# US 2012/0083975 A1 · Dc power line control for light bars and sirens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0083975 A1 - Document ID: US20120083975A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/247,313 - Filed: 2011-09-28 - Published: 2012-04-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-01 - Assignees: Code 3, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel S. Miller; Roger L. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120083975A1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/2611: {Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle} - B60Q 1/0088: {Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195)} - B60Q 5/00: Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices - H04B 3/548: {the power on the line being DC (arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02)} - B60Q 2900/10: Retrofit arrangements - H04B 2203/547: via DC power distribution - H04B 2203/5483: using coupling circuits - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A light bar and/or a siren controlled by a control head via control signals on power lines connected to the control head, the light bar and/or the siren. Isolated power line communication (PLC) modules between the light bar, the siren and the control head transmit the control signals over the power lines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system comprising: An interface having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power; A light bar having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the interface for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received control signals, wherein the interface, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar; A light bar communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the interface for receiving control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding control signals to the controller; A control head responsive to operator input for providing control signals; and A control head communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding control signals to the electrical wires; wherein control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the control head communication module which provides corresponding control signals via the electrical wires to the light bar communication module which provides corresponding control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the interface to generate the visual warning signals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 further comprising: A siren interface having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power; A siren having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the siren interface for receiving power, having a sound generator connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the sound generator and having a siren controller for receiving control signals for selectively operating the sound generator to generate audible warning signals in response to received control signals, wherein the siren interface, when connected between the power input of the siren and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the siren; A siren communication module adapted to be connected between the siren controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the siren interface for receiving control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding control signals to the siren controller; wherein control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the control head communication module which provides corresponding control signals via the electrical wires to the siren communication module which provides corresponding control signals to the siren controller to selectively energize the sound generator by power provided via the siren interface to generate the audible warning signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a conversion circuit adapted to be connected between the light bar communication module and the controller of the light bar for converting control signals provided by the light bar communication module into switching signals provided to the controller of the light bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 further comprising a translation circuit adapted to be connected between the control head and the control head communication module and wherein the control head is adapted to be connected to the siren controller which is connected to the translation circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 further comprising an expansion adapted to be connected between the control head and the control head communication module and wherein the expansion module is adapted to be connected to the siren controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The warning system of claim 2, wherein the interface comprises an inductor in series with a wire connected to a positive terminal of the battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an inductor in series with a wire connected to a positive terminal of the battery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 further comprising: A siren isolator having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power; A siren having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the siren isolator for receiving power, having a sound generator connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the sound generator and having a siren controller for receiving control signals for selectively operating the sound generator to generate audible warning signals in response to received control signals, wherein the siren isolator, when connected between the power input of the siren and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the siren; A third power line communication module adapted to be connected between the siren controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the siren isolator for receiving control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding control signals to the siren controller; wherein I2C control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the second power line communication module which provides corresponding PLT control signals via the electrical wires to the third power line communication module which provides corresponding I2C control signals to the siren controller to selectively energize the sound generator by power provided via the isolator to generate the audible warning signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The warning system of claim 1 further comprising a plug adapted to be connected to engage an accessory outlet of the vehicle, said plug connected to an output of the light bar communication module such that the light bar communication module is adapted to be connected to the electrical wires via the plug engaging the accessory outlet of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system comprising: An isolator having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power; A light bar having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the isolator for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving inter-integrated circuit (I2C) control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received I2C control signals, wherein the isolator, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar; A first power line communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the isolator for receiving power line transceiver (PLT) control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding I2C control signals to the controller; A control head responsive to operator input for providing I2C control signals; and A second power line communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the I2C control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding PLT control signals to the electrical wires; wherein I2C control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the second power line communication module which provides corresponding PLT control signals via the electrical wires to the first power line communication module which provides corresponding I2C control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the isolator to generate the visual warning signals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The warning system of claim 10 further comprising a plug adapted to be connected to engage an accessory outlet of the vehicle, said plug connected to an output of the light bar communication module such that the light bar communication module is adapted to be connected to the electrical wires via the plug engaging the accessory outlet of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The warning system of claim 10 further comprising: A siren interface having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power; A siren having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the siren interface for receiving power, having a sound generator connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the sound generator and having a siren controller for receiving control signals for selectively operating the sound generator to generate audible warning signals in response to received control signals, wherein the siren interface, when connected between the power input of the siren and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the siren; A siren communication module adapted to be connected between the siren controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the siren interface for receiving control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding control signals to the siren controller; wherein control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the control head communication module which provides corresponding control signals via the electrical wires to the siren communication module which provides corresponding control signals to the siren controller to selectively energize the sound generator by power provided via the siren interface to generate the audible warning signals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising a conversion circuit adapted to be connected between the light bar communication module and the controller of the light bar for converting control signals provided by the light bar communication module into switching signals provided to the controller of the light bar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 further comprising a translation circuit adapted to be connected between the control head and the control head communication module and wherein the control head is adapted to be connected to the siren controller which is connected to the translation circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 further comprising an expansion adapted to be connected between the control head and the control head communication module and wherein the expansion module is adapted to be connected to the siren controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The warning system of claim 12, wherein the interface comprises an inductor in series with a wire connected to a positive terminal of the battery. ### Claim 17 A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system for use with a light bar having a power input for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving inter-integrated circuit (I2C) control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received I2C control signals, said system for use with a control head responsive to operator input for providing I2C control signals, said system comprising: An isolator having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side adapted to be connected to the power input of the light bar for supplying power to the light bar, wherein the isolator, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar; A first power line communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the isolator for receiving power line transceiver (PLT) control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding I2C control signals to the controller; and A second power line communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the I2C control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding PLT control signals to the electrical wires; wherein I2C control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the second power line communication module which provides corresponding PLT control signals via the electrical wires to the first power line communication module which provides corresponding I2C control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the isolator to generate the visual warning signals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The warning system of claim 17 further comprising a plug adapted to be connected to engage an accessory outlet of the vehicle, said plug connected to an output of the second power line communication module such that the second power line communication module is adapted to be connected to the electrical wires via the plug engaging the accessory outlet of the vehicle.