Vehicle front lamp steering controlled light distribution system

• US 6,547,424 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE), Vanderbilt University
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Furuya, Takayuki, Hasumi, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/818,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 362/40, 362/41, 362/465
• US Class Current: 362/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/124 Steering speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors

Abstract

A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system is disclosed having a light distribution means movable to vary a light distribution pattern to right and left maximum limit positions in cornering areas of a vehicle, and a control means responsive to a turned on state of a head lamp switch for actuating the light distribution means to cause the light distribution pattern to be varied according to a steering direction signal, indicative of an incremental steering angle of a steering wheel, in the absence of a vehicle speed signal, indicative of a vehicle speed less than a given value, and operative to drive the light distribution means to cause the light distribution pattern to be fixedly directed to the maximum limit position in response to an indicator direction signal, output from a blinker condition detection means (14), in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.

Claims

1. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system for a vehicle having a steering wheel, comprising:

light distribution means provided on each of right and left head lamps of the vehicle and having a movable reflector to provide a light distribution pattern at a front area of the vehicle and operative to allow the light distribution pattern to be directed to at least one of right and left maximum limit positions in cornering areas of the vehicle;

steering wheel condition detecting means for producing a steering direction signal varying in dependence on a steering angle in which the steering wheel is steered;

blinker condition detecting means for producing an indicator direction signal indicative of one of right and left turns in the respective cornering areas;

vehicle speed detecting means for producing a vehicle speed signal when a vehicle speed is below a given level;

head lamp switch means for turning on or turning off the head lamps; and

control means responsive to a turning on state of the head lamp switch means for actuating the movable reflector to cause the light distribution pattern to be varied at an angle according to the steering direction signal in the absence of the vehicle speed signal and operative to drive the movable reflector to allow the light distribution pattern to be fixedly directed to at least one of the right and left maximum limit positions in response to the indicator direction signal in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.

2. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

hazard detecting means for producing a hazard indication signal indicative of a hazard switch being operated, wherein

the control means is operative to cancel control of the light distribution means in response to the hazard indication signal for thereby causing the light distribution means to vary the light distribution pattern at the angle in dependence on the steering direction signal even in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.

3. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the movable reflector provides a diffused light distribution pattern above an optical axis of a reflector of the head lamps.

4. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

during operation of the control means, the light distribution means is actuated at a speed higher than a steering motion of the steering wheel.

5. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

when returning the light distribution means to an original operating position, the light distribution means is actuated at a speed corresponding to a change in a steering motion of the steering wheel.

6. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system for a vehicle having a steering wheel, comprising:

light distribution means provided on each of right and left head lamps of a vehicle and having a movable reflector to provide a light distribution pattern at a front area of the vehicle and operative to allow the light distribution pattern to be directed to at least one of right and left maximum limit positions in cornering areas of the vehicle;

steering wheel condition detecting means for producing a steering direction signal varying according to a steering angle in which the steering wheel is steered;

blinker condition detecting means producing an indicator direction signal indicative of one of right and left turns in the cornering areas;

a vehicle speed sensor producing a vehicle speed signal when a vehicle speed is less than a given low level;

head lamp switch means for turning on or turning off the head lamps; and

control means responsive to a turning on state of the head lamp switch means for actuating the movable reflector to cause the light distribution pattern to be varied at an angle according to the steering direction signal in the absence of the vehicle speed signal and operative to drive the movable reflector to allow the light distribution pattern to be fixedly directed to the right and left maximum limit positions in response to the indicator direction signal in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.

7. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a hazard detecting means for producing a hazard indication signal indicative of a hazard switch being operated, wherein

the control unit is operative to cancel control of the light distribution means in response to the hazard indication signal for thereby causing the light distribution means to vary the light distribution pattern at the angle in dependence on the steering direction signal even in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.

8. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 6, wherein

during operation of the control means, the light distribution means is actuated at a speed higher than a steering motion of the steering wheel.

9. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the movable reflector provides a diffused light distribution pattern above an optical axis of a reflector of the head lamps.

10. A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system for a vehicle having a steering wheel, comprising:

a light distributor for changing beam angles in the left and right direction; and

a controller for actuating the light distributor to change the beam angle of the light distributor on a side corresponding to a steering direction of the steering wheel by an amount corresponding to a steering angle,

wherein the controller actuates the light distributor to change the beam angle on a side corresponding to an indication direction of a blinker to a maximum value when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value, unless a hazard switch is activated in which case the controller does not actuate the light distributor.

11. The front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a steering detector for detecting the steering angle of the steering wheel,

said controller receiving a signal from said steering detector indicative of the steering angle.

12. The front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a blinker detector for detecting the indication direction of the blinker;

said controller receiving a signal from said blinker detector indicative of the indication direction of the blinker.

13. The front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a hazard detector for detecting activation of the hazard switch;

said controller receiving a signal from said hazard detector indicative of the activation of the hazard switch.

14. The front lamp steering controlled light distribution system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a speed detector for detecting the vehicle speed;

said controller receiving a signal from said speed detector indicative of the vehicle speed.

15. A method of controlling light distribution of vehicle headlamps in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting an indication direction of a blinker;

detecting activation of a hazard switch;

detecting vehicle speed;

detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel; and

changing a beam angle of a light distributor on a side corresponding to the indication direction of the blinker to a maximum value when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value, unless the hazard switch is activated in which case the beam angle is not changed even though the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined value.