Circuit system for brake lights

Claim 2

In a motor-vehicle brake-light circuit system, a brake-switch operated voltage-source connection, at least two brake lights of different colors, a first brake-light output connection of said switch-operated voltage connection to a first-colored one of said lights, and a second brake-light output connection of said switch-operated voltage connection to a second-colored one of said lights; said second output connection being connected to control means including delay-determining means responsive to brake-switch actuation to determine a delayed interval of time following such an actuation, and said control means including signal-generator means producing one characteristic output signal for the duration of said delayed interval and a second characteristic output signal after completion of said interval.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, in which said signal-generator means includes a modulator of cyclic frequency producing one of said signals.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, in which said delay-determining means includes inertially-operated means operatively connected to determined said interval.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3, in which said inertially-operated means is operatively connected to determine a second interval of time following said delayed interval and as long as a predetermined magnitude of deceleration is detected.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3, in which said control means is contained in a unitary package which includes an externally visible directional indicium correlated as to orientation with the direction of deceleration response of said inertially-operated means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, in which said signal-generator means produces one of said signals as a steady-state signal.

Claim 8

The system of claim 2, in which the other of said signals is a steady-state signal for the duration of brake operation.

Claim 9

The system of claim 3, in which said delay-determining means includes timing means connected to said input-connection means and responsive to excitation of said input connection to determine a relatively short predetermined interval of time following brake-switch actuation, and in which said one signal includes a first component timed by said timing means and a second component determined solely by the period of time for which at least a predetermined magnitude of deceleration is detected by said inertially-operated means.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8, in which said signal-generator means includes a modulator of cyclic frequency, said modulator being connected for operation during both components of said one signal.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1, in which said colors are red and green, respectively.

Claim 12

The system of claim 1, in which said signal-generator means includes aa modulator of cyclic frequency, and in which said modulator supplies output voltage modulated between maximum and minimum values which are respectively above and below the voltage-output level for said first brake-light output connection.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1, in which said signal-generator means includes means determining a fixed period of time as such delayed interval.

Claim 14

In a motor-vehicle brake-light circuit system, a brake-switch operable voltage-source connection, two separate brake-light output-connection means for independent brake-switch operation of two separate brake lights, and voltage-control means connected to said voltage-source connection and to said output-connection means; said control means including means connected to said voltage-source connection and responsive to brake-switch actuation to determine a delayed interval of time following such an actuation, signal-generator means producing one characteristic output signal deTermined at least in part by the end of said interval of time and a second characteristic output signal independent of said interval, one of said output-connection means being connected for supply of said one output signal to one brake light and the other of said output-connection means being connected for supply of said second output signal to another brake light.

Claim 15

In a motor-vehicle brake-light circuit system, a brake-switch operable voltage-source connection, two separate brake-light output-connection means for independent brake-switch operation of two separate brake lights, and voltage-control means connected to said voltage-source connection and to said output-connection means; said control means including means connected to said voltage-source connection and responsive to brake-switch actuation to determine a delayed interval of time following such an actuation, signal-generator means producing one characteristic output signal deTermined at least in part by the end of said interval of time and a second characteristic output signal independent of said interval, one of said output-connection means being connected for supply of said one output signal to one brake light and the other of said output-connection means being connected for supply of said second output signal to another brake light.

Claim 16

In a motor-vehicle brake-light circuit system, a brake-Switch operated voltage-source connection, a brake-light system having at least two-color capability, a first brake-light output connection of said switch-operated voltage connection to a said system to determine a first-colored display actuation of said system, and a second brake-light output connection to said system to determine a second-colored display acuation of said system; at least one of said output connections being connected to control means including delay-determining means responsive to brake-switch actuation to determine a delay interval of time following such an actuation, and said control means including signal-generator means producing one characteristic output signal for a first-colored display actuation of said system for the duration of said delayed interval and a second characteristic output signal for a second-colored display actuation of said system after completion of said interval.

Claim 17

In a motor-vehicle brake-light circuit system, a brake-Switch operated voltage-source connection, a brake-light system having at least two-color capability, a first brake-light output connection of said switch-operated voltage connection to a said system to determine a first-colored display actuation of said system, and a second brake-light output connection to said system to determine a second-colored display acuation of said system; at least one of said output connections being connected to control means including delay-determining means responsive to brake-switch actuation to determine a delay interval of time following such an actuation, and said control means including signal-generator means producing one characteristic output signal for a first-colored display actuation of said system for the duration of said delayed interval and a second characteristic output signal for a second-colored display actuation of said system after completion of said interval.