AUTO LIGHT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20150175056A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Omron (China) Co. Ltd. (Shenzhen Branch) (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Omron Automotive Electronics Korea Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: JANG, Ik Jun, KIM, Sang Hyun, LEE, Sang Su
• Application Number:
  US14/478,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20150175056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B60Q 1/1446 controlled by mechanically actuated switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change

Abstract

An auto light system for automatically controlling driving of a vehicular lamp according to an external light level includes an auto light sensor configured to receive light and detect an irradiance of the light. A controller is configured to compare the irradiance detected by the auto light sensor with a reference value to switch on and off a lamp of a vehicle. An input is provided such that a user performs manipulation for changing the reference value. If the user performs the manipulation input for changing the reference value through the input, the controller receives a signal according to the manipulation input by the user, changes the reference value, and stores the changed reference value.

Claims

1. An auto light system comprising:

an auto light sensor configured to receive light and detect an irradiance of the light;

a controller configured to compare the irradiance detected by the auto light sensor with a reference value to switch on and off a vehicle lamp; and

an input provided such that a user performs manipulation for changing the reference value,

wherein if the user performs the manipulation for changing the reference value through the input, the controller receives a signal according to the manipulation by the user, changes the reference value, and stores the changed reference value.

2. The auto light system of claim 1, wherein the input and the controller are provided such that the reference value is changed into a set value by steps according to the manipulation of the user.

3. The auto light system of claim 1, wherein the input is provided in a vehicle such that the manipulation for changing the reference value is performed.

4. The auto light system of claim 1, wherein the input is an external unit provided such that the manipulation for changing the reference value is performed and connected to a vehicle by wire or wireless.

5. The auto light system of claim 1, wherein the auto light sensor has a light receiver for ultraviolet rays configured to receive light at an ultraviolet ray wavelength band and outputting an electrical signal as the light receiver for receiving light.

6. The auto light system of claim 5, wherein the auto light sensor comprises a transparent window for transmitting the ultraviolet rays and transferring the ultraviolet rays to the light receiver in a sensor cover.

7. A method of controlling an auto light system, the method comprising steps of:

performing manipulation for changing a reference value by a user through an input;

receiving a signal according to the manipulation by the user, changing the reference value, and storing the changed reference value by a controller;

comparing an irradiance detected by an auto light sensor with the changed reference value to determine a time point for switching on or off of a vehicle lamp and output a control signal for switching on or off of the vehicle lamp by the controller; and

switching on or off the vehicle lamp according to the control signal output by the controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the input and the controller are provided such that the reference value is changed into a set value by steps according to the manipulation of the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the input is provided in a vehicle such that the manipulation for changing the reference value is performed.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the input is an external unit provided such that the manipulation for changing the reference value is performed and connected to a vehicle by wire or wireless.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a light receiver of the auto light sensor receives light of an ultraviolet ray wavelength band and outputs an electrical signal according to a received ultraviolet ray.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the light receiver of the auto light sensor receives light transmitted through a transparent window provided in a sensor cover and outputs the electrical signal according to the received light.