Sensor unit for automatically switching of lighting devices and coupling medium for a sensor unit

• US 20040042223A1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Meier, Hans, Schmitt, Patrick, Blitzke, Henry, Hodapp, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/464
• 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 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A sensor unit for automatic switching of lighting devices of motor vehicles is described. The sensor unit includes at least one light-sensitive sensor, a filter element being situated upstream from it, and the filter element filtering out infrared light. A coupling medium for improving the switching points of the sensor unit and the use of a coupling medium and a filter for improving the switching points of the sensor unit are also described.

Claims

1. A sensor unit (10) for automatically switching lighting devices (14), in particular of motor vehicles, comprising at least one light-sensitive sensor (16) which detects the brightness in the surroundings of the sensor unit (10),

wherein means are provided for compensating effects of the infrared light.

2. The sensor unit (10) as recited in claim 1,

wherein a filter element (26), which filters out infrared light, is situated upstream from the sensor (16).

3. The sensor unit (10) as recited in claim 2,

wherein the filter element (26) filters out light having wavelengths of more than 750 nanometers.

4. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of claims 2 or 3,

wherein the filter element (26) has adhesive properties.

5. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of claims 2 through 4,

wherein the filter element (26) has lens properties.

6. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein a plurality of sensors (16), which detect light from different directions, are provided.

7. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein an optical light guide (18) is situated upstream from the sensor (16), the optical light guide being attachable by a coupling medium (22) to a pane (24), and the pane (24) or the coupling medium (22) filters out infrared light having, in particular, wavelengths of more than 750 nanometers.

8. A coupling medium (22) for the transparent connection of a sensor unit (10), in particular a sensor unit (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, to a pane (24), in particular the windshield of a motor vehicle,

wherein the coupling medium (22) is essentially non-transparent to infrared light.

9. The coupling medium (22) as recited in claim 7,

wherein the coupling medium (22) is composed of a sheet or a film which is provided with an adhesive.

10. The coupling medium (22) as recited in one of claims 7 or 8,

wherein the coupling medium (22) has a curvature in order to prevent gas bubbles.

11. A use of an optically transparent coupling medium (22), in particular of a coupling medium as recited in claims 7 through 9, for coupling a sensor unit (10) to a pane (24), in particular to a windshield of a motor vehicle,

wherein the coupling medium (22) is substantially non-transparent to infrared light.

13. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein a control device (12) is provided for controlling the lighting devices (14) and is able to receive IR signals (IRS), which are a measure of the infrared light measured by the sensors (16), and are suppliable to the control device which analyzes the signals (S) from the sensors (16), taking the IR signals (IRS) into account.

14. The sensor unit (10) as recited in claim 13,

wherein values are assigned to the signals (S) and to the IR signals (IRS), the values of the IR signals (IRS) being superimposed upon the values of the signals (S), in particular taking a factor (F) into account.

15. The sensor unit (10) as recited in one of claims 13 or 14,

wherein the control device (12) has at least one switching thershold which is changeable by taking the IR signals (IRS) into account.

12. A use of a filter (26) for filtering the incident radiation of a sensor unit (10) of a motor vehicle for automatic control of its lighting devices (14),

wherein the filter (26) is substantially transparent to visible light and substantially non-transparent to infrared light.