Lighting control apparatus for automatic following travel system

• US 6,356,189 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fujimaki, Tomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/545,560
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/465, 340/539, 340/531, 340/475, 340/902, 340/901, 340/431, 701/23, 701/26, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/508 specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/336 Crossings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

In the lighting control apparatus, according to the present invention, for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle comprises a light operating device for turning on or off lights of the leading vehicle, and a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of the light operating device, and the following vehicle comprises a receiver for receiving the information from the transmitter, and a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of the following vehicle, based on the information received by the receiver.

Claims

1. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein

said leading vehicle comprises:

a light operating device for turning on or off a light of said leading vehicle; and

a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of said light operating device, and

said following vehicle comprises;

a receiver for receiving the information from said transmitter; and

a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of said following vehicle, based on the information received by said receiver;

said transmitter and said receiver function under all automatic following traveling conditions of said leading and following vehicles.

2. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light is a turn signal light, and said light operating device is a turn signal operating device.

3. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light is a headlight, and said light operating device is a headlight operating device.

4. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light is a positioning light, and said light operating device is a positioning light operating device.

5. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light is a hazard light, and said light operating device is a hazard light operating device.

6. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light is a stop light, and said light operating device is a stop light operating device.

7. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein

said leading vehicle comprises:

a light operating device for turning on or off a light of said leading vehicle; and

a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of said light operating device, and

said following vehicle comprises;

a receiver for receiving the information from said transmitter; and

a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of said following vehicle, based on the information received by said receiver;

said light of said following vehicle is a turn signal light, and said light operating device of said following vehicle is a turn signal operating device; and

said turn signal operating device of said following vehicle produces an operation signal for turning off said turn signal light, only when receiving via said receiver information indicating that said turn signal light of said leading vehicle has been turned off and when said following vehicle has finished turning and starts driving straight.

8. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein

said leading vehicle comprises:

a light operating device for turning on or off a light of said leading vehicle; and

a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of said light operating device, and

said following vehicle comprises;

a receiver for receiving the information from said transmitter; and

a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of said following vehicle, based on the information received by said receiver;

said light of said following vehicle is a turn signal light, and said light operating device of said following vehicle is a turn signal operating device; and

said turn signal operating device of said following vehicle produces an operation signal for turning on or off said turn signal light, only when receiving via said receiver information indicating that said turn signal light of said leading vehicle has been turned on or off and when said following vehicle reaches a point that said leading vehicle passed at the time of reception of the information.

9. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein

said leading vehicle comprises:

a light operating device for turning on or off a light of said leading vehicle; and

a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of said light operating device, and

said following vehicle comprises;

a receiver for receiving the information from said transmitter; and

a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of said following vehicle, based on the information received by said receiver;

said light of said following vehicle is a turn signal light, and said light operating device of said following vehicle is a turn signal operating device;

said transmitter of said leading vehicle transmits position information indicating a location where said leading vehicle turns on or off said turn signal light,

said receiver of said following vehicle receives the position information, and

said turn signal operating device of said following vehicle produces an operation signal for turning on or off said turn signal light, only when receiving via said receiver information indicating that said turn signal light of said leading vehicle has been turned on or off and when said following vehicle reaches the location where said leading vehicle turned on or off said turn signal light.

10. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein:

said following vehicle comprises;

relative position sensor for calculating information indicating the relationship between the positions of said following vehicle and a vehicle in front, which may be said leading vehicle or another following vehicle; and

light operating device for turning on a light when the value measured by said sensor exceeds a first predetermined value while a light switch has been turned on, and for turning off said light when the value measured by said sensor is equal to or below a second predetermined value even while said light switch has been turned on.

11. A lighting control apparatus according to any claim 10, wherein said light is a headlight, and said light operating device is a headlight operating device.

12. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor is a distance sensor for measuring the distance between said following vehicle and said vehicle in front.

13. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor is an angle difference sensor for measuring the difference in angle between said following vehicle and said vehicle in front.

14. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensor is a lateral deviation sensor for measuring the lateral deviation between said following vehicle and said vehicle in front.

15. A lighting control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said following vehicle further comprises an on-state maintaining device for keeping said light on after turning on said light until a predetermined time has passed or until said following vehicle travels a predetermined distance.

16. A lighting control apparatus for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows said leading vehicle, wherein:

said following vehicle comprises a determining device for determining whether said light is to be turned on or off, based on information concerning the condition of said leading vehicle transmitted via inter-vehicle communication,

when said determining device determines that said light is to be turned on while a light switch has been turned on, said light is turned on, and

when said determining device determines that said light is to be turned off even while the light switch has been turned on, said light is turned off.