Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Special application – Vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-05-08
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Special application
Vehicle
C701S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229263
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus which detects changes in the height of an axle of a front wheel and/or an axle of a rear wheel of a vehicle so as to control the lighting direction of a vehicle lamp in accordance with change in the attitude of the vehicle.
An apparatus (a so-called “automatic leveling apparatus”) is known which performs automatic correction in such a manner that a predetermined lighting direction of lamps (headlights) provided for a vehicle is always maintained if the attitude of running of the vehicle is changed.
An automatic leveling apparatus has a structure that, for example, a vehicle-height sensor is provided for each of front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle or either of the front wheels or the rear wheels the vehicle. The foregoing automatic leveling apparatus is arranged to cause the vehicle-height sensor to measure change in the pitch angle (or the pitching angle) of the vehicle to move reflecting mirrors in the headlights to cancel the foregoing change so as to control the lighting direction of the lamp or the height of the cut line of a light distribution pattern of the low beam. Thus, glare (light) caused from change in the attitude of the vehicle can be prevented.
The conventional apparatus is arranged to change the response of the control to correspond to the degree of acceleration of the vehicle. Thus, control is quickly performed when the acceleration is large and the control is slowly performed when the acceleration is small.
The velocity of change of the pitch angle of the vehicle is not changed to correspond to the degree of the acceleration. The foregoing velocity is changed in proportion to the change rate of the acceleration with respect to time. Therefore, if quick change in the acceleration occurs in a state in which the acceleration is slow, delay in the control takes place. If light which is more upward than a horizontal plane is unnecessary emitted as dazzling light, there is apprehension that glare occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce frequency of occurrence of dazzling light caused from determination of the response of control of the lighting direction of a lamp for a vehicle with the degree of the acceleration so as to appropriately control the lighting direction of the lamp if the pitch angle of the vehicle is changed.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a lighting-direction control unit for a lamp for a vehicle structured to detect change in the height of an axle of a front wheel and/or an axle of a rear wheel of a vehicle to change a lighting direction of a lamp in accordance with change in the attitude of the vehicle, the lighting-direction control unit for a lamp for a vehicle comprising: lighting control means for obtaining a change rate of acceleration in a direction in which the vehicle runs with respect to time to change a control response of the lighting direction of the lamp in accordance with the degree of the change rate.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the control response of the lighting direction is changed in accordance with the change rate of the acceleration in the direction in which the vehicle runs with respect to time. Thus, a problem (glare) which arises when the response of the control is determined can be prevented.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5787370 (1998-07-01), Kutscher et al.
patent: 5907196 (1999-05-01), Hayami et al.
patent: 6049171 (2000-04-01), Stam et al.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Tran Chuc D
Wong Don
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