Photocell system for automatic headlight controller with light tube

• US 5,453,662 A
• Filed: 08/10/1994
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: DesignTech International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/288,009
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/156, 315/159, 315/83, 250/227.11, 250/239
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A photocell system for an automatic vehicle headlight controller which can efficiently and accurately activate vehicle headlights. Such a photocell system also operates effectively when mounted behind a grill of a vehicle, and is not dependent on an angle at which the photocell system is mounted. The photocell system features a photocell element which is formed inside a translucent tube. the translucent tube acts as a light diffuser. The photocell then detects the light which is diffused through the translucent tube. As a further feature of the present invention, a vehicle operator can control whether the vehicle headlights should remain on for a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.

Claims

1. A photocell system for a vehicle automatic headlight controller comprising:

a translucent tube which diffuses light impinging thereon to generate diffused light and for being variably mountable in an after-market application; and

a photocell formed inside the translucent tube, wherein the photocell detects the diffused light.

2. The photocell system according to claim 1, further comprising a seal on each end of the translucent tube.

3. The photocell system according to claim 1, wherein the translucent tube is formed of polypropylene.

4. The photocell system according to claim 2, wherein the translucent tube is formed of polypropylene.

5. The photocell system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an ignition sense wire detector for detecting a voltage on an ignition sense wire of the vehicle when an ignition of the vehicle is turned to an on position; and

a control for turning on vehicle headlights when the ignition sense wire detector detects a voltage on the ignition sense wire within a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.

6. The photocell system according to claim 3, further comprising:

an ignition sense wire detector for detecting a voltage on an ignition sense wire of the vehicle when an ignition of the vehicle is turned to an on position; and

a control for turning on vehicle headlights when the ignition sense wire detector detects a voltage on the ignition sense wire within a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.

7. A photocell system for an automatic head lamp controller comprising:

a translucent means for diffusing light impinging thereon to generate diffused light and for being variably mountable in an after-market application; and

a light detecting means formed inside the translucent means for detecting the diffused light.

8. The photocell system according to claim 7, further comprising a sealing means on each end of the translucent means.

9. The photocell system according to claim 7, wherein the translucent means is formed of polypropylene.

10. The photocell system according to claim 8, wherein the translucent means is formed of polypropylene.

11. The photocell system according to claim 7, further comprising:

an ignition sense wire detecting means for detecting a voltage on an ignition sense wire of the vehicle when an ignition of the vehicle is turned to an on position; and

a control means for turning on vehicle headlights when the ignition sense wire detecting means detects a voltage on the ignition sense wire within a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.

12. The photocell system according to claim 8, further comprising:

an ignition sense wire detecting means for detecting a voltage on an ignition sense wire of the vehicle when an ignition of the vehicle is turned to an on position; and

a control means for turning on vehicle headlights when the ignition sense wire detecting means detects a voltage on the ignition sense wire within a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.

13. A vehicle headlight control system comprising:

an ignition sense wire detector for detecting a voltage on an ignition sense wire of the vehicle when an ignition of the vehicle is turned to an on position; and

a control means for turning on vehicle headlights when the ignition sense wire detector detects a voltage on the ignition sense wire within a predetermined period of time after the vehicle is turned off.