Control device and method for dimming lights for vehicles during turning maneuvers

• US 9,114,755 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella Gmbh & Co. Kgaa (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Hster, Christian, Irmscher, Tobias, Schmidt, Christian, Wilks, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berns, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/699,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 382/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/336 Crossings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle

Abstract

A control device for a first motor vehicle, and for dimming lights for vehicles ahead and/or oncoming vehicles during turning maneuvers includes a first interface with a recognition device for the purpose of recognizing vehicles ahead and/or oncoming vehicles, a second interface with headlights, wherein the control device selects different light distributions of the headlights and generates an adjusting signal at the second interface for adjusting the selected light distribution at the headlights to dim the headlights if a signal is present at the first interface indicating at least one vehicle ahead or oncoming. The control device has a third interface for indicating the start of the recognition of a turning maneuver of a vehicle ahead, wherein the dimmed light distribution of the headlights remains set for a predetermined distance or a predetermined time if the signal is present.

Claims

1. A control device for a first motor vehicle and for dimming headlights of said first motor vehicle for at least a second vehicle ahead of or oncoming to said first vehicle during turning maneuvers, comprising:

a recognition device;

a first interface with said recognition device for the purpose of recognizing at least one of vehicles ahead and oncoming vehicles,

a second interface with said headlights, said second interface being operable to select different light distributions of said headlights and generate an adjusting signal to adjust a selected light distribution of said headlights, and

wherein said second interface is operable to select a light distribution that dims said headlights for said second vehicle if a first signal is present at said first interface, said first signal indicating the presence of said second vehicle; and

a third interface operable for identifying a turning maneuver of said second vehicle or of said first vehicle and generating a second signal indicating a turning maneuver of said second vehicle; and

wherein a dimmed light distribution of said headlights remains set for a predetermined distance or a predetermined time if the second signal is present at said third interface.

2. A control device according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth interface operable for indicating a speed of said first vehicle, and determining, based on said speed, a distance covered from the start of the turning maneuver.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said recognition device is a camera system.

4. A method for dimming headlights of a first vehicle during turning maneuvers, comprising the steps of:

providing a control device having a recognition device, a first interface operably connected with said recognition device, and a second interface operably connected with said headlights;

recognizing a second vehicle ahead of or oncoming to said first vehicle with said recognition device and said first, interface;

selecting a light distribution that dims said headlights and generating an adjusting signal to adjust said headlights to said selected dimmed light distribution with said second interface if a first signal is present at said first interface, said first signal indicating the presence of said second vehicle; and

wherein said selected dimmed light distribution remains set for at least a predetermined period of time or a predetermined distance when a turning maneuver by the second vehicle is detected.

5. The method of dimming headlights according to claim 4, wherein said control device maintains said dimmed light distribution as long as at least one of an oncoming vehicle and a vehicle ahead is recognized after said predetermined period of time or predetermined distance.

6. The method of dimming headlights according to claim 4, wherein said control device dispenses with said selected dimmed light distribution as long as at least one of an oncoming vehicle and a vehicle ahead is not recognized after said predetermined period of time or predetermined distance.