auxiliary vehicle lights12is controlled via use of the pushbuttons32. The control signals are sent to the control hub20via the remote transmitter/receiver/transceiver circuit44. Signaling is provided to the user via the indicator34.

Referring now toFIG. 6, in an alternate embodiment, the remote control unit30is implemented via a software application or “app” stored in non-volatile memory and executed via a microprocessor on a smartphone60(smartphone app). The smartphone app includes a graphical user interface62displayed via the smartphone display screen64and/or other smartphone audio and visual outputs and accepts user inputs via smartphone input interfaces such as touchscreens64, volume rockers, other external buttons, and the like as are well known in the art. The smartphone app implements, in software, all of the features of the remote control unit30indicated previously, including a series of controls corresponding to at least one of the energization, de-energization, and dimming66, of at least one of the auxiliary lights12; indicators68; and labels70.

Additionally, the smartphone app is particularly advantageous as it provides for the programming of custom warnings, alerts, sounds, vibrations, audible or visual cues, and other notifications72upon the occurrence of certain events. For example, an alert may be programmed to notify the smartphone user when one or more of the auxiliary light circuits38are inadvertently left in an energized state. Additionally, an alert may be programmed to notify the smartphone user when the vehicle electrical system falls below a predefined low voltage target (e.g., an alert may be set to notify the user before or when the battery voltage falls to 9.8 VDC±0.3 VDC). The smartphone app also allows for customized programming of the timeout period between inadvertent energization of a specific auxiliary light circuit38A-H and activation of the system shut down function or program25. Programming involves the user setting the timeout duration to a desired value via the software app, after which the desired value is transmitted to the control hub20, and the control hub sets the timeout duration to the desired value.

Referring toFIG. 7, in the smartphone embodiment described above, communication between the smartphone60and the control hub20is accomplished via wireless transmission74, preferably utilizing the existing wireless radios present in the smartphone (e.g., Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS/CDMA/LTE, IEEE 802.11 WiFi, NFC, or the like). This smartphone radio feature is particularly advantageous in that no additional hardware is required for communication between the smartphone and the control hub20. Furthermore, the smartphone app is particularly advantageous in that it provides a visual and/or audible indicator76signifying proper wireless communication and/or wireless connection with the control hub20.

Referring now toFIG. 8, a diagram is provided of a typical smartphone60including: a microprocessor; volatile (RAM) and non-volatile (FLASH/SD) storage; user inputs (touchscreen, volume rockers, and pushbuttons); visual output devices (display); visual output devices (speakers and headphone jacks); tactile output devices (vibration unit); and various wireless radios (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, and cellular). The smartphone app is stored in non-volatile storage on the smartphone and executed via the microprocessor. The smartphone app utilizes the smartphone radios to communicate with the control hub20and the visual, audible, and tactile inputs/outputs to communicate with the user.

Additionally,FIGS. 9A(1),9A(2),9A(3),9B,9F(1),9F(2), and9G(1) contain overload protection circuits84A-84C, which shuts down the power to a particular auxiliary light circuit86A-86D in the event of an overcurrent condition. In this particular embodiment, auxiliary light circuits86A and86C are designed to provide 5 amps of current each to connected auxiliary lights12, whereas auxiliary light circuits86B and86D are designed to provide 20 amps and 3.5 amps respectively. In the event that an overload protection circuit84A-84C detects current higher than the designed current, the overload protection circuit will shut down power to the particular auxiliary lighting circuit86A-86D.FIG. 9C(2) also shows an overheating circuit88which monitors the temperature of the control hub80. Other elements of the control hub80that are shared with the control hubs20and40are identified with identical reference numbers.

Another feature of the present auxiliary lighting control system14is that warning/strobe lights can be connected and operated with the remote control function (implemented either as a remote control unit30or smartphone app installed on a smartphone60). The same process is used to connect the negative and positive wires; however, these units typically have a third wire that is for pattern selection. Patterns are available for each warning light12that provide the user with a strobe or blinking pattern that makes the light more visible to others in various weather conditions. In conventional applications, to choose the pattern on these warning lights, the user typically presses a button on the unit's plug that advances the pattern selection through a number of choices. Since the plug is eliminated in the installation process utilizing the present auxiliary lighting system14, the pattern selection process is accomplished by simply touching the pattern wire onto the active terminal to advance the light to the flash pattern desired. Once chosen, the pattern wire is simply taped and zip-tied to the harness, where it can remain available to change patterns in the future, if desired by the user.

In addition, the remote control30optionally includes a connection point where the pattern wires can be connected and a pattern button on the remote control is used to advance the pattern without manually touching the pattern wires to the active terminal.

While particular embodiments of the present auxiliary vehicle lighting control system have been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.