Headlamp system for vehicle

• US 6,752,508 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Guiyoung
• Application Number:
  US10/212,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 362/465, 362/466, 362/37, 362/64, 313/77, 313/81
• US Class Current: 362/37
• 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 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/16 illuminating the way asymmetrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• 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 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/335 Number or size of road lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/336 Crossings

Abstract

In such a state that a self-vehicle runs along a guide route (YES in S6), if an intersection is not present in a forward part for a while (NO in S8), beam control is carried out in a navigation associating mode corresponding to the guide route (S9). Consequently, beam irradiation is properly carried out over a road provided ahead of the vehicle without requiring a complicated calculation for the beam control. On the other hand, if the intersection is present in the forward part of the guide route (YES in S8), the beam control is carried out in a normal mode (a control mode other than the navigation associating mode) (S10). Consequently, even if the self-vehicle gets out of the guide route when passing through the intersection, the beam control itself is performed continuously and the beam irradiation is properly executed over the road provided ahead of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A headlamp system for a vehicle comprising:

a headlamp for irradiating a forward part of the vehicle;

beam control means for controlling a beam irradiated by the headlamp; and

a navigation device for setting a guide route from a current self-vehicle position to a running destination,

wherein, in such a state that a self-vehicle runs along the guide route, the beam control means carries out the beam control in a navigation associating mode corresponding to the guide route if an intersection is not present between the current self-vehicle position and a position that the self-vehicle is to reach after a predetermined time in the guide route, and

carries out the beam control in a control mode other than the navigation associating mode until the self-vehicle passes through at least an intersection present before the position that the self-vehicle is to reach if any.

2. The headlamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein if the self-vehicle gets out of the guide route when passing through the intersection in such a state as to run along the guide route, the beam control is carried out in the control mode other than the navigation associating mode until the guide route is re-searched by the navigation device and a new guide route is set, and the beam control is carried out in the navigation associating mode after the new guide route is set.

3. The headlamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control mode other than the navigation associating mode includes a road shape corresponding mode for carrying out the beam control depending on a shape of a road provided ahead of the vehicle.

4. The headlamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a position that the vehicle reaches after a predetermined time is used as a target position in the beam control under the navigation associating mode.

5. The headlamp system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control mode other than the navigation associating mode includes a turning angle corresponding mode for carrying out the beam control based on steering angle data transmitted from a steering angle sensor.

6. The headlamp system for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the road shape corresponding mode includes an intersection control mode for previously carrying out the beam irradiation in the turning direction in a stage before an arrival at the intersection.