The present disclosure is generally related to a hazard lights operation of a vehicle and more particularly to system and method for distinguishing a turn indication during the hazard lights operation.
BACKGROUND
Hazard lights perform important functions in a vehicle. Hazard lights are utilized by vehicle drivers when it is foggy, heavy rainfall, fault in vehicle while on road, road-side parking etc. During the operation of the hazard lights, all indicator lamps of the vehicle flash synchronously.
However, in case the driver has to utilize any one side indicators while hazard light operation is being performed, he has to switch off the hazard lights and then switch on particular side indicator lamps. However, this is a dangerous practice as it can cause accidents.
Therefore, there is a need of an efficient system to perform turn indication while hazard lights are in motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a solution to the problem as mentioned above, The invention discloses a system for distinguishing turn indication during hazard lights operation in a vehicle, wherein the system includes: a plurality of indicator lights configured to synchronously flash during the hazard lights operation, initiated by actuation of a 4-way flasher switch, wherein the plurality of indicator lights further includes: a pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch; a pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch; a control unit, operably connected to the plurality of indicator lights, to synchronize flashing during the hazard lights operation, wherein the control unit is configured to stop flashing and continuously luminate the pair of right turn indicator lights, in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for indicating a turn indication during a hazard lighting operation of a vehicle is disclosed. The plurality of indicator lights further includes a pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch, a pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch, wherein, the right turn indicator lights, stop flashing and continuously luminate in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a vehicle is disclosed wherein the vehicle includes A plurality of indicator lights configured to synchronously flash during a hazard lights operation, wherein the plurality of indicator lights further includes, a pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch, a pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch, a control unit, operably connected to the plurality of indicator lights, to synchronize flashing during the hazard lights operation, wherein the control unit is configured to stop flashing and continuously luminate the pair of right turn indicator lights, in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of systems, methods, and embodiments of various other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g. boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. It may be that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive descriptions are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles.
[0003] Fig. 1 illustrates a line diagram of a system 100, according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0004] Fig. 2 illustrates a method 200, according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0005] Fig. 3A-3C illustrates clock timing pulses for performing intended function, according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
[0007] Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0008] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred, systems and methods are now described.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a line diagram of a system 100 for distinguishing turn indication during a hazard lights operation within a vehicle. The system 100 essentially includes a plurality of left indicator lamps 102A-102B, a plurality of right indicator lamps 104A-104B. The system 100, further includes a plurality of switching modules 1020A-1020B and 1040A-1040B each of which is correspondingly connected to each of the plurality of left indicator lamps 102A-102B and the plurality of right indicator lamps 104A-104B. The system 100 further includes a control unit 106, a 4-way flasher 108 and a turn indication switch 110.
[0010] In operation, the turn indication switch 110 includes a switch that can assume three distinct positions. A left position 112A, a right position 112B and a center position (in between 112A, and 112B). According to another embodiment of the invention, there may be another physical switch (not shown in the figure) provided in order to receive input from a user of the vehicle. During the hazard lights operation, after receiving an input from the user, the plurality of left indicator lamps 102A-102B and the plurality of right indicator lamps 104A-104B initiate blinking synchronously to each other and together. As indicative from Fig. 3A, a clock diagram of pulses during the hazard lights operation, the left indicator lamps 102A-102B and the plurality of right indicator lamps 104A-104B receive clock pulses at same time and therefore, blink at the same time.
[0011] However, if during the hazard lights operation, the turn indication switch 110 is turned to left side i.e. 112A, then the control module 106 receives the turn indication switch signal. The control module 106, determines for which side the turn indication has been received, and in turn stops flashing the indicator lamps of the opposite side and continuously luminates the opposite side indicator lamps which in the above described case is the pair of right indicator lamps 104A-104B. Further, the side, for which turn indication has been received, in this case the left side, the plurality of left indicators 102A-102B are flashed in normal way as it was being flashed during the hazard lights operation.
[0012] The clock diagrams as depicted in Fig. 3B, indicates the continuous illumination of the plurality of right indicator light lamps 104A-104B. Further, as depicted by Fig. 3C, indicates normal blinking operation of the plurality of left indicator lights 102A-102B which is the left direction 112A for which the turn indication switch 110 has been turned to.
[0013] Now referring to Fig. 2, illustrating a flow chart depicting a method 200 to indicate a turn indication during a hazard lights operation of a vehicle. Hazard lights are generally switched on during a foggy day, when a driver of the vehicle wants to go slowly in a speedy road segment, when the driver of the vehicle needs to indicate a slowed vehicle due a fault etc.
[0014] The method 200, at step 202 receives a turn indication through the turn indication switch 110 from the driver of the vehicle. At step 204, the control unit 106 determines whether the 4-way flasher 108 is functional at that moment or not. If not, then the method moves to step 212 to flash, synchronously, the pair of left indicator lamps, in case turn indication is for left or vice versa.
[0015] In case, the 4-way flashing is functional at the moment, when the control unit 106 receives the turn indication, then at step 206, the control unit 106 stops flashing of opposite pair of indicator lamps i.e. right indicator lamps 104A-104B,to the ones towards which the turn indication has been turned on for e.g. in this embodiment for a left turn indication the right pair of turn indications are stalled from flashing and continuously illuminate the same. Further at step 210, the control unit 106 determines to maintain flashing of the pair of left indicators, the direction for which turn indication has been received through the turn indication switch 110, at same pulse as during the hazard lights operation. At step 212, the pair of left indicator lamps 102A-102B are flashed.
[0016] Moreover, although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A system for distinguishing turn indication during hazard lights operation in a vehicle, wherein the system comprises:
A plurality of indicator lights configured to synchronously flash during the hazard lights operation, initiated by actuation of a 4-way flasher switch, wherein the plurality of indicator lights further includes:
A pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch;
A pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch;
A control unit, operably connected to the plurality of indicator lights, to synchronize flashing during the hazard lights operation, wherein the control unit is configured to stop flashing and continuously luminate the pair of right turn indicator lights, in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a vehicle control unit or an electronic control unit.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the turn signal switch is a mechanical switch, an electronic switch or an electromechanical switch.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one switching module corresponding to each of the pair of left turn indicator lights and the pair of right turn indicator lights.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the switching module is an electronic power device.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic power device is a metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit resumes synchronous flashing of the plurality of indicator lights when the turn signal switch returns to normal position after the vehicle has turned.
8. A method for indicating a turn indication during a hazard lighting operation of a vehicle, the vehicle including a plurality of indicator lights configured to synchronously flash during the hazard lights operation, wherein the plurality of indicator lights further includes:
A pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch;
A pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch;
Wherein, the right turn indicator lights, stop flashing and continuously luminate in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.
9. A vehicle comprising;
A plurality of indicator lights configured to synchronously flash during a hazard lights operation, wherein the plurality of indicator lights further includes:
A pair of left turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of left turn indicators is placed at front left and rear left of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate left turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of left turn indicator lights are switched in response to actuation of a turn signal switch;
A pair of right turn indicator lights, wherein each indicator light of the pair of right turn indicators is placed at front right and rear right of the vehicle that are further configured to indicate right turn indication of the vehicle when the pair of right turn indicator lights are switched on in response to the actuation of the turn signal switch;
A control unit, operably connected to the plurality of indicator lights, to synchronize flashing during the hazard lights operation, wherein the control unit is configured to stop flashing and continuously luminate the pair of right turn indicator lights, in case, during the hazard lights operation, the turn signal switch is actuated to indicate the left turn indication and maintain flashing of the pair of left turn indicator lights as during the hazard lights operation and vice versa for right turn.