Vehicle headlamp apparatus and method of setting optical axis position

• US 6,984,060 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Takii, Naoki, Kusagaya, Masahiro, Baba, Junji, Sugimoto, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Jason
• Application Number:
  US10/654,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 362/37, 362/40, 362464-465, 362523-526
• US Class Current: 362/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/38 Automatic calibration of motor-driven means for adjusting headlamps, i.e. when switching on the headlamps, not during mounting at factories

Abstract

Provided is a reference angle position setting means for setting an optical axis at a reference angle position (direction of going straight ahead: 0°) by detecting the maximum deflection angles when swivel lamps 3R and 3L are pivoted in one direction and in the opposite direction and gaining the reference angle position based on both the maximum deflection angles detected. Projector lamps are pivoted in one direction toward the reference angle position so as to set an optical axis position through the steps of detecting a first maximum deflection angle by pivoting each projector 30 lamp in one direction until it is no longer able to pivot in one direction, detecting a second maximum deflection angle by pivoting a headlamp in the opposite direction until it is no longer able to pivot in the opposite direction and computing the reference angle position of the irradiation optical axis from the first and second maximum deflection angles. Thus it is possible to not only set off the deflection produced in the projector lamps and the like but also accurately set the optical axis at the reference angle position at the time of bringing the projector lamps into contact with stoppers on both sides.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp apparatus comprising:

light distribution control means for deflecting the irradiation optical axis of a headlamp to the right and left in response to the steering angle of a vehicle; and

reference angle position setting means for detecting the maximum deflection angle when the headlamp is pivoted in one direction as well as the maximum deflection angle when the headlamp is pivoted in the opposite direction and gaining a reference angle position based on both the maximum deflection angles thus detected whereby to set the reference angle position to the irradiation optical axis.

2. A vehicle headlamp apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light distribution control means is so arranged as to pivot the headlamp with a drive motor, and

wherein the reference angle position setting means has first detection means for detecting an angle of rotation of the drive motor and second detection means for detecting the pivoting position of the headlamp from the angle of rotation thus detected and is used for gaining the maximum deflection angle from the detected pivoting position of the headlamp and setting the maximum deflection angle at the reference angle position.

3. A vehicle headlamp apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first detection means includes a sensing element which outputs pulse signals in response to rotation of the drive motor, and the second detection means includes an up-down counter which counts number of the pulses.

4. A vehicle head lamp apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reference angle position setting means sets the optical axis of said headlamp based on a rotation range obtained from a first counting number of the up-down counter when the drive motor is rotated in one direction and a second counting number of the up-down counter when rotated in the opposite direction.

5. A method of setting the position of the optical axis of a vehicle headlamp apparatus having light distribution control means for deflecting the irradiation optical axis of a headlamp to the right and left in response to the steering angle of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first maximum deflection angle by pivoting the headlamp in one direction until the headlamp is no longer able to pivot in one direction;

detecting a second maximum deflection angle by pivoting the headlamp in the opposite direction until the headlamp is no long able to pivot in the opposite direction;

computing the reference angle position of the irradiation optical axis from the first and second maximum deflection angles; and

pivoting the headlamp in one direction toward the reference angle position.

6. A method of setting the position of the optical axis of a vehicle headlamp apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the headlamp is pivoted at a predetermined first speed at the step of detecting the first and second maximum deflection angles and wherein the headlamp is pivoted at a second speed higher than the first speed at the step of conforming the headlamp to the reference angle position.

7. A method of setting the position of the optical axis of a vehicle headlamp apparatus as claimed in either claim 5, wherein when a difference in size exists between the first and second maximum deflection angles, the pivoting direction is so controlled that the first maximum deflection angle is made smaller than the second maximum deflection angle.

8. A method of setting the position of the optical axis of a vehicle headlamp apparatus as claimed in either claim 6, wherein when a difference in size exists between the first and second maximum deflection angles, the pivoting direction is so controlled that the first maximum deflection angle is made smaller than the second maximum deflection angle.