Auto light sensor system

• US 5,909,172 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Ashford
• Original Assignee: Steven Ashford
• Inventors: Ashford, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/906,114
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/459, 340/469, 340/457.2, 340/309.4, 340/815.75, 340/815.76, 340/815.77, 340/942, 315/82, 315/159, 307/10.8, 313/531
• US Class Current: 340/458
• 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 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A new Auto Light Sensor System for automatically controlling a vehicle'"'"'s parking lights and headlights according to light conditions outside of the vehicle. The inventive device includes a first light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the parking lights, and a second light sensor secured to the vehicle and electrically connected to the headlights.

Claims

1. An auto light sensor system for controlling parking lights and headlights of a vehicle according to lighting conditions outside of said vehicle, comprising:

a light detecting means electrically connected to said parking lights and electrically connected to said headlights, wherein said light detecting means activates said parking lights only upon detecting slight to complete darkness and wherein said light detecting means activates said headlights upon detecting near darkness outside of said vehicle;

wherein said light detecting means comprises;

a first light sensor electrically connected to said parking lights, wherein said first light sensor activates said parking lights only upon detecting slight to complete darkness, and

a second light sensor electrically connected to said headlights, wherein said second light sensor activates said headlights only upon detecting near darkness;

wherein said light detecting means further includes an encasement wherein said first light sensor and said second light sensor are adjacently positioned within said encasement;

wherein said encasement is separate from any housing containing said headlights and said parking lights and is secured to said vehicle separate from any said housing to minimize any detection of reflected light from said headlights by said first and second light sensors; and

a transparent cover secured to said encasement.

2. The auto light sensor system of claim 1, wherein said light detecting means further includes a seal secured between said encasement and said transparent cover for preventing debris from accumulating within said encasement.

3. The auto light sensor system of claim 2, wherein said first light sensor and said second light sensor are electrically connected so as to prevent the switching of said parking lights and said headlights when a temporary bright light source passes by them, whereas both said first light sensor and said second light sensor need to receive a similar amount of light for a finite period of time before deactivating said headlights and said parking lights.

4. The auto light sensor system of claim 3, wherein said headlights cannot be manually switched off during darkness.

5. An auto light sensor system for illuminating the headlights and parking lights of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first light sensor electrically connected to the headlights of the vehicle such that the headlights are illuminated when the first light sensor senses an ambient light level below a first pre-determined level;

a second light sensor electrically connected to the parking lights of the vehicle such that the parking lights are illuminated when the second light sensor senses an ambient light level below a second predetermined level;

wherein the first and second light sensors are positioned adjacent each other in a housing, said housing being adapted for attachment to surface of the vehicle;

a transparent cover removably connectable to said housing, the transparent cover being adapted for permitting ambient light to enter the housing for permitting said first and second light sensors to sense the level of ambient light.

6. The auto light sensor system of claim 5 wherein the cover includes a generally rectangular central face and four substantially planar side extensions disposed outwardly from the central face at an angle such that the cover forms a pyramidal frustum, the side extensions being for refracting ambient light from outside the housing inwardly towards the first and the second light sensors.

7. The auto light sensor of claim 6 wherein the side extensions include an outer perimeter edge for abutting the housing, the outer perimeter edge having a groove therein for receiving a seal such that contaminants are prevented from entering the housing.

8. The auto light sensor of claim 6 wherein the central face includes a pair of oppositely positioned apertures, each aperture being adapted to receive a screw;

wherein the housing includes a pair of screw receiving protrusions extending inwardly from an interior edge of the housing, the protrusions being alignable with the apertures in the central face such that the cover is removably attachable to the housing.

9. An auto light sensor system for illuminating the headlights and parking lights of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first light sensor electrically connected to the headlights of the vehicle such that the headlights are illuminated when the first light sensor senses an ambient light level below a first pre-determined level;

a second light sensor electrically connected to the parking lights of the vehicle such that the parking lights are illuminated when the second light sensor senses an ambient light level below a second pre-determined level;

wherein the first and second light sensors are positioned adjacent each other in a housing, said housing being adapted for attachment to surface of the vehicle;

a transparent cover removably connectable to said housing, the transparent cover being adapted for permitting ambient light to enter the housing for permitting said first and second light sensors to sense the level of ambient light;

wherein the cover includes a generally rectangular central face and four substantially planar side extensions disposed outwardly from the central face at an angle such that the cover forms a pyramidal frustum, the side extensions being for refracting ambient light from outside the housing inwardly towards the first and the second light sensors;

wherein the side extensions include an outer perimeter edge for abutting the housing, the outer perimeter edge having a groove therein for receiving a seal such that contaminants are prevented from entering the housing;

wherein the central face includes a pair of oppositely positioned apertures, each aperture being adapted to receive a screw; and

wherein the housing includes a pair of screw receiving protrusions extending inwardly from an interior edge of the housing, the protrusions being alignable with the apertures in the central face such that the cover is removably attachable to the housing.