Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Special application – Vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-10-16
Vu, David (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Special application
Vehicle
C315S149000, C315S158000, C315S159000, C307S010800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304035
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and to a device for automatically operating the lights of a motor vehicle.
More specifically, the invention relates to a method and to a device of this kind which allow the lights of a motor vehicle to be switched on and off automatically on the basis of information about the brightness in the surroundings of the vehicle, about the speed at which the vehicle is traveling and about the distance covered by the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There already exist within the prior art methods and devices of this type in which the level of instantaneous brightness in the vehicle's surroundings is used to trigger the switching on/off of the lights of the vehicle, by comparing this level with predetermined thresholds.
However, it will be appreciated that doing this exhibits a certain number of drawbacks, because the operation of the lights may then be ill-suited to the driving conditions encountered by the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for automatically operating the lights of a motor vehicle on the basis of information about the brightness in the vehicle's surroundings, about the speed at which the vehicle is traveling and about the distance covered by this vehicle, in which:
with a view to switching the lights on, the level of instantaneous brightness in the vehicle's surroundings is compared with two thresholds—respectively a high threshold N
1
and a low threshold N
2
—so that, if the level of instantaneous brightness becomes and remains lower than the low threshold N
2
, and
if the level of instantaneous brightness crosses the two thresholds in a time less than or equal to T
2
, the vehicle lights are immediately switched on if the vehicle speed is zero, the vehicle lights are switched on after a distance D
1
has been covered if the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to a first speed threshold, the vehicle lights are switched on after a distance D
2
covered if the vehicle speed is below the first speed threshold or the vehicle lights are switched on after a maximum period of time T
13
, after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the low threshold N
2
,
if the level of instantaneous brightness crosses the two thresholds in a time of between T
2
and T
12
, the vehicle lights are switched on after the period of time T
13
after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the low threshold N
2
, and
if, before the end of these time-metering or distance-metering operations, the level of instantaneous brightness crosses back above then below the low threshold N
2
, the vehicle lights are switched on after a period of time T
17
after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the low threshold N
2
for this further time.
Advantageously, with a view to switching the lights off, the level of instantaneous brightness in the vehicle's surroundings is compared with, respectively, a low threshold N
3
and a high threshold N
4
so that, if the level of instantaneous brightness becomes and remains higher than the high threshold N
4
, and
if the level of instantaneous brightness crosses the two thresholds in a time less than or equal to T
4
and if the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to a second speed threshold, the vehicle lights are switched off after a period of time equal to T
5
, and if the vehicle speed is below the second speed threshold, the vehicle lights are switched oft after a period of time T
6
after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the high threshold N
4
,
if the level of instantaneous brightness crosses the two thresholds in a time of between T
4
and T
14
, the vehicle lights are switched off after a period of time T
15
after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the high threshold N
4
,and
if, before the end of these metering operations, the level of instantaneous brightness crosses back below then above the high threshold N
4
, the vehicle lights are switched off after a period of time corresponding to T
5
, T
6
or T
15
as defined previously after the level of instantaneous brightness has crossed the high threshold N
4
for this further time.
According to another aspect, another subject of the invention is a device or implementing this method.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5666028 (1997-09-01), Bechtel et al.
patent: 2 559 282 A (1985-09-01), None
patent: 2 308 563 A (1997-07-01), None
Automobiles Peugeot
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
Vu David
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