Device for regulating light width of headlights of motor vehicles

• US 5,499,168 A
• Filed: 10/27/1994
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Heizmann, Frieder, Cochard, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/331,343
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/169, 250/206, 250/206.1, 250/206.2, 315/81-83, 340/600, 340/904, 356/139.1, 356/152.1, 362/32, 362/61, 362/66, 362/71, 362/276, 362/277, 362/319, 362/420, 362/425, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/068 with part of the measurements done from inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A device for regulating a light width of headlights of motor vehicles comprises an adjusting device associated with one of the headlights, a transmitter which emits electromagnetic radiation to illuminate a region of a roadway located in front of the motor vehicle, an opto-electronic sensor which determines radiation emitted by the transmitter and reflected by the roadway and in dependence on the detected radiation produces signals, an evaluating device which processes the produced signals and controls the adjusting device for maintaining constant a light width of a beam emitted by the headlights. The transmitter in addition to the light beam of the headlight emits radiation and follows an adjustment of the light width of the light beam emitted by the headlights which is provided by the adjusting device, so that the region irradiated by the radiation emitted by the transmitter on the roadway has a small extension and with a correctly adjusted light width of the light beam emitted by the headlights is arranged at a predetermined distance from the motor vehicle, the evaluating device determining from the signals of the sensor a deviation of an actual distance of the region in front of the motor vehicle and when a deviation is detected controls the adjusting device for adjusting the predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A device for regulating a light width of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle, comprising an adjusting device associated with said headlight;

a transmitter which emits electromagnetic radiation to irradiate a region of a roadway located in front of the motor vehicle;

an opto-electronic sensor which determines radiation emitted by said transmitter and reflected by the roadway and in dependence on the detected radiation produces signals;

an evaluating device which processes the produced signals and controls said adjusting device for maintaining constant a light width of a light beam emitted by said headlight, said transmitter in addition to the light beam of the headlight emitting radiation and following an adjustment of the light width of the light beam emitted by said headlight which is provided by said adjusting device, so that the region irradiated by the radiation emitted by said transmitter on the roadway has a small extension and, with a correctly adjusted light width of the light beam emitted by said headlights is arranged at a predetermined distance from the motor vehicle, said evaluating device determining from the signals of said sensor a deviation of an actual distance of said irradiated region in front of the motor vehicle and, when a deviation is detected, controls said adjusting device for adjusting to said predetermined distance.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is formed so that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by said transmitter has a different wavelength than a light emitted by said headlight.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is formed so that the region irradiated by said transmitter is at least approximately points shaped.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is integrated in the headlight.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor is integrated in the headlight.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor has an element which is sensitive for the radiation emitted by said transmitter and has an imaging optics by which the impinging radiation is directed to said element in dependence on its impinging angle in a different manner.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor has several elements which are sensitive to the radiation emitted by said transmitter and has an imaging optics by which the impinging radiation is oriented to said elements individually in dependence on its impinging angle while said evaluating device determines which of said elements are impinged with the radiation.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the headlight comprises a light distributing unit and a light producing unit connected with one another by light conducting elements, said light conducting elements having ends associated with said light distributing unit being movable in a vertical direction by said adjusting device for changing the light width of a light beam exiting the headlight.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the headlight comprises a light distributing unit and a light producing unit connected with one another by light conducting elements, said light distributing unit having lens elements through which light exiting said light conducting elements passes and is deviated, said lens elements being movable in a vertical direction by said adjusting device for changing the light width of a light beam exiting the headlight.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said transmitter has a beam bundling device which bundles the radiation emitted by said transmitter and is formed as one of said lens elements of said light distributing unit.

11. A device as defined in claim 10;

and further comprising a transmitting device through which the radiation emitted by said transmitter is supplied to said light distributing unit, said transmitting device has an end associated with said light distributing unit arranged so that the radiation exiting said end passes through said lens element and said end of said transmitting device is arranged at a small distance from an end of a light conducting element associated with said lens element.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said sensor has an imaging optics which is formed as said lens element of said light distributing unit.

13. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said sensor has an imaging optics which is formed as said lens element of said light distributing unit.

14. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the headlight comprises a light distributing unit and a light producing unit connected with one another by a light conducting element, said light distributing unit being adjustable as to its inclination by said adjusting device for changing the light width of the light beam exiting said light distributing unit.

15. A device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a reflector provided in the headlight and a light source arranged in said reflector, said adjusting device adjusting said reflector as to its inclination for changing the light width of the light beam exiting the headlight.

16. A device as defined in claim 1 for the motor vehicle provided with at least two headlights, wherein said transmitter, said sensor and said evaluating device being provided for only one of the headlights;

and further comprising a mechanical coupling connecting one of the headlights with another of the headlights so that said adjusting device adjusts one of the headlights and its adjustment is transmitted to another of said headlights.

17. A device as defined in claim 1 for the motor vehicle having at least two headlights, said transmitter, said sensor and said evaluating device being provided for only one of the headlights;

and further comprising a sensor device by which an adjustment of one of the headlights by the adjusting device is detected and transmitted to another such adjusting device associated with another of the headlights.

18. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said sensor are formed so that said transmitter operates with pulses and said sensor operates synchronously with said transmitter.

19. A device as defined in claim 1 for a motor vehicle having at least two headlights, wherein one of the headlights is arranged on a motor vehicle for a counter-traffic side and illuminates only a traffic side while another of the headlights is arranged on the motor vehicle so that it faces away from the counter-traffic side and illuminates at least the counter-traffic side, the arrangement for controlling the light width being associated only with the headlight which illuminates at least the counter-traffic side.