Vehicle headlamp system

• US 6,578,993 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazuhiro, Inoue, Takashi, Masuda, Takeshi, Kobayashi, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/924,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 362/464, 362/465, 362/466, 362/467, 362/276, 340/459, 340/462, 315/79, 315/80, 315/81, 315/82, 315/83
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/16 illuminating the way asymmetrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/134 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/333 on suburban or country roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/335 Number or size of road lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/336 Crossings

Abstract

Beams from headlamps are controlled by a beam control ECU. The beam control ECU has a road-configuration-corresponding mode and a corresponding-turning-angle mode. In the road-configuration-corresponding mode, beam control is performed according to the detected results of a road configuration ahead of a vehicle. In the corresponding-turning-angle mode, beam control is performed according the detected results of the turning angle of the vehicle. One of these modes is selected in response to the vehicle speed. Thus, the beam emitting direction is prevented from being inadvertently changed-irrespective of the rise and fall of vehicle speed-through the actuation of a direction indicator or a steering operation.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp system comprising:

headlamps for forwardly emitting beams from a vehicle;

beam control means for controlling the beams emitted from said headlamps;

road configuration detection means for detecting a road configuration ahead of the vehicle; and

turning-angle detection means for detecting the turning angle of the vehicle,

wherein said beam control means is provided with a road-configuration-corresponding mode in which beam control is performed according to the results detected by said road configuration detection means, and a corresponding-turning-angle mode in which beam control is performed according to the results detected by said turning-angle detection means, and

further wherein one of said road-configuration-corresponding mode and said corresponding-turning-angle mode is selected in response to the vehicle speed.

2. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in said road-configuration-corresponding mode when the vehicle speed is at a predetermined vehicle speed or higher, whereas said beam control means performs beam control in said corresponding-turning-angle mode when the vehicle speed is lower than said predetermined vehicle speed.

3. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said road-configuration-corresponding mode includes a road-configuration control mode and an intersection-control mode,

wherein in said road-configuration control mode, beam emission fit for traveling in accordance with the road configuration is caused to be carried out, and

further wherein in said intersection-control mode, beam emission fit for traveling in a curve at intersections is caused to be carried out.

4. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in said road-configuration control mode when an arriving time or distance to a next intersection is at a predetermined value or greater, and when the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined vehicle speed as well as equal to a secondary predetermined vehicle speed or higher.

5. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in said intersection-control mode when the arriving time or distance to the next intersection is less than the predetermined value, and while a direction indicator is in operation.

6. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in said road-configuration control mode when said beam control means detects that it is not possible to reduce the vehicle speed to a marginal turning speed before the vehicle arrives at the next intersection.

7. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in the road-configuration control mode when the arriving time or distance to the next intersection is less than the predetermined value, and while the direction indicator is not in operation, as long as the vehicle speed is at said secondary predetermined vehicle speed or higher.

8. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beam control means performs beam control in said corresponding-turning-angle mode while the vehicle travels in a curve at the intersection.

9. A vehicle headlamp system comprising:

headlamps for forwardly emitting beams from a vehicle;

a beam control ECU that is programmed to control the beams emitted from said headlamps;

a navigation ECU that gathers information about a road configuration ahead of the vehicle;

a steering angle sensor that determines the turning angle of the vehicle; and

a vehicle-speed sensor,

wherein said beam control ECU is programmed with a road-configuration-corresponding mode in which beam control is performed according to the road configuration as determined by said navigation ECU, and a corresponding-turning-angle mode in which beam control is performed according to a signal from said steering angle sensor, and

further wherein said beam control ECU determines whether to use said road-configuration-corresponding mode or said corresponding-turning-angle mode based on an evaluation of a signal from said vehicle-speed sensor.

10. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a GPS system;

a gyro-sensor; and

a CD-ROM,

wherein said GPS system, said gyro-sensor, and said CD-ROM, are connected to said navigation ECU so as to provide said navigation ECU with information about the road configuration ahead of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle headlamp system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a CCD camera; and

a laser radar system,

wherein said CCD camera, said laser radar system, and said vehicle-speed sensor, are connected to said navigation control ECU to provide said navigation control ECU with information about the configuration of the road ahead of the vehicle, and

further wherein said navigation control ECU is an image processing ECU.