CONTROL OF HIGH VISIBILITY VEHICLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
A system prevents activation of strobe lights on a vehicle in response to events calculated to indicate a nuisance activation. Directional strobing may be activated based on input from vehicles systems.
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.