Pa‘
`
`International Bureau
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`W0 93/16899
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`
`
`2 September 1993 (02.09.93)
` (43) International Publication Date:
`
`
`
`
`
`A1
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 5 :
`B60Q 1/44
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`20 February 1992 (20.02.92)
`
`(71)(72) Applicant and Inventor: STILLE, Reinhardt [GB/ MC];
`ll, avenue Princesse Grace, MC-98000 Monte-Carlo
`(MC).
`
`(81) Designated States: AU, BR, CA, DE, ES, GB, JP, KR, SE,
`US, European patent (DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, SE).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`With amended claims and statement.
`
`
`brake-lights for vehicles that are temporarily stopped in traffic.
`
`(54) Title: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED ACTIVATION OF AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE-LIGHTS AND ITS
`CONFIGURATION
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`The aim of the present invention is to have the brake-lights of automotive vehicles in general activated as soon as the driver
`takes his foot off the accelerator. This set-up gives the driver of the vehicle following, a lead-time to react, not currently available.
`To implement this new configuration, the invention also introduces the use of ”intelligent” or ”live” command-pedals, that react
`instantly to the presence or absence of pressure exerted theron by the drivers foot. Furthermore, the new configuration introduces
`two additional road-safety features: parallel electric circuits to activate the vehicle’s brake-lights, and automatically activated
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 1
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 1
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`IPR2013-00638
`
`

`

`~¥t
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCI‘ on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international
`applications under the PCT.
`
`Mongolia
`
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`36
`BJ
`BR
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`Cl
`CM
`CS
`C2
`DE
`DK
`F5
`Fl
`
`Austria
`Australia
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`(‘fite d‘lvoirc
`(‘ameroon
`Czechoslovakia
`Czech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Spain
`Finland
`
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`ltaly
`Japan
`Democratic People‘a Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kamklrslan
`Liechtenstein
`Sri lanka
`Luxembourg
`Monaco
`Madagascar
`Mali
`
`.
`
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Slovak Republic
`Senegal
`Soviet Union
`Chad
`Togo
`Ukraine
`Uniled States of America
`Viet Nam
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 2
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 2
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`IPR2013-00638
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`

`

`W0 93/ l 6899
`
`PCT/ EP92/00362
`
`”I
`
`lectrical system for advanced activation of
`
`automotive brake-lights and its configuration.
`
`The invention concerns the configuration of the electric
`
`circuit existing in all automotive vehicles, for the pur-
`
`pose of activating the brake-lights thereof.
`
`The brake—lights of automotive vehicles play an important
`
`Ln
`
`role in overall road-safety, as their task is to alert the
`
`driver of the vehicle following,
`
`that the preceding ve-
`
`hicle is slowing down or coming to a halt. Ideally,
`
`the
`
`configuration of this circuit and its activating elements,
`
`has sufficient time to react,
`
`thereby contributing to a
`
`smooth traffic flow.
`
`At the present time,
`
`the universally adopted method of ac-
`
`tivating the brake—lights of automotive vehicles in gener—
`
`,... L"
`
`al, is to use a "dumb" brake—pedal and to incorporate some-
`
`where along the hydraulic circuit that activates the bra~
`
`hes, a pressure—sensitive switch. This contact-switch will
`
`cause the brake-lights to glow, as soon as, but not before,
`
`pressure has been created in the hydraulic circuit, due to
`
`the driver's activation of the brake—pedal. The result of
`
`employing this classical configuration is, that the vehi-
`
`*3":
`
`cle's brake—lights will go on simultaneously with the
`
`actual functioning of the vehicle's brakes.
`
`Consequently,
`
`the driver of the vehicle immediately fol-
`
`TOYOTA EX. 1117, page 3
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
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`IPR2013-00638
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`WO 93/16899
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`2
`
`lowing, is only made aware of the deceleration of the pre-
`
`ceding vehicle, once braking is already in progress. This
`
`iorces him to apply a greater pressure to his brakes than
`
`3
`
`m
`
`('3
`
`15
`
`the driver of the preceding vehicle and,
`
`in many instances,
`
`the second vehicle is actually unable to "catch-up" with
`
`the deceleration of the preceding vehicle. This, of course,
`
`results in the all too common rear-end collision, not only
`
`of the single variety, but also of the chain or multiple
`
`variety,
`
`in such situations where road and climatic con—
`
`ditions are adverse andfor a higher speed is permitted on
`
`the road or highway.
`
`The last 35 years have witnessed drastic improvements in
`
`automotive braking technology, such as the power—assisted
`
`brake,
`
`the disk-brake and the Anti—lock Braking System,
`
`all of which have resulted in considerably reduced braking
`
`distances- Meanwhile,
`
`the electrical system activating the
`
`brake—lights, has remained essentially static, paralleled
`
`only by an unchanged human reaction-time.
`
`Therefore, it is the aim oi this invention to overcome the
`
`human handicap,
`
`through introduction of a new electrical
`
`configuration, that will give drivers following another
`
`vehicle, up to two seconds of additional reaction-time.
`
`Firstly, the invention as claimed,
`
`introduces the concept
`
`of activating the vehicle's brake-lights, as soon as the
`
`driver takes his toot off the accelerator-pedal. Not only
`
`*
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 4
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 4
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`W0 93/ l 6899
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`3
`
`is the release 0+ the accelerator—pedal
`
`the first motion
`
`towards stepping on the brake-pedal, but
`
`in actual iact,
`
`a release of the accelerator—pedal causes by itself a de-
`
`celeration oi
`
`the vehicle, of which the driver of the ve—
`
`(Jl
`
`pa.
`
`hicle that follows, should be made aware of instantly.
`
`Secsndly,
`
`the invention as claimed,
`
`introduces the concept
`
`sf activating the vehicle's brake-lights through “live” or
`
`“intelligent“ command-pedals, which either have pressure—
`
`sensitive centact—switches built into said pedals, or have
`
`such pressure-sensitive switches or electronic sensors
`
`attached to said command-pedals. These pedals do provide
`
`an instant response to the absence or presence of the
`
`pressure exerted thereon by the driver’s foot.
`
`To accomplish the aims of the present invention, we must
`
`distinguish between automotive vehicles equipped with
`
`automatic transmissions and those with manual gear-boxes.
`
`Because the driver of a vehicle equipped with an automatic
`
`transmission has his right foot either on the accelerator-
`
`h]
`
`pedal or on the brake-pedal, such a vehicle would, ”a
`
`priori", require only its accelerator—pedal to be of the
`
`"intelligent" variety, as it is the fundamental aim 0+ the
`
`present
`
`invention,
`
`to have the brake—lights activated, as
`
`soon as the driver’s foot comes off the accelerator—pedal.
`
`Notwithstanding, a higher degree of reliability and hence,
`
`overall safety is achieved, by using concurrently also an
`
`TOYOTA EX. 1117, page 5
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`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 5
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`

`W0 93/16899
`
`PCT/E P92/00362
`
`”intelligent" brake—pedal, which activates the vehicle’s
`
`‘1
`
`brake-lights in parallel with the accelerator-pedal.
`
`In contrast to this,
`
`the driver of a vehicle equipped with
`
`m
`
`a manual gear-box, may take his right foot off the accel-
`
`erator-pedal, not only in order to initiate the braking
`
`proces-, but also in order to change gears- Consequently,
`
`to prevent the emission of a false or spurious braking
`
`signal,
`
`the manual gear-box vehicle will also be equipped
`
`10 with "intelligent" clutch-pedal and "intelligent" brake-
`
`pedal".
`
`In this configuration,
`
`the driver takes his foot
`
`n+4 the accelerator, and this would normally cause the bra-
`
`ke—Eights to turn on, as intended. However, if his aim is
`
`to change gears, he has already placed his left foot on
`
`15
`
`the clutch-pedal, which in this configuration incorporates
`
`a "defeat-switch", that overrides and cancels the signal
`
`trom the accelerator. Hence, during gear-changes the brake-
`
`lights are not activated at all, as usual. On the other
`
`hand, if the driver has to decelerate, his right foot
`
`26
`
`leaves the accelerator—pedal, which instantly activates
`
`the brake-lights. His right Foot now depresses the "intel—
`
`ligent" brake-pedal, which then also activates the brake-
`
`lights in parallel with the accelerator-pedal. At this
`
`point,
`
`the driver may realise that he has to come to a
`
`Mw
`
`halt, and therefore he also depresses the clutch—pedal.
`
`This overrides and defeats the signal emanating from the
`
`accelerator-pedal and, were it not for the parallel feed
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 6
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`|PR2013-00638
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`W0 93/ 16899
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`5'
`
`from the brake-pedal,
`
`the brake—lights would go out.
`
`However, as these lights are also activated by the brake-
`
`pedal, which is being depressed,
`
`the vehicle's brake-
`
`lights will
`
`remain on, as required by universal traffic
`
`L"
`
`legislation.
`
`in addition,
`
`the new configuration has the advantage,
`
`that any automotive vehicle which is temporarily stopped
`
`in traffic or on the side of the road, but not parked,
`
`will automatically have its brake-lights on, because the
`
`driver has taken his foot off the accelerator. This impro-
`
`ves other driver‘s awareness and hence road-saiety.
`
`There are basically three ways of implementing the
`
`present invention, which vary in their degree of sophis—
`
`tication and consequent reliability.
`
`The most elementary set-up would consist in simply using
`
`conventional electric switches attached to the command-
`
`pedals of the vehicle. However, due to wear and tear,
`
`dust and humidity,
`
`this technical solution would be of
`
`'11:)
`
`questionable reliability and require frequent checks and
`
`maintenance.
`
`In addition, due to the mechanical nature
`
`of conventional switches, a degree of "travel" is invol-
`
`ved which reduces the instant response aimed for by this
`
`invention.
`
`a second and more reliable design does involve the use of
`
`"live" or "intelligent" command—pedals, which incorporate
`
`a pressure-sensitive electric switch built into the pedal
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 7
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 7
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`

`W0 93/1 6899
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`itselé. These pedals will provide the instant response
`
`required, as soon as the driver steps on or of? the com—
`
`4
`
`mand-pedal
`
`in question.
`
`in addition, such pedals being
`
`a
`
`[J]
`
`p... a:
`
`entirely sealed, are impervious to dust and humidity,
`
`thereby requiring no maintenance, apart from the flexible
`
`wiring leading to.the vehicle’s brake—lights.
`
`-‘
`
`Finally, the "luxury" configuration employs electronic
`
`sensors, which relay the absence or the presence of pres—
`
`sure exerted by the driver's foot en the command-pedals,
`
`to the on—hoard—computer, which then transmits the re-
`
`quired signal to the brake—lights. vaiously, this solu—
`
`tion pre-supposes the existence of such on-board-computer
`
`and therefore, is reserved for vehicles so equipped.
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 8
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 8
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`

`

`“K)93/ 16899
`
`PCT/EP92/00362
`
`The concept of activating the brake—lights of auto-
`
`motive vehicles in general, as soon as the driver
`
`releases the accelerator—pedal.
`
`U]
`
`The use of "live" or "intelligent" command-pedals
`
`that contain or have attached thereto, electric con-
`
`tacts or electronic sensors, which react to the pres-
`
`sure exerted thereon by the driver's foot.
`
`For automotive vehicles equipped with automatic trans~
`
`missions,
`
`the use of at least one "intelligent" accel-
`
`erator-pedal as per claim 2, which activates the brake-
`
`lights, but preferably, also an "intelligent" brake—
`
`pedal that activates the brake—lights of the vehicle,
`
`in parallel with the accelerator-pedal,
`
`thereby provid—
`
`ing for additional reliability and safety.
`
`For automotive vehicles equipped with manual gear—bones,
`
`the use of three "intelligent" command-pedals,
`
`(acceler-
`
`ator, brake and clutch), of which the clutch—pedal acts
`
`to override and defeat the signal emanating from the
`
`accelerator-pedal, during the process of changing gears.
`
`w
`
`1'3:-3...}
`
`A configuration whereby a vehicle‘s brake—lights are
`
`automatically activated, when said vehicle is tempo—
`
`rarily stopped in traffic, but not parked.
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 9
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 9
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`IPR2013-00638
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`

`

`W0 93/l 6899
`
`PCT/E P92/00362
`
`0
`
`’«'u
`
`AMENDED€IAIMS
`[received by the International Bureau on 1 December 1992 (01.12.92);
`new claims 6 and 7 added; original claims unchanged.(2 pages)]
`
`;. The concept of activating the brake—lights of auto-
`
`motive vehicles in general, as soon as the driver
`
`releases the accelerator-pedal.
`
`J a
`
`w
`
`. The use of "live" or "intelligent" command-pedals
`
`that contain or have attached thereto, electric con-
`
`tacts or electronic sensors, which react to the pres-
`
`sure exerted thereon by the driver's foot.
`
`19
`
`(A
`
`. For automotive vehicles equipped with automatic trans-
`
`missions,
`
`the use of at least one "intelligent" accel-
`
`erator-pedal as per claim 2, which activates the brake-
`
`lights, but preferably, also an “intelligent" brake-
`
`pedal that activates the brake—lights of the vehicle,
`
`15
`
`in parallel with the accelerator-pedal,
`
`thereby provid-
`
`ing for additional reliability and safety.
`
`4. For automotive vehicles equipped with manual gear-boxes,
`
`the use of three "intelligent“ command-pedals,
`
`(acceler-
`
`20
`
`ator, brake and clutch), of which the clutch-pedal acts
`
`to override and detest the signal emanating from the
`
`accelerator-pedal, during the process of changing gears.
`
`5. A configuration whereby a vehicle‘s brake-lights are
`
`so
`
`automatically activated, when said vehicle is tempo—
`
`rarily stopped in traffic, but not parked.
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 10
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 10
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`IPR2013-00638
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`

`W0 93/ l 6899
`
`PCT/ EP92/00362
`
`a. The introduction and use of a small electronic device
`
`called "ABLA"
`
`(fidvanced Brake-Light activator) which
`
`can be fitted to all new automotive vehicles during
`
`\J?!
`
`their production run, as well as to most vehicles al-
`
`ready on the road. This device consists of a switch,
`
`controlled by a micro—processor, which receives its
`
`impulses from two electronic sensors or microcswitches.
`
`One of these is connected to the accelerator, or to its
`
`linkage to the fuel control unit, or directly to said
`
`unit.-and the other sensor or micro-switch is connected
`
`to the clutch pedal or to its linkage. ABLA causes the
`
`brake-lights to glow as soon as the accelerator returns
`
`to the "idle" position, except during gear changes, when
`
`its activation is cancelled by the signal emanating from
`
`p. U!
`
`the clutch-sensor. Once triggered by ABLA the brake-
`
`lights remain switched-on until
`
`the driver steps on the
`
`accelerator pedal again. This device can be installed
`
`in manual-transmission vehicles through 4 (four) wires
`
`and in automatic-transmission vehicles through 3 (three)
`
`wires only,
`
`in both cases without altering or interfer—
`
`ing with the conventional brake—light circuit and its
`
`standard switch, activated by hydraulic pressure.
`
`_ x
`
`. The use of ABLA in conjunction with the ”intelligent" or
`
`"live" command pedals as per claims no. 2, 3 and 4 above.
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 11
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`W0 93/ 16899
`
`'
`
`PCP/EP92/00362
`
`10
`
`STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19
`
`vice offers the advantage of swift installation in newlv
`
`.'0)
`
`I?
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 12
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`|PR2013-00638
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 12
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`

`
`
`International Application No
`
`PCT/EP
`
`92/00362
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`«
`
`I. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER (if several classification symbols apply, indicate all)“
`According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both National Classifiution and WC
`Int.Cl.'5 86001/44
`
`I]. FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`Classitiution Syst-
`
`Classifimtion Symbols
`
`Minimum Documentation Searched7
`
`Int.Cl. 5
`
`_
`
`Beoq
`
`Documentation Searched other than Minimum Documentation
`to the Extent that such Documents are Included in the Fields Searched‘
`
`In. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT9
`
`Category °
`
`Citation of Document, 11 with indiation. where appropriate, of the relevant passages 11
`
`Relevant to Claim No.13
`
`FR,A,2 004 128 (DAIMLER-BENZ AG)
`21 November 1969
`
`see page 3,
`
`line 8 - page 4,
`
`line 15
`
`US,A,3 921 750 (SHAMES)
`25 November 1975
`
`see figure 1
`
`FR,A,2 656 576 (GUENIER)
`5 July 1991
`see page 1,
`
`line 39 - page 2,
`
`line 11
`
`GB,A,1 098 817 (PHARMACEUTICAL PLASTICS
`LIMITED)
`10 January
`see figure 5
`
`1968
`
`
`
`° Spedal categories of cited documents :10
`.
`.
`,
`.
`A. 23:11:13:ddgflngfnglmghe art “m“ '5 “l“
`‘12- mgdgxument but published on or after the international
`'1." document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or
`which is cited to establish the publication date of another
`mm" or other special "is” (as
`Tied)
`'0' document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or
`other means
`'9' document published prior to the intanational filing date but
`later than the priority date claimed
`
`later document published after the international filing date
`or priority date and not in conflict with the ap lication but
`cited to undetstand the principle or theory un eriying the
`invention
`document of particular relevance: the claimed invention
`annot be considaed novel or moot be considered to
`involve an inventive step
`-
`.
`.
`.
`documuit of particular relevance: the claimed Invention
`annot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
`document is combined with one or more other such docu-
`ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled
`"I 'h' art.
`document member of the same patent family
`
`Date or the Actual Completion of the International Search
`05 OCTOBER 1992
`lnternauonal Sarebing Authority
`
`Date of Mailing of this lntemationai Search Report
`l 6.
`iii. 92
`
`-
`
`Signature of Authorized Officer
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT orrrcr:
`ONILLON C . G .A .
` Font PCI'IISAIZIO taeeoad Ibeetl lJaIur-y 1915)
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 13
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 13
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`IPR2013-00638
`
`

`

`(CONTINUED FROM THE SECOND SHEEI’)
`III. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Category °
`Citation of Document, with inflation, where lppmpriate, nf (he relevant passages
`
`,—
`
`Relevant to Claim Nu.
`
`Intentional Application N0
`
`PCT/EP
`
`92/00362
`
`FR,A,2 651 189 (FOREY B ET MINVIELLE M)
`1 March 1991
`
`see abstract
`
`Fun: PCTIISMIXO (aura lid) (Juan 1915]
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 14
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 14
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`IPR2013-00638
`
`

`

`ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`ON INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. E:
`
`920032379
`
`This annex lists the patent family members relating to the patent documents eited in the above-mentioned international search report
`The members are as contained in the European Patent Office EDP file on.
`The European Patent Office is in no way liable for these particulars which are merely given for the purpose of information. 05/ 10/92
`
`FR-A-2004128
`
`21-11-69
`
`AT-A-
`DE-A, C
`GB-A-
`
`311814
`1808794
`1213964
`3710315
`
`15-10-73
`09-06-71
`25-11-70
`
`09-01-73
`
`EPOFORMP0079 For more details about this annex : we Official Journal of the European Patent Office, No. 12/82
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 15
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`|PR2013-00638
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1117, page 15
`Toyota v. Hagenbuch
`IPR2013-00638
`
`