Device for controlling a low beam of a vehicle

• US 9,523,473 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Ackermann, Ralf, Eggers, Helmuth, Kurz, Gerhard, Moisel, Joerg, Oltmann, Volker, Reinhold, Volker, Woltermann, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alaeddini, Borna
• Application Number:
  US13/503,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,296 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 362/464, 362/465, 362/467, 362/512, 362/513, 362/539
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• 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 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/698 Shaft-shaped screens rotating along its longitudinal axis

Abstract

A device for controlling a driving light of a vehicle includes a headlight with a light source, a device for pivoting a produced light distribution and an optical element that provides adjustable light distribution. The optical element includes a light passage opening pivotable into an optical axis of the light source. A beam of the light distribution is limited or deflected such that a limited light field is produced in a pre-settable region in front of the vehicle, which light field has an external form of the light passage opening. Further light passage structures provide a “high beam” or “partial high beam” light pattern and thereafter the “high beam” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in one direction, and another further light passage structure provides a “motorway” and thereafter a “country road” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in an opposite direction.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a driving light of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a left hand headlight and a right hand headlight, each comprising an optical element configured to produce a light pattern or a driving light distribution, wherein the optical elements are rollers that include a periphery on which a plurality of light passage structures are arranged to produce various light patterns or driving light distributions, wherein the plurality of light passage structures are arranged on the periphery of the rollers in a manner that rotation of the rollers about a longitudinal axis of the rollers moves different light passage structures in front of light produced by the left hand headlight and the right hand headlight;

a sensor system configured to recognize objects and detecting surroundings, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect a risk of collision with a non-illuminated object,

wherein the roller for the left hand headlight differs from the roller for the right hand headlight with respect to at least one light passage structure having a different width or height such that a light pattern producible by the left hand headlight is different from a light pattern producible by the right hand headlight, the roller of the left hand headlight having a light passage structure in the form of a light passage opening configured to produce a limited light field in a form of a spot on the non-illuminated object in front of the vehicle, and wherein the light passage opening is arranged offset in the vertical or horizontal direction to an optical axis of a light source, to provide a symmetrical pivotability for the limited light field,

wherein the rollers are horizontally pivotable and a height and width of the plurality of light passage structures arranged on the periphery of the rollers does not change with the horizontal pivoting of the rollers, and

wherein configuration of the roller of the right hand headlight produces a light pattern or driving light distribution according to whether an oncoming vehicle or vehicle traveling ahead is located in front of the vehicle, such that an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle traveling ahead is not blinded.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller of the left hand headlight is configured such that, starting from the light passage opening for a limited light field, turning in one direction produces a high beam light pattern or a partial high beam light pattern and thereafter the high beam light pattern as a nearest light pattern.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the event of a detected situation, the left or right hand headlights are flashed by

switching on and off a respective light source, or

an alternating change of light passage structures.