Power supply circuit for automotive headlamp

• US 4,857,754 A
• Filed: 03/23/1988
• Issued: 08/15/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/172,186
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10 R, 307/10 LS, 307/9, 307/112, 340/50, 340/52 R, 340/76, 340/92, 315/82, 315/83, 315/77
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means

Abstract

A power supply circuit for automotive headlamp assemblies includes a switch assembly selectively operable between a first position at which the electrical power is supplied to high-beam valves of the headlamp assemblies, and a second position at which the electrical power is supplied to low-beam valves of the headlamp assemblies. The power supply circuit also includes means for establishing communication between a power source and the low-beam valves at the first position, so as to turn the low-beam valves on whenever the high-beam valves are turned on.

Claims

1. A power supply circuit for an automotive headlamp system which includes first and second headlamp assemblies, each of which includes a low-beam valve for low-beam lighting and a high-beam valve for highbeam lighting, said power supply circuit comprising:

a power source for supplying electrical power;

a switch assembly selectively operable between a plurality of switch positions including a first position in which the electrical power is supplied to said high-beam valves of said headlamp assemblies, and a second position in wihch the electrical power is supplied to said low-beam valves of said headlamp assemblies; and

means for establishing communication between said power source and said low-beam valves at said first position in a high-beam and a flash mode.

2. A power supply circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch assembly has a plurality of terminals including a first terminal connected to said power source, a second terminal connected to said high-beam valves and a third terminal connected to said low-beam valves, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal in said first position, and to said third terminal in said second position.

3. A power supply circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means connects said first terminal to said third terminal at said first position.

4. A power supply circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a relay which is turned on at said first position to establish communication between said power source and said low-beam valves.

5. A power supply circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means is controlled by a microcomputer.

6. A power supply circuit for an automotive headlamp system which includes first and second headlamp assemblies, each of which includes a low-beam valve for low-beam lighting and a high-beam valve for highbeam lighting, said power supply circuit comprising:

a power source for supplying electrical power; and

a switch assembly selectively operable between a plurality of switch positions including a first position in which the electrical power is supplied to said high-beam and low-beam valves of said headlamp assemblies, and a second position in which the electrical power is supplied to said low-beam valves of said headlamp assemblies only said first position further being operable in both high-beam and flash modes.

7. A power supply circuit for an automotive headlamp system comprising:

an electrical power source;

first and second head lamp assemblies, each said headlamp assembly having a low-beam valve and a high-beam valve;

a switch assembly selectively operable between a plurality of positions, each position further having means for selecting among a plurality of modes;

said positions including first, second and third positions and said modes including high-beam, low-beam and flash modes;

said high and flash modes providing electrical power to said high-beam valves and said low-beam valves simultaneously.

8. The power supply circuit of claim 7, further comprising means for activating taillights when said switch is in said second and said third position.

9. The power supply circuit recited in claim 7, further comprising means for providing electrical power to said high-beam valves and said low-beam valves simultaneously in said flash mode, when said switch is in any one of said first, second and third positions.

10. A power supply circuit for an automotive headlamp system comprising:

an electrical power source;

first and second headlamp assemblies, each said assembly having a low-beam valve and a high-beam valve;

a switch assembly for selectively applying electrical power to said high-beam valves;

a normally open relay having a first pair of terminals connected to said power source, a second pair of terminals each of said second terminals connected to one of said low-beam valves, and an activating coil responsive to a separate relay terminal connected to one of said high-beam valves, said relay operative to connect said first and second pairs of terminals when power is applied to said high-beam valves.

11. The automotive headlamp system recited in claim 10, further comprising switchable means for applying electrical power to said low-beam valves only.

12. The automotive headlight circuit recited in claim 10 wherein said switch has a plurality of positions, each position adjustable to a high-beam, low-beam and flash mode.

13. The automotive headlight circuit of claim 12 wherein said switch applies electrical to said high-beam valves in said high-beam and said flash modes.