Device for automatically switching lighting equipment, in particular for a motor vehicle

• US 20040080275A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schneider, Andreas, Henkel, Frank, Meier, Hans, Schmitt, Patrick, Blitzke, Henry, Hodapp, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US10/632,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/159
• 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: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0837 with a particular arrangement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit

Abstract

A device for automatically switching lighting equipment, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a sensor element that detects at least infrared radiation, and having a filter element, the filter element being designed in such a manner that, in essence, only infrared radiation is detectable by the sensor element.

Claims

1. A device for automatically switching lighting equipment comprising:

a sensor element for detecting at least infrared radiation; and

a filter element adapted such that substantially only infrared radiation is detectable by the sensor element.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is for automatically switching lighting equipment for a motor vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element emits a signal, and further comprising a control device including an element for switching the lighting equipment as a function of the signal.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the filter element is attachable to a glass pane of the motor vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a rain sensor including a light-conducting element, the light-conducting element being substantially only transparent with respect to infrared radiation and being used as a filter element.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a layer that is substantially only transparent with respect to infrared radiation, the layer being situated on at least a part of a surface of the light-conducting element.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the layer is elastic.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the layer is adhesive.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is integrated into the sensor element.