Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080218084 | Method and Device for Controlling a Motor-Vehicle Lighting System - The automated switching of a vehicle lighting system is to be made more reliable. To this end it is provided that the entire data flow from the sensors (S | 09-11-2008 |
20080218085 | Switching Device for Switching Between Low Beam Mode and High Beam Mode of a Xenon Headlight - A switching device for switching between low beam mode and high beam mode of a xenon headlight, comprises an electromagnetic valve fixed on a fixing piece, two light-shield pieces pivotally coupled to the fixing piece, and moveable piece. The movable piece is moved by the electromagnetic valve and then drives the light-shield pieces to rotate to the gap of the fixing piece to obstruct the light beam of the xenon lamp tube, and thus the headlight is switched to the low beam mode. When the light-shield pieces are rotated away from the gap of the fixing piece by the movable piece, the headlight is switched to the high beam mode. | 09-11-2008 |
20080231194 | DISCHARGE BULB FOR VEHICLE - A discharge bulb and an arc tube are provided. The discharge bulb includes an arc tube main body having a discharge arc chamber, in which two discharge electrodes are disposed to oppose to each other; a tube portion disposed at each end portion of the arc tube main body, each of the tube portions being in communication with the discharge arc chamber and holding one of the discharge electrodes, wherein a wall for forming the discharge arc chamber has a taper portion whose diameter is reduced gradually from a cylinder portion of the arc tube main body in a center area to the tube portion of the arc tube main body, and an inner diameter Di of the cylinder portion is about 1.0 mm to about 2.5 mm, and a projection length Le of the discharge electrode into the discharge arc chamber is about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231195 | Headlight control device - In a vehicle headlight apparatus, a projection unit having a same structure of an LED projector receives a light provided from a lamp. The projection unit generates and projects a projection image toward a vehicle front-area. A vehicle ECU has an image signal obtaining means for obtaining image signals representing a vehicle front-area image, a high brightness area determination means for analyzing the image signals in order to successively determine a high brightness area in the image signals, and a projection image determination means for determining a projection image so that the light, corresponding to the high brightness area and to be irradiated toward the vehicle front-area, becomes weak when compared with the light previously determined. Thereby, an intensity of the light to be irradiated to an object with a high reflection factor can be decreased. This can suppress decreasing of driver's frontal visibility. | 09-25-2008 |
20080246404 | VEHICLE HEADLIGHT BEAM CONTROLS - A method of manually overriding automatic activation of an automatic headlight control system for a motor vehicle, headlamps operable in a high beam state and a low beam state, a high/low beam switch movable from a neutral position to a latched position and from a neutral position to a non-latched position for controlling the state of the headlamps and a headlamp on/off switch comprising a multi-position switch with at least a selectively automatic headlamp position is disclosed. The system includes forward-facing sensor for collecting light emanating from for instance a second vehicle, and a controller for controlling, when the headlamp switch is detected as being in the automatic headlamp position, the headlamp states as a function of the sensed intensity of the beam of light emanating from said second vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the states of the headlamps when the headlamp on/off switch is in the automatic position, causing the controller to initiate an override mode if the high beam states is detected (step | 10-09-2008 |
20080284340 | Light weight automotive HID igniter - A light weight, bobbinless high voltage transformer and igniter module is provided that meets low-cost and high-reliability requirements for automotive HID products. A printed circuit board ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080290802 | Relay assembly for fog lights - A relay assembly for a fog light is disclosed which comprises a relay housing having a first terminal adapted to being connected to a switch for operating another light and operation of the switch for illuminating a fog light. | 11-27-2008 |
20090009089 | VARIABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING NIGHT VISIBILITY - A variable lighting system (“VLS”) for optimizing object visibility at night by setting a base level of lighting, adding a variable light to that base level of lighting, and a synchronizing the timing and sequence of the base level of lighting and the variable lighting. The VLS varies the illumination by intensity, color, direction, or a combination thereof and optionally includes a detector for detecting motion, noise, and other occurrences. The VLS can be implemented as a fixed lighting source, a movable lighting source, or a vehicle mounted lighting source. The VLS improves visibility at night for viewers or motorists thereby reducing accidents and damage costs, saves energy, and improves the environment and enhances quality of life by reducing light pollution and light trespass. | 01-08-2009 |
20090102384 | Illuminance stabilization apparatus for vehicle headlamp - An illumination stabilization apparatus for a vehicle headlamp is disclosed. The illumination stabilization apparatus supplies stable power to a headlamp using a SEPIC, thus increasing the lifespan of a headlamp, and reducing the dimming of light generated by the headlamp. | 04-23-2009 |
20090167188 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE LIGHT FUNCTIONS IN FRONT HEADLAMPS FOR ROAD VEHICLES - Future vehicle headlamps will provide light functions, such as, for example, town light, country road light, motorway light, full beam, poor weather light, etc. A method and a device is therefore provided with which the light functions of vehicle headlamps are controlled in a reliable manner. The device essentially comprises front headlamps with a dipped headlight and full beam, and at least one variable actuator with which different light functions can be realized. In order to select a light function, the variable actuator is set to a predetermined, fixed position. In this case, it is not possible to select a light function in the region between the dipped headlight and the full beam, there being no means of locking the actuator in the intermediate region between the position of the actuator for the dipped headlight and the position for full beam. Only a light function which is matched to the driving situation and can be selected in a reliable manner is therefore possible. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174330 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF DRIVING A HIGH-PRESSURE GAS DISCHARGE LAMP - A circuit arrangement ( | 07-09-2009 |
20090212705 | METHOD OF SUPPLYING POWER TO AN AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT LAMP AND HEADLIGHT USING THAT METHOD - A method and headlight adapted to supply power to a dual-mode automobile headlight light source able to provide either main beam mode lighting or dipped beam mode lighting, wherein the light source is supplied with electrical power at a first voltage when it is in main beam mode and at a second voltage when it is in dipped beam mode, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212706 | LIGHTING DEVICE AND LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A lighting device and a lighting system for a vehicle are provided. The lighting device includes a signal detecting portion which receives a light control direction signal; a control portion which controls a light source according to the light control direction signal; and a lighting state signal generating portion which outputs a lighting state signal based on the light control direction signal received by the signal detecting portion. The lighting system includes the lighting device and a light source. | 08-27-2009 |
20090261732 | Low Loss Input Channel Detection Device for a Direct Current Powered Lighting System - A device used with a direct current power source for energizing a lamp. The device includes a plurality of input channels selectively connected to the power source for providing current to the lamp. For each input channel, the device includes a corresponding current sensing component connected to the input channel, and a corresponding bypass switch connected in parallel with the current sensing component. Each current sensing component produces a measurable signal as a function of current that is provided by the corresponding input channel. The device includes a controller connected to the current sensing components and the bypass switches. The controller identifies the input channel that is providing current to the lamp as a function of the measurable signals and controls the bypass switches based on the identified input channel. Particularly, the controller operates each bypass switch in a closed mode when the corresponding input channel is the identified channel so that current provided by the corresponding identified input channel bypasses the current sensing component. | 10-22-2009 |
20090267517 | VEHICLE HEADLAMP CONTROL APPARATUS, VEHICLE HEADLAMP CONTROL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP, HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMP CONTROL APPARATUS, HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMP CONTROL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP - In vehicle headlamp control apparatuses, which receive a direct current voltage Es, light discharge lamps by square waves, and drive motors, in each of which the number is at least one, arithmetic operations are performed for synchronizing the square waves for lighting the discharge lamps and pulses for driving the motors with each other and for driving the motors within a substantially constant time after polarities of the square waves for lighting the discharge lamps are inverted. By using an inexpensive microcomputer, the vehicle headlamp control apparatuses make it possible to realize lighting controls for the discharge lamps and smooth drive controls for headlamps and auxiliary lamps by the motors for varying optical axes thereof. | 10-29-2009 |
20090302766 | MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT ELEMENT - A motor vehicle headlight element is specified which has at least one light-emitting diode and at least one control apparatus. The control apparatus is suitable for processing a signal which is dependent on a measurement variable and for applying a current, corresponding to the signal, to the light-emitting diode. The control apparatus and the light-emitting diode are arranged on a common mount. | 12-10-2009 |
20100001646 | DEVICE CAPABLE OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY, AND METHOD OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY - A device capable of generating electricity includes a rotating unit and a piezoelectric component. The rotating unit is rotatable about a rotation axis and includes a plurality of strikers that are disposed at angularly spaced apart positions relative to the rotation axis and that define a plurality of voids, each of which is located between an adjacent pair of the strikers. The piezoelectric component has a portion that extends into one of the voids. Rotation of the rotating unit results in the strikers striking the portion of the piezoelectric component intermittently, and causes the piezoelectric component to deform, exhibit a direct piezoelectric effect and generate electricity. | 01-07-2010 |
20100052538 | Discharge lamp lighting device, headlight device and vehicle having the same - A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a DC power source; an inverter for inverting the DC power at a predetermined inversion time interval to supply a square wave AC power to a discharge lamp; and a controller for controlling the output power. The controller performs a synchronous operation and controls the DC power source such that DC power outputted during a period other than the output temporarily increasing period in a power increasing period is greater than the DC output power outputted during the period other than the output temporarily increasing period in a rated power period. Further, the controller controls the DC power source such that at least one of an increment of the output power for the output temporarily increasing period and a length of the output temporarily increasing period is less in at least a part of the output increasing period than in the rated power period. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060169 | VEHICLE HEADLAMP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes a first lamp configured to selectively produce a first high beam light distribution pattern and an infrared light distribution pattern, a second lamp configured to selectively produce a second high beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution pattern, a vehicle detector which detects a vehicle running ahead, and a condition-dependent selection controller which controls the first and second lamps. The condition-dependent selection controller controls the second lamp to produce the low beam light distribution pattern when the vehicle detector detects a vehicle and to produce the second high beam light distribution pattern when the vehicle detector detects no vehicle. The condition-dependent selection controller controls the first lamp to produce the infrared light distribution pattern, irrespective of whether the vehicle detector detects a vehicle. | 03-11-2010 |
20100084979 | APPARATUS FOR USING HEAT PIPES IN CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF AN LED LIGHT UNIT - A light emitting diode (LED) light unit is disclosed. For example, the LED light unit includes at least one support plate having one or more inner openings. At least one LED array may be coupled to an LED board. The LED light unit also includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the LED board, wherein said LED board is coupled to the at least one support plate. | 04-08-2010 |
20100090603 | VEHICULAR IMAGE SENSING SYSTEM - A vehicle headlamp control method and apparatus includes providing an imaging sensor that senses light in spatially separated regions of a field of view forward of the vehicle. Light levels sensed in individual regions of the field of view are evaluated in order to identify light sources of interest, such as oncoming headlights and leading taillights. The vehicle's headlights are controlled in response to identifying such particular light sources or absence of such light sources. Spectral signatures of light sources may be examined in order to determine if the spectral signature matches that of particular light sources such as the spectral signatures of headlights or taillights. Sensed light levels may also be evaluated for their spatial distribution in order to identify light sources of interest. | 04-15-2010 |
20100102727 | Regulating Circuitry For Automobile light systems - A regulating circuit for automobile light for outputting an elevated voltage to power an operation of a driving integrated circuit, comprises a first diode having its anode interconnected to an input of the power supply (forward biased) and interconnected to the first diode in serial (reverse biased) and then interconnected to a driving integrated circuit. The first diode is used to detect a maximum voltage input, and the second diode is used to restore its energy to the capacitor so as to keep the voltage output maintained in an elevated level. As a result, the regulating circuit can be used with all kinds of driving integrated circuit incorporated in the automobile headlight. | 04-29-2010 |
20100109531 | All-LED visible light and IR light headlamp - A headlamp for a vehicle (air, land or sea) providing a planar array of infrared (IR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and visible light LEDs, and arranged and mounted within a housing so as to provide for cooling of the LEDs without forced convection, by conducting heat from the LEDs to protruding cooling fins. A switch system is also provided, for enabling either the visible light or the infrared light, and for selecting a high-beam or low-beam pattern. The beam pattern is provided in some embodiments so as to meet US Federal Motor Vehicle standards. | 05-06-2010 |
20100123395 | HEADLAMP CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A headlamp control device for a vehicle is provided. The device includes a front sensor, a wheel speed sensor, an Electrical Control Unit (ECU), a first ballaster, a second ballaster, a relay switch, and a power supply switch. The front sensor senses a target vehicle. The wheel speed sensor detects a speed of a reference vehicle. The ECU outputs a switching control signal. The first ballaster generates a first boosting voltage. The second ballaster generates a second boosting voltage. The relay switch supplies an internal voltage to first and second high-beam lamps, or first and second ballasters. The power supply switch turns on in response to a switching control signal. | 05-20-2010 |
20100134011 | HEADLAMP CONTROLLER - A headlamp controller includes: a headlamp unit configured to illuminate a front area of a vehicle with a light distribution pattern; an image capturing camera configured to capture an image of the front area; and a light distribution controller including: a road shape detecting unit configured to detect a road shape based on the captured image; a reference optical flow generating unit configured to generate a reference optical flow for a target object belonging to one of attributes based on the road shape; a bright point optical flow measuring unit configured to measure an optical flow of a bright point defined as a target in the captured image; and an attribute determining unit configured to compare the reference optical flow with the optical flow of the bright point and determine which one of the attributes the optical flow of the bright point belongs. | 06-03-2010 |
20100164382 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FAIL-SAFE IN A HEAD LAMP APPARATUS - Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a fail-safe in a head lamp apparatus. In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for providing a fail-safe in a head lamp apparatus includes an apparatus for providing a fail-safe in a head lamp apparatus includes an optical module generating a plurality of beam patterns using a predetermined shield, a shield driving unit driving the shield in the optical module, a module driving unit controlling an irradiation angle of the optical module in leftward and rightward directions, a leveling driving unit controlling the irradiation angle of the optical module in upward and downward directions, and a controller controlling the shield driving unit, the module driving unit, and the leveling driving unit, wherein when a fail occurs to one of the shield driving unit, the module driving unit, and the leveling driving unit, the controller controls at least one driving unit which is normally operating to adjust the beam pattern or the beam irradiation angle of the optical module. | 07-01-2010 |
20100194276 | VEHICLE HEADLAMP - A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a fixed reflector having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; movable reflectors having reflecting surfaces made of parabola-based free curved faces; and semiconductor-type light sources having light emitting chips shaped like a planar rectangle. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a first location, a light distribution pattern for low beam is obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a second location, light distribution patterns for high beams are obtained. When the movable reflectors are positioned in a third location, light distribution patterns for daytime running light are obtained. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction. | 08-05-2010 |
20100213846 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A LIGHT SENSING HEADLIGHT MODULATOR - 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. | 08-26-2010 |
20100213847 | DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP ACTIVATION CONTROL METHODS AND APPARATUS - Embodiments include lighting systems and methods for controlling the activation of daytime running lamps (DRLs). Embodiments of the method include receiving inputs from one or more on-board subsystems, and when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode and the headlights are deactivated, selectively activating and deactivating the DRLs based on the inputs. Embodiments of the lighting system include DRLs, headlights, and a processing and control subsystem. The processing and control subsystem is adapted to determine whether a DRL activation criteria is met when the lighting system is set in an automatic control mode, to activate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is met and the headlights are deactivated, and to deactivate the DRLs when the DRL activation criteria is not met and the headlights are deactivated. | 08-26-2010 |
20100253223 | VEHICULAR HEADLAMP - A vehicular headlamp, wherein a light source unit for light distribution formation is accommodated inside a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover, includes a metal heat transfer member that serves as a light source unit structural member; a light-emitting element that serves as a light source; a fan for cooling the light-emitting element provided inside the lamp chamber; and a lighting circuit that controls lighting of the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element, the fan, and the lighting circuit are each attached to the metal heat transfer member. | 10-07-2010 |
20100264824 | HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES - The invention relates to a vehicle headlamp containing a multiple number of LED light sources and at least one optical unit upstream of the LED sources, whereby the LED light sources are arranged in groups with one group of LED light sources to generate a specified light distribution, whereby the LED light sources within one group of LED light sources are of equal size, whereby the dimensions of the LED light sources within one group of LED light sources and/or the optical unit demonstrate the illumination characteristics needed to ensure that the group of LED light sources completely fulfills at least one specified lighting function in the vehicle environment, whereby light spots are produced with a vertical and/or horizontal critical angle within the range of between 0.2° and 1°. | 10-21-2010 |
20100270929 | Lighting Device for a Motor Vehicle - The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Said lighting device comprises a gas discharge lamp ( | 10-28-2010 |
20110012510 | AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP APPARATUS CONTROLLING LIGHT DISTRIBUTION PATTERN - 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. | 01-20-2011 |
20110012511 | VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICE AND LIGHTING METHOD - The light distribution region of headlights ( | 01-20-2011 |
20110018441 | VEHICLE-MOUNTED LOAD CONTROLLER, VEHICLE-MOUNTED HEADLIGHT DEVICE, AND VEHICLE-MOUNTED TAILLIGHT DEVICE - A vehicle-mounted load controller is characterized by including: a power terminal connected to a power line through a fuse; load connecting portions to which loads having vehicle-mounted light sources are connected; switches which are provided corresponding to the load connecting portions and which control states of power supply from the power line connected to the power terminal to the light sources connected to the load connecting portions; and a control unit which controls the switches in response to inputted control signals. The vehicle-mounted load controller is characterized in that the multiple load connecting portions to which the multiple light sources for different uses are respectively connected are electrically connected to the power terminal, and that each of the switches stops the supply of power from the power line to the light source connected to the corresponding load connecting portion when the magnitude of current flowing through the light source reaches or exceeds a predetermined value. A rise in lamp voltage during a period from the start of lighting to the establishment of stable lighting is reduced with consideration given to a history of lighting conditions for stable lighting. This produces effects such as increasing the lives of lamps and reducing the frequency of occurrence of arc jumping. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018442 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE LIGHT FUNCTIONS OF HEADLIGHTS OF A VEHICLE - A device is provided for controlling a light function of a headlight of a vehicle and a method is provided for controlling the light functions of headlights of a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to at least two different light functions are set by at least one drive device and the drive device is activated via a light control unit. The light control unit communicates with a supervision authority, parameters stored in the supervision authority predefining the dynamic behavior of the light functions. | 01-27-2011 |
20110025209 | AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP APPARATUS HAVING SWIVEL FUNCTION OF LAMP UNIT - A curvature estimation unit estimates the curvature of the road on which a vehicle is driving. A swivel angle setting unit is configured to perform a first mode in which a swivel angle of a lamp unit is set such that a light distribution pattern follows the travelling direction of the vehicle based on the curvature estimated by the curvature estimation unit, and perform a second mode in which a swivel angle of the lamp unit is set such that a shielded area created in a light distribution pattern follows the position of the vehicle detected by a vehicle position detector. A pattern determination unit determines a light distribution pattern such that the position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detector remains in the shielded area. A swivel angle setting unit performs the first mode when it is determined that the road is a curved road based on the curvature estimated by the curvature estimation unit, and performs the second mode when it is determined that the road is a straight road. | 02-03-2011 |
20110050102 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO A HEADLAMP - A process, system and procedure of controls of the supply of a vehicle headlamp suitable to supply lighting in high beam function and/or low beam function, comprising the following stages for at least one of the low beam function and high beam functions:
| 03-03-2011 |
20110074295 | DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE-MOUNTED HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AND VEHICLE - A discharge lamp lighting device is realized, which enables scale and cost reductions thereof, and is capable of reducing a flash at a starting time of the discharge lamp, suppressing a feeling of wrongness at a time of raising a luminous flux, and easily suppressing variations among a plurality of the discharge lamps. The discharge lamp lighting device includes: a lighting circuit unit that receives a direct current voltage, and converts the direct current voltage into an output required by a discharge lamp; and a control unit that receives detection values of a discharge lamp voltage and a discharge lamp current, and controls the lighting circuit unit to achieve a predetermined target power value, in which, after the discharge lamp is started, the control unit controls the predetermined target power value to be reduced from an output power value larger than a rated power value to the rated power value for several seconds to several ten seconds, wherein the control unit sets a target power value after the discharge lamp is started at a first output power value larger than the rated power value, and increases the target power value toward a second output power value as a maximum output power value for a first predetermined time after the discharge lamp is started. | 03-31-2011 |
20110080092 | VEHICLE HEADLAMP - A vehicle headlamp includes: a light-emitting module; a control circuit section for controlling a lighting of the light-emitting module; and a reflector including a reflecting face configured to reflect and collect light emitted from the light-emitting module. The control circuit section includes an opposing portion that is opposed to the reflecting face. The opposing portion is disposed at a position away from an optical path of light to be collected by the reflector. | 04-07-2011 |
20110121733 | ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - Provided is an Adaptive Front Lighting System and a control method thereof, which includes a motor driver which controls a beam irradiation direction of a headlamp by operating a motor coupled to the headlamp according to a motor control signal, and generates a motor fault signal when fail occurs in the motor, a power supply unit which controls a magnitude of electric power supplied to the headlamp according to a power control signal, and a controller which selectively outputs the power control signal to the power supply unit according to the motor fault signal of the motor driver. | 05-26-2011 |
20110133647 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HIGH BEAM IN LED HEADLAMP - A method for selectively providing a low beam state and a high beam state of an LED headlamp, may include driving an engine of a vehicle, switching on a multi-function switch to turn on at least a second LED module to emit a high beam after driving the engine to perform the high beam state of the LED headlamp, and converting a low beam state of at least a first LED module into a high beam state to perform the high beam state of the LED headlamp. | 06-09-2011 |
20110140606 | INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM - An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror support with a pivot element and a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at a vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a housing and a reflective element, with the mirror head pivotally attaching to the mirror support via a single pivot joint of the mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes an imaging sensor disposed at the mirror support and having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a headlamp controller that, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by the imaging sensor, at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle. The mirror support may be configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory. | 06-16-2011 |
20110163671 | HEAD LIGHT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A head light for a motor vehicle has a light source for generating a beam of light as well as a electronic beam steering module for steering the beam of light and/or a electronic beam shaping module for shaping the beam of light, wherein the head light has a light filter for eliminating at least the substantial portion of red light from the light generated by means of the light source. | 07-07-2011 |
20110169410 | LIGHT EMITTING DIODE HEADLAMP FOR A VEHICLE - A vehicle exterior lamp is provided with an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) with rows and columns and each LED positioned at an intersection thereof. An LED is illuminated by selectively applying a signal to the row and column corresponding to the LED position. A vehicle headlamp lighting system is provided with an array of LEDs with rows and columns, and each LED positioned at a row and column intersection. The lighting system has a control module for selectively illuminating the LEDs by applying a signal to the rows and to the columns corresponding to the location of the LEDs to be illuminated. A vehicle headlamp is provided with an optical structure for reflection and refraction of light and LEDs. Light emitted by the LEDs interacts with the optical structure and exits the headlamp in a generally perpendicular direction to the LED emitted light. | 07-14-2011 |
20110169411 | LED LIGHTING DEVICE AND HEAD LAMP LED LIGHTING DEVICE - When a current which is conducted from a direct current power supply | 07-14-2011 |
20110175530 | LED LIGHTING POWER SOURCE AND LED LIGHTING SYSTEM - Problem to be Solved: In left and right independent lighting power sources, even when left and right light-emitting units each including one or a plurality of LEDs light up with a time difference, the quality of emission as headlamps is increased by making it difficult to visually identify the time difference. | 07-21-2011 |
20110193481 | ILLUMINATION LIGHTING DEVICE, DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP LIGHTING DEVICE USING SAME - An illumination lighting device is provided with: a power converter circuit having a configuration in which an input terminal to which a power supply can be connected and an output terminal to which a load circuit including at least a lamp can be connected are galvanically insulated, and having a power regulating function required by the lamp; output detection means which is provided at the output terminal of the power converter circuit and has first current detection means and second current detection means; and a control circuit for regulating the output of the power converter circuit based on a result of detection performed by the output detection means, wherein one end of the output of the power converter circuit is connected to one end of the load circuit via the first current detection means, one end of an input of the power converter circuit is connected to the one end of the load circuit via the second current detection means, the output detection means has the result of the detection which is a synthesized signal of detection outputs of the first current detection means and the second current detection means, a current pathway, through which a ground-fault current flows from the one end of the input of the power converter circuit to the one end of the output of the power converter circuit via the first current detection means and the second current detection means, is formed when a ground fault occurs at a load terminal of the load circuit, and a detection signal of the first current detection means and a detection signal of the second current detection means that result from the ground-fault current are of additive polarities. | 08-11-2011 |
20110210665 | Safety Improvements to Headlamps - A headlamp system for a vehicle comprises:
| 09-01-2011 |
20110210666 | DRIVING METHOD OF ROAD-ADAPTIVE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT - In a driving method of a road-adaptive vehicle headlight, after a vehicle is started, the headlight of the vehicle is first adjusted to a basic illumination angle. Then, a vehicle driving environment signal, a vehicle speed signal and vehicle body position signals are obtained. Thereafter, according to the aforesaid different vehicle signals, a power source is controlled to change the illumination angle of the headlight and/or LED light sources provided on a base plate of the headlight are differently controlled to turn on or off. Thus, the vehicle headlight can quickly and flexibly produce different headlight beam patterns and wide headlight beam illumination area to ensure good road visibility and increased safety in driving. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210667 | ROAD-ADAPTIVE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM - A road-adaptive vehicle headlight system includes at least one headlight device, which includes a curved base plate divided into an inner-side module, an outer-side module, and a middle module located between the inner-side and outer-side modules, and the middle module is further divided from top to bottom into an upper-side module, a basic module, and a lower-side module; a plurality of LED light sources differently distributed in the above modules; a power source assembly being connected to and driving the base plate to turn in different directions; and a controller electrically connected to the LED light sources and the power source assembly. With these arrangements, the headlight device of a car can quickly produce different light beam patterns, increase the road visibility and the illumination areas of the headlight devices, and accordingly, ensure high safety in driving. | 09-01-2011 |
20110241545 | VEHICLE HEADLIGHT ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle controller may be configured to detect a headlight condition wherein a headlight is off and an ambient light level is less than a predetermined threshold, and to reduce electrical power supplied to an electrically powered vehicle interior accessory device in response to detecting the headlight condition to inform a driver that the headlight is off. | 10-06-2011 |
20110254446 | Headlamp assembly - In a light chamber formed in a housing case and a lens cover placed at a front part of the housing case in a headlamp assembly, a projection lens, a shade and a light source are arranged in line from the front side of the light chamber along an optical axis of the light source. A radiating member has radiating fins of a plate shape vertically placed in the light chamber, and radiates heat energy generated by the light source to surrounding air. A slit composed of a vertical slit part and an inclined-slit part is formed in each of the radiating fins. The formation of the slit generates a change of heat capacity and a temperature difference at upper and bottom parts of each of the radiating fins. The incline-slit part is extended from the top of the vertical slit part to the upper part of the radiating fin. | 10-20-2011 |
20110260616 | VEHICLE EXTERIOR LAMP - A vehicle exterior lamp includes an optical structure defining a plurality of geometric indicia, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for emitting light. Light emitted by the LEDs is directed towards the optical structure, to interact with the optical structure, and exit the exterior lamp. | 10-27-2011 |
20110260617 | LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLAMP APPARATUS AND VEHICLE USING SAME - A lighting device includes: a power converting unit; a voltage measuring unit for measuring an output voltage from the power converting unit or a value equivalent to the output voltage; a current measuring unit for measuring an output current from the power converting unit or a value equivalent to the output current; and a control unit for controlling the power converting unit. When one of the output voltage and the output current of the power converting unit is changed by a specific magnitude per unit hour, the control unit determines that a change in a load status has occurred and controls the power converting unit by switching constant current control in which a measurement value of the current measuring unit is kept at a specific current designated value to constant voltage control in which a measurement value of the voltage measuring unit is kept at a specific voltage designated value. | 10-27-2011 |
20120001547 | Lighting control apparatus with diagnosis and warning feature - A lighting control apparatus for a vehicle is provided which works to diagnose a malfunction of a light source which includes a plurality of lighting devices such as LEDs and emits light outside the vehicle. The lighting control apparatus determines a state of the vehicle. When the light source is determined to be malfunctioning, the lighting control apparatus operates the light source in one of predetermined warning lighting modes which is selected based on the state of the vehicle. This attracts a vehicle user's attention to the malfunctioning light source. | 01-05-2012 |
20120007507 | METHOD AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR DETECTING THE VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a method for detecting the visibility outside of a motor vehicle by means of at least two light sensors, in the case of which the intensity of the light reflection of the driving light emitted in the direction of travel is detected by means of a first light sensor, which is oriented in the direction of travel. The first light sensor thereby transmits at least a first evaluation signal to a control unit for further processing at least as a function of the recorded intensity of the light reflection. The ambient light is detected by means of a second light sensor and a second evaluation signal is transmitted to the control unit as a function of the intensity of the ambient light. The control unit correlates the evaluation signals of both light sensors and the light intensity threshold value is determined on the basis thereof. The control unit outputs different control signals in each case, in response the first evaluation signal is exceeding of falling below of the determined light intensity threshold value. | 01-12-2012 |
20120019142 | High-Pressure Discharge Lamp - A high-pressure discharge lamp comprising a translucent lamp bulb ( | 01-26-2012 |
20120032594 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS - A control system for vehicle headlights includes a navigation device and a control unit which controls the illumination characteristics of the headlights depending on geographic location information received by the navigation device. The illumination characteristics are adapted in compliance with predefined illumination settings if the acquired geographic location information shows that the vehicle headlights are being operated on public roads. The illumination characteristics are adapted with further consideration of illumination settings specified by the driver if the location information shows that the vehicle headlights are being operated on non-public roads. | 02-09-2012 |
20120062116 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEADLIGHTS ON A VEHICLE IN RESPONSE TO WIPER OPERATION - A method for controlling headlights on a vehicle includes detecting for a wiper switch state for a wiper switch on a vehicle, detecting wiper operations, incrementing a counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight ON threshold, counting toward a time threshold, decrementing the counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight OFF threshold value, and changing a state of the headlights based on the counter value reaching one of the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. Incrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each detected wiper operation. Counting toward the time threshold can occur in response to detecting a wiper switch OFF state. Decrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each instance of the time threshold elapsing with no change from the wiper switch OFF state. A plurality of intermediate counter values can be found between the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. A control system is also disclosed. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062117 | Headlamp for vehicle - A headlamp for a vehicle includes: a housing having a front opening; a lens cover arranged to cover the front opening of the housing; a lamp chamber defined by the housing and the lens cover; a light source provided in the lamp chamber; a lighting control circuit that controls lighting of the light source; and a heat dissipating member arranged in the lamp chamber. Further, the lighting control circuit is formed on a substrate. The heat dissipating member has a pillar portion and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. The pillar portion has the light source mounted thereto. The heat dissipating fins are provided on an outer periphery of the pillar portion so as to be spaced from one another. The pillar portion also has a recess formed therein. The substrate is received in the recess of the pillar portion. | 03-15-2012 |
20120086336 | POWER CONVERTER AND VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE HEADLIGHT AND VEHICLE USING POWER CONVERTER - A power converter that receives a plurality of direct current (DC) powers, which are received in different modes and have a common ground and substantially the same potential, and operates a plurality of loads, wherein the power converter operates the respective loads according to input states of the plurality of DC powers and supplies the plurality of loads with power via at least a common switch element or a common coil. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086337 | HEADLAMP LIGHT SOURCE LIGHTING DEVICE AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP LIGHTING SYSTEM - Right and left lighting devices | 04-12-2012 |
20120098430 | HEADLAMP LED LIGHTING APPARATUS AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP LIGHTING SYSTEM - A headlamp LED lighting apparatus, which lights an LED block | 04-26-2012 |
20120169232 | MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT ELEMENT - A motor vehicle headlight element is specified which has at least one light-emitting diode and at least one control apparatus. The control apparatus is suitable for processing a signal which is dependent on a measurement variable and for applying a current, corresponding to the signal, to the light-emitting diode. The control apparatus and the light-emitting diode are arranged on a common mount. | 07-05-2012 |
20120181931 | LED SHORT-CIRCUIT DETECTION CIRCUIT, LED DRIVE DEVICE, LED LIGHTING DEVICE, AND VEHICLE - An LED short-circuit detection circuit produces an LED short-circuit detection signal by monitoring an LEDC terminal voltage (a first voltage obtained at a chip-to-chip node in a row of LED chips, or a divided voltage thereof) and an LEDR terminal voltage (a second voltage obtained by dividing the end-to-end voltage of the row of LED chips). | 07-19-2012 |
20120206043 | VEHICLE HEAD LAMP LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROLLER - A vehicle head lamp light distribution controller includes an ADB controller configured to: detect a position of a vehicle present ahead of a subject vehicle; determine whether the vehicle ahead of the subject vehicle is a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle; set a threshold vehicle position based on whether the vehicle ahead of the subject vehicle is a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle; compare the threshold vehicle position and the detected vehicle position; and switch light distribution of head lamps of the subject vehicle based on the comparison between the threshold vehicle position and the detected vehicle position. | 08-16-2012 |
20120217873 | LIGHTING DEVICE, AND HEADLIGHT LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLIGHT, AND VEHICLE USING SAME - A lighting device includes a DC/DC converter for receiving DC power and converting the DC power into a predetermined output required for a load; a voltage detection unit for detecting an output voltage or an equivalent value from the output voltage; a current detection unit for detecting an output current or an equivalent value from the output current; and a control unit for controlling the DC/DC converter based on detection values from the voltage detection unit and/or the current detection unit. The control unit reduces the output when a rapid change is detected in a load state in which a change in the output within a first predetermined time is equal to or greater than a predetermined width. | 08-30-2012 |
20120229028 | Device for Controlling a Low Beam of a Vehicle - 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. | 09-13-2012 |
20120286662 | Head Lamp Assembly and Method for Controlling the Same - Provided are a head lamp assembly and a method for controlling the same. A head lamp assembly according to the present disclosure includes: a rotation control unit for rotating a head lamp to determine an irradiating direction of the head lamp; a lighting unit provided in the head unit to generate light; a shield unit located at the front of the lighting unit and having a cylindrical shape to be rotatable on a rotary shaft, the shield unit having a plurality of shield protrusions provided on the circumference thereof to partially intercept the light; and a shield operating unit for activating a selected shield protrusion, wherein the plurality of shield protrusions have different shapes from each other, wherein the plurality of shield protrusions include first and second shield protrusions having the same height and having steps which protrude upward and whose starting locations are different from each other. | 11-15-2012 |
20120299477 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND LAMP AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SAME - A power supply device includes a series circuit including a first capacitor and a first and second inductors connected to both terminals of the first capacitor; a switching element having one terminal connected to a node between one terminal of the first inductor and the first capacitor; a rectifier having an anode connected to a node between the first capacitor and one terminal of the second inductor; and a second capacitor connected between the other terminal of the switching element and a cathode of the rectifier. Further, a DC power supply source is connected between the other terminal of the first inductor and the other terminal of the switching element such that the other terminal of the first inductor is connected to a positive electrode side of the DC power supply source. A load is connected between the other terminal of the second inductor and the cathode of the rectifier. | 11-29-2012 |
20120299478 | AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed is an automotive headlamp system which can control an illumination pattern of headlamps by rotating a headlamp unit and/or adjusting the light intensity of a light source included in the headlamp unit based on the position of a front vehicle located ahead in a driving direction, and a method of controlling the automotive headlamp system. The automotive headlamp system includes an image capture unit capturing an image of an area ahead of a vehicle in a driving direction of the vehicle, a position determination unit determining a position of a front vehicle based on the captured image, a headlamp unit comprising an array of a plurality of light sources, and a control unit controlling an illumination pattern of the headlamp unit by rotating the headlamp unit and/or adjusting a light intensity of a light source based on the determined position of the front vehicle. | 11-29-2012 |
20130002135 | VEHICLE LAMP CONTROLLER - A vehicle lamp controller includes a lamp control unit that performs lamp control, in which light amount or light distribution of each of a plurality of lamps to be provided on a vehicle that runs on electric power from a battery, is controlled, according to a priority that is assigned to each of the plurality of lamps, wherein the priorities are determined based on degrees of necessity of the plurality of lamps in securing safety for the vehicle. The vehicle lamp controller may further include a remaining battery charge detecting device for detecting a remaining charge of a battery, and the lamp control unit may be configured to perform the lamp control according to the priorities when the remaining charge becomes lower than a predetermined threshold. | 01-03-2013 |
20130020938 | Control circuit for a dual-function signaling or lighting device and corresponding control method - An electrical control circuit for a lighting and/or signaling module handling at least two functions from one and the same network of light sources of LED type. The function selection is handled by one or more input signals on the monitoring unit. If a branch or section connected to a defective LED fails, the monitoring unit can either deactivate all the branches or sections, or keep the remaining branches or sections active, and do so according to the function that is present. One or more functions can thus be compared to the single-section type despite the presence of a number of sections when the monitoring unit is configured to deactivate all the sections if one of the sections fails. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026916 | HEADLAMP LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE - An extraction unit extracts a forward vehicle from an acquired image of the forward area image. A judgment unit extracts a lamp of the forward vehicle from the image of the extracted forward vehicle if a distance to the forward vehicle is less than a predetermined value, and judges whether the extracted lamp is actually two lamps or a single lamp. A control unit controls an irradiation direction of a headlamp such that a first shielded area is set in an irradiation area to prevent an area including the lamp of the forward vehicle from being irradiated if judged that the extracted lamp is actually two lamps, and such that a second shielded area is set in the irradiation area to have a margin in right and left directions larger than the first shielded area if judged that the extracted lamp is really only a single lamp. | 01-31-2013 |
20130049586 | LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AND HEADLAMP UNIT AND VEHICLE HAVING SAME - A lighting device includes: a power conversion unit which converts a direct current (DC) power into a power required by a load; an output current detection unit which detects an output current of the power conversion unit; and a source voltage detection unit which detects a source voltage. Further, the lighting device includes an operation unit which calculates an output current command value so as not to exceed an upper limit of the output current command value set according to a resistance value of an externally connected resistor; and a control unit which controls the power conversion unit such that the output current thereof the power conversion unit becomes the output current command value. | 02-28-2013 |
20130057149 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEADLIGHT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A headlight of a motor vehicle includes several light emitting devices which are arranged next to each other in at least one direction of the extent of the headlight. When the headlight is switched on, the light emitting devices along at least one direction of the headlight are switched on sequentially. | 03-07-2013 |
20130057150 | AUTOMOTICE LIGHTING SYSTEM - An automotive lighting system ( | 03-07-2013 |
20130076240 | LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - Provided is a light distribution control system for vehicle in which each of left and right head lamp housings is provided with camera that picks up image of the forward area of vehicle, main lamp unit that forms basic light distribution pattern which is symmetric at the forward area of the vehicle, first sub lamp unit that forms first additional light distribution pattern at lateral side of the vehicle as compared to the basic light distribution pattern, second sub lamp unit that forms second additional light distribution pattern at lateral side of the vehicle, and control unit that controls the turning-ON/OFF of the first and second sub lamp units based on the image data of the camera. The control unit may form non-symmetric light distribution pattern as a whole at the forward area of the vehicle according to road environment. | 03-28-2013 |
20130076241 | VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM - A vehicular vision system includes a control and an imager having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array. The imager is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle and views exterior of the vehicle through a windshield of the vehicle and forward of the vehicle. The control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by said imager. The photosensor array may be operable at a plurality of exposure periods that include a first exposure period and a second exposure period, with the time period of exposure of the first exposure period being longer than the time period of exposure of the second exposure period. The imager may be disposed in a module attached at the windshield of the vehicle. | 03-28-2013 |
20130154477 | METHOD FOR EVENT-BASED OVERRIDE STRATEGY FOR AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAM CONTROL - A system and method for re-enabling automatic mode after manually overriding automatic mode of an automatic headlamp control system for a motor vehicle. The system and method monitors the headlamp state in a controller, recommends a headlamp state from the automatic mode of the automatic headlamp control system, monitors a driver request for headlamp state in the controller, and causes the controller to return to the automatic mode when the recommended headlamp state matches the driver request for a headlamp state. | 06-20-2013 |
20130169155 | HEADLAMP DEVICE AND LUMINANCE CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - To provide a headlamp device for a vehicle that has LEDs as light sources, the headlamp device including a situation detection part that detects a lighting status of headlamps; and a dimming control part that reduces the luminance of the headlamps to a prescribed value that is greater than zero based on the lighting status of the headlamps. | 07-04-2013 |
20130175926 | ON-VEHICLE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM - An on-vehicle light distribution control system ( | 07-11-2013 |
20130214681 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A GAS DISCHARGE LAMP OF A MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLAMP - A method for operating a gas-discharge lamp ( | 08-22-2013 |
20130229110 | LOCOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY - A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least first and second independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes, the first selectable current path having a resistance value that is greater than the second current path, controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, at least one light source, a controller linked to the control switch and determining the selected path and generating a control signal and a light driver linked between the output node and the light source, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal. | 09-05-2013 |
20130241412 | SUB HEADLIGHT UNIT AND SUB HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FOR USE IN VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS, AND VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS - A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a plurality of sub headlight light sources to illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. The brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. When the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness. The reference values are greater than 0° and different from one another. The reference values are set to be values sequentially increasing at intervals from 0° such that the interval is smaller as the reference value is greater. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241413 | SUB HEADLIGHT UNIT AND SUB HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FOR USE IN VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS, AND VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS - A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a plurality of sub headlight light sources that illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. The brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. When the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness. As the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range of the sub headlight light source having a predetermined illuminance is located increasingly farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle in a plan view. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241414 | SUB HEADLIGHT UNIT AND SUB HEADLIGHT SYSTEM FOR USE IN VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS, AND VEHICLE THAT LEANS INTO TURNS - A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249396 | LUMINOUS DEVICE COMPRISING MULTIPLE SPACED-APART EMISSION REGIONS - A luminous device includes at least one radiation-emitting semiconductor chip including at least two emission regions arranged spaced apart in a lateral direction, wherein each emission region includes at least one active zone that emits electromagnetic radiation; and a drive device that operates the emission regions. | 09-26-2013 |
20130257273 | Device and method for adjusting the lighting of a vehicle in blind curves - Method and device for adjusting lighting for a vehicle in consideration of the visibility of a curve, light having a glare effect (high beam light) being deactivated before negotiating a curve, if the curve is not visible, or optionally the illumination being increased if the curve is visible. Adjusting the lighting, in particular of headlights, for a vehicle having a first step, in which an upcoming curve is recognized, its visibility is ascertained, the visibility representing the possibility of glare, in particular to other road users, in particular to oncoming traffic, and a second step, of adjusting the lighting between the least possible glare and the best possible illumination, characterized in that the adjustment is carried out as a function of the visibility. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257274 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HEAD LAMP FOR VEHICLE - There is provided an apparatus for controlling a head lamp for a vehicle. A control condition determining unit determines whether a condition for controlling a head lamp is established or not based upon whether a vehicle ahead is present or not, and a distance between the vehicle ahead and the vehicle. When the control condition is determined to be established, an illumination range control unit compares a reference pattern stored and held in a reference pattern holding unit and an illumination pattern of the head lamp recognized by an illumination pattern recognition unit, and controls the illumination range of the head lamp via an actuator in order that both patterns agree with each other. | 10-03-2013 |
20130271003 | DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AND HEADLIGHT AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SAME - A discharge lamp lighting device includes a power converter configured to receive a power from a power source, convert it into a voltage required by a discharge lamp and supply the voltage to the discharge lamp; and a controller which controls the power converter to drive the discharge lamp. The controller controls the power supplied to the discharge lamp according to a predetermined power curve. The controller controls the power curve to change based on at least one of a source voltage of the power source, an ambient temperature, a device temperature, a discharge lamp temperature and a discharge lamp voltage, and sets a sustained period of a max power value to a predetermined time period when the lighting of the discharge lamp is performed in a state where the discharge lamp temperature is equal to or less than a reference temperature. | 10-17-2013 |
20130320850 | LIGHTING DEVICE AND VEHICLE HEADLAMP - A switching circuit includes an active element connected in parallel to a second light source block and having an impedance that varies in accordance with a control signal input into a control terminal, and switches the second light source block between a lit condition and an extinguished condition by switching the active element ON and OFF. The switching circuit adjusts the impedance of the active element so that a current flowing to the active element matches a target value set by a switching control circuit. When the active element is to be switched ON, the switching control circuit varies the target value gradually over time, and therefore an excessive load current can be prevented from flowing while the active element shifts from an OFF condition to an ON condition. | 12-05-2013 |
20130334962 | DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AUTOMOTIVE HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE, AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT DEVICE, AND CAR - The discharge lamp lighting device in accordance with the present invention includes a controller configured to perform an abnormality judgment process of judging whether or not abnormality has occurred based on a measured value of a driving voltage defined as an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp. The controller is configured to, in the abnormality judgment process, judge whether or not an asymmetric state in which the driving voltage lacks symmetry has occurred over a predetermined period. The controller is configured to, upon concluding that the asymmetric state has occurred over the predetermined period, conclude that the abnormality has occurred. | 12-19-2013 |
20140001954 | CIRCUIT FOR DISCHARGING AT INPUT STAGE OF A DRIVER IC | 01-02-2014 |
20140001955 | LED Lamp Comprising a Power Regulating Device | 01-02-2014 |
20140009066 | LED Lamp Provided with a Variable-Geometry Beam Device - Lamp comprising:
| 01-09-2014 |
20140015410 | VEHICLE LAMP - A vehicle lamp includes a light source (LED) | 01-16-2014 |
20140015411 | method and control device for switching on the high beam headlights of a vehicle - A method for switching on a high-beam headlight of a vehicle includes: a step of receiving high-beam information by way of an interface, the high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high-beam headlight; a step of determining a traveled distance of the vehicle in response to receiving the high-beam information, and a step of supplying switch-on information for activating the high-beam headlight if the traveled distance after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance. | 01-16-2014 |
20140055031 | LEAKAGE CURRENT DETECTION CIRCUIT, SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS, LED ILLUMINATION APPARATUS, AND VEHICLE - A leakage current detection circuit detects a switch current flowing in a switch which is targeted for leakage monitoring, and generates a detection signal to prohibit operation of a control target circuit which is targeted for control when the switch current does not reach a predetermined threshold value. | 02-27-2014 |
20140070698 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A BLOCKED IMAGER - An exterior light control system for controlling exterior lights of a controlled vehicle is provided, which includes an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data and generate a control signal for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle. The controller is further configured to receive temperature information relating to an operational temperature of the imager, wherein when the controller determines that the operational temperature of the imager is below a temperature threshold, the control signal includes an indication that the imager is blocked. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070699 | Portable Electric Lamp Having an Anti Glare System - A portable lamp comprising:
| 03-13-2014 |
20140084789 | VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM - A vehicular vision system includes a camera having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array having a plurality of photosensor elements. The camera is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera one of (i) views exterior of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle and forward of the equipped vehicle and (ii) views from the windshield of the equipped vehicle into the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by the camera. The photosensor array is operable at a plurality of exposure periods and at least one exposure period of the plurality of exposure periods is dynamically variable. | 03-27-2014 |
20140091709 | HEADLAMP CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE - Disclosed is a headlamp control system for a vehicle capable of illuminating a location of a user by controlling lighting of the vehicle's headlamps and controlling driving of the headlamps through actuators based on communication with a radio signal transmitter possessed by the user. The headlamp control system can include: headlamps; one or more actuators installed in the headlamps for driving the headlamps upward, downward, left, and right; a plurality of radio signal receivers at two or more locations of the vehicle for receiving a radio signal; a portable radio signal transmitter for transmitting a radio signal to the radio signal receiver; and a controller for determining a position of the radio signal transmitter based on the radio signal and controlling the headlamp and the actuator to irradiated the position of the radio signal transmitter. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091710 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR DISTANCE-DEPENDENT ADJUSTMENT OF THE ILLUMINATION RANGE OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A method for increasing the illumination range of a vehicle, having a step of receiving high beam activation information via an interface, the high beam activation information indicating an option for the glare-free operation of the high beam. The method also includes a step of ascertaining a distance covered by the vehicle in response to receiving the high beam activation information, and a step of providing range-increasing information for increasing the illumination range when the covered distance after receiving the high beam activation information is greater than a predetermined minimum distance, and/or a step of providing at least one value of the increase in the illumination range (illumination range-increasing value) as a function of the distance covered. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091711 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT, LIGHTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CROSSTALK-COMPENSATED CURRENT SENSING - A circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of current channels located in different die areas of a shared circuit die at least one of the plurality of current channels comprising a power device; at least one sense circuit connected to one or more of the different die areas and arranged to provide a sense current from sensing a current through a primary of the plurality of current channels comprising one of the different die areas. The at least one sense circuit comprises a compensation module arranged to provide a compensation current adapted to at least partly compensate a deviation of the sense current caused by crosstalk between the primary and one or more secondary of the plurality of current channels depending on one or more secondary currents flowing through the one or more secondary current channels; wherein the compensation module is arranged to provide the compensation current at least partly as a weighted sum of the one or more secondary currents. | 04-03-2014 |
20140097749 | LIGHT SOURCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE HEADLIGHT USING THE SAME - There are provided a light source apparatus and a vehicle headlight using the same. The light source apparatus includes a light emitting device array unit, a first detection unit, a driving unit, a second detection unit, and an interruption unit. A uniform quantity of light can be maintained and damage can be prevented. | 04-10-2014 |
20140111087 | LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE LAMP - There is provided a lighting control system of a vehicle lamp. The system includes: a plurality of lamps including: a main lamp; and a separate lamp which is separated from the main lamp; and a lighting controller configured to control lighting of the plurality of lamps. The main lamp includes: a first lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the main lamp; and a control circuit configured to output a lighting signal based on a lighting control signal output from the lighting controller. The separate lamp includes: a second lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the separate lamp. The first lamp lighting circuit and the second lamp lighting circuit are configured to perform the lighting operations based on the lighting signal output from the control circuit. | 04-24-2014 |
20140117850 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR A HEADLAMP - An electrical connection device for the connection between an electronic control unit (M) and an automotive vehicle headlamp. The electronic control unit has at least one control output (Mc) and a power supply output (Mp), the headlamp comprising at least one first module comprising a first control circuit having at least one power input ( | 05-01-2014 |
20140125227 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A HEADLIGHT SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - A method is described for controlling a headlight system of a vehicle. The method includes a step of reading in an aerosol signal which represents a recognized intensity of an aerosol in a field of vision of a camera of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes a step of activating a change in a light emission in a lighting area ahead of the vehicle with the aid of the headlight system as a response to the aerosol signal. | 05-08-2014 |
20140145612 | VEHICLE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle light distribution control device includes: an illumination device controlled to change a light distribution pattern among high, low and split beam patterns and of which an optical axis direction is controlled; and a control unit. When a vehicle ahead has been detected, the control unit changes the light distribution pattern to the split beam pattern, and controls a cut-off line position of the split beam pattern so as not to irradiate illumination light to the vehicle ahead. When the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, the control unit maintains the split beam pattern while controlling the cut-off line position in such a manner that the shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces. After the shielded area becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference, the control unit changes the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern. | 05-29-2014 |
20140159577 | VEHICLE AUXILIARY LIGHT CONTROL UNIT - A plug-in auxiliary headlight control unit (AHCU) repairs a damaged LCM and assures headlight performance. The plug-in AHCU contains an alternate lighting control circuitry, vehicle wiring harness connectors, LCM connectors, and a power relay, arranged on a chassis. The AHCU plugs into the failed LCM unit utilizing existing connectors for the vehicle's wiring harness. This arrangement places the AHCU in-line between the vehicle's wiring harness and the LCM. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159578 | APPARATUS FOR USING HEAT PIPES IN CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF AN LED LIGHT UNIT - A light emitting diode (LED) light unit is disclosed. For example, the LED light unit includes at least one support plate having one or more inner openings. At least one LED array may be coupled to an LED board. The LED light unit also includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the LED board, wherein said LED board is coupled to the at least one support plate. | 06-12-2014 |
20140175978 | AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP APPARATUS - An automotive headlamp apparatus includes a light source, in which a plurality of LED chips are arranged at intervals from each other, and a projection lens for projecting the light, emitted from the light source, toward a front area of a vehicle as a light source image. The semiconductor light-emitting elements may be located within than a focal point of the projection lens. The LED chip is arranged such that the light emitting surface of the LED chip faces the front area of the vehicle. The light emitting surface of the LED chip may be of a rectangular shape and the LED chip may be arranged such that a side of the light emitting surface is at a slant with respect to the vehicle width direction. | 06-26-2014 |
20140210343 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEADLAMPS OF VEHICLE - A method for controlling high-beam lamp state in a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes activating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle. Further, the method includes receiving a first output signal from a high-beam sensor, the first output signal being indicative of an intensity of light from a light source facing the vehicle. The method includes receiving a second output signal from a stray light sensor, the second output signal being indicative of an intensity of stray light from a stray light source in vicinity of the vehicle. The method includes receiving a speed signal from a ground speed sensor associated with the vehicle, the speed signal being indicative of a ground speed of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes selectively deactivating the high-beam lamp state of the vehicle based on at least one or more of the first output signal, the second output signal, and the speed signal. | 07-31-2014 |
20140217888 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AT LEAST ONE HEADLAMP - The invention relates to a method for calibrating at least one headlamp ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140232265 | VEHICLE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD - When occurrence of a failure associated with light distribution control has been detected during high beam irradiation, a low beam irradiation direction is changed upward and then the high beam irradiation is stopped, and subsequently the low beam irradiation direction is gradually returned downward. The time during high beam irradiation includes the time during which variable high beam light distribution control in which part of high beam light is shielded by a shade is being executed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140239808 | GLARE-REACTIVE LIGHTING APPARATUS - A system includes at least one lighting device, e.g., at least one LED luminaire, and a control circuit configured to control a spectral output produced by the at least one lighting device responsive to environmental information about an area illuminated by the at least one lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to control a color temperature of the illumination responsive to the environmental information. In some embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to lower the color temperature of the illumination responsive to the environmental information indicating a level of reflected light and/or a weather condition, such as precipitation, correlated with the presence or likely presence of glare. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239809 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS HAVING AC LED CIRCUITS AND METHODS OF DRIVING THE SAME - A lighting device and system having at least one circuit, the circuit having at least two LEDs connected in series, parallel or anti-parallel configuration and at least one current limiting diode. The device or system may be driven with AC or DC power and may further include a sensor and polarity switching circuit to utilize all LEDs within the circuit when drive by DC power. | 08-28-2014 |
20140246975 | VEHICLE HEADLAMP CONTROL SYSTEM - Position information of a light source is acquired from an image sensor, which images surroundings of a vehicle, detects the light source based on an acquired image, and outputs the position information of the light source (step | 09-04-2014 |
20140333201 | METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR ADJUSTING A LUMINOSITY OF AT LEAST ONE HEADLIGHT OF A VEHICLE - A method for adjusting a luminosity of at least one headlight of a vehicle is described. The method includes a step of ascertaining an illumination intensity, the illumination intensity representing light that is incident at the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes a step of determining a setpoint value for the luminosity while using the illumination intensity, the setpoint value being adjusted if the illumination intensity rises. The method also includes a step of providing a control signal for setting the luminosity of the at least one headlight while using the setpoint value. | 11-13-2014 |
20140339982 | MODULAR RECHARGABLE HEADLAMP - A portable illuminating device is provided. The device has a rechargeable battery that can be re-charged using a wide variety of power sources, making is especially appropriate for use away from conventional power sources. The device can be connected to a wide variety of fittings that allow the device to be attached to users and to other objects. In some arrangements, the device includes a CPU that manages the power voltage and the temperature of the device so that its operation can be optimized. | 11-20-2014 |
20150022083 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MATRIX BEAM HEADLAMP WITH ADAPTIVE LIGHT FUNCTIONS - A method for controlling a matrix beam headlamp (M) with adaptive light functions in which using non-glare lighting and/or targeted lighting of objects (O) with segments (S1-Sn) of the light distribution of the matrix beam headlamp (M). Different switch-on and switch-off boundaries are defined for the individual segments (S1-Sn). | 01-22-2015 |
20150022084 | VEHICULAR HEADLAMP - A vehicular headlamp has a light source portion that provides a low beam lighting mode, a high beam lighting mode, and a dimming lighting mode, a light source power supply portion that supplies to the light source portion a lighting current having a current value according to lighting mode, a light distribution mechanism portion that switches light distribution of illumination light by the light source portion according to the lighting mode, and a control portion that, at least in the dimming lighting mode, causes the light source power supply portion to supply lighting current having a second current value lower than a first current value for the low beam lighting mode. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022085 | Controllable high luminance illumination with moving light-sources - The present invention relates to an illumination device ( | 01-22-2015 |
20150028741 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR THE LATTER - A driver assistance system is disclosed which automatically control the high and low beam of a headlamp on a vehicle. The system includes a camera and an image evaluation unit configured to search images acquired by the camera for initial bright zones that correspond with an activated vehicle headlamp, and to switch the headlamp from a high beam to a low beam upon detecting both a first bright zone and a second bright zone that is larger and less bright than the image of the activated vehicle headlamp. | 01-29-2015 |
20150028742 | HEADLAMP LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE - In a headlamp light distribution control device, a light source configured by a pair of lamps mounted in a forward vehicle is extracted from an image of the forward vehicle if a distance to the forward vehicle is less than a predetermined value, and the number of the extracted light sources is judged. When the number of the extracted light sources is two, an irradiation direction of a headlamp is controlled such that a shielded area is set in an irradiation area to prevent an area including the lamp of the forward vehicle from being irradiated. When the number of the extracted light sources is one, the irradiation direction is controlled such that a shielded area is set in the irradiation area to have a margin in right and left directions larger than the shielded area set when the number of the extracted light sources is two. | 01-29-2015 |
20150035434 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING EXTERIOR LIGHTING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A system for controlling the exterior lighting of a motor vehicle has a switch unit having a rotary switch which can be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise to sequentially activate a plurality of operating modes of the vehicle lights. The rotary switch is a continuously adjustable rotary encoder, and a plurality of indicator lights are arranged around the rotary encoder, each of the operating modes is respectively assigned a mode indicator light. The operating mode selected by the rotary encoder is displayed by the corresponding indicator light. The rotary encoder has a plurality of latched positions that correspond to the plurality of indicator lights. | 02-05-2015 |
20150035435 | LIGHT SWITCH UNIT FOR CONTROLLING EXTERIOR LIGHTING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A light switch unit for controlling the exterior lighting (such as headlights) of a motor vehicle. A rotary actuator can be rotated from a predefined home position into at least one deflected position, different lighting modes being assigned to the home position and to the at least one deflected position; the rotary actuator being mechanically biased to return automatically, after the rotation into the at least one deflected position, to the home position after which the lighting mode which is assigned to the respective deflected position initially remains activated. | 02-05-2015 |
20150042224 | Modular Adaptive Headlight - A modular adaptive vehicle headlight installable in a standard vehicle headlight socket is provided with angled light sources. A control circuit within the headlight controls the light sources to project angled headlight beams to left or right of the vehicle during cornering. The control circuit uses an acceleration sensor which detects accelerative force along the transverse axis of the vehicle. This transverse accelerative force is centrifugal force generated by cornering, allowing the control circuit to determine when cornering is occurring and activate angled light sources to illuminate curves in the road. Thresholds for transverse accelerative force vary with vehicle speed and acceleration. Vertical accelerative force is also detected in order to activate upward and downward angled headlights for dips and rises in the road. Curve illuminating headlighting is thus provided modularly in a headlight, with no need for reference to sensors elsewhere in the vehicle. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042225 | HEADLIGHT CONTROLLER AND VEHICLE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM - A headlight controller and a vehicle headlight system including an ADB can include a headlight controller and an optical unit. The headlight controller can include a system controller and a camera photographing vehicles located in a forward direction thereof, and the system controller can be configured to output a control signal to provide various favorable light distribution patterns by using image data output from the camera in accordance with traffic conditions. The optical unit can be configured to emit beam lights using lights emitted from a first and second light-emitting device via a projector lens so that the beam lights can be used as a high beam and a low beam without movable parts. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can include providing vehicle headlight systems that can form various favorable light distribution patterns by utilizing the characteristics of the controller and the optical unit in accordance with the traffic conditions. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042226 | VEHICULAR LIGHTING APPARATUS - A vehicular lighting apparatus includes a front detection sensor, a driving support ECU, a headlight ECU, a leveling motor and a headlight. When a subject vehicle is determined as being in an automatic following state with respect to a forward vehicle or a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the forward vehicle is determined by a vehicle-to-vehicle distance determining portion as being short, the vehicular lighting apparatus changes. If a high-beam lamp or a low-beam lamp is illuminating, the illumination state changes such that the low-beam lamp illuminates more downward than normal. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower the degree of dazzling an occupant of the forward vehicle. Moreover, if a daytime running lamp is illuminating, the vehicular lighting apparatus turns the daytime running lamp off. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower a battery load of the subject vehicle. | 02-12-2015 |
20150048736 | Method and device for controlling at least one headlight of a vehicle - A method for controlling at least one headlight of a vehicle, in which the at least one headlight has first and second emission characteristics for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle. The reading in of a first brightness signal initially occurs. In this case, the first brightness signal represents a first brightness, which is assigned to the first emission characteristic, of the surroundings of the vehicle. Subsequently, the receiving of a second brightness signal occurs. The second brightness signal represents a second brightness, which is assigned to the second emission characteristic, of the surroundings of the vehicle. In a further task, a brightness deviation is ascertained between the first and the second brightnesses by using the first and the second brightness signals. Finally, the setting of a debouncing time occurs for changing from the first emission characteristic to the second emission characteristic as a function of the brightness deviation. | 02-19-2015 |
20150048737 | MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLAMP - A method for changing at least one light emission parameter of a headlamp system or a vehicle headlamp of a motor vehicle based on changing ambient light conditions. The light emission parameters of the headlamp system are stored in a memory of a computer at the factory. The ambient light conditions in the driving direction of the motor vehicle are detected by a sensor and forwarded to the computer. Actual light emission parameters of the headlamp system and the ambient light condition are compared and a change of at least one of the light emission parameters of the headlamp system or the vehicle headlamp in accordance with the ambient light conditions forwarded is determined that a predefined or predefinable threshold value or limiting value of the current actual light emission parameters is exceeded. | 02-19-2015 |
20150048738 | VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTINGUISHING REFLECTIVE OBJECTS FROM LIGHTS OF ANOTHER VEHICLE - An imaging system is provided for a vehicle. The system includes an imager for imaging a forward external scene and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a processor for receiving and analyzing the image data to detect a light source. When a light source is detected, the processor generates a control signal to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern. After generating the control signal, the processor analyzes the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has the modulation pattern of the exterior lights. If the light source does have the modulation pattern, the processor determines that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle. Otherwise, the processor determines that the light source may be a light of another vehicle. | 02-19-2015 |
20150061492 | ABSOLUTE ACCELERATION SENSOR FOR USE WITHIN MOVING VEHICLES - A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a braking of the vehicle and a control device for sending a signal to a headlight activation circuit to modulate the vehicle's headlights based upon the braking of the vehicle. In particular, a headlight of the vehicle is able to be modulated based upon an application of one or both of a front brake and a rear brake. The headlight activation circuit is able to modulate the headlight between an on position and an off position or modulate the headlight between a high beam position and a low beam position. Consequently, the vehicle is better seen as it approaches likely congestion areas such as intersections and slowing or stopped traffic and attempts to enter traffic. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061493 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOG DETECTION - An imaging system and method for fog detection are disclosed herein. An imager is configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data. When exterior lights of the controlled vehicle are operated in a low beam state, the controller is able to detect light sources of interest in the image data, determine if each light source of interest is a foggy light or a clear light, and generate a first signal if a fog entry condition is satisfied. | 03-05-2015 |
20150069907 | LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLIGHT DEVICE WITH THE SAME, AND VEHICLE - A lighting device includes a power converter and a controller. The power converter includes a transformer having primary, secondary and tertiary windings, and a switching device electrically connected in series with the primary winding. The controller is configured to measure a signal simulating a primary current flowing through the primary winding based on a voltage occurring across the tertiary winding and detect timing for turning the switching device off based on the signal simulating the primary current. | 03-12-2015 |
20150069908 | LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLIGHT APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND VEHICLE USING THE SAME - A lighting device includes a power converter, a second switching element and a microcomputer. The power converter is configured to convert DC power that is received from a power supply, and supply an output obtained by the conversion to a load. The second switching element is configured to short-circuit at least one LED of a plurality of LEDs, as part of the load. The microcomputer is configured to control the power converter, and control switching on/off of the second switching element. The microcomputer is configured to reduce an output current of the power converter, in a case where a power supply voltage of the battery is a reference voltage or less. A reduction amount of the output current in an on-state of the second switching element is lower than the reduction amount of the output current in an off-state of the second switching element. | 03-12-2015 |
20150069909 | LIGHTING DEVICE, HEADLIGHT APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND VEHICLE USING THE SAME - A microcomputer is configured to perform a first control and a second control. The first control is of: starting operation of a power converter, when a first power supply voltage exceeds a starting voltage; and stopping the operation of the power converter, when the first power supply voltage is below a maintaining voltage. The second control is of: switching off a second switching element, when a second power supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage; maintaining an off-state of the second switching element until the second power supply voltage is below a second threshold voltage; and switching on the second switching element, when the second power supply voltage is below the second threshold voltage. | 03-12-2015 |
20150084506 | POWER CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM OF LAMP - A power control method and system of a lamp are provided. The method includes supplying, by a controller, the lamp with electric power and selecting an illumination characteristic data of the lamp changed from a point when the electric power starts to be supplied to the lamp. The duty of voltage supplied to the lamp is variably adjusted, by the controller, based on the illumination characteristic data. In addition, the controller counts a first elapsed time that elapses from a first point when the electric power supplied to the lamp is turned on, and variably adjusts the duty of the voltage supplied to the lamp based on the counted first elapsed time. | 03-26-2015 |
20150091439 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING EXTERIOR VEHICLE LIGHTS ON MOTORWAYS - An exterior light control system is provided for controlling exterior lights of a vehicle. The system includes an imaging system configured to image a forward external scene and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a controller configured to receive and analyze the image data and for generating an exterior light control signal that is used to control the exterior lights in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation. When in the motorway mode, if the controller detects headlamps of one or more oncoming vehicle, the controller generates an exterior light control signal for reducing the brightness of the exterior lights, determines a relative location within the acquired images of a headlamp closest to a central feature of the acquired images, and selects a delay that varies dynamically in response to the relative location of the headlamp. | 04-02-2015 |
20150130349 | LOCOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY - A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least first and second independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes, the first selectable current path having a resistance value that is greater than the second current path, controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, at least one light source, a controller linked to the control switch and determining the selected path and generating a control signal and a light driver linked between the output node and the light source, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal. | 05-14-2015 |
20150137680 | AUTOMOTIVE LAMP - A light emitting lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a laser light source, a scanning unit, which scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source so as to form a visible light distribution pattern, an obstacle detector, which detects an obstacle, if any, in front of a driver's vehicle, and a control unit, which adjusts the intensity of the laser light irradiated to an obstacle existent region, according to the distance from the driver's vehicle to the obstacle, based on the detection result of the obstacle detector. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145411 | LIGHT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE - A light control apparatus for a vehicle may include: an operation unit configured to receive a selection for an auto-light function; a control unit configured to determine whether or not a light operation condition is satisfied based on position information provided from a GPS module and plural pieces of information for operating a light unit, received through a wireless communication module, and output a light operating signal according to the determination result, when the auto-light function is selected through the operation unit; and a light control unit configured to operate a light unit according to the light operating signal provided from the control unit. | 05-28-2015 |
20150305129 | DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE AND HEADLIGHT USING SAME - Control unit decreases power to be supplied to high-pressure discharge lamp when an output voltage or an output current for high-pressure discharge lamp measured by measurement unit is in an abnormal range. Drive unit driving switching element includes capacitor that supplies, to a control electrode of switching element disposed on high potential side, electric charge necessary for turning on switching element disposed on high potential side when switching element disposed on low potential side is turned off. When high-pressure discharge lamp is started up, a discharge lamp lighting device starts to charge capacitor before DC/DC converter is started to operate, and control unit has a determination period for determining presence/absence of an abnormality based on a measured value acquired by measurement unit in a state in which DC/DC converter and DC/AC inverter are operated after completion of charging of capacitor. | 10-22-2015 |
20150351176 | Arrangement and Method for Operating an Arrangement - A method is set up to operate an arrangement that has N radiation-emitting semiconductor chips arranged in an electric series circuit. The arrangement includes multiple switching elements, wherein to each of the semiconductor chips one of the switching elements is connected electrically in parallel. The arrangement includes a controller for the mutually independent activation of the switching elements. The arrangement includes a constant current circuit for energizing the series circuit. When switching off, the respective semiconductor chip associated with a switching element is bridged electrically by the switching element. A protective module of the arrangement is set up to reduce or to prevent current peaks when one or more of the semiconductor chips is/are switched off. | 12-03-2015 |
20150353001 | POWER SUPPLY, HEAD LIGHT DEVICE USING THE POWER SUPPPLY, AND VEHICLE USING THE HEADLIGHT DEVICE - A control circuit is configured to compare an input voltage measured through an input voltage detection circuit with a first threshold which is lower than a rated voltage of an external DC power supply and with a second threshold which is lower than the first threshold. The control circuit is configured, when detecting that a duration time in which the input voltage is kept lower than the first threshold reaches a predetermined holding period, to stop operating a switching device. The control circuit is configured, after detecting that the input voltage is lower than the second threshold, to more shorten a maximum ON time than that during a normal operation or lengthen an OFF time of the switching device than a maximum OFF time during the normal operation. | 12-10-2015 |
20160001696 | SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE LIGHT - A light control system is provided. In the system, an processor sets a maximum light quantity of a lighting device according to the curvature radius of the road the own vehicle travels. The processor then controls the light quantity of the lighting device so as to be equal to or less than the maximum light quantity. According to the system, a maximum light quantity of the lighting device is set according to a curvature radius. Accordingly, a light quantity is appropriately set so as not to dazzle the driver of another vehicle. | 01-07-2016 |
20160021712 | LIGHTING DEVICE, LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, ILLUMINATING DEVICE, AND VEHICULAR HEADLIGHT - The lighting device according to the present invention is used for lighting a light source device. The light source device includes a light source unit connected between first and second power supply terminals and a first impedance device which has an impedance associated with an electric property of the light source unit and is connected to the second power supply terminal. The lighting device performs a first process and a second process. In the first process, the lighting device obtains a measurement indicative of the impedance by supplying power to the first impedance device via the second power supply terminal while prohibiting output of DC power for lighting, and determine an operating condition based on the measurement. In the second process, the lighting device operates so that the DC power for lighting satisfies the operating condition. | 01-21-2016 |
20160023591 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT EMISSION OF VEHICLE HEADLIGHT, AND HEADLIGHT SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH THE CONTROL APPARATUS - A control apparatus, which controls a headlight unit, repeatedly performs a process of measuring brightness ahead of the own vehicle using a luminance sensor. For example, when a curved road region is present ahead of the own vehicle, measurement is made of the brightness of a road surface or a guardrail of a specified region (region to which light from a headlight unit of a forward vehicle is emitted) in the road region. Then, a variation Δ in a measurement value of the brightness from a previous measurement value is calculated. When the variation Δ is equal to or more than a threshold TH, a vehicle yet to emerge is predicted to emerge in a forward view of the own vehicle to thereby switch a lighting mode for the light emitted from the headlight unit to another mode so that the emergence area is darkened. | 01-28-2016 |
20160025553 | METHOD FOR WIRELESS SIGNAL TRANSMISSION AND SENSOR-CONTROLLED COMPONENT - A method for wireless signal transfer from a sensor to a sensor-controlled component is provided. The sensor records a measuring signal and utilises the energy recorded with the measuring signal for operating an associated transmission unit. The signal transmitted by the emission unit is determined by the amount of energy recorded with the measuring signal. This enables the sensor to be operated autonomously. | 01-28-2016 |
20160039334 | DEVICE FOR NIGHTTIME MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE - A device for assisting the nighttime driving of a motor vehicle fitted with a lighting device for emitting a beam for illuminating the road scene in front of the vehicle, the illumination emitted by the lighting device being variable periodically between a maximum value and a minimum value, the device including at least one variable-transmission screen placed between the road scene and the driver, the coefficient of transmission of the screen being variable periodically between a maximum value and a minimum value, the switching on of at least one light source of the lighting device and the coefficient of transmission of the variable-transmission screen controlled by the control unit, the illumination reaching its maximum value when the coefficient of transmission of the screen reaches its maximum value. The control unit controls a circuit for regulating the power supply and a transmitter of remote control waves toward a receiver. | 02-11-2016 |
20160059768 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADAPTING A BRIGHTNESS OF A HEADLIGHT FOR A VEHICLE - A method is provided for adapting a brightness of a headlight for a vehicle, the method including a step of determining a headlight control signal for adapting the brightness using a piece of distance information, the piece of distance information representing a distance between the vehicle and an object illuminated or illuminatable by the at least one headlight. | 03-03-2016 |
20160075273 | Method and device for operating a cornering light to be emitted by a headlight for a vehicle - A method for operating a cornering light to be emitted by a headlight for a vehicle, the method including determining a headlight control signal for varying the cornering light using a piece of traffic information. The piece of traffic information represents a position of the vehicle at and/or in a traffic circle. | 03-17-2016 |
20160090024 | VEHICLE HEADLIGHT DEVICE - A vehicle headlight device includes optical systems that are respectively provided to light sources, and illuminate ahead of a vehicle by light emitted from the light sources, with light distribution patterns of which illuminating areas are offset to each other at least in vertical directions, a stoppable distance calculator that calculates a stoppable distance of the vehicle, and a light source controller that controls the light sources to be turned on and off so that an area ahead of the vehicle and away from the vehicle by the stoppable distance is illuminated by at least one of the optical systems. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096466 | LIGHT CONTROL DEVICE - Provided is a novel control technology for a light device for a vehicle. The control device starts an alighting illumination process after a vehicle stops so as to ensure the driver's field of view when alighting the vehicle. When the alighting illumination process is started, the control device stands by until the driver alights the vehicle (S | 04-07-2016 |
20160096467 | VEHICLE LAMP AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT THEREOF - A lighting circuit, which is mounted in a vehicle lamp, can change the luminance at high speeds. The lighting circuit is used together with a semiconductor light source and makes up a vehicle lamp. A switching converter supplies power to the semiconductor light source. A converter controller controls the switching converter. A current detection circuit detects a current I | 04-07-2016 |
20160121783 | LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT DRIVING DEVICE, LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, AND VEHICLE - A light emission driving device includes an output voltage supply unit arranged to generate an output voltage from an input voltage so as to supply the output voltage to a load, a determination unit arranged to determine whether or not a ground fault due to abnormality may have occurred on the basis of an anode voltage of the load, and a signal output unit arranged to externally output a signal indicating that a ground fault due to abnormality may have occurred when the determination unit determines that a ground fault due to abnormality may have occurred. The output voltage supply unit does not perform generation stop of the output voltage by a trigger of determination by the determination unit that a ground fault due to abnormality may have occurred. | 05-05-2016 |
20160126434 | LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE AND ADAPTIVE DRIVING BEAM HEADLAMP SYSTEM - A light emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of first wiring members, a plurality of second wiring members and a plurality of light emitting elements. The first wiring members extend in a first direction. The second wiring members extend in a second direction. Each of the second wiring members is segmented into a plurality of second wiring portions. The light emitting elements are disposed along the second direction. A first electrode of the light emitting element is connected to a corresponding one of the first wiring members. A second electrode of the light emitting element has a first connection part and a second connection part that is linked to the first connection part. The first connection part and the second connection part are connected to a corresponding one of the second wiring members and bridge at least two of the segmented second wiring portions in the second direction. | 05-05-2016 |
20160167565 | Method and control unit for setting at least one parameter of a driver assistance device of a vehicle | 06-16-2016 |
20160167566 | LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE FOR A VEHICULAR HEADLAMP | 06-16-2016 |
20160167567 | Method and control unit for setting a characteristic of a light emission of at least one headlight of a vehicle | 06-16-2016 |
20160176334 | MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLAMP SYSTEM, MOTOR VEHICLE, METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLAMP SYSTEM AS WELL AS COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT | 06-23-2016 |
20170232883 | ACCESSORY FOR VEHICLES FOR AUTOMATING MAIN BEAMS COMPLETE WITH AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR REDUCING OPTICAL DISTURBANCES | 08-17-2017 |
20170232884 | VEHICLE LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM | 08-17-2017 |
20170238384 | LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT DRIVING DEVICE, LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, AND VEHICLE | 08-17-2017 |
20190143883 | VEHICLE LAMP CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE LAMP SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190143908 | VEHICLE LIGHT/DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM USING CAMERA | 05-16-2019 |