Vehicle brake lighting system

A system includes lights coupled to a vehicle power supply source. One light is located at the vehicle's rear window. Remaining lights are independently and simultaneously operable with the one light. A mechanism is included for determining whether the vehicle is parked. Another mechanism determines whether a vehicle brake pedal has been engaged beyond a threshold level while the vehicle is not parked. A further mechanism flashes the one light and is mated to the park determining mechanism for activating the one light when the vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged. The flashing mechanism is coupled to the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism for activating the one light when the vehicle is not parked and the brake pedal is engaged beyond the threshold level. The flashing mechanism is automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to brake lighting systems and, more particularly, to a vehicle brake lighting system for informing a trailing vehicle of a sudden braking action initiated by a leading vehicle.

2. Prior Art

Currently, the only warning given of a change in speed of a vehicle to a following driver is the illumination of brake lights when the brake pedal is depressed. While it is highly recommended that vehicles follow at a safe distance, a panic stop of a preceding vehicle frequently results in rear end collisions. This is particularly true when the preceding vehicle is a large one such and a semi-tractor trailer unit or a large van which completely blocks the view of a following driver with respect to the traffic in front of the preceding vehicle.

Further, following at a presumed safe distance on a busy expressway can result in a greater likelihood of an accident than if one were to maintain a closer spacing. This is because aggressive drivers frequently use what one driver considers a safe interval, to be an interval large enough for the aggressive driver to move into when passing the following vehicle. Thus, due to the limited amount of space between the vehicles, upon sudden braking, the driver of the trailing vehicle actually has less time to react.

A study has shown that 80% of the rear end accidents could be prevented with just one more second to react. While looking ahead to the flow of traffic could help, drivers are often distracted by other things. Further, when following a large vehicle such as a truck or semi-tractor trailer, it is usually not possible to observe the traffic ahead of the truck or semi-tractor trailer.

Accordingly, a need remains for a vehicle brake lighting system in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a brake lighting system that is automatically activated, convenient to use, and increases the safety of those on the road. Such a system flashes a third rear brake light in a panic deceleration or complete stop, thus allowing a following motorist to better judge how to react and avert a rear-end collision. This system is particularly helpful at alerting distracted, drowsy or daydreaming drivers that tend to be slow to react. Since the system operates automatically while the vehicle is operational, there is no extra effort required to warn a following traveler of a sudden slowdown or complete stop.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle brake lighting system. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a vehicle brake lighting system for advantageously informing a trailing vehicle of a sudden braking action initiated by a leading vehicle.

The vehicle brake lighting system includes a plurality of light-emitting sources electrically coupled to an existing power supply source of the leading vehicle. One of the light-emitting sources is located at a rear window of the leading vehicle. Remaining ones of the light-emitting sources are independently and simultaneously operable with the one light-emitting source.

A mechanism is included for determining whether the leading vehicle is parked. Such a park determining mechanism preferably includes a magnetic motion sensor mounted to a drive axle of the leading vehicle. The motion sensor effectively generates and transmits a parking input signal to the flashing mechanism when the leading vehicle is toggled to a parked position.

A mechanism is included for conveniently and effectively determining whether a brake pedal of the leading vehicle has been engaged beyond a predetermined threshold pressure level while the leading vehicle is not parked. Such a brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism preferably includes a mercury switch directly coupled to the brake pedal of the leading vehicle. The mercury switch monitors the brake pedal pressure level during non-parked operating modes. Such a mercury switch includes a mercury filled tube including electrodes at opposed ends thereof. The mercury flows between the opposed ends of the tube when the brake pedal is tilted between engaged and non-engaged position wherein a braking input signal is conveniently generated as the mercury slides to the opposed end portions of the tube.

A mechanism is included for selectively flashing the one light-emitting source when the vehicle is not parked. Such a flashing mechanism is electrically mated to the park determining mechanism for advantageously indefinitely activating the one light-emitting source when the leading vehicle is parked and the brake pedal is engaged. The flashing mechanism is electrically coupled to the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism for selectively activating the one light-emitting source for a predetermined time interval when the leading vehicle is not parked and when the brake pedal has been engaged beyond the predetermined threshold pressure level. Such a flashing mechanism is conveniently automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal is disengaged during parked and non-parked operating conditions.

The flashing mechanism preferably includes an auxiliary exciter wire electrically coupled to the brake pedal, and a pulsating flasher circuit. A first switch is electrically coupled to the motion sensor and a power supply source and the auxiliary exciter wire respectively. Such a first switch has first and second isolated conductive ports. Such a second port is electrically coupled directly to the pulsating flasher circuit. The second switch has first and second isolated conductive ports wherein the first port is electrically coupled directly to the one light emitting source. Such a second port is electrically coupled to the pulsating flasher circuit. Such a first port of the first switch is electrically coupled directly to the second switch. A time counting circuit is electrically mated to the pulsating flasher circuit and the one light emitting source and the second switch respectively.

Such a pulsating flasher circuit preferably includes a processor and a memory includes software instructions for causing the system to flash the one light-emitting source. The software instructions performs the steps of sequentially interrupting the power supply for an indefinite time interval after the parking input signal has been received from the motion sensor and sequentially interrupting the power supply for a predetermined time interval after the parking input signal has been received from the motion sensor and the braking input signal has been received from the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system of this invention is referred to generally inFIGS. 1-5by the reference numeral10and is intended to provide a vehicle brake lighting system. It should be understood that the system10may be used to indicate sudden braking on many different types of vehicles and should not be limited in use to only small passenger vehicles.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1 and 3, the system10includes a plurality of light-emitting sources20electrically coupled to an existing power supply source12of the leading vehicle11. One of the light-emitting sources20A is located at a rear window13of the leading vehicle11. Of course, such a one light-emitting source20A may be alternately located, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Remaining ones20B of the light-emitting sources20are independently and simultaneously operable with the one light-emitting source20A.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a mechanism30is included for determining whether the leading vehicle11is parked. Such a park determining mechanism30includes a magnetic motion sensor31mounted to a drive axle14of the leading vehicle11. Of course, the motion sensor may be mounted on a front or rear-wheel drive axle depending on the vehicle's drive system, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The motion sensor31effectively generates and transmits a parking input signal32to the flashing mechanism50(described herein below) when the leading vehicle11is toggled to a parked position.

Referring toFIGS. 2,3,5aand5b, a mechanism40is included for conveniently and effectively determining whether a brake pedal15of the leading vehicle11has been engaged beyond a predetermined threshold pressure level while the leading vehicle11is not parked. Such a brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism40includes a mercury switch41directly coupled, with no intervening elements, to the brake pedal15of the leading vehicle11. The mercury switch41is essential for monitoring the brake pedal15pressure level during non-parked operating modes. Such a mercury switch41includes a mercury filled tube42including electrodes43at opposed ends44thereof.

One end portion44A is pivotally attached to the brake pedal15and the other end portion44B is slidably engaged with a track47disposed to a rear of the brake pedal15. The mercury46flows between the opposed ends44of the tube42when the brake pedal15is tilted between engaged and non-engaged positions wherein a braking input signal45is conveniently and effectively generated as the mercury slides to one44A of the opposed end portions44of the tube42, as is best shown inFIGS. 5aand5b.

Referring toFIG. 2, a mechanism50is included for selectively flashing the one light-emitting source20A when the vehicle11is not parked. This is a critical feature for allowing the operator of a trailing vehicle (not shown) to better judge the intensity with which the leading vehicle11is decelerating. This, in turn, can lead to an improvement in the response time of a trailing vehicle operator, which is essential and advantageous for effectively preventing a number of rear-end collisions.

Such a flashing mechanism50is electrically mated to the park determining mechanism30, which is vital and advantageous for indefinitely activating the one light-emitting source20A when the leading vehicle11is parked and the brake pedal15is engaged. The flashing mechanism50is electrically coupled to the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism40, which is important for selectively activating the one light-emitting source20A for a predetermined time interval when the leading vehicle11is not parked and when the brake pedal15has been engaged beyond the predetermined threshold pressure level. Such a flashing mechanism50is conveniently automatically reset to a non-operating mode when the brake pedal15is disengaged during parked and non-parked operating conditions. This advantageously prevents the one light-emitting source20A from flashing when not needed.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and4, the flashing mechanism50includes an auxiliary exciter wire65electrically coupled to the brake pedal15, and the pulsating flasher circuit52. A first switch67is electrically coupled to the motion sensor31and a power supply source12and the auxiliary exciter wire65respectively. Such a first switch67has first68and second69isolated conductive ports. Such a second port69is electrically coupled directly to the pulsating flasher circuit52. A second switch71has first72and second73isolated conductive ports wherein the first port72is electrically coupled directly to the one light emitting source20A. Such a second port73is electrically coupled to the pulsating flasher circuit52. Such a first port68of the first switch67is electrically coupled directly to the second switch71. A time counting circuit74is electrically mated to the pulsating flasher circuit52and the one light emitting source20A and the second switch71respectively.

In operation, when the vehicle brakes are applied at a normal braking level, the first switch67will receive the signal from the magnetic motion sensor31or the auxiliary exciter65wire. The first switch67will send power to the first port68thereof. When the vehicle motion stops, as detected by the motion sensor31or exciter65wire, the first switch67will stop receiving the signal and then close the first port68and open the second port69. When the second switch71is in normal mode, it supplies power to its first port72. When the mercury switch41is activated (by pressing the brake), the second switch71will then close its first port72and transfer power to its second port73.

Referring toFIG. 2, such a pulsating flasher circuit52includes a processor53and a memory54that includes software instructions that are critical for causing the system10to flash the one light-emitting source20A, such a trailing vehicle operator can advantageously be alerted to braking operations of the leading vehicle11. The software instructions performs the steps of sequentially interrupting the power supply for an indefinite time interval after the parking input signal32has been received from the motion sensor31and sequentially interrupting the power supply for a predetermined time interval after the parking input signal32has been received from the motion sensor31and the braking input signal45has been received from the brake pedal pressure level determining mechanism40.