HEADLAMP CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100123395A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: AHN, Hyun Chang, KIM, Woo Yong
• Application Number:
  US12/580,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123395A1
• 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 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/335 Number or size of road lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves

Abstract

A headlamp control device for a vehicle is provided. The device includes a front sensor, a wheel speed sensor, an Electrical Control Unit (ECU), a first ballaster, a second ballaster, a relay switch, and a power supply switch. The front sensor senses a target vehicle. The wheel speed sensor detects a speed of a reference vehicle. The ECU outputs a switching control signal. The first ballaster generates a first boosting voltage. The second ballaster generates a second boosting voltage. The relay switch supplies an internal voltage to first and second high-beam lamps, or first and second ballasters. The power supply switch turns on in response to a switching control signal.

Claims

1. A headlamp control device for a vehicle, the device comprising:

a front sensor for sensing a target vehicle existing within a set area of the front of a reference vehicle, and outputting a sense signal;

a wheel speed sensor installed in a wheel of the reference vehicle, and detecting a speed of the reference vehicle on the basis of a rotatory speed of the wheel;

an Electrical Control Unit (ECU) for outputting a switching control signal in response to a lighting signal and, while first and second high-beam lamps light on, calculating a relative speed of the target vehicle, a distance between the reference vehicle and the target vehicle, and an angle for a position of the target vehicle based on a moving direction of the reference vehicle, on the basis of the speed of the reference vehicle received from the wheel speed sensor and the sense signal received from the front sensor and, on the basis of the calculation result, outputting a control current;

a first ballaster for generating a first boosting voltage on the basis of an internal voltage, and supplying the first booting voltage as an operation power source to a first High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp;

a second ballaster for generating a second boosting voltage on the basis of the internal voltage, and supplying the second boosting voltage as an operation power source to a second HID lamp;

a relay switch for, when the internal voltage is applied, supplying the internal voltage to the first and second high-beam lamps and, while the control current is supplied by the ECU, stopping supplying the internal voltage to the first and second high-beam lamps and then, supplying the internal voltage to the first and second ballasters; and

a power supply switch turning on in response to the switching control signal, and applying the internal voltage to the relay switch.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the distance between the reference vehicle and the target vehicle is comprised within a set distance range, and the angle for the position of the target vehicle based on the moving direction of the reference vehicle is comprised within a set angle range, the ECU supplies the control current to the relay switch and, when the distance between the reference vehicle and the target vehicle is out of the set distance range, or the angle for the position of the target vehicle based on the moving direction of the reference vehicle is out of the set angle range, stopping supplying the control current.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the set angle range is up to 120°

at each of a left side and right side of the moving direction of the reference vehicle, on the basis of the moving direction of the reference vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sense signal is a reflection radar signal,

wherein the front sensor comprises one or two radar sensors installed in a front part of the reference vehicle, and

wherein the one or two radar sensors each comprise:

a transmit antenna for transmitting a radar signal within a set area of the reference vehicle front at a set time interval; and

a plurality of receive antennas for receiving the reflection radar signal that is a reflection and return of the radar signal transmitted by the transmit antenna from the target vehicle, and outputting the received reflection radar signal to the ECU.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sense signal is a reflection infrared signal,

wherein the front sensor comprises one or two ridar sensors installed in a front part of the reference vehicle, and

wherein the one or two ridar sensors each comprise:

an infrared transmit diode for generating an infrared signal;

a rotatory mirror rotated at a set speed by a motor, and controlling a transmit direction of the infrared signal such that the infrared signal scans a set area of the reference vehicle front; and

a photo diode receiver for receiving the reflection infrared signal that is a reflection and return of the infrared signal from the target vehicle, and outputting the received reflection infrared signal to the ECU.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising, a steering wheel angle sensor for detecting a rotatory angle of a steering wheel of the reference vehicle,

wherein the sense signal is a photograph data signal,

wherein the front sensor comprises one or two cameras installed in a front part of the reference vehicle, taking photograph of the set area of the reference vehicle front, and outputting the photograph data signal to the ECU, and

wherein, while the first and second high-beam lamps light on, the ECU calculates the relative speed of the target vehicle, the distance between the reference vehicle and the target vehicle, and the angle for the position of the target vehicle based on the moving direction of the reference vehicle, on the basis of the speed of the reference vehicle received from the wheel speed sensor, the rotatory angle of the steering wheel received from the steering wheel angle sensor, and the photographed data signal received from the one or two cameras.