US007241034C1
`(12) INTER PARTES REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE (624th)
`United States Patent
`US 7,241,034 CI
`(10) Number:
`Jun. 14, 2013
`(45) Certificate Issued:
`Smith et al.
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`To view the complete listing of prior art documents cited
`during the proceedings for Reexamination Control Numbers
`95/001,621 and 90/011,011, please refer to the USPTO's
`public Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)
`system under the Display References tab.
`
`Primary Examiner — My Trang Nu Ton
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A structure and method for operating a directional control
`system for vehicle headlights that is capable of altering the
`directional aiming angles of the headlights to account for
`changes in the operating conditions of the vehicle. One or
`more operating condition sensors may be provided that gen­
`erate signals that are representative of a condition of the
`vehicle, such as road speed, steering angle, pitch, suspension
`height, rate of change of road speed, rate of change of steering
`angle, rate of change of pitch, and rate of change of suspen­
`sion height of the vehicle. A controller is responsive to the
`sensor signal for generating an output signal. An actuator is
`adapted to be connected to the headlight to effect movement
`thereof in accordance with the output signal. The controller
`can include a table that relates values of sensed operating
`condition to values of the output signal. The controller is
`responsive to the sensor signal for looking up the output
`signal in the table.
`
`(54) AUTOMATIC DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
`SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: James E. Smith, Berkey, OH (US);
`Anthony B. McDonald, Perrysburg, OH
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Balther Technologies, LLC, 1 .ongview.
`TX (US)
`
`Reexamination Request:
`No. 95/001,621, May 16, 2011
`No. 90/011,011, Jul. 10, 2010
`
`Reexamination Certificate for:
`7,241,034
`Patent No.:
`Jul. 10, 2007
`Issued:
`10/285,312
`Appl. No.:
`Filed:
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`(60)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/369,447, filed on Apr.
`2, 2002, provisional application No. 60/356,703, filed
`on Feb. 13, 2002, provisional application No.
`60/335,409, filed on Oct. 31, 2001.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. CI.
`B60Q 1/00
`B06R 22/00
`(52) U.S. CI.
`USPC
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`362/465; 701/49
`
`10
`
`u
`
`UP/DOWN
`ACTUATOR
`
`POSITION
`FEEDBACK
`SENSOR
`
`18
`
`19
`
`POSITION
`FEEDBACK
`SENSOR
`
`LEFT/RIGHT
`ACTUATOR
`
`.3 ^ ZLl
`
`HEADLIGHT
`DIRECTIONAL
`CONTROLLER
`
`I
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`DEVICE
`
`CONDITION
`SENSOR
`
`CONDITION
`SENSOR
`
`17
`
`„
`
`1 6
`
`1
`
`TOYOTA EX. 1002
`
`

`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appeared in the
`patent, but has been deleted and is no longer a part of the 10
`patent; matter printed in italics indicates additions made
`to the patent.
`
`AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN
`DETERMINED THAT:
`
`15
`
`Claims 1-2 are cancelled.
`Claims 3-5 are determined to be patentable as amended.
`New claims 6-39 are added and determined to be
`patentable.
`
`20
`
`US 7,241,034 CI
`
`THE PATENT IS HEREBY AMENDED AS
`INDICATED BELOW.
`
`1
`INTER PARTES
`REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE
`ISSUED UNDER 35 U.S.C. 316
`
`2
`changes by more than a predetermined minimum thresh­
`old amount to prevent at least one of two or more actua­
`tors from being operated continuously or unduly fre­
`quently in response to relatively small variations in at
`least one of the sensed conditions: and
`said two or more actuators each being adapted to be con­
`nected to the vehicle headlight to effect movement
`thereof in accordance with said at least one output sig­
`nal;
`wherein said two or more sensors include a first sensor and
`a second sensor; and
`wherein said first sensor is adapted to generate a signal
`that is representative of a condition including the steer­
`ing angle of the vehicle and said second sensor is
`adapted to generate a signal that is representative of a
`condition including the pitch of the vehicle.
`8. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 7, wherein saidfirst sensor is physically separate from
`said second sensor.
`9. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 7, further comprising one or more additional sensors
`for sensing one or more of a rate of change of road speed of
`3. [The automatic directional control system defined in
`the vehicle, a rate of change of the steering angle of the
`c\a'\ml'\An automatic directional control system for a vehicle
`vehicle, a rate of change of the pitch of the vehicle, a suspen-
`headlight, comprising:
`two or more sensors that are each adapted to generate a 25 si on height of the vehicle, or a rate of change of suspension
`height of the vehicle.
`signal that is representative of at least one ofa plurality
`10. The automatic directional control system defined in
`of sensed conditions of a vehicle such that two or more
`claim 9, wherein at least one of said one or more additional
`sensor signals are generated, said sensed conditions
`generate a signal that is representative of the rate of
`sensors
`including at least a steering angle and a pitch of the
`30 change of the road speed of the vehicle.
`vehicle;
`11. The automatic directional control system defined in
`a controller that is responsive to said two or more sensor
`claim 9, wherein at least one of said one or more additional
`signals for generating at least one output signal only
`sensors generate a signal that is representative of the rate of
`when at least one of said two or more sensor signals
`change of the steering angle of the vehicle.
`changes by more than a predetermined minimum thresh­
`12. The automatic directional control system defined in
`old amount to prevent at least one first one of two or 35
`claim 9, wherein at least one of said one or more additional
`more actuators from being operated continuously or
`sensors generate a signal that is representative of the rate of
`unduly frequently in response to relatively small varia­
`change of the pitch of the vehicle.
`tions in at least one of the sensed conditions; and
`13. The automatic directional control system defined in
`said two or more actuators each being adapted to be con­
`nected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in 40 claim 9, wherein at least one of said one or more additional
`sensors generate a signal that is representative of the suspen­
`accordance with said at least one output signal;
`sion height of the vehicle.
`wherein at least one of said [sensor] /wo or more sensors
`14. Ihe automatic directional control system defined in
`generates [a signal] at least one of said two or more
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`sensor signals that is representative of [the] a rate of
`45 configured such that said two or more actuators include a first
`change of the steering angle of the vehicle.
`actuator and a second actuator and wherein the first actuator
`4. The automatic directional control system defined in
`connected to the headlight to effect movement thereof in a first
`claim [1] 3, wherein at least one of said [sensor] two or more
`direction and the second actuator connected to the headlight
`sensors generates a signal that is representative of [the] a rate
`to effect tnovement thereof in a second direction different from
`of change of the pitch of the vehicle.
`5. The automatic directional control system defined in 50 the first direction.
`15. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim [1] J, wherein at least one of said [sensor] two or more
`claim 7, wherein the two or more actuators include a first
`sensors generates a signal that is representative of [the] a
`actuator that is adapted to be connected to the headlight to
`suspension height of the vehicle.
`effect movement thereof in a vertical direction.
`6. The automatic directional control system defined in
`16. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 3, wherein said two or more sensors include a first 55
`claim 15, wherein the /wo or more actuators include a second
`sensor and a second sensor.
`actuator that is adapted to he connected to the headlight to
`7. An automatic directional control system for a vehicle
`effect movement thereof in a horizontal direction.
`headlight, comprising:
`17. The automatic directional control system defined in
`two or more sensors that are each adapted to generate a
`signal that is representative ofat least one of a plurality 60 claim 7, wherein the two or more actuators include an elec-
`ironically controlled mechanical actuator.
`of sensed conditions of a vehicle such that two or more
`18. The automatic directional control system defined in
`sensor signals are generated, said sensed conditions
`claim 7, wherein the two or more actuators include a step
`including at least a steering angle and a pitch of the
`motor.
`vehicle;
`19. The automatic directional control system defined in
`a controller that is responsive to said two or more sensor 65
`claim 7, wherein the two or more actuators include a servo
`signals for generating at least one output signal only
`motor.
`when at least one of said two or more sensor signals
`
`2
`
`

`
`US 7,241,034 CI
`
`4
`3
`configured such that the pitch of the vehicle is capable of
`20. The automatic directional control system defined in
`being determined by sensing a front and a rear suspension
`claim 7, wherein the two or more actuators include a
`height of the vehicle.
`microstepping motor capable of being operated in fractional
`32. The automatic directional control system defined in
`step increments.
`5 claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`21. The automatic directional control system defined in
`configured such that the pitch of the vehicle is capable of
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`being determined by a pitch sensor.
`configured such that the headlight is adjustably mounted on
`33. The automatic directional control system defined in
`the vehicle such that a directional orientation at which a
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`beam of light projects therefrom is capable of being adjusted ^ configured such that the controller is programmed to be
`responsive to changes in a suspension height of the vehicle
`both up and down relative to a horizontal reference position
`that occur at frequencies lower than a suspension rebound
`and left and right relative to a vertical reference position.
`frequency of the vehicle.
`22. The automatic directional control system defined in
`34. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`configured such that, while in a calibration mode, a direc- 15
`configured such that the controller is programmed to be
`tional orientation at which a beam of light projects is capable
`responsive to changes in a suspension height of the vehicle
`of being adjusted relative to the vehicle by manual operation
`that occur at frequencies lower than a suspension rebound
`of the two or more actuators.
`frequency of the vehicle, thereby ignoring frequency changes
`23. The automatic directional control system defined in
`in the suspension height of the vehicle that are a result of
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is 20 bumps in a road,
`35. The automatic directional control system defined in
`configured such that the controller includes a microprocessor.
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`24. The automatic directional control system defined in
`configured such that the predetermined minimum threshold
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`amount functions as a filter to minimize undesirable opera-
`con figured such that the controller includes a programmable
`25 tion of at least one of the two or more actuators.
`electronic controller.
`36. The automatic directional control system defined in
`25. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 7, wherein said controller is further responsive to at
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system
`least one of said two or more sensor signals to automatically
`further includes at least one position feedback sensor capable
`activate one or more vehicle lights that are dijferent than the
`of providing a position feedback signal associated with at
`30 headlight.
`least one of the two or more actuators.
`37. JTie automatic directional control system defined in
`26. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 36, wherein said one or more vehicle lights that are
`claim 25, wherein the at least one position feedback sensor
`dijferent than the headlight include one or more lights for
`includes a Hall Effect sensor.
`illuminating a road in front of the vehicle during a turn.
`27. The automatic directional control system defined in
`38. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 25, wherein the at least one position feedback sensor 35
`claim 7, wherein said controller is further responsive to a
`includes an optical interrupter.
`steering angle in excess of a predetermined magnitude for
`28. The automatic directional control system defined in
`automatically activating one or more vehicle lights that are
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system
`dijferent than the headlight.
`further includes memory.
`39. The automatic directional control system defined in
`29. The automatic directional control system defined in 40
`claim 7, wherein said controller is further responsive to a
`claim 28, wherein the memory' includes non-volatile memory.
`steering angle in excess of a predetermined magnitude for
`30. The automatic directional control system defined in
`automatically activating one or more vehicle lights that are
`claim 28, wherein the memory is configured to store a prede­
`dijferent than the headlight to extend an angular range of a
`termined reference position associated with the headlight.
`45 road surface.
`31. The automatic directional control system defined in
`claim 7, wherein the automatic directional control system is
`
`3