Automatic headlamp control system

• US 4,208,615 A
• Filed: 02/23/1979
• Issued: 06/17/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Sheridan, John J., Jones, Billy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Alfred E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roberts, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/014,309
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10 LS, 315/82, 315/83
• US Class Current: 315/83
• 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 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/001 Alarm devices when the motor is stopped and the lights are on

Abstract

A motor vehicle headlamp control system wherein a two-position solenoid operated ratcheting switch conducts current from the storage battery to the headlamps. The position of the switch controls the energization of the headlamps and momentary energization of the solenoid changes the position of the switch. The driver may manually energize the solenoid to control the headlamps and the switch is automatically shifted to a position to deenergize the headlamps when the vehicle ignition key is shifted to an "off" position. Automatic turn-on and delayed turn-off functions are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the energization of motor vehicle headlamps comprising, a source of voltage, headlamps for said motor vehicle, a headlamp control switch for controlling the energization of said headlamps from said voltage source having a first position in which the headlamps are deenergized, and a second position in which said headlamps are energized and in which the headlamp control switch connects one terminal of said source of voltage to a control terminal, electrically energizable means for shifting said control switch between said first and second positions each time said electrically energizable means is energized, first and second control switches operated in response to the position of a vehicle ignition switch such that when said vehicle ignition switch is in an off position said first control switch is opened and said second control switch is closed, said first control switch being closed and said second control switch being open when said ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, a manually operable momentary switch means, a first circuit for providing manual on/off control of said headlamps comprising said source of voltage, said first control switch, said electrically energizable means, and said momentary switch means, whereby the position of said headlamp control switch is shifted each time said momentary switch means is temporarily closed when said vehicle ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, and a second circuit for automatically shifting said headlamp control switch to said first position if said switch is not in said first position when said ignition switch is shifted to an off position, said second circuit comprising said second control switch, said control terminal, and said electrically energizable means.

2. A system for controlling the energization of motor vehicle headlamps comprising, a source of voltage, headlamps for said motor vehicle, a headlamp control switch for controlling the energization of said headlamps from said voltage source having a first position in which the headlamps are deenergized, and a second position in which said headlamps are energized and in which the headlamp control switch connects one terminal of said source of voltage to a control terminal, electrically energizable means for shifting said control switch between said first and second positions each time said electrically energizable means is energized, first and second control switches operated in response to the shiftable position of a vehicle ignition switch such that when said vehicle ignition switch is shifted to an off position, said first control switch is opened and said second control switch is subsequently closed, said second control switch being opened and said first control switch being subsequently closed when said ignition switch is shifted to a position other than said off position, a manually operable momentary switch means, a first circuit for providing manual on/off control of said headlamps comprising said source of voltage, said first control switch, said electrically energizable means, and said momentary switch means, whereby the position of said headlamp control switch is shifted each time said momentary switch means is temporarily closed when said vehicle ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, and a second circuit for automatically shifting said headlamp control switch to said first position if said switch is not in said first position when said ignition switch is shifted to an off position, said second circuit comprising said second control switch, said control terminal, and said electrically energizable means.

3. A system for controlling the energization of motor vehicle headlamps comprising, a source of voltage, headlamps for said motor vehicle, a headlamp control switch for controlling the energization of said headlamps from said voltage source having a first position in which the headlamps are deenergized, and a second position in which said headlamps are energized and in which the headlamp control switch connects one terminal of said source of voltage to a control terminal, electrically energizable means for shifting said control switch between said first and second positions each time said electrically energizable means is energized, first and second control switches operated in response to the position of a vehicle ignition switch such that when said vehicle ignition switch is in an off position said first control switch is opened and said second control switch is closed, said first control switch being closed and said second control switch being open when said ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, a manually operable momentary switch means, delay means responsive to the closing of said second control switch, said delay means being operative to momentarily provide a conductive path therethrough following a time delay, light sensitive means operative to momentarily provide a conductive path therethrough when ambient light falls below a predetermined level, a first circuit for providing manual on/off control of said headlamps comprising said source of voltage, said first control switch, said electrically energizable means, and said momentary switch means, whereby the position of said headlamp control switch is shifted each time said momentary switch means is temporarily closed when said vehicle ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, a second circuit for automatically shifting said headlamp control switch to said first position upon the expiration of a time delay commencing when said ignition switch is shifted to an off position, said second circuit comprising said second control switch, said delay means, said control terminal, and said electrically energizable means, and a third circuit for automatically shifting said headlamp control switch to said second position when said ignition switch is shifted to a position other than an off position and the ambient light falls below a predetermined level, said third circuit comprising said source of voltage, said first control switch, said electrically energizable means, and said light sensitive means.

4. A system for controlling the energization of motor vehicle headlamps comprising, a source of voltage, headlamps for said motor vehicle, a headlamp control switch for controlling the energization of said headlamps from said voltage source comprising a shiftable contactor and at least first, second and third fixed contacts, said contactor in a first position electrically connecting said first, second and third fixed contacts and in a second position being disconnected therefrom, electrically energizable means for shifting said contactor between said first and second positions and vice versa each time it is energized, means connecting said first fixed contact to said source of voltage, means connecting said second fixed contact to said headlamps, first and second control switches operated in response to the position of a vehicle ignition switch such that when said vehicle ignition switch is in an off position said first control switch is opened and said second control switch is closed, said first control switch being closed and said second control switch being opened when said ignition switch is in a position other than said off position, a manually operable momentary switch means, a first circuit for providing manual on/off control of said headlamps comprising said source of voltage, said first control switch, said electrically energizable means and said momentary switch means, whereby the position of said shiftable contactor is shifted each time said momentary switch means is temporarily closed when said vehicle ignition switch is in the position other than said off position, and a second circuit for automatically shifting said shiftable contactor to said second position if said contactor is in said first position when said ignition switch is shifted to an off position, said second circuit comprising said source of voltage, said third fixed contact, said electrically energizable means, and said second control switch.