WO1999039938A1

WO1999039938A1 - Light warning device for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1999039938A1
Application number: PCT/DE1999/000294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thorsten Chmielus
Original assignee: Thorsten Chmielus
Priority date: 1998-02-04
Filing date: 1999-02-03
Publication date: 1999-08-12
Also published as: DE19804306A1; AU2712299A; DE29923526U1; DE19980171D2

Abstract

A practically autonomous and mobile light warning device for motor vehicles ensures the activation of an optical and/or acoustic signal generator (6) when predefined light conditions occur, without any external connections. The light warning device for motor vehicles has its own power supply (1), a sensor (2) for recognising the state of operation of the motor vehicle engine and logic circuits which activate the signal generator (6) when a change in the state of operation of the engine from 'engine out' to 'engine on' is recognised and predefined light conditions prevail. These predefined light conditions are recognised by means of a photo-sensitive sensor (4) arranged on the light warning device or can be predetermined by clock times stored in a memory (3) of the light warning device.

Description

Light warning device for motor vehicles

description

The invention relates to a light warning device for motor vehicles. Light warning devices that give the driver a

Visually and / or acoustically signaling a motor vehicle when switching on or off the headlight light is recognized as expedient and / or proper due to the occurrence of predefined conditions, is now largely part of the basic equipment of a new motor vehicle, or, if requested by a customer, it is also added as special equipment of a new one Motor vehicle integrated.

Such light warning devices can be coupled to a light-sensitive sensor in order, for example, to detect when a predefined light threshold value is undershot and, as a result, to notify the driver optically and / or acoustically of the need to switch on the headlight light. Another possibility is, for example, the optical or acoustic signaling of stored parameters, such as Times at which the driver should switch on the light.

Furthermore, variants of light warning devices are known which, for example, when the driver turns off the Show the vehicle that the headlight is still switched on. For this purpose, the light warning device is usually electrically coupled to the ignition of the motor vehicle. A disadvantage of essentially all light warning devices of the generic type that are still available today is the necessary connection between the light warning device and the motor vehicle. Such a necessary connection results in particular from the fact that, on the one hand, the energy supply to the light warning device must be guaranteed and, on the other hand, depending on the type of such light warning device, certain conditions of the motor vehicle, for example whether the ignition is switched on or the door is open, are also taken into account, ie, for example, must be detected by means of sensors or voltage levels applied to components.

The retrofitting of a motor vehicle with a light warning device is therefore in many cases very time-consuming and cost-intensive and in some cases also impossible if it is significant or complete

Motor vehicle electronics and / or electronics is to be integrated, as is conventionally the case with new motor vehicles.

But even in the case of light warning devices which are provided for retrofitting a motor vehicle, various cables and lines from the light warning device often have to be connected to parts of the motor vehicle for the reasons mentioned above. Furthermore, since cables which are unclad after installation of a light warning device, that is to say are routed freely in the passenger compartment, can on the one hand be perceived as very disruptive, but can also significantly hinder and restrict the operational safety of the motor vehicle, a proper one This makes assembly more difficult and / or tired long. This is required to the extent that these light warning devices are largely sold by accessory companies directly to the end user, ie to the owner of a motor vehicle and thus often to a non-specialist in relation to motor vehicle technology.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a light warning device for motor vehicles, with which the above-mentioned problems of the prior art are avoided, the functionality of which is ensured without disruptive or complex connections to the motor vehicle, and thus in particular also quickly and easily by non-specialists m essentially any motor vehicle can be retrofitted but can also be removed again.

The solution to the problem is characterized in a most surprising way by the features of independent claims 1, 13, 14 and 15. In accordance with the invention is according to claim 1 and

13 to provide a light warning device for motor vehicles with an optical and / or acoustic signal transmitter with its own energy supply device, a sensor for recognizing the operating state of the motor vehicle engine and with a circuit logic which, as a result of a detected change in the operating state of the motor from "engine off" to " Motor on "activates the signal generator when predefined lighting conditions occur. Since these predefined lighting conditions can also be detected with the aid of a light-sensitive sensor arranged on the light warning device or can be specified by times stored in a memory of the light warning device, a light warning device becomes the first time provided, which forms an essentially completely self-sufficient and mobile unit. The light warning device according to the invention, the functionality of which is thus ensured without any external connections, is consequently easy, quick and easy to retrofit, regardless of the type of motor vehicle.

Since it is also sufficient to supply only the sensor for recognizing the operating state with the necessary operating voltage and other components only when required during the operating state "engine off", a commercially available battery can advantageously be used with an average use of the motor vehicle over one or more Ensure the functional humidity of the light warning device according to the invention over a period of years.

In a preferred embodiment, provision is also made to provide a solar cell for the energy supply, which expediently also ensures the charging of an associated accumulator. In a particularly practical and advantageous way

Further development are provided on the light warning device according to the invention, which are insensitive to UV radiation, temperature fluctuations etc., adhesives or adhesives in order to quickly and easily, for example, on the dashboard or on the

Mount inside the windshield. In this way, parallel to the simple assembly, the energy supply can be ensured via a solar cell and it can also be ensured that the light or brightness values detected by the light-sensitive sensor essentially correspond to the actual light conditions surrounding the motor vehicle and are not falsified, for example, by an unsuitable attachment of the light warning device in the passenger compartment . In practice, sensors which detect the vibrations or shocks caused by a running engine or the magnetic field caused when the engine is started or the noise level associated with a running engine have proven to be preferred sensors for detecting the operating state of the motor vehicle engine.

The light warning device expediently comprises a device for deactivating the signal transmitter. This ensures on the one hand that after activation and

Perception of the signal generator no unnecessary nuisance to the vehicle occupants takes place. Furthermore, the energy required can be reduced further. For deactivation, for example, a manually operable button can be arranged on the light warning device and / or one with the

Activation of the signal generator predefined time window to deactivate the signal generator can be opened.

A particularly advantageous and preferred embodiment provides to provide a further sensor for detecting the switched-on or switched-off state of the headlight light. The signal transmitter can be automatically deactivated as soon as it is determined that the light is switched on, preferably using an appropriately designed light-sensitive or field sensor. If the sensor is connected appropriately, it can also be provided that the signal transmitter is not activated when it is detected that the headlight light is already switched on. In an advantageous further development, it is also provided that the circuit logic is designed such that the signal transmitter is additionally activated if the surrounding light conditions are exceeded above a defined light threshold value becomes. This can be used to indicate, for example, that the headlight is switched off at the end of a tunnel.

It is advantageous to build up the circuit logic so that after the motor vehicle has been switched off, i. H. when the operating status of the engine changes from "engine on" to

To cause "engine off" to "fall asleep" of the light warning device in such a way that essentially only the sensor for detecting the operating state of the motor vehicle engine remains active, ie. H. is powered. Advantageously, this is preferred

Further development before the light warning device “falls asleep” brings about a renewed activation of the signal transmitter if a switched-on state of the headlight light should be recognized. It is also within the scope of the invention

Light warning device both for detecting actually surrounding light conditions and for storing e.g. to train typical time and / or date-dependent lighting conditions. As a result of this redundancy, malfunctions of the inventive

Light warning device can be substantially avoided.

According to independent claims 14 and 15, it is alternatively provided according to the invention to use a motion sensor instead of the motor sensor. The conventionally very low power consumption of a motion detector is advantageous here, so that the passenger compartment, in particular the driver's seat, can be checked in a very energy-saving manner with regard to movements. If no movements are recorded, the vehicle is considered not used. However, if movements are detected, the vehicle is considered to be in use, whereupon the light warning device is fully activated.

The invention is based on a 7

exemplary embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of the light warning device according to the invention and

Fig. 2 shows a simplified representation of a possible

Circuit logic of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the following, reference is made to FIG. 1, which exemplifies an embodiment of a light warning device according to the invention based on a block diagram. In a manner according to the invention, all of the components shown are integrated in the light warning device, so that it forms an essentially completely self-sufficient and mobile unit which can be used without any external connections. It has been shown that the size of such a unit should be between that of a 5DM piece and that of a credit card, so as not to be disruptive to the occupants after the light warning device has been arranged in a motor vehicle.

1, the light warning device comprises its own power supply 1. Depending on the particular design of the light warning device, the use of one or more batteries and / or the solar cell technology together with a battery capable of being fed thereby has been preserved.

Since the light warning device should essentially only be active when the motor vehicle is also in operation, the light warning device comprises an engine sensor 2 which is designed to detect the running engine. A magnetic field sensor and / or vibration or vibration sensor and / or a sensor is particularly suitable for detecting the states "motor on" and "motor off" Noise or noise level sensor. The sensitivity of these sensors, which are known per se to the person skilled in the art, can be adapted to the respective requirements. In order, for example, to be able to largely rule out causes other than the current ones for activation of the light warning device during the detection by a vibration or sound sensor, a mean value measurement or averaging can be carried out over several seconds. A memory 3, to which a clock and a calendar are assigned, is used to store times, preferably for each day of the year, to fall below a specific threshold value at which the headlight should be switched on. The clock serving as the time base and the calendar can also be adjusted, for example, by a button and / or by radio control. The memory ensures, as it were, the static behavior of the light warning device, since the times at which the headlight light should be switched on, for example, are preferably freely storable, but are fixed after storage. A flexible adaptation of the light warning device to the actually predictable environmental conditions is therefore not possible with such a storage device.

In order to be able to take into account bad weather conditions, tunnel driving, etc., independently of stored threshold values, and thus also to ensure dynamic behavior of the light warning device, a light-sensitive sensor 4, preferably a photodetector, is provided. If the light warning device has a storage device 3 in addition to the at least one light-sensitive sensor 4, any malfunctions can also occur, for example if one or more fail light-dependent sensors 4, in the case of excessive light incidence, for example by oncoming traffic with the headlights on or due to other unfavorable lighting conditions. In order to ensure the best possible detection field, in particular for a light-sensitive sensor and an energy supply via solar cell, the light warning device according to the invention is preferably arranged on or near a car window. For easy and quick installation, for example on the dashboard or on the windshield, suction or adhesive feet, for example, can be provided on the light warning device or the device can be glued, taking into account external environmental influences, such as UV radiation or temperature fluctuations.

The information received from the components 2, 3, 4 is evaluated by an evaluation unit 5 with a circuit logic designed appropriately for the type of embodiment. If predetermined events occur or are present, this is recognized by the circuit and activated by the signal generator 6. This signal transmitter 6 can be designed optically, for example in the form of a light-emitting diode, or acoustically, for example with a piezoelectric buzzer. 1, the signal transmitter is intended

6 e.g. at the time saved in memory 3. Furthermore, if the light-sensitive sensor 4 responds above a predetermined threshold value, the signal transmitter 6 will also be activated. According to the invention, the activation of the

Signal generator 6, however, only take place if the motor

Sensor technology is recognized that the vehicle engine is switched on.

To deactivate the signal generator 6, according to FIG. 1 10

a button 7 is provided with which, for example, the switching on of the light can be confirmed and the signal transmitter can thereby be deactivated.

An exemplary function and evaluation sequence of a light warning device according to the invention is briefly described below with reference to FIG. 2, which shows an exemplary circuit. It should be noted that the circuit shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to a relatively simple implementation for reasons of clarity. However, this is not to be understood as restrictive, but rather as illustrative. Furthermore, in FIG. 2 the reference numerals of FIG. 1 have been adopted for identical or functionally identical components.

The exemplary evaluation block 5 comprises four IC modules 5a -5d. The IC 5a is designed as an OR gate, the IC 5b as an INVERS gate, the IC 5c as a FLIP-FLOP and the IC 5d as an AND gate.

2 are "H" (high level) and "L" (low level). In the starting position, i.e. when switched off

Motor, all input signals of the evaluation unit 5 are at "L". The individual input signals each correspond to the signals present at the output of the motor sensor 2, the memory 3, the light-sensitive sensor 4 and the button 7.

The signals coming from the memory 3 and the light sensor 4 are present at the input of the OR gate 5a, the output of which is thus at "L". The output of the IC 5a is present at the input of the AND gate 5d. The signal coming from engine sensor 2 is at J,

C, and K inputs of the IC 5c and the AND gate 5d.

The signal coming from the button 7 switches the output of the IC 5b to "H". The output of the IC module 5b controls 11

the flip-flop IC 5c via the R input. As a result, the output of the IC building 5c connected to the IC building 5d is set to "H".

Thus, in the initial position, the input of the AND gate is at "H" and two inputs are at "L". The

Signal generator β is activated when all three inputs of the AND gate 5d are at "H".

If the engine sensor 2 determines that the engine of the motor vehicle is switched on, it switches to "H". As a result, the evaluation block 5 is "armed" since two out of three inputs are now at "H" on the IC module 5d.

If the output of the memory 3 and / or the output of the light sensor 4 is now set to "H", i. H. If the actual time coincides with a stored time or if the detected light conditions fall below the predetermined threshold value, the OR gate 5a switches the output to "H". Now all inputs of the AND gate 5d are at "H" and the signal generator 6 is activated. The signal generator 6 is switched off again when the button 7 is pressed and, as a result, an "H" level is sent to the IC module 5b, whereby its output is set to "L". As a result, the flip-flop IC module 5c is set and its output connected to the input of the IC module 5d becomes and remains "L". Since m em input of the AND gate 5d is at "L", 5d is at "low", it no longer switches through, as a result of which the signal generator is deactivated.

With this simple embodiment, the signal generator can only be activated again when the engine has been switched off.

By turning off the engine, the output signal of the engine sensor 2 is set from "H" to "L" and the flip-flop IC module 5c is returned to its initial position 12

reset. The light warning device is thus set "ready for the next trip", i. H. after the motor is switched on again, two inputs of the IC building 5d are again at "H", so that the light warning device is active again.

It should be mentioned that the activation of the signal transmitter can in principle also be achieved when a predetermined light threshold value is exceeded, so that, for example, the "switching off" of the headlight light is signaled to the motor vehicle driver at the end of a tunnel. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a further sensor which determines whether the headlight light is switched on or off. With such a sensor, designed for example as a magnetic field sensor, the signal transmitter can automatically be, for. B. be deactivated after switching on the light or can be em activation from the start with the light switched off.

It should also be pointed out that for an automatic deactivation of the signal generator when the signal generator is activated, a predefined time window of, for example, 30 seconds can be provided for the duration of the activation.

The invention also includes embodiments of a self-sufficient light warning device which have a motion sensor. The motion sensor, for example in the manner of a pyroelectric sensor, monitors the passenger compartment, in particular the area of the driver's seat. The following results for determining the current operating state of the motor vehicle: If no movements are detected, the motor vehicle is deemed not to have been used and is therefore in the above-described engine operating state "engine off". 13

comparable. If movements in the passenger compartment are detected, the vehicle is considered to be in use, whereupon the light wa device is activated in a corresponding manner described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Claims

14 Patent claims

1. Light warning device for motor vehicles comprising at least one light-sensitive sensor (4) for detecting ambient light conditions, an optical and / or acoustic signal transmitter (6), a circuit logic for activating the signal transmitter

(6), a device (1) for energy supply, and a motor sensor (2) for detecting the operating state of the motor vehicle engine, a change in the operating state from "engine off" to "running engine" as a result of a change in the output signal associated therewith the motor sensor causes a "waking up" of the light warning device in such a way that, as a result of the "waking up", the circuit logic using the light-sensitive sensor detects that the lighting conditions are below a defined light threshold value and activates the signal generator (6) when the light threshold value is undershot.

2. Light warning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) comprises a battery.

3. Light warning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply device (1) comprises a solar cell. 15

4. Light warning device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized by a fastening device which is essentially resistant to external environmental influences, such as UV radiation or temperature fluctuations.

5. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the motor sensor (2) comprises a vibration sensor, a field sensor or a db sensor.

6. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a device (7) for deactivating the signal transmitter (6).

7. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that as a result of an activation of the signal generator (β) em time window for deactivating the signal generator (6) is provided.

8. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a sensor for detecting an on or off state of the headlight such that the signaling device is deactivated and / or the activation is omitted.

9. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the circuit logic activates the signal generator (6) when the signal dependent on the light conditions is exceeded by a defined light threshold value.

10. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a change in the operating state from "running engine" to "engine off" 16

as a result of a change in the output signal of the sensor (2), the light warning device "falls asleep".

11. Light warning device according to claim 10, characterized in that the signal change causes an activation of the signal generator (6) and in response to its deactivation, the "falling asleep" of the light warning device.

12. Light warning device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by a clock and a calendar and a memory (3) for storing predeterminable and / or date-dependent times at which the circuit logic activates the signal generator as a result of "waking up".

13. Light warning device for motor vehicles comprising a clock, a calendar and a memory (3) for storing predeterminable and / or date-dependent times for falling below ambient light conditions below a light threshold, an optical and / or acoustic signal generator (6), a circuit logic for activation of the signal generator (6), a device (1) for energy supply, and a motor sensor (2) for detecting the operating state of the motor vehicle engine, with a change in the operating state from "engine off" to "running engine" as a result of which

Changing the output signal of the motor sensor (2) causes a "waking up" of the light warning device such that the circuit logic as a result of the "waking up" 17

activates the signal transmitter (6) using the times stored in the memory (3) when the light threshold value is undershot.

14. Light warning device for motor vehicles comprising a clock, a calendar and a memory (3) for storing predeterminable and / or date-dependent times for falling below surrounding light conditions below a light threshold, an optical and / or acoustic signal generator (6), a circuit logic for activation of the signal generator (β), a device (1) for energy supply, and a motion sensor for detecting movements within the passenger compartment for determining the

Operating state of the motor vehicle, a change in the operating state of "unused vehicle" m "used vehicle" as a result of an associated change in the output signal of the motion sensor em "waking up" of the light warning device such that the circuit logic is used as a result of "waking up" the times stored in the memory (3) when the light threshold falls below the signal transmitter (6) activated.

15. Light warning device for motor vehicles comprising at least one light-sensitive sensor (4) for detecting ambient light conditions, an optical and / or acoustic signal transmitter (6), a circuit logic for activating the signal transmitter (6), a device (1) for energy supply, and a motion sensor for detecting movements within the passenger compartment to determine the operating state of the motor vehicle, a change in the operating state from "unused vehicle" to "used vehicle" as a result of an associated change in the output signal of the motion sensor causing the light warning device to be "woken up" in this way that as a result of "waking up" the circuit logic using the light-sensitive sensor detects that the light conditions are below a defined light threshold value and activates the signal generator (β) when the light threshold value is undershot.