Lamp System For Vehicle

• US 20080192496A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Kiyotaka, Tatara, Naohisa
• Application Number:
  US12/025,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192496A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/466
• 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 2300/052 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 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/689 Flaps, i.e. screens pivoting around one of their edges

Abstract

A vehicle lamp system includes lamps RHL and LHL. The lamp system can switch at least to a low beam distribution and a motorway light distribution. A light distribution switching control portion CONT for switching the light distribution based on operational information of the vehicle switches to the low beam distribution when it is determined that the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed in the motorway light distribution and a predetermined light distribution switching condition is satisfied. If presence of an obstacle is confirmed so as to apply a deceleration, it is possible to prevent the obstacle from being undetected by switching to the low beam distribution. Thus, it is possible to reliably keep away from the obstacle, thereby ensuring stable operation.

Claims

1. A lamp system for a vehicle, the lamp system comprising:

a lamp for a vehicle which can switch to at least a low beam distribution and a motorway light distribution, and

a light distribution switching control portion for switching the light distribution based on operational information of the vehicle, wherein the light distribution switching control portion is arranged switch to the low beam distribution when it is determined that the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed in the motorway light distribution and a predetermined light distribution switching condition is satisfied.

2. The lamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution switching condition indicates that a predetermined time passes since the vehicle speed is set to be less than the predetermined speed or the vehicle travels a predetermined distance.

3. The lamp system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is varied depending on the speed of the vehicle or its acceleration.

4. The lamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution switching condition indicates that the speed of the vehicle is increased.

5. The lamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution switching condition indicates that the deceleration of the vehicle is set to be less than a predetermined value.

6. The lamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution switching control portion includes obstacle detecting means for detecting an obstacle placed ahead of the vehicle, and the light distribution switching condition indicates that the obstacle is not detected by the obstacle detecting means.