US3641490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for indicating disconnection of turn signal lamp in a turn-signalling system for automotive vehicle
Assignee: Denso Corp
•
Filing: 1969-06-10
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1989-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A device for indicating disconnection of turn signal lamps having a power source, a turn signal generator, a plurality of current-interrupting elements controlled by said turn signal generator, a plurality of turn signal lamps connected to said power source through the respective current-interrupting elements, a plurality of series circuits of a resistor and a diode or of two resistors whose junction is respectively connected to the junction of each set of said currentinterrupting element and said turn signal lamp, a transistor whose base is connected through a resistor or directly to said series circuits so that it constitutes an OR circuit together with said series circuits and said resistor if used, said OR circuits being connected to said power source in such a manner that it is placed in operation in response to the closure of a key switch, and a turn signal indicator connected to said power source through the collector and emitter of said transistor in said OR circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisashi Kawai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/38; B60Q1/381
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A control device operable from a power source via a power source switch for operating and indicating operation or circuit discontinuity in any of a plurality of vehicle signal lamps and in their respective lamp circuits, comprising: a turn signal generator; a plurality of current-interrupting elements controlled by said turn signal generator; means for connecting said current-interrupting elements to said power source and respectively to said lamp circuits to effect respective junctions between said elements and circuits to cause blinking of said lamps when said generator is on; an OR circuit including a plurality of input circuits respectively connected to said current-interrupting elements at the said respective junction thereof with said signal lamp circuits; means for connecting said OR circuit to said power source in such a manner that it is placed in operation in response to closure of said power source switch; and a signal indicator connected to said OR circuit for indicating any circuit discontinuity as to any of said lamps when said generator is both off and on and for indicating blinking operation of at least certain of said lamps when said generator is on.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A control device operable from a power source via a power source switch for operating and indicating operation or circuit discontinuity in any of a plurality of vehicle signal lamps and in their respective lamp circuits, comprising: a turn signal generator; a plurality of current-interrupting elements controlled by said turn signal generator; means for connecting said current-interrupting elements to said power source and respectively to said lamp circuits to effect respective junctions between said elements and circuits to cause blinking of said lamps when said generator is on; an OR circuit including a plurality of input circuits respectively connected to said current-interrupting elements at the said respective junction thereof with said signal lamp circuits; means for connecting said OR circuit to said power source in such a manner that it is placed in operation in response to closure of said power source switch; and a signal indicator connected to said OR circuit for indicating any circuit discontinuity as to any of said lamps when said generator is both off and on and for indicating blinking operation of at least certain of said lamps when said generator is on.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein: each of said OR input circuIts includes a respective first impedance in the form of a resistor and serially connected thereto a respective second impedance; and said OR circuit includes an output transistor having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said signal indicator and a base; said second impedances being commonly coupled to said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said second impedances include respective diodes which are commonly coupled to said transistor base by a base resistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein each of said second impedances is a resistor directly connected to said transistor base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein said second impedances have different resistance values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as in claim 2 in combination with said lamp circuits having said lamps therein, said circuits being connected as aforeindicated respectively to said current-interrupting elements to form a plurality of series combinations thereof, and with said power source connected directly across each of said series combinations and with said power source switch being a key switch connected between said power source and OR circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as in claim 6 in combination with a second device as in that claim and a manually operable turn signal switch connected to the said turn signal generators of both devices for turning either generator on exclusively or both off together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A control device for operating from a power source and indicating circuit discontinuity in any of a plurality of vehicle signaling lamps and in their respective lamp circuits, comprising: control means regulatable to on and off conditions and adapted to be connected to said power source and lamp circuits for causing said lamps to flicker when the control means is turned to its on condition; and means, including an OR circuit having a plurality of input circuits respectively connectable to said lamp circuits and having an output-signaling indicator, for sensing and indicating via said indicator any discontinuity in any of said lamp circuits when said control means is in either of its said off and on conditions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A control device for operating from a power source and indicating circuit discontinuity in any of a plurality of vehicle signaling lamps and in their respective lamp circuits, comprising: control means regulatable to on and off conditions and adapted to be connected to said power source and lamp circuits for causing said lamps to flicker when the control means is turned to its on condition; and means, including an OR circuit having a plurality of input circuits respectively connectable to said lamp circuits and having an output-signaling indicator, for sensing and indicating via said indicator any discontinuity in any of said lamp circuits when said control means is in either of its said off and on conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 8 wherein said input circuits are resistive and have different resistance values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device as in claim 8 for use in a vehicle wherein: said control means includes a turn signal generator and a group of lamp control switches respectively serially connectable to a corresponding number of said lamps, each said control switch being controlled by said generator to cause said lamps to flicker; means for connecting said control switches in parallel and directly to said vehicle power source; and means for connecting said OR input circuits in parallel to said vehicle power source through said power source switch whereby said indicator indicates lamp discontinuity in said group of lamps when said power source switch is closed whether or not said turn signal generator is on or off.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A control device as in claim 8 wherein said OR circuit includes switch means having an input commonly connected to said input circuits for keeping said indicator on continuously only when a said discontinuity is sensed by said OR circuit regardless of whether said control means is then in an off or on condition and for otherwise turning said indicator on and off while said control means is in an on condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said switch means includes a transistor having a base resistor and each of said OR input circuits includes a respective diode connected to said resistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A device as in claim 11 for use with a successive lighting type vehicle turn-signaling system, wherein: said control means includes means for causing a series of said lamps to light successively with each earlier lighted lamp normally remaining on until each later lighted lamp in said series of lamps is lighted, said device further comprising: means including differently proportioned resistance means respectively in the said OR input Circuits for providing from said indicator an indication of operation and discontinuity of each of said lamps in said series thereof; and means connecting said control means and OR circuit for causing each workable lamp in said series to operate when said control means is in its said on condition notwithstanding a discontinuity in one of the lamps in said series; the signaling by said indicator being of different intensities for different combinations of workable lamps in said series due to said differently proportioned resistance means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said switch means includes a transistor having a base and each of said OR input circuits includes respective resistor means connected to the base of said transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 14 wherein different ones of said resistor means have different resistance values for causing said indicator to operate at different signaling intensities.
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) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |