United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,333,573
`
`Miyauchi et al.
`
`»
`
`[45] Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
`
`‘[54] HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLE
`*
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[75]
`
`1nVent0rS= Shizuya M§y==}uchi;Kiyoshi Wada.
`both ofSh1m1zu, Japan
`
`.
`
`[73] Assignee: Koito Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Tokyo,
`Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 137,021
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Dec. 22, 1987
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 22, 1986 [JP]
`
`Japan ................................ 61-305834
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.4 ...................... .. B60Q 1/10; B6OQ 11/00;
`_
`B62J 6/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. ....................................... .. 362/71; 362/72
`[58] Field of Search .................................. .. 362/71, 72
`
`..................................... 362/71
`3,646,339 2/1972 Yssel
`3,939,339 2/1976 Alphen
`362/72
`
`4,024,337
`5/1977 Alphen
`362/72
`2/1978 Alphen ................................ .. 362/72
`4,075,469
`
`Primary Examiner—Allen M. Ostrager
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm——Sughrue, Mion, Zinn,
`Macpeak & Seas
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A headlight for use in a vehicle and of the type includ-
`ing a light source and a lens which are rotatable around
`the optical axis of the light source and the lens to define
`the inclination of the distribution of the light beam in
`the transverse directions. The light source and the lens
`are formed unitauy and are supported in a lamp body
`rotatably around the optical axis, and the lamp body is
`provided with a driving device for rotating the inte-
`grally formed light source and the lens.
`
`9 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`E}?
`
`:1
`32
`'
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`
`
`
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`89
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`Reference Voltage
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`L_____________________________________ ___,-
`
`92
`
`
`
`1
`
`KOITO 1031
`
`Koito Manufacturing v. Adaptive Headlam
`|PR2016-0007
`
`1
`
`KOITO 1031
`Koito Manufacturing v. Adaptive Headlamp
`IPR2016-00079
`
`

`
`US. Patent May 23,1939
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`Sheet 1 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`Fl G. 1
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`2
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`U.S. Patent May 23,1989
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`3 Sheet 2 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`Fl G. 2
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`3
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`May 23, 1989
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`Sheet 3 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`Fl G. 3
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`I
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`Patent
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`4
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`US. Patent May 23,1989
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`Sheet 4 of 12
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`FI G. 4
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`5
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`US. Patent May 23,1939
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`Sheet 5 of 12
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`F/G.5
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`6
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`

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` U.S.Patent
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`May 23, 1989
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`Sheet 6 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`FIG. 6A
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`FIG. 6B
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`37b
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`15 °
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`37a
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`37
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`7
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`7
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`US. Patent May 23,1989
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`Sheet 7 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`F/6.7
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`8
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`U.S. Patent May 23,1939
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`Sheet 3 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`U.S. Patent May 23,1939
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`V Sheet 9 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`US. Patent May 23,1989
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`Sheet 10 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 23,1989
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`Sheet 11 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`F/G.13 CPVRIOR ART)
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`12
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`12
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`US. Patent May 23,1939
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`Sheet 12 of 12
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`4,833,573
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`F/(5.15(PRIORART)
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`13
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`13
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`

`
`1
`
`HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLE
`
`4,833,573
`
`The present invention will be described according to
`following items.
`A. Field of the Invention
`B. Prior Art
`
`5
`
`'
`
`1, FIG. 2, FIG.
`
`l0
`
`l5
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`25
`
`a. General Background [FIG. 13~FIG. 15]
`b. Prior Art Headlight
`C. Problems to be solved by the Invention
`D. Summary of the Invention
`E. Brief Description of Drawings
`F. Embodiment
`a. Headlight [FIG. 1~FIG. 7]
`a-1 Lamp Body [FIG. 1~FIG. 3]
`a-2 Reflecting Mirror, Cover Lens [FIG. 1~FIG.
`3]
`a-3 Movable Portion [FIG.
`4~FIG. 7]
`a-3a Connecting Member [FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 20
`5]
`a-3b Control Lens [FIG. 1, FIG. 4]
`a-3c Bulb [FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4-FIG. 6]
`a-3d Support by Lamp Body [FIG. 1]
`a-3e Light Distribution [FIG. 5, FIG. 7]
`a-4 Driving Means of Movable Portion [FIG. 1,
`FIG. 4]
`a-5 Driving Means of Lamp Body [FIG. 2, FIG. 3]
`b. Inclination Detector of Vehicle [FIG. 8~FIG. 11] 30
`b-1 Casing [FIG. 9~FIG. 11]
`b~2 Gimbals [FIG. 8~FIG. 11]
`b-3 Motor, Rotating Member [FIG. 8»-FIG. 11]
`b-4 Potentiometer [FIG. 8~FIG. 12]
`b-5 Operation
`c. Control Circuit [FIG. 12]
`d. Light Distribution Adjusting Operation
`G. Advantage?of the Invention
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`Namely, when the two wheeled vehicle travels along
`a leftward curved road, the driver inclines the vehicle
`body leftward by an angle a as shown in two dotted
`chain lines in FIG. 14 and the light distribution of the
`headlight also inclines leftward as shown in full line f in
`FIG. 15. When the two wheeled vehicle travels along a
`rightward curved road, the driver inclines the body of
`the vehicle rightward by an angle B as shown in chain
`lines in FIG. 14 and the light distribution of the head-
`light also inclines rightward as shown in chain line g in
`FIG. 15.
`V
`When the light distribution inclines leftward as
`shown in line f, the headlight illuminates too near por-
`tion on the traveling lane and a portion higher than the
`horizontal line H—H on the facing lane which is haz-
`zardous against
`the facing vehicles. When the light
`distribution inclines rightward the headlight also illumi-
`nates too near portion on the traveling lane.
`b. Prior Art Headlight
`It has been proposed to adjust the light distribution
`by detecting the inclination of the body of the two
`wheeled vehicle and changing the direction of members
`determining the inclination of the light distribution.
`Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-18430 shows one
`example, wherein a reflective mirror supporting a bulb
`and a lens is rotatable around the optical axis and, when
`the body of the vehicle inclines in the transverse direc-
`tion the mirror is rotated by an electric motor to adjust
`the light distribution.
`
`PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE
`INVENTION
`-
`
`35
`
`The prior art headlight described as above has been
`formed to move integrally the reflecting mirror, the lens
`and the electric bulb, thus, the movable portion is in-
`creased in the size and the weight, and it is required to
`use a complicated supporting structure such that the
`reflective mirror is supported by a plurality of rollers on
`40 the casing of the light.
`Thus, the dimension and the weight of the headlight
`device increase, and the driving force also increases.
`Further, it is required to increase the driving force of
`the movable portion, and it is difficult to accurately
`adjust the movement of the movable portion.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a headlight for use in
`a vehicle such as a motor cycle and, particularly to a
`headlight of the type which enables to adjust the light
`distribution in the transverse direction by changing
`simultaneously the direction of a plurality of optical 45
`members, and aims to provide novel and improved
`means for changing the direction of the plurality of
`optical members, thereby reducing the size and weight
`of the headlight and improving the operational charac-
`teristics of the headlight.
`PRIOR ART
`
`50
`
`a. General Background [FIG. l3—FIG. 15]
`A lighting member should have a predetermined light
`distribution as required by the illuminating function of 55
`the lighting member, such that a headlight of a vehicle
`is required to have a light distribution a of so-called low
`beam as shown in FIG. 13. In the drawing, shown at b,
`and b are shoulders of a road, c is the center line, d is a
`traveling lane and e is a facing lane. Further, V—V is
`the vertical line relative to the traveling lane, and H—H
`is the horizontal line.
`While, a two wheeled vehicle such as a motor cycle
`inclines the vehicle body in the transverse direction in
`traveling a curved lane or in changing the track for
`managing the centrifugal force, thus, the headlight also
`inclines in the same direction and the distribution of the
`light inclines accordingly.
`
`65
`
`60
`
`14
`
`According to the invention, there is provided a head-
`light for use in a vehicle of the type wherein the inclina-
`tion of the light distribution in the transverse direction
`is defined by the rotation of the light source and the lens
`around the optical axis, characterized in that the light
`source and the lens are formed integrally and are sup-
`ported in a lamp body rotatable around the optical axis;
`and that a driving means is provided in the lamp body to
`rotate the integrally formed light source and the lens.
`Thus, according to the invention,
`it
`is required to
`move only the light source and the lens in adjusting the
`light distribution and the construction of supporting
`means for the movable members can be simplified, and
`the dimension and the weight of the headlight can be
`reduced to the minimum, further, the adjusting move-
`ment is smooth and accurate.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 show one example of a head-
`light of a vehicle according to the present invention,
`and
`
`14
`
`

`
`4,833,573
`
`3
`FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along line
`I——I in FIG. 2:
`
`FIG. 2 is a plan view;
`FIG. 3 is a side view;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a movable portion;
`FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged rear view;
`FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective view of a bulb;
`FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line B—B
`FIG. 7 is a view showing the light distribution;
`FIG. 8 through FIG. 11 shows an inclination detec-
`tor of a vehicle body, wherein FIG. 8 shows the work-
`ing principle; FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view; FIG.
`10 is a sectional view taken along line X——X in FIG. 9;
`and FIG. 11 is a partially broken perspective view;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control circuit;
`FIG. 13 is a view showing a typical light distribution
`of a headlight of a vehicle;
`FIG. 14 is a view showing the inclination of a body of
`a two wheeled vehicle in the transverse direction, and
`FIG. 15 is a view showing the light distribution when
`the vehicle body is inclined.
`EMBODIMENT
`
`One embodiment according to the invention will now
`be explained in conjunction with the drawings.
`It will be noted that the embodiment enables to adjust
`the light distribution in the transverse directions, and
`also in the vertical directions.
`a. Headlight [FIG. 1~FIG. 7]
`1 Shown at 1 in the drawings is a headlight according
`to the invention. In FIG. 2, the left side is the front side
`of the vehicle, the right side the rear side, the upper side
`the right side and, the lower side is the left side.
`a-l Lamp Body [FIG. 1~FIG. 3]
`The headlight 1 includes a lamp body 2, which in-
`cludes a generally bowl shaped main portion 3 with an
`open end thereoflocated forward, and a generally annu-
`lar rim 4 connected to the open end of the main body 3.
`There are provided on left and right side of the main
`portion 3 projecting portions 5 and 5' having generally
`circular configuration as viewed from transverse direc-
`tions and having rearward and generally horizontally
`extending arms 6 and 6' respectively. The arms 6 and 6'
`have on the rear ends generally vertically extending
`worm gears 7 and 7’ which cooperate respectively with
`worm wheels which will be explained afterwards.
`Supporting arms 8 and 8’ extend forwards from the
`front end of the body of a vehicle (not shown) and are
`spaced left and right directions from each other. The
`supporting arms 8 and 8’ have on the front end portions
`thereof supporting shafts or pins 9 and 9’ to project
`opposingly to each other for rotatably supporting the
`projecting portions 5 and 5’ respectively, thereby the
`lamp body 2 can be inclined generally vertically with
`respective to the vehicle body.
`a-2 Reflecting Mirror, Cover Lens [FIG. 1~FIG. 3]
`Shown at 10 is a reflecting mirror having a reflecting
`surface 10a of the shape of a paraboloid of revolution,
`and generally annular lens supporting portions 11 and
`12 are formed on the front end portion of the mirror 10
`by bending and expanding the portion in two steps as
`shown in FIG. 1. An annular opening 13 is formed in
`the rear end portion of the mirror 10, and annular pro-
`jection 14 is formed on the edge of the opening 13 to
`project rearward from the mirror 10.
`A generally annular mounting ring 15 is secured to
`the outer surface of the mirror 10, and a plurality of
`connecting pieces 16, 16 .
`.
`. (only one of which is
`
`5
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`10
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`15
`
`20
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`4
`shown in FIG. 1) are formed on the front edge of the
`ring 15.
`There is provided a generally annular retaining ring
`17 having on the front edge thereof a generally annular
`lens retaining portion 18 which is formed by bending
`radially inward the front edge portion. The retaining
`ring 17 is connected to the mirror 10.
`An annular groove 19 (FIG. 1) is formed by the lens
`supporting portion 11 of the front side and the lens
`retaining portion 18 of the retaining ring 17 to receive
`therein the outer circumference of a cover lens 20.
`The connecting pieces 16, 16 .
`.
`. of the mounting ring
`15 are connected to the rear end portion of the retaining
`ring 17, thereby the cover lens 20 is fitted to close the
`open end of the rim 4 or to close the open end of the
`lamp body 2.
`a-3 Movable Portion [FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4~FIG. 7]
`Shown at 21 is a movable portion which comprises a
`connecting member 22, a control lens 31 and a bulb 32.
`a-3a Connecting Member [FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 5]
`The connecting member 22 acts to connect the con-
`trol lens 31 and the bulb 32, and comprises a circular
`plate portion 24 having an opening 23 in the central
`portion, four curved arms 25, 25 .
`.
`. integrally extend-
`ing forward from the outer periphery of the circular
`plate portion 24 and spaced generally 90° from each
`other, and a tubular portion 26 integrally extending
`rearward from the edge of the opening 23. A bulb
`mounting tube 27 is fitted in and secured to the tubular
`portion 26 with the rear end portion thereof extending
`rearward of the tubular portion 26.
`Three cutouts 28a, 28b and 28c are formed in the rear
`end portion of the bulb mounting tube 27 as shown in
`FIG. 5 and the width of the uppermost cutout 28a is
`larger than that of remaining two cutouts 28b and 28c.
`A generally circular gear plate 29 is fitted on and
`secured to the rear end of the tubular portion 26, and
`has on the upper and lower portions of the outer periph-
`ery arcuate gears 30 and 30' each having gear teeth in
`the outer circumference thereof.
`a-3b Control Lens [FIG. 1, FIG. 4]
`The control lens 31 controls the light distribution
`emitted from the lamp body 2, and has a thick thickness
`portion 31a on the outer circumference, a radial flange
`31b on the outer circumference of the portion 31:: and a
`relatively small recess 31c in the central portion of the
`front surface.
`The outer peripheral portion 31:: of the control lens
`31 is secured to the tip ends of the arms 25, 25 .
`.
`. of the
`connecting member 22 whereby the control lens 31 is
`integrally connected to the connecting member 22.
`a-3c Bulb [FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4~FIG. 6]
`The Bulb 32 is preferably “Halogen H, Headlamp
`Bulb” of EC standard, which comprises a base 33, a
`glass bulb 34 projecting forward from the base 33, a
`sub-filament 35 acting as a light source of low beam, a
`main filament 36 acting as a light source of main beam
`and a douser cap 37 of generally dish shaped configura-
`tion covering for covering generally the lower half and
`the forward of the sub-filament 35.
`
`A generally tubular flange portion 38 is secured to the
`base 33 with the diameter of which being slightly
`smaller than the inner diameter of the bulb mounting
`tube 27 of the connecting member 22 and, has on the
`rear end thereof three radially outward extending locat-
`ing pieces 39a, 39b and 39c. The forward end of the
`flange portion 38 is secured to the forward portion of
`the base 33 by such as welding.
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`
`5
`The positional relationship and the width of the locat-
`ing pieces 39a, 39b and 39c correspond respectively
`with that of the cutouts 28a, 28b and 28c of the bulb
`mounting tube 27 of the connecting member 22.
`The locating pieces 39a, 39b and 39c are located such 5
`that when the piece 39a of the wide width is located
`vertically upward of the optical axis of the bulb 32 as
`shown in FIG. 6A, the left shoulder line 37a of the
`douser cap 37 is located lower than the horizontal line
`including the optical axis by l5° as shown in FIG. 6B.
`The bulb 32 is mounted on the mounting tube 27 with
`the locating pieces 39a, 39b and 39c of the flange por-
`tion 38 engaging respectively corresponding cutouts
`28a, 28b and 28c of the bulb mounting tube 27 of the
`connecting member 22, whereby angular position of the
`bulb 32 around the optical axis relative to the connect-
`ing member 22 and the lens 31 is determined, and a bulb
`retainer 40 [FIG. 1]is provided on the mounting tube 27
`to retain the bulb 32 on the mounting tube 27.
`The control lens 31 and the bulb 32 are connected
`integrally through the connecting member 22 and are
`located co-axially with respect to the optical axis x—x.
`a-3d Support by Lamp Body [FIG. 1]
`The movable portion 21 is rotatably mounted around
`the optical axis x—x of the control lens 31 and the bulb
`32 within the space defined between the reflective mir-
`ror 10 and the cover lens 20. Namely, the flange 31b of
`the control lens 31 is slidably fitted in an annular groove
`defined by the lens supporting portion 12 of the rear
`side and the rear surface of the outer circumferential
`portion of the cover lens 20, and the recess 31c in the
`front central portion of the lens 31 is rotatably engaging
`the projection 20a formed on the rear central portion of
`the cover lens 20, so that movable portion 21 is rotat-
`ably supported in the mirror 10 and the cover lens 20. 35
`The tubular portion 26 of the connecting member 22 is
`rotatably inserted through the annular projection 14 of
`the reflective mirror 10.
`
`l0
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`25
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`30
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`4,833,573
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`6
`is located lower side of the horizontal line by the central
`angle of 15° is reflected upward and is transversely
`inverted, whereby the bright zone 42 is formed.
`a-4 Driving means of Movable Portion [FIG. 1, FIG. 4]
`The movable portion 21 is rotated by driving means
`43.
`
`A supporting plate 44 is mounted to cover the rear
`side of the mirror 10, and has a central opening 45
`through which the rear end of the base 33 of the bulb 32
`extends rearward.
`
`The lower end portion of the supporting plate 44 is
`formed to project slightly rearward to mount a first
`motor 46 with the rotatable shaft 460 thereof extending
`generally parallel to the optical axis. A gear wheel 47
`mounted on the shaft 46:: engages with the lower side
`arcuate gear 30’ of the connecting member 22.
`A first inclination detector 48 is mounted on the inner
`surface of the upper end portion of the supporting plate
`44, and a rotor shaft 49 of the detector 48 has a gear 50
`fixed thereon to engage with the upper side arcuate gear
`30 of the connecting member 22. The detector 48 com-
`prises a potentiometer the resistance of which changes
`according to the rotation of the shaft 49.
`When the first motor 46 rotates, the lower arcuate
`gear 30’ rotates due to the gear 47 of the first motor 46,
`thus, the gear plate 29 rotates and, the connecting mem-
`ber 22, integrally with the bulb 32 and the control lens
`31, rotates around the optical axis whereby the angle of
`the beam of the headlight 1 changes in the transverse
`directions.
`The rotation of the gear plate 29 causes the rotation
`of the gear 50 of the first inclination detector 48 through
`theupper side arcuate gear 30, thus, the terminal volt-
`age of the detector 48 changes, and the angle of inclina-
`tion of the bulb 32 and the control lens 31 in the trans-
`verse directions can be detected from the terminal volt-
`age.
`a-5 Driving Means of Lamp Body [FIG. 2, FIG. 3]
`The mirror 10, the cover lens 320 and the movable
`portion 21 are inclined in the vertical directions by
`rotating the lamp body 2 in the vertical directions
`through driving means 51.
`The driving means 51 comprises a second motor 52
`being mounted on the left surface of the right side sup-
`porting arm 8’. And the rotatable shaft 52a of the motor
`52 extends in the vertical directions and has a worm 53
`to engage with the worm wheel 7' which is formed on
`the right side arm 6’ of the lamp body 2.
`A second inclination detector 54 is mounted on the
`
`right surface of the left side supporting arm 8, and a
`worm gear 56 fixed on the tip end of the rotatable shaft
`55 engages with the worm wheel 7 which is formed on
`the left side arm 6 of the lamp body 2. The detector 54
`comprises a potentiometer the resistance of which
`changes in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 55.
`Upon the rotation of the second motor 52, the tip end
`of the right side arm 6’ of the lamp body 2 moves in the
`vertical directions, and the lamp body 2 together with
`integrally the control lens 31, the bulb 32, the connect-
`ing member 22, the mirror 10 and the like inclines in the
`vertical directions around the axis defined by the pins 9
`and 9’. The optical axis x—x of the control lens 31, the
`bulb 32 and the mirror 10 also inclines in the vertical
`directions, thus, the light beam moves in the vertical
`directions.
`
`The inclining movement of the lamp body 2 in the
`vertical directions causes the rotation of the rotor shaft
`55 of the second inclination angle detector 54 through
`
`The cover lens 20 is mounted after the movable por-
`tion 21 is located in the mirror 10, and is fitted in the lens 40
`supporting portion 11 of the front side, then, the mount-
`ing ring 15 is connected to the retaining ring 17. The
`gear plate 29 is connected to the tubular portion 26 of
`the connecting member 22 after the member 22 is con-
`nected to the mirror 10 and the portion 26 projects 45
`rearward of the projection 14 of the mirror 10.
`Thus, the bulb 32 and the control lens 31 are mounted
`in the lamp body 2 rotatably around the optical axis x-x
`and, the main filament 36 of the bulb 32 takes the posi-
`tion of the focus F of the mirror 10 and, the subfilament 50
`35 of the bulb 32 takes the position slightly forward of
`the focus F of the mirror 10.
`
`55
`
`a-3e Light Distribution [FIG. 5, FIG. 7]
`The douser cap 37 of the bulb 32 normally takes the
`position as shown in FIG. 5, namely, the left shoulder
`line 37a lies on the horizontal plane 41 including the axis
`of the mirror 10, and the right shoulder line 37b takes
`' the position lower side of the horizontal plane 41 by 15'’.
`Thus, the light distribution of the sub-filament 35 at
`the positional relationship of above described bulb 32
`and the mirror 10 has, as shown in FIG. 7, an upward
`bright zone 42 on the left side of the vertical line V-—-V
`including the optical axis of the bulb 36 and upper side
`of the horizontal line H——H and having the central
`angle of 15°. Namely, since the sub-filament 35 is lo- 65
`cated on the optical axis of the mirror 10 and slightly
`forward of the focus F, the light beam passing adjacent
`to the right shoulder line 37b of the douser cap 37 which
`
`60
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`
`4,833,573
`
`7
`the worm gear 7 on the left side arm 6 and the gear 56,
`thus, the terminal voltage of the detector 54 changes,
`and the angle of inclination of the headlight 1 in vertical
`directions relative to the vehicle body can be detected
`by detecting the terminal voltage.
`b. Inclination Detector of Vehicle [FIG. 8~FIG. 11]
`The inclination angle of the vehicle is detected by
`vehicle body inclination detecting means 57 shown in
`FIG. 8~FIG. 11.
`
`b-1 Casing [FIG. 9~FIG. 11]
`A casing 58 is mounted on generally central portion
`of the body of the vehicle, and comprises a cover mem-
`ber 59 and a base plate 60 on which the cover member
`59 is mounted. In FIG. 11, the forward direction of the
`vehicle is denoted by the inclined left and upward direc-
`tion and the inclined right and downward direction
`depicts the rear side of the vehicle. There are provided
`on the base plate 60 supporting walls 6] and 61’ spaced
`parallel in the forward and rearward directions of the
`vehicle and having respectively aligned supporting
`bores 62 and 62’ extending in the forward and rearward
`directions or the longitudinal directions.
`b-Z Gimbals [FIG. 8~FIG. 11]
`An outside gimbal 63 is a generally annular member
`and has shafts 64 and 64’ which project longitudinally
`and horizontally and are rotatably received in the bores
`62 and 62' respectively. The gimbal 63 further has bores
`65 and 65' defining an axis perpendicular to the forward
`and rearward directions or the transverse directions. A
`projecting portion 66 is formed integrally to project
`downward of the left side supporting bore 65.
`An inside gimbal 67 is rotatably supported by bores
`65 and 65' of the outside gimbal 63, and has a generally
`circular base plate 67a with the diameter of which being
`slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outside
`gimbal 63, a peripheral wall 67b integrally formed on
`the base plate 61a, and a generally tubular projection 68
`integrally formed on the central portion of the base
`plate 67a and having an open lower end and a closed
`upper end. Further, shafts 69 and 69’ project in the
`transverse directions and are rotatably received in the
`bores 65 and 65' respectively.
`b-3 Motor, Rotating Member [FIG. 8~FIG. 11]
`A motor 70 is mounted on the inside gimbal 67 with
`the upper portion thereof being received in the projec-
`tion 68 of the gimbal 67 and the lower half portion being
`located by a motor mounting member 71 which is se-
`cured to the lower surface of the base plate 67:: of the
`inside gimbal 63. A rotating shaft 701: of the motor 70
`extends upward through an opening 68a formed in the
`projection 68, and is connected to a rotor 72.
`The rotor 72 is a circular member with the diameter
`being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the
`outer peripheral wall 67b of the inner gimbal 67 and has
`a relatively large recess 73 in the central portion of the
`lower surface thereof. An opening 73:: is formed in the
`central portion of the upper surface of the recess 73 to
`which the upper end portion of the rotating shaft 70a is
`forcively fitted. The projection 68 of the inner gimbal
`67 is loosely received in the recess 73. Thus, the rotor 72
`is rotated by the motor 70 around the axis of the shaft
`70a of the motor 70.
`The inner gimbal 67 can freely be inclined both in the
`transverse and longitudinal directions with respect to
`the casing 58 or to the vehicle body, and the motor 70‘
`is mounted on the inner gimbal 67, thus, the centrifugal
`force caused of the rotation of the rotor 72 acts to main-
`tain the shaft 700 of the motor 70 in the direction paral-
`
`8
`lel to the direction of the gravity or in the vertical direc-
`tions. Accordingly, even though the body of the vehicle
`is inclined, the rotor 72 and the inner gimbal 67 are
`maintained on the horizontal attitude.
`b-4 Potentiometer [FIG. 8~FIG. 12]
`A first potentiometer 74 is secured to the rear side
`supporting wall 61, and a gear 76 is secured to the tip
`end of a rotor shaft 75 of the potentiometer 74 to engage
`with a gear 77 which is secured to a portion of the shaft
`64' of the outer gimbal 63 projecting through the sup-
`porting bore 62’ in the supporting wall 61’.
`A second potentiometer 78 is mounted on the project-
`ing portion 66 of the outer gimbal 63, and a gear 80 is
`secured to the tip end portion of a rotor shaft 79 of the
`potentiometer 78 to engage with a gear 81 which is
`secured to a portion the shaft 69' of the inner gimbal 67
`projecting through the supporting bore 65’ in the sup-
`porting wall 64’.
`These potentiometers 74 an_d 78 have in respective
`casings resistances 82 and 83 (FIG. 8) with contact
`points 84 and 85 provided on rotor shafts 75 and 79
`slidably engaging with the resistances 82 and 83.
`b-5 Operation
`The inclination of the vehicle body is detected by the
`inclination detecting means 57 as follows.
`When the rotor 72 is rotating or the inner gimbal 67
`is maintained on the horizontal attitude and, when the
`vehicle body inclines in the longitudinal directions or
`the vehicle takes the forward up or the forward down
`attitude,
`the outer gimbal 63 inclines in longitudinal
`directions, thus, the gear 81 fixed to the shaft 69 of the
`inner gimbal 67 rotates relative to the outer gimbal 63,
`thereby the gear 81 rotates the gear 80 fixed to the rotor
`shaft 79 of the second potentiometer 78. the contact
`position of the contact point 85 secured to the rotor
`shaft 79 relative to the resistance 83 changes, the resis-
`tance value of the resistance 83 changes and the termi-
`nal voltage of the second potentiometer 78 also‘
`changes. Accordingly, the angle and the direction of
`the inclination of the body of the vehicle in longitudinal
`directions can be detected from the terminal voltage.
`When the vehicle inclines in transverse directions, the
`outer gimbal 63 is also maintained on the horizontal
`attitude, and the gear 77 fixed to the shaft 64' of the
`outer gimbal 63 rotates relative to the casing 58, thus,
`the gear 77 rotates the gear 76 fixed to the rotor shaft 75
`of the first potentiometer 74. The contact position of the
`contact point 84 secured to the rotor shaft 75 relative to
`the resistance 82 changes, the resistance value of the
`resistance 82 changes and the terminal voltage of the
`first potentiometer 74 also changes. Accordingly, the
`angle and the direction of the inclination of the body of
`the vehicle in transverse directions can be detected
`from the terminal voltage.
`When the vehicle inclines both in longitudinal and
`transverse directions, the angle and the direction can be
`detected by the first and the second potentiometers 74
`and 78 simultaneously.
`c. Control Circuit [FIG. 12]
`Now, description will be made with respect to con-
`trol circuit 87.
`A first comparison circuit 88 compares the terminal
`voltage of the first potentiometer 74 or the signal indi-
`cating the inclination of the vehicle body in the trans-
`verse directions with a reference voltage received from
`a reference voltage generating circuit 89 or a voltage
`equal to the terminal voltage of the first potentiometer
`74 when the vehicle body is not inclined in the trans-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

`
`9
`verse directions and, generates a driving signal corre-
`sponding the difference therebetween to a first motor
`driving circuit 90 for driving the first motor 46. The
`first motor 46 is driven in the normal or reverse direc-
`tions whereby the movable portion 21 is inclined left-
`ward or rightward.
`A second comparison circuit 91 compares the termi-
`nal voltage of the first inclination angle detector 48 or
`the signal
`indicating the inclination of the movable
`portion 21 relative to the vehicle body in transverse
`directions with a reference voltage received from a
`reference voltage generating circuit 92 or a voltage
`which should be supplied from the first
`inclination
`angle detector 48 and corresponding to a predetermined
`correction angle and, supplies to the first motor driving
`circuit 90 a stop signal for stopping the rotation of the
`first motor 46 when the two signals are equal to each
`other.
`Thus, when the vehicle body inclines in the trans-
`verse directions, the movable portion 21 is inclined by
`the first motor 46 to a desired direction and amount.
`A third comparison circuit 93 compares the terminal
`voltage of the second potentiometer 78 or the signal
`indicating the inclination of the vehicle body in the
`longitudinal directions with a reference voltage re-
`ceived from a reference voltage generating circuit 89 or
`a voltage equal to the terminal voltage of the second
`potentiometer 78 when the vehicle body is not inclined
`in the longitudinal directions and, generates a driving
`signal corresponding the difference therebetween to a
`second motor-driving circuit 94 for driving the second
`motor 52. The second motor 52 is driven in the normal
`or reverse directions whereby the lamp body 2, the
`mirror 10, the movable portion 21 and the like are in-
`clined either of the upward and downward directions.
`A fourth comparison circuit 95 compares the terminal
`voltage of the second inclination angle detector 54 or a
`signal
`indicating the inclination of the lamp body 2
`relative to the vehicle body in longitudinal directions
`with a reference voltage received from the reference
`voltage generating circuit 92 or a voltage correspond-
`ing to a desired correction angle and, supplies a signal to
`the second motor driving circuit 94 for stopping the
`rotation of the second motor 52 when the two signals
`are equal to each other.
`Thus, when the vehicle body inclines in longitudinal
`directions, the lamp body 2 is inclined by the second
`motor 52