Sequential direction signaling system

Claim 2

A sequential turn signal circuit for a motor vehicle comprising left and right front signal lamps and first, second and third left and right rear signal lamps, a source of voltage, flasher means connected to said source, a stop signal switch connected to said source, a direction signal switch movable from a neutral position to left and right direction signaling positions, said direction signal switch connecting said first left and right rear signal lamps to said stop signal switch when in said neutral position and connecting said left front and said first left rear or said right front and said first right rear signal lamps to said flasher means when in said left or right direction signaling positions, respectively, said direction signal switch further connecting said first left or right rear signal lamp to said stop signal switch when in said riGht or left direction signaling position, respectively, a plurality of controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, each of said second and third left and right rear signal lamps being connected in parallel with said first left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers, a plurality of oscillator means for respectively rendering said plurality of controlled rectifiers conductive through the application of the trigger potential to the gate electrodes thereof, one of said plurality of oscillator means being connected in parallel with said first left and right signal lamps, respectively, and energizable through said direction signal switch or said stop signal switch, succeeding ones of said oscillator means being energizable through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said controlled rectifiers, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, the emitter and collector electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected in series between said stop signal switch and the gate electrodes of the controlled rectifiers controlling said left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said right and left front signal lamps, respectively, whereby the lamps on one side of the vehicle are sequentially energized upon actuation of said direction signal switch and the signal lamps on the side opposite said one side are simultaneously energized upon subsequent actuation of said stop signal switch.

Claim 3

A sequential turn signal circuit for a motor vehicle comprising left and right front signal lamps and first, second and third left and right rear signal lamps, a source of voltage, flasher means connected to said source, a stop signal switch connected to said source, a direction signal switch movable from a neutral position to left and right direction signaling positions, said direction signal switch connecting said first left and right rear signal lamps to said stop signal switch when in said neutral position and connecting said left front and said first left rear or said right front and said first right rear signal lamps to said flasher means when in said left or right direction signaling positions, respectively, said direction signal switch further connecting said first left or right rear signal lamp to said stop signal switch when in said right or left direction signaling position, respectively, a plurality of controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, each of said second and third left and right rear signal lamps being connected in parallel with said first left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers, a plurality of oscillator means for respectively rendering said plurality of controlled rectifiers conductive through the application of the trigger potential to the gate electrodes thereof, one of said plurality of oscillator means being connected in parallel with said first left and right signal lamps, respectively, and energizable through said direction signal switch or said stop signal switch, succeeding ones of said oscillator means being energizable through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said controlled rectifiers, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, the emitter and collector electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected in series between said stop signal switch and the gate electrodes of the controlled rectifiers controlling said left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said right and left front signal lamps, respectively, whereby the lamps on one side of the vehicle are sequentially energized upon actuation of said direction signal swItch and the signal lamps on the side opposite said one side are simultaneously energized upon subsequent actuation of said stop signal switch, additional flasher means connected to said source, a hazard warning switch connecting said front signal lamps and the first of said left and right rear signal lamps to said flasher means, said hazard warning switch further connecting the collector and base electrodes of both of said first and second transistors to said additional flasher means whereby all of said signal lamps are simultaneously flashed upon actuation of said hazard warning switch.

Claim 4

A sequential turn signal circuit for a motor vehicle comprising left and right front signal lamps and first, second and third left and right rear signal lamps, a source of voltage, flasher means connected to said source, a stop signal switch connected to said source, a direction signal switch movable from a neutral position to left and right direction signaling positions, said direction signal switch connecting said first left and right rear signal lamps to said stop signal switch when in said neutral position and connecting said left front and said first left rear or said right front and said first right rear signal lamps to said flasher means when in said left or right direction signaling positions, respectively, said direction signal switch further connecting said first left or right rear signal lamp to said stop signal switch when in said right or left direction signaling position, respectively, a plurality of controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, each of said second and third left and right rear signal lamps being connected in parallel with said first left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers, a plurality of oscillator means for respectively rendering said plurality of controlled rectifiers conductive through the application of the trigger potential to the gate electrodes thereof, one of said plurality of oscillator means being connected in parallel with said first left and right signal lamps, respectively, and energizable through said direction signal switch or said stop signal switch, succeeding ones of said oscillator means being energizable through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said controlled rectifiers, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, the emitter and collector electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected in series between said stop signal switch and the gate electrodes of the controlled rectifiers controlling said left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said right and left front signal lamps, respectively, whereby the lamps on one side of the vehicle are sequentially energized upon actuation of said direction signal swItch and the signal lamps on the side opposite said one side are simultaneously energized upon subsequent actuation of said stop signal switch, additional flasher means connected to said source, a hazard warning switch connecting said front signal lamps and the first of said left and right rear signal lamps to said flasher means, said hazard warning switch further connecting the collector and base electrodes of both of said first and second transistors to said additional flasher means whereby all of said signal lamps are simultaneously flashed upon actuation of said hazard warning switch.

Claim 5

A sequential turn signal circuit for a motor vehicle comprising left and right front signal lamps and first, second and third left and right rear signal lamps, a source of voltage, flasher means connected to said source, a stop signal switch connected to said source, a direction signal switch movable from a neutral position to left and right direction signaling positions, said direction signal switch connecting said first left and right rear signal lamps to said stop signal switch when in said neutral position and connecting said left front and said first left rear or said right front and said first right rear signals lamps to said flasher means when in said left or right direction signaling positions, respectively, said direction signal switch further connecting said first left or right rear signal lamp to said stop signal switch when in said right or left direction signaling position, respectively, a plurality of controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, each of said second and third left and right rear signal lamps being connected in parallel with said first left and right rear signal lamps, respectively through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers, a plurality of relaxation oscillators for sequentially rendering respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers conductive through the application of the trigger potential to the gate electrodes thereof, each of said oscillators including a unijunction transistor and a timing network for controlling the conduction of said unijunction transistor, said timing network comprising a series connected resistor and capacitor, a unidirectional conducting device connected in parallel with said resistor and providing a discharge path for said capacitor independent of said resistor, one of said plurality of oscillators being connected in parallel with said first left and right signal lamps, respectively, and energizable through said direction signal switch or said stop signal switch, succeeding ones of said oscillators being energizable through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said controlled rectifiers, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, the emitter and collector electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected in series between said stop signal switch and the gate electrodes of the controlled rectifiers controlling said left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said right and left front signal lamps, respectively, whereby the lamps on one side of the vehicle are sequentially energized upon actuation of said direction signal switch and the signal lamps on the side opposite said one side are simultaneously energized upon subsequent actuation of said stop signal switch.

Claim 6

A sequential turn signal circuit for a motor vehicle comprising left and right front signal lamps and first, second and third left and right rear signal lamps, a source of voltage, flasher means connected to said source, a stop signal switch connected to said source, a direction signal switch movable from a neutral position to left and right direction signaling positions, said direction signal switch connecting said first left and right rear signal lamps to said stop signal switch when in said neutral position and connecting said left front and said first left rear or said right front and said first right rear signals lamps to said flasher means when in said left or right direction signaling positions, respectively, said direction signal switch further connecting said first left or right rear signal lamp to said stop signal switch when in said right or left direction signaling position, respectively, a plurality of controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, each of said second and third left and right rear signal lamps being connected in parallel with said first left and right rear signal lamps, respectively through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers, a plurality of relaxation oscillators for sequentially rendering respective ones of said plurality of controlled rectifiers conductive through the application of the trigger potential to the gate electrodes thereof, each of said oscillators including a unijunction transistor and a timing network for controlling the conduction of said unijunction transistor, said timing network comprising a series connected resistor and capacitor, a unidirectional conducting device connected in parallel with said resistor and providing a discharge path for said capacitor independent of said resistor, one of said plurality of oscillators being connected in parallel with said first left and right signal lamps, respectively, and energizable through said direction signal switch or said stop signal switch, succeeding ones of said oscillators being energizable through the anode and cathode electrodes of respective ones of said controlled rectifiers, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, the emitter and collector electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected in series between said stop signal switch and the gate electrodes of the controlled rectifiers controlling said left and right rear signal lamps, respectively, the base electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said right and left front signal lamps, respectively, whereby the lamps on one side of the vehicle are sequentially energized upon actuation of said direction signal switch and the signal lamps on the side opposite said one side are simultaneously energized upon subsequent actuation of said stop signal switch.