ZA201005894B

ZA201005894B - Vehicle headlight controller

Info

Publication number: ZA201005894B
Application number: ZA2010/05894A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Daniel Johannes Rossouw
Original assignee: Virizest Cc
Priority date: 2009-05-19
Filing date: 2010-08-18
Publication date: 2011-04-28

Description

£:2010/ 05894

VEHICLE HEADLIGHT CONTROLLER

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION : RE

This invention relates to a vehicle headlight controller and, more particularly, to a vehicle headlight controller that enables headlights to be illuminated, optionally at a reduced intensity, during daytime driving in order to invoke the : benefits of so-called "daytime running lights". More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle headlight controller that provides a facility that enhances its performance, at least in certain circumstances. :

It is to be understood that the term vehicle headlight controller as used in this . 15 specification is used in a broad context and is intended to include situations in which daytime running lights that are separate from the vehicle headlights are used in which instance the controller may be configured to control only the daytime running lights and not any of the other vehicle lights or it may have control over other lights as well.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is widely acknowledged that it is beneficial from a safety point of view for motor vehicles to be driven during daytime with their headlights on or alternatively special purpose dedicated daytime running lights on. The aim is to increase the conspicuousness of vehicles on the roadway with a consequent decrease in the number of accidents caused by vehicles being inadequately visible. The system has been adopted widely by many countries as a standard national requirement of vehicles sold subsequent to various deadline dates. Typically, headlights are employed for this purpose, in some instances at a reduced intensity from that used under conditions of darkness.

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller] : :

CT 2010/ 058094

Thus, the headlights of such a vehicle in daytime running mode are illuminated at all times when the ignition of the vehicle is switched on, or in : some instances some seconds thereafter, or when the handbrake is released, and they remain illuminated until such time as the vehicle ignition is switched off and any timer times out.

There are, however, instances in which it may be desirable to leave a vehicle's engine running whilst it is not being driven and, in such an instance, it may also be desirable that the daytime running lights do not consume electrical energy from the battery, alternator or other power supply. Such a condition may, for example, exist when it is desired to charge a vehicle battery that is somewhat depleted or, alternatively, when one or more . electrically energised appliances are being energised by the vehicle's battery, or alternatively, a separate battery pack that needs recharging from time to time.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle headlight controller that will enable the difficulty perceived above to be "alleviated, at least to some extent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a motor vehicle headlight controller having at least one output for energising a daytime running light circuit by connecting it with a motor vehicle electrical energy source, the motor vehicle headlight controller being characterised in that a sensor is employed for sensing, whilst the vehicle engine is running, a condition that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary and wherein override means are provided for enabling the daytime running circuit of the vehicle lights to be disabled for the duration of said condition persisting.

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller]

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A particular further feature of the invention provides for the motor vehicle headlight controller to include a light sensor for exposure to ambient lighting conditions wherein the output from such a light sensor is employed by the controller to selectively energize either full strength headlights under conditions of darkness or poor ambient light, or reduced intensity headlights under conditions of brighter ambient light.

Further features of the invention provide for a timer to be included for maintaining the headlights in an energized condition for a predetermined period of time after the vehicle engine has been switched off, for the motor vehicle headlight controller to have at least one output for controlling one or more of the taillights, parking lights and license plate illumination lights; for the condition that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary to be the . position of a handbrake or the position of a gear actuator corresponding to neutral or any other non-driving condition; for the override means to be manually operable at the instance of a driver or a vehicle supervisor; and for the override means to become automatically disabled to return the daylight running light circuit to its normal “on” condition once a driving condition is adopted. : : It is a particular feature of the invention that the motor vehicle headlight controller may be sold in a kit form for installation on a vehicle and, accordingly, such a kit is intended to fall within the scope of this invention. Of course, such a kit may or may not include items that are already present in a motor vehicle although provision may be made for connecting the controller to such items as required.

Of course, the motor vehicle headlight controller may be provided in a motor vehicle as original equipment.

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller] .

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a schematic circuit block diagram of a motor vehicle headlight controller according to the invention in its condition in which it is fitted to a vehicle. i

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention the circuit block diagram of which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawing, a motor vehicle headlight arrangement includes a motor vehicle headlight controller [1] that has an output for energising a daytime running light [2]. In this instance, the daytime running light is automatically selected from a reduced intensity of the headlights, as indicated by numeral [3], and headlights in the normal condition, as indicated by numeral [4], on the basis of the output from a photo sensor [5] that is connected to a controlling circuit [6] that serves to operate the headlight controller. oo :

The headlight controller has a further output [7] for energizing the parking lights, tail lights and number plate lights that are all collectively indicated by the numeral [8].

In each instance the controller operates to connect the relevant lights to the motor vehicle electrical power supply that may be a battery [10], or an alternator, or any other power supply.

The headlight controller is also connected, in use, to the battery or other power supply by way of the vehicle's ignition switch [11]. :

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller] ’

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As provided by this invention, the headlight controller is connected to a sensor that in this instance assumes the form of a switch [12] that may be associated with any part of the vehicle that would change its state when the vehicle is stationary as opposed to when the vehicle engine running. One such switch is a hand brake switch for illuminating a hand brake indicator light [13] when the handbrake is engaged. Of course, the handbrake switch is “off’ when the vehicle is in a driving mode and “on” when the vehicle is stationary with the vehicle engine running. Accordingly, the condition of the handbrake switch becomes the condition that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary with the engine running when the handbrake is on.

An alternative arrangement would be for a sensor switch to change state when the vehicle gears are in neutral with the engine running and the vehicle stationary.

In any event, whilst the condition persists that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary with the engine running, and as provided by this invention, override means are provided for enabling the daytime running lights to be ~ manually disabled for periods of time during which the vehicle remains stationary with the engine running. In the one particular instance mentioned above, this could be whilst the handbrake of the vehicle remains “on”.

The means include, in this instance, a manually operable pushbutton by-pass switch [14] that, upon operation whilst the sensor switch is activated such as : would result from the handbrake being “on”, causes the controller to electronically swap over from one condition in which the daytime running light circuit is capable of being energised, to another in which the daytime running light circuit is rendered inoperable by the headlight controller. The arrangement is such that as soon as the sensor switch reverts to a normal condition that is consistent with the vehicle being driven, such the handbrake being released, the daytime running light controller reverts to its original

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller]

£ 20107058 94 position in which the daytime running lights become energised in the usual way according to the condition of the ignition switch.

Of course, if the manually operable switch. is not operated, the daytime running lights will remain on whilst the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.

It will therefore be understood that, in use, the daytime running lights operate normally so as to become illuminated when the ignition is on; the engine is running; and the vehicle is being driven normally.

It will also be understood that, at all times, the intensity of the daytime running headlights will be determined by the intensity of light impinging on the photo sensor [5].

When the vehicle is stationary, however, and it is desired to charge one or other set of batteries, or simply to energise one or more electrical appliances ’ such as a mobile refrigeration unit, the vehicle can be left stationary with the engine running in order to effect the required generation of electricity using the vehicle alternator. However, in order to conserve electrical energy, and, as may be required by the vehicle driver or supervisor, the daylight running headlights can be extinguished by operating the by-pass switch [14] in order to cause the controller to disable the daylight running headlights. Of course, according to requirements, and preferably, the controller may maintain the parking lights, as well as optionally the number plate lights, “on” for safety purposes under selected conditions.

The controller may also include a timer that maintains the daylight running headlights in an "on" condition for a predetermined time period after a vehicle engine has been switched off for the convenience or safety of the driver or any other personnel in the vicinity. The time period for which the headlights remain “on” could be adjustable by means of a manually adjustable time

P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller] }

7 tr fa ev £72010/ 05804 delay control unit [15] provided typically on the controller housing or at some other point in the driver's cab, for example.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, as indicated above, the sensor for determining whether the vehicle is in a driving mode or not, could be a sensor associated with a gear transmission activator so that, when the vehicle is in neutral, the override can be operated but the override automatically becomes deactivated when a gear is engaged and driving of the vehicle commences.

Numerous other variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. . P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller] .

Claims

. . + 20107058094 CLAIMS: | IN

1. A motor vehicle headlight controller having at least one output for : energising a daytime running light circuit by connecting it with a motor vehicle electrical energy source, the motor vehicle headlight controller being characterised in that a sensor is employed for sensing, whilst the vehicle engine is running, a condition that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary and wherein override means are provided for enabling the daytime running light circuit of the vehicle. lights to be disabled for the duration of said condition persisting.

2. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in claim 1 in which a light sensor is included for exposure to ambient lighting conditions wherein the output from such a light sensor is employed by the controller to selectively energize either full strength headlights under conditions of darkness or poor ambient light, or reduced intensity headlights under conditions of brighter ambient light.

3. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which a timer is included for maintaining the headlights in an energized condition for a predetermined period of time after the vehicle engine has been switched off.

4. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in claim 3 in which the predetermined period of time is adjustable.

5. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one output is provided for controlling one or more of the tail lights, parking lights and license plate - illumination lights. P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller]

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6. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the condition that is consistent with the vehicle being stationary is selected from the position of a handbrake and the position of a gear actuator corresponding to neutral.

7. . A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the override means is manually operable at the instance of a driver or a vehicle supervisor.

10.

8. A motor vehicle headlight controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the override means becomes automatically disabled to return the daylight running light circuit to its normal “on” condition once a driving condition is adopted.

9. A motor vehicle headlight controller substantially as herein described : and exemplified with reference to the accompanying block diagram.

10. A motor vehicle headlight controller in a kit form for installation on a vehicle to form a controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. Dated this 17" day of August 2010 VON SEIDELS A. Property Attorneys for the applicant P1983ZA00/Complete [Headlight Controller]