VEHICLE HEADLIGHT IRRADIATION ANGLE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT DEVICE

• US 20170050554A1
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeong Yong Lee
• Original Assignee: Jeong Yong Lee
• Inventors: LEE, Jeong Yong
• Application Number:
  US15/119,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/115 by electric means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93277 in the lights

Abstract

Provided is a device for automatically adjusting an angle of vehicle headlights, comprising: a laser range finder, which is installed in a front of a vehicle or in the vehicle headlights and is operated in response to a signal output from a switch, for detecting a distance from a preceding vehicle and outputting the distance as an electric signal; a controller for receiving a signal from a means for detecting a distance from an obstruction ahead or a preceding vehicle, calculating an inclination angle corresponding to a degree to which the headlights are to be raised or lowered based on the received signal, and outputting a signal for controlling an angle of the headlights; and a headlight angle controller for controlling the angle of the headlights by operating in response to the signal output from the controller.

Claims

1. A device for automatically adjusting an angle of vehicle headlights, comprising:

a laser range finder, which is installed in a front of a vehicle or in the vehicle headlights and is operated in response to a signal output from a switch, for detecting a distance from a preceding vehicle and outputting the distance as an electric signal;

a controller for receiving a signal from a means for detecting a distance from an obstruction ahead or a preceding vehicle, calculating an inclination angle corresponding to a degree to which the headlights are to be raised or lowered based on the received signal, and outputting a signal for controlling an angle of the headlights; and

a headlight angle controller for controlling the angle of the headlights by operating in response to the signal output from the controller.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein

in consideration of an obstruction ahead, a maximum height that light from the headlights can reach is capable of being input into the controller manually.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the laser range finder, which is the means for detecting the distance from an obstruction ahead or a preceding vehicle, is installed at a suitable position near an illuminator beside the headlights and detects a signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein adjustment of the angle of vehicle headlights may be configured such that an angle of each of the headlights is individually adjusted depending on a distance between an obstruction ahead and the each of the headlights.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein, if there is no obstruction within a certain distance (for example, 100 m, 200 m or the like), the angle of the headlights is capable of being input manually.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance is measured using an ultrasonic distance meter or an electromagnetic distance meter in place of the laser range finder.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein

two distance measuring instruments, which include an ultrasonic distance meter and one of the laser range finder and an electromagnetic distance meter, are installed, and in a road on which wild animals are likely to appear, the distance is measured using the ultrasonic distance meter by manually switching to the ultrasonic distance meter or using the two distance measuring instruments.

2. A device for automatically controlling an angle of vehicle headlights, comprising:

a switch for outputting an electric signal in connection with operation of a light switch for turning on headlights;

a laser range finder, which is installed in a front of a vehicle or in the headlights and is operated in response to a signal output from the switch, for detecting a distance from a preceding vehicle and outputting the distance as an electric signal;

a controller for receiving a signal from a means for detecting a distance from an obstruction ahead or a preceding vehicle, calculating an inclination angle corresponding to a degree to which the headlights are to be raised or lowered based on the received signal, and outputting a signal for controlling an angle of the headlights; and

a headlight angle controller for controlling the angle of the headlights by operating in response to the signal output from the controller.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein

in consideration of an obstruction ahead, a maximum height that light from the headlights can reach is capable of being input into the controller manually.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the laser range finder, which is the means for detecting the distance from an obstruction ahead or a preceding vehicle, is installed at a suitable position near an illuminator beside the headlights and detects a signal.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein adjustment of the angle of vehicle headlights may be configured such that an angle of each of the headlights is individually adjusted depending on a distance between an obstruction ahead and the each of the headlights.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein, if there is no obstruction within a certain distance (for example, 100 m, 200 m or the like), the angle of the headlights is capable of being input manually.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein the distance is measured using an ultrasonic distance meter or an electromagnetic distance meter in place of the laser range finder.

14. The device of claim 2, wherein

two distance measuring instruments, which include an ultrasonic distance meter and one of the laser range finder and an electromagnetic distance meter, are installed, and in a road on which wild animals are likely to appear, the distance is measured using the ultrasonic distance meter by manually switching to the ultrasonic distance meter or using the two distance measuring instruments.