Device for the automatic adjustment of the position of the headlights on a motor vehicle

• US 6,942,369 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Phan Van Ho, Robert, Toulisse, Ludovic, Le Bars, Jean-François
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/634,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20040022063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 362/464, 362465-467, 362/276, 362/37, 362/39, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0686 using a position indicator mounted on the headlight and permanently attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/115 by electric means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/38 Automatic calibration of motor-driven means for adjusting headlamps, i.e. when switching on the headlamps, not during mounting at factories
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

The aim of the invention is a device for the automatic adjustment of the position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to the bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to the road surface, the said device comprising at least one actuator capable of making the said headlight(s) pivot, at least one sensor integral with the vehicle, and more particularly fixed to the chassis close to one of the vehicle wheels, and at least one electronic system to control the actuator with the aid of information provided by the sensor(s). The said electronic control system, or at least the essential part of its components, is fixed to or implanted in the actuator.

Claims

1. A device for the automatic adjustment of a position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to a bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to a road surface, said device comprising

at least one actuator having a motor capable of pivoting said headlight;

initialization means for adjusting the motor back to a nominal position;

adjustment means for monitoring progress of said initialization means, said adjustment means being accessible from outside the actuator and connected to a warning device;

at least one sensor integral with said motor vehicle; and

at least one electronic control system adapted to control the actuator with aid of information provided by the sensor, the electronic control system-being fixed to or implanted in the actuator.

2. A device according to claim 1, which comprises at least two sensors, one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle.

3. A device according to claim 1, which comprises one electronic control system to adjust both headlights of the vehicle, with on actuator per headlight, the electronic control system being connected to one of the two actuators.

4. A device according to claim 3, which comprises the master electronic system fixed to or implanted in an actuator and a slave simplified electronic system in the other actuator.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system is connected to one actuator per headlight.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system is removable from the actuator to which the system is fixed or in which the system is implanted.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system is in the form of an electronic card.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system(s) is (are) digital.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the electronic control system(s) comprises (comprise) a computer.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is a light source such as a light-emitting diode.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the light source is integrated into a box of the actuator and protected by a transparent screen, more particularly in the form of a transparent moulding on the box.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment device may be adjusted automatically by a screwdriver, the screwdriver being controlled by a stop/start control system using a sensor, more particularly an optical sensor located on the screwdriver, capable of detecting the end-of-adjustment warning signal from the warning device.

13. A device according to claim 1, which has a sequential mode of operation.

14. A device according to claim 1, which comprises a fault management mode by instructing the actuator to tilt the light(s) downwards.

15. A device according to claim 14, which provides a visual warning device, such as a light-emitting diode, or an audible one, on the actuator and/or headlight and/or vehicle dashboard when the fault management system is activated.

16. A motor vehicle which has an adjustment device according to claim 1.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control system comprises:

a unit to handle faults,

a unit to calculate the weighted average of the sensors,

an adder,

an overvoltage protection system,

a window comparator,

a filter system,

a pulse generator system, and

an assembly with at least two resistors.

18. A device for the automatic adjustment of a position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to a bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to a road surface, said device comprising

at least one actuator capable of pivoting said headlight;

at least one sensor integral with said motor vehicle; and

at least one electronic control system adapted to control the actuator with aid of information provided by the sensor, the electronic control system-being fixed to or implanted in the actuator,

wherein said device is configured to provide a fault management mode which instructs the actuator to tilt said headlight downwards.

19. A device according claim 18, wherein the electronic control system comprises:

a unit to handle faults,

a unit to calculate the weighted average of the sensors,

an adder,

an overvoltage protection system,

a window comparator,

a filter system,

a pulse generator system, and

an assembly with at least two resistors.

20. A device according claim 18, which provides a visual warning device, such as a light-emitting diode, or an audible one, on the actuator and/or headlight and/or vehicle dashboard when the fault management system is activated.

21. A device for the automatic adjustment of a position of at least one headlight of a motor vehicle in relation to a bodywork by pivoting around at least one axis which is essentially parallel to a road surface, said device comprising

at least one actuator capable of pivoting said headlight;

at least one sensor integral with said motor vehicle; and

at least one electronic control system adapted to control the actuator with aid of information provided by the sensor, the electronic control system-being analog and being fixed to or implanted in the actuator.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the electronic control system(s) comprises (comprise) at least one integrator, at least one subtractor and at least one follower.

23. A device according to claim 21, wherein the electronic control system(s) comprises (comprise) a unit to handle faults, a unit to calculate the weighted average of the sensors, a unit which is an adder, a unit which is an overvoltage protection system, a unit which is a window comparator, a unit which is filter system, a unit which is a pulse generator system, and a unit which is an assembly with at least two resistors.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein the electronic control system(s) comprises (comprise) at least one potentiometer.

25. A device according to claim 21, wherein the electronic control system(s) comprises (comprise) resistors, more particularly two, which are located outside the actuators, on the electrical wiring of the vehicle or near the sensors.