Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-08-14
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S468000, C340S457200, C340S471000, C340S472000, C296S097700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275145
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to motor vehicle safety devices generally and more particularly to devices to help prevent blinding of drivers by headlights of adjacent vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are known in the parent literature various devices dealing with the prevention of blinding of drivers by headlights of adjacent vehicles. The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,000,262; 3,152,216; 3,517,384; 3,680,951; 4,078,859; 4,734,697; 4,838,650; 5,064,274; 5,119,067; 5,212,468; 5,237,306 and 5,345,261.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide improved apparatus to help prevent temporary blinding of drivers of motor vehicles by headlights of adjacent vehicles.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for informing a driver of a first vehicle that his headlights are blinding the driver of another vehicle, the apparatus including a dynamic retroreflector mounted on the other vehicle and arranged such that light from the headlights of the first vehicle is reflected by the dynamic retroreflector to the eyes of the driver of the first vehicle.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a road vehicle assembly including apparatus for informing a driver of an other vehicle that his headlights are blinding the driver of the road vehicle, the road vehicle assembly comprising a chassis, a drive train, a dynamic retroreflector mounted on the chassis and arranged such that light from the headlights of the other vehicle is reflected by the dynamic near-retroreflector to the eyes of the driver of the other vehicle.
Preferably the dynamic retroreflector comprises at least one reflecting surface arranged to reflect received light from a headlight to a location located to the side and vertically of the headlight.
Preferably, the dynamic retroreflector includes plural reflecting surfaces which are non-fixedly mounted with respect to each other.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus is operative to provide a time-modulated light reflection to the driver.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dynamic retroreflector is oriented in a first orientation for reflecting light to a vehicle with a left-hand drive.
Alternatively, the dynamic retroreflector is oriented in a second orientation for reflecting light to a vehicle with a right-hand driver.
Furthermore in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dynamic retroreflector comprises at least one reflecting surface arranged to reflect received light from a headlight to a location located to a direction relative to the headlight.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dynamic retroreflector comprises a dynamic near-retroreflector.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for informing a driver of a first vehicle that his headlights are blinding the driver of another vehicle, the apparatus including a modulator-reflector mounted on the other vehicle and arranged to reflect light from the headlights of the first vehicle back towards the first vehicle in a modulated form.
Preferably, a modulated light sensor is mounted on the first vehicle and is operative to distinguish light reflected from the headlights of the first vehicle by virtue of its modulated form and to provide an output indication of receipt of light reflected from the headlights of the first vehicle and there is provided an automatic headlight brightness controller responsive to the output indication for lowering the brightness of the headlights of the first vehicle.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one and preferably both of the modulated light sensor and the brightness controller are incorporated within a vehicle headlight.
Preferably, the modulator-reflector comprises a dynamic near-retroreflector, which may be active or passive and may include a vibrating device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the modulator-reflector provides at least one and preferably both color and amplitude modulation.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the modulator-reflector comprises a passive device. Alternatively it may comprise an active device.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a headlight assembly providing automatically adjusted brightness comprising a headlight housing, at least one headlight light source disposed within the housing, a light sensor disposed within the housing for sensing incoming light thereto and providing an output indication responsive thereto, and an automatic headlight brightness controller responsive to the output indication for automatically lowering the brightness of the at least one headlight light source under predetermined conditions.
Preferably, the light sensor is operative to distinguish light reflected from the at least one headlight light source from other incoming light and to provide the output indication only in response to receipt of light of at least a predetermined amplitude reflected from the at least one headlight light source.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light sensor is operative to distinguish light having a predetermined modulation from light not having a predetermined modulation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3000262 (1961-09-01), Rabinow et al.
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patent: 3517384 (1970-06-01), Jablonski
patent: 3604805 (1971-09-01), Scott
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patent: 4078859 (1978-03-01), Sharett
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patent: 4734697 (1988-03-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 4838650 (1989-06-01), Stewart et al.
patent: 4930870 (1990-06-01), Beach et al.
patent: 4940274 (1990-07-01), Ogren
patent: 5064274 (1991-11-01), Alten
patent: 5119067 (1992-06-01), Adell
patent: 5212468 (1993-05-01), Adell
patent: 5237306 (1993-08-01), Adell
patent: 5347261 (1994-09-01), Adell
patent: WO 95 04670 (1994-04-01), None
Stimson, George W., “Introduction to Airborne Radar”, Hughes Aircraft Company.
Wolfe, William L. et al, “The Infrared Handbook”, Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 1978.
Pope Daryl
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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