Segmented distribution headlight system, method, and apparatus

• US 20030137849A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ray M. Alden
• Original Assignee: Ray M. Alden
• Inventors: Alden, Ray M.
• Application Number:
  US10/054,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/324 Road inclination, e.g. uphill or downhill
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162

Abstract

The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the art of headlights for vehicles. A first element is provided as a means for sensing the presence and location of other motor vehicles, said means for sensing connected to processing and light controlling circuitry such that the electrical current supplied to each element in an array of elements is individually controlled. The result is a headlight system which produces high beams in areas where no vehicle is present and concurrently produces low beams in areas where vehicles are present. In a first embodiment, individual light elements in array are individually controlled with regard to intensity to provide dim beam areas and high beam areas concurrently. In a second embodiment, individual electro-chromatic elements in array are individually controlled so as to provide a means to create dim beam areas and high beam areas concurrently. In a third embodiment, variable refractive segments in array are individually controlled to redirect beam portions such that high beam and dim beam areas are created concurrently. All embodiments maximize the areas receiving high beams for the benefit of the equipped vehicle driver while concurrently all areas with other drivers present receive low beams so as to minimize the glare for to betterment of other drivers.

Claims

1. A vehicular headlight system producing a light distribution area, comprising

a means for sensing the location of other vehicles,

a means for diminishing the amount of light directed to said other vehicles, wherein

light directed to areas within the light distribution area not containing said other vehicles is not diminished.

2. The headlight system of claim 1 wherein said means for sensing receives photons which are converted to electrical signals.

3. The headlight system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two lighting elements each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to light intensity emitted there from.

4. The headlight system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light filter elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to controlling the intensity of light permitted to pass there through.

5. The headlight system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light directing elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to the output direction of light permitted to pass there through.

6. A vehicular headlight apparatus on a first vehicle, comprising,

a means for sensing the presence of a second vehicle,

a means for determining the location of said second vehicle,

a means for diminishing the amount of light directed to said second vehicle, while

concurrently not diminishing the amount of light directed from said headlight apparatus to areas not

occupied by said second vehicle.

7. The headlight apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for sensing receives photons which are converted to electrical signals.

8. The headlight apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vehicular headlight apparatus comprises at least one headlight which contains at least two lighting elements each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to light intensity emitted there from.

9. The headlight apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vehicular headlight apparatus comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light filter elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to controlling the intensity of light permitted to pass there through.

10. The headlight apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vehicular headlight apparatus comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light directing elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to the output direction of light permitted to pass there through.

11. An illumination process, comprising

a means for sensing the location of vehicles,

a means for diminishing the amount of light directed to said vehicles, wherein

light directed to at least one area not containing said other vehicles is not diminished.

12. The illumination process of claim 11 wherein said means for sensing receives photons which are converted to electrical signals.

13. The illumination process of claim 11 wherein said illumination process comprises at least one headlight which contains at least two lighting elements each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to light intensity emitted there from.

14. The illumination process of claim 11 wherein said illumination process comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light filter elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to controlling the intensity of light permitted to pass there through.

15. The illumination process of claim 11 wherein said illumination process comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light directing elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to the output direction of light permitted to pass there through.

16. A vehicular headlight system, wherein

said system'"'"'s light distribution area is segmented into at least two segments,

wherein the intensity of light directed to each said segment is independently controlled.

17. The headlight system of claim 16 wherein said means for sensing receives photons which are converted to electrical signals.

18. The headlight system of claim 16 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two lighting elements each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to light intensity emitted there from.

19. The headlight system of claim 16 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light filter elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to controlling the intensity of light permitted to pass there through.

20. The headlight system of claim 16 wherein said vehicular headlight system comprises at least one head light which contains at least two light directing elements, each of said elements being individually controllable with regard to the output direction of light permitted to pass there through.