Patent US4951656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4956580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic car lamps lighting controller
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-07-06
•
Granted: 1990-09-11
•
Expires: 2008-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An automatic car lamps lighting controller to provide warning light in the daytime as well as in the night. The system includes an induction coil for detecting the start up of the car engine, an amplifier circuit, a comparator, control relays, and a night control circuit. As soon as the car is started, the front and the rear location lamp of the car being automatically turned on; the car front lamps and dash lamps automatically turned on in the night. The system enables the instant vehicle (car) to be readily seen by the drivers of other vehicles even though the driver of the instant vehicle neglects or refuses to manually turn on the road illumination lamps or vehicle location (parking) lamps.
Inventors
- 👤 Wang Yun-Shang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1423; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/052; B60Q2300/30; B60Q2300/31; B60Q2300/314; B60Q2300/33; B60Q2300/337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
In a vehicle having a spark ignition engine and a lamp system: the improvement comprising means for automatically energizing lamps in the lamp system in response in operation of the engine and variations in ambient light conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle; said energizing means comprising an induction coil (3) in close physical proximity to an engine spark plug wire to generate an electrical signal only when the engine is operating; an amplifier means (20) connected to said induction coil to provide an amplified signal when the engine is operating; a comparator (26) having two inputs; means (at 24,25) for supplying a reference voltage to one of the comparator inputs; circuit means for supplying said amplified signal to the other comparator input, whereby the comparator produces an output trigger signal only when the engine is operating; a first relay (30) having a first set of contacts (31) for supplying current to the lamp system; circuit means (at 29) for applying the trigger signal to the first relay for energizing same; a second relay (36) having a second set of contacts (37) in circuit with said first set of contacts to control current flow to at least some of the lamps in the lamp system; and a photoresistance means (6) responsive to external ambient light conditions to control current flow through said second relay, whereby lamps in the lamp system are automatically turned on when the engine is operating and the ambient light level is below a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a vehicle having a spark ignition engine and a lamp system: the improvement comprising means for automatically energizing lamps in the lamp system in response in operation of the engine and variations in ambient light conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle; said energizing means comprising an induction coil (3) in close physical proximity to an engine spark plug wire to generate an electrical signal only when the engine is operating; an amplifier means (20) connected to said induction coil to provide an amplified signal when the engine is operating; a comparator (26) having two inputs; means (at 24,25) for supplying a reference voltage to one of the comparator inputs; circuit means for supplying said amplified signal to the other comparator input, whereby the comparator produces an output trigger signal only when the engine is operating; a first relay (30) having a first set of contacts (31) for supplying current to the lamp system; circuit means (at 29) for applying the trigger signal to the first relay for energizing same; a second relay (36) having a second set of contacts (37) in circuit with said first set of contacts to control current flow to at least some of the lamps in the lamp system; and a photoresistance means (6) responsive to external ambient light conditions to control current flow through said second relay, whereby lamps in the lamp system are automatically turned on when the engine is operating and the ambient light level is below a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the lamp system comprises vehicle location lamp means (5) and road illumination lamp means (7); said first set of contacts being in continuous circuit with said vehicle location lamp means to energize same independently of the second set of contacts; said second set of contacts being in continuous circuit with the road illumination lamp means to energize same only when the engine is operating and the ambient light level is below a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the lamp system comprises vehicle location lamp means (5) and road illumination lamp means (7); said first set of contacts and said second set of contacts being in continuous series circuit connection with the vehicle location lamp means and the road illumination lamp means, whereby both lamp means are energized when the engine is operating and the ambient light level is below a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2917665A
Cited
US3037144A
Cited
US3201643A
Cited
US3088051A
Cited
US3349281A
Cited
US3389296A
Cited
US3473083A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-10 | 1994-03-12 | 1994-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-03-12 | 1998-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-10 | 2002-03-12 | 2002-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |