Patent Document

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/027,093, filed on Dec. 20, 2001, and issuing Apr. 13, 2004 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,871, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/257,324, filed on Dec. 20, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to the art of electrical lighting control systems, and more particularly to automotive control systems relating to signaling of a braking of the vehicle via a brake light. 
   The invention is particularly applicable to either integral assembly or, supplemental addition by kit, of a flasher control unit for a middle brake light of an automobile for enhanced display indication of braking of the vehicle. However, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the invention can be readily adapted for use in other environments as, for example, where similar cautionary signaling is regularly provided, and where in certain circumstances, usually relating to time, an inhibiting of the precautionary signaling is desired to avoid repetitive or irritating flashing. 
   As our road system becomes more crowded and concern for driver safety continues to increase due to the dangers of such increased traffic density, concerns have naturally arisen about improved signaling of adjacent vehicle operations to drivers. Crowded superhighway conditions particularly present the need for such improved signaling. The middle brake light, commonly positioned in the back window of a vehicle, presents a more visible brake light to a following driver since it is raised from the conventional tail light position to about eye level to be more noticeable. 
   The subject invention is concerned with enhanced signaling of braking operations, and is particularly concerned with adjusting the operation of the middle brake light in such a way that it can be even more clearly perceptible to a following car that the preceding vehicle has begun a braking event. 
   In recent years, design trends have been to make the brake light larger and higher on the vehicle, but flashing has been primarily limited to emergency vehicles. Consumer vehicles have used flashing lights as a safety warning to following drivers when the flashers have been used because the vehicle is stopped, usually on a road side. People are thus generally aware that a flashing light, particularly on a road, is a signal for special concern. 
   The subject invention seeks to exploit the awareness of the accepted meaning of a flashing light, as well as its greater noticeability, to provide a safer signaling system for a vehicle braking event. 
   Although brake light flashing systems are known (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,841), such systems comprise prolonged interruptions of the power signal to the lamp, i.e., where the lamp is perceived as completely on or completely off. De-powering a brake lamp during a braking event, so that the lamp is perceived as off, is not desirable for safety reasons, and in some jurisdictions is illegal. 
   The present invention contemplates a new and improved device which overcomes the above referenced problems and satisfies the foregoing design objectives to provide a new brake light interval modulation unit with flasher lockout, which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, readily adaptable to a plurality of uses with vehicle brake lights having a variety of conventional characteristics, easy to install, and which provides improved safer and more noticeable signaling of vehicle braking. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention there is provided a control system for modulating the intensity of a vehicle□s brake light for enhanced display indication of the braking of the automobile. The system includes a modulation unit sized to be disposed within the brake light and interposed electrically between a lamp of the brake light and an energy supply. The unit includes a circuit for sequentially adjusting power from the energy supply to the lamp for a first determined time interval simultaneous with the braking of the automobile for generating a desired intensity flashing of the lamp, while continuously supplying a steady power level to the lamp after expiration of the first timer interval and during continued braking. A lockout timer precludes the flashing of the brake lamp by the unit for a second predetermined time interval after release of the braking for avoiding repetitive flashing in stop-and-go traffic. 
   The unit includes a modulator serially connected between the lamp and the energy supply, and a processor for adjusting the power level corresponding to the desired intensity flashing. The processor includes an internal oscillator, selectively programmable for controlling a rate of the sequential adjusting. 
   The lockout timer may comprises a capacitor sized to discharge at a rate after the release of the brake, wherein a failure to discharge below a certain level is indicative of the precluding of the sequentially adjusting. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for operating an interval intensity modulator comprising a brake light of a vehicle for improved indication of braking of the vehicle. The method comprises steps of detecting the braking of the vehicle by the transmitting of a supply of energy to the brake light coincident with the braking. The next step comprises sequentially adjusting the supply of energy via a modulator connected to the light for generating a flashing intensity of the light during braking. The time extent of the flashing is detected so that the flashing can be stopped after a preselected time period so that the light will then be continually on during the braking. After the brake is released, a second preselected time period is detected for locking out the flashing to avoid excessive repetitive flashing during stop-and-go traffic. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a brake light comprising a first region operative as a conventional brake light and a second region separately controlled from the first region. A controller is operative to time a braking event and a period between braking events and to selectively modulate the second region based on the timing of the braking event and a period between braking events. 
   For example, the first region includes red light emitting diodes and the second region includes yellow light emitting diodes, although incandescent lights could also be used. For instance, the first region may meet all the regulatory requirements of a brake light. Therefore, the second region can be modulated as desired for maximum impact on the perception of a following driver. 
   In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention a brake light controller is provided that is operative to modulate a current through a light source. The brake light controller comprises a pulse width modulator operative to selectively modulate an average current through the light source, a lockout timer operative to prevent the pulse width modulator from modulating the average current through the light source if the current through the light source had been modulated recently, and, a modulation interval timer operative to limit a length of time the pulse width modulator modulates the average current through the light source. 
   One benefit obtained by use of the present invention is a brake unit which provides enhanced indication of the braking of the vehicle. 
   Another benefit obtained by the present invention is an intensity flasher which can avoid repetitive, irritating flashing during frequent braking of the vehicle, such as during stop-and-go traffic. 
   Another benefit of the subject invention is a modulating unit which can be integrally formed into a circuit element conveniently sized for locating in the casing of a brake light, and thus is particularly well suited to add on in kit form, but can also be original equipment. 
   Other benefits and advantages for the subject new modulation unit will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of this specification. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, and in certain procedures and arrangements of procedures, the preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a method of signaling the occurrence of a braking event. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a processing unit installed in a vehicle brake light. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation of a two-region brake light. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram including a controller operative to control the modulation of a light source according to the method of signaling an occurrence of a braking event. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for purposes of limiting same, the FIGURES show an interval modulator control with lockout that is particularly useful for adjusting the operation of a vehicle brake light for enhanced display indication of the braking of a vehicle. 
   More particularly, and with reference to  FIG. 1 , the invention provides for the limited modulation of a brake light to signal the braking of a vehicle, but also precludes modulation if the brake is applied more than once within a preset time period to avoid annoying, repetitive flashing of the brake lights. The system will determine if a brake light is on or off by the detection of the supply of current to the brake lamp. Accordingly, as a user hits the brake, the brake lamp will turn on  12 . If this is an initial application of the brakes so that it is desired to brighten and dim the unit so adjacent operators will especially notice the change in intensity of the light signal, and more readily recognize that the vehicle is being braked, then the unit will modulate the power signal to the lamp. In such case the power will never be perceived to be completely off to the brake lamp, either because the power is never turned completely off or because the power is turned on and off so quickly that the brake light source is never perceived as being extinguished. However, the modulating of the power will present an appearance of flashing intensity to an observer. With reference to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the lamp  20  would normally be serially disposed between positive  22  and negative  24  power lines, which are controlled in a conventional manner by the application of the brake (not shown) by the user. 
   The subject invention comprises a processing unit  26  which is shown to be serially interposed between power line  24  and the lamp  20 , and also connected to the other power line  22  to form a complete circuit. A pulse width modulation or microprocessor timing device can perform the processing required by the unit  26 . Alternatively, the processing unit  26  is implemented with a small set of inexpensive integrated circuits such as CMOS binary counter and logic gates, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The processing unit  26  is sized to be fitted even as an add-on within conventionally sized brake light casing  25 , e.g. approximately between one and three cubic inches. When modulation is desired, the unit  26  will affect the power delivered to the lamp  20  with a control element such as a transistor interposed between the lamp  20  and at least one of the power lines  22 ,  24  to cause the lamp to effectively brighten and dim. 
   There are two predetermined time intervals which are set to control how long the modulation occurs and when it can occur. Returning to the flow chart of  FIG. 1 , after it is determined that the brake lamp is on, the system will determine whether or not the lock out interval is expired  14 . By □lockout intervals□ is meant the time period in which modulation of the brake lamp is effectively locked out, i.e., should not occur. If the lock out has expired, then it is appropriate to modulate the brake lamp and this occurs at step  16 . So long as the brake remains in continuous operation, the system will cause the brake lamp to brighten and dim for an interval. When the interval has expired  18 , then the system will reset the modulation interval  28  and reset the lock out interval  30  so that the brake lamp will remain on  12 , and so that no modulation can occur unit the lock out interval has timed out  32 , which time out can only occur during the brake being off or in a released state. 
   It is a feature of the invention that the lockout interval precludes repetitive modulation when the brake has not been released for a long enough time to allow the lockout interval to expire, for example, 40 seconds. Thus, if the vehicle operator were in stop-and-go traffic, so that the brake is repeatedly applied in intervals of less than 40 seconds, the modulation would not occur, but rather the brake light would operate in a completely conventional manner and would be continuously on for the time period that the brake is set. 
   The invention operates to especially attract the attention of a following operator when a brake is first being applied at intervals in excess of the 40 second lock out period. Concerning the modulation interval, again this is a matter of subject of determination, about 5 seconds of modulation has met expectations. The modulation can result in a variety of flashing frequencies so long as it is easily recognizable, e.g. a flash per second. 
   The invention can be disposed in any of a number of brake lights, for example, in an passenger vehicle the invention can be disposed within the middle brake light of an automobile which is typically positioned within a rear window. Alternatively, the light could be placed in other easily recognizable locations such as the rooftop or a rear and central vehicle area. The remaining two brake lights on rear tail fenders will operate in a conventional manner. 
   Alternatively, the invention can be disposed in other places. For example, the invention can be disposed in optional or mandatory, tractor-trailer truck brake lights. For instance, referring to  FIG. 3  a trailer-mounted brake light  310  includes a first or red light region  318  and a second or yellow light region  326 . The red light region  318  and the yellow light region  326  are in the form of concentric circles. The yellow light region  326  is smaller than, and centrally located within, the red light region  318 . Therefore, the red light region  318  forms and annular ring around the yellow light region  326 . 
   However, other light region arrangements are contemplated, such as for example, both regions may be red, the regions may have other shapes such as square or rectangular or of some esthetically pleasing shape. Furthermore, one region may be distributed evenly throughout the other, so that in what appears at first to be a single region, some light emitting diodes belong to the first region, while others, interspersed between the light emitting diodes of the first region make up the second region. 
   The first or red light region  318  includes red light emitting diodes (see  FIG. 4 ) or lamps. Alternatively, a conventional lamp and red filter arrangement may be used. The yellow light region  326  includes yellow light emitting diodes (see  FIG. 4 ) or lamps. Alternatively, a conventional lamp and yellow filter arrangement may be used. Preferably, the red light region  318  conforms to statutes and regulations with regard to break light output intensity, visibility, beam pattern and other pertinent parameters. In this regard, the second or yellow light region  326  is optional equipment whose operation is unrestricted by statue or regulation. In operation, the red light region  318  is operated as a conventional brake light. The red light region  318  is simply lit during any braking event i.e.; whenever the vehicle brake actuator is actuated. In contrast, the yellow light region  326  is operated according to the method of limited modulation described in reference to FIG.  1 . Assuming that the lockout period has expired when the vehicle brake actuator is actuated, the yellow light region  326  is flashed or modulated between two or more levels of light intensity for a predetermined period of time after the initial application of the brakes. For example, the second region is flashed for about 5 seconds. After this modulation interval has expired, the second or yellow light region  326  is maintained at a constant brightness. If at any time the brake actuator is released or returned to a released brake position both the red and yellow light regions  318 ,  326  are extinguished. During subsequent brake application, the operation of the yellow light region depends on whether or not a lockout time has expired since the end of a previous brake application. If the lockout time has not expired, the second or yellow light region  326  is operated to produce a constant light intensity. If the lockout interval has expired, the yellow light region  326  is flashed as described above. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a controller  410  operative to control the trailer-mounted brake light  310  includes a voltage sensor  418 , a lockout timer  422 , a pulse width modulator  426 , a modulation interval timer  430  and a control element  434 . 
   The voltage sensor  418  can take the form of an appropriately designed controller power supply or can be a circuit dedicated to sensing the state of a brake actuator switch signal line  438 . For example, a voltage on a conventional brake actuator switch signal line  438  is compared to a voltage of a common  442  or ground line or vehicle chassis. The sensed state of the brake actuator switch signal line  438  is reported to the lockout timer  422  and the modulation interval timer  426 . The brake actuator switch signal line  438  can have one of two states. The brake actuator switch signal line  438  can be high to report that the brake actuator is in a brakes applied position or the brake actuator switch signal line  438  can be low to report that the brake actuator is in a brakes unapplied position. The lockout timer  422  begins to run if the state of the brake actuator signal line  438  changes from a brakes applied (high) state, to a brakes unapplied (low) state. The modulation interval timer begins to run whenever the voltage sensor  418  reports that the brake actuator switch signal line  438  changes from a brake actuator unapplied state to a brake applied state. 
   The pulse width modulator  426  receives control signals from the lockout timer  422  and the modulation interval timer  430 . The control signal from the lockout timer  422  can have one of two states. The two states are a lockout state and an enable state. The control signal from the modulation timer  430  can also have one of two states. The two states are a modulate state and a constant brightness state. The signal from the lockout timer  422  is in the lockout state while the lockout timer is running, or when the lockout time has not expired. When the lockout time has expired, the signal from the lockout timer is changed to, and maintained in, the enable state. The control signal from the modulation timer  430  is in the modulate state while the modulation interval timer is running. When the modulation time has expired the control signal from the modulation timer  430  is changed and maintained in the constant brightness state. When the signal from the lockout timer  422  is in the enable state and the signal from the modulation interval timer  430  is in the modulate state, the pulse width modulator produces a pulse width modulated control signal for driving the control element  434 . The pulsing control signal causes the control element  434  to vary an average amount of current able to flow through the control element  434 . For example when the pulse width modulated control signal is at a high level a maximum current may flow through the control element. When the pulsing control signal is at a low level, only a minimum amount of current may flow through the control element  434 . For instance, when a pulse width of the pulse width modulated control signal is relatively wide, a relatively large average current is allowed to flow through the control element. When the pulse width of the pulse width modulated control signal is relatively narrow, a relatively small average current is allowed to flow through the control element  434 . 
   A first set of light emitting diodes  446  or other light sources, such as, for example, yellow light emitting diodes mounted in the yellow light region  326  of the trailer-mounted brake light  310  is connected at a first end to the brake actuator signal line  438  and at a second end to an input side of the control element  434 . The output side of the control element is connected to common  442 . An amount of current flowing through the first light emitting diodes  446  is thereby made equal to the amount of current flowing through the input ant output terminals of the control element  434 . When a relatively large average current is flowing through the control element  434 , the same relatively large average current is flowing through the first set of light emitting diodes  446  and the first set of light emitting diodes  446  produce a relatively bright light. When a relatively small average current is flowing through the control element  434 , the same relatively small average current is flowing through the first set of light emitting diodes  446 , and the first set of light emitting diodes  446  produce a relatively dim beam of light. Therefore, as pulse width modulator  426  modulates the average current through the control element  434  the average current through the first set of light emitting diodes  446  is also modulated, thereby modulating the amount of light produced by the first set of light emitting diodes  446 . 
   If the control signal from the lockout timer  422  is in the lockout state, then the signal from the pulse width modulator is set at a constant level. Preferably, the signal from the pulse width modulator is set to allow a maximum amount of current to flow through the control element  434  and therefore a maximum amount of current is allowed to flow through the first set of light emitting diodes  446 . 
   Similarly, if the control signal from the modulation interval timer  430  is in the constant brightness state the signal from the pulse width modulator is set at a constant level. Preferably, the signal from the pulse width modulator is set to allow a maximum amount of current to flow through the control element  434  and therefore a maximum amount of current is allowed to flow through the first set of light emitting diodes  446 . 
   Of course, current can only flow through the first set of light emitting diodes  446  if a voltage or signal level on the brake actuator signal line  438  is high enough to drive current through the light emitting diodes  446  and the control element  434 . Therefore, the first set of light emitting diodes  446  can only be modulated or driven at a steady level when the brakes are applied and the brake actuator signal line  438  is at a high level. 
   A second set of light emitting diodes  450  or other light source, such as the light emitting diodes of the red light region  318  of the trailer mounted brake light  310  are connected at a first end to the brake actuator signal line  438  and at a second end to a current limiting resister  454 . A second end of the current limiting resister  454  is connected to common  442 . Therefore, whenever the brakes are applied and the brake actuator signal line  438  is at a high level, the second set of light emitting diodes  450  is driven at a steady current level and the second set of light emitting diodes  450  produces a steady level of light. 
   The controller  410  can be implemented in a simple micro-controller. In that case, the various timers  422 ,  430 , and the pulse width modulator  426  are implemented in software or hardware or some combination thereof. Alternatively, the various components  422 ,  430 ,  426  of the controller  410  can be implemented with counters and logic gates, such as for example the well known MC14060 14-Bit binary counter and oscillator, and various logic gates such as common NAND and NOR gates. The control element can be a transistor, such as for example a MOSFET or BJT type transistor. Of course, the control element is preferably selected for an appropriate voltage and current handling ability. While the first and second sets of light emitting diodes  446 ,  450  have been illustrated as a single series connected string, other arrangements are possible. For example, additional strings of light emitting diodes can be connected in parallel to the shown sets. In that case in may be necessary to increase the current carrying capability of the control element  434  and/or the current limiting resistor  454 . 
   The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. It is our intention to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 7