Method and device for managing the supply to a discharge lamp

• US 6,586,884 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Leleve, Joël
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, David
• Application Number:
  US10/115,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/83, 315/156, 315/157, 315/158, 315/159, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 2300/054 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 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 Tunnels or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2882 the control resulting from an action on the static converter
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/386 for speeding-up the lighting-up

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the supply to a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, wherein during the phase of starting up the discharge lamp, the strength of the current supplied to the lamp is controlled on the basis of a parameter representative of the environment of the vehicle so as to optimize the life of the discharge lamp. The invention also relates to a device for managing the supply to a discharge lamp.

Claims

1. A method of managing the supply to a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, wherein during the phase of starting up the discharge lamp, the strength of the current and/or the power supplied to the lamp is controlled on the basis of a parameter representative of the brightness outside the vehicle so as to optimize the life of the discharge lamp.

2. A management method according to claim 1, wherein the strength of the current and/or the power supplied to the lamp is limited to a value which is predetermined on the basis of the brightness outside the vehicle.

3. A management method according to claim 2, wherein the parameter is representative of the future change in brightness outside the vehicle.

4. A device for managing the supply to a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, which comprises a device for supplying the discharge lamp which controls the strength of the current supplied to the discharge lamp according to the method according to claim 2, wherein it comprises a device for measuring the brightness outside the vehicle.

5. A management method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is representative of the future change in brightness outside the vehicle.

6. A device for managing the supply to a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, which comprises a device for supplying the discharge lamp which controls the strength of the current supplied to the discharge lamp according to the method according to claim 5, wherein it comprises a device for measuring the brightness outside the vehicle.

7. A device for managing the supply to a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, which comprises a device for supplying the discharge lamp which controls the strength of the current supplied to the discharge lamp according to the method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a device for measuring the brightness outside the vehicle.

8. A management device according to claim 7, wherein the measurement device comprises an external-brightness sensor.

9. A management device according to claim 8, wherein the brightness sensor is designed to be arranged on the inside of a transparent wall, such as the windscreen of the vehicle or the headlight glass.

10. A management device according to claim 8, wherein the measurement device comprises a mapping system which provides the parameter representative of the vehicle environment on the basis of the location of the vehicle with respect to predetermined places such as a tunnel.

11. A management device according to claim 9, wherein the measurement device comprises a mapping system which provides the parameter representative of the vehicle environment on the basis of the location of the vehicle with respect to predetermined places such as a tunnel.

12. A management device according to claim 7, wherein the measurement device comprises a mapping system which provides the parameter representative of the vehicle environment on the basis of the location of the vehicle with respect to predetermined places such as a tunnel.