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US-12617337-B2 - Remote vehicle hazard and communication beacon

US12617337B2US 12617337 B2US12617337 B2US 12617337B2US-12617337-B2

Abstract

A hazard beacon has an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to detect that vehicle emergency indicators have been deployed, a plurality of separately strobe capable light segments forming a hazard symbol, and a microcontroller controlling operation of the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments.

Inventors

  • JOHN ZACHARIAH COBB
  • DANIEL ANTHONY TUCKER
  • David M. Tucker
  • STEPHEN T. POWERS
  • AUSTIN REECE TUCKER
  • Kenneth E. Wagner
  • MIKE INCORVAIA

Assignees

  • ESS-HELP, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240326

Claims (5)

  1. 1 . A system comprising: a plurality of light beacons each being capable of steady state illumination, flashing illumination, and strobing illumination; and a plurality of microcontrollers that each illuminates one of the plurality of light beacons in a strobing manner in response to an emergency event indication from a vehicle; wherein the plurality of light beacons is activated wirelessly from a vehicle; and wherein the plurality of light beacons is synchronized to lights on the vehicle.
  2. 2 . A system comprising: a plurality of light beacons configured for storage in a vehicle, each having a separate power supply for operation outside the vehicle; wherein each of the plurality of light beacons is wirelessly controlled from the vehicle to flash when vehicle hazard lights flash; wherein each of the plurality of light beacons is wirelessly controlled by the vehicle to strobe when vehicle hazard lights strobe; wherein the strobing is perceptibly faster than the flashing.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light beacons are controlled by Bluetooth®.
  4. 4 . A system comprising: a plurality of light beacons configured for storage in a vehicle, each having a separate power supply for operation outside the vehicle; wherein each of the plurality of light beacons: is wirelessly controlled from the vehicle to flash when vehicle hazard lights flash; is wirelessly controlled by the vehicle to strobe when vehicle hazard lights strobe; the strobing is perceptibly faster than the flashing; and strobing and flashing of at least one of the plurality of light beacons is wirelessly synchronized to the strobing and flashing, respectively, of the lights of the vehicle.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light beacons are controlled by Bluetooth®.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/825,345, filed on Mar. 28, 2019, and incorporates such provisional application by reference into this disclosure as if fully set out at this point. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This disclosure relates to emergency or hazard lights for automobiles, RVs, trailers, motorcycles and vehicles in general, and, more particularly, to emergency or hazard lights that strobe and give visual direction for increased safety and visibility. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for convenient and safe deployment of enhanced vehicle emergency and hazard lighting systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For non-emergency vehicles (e.g., passenger cars) standard emergency or hazard flasher lights provide a relatively low amount of visual distinction compared with non-emergency lighting (e.g., headlights, daytime running lights, signal lights etc.). Solutions have been provided in the art including high visibility strobing systems such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,481,331 to Tucker et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,810 to Tucker et al. In some cases, a user of a vehicle that is so equipped, may inadvertently deploy a high visibility emergency strobe, or may deploy a high visibility strobe when conditions are not warranted. Over use of high visibility strobes could have the effect of desensitizing the driving public over time. In the short term, deployment of a high visibility strobe may represent a distraction when a genuine emergency does not exist. What is needed is a system and method for addressing the above and related problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof, comprises a device having a body comprising a plurality of selectively lighted segments; and a tether connecting the plurality of lighted segments to an electrical system of a vehicle. The plurality of selectively lighted segments illuminate in a strobing manner in response to a strobe signal from the vehicle electrical system. In some embodiments, the device includes a microcontroller that receives the strobe signal and controls the illumination of the plurality of selectively lighted segments in the strobing manner. The device may include a power supply powering the microcontroller and the plurality of selectively lighted segments when the tether becomes disconnected from the electrical system of the vehicle. The microcontroller may automatically illuminates the selectively lighted segments in a strobing manner when the tether becomes disconnected from the electrical system of the vehicle. In some cases, the microcontroller receives the strobe signal wirelessly. The plurality of selectively lighted segments may form a shape of contrasting nested triangles. The device may include a stand that holds the body upright on a surface. The invention of the present embodiment, in another aspect thereof, comprises a system having an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to detect that vehicle emergency indicators have been deployed, and a plurality of separately strobe capable light segments forming a hazard symbol. The device has a microcontroller controlling operation of the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments. The microcontroller activates the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments in a strobing manner in response to detection that vehicle emergency indicators have been deployed. In some embodiments, the interface to a vehicle wiring harness comprises a wireless interface providing the detection that vehicle emergency indicators have been deployed. In some cases, the interface to a vehicle wiring harness is a wired tether to the vehicle. The microcontroller may detect disconnection of the tether and activates the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments in a strobing manner in response to detection of disconnection of the tether. The device may include an on-board power supply that can power the microcontroller and the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments. In some embodiments, the hazard symbol formed by the light segments is a warning triangle. The plurality of separately strobe capable light segments may form a hazard symbol arranged into nested triangles having contrasting appearance when not illuminated. The plurality of separately strobe capable light segments may form a hazard symbol illuminated a contrasting appearance when strobed. In some cases the plurality of separately strobe capable light segments forming a hazard symbol comprise a plurality of thin LED strips affixed with respect to a panel of automotive glass on the vehicle. In some cases, they are translucent or transparent. The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a system having a plurality of light segments each being capable of steady state illumination, flashing illumination, and strobing