ENHANCED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HAZARD LIGHTS
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.
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 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.
2 . The system of claim 1 , 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.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by airbag deployment.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by ABS deployment.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by a rollover event.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a distressed state is indicated by activation of a traction control system.
7 . The system of claim 1 , 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.
8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein activation of cruise control indicates a non-distressed state.
9 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a vehicle speed over a predetermined limit indicates a non-distressed state.
10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a phone call to a non-emergency number indicates a non-distressed state.
11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein an excessive entertainment system volume indicates a non-distressed state.