AFS for LED headlamp

• US 20040240217A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Guide Corporation (Vehicle Lighting Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rice, Lawrence M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,953,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/36 Conjoint adjustments, i.e. a mechanical link allows conjoint adjustment of several units
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The subject invention comprises an adaptive front lighting system (“AFS”) utilizing at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) as a light source and a means for moving the LED to achieve AFS functionality. An exemplary embodiment of the subject invention comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned and located on a LED carrier. The LED carrier is mechanically connected to at least one actuator that causes the LED carrier and LEDs to move. A controller is used to cause the actuator to move the LEDs. In this manner, this exemplary embodiment adjusts the light beam and creates the desired light beam pattern. Other exemplary embodiments of the subject invention pivotally connect the LEDs to the lens and to each other and utilize the actuator and controller to adjust the light beam. Another exemplary embodiment positions the LEDs in a spherical surface and connects them to the actuator by an extension in order to adjust the light beam.

Claims

1. An AFS lamp assembly comprising:

a. at least one LED;

b. at least one actuator mechanically connected to the at least one LED;

c. at least one stationary lens positioned in front of the at least one LED in a location that creates a light beam; and

c. a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator.

2. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a stationary lamp housing with the at least one LED and at least one actuator located and positioned within the lamp housing and the at least one lens attached to the lamp housing.

3. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising at least one LED carrier, wherein the at least one LED is located and positioned on the at least one LED carrier and the at least one LED carrier is mechanically connected to the actuator.

4. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a condensing lens.

5. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 4 further comprising at least one external stationary lens positioned in front of the at least one condensing lens.

6. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising at least one arm that pivotally connects the at least one LED to the at least one stationary lens.

7. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of axles positioned on the at least one LED and the at least one stationary lens.

8. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising a stationary secondary housing located within the lamp housing having a plurality of pivot points for accepting the plurality of axles, in order to pivotally mount the at least one LED and the at least one stationary lens to the stationary lamp housing so that the LED and the light beam pivot around a lens plane.

9. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 8 further comprising a connecting strip that connects the at least one LED to at least one other LED in the AFS lamp assembly.

10. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising a sheet of a plurality of spherical surfaces located and positioned within the stationary lamp housing, wherein the at least one LED is positioned within the spherical surface and mechanically connected to the at least one actuator.

11. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor that receives input from a plurality of sensors.

12. The AFS lamp assembly of claim 3 further comprising at least one stationary reflector positioned so that the at least one LED'"'"'s light emitting end emits light into the reflector and the reflector reflects the emitted light through the at least one stationary lens to create the light beam.

13. A method of providing forward lighting for a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. providing an AFS lamp assembly having

(i) at least one LED mechanically connected to at least one actuator,

(ii) at least one stationary lens positioned in front of the at least one LED in a location that creates a light beam, and

(iii) a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator; and

b. adjusting the light beam pattern by utilizing the controller to cause the at least one actuator to move the at least one LED and the light beam in at least one direction without moving the at least one LED, the at least one stationary lens and the AFS lamp assembly.

14. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 13 wherein the at least one actuator moves the at least one LED horizontally from side to side to adjust the light beam in a horizontal direction.

15. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 13 wherein the at least one actuator moves the at least one LED forwards and backwards to adjust an area illuminated by the light beam.

16. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 13 wherein the at least one actuator moves the at least one LED up and down to adjust the light beam in a vertical direction.

17. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 13 wherein the AFS lamp assembly further comprises at least one reflector positioned in the AFS lamp assembly so that the at least one LED'"'"'s light emitting end emits light into the reflector and the reflector reflects the emitted light through the at least one stationary lens.

18. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 17 wherein the at least one actuator moves the at least one LED from side to side to adjust the light beam in a horizontal direction.

19. The method of providing forward lighting of claim 17 wherein the at least one actuator moves the at least one LED forwards and backwards to adjust the light beam in the vertical direction.

20. An AFS lamp assembly comprising:

a. at least one stationary lens positioned in front of at least one LED in a location that creates a light beam; and

b. a means for moving the at least one LED in order to adjust the light beam.