Automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps

• US 6,305,823 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Toda, Atsushi, Takeuchi, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/417,782
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/464, 362/465, 362/467, 362/272, 362/286, 362/271
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/115 by electric means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/116 Vehicle at a stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch

Abstract

An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps is described. The device automatically stops driving an actuator if the actuator is determined to be failing, while the other normally operating actuator is used to perform a leveling of the optical axis of the headlamp as close to a proper leveling as possible. In an implementation, a pair of left and right headlamps 1L, 1R have optical axes L that are tilted individually by driving left and right actuators 10L, 10R, respectively. A single control unit 16 simultaneously controls the driving of the left and right actuators 10L, 10R. A vehicle speed detection means 12, a pitch angle detection means 14, and failure detection means 20L, 20R are included. The control unit 16 controls the driving of the actuators 10L, 10R based on a detected pitch angle such that the optical axes of the headlamps stay in a certain inclined state with respect to the surface of a road, and when an actuator is determined to be failing, the CPU unit 16 stops driving the failing actuator, while driving the normally operating actuator, thereby performing a leveling of the optical axis of the headlamp as close to a proper leveling as possible.

Claims

1. An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps comprising:

a pair of left and right headlamps whose optical axes are tilted individually vertically relative to a vehicle body through driving of left and right actuators, respectively;

a single control unit for simultaneously controlling the driving of said left and right actuators;

vehicle speed detection means for detecting the speed of a vehicle; and

pitch angle detection means for detecting the pitch angle of said vehicle;

said control unit controlling the driving of said actuators based on a detected pitch angle and detected vehicle speed such that the optical axes of said headlamps stay in a certain inclined state with respect to the surface of a road;

wherein

failure detection means is provided for each of said actuators for detecting a failure thereof, whereby when either of said actuators is detected as failing by said failure detection means, driving of only said failing actuator is stopped.

2. An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit judges, based on a signal from said failure detection means, whether or not either of said actuators fail, respectively;

and wherein when judging that either of said actuators fail, said control unit outputs a driving stop signal to said actuator which is detected as failing so as to stop driving said actuator.

3. An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said actuators comprises:

a motor as an actuator main body,

position detection means for detecting the driving, magnitude of said motor, and

a motor driver for feedback controlling the driving of said motor based on a signal from said position detection means.

4. An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said actuators has provided therein a driving stop circuit for stopping driving of said motor, whereby when said failure detection means detects a failure in an actuator, said driving stop circuit is put into operation.

5. An automatic leveling device for automotive vehicle headlamps as set forth in claim 1, wherein said automatic leveling device has provided therein indicator means for informing the driver that either of said actuators is failing when said failure detection means so detects.

6. A method for individually leveling automotive headlamps of a vehicle comprising:

detecting the speed of the vehicle;

detecting a pitch angle of the vehicle;

controlling the driving of a left actuator to tilt a left headlamp depending on the pitch angle;

controlling the driving of a right actuator to tilt a right headlamp depending on the pitch angle;

detecting a failure of either of the left and the right actuator; and

terminating the driving of the failed actuator.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising activating an indicator means if an actuator fails.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising activating a driving stop circuit when an actuator fails to stop the driving of the actuator.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a control circuit determines if an actuator is failing based on a signal from a failure detection means and produces a stop driving signal to stop driving the failing actuator.