Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
  • B60Q1/18—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights being additional front lights
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
  • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
  • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
  • B60Q1/085—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
  • B60Q2300/05—Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
  • B60Q2300/054—Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
  • B60Q2300/20—Indexing codes relating to the driver or the passengers
  • B60Q2300/21—Manual control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
  • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
  • B60Q2300/33—Driving situation
  • B60Q2300/332—Driving situation on city roads
  • B60Q2300/3321—Detection of streetlights
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
  • B60Q2300/40—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
  • B60Q2300/42—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions oncoming vehicle

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for automatic selec ⁇ tive light control, especially of the headlights of a vehicle, as stated in the preamble of claim 1.
• an object of the present invention to provide a device by the aid of which the light from a vehicle is dipped selectively and/or automatically in such a manner that only that portion of the light is removed that would otherwise in ⁇ convenience the driver of oncoming cars. Furthermore, the light should be a minimum inconvenience to the driver of oncoming cars, at the same time as the roadway, the edges of the road, curves, etc. are satisfactorily illuminated. This object is achieved with a device characterized as state ⁇ d in the claims.
• the device according to the invention thus, results in the fact that the light pattern in front of the vehicle is detected and the light emission from the vehicle controls a shadow pattern that conforms with the light pattern ahead. In this manner selective dimming in the areas where another vehicle is present will be achieved at the same time as the remaining roadway is kept well illuminated.
• the headlights of the vehicle are arranged in such a manner that the light beams from them will intersect, so that the left headlight will illuminate the right lane, and vice versa.
• Oncoming vehicles will not be incon ⁇ venienced by the near-side, i.e. the left headlight in such a system, because the light from this direction will deviate from the direction of travel towards the right part of the road, whereas the left part of the road illuminated by the right side headlight can be eliminated to the necessary degree.
• the system of intersecting head light beams will also be advantageous when driving in curves, since the light beam from left head light will not inconvenience oncoming vehicles, and total dimming of both headlights can be avoided.
• Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the light pattern in front of a vehicle
• Figure 2 is a diagrammatical front view of the headlights on the vehicle according to Figure 1
• Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for controlling the headlights for cimrf ing
• Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the invention utilizing a layer of liquid crystals
• Figure 5 illustrates the light pattern in front of a vehicle that is equipped with intersecting light beams, diagrammatically shown
• Figure 6 is a detailed elevation of the headlights of the vehicle shown in Figure 5.
• Figures 1 - 3 shows a vehicle where the two headlights are constructed of three separate light sources LI, L2, and L3 placed side-by-side, and three light sources L4, L5, and L6 in a row beneath the first mentioned one.
• LI - L6 in each headlight have directions of light that provide the best possible illumination in a desired predetermined area in front of the vehicle.
• the lower row comprising lamps L4, L5, and L6 has a low angle of light corresponding to normal driving light, and this row must be able to take over the illumination automatically as the upper lamps are switched off. Further organization of the system according to the invention may comprise all lamps apart from L5 or L2 to be controlled for still more effective dimm ⁇ ing.
• the detector system for controlling the light sources may comprise light sensitive photo-electronic diodes or transistors Fl, F2, F3, mounted in a receiver that may, e.g. be placed in the driving mirror of the vehicle.
• the light sensitive elements can be arranged in such a manner that each main light of the headlight has its own sensor and the sensor only covers the same area as the light beam from its lamp. According to the in ⁇ vention this is achieved by placing sensors and by using small parabolic reflectors or collimator tubes for direction and angle of expansion which scan the same area of light which the lamp creates by its illumination.
• the electric signals from the sensors via Schmidt-triggers IZ1 can then control the bases of transistors Tl - T6 and the lamps off and on.
• the light sources C- ⁇ i,-o e dirne ⁇ crrac ai iv, o ⁇ - ⁇ t ⁇ time, in accordance ->itn zr.e ?le -.ric z ⁇ . : ⁇ : ⁇ a ⁇ c ⁇ Tom tne se.-sors, if this is ⁇ eeirec. In this manner dipping of the headlights or light beams that would have illuminated the areas that emit/reflect light is achieved.
• a more simple system according to the invention can also be implemented with existing light systems by the aid of liquid crystals in the front pane of the lamp or on reflectors to dim the portion of the light conus corresponding to the field of vision of the sensors in stead of switching off or dipping the source of light.
• Figure 4 is an objective
• 8 is a photographic plate
• 9 is an electronic processor
• 10 is the filament of the headlight
• 11 is a glass pane
• 12 indicates liquid crystals
• 13 is a reflector.
• the pattern of light in the field of the driver's vision will be caught by objective 7,that is placed inside the windscreen of the car, and will be transmitted to a photographic plate 8 that is divided into dots. Light from a.c.
• Microprocessor 9 continuously processes the light signals arriving at the photographic plate and continuous ⁇ ly emits control signals to a transparent plate 11 with liquid crystals 12. Said plate corresponds, dot by dot, with the photo ⁇ graphic plate behind said objective. It is placed inside the headlight of the car in such a relationship to the bulb and the reflector that when portions of the photographic plate are influenced by light, corresponding portions of the glass plate are obscured by the liquid crystals 12. A continuous and nuanced dimming process is, thus achieved, said process being stepiess and providing a shadow pattern which is a direct re ⁇ sult of the light pattern detected by the objective.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a special case where a vehicle is provided with two headlights constructed of several separate light sources 1, 2, and 3 that are placed side-by-side.
• Light sources 1, 2, and 3 of each headlight have directions of light intersecting at a desired distance a from the vehicle .
• the effect will, thus, be an illumination by light cones in front of the vehicle that are added into a total light area at a desired distance b in front of the vehicle, and then are separated in opposed directions, i.e. the source of light furthest to the left in the vehicle " headlight will illuminate the right side of the road.
• a lower row of lamps having a low light angle and corresponding to general driving light may be arranged. Said lower lamps may take over automatically in case of dimming, as the upper lamps are switched off.
• the system may also be arranged so as to make the light cones from upper and lower row intersect with reference to the horizontal plane as well at a determined distance a in front of the vehicle. Said lower row will then function as a high beam system and the upper row as driving light. Further organization of the system may comprise control of all lights, apart from the center lamps in each light in order to achieve a still more efficient dimming.
• Such an arrangement of the headlights with intersecting light beams permits more efficient dimming of the light, and at the same time the roadway is satisfactorily dimmed, the outer light (closest to the center of the roadway) being directed inward, toward the roadside and not blinding oncoming cars, but effi ⁇ ciently illuminating the roadside. This light will, at the same time indicate the outside boundaries of the vehicle in an effi ⁇ cient manner.
• the angular setting may be firm, but combined with automatic dimming, e.g. as disclosed above.
• the device according to the invention can readily be provided based on an existing headlight system, or it may be constructed vith s-j-czal la.;-.-, e.c. consisting of separate .leadlig ts
• AD O arranged in groups, as indicated above. What is essential in the invention is, thus, an improvement to prevent blinding oncoming vehicles.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19888163

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (54)

Citations (13)

• 1985
  • 1985-03-06 NO NO850900A patent/NO850900L/no unknown
  • 1985-10-14 NO NO854072A patent/NO854072L/no unknown
• 1986
  • 1986-03-05 ES ES552680A patent/ES8701070A1/es not_active Expired
  • 1986-03-06 EP EP86901532A patent/EP0213168A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1986-03-06 AU AU55859/86A patent/AU5585986A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1986-03-06 WO PCT/NO1986/000024 patent/WO1986005147A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (13)

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