Patent Application
20090160633
The present disclosure relates to a brake light system for a vehicle.
Known vehicles, e.g., automobiles and light-weight utility vehicles, typically include an acceleration control assembly and a braking control assembly for controlling movement of the vehicle. Generally, the acceleration control assembly controls a primary mover, e.g., a motor or engine, that imparts motive forces on at least one drive wheel of the vehicle to affect movement of the vehicle. The braking control assembly typically controls operation of mechanical drum, shoe, and pad brake mechanisms, mechanical steel band and polished drum brake mechanisms, mechanical rotor and caliper brake mechanism, or in some instances, regenerative braking available when the primary mover is an electric motor.
Typically, the braking assembly includes a brake pedal connected to a brake arm that pivots at a distal when a vehicle operator depresses the brake pedal. The pivoting motion or movement of the brake arm typically activates a brake light switch to illuminate one or more brake lights. Activation of the brake light switch is dependent on physical interaction between the brake arm and the switch as the brake arm moves or pivots. Such brake light switches add considerably to parts, labor and tooling costs, complexity, and weight to the brake assemblies.
In various embodiments, a brake lighting system for a lightweight utility vehicle is provided. The brake lighting system can comprise a pressure sensitive brake light switch (PSBLS) operably connected to a brake pedal subassembly of the vehicle. The PSBLS is configured such that pressure or force applied to a brake pedal included in the brake pedal subassembly compresses the pressure sensitive brake light switch. The brake lighting system additionally can comprise a brake light circuit that can include at least one brake light and an electronic switching device communicatively connected to the PSBLS. The electronic switching device is responsive to a brake light signal transmitted by the PSBLS when the PSBLS is compressed. Upon receipt of the brake light signal, the electronic switching device enables a current flow through the brake light to illuminate the brake light.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses.
Referring to
In various embodiments, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 is included in the brake pedal subassembly 30. More particularly, as exemplarily illustrated in
The pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be any suitable pressure sensitive switch that operates to output the brake light signal 72 to the electronic switching device 70 when pressure is applied to the brake pedal pad 78, i.e., when the brake pedal 46 is depressed. For example, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be a non-contact pressure sensitive switch, a membrane switch or a tape switch.
In various embodiments, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be molded into, or integrally formed with, the brake pedal pad 78. In various other embodiments, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be affixed to the brake pedal pad 78, or affixed to the brake pedal 46. For example, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be glued, screwed, stapled or riveted to the brake pedal 46 or the brake pedal pad 78. Alternatively, in various implementations, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 can be a wire molded into the brake pedal pad 78 such that when the brake pedal pad 78 is compressed, as the brake pedal 46 is depressed, an exposed portion of the wire contacts the metallic brake pedal 46. Contact of the wire with the metallic brake pedal 46 completes an electrical circuit to transmit the brake light signal 72 to drive the electronic switching device 70 to close the brake light circuit 62 and illuminate the brake light(s) 18.
When the brake pedal and pad 46 and 78 are depressed to initiate a braking operation of the vehicle 10, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 is compressed, i.e., activated or closed, and transmits the brake light signal 72, e.g., a voltage output, to the electronic switching device 70. When the electronic switching device 70 receives the brake light signal 72 from the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58, the electronic switching device 70 closes to complete, or close, the brake light circuit 62. Closing the brake light circuit 62 electrically connects the power source 66 to the brake light(s) 18 such that current flows through the brake light circuit 62 illuminating brake light(s) 18 to indicate the braking operation of the vehicle 10.
Conversely, when the brake pedal and pad 46 and 78 are released, or not depressed, the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58 is not compressed and terminates, or does not transmit, the brake light signal 72. In response to the termination or absence of the brake light signal 72, the electronic switching device 70 opens, breaking the brake light circuit 62, and terminating or preventing current flow through the brake light circuit 62 such that the brake light(s) 18 are extinguished or not illuminated. Thus, the brake light(s) 18 are only illuminated when pressure is applied to the brake pedal 46 and pad 78, for example, when pressure is applied by a vehicle operator stepping on the brake pedal and pad 46, and 78. The applied pressure compresses the pressure sensitive brake light switch 58, which then transmits the brake light signal 72 to the electronic switching device 70. In response to the brake light signal 72, the electronic switching device 70 closes, allowing current to flow through the brake light circuit 62 to illuminate the brake light(s) 18.
The electronic switching device 70 can be any electronic switching device suitable for receiving the brake light signal 72 and controlling the flow of current through the brake light circuit 62. For example, the electronic switching device 70 can be an electro-mechanical relay switch, a transistor, a field effect transistor (FET) or a insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). In various implementations, the electronic switching device 70 is normally open such that current does not flow through the brake light circuit 62 and the brake light(s) 18 is/are normally extinguished, i.e., not illuminated.
The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings. Additionally, in the event that one or more of the incorporated literature and similar materials differs from or contradicts this application, including but not limited to defined terms, term usage, described techniques, or the like, this application controls.
