Automatic beam-axis adjustment system for vehicular headlights

• US 7,131,741 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okumura, Kazuhisa, Nishimura, Kenichi, Sugimoto, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/463,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 362/37, 362/464, 362/466, 362/465, 362/523, 362/427, 362/40, 362/41, 701/49, 340/468, 340/475, 340/476, 340/477
• US Class Current: 362/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature

Abstract

In an automatic beam-axis adjustment system, a beam-axis of a headlight is gradually swivel to a position determined based on a steering angle of a steering wheel. The beam-axis returns to the initial position and a swivel control is inhibited when a vehicle is at a stop or slowly moving in an intersection, regardless of the steering angle. The swivel control is restarted after the vehicle starts running straight ahead. In other words, the swivel control is not restarted until the vehicle stats running straight ahead even when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, the movement of the headlights does not disturb a driver.

Claims

1. An automatic beam-axis adjustment system for a vehicular headlight, comprising:

a speed determination means for determining a vehicle speed;

a steering angle determination means for determining a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle;

a swivel control means for horizontally adjusting a beam-axis of the vehicular headlight, wherein the swivel control means employs a regular control procedure for adjusting the beam-axis based on the vehicle speed and the steering angle determined by the speed determination means and the steering angle determination means, respectively; and

a signal detecting means for detecting different kinds of signals related to a turning condition of the vehicle, wherein the swivel control means uses an alternate procedure to adjust the beam-axis in which the beam-axis returns to an initial position when the vehicle speed is lower than a specific value and an indication of a turn is provided.

2. The automatic beam-axis adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the swivel control means uses a strong filter when the indication of a turn is provided.

3. The automatic beam-axis adjustment system according to claim 2, wherein the swivel control means stops using the strong filter when the steering angle becomes within a predetermined range.

4. The automatic beam-axis adjustment system according to claim 1, wherein the swivel control means inhibits the swivel control procedure when the indication of a turn is provided.

5. The automatic beam-axis adjustment system according to claim 4, wherein the swivel control means restarts the swivel control procedure when the steering angle becomes within the predetermined range.

6. The automatic beam-axis adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein:

the swivel control means inhibits the swivel control procedure when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value; and

the swivel control means restarts the swivel control procedure when the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined value and the steering angle remains within the predetermined range for a predetermined period.

7. The automatic beam-axis adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor signals are related to the vehicle speed and an indicator; and

the swivel control means uses the different procedure for adjusting the beam-axis when the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined value and the sensor signal according to the indicator indicates a turn.

8. The automatic beam-axis adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor signals indicate the vehicle speed and the steering angle; and

the swivel control means uses the different procedure when the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined value and the steering angle is out of the predetermined range.

9. The automatic beam-axis adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic beam-axis adjusting system is installed in a vehicle, and the initial position is a position in which the beam-axis of the vehicular headlight is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle such that the headlight is pointed straight ahead of the vehicle.

10. An automatic beam-axis adjustment system for a vehicular headlight, comprising:

a speed determination means for determining a vehicle speed;

a signal detecting means for detecting different kinds of signals related to a turning condition of the vehicle;

a steering angle determination means for determining a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle; and

a swivel control means for horizontally adjusting a beam-axis of the vehicular headlight, wherein

the swivel control means employs a regular control procedure for adjusting the beam-axis at a first speed based on the vehicle speed and the steering angle determined by the speed determination means and the steering angle determination means, respectively, and

the swivel control means uses an alternate procedure to adjust the beam-axis in which the beam-axis is swiveled at a second speed, which is slower than the first speed, based on the vehicle speed and the steering angle when the vehicle speed is lower than a specific value and an indication of a turn is provided.