Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Plural light sources
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-13
2001-01-23
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Plural light sources
C362S211000, C362S295000, C362S523000, C362S532000, C362S544000, C362S538000, C362S548000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176605
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headlight unit for a vehicle, and, more particularly, to a headlight unit for a vehicle comprising at least one low beam headlight and at least one high beam headlight and in which a high beam is propagated by the at least one high beam headlight that fulfills legal regulations for a high beam at least together with the low beam propagated by the at least one low beam headlight.
This type of headlight unit is known from German Patent Application DE 42 38 273 A1. The headlight unit disclosed in this reference has at least one high beam headlight and at least one low beam headlight. A low beam that fulfills legal regulations is propagated by the at least one low beam headlight. In contrast to the low beam a strongly concentrated high beam is propagated by the at least one high beam headlight that fulfills legal regulations for a high beam at least together with the low beam. The legal regulations for the high beam are uniformly prescribed by ECE rules in the European Union. However there are other legal regulations for the high beam prescribed in the SAE rules in the United States of America. Lower maximum light intensities for the center of the high beam are permitted by the SAE regulations than by the ECE regulations. However in contrast to the ECE rules a comparatively stronger horizontal scattering is prescribed by the SAE rules. Usually respective special high beam headlights are developed and manufactured to fulfill the different legal regulations according to the SAE rules and the ECE rules. This however leads to large production and installation expenses for the different high beam headlights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a headlight unit for a vehicle that has the advantage that different sets of legal regulations are fulfilled with the same high beam headlight structure so that the manufacture is simplified and the installation expenses are reduced.
This object, and others which will be made more apparent hereinafter, are attained in a headlight unit comprising at least one low beam headlight and at least one high beam headlight and in which a high beam is propagated by the at least one high beam headlight that fulfills the sets of legal regulations for a high beam at least together with the low beam propagated by the at least one low beam headlight.
The headlight unit according to the invention includes at least one low beam headlight including means for propagating a low beam and at least one high beam headlight including means for propagating a high beam. The headlight unit is adapted for fulfilling at least two different sets of light intensity distribution requirements for the high beam.
The first set of light intensity distribution requirements for the high beam permit a first maximum light intensity in a center of the high beam and at least one first required light intensity in lateral regions of the high beam and a second set of light intensity distribution requirements for the high beam permit a second maximum light intensity in the center of the high beam that is lower than the first maximum light intensity and at least one second required light intensity in lateral regions of the high beam extending further from the center of the high beam than the lateral regions illuminated according to the requirements of the first set of light intensity distribution requirements.
The light intensities for fulfilling the second set of light intensity distribution requirements, at least in the lateral region on the opposing traffic side, are produced by the high beam issuing from the at least one high beam headlight and the second maximum light intensity according to the second set of light intensity distribution requirements is produced by the at least one high beam headlight.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the light intensities for fullfilling the second set of light intensity distribution requirements are produced by the high beam propagated by the at least one high beam headlight only on the opposing traffic side and the light intensities for fulfilling the second set of light intensity distribution requirements on the side opposite the opposing traffic side are provided by the low beam propagated by the at least one low beam headlight.
In a preferred embodiment of the headlight unit according to the invention scattering of the high beam is required only on the opposing traffic side.
REFERENCES:
patent: 42 38 273 A1 (1994-05-01), None
Altunay Esref
Schlienz Friedemann
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Sember Thomas M.
Striker Michael J.
Ton Anabel M.
LandOfFree
Headlight unit for a vehicle fulfilling at least two... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Headlight unit for a vehicle fulfilling at least two..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Headlight unit for a vehicle fulfilling at least two... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2456621