Patent Application
20160297366
This disclosure relates generally to warning signals for motor vehicle. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an improved turn signal indicator for a vehicle side minor.
It is known to provide minor-mounted turn signal indicators. When mounted in, e.g., a motor vehicle side minor, turn signal indicators provide a visible warning of an impending turn or lane change to other vehicles, as a supplement to the main turn signal lights typically mounted at least at each of the four corners of the vehicle and associated respectively with the brake light and/or headlight arrays of the vehicle. Often, turn signal indicators are provided to provide a visible signal within a reflective surface of the minor as a premium feature for a vehicle. That is, the signal or symbol indicative of an impending turn or lane change is configured to shine through the minor reflective surface.
As is also known, a steady or constantly actuated indicator signal such as a turn signal indicator is less likely to attract attention from other drivers than an intermittent signal. For that reason, most commonly the indicator signal will actuate intermittently or “blink.” This is because a flashing or blinking indicator signal is more likely to attract the attention of other motorists than a steady indicator.
Such conventional flashing indicator signals, while effective for their intended purpose, can be improved. The present disclosure satisfies this need in the art by providing an animated rear-vision mirror-mounted indicator such as a turn signal indicator which is relatively un-complex in design and which does not require bulky electronics for operation. To the eye, the described indicator appears to provide an animated or moving image within the rear-vision minor reflective surface, thus attracting the attention of surrounding motorists to a greater degree even than flashing or blinking indicators.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, in one aspect a turn signal warning indicator system is described. Printed LED technology is used to provide an animated turn signal warning indicator within a reflective surface of a rear-vision mirror that is cost-effective and that more effectively catches the attention of adjacent motorists than a conventional turn signal indicator. In embodiments, printed LED technology is used to provide adjacent or printed LED decals that are activated in sequence by a processor operatively linked to a vehicle turn signal control system. By the sequential activation, an animated turn signal indicator is provided through the rear-vision minor surface when the turn signal control system is activated.
In another aspect, rear-vision minor assemblies are described incorporating the above-described turn signal warning indicator system.
In the following description, there are shown and described embodiments of the disclosed animated turn signal indicator. As it should be realized, the device is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the devices and methods as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed turn signal indicator, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed turn signal indicator, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
To address the foregoing and other identified problems, the present disclosure describes a turn signal warning indicator provided by means of printed LED technology disposed within a reflective surface of a rear-vision minor. At a high level, the described warning indicator is configured to provide an animated indicator indicative of an impending turn or lane change through the reflective surface of a rear-vision mirror such as a vehicle side minor when the vehicle turn signal system is activated. The present disclosure and drawings primarily describe such a warning indicator provided in vehicle driver's side view mirror. However, the skilled artisan will readily recognize that the technology is equally suited to rear view minors, etc.
Preliminarily, vehicle turn signal systems are well-known in the art, and do not require extensive discussion herein. However, as is known such turn signal systems are typically activated by the vehicle driver, for example using controls mounted to a steering wheel column, to indicate to other motorists that a turn or lane change is imminent. On actuation of the turn signal control, conventionally a flashing signal is activated, most commonly one or more yellow lights blinking at the rear and front of the vehicle and also within the side minor, all on the side of the vehicle corresponding to the intended direction of the turn or lane change. Conventional systems use one or more LED lights to form the indicators.
With reference to
An adhesive layer 16 may be included to adhere the warning indicator to a rear side of the reflective coating 14. This may be a coating of a suitable adhesive, two-sided adhesive tape, etc. A clear substrate layer 18 is interposed between the adhesive layer 16 and a printed LED design (see description below). This may be an optically clear plastic film, an optically clear adhesive, etc., providing a surface that can be printed on.
For the printed LED design which forms the warning indicator of the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that multiple colors of LED could be used to create desired designs as the technology advances. However, for reasons of cost effectiveness it is known to use printed LEDs emitting a blue color, overlaid with a suitable phosphor or other dye to alter the color of the light emitted by the printed LEDs. In one embodiment, rylene phosphor and/or YAG phosphor dyes are used to change the color emitted by portions of the printed LEDs. As is known in the art, rylene and other phosphor dyes can be applied to shift the blue light wavelengths emitted by blue LEDs to other desired color wavelengths, such as red and yellow wavelengths (see
Referring back to
In an embodiment, the above construct is used to provide a rear-vision mirror-mounted warning indicator defined by a plurality of printed LED decals provided in any desired shape, such as in the embodiment depicted in
With reference to
In use, when switch 34 is closed by processor 46 in response to activation of the vehicle turn signal control system 48, printed LED decal 40 is activated. When switch 36 is closed by processor 46 in response to activation of the vehicle turn signal control system 48, printed LED decal 42 is activated. When switch 38 is closed by processor 46 in response to activation of the vehicle turn signal control system 48, printed LED decal 44 is activated.
As will be appreciated, processor 46 may be programmed to activate/deactivate each printed LED decal 40, 42, 44 in any desired sequence. For example, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment (see
In this manner, an animated turn signal warning indicator is provided. The warning indicator is visible through the rear-vision mirror reflective surface, which by use of printed LED technology provides a premium feature to the vehicle in a simple, cost-effective manner. Advantageously, by the feature of animation the indicator is significantly more likely to catch the attention of adjacent motorists than conventional turn signal indicators. Moreover, printed LED technology provides hundreds of LEDs spread in an even pattern. This provides a much smoother light pattern compared to conventional LED technology which typically uses arrays of 5-7 LEDs to create a turn signal indicator, creating a choppy surface to the pattern that does not lend itself to smooth animation.
Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, other sequences for activation of adjacent printed LED decals 40, 42, 44 by processor 46 are possible to create the perception of an animated turn signal S to a viewer, and are contemplated for use herein. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
