Lighting control system for control dependent on weather condition

• US 20070242470A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Michiyama, Katsunori
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/464
• 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 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather

Abstract

A vehicle lighting control system is disclosed that includes a weather detecting device for detecting a weather condition and a degree thereof. The lighting control system also includes a control device for controlling the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition.

Claims

1. A lighting control system for controlling an irradiating range of a light emitting apparatus which is provided in a vehicle comprising:

a weather detecting device for detecting a weather condition surrounding the vehicle and a degree of the weather condition; and

a control device for setting an irradiating range of the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition.

4. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the weather detecting device detects the degree of the weather condition by comparing the detecting weather condition to at least two different predetermined weather conditions.

5. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the weather detecting device detects visibility from the vehicle to a surrounding area and determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable when the visibility is more than a predetermined value and that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable when the visibility is less than the predetermined value.

6. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the weather detecting device detects visibility to the vehicle from a surrounding area and determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable when the visibility is more than a predetermined value and that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable when the visibility is less than the predetermined value.

7. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the weather detecting device detects the transmittance of the irradiating light of the light emitting apparatus in a space in the surroundings of the vehicle; and

determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable when the transmittance is more than a predetermined value and that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable when the transmittance is less than the predetermined value.

8. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the weather detecting device detects the density of water particles in the surroundings of the vehicle; and

determines that that the degree of the weather condition is favorable when the density is less than a predetermined value and that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable when the density is more than the predetermined value.

9. The lighting control system according to claim 5, wherein:

the control device lowers an optical axis of the light emitting apparatus when the weather detecting device determines that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable as compared to a case where the weather detecting device determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable.

10. The lighting control system according to claim 5, wherein:

the control device raises the optical axis of the light emitting apparatus when the weather detecting device that the degree of the weather condition is favorable as compared to a case where the weather detecting device determines that the degree of the weather condition is unfavorable.

11. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein:

the control device sets the irradiating range of the light emitting apparatus based on the degree of the weather condition and the speed of the vehicle.

12. The lighting control system according to claim 5, wherein:

the control device sets the irradiating range of the light emitting apparatus in a rear of the vehicle, when the weather detecting device determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined value.

13. The lighting control system according to claim 5, wherein:

the control device sets the irradiating range of the light emitting apparatus in a front of the vehicle, when the weather detecting device determines that the degree of the weather condition is favorable and the speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined value.

14. The lighting control system according to claim 12, wherein the light emitting apparatus flashes.

15. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the weather detecting device detects a foggy weather condition and a density of the fog is the degree of the weather condition.

16. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the weather detecting device detects a snowy weather condition and an amount of snowfall is the degree of the weather condition.

17. The lighting control system according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the weather detecting device detects a rainy weather condition and an amount of rainfall is the degree of the weather condition.

2. A lighting control system for a vehicle comprising:

a light emitting apparatus;

a weather detecting device for detecting a weather condition surrounding the vehicle and a degree of the weather condition; and

a control device for setting an irradiating range of the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition.

3. A lighting control system for a vehicle comprising:

a light emitting apparatus;

a weather detecting device for detecting a weather condition surrounding the vehicle and a degree of the weather condition; and

a control device for setting an irradiating color of the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition.

18. The lighting control system according to claim 3, wherein:

the control device calculates the transmittance of the irradiating light of the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition and sets an irradiating color of the light emitting apparatus based on the calculation result.

19. The lighting control system according to claim 3, wherein:

the light emitting apparatus includes a plurality of LEDs of different colors and alters the irradiating color by altering the number of illuminated LEDs.

20. The lighting control system according to claim 19, wherein the light emitting apparatus includes a plurality of LEDs of red, green, and blue colors.