Patent · US Expired

Preheating device of illuminating unit for vehicle

US5880431A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
9References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 1996
Grant dateMar 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q9/00
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A preheating device for an illuminating unit comprises a cold cathode fluorescent tube, a heater for heating the cold cathode fluorescent tube at the time of low temperature and ensuring the brightness, a temperature sensor, a door-unlocking detector, and a CPU controlling the heater. When a driver of a vehicle unlocks a door of a vehicle with a key to get it in, the door-unlocking detector detects unlocking of the door and sends the detected signal to the CPU. The CPU starts electric supply to the heater to preheat the cold cathode fluorescent tube when a detected signal of the unlocking of the door is input by the door-unlocking detector and a cold temperature signal is input by the temperature sensor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.