Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-06-05
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S469000, C250S200000, C250S201100, C307S010100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243002
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a tunnel. More specifically, the apparatus relates to a photosensor for a vehicle for detecting a tunnel.
Many vehicles include light sensors that actuate various systems of a vehicle based upon ambient light conditions. For example, some sensors provide a signal that changes state as a result of the general level of ambient light. A controller receiving this signal actuates the headlights on when the light level is low and off when the light level is high. However, these sensors necessarily include sufficient filtering of the photosensor electrical signal and/or the response of the controller so as to not be sensitive to brief disturbances in ambient light, such as shadows. Further, these sensors often include a rather wide field of view and include light from ahead, behind, to either side, and from above the vehicle.
Yet another driving situation in which consumers find it desirable to actuate the headlights is the situation presented by the vehicle approaching, within, and exiting a tunnel. Many drivers prefer to have their lights on when inside the tunnel and then turn the lights off as the tunnel is exited. Conventional ambient light sensors have difficulty responding to tunnels. The broad collection of light by such conventional sensors makes them unresponsive to the tunnel until after the tunnel has been entered. Further, those sensors incorporating low pass filtering or other time delays do not turn the headlights on until after the vehicle is well within the tunnel.
What is needed is a tunnel sensor that overcomes the disadvantages of conventional sensors. The present invention does this in a novel and unobvious way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a photosensor, a housing, and a channel defined within the housing. The photosensor senses ambient light. The channel is generally inclined above the horizontal.
A different aspect of the present invention concerns a vehicle, such as a truck, bus, automobile, or motorcycle, and a housing mounted on said vehicle. First and second apertures are defined within the housing. A photosensor receives ambient light from the second aperture. There is also a channel defined within the housing for transmitting light to the photosensor. A portion of the first aperture is above the second aperture. The channel provides a field of view to the photosensor that is above and ahead of the vehicle.
A different aspect of the present invention concerns an apparatus for detecting a tunnel over a vehicle roadway. The method includes providing a channel in optical communication with a photosensor. The channel is oriented such that a portion of the channel generally faces ahead of the vehicle and generally faces above the vehicle. Light is permitted to enter the channel and fall incident upon the photosensor. A change in the electrical characteristics of the photosensor is measured when the vehicle approaches a tunnel.
In a different aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus for a vehicle for sensing ambient light The apparatus includes a housing. There is also a first photosensor with a first electrical characteristic and a second photosensor with a second electrical characteristic. There is a channel defined within the housing for providing ambient light and a first field of view to the first photosensor. The second photosensor is provided ambient light from a second field of view that is wider than the first field of view.
In a different aspect of the present invention, there is an apparatus for detecting a tunnel over a roadway. The apparatus includes a vehicle for travelling on the roadway. A housing is mounted on the vehicle. There is also a photosensor for sensing ambient light, the photosensor providing a changeable electrical signal. A channel is defined within the housing for providing light to the photosensor. The channel is constructed and arranged such that the electrical signal changes in response to the vehicle approaching a tunnel.
In a different aspect of the present invention, there is a vehicle with an actuatable air conditioning system or actuatable headlights. There is a housing mounted on the vehicle. The apparatus includes a first photosensor providing a first electrical signal. There is a channel defined within the housing for providing ambient light in a first field of view to the first photosensor, the first field of view being generally above and ahead of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a controller for actuating the air conditioning system and/or the headlights. The controller receiving the first electrical signal and actuating said air conditioning system and/or said headlights in response thereto.
In a different aspect of the present invention there is an apparatus which includes a vehicle having a front and a rear. A housing is mounted on the vehicle. There is an aperture defined within the housing. The apparatus also includes a photosensor receiving ambient light from the aperture, the photosensor being mounted rearward of the aperture. The aperture provides a field of view to the photosensor that is above and ahead of the vehicle.
A different aspect of the present invention concerns a method for detecting a tunnel over a vehicle roadway. The method includes providing an aperture an optical communication with a photosensor, the aperture being within a housing mounted on a vehicle. The aperture is oriented in front of the photosensor such that the aperture provides a field of view to the photosensor that generally faces ahead of the vehicle and generally faces above the vehicle. Light is permitted to enter the aperture and fall incident upon the photosensor. A change is measured in the electrical characteristics of the photosensor when the vehicle approaches a tunnel.
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Cote Mark
Dorschky Jurgen
Gentile Damon F.
Hill Jonathan W.
Control Devices
Hofsass Jeffery
Huang Sihong
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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