GB2293504A

GB2293504A - Vehicle lighting control responsive to windscreen wiper operation

Info

Publication number: GB2293504A
Application number: GB9418664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Bell; Martin Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-16
Filing date: 1994-09-16
Publication date: 1996-03-27
Also published as: GB9418664D0

Abstract

A control unit 11 detects which windscreen wiper function has been selected by a manually operated wiper control switch 10 and if that function requires that sidelights and/or headlights are also on, then the unit 11 instructs a relay unit 12 to actuate these lights if they are not already on. For example, lights may be required to be on when intermittent, slow or fast wipe has been selected, but not if single wipe has been selected. The normal manually operated light switch 15 overrides the unit 11. If the wipers are switched from a function requiring lights to be on to a function not requiring lights to be on, or to off, the driver is given an audible warning signal or a visual signal by a flashing LED 14. The driver may then turn the lights off by operating a momentary action push button switch 13 a predetermined number of times within a certain time, eg. twice within two seconds. The switch 13 can also be used to turn off the lights if unit 11 has turned them on but the driver perceives that visibility conditions are good. The control unit 11 may be a programmable microprocessor with a ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM or an ASIC. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: " Switching Apparatus".

Description of the Invention.

This invention relates to a switching apparatus which links a vehicle's windscreen wiper functions to a vehicle's headlights and sidelights.

During the day, in poor visibility such as rain, mist, fog, sleet etc., it is important for a vehicle driver to switch on the vehicle's headlights in order to be seen. Unfortunately some drivers forget to do this and thus create a potential danger to both themselves and others, as well as being in breach of the highway code.

An automatic vehicle light switch utilising an electronic device measuring ambient light intensity is known from GB 2204946A. However, such devices are relatively expensive to fit because they require modifications to a vehicle's bodywork or fittings. Moreover their effectiveness is easily impaired by anything which covers the light detecting device, for example dust, paper etc..

According to the present invention we provide a switching apparatus, comprising an operator unit, a windscreen wiper switch, an operator unit override and an auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch. The operator unit comprising means to monitor which windscreen wiper functions have been selected when the wiper switch is operated, whether the headlights and/or sidelights are on or off, the operator unit also being programmed to recognise when a particular windscreen wiper function requires the headlights and/or sidelights to be switched on or off and if required, to actuate an actuating means to switch on the vehicle's headlights and/or sidelights as required.

Thus a switching apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides for a greater guarantee that a vehicle's lights will be switched on in poor daylight weather conditions than reliance ur n human memory to manually switch on the lights and provides a solution which is less costly and more effective than inventions reliant upon ambient light intensity measuring devices.

The invention is particularly suited to vehicles where the wiper function is controlled by a mechanical 'stalk' type switch although other mechanical or non-mechanical means could be used.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a purely illustrative view of the switching apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a switch apparatus comprising a windscreen wiper switch 10, an operator unit 11, an actuating means 12, an auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch 13, a light emitting diode 14 and operator unit override 15.

The wiper switch 10 controls the windscreen wiper functions, for example single wipe, intermittent wipe, slow and fast wipes and is mounted in this example in the steering wheel column and powered from the vehicle's electrical system. The operator unit 11 similarly powered by the vehicle's electrical system and which may be secured in the steering column switch housing, is connected to both the wiper switch 10, actuating means 12, auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch 13, light emitting diode 14 and operator unit override 15. The auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off'switch 13 in the present example is a momentary action button switch and is mounted in the end of the wiper stalk but if desired could be mounted anywhere within reach of the driver.

Referring firstly to the situation when a driver moves the windscreen wiper switch from the 'off' position. The driver operates the wiper switch 10 to select a function, for example intermittent wipe, which in turn actuates the operator unit 11. The operator unit 11 is programmed to utomatically carry out a series of checks and actions. Firstly it checks whether the wiper function selected requires any lights to be switched on and if so whether sidelights only or sidelights and headlights are required. If no lights are required then no further action is taken. If lights are required then a check is made to ascertain whether the relevant lights are already on. If the answer is yes no further action is taken. If the answer is no then the actuating means 12 is actuated to switch on the lights that are required.For example it may be that a check reveals the sidelights are already on but the wiper function selected requires both sidelights and headlights to be on. In this example the headlights will then be switched on. Where a wiper function requires the headlights to be switched on they will be switched on to dipped mode, (unless the main beam switch has already been selected). The actuating means 12 in the present example comprises a conventional or solid state power relay.

Referring secondly to the situation when a driver, having switched a wiper function on as above, switches the windscreen wiper switch 10 to another 'on' function, for example from slow to single wipe. The operator unit 11 repeats the functions described above; if in this instance it finds that any lights are on that are not required it emits an audible warning signal, or a visual warning signal, for example flashing a light emitting diode 14 to inform the driver that the lights are on but may no longer be required. The driver can then switch off the lights, if desired, by operating the auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off'switch 13.

Referring thirdly to the situation when the driver switches the windscreen wiper switch 10 from an 'on' to the 'off' position. The operator unit carries out its checking and action functions and emits an audible warning or flashes the light emitting diode 14. The driver then has the option to turn the lights off as previously described.

The headlights and/or sidelights can thus be arranged to be switched on via the wiper switch 10, if the wiper switch 10 is moved from the 'off' position to any other function. Preferably however the operator unit 11 would only actuate the actuating means 12 when the wiper function selected is likely to be associated with deteriorating daylight conditions - for example when intermittent, slow or fast wipe functions are selected as opposed to single wipe. However, the operator unit 11 can be programmed to link the headlights and /or sidelights with any of the wiper functions in any combination or permutation desired either to meet local regulations or safety views of vehicle manufacturers, for example sidelights only may be switched on by selection of the intermittent wipe.

The auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch 13 which in this example is a momentary action button switch is preferably turned off by pressing twice, (to avoid accidental switching off), within a time interval of say two seconds. This positive action on behalf of the driver is to ensure that the headlights are not switched off when they need to be kept on, for example if it was daylight when the wipers were switched on but nightfall occurs before the journey ends or the vehicle enters a tunnel.

When the headlights and sidelights have been switched on by the wiper switch 10, as described above, all the normal headlight functions, for example selection of main beam, are available as if the conventional headlights switch had been used. Any other functions normally controlled by the wiper switch 10, for example wash /wipe, rear screen wipe etc. continue to operate normally.

If the headlights and/or sidelights have been switched on using the conventional lights switch 15 before the wiper switch 10 is moved from the 'off' position or if at any time when the headlights and/or sidelights have been switched on by the wiper arm 10, the driver, for wha Fer reason, engages the conventional headlights and sidelights switch 15 in either the sidelights only or sidelights and headlights position the relevant headlight and /or sidelight controlling functions ( but not any of the wiping or washing functions) of operator unit 11 are overridden.

The operator unit 11 comprises a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor or the circuits of which the microprocessor are a part being software configured so as to operate as described. The microprocessor may comprise a ROM and or a WM and or EPROM and or an EEPROM and or ASIC and or any developments of these ,as desired.

The operator unit 11 may be connected to auxiliary devices, each auxiliary device having an associated actuating means which is actuated by the operator unit 11 under the control of the wiper switch 10 as hereinbefore described, to perform an operating function, for example to provide a defective headlight or sidelight bulb warning - visual or audible as desired.

If desired the auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off'switch 13 can be used as described to allow override of the operator unit 11 as described, for example if the driver decides that in intermittent, slow, fast or any function which engages the lights the visibility is sufficiently good that the lights are not required. However such override would be immediately cancelled if the wiper switch 10 is subsequently switched to any other wiper function requiring the headlights and/or sidelights to be 'on'.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Particularly, in the example described, the operator unit has been described as a programmable microprocessor. Any other types of operation suitable to a particular application could alternatively be used, such as a generic logic array or a micro-controller or similar.

In the example described, the switching apparatus s mounted in the steering column, although for the same or a similar application could alternatively be mounted in the centre console or any location within convenient reach of the driver of the vehicle.

In the example described, the auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch 13 is a momentary action button switch and is mounted in the end of the wiper stalk but could be any other type of switch and mounted in the stalk controlling the turn signals or any location within convenient reach of the driver of the vehicle. This switch is pressed twice for safety reasons within 2 seconds, but could be pressed once or as many times as desired within whatever time period is desired.

Claims

Claims.

1. A switching apparatus, comprising an operator unit, a windscreen wiper switch, an operator unit override and an auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch. The operator unit comprising means to monitor which windscreen wiper functions have been selected when the wiper switch is operated, whether the headlights and/or sidelights are on or off, the operator unit also being programmed to recognise when a particular windscreen wiper function requires the headlights and/or sidelights to be switched on or off, and if required to actuate an actuating means to switch on the vehicle's headlights and/or sidelights as required.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuating means is a solid state or conventional power relay.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where the auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off' switch is a momentary action button switch.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the auxiliary headlights and sidelights 'off'switch is operated by pressing the button twice within 2 seconds or as many times as desired within whatever time period is desired.

4. .4n apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the operator unit comprises a microprocessor, the microprocessor or the circuits of which the microprocessor is a part being software configured and comprising a RA.! and/or a ROM and/or an EPROM and/or REPRO.! and /or ASPIC and/or any developments of these.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the operator unit has in a memory thereof a set of instructions to follow if the windscreen wiper switch is operated, resulting in the headlights and/or sidelights being switched on, if and as required, when the wiper switch selects the intermittent, slow or fast wipe functions.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is powered from the vehicle's electrical supply.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein operation of the conventional headlights switch overrides the operator unit.

8. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.