Electronic flasher circuit

An electrical flasher circuit, comprising:

• a rechargeable battery;
• a solar panel coupled to the rechargeable battery;
• a timer circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and to the solar panel for producing an output voltage which changes periodically between an on state and an off state and is on during a minor portion of a period of said output voltage;
• at least one lamp coupled to the timer circuit, and means for causing said at least one lamp to repeatedly flash between an on state and an off state in response to the output voltage;
• the solar panel providing sufficient power to energize the timer circuit and to recharge the rechargeable battery when at least a predetermined threshold of light acts on the solar panel, and the rechargeable battery alone energizing the timer circuit in the absence of said light for at least fifty hours when the rechargeable battery has been fully charged;
• means including a light-dependent resistor coupled to a transistor switch coupled to the timer for permitting the timer to function only when an ambient light level falls below a predetermined threshold and said means preventing astable operation when the ambient light level fluctuates about the predetermined threshold, said light dependent resistor and said transistor switch being continuously energized by said solar panel for continuously monitoring said ambient light level, said means further comprising a reset circuit for disabling said at least one lamp when the light dependent resistor indicates that the ambient light level is below the predetermined threshold;
• wherein said period of said timer circuit is sufficiently short such that the rate at which said lamp repeatedly flashes is greater than the critical frequency of fusion.

An electrical flasher circuit comprising:

• a rechargeable battery;
• a solar panel coupled to the rechargeable battery;
• a timer circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and to the solar panel for producing an output voltage which changes periodically between an on state and an off state and is on during a minor portion of a period of said output voltage;
• at least one lamp coupled to the timer circuit, and means for causing said at least one lamp to repeatedly flash between a visually perceptible on state and an off state in response to the output voltage;
• the solar panel providing sufficient power to energize the timer circuit and to recharge the rechargeable battery when at least a predetermined threshold of light acts on the solar panel, and the rechargeable battery alone energizing the timer circuit for at least a first predetermined time in the absence of said light after the rechargeable battery is fully charged;
• means including a light dependent resistor coupled to a transistor switch, the transistor switch being coupled to the timer for permitting the timer to function only when an ambient light level falls below a predetermined threshold and said means preventing astable operation when the ambient light level fluctuates about the predetermined threshold, said light dependent resistor and said transistor switch being continuously energized by said solar panel for continuously monitoring said ambient light level, said means further comprising a reset circuit for disabling said at least one lamp when the light dependent resistor indicates that the ambient light level is below the predetermined threshold.

An electrical flasher circuit, comprising:

• a rechargeable battery;
• a solar panel coupled to the rechargeable battery;
• a timer circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery and to the solar panel for producing, an output voltage which changes periodically between an on state and an off state and is on during a minor portion of a period of said output voltage;
• at least one lamp coupled to the timer circuit, and means for causing said at least one lamp to repeatedly flash at a visually imperceptible rate in response to the output voltage;
• the solar panel providing sufficient power to energize the timer circuit and to recharge the rechargeable battery when at least a predetermined threshold of light acts on the solar panel, and the rechargeable battery alone energizing the timer circuit for at least a predetermined time in the absence of said light after the rechargeable battery is fully charged;
• means including a light dependent resistor coupled to a transistor switch, the transistor switch being coupled to the timer for permitting the timer to function only when an ambient light level falls below a predetermined threshold and said means preventing astable operation when the ambient light level fluctuates about the predetermined threshold, said light dependent resistor and said transistor switch being continuously energized by said solar panel for continuously monitoring said ambient light level, said means further comprising a reset circuit for disabling said at least one lamp when the light dependent resistor indicates that the ambient light level is below the predetermined threshold.

A road sign warning device, comprising:

• a sign member, said sign member having an indicator for indicating a particular condition;
• a plurality of light emitters placed around the perimeter of the indicator;
• a means for energizing said light emitters, said means for energizing powering said light emitters sequentially;
• rechargeable solar energy means for providing power to said means for energizing said light emitters, said solar energy means including a photoelectric panel and a rechargeable battery;
• a means for determining the ambient light level, said light level determining means including a light dependent resistor and a transistor switch preventing said energizing means from energizing said light emitters when said ambient light level is above a predetermined level and said means preventing astable operation when the ambient light level fluctuates about the predetermined threshold, said light dependent resistor and said transistor switch being continuously energized by said solar panel for continuously monitoring said ambient light level, said means further comprising a reset circuit for disabling said plurality of light emitters when the light dependent resistor indicates that the ambient light level is below the predetermined threshold;
• and
• wherein said photoelectric panel is mounted along a top edge of said sign member.