Headlight aiming apparatus and display
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
- projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface,sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell,comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy,selectively displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a simulated light beam to visually describe the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight on a simulated road surface,selectively displaying a simulated light beam for a properly aimed headlight on the simulated road surface to indicate the relative difference between the vehicle headlight intensity pattern and a properly aimed headlight intensity pattern.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for aiming vehicle headlights and for visually displaying the illumination patterns of the headlights. A light beam is focused on a screen and the intensity of the light in each cell of a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam is sensed with an image sensor. An electrical signal is generated for each cell indicative of the intensity of the light beam in each cell. A computer compares at least some of the electrical signals to each other and with established criteria to determine whether the headlight is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy. The illumination pattern of a headlight is described by visually displaying at least some of the electrical signals i.e. the light intensities and their locations, on a display. The illumination pattern can be displayed as a series of isocandela lines, or can be displayed as a simulated headlight illumination pattern on a road surface. Exemplary objects can be included on the road surface at selected intervals to indicate relative distances. The headlight illumination pattern can be compared to a properly aimed, simulated headlight illumination pattern to indicate the necessary aiming correction. Digital and graphic indications of the relative deviations between the headlight illumination pattern and a properly aimed headlight illumination pattern are provided, as well as an aiming probe for centering the headlight relative to the lens.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface, sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy, selectively displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a simulated light beam to visually describe the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight on a simulated road surface, selectively displaying a simulated light beam for a properly aimed headlight on the simulated road surface to indicate the relative difference between the vehicle headlight intensity pattern and a properly aimed headlight intensity pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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centering means for aligning the headlight with the apparatus, sensor means for sensing the intensity of a light beam from the headlight in each cell in a matrix of cells overlaying the reflected light beam, said sensor means including means to generate an electrical signal for each cell from said sensor means indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, means to compare at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed properly within a prescribed degree of accuracy, means for selectively displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a simulated light beam to visually describe the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight on a simulated road surface, and means for selectively displaying a simulated light beam for a properly aimed headlight on the simulated road surface to indicate the relative distance between the vehicle headlight intensity pattern and the properly aimed headlight intensity pattern. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface, sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy, displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a simulated light beam to visually describe the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight, concurrently displaying an indicating device to digitally indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight light beam and the properly aimed headlight light beam, adjusting the aim of the headlight in accordance with the indicated relative deviation, and concurrently displaying a simulated light beam to visually describe the adjusted vehicle headlight intensity pattern.
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12. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface, sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy, displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a visual description of the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight, concurrently displaying an indicating device to digitally indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight light beam and the properly aimed headlight light beam, said indicating device including cursors moveable with respect to the vertical and horizontal axes to indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight beam and the properly aimed headlight beam, adjusting the aim of the headlight in accordance with the indicated relative deviation, and concurrently displaying the adjusted vehicle headlight intensity pattern.
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13. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface, sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy, displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a visual description of the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight, concurrently displaying an indicating device to digitally indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight light beam and the properly aimed headlight light beam, said indicating device including an aiming circle to graphically and digitally indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight beam and the properly aimed headlight beam, adjusting the aim of the headlight in accordance with the indicated relative deviation, and concurrently displaying the adjusted vehicle headlight intensity pattern.
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14. A method of aiming a vehicle headlight, comprising:
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projecting a light beam from a vehicle headlight onto a reflective surface, sensing the intensity of the projected light beam in each cell in a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam and generating for each cell an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the light beam in the cell, comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other to determine whether the light beam is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy, displaying at least some of the electrical signals as a visual description of the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight, wherein at least some of the electrical signals are displayed as a simulated light beam on a simulated road surface to visually describe the light intensity pattern of the vehicle headlight, concurrently displaying an indicating device to digitally indicate the relative deviation of the vehicle headlight light beam and the properly aimed headlight light beam, adjusting the aim of the headlight in accordance with the indicated relative deviation, and concurrently displaying the adjusted vehicle headlight intensity pattern.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeHopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
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Original AssigneeHopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
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InventorsHopkins, Evan L., Yotz, Gregory A.
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Primary Examiner(s)Rosenberger, Richard A.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Pham, Hoa Q.
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Application NumberUS07/652,940Time in Patent Office648 DaysField of Search356/121, 356/122, 356/394, 33/288, 33/355US Class Current356/121CPC Class CodesG01M 11/064 by using camera or other im...
