United States Patent [19]
`Liao
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005580148A
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`5,580,148
`Dec. 3, 1996
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`[54] AUTOMATICALLY SLAVED MOTOR
`VEHICLE LIGHT
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Yu-Ken Liao, Suite 1, llF, 95-8 Chang
`Ping Rd. Sec. 1, Taichung, Taiwan,
`Taiwan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 436,151
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`May 8, 1995
`
`Int. Cl.6
`[51]
`....................................................... B60Q 1/24
`[52] U.S. Cl . ................................. 362/35; 362/37; 362171;
`362/74; 362/66; 362/423; 362/40
`[58] Field of Search .................................. 362171, 35, 37,
`362/40, 66, 74, 69, 233, 271, 269, 272,
`275,287,419,420,422,423,424,427,
`428; 74/42, 53, 54
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1,491,377
`4,204,270
`4,353,110
`4,722,030
`4,833,573
`4,890,207
`
`411924 Calhoun .................................. 362/422
`511980 Poirier d'Ange d'Orsay ........... 362/71
`1011982 Ellis .................................... 362/233 X
`111988 Bowden .............................. 362/423 X
`5/1989 Miyauchi et al. . ....................... 362/71
`12/1989 Jones ....................................... 362/233
`
`4,930,057
`511990 Williams .. ............................... 362/272
`4,973,155
`1111990 Masuda ..................................... 362171
`5,099,400
`311992 Lee ........................................ 362171 X
`5,404,278
`411995 Shibata et al ......................... 362/37 X
`Primary Examiner-Denise L. Gromada
`Assistant Examiner-Thomas M. Sember
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`
`An automatically slaved light for a motor vehicle comprises
`a roof mounted lamp steerable about a horizontal and
`vertical axis, and an internal control unit within the coach of
`the vehicle. The control unit rotates the lamp unit about the
`vertical axis via a first motor in the lamp housing when the
`vehicle is engaging a tum, wherein the lamp is rotated in the
`direction of tum of the vehicle to an angle proportional to the
`steering angle thereof as determined by a steering angle
`sensor coupled to the vehicle's steering wheel. The lamp is
`rotated upward about the horizontal axis by the control unit
`via a second motor in the lamp housing when the vehicle is
`traversing a declinate section of road, wherein the lamp unit
`is rotated upward relative the longitudinal axis of the motor
`vehicle to an angle proportional to the angle defined between
`the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the gravitational
`horizon which is determined by a level sensor in the control
`unit.
`
`1 Claim, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`60
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`82
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`Page 1 of 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 3, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`5,580,148
`
`r---- ---------------------------------------.,
`:
`Control Unit 20
`I
`I
`I
`1
`I
`1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`Level Sensor31
`
`Microprocessor Unit
`40
`
`I
`1
`I
`~
`I
`I
`I
`1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`\
`
`l Steering Angle
`Sensor 32
`1
`I
`I
`I
`1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`L ------------------------------- _J
`
`1
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`Eleva.tioool Angle
`Motor 51
`
`Azimuth Angle
`Motor 52
`
`F I G .l
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`Page 2 of 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 3, 1996
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`5,580,148
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`60
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`82
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`F I G.
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`2
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`Page 3 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 3, 1996
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`5,580,148
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`60
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`62
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`511
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`~10
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`81
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`90
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`F
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`G.
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`J
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`Page 4 of 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 3, 1996
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`5,580,148
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`Page 5 of 7
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`

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`5,580,148
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`2
`FIG. 3 is a perspective assembled view of the assembly of
`FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 shows the steerable light assembly mounted on the
`roof of a motor vehicle.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`1
`AUTOMATICALLY SLAVED MOTOR
`VEHICLE LIGHT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`
`5
`
`The present invention relates to an automatically slaved
`lamp for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to an
`automatically slaved lamp which is externally mounted on a 10
`vehicle roof and which rotates in the direction of tum of the
`vehicle and which rotates upwards when the vehicle is
`traversing a downslope.
`The prior art teaches the lateral pivoting of a vehicle's
`head lamps for more efficient illumination of a traversed 15
`path when engaging a curved track of road, while others also
`teach the pivoting elevation of a vehicle head lamps when
`traversing a downslope so as to better illuminate the straight
`road at the bottom of the slope. However, to the best
`knowledge of the instant inventor, no prior art teaches the 20
`combined pivoting of a lamp unit about both vertical and
`horizontal axes when a host vehicle is traversing a crowed
`path or a downward slope, respectively, for more efficient
`and timely illumination of the anticipated path, and which
`employs an independent lamp trait and housing which is 25
`mounted on the roof of the vehicle under the control of a
`control unit installed within the vehicle's coach.
`
`The automatically slaved light of the present invention
`comprises a steerable light housing 10 mounted on the roof
`of a motor vehicle, as shown in FIG. 4, and a control unit 20
`internally mounted within the vehicle for determining the
`direction of illumination of the light housing. Referring to
`FIG. 1, the control unit comprises a level sensor 31, a
`steering angle sensor 32, and a microprocessor unit 40 which
`controls actuator motors within the light housing 10 via
`interface circuits 41. The level sensor 31 senses the angle of
`the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle above or below the
`gravitational horizon, and provides this information to the
`microprocessor 40 in signal communication therewith. Simi(cid:173)
`larly, the steering angle sensor 32 senses the angle of steer
`of the motor vehicle as determined by the angular orienta(cid:173)
`tion of the steering wheel within the vehicle's cabin which
`is engaged therewith, and communicates this information to
`the microprocessor. The microprocessor 40 controls step
`motors 51,52 in communication with the outputs thereof via
`the interface circuits 41 as a function of the inputs from the
`level sensor and steering angle sensor.
`Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle roof mounted light
`housing 10 comprises a lamp unit 60 pivotably mounted on
`a gimbal 70, a pair of C shaped flanges 81.82 between which
`the gimbal is rotatingly secured, and a circular base plate 90
`to which the flanges are fixedly secured. The lamp unit has
`35 an axle projection 61 on one side thereof which is disposed
`through a hole 72a on a first ear 72 of the gimbal. A gear 62
`is fixed on a diametrically opposed projection opposite axle
`61 which is disposed within a hole 73a on a second ear 73
`of the gimbal to pivotably secure the lamp unit thereon. Gear
`40 62 is engaged with a gear 511 coupled to the shall of motor
`51 fixed to the exterior of the second ear of the gimbal. 70.
`The lamp unit can be rotated about a horizontal axis on the
`gimbal by step motor 51 thereby enabling control of the
`elevational angle of the lamp unit. Gimbal 70 is rotatingly
`45 secured between the symmetrical flanges 81,82 which are
`fixed to base plate 90 via threaded fasteners (not shown)
`engaged through through holes on the outer peripheries
`thereof; which also extend through the roof of the motor
`vehicle to secure the steerable light assembly thereon. A gear
`50 71 depends frown the center of the roughly cup shaped
`gimbal below the bowl701 thereof over which the lamp unit
`is mounted. Gear 71 is engaged with a gear 521 coupled to
`the shaft of motor 52 fixed on the base plate 90. The lamp
`unit is rotated about a vertical axis on the gimbal by step
`55 motor 52 so as to control the azimuth angle thereof
`In operation, the microprocessor 40 effects the rotation of
`lamp unit 60 about a vertical azimuth axis via motor 52
`wherein the lamp unit is rotated in the direction of tum of the
`motor vehicle to an angle proportional to the steering angle
`thereof as determined by input from sensor 32. In this
`manner the illumination from the lamp unit is directed along
`the actual path of travel of the vehicle when traversing a
`curved road section, whereat in comparison the illumination
`frown conventional head lamps would be generally directed
`tangentially to the curved path. The rotation of the lamp unit
`60 about the horizontal elevational angle is similarly con(cid:173)
`trolled by microprocessor 40 via motor 51 wherein the lamp
`
`30
`
`60
`
`65
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`The automatically slaved vehicle light of the present
`invention comprises a roof mounted lamp unit rotatably
`supported about horizontal and vertical axis in a lamp
`housing, and an internal control unit mounted within the
`vehicle's cabin. The microprocessor based control unit
`includes a steering angle sensor coupled to the vehicle's
`steering wheel for sensing the direction and angle of tum of
`the vehicle, and a level sensor which determines the decli(cid:173)
`nation angle of the vehicle when traversing a downward
`slope. As a function of the inputs from the steering angle
`sensor and level sensor, the microprocessor transmits control
`signals to motors disposed within the lamp housing which
`rotate the lamp about the vertical and horizontal axes to a
`degree proportionate to the angular displacements registered
`by the respective sensors.
`The present invention has as a main objective to provide
`an automatically slaved vehicle light as characterized which
`increases passenger safety by better illuminating curved
`road sections so as to provide ample warning of approaching
`objects thereon, and similarly to provide ample warning of
`approaching objects on a relatively level road section at the
`bottom of a declinate path of approach.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide an
`automatically slaved vehicle light as characterized which
`can be easily installed or retrofitted into conventional motor
`vehicles.
`A more thorough understanding of the present invention
`will be attained by reference to a detailed description of a
`preferred embodiment thereof provided below along with
`accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the slaved light of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a steerable light
`housing.
`
`Page 6 of 7
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`5,580,148
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`5
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`3
`is rotated upward when the motor vehicle is descending an
`inclinate section of road. The lamp unit is rotated upward to
`an angle which is proportional to the downward elevational
`angle between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the
`gravitational horizon.
`In comparison with the illumination of conventional head
`lamps of a motor vehicle, the steerable lamp of the present
`invention would rotate about the vertical axis when the
`vehicle is negotiating a curve so as to direct the light from
`the lamp onto the curved road section ahead and better
`illuminate the path, whereas the light from the conventional
`headlights would be directed generally tangent to the crowed
`path and provide a less optimal illumination. Similarly, the
`upward rotation of the steerable lamp when the vehicle is 15
`traveling down a slope provides better illumination of the
`stretch of level road at the bottom of the descent whereas
`conventional head lamps would direct illumination largely at
`the straight path where it immediately adjoins the descent.
`The modular lamp assembly can be readily and inexpen-
`sively mounted on a vehicle roof using mechanical fasteners
`and the control cables for the stepper motors can be inter(cid:173)
`nally routed to the controller within the cabin of the vehicle
`by a mechanic of average skill. The controller can either be 25
`mounted in or on the vehicle's dashboard wherein a signal
`cable therefrom leads to the steering angle sensor which is
`also readily coupled to the steering column by a skilled
`mechanic. The steerable lamp assembly of the present
`invention can thus be readily retrofitted onto an existing 30
`conventional vehicle and does not need re-design or modi(cid:173)
`fied manufacturing of a motor vehicle.
`The scope of the present invention should not be con(cid:173)
`strued to be limited to the specificities of the above disclo(cid:173)
`sure. Many modifications and variations could be accom- 35
`plished by a person of average skill in the art, and as such
`the actual breadth of the present invention should be deter(cid:173)
`mined from the appended claim.
`
`20
`
`4
`
`I claim:
`1. An automatically slaved light comprising:
`a base member mounted on a roof of a motor vehicle in
`a substantially horizontal orientation with respect
`therewith;
`a gimbal member rotatingly secured on said base member
`about a substantially vertical axis;
`a lamp member rotatingly mounted on said gimbal mem(cid:173)
`ber about a substantially horizontal axis;
`an azimuth motor rotatingly coupled to said gimbal mem(cid:173)
`ber for rotating said gimbal member about the vertical
`axis;
`an elevation motor rotatingly coupled to said lamp mem(cid:173)
`ber for rotating said lamp member about the horizontal
`axis;
`a steering angle sensing means coupled to a steering
`column of said motor vehicle for sensing a steering
`angle thereof;
`a level sensing means for sensing an elevational angle of
`said motor vehicle;
`a controller means for receiving respective signals from
`said steering angle sensing means and said level sens(cid:173)
`ing means in communication therewith, and for trans(cid:173)
`mitting control signals to respective said azimuth motor
`and said elevation motor in cov:ununication therewith,
`said controller means effecting a rotation of said gimbal
`member via control signals to said azimuth motor in a
`direction of a tum of said motor vehicle to a degree
`proportional to a angle of tum thereof as determined by
`a signal from said steering angle sensing means, and a
`upward rotation of said lamp member via control
`signals to said elevation motor upon a downward
`direction of travel of said motor vehicle to a degree
`proportional to a downward elevational angle thereof as
`determined by a signal from said level sensing means.
`
`* * * * *
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`Page 7 of 7