Motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system

Claim 2

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, and means responsive to said control signal for completing an energizing circuit for each said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil in parallel across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 3

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, an electrical switching device having normally open current carrying elements operable to an electrical circuit closed condition in response to said control signal, and means for connecting said current carrying elements of said electrical switching device in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 4

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, an electrical switching device having normally open current carrying elements operable to an electrical circuit closed condition in response to said control signal, and means for connecting said current carrying elements of said electrical switching device in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 5

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit fOr the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, a transistor having collector, emitter and base electrodes, means for applying said control signal upon said output circuit of said operational amplifier to said base electrode of said transistor, and means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said transistor in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 6

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit fOr the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, a transistor having collector, emitter and base electrodes, means for applying said control signal upon said output circuit of said operational amplifier to said base electrode of said transistor, and means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said transistor in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 7

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, first and second transistors each having collector, emitter and base electrodes, means for connecting said output circuit of said operational amplifier to said base electrode of said first transistor, means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said first transistor and said base-emitter electrodes of said second transistor in series across said source of direct current potential, and means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said second transistor in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.

Claim 8

A motor vehicle automatic hazard warning system for energizing the hazard warning flasher lights and horn of the motor vehicle when the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined magnitude comprising in combination with a source of direct current potential, a relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the hazard warning flasher lights across the source of direct current potential and a horn relay having an operating coil and two normally open contacts for establishing an energizing circuit for the horn across the source of direct current potential, means for producing a direct current speed signal which is of a magnitude proportional to vehicle speed, means for producing a direct current reference signal of a predetermined substantially constant magnitude, an operational amplifier having an inverting input circuit, a non-inverting input circuit and an output circuit for producing a control signal upon said output circuit thereof, means for applying said direct current speed signal to said non-inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, means for applying said direct current reference signal to said inverting input circuit of said operational amplifier, first and second transistors each having collector, emitter and base electrodes, means for connecting said output circuit of said operational amplifier to said base electrode of said first transistor, means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said first transistor and said base-emitter electrodes of said second transistor in series across said source of direct current potential, and means for connecting said collector-emitter electrodes of said second transistor in series with the parallel combination of said relay operating coil and said horn relay operating coil across said source of direct current potential.