Method and apparatus to regulate illumination range of a motor vehicle

• US 5,182,460 A
• Filed: 07/30/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Original Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Inventors: Hussman, Micha
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M.
• Application Number:
  US07/737,720
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 362/37, 362/71, 315/77-82, 307/10.8, 307/120, 307/121, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 364/424.05, 200/61.89, 200/61.45 R, 73/510, 73/511
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/115 by electric means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch

Abstract

In a method and apparatus to regulate the illumination range of a motor vehicle in which, at a position on a front axle and at a position on a rear axle, signals are measured which are dependent upon the relative positions of a motor-vehicle body to the front axle and the rear axle, with a difference formation between the signal from the front axle and that of the rear axle being accomplished with a resulting difference signal, as a nominal-value signal, being filtered to a first average-value formation. The time for the first average-value formation is determined by a first filter (F1) time constant with positions of adjusting elements being regulated when the first filtered nominal-value deviates from a predetermined, or set, value. Simultaneously with the first average-value formation, a second average-value formation of the nominal-value signal with a second small, or short, filter (F2) time constant, and a third average-value formation of the nominal-value signal with a third, long, filter (F3) time constant takes place. The second, filtered, nominal-value signal is compared with the third, filtered, nominal-value signal, and upon the existence of a difference there between, a regulation from the first, filtered, nominal-value signal is switched over to the third, filtered, nominal-value signal and upon a termination of the difference is again switched over from the third, filtered, nominal-value signal to the first, filtered, nominal-value signal.

Claims

1. Method to regulate an illumination range of a motor vehicle in which signals are measured from a position on a front axle and a position on a rear axle which depend upon a relative position of a motor-vehicle body to the front axle and the rear axle, with a difference signal formation between the signal of the front axle and that of the rear axle being accomplished, the resulting difference signal, as a nominal-value signal, being filtered to a first, average, nominal value, whereby a time for development of the first, average, nominal value is determined by a first filter time constant, with portions of adjusting elements being thereby regulated when the first, filtered, nominal value deviates from a predetermined set value, wherein the improvement that:

simultaneously with formation of the first, average, nominal value, producing a second average value of the nominal-value signal with a second, short, filter time constant and a third average value of the nominal-value signal with a third, long, filter time constant;

comparing the thusly-produced second, filtered, nominal-value signal with the thusly-produced third, filtered, nominal-value signal; and

, upon the presence of a difference between the second, filtered, nominal-value signal and the third, filtered, nominal-value signal, switching the regulation from the first, filtered, nominal-value signal over to the third, filtered, nominal-value signal and, upon a termination of said difference, gain switching regulation over from the third, filtered, nominal-value signal to the first, filtered, nominal-value signal.

2. Method as in claim 1 wherein the first filter time constant is shorter or equal to the second filter time constant and the third filter time constant is longer that the second filter time constant.

3. Method as in claim 2 wherein upon the presence of a difference between the second, filtered, nominal-value signal and the third, filtered, nominal-value signal the regulation is only then switched over from the first, filtered, nominal-value signal to the third, filtered, nominal-value signal if the motor vehicle has exceeded a minimum speed and/or no positive or negative acceleration of the motor vehicle is present.

4. Method as in claim 3 wherein upon the presence of a positive or negative acceleration of the motor vehicle the regulation is accomplished as a function of the first, filtered,, nominal-value signal.

5. Method as in claim 4 wherein after the switching over from the first, filtered, nominal-value signal to the third, filtered, nominal-value signal, and vice versa, a step of matching a current "switched-in" nominal-value signal to a previously "switched-in" nominal value signal is carried out to avoid discontinuities.

6. Method according to claim 5 wherein is further included the step of reducing the first filter time constant of the average-value formation to a o shorter time with increase in positive or negative acceleration of the motor vehicle and increasing the first filter time constant to a longer time with decreasing positive or negative acceleration.

7. Apparatus for regulating the illumination range of a motor vehicle with a front axle sender and a rear axle sensor sender which produces signals in dependance upon the position of a motor-vehicle body to the front axle and the rear axle, said apparatus having a nominal-value developer which develops a difference between signals from the front axle sender and the rear axle sender, with at least one first filter which carries out an averaging of the difference nominal value and with a regulator which, in dependance upon the filtered nominal value, regulates positions of adjusting elements for adjusting the illumination range of the motor vehicle, said apparatus further including the improvement:

that the nominal-value developer is coupled with first filter having a first filter time constant;

that the nominal-value developer is coupled with a second filter having a second, short, filter time constant;

that the nominal- value developer is coupled with a third filter having a third, long, filter time constant;

that the first filter or the third filter can be coupled via a switchover device with the regulator;

that the second filter and the third filter are coupled with a subtractor;

that the subtractor is coupled with a curve recognition device; and

that the curve recognition device, upon the presence of a difference between the signals from the second filter and the third filter, controls the switchover device so that the third filter is coupled with the regulator and upon termination of the difference so that the regulator is again coupled with the first filter.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first filter time constant is smaller or equal to the second filter time constant and the third filter time constant is longer than the second filter time constant.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the curve recognition device is coupled with a speed signal sender and is coupled with an acceleration signal sender and wherein the curve recognition device includes a speed threshold value device.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the switchover device is coupled with an acceleration signal former which couples the regulator via the switchover device with the first filter when an acceleration of the motor vehicle is present.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the acceleration signal former is coupled with the first filter and the first filter time constant is decreased to a shorter time with increasing positive or negative acceleration of the motor vehicle and is increased to a longer time with decreasing positive or negative acceleration.