Projecting direction control system for vehicle headlamp

• US 7,053,762 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Sakai, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALK, SAMUEL J
• Application Number:
  US10/696,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 362/460, 362/465, 362/466, 362/523, 315/82, 701/49, 701/70, 701/124
• US Class Current: 340/458
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/136 Roll

Abstract

A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp comprises a wheel-speed detecting means for detecting left and right wheel speeds and a posture decision means for calculating centrifugal force from the left and right wheel speeds obtained by the wheel-speed detecting means, difference between the wheel speeds, and characteristic information of the vehicle including vehicle width and vehicle weight so as to apprehend a rolling condition. The rolling condition can be recognized accurately from the direction and strength of the centrifugal force by calculating the centrifugal force during turning motion.

Claims

1. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp comprising:

a vehicle-posture detecting means for detecting variation in the posture in the traveling direction of a vehicle;

a light projection control means for controlling the direction of optical axis of light projected from a vehicle headlamp in response to variation in the vehicle posture;

a wheel-speed detecting means for detecting left and right wheel speeds, and

a posture decision means for calculating centrifugal force from the left and right wheel speeds obtained by the wheel-speed detecting means, difference between the wheel speeds, and characteristic information of the vehicle including vehicle width and vehicle weight, so as to recognize a rolling condition,

wherein the posture decision means calculates the centrifugal force while the vehicle is turning by obtaining the product of the left wheel speed or right wheel speed and the difference between the left and right wheel speeds and multiplying the product by the ratio of vehicle weight to vehicle width.

2. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp comprising:

a vehicle-posture detecting means for detecting variation in the posture in the traveling direction of a vehicle;

a light projection control means for controlling the direction of optical axis of light projected from a vehicle headlamp in response to variation in the vehicle posture;

a wheel-speed detecting means for detecting left and right wheel speeds, and

a posture decision means for calculating centrifugal force from the left and right wheel speeds obtained by the wheel-speed detecting means, difference between the wheel speeds, and characteristic information of the vehicle including vehicle width and vehicle weight, so as to recognize a rolling condition,

wherein a control range or a control response of the projecting direction involved with the vehicle headlamp is restricted, when centrifugal force is decided by the posture decision means to be great.

3. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, further comprising a drive means,

wherein the drive means changes the direction of the optical axis of light projected from the headlamp, in a vertical direction, receiving a signal from the light projection control means.

4. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein the posture decision means decides that the centrifugal force is great, when the centrifugal force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp according to claim 2,

wherein the optical axis of light projected from the headlamp is controlled, when the vehicle is decided to be turning by the posture decision means.

6. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp according to claim 2,

wherein the posture decision means performs the process of deciding a turning direction from a sign indicating the difference between the left and right wheel speeds;

when the vehicle is decided to be turning to the left, the optical axis of light projected from the left headlamp is controlled, and

when the vehicle is decided to be turning to the right, the optical axis of light projected from the right headlamp is controlled.

7. A projecting direction control system for a vehicle headlamp according to claim 6,

wherein the optical axis of light projected from the left headlamp is controlled not to be excessively tilted upward, when the vehicle is decided to be turning to the left,

the optical axis of light projected from the right headlamp is controlled not to be excessively tilted upward, when the vehicle is decided to be turning to the right.