Adaptive Shunt Brake Light Control for Diagnostic Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stop lamp flasher devices often fail to operate properly with modern vehicles equipped with automated computer diagnostic capabilities, causing false fault detections and requiring invasive installation processes, and they are not adaptable to various vehicle types and stop lamp configurations.
Innovation Solution
A brake light control unit with a shunt path and control unit that adjusts current flow to simulate pulsing or flashing, allowing for easy integration with existing brake light circuits and compatibility with different vehicle types, including those with fault detection systems, without the need for cutting wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If stop lamp flasher devices are installed in modern vehicles with automated computer diagnostic capabilities, then the brake light can provide enhanced visibility to trailing drivers, but the fault detection circuitry may improperly detect varying current as a fault and present false warnings to the vehicle operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a current simulation circuit as an intermediary component that mediates between the stop lamp flasher device and the vehicle's fault detection circuitry. This circuit simulates the current draw of a non-pulsing brake light, thereby preventing the fault detection system from registering false anomalies while allowing the brake light to pulse for enhanced visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the current characteristics presented to the fault detection circuitry. The simulation circuit modifies electrical parameters (current magnitude and timing) to match expected brake light behavior, enabling the system to maintain both pulsing functionality and compatibility with diagnostic systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing stop lamp flasher devices are installed by cutting brake light wiring, then the device can be integrated into the brake light circuit, but the installation process becomes time consuming and stressful for technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the invasive wiring cutting step from the installation process by providing a tap connection interface. This allows the stop lamp flasher device to be integrated into the brake light circuit by simply tapping into existing wires rather than cutting them, significantly reducing installation time and technician stress while maintaining full functionality.
3Reliability
If stop lamp flasher devices are designed for specific vehicle types, then they can provide optimized performance for those vehicles, but they lack adaptability to various vehicle types and stop lamp configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the stop lamp flasher device with a standardized tap connection interface and current simulation circuit that can adapt to various vehicle types and stop lamp configurations. The device automatically detects and adjusts to different electrical parameters, providing optimized performance across multiple vehicle platforms without requiring vehicle-specific customization.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronics device is configured for installation in the brake light circuitry of a vehicle braking system. The electronics device is particularly configured to provide a flashing or pulsing appearance for a brake light, such as an automobile CHMSL. The pulsing is accomplished in a precise manner and that provides additional operational safety features than standard automotive brake lights. The electronics device is configured to avoid over-triggering of the pulsating lights due to multiple application of the automobile's brakes in a short time frame. The electronics device is further configured to function correctly even if the automobile is equipped with sophisticated computer systems that analyze the brake light circuitry, and is configured to avoid detection as a problem by the vehicle's diagnostic systems. At the same time, the electronics device will still allow the vehicle's diagnostic scans to detect any actual problems with the brake light system without hindrance.