Vehicle daytime running light control system

• US 20070120494A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Lahr, Jeremy, Kreft, Allyson
• Application Number:
  US11/288,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120494A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

A vehicle lighting control system provides tailored implementation of daytime running light operation. Daytime running light operation is triggered in response to selected vehicle conditions, typically including, ignition key position, release of the park brake and selection of the off state for the vehicle headlamps. The occurrence of additional conditions results in cancellation or suspension of operation. Suspension follows from setting of the parking brake, typically without activation of school bus warning lights.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting control system for implementing operating condition sensitive daytime running light operation of vehicle headlamps, the vehicle lighting control system comprising:

a plurality of exterior lamps installed on a vehicle including warning lights and the vehicle headlamps for automatic daytime running light operation;

an ignition switch;

a park brake position indication switch;

a headlamp control switch;

an engine controller for reporting engine operational status;

a warning light activation switch; and

a system controller coupled to monitor the status inputs from the ignition switch, the park brake position indication switch, the headlamp control switch and the warning light activation switch, and further coupled to the engine controller for receiving reported engine operational status, the system controller being programmed to illuminate the headlamps in daytime operational mode in response to the headlamp control switch being off and to a concurrent pre-selected state being met for at least one of;

(1) the ignition switch status, (2) the park brake position indication switch status, (3) the warning light activation switch status, and (4) the engine operational status.

2. A vehicle lighting control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headlamps are illuminated in daytime running light mode responsive to the following status indications:

(1) the status input for the warning lights is high;

or

(2) the status input for the warning lights is low, and remaining status inputs indicate that the engine is running, the ignition input is true and the park brake is released.

3. A vehicle lighting control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the headlamps are not illuminated for daytime running light mode for the following status inputs:

the status inputs indicate that the engine is running and the warning lights are off.

4. A vehicle lighting control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the headlamps are not illuminated for daytime running light mode under the following status indications:

the status indications are that the ignition input is true, the engine is running, the park brake is set and the warning lights are off.

5. A vehicle lighting control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the headlamps are not illuminated for daytime running light mode under the following status indications:

the status indications are that the ignition input is true, the engine is running, the park brake is set and the warning lights are off.

6. A motor vehicle comprising;

exterior lighting including warning lights and headlamps;

a lighting control system for the warning lights and headlamps;

an electrical system controller including switching control for the exterior lighting;

an ignition switch coupled to the electrical system controller;

a park brake position indication switch coupled to the electrical system controller;

an engine;

an engine controller for controlling the engine and for reporting engine operational status to the electrical system controller; and

a warning light activation switch coupled to the electrical system controller;

a headlamp control switch coupled to the electrical system controller;

the system controller being coupled to receive status inputs from the ignition switch, the park brake position indication switch, the engine controller, the headlamp control switch and the warning light activation switch and further coupled to the headlamps for controlling the illumination of the headlamps in daytime running light mode in response to the status inputs including a status input of OFF from the headlamp control switch.

7. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the headlamps are illuminated for daylight running light mode operation for the following status inputs:

(1) the warning light activation switch on is high;

or

(2) the warning light activation switch is low, but the status inputs are that the engine is running, the ignition input is true and the park brake is released.

8. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the headlamps are not illuminated for daylight running mode operation under the following status indications:

the status inputs are that the engine is running and the warning lights are off.

9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the headlamps are not illuminated for daylight running mode operation under the following status indications:

the status inputs are that the ignition input is true, the engine is running, the park brake is set and the warning lights are off.

10. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the are not illuminated for daylight running mode operation under the following status indications:

the status indications are that the ignition input is true, the engine is running, the park brake is set and the warning lights are off.