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 lighting system comprising:
 a plurality of signal lights that are positioned on a vehicle to indicate a turning direction of the vehicle;   a microcontroller in operative communication with the plurality of signal lights to illuminate a first subset of the plurality of signal lights that are visible on a left side of the vehicle, to illuminate a second subset of the plurality of lights that are visible on a right side of the vehicle, and to illuminate both subsets of lights simultaneously;   a signal light stalk that is operable by an occupant of the vehicle to indicate at least a left turn and a right turn to the microcontroller; and   a hazard switch that is operable by the occupant of the vehicle to indicate a hazard condition to the microcontroller;   wherein the microcontroller flashes the first subset of the plurality of lights in response to the left turn indication, and flashes the second subset of the plurality of lights in response to the right turn indication; and   wherein the microcontroller strobes the first and second subsets of lights simultaneously in response to the indication of the hazard condition, a cycle of the strobing being perceptibly faster than a cycle of the flashing of the first subset of lights and perceptibly faster than a cycle of the flashing the second subset of lights.   
     
     
         2 . The light system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller comprises a body control module. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer in communication with the microcontroller;   wherein the microcontroller strobes the first and second subsets of lights simultaneously in response to an indication from the microcontroller of non-typical driving.   
     
     
         4 . The lighting system of  claim 3 , wherein non-typical driving includes rapid deceleration. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting system of  claim 3 , wherein non-typical driving includes an overturn of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is in communication with at least one automated vehicle safety system and strobes the first and second subsets of lights simultaneously in response to a signal from the at least one automated vehicle safety system. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one automated vehicle safety system comprises an anti-lock braking system. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one automated vehicle safety system comprises a vehicle airbag system. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the hazard switch is further operable to signal the microcontroller to activate the first and second subsets of lights in a flashing, but non strobing manner. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is operable to strobe the first and second subsets of light in sequence in response to indicate a direction while strobing. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle lighting system comprising:
 a first plurality of lights positioned to a left side of the vehicle;   a plurality of lights positioned to a right side of the vehicle;   a microprocessor controlling illumination of the first plurality and second plurality of lights; and   a signal indicator accessible by an occupant of the vehicle to indicate at least a left signal and a right signal to the microprocessor;   wherein the microprocessor illuminates the first plurality of lights in a first flashing mode with a first cycle rate in response to receiving the left signal from the signal indicator, and illuminates the second plurality of lights in a second flashing mode with a second cycle rate in response to receiving the right signal from the signal indicator; and   wherein the microprocessor illuminates the first and second plurality of lights in a strobing mode after receiving a strobe signal, the strobing mode having a third strobing cycle rate that exceeds the first and second cycle rates.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the strobe signal is provided by the occupant of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the strobe signal is provided by a safety system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is enabled to receive wireless communications and the strobe signal is provided wirelessly by a mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor illuminates the first and second plurality of lights in a strobing mode that indicates a direction upon receiving a directional strobe signal containing the direction. 
     
     
         16 . A system for implementing strobing illumination on an exterior of a vehicle comprising:
 a set of lights visible on the exterior of the vehicle, including a left front indicator, a left rear indicator, a right front indicator, and a right rear indicator; and   a strobing circuit that responds to input from a user activating hazard flashers by producing a first electrical output in control of the set of light that causes the set of lights to flash;   wherein the strobing circuit responds without user activation to a strobe activation signal from an automated vehicle safety system by producing a second electrical output through the interface to the vehicle wiring harness that causes the set of lights to strobe; and   wherein a cycle of the strobing is perceptibly faster than a cycle of the flashing.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the automated vehicle safety system includes an accelerometer and the strobe activation signal is indicative of excessive acceleration/deceleration. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a user accessible strobe activation switch that allows a user to provide a strobe activation signal manually that causes the strobing circuit to produce the second electrical output through the interface to the vehicle wiring harness that causes the set of lights to strobe. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the strobing circuit comprises a microcontroller. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the microcontroller comprises a body control module.