Enhanced communication system for vehicle hazard lights

Abstract

A system for implementing strobing of existing vehicle hazard lights including an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module, and a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output through the interface to the vehicle wiring harness that causes a strobing of existing vehicle hazard lamps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a microcontroller having operational control over a set of vehicle lights corresponding to left and ride sides of the vehicle;   a plurality of sensors associated with the vehicle and configured to provide data to the microcontroller indicative of whether the vehicle is nearer the left or right side of a roadway on which the vehicle was travelling;   wherein, when the microcontroller receives a request to strobe lights associated with the vehicle it strobes the set of vehicles light from right to left if the vehicle is within a first predetermined distance of a right side of the roadway; and   wherein, when the microcontroller receives a request to strobe lights associated with the vehicle it strobes the set of vehicle lights from left to right if the vehicle is within a second predetermined distance of a left side of the roadway.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein when the microcontroller receives a request to strobe lights associated with the vehicle it strobes the set of vehicle lights in a non-directional manner if the vehicle is outside of a third predetermined distance of the right or left sides of the roadway. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a GPS sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a camera. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the microcontroller indicating whether the vehicle is facing an incorrect direction on the roadway. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor in communication with the microcontroller indicating whether the vehicle is facing an incorrect direction on the roadway comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor in communication with the microcontroller indicating whether the vehicle is facing an incorrect direction on the roadway comprises a compass. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor in communication with the microcontroller indicating whether the vehicle is facing an incorrect direction on the roadway comprises a camera. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor in communication with the microcontroller indicating whether the vehicle is facing an incorrect direction on the roadway comprises a radar. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a microcontroller having operational control over a set of vehicle lights corresponding to left and ride sides of the vehicle;   a plurality of sensors associated with the vehicle and configured to provide data to the microcontroller indicative of an operational state of the vehicle;   wherein, when the microcontroller receives a request to strobe lights associated with the vehicle it strobes the lights when it determines, based on data from the plurality of sensors, that the vehicle is in a distressed state.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the microcontroller flashes the lights associated with the vehicle it receives a request to strobe lights associated with the vehicle but the vehicle is in a non-distressed state based on data from the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by airbag deployment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by ABS deployment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by a rollover event. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by activation of a traction control system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the microcontroller strobes the lights when it determines, based on data from the plurality of sensors, that the vehicle was in a distressed state within a predetermined time frame. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein activation of cruise control indicates a non-distressed state. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a vehicle speed over a predetermined limit indicates a non-distressed state. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a phone call to a non-emergency number indicates a non-distressed state. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an excessive entertainment system volume indicates a non-distressed state.