Daytime running lamp activation control methods and apparatus

• US 8,358,074 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., Proefke, David T., McCall, Clark E., Latouf, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US12/393,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/77, 250/208.1, 250/340, 250/939, 250/205
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

Embodiments include lighting systems and methods for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs). Embodiments of the method include receiving inputs from one or more on-board subsystems, and when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode and the headlights are deactivated, selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on the inputs. Embodiments of the lighting system include DRLs, headlights, and a processing and control subsystem. The processing and control subsystem is adapted to determine whether a DRL activation criteria is met when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode, to activate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met and the headlights are deactivated, and to deactivate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met and the headlights are deactivated.

Claims

1. A method performed by a lighting system of a motor vehicle for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs from one or more external sources; and

when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode and when headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on a determination of whether the motor vehicle is approaching an upcoming geographical location, wherein the determination is made based on the inputs from the one or more sources external to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the inputs comprises:

receiving signals from a positioning system, and

wherein the method further comprises;

determining a current geographical location of the motor vehicle based on the signals received from the positioning system, and

determining whether the motor vehicle is approaching the upcoming geographical location based on the current geographical location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving the inputs further comprises:

receiving navigational information indicating a geographical location of a navigational feature, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs comprises

determining, based on the current geographical location of the motor vehicle and the geographical location of the navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is approaching the navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching the navigational feature, activating the DRLs.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the navigational feature is a low-light navigational feature selected from a group that includes a tunnel, a parking garage, an overpass, and a lower level of a stacked roadway.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the navigational feature is a high-traffic navigational feature selected from a group that includes a traffic control device, an intersection, a portion of a route in which two-way traffic may be present, a portion of a route in which lanes merge, and a portion of a route that passes through an urban area.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the navigational feature is a portion of the route with decreased visibility selected from a group that includes hilly terrain, a windy roadway, and an area of inclement weather.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the inputs comprises:

receiving information indicating that another vehicle is in proximity to the motor vehicle, and

wherein selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs further comprises

activating the DRLs when the another vehicle is in proximity to the motor vehicle.

8. A method performed by a lighting system of a motor vehicle for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs), the method comprising the steps of:

when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode,

determining whether a DRL activation criteria is met based on a determination of whether the motor vehicle is approaching an upcoming geographical location, and wherein the determination is made based on inputs form one or more sources external to the motor vehicle; and

when the DRL activation criteria is met and headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, activating the DRLs; and

when the DRL activation criteria is not met and headlights of the motor vehicle are deactivated, deactivating the DRLs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met based on a determination that an ambient light level has fallen below a DRL activation threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle and a geographical location of a low-light navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is the geographical location of the low-light navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching the geographical location of the low-light navigational feature, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle and a geographical location of a high-traffic navigational feature, whether the motor vehicle is the geographical location of the high-traffic navigational feature; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching the geographical location of the high-traffic navigational feature, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining, based on a geographical location of the motor vehicle, whether the motor vehicle is approaching a geographical location of an area of inclement weather; and

when the motor vehicle is approaching the geographical location of the area of inclement weather, determining that the DRL activation criteria is met.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the DRL activation criteria is met comprises:

determining that the DRL activation criteria is met when information is received which indicates that another vehicle or a pedestrian is in proximity to the motor vehicle.

14. A lighting system of a motor vehicle, the lighting system comprising:

daytime running lamps (DRLs);

headlights; and

a processing and control subsystem adapted

to determine, when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode, whether a DRL activation criteria is met based on a determination of whether the motor vehicle is approaching an upcoming geographical location, and wherein the determination is made based on inputs form one or more sources external to the motor vehicle,

to activate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met and the headlights are deactivated, and

to deactivate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met and the headlights are deactivated.