Automatic headlamp control system utilizing radar and an optical sensor

• US 6,403,942 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Stam, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, STEPHONE B
• Application Number:
  US09/531,211
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/214.AL, 250/214.D, 250/216, 315/77, 315/82, 315/83, 362/64, 362/81, 362/83.1
• US Class Current: 250/214.0AL
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/134 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle includes a wave transmitting and wave receiving device for detecting objects. The headlamp control system determines the state of the vehicle headlamps based upon objects detected by the wave transmitting and wave receiving device. The wave transmitting and wave receiving device can be a radar, an optical radar, ultrasonic, or the like. An optical sensor can be used to detect ambient light or other vehicles.

Claims

1. A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a radar transmitting and receiving device for detecting objects in front of the motor vehicle;

at least one optical system for detecting at least one of ambient light levels and light sources forward of the motor vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the state of the headlamps of the motor vehicle based upon any two or more of;

(a) objects in front of the vehicle;

(b) light sources forward of the vehicle; and

(c) and ambient light levels.

2. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein the radar transmitting and receiving device is an optical radar transmitting and receiving device.

3. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is a single semiconductor light sensor.

4. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is an image array sensor.

5. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured to determine the color of light sources forward of the motor vehicle.

6. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured to determine the position in the field of view of light sources forward of the motor vehicle.

7. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein a non-imaging sensor is used to detect ambient light conditions and an imaging sensor is used to detect forward light sources.

8. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein a non-imaging sensor is used to detect forward light sources.

9. The headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said radar transmitting and receiving device additionally serves to facilitate detection of objects for at least one of the following vehicle features:

adaptive cruise control;

autonomous vehicle control;

obstacle warning; and

collision avoidance.

10. A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device for detecting objects in front of the motor vehicle;

at least one optical system for detecting at least one of ambient light levels and light sources forward of the motor vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the state of the headlamps of the motor vehicle based upon any two or more of;

(a) objects in front of the vehicle;

(b) light sources forward of the vehicle; and

(c) ambient light levels.