Headlamp control to prevent glare

• US 20050073853A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph S. Stam
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Stam
• Inventors: Stam, Joseph S.
• Application Number:
  US10/993,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/503
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/331 characterised by the driving side, e.g. on the left or right hand side
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/332 on city roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/00 Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps reversing lights F21S43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 : Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 : Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 : the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 : the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 : arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 : arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 : Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/172 : High-intensity discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 : Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 : Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 : the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/40 : characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 : characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/47 : Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable screens F21S41/683
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/62 : for adaptation between right-hand and left-hand traffic
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 : by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/67 : by acting on reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 : by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/68 : by acting on screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/686 : Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/692 : Shields, i.e. screens not creating an image meant to be projected
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/698 : Shaft-shaped screens rotating along its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 : with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/13 : for high-beam region or low-beam region
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/135 : the light having cut-off lines, i.e. clear borderlines between emitted regions and dark regions
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle includes an array of sensors and a control unit. The array of sensors is capable of detecting light levels in front of the controlled vehicle. The control unit is in communication with the array of sensors and the at least one exterior vehicle light and determines a distance and an angle from the at least one exterior vehicle light of the controlled vehicle to a leading vehicle. The control unit is operable to control operation of the at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of the distance and angle, based on the output from the array of sensors, and prevent the at least one exterior vehicle light from providing a disruptive glare to a driver of the leading vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle exterior light control, comprising:

a controller configure to receive at least one image and further configured to generate at least one exterior light brightness control signal as a function of said at least one image, said controller is further configured to generate at least one exterior light aim control signal as a function of at least one second sensor.

2. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one second sensor is a steering wheel angle sensor.

3. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one second sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

4. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one second sensor is a Loran sensor.

5. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one second sensor is a pitch sensor.

6. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 2 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect horizontal aim.

7. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 5 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical aim.

8. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one second sensor comprises a steering wheel angle sensor and a pitch sensor.

9. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 8 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical aim and horizontal aim.

10. A vehicle exterior light control, comprising:

a first controller configured to receive at least one image and further configured to generate at least one exterior light brightness control signal as a function of said at least one image, a second controller configured to generate at least one exterior light aim control signal as a function of at least one second sensor.

11. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said at least one second sensor is a steering wheel angle sensor.

12. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said at least one second sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

13. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said at least one second sensor is a Loran sensor.

14. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said at least one second sensor is a pitch sensor.

15. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 11 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect horizontal aim.

16. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 14 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical aim.

17. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said at least one second sensor comprises a steering wheel angle sensor and a pitch sensor.

18. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 17 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical aim and horizontal aim.

19. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 10 wherein said first controller is associated with a rearview mirror assembly.

20. A vehicle exterior light control, comprising:

a controller configure to receive at least one image and further configured to generate at least one exterior light brightness control signal as a function of at least one image, said controller is further configured to generate at least one exterior light aim control signal as a function of at least one image.

21. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 20 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect horizontal aim.

22. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 20 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical aim.

23. A vehicle exterior light control as in claim 20 wherein said at least one exterior light aim control signal is configured to effect vertical and horizontal aim.