Automotive Brake Lighting
A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.
1 . An automotive brake lighting system for use with a brake pedal comprising:
a vehicle manufacturer installed brake light having a first and a second light sources, wherein the first and second light sources are configured in a particular configuration to provide a warning and are disposed with a certain positional relation in respect to each other within the brake light such that a combination of the particular configuration and the certain positional relation lends itself to provide the warning;
a sensor configured to sense a signal corresponding to a displacement of the brake pedal upon an actuation of the brake pedal; and
a controller configured to selectively power first the first light source only and then power both the first and second light sources at substantially the same time based on the combination of the signal corresponding to the displacement of the brake pedal, the particular configuration, and the certain positional relation to provide the warning.
2 . The automotive brake lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the particular configuration includes at least one of a relative timing of lighting, a relative shape, a relative size, a relative area and a relative light intensity of the first light source with respect to the second light source.
3 . The automotive brake lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the certain positional relation is such that the first light source is a bottom light source while the second light source is a top light source and the particular configuration is such that the first light source is at least one of relatively smaller in size and lower in intensity and the second light source is at least one of relatively larger in size and higher in intensity.
4 . An automotive brake lighting system comprising:
a brake light including first and second light sources;
a sensor configured to sense a level of an operating condition associated with a motor vehicle for illuminating said brake light;
a controller configured to monitor information provided by said sensor for electronically controlling the automotive brake lighting system; and
a memory coupled to the controller, said memory to store power control information, said controller, in response to said level of said operating condition, to power said first light source of said brake light at a first light intensity based on a first monitored information and the stored power control information or power said first light source at the first light intensity and said second light source at a second light intensity based on a second monitored information and the stored power control information to generate a progressive visual indication relating to braking of said motor vehicle from said brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications.
5 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said power control information associated with a power signal such that said controller is capable of retrieving the power control information for selectively powering at least one of said first and second light sources of said brake light.
6 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said controller is configured to provide a pulse-width-modulation control for illuminating said brake light for said motor vehicle to provide visible radiation having a perceivable color with a variable intensity.
7 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said sensor is capable of hydraulically sensing a pressure level associated with a brake of said motor vehicle.
8 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first and second light sources each including a light emitting diode (LED)-based light source.
9 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said controller is configured to control timing of lighting of said first and second light sources.
10 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said controller is configured to calibrate a first pressure level on a brake pedal of said motor vehicle to a first visual indication relating to braking of said motor vehicle being provided from said first light source and calibrate a second pressure level on the brake pedal to a second visual indication relating to braking of said motor vehicle being provided from said first and second light sources.
11 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said second light source is larger than said first light source.
12 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 ; wherein said second light source is positioned above said first light source.
13 . The automotive brake lighting system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first and second light sources of said brake light are configured and arranged in a format that is recognizable to a driver of a vehicle behind said motor vehicle as a simulated visual braking warning.