FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invcntion relates to a [urn signal indicator system for vehicles and
more particularly to an integrated, advanced and compact turn signal indicator system
for mobile working machines such as well as industrial trucks, two wheelers, threewheelers,
four- wheelcrs and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTION
The statements in this section merely provide background information related
to.the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, the two wheelers are equipped with a plurality of lights mounted
externally on the vehicle to indicate certain information about the vehicle to other
drivers and pedestrians. Such plurality of lights mainly include a brake light which is
used to inform others that the driver has applied the brake and is thus beginning to
slow down the vehicle, a tail light which is used at night to indicate the presence of
the vehicle to others, and indicator lights to indicate the direction of the turning of
vehicles. This turning of the vehicle is facilitated by a flasher unit (which is a part of
the turn signal indicator system) that governs the blinking of the indicator lights by
many known methods.
Conventionally, the switching of the indicator lights is controlled by the
flasher unit that switches the indicator light bulbs via relays. An optical display on the
dashboard indicates to the driver whether direction indicators or warning flashers are
switched on. The driver also receives acoustic feedback since a typical ticking or
clicking noise arises as the relays are switched. However, such relays are frequent
prone to malfunction and thus resulting into habitual replacements. This questions the
additional maintenance and the overall cost of the turn signal indicator system. Also,
the electromagnetic relays are not only expensive but also bulky because of the heat
sinks which are compulsorily required for the system. In the absence of these relays,
the acoustic feedback is produced by an electronic buzzer, which ensures that the
driver hears a noise during the flashing. However, this need an additional component
that subsequently raise the weight of the turn signal indicator system again.
The relays are, now a days, being replaced with integrated chips which in
combination with a flasher unit and other electronic components (such as capacitors
and resistors) facilitates the blinking of the indicator light bulbs. However, such
integrated chips are still not qualified to allow for controlling the length of time for
modifying the duration of blinking of indicator lights. Moreover, the present direction
indicator system lacks robustness and compactness too.
Hence, there is an urgent need of an integrated and robust turn signal indicator
system that can provide the option of modifying the blinking duration time without
losing the basic requirements of reliability, easy assembling, less cost, customers'
satisfaction and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates -to a vehicle information display
instrument that includes a plurality of turning direction indicators provided on the
.vehicle information display instrument, atleast two indicator light bulbs located
outside the vehicle blinking alongwith the turning direction indicators, and anelectronic
circuit structure governing the blinking of turning direction indicators and
indicator light bulbs simultaneously. The electronic circuit structure further sums a
battery powered turn signal indicator switch to turn the direction of the vehicle in the
required direction, a flasher unit operating and controlling the blinking of the
indicator lights, and an oscillator capacitor provided in the flasher unit for modifying
the duration gap of blinking of the indicator light bulbs.
An object of the present invention is to provide the tail light assembly with
brake lights, illumination light, indicator lights and the like.
An object of the present invention is to provide the vehicle information
display at a position visible to the riderldriver of the motor vehicle.
An objective of the present invention is to provide the vehicle information
display instrument with a basic body onto which a printed circuit board is assembled
supported by the basic body.
An objective of the present invention is to provide electronic circuit structure
with a battery powered Gtion switch which when turned therein with an ignition
key activates an engine of the motor cycle.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the electronic circuit
structure with an interface that'refine and supply a voltage of 5 V (from the battery
supplying a voltage of 13 V) to a microcontroller provided with the vehicle
information display instrument.
Another objective of the present invention is to structure the flasher unit with
an integrated circuit, and an oscillator capacitor.
Another objective of the present invention is to. enable the flasher unit to
controls the flashing of the indicator light bulbs.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the integrated circuit
of the flasher unit in a 8 pin housing.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the electronic circuit
structure with a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a rnicrocontroller.
Another objective of the present invention is to modifj the duration gap of
blinking of indicator Iight bulbs.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to achieve the modification in
the duration gap by the oscillator capacitor.
Yet another objective of the present subject matter is to provide other elec
tronic components such as capacitors, resistors, light emitting diodes, and the like.
Yet another and important objective of the present invention is to integrate the
flasher unit responsible for blinking the indicator light bulbs in the vehicle
information display instrument.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an easy, compact,
less costly and advanced vehicle information display instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary narrated above and the following detailed description of the
invention can be understood with the drawings appended to this claim. The
illustrations provide the details of the invention. However, it should be understood
that the invention is not limited to the arrangements shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows perspective views of the motor vehicle in an embodiment of the
present subject matter.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a rear side of a vehicle information
display instrument comprising various electronic components on a printed circuit
board in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit structure governing the vehicle information
display instrument integrated with the flasher unit of the vehicle in an embodiment of
the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not
limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the
present subject matter to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In
the accompanying drawings, like reference alphabets and numerals are used to
indicate like components.
The present invention relates to a turn signal indicator system for vehicles and
more particularly to an integrated, advanced and compact turn signal indicator system
for mobile working machines such aq well as industrial trucks, two wheelers, thrccwheelers,
four-wheelers and the like. The following description is merely exemplary
'in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. The
present invention will hereinafter be described in detail below as applied to a motor
cycle 100. However, the principles of the present invention are also applicable to
other vehicles 100 such cis three wheelers, fuur wheelers, and the like. Upward, lower,
front and rear directions (see the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1) will be
described with respect to directions as seated by the rider on the motorcycle 100.
FIG. 1 illustrates a two wheeler 100 that may include a fuel tank 102 and an
engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat 104, a frame 106 and two relatively large sized
wheels 108 on which the frame 106 rides. The structure is necessarily provided with a
pair of left and right front fork members rotatably supported by a head pipe 110 on
the front end of the vehicle frame. The steering of the two wheelers 100 is possible
via a front wheel which is mounted on the front fork member whereas the rear wheel
(drive wheel) is at the rear end. FIG. 1 shows a handlebar 112 secured to an upper
portion of the front fork member, and the front and rear portion of the handle bar 112
is covered with a handle cover which is further divided into forward and backward
portions. The two wheeler 100 are also provided with various - lights mounted
externally on the vehicle to indicate certain information about the vehicle to other
drivers and pedestrians. These lights mainly include brake lights and tail lights
besides indicator light bulbs which are provided to indicate the driving direction of
the two wheelers. The two wheeler 100 is further provided with the intelligent vehicle
information display instrument 114 (as shown in FIG. 5 later) (also known as a
speedometer) located between the handle bars 112 of the two wheeler 100. The
vehicle information display instrument 114 may be viewable by the rider of the motor
cycle 100 when the rider is seated on the seat 104 and operating the vehicle 100. The
vehicle information display instrument 114.may be disposed generally in front of the
rider so that the rider can inspect or view a variety of information that form part of
IPQ BELWH HG-83-
the vehicle information display instrument 114, which information may indicate an
operating condition or conditions of the vehicle. The vehicle information display
instrument 114 may be provided with audiolvisi~al warning indicators comprising
information such as speed, the fuel level, telephone, bluetooth, rpm of the engine, tell
tale symbols, turn signal indicator, hazard warning indicator and / or other indicators.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, FIG. 2 discloses a rear side of
the vehicle information display instrument 114 provided with a basic body (not
shown) onto which a printed circuit board 116 is assembled supported by the basic
body. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the printed circuit board 116 is
designed to encompass various indicator drives that penetrates with latching feet
through the printed circuit board 116. These indicator drives thereby hold the printed
circuit board 116 on the basic body. In an embodiment of the present subject matter,
the printed circuit board 116 also holds other electronic components such as but not
restricted to capacitors, resistors, and the like. The vehicle information display
instrument 114 is. fiuther provided with an integrated circuit (IC) 118 mounted on the
printed circuit board 116 wherein these integrated circuit 118 are composed of
thousands or millions of tiny resistors, capacitors, and many other electronic
components fabricated into a single unit. The said integrated circuit 118, in tandem
with, resistors and capacitors structures to be configured in a vehicle information
display instrument 114 for indicating the direction of the turning motor cycle 100, as
discussed later.
FIG. 3 discloses an electronic circuit structure 200 provided to govern the .
operation of the vehicle information display instrument 114 integrated with a flasher
unit for indicating the direction of the turning motor cycle, in an embodiment of the
present subject matter. The electronic circuit structure 200 illustrates a .battery
powered ignition switch 202 which when turned therein with an ignition key (not
shown) activates an engine (not shown) of the motor cycle 100. The electronic circuit ~
structure 200 is provided with an interface 204 that refine and supply a voltage of 5 V
(fiom the battery supplying a voltage of 13 V) to a rnicrocontroller 206 provided with
the vehicle information display instrument 114. The electronic circuit structure 200 is
also provided with the flasher unit that controls the flashing of the indicator light
bulbs 208 in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The flasher unit is
composed of the integrated circuit 118 with preferably eight connecting pins in at1 8-
pin housing, for example but not restricted to, a DIP housing or an SO 8 housing.
This results not only in a low space requirement, but also in cost/price benefits. In a
preferred embodiment of the present subject matter, the electronic circuit structure
200 also discloses plurality of capacitors, one of which is an oscillator capacitor 210
which is qudificd to modify the fieyuency of the blinking of indicators. Further, the
circuit 200 also discloses other electronic components such as but not restricted to
capacitors, resistors, LEDs, and the like. The electronic circuit structure 200 is also
provided with turn signal indicator switches 212 for operating (turning ON and OFF)
the indicator light bulbs 208. FIG. 3 additionally illustrates a liquid crystal display
214 (hereinafter may be referred as LCD) provided with the vehicle information
display instrument 114 to display various parameters such as but not restricted to,
speed, rpm, he1 level, and the like.
Operationally, as the ignition key is inserted into an ignition switch and
then 'turned therein, the rider starts the motor cycle 100. In due course of the travel,
the rider switches ON the turn signal indicator switch 212 when he wish to change
the direction of the motor cycle 100. The switching of indicator light bulbs 208 is
done by the turn signal indicator switches 212 provided on a handlebar (not shown)
of the motor cycle 100. For instance, if the rider wish to turn to the left of the
direction of movement of the motorcycle 100, he switches the turn signal indicator
switch lehardly. This leads to a continuous loop of voltage (of 13 V as received
from the battery) across the indicator bulbs 208 (located outside the motor cycle) and
the corresponding warning indicator in the vehicle information display instrument
114 of the motor cycle 100, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The
motor cycle 100 is also provided with the flasher unit, which has an integrated circuit
118 comprising of plurality of capacitors, that interrupts the continuous loop of
voltage got formed by switching ON the left turn signal indicator switch of the motor
cycle 100. This interruption breaks the continuous flow of the voltage in a predetermined
time period (or frequency) as pre-calculated by the oscillator capacitor
210 provided with the flasher unit, in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
This pre-determined time period dec.ides the blinking duration gap of the b~dicalor
light bulbs 208 when switched. For instance, if the pre-determined time period is 1
sec, then the indicator light bulbs 208 blink at a duration gap of 1 sec. In an
embodiment of the present, st1bjjec.t matter, the duration gap of blinh~g of Ih1e
indicator light bulbs 208 may be modified on the basis of the frequency decided
according to the oscillator capacitor 210 used in the electronic circuit structure 200.
In a preferred embodiment of the present sl~hjectm atter, this arrangement of blinking
of indicator light bulbs 208 by the said flasher unit is integrated in the vehicle
information display instrument 114 of the motor cycle 100. The right turn indicator
functions in a similar way in the same embodiment of the present subject matter. The
blinking of these indicator light bulbs are evident with turning direction indicators
216 in the vehicle information display instrument 114 of the motor cycle 100. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the warning of these indicator light bulbs
208 can also be conveyed by audible buzzers.
This vehicle information display instrument 114 integrated with the flasher
unit according to the present subject matter advantageously facilitates a compact
arrangement of turn signal indicators. Since, the flasher unit is integrated in the
vehicle information display instrument 114, therefore the present subject matter
obsolete the requirement of separate relay in the vehicles. Further, the integration of
all the major components including the flasher unit in the vehicle information display
instrument lead to a compact vehicular structure. Importantly, the present subject
matter furnishes the option of modifling the frequency and thus the duration gap of
the blinks of the indicator light bulbs. In nut shell, the vehicle information display
instrument 114 integrated with the flasher unit results in reduction of installation and
maintenance cost.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to
the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all variations,
substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

WE CLAIM:
1. A flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument 114 comprising:
plurality of turning direction indicators 216 provided on the vehicle
information display instrument 114;
atleast two indicator light bulbs 208 located outside the vehicle 100 blinking
alongwith the turning direction indicators 216;
an electronic circuit structure 200 governing the blinking of turning direction
indicators 216 and indicator light bulbs 208 simultaneously, wherein the
electronic circuit structure 200 fiu-ther comprising;
a battery powered turn signal indicator switch 212 to turn the direction
of the vehicle 100 in the required direction;
the flasher unit operating and controlling the blinking of the indicator
light bulbs 208;
an oscillator capacitor 210 provided in the flasher unit for modifying
the duration gap of blinking of the indicator light bulbs 208.
2. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the vehicle information display instrument 114 is also provided
with turning direction indicators 216 as light emitting diodes.
3. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the flasher unit mainly comprises of a flasher integrated circuit
(IC) 118, and the oscillator capacitor 210.
4. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit 118 with preferably eight connecting pins
in an 8-pin housing.
5. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit structure 200 is provided with an
interface 204 that refine and supply a voltage to a microcontroller 206.
6. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
cl&m 1, wherein the electronic circuit structure 200 also comprises of other
electronic components such aq resistors, and capacitors.
7. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the &formation related to the vehicle 100 is displayed on a
liquid crystal display (LCD) 214.
8. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the blinking of the indicator light bulbs 208 may also be
accompanied with an audible buzzer.
9. The flasher unit integrated vehicle information display instrument as claimed in
claim 1 comprises a printed circuit board 116 designed to encompass various
indicator drives and electronic components.