Lighting device for vehicles

Details Lighting device for vehicles Lighting device for vehicles

2000-02-22

2001-09-25

Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)

Illumination

Supported by vehicle structure

Condition responsive

C362S464000, C362S466000, C362S276000, C362S036000, C362S037000, C362S802000, C315S081000, C315S082000, C307S010800, C340S468000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293686

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting device disposed in the front portion of a vehicle in the advancing direction of the vehicle and including a plurality of lamps and, in particular, to a lighting device having a structure that changes combinations of illumination ranges provided by the plurality of lamps, thereby specifying the control of the light distribution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a device which detects the steering angle of a vehicle to change the illumination direction of a lamp according to variations in the detected steering angle. Such a device enhances vehicle safety, especially when driving through curves at night.
Although the conventional device is generally though. to be acceptable, it is not without shortcomings. In particular, the conventional device exerts control over illumination direction only when the vehicle travels through a curve. That is, the direction of part of an illumination light is changed successively according to the steering angle when the vehicle runs in the curve. Therefore, the conventional device does not sufficiently illuminate a road sign, a pedestrian, a preceding vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, an obstacle or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighting device which changes the combinations of illumination ranges provided by a plurality of lamps according to not only the running direction or steering angle of a vehicle, but also the speed of the vehicle to thereby control direction and range of illumination so to maintain constant light distribution control, which is proper for the vehicle's running condition.
In order to achieve the objectives, the present lighting device for a vehicle includes a plurality of lamps disposed in the front portion of the vehicle in the advancing direction thereof. The lighting device has running direction detect means for detecting the running direction or steering angle of the vehicle, vehicle speed detect means for detecting the speed of the vehicle, and illumination control means for specifying the turn-on or turn-off of the plurality of lamps in accordance with detect signals output from the running direction detect means and vehicle speed detect means to change the combinations of the illumination ranges of the lamps, thereby controlling the light distribution of the lighting device in front of the vehicle as well as laterally of the vehicle.
The combinations of the illumination ranges of the lamps are changed according to the running direction or steering angle of the vehicle and according to the vehicle speed to thereby control the direction and range of the illumination of the lighting device, so that the light distribution of the lighting device in front of the vehicle can be specified.


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