U.S. patent number 3,569,780 [Application Number 04/346,905] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-09 for transistorized flasher circuit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Kenneth R. Skinner, Myrneth L. Woodward.
United States Patent |
3,569,780 |
Skinner , et al. |
March 9, 1971 |
TRANSISTORIZED FLASHER CIRCUIT
Abstract
A transistorized flasher circuit having a set of normally closed
relay contacts in series with a lamp load across a voltage source.
The relay contacts are periodically opened and closed to flash the
load by an oscillator which includes a relay coil which controls
the relay contacts and includes the emitter and collector
electrodes of a transistor connected in series. The base electrode
of the transistor is connected between a capacitor and a resistor
which are in series across the source. A discharge path is provided
for the capacitor when the relay coil is energized. The transistor
is turned on to energize the coil when the capacitor is charged and
is turned off to deenergize the coil when the capacitor is
discharged, whereby the source is periodically connected directly
to the lamp load for flashing the lamps as the capacitor is
periodically charged and discharged.
Inventors: |
Skinner; Kenneth R. (Anderson,
IN), Woodward; Myrneth L. (Lapel, IN) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23361522 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/346,905 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1964 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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130157 |
Aug 8, 1961 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
315/209R;
331/112; 315/322; 340/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B
39/09 (20130101); B60Q 1/38 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/34 (20060101); B60Q 1/38 (20060101); H05B
39/09 (20060101); H05B 39/00 (20060101); H05b
037/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;315/200.1,207,209,245,238,272,273,275,252,253,255,322
;307/88.516,114 ;320/1 ;331/107,111,112,129
;317/141,142,146,148.5,149 ;340/80,81 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hossfeld; Raymond F.
Parent Case Text
This application is a substitute for the application SN 130,157
filed Aug. 8, 1961, now abandoned.
Claims
We claim:
1. A flasher comprising a transistor having an emitter, a
collector, and a base, a relay coil in series with said emitter,
capacitor means associated with said transistor for controlling the
current therethrough, an input terminal connected with said relay
coil, an output terminal, a resistor connected to said base, and a
relay armature connected to said input terminal and alternately
connectable to said output terminal and said resistor.
2. A flasher comprising a transistor having an emitter, a
collector, and a base, a relay coil in series with said emitter, a
capacitor connected between said coil and base, an input terminal
connected with said relay coil, an output terminal, a first
resistor connected to said base, a relay armature connected to said
input terminal and alternately connectable to said output terminal
and said resistor, and a second resistor connected between said
base and said collector.
3. A flasher comprising a transistor having an emitter, a
collector, and a base, a relay coil in series with said emitter, an
input terminal connected with said relay coil, a capacitor
connected between said input terminal and base, an output terminal,
a resistor connected to said base, and a relay armature connected
to said input terminal and alternately connectable to said output
terminal and said resistor.
4. A flasher comprising input and output terminals, a transistor
having an emitter, a collector, and a base, the emitter being
connected with said input terminal, a capacitor connected between
said input terminal and said base, means responsive to the voltage
across the capacitor for controlling emitter current, and relay
means energized by emitter current for effecting charging and
discharging of said capacitor and for effecting periodic
energization of said output terminal.
5. A warning light circuit including at least one lamp and a
flasher, said flasher comprising input and output terminals, a
transistor having an emitter, a collector, and a base, the emitter
being connected with said input terminal, a capacitor connected
between said input terminal and said base, biasing means responsive
to the voltage across the capacitor for controlling emitter
current, and relay means responsive to emitter current to effect
charging and discharging of said capacitor and periodic
energization of said output terminal.
6. A warning light circuit including at least one warning lamp, a
flasher, and a power source, said flasher having a transistor
having an emitter, a collector, and a base, a capacitor connected
between said power source and said base, a resistor connected to
said base, a capacitor charging path including said resistor and
said lamp, a capacitor discharge path including said resistor, and
means responsive to emitter current for effecting charging and
discharging of said capacitor.
7. A warning light circuit including at least one warning lamp, a
flasher, and a power source, said flasher having a transistor
having an emitter, a collector, and a base, a capacitor connected
between said power source and said base, a resistor connected to
said base, a capacitor charging path including said resistor and
said lamp, a capacitor discharge path including said resistor, and
relay means in series with said emitter and responsive to emitter
current for effecting charging and discharging of said
capacitor.
8. A warning light circuit including at least one warning lamp, a
flasher, and a power source, said flasher having a transistor
having an emitter, a collector, and a base, a capacitor connected
between said power source and said base, a resistor connected to
said base, a capacitor-charging path including said resistor and
said lamp, a capacitor discharge path including said resistor, a
base bias means including said resistor, and means responsive to
emitter current for effecting charging and discharging of said
capacitor.
9. A signal circuit including several lamps, a flasher, and a
voltage source, said flasher including a capacitor, a transistor
controlled by said capacitor, a switch means operated by said
transistor, said switch means normally connecting the voltage
source to at least one of said lamps and alternately connecting the
voltage source to other of said lamps, a capacitor discharge path
controlled by said switch means, and a capacitor charge path
including one of said lamps.
10. A flasher having input, output and common terminals adapted to
receive a direct voltage across the input and common terminals and
to develop a periodic voltage between the output and common
terminals, a transistor having input, output and common electrodes,
a relay including a coil and an armature movable between first and
second contacts, the armature being connected to the input
terminal, the coil being connected between the input and common
terminals through the output and common electrodes of the
transistor, a resistor connected between the input electrode and
the common terminal, a capacitor connected between the input
terminal and the input electrode whereby charging current for the
condenser biases the transistor to one conductive condition, the
first contact being connected to the output terminal and the second
contact being connected to the input electrode whereby the
condenser is discharged and the transistor is biased to its other
conductive condition.
11. In an electronic switching circuit: a source of direct current
and a switch in series; a transistor connected as an emitter
follower with a relay in the emitter circuit; and a charging
circuit connected across the battery and switch comprising a load,
charging resistor, and charging capacitor, the junction of the
charging resistor and charging capacitor being connected to the
base of the transistor; said relay having a normally open contact
adapted when closed to connect the battery voltage across the lamp
load; the closing of the relay contact allowing the charging
capacitor to discharge through the charging resistor.
12. An electronic switching circuit comprising: a battery and
switch in series; a transistor, a series combination of a relay,
the transistor emitter, and the transistor collector in that order
connected across the battery and switch; a second series
combination of a load and a normally open contact in said relay
connected across the battery and switch; and a third series
combination of a capacitor and a resistor connected across the
relay contact, the junction point of the resistor and capacitor
being connected to the base of the transistor.
13. In an electronic switching circuit: a source of direct current,
a load, resistance means and a capacitor connected in series; a
relay and the collector and emitter electrodes of a transistor
connected across said source, said relay being connected to the
emitter of the transistor; the junction point of the resistor and
capacitor being connected to the base electrode of said transistor;
and a normally open contact in said relay adapted to complete a
circuit when said relay is energized to place substantially the
full potential of said source across said load.
14. In an electronic switching circuit: a source of direct current
and a switch in series; a transistor; a relay connected to the
emitter electrode of said transistor, said transistor having its
collector and emitter circuit including said relay connected across
said source and switch; a load, said relay having a normally open
contact connected in series with said load, said load and relay
contact being connected across said source and switch in parallel
with said transistor collector-emitter circuit; and means
connecting said load, the base electrode of said transistor and
said source to alter the potential at said base electrode when said
switch is closed thereby causing current flowing through said
collector-emitter circuit to energize said relay and complete a
circuit through said source, switch, load and relay contact.
15. A circuit as defined in claim 14, wherein said potential
altering means comprises a resistor and capacitor connected in
series between said load and source, the junction point of said
resistor and capacitor being connected to said base electrode.
16. A flasher comprising a transistor having an emitter, a
collector, and a base; a first input terminal, a relay coil
connected between the input terminal and the emitter, a second
input terminal connected to the collector, the input terminals
being adapted to be connected across a source of energy, a timing
capacitor connected between the first input terminal and the base,
a relay armature actuated by the relay coil connected to the first
input terminal and cooperating with alternately engageable
contacts, a timing resistor connected between one said contact and
the base, and an output terminal connected to the other said
contact.
Description
This invention relates to a transistorized flasher circuit and more
particularly to flasher circuits of the type suitable for use in
vehicle signal light circuits.
Many types of flashers have been proposed to produce a periodic
current for use in blinking turn signals lamps and other warning
lamps for vehicles. Usually such flashers are sensitive to load
conditions so that a change of flasher frequency occurs whenever
the circuit load changes thereby necessitating a different flasher
design for each type of signal system, and further, any particular
signal circuit utilizing such a flasher must be limited to a single
load magnitude.
The present invention contemplates a flasher which is not affected
by load changes and hence is universal in its application, and
further permits a change of load within any particular signal
system.
The invention is carried out by providing an improved low frequency
transistorized relaxation oscillator wherein means within the
circuit not only assist in the oscillation function, but also cause
periodic energization of the output terminal of the flasher.
The above and other advantages are made more apparent from the
following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts and
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transistorized flasher according
to the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a flasher
and associated warning signal circuitry according to the
invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a flasher 10 comprises a transistor 12
having emitter 14, collector 16, and base terminals 18. The emitter
14 is connected through a relay coil 20, positive input terminal
21, and manually operated switch 22 to the positive terminal 24 of
a power supply such as a battery 26 while the collector 16 is
connected directly to the negative input terminal 27 of the flasher
and to the negative terminal 28 of the power supply 26 which may be
grounded. The transistor base 18 is connected through a variable
base resistor 30 to the negative input terminal 27. A capacitor 32
is connected between the positive input terminal 21 and the
transistor base 18. A switching armature 34 controlled by the relay
coil 20 is also connected to the positive terminal 21 and is
normally closed with respect to a first contact 36 which in turn is
connected to the flasher output terminal 38. When the relay coil 20
is energized, the armature 34 is moved from the first contact and
closes with a second contact 40 which is connected through a
variable discharge-controlling resistor 42 to the transistor base
18. A small capacitor 44 is connected between the second contact 40
and the negative input terminal 27. The purpose of this capacitor
44 is to provide a small discharge upon operation of the armature
34 to clean the second contact 40 and the associated armature
contact area.
In operation, when the manual switch 22 is initially closed the
capacitor 32 is not charged and hence the full power supply
potential appears across the base resistor 30 thereby biasing the
transistor 12 to cut off so that no current will flow through the
emitter-collector circuit. However, as current flows through the
capacitor 32 the voltage across the base resistor 30 gradually
decreases so that the emitter-base current through the transistor
12 increases, and hence the emitter-collector current increases.
When the emitter current flowing through the relay coil 20 becomes
large enough to pull in the relay armature 34, the armature 34 will
move from the first contact 36 to the second contact 40 thereby
removing the battery voltage from the output terminal 38 and at the
same time providing a discharge path for the capacitor through the
armature 34, the second contact 40, and the variable resistor 42.
Obviously this current flow causes the voltage across the capacitor
32 to decrease and the voltage across the base resistor 30 to
increase. Eventually the voltage across the base resistor 30 will
increase to the point where the emitter current is diminished to a
value insufficient to hold in the relay armature, and then the
armature 34 will return to the first contact 36 to reenergize the
outlet terminal 38 and to initiate another cycle of the
flasher.
The time required to charge the capacitor 32 sufficiently to cause
the relay armature 34 to pull in is, of course, a function of the
size of the capacitor 32 and of the base resistor 30. Accordingly,
this period may be adjusted by varying the magnitude of the base
resistor 30. Similarly, the time required to cause the relay to
drop out is adjustable by varying the magnitude of the
discharge-controlling resistor 42. It follows that the total
oscillation period of the flasher is a function of the sizes of
both resistors.
It has been found that when an RCA 2N408 transistor and a 12 volt
power supply are used, then suitable values for the other
components to produce a flash rate of 1 or 2 cycles per second are
100 microfarads for the capacitor 32, 410 ohms for the relay coil
20, and nominal values of 5,000 ohms, and 27,000 ohms for the two
resistors 42 and 30, respectively.
Among the advantages of the flasher of this invention is that
variations in load conditions of circuits associated with the load
terminal have no effect on flasher operation, since the oscillation
function of the flasher circuitry is entirely independent of the
load terminal. Another advantage is that inherent voltage
regulation is provided in that any transients due to opening or
closing of contacts will not be applied directly to the emitter 14
but rather will be initially applied across the coil 20.
A specific example of an application of a flasher of the type
described is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein a slightly modified
flasher is used. The circuit of FIG. 2 is a vehicle warning light
circuit similar to that described in out copending application U.
S. Serial No. 130,158, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,213,418, filed Aug. 8,
1961, for "Turn Signal and Warning System", and assigned to the
assignee of the present invention. A turn signal system comprises
two banks of switches each controlled by a relay coil 56, 56'. When
the switches 50, 50' are in the position shown, a brake switch 58
energizes the brake light circuit 60 and causes illumination of the
combined stop and turn lamps 62, 62' by way of rear turn signal
switches 53, 53'.
When the left turn signal actuating push button switch 64 is
manually closed momentarily, the left relay coil 56 will be
energized by current flowing from the battery 66 through an
ignition switch 68, a manual cancel switch 70 and through the left
turn signal switch 64, and the relay coil 56 to ground to pull down
the left bank of switches 50. The closing of the left holding
switch 51 permits current flow therethrough and through a
connecting line 72 to the flasher 10'. In addition, current will
flow from the connecting line 72 through the right holding switch
51', and through an auxiliary line 74 to the left relay coil 56
thereby establishing a holding circuit for the left relay coil 56.
The flasher 10' is somewhat similar to the flasher 10 described
above in FIG. 1 but differs in that two relay armatures 34' and 35'
and three associated output contacts 36', 40', and 41' are used and
the base resistor regulates both the charging and discharging of
the capacitor 32'. When the relay coil 20' is not energized, the
first armature 34' is closed with the contact 36' which is
connected to the front turn circuit 76 thereby lighting the left
front turn lamp 78 through the closed left front turn switch 52.
When the relay coil 20' is energized, the first armature 34' closes
with contact 40' connected with the rear turn circuit 80 permitting
current to flow through the left rear turn switch 53 and the left
rear lamp 62. At the same time, however, the second armature 35' is
closed with contact 41' permitting current to flow through the left
pilot switch 54, the left pilot lamp 82, and the left front turn
lamp 78 to ground. While the current is sufficient to illuminate
the high resistance pilot lamp 82, it will not illuminate the turn
lamp 78. In order for the flasher 10' to operate it is necessary to
provide a capacitor discharge circuit, and this is accomplished by
connecting the base resistor with the contact 40'. Since the
transistor base is then grounded through the left rear lamp 62,
burnout of that lamp will cause the flasher to stop operating, and
hence, the pilot lamp 82 will not light. However, if only the left
front lamp 78 burns out, then the flasher operation will not be
impaired, but the pilot lamp 82 will not light since it is grounded
through the left front lamp 78. Accordingly, the circuit provides a
positive indication of any lamp failure. Since the turn signal
circuit is symmetrical, the right turn signal may be operated in
exactly the same way as that described for the left turn
signal.
In certain cases it is desirable to flash both right and left sets
of turn signal lamps 62, 78 and 62', 78' simultaneously to provide
an emergency warning signal. Referring again to FIG. 2, if the
emergency flash switch 84 is closed with its associated contacts
86, 86', then both right and left relay coils 56, 56' will be
energized and both banks of switches 50, 50' will be pulled down.
The flasher will operate to flash both sets of turn signal lamps
62, 78 and 62', 78' at the same flashing rate used to flash a
single set of lamps, since the flasher is insensitive to load
conditions except when indicating the complete failure of a rear
lamp. In the case of the emergency signal, even the burnout of one
rear lamp 62 or 62' will not impair the operation of the flasher
10' since the remaining lamp will provide a ground for the
transistor base circuit.
It will thus be readily seen that the present invention provides an
improved flasher and permits the use of warning signal circuits
which are not practical for use with previous flashers.
It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the
circuits described herein, but rather it is to be limited only by
the following claims:
* * * * *