Head lamp apparatus of automobile and method of controlling the same

• US 8,888,340 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Tae won
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTRO, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US13/892,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/124 Steering speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature

Abstract

A head lamp apparatus of an automobile and a method of controlling the same light a curved road by rotating one of a left DBL and a right DBL to the left or right according to a relative distance reflecting a driving speed of the automobile, not an absolute distance from a driving position of the automobile before the automobile enters the curved road on a driving path.

Claims

1. A head lamp apparatus of an automobile, comprising:

a left headlight disposed at a front-left side of the automobile configured to direct light in front of the automobile;

a right headlight disposed at a front-right side of the automobile configured to direct light in front of the automobile;

an automobile speed sensing sensor configured to sense a driving speed of the automobile;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiving unit configured to receive a driving position of the automobile;

a controller configured to rotate one of the left headlight and the right headlight to direct light toward a curved road when the driving position of the automobile received by the GPS receiving unit is an approximate predetermined driving time prior to the automobile turning with the curved road, wherein the approximate predetermined driving time is based on a driving path of the automobile at the driving speed sensed by the automobile speed sensing sensor; and

a steering wheel angle sensing sensor configured to sense a steering wheel angle of a steering wheel,

wherein when the driving path turns left with the curved road, the controller rotates the left headlight to the left at the approximate predetermined driving time prior to when the automobile is projected to enter the curved road,

wherein the controller rotates the right headlight in a direction of the steering wheel angle sensed by the steering wheel angle sensing sensor, and

wherein the rotation of the right headlight occurs approximately when the automobile enters the curved road, which is approximately the predetermined driving time after the rotation of the left headlight.

2. The head lamp apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a map data storing unit in which map data is stored; and

an input unit in which a destination is input,

wherein the driving path is set by mapping the driving path with the map data stored in the map data storing unit from the driving position received by the GPS receiving unit to the destination input in the input unit.

3. The head lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the driving path turns right with the curved road, the controller rotates the right headlight to the right at the approximate predetermined driving time prior to when the automobile is projected to enter the curved road.

4. The head lamp apparatus of claim 3,

wherein the controller rotates the left headlight in a direction of the steering wheel angle sensed by the steering wheel angle sensing sensor, and

wherein the rotation of the left headlight occurs approximately when the automobile enters the curved road, which is approximately the predetermined driving time after the rotation of the right headlight.

5. The head lamp apparatus of claim 2,

wherein when the destination is not input in the input unit, the controller rotates the left headlight and the right headlight in response and in a direction of the steering wheel angle sensed by the steering wheel angle sensing sensor.

11. The head lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right headlight and the let headlight are dynamic bend lights.

12. The head lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the approximate predetermined driving time is approximately 3.5 seconds.

6. A method of controlling a head lamp apparatus of an automobile, in which a left headlight disposed at a front-left side of the automobile and a right headlight disposed at a front-right side of the automobile, wherein both the left headlight and the right headlight are configured to direct light in front of the automobile, the method comprising:

a first operation of sensing a driving speed of the automobile;

a second operation of receiving a driving position of the automobile; and

a third operation of rotating one of the left headlight and the right headlight to direct light toward a curved road when the driving position of the automobile received in the second operation is an approximate predetermined driving time prior to the automobile turning with the curved road, wherein the approximate predetermined driving time is based on a driving path of the automobile at the driving speed sensed in the first operation;

sensing a steering wheel angle of a steering wheel; and

a fourth operation of rotating the right headlight in a direction of the steering wheel angle when the driving path turns left with the curved road,

wherein the third operation includes rotating the left headlight to the left when the driving path turns left with the curved road at the approximate predetermined driving time prior to when the automobile is projected to enter the curved road, and

wherein the rotating of the right headlight occurs approximately when the automobile enters the curved road, which is approximately the predetermined driving time after the rotation of the left headlight.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the driving path is set by mapping the driving path based on map data stored in a map data storing unit, based on the driving position of the automobile received in the second operation, and based on a destination input in an input unit of the automobile.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third operation includes rotating the right headlight to the right when the driving path turns right with the curved road at the approximate predetermined driving time prior to when the automobile is projected to enter the curved road.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising;

a fourth operation of rotating the left headlight in a direction of the steering wheel angle when the driving path turns right with the curved road,

wherein the rotating of the left headlight occurs approximately when the automobile enters the curved road, which is approximately the predetermined driving time after the rotation of the right headlight.

10. The method of claim 7,

wherein the third operation rotates the left headlight and the right headlight in response and in a direction of the steering wheel angle when the destination is not input in the input unit.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the right headlight and the let headlight are dynamic bend lights.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the approximate predetermined driving time is approximately 3.5 seconds.