Light control circuit

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling the energization of vehicle high and low beam headlamps by a power source comprising, in combination, an ignition switch having a vehicle operative setting in which the vehicle is rendered operable and a vehicle inoperative setting in which the vehicle is rendered inoperable; a light switch having first and second operative positions, the light switch being biased to the first operative position; means responsive to the light switch position and to the ignition switch setting for alternately effecting energization of the high and low beam headlamps when the light switch is momentarily placed in the second operative position after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle operative setting, inital placement of the light switch in the second operative position causing said first means to effect energization of only the low beam headlamps and subsequent placement of the light switch in the second operative position causing said first means to deenergize the headlamps then energized and energize the headlamps then deenergized; lamp extinguishing means responsive to the light switch position for effecting deenergization of all of the headlamps when the ligth switch remains in the second position for a predetermined time; and a lamp deenergization circuit responsive to the ignition switch setting and a vehicle door for effecting deenergization of the high and low beam headlamps when the vehicle door is opened after placement of the ignition switch in the vehicle inoperative setting, the headlamps thereby being manually extinguishable by holding the light switch in the second operative position for the predetermined time and being automatically extinguishable when persons leave the vehicle by placement of the ignition switch in the vehicle inoperative setting prior to opening the vehicle door.

Claim 3

Apparatus for controlling the energization of vehicle high and low beam headlamps and parking lamps by a power souRce comprising, in combination, an ignition switch having a vehicle operative setting in which the vehicle is operable and a vehicle inoperative setting in which the vehicle is inoperable; a light switch adapted for movement between first and second positions and being biased to said first position; lamp energization means responsive to the switches for effecting energization of the lamps by the power source, said means effecting energization of the parking lamps upon initial momentary placement of the light switch in the second position and thereafter additionally effecting energization of the low beam headlamps when the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting, said means also effecting energization of the low beam headlamps and the parking lamps when the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position after the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting; lamp dimming means responsive to subsequent momentary placement of the light switch in the second position for deenergizing the energized headlamps and energizing the deenergized headlamps each time the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position; lamp extinguishing means responsive to the light switch for effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the light switch remains in the second position for a predetermined time; a switch that is responsive to opening of one of the vehicle doors, the door responsive switch having a first setting when the door is closed and a second setting when the door is opened; and a lamp deenergization circuit responsive to the door responsive switch and the ignition switch for automatically effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the door switch is placed in the second setting after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle inoperative setting so as to automatically extinguish the headlamps and parking lamps when the vehicle operator opens the door to leave the vehicle.

Claim 4

Apparatus for controlling the energization of vehicle high and low beam headlamps and parking lamps by a power souRce comprising, in combination, an ignition switch having a vehicle operative setting in which the vehicle is operable and a vehicle inoperative setting in which the vehicle is inoperable; a light switch adapted for movement between first and second positions and being biased to said first position; lamp energization means responsive to the switches for effecting energization of the lamps by the power source, said means effecting energization of the parking lamps upon initial momentary placement of the light switch in the second position and thereafter additionally effecting energization of the low beam headlamps when the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting, said means also effecting energization of the low beam headlamps and the parking lamps when the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position after the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting; lamp dimming means responsive to subsequent momentary placement of the light switch in the second position for deenergizing the energized headlamps and energizing the deenergized headlamps each time the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position; lamp extinguishing means responsive to the light switch for effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the light switch remains in the second position for a predetermined time; a switch that is responsive to opening of one of the vehicle doors, the door responsive switch having a first setting when the door is closed and a second setting when the door is opened; and a lamp deenergization circuit responsive to the door responsive switch and the ignition switch for automatically effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the door switch is placed in the second setting after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle inoperative setting so as to automatically extinguish the headlamps and parking lamps when the vehicle operator opens the door to leave the vehicle.

Claim 5

Apparatus for controlling the energization of vehicle high and low beam headlamps and parking lamps by a power source comprising, in combination, an ignition switch having a vehicle operative setting in which the vehicle is operable and a vehicle inoperative setting in which the vehicle is inoperable; a light switch adapted for movement between first and second positions and biased to said first position; lamp energization means responsive to the switches for effecting energization of the lamps by the power source, said means effecting energization of the parking lamps upon initial momentary placement of the light switch in the second position and thereafter additionally effecting energization of the low beam headlamps when the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting, said means also effecting energization of the low beam headlamps and the parking lamps when the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle operative setting; headlamp diming means responsive to subsequent momentary placement of the light switch in the second position for deenergizing the energized headlamps and energizing the deenergized headlamps each time the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position; a selectively operable switch having an inoperative setting and an operative setting in which it effects deenergization by rendering said lamp energization menas inoperable; a switch that is responsive to opening of one of the vehicle doors, the door responsive switch having a first setting when the door is closed and a second setting when the door is opened; a lamp deenergization circuit responsive to the door responsive switch and the ignition switch for automatically effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the door switch is placed in the second setting after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle inoperative setting, the headlamps and parking lamps thereby being automatically extinguished when the vehicle operator opens the door to leave the Vehicle; a switch that is responsive to operation of the vehicle and having a certain setting when the vehicle is inoperative; and a time delay circuit responsive to the selectively operable switch and the vehicle operation responsive switch for effecting said automatic deenergization of the vehicle lamps after a predetermined time has elapsed following operation of the vehicle, said time delay circuit being activated by placement of the selectively operable switch in the operative setting and said predetermined time commencing when said vehicle responsive switch is in the certain setting following operation of the vehicle.

Claim 6

Apparatus for controlling the energization of vehicle high and low beam headlamps and parking lamps by a power source comprising, in combination, an ignition switch having a vehicle operative setting in which the vehicle is operable and a vehicle inoperative setting in which the vehicle is inoperable; a light switch adapted for movement between first and second positions and biased to said first position; lamp energization means responsive to the switches for effecting energization of the lamps by the power source, said means effecting energization of the parking lamps upon initial momentary placement of the light switch in the second position and thereafter additionally effecting energization of the low beam headlamps when the ignition switch is placed in the vehicle operative setting, said means also effecting energization of the low beam headlamps and the parking lamps when the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle operative setting; headlamp diming means responsive to subsequent momentary placement of the light switch in the second position for deenergizing the energized headlamps and energizing the deenergized headlamps each time the light switch is momentarily placed in the second position; a selectively operable switch having an inoperative setting and an operative setting in which it effects deenergization by rendering said lamp energization menas inoperable; a switch that is responsive to opening of one of the vehicle doors, the door responsive switch having a first setting when the door is closed and a second setting when the door is opened; a lamp deenergization circuit responsive to the door responsive switch and the ignition switch for automatically effecting deenergization of the vehicle lamps when the door switch is placed in the second setting after the ignition switch has been placed in the vehicle inoperative setting, the headlamps and parking lamps thereby being automatically extinguished when the vehicle operator opens the door to leave the Vehicle; a switch that is responsive to operation of the vehicle and having a certain setting when the vehicle is inoperative; and a time delay circuit responsive to the selectively operable switch and the vehicle operation responsive switch for effecting said automatic deenergization of the vehicle lamps after a predetermined time has elapsed following operation of the vehicle, said time delay circuit being activated by placement of the selectively operable switch in the operative setting and said predetermined time commencing when said vehicle responsive switch is in the certain setting following operation of the vehicle.