, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure in general relates to an automotive horn and, in particular, relates to an electronic horn having detachable printed circuit board (PCB) assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter.
[0003] Vehicles use horns to alert other drivers of the presence of the vehicle. When a driver actuates a horn, current is applied to an electromagnet creating an attractive electromagnetic force on a plunger and diaphragm assembly. As the diaphragm is attracted toward the electromagnet, a switch is activated and disconnects the electromagnet from the current. Disconnecting the current from the electromagnet allows the diaphragm to move back to its initial position. As the diaphragm moves back to its initial position, the switch deactivates and current is again applied to the electromagnet. Continual oscillation of the diaphragm, through connecting and disconnecting current to the electromagnet, creates a sound emitted through the horn.
[0004] Further, the horn is provided with an inbuilt printed circuit board module (PCB) having a microcontroller emitting the switching signals for continual connecting and disconnecting of current to the electromagnet. With the inbuilt PCB assembly, it is difficult to find a space for mounting of the horn in vehicles, specifically two-wheeled vehicles.
[0005] Accordingly, there lies a need to have an electronic horn which is easily mountable in space constraint portions of a vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT SUBJECT MATTER
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.
[0007] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic horn with detachable PCB assembly.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic horn with a smallest diameter of 70 mm.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic horn which can be replaced without replacing its decoupled or external PCB assembly.
SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a multi-tone electronic horn. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identity key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] In an embodiment, the present subject matter refers to an electronic horn. The electronic horn includes a horn assembly, and a printed circuit broad (PCB) assembly detachably coupled to the horn assembly.
[0012] In an implementation, the horn assembly is having a diameter of 70 mm which allows it to be mounted in a space constraint region of a vehicle.
[0013] In another embodiment, the present subject matter refers a vehicle having the electronic horn described in the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The detailed description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The drawings are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a horn assembly and a printed control board (PCB) assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0016] FIG. 2A illustrates the horn assembly and the PCB assembly in detached condition, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0017] FIG. 2B illustrates the horn assembly and the PCB assembly in detachably attached condition, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of PCB of the PCB assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRITION
[0019] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0020] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0021] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the present subject matter disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.
[0022] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
[0024] Before describing in detail embodiments, it may be observed that the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
[0025] Embodiments explained herein pertain to electronic horn which is compact and resolve issues like durability life and space constraint during mounting of the electronic horn. In an embodiment, the present subject matter refers to an electronic horn including a horn assembly and a printed circuit broad (PCB) assembly detachably coupled to the horn assembly.
[0026] In an aspect, the horn assembly is having a diameter of 70 mm which allows it to be mounted in a space constraint region of a vehicle.
[0027] In an aspect, the the PCB assembly may include, but not limited to, a PCB enclosed between a PCB cover and an epoxy fixed to the PCB cover.
[0028] In an aspect, the PCB incudes a microcontroller which is adapted for connecting and disconnecting current to the horn assembly.
[0029] In an aspect, the microcontroller is configurable to generate the acoustic emissions at a high tone or a low tone.
[0030] In an aspect, the PCB incudes a pair of terminals to detachably attach the PCB assembly to the horn assembly.
[0031] In an aspect, the electronic horn can be one of a trumpet horn or a disc horn.
[0032] To further clarify advantages and features of the present subject matter, a more particular description of the present subject matter will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered limiting its scope. The present subject matter will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an electronic horn 100, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present subject matter. As per an implementation of the present subject matter, the electronic horn 100 is composed of a horn assembly 102 and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly 104.
[0034] In an implementation, the horn assembly 102 includes a housing sub-assembly 106 and a diaphragm sub-assembly 108. The housing assembly 106 consists of a sheet metal housing 110 which encases a fixed nucleus or fixed iron core 112 rigidly held at its bottom and aligned to its central axis. Around the fixed iron core 112, a single coil 114 is wounded and fixed using a bobbin washer 116. One end of the coil 114 is connected with a first terminal/connector 118A through a rivet and/or washer, and another end of the coil 110 is connected with a second terminal/connector 118B through another rivet and/or washer.
[0035] The diaphragm sub-assembly 108 consists of a mobile nucleus or moving iron core 120 fixed to a sheet metal diaphragm 122. Periphery of the sheet metal diaphragm 122 is rigidly held in the housing sub-assembly 106 by crimping or bolting (not shown in FIG. 1). Further, on the other side from the housing sub-assembly 106, the diaphragm sub-assembly 108 carries a round sheet metal part called resonator 124. The resonator 124 and the diaphragm 122 are connected at their peripheries using a gasket 126. With such connection of the resonator 124 and the diaphragm 122, the resonator 124 receives vibration which is resulted when the moving iron core 120 hits the fixed iron core 112. After receiving the vibration, the resonator 124 comes in resonance and amplifies an acoustic emission through air columns existing between resonator 124 and the diaphragm 122.
[0036] Further, for the attachment of the horn 100 to a vehicle, the horn 100 includes a bracket assembly 126. In an example, the bracket assembly 126 may include a bracket 128, a bracket washer 130, and a nut 132.
[0037] Referring to the PCB module 104, the PCB module 104 may include a PCB 134 enclosed between a PCB cover 136 and an epoxy 138 fixed to the PCB cover 136.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the PCB 134. Since the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 3 is a standard design of PCB, working and connection of the circuitry is not described in the present disclosure for the sake of brevity and clarity.
[0039] In an implementation, the PCB 134 incudes, among other modules, a microcontroller which is adapted for connecting and disconnecting an electric current to the horn assembly 102. In an example, the microcontroller is configurable to generate the acoustic emissions at a high tone or a low tone. In an implementation of the present subject matter, the PCB 134 incudes a pair of terminals 140A, 140B to detachably attach the PCB assembly 104 to the horn assembly 102.
[0040] FIG. 2A shows the horn assembly 102 and the PCB assembly 104 in detached condition, while FIG. 2B shows the horn assembly 102 and the PCB assembly 104 in detachably attached condition, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0041] In detachably attached condition and in operation, when a power supply of 12V is fed into the PCB 134 of the PCB module 134, the power supply is simultaneously supplied to metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) via an electric coil and to the microcontroller via a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator can be a low dropout regulator which regulates an output voltage at 5V that is powered at a higher voltage of 12V. Accordingly, the voltage regulator reduces the direct current (DC) power supply of 12V to 5V before feeding the power to the microcontroller of the PCB 134. The microcontroller may generate phase width modulated (PWM) signal which is directly feed to the MOSFET. Based on the generated PWM signal, the MOSFET may connect or disconnect the current supply to the coil 114. When the MOSFET connect the current supply to the coil 114, the current starts increasing in the coil 114 and with which magnetic flux through fixed iron core 112 also gets magnetized. Such magnetic flux causes the moving iron core 120 fixed to the diaphragm 122 to be pulled towards the fixed iron core 112. After a predefined time cycle, the MOSFET may disconnect the current supply to the coil 114. After disconnection of the current supply, the magnetic flux of the fixed iron core 112 decreases. Due to decrease in the magnetic flux in the fixed iron core 112 and due to the elasticity of material of diaphragm 122, the diaphragm 122 pulls back the moving iron core 120 to its neutral position. As the moving iron core 120 moves back, the microcontroller through MOSFET again supply the current into the coil 114, so as to pull back the moving iron core 120 towards the fixed iron core 112. This process of connection and disconnection of the current to the coil 114 is repeated for around 300 to 500 cycles per second. In an aspect, the said process can be controlled using the microcontroller of the PCB 134 for repeating at around 500 cycles per second for high pitch horns and at around 420 cycles per second for low pitch horns.
[0042] As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, during the movement of the moving iron core 120, the moving iron core 120 continuously hits the fixed iron core 112, which in turn transfer the vibration from the diaphragm 122 to the resonator 124. Based on the vibration, the resonator 124 comes into resonance and amplifies the acoustic emission from the horn 100.
[0043] Thus, the horn 100 described herein operates in the same way as the conventional electronic disc horn; however, the horn 100 is composed of the horn assembly 102 with the detachable PCB assembly 104 which is compact and resolve the space constrain issue during mounting especially for two wheeler vehicles. Since the space in the two wheeled vehicle is very less for mounting of a horn which has PCB assembly riveted on it, the solution of providing a detachable PCB assembly in the present disclosure may allow the end users or the manufacturers to efficiently utilize the unused space available in the vehicle. Also, in case, any one of the horn assembly 102 and the detachable PCB assembly 104 fails to operate, only the failed assembly is required to be replaced and not the complete horn 100.
[0044] While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure in relation to the disc horn, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. For instance, the present disclosure is equally applicable to the disc horn with further minor working modifications.
[0045] The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein.
[0046] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.
[0047] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the present subject matter to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the present subject matter is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

ADVANTAGES OF PRESENT SUBJECT MATTER
[0048] The present disclosure provides an electronic horn with detachable PCB assembly.
[0049] The present disclosure provides an electronic horn with a smallest diameter of 70 mm.
[0050] The present disclosure provides an electronic horn which can be replaced without replacing its decoupled or external PCB assembly.

Claims:We claim:

1. An electronic horn, comprising:
a horn assembly; and
a printed circuit broad (PCB) assembly detachably coupled to the horn assembly.

2. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horn assembly is having a diameter of 70 mm.

3. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCB assembly comprises a PCB enclosed between a PCB cover and an epoxy fixed to the PCB cover.

4. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 3, wherein the PCB includes a microcontroller for connecting and disconnecting current to the horn assembly.

5. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 3, wherein said microcontroller is configurable to generate the acoustic emissions at a high tone or a low tone.

6. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 3, wherein the PCB incudes a pair of terminals to detachably attach the PCB assembly with the horn assembly.

7. The electronic horn as claimed in claim 1, wherein electronic horn is one of a trumpet horn or a disc horn.

8. A vehicle comprising an electronic horn as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-7.