Method for automatically controlling lighting devices and device for carrying out the method

• US 20030164689A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schneider, Andreas, Schmitt, Patrick, Meier, Hans, Michenfelder, Gebhard, Blitzke, Henry, Hodapp, Bruno, Hog, Norbert, Nonnenmacher, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 Tunnels or bridges

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the automatic control of lighting devices (16), particularly of a motor vehicle, and a device for implementing the method, the brightness in a specific direction being detected by at least one directional sensor (14) which emits direction signals (SR) to a control device (10), the control device (10) switching on the lighting devices (16) after a minimum time (tb) has elapsed. The minimum time (tb) begins when the direction signals (SR) exceed or drop below a switch-on threshold (SE). The lighting devices (16) are only switched on when the direction signals (SR) lie above or below the switch-on threshold (SE) during the entire minimum time (tb). To that end, the control device (10) is connected to a timer (T).

Claims

1. A method for the automatic control of lighting devices (16), especially of a motor vehicle, the brightness in a specific direction being detected by at least one directional sensor (14) which emits direction signals (SR) to a control device (10),

wherein the control device (10) switches on the lighting devices (16) after the expiration of a minimum time (tb) which begins when the direction signals (SR) exceed or drop below a switch-on threshold (SE) and lie above or below the switch-on threshold (SE) during the entire minimum time (tb).

2. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the lighting devices (16) are only switched on when the direction signals (SR) are monotonically, particularly strictly monotonically rising or falling during the entire minimum time (tb).

3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the directional sensor (14) detects the brightness from an acquisition cone which, in the installed state, points in the direction of travel, and whose acceptance angle (Xsi) is at least less than 90°

, particularly less than 70°

, preferably less than 45°

.

4. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the minimum time (tb) is determined in view of the ambient brightness which is detected by at least one global sensor (12).

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the minimum time (tb) is determined in view of the speed of the motor vehicle.

6. The method as recited in one of claims 4 or 5,

wherein the minimum time (tb) is read from a table in a memory of the control device (10) as a function of the ambient brightness and/or the speed.

7. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the minimum time (tb) is determined as a function of the horizontal direction in which the motor vehicle is moved and/or the time of day and/or the place at which the motor vehicle is located.

8. A device, particularly for a motor vehicle, for implementing the method as recited in one of the preceding claims, having a directional sensor (14) detecting the brightness in a specific direction and a control device (10), wherein a timer (T) is provided that is able to emit time signals (SZ) to the control device (10).