Patent ID: 7394351

Claim:
A signal assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a light generating unit operable to emit a visually perceptible signal; a sound generating unit operable to generate a sound signal, wherein the light and sound generating units are coupled to one another to form a unitary assembly mountable to the vehicle, wherein the light generating unit comprises a housing mountable to the vehicle and a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted to the housing and each generating the visual signal perceptible through a rear portion of the housing; wherein the sound generating unit comprises a compressor operable to pressurize a medium compressor, and a plurality of trumpets in flow communication with the compressor so as to generate the sound signal in response to actuation of the compressor, the trumpets each having a rear end supported by the housing of the light generating unit; wherein the sound generating unit further comprises a support bracket supporting the trumpets and the compressor and coupled to the housing; an on-board processor coupled to the driver circuitry of the light and sound generating units and operable to: actuate the sound generating unit when the vehicle is in a reverse gear, actuate the driver circuitry of the light generating unit in response to actuating the sound generating unit, and select an arrangement of the light components to form a warning context of the message on the display region when the vehicle is in the reverse gear.