Method for automatically controlling lighting devices and device for carrying out the method

• US 6,909,236 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nonnenmacher, Pierre, Schneider, Andreas, Meier, Hans, Schmitt, Patrick, Michenfelder, Gebhard, Blitzke, Henry, Hodapp, Bruno, Hog, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US10/344,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,270 Days
• Field of Search: 315 76- 77, 315/82, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 340/933, 340/935, 340/938, 340/942
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• 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 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 Tunnels or bridges

Abstract

In a method for the automatic control of lighting devices, particularly of a motor vehicle, and a device for implementing the method, the brightness in a specific direction being detected by at least one directional sensor which emits direction signals to a control device, the control device switching on the lighting devices after a minimum time has elapsed. The minimum time begins when the direction signals exceed or drop below a switch-on threshold. The lighting devices are only switched on when the direction signals lie above or below the switch-on threshold during the entire minimum time. To that end, the control device is connected to a timer.

Claims

1. A method for automatic control of lighting devices, comprising:

detecting a brightness in a specific direction by at least one directional sensor which emits direction signals to a control device;

switching on the lighting devices by the control device after an expiration of a minimum time which begins when the direction signals;

and one of exceeding and dropping below a switch-on threshold; and

are one of above and below the switch-on threshold during the entire minimum time; and

determining the minimum time in view of an ambient brightness detected by at least one global sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting devices are switched on in the switching on step only when the direction signals are monotonically one of rising and falling during the entire minimum time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting devices are switched on in the switching on step only when the director signals are strictly monotonically one of rising and falling during the entire minimum time.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the directional sensor detects the brightness in the detecting step from an acquisition cone which, in an installed state, points in a direction of travel, and which has an acceptance angle that is at least less than 90°

.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the acceptance angle is less than 70°

.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the acceptance angle is less than 45°

.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum time is determined in the determining step in view of a speed of a motor vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the determining step includes a substep of reading the minimum time from a table in a memory of the control device as a function of at least one of the ambient brightness and the speed.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes a substep of reading the minimum time from a table in a memory of the control device as a function of at least one of the ambient brightness and a speed.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum time is determined in the determining step as a function of at least one of a horizontal direction in which a motor vehicle is moved, a time of day and a place at which the motor vehicle is located.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting devices are arranged in a motor vehicle.

12. A device for automatic control of lighting devices, comprising:

at least a directional sensor configured to detect a brightness in a specific direction;

a control device configured to switch on the lighting devices after an expiration of a minimum time which begins when direction signals emitted by the at least one directional sensor to the control device;

(a) are one of exceeding and dropping below a switch on threshold, and (b) are one of above and below the switch on threshold during the entire minimum time;

the control device configured to determine the minimum time in view of an ambient brightness detected by at least one global sensor; and

a timer configured to emit time signals to the control device.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device is configured to be arranged in a motor vehicle.