Vehicle acceleration/deceleration warning system having turn signal

Abstract

An electronic acceleration/deceleration warning system for a vehicle includes an electro mechanical transducer, for example an arrangement of pendulum, light source and photocells, for converting acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle into an electrical quantity, changing in proportion with the rate of deceleration, an oscillator having a variable frequency output, a circuit connected to the transducer and oscillator for varying the frequency of the oscillator output signal in proportion to the vehicle deceleration, and a pair of warning lamps horizontally displaced on the rear end of the vehicle and connected to the oscillator in a manner such that the lamps flash alternately and at a rate determined by the vehicle deceleration. The warning lamps can also serve as turn indicators for the vehicle. A manually-operated switch has two selectable states corresponding to the two turn directions for the vehicle. A circuit connected to the switch, oscillator and lamps applies a constant frequency signal to either one of the lamps and prevents application of the signal to the other lamp as determined by the manually selected state of the switch. A priority arrangement operative in response to a predetermined level of deceleration prevents disabling of either warning lamp thereby allowing operation of the warning system irregardless of the state or position of the turn selector switch.