The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1995
Satvir Singh Deol, Belleville, MI (US);
Ahmad Mustapha Nasser, Dearborn, MI (US);
Thomas Alexander Bush, Northville, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a daytime running lamp (DRL) system for a motor vehicle includes a switchable connection from the headlamps of the vehicle to the neutral connection of the vehicle's alternator. Compared with the full system voltage of the vehicle, the neutral connection of the alternator is a lower-voltage source which can drive the headlamps at reduced brightness. Such reduced brightness is a typical characteristic of DRL systems. The system disclosed herein can be more cost-effective and provide greater energy efficiency than alternative DRL systems.