WO1990011912A1 - Automobile lighting - Google Patents

Automobile lighting Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1990011912A1
WO1990011912A1 PCT/GB1990/000483 GB9000483W WO9011912A1 WO 1990011912 A1 WO1990011912 A1 WO 1990011912A1 GB 9000483 W GB9000483 W GB 9000483W WO 9011912 A1 WO9011912 A1 WO 9011912A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensitive device
automobile
light sensitive
level
light level
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1990/000483
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Keith Richard Rudd
Original Assignee
Keith Richard Rudd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Keith Richard Rudd filed Critical Keith Richard Rudd
Publication of WO1990011912A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990011912A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/0017—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
    • B60Q1/0023—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
    • B60Q1/1423—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/05—Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
    • B60Q2300/052—Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/312—Adverse weather
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/314—Ambient light

Definitions

  • This invention concerns automobile lighting. Switching on of automobile lights is entirely at the discretion of the driver of the automobile, although it is raamdatory for automobile lights to be switched on at or after lighting up time. However, it would often be advantageous in terms of safety for automobile lights to be switched on, for example during poor visibility due to weather conditions such as rain, fog or heavy cloud and during that period of the day known as dusk were it is neither light nor dark. During these times drivers are often undecided as to whether or not their automobile lights should be switched on.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide for automatic switching on of automobile lights under predetermined light conditions, so that it is not up to the driver whether or not his automobile lights should be switched on.
  • an automobile lighting system at least one light sensitive device, which will make the automobile lighting circuit below a predetermined ambient light level.
  • the light sensitive device may be any suitable such device, for example a photoelectric cell.
  • the light sensitive device will preferably be positioned on the vehicle so that its operation will not be affected by collection of dirt and the like on the devide.
  • the light sensitive device could be included in a head lamp of the automobile or in any other lamp enclosure thereof. Alternatively, the light sensitive device could be sited on or behind an automobile windscreen.
  • the automobile lighting system of the invention include means for delaying making of the lighting circuit for a predetermined period to allow the automobile to pass bridges and tunnels without the lighting circuit being made upon immediate actuation of the light sensitive device.
  • the light sensitive device would be set to make the automobile lighting circuit in order to switch on the head lamps and tail lamps of the automobile when the ambient light drops to a predetermined level. That may be due to adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, heavy cloud or at dusk.
  • the system of the present invention will serve to switch on automobile lights automatically during darkness, which will help in those situations where the driver of an automobile has forgotten to switch on his lights and once activated the circuitry will preferably remain latched until they are extinguished automatically when the vehicle ignition is turned off or otherwise extinguished by the driver cancelling the automatic operation by a suitable switch.
  • FIG 1 shows schematically an automobile lighting system according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows one embodiment of circuit diagram for controlling automatic light operation.
  • an automobile lighting circuit includes head lamps 10 and tail lamps 12 connected to a twelve volt battery supply 14.
  • the circuit includes switch means for closing the circuit to bring the lights on.
  • the circuit further includes a photo-electric cell 18 which is arranged to bypass the switch means 16 to make the lighting circuit to switch on the head and tail lamps when the ambient light conditions fall below a predetermined level, such as in heavy rain, fog, heavy cloud or at dusk.
  • the photoelectric cell may be included in a head lamp or in another automobile lamp enclosure. Alternatively the light sensitive device may be on or behind an automobile windscreen.
  • an automobile lighting circuit of the invention is it no longer necessary for a driver to decide whether or not he should switch on his automobile lights but that decision will ⁇ be made for him by the photoelectric cell. It will, of course, still be possible for the driver of the automobile to switch on his lights at any other time that he feels it to be necessary.
  • FIG. 2 One practical circuitry (including the photoelectric cell 18 of Figure 1) is shown in Figure 2. Power is taken from the vehicle live supply of 12V and regulated down to 5V with regulation circuitry 21. A push to break switch 23 provides a facility to isolate the automatic lighting circuitry or resetting as necessary.
  • the circuitry includes a variable resistor VRl for setting the effective light level at which the light will be automatically turned on, a variable resistor VR2 for setting a delay period before the lights are automatically turned on, and an integrated circuit processor ICl to monitor a signal arising from the photocell, in relation to the set delay.
  • a delay time variation of 3 to 15 seconds has been found suitable.
  • a signal is generated on line 24 related to the value set at VRl and the resistance at the photocell 18 which arises in relation to actual light intensity.
  • this signal will trigger transistor TR1 and put a signal on line 25 via inverter IC2 to terminal 2 of ICl. This is monitored continuously by ICl and if the trigger signal continues for a period set by the value of VR2, then IC2 generates an output on line 27 which is inverted by IC2', and switches transistor TR3 to actuate relay RLA and turn on the lights.
  • the same relay may be utilised otherwise a further relay provided and wired into the lighting circuitry in parallel to the normal switch.
  • the circuit includes a feed back loop 29 which serves to ensure that once ICl has been triggered it remains triggered until the supply line is interrupted.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

In order to avoid the driver of a vehicle having to remember to switch on the lighting system of an automobile the present invention proposes means responsive to a change in light level to activate the lighting system below a predetermined ambient light level. The means comprises a photoelectric cell (18) and a processor (IC1) which monitors a signal with respect to a level set by resistor (VR1) and activates the lights if that level persists for a period set by resistor (VR2). A feedback loop (29) avoids deactivation.

Description

Title: Automobile Lighting
DESCRIPTION
This invention concerns automobile lighting. Switching on of automobile lights is entirely at the discretion of the driver of the automobile, although it is raamdatory for automobile lights to be switched on at or after lighting up time. However, it would often be advantageous in terms of safety for automobile lights to be switched on, for example during poor visibility due to weather conditions such as rain, fog or heavy cloud and during that period of the day known as dusk were it is neither light nor dark. During these times drivers are often undecided as to whether or not their automobile lights should be switched on.
An object of the present invention is to provide for automatic switching on of automobile lights under predetermined light conditions, so that it is not up to the driver whether or not his automobile lights should be switched on.
According to the present invention there is provided in an automobile lighting system at least one light sensitive device, which will make the automobile lighting circuit below a predetermined ambient light level.
The light sensitive device may be any suitable such device, for example a photoelectric cell. The light sensitive device will preferably be positioned on the vehicle so that its operation will not be affected by collection of dirt and the like on the devide. The light sensitive device could be included in a head lamp of the automobile or in any other lamp enclosure thereof. Alternatively, the light sensitive device could be sited on or behind an automobile windscreen.
It is preferred that the automobile lighting system of the invention include means for delaying making of the lighting circuit for a predetermined period to allow the automobile to pass bridges and tunnels without the lighting circuit being made upon immediate actuation of the light sensitive device.
The light sensitive device would be set to make the automobile lighting circuit in order to switch on the head lamps and tail lamps of the automobile when the ambient light drops to a predetermined level. That may be due to adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, heavy cloud or at dusk. Obviously the system of the present invention will serve to switch on automobile lights automatically during darkness, which will help in those situations where the driver of an automobile has forgotten to switch on his lights and once activated the circuitry will preferably remain latched until they are extinguished automatically when the vehicle ignition is turned off or otherwise extinguished by the driver cancelling the automatic operation by a suitable switch.
This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 shows schematically an automobile lighting system according to the invention, and
Figure 2 shows one embodiment of circuit diagram for controlling automatic light operation.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, an automobile lighting circuit includes head lamps 10 and tail lamps 12 connected to a twelve volt battery supply 14. The circuit includes switch means for closing the circuit to bring the lights on. The circuit further includes a photo-electric cell 18 which is arranged to bypass the switch means 16 to make the lighting circuit to switch on the head and tail lamps when the ambient light conditions fall below a predetermined level, such as in heavy rain, fog, heavy cloud or at dusk. The photoelectric cell may be included in a head lamp or in another automobile lamp enclosure. Alternatively the light sensitive device may be on or behind an automobile windscreen.
Thus, with an automobile lighting circuit of the invention, is it no longer necessary for a driver to decide whether or not he should switch on his automobile lights but that decision will^be made for him by the photoelectric cell. It will, of course, still be possible for the driver of the automobile to switch on his lights at any other time that he feels it to be necessary.
One practical circuitry (including the photoelectric cell 18 of Figure 1) is shown in Figure 2. Power is taken from the vehicle live supply of 12V and regulated down to 5V with regulation circuitry 21. A push to break switch 23 provides a facility to isolate the automatic lighting circuitry or resetting as necessary.
The circuitry includes a variable resistor VRl for setting the effective light level at which the light will be automatically turned on, a variable resistor VR2 for setting a delay period before the lights are automatically turned on, and an integrated circuit processor ICl to monitor a signal arising from the photocell, in relation to the set delay. A delay time variation of 3 to 15 seconds has been found suitable.
In operation, a signal is generated on line 24 related to the value set at VRl and the resistance at the photocell 18 which arises in relation to actual light intensity. At the pre-set level this signal will trigger transistor TR1 and put a signal on line 25 via inverter IC2 to terminal 2 of ICl. This is monitored continuously by ICl and if the trigger signal continues for a period set by the value of VR2, then IC2 generates an output on line 27 which is inverted by IC2', and switches transistor TR3 to actuate relay RLA and turn on the lights.
Where the automobile lighting circuit is powered up through a switch activated relay, the same relay may be utilised otherwise a further relay provided and wired into the lighting circuitry in parallel to the normal switch.
The circuit includes a feed back loop 29 which serves to ensure that once ICl has been triggered it remains triggered until the supply line is interrupted.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in an automobile lighting system comprising means responsive to a change in light level including a light sensitive device to activate the automobile lighting system below a predetermined ambient light level.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means comprises a light sensitive device.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the light sensitive device comprises a photocell whose resistance is variable in dependence upon light level.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the predetermined ambient light level is set using a variable resistor.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4 in which said means further comprises processor circuitry responsive to a signal from the light sensitive device to power up the lighting system directly or indirectly.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which power up is by means of a relay.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6 in which the processor circuitry monitors said signal and only powers up the lighting circuitry if the ambient light level remains below the predetermined level for a prescribed period.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the prescribed period is set using a variable resistor.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 in which said means further comprises a feedback loop from an output of the processor circuitry to its input to latch switching circuitry thereof after initial activation.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 in which the processor circuitry comprises a microprocessor/integrated circuit.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10 in which the light sensitive device is positioned in a vehicle lamp enclosure.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10 in which the light sensitive device is positioned on or behind an automobile windscreen.
13. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB1990/000483 1989-04-12 1990-03-30 Automobile lighting WO1990011912A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8908197.0 1989-04-12
GB898908197A GB8908197D0 (en) 1989-04-12 1989-04-12 Automobile lighting

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990011912A1 true WO1990011912A1 (en) 1990-10-18

Family

ID=10654843

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1990/000483 WO1990011912A1 (en) 1989-04-12 1990-03-30 Automobile lighting

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5418690A (en)
GB (1) GB8908197D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1990011912A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2543908A (en) * 2015-09-04 2017-05-03 Ford Global Tech Llc Automatic vehicle lighting control

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1091419A (en) * 1964-11-06 1967-11-15 Irving Rosenblum A sealed-beam automobile headlight lamp
FR2221894A1 (en) * 1973-01-15 1974-10-11 Biagiotti Joseph Automatic switching control of vehicle headlamps - involves light intensity detector, switching and control ccts.
GB2064238A (en) * 1979-11-21 1981-06-10 Graham C J Automatic switching unit for vehicle driving lights
BE898037A (en) * 1983-10-20 1984-02-15 Modiano Andrea Electronic circuit for automatically switching vehicle lamps - uses photoresistance to detect light level and logic circuit to give hysteresis and has lay for engine starting
DE3402284A1 (en) * 1983-09-13 1984-08-23 Andreas 7900 Ulm Miller Device for automatically switching on and off the external illumination of motor vehicles
DE3419695A1 (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-11-28 ICS Consulting & Service Co AG, Zollikon, Zürich Dimmer switch for motor vehicles or the like
GB2204946A (en) * 1987-05-18 1988-11-23 Stephen George Marland Automatic vehicle light switch

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1091419A (en) * 1964-11-06 1967-11-15 Irving Rosenblum A sealed-beam automobile headlight lamp
FR2221894A1 (en) * 1973-01-15 1974-10-11 Biagiotti Joseph Automatic switching control of vehicle headlamps - involves light intensity detector, switching and control ccts.
GB2064238A (en) * 1979-11-21 1981-06-10 Graham C J Automatic switching unit for vehicle driving lights
DE3402284A1 (en) * 1983-09-13 1984-08-23 Andreas 7900 Ulm Miller Device for automatically switching on and off the external illumination of motor vehicles
BE898037A (en) * 1983-10-20 1984-02-15 Modiano Andrea Electronic circuit for automatically switching vehicle lamps - uses photoresistance to detect light level and logic circuit to give hysteresis and has lay for engine starting
DE3419695A1 (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-11-28 ICS Consulting & Service Co AG, Zollikon, Zürich Dimmer switch for motor vehicles or the like
GB2204946A (en) * 1987-05-18 1988-11-23 Stephen George Marland Automatic vehicle light switch

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2543908A (en) * 2015-09-04 2017-05-03 Ford Global Tech Llc Automatic vehicle lighting control

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5418690A (en) 1990-11-05
GB8908197D0 (en) 1989-05-24

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