Automatic illuminating apparatus and method for motor vehicles

• US 7,777,621 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Chia-Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/265,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/468, 340/469, 307/10.8, 362/487, 362/494, 315 77- 82
• US Class Current: 340/469
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic illuminating apparatus for motor vehicles. The apparatus includes an illumination device for emitting light beams, comprising a first light emitting member for emitting light beams in daytime and a controlling device electrically connected with the illumination device. The controlling device includes a sensor for sensing whether the vehicle is in motion, a time recording module for recording current time, a memory for storing an illumination period of the first light emitting member, a processor for analyzing whether the current time is in the illumination period which is electrically connected with the time recording module, the memory and the processor, and a controlling module for controlling the first light emitting member emitting light beams based on an analyzed result from the processor.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating automatically for a motor vehicle via an automatic illuminating apparatus which comprises a memory, a sensor, a time recording module, a processor and a controlling module,

the method comprising:

calculating the start time and end time of an illumination period according to the longitude of the motor vehicle;

storing the illumination period of a first light emitting member for emitting light beams in daytime in the memory;

judging whether the vehicle is in motion using the sensor;

if the vehicle is in motion, then reading the current time from the time recording module to the processor;

analyzing whether the current time is within the illumination period; and

if current time is within the illumination period, then controlling the first light emitting member to emit light beams, else turning off the first light emitting member, using the controlling module.

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

providing a second light emitting member electrically connected in parallel with the first light emitting member for the automatic illuminating apparatus;

storing an illumination period of a second light emitting member for emitting light beams in night in the memory;

analyzing whether the current time is in the illumination period of the second light emitting member using the processor; and

controlling the second light emitting member to emit light beams using the controlling module based on an analyzed result from the data processing.

3. An automatic illuminating apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an illumination device for emitting light beams, comprising a first light emitting member for emitting light beams in daytime; and

a controlling device electrically coupled to the illumination device, the controlling device comprising;

a sensor capable of sensing whether the motor vehicle is in motion;

a time recording module capable of providing a time information;

a memory for storing an illumination period of the first light emitting member;

a controlling module capable of controlling the first light emitting member;

a global positioning system module for detecting a longitude of the motor vehicle; and

a processor electrically coupled to the sensor, the time recording module, the memory, and the controlling module, the processor being configured for analyzing whether the current time is in the illumination period when the vehicle is in motion and transmitting an analyzed result to the controlling module such that the first light emitting member is turn on or turn off automatically, and calculating the start time and end time of the illumination period according to the longitude.