Automotive headlamp apparatus controlling light distribution pattern
First Claim
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1. An automotive headlamp apparatus comprising:
- a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and
a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle, wherein the controller reduces the illuminance, of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present, from an initial illuminance of the individual pattern formed in a state where a forward vehicle is not present, and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns from the initial illuminance regardless of the presence or absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle detected by an obstacle detection apparatus or of an area where high visibility is demanded as determined in accordance with the driving road of the driver'"'"'s vehicle.
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Abstract
An automotive headlamp apparatus comprises: a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle. The controller reduces the illuminance of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns.
11 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An automotive headlamp apparatus comprising:
- a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and
a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle, wherein the controller reduces the illuminance, of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present, from an initial illuminance of the individual pattern formed in a state where a forward vehicle is not present, and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns from the initial illuminance regardless of the presence or absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle detected by an obstacle detection apparatus or of an area where high visibility is demanded as determined in accordance with the driving road of the driver'"'"'s vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and
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10. A control apparatus for a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns, wherein the control apparatus is configured to output a control signal that reduces the illuminance, of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present, from an initial illuminance of the individual pattern formed in a state where a forward vehicle is not present, and that increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns from the initial illuminance regardless of the presence or absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle detected by an obstacle detection apparatus or of an area where high visibility is demanded as determined in accordance with the driving road of the driver'"'"'s vehicle.
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11. A lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns, and also configured to reduce the illuminance, of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present, from an initial illuminance of the individual pattern formed in a state where a forward vehicle is not present, and to increase the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns from the initial illuminance regardless of the presence or absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle detected by an obstacle detection apparatus or of an area where high visibility is demanded as determined in accordance with the driving road of the driver'"'"'s vehicle.
Specification
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Current AssigneeKoito Manufacturing Company Limited
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Original AssigneeKoito Manufacturing Company Limited
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InventorsSato, Noriko, Komatsu, Motohiro, Tanaka, Hidetada, Ishida, Hiroyuki, Uchida, Naoki, Kotajima, Takuya, Tani, Kentaro
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Primary Examiner(s)Owens, Douglas W
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Assistant Examiner(s)YANG, AMY X
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Application NumberUS12/836,469Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,098 DaysField of Search315 76- 82, 362507-519US Class Current315/82CPC Class CodesB60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits,...B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard inten...B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams...B60Q 2300/322 Road curvatureB60Q 2300/332 on city roadsB60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicleB60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicleB60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pe...F21S 41/663 by switching light sources ...
