Tail Light Source Attitude Adjusting Assembly

• US 20090034280A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
• Inventors: Rosenstein, Filip, Mack, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US12/186,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light intensity adjusting assembly for a light source of a motor vehicle. The light intensity adjusting assembly includes a processor for processing electrical signals. The light intensity adjusting assembly also includes a first sensor for detecting a first ambient condition. The first sensor creates a first sensor signal to be transmitted to the processor. A second sensor detects a second ambient condition and creates a second sensor signal to be transmitted to the processor. The processor controls the light intensity of the light source based on the first and second sensor signals.

Claims

1. A light intensity adjusting assembly for a light source rearward of a motor vehicle, said light intensity adjusting assembly comprising:

a processor for processing electrical signals;

a first sensor for detecting a first ambient condition, said first sensor creating a first sensor signal to be transmitted to said processor;

a second sensor for detecting a second ambient condition and to create a second sensor signal to be transmitted to said processor; and

a third sensor for measuring a distance between objects behind the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle, and to create a third sensor signal to be transmitted to said processor such that said processor adjusts the light intensity of the light source to one of an infinite number of light intensity levels based on ambient conditions indicated by said first and second sensor signals, and on how far the motor vehicle is from the object behind the motor vehicle as indicated by said third sensor signal.

2. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first sensor detects ambient light.

3. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third sensor includes a sensing light source for creating a test signal to be received by said second sensor to measure dissipation of the test signal.

4. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said third sensor includes a receiver for receiving the test signal generated by said sensing light source.

5. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sensing light source is a laser.

6. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third sensor includes a velocity sensor for sensing the velocity of the motor vehicle.

7. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third sensor includes a measuring sensor for measuring a distance between the motor vehicle and an object therebehind.

8. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor to ultrasonically detect an object behind the motor vehicle.

9. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second sensor is a rain sensor.

10. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second sensor is a steering sensor for detecting a steering angle of the motor vehicle.

11. A light intensity adjusting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second sensor is a visibility sensor for detecting the visibility of atmosphere behind the motor vehicle.