Photoelectric headlamp dimmer which adjusts headlamps inwardly

• US 3,249,761 A
• Filed: 10/08/1962
• Issued: 05/03/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert Baumanns
• Original Assignee: Herbert Baumanns
• Inventors: HERBERT BAUMANNS
• Application Number:
  US04/228,981
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• US Class Current: 250/234
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/076 by electrical means including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints
• 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 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle

Claims

1. A HEADLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR USE ON TWO SPACED HEADLAMPS OF A CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN MEETING OTHER ONCOMING VEHICLES ON A ROADWALY HAVING HEADLAMPS RADIATING ENERGY TOWARD THE CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A PHOTOCELL ARRAY POSITIONED ON THE CONTROLLED VEHICLE FOR RECEIVING SAID ENERGY FROM AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, AND HEADLAMP POSITION CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PHOTOCELL ARRAY FOR AUTOMATICALLY PIVOTING THE TWO SPACED HEADLAMPS INWARDLY OVER A RANGE OF ADJUSTMENT PROPORTIONAL TO THE INTENSITY OF THE ENERGY RECEIVED FROM THE HEADLAMPS OF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE TO AN EXTENT POINTING ONE HEADLAMP BEAM OFF THE ROADWAY CREATING A DARK ZONE SEGMENT WHICH FOLLOWS THE POSITION OF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE AND RETAINING ILLUMINATION FROM ONE HEADLAMP ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY UPON WHICH THE CONTROLLED VEHICLE IS PASSING.