DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP ACTIVATION CONTROL METHODS AND APPARATUS

• US 20100213847A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: LATOUF, BRIAN K., BIONDO, WILLIAM A., PROEFKE, DAVID T., McCALL, CLARK E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

Embodiments include lighting systems and methods for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs). Embodiments of the method include receiving inputs from one or more on-board subsystems, and when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode and the headlights are deactivated, selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on the inputs. Embodiments of the lighting system include DRLs, headlights, and a processing and control subsystem. The processing and control subsystem is adapted to determine whether a DRL activation criteria is met when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode, to activate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met and the headlights are deactivated, and to deactivate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met and the headlights are deactivated.

Claims

1. A method performed by a lighting system of a motor vehicle for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs from one or more on-board subsystems; and

when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode and when headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on the inputs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises:

determining whether a DRL activation criteria is met;

deactivating the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met; and

activating the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the DRL activation criteria is met when it is determined that one or more events has occurred, which include at least one event selected from a group that includes an ambient light level having fallen below a DRL activation threshold, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a low-light feature, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a high-traffic feature, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a portion of a route with decreased visibility, a determination that windshield wipers of the motor vehicle are activated, and a determination that another vehicle is located in proximity to the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the inputs comprises:

receiving information from an ambient light sensor indicating an ambient light level of an environment external to the motor vehicle, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

determining, based on the information from the ambient light sensor, whether the ambient light level has fallen below a DRL activation threshold; and

when the ambient light level has fallen below the DRL activation threshold, activating the DRLs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the inputs comprises:

receiving signals from a positioning system interface, and

wherein the method further comprises

determining a geographical location of the motor vehicle based on the signals received from the positioning system interface, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on the geographical location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the inputs further comprises:

receiving navigational information indicating a geographical location of a low-light navigational feature, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

determining, based on the geographical location of the motor vehicle and the geographical location of the low-light navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the low-light navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the low-light navigational feature, activating the DRLs.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the low-light navigational feature is a navigational feature selected from a group that includes a tunnel, a parking garage, an overpass, and a lower level of a stacked roadway.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the inputs further comprises:

receiving navigational information indicating a geographical location of a high-traffic navigational feature, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

determining, based on the geographical location of the motor vehicle and the geographical location of the high-traffic navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the high-traffic navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the high-traffic navigational feature, activating the DRLs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the high-traffic navigational feature is a navigational feature selected from a group that includes a traffic control device, an intersection, a portion of a route in which two-way traffic may be present, a portion of a route in which lanes merge, and a portion of a route that passes through an urban area.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the inputs further comprises:

receiving information indicating a geographical location of a portion of a route with decreased visibility, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

determining, based on the geographical location of the motor vehicle and the geographical location of the portion of the route with decreased visibility, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the portion of the route with decreased visibility; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the portion of the route with decreased visibility, activating the DRLs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portion of the route with decreased visibility is a portion of a route selected from a group that includes hilly terrain, a windy roadway, and an area of inclement weather.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the inputs comprises:

receiving information indicating that another vehicle is in proximity to the motor vehicle, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

activating the DRLs when the another vehicle is in proximity to the motor vehicle.

13. A method performed by a lighting system of a motor vehicle for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs), the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a DRL activation criteria is met when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode;

when the DRL activation criteria is met and headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, activating the DRLs; and

when the DRL activation criteria is not met and headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, deactivating the DRLs.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the DRL activation criteria is met when it is determined that one or more events has occurred, which include at least one event selected from a group that includes an ambient light level having fallen below a DRL activation threshold, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a low-light feature, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a high-traffic feature, the motor vehicle approaching or having arrived at a portion of a route with decreased visibility, a determination that windshield wipers of the motor vehicle are activated, and a determination that another vehicle is located in proximity to the motor vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on information received from an ambient light sensor, whether the ambient light level has fallen below a DRL activation threshold; and

when the ambient light level has fallen below the DRL activation threshold, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle and a geographical location of a tunnel, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the tunnel; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the tunnel, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle and a geographical location of a high-traffic navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the high-traffic navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the high-traffic navigational feature, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle, whether the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to an area of inclement weather; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching or is in proximity to the area of inclement weather, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining that the DRL activation criteria is met when information is received which indicates that another vehicle or a pedestrian is in proximity to the motor vehicle.

20. A lighting system of a motor vehicle, the lighting system comprising:

daytime running lamps (DRLs);

headlights; and

a processing and control subsystem adapted

to determine whether a DRL activation criteria is met when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode,

to activate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met and the headlights are deactivated, and

to deactivate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met and the headlights are deactivated.