ATV Daytime Running Light Control

Abstract

An ATV or UV without a body control module includes a daytime running light control module. Daytime running lights are turned on when the engine speed, as indicated by the ECU microprocessor, is equal to or greater than a threshold and when each of the standard and bright headlights and right and left turn indicator lights are off. Otherwise the daytime running lights are turned off. If desired, the microcontroller performing the daytime running light control method may be the same microcontroller which controls the starter motor relay.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATION(S)[0001]None.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to daytime running lights in vehicles, and particularly to control of daytime running lights in offroad vehicles such as UVs and ATVs which have no body control module or other electronic control unit responsible for monitoring and controlling various electronic parts in a vehicle's body.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Utility vehicles (“UVs”) and all terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) are well known for travel over a wide variety of terrains, including over unpaved trails or fields, rocks, etc. Such vehicles are widely used in agriculture and forestry operations, as well as in safety operations such as for rugged mountain crossings. Such vehicles are also widely used for recreational enjoyment in natural, outdoor settings away from pavement. In general, such UVs and ATVs have a lower price point and are considerably smaller and simpler than on-road vehicles such as passenger a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a method and module for controlling the daytime running lights of an ATV or UV. The module includes a microcontroller separate from the engine control unit's microcontroller. The daytime running lights are turned on when the engine speed is equal to or greater than a certain threshold and when the headlights and turn indicator lights are off. The method allows for the efficient use of energy by only activating the daytime running lights when they are most likely to be noticed and when they would not increase safety. The module can be the same as the one that controls the starter motor relay. The technical effect of this invention is to enhance the visibility of the ATV or UV while in use, while minimizing energy consumption.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, such UVs and ATVs have no body control module (“BCM”) or other highly capable micro-processor based control unit responsible for monitoring and controlling a wide array of electronic parts in the vehicle's body.

DRLs have not been as widely adopted in UVs and ATVs, in part because UVs and ATVs are driven in locations (trails and fields) where interaction and avoidance of other vehicles is much less frequent, and in part because there is no BCM to control the DRLs.

With the lower frequency of benefit, the energy consumption of the DRLs comes at a relatively higher price to the operation and cost of the UV or ATV.

Additionally, drivers of on-road vehicles stay predictably on paved surfaces, whereas the travel paths of UVs and ATVs are not as predictable, which introduces other considerations to the operation of DRLs.

Images