Vehicle headlight

• US 5,954,428 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Original Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Inventors: Tietz, Holm, Eichhorn, Karsten, Lachmayer, Roland, Plattfaut, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPPER, TODD R
• Application Number:
  US08/934,635
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 362/464, 362/465, 362/466, 362/467, 362/543, 362/544
• US Class Current: 362/543
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/136 Roll
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/14 characterised by the type of light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/164 having two or more filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/334 the reflector consisting of patch like sectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/336 with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/36 Combinations of two or more separate reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/60 characterised by a variable light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/19 for curves
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/30 Fog lights

Abstract

A vehicle headlight (1) has a reflector (2) that is divided vertically into an upper region (6), a middle region (7), and a lower region (8), wherein the upper region is structured as a low-beam light surface (9) having a first center (10), through which extends a longitudinal axis of a first lamp (3), the middle region is formed as a fog light surface (14) and the lower region as a high-beam light surface (15), and the fog light surface and the high-beam light surface have a common center (16) through which extends a longitudinal axis of a second lamp (4). The reflector is mounted so that it can pivot about its central axis, and is pivoted by an electric motor (5) as a function of lateral inclination of a vehicle on which the headlight is mounted.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlight having a reflector and first and second lamps, said reflector being divided vertically into an upper reflector region, a middle reflector region, and a lower reflector region, wherein the upper reflector region is structured as a low-beam light reflector surface that has a first center through which a longitudinal axis of the first lamp extends for producing a main part of a low-beam light distribution with the upper reflector region, and wherein the middle reflector region is structured as a fog light reflector surface and the lower reflector region is structured as a high-beam light reflector surface, and wherein the fog light reflector surface and the high-beam light reflector surface have a common second center, through which a longitudinal axis of the second lamp extends for producing a main part of a fog light distribution with the middle reflector region and a main part of a high-beam light distribution with the lower reflector region.

2. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the low-beam light reflector surface is structured so that horizontal dispersion of a low-beam light distribution pattern is approximately ±

20 to 25 degrees.

3. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the fog light reflector surface is formed so that horizontal dispersion of a fog light distribution pattern is approximately ±

45 to 50 degrees.

4. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the high-beam light reflector surface is formed so that horizontal dispersion of a high-beam light distribution pattern is approximately ±

35 to 45 degrees.

5. A vehicle headlight as in claim 4, wherein the high-beam light distribution pattern has a narrow maximum in a horizontal/vertical cross-section of approximately ±

10 degrees.

6. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the main part of the high-beam light distribution created by the high-beam light reflector surface can be superimposed onto the main part of the low-beam light distribution created by the low-beam light reflector surface.

7. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the main part of the fog light distribution pattern created by the fog light reflector surface can be superimposed onto the main part of the low-beam light distribution pattern created by the low-beam light reflector surface.

8. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the first lamp has a first low-beam light coil, and wherein the second lamp has a second low-beam light coil, for producing the fog light, as well as a high-beam light coil for producing the high-beam light.

9. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the first lamp is an H7 lamp, and the second lamp is an H4 lamp.

10. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the first lamp and the second lamp are approximately the same distance from a central axis of the vehicle headlight.

11. A vehicle headlight as in claim 1, wherein the reflector is generally spherical.

12. A vehicle headlight having a reflector and first and second lamps, said reflector being divided vertically into an upper reflector region, a middle reflector region, and a lower reflector region, wherein the upper reflector region is structured as a low-beam light reflector surface that has a first center through which a longitudinal axis of the first lamp extends, and wherein the middle reflector region is structured as a fog light reflector surface and the lower reflector region is structured as a high-beam light reflector surface, and wherein the fog light reflector surface and the high-beam light reflector surface have a common center, through which a longitudinal axis of the second lamp extends for producing a main part of a fog light distribution with the middle reflector region and a main part of a high-beam light distribution with the lower reflector region;

wherein the reflector is mounted so that it pivots about its central axis.

13. A vehicle headlight as in claim 12, wherein is further included an electric motor connected to the reflector for pivoting the reflector.

14. A vehicle headlight as in claim 13, wherein the electric motor is connected to the reflector by a set of gears.

15. A vehicle headlight as in claim 12, wherein is included a means for pivoting the reflector as a function of lateral inclination of a vehicle on which the headlight is mounted.

16. A vehicle headlight as in claim 15, wherein is further included an electric motor and a control device connected to an inclination sensor for maintaining the reflector in a horizontal orientation when the vehicle exhibits lateral inclination.