Electric circuit for automatically igniting parking lamps at dusk

Claim 2

In an electric circuit applicable to a vehicle or the like for enhancing the visibility thereof when inoperative during dusk and dark by igniting parking lamps or the like thereof and wherein the vehicle or the like includes a power source and an ignition switch actuable for energizing electrical circuitry of the vehicle from such power source, the combination comprising: a light detecting circuit including a photoconductive element, a first relay having contacts and first means connecting said first relay to said photoconductive element for enabling actuation of said first relay in response to sensing of a low light level by said photoconductive element; a parking lamp circuit including said parking lamps or the like and second means connecting said parking lamp circuit to said first relay for operating one of said lamps upon actuation of said relay; a switching circuit including a further relay connected to the ignition switch and having contact means in said light detecting circuit responsive to a deactuated condition of said ignition switch for actuating said first relay when the latter is enabled; whereby said lamps are turned on automatically in response to a low light level combined with a deactuated condition of said ignition switch.

Claim 3

In an electric circuit applicable to a vehicle or the like for enhancing the visibility thereof when inoperative and during dusk and dark by igniting parking lamps or the like thereof and wherein the vehicle or the like includes a power source and an ignition switch actuable for energizing electrical circuitry of the vehicle from such power source, the combination comprising: a light detecting circuit including a photoconductive element, a first relay having contacts and first means connecting said first relay to said photoconductive element for enabling actuation of said first relay in response to sensing of a low light level by said photoconductive element; a parking lamp circuit including said parking lamps or the like and second means connecting said parking lamp circuit to said first relay for operating one of said lamps upon actuation of said relay; A switching circuit including a further relay connected to the ignition switch and having contact means in said light detecting circuit responsive to deactuation of said ignition switch for actuating said first relay when the latter is enabled, whereby said lamps are turned on automatically in response to a low light level combined with a deactuated condition of said ignition switch; said first relay comprising first and second relay devices, said first means comprising a further switch actuable for alternatively connecting said first and second relay devices in circuit with said photoconductive element, said first and second relay devices having contacts in said lamp circuit respectively connected to lamps located on the left and right side of the vehicle, whereby appropriate actuation of said further switch determines which side of the vehicle may have ignited lamps, said lamps comprising lamps of several types including parking lamps and tail lamps, said electrical circuit further including a third switch and means connecting same between said power source and lamp circuit for selecting the type or types of lamps to be ignited.

Claim 4

In an electric circuit applicable to a vehicle or the like for enhancing the visibility thereof when inoperative and during dusk and dark by igniting parking lamps or the like thereof and wherein the vehicle or the like includes a power source and an ignition switch actuable for energizing electrical circuitry of the vehicle from such power source, the combination comprising: a light detecting circuit including a photoconductive element, a first relay having contacts and first means connecting said first relay to said photoconductive element for enabling actuation of said first relay in response to sensing of a low light level by said photoconductive element; a parking lamp circuit including said parking lamps or the like and second means connecting said parking lamp circuit to said first relay for operating one of said lamps upon actuation of said relay; A switching circuit including a further relay connected to the ignition switch and having contact means in said light detecting circuit responsive to deactuation of said ignition switch for actuating said first relay when the latter is enabled, whereby said lamps are turned on automatically in response to a low light level combined with a deactuated condition of said ignition switch; said first relay comprising first and second relay devices, said first means comprising a further switch actuable for alternatively connecting said first and second relay devices in circuit with said photoconductive element, said first and second relay devices having contacts in said lamp circuit respectively connected to lamps located on the left and right side of the vehicle, whereby appropriate actuation of said further switch determines which side of the vehicle may have ignited lamps, said lamps comprising lamps of several types including parking lamps and tail lamps, said electrical circuit further including a third switch and means connecting same between said power source and lamp circuit for selecting the type or types of lamps to be ignited.

Claim 5

The electrical circuit of claim 2 including means connecting said contact means of said further relay, said further switch and said first relay in a first series loop with said power source and means connecting said ignition switch and further relay in a further series loop with said power source and paralleling said first mentioned series loop, said photoconductive element shunting a portion of said first series loop and responding to a high light level condition for preventing conduction through said first series loop of current sufficient to actuate said first relay.

Claim 6

The electrical circuit of claim 3 in which said first series loop includes a transistor switch in series therewith, said photoconductive element being connected across a portion of said transistor for preventing conduction therethrough under high light level conditions.

Claim 7

The electrical circuit of claim 3 in which said photoconductive element is connected across a portion of said first series loop at least including said further switch and first relay for shunting current flow from said power source therearound under high light level conditions.

Claim 8

The electrical circuit of claim 2 including flasher circuitry, in which said further relay has further contact means for connecting said flasher circuitry to said further switch when ignition switch is actuated to enable lamps on alternative sides of the vehicle to be flashed in response to appropriate actuation of said further switch and for disconnecting said flasher circuitry from said further switch upon the actuation of said ignition switch.

Claim 9

The electrical circuit of claim 1 in which the vehicle includes a flasher circuit for repetetively flashing lamps of the vehicle and means including said contact means for connecting said flasher circuit to said first means when said ignition switch is actuated for allowing said flashing of lamps but disconnecting said flasher circuit from said first means when said ignition switch is deactuated.

Claim 10

An electric circuit connectable to a power source, a parking lamp circuit and a winker circuit, for automatically igniting parking lamps of a vehicle of the like at dusk which comprises: a switching circuit including an ignition switch for opening and closing the power source, and a relay connected to said ignition switch for operating the parking lamp circuit and the winker circuit according to the operation of said ignition switch; a light detecting circuit including a photoconductive element, a further relay and transistor means connecting said further relay to said photoconductive element for actuating said further relay in response to the condition of said photoconductive element when said ignition switch is open; a parking lamp switch and means connecting said parking lamp switch between the further relay of said light detecting circuit and the parking lamp circuit for igniting said parking lamps independently, said winker circuit including a winker switch actuable for selecting specific groups of said lamps for ignition and means responsive to said further relay connectiNg said winker switch to said parking lamp switch for causing said parking lamp switch to ignite such selected group of lamps.

Claim 11

An electric circuit connectable to a power source, a parking lamp circuit and a winker circuit, for automatically igniting parking lamps of a vehicle of the like at dusk which comprises: a switching circuit including an ignition switch for opening and closing the power source, and a relay connected to said ignition switch for operating the parking lamp circuit and the winker circuit according to the operation of said ignition switch; a light detecting circuit including a photoconductive element, a further relay and transistor means connecting said further relay to said photoconductive element for actuating said further relay in response to the condition of said photoconductive element when said ignition switch is open; a parking lamp switch and means connecting said parking lamp switch between the further relay of said light detecting circuit and the parking lamp circuit for igniting said parking lamps independently, said winker circuit including a winker switch actuable for selecting specific groups of said lamps for ignition and means responsive to said further relay connectiNg said winker switch to said parking lamp switch for causing said parking lamp switch to ignite such selected group of lamps.

Claim 12

The electrical circuit of claim 8 in which said light detecting circuit further includes means connecting said ignition switch across said photoconductive element for shunting the latter when said ignition switch is closed, means connecting said photoconductive element between said power source and said transistor means in responsive to an open condition of said ignition switch and a low light level condition for causing said transistor means to energize said further relay, said first mentioned relay and ignition switch being connected in series across said power source whereby opening of said ignition switch de-energizes said first mentioned relay.

Claim 13

The electrical circuit of claim 8 in which said parking lamp circuit includes said parking lamps, said first mentioned relay having a plurality of contacts connected between said lamps and said winker switch, said parking lamp switch having contact means for joining ones of said lamps to said power source through contacts of said further relay, said further relay having contacts selectable upon energization of said further relay for alternative connection of one of said lamps to said power source through contacts of said first mentioned relay, said winker switch, and contacts of said further relay.