SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEADLAMPS OF VEHICLE

• US 20140210343A1
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kulandaivellu, Sathishkumar C., Challa, V. Ramakrishna
• Application Number:
  US14/230,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210343A1
• 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 2300/116 Vehicle at a stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/146 Abnormalities, e.g. fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle

Abstract

A method for controlling high-beam lamp state in a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes activating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle. Further, the method includes receiving a first output signal from a high-beam sensor, the first output signal being indicative of an intensity of light from a light source facing the vehicle. The method includes receiving a second output signal from a stray light sensor, the second output signal being indicative of an intensity of stray light from a stray light source in vicinity of the vehicle. The method includes receiving a speed signal from a ground speed sensor associated with the vehicle, the speed signal being indicative of a ground speed of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes selectively deactivating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle based on at least one or more of the first output signal, the second output signal, and the speed signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling high-beam lamp state in a vehicle, the method comprising:

activating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle;

receiving a first output signal from a high-beam sensor, the first output signal being indicative of an intensity of light from a light source facing the vehicle;

receiving a second output signal from a stray light sensor, the second output signal being indicative of an intensity of stray light from a stray light source in vicinity of the vehicle;

receiving a speed signal from a ground speed sensor associated with the vehicle, the speed signal being indicative of a ground speed of the vehicle; and

selectively deactivating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle based on at least one or more of the first output signal, the second output signal, and the speed signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second output signals are at least one of a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal and a variable frequency signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a first output voltage frequency and a second output voltage frequency corresponding to the first output signal and the second output signal, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising comparing the first output voltage frequency with a first threshold frequency.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising comparing the second output voltage frequency with a second threshold frequency.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising deactivating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle when the first output voltage frequency is greater than the first threshold frequency and the second output voltage frequency is less than the second threshold frequency.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle and a rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising comparing the rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle with the rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source when the ground speed of the vehicle is greater than zero.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining a relative velocity of the light source facing the vehicle with respect to the vehicle when the rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle is greater than the rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising deactivating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle when the relative velocity of the light source facing the vehicle with respect to the vehicle is greater than zero.

11. A controller for an auto-dipping system associated with a head lamp of a vehicle, controller configured to:

detect activated high-beam lamp state of the vehicle;

receive a first output signal from a high-beam sensor, the first output signal being indicative of an intensity of light from a light source facing the vehicle;

receive a second output signal from a stray light sensor, the second output signal being indicative of an intensity of stray light from a stray light source in vicinity of the vehicle;

receive a speed signal from a ground speed sensor associated with the vehicle, the speed signal being indicative of a ground speed of the vehicle; and

selectively deactivate the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle based on at least one or more of the first output signal, the second output signal, and the speed signal.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the first and the second output signals are at least one of a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal and a variable frequency signal.

13. The controller of claim 11 comprising a fault detection unit, the fault detection unit configured to detect a first output voltage frequency and a second output voltage frequency corresponding to the first output signal and the second output signal, respectively.

14. The controller of claim 13 further comprising a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to compare the first output voltage frequency with a first threshold frequency.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the second output voltage frequency with a second threshold frequency.

16. The controller of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is configured to deactivate the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle when the first output voltage frequency is greater than the first threshold frequency and the second output voltage frequency is less than the second threshold frequency.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle and a rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is configured to comparing the rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle with the rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source when the ground speed of the vehicle is greater than zero.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a relative velocity of the light source facing the vehicle with respect to the vehicle when the rate of increase of intensity of light from the light source facing the vehicle is greater than the rate of increase of intensity of stray light from the stray light source.

20. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processing unit configured to deactivate the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle when the relative velocity of the light source facing the vehicle with respect to the vehicle is greater than zero.