US3671802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle headlight control circuit using an auxiliary contact on the dimmer switch
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1971-02-08
•
Granted: 1972-06-20
•
Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A solid state vehicle lighting control circuit having two control wires connecting the vehicle headlights to the foot dimmer switch and one control wire connecting the foot dimmer switch to the light switch which turns on the vehicle lights by grounding. A set of normally open contacts in parallel with the vehicle light switch is closed during actuation of the foot dimmer switch to illuminate the vehicle lights independently of the position of the vehicle light switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard P Ballou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A headlight control circuit for an automotive vehicle comprising, in combination, an automotive vehicle current source; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a manually operable light switch; a headlamp beam control switch having a manually operable member that is moved from a neutral position to an actuated position to switch from high to low headlight beam or visa versa; and switch means in parallel with the light switch, the switch means being closed when the manually operable member is moved out of the neutral position towards the actuated position, whereby the high or low beam headlamp filament, as the case may be, is energized with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch, the high or low beam headlamp filament being energized only while the manually operable member is moved when the light switch is open and the high or low beam filament being energized continuously at all positions of the headlamp beam control switch when the light switch is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A headlight control circuit for an automotive vehicle comprising, in combination, an automotive vehicle current source; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a manually operable light switch; a headlamp beam control switch having a manually operable member that is moved from a neutral position to an actuated position to switch from high to low headlight beam or visa versa; and switch means in parallel with the light switch, the switch means being closed when the manually operable member is moved out of the neutral position towards the actuated position, whereby the high or low beam headlamp filament, as the case may be, is energized with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch, the high or low beam headlamp filament being energized only while the manually operable member is moved when the light switch is open and the high or low beam filament being energized continuously at all positions of the headlamp beam control switch when the light switch is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
A headlamp control circuit for an automotive vehicle having a current supply, high and low beam headlamp filaments, a manually operable light switch and a manually operable headlamp beam control switch having two output terminals and an input terminal, the output terminals being alternately connected to the input terminal with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch comprising, in combination, high beam circuit control means connected to the current supply, the high beam headlamp filaments and one of the output terminals of the headlamp beam control switch, the high beam circuit control means being responsive to a grounding signal at the output terminal for energizing the high beam headlamp filaments; low beam circuit control means connected to the current supply, the low beam headlamp filaments and the other of the output terminals of the headlamp beam control switch, the low beam circuit control means being responsive to a grounding signal at the last-mentioned output terminal for energizing the low beam headlamp filaments; circuit means connecting the light switch between the input terminal of the headlamp beam control switch and the ground potential; and switch means in parallel with the light switch, the switch means being adapted so as to be closed while the headlamp beam control switch is actuated, the light switch and the switch means each supplying a grounding signal to the input terminal of the headlamp beam control switch when closed, whereby the high and low beam headlamp filaments are alternately energized with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch, the high or low beam headlamp filament being eNergized only while the headlamp beam control switch is actuated when the light switch is open and the high or low beam filament being energized continuously between actuations of the headlamp beam control switch when the light switch is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
302 words
A headlamp control circuit for an automotive vehicle having a current supply, high and low beam headlamp filaments, a manually operable light switch and a manually operable headlamp beam control switch having two output terminals and an input terminal, the output terminals being alternately connected to the input terminal with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch comprising, in combination, high beam circuit control means connected to the current supply, the high beam headlamp filaments and one of the output terminals of the headlamp beam control switch, the high beam circuit control means being responsive to a grounding signal at the output terminal for energizing the high beam headlamp filaments; low beam circuit control means connected to the current supply, the low beam headlamp filaments and the other of the output terminals of the headlamp beam control switch, the low beam circuit control means being responsive to a grounding signal at the last-mentioned output terminal for energizing the low beam headlamp filaments; circuit means connecting the light switch between the input terminal of the headlamp beam control switch and the ground potential; and switch means in parallel with the light switch, the switch means being adapted so as to be closed while the headlamp beam control switch is actuated, the light switch and the switch means each supplying a grounding signal to the input terminal of the headlamp beam control switch when closed, whereby the high and low beam headlamp filaments are alternately energized with each actuation of the headlamp beam control switch, the high or low beam headlamp filament being eNergized only while the headlamp beam control switch is actuated when the light switch is open and the high or low beam filament being energized continuously between actuations of the headlamp beam control switch when the light switch is closed.
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) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |