MULTI-FUNCTION ELECTRONIC WARNING HORN SYSTEM

Abstract: A multi-function electronic warning horn system comprises a couple of horns (1, 2) and a microprocessor (6), integrated in an electronic module (16) comprising a voltage adjuster (13), an oscillator (17), power stages (3, 4) and a control circuit (7). Horns (1, 2) are controlled by either the push-button (5) of the steering wheel, for the traditional function of acoustic signaling or by a coded signal transmitted to microprocessor (6) by the "intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer of the vehicle, for the function of buzzer.

Description: ' ^ Multi-function electronic warning horn system" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a multi-function electronic warning horn system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi¬ function electronic warning horn system especially suitable to be applied on motor-vehicles provided with an "intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer, intended for alarm signals in general. Prior art As is known, the modern motor-cars, trucks or the like that are available on the market, are usually equipped with acoustic or visual devices suitable to signal users the activation and/or deactivation of specific safety devices. It is also known that said acoustic devices are designed, at present, with only one type of acoustic emission, with one only duration, one only frequency and one only sound level. They are mounted on vehicles during their construction and the one-tone acoustic signal they can emit are indistinctly utilized for several types of signals, such as for instance the signal of the centralized opening/closing of doors, the activation/deactivation of , ; anti-theft alarm systems and the like. The same acoustic devices are also adopted, for the same functions, by one or more makers. It is ' evident from the above that the one-tone signals emitted by said devices, though being effective for the first primary function of signaling irregular conditions, may be mistaken by users both in establishing what specific type of signal the intervention refers to among those that are submitted to control, and in establishing what vehicle said signals come from. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the jpresent invention is to obviate the above drawbacks. More particularly, object of the present invention is to provide a warning horn system allowing to identify to what specific type of signals each intervention refers to and what type of vehicle said signals come from. According to the present invention, these and still other objects that will be clear thanks to the following description are obtained by means of a multi-function electronic warning horn system comprising a couple of horns, with the related power stages, and a microprocessor which is integrated in an electronic module, wherein there are comprised a voltage adjuster, an oscillator, a control circuit and the same power stages. Horns are controlled of by the push-button of the steering wheel, for the traditional function of acoustic signal, ' or they are controlled by a codified signal transmitted to the microprocessor by the "intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer, for the buzzer function. Depending on the type of codified signal transmitted by the electric system of the vehicle, the electronic module generates sequential sounds, with programmable duration, frequency and sound levels. Programming is made based on the requests of vehicles' makers, with the possibility of modification interventions by the purchasing users, for the personalization of the acoustic signals related to the automatic centralized closing and opening of doors and hoods, the activation and deactivation of anti-theft alarm systems, safety belts, switched on lights, obstacles in backing, or any other signal that allows to perceive a state of the vehicle. The acoustic signals emitted by the multi-function electronic warning horn system of the present invention can be programmed and personalized from the point of view of duration, frequency and sound level, and their programming may be made either by vehicles' makers or the users. • The advantages achieved by the multi-function electronic warning horn system of the present invention lie essentially in "that each model of vehicle marketed may ' be provided with a personalized and distinctive acoustic signal, with respect to other models of the same maker and/or other makers. Besides, each user, can adjust, according to a . personalized codification, the signals emitted by means mounted on his own vehicle(s), not to mistaken them for those emitted by vehicles of other users. DESCRIPTION QF_DRAWTNGS The constructive and functional characteristics of the multifunction electronic warning horn system of the present invention will be better understood thanks to the following., detailed description wherein reference is made to the attached drawings that illustrate a realization reported only by way of non limiting examples, and wherein: Figure 1 shows an overall schematic view of the multi-functional electronic warning horn system of the present invention, Figure 2 shows the overall block scheme of the multi-functional electronic warning horn of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows an example of time schematizing of „ the programmable cyclic sound impulses of the buzzer. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures, the multi-function electronic warning horn system of the_present invention comprises two horns 1 and 2, with the related power stages 3 and 4. Horns 1 and 2 are bridge-like connected with each other and ready to be activated by either the push-button of the steering wheel 5 in a traditional manner, operating as' a warning horn or by a codified electric signal transmitted by the "intelligent" electronic unit, or onboard computer, of the vehicles to a microprocessor 6 with the specific function of a signaling buzzer. Microprocessor 6, connected to the horns, isprqgrammed for the various functions; it provides the recognizing of the type of signal coming by the control lead and activates the horns for the warning function or for the generation of all the parts that make up the programmable sequence, duration, frequency and sound level cycles. The programming of such sound cycles is made through a software directly by the vehicles' maker, and may be modified for a possible personalization by the purchasing users through the "intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer. An example of prefixed cycles utilizable for the personalized programming of the acoustic signals distinct by specific addresses (safety belts, switched on lights, on-alarm, obstacle in backing, opening/closing of doors and/or motor hood and/or trunk) is shown in Figure 3, wherein after a fixed time 8 necessary to decode the "buzzer key", there starts the stage of acoustic emission of the signal, with a differentiated duration 9, the time interval 10 being the same. Time 8' necessary to decode the "buzzer key" (preferably about 30 msec) has the function of preventing any accidental triggering in case of control line transients. The impulses for the various cycles are square waves that change with regard to each other according to the duration of the active part: for instance, square waves of the duration of 2 msec for an active part of 200-800 μsec. The form of the signal is not the cycle ^ generated by the warning horn system, but the "key" to cause the set cycle to be executed. If, during the execution of any cycle whatever, the push-button of the steering wheel is pressed, the function of traditional warning horn activates. The system comprises a first lead 11 to be connected to the positive pole (+) of a battery 12 through a voltage stabilizer and adjuster 13; a second lead 14 to be connected directly to the negative- pole (-) of battery 12; a third lead 15, 15' to be connected to the electric system of the vehicle ("intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer) whereon the coded signals suitable to pilot the device arrive. Push-button 5 connects the positive line of the vehicle to said lead 15. A ceramic resonator or oscillator 17 has the function of generating the- operating' frequency of microprocessor 6, and constitutes a control for the coded signals. A ' circuit 7 comprises the conventional control functions of microprocessor 6. The power stages 3, 4 have the function of opening and closing the passage of voltage on horns 1,2 at the working frequency; they are located in parallel with condensers for the absorption of the energy stored by the respective bobbins. The intervention of horns 1,2 with the function of the traditional acoustic signaling, takes place at the time when a rather high voltage passes on the third lead 15, for instance 13 volt, coming from the battery on the closing of push-button 5. The intervention of horns 1, 2 with the function of signaling buzzer happens at the time when a coded electric signal transmitted to microprocessor 6 of the "intelligent" unit or onboard computer passes on the third lead 15',, according to the instructions obtained by the prefixed programming. While the present invention has been described hereinabove with reference to an embodiment, it is obvious that many modifications and changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art, in the light of the above description. It is therefore implied that thepresent invention intends to cover all the changes and modifications that fall within the spirit and the scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A multi-function electronic warning horn system comprising a couple of horns (1, 2) activated by a push-button (5), characterized in that said warning horn system comprises also a programmable microprocessor (6) connected to horns (I, 2) and integrated in an electronic module (16) comprising a control circuit (7), a voltage adjuster (13), a ceramic resonator or oscillator (17) and. a power stage (3, 4) for. each horn. 2. The multi-function electronic warning horn system according to claim 1, characterized in that horns (1, 2) are directly connected to the push-button (5) of the steering wheel, with the function of acoustic warning, in relation with the passage of voltage on lead (15) coming from battery (12) upon pressing of the push-button (5). 3. The multi-function electronic warning horn system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that horns (1, 2) are connected to the programmable electronic microprocessor (6) with the function of a buzzer ^ generating sequential sounds with a programmable duration, frequency, and sound levels, in relation with the passage on lead (15') of coded electric signals transmitted to said microprocessor (6) of the "intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer of the vehicles. 4. The multi-function electronic warning horn system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sequential acoustic signals with duration, frequency and sound levels are programmable. " 5. " The ' multi-function electronic warning horn system according - to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the managing electronic microprocessor (6) is associated to a ceramic resonator or oscillator (17), ^ generating of the operating and control frequency for the coded signals. ' 6. The multi-function electronic warning horn system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power stages (3, 4) are connected to the respective horns (1, 2) with the function of opening and closing of the voltage passage, to the working frequency; said stages being located parallel to condensers of absorption of the energy stored by the respective bobbins. 7. The multi-function electronic warning horn system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: a first lead (11) connected to the positive pole (+) of battery (12) through a voltage stabilizer and adjuster (13); a second lead (14) connected directly to the negative pole (-) of battery (12); a third lead (15, 15') connected to the electric system of the vehicle ("intelligent" electronic unit or onboard computer) and the push-button (5) connected to the positive pole of battery (12). 8. The multi-function electronic warning horn system according to ' any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation of the push-button of the steering wheel (5) excludes the execution of any type of acoustic signal.

Inventors: SAGUE ALAIN, SAGUE, ALAIN
Applicants: FIAMM COMPONENTI ACCESSORI SPA, SAGUE ALAIN, FABBRICA ITALIANA ACCUMULATORI MOTOCARRI MONTECCHIO - F.I.A.M.M. S.P.A., SAGUE, ALAIN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60B1
IPC codes: B06B1, B60Q5, B60R25, G10K15