Head lamp switch with twilight sentinel control

• US 6,288,492 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Wolfe, George B.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/593,910
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/83, 315/149, 315/157, 315/158, 315/159, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for controlling the turning on of vehicle headlamps 703 of a vehicle having a dome light 50 which provides a variable dome light intensity includes a sensor 40, a memory 820, a comparator 810, and a circuit 18. The sensor 40 senses the intensity of ambient light and provides a first signal α indicative of the intensity of the ambient light. The memory 820 stores a light value σ corresponding to the intensity of the dome light 50. The comparator 810 receives the first signal α a and compares the intensity of the ambient light with the stored light value σ. The comparator 810 provides an output second signal β when the first signal is at or below the stored light value σ. The circuit 18 turns on the vehicle headlamps 703 when the circuit 18 receives the output second signal β.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the turning on of vehicle headlamps of a vehicle having a dome light which provides a variable dome light intensity, said system comprising:

a sensor for sensing the intensity of ambient light and providing a first signal indicative of the intensity of the ambient light;

a memory for storing a light value corresponding to the intensity of the dome light;

a comparator for receiving said first signal and for comparing the intensity of the ambient light with said stored light value, said comparator providing an output second signal when said first signal is at or below said stored light value; and

a circuit for turning on the vehicle headlamps when said circuit receives said output second signal.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 further including a switch having a rotary knob with a first position for turning on the vehicle headlamps, a second position for turning on the dome light, and a third position at which the intensity of the dome light may be adjusted.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 further including a series of photointerruptors, said rotary knob in said first, second, and third positions causing interruption of different combinations of light beams and a controller responsive to the different combinations to actuate said headlamps and said dome light.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 further including a primary photointerruptor for adjusting said stored light value.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotary knob has an undersurface for reflecting light emitted by four of said series of photointerruptors.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said undersurface includes apertures for interrupting the reflecting of light from at least one of said series of photointerruptors and providing a code input for said controller.