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US4068216A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bulb outage warning system

Assignee: Stewart Warner Electronics Corp
•
Filing: 1976-07-21
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Granted: 1978-01-10
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Expires: 1996-07-21
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Abstract

Abstract A warning system for detecting a burned out or defective bulb for a motor vehicle is disclosed. A transmitting circuit is connected to detect current flow through the bulb to be monitored. Failure of the bulb to draw current causes the transmitting circuit to produce a series of small voltage pulses on the battery line. These pulses are detected by a receiving circuit which causes an outage indicator light to be illuminated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frans Brouwer
  • 👤 Francis E. Ferrari

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 12:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q11/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A receiving circuit for producing an output in response to a signal pulse train imposed on a voltage supply line comprising: a. means for detecting the presence of pulses on said supply line, b. indicating means, c. control means responsive to said pulses for initiating operation of said indicating means, and d. digital filter means for discriminating between no pulses, random pulses, and said train of pulses for inhibiting said control means when no pulses or random pulses are detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 80 words
A receiving circuit for producing an output in response to a signal pulse train imposed on a voltage supply line comprising: a. means for detecting the presence of pulses on said supply line, b. indicating means, c. control means responsive to said pulses for initiating operation of said indicating means, and d. digital filter means for discriminating between no pulses, random pulses, and said train of pulses for inhibiting said control means when no pulses or random pulses are detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The receiving circuit of claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes: a differential amplifier transistor pair wherein one transistor of said pair is controlled by the detected pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The receiving circuit of claim 1 wherein said control means includes: a. a flip-flop receiving said pulses and producing an output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The receiving circuit of claim 1 wherein said digital filter means includes: a. an oscillator producing a series of pulses; and b. a counter receiving the series of pulses from said oscillator and producing an output for inhibiting said control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
The circuit of claim 4 further including: means applying said detected pulses to said counter for initializing said counter whereby a train of detected pulses will prevent said counter from inhibiting said control means, while random detected pulses will only delay the inhibiting of said control means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3852713A Cited
US3939413A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-09 1981-07-11 1982-01-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-09 1985-07-11 1986-01-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-09 1989-07-11 1990-01-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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