Vehicle headlight and alert system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-mode headlight fixture, comprising:
- a headlight enclosure;
a low beam light source comprising one semiconductor light element within the headlight enclosure;
a first side illumination light source comprising one or more semiconductor light elements within the headlight enclosure operable independently from the low beam light source;
a second side illumination light source comprising one or more semiconductor light elements within the headlight enclosure operable independently from the lowbeam light source and the first side illumination light source; and
a cover lens attached to the headlight enclosure;
wherein said first and second side illumination light sources are oriented to project non-reflected light directly at a portion of the cover lens;
wherein the at least one of semiconductor light elements of the first side illumination light source is oriented at a predefined acute angle with respect to the forward-projected beam of the lowbeam light source and towards the right of the headlight fixture, and at least one of the semiconductor light elements of the first side illumination light source is oriented at a predefined acute angle with respect to forward-projected beam of the lowbeam light source and towards the left of the headlight fixture; and
wherein each of the first right-oriented and first left-oriented side illumination light sources provides a beam spread encompassing at least 20 degree to 50 degrees relative to a centerline of the projected beam of the lowbeam light source.
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Abstract
A vehicle headlight and control system for a bus or large vehicle includes a headlight fixture with a center or low beam light source and side illumination light source operated independently. The side illumination light source may be activated when the vehicle is turning, as detected by the vehicle speed and steering shaft turn angle, to provide supplemental illumination. Both right and left side illumination sources may be provided, and may comprise LED light elements. The system may also include an audible sound generator to alert pedestrians when the vehicle is turning.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A multi-mode headlight fixture, comprising:
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a headlight enclosure; a low beam light source comprising one semiconductor light element within the headlight enclosure; a first side illumination light source comprising one or more semiconductor light elements within the headlight enclosure operable independently from the low beam light source; a second side illumination light source comprising one or more semiconductor light elements within the headlight enclosure operable independently from the lowbeam light source and the first side illumination light source; and a cover lens attached to the headlight enclosure; wherein said first and second side illumination light sources are oriented to project non-reflected light directly at a portion of the cover lens; wherein the at least one of semiconductor light elements of the first side illumination light source is oriented at a predefined acute angle with respect to the forward-projected beam of the lowbeam light source and towards the right of the headlight fixture, and at least one of the semiconductor light elements of the first side illumination light source is oriented at a predefined acute angle with respect to forward-projected beam of the lowbeam light source and towards the left of the headlight fixture; and wherein each of the first right-oriented and first left-oriented side illumination light sources provides a beam spread encompassing at least 20 degree to 50 degrees relative to a centerline of the projected beam of the lowbeam light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle headlight system, comprising:
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at least one multi-mode headlight fixture, said multi-mode heading fixture comprising a lowbeam light source projecting light in a forward direction, a first side illumination light source, and a second side illumination light source; and a headlight controller for selectively activating the lowbeam light source in the multi-mode headlight fixtures, for selectively activating the first side illumination light source in the multi-mode headlight fixtures independently of the lowbeam light source, and for selectively activating the second side illumination light source in the multi-mode headlight fixtures independently of the lowbeam light source and the first side illumination light source; wherein the first and second side illumination light sources each comprises at least one semiconductor light element and a cylindrical housing oriented at an acute angle with respect to the direction of projection of the lowbeam light source for channeling light from the semiconductor light elements at said acute angle relative to the light projected from the lowbeam light source; and wherein each of the first right-oriented and left-oriented side illumination light sources are oriented to project at an angle of approximately 35 degrees relative to a centerline of the projected beam of the lowbeam light source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A vehicle headlight system comprising:
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at least one multi-mode headlight fixture, said multi-mode headlight fixture comprising a lowbeam light source having a first and a second semiconductor light elements and at least one side illumination light source; a headlight controller for selectively activating the lowbeam light source in the multi-mode headlight fixtures, and for selectively activating the at least one side illumination light source in the multi-mode headlight fixtures independently of the lowbeam light source; and a vehicle turn angle sensor coupled to the headlight controller operable to provide an indication of the vehicle'"'"'s turn angle; wherein the first semiconductor light element projects a center forward-facing light and the second semiconductor light element disperses the light in a spreading pattern outwards at a predefined angle; wherein the headlight controller is operable to activate the side illumination light source when the vehicle is turning; wherein the headlight controller is operable to convey an activation signal to the side illumination light source upon a determination that the vehicle is turning, said determination based upon at least a detected vehicle speed and turn angle; wherein the at least one multi-mode lighting fixture is mounted in a vehicle having a steering wheel shaft, said vehicle turn angle sensor comprises a pair of magnetic collars affixed to the vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel shaft and a magnetic sensor proximate to each magnetic collar; wherein the determination that the vehicle is turning is based upon an output from the magnetic sensor for each magnetic collar; and wherein each magnetic collar comprises a plurality of alternating north and south polarized magnetic elements, and wherein the magnetic sensors are operable to output a signal indicating at a given time whether or north polarized magnetic element or south polarized magnetic element is closest in proximity to the magnetic sensor. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A vehicle headlight system, comprising:
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a plurality of multi-mode headlight fixtures, each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures comprising (1) a lowbeam light source having at least a first and a second semiconductor light elements projecting light directly in a forward direction through one or more dedicated lenses for adjusting the beam spread of the low beam light source, and (2) at least two side illumination light sources including a left-side illumination light source and a right-side illumination light source, each of the side illumination light sources providing a beam spread encompassing at least 20 degree to 50 degrees relative to a centerline of the projected lowbeam light source; and a headlight controller for selectively activating the lowbeam light source in each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures, and for selectively and simultaneously activating at least one of the side illumination light sources in each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures independently of the lowbeam light source; wherein the first semiconductor light element projects a center forward-facing light and the second semiconductor light element disperses the light in a spreading pattern outwards at a predefined angle. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A vehicle headlight system comprising:
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a plurality of multi-mode headlight fixtures, each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures comprising a lowbeam light source having a first and a second semiconductor light elements and at least one side illumination light source; a headlight controller for selectively activating the lowbeam light source in each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures, and for selectively activating the at least one side illumination light source in each of the multi-mode headlight fixtures independently of the lowbeam light source; and a vehicle turn angle sensor coupled to the headlight controller operable to provide an indication of the vehicle'"'"'s turn angle; wherein the first semiconductor light element projects a center forward-facing light and the second semiconductor light element disperses the light in a spreading pattern outwards at a predefined angle; wherein the headlight controller is operable to activate the side illumination light source when the vehicle is turning; wherein the headlight controller is operable to convey an activation signal to the side illumination light source upon a determination that the vehicle is turning, said determination based upon at least a detected vehicle speed and turn angle; wherein the multi-mode lighting fixtures are mounted in a vehicle having a steering wheel shaft, said vehicle turn angle sensor comprises a pair of magnetic collars affixed to the vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel shaft and a magnetic sensor proximate to each magnetic collar; wherein the determination that the vehicle is turning is based upon an output from the magnetic sensor for each magnetic collar; and wherein each magnetic collar comprises a plurality of alternating north and south polarized magnetic elements, and wherein the magnetic sensors are operable to output a signal indicating at a given time whether or north polarized magnetic element or south polarized magnetic element is closest in proximity to the magnetic sensor. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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Specification