Headlamp drive and control apparatus
First Claim
1. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprisinga headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor for supporting a headlamp and driving it for tilting movement;
- a support member carrying the headlamp drive mechanism;
an angle of rotation sensor coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism for detecting a tilt angle of the headlamp;
an inclinometer for detecting an angle of inclination of the support member with respect to a horizontal plane;
projection angle control means for comparing a tilt angle signal from the angle of rotation sensor and an angle of inclination signal from the inclinometer and for developing a motor energization control signal in accordance with the result of comparison;
a motor driver responsive to the motor energization control signal to energize or deenergize the electric motor; and
time limit means initiating its timing operation as the energization of the motor is initiated and terminating the timing operation as the motor is deenergized, the time limit means developing a motor stop signal to be applied to the motor driver whenever it has timed out.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism and an electrical circuit are provided which control an up/down position and a tilt angle of a headlamp on a vehicle. The headlamp is supported by a drive mechanism which includes an electric motor as a drive source. The drive mechanism drives the headlamp to its up or down position, and also controls the tilt angle thereof. In one embodiment, an angle of rotation sensor having improved configurations and disposition of conductor electrodes and contactors is coupled to the sensor. An angle of inclination sensor is mounted on the vehicle. The headlamp is driven in accordance with the outputs from the both sensors so that it illuminates a given point forward of the vehicle. Time limit means is provided, and interrupts the energization of the motor after a given time duration. Retract switch may be operated to drive the headlamp to its up or down position. During such movement, the motor is energized at a high level while it is energized at a low level when controlling the tilt angle. In another embodiment, a second rotary switch is used to select a tilt angle. A headlamp drive mechanism is coupled to a first rotary switch, and the motor is energized through the first and the second rotary switch. The first rotary switch interrupts the circuit connection between the motor and the second rotary switch at a selected tilt angle of the headlamp which is established by the second rotary switch. The second rotary switch has improved combinations of conductor electrodes and contactors.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor for supporting a headlamp and driving it for tilting movement; -
a support member carrying the headlamp drive mechanism; an angle of rotation sensor coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism for detecting a tilt angle of the headlamp; an inclinometer for detecting an angle of inclination of the support member with respect to a horizontal plane; projection angle control means for comparing a tilt angle signal from the angle of rotation sensor and an angle of inclination signal from the inclinometer and for developing a motor energization control signal in accordance with the result of comparison; a motor driver responsive to the motor energization control signal to energize or deenergize the electric motor; and time limit means initiating its timing operation as the energization of the motor is initiated and terminating the timing operation as the motor is deenergized, the time limit means developing a motor stop signal to be applied to the motor driver whenever it has timed out.
-
-
2. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor for supporting a headlamp and driving it for tilting movement; -
a support member carrying the headlamp drive mechanism; an angle of rotation sensor coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism for detecting a tilt angle of the headlamp; an inclinometer for detecting an angle of inclination of the support member with respect to a horizontal plane; projection angle control means for comparing a tilt angle signal from the angle of rotation sensor and an angle of inclination signal from the inclinometer and for developing a motor energization control signal in accordance with the result of comparison; and a motor driver responsive to the motor energization control signal to energize or deenergize the electric motor; said inclinometer comprises a base mount, a pipe-shaped member having a curved configuration, a tiltable solid element disposed within the pipe-shaped member and movable along the curvature of the pipe-shaped member under gravity, support means mounted on the base mount for carrying the pipe-shaped member, and a solid element detector including a plurality of detecting elements disposed alongside the pipe-shaped member and functioning to detect the presence or absence of the tiltable solid element. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor for supporting a headlamp and driving it for tilting movement; -
a support member for supporting the headlamp drive mechanism; an angle of rotation sensor including a patterned conductor member having a conductor formed in a given pattern on the surface of an insulating sheet, and an insulated substrate having a plurality of contactors secured thereon for contact with selected areas of the conductor, the patterned conductor member and the insulated substrate being disposed in opposing relationship with each other, one of the patterned conductor member and the insulated substrate being fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft so that the sensor is coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism to detect a tilt angle of the headlamp, the pattern including and defining a plurality of conductors which are separate from each other and each of which includes an arcuate portion extending circumferentially about the rotary shaft and a radial portion which is contiguous with the corresponding arcuate portion and extending radially of the rotary shaft, the radial portions of the individual conductors being disposed adjacent to each other, the contactors being grouped into a first set of contactors which are adapted to engage the arcuate portions of the individual conductors and a second set of contactors which are adapted to engage the radial portions of the individual conductors successively as the rotary shaft rotates; an angle command generator for providing a desired tilt angle for the headlamp; projection angle control means for comparing a signal from the angle of rotation sensor against a signal from the angle command generator to develop a motor energization control signal in accordance with the relationship between the both signals; and a motor driver for energizing or deenergizing the electric motor in accordance with the motor energization control signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor for supporting a headlamp and for driving it for tilting movement; -
headlamp drive and control means for developing a motor energization control signal; a motor driver for selectively energizing or deenergizing the electric motor in accordance with the motor energization control signal and for terminating the energization motor in response to a motor stop signal; and time limit means initiating its timing operation when the energization of the motor is initiated and terminating its timing operation when the motor is deenergized, the time limit means developing a motor stop signal when the motor continues to be energized for a given time interval since the initiation of the energization of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor and for supporting a headlamp, for driving the headlamp between its stowed position and extended position and for controlling the projection angle of the headlamp when it is in its extended position; -
an angle of rotation sensor coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism for detecting a tilt angle of the headlamp; an angle command generator for delivering a desired tilt angle of the headlamp; projection angle control means for comparing an electric signal from the angle of rotation sensor against an electric signal from the angle command generator to develop a motor energization control signal in accordance with the result of comparison; retract switch means for causing the electric motor to be energized in its high torque mode so that the headlamp may be driven to its stowed position or extended position; and a motor driver including switching means which changes the energization of the motor between a low torque mode and a high torque mode, the motor driver thus being capable of selectively energizing the electric motor in its low torque mode, high torque mode or to stop it in accordance with a combination of the motor energization control signal and a high torque signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A headlamp drive and control apparatus comprising
a headlamp drive mechanism including an electric motor and for supporting a headlamp and driving it for tilting movement; -
a first rotary switch coupled to the headlamp drive mechanism for movement together with the tilting movement of the headlamp; a second rotary switch for delivering a command tilt angle for the headlamp and including a plurality of first fixed contactors disposed on a substrate, a plurality of second fixed contactors disposed on the substrate, a plurality of first selectors which are less in number than the number of the first fixed contactors and which can be brought into engagement with the first fixed contactors, and a plurality of second selectors which can be brought into engagement with the second fixed contactors, the first selectors being divided into a plurality of sets, each of which is connected to one of the second selectors, the substrate and one of the first and the second selector being fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft; and an electrical circuit for connecting the electric motor to a power supply through the first and the second rotary switch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification