Method and system for a light sensing headlight modulator

• US 8,384,289 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith Thomas
• Original Assignee: Keith Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US12/390,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/76, 315/149, 315/159, 315/291, 315/307, 359/601, 359/603, 359/604, 359/613, 359/614, 250/214.D
• 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 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

Techniques for providing a method and system for light sensing vehicle light modulator are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method, comprising detecting incoming light utilizing a plurality of light sensors operatively connected to an vehicle, measuring the incoming light intensity, and decreasing a intensity of light output by one or more lights of the vehicle based at least in pan on a measurement of the incoming light intensity.

Claims

1. A method for modulating vehicle light output intensity, comprising:

detecting incoming light from a second vehicle utilizing a plurality of light sensors operatively connected to a first vehicle, wherein the plurality of light sensors are distributed throughout the front, left front, left rear, right front, and right rear sides of the first vehicle;

measuring the incoming light intensity; and

decreasing an intensity of light output by one or more lights of the first vehicle based at least in part on a measurement of the incoming light intensity from the second vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of light output is decreased in the event the measurement of incoming light intensity exceeds a specified threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified threshold is measured by a preset resistor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an NPN transistor is utilized to decrease the light intensity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sensors are arranged on the front, left front, left rear, right front, and right rear sides of the first vehicle to detect incoming light directed towards the front and sides of the first vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing a radar transmitting device to transmit one or more radar signals from the first vehicle;

utilizing a radar detecting device on the first vehicle to receive one or more reflected radar signals from the second vehicle such that the second vehicle is a radar reflecting object;

calculating, using a processor, the proximity of the radar reflecting object from the radar transmitting device; and

modulating the intensity of the light output of the first vehicle based at least in part on the proximity of the radar reflecting object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the proximity of the radar reflecting object is calculated by determining a change in velocity of the radar reflecting object from the first vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the radar reflecting object is moving based on the change in velocity of the radar reflecting object from the first vehicle; and

in the event the radar reflecting object is moving, modulating the intensity of the light output of the first vehicle based at least in part on the proximity of the radar reflecting object.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining an approximate angle of the incoming light source relative to a base plane of one or more light sensors; and

transmitting radar in a range including the approximate angle of the incoming light source to determine the proximity of the incoming light source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of light output is decreased proportionately to the measurement of incoming light intensity, and wherein one or more decreases of light output are decreased in logarithmic increments utilizing a logarithmic sensor.

11. A system for modulating vehicle light output intensity, comprising:

a plurality of light sensors operatively connected to a first vehicle for detecting incoming light from a second vehicle, wherein the plurality of light sensors are distributed throughout the front, left front, left rear, right front, and right rear sides of the first vehicle;

control circuitry for measuring the incoming light intensity; and

a modulator for decreasing intensity of light output of one or more lights of the first vehicle based at least in part on the measured incoming light intensity of the second vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the intensity of light output is decreased if the measurement of incoming light intensity exceeds a specified threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry comprises a preset resistor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the modulator comprises an NPN transistor.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of light sensors are arranged on the front, left front, left rear, right front, and right rear sides of the first vehicle to detect incoming light directed towards the front and sides of the first vehicle.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a radar transmitting device on the first vehicle;

a radar detecting device on the first vehicle for receiving reflected radar signals from the second vehicle such that the second vehicle is a radar reflecting object; and

a processor for calculating the proximity of the radar reflecting object from the radar transmitting device, wherein the processor utilizes the modulator to modulate the intensity of the light output of the first vehicle based at least in part on the proximity of the radar reflecting object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate the proximity of the radar reflecting object by determining a change in velocity of the radar reflecting object from the first vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the radar reflecting object is moving based on the change in velocity of the radar reflecting object from the first vehicle; and

wherein the modulator modulates the intensity of the light output based at least in part on the proximity of the radar reflecting object in the event the radar reflecting object is moving.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an approximate angle of the incoming light source relative to a base plane of one or more light sensors; and

wherein the radar transmitting device transmits radar in a range including the approximate angle of the incoming light source.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the modulator is further configured to:

decrease the intensity of light output proportionate to the measurement of incoming light intensity, and

receive input from a logarithmic sensor to provide one or more decreases of light output in logarithmic increments.