GB2112228A - Early warning brake light system - Google Patents

Abstract

Brake warning lights are caused to flash at a rate which increases with increased brake pressure. When a maximum braking point is reached and the flashing is at the maximum flashing rate, a normal wattage bulb and a higher wattage bulb may be alternately energised. A flashing control circuit may include a resistor having a resistance which is varied under the control of the brake pedal or the hydraulic brake system.

Description

SPECIFICATION The 'early warning' brake light system A patent is required for a device for the operation of rear warning lights on motor and other vehicles and for the on/off flashing light principle of signalling the application of brakes (as opposed to the present single light, brake or accelerator operated system) as set out below.

The function is to give following vehicles warning of braking by providing a varying on/off frequency of the rear red warning (brake) lights, the bulbs therein to be switched on and off at a frequency dependent on the degree of braking applied. For example, a light pressure on the brake pedal will cause the rear red lights to switch on and off at a low, predetermined frequency. The frequency of switching will increase in direct ratio to the increased brake pressure, until the lights are flashing at their maximum predetermined frequency. Alternatively, the device may provide that when the maximum braking point is reached, the flashing of the red brake warning lights will alternate from the normal wattage bulb to one of higher wattage, thus providing, with the maximum warning frequency, an alternating change of brightness.

The switching of the rear red braking lights may be carried out in two ways or by a combination of both, as follows.

One. The device can be an electronic unit, providing a method of switching, by relays or other means, using the varying rate of charge and discharge of a capacitor, or by use of switching circuits using transistors and/or diodes operated by the changing resistive element provided and controlled by the brake pedal or by the vehicle's hydraulic brake system.

Two. Alternatively, the device can be designed to switch the rear braking lights by means of an hydraulically operated electro/mechanical method.

Thus, it is calculated, that particularly at high speeds, valuable seconds of warning will be given to following vehicles by the indication that the vehicle ahead is braking, either in the course of normal driving, or that the driver is using severe or emergency braking.

Claim (filed on 17 Dec. 1982) 1. A vehicular safety braking indicating system, said system showing, by means of two pairs of rear facing red warning lights, mounted, one of each pair on either side at the rear of the vehicle so equipped and controlled by an electronic unit whose operation and output is governed by the amount of brake pressure used, a clear and early warning of the degree of brake power being used at any given moment, to the drivers of any trailing vehicles. One pair of lights will be nominated 'primary' and one pair'secondary'.

As the brakes are applied, a light degree of braking will cause the primary pair of rear red warning lights to flash on and off at a low frequency. As the brake pressure is increased, the frequency of the flashing of the two primary red lights will increase until a high degree of flashing frequency indicates hard braking. Beyond that point, under conditions of 'full' or 'emergency' braking the primary pair of lights will continue to flash but a secondary pair of red lights, rear facing, of higher wattage, will begin flashing, brought into this mode by the hydraulically operated electronic unit, so that, to drivers of trailing vehicles, a flashing signal of alternate brightness will be seen. i. e. One flash from the two primary, red, rear facing warning lights, followed by one flash from the secondary, red, rear facing warning lights with higher wattage bulbs, the frequency of both primary and secondary lights to be at the highest output frequency from the hydraulically controlled electronic unit.

Two dual-purpose twin bulb lamps may be used in place of separate primary and secondary lamps.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   SPECIFICATION The 'early warning' brake light system A patent is required for a device for the operation of rear warning lights on motor and other vehicles and for the on/off flashing light principle of signalling the application of brakes (as opposed to the present single light, brake or accelerator operated system) as set out below.

   The function is to give following vehicles warning of braking by providing a varying on/off frequency of the rear red warning (brake) lights, the bulbs therein to be switched on and off at a frequency dependent on the degree of braking applied. For example, a light pressure on the brake pedal will cause the rear red lights to switch on and off at a low, predetermined frequency. The frequency of switching will increase in direct ratio to the increased brake pressure, until the lights are flashing at their maximum predetermined frequency. Alternatively, the device may provide that when the maximum braking point is reached, the flashing of the red brake warning lights will alternate from the normal wattage bulb to one of higher wattage, thus providing, with the maximum warning frequency, an alternating change of brightness.

   The switching of the rear red braking lights may be carried out in two ways or by a combination of both, as follows.

   One. The device can be an electronic unit, providing a method of switching, by relays or other means, using the varying rate of charge and discharge of a capacitor, or by use of switching circuits using transistors and/or diodes operated by the changing resistive element provided and controlled by the brake pedal or by the vehicle's hydraulic brake system.

   Two. Alternatively, the device can be designed to switch the rear braking lights by means of an hydraulically operated electro/mechanical method.

   Thus, it is calculated, that particularly at high speeds, valuable seconds of warning will be given to following vehicles by the indication that the vehicle ahead is braking, either in the course of normal driving, or that the driver is using severe or emergency braking.

   Claim (filed on 17 Dec. 1982)

   1. A vehicular safety braking indicating system, said system showing, by means of two pairs of rear facing red warning lights, mounted, one of each pair on either side at the rear of the vehicle so equipped and controlled by an electronic unit whose operation and output is governed by the amount of brake pressure used, a clear and early warning of the degree of brake power being used at any given moment, to the drivers of any trailing vehicles. One pair of lights will be nominated 'primary' and one pair'secondary'.

   As the brakes are applied, a light degree of braking will cause the primary pair of rear red warning lights to flash on and off at a low frequency. As the brake pressure is increased, the frequency of the flashing of the two primary red lights will increase until a high degree of flashing frequency indicates hard braking. Beyond that point, under conditions of 'full' or 'emergency' braking the primary pair of lights will continue to flash but a secondary pair of red lights, rear facing, of higher wattage, will begin flashing, brought into this mode by the hydraulically operated electronic unit, so that, to drivers of trailing vehicles, a flashing signal of alternate brightness will be seen. i. e. One flash from the two primary, red, rear facing warning lights, followed by one flash from the secondary, red, rear facing warning lights with higher wattage bulbs, the frequency of both primary and secondary lights to be at the highest output frequency from the hydraulically controlled electronic unit.

   Two dual-purpose twin bulb lamps may be used in place of separate primary and secondary lamps.