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US 6,888,452 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for warning a following vehicle during braking
AssigneeChristiane Gerhaher
InventorMax Gerhaher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for warning a following vehicle when a vehicle in front applies its brakes are provided. At least one brake light of a vehicle illuminates during a braking process as the braking value increases in conformity with a present value of the braking value. After the value drops below the maximum value, the illumination continues for a retention time that is a function of the braking process, and after the conclusion of the retention time fades during a period of time that is a function of the braking process.
Claims18
A method of warning a following vehicle that a vehicle in front, a leading vehicle, has applied its brakes, the method comprising:
- in connection with each respective discrete application of said brakes of said leading vehicle during a braking process that results in a deceleration of said leading vehicle:
- (a) illuminating a brake light during a retention period of illumination such that said brake light displays a retention period visual format which is correspondingly indicative of the actual maximum rate of deceleration of said leading vehicle during the braking process,
- (b) during a fading period of illumination that commences at the end of said retention period of illumination, changing said retention period visual format of said brake light to a different visual format such that said brake light continues to be illuminated but has a different illuminated appearance during said fading period of illumination than its illuminated appearance during said retention period of illumination, said fading period of illumination having a prescribed blackout time at which the illumination of said brake light will cease, and
- (c) based upon a determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop, alternatively (1) ceasing the illumination of said brake light at said prescribed blackout time in the event that said prescribed blackout time is not earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop or (2) delaying the time at which the illumination of said brake light will cease to a later blackout time which is no earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop in the event that said prescribed blackout time is earlier than said determined time at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop, whereby the actual time after an application of its brakes at which said leading vehicle will come to a complete stop will vary as a function of the speed of said leading vehicle and the manner of application of its brakes and the illumination duration of said brake light of said leading vehicle varies in correspondence with the actual time for said leading vehicle to come to a complete stop to ensure that said brake light remains illuminated until said leading vehicle comes to a complete stop.
1 more element
A method for illuminating at least one brake light during a braking operation, comprising:
- determining a momentary value of a braking value during the braking operation, wherein the braking value is a variable that is characteristic of the braking operation,
- causing the at least one brake light to be illuminated during the braking operation in accordance with the determined momentary braking value, wherein increasing momentary braking values are represented by increasing illumination of the at least brake light,
- determining a maximum momentary braking value achieved during the braking operation, and
- maintaining the illumination of the at least brake light unaltered in accordance with the determined maximum momentary braking value until the momentary braking value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined fraction of the determined maximum momentary braking value.
1 more element
An apparatus adapted to illuminate at least one brake light during a braking operation, comprising:
- means for determining a momentary value of a braking value during the braking operation, wherein the braking value is a variable that is characteristic of the braking operation,
- means for causing the at least one brake light to be illuminated during the braking operation in accordance with the determined momentary braking value, wherein increasing momentary braking values are represented by increasing illumination of the at least brake light,
- means for determining a maximum momentary braking value achieved during the braking operation, and
- means for maintaining the illumination of the at least brake light unaltered in accordance with the determined maximum momentary braking value until the momentary braking value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined fraction of the determined maximum momentary braking value.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.