Method and device for automatic control of illumination devices

• US 7,049,950 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schmitt, Patrick, Michenfelder, Gebhard, Schneider, Andreas, Meier, Hans, Blitzke, Henry, Nonnnenmacher, Pierre, Hodapp, Bruno, Hog, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/473,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/469, 340/600, 340/602, 340/540, 340/425.5, 340/309.16, 340/468, 250/214.AL, 307/10.8, 361/173, 361/175, 315/82, 315/83, 315/149, 315/150, 315/152, 315/155, 315/158, 315/159
• US Class Current: 340/468
• 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 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for automatic control of illumination devices, in particular of a motor vehicle, include a brightness sensor which delivers first signals, the illumination devices are switched off after a time interval that begins at the point in time at which the first signals exceed or fall below a first threshold. The length of the time interval is modifiable, and in particular, is capable of being extended.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling an illumination device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

delivering a first signal to a brightness sensor;

switching off the illumination device after a time interval that begins at a point in time at which the first signal one of falls below and exceeds a first threshold, wherein a length of the time interval is modifiable, wherein the length of the time interval is modifiable as a function of the first signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the time interval is extendable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval is selected to be longer during twilight than at another time of day or night.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval is extended by comparison to a normal time interval when the first signal lies within a signal magnitude window during a further time interval.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal magnitude window is constituted by the first threshold and at least one of a second threshold and a switching-on threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a time count of the time interval is halted if the first signal once again one of exceeds and falls below the first threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the time interval is reset back to an entire extended time interval if a second threshold is one of exceeded and fallen below, and is reset to a normal time interval if the illumination device is switched off.

8. An apparatus for automatically controlling illumination devices, comprising:

at least one brightness sensor to receive first signals; and

a control device to switch off at least one of the illumination devices after a time interval, and begins the time interval at a point in time when the first signals one of fall below and exceed a first threshold, wherein a length of the time interval is modifiable, wherein the control device provides that the length of the time interval is modifiable as a function of the first signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a clock-timed counter to provide a time count within the time interval, wherein the control device provides that the counter begins to count at the point in time, stops when the first signals again exceed or fall below the first threshold, continues counting when the first threshold is again one of fallen below and exceeded, respectively, and is reset to an entire extended time interval if a further threshold is exceeded and fallen below.