REAR ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An illumination system for rearward illumination for a first vehicle, comprising:
- a tail lamp assembly that is operable in a first mode wherein said tail lamp assembly casts light over a first field of illumination, and in a second mode wherein said tail lamp assembly casts light over a second field of illumination that extends farther from the first vehicle than the first field of illumination;
a sensor positioned to sense the presence of oncoming second vehicles behind the tail lamp assembly; and
a controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and to make a determination of whether there are any oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are closer than a selected proximity to the first vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the tail lamp assembly in the first mode based at least in part on if the determination is positive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a first aspect, the invention is directed to an illumination system for rearward illumination for a first vehicle. The illumination system includes a tail lamp assembly, a sensor and a controller for controlling the operation of the tail lamp assembly. If the controller determines that there are any oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are sufficiently close to the first vehicle, then the controller operates the tail lamp assembly in one mode. If the controller determines that there are no oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are sufficiently close to the first vehicle, then the controller permits the operation of the tail lamp assembly in another mode.
137 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An illumination system for rearward illumination for a first vehicle, comprising:
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a tail lamp assembly that is operable in a first mode wherein said tail lamp assembly casts light over a first field of illumination, and in a second mode wherein said tail lamp assembly casts light over a second field of illumination that extends farther from the first vehicle than the first field of illumination; a sensor positioned to sense the presence of oncoming second vehicles behind the tail lamp assembly; and a controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and to make a determination of whether there are any oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are closer than a selected proximity to the first vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the tail lamp assembly in the first mode based at least in part on if the determination is positive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An illumination system for rearward illumination for a vehicle, comprising:
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a tail lamp assembly configured to cast light on a field of illumination; a tail lamp assembly controller configured to operate the tail lamp assembly in a repeating cycle that includes a first illumination period wherein the tail lamp assembly has a first brightness level, and a second illumination period wherein the tail lamp assembly has a second brightness level that is lower than the first brightness level; a camera configured to receive video input from at least part of the field of illumination; and a camera controller that is configured to cause the camera to send camera signals related to video input received by the camera to a camera signal receiver during at least part of the first illumination period and to stop the camera from sending camera signals to the camera signal receiver during at least part of the second illumination period. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An illumination system for rearward illumination for a vehicle, comprising:
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a tail lamp assembly configured to cast light on a field of illumination; a tail lamp assembly controller configured to operate the tail lamp assembly in a repeating cycle that includes a first illumination period wherein the tail lamp assembly has a first brightness level, and a second illumination period wherein the tail lamp assembly has a second brightness level that is lower than the first brightness level; a camera configured to receive video input from at least part of the field of illumination; and a camera signal processor that is configured to receive camera signals from the camera and to process the camera signals to remove portions thereof corresponding to video input received by the camera during the second illumination period. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification