Vehicle headlight warning circuit
OwnerWilliam G. Copelandinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle headlight warning circuit includes an electronic sounder connected between a vehicle ignition switch andthe headlight switch of the vehicle with the sounder emitting an audible tone in response to a voltage imbalance therebetween when the lights are on and the ignition is off. A mute switch is provided in a parallel path and is operative to activate a relay for overriding the warning circuit should it be desired to operate the vehicle lights when the vehicle ignition switch is turned off.
Claims3
A headlight warning circuit for use in a vehicle having a headlight switch, an ignition switch, and a negative ground electrical system, each of said switches having a battery terminal and a non-battery terminal, said non-battery terminals having no direct, non-load intervening path to the vehicle battery, there being a potential difference from said headlight switch non-battery terminal to said ignition switch non-battery terminal when said headlight switch is closed and said ignition switch is open, said potential difference being capable of providing an alarm signal current, said circuit comprising:
- a. a positive circuit terminal and a negative circuit terminal, said positive circuit terminal being connected to a headlight switch non-battery terminal and said negative circuit terminal being connected to an ignition switch non-battery terminal;
- b. a rectifier diode having an anode and a cathode, said cathode being connected to said negative circuit terminal;
- c. an electric sounding means having a positive terminal thereof connected to said positive circuit terminal, said electric sounding means having a negative terminal connectable to said diode anode, said sounding means emitting an audible tone in response to said alarm signal current flow therethrough;
- and
- d. override means in the circuit and including an interrupter switch connected between the negative terminal of said sounding means and said diode anode for selectively interrupting the flow of said alarm signal current through said sounding means when said headlight switch is closed and said ignition switch is open;
- said override means including:
- 1. a relay having a coil and a single pole double throw relay switch, said coil having opposite terminals and said relay switch having a normally closed terminal, a normally open terminal, and a common terminal;
- 2. said relay coil having one terminal connected to said sounding means positive terminal, the other coil terminal being connected to said relay switch normally open terminal;
- 3. said relay switch normally closed terminal being connected to said sounding means negative terminal;
- 4. said relay switch common terminal being connected to said diode anode, said interrupter switch being said relay switch normally closed terminal and said common terminal;
- and
- 5. a normally open, momentary contact mute switch connected between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal, whereby closing said mute switch when said sounding means is conducting current causes said relay coil to be energized thereby making and holding a connection between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal and breaking the connection between said normally closed terminal and said common terminal thereby interrupting the flow of said alarm signal current through said sounding means.
A headlight warning circuit for use in a vehicle having a headlight switch and an ignition switch, each of said switches having a battery terminal and a non-battery terminal, said non-battery terminals having no direct, non-load intervening path to the vehicle battery, there being a potential difference from said headlight switch non-battery terminal to said ignition switch non-battery terminal when said headlight switch is closed and said ignition switch is open, said potential difference being capable of providing an alarm signal current, said circuit comprising:
- a. a positive circuit terminal and a negative circuit terminal, said positive circuit terminal being connected to the more electrically positive of said headlight switch non-battery terminal and said ignition switch non-battery terminal when said ignition switch is open and said headlight switch is closed and said negative circuit terminal being connected to the more electrically negative non-battery terminal of said headlight switch and said ignition switch;
- b. a rectifier diode having an anode and a cathode, said cathode being connected to said negative circuit terminal;
- c. an electric sounding means having a positive terminal thereof connected to said positive circuit terminal, said electric sounding means having a negative terminal connectable to said diode anode, said sounding means emitting an audible tone in response to said alarm signal current flow therethrough;
- and
- d. override means in the circuit and including:
- 1. a relay having a coil and a single pole double throw relay switch, said coil having opposite terminals and said relay switch having a normally closed terminal, a normally open terminal, and a common terminal;
- 2. said relay coil having one terminal connected to said sounding means positive terminal, the other coil terminal being connected to said relay switch normally open terminal;
- 3.
said relay switch normally closed terminal being connected to said sounding means negative terminal;
- 4. said relay switch common terminal being connected to said diode anode;
- and
- 5. a normally open, momentary contact mute switch connected between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal, whereby closing said mute switch when said ignition switch is open and said headlight switch is closed causes said relay coil to be energized thereby making and holding a connection between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal and breaking the connection between said normally closed terminal and said common terminal thereby interrupting the flow of said alarm signal current through said
- sounding means. 3. A headlight warning circuit for use in a vehicle having an accessory switch and an ignition switch, each of said switches having a battery terminal and a non-battery terminal, said non-battery terminals having no direct, non-load intervening path to the vehicle battery, there being a potential difference from said accessory switch non-battery terminal to said ignition switch non-battery terminal when said accessory switch is closed and said ignition switch is open, said potential difference being capable of providing an alarm signal current, said circuit comprising:
- a. a positive circuit terminal and a negative circuit terminal, said positive circuit terminal being connected to the more electrically positive of said accessory switch non-battery terminal and said ignition switch non-battery terminal when said ignition switch is open and said headlight switch is closed and said negative circuit terminal being connected to the more electrically negative of said accessory switch non-battery terminal and said ignition switch non-battery terminal;
- b. a rectifier diode having an anode and a cathode, said cathode being connected to said negative circuit terminal;
- c. an electric sounding means having a positive terminal thereof connected to said positive circuit terminal, said electric sounding means having a negative terminal connectable to said diode anode, said sounding means emitting an audible tone in response to said alarm signal current flow therethrough;
- and
- d. override means in the circuit and including:
- 1. a relay having a coil and a single pole double throw relay switch, said coil having opposite terminals and said relay switch having a normally closed terminal, a normally open terminal, and a common terminal;
- 2. said relay coil having one terminal connected to said sounding means positive terminal, the other coil terminal being connected to said relay switch normally open terminal;
- 3. said relay switch normally closed terminal being connected to said sounding means negative terminal;
- 4. said relay switch common terminal being connected to said diode anode;
- and
- 5. a normally open, momentary contact mute switch connected between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal, whereby closing said mute switch when said ignition switch is open and said accessory switch is closed causes said relay coil to be energized thereby making and holding a connection between said relay switch common terminal and said relay switch normally open terminal and breaking the connection between said normally closed terminal and said common terminal thereby interrupting the flow of said alarm signal current through said sounding means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.