Dimmer for use with vehicle

• US 4,564,789 A
• Filed: 01/26/1984
• Issued: 01/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kokubu, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Harold
• Application Number:
  US06/574,254
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 315/79, 307/10 LS, 307/120, 307/121
• US Class Current: 315/79
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A dimmer for use with a vehicle is provided. It has a vehicle speed detector circuit for detecting a state wherein the vehicle speed is within a predetermined range to generate a signal, an acceleration detector circuit for detecting a state wherein the acceleration of the vehicle is less than a predetermined value to generate a signal, switch means for controlling passage of a logical product which is obtained through a logic circuit alone or in combination with the respective signals from said vehicle speed detector circuit, said acceleration detector circuit and said switch circuit, and circuit means for controlling a light source in accordance with the output of said logic circuit. Therefore, the controlling the intensity of the light source to prevent light reflection on the window from the meters, indicators or the like, to eliminate dazzling a driver'"'"'s eyes and to provide safety driving is carried out in consideration of the acceleration state in addition to the state of vehicle speed, and even in the mode of cruising travel, confirmation of the meters, indicators or the like can be made as necessary by operation of the switch. Thereby, dimming operation can be carried out safety.

Claims

1. A dimmer for use with a vehicle comprising

sensing means for sensing a vehicle speed to generate a first signal corresponding thereto;

vehicle speed detecting means for receiving said first signal and detecting a substantial vehicle speed which is within a predetermined range to generate a second signal;

circuit means for controlling a light source in accordance with said second signal from said vehicle speed detecting means; and

a logic circuit for producing an output to operate said circuit means.

2. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

vehicle acceleration detecting means for receiving said first signal and detecting a substantial vehicle acceleration which is less than a predetermined value to generate a third signal, said logical circuit producing said logic output by multiplying the second signal and said third signal, said circuit means operating in accordance with said logical product.

3. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

switching means for producing a fourth signal by manual operation, said logic circuit producing said logic output by multiplying the second signal and said fourth signal, said circuit means operating in accordance with said logic output.

4. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said logic circuit includes an AND circuit and said switching means produces said fourth signal, said forth signal entering an input of said AND circuit.

5. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said switching means in a normally open switch.

6. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said normally open switch is grounded at a first end thereof and is directly connected at a second end thereof to said input of the logic circuit for sending said forth signal, said second end being adapted to be held at two levels, and said two levels including a "H" level and a "L" level.

7. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

vehicle acceleration detecting means for receiving said first signal and detecting a substantial vehicle acceleration which is less than a predetermined value to generate a third signal;

and

switching means for producing a fourth signal by manual operation, said logic circuit producing said logic output by multiplying the second signal, said third signal and said fourth signal, and said circuit means operating in accordance with said logical output.

8. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said logic circuit includes an AND circuit and said switching means produces said fourth signal, said fourth signal entering an input of said AND circuit.

9. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes

a pulse generator for generating a pulse train with a variable duty ratio;

a variable registor; and

a driving device to be controlled by said pulse generator to drive said light source, said pulse generator being controlled to vary said duty ratio in accordance with an adjusting position of said variable registor.

10. A dimmer for use with a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said driving device is a transistor.