Vehicle headlamp optical axis control system

• US 6,778,892 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakase, Takamichi, Horii, Yasutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US10/230,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/463, 340/468, 340/469, 340/471, 340/472, 315/76-77, 315/80-82, 385/39, 385/901, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 362/37, 362/39, 362/44, 362/459, 362/496, 362/40, 362/41, 362/43, 362/460, 362/464, 362/467, 362/465, 362/466, 362/469, 362/551, 701/49-56
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/128 Steering dead zone

Abstract

A lamp'"'"'s optical axis control system for a vehicle includes vehicle speed sensor, steering angle sensor, a circuit for calculating driver'"'"'s viewpoint and a controller for controlling the optical axis according to the position of the driver'"'"'s view point. The controller indicates the position of the driver'"'"'s viewpoint a certain time in advance according to the vehicle speed signal and the steering angle signal. Therefore, the illumination range of the headlamps can timely provides a desirable driver'"'"'s view point.

Claims

1. A lamp optical axis control system for a vehicle having a lamp with an optical axis for providing an illumination range in front of the vehicle, said control system comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

driver'"'"'s viewpoint calculating means for providing a position of a driver'"'"'s viewpoint a predetermined time in advance according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle, wherein said driver'"'"'s view point calculating means comprises;

a map for providing standard positions of the driver'"'"'s view points that correspond to vehicle speeds and steering angles; and

correcting means for correcting the standard position of said driver'"'"'s viewpoint by multiplying said standard position by a prescribed coefficient proportional to the vehicle speed if the vehicle speed is different from said standard vehicle speed; and

control means for controlling said optical axis according to the future position of the driver'"'"'s view point, thereby moving said illumination range to cover said driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

2. A lamp optical axis control system for a vehicle having a lamp with an optical axis for providing an illumination range in front of the vehicle, said control system comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

driver'"'"'s viewpoint calculating means for providing a position of a driver'"'"'s viewpoint a predetermined time in advance according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle, wherein said driver'"'"'s view point calculating means comprises;

a map for providing standard positions of the driver'"'"'s view points that correspond to vehicle speeds and standard steering angles; and

correcting means for correcting the standard position of said driver'"'"'s viewpoint by multiplying said standard position by a prescribed coefficient proportional to steering angle if the steering angle is different from said standard steering angle; and

control means for controlling said optical axis according to the future position of the driver'"'"'s view point, thereby moving said illumination range to cover said driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

3. A lamp optical axis control system for a vehicle having a lamp with an optical axis for providing an illumination range in front of the vehicle, said control system comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

driver'"'"'s viewpoint calculating means for providing a position of a driver'"'"'s viewpoint a predetermined time in advance according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle, wherein said driver'"'"'s view point calculating means comprises;

a map for providing standard positions of the drivers'"'"' view points that correspond to vehicle speeds and steering angles; and

correcting means for correcting the standard position of said driver'"'"'s viewpoint by multiplying a prescribed control coefficient that is a function of a change of the vehicle speed; and

control means for controlling said optical axis according to the future position of the driver'"'"'s view point, thereby moving said illumination range to cover said driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

4. A lamp optical axis control system for a vehicle having a lamp with an optical axis for providing an illumination range in front of the vehicle, said control system comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

driver'"'"'s viewpoint calculating means for providing a position of a driver'"'"'s viewpoint a predetermined time in advance according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle, wherein said driver'"'"'s view point calculating means comprises;

a map for providing standard positions of the driver'"'"'s view points that correspond to vehicle speeds and steering angles;

and correcting means for correcting the standard position of said driver'"'"'s viewpoint by multiplying a prescribed control coefficient that is a function of a change of the steering angle; and

control means for controlling said optical axis according to the future position of the driver'"'"'s view point, thereby move said illumination range to cover said driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

5. A lamp optical axis control system for a vehicle having a lamp with an optical axis for providing an illumination range in front of the vehicle, said control system comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

a map for providing a standard viewpoint a predetermined time in advance by a standard swiveling angle of the optical axis and a standard distance according to a vehicle speed and a steering angle;

correcting means for correcting the standard swiveling angle to provide a desired viewpoint covered by the illumination range; and

control means for controlling the optical axis according to the corrected swiveling angle.

6. The lamp optical axis control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said correction means multiplies said swiveling angle by a prescribed coefficient proportional to a detected vehicle speed if the vehicle speed is different from the standard vehicle speed.

7. The lamp optical axis control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said correcting means multiplies said swiveling angle by a prescribed coefficient proportional to the steering angle if the steering angle is different from said standard steering angle.