Patent ID: 7023353

Claim:
A status and function indicator circuit for a visual warning device including a flashing device which flashes when a voltage from a charging power supply is triggered by a trigger circuit, the trigger circuit conductively connected and responsive to a control circuit, the status and function indicator circuit comprising: a flashing indicator element conductively connected to the trigger circuit and the control circuit, the flashing indicator element responsive to the control circuit for sensing triggering of the trigger circuit; and a status output device conductively connected and responsive to the flashing indicator element and the trigger circuit, the status output device adapted to emit a flash and pause pattern consistent with and substantially simultaneously to a flash pattern of the flashing device indicating proper operation of the flashing device, the status output device also adapted to indicate, in an event of a failure of the visual warning device, whether the flashing device is faulty, by continued flashing of the status output device although the flashing device has ceased operation, or in the alternative, whether the fault lies with other visual warning device circuitry, indicated by a failure of the status output device to flash.