Patent US3774148A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3774148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audio monitored vehicle headlight circuit
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1972-10-16
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle headlight circuit including high and low beam filaments selectively energized by a dimmer switch having a pair of output terminals coupled respectively thereto. A first set of normally open auxiliary contacts is series connected with one of the output terminals, a first audio oscillator operating at a first frequency and a speaker. A second set of normally open auxiliary contacts is series connected with the other output terminal, a second audio oscillator operating at a second frequency and the speaker. An actuator on the dimmer switch is effective for closing the first and second sets of normally open auxiliary contacts upon partial actuation of the dimmer switch to energize one of the oscillators to provide an audio indication of high or low beam filament energization.
Inventors
- 👤 D Mcintosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
An audio headlight beam indicator for an automotive vehicle comprising: an automotive vehicle power source; a manually operable light switch; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a headlamp beam control switch having a power input terminal coupled to the vehicle power source through the manually operable light switch, first and second power output terminals coupled respectively to the high and low beam filaments, a contact member shiftable between the power output terminals for electrically bridging the power input terminal and one of the power output terminals to selectively energize the high or low beam headlamp filaments when the light switch is operated and a manually operable member movable from a neutral position to an actuated position to shift the contact member from one of the power output terminals to the other of the power output terminals to shift between high and low headlight beams; a first audio oscillator responsive to power supplied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F1; a second audio oscillator responsive to power supplied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F2; an audio speaker coupled to the first and second audio oscillators and responsive to the signals generated thereby for emitting an audible sound corresponding to the frequencies F1 and F2 thereof; means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position when the high beam filaments are energized for supplying power from the power source to the first oscillator; and means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position when the low beam filaments are energized for supplying power from the power source to the second oscillator, whereby the first audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F1 when the high beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position and the second audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F2 when the low beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position, the audio signals representing the headlamp beam condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
374 words
An audio headlight beam indicator for an automotive vehicle comprising: an automotive vehicle power source; a manually operable light switch; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a headlamp beam control switch having a power input terminal coupled to the vehicle power source through the manually operable light switch, first and second power output terminals coupled respectively to the high and low beam filaments, a contact member shiftable between the power output terminals for electrically bridging the power input terminal and one of the power output terminals to selectively energize the high or low beam headlamp filaments when the light switch is operated and a manually operable member movable from a neutral position to an actuated position to shift the contact member from one of the power output terminals to the other of the power output terminals to shift between high and low headlight beams; a first audio oscillator responsive to power supplied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F1; a second audio oscillator responsive to power supplied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F2; an audio speaker coupled to the first and second audio oscillators and responsive to the signals generated thereby for emitting an audible sound corresponding to the frequencies F1 and F2 thereof; means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position when the high beam filaments are energized for supplying power from the power source to the first oscillator; and means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position when the low beam filaments are energized for supplying power from the power source to the second oscillator, whereby the first audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F1 when the high beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position and the second audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F2 when the low beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position, the audio signals representing the headlamp beam condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
345 words
An audio headlight beam indicator for an automotive vehicle comprising: an automotive vehicle power source; a manually operable light switch; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a headlamp beam control switch having a power input terminal coupled to the vehicle power source through the manually operable light switch, first and second power output terminals coupled respectively to the high and low beam filaments, a contact member shiftable between the power output terminals for electrically bridging the power input terminal and one of the power output terminals for selectively energizing the high or low beam headlamp filaments when the light switch is operated and a manually operable member movable from a neutral position to an actuated position to shift the contact member from one of the power output terminals to the other of the power output terminals to shift between high and low headlight beams; a first series circuit coupled to the first power output terminal, said first series circuit including a normally open switch, a first audio oscillator responsive to power applied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F1 and an audio speaker; a second series circuit coupled to the second power terminal, the second series circuit including a second normally open switch, a second audio oscillator responsive to power applied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F2 and the audio speaker; and means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position for closing the first and second normally open switches, whereby the first audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F1 when the high beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position and the second audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F2 when the low beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position, the audio signals representing the headlamp beam condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
345 words
An audio headlight beam indicator for an automotive vehicle comprising: an automotive vehicle power source; a manually operable light switch; high and low beam headlamp filaments; a headlamp beam control switch having a power input terminal coupled to the vehicle power source through the manually operable light switch, first and second power output terminals coupled respectively to the high and low beam filaments, a contact member shiftable between the power output terminals for electrically bridging the power input terminal and one of the power output terminals for selectively energizing the high or low beam headlamp filaments when the light switch is operated and a manually operable member movable from a neutral position to an actuated position to shift the contact member from one of the power output terminals to the other of the power output terminals to shift between high and low headlight beams; a first series circuit coupled to the first power output terminal, said first series circuit including a normally open switch, a first audio oscillator responsive to power applied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F1 and an audio speaker; a second series circuit coupled to the second power terminal, the second series circuit including a second normally open switch, a second audio oscillator responsive to power applied thereto for generating a signal having a frequency F2 and the audio speaker; and means responsive to the movement of the manually operable member out of the neutral position towards the actuated position for closing the first and second normally open switches, whereby the first audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F1 when the high beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position and the second audio oscillator and the audio speaker cooperate to provide an audio signal having the frequency F2 when the low beam filaments are energized and the manually operable member is moved from its neutral position toward its actuated position, the audio signals representing the headlamp beam condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |