Vehicle headlamp with daytime running light

• US 20070201240A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kovach, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/435 Hoods or cap-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/692 Shields, i.e. screens not creating an image meant to be projected
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp. The headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp. A movable shade is positionable to control the light received by the reflector. A shade driver is coupled to the movable shade to position the shade. A first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting. A second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting. A third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp, comprising:

a light source;

a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp;

a movable shade configured to surroundably shield the light source and linearly positionable to adjustably limit the amount of light received by the reflector directly from the light source; and

a shade driver coupled to the movable shade to position the shade, wherein;

a first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting,

a second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting, and

a third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

2. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the shade driver through a motor driver.

3. The vehicle headlamp of claim 2 wherein the controller is one of an analog and a digital servo controller.

4. The vehicle headlamp of claim 2, further comprising a feedback element coupled to the movable shade and the controller.

5. The vehicle headlamp of claim 2 wherein the controller further includes position-tracking capability.

6. The vehicle headlamp of claim 2 wherein the controller further monitors for fault conditions and resolves said fault conditions.

7. The vehicle headlamp of claim 2, further comprising a mode control coupled to the controller.

8. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1 wherein the shade driver further comprises a linear actuator.

9. The vehicle headlamp of claim 1 wherein the shade driver further comprises a drive member coupled to the movable shade, and a motor coupled to the drive member.

10. The vehicle headlamp of claim 9 wherein the drive member is one of a ball screw, lead screw, belt drive, rack-and-pinion and four-bar linkage mechanism.

11. The vehicle headlamp of claim 9 wherein the motor is one of a permanent magnet motor, a brushless DC motor and a stepper motor.

12. The vehicle headlamp of claim 9, further comprising at least one stop to position the movable shade.

13. The vehicle headlamp of claim 9 wherein the motor further includes at least one of a gear reduction and a brake.

14. A vehicle headlamp, comprising:

a light source;

a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp;

a movable shade configured to surroundably shield the light source and linearly positionable to adjustably limit the amount of light received by the reflector directly from the light source; and

a shade driver to position the movable shade, the shade driver comprising a drive member that is coupled to the movable shade and is further commonly coupled to a pair of motors, wherein;

a first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting,

a second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting, and

a third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

15. The vehicle headlamp of claim 14, further comprising at least one stop to position the movable shade.

16. The vehicle headlamp of claim 14 wherein the drive member is one of a ball screw, lead screw, belt drive, rack-and-pinion and four-bar linkage mechanism.

17. The vehicle headlamp of claim 14, further comprising a controller having position-tracking capability, said controller being coupled to the shade driver through a motor driver.

18. A vehicle headlamp, comprising:

a light source;

a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp;

a pair of generally concentric movable shades comprising an inner shade and an outer shade, the shades being independently positionable to control the light received by the reflector; and

a shade driver to position the movable shades, the shade driver comprising;

a first drive member coupled to a first motor and the inner shade, and

a second drive member coupled to a second motor and the outer shade, wherein;

a first position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for high beam lighting,

a second position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for low beam lighting, and

a third position of the inner and outer shades configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.

19. The vehicle headlamp of claim 18 wherein the outer shade further includes a slot through which a shade leg of the inner shade extends.

20. The vehicle headlight of claim 18 wherein the outer shade further includes an aperture disposed in a closed end through which at least one of a shade leg of the inner shade and the first drive member extends.

21. The vehicle headlamp of claim 18, further comprising at least one stop to position at least one movable shade.

22. The vehicle headlamp of claim 18 wherein the first and second drive members are one of a ball screw, lead screw, belt drive, rack-and-pinion and four-bar linkage mechanism.

23. The vehicle headlamp of claim 18, further comprising a controller having position-tracking capability, said controller being coupled to the shade driver through a motor driver.

24. A method for controlling the light emitted by a vehicle headlamp, comprising the steps of:

providing a light source;

positioning a reflector proximate the light source to direct light emitted by the light source out of the headlamp;

linearly positioning proximate the light source a movable shade configured to surroundably shield the light source; and

adjusting the movable shade to limit the amount of light received by the reflector directly from the light source wherein;

a first shade adjustment position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting,

a second shade adjustment position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting, and

a third shade adjustment position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.