Light assembly, preferably tail light assembly, of a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle

• US 6,016,035 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Haf, Helmut, Robel, Wolfgang, Gauch, Winfried Hardy, Eberspacher, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Shingleton, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US09/059,059
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/159, 315/156, 315/158, 315/53, 315/56, 315/71, 307/10.8, 250/205
• 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 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/303 Rear fog lamps

Abstract

A light assembly for a motor vehicle has at least one light source connected to a circuit, wherein the at least one light source has a light output that is adjustable according to external light conditions in order to prevent blinding of the driver in a following vehicle and in order to ensure proper light intensity during daytime operation.

Claims

1. A light assembly for a vehicle comprising:

at least one light source connected to a circuit, wherein said at least one light source has a light output adjustable according to external light conditions;

wherein said circuit comprises a light switch, wherein the light output of said at least one light source is adjusted according to a selected position of said light switch;

wherein said circuit further comprises first switches positioned in electrical lines connecting said light switch to said at least one light source;

wherein each one of said first switches has a parallel-switched dimmer for reducing light output of said at least one light source;

wherein said light switch and said first switches are connected such that when said light switch is switched on, said first switches are open and when said light switch is turned off, said first switches are closed;

wherein said first switches, when closed, bridge said dimmers to increase the light output.

2. A light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a master controller 10 for controlling said at least one light source.

3. A light assembly according to claim 2, wherein said dimmers are components of said master controller.

4. A light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a second switch connected in said electric line to said at least one light source.

5. A light assembly according to claim 2, wherein said circuit comprises a slave controller connected downstream of said master controller.

6. A light assembly according to claim 5, wherein said slave controller controls at least one light source of a second light assembly.

7. A light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a brake light.

8. A light assembly according to claim 7, wherein said brake light is comprised of LEDs.

9. A light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a turn signal light.

10. A light assembly according to claim 9, wherein said turn signal light is comprised of LEDs.

11. A light assembly comprising:

at least one fog tail light connected to a circuit;

a switch for switching on and off said at least one fog tail light;

an electrochromic interior rearview mirror having a sensor circuit connected to an EC adaptor, wherein said at least one fog tail light is connected to said sensor circuit;

said EC adaptor having a comparator circuit, wherein said sensor circuit is connected to said comparator circuit and wherein said sensor circuit sends an actual value emitted by said electrochromic mirror to said comparator circuit for comparing to a reference value;

wherein an output signal of said comparator is sent to at least one control switch for switching on and off said at least one fog tail light, wherein said control switch is serially connected between said manual switch and said fog tail light.

12. A light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said fog tail light is turned off when a vehicle is approaching from behind.

13. A light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said comparator circuit comprises a comparator.

14. A light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said control switch is a flip-flop switch connected downstream of said comparator, wherein said flip-flop switch turns on and off said fog tail light according to said output signal of said comparator.

15. A light assembly according to claim 14, wherein said switch for switching said fog tail light on or off is activated by said flip-flop switch.