LIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR ROAD VEHICLES

• US 3,623,671 A
• Filed: 06/20/1969
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Arthur Hargroves
• Original Assignee: Robert Arthur Hargroves
• Inventors: Hargroves, Robert Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Jr., Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US04/835,101
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 240/7.1,46.11,46.17,46.21,46.25,46.29,46.05 250/204,205,225,226 350/276,268,269
• US Class Current: 250/206
• 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 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/686 Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane

Abstract

A lighting system for a road vehicle including a projector and a receiver. A lens for directing light from the projector to form a beam of light illuminating the road in front of the vehicle, and said lens also focusing light form an oncoming vehicle into the receiver. Shutter means operable by the receiver in response to light from the oncoming vehicle for controlling the beam to avoid dazzling the driver of the oncoming vehicle, and optical control means in the light passed between the lens and the projector and the receiver. The optical control means reflects light incident upon it in one direction and transmits light incident upon it in the other direction and so controls passage of light from the projector to the lens, and the passage of light from the lens to the receiver.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a road vehicle, comprising a light projector having a light source, a light receiver having a lightsensitive device, a lens, said lens serving both to direct light from said light source to produce a beam of light illuminating the area in front of the vehicle equipped with this system, and to focus light from in front of the vehicle into the receiver so that incoming light falls on said light-sensitive device, means operable in response to light falling on said light-sensitive device to reduce the width of the projected beam so that the projected beam does not fall on the source of the incoming light, and a light-transmitting and reflecting device associated with said lens, said light receiver receiving incoming light which passes through said lens, and which is reflected from said transmitting and reflecting device, and light from said projector reaching said lens by transmission through said transmitting and reflecting device.

2. A lighting system for a road vehicle, comprising a light projector having a light source, a light receiver having a light-sensitive device, a lens, said lens serving both to direct light from the light source to produce a beam of light illuminating the area in front of the vehicle equipped with this system, and to focus light from in front of the vehicle into the receiver so that incoming light falls on the light-sensitive device, means operable in response to light falling on said light-sensitive device to reduce the width of the projected beam so that the projected beam does not fall on the source of the incoming light, and a light-transmitting and reflecting device associated with said lens, the receiver receiving incoming light which passes through said lens, and which is transmitted by said transmitting and reflecting device, and light from said projector reaching said lens by reflection from said transmitting and reflecting device.

3. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the receiver and the optical axis of the projector are parallel, and further comprising a mirror in the path of light between the lens and the receiver, the incoming light reflected from said transmitting and reflecting device being further reflected by said mirror towards the receiver.

4. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting and reflecting device reflects red and infrared waveLengths of light while transmitting the remaining wavelengths of light, so that the projected beam is free from red and infrared wavelengths, while only the red and infrared wavelengths of the incoming light are reflected to the receiver.