Method and device for the automatic control of illumination devices

• US 6,800,959 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Herrmann, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/111,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 318/444, 318/483, 318/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A method and a device are proposed for the automatic control of illumination devices (24), having a control element (22) which acts on illumination devices (24) and which is calibrated at time intervals (T), for which various calibration parameters are taken into account.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling at least one illumination device, comprising:

acting on the at least one illumination device by a control element;

calibrating the control element at first time intervals;

for the first time intervals, accounting for calibration parameters by a rain sensor;

calibrating the rain sensor at second time intervals;

conducting light from a transmitter of the rain sensor via a first light-conducting member of the rain sensor into a receiver of the rain sensor;

emitting by the receiver a plurality of signals as a function of the light received at the receiver;

comparing a setpoint value to the plurality of signals; and

calibrating the rain sensor as a function of a result of the comparing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a transmittance from the result of the comparing; and

calibrating the control element in accordance with the transmittance.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the control element includes a second light-conducting member;

optical properties of the second light-conducting member are in correlation with the transmittance; and

the correlation is taken into account in the control element calibration.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the correlation is stored as a functional cohesion in the control element.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the correlation is stored as a table in the control element.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination device is arranged in a motor vehicle.

7. A device for automatically controlling at least one external illumination device, comprising:

a rain sensor including a calibration module; and

a control element for calibrating the device in accordance with at least one calibration parameter of the rain sensor;

wherein the rain sensor includes;

at least one transmitter for radiating light;

a first light-conducting member; and

a receiver which receives light from the at least one transmitter and emits transmission-dependent signals as a function of the light received, wherein the calibration module emits at least one result which is a function of a transmission of the first light-conducting member.

8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the control element includes:

a further receiver; and

a second light-conducting member, wherein optical properties of the second light-conducting member are in correlation with the at least one result of the calibration module, wherein the control element accounts for the correlation in calibrating the device.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the correlation is stored in the control element as a functional cohesion.

10. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the correlation is stored in the control element as a cohesion in table form.

11. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the first light-conducting member and the second light-conducting member are constructed in one piece.

12. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the rain sensor includes a first electronics; and

the control element includes a second electronics, the first electronics and the second electronics arranged in one piece.

13. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the one piece is arranged on a board.