Star Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc.

James J Cronmiller

R Michael Datz

Stephen T Vukosic

Oriana J Starr

Steven W Neufeglise

J Douglas Richardson

Andrew T Mack

Michael A Barbato

Daniel T McCann

A vehicle LED lamp having a housing with a front lens of lens elements, a circuit board with LEDs, each providing light of one of three different colors, in which each LED is positioned with respect to a different one of the lens elements. A controller for operating the LEDs of a first color to indicate one or more of brake application (stop), activation of headlights, or turn signal, a second color to indicate reverse vehicle motion, and a third color to provide visual warning signals of one of solid on or flashing patterns. The LEDs of each of the different colors are positioned along the circuit board to substantially enable an entirety of the front lens to provide illumination from the lamp in each of the first, second, and third colors by the controller actuating those ones of the LEDs of the first, second, and third colors, respectively.

Vehicle LED lamp

A system for visible light communication having a portable device with a visible light source operated to emit optical signals as light pulses representative of data, and a warning device having one or more sources providing one or more of visible and/or audible warning signals. The warning device has a controller which detects the data using electrical signals received from a light sensor representative of the light pulses. Responsive to at least a portion of the detected data, the controller operates one or more sources of the warning device. The detected data includes one or more programming options, such as patterns, for operating the one or more sources of the warning device. The portable device may be a smartphone or tablet having a built-in flash providing the visible light source, where programming options are selectable via a user interface along the portable device.

System and method for visible light communication with a warning device

A warning light beacon having a base, a lens providing a dome over the base, and a circuit board extending upright from the base perpendicular to the base. The circuit board has two surfaces with mounted light sources, such as LEDs, providing a same or different colors of light. One or more light blocking elements, each preferably a non-operative electrical component, are mounted upon each of the surfaces, each between groups of one or more light sources, to dispose each of the groups to substantially illuminate a different one of a plurality of regions about 360 degrees of the lens. Sequential illumination of each of the regions along the 360 degrees of the lens by at least one light source associated with the region enables perception of rotating light outward via the lens. Such regions along the lens may also be illuminated simultaneously to provide solid-on or flashing patterns.

Warning light beacons

A system is provided having a controller for controlling operation of warning devices mounted on a vehicle for providing warning signals directed external of the vehicle. The controller receives one or more vehicle event signals, each indicative of occurrence of a different vehicle event. The controller responsive to receiving each vehicle event signal overrides operation of one or more of the warning devices from a normal operating mode into an override operating mode in accordance with the vehicle event associated with the vehicle event signal being received. In an override operating mode, warning device(s) may provide visual signals to supplement pre-existing vehicular light indicators of vehicle events, while other warning device(s) may be disabled to avoid confusion with such vehicular light indicators. To facilitate ease of connection, each warning device couples to the controller at an output port for receiving power and ground, and control signals from the controller.

System for controlling multiple warning devices mounted on a vehicle to provide warning signals

Acoustic backup alarm capable of dual technology (acoustical and optical) operation

A system is provided for mounting a lamp having a plurality of different types of mounting members. One of the mounting members is a rigid tray mountable by fasteners flush upon a surface of a vehicle to enable an on-surface mounting mode, and other of said mounting members, such as a grommet or bracket, are mountable at least partially in an opening or hole when present along such surface of a vehicle to enable an inset mounting mode. The different mounting members each engage a common shape housing of the lamp, such as round or oval, so that by selection of one of the mounting members, on-surface or inset mounting of the lamp can readily be achieved. One or more common engagement features are provided along the housing to facilitate engagement of the housing of the lamp by mounting members in on-surface and inset mounting modes.

System for mounting a lamp with respect to a surface of a vehicle

Optical lens for projecting light from LED light emitters

A backup alarm for producing an audible warning signal which warbles or beeps, at selected audible output power (Db) levels includes a computer which drives a speaker by switching drive voltage to the speaker with above audible, high frequency pulses in packets repetitive at audible frequency. The high frequency pulses are pulse width modulated at different ratios selected from tables in memory of the computer in accordance with the voltage from a battery power source which provides the drive voltage so that the audible output power remains constant at the selected level over a wide range of power source voltage. By providing for warning/alarm signal generation by means of an operating system which provides both high, above audible frequency and audible frequency switching, power conservation and warning signal output power control are accomplished without interference.

System for operating a device for producing an audible alarm

A multimode controller for LED light sources, especially sources in warning lights, such as light bars, provides for a temporary increase in brightness from the LEDs by providing a burst mode, in addition to a flashing mode and a continuous mode. The modes are carried out by programming a microprocessor which receives signals from control switches, which may be pressed and released. The programming precludes the burst mode to continue for longer than a predetermined time thereby ensuring that the power does not exceed the LEDs damage threshold characteristic. The controller thereby provides for temporary bursting to make visible the region in front of or around an emergency vehicle for a short period of time without the need for light sources dedicated solely to the high intensity brightness mode of operation of a warning light system.

Multimode controller for LED light sources

A loudspeaker for projecting siren and other warning signals which is compact to facilitate installation in emergency vehicles, and which provides a horn projector in the compact space. The loudspeaker has a support in which an electrically driven driver unit is mounted. A chamber providing a plurality of cyclonic or spiral paths for sound from the speaker is located at one end of the support as by being connected to the support or being a part thereof. The support has a plurality of passageways for sound from each of the paths to exit ports at an end of the support opposite to the end thereof attached to or having the chamber. The cyclonic paths and the passageways are of like length and taper so that the sound from the exit ports combined in reinforcing relationship and projects outwardly from the exit port end of the support. The support provides a recombiner for the sound propagating along the cyclonic paths and passageways to provide the effect of a long horn in the compact space.

Loudspeaker

Apparatus for controlling visible and audible warning signals, particularly signals from light bars, traffic director lighting, and siren and public address outputs for police and emergency vehicle applications, is provided in a single unit. Mounted in a chassis of the unit in layered relationship are a siren board and a relay board. The siren board contains amplifier and associated circuitry for generating and amplifying siren signals, and for providing microphone signals and signals from a 2-way radio of the vehicle, to a speaker which projects these audible signals for warning of and controlling emergency conditions. The relay board contains circuitry for switching power from the vehicle battery to the traffic director lighting and warning lighting (as may be provided by light bars) mounted on or in the vehicle. A microcontroller switches the lighting to the selected lighting units via relays on the board. A controller utilizing buttons providing a keypad, rotary and slide switches, is mounted on the chassis at one end thereof to provide manual access to the police or other emergency personnel for controlling the lighting and the siren, as well as public announce and radio audible signals. The entire unit is sufficiently small to be mounted to the dash or console of the vehicle and for example, may be about 6&#x2033; wide, 8&#x2033; deep, and 3&#x2033; high.

Growing community of inventors

West Henrietta, NY, United States of America

James J Cronmiller