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US3576444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flasher
Assignee: Microdot Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-29
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1988-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A flasher circuit for use in controlling indicator and pilot lamps of a vehicle both in the turn signal and the emergency flash mode of operation wherein the flasher is utilized to control pulses of current to the lamp loads. The flasher may include lamp outage detection in both modes of flasher operation whether the same number of lamps are utilized or different numbers of lamps are utilized for each mode of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon A Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/38; B60Q1/381
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy comprising control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means 132 having an open and closed position and current sensing means 140 connected in circuit with said switch means and the load circuit to sense a current flow in the connection between the source and the load circuit, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, said timing circuit having a capacitor 120, a charging circuit 122, 124 and a discharge circuit 124, 144, 126 for said capacitor, enabling circuit means for enabling one of said charge and discharge circuits in response to an electrical condition of said current sensing means and the current flow of the energy being fed to the load circuit, and switch control means connected in controlling relation with said switch means and operable to control the open and closed states of said switch means and the energization of said current sensing means in response to the charge level on said capacitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy comprising control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means 132 having an open and closed position and current sensing means 140 connected in circuit with said switch means and the load circuit to sense a current flow in the connection between the source and the load circuit, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, said timing circuit having a capacitor 120, a charging circuit 122, 124 and a discharge circuit 124, 144, 126 for said capacitor, enabling circuit means for enabling one of said charge and discharge circuits in response to an electrical condition of said current sensing means and the current flow of the energy being fed to the load circuit, and switch control means connected in controlling relation with said switch means and operable to control the open and closed states of said switch means and the energization of said current sensing means in response to the charge level on said capacitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the pull-in and dropout characteristics of said relay are utilized to control said switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim switch means is initially closed at the start of said timed operation, and means for initially charging said capacitor when said switch means is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said current sensing means includes a load current coil connected in series with the load circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein one of said charge and discharge circuits includes a second switch, said second switch being magnetically coupled with said load current coil and controlled thereby to open and close said second switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said load current coil is tapped to provide two output terminals, said second switch being opened and closed in response to different load currents depending on the output terminal being energized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said switch control means includes a relay coil controlling said switch means and a semiconductor device controlling the energization of said relay coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the pull-in and dropout characteristics of said relay are utilized to control said switch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy comprising control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position and current sensing means connected in circuit with said switch means, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, said timing circuit having a capacitor, a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, one of said charge and discharge circuits being enabled in response to an electrical condition of said current sensing means, and switch control means connected in controlling relation with said switch means and operable to control the open and closed states of said switch means and the energization of said current sensing means in response to the charge level on said capacitor, said switch control means including a relay coil controlling said switch means and a semiconductor device controlling the energization of said relay coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
A flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy comprising control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position and current sensing means connected in circuit with said switch means, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, said timing circuit having a capacitor, a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, one of said charge and discharge circuits being enabled in response to an electrical condition of said current sensing means, and switch control means connected in controlling relation with said switch means and operable to control the open and closed states of said switch means and the energization of said current sensing means in response to the charge level on said capacitor, said switch control means including a relay coil controlling said switch means and a semiconductor device controlling the energization of said relay coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said timiNg circuit is initially connected to the source of supply to initially charge said capacitor and cause said semiconductor device to conduct and energize said coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said control circuit means includes a conductor, a pair of normally open contacts and a load current sensing coil connected in series between the source and the load circuit, and said relay coil is initially energized to close said contacts upon application of power to the flasher circuit, the flow of load current energizing said load current sensing coil and, enabling means connected in circuit with said discharge circuit, said enabling means being enabled in response to the energization of said load current sensing coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said charging circuit includes a resistor, a switching device being connected in said discharge circuit across said resistor to remove the effect of said resistor in response to the discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said semiconductor device is connected in an emitter follower configuration relative to said relay coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said switch means is opened and closed in response to the pull-in and dropout characteristics of said relay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 14 further including a capacitor connected across said semiconductor device and in series with said relay coil to protect said semiconductor device from transients.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the timing circuit comprising an output control circuit including a cross-coupling network, said network including a capacitor, said timing circuit including a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, said output control circuit including first timing means for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the timing circuit comprising an output control circuit including a cross-coupling network, said network including a capacitor, said timing circuit including a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, said output control circuit including first timing means for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein said output control circuit includes a normally conducting transistor and a normally nonconducting transistor, and a first capacitor connected between the base circuit of one of said transistors and emitter circuit of the other of said transistors, said capacitor initially having a substantially zero charge thereon when the load circuit is open circuited.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein said first capacitor is one of the parameters which determines the first off delay time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein one end of said first capacitor is connected to the source of electrical energy and the other end is connected to ground potential upon the closing of the switch means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
the invention of claim 19 wherein said output control circuit further includes a second capacitor connected to said load circuit and the base electrodes of said transistors, said second capacitor being connected to time the end of the on time of the flasher.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the improvement comprising timing means in the timing circuit for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the improvement comprising timing means in the timing circuit for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 21 wherein said timiNg means includes a first capacitor, said capacitor initially having a substantially zero charge thereon when the load circuit is open circuited.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 22 wherein said first capacitor is one of the parameters which determines the first off delay time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein one end of said first capacitor is connected to the source of electrical energy and the other end is connected to ground potential upon the closing of the switch means, the initial charging of said first capacitor determining said first and said second off delay.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 24 wherein said timing means further includes a second capacitor connected to the load circuit, said second capacitor is connected to time the end of the on time of the flasher.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 24 wherein said initial charge of said first capacitor increases said second off time relative to said first off time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 24 further including a voltage dropping impedance connected across said switch means, said impedance means providing a charging voltage for said first capacitor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 24 further including semiconductor switching means connected in controlling relation with said timing means, said semiconductor switching means disabling said timing means during said on time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the timing circuit comprising an output control circuit including a switching element, a cross-coupling network controlling said switching element, a capacitor connected to said switching element, and a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, said output control circuit including first timing means for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a flasher circuit for pulsing a load circuit from a source of electrical energy including control circuit means interconnecting the source of electrical energy and the load circuit including switch means having an open and closed position, and a timing circuit connected in controlling relation with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means in a preselected timed operation, the timing circuit comprising an output control circuit including a switching element, a cross-coupling network controlling said switching element, a capacitor connected to said switching element, and a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, said output control circuit including first timing means for establishing a first off delay time for the flasher circuit, an on delay and a second off delay, said first off delay being substantially shorter than said second off delay.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 29 wherein said output control circuit includes a normally conducting transistor and a normally nonconducting transistor, and a first capacitor connected between the base circuit of one of said transistors, said capacitor initially having a substantially zero charge thereon when the load circuit is open circuited.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |