Method and device for automatic control of illumination devices

• US 20040114380A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nonnenmacher, Pierre, Schneider, Andreas, Meier, Hans, Schmitt, Patrick, Michenfelder, Gebhard, Blitzke, Henry, Hodapp, Bruno, Hog, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,049,950 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 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for automatic control of illumination devices (14), in particular of a motor vehicle, are proposed, having a brightness sensor (28) which delivers first signals (S1), the illumination devices (14) being switched off after a time interval (DeltaT) that begins at the point in time (T1) at which the first signals (S1) exceed or fall below a first threshold (SW1), the length of the time interval (DeltaT) being modifiable, in particular capable of being extended.

Claims

1. A method for automatic control of illumination devices (14), in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a brightness sensor (28) which delivers first signals (S1), the illumination devices (14) being switched off after a time interval (DeltaT) that begins at the point in time (T1) at which the first signals (S1) fall below or exceed a first threshold (SW1), wherein the length of the time interval (DeltaT) is modifiable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of the time interval (DeltaT) can be extended.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the time interval (DeltaT) is modifiable as a function of the first signals (S1).

4. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the time interval (DeltaT) is selected to be longer during twilight that at another time of the day or night.

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the time interval (DeltaT) is extended by comparison to a normal time interval when the first signals (S1) lie within a signal magnitude window (SGF) during a further time interval (DT).

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the signal magnitude window (SGF) is constituted by the first threshold (SW1) and a second threshold (SW2), in particular a switching-on threshold.

7. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the time count of the time interval (DeltaT) is halted if the first signals (S1) once again exceed or fall below the first threshold (SW1).

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the time interval (DeltaT) is reset back to the entire extended time interval (DeltaT) if the second threshold (SW2) is exceeded or fallen below, and is reset to the normal time interval when the illumination devices are switched off.

9. An apparatus for automatic control of illumination devices (14), in particular for carrying out the method as recited in one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one brightness sensor (28) which is capable of delivering first signals (S1), and a control device (26) that switches off at least one illumination device (14) after a time interval (DeltaT) and begins the time interval (DeltaT) at the point in time (T1) when the first signals (S1) fall below or exceed a first threshold (SW1), wherein the length of the time interval (DeltaT) is modifiable.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the control device (26) is embodied in such a way that the length of the time interval (DeltaT) is modifiable as a function of the first signals (S1).

11. The apparatus as recited in one of claims 9 or 10, wherein a clock-timed counter (32) is provided for the time count within the time interval (DeltaT), and the control device (26) is embodied in such a way that the counter (32) begins to count at the point in time (T1);

stops when the first signals (S1) again exceed or fall below the first threshold (SW1);

continues counting when the first threshold (SW1) is again fallen below or exceeded, respectively; and

is reset to the entire extended time interval (DeltaT) if a further threshold (SW2) is exceeded or fallen below.