ADAPTIVE WORK LIGHT AND DRIVE LIGHT INTENSITY FOR A WORK VEHICLE

• US 20130286671A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Breiner, Scott J, Nichols, Boyd M., Guillory, Chris
• Application Number:
  US13/457,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/464
• 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 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system in which a controller changes the intensity of a drive light and/or a work light as a function of a speed of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A work vehicle lighting system, comprising:

a light;

a speed sensor for detecting a speed; and

a controller, the controller in communication with the speed sensor and operably connected with the light such that a light intensity is adjusted as a function of a speed detected.

2. The work vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the speed detected is the speed of the work vehicle.

3. The work vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light intensity remains constant within a predetermined range of speeds detected.

4. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light intensity changes proportionally with the speed detected.

5. The work vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light is a work light.

6. The work vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light is a drive light.

7. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light intensity is adjusted by an adjusted amount of electrical power from the controller to the light.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is a vehicle controller which sends coded signals to the light which are representative of a light intensity adjusted as a function of speed.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light intensity is adjusted via a coded signal from the vehicle controller and an electrical power adjustment by the light.

10. A method of controlling intensity of a vehicle light on a vehicle having a speed sensor to detect a speed and a controller in communication with the speed sensor and operably connected with the light, the method comprising:

detecting a speed;

determining a desired light intensity as a function of the speed detected; and

effecting the desired light intensity.