throbber
UK Patent Application
`
`(12)
`
`GB
`
`(19)
`
`(11)
`
`(13)
`
`2 309 774 A
`
`(43) Date of A Publication 06.08.1997
`
`(21) Application No 9701822.0
`
`(22) Date of Filing 29.01.1997
`
`(51) INT CL6
`B60Q1/115
`
`(30) Priority Data
`(31) 08037108
`
`(32) 01.02.1996
`
`(33) JP
`
`(52) UK CL (Edition O )
`F4R RMC R364 R41Y R765 R78X R789
`U1SS1934
`
`(71) Applicant(s)
`Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
`
`(Incorporated in Japan)
`
`8-3, Takanawa 4-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
`
`(72) Inventor(s)
`Kazuki Takahashi
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`Gill Jennings & Every
`Broadgate House, 7 Eldon Street LONDON,
`EC2M 7LH, United Kingdom
`
`(56) Documents Cited
`GB 2115929 A EP 0699559 A1 EP 0554663 A2
`US 5195816 A US 4204270 A
`
`(58) Field of Search
`UK CL (Edition O ) F4R RMC
`INT CL6 B60Q 1/08 1/10 1/105 1/11 1/115
`Online : WPI, CLAIMS, JAPIO
`
`(54) Controlling direction of vehicle lights
`(57) The illumination direction of lights in a vehicle is controlled by detecting vehicle posture (eg height
`and/or inclination) and whether the vehicle is stationary and/or has passed through a change of road gradient,
`and directing the illumination of the lights to a desired direction in accordance with signals received from the
`posture detection device. Control means effect the direction change only when the vehicle is stationary and/or
`has passed through a change of gradient. Reference values related to time may be used to prevent unwanted
`light movements due to rough road surfaces and sudden stops or starts.
`
`FIG. 1
`
`i
`
`4
`
`i
`
`CONTROL DEVICE
`
`5
`
`\
`
`5a
`I
`DRIVE
`CONTROL
`DEVICE
`
`6
`
`5b
`I
`DRIVE
`MECHANISM
`
`I
`
`2
`I
`VEHICLE POSTURE
`DETECTION DEVICE
`
`3
`I
`VEHICLE RUNNING CONDITION
`DETECTION DEVICE
`
`At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.
`
`o
`03
`ro
`CO o co
`>
`
`1
`
`TOYOTA EX. 1008
`
`

`

`•4-©'
`
`MECHANISM
`
`^ DRIVE
`
`6
`
`5b
`
`I
`
`^ CONTROL
`
`DEVICE
`
`DRIVE
`/
`5a
`
`5
`
`1
`
`*•
`
`DETECTION DEVICE
`VEHICLE RUNNING CONDITION
`
`3 L
`
`^ CONTROL DEVICE
`
`DETECTION DEVICE
`VEHICLE POSTURE
`
`4 i
`
`I
`2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2
`
`

`

`x
`
`\\
`
`\
`
`S s
`J
`i X
`
`S
`
`7
`
`L—
`
`7
`
`6
`
`FIG. 2
`
`NGE
`
`3
`
`

`

`FIG. 3
`FIG. 3
`
`FIG. 4
`FIG. 4
`
`FIG. 5
`FIG. 5
`
`FIG. 6
`FIG. 6
`
`3/7
`3/7
`
`o
`
`o
`
`o
`
`o
`
`1
`
`+ - 1
`
`- 1
`
`^ t
`
`4
`
`

`

`4/7
`
`FIG. 7
`
`START
`
`*•
`
`SI
`
`YES
`
`DOES VEHICLE STOP
`
`NO
`
`VEHICLE POSTURE IS
`DETECTED
`
`—S2
`
`IS
`VARIATION IN ROAD
`GRADIENT LARGE?
`
`YES
`
`S3
`
`S4
`
`NO
`
`HAS GIVEN TIME
`. PASSED? .
`
`NO
`
`^ YES
`
`LAMP ILLUMINATION
`DIRECTION IS
`CORRECTED
`
`—85
`
`LAMP ILLUMINATION
`DIRECTION IS NOT
`CORRECTED
`
`— S6
`
`5
`
`

`

`5/7
`l75
`
`FIG. 8
`
`V4
`
`Tsh
`
`Tsh
`
`i
`
`0
`
`••
`
`Tm
`
`To
`
`Vb
`
`Va
`
`0
`d l
`
`6 a
`
`0b
`
`0
`
`VS A
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`6/7
`
`FIG. 9
`
`13
`
`14
`
`CONSTANT
`VOLTAGE
`SUPPLY
`CIRCUIT
`
`RESET
`CIRCUIT
`
`—10
`
`MICRO­
`COMPUTER ^
`
`12
`o
`
`9
`
`VEHICLE
`HEIGHT
`SENSOR
`
`<*»
`
`*•
`
`*•
`
`r
`A/W
`
`A/W
`AAAr
`A/W
`A/W—4
`
`777
`
`15 i
`
`NON-VOLATILE
`MEMORY
`
`OSCILLATOR
`
`*>
`
`16
`
`777
`
`8
`
`11
`
`VEHICLE
`SPEED
`SENSOR
`
`17
`
`19
`
`9- ACTUATOR
`
`L- ACTUATOR
`
`19'
`
`(---18
`
`7
`
`

`

`7/7
`
`FIG. 10
`
`13
`
`14
`
`CONSTANT
`VOLTAGE
`SUPPLY
`CIRCUIT
`
`RESET
`CIRCUIT
`
`^10
`
`MICRO­
`COMPUTER ^
`
`•«
`
`12
`o
`
`9
`
`8A
`
`11
`
`VEHICLE
`SPEED
`SENSOR
`
`17
`
`O-L
`
`22
`
`VEHICLE
`HEIGHT
`SENSOR
`
`J
`
`15
`i
`NON-VOLATILE
`MEMORY
`
`OSCILLATOR
`
`r-j
`
`16
`
`20
`I
`DRIVE T !
`MOTOR "T"0"!
`M J
`£ 21 22'
`CIRCUIT -L^
`i
`
`-o-L
`
`20'
`
`MOTOR -r0}
`DRIVE T !
`CIRCUIT -L&l M N
`J
`
`21'
`
`I
`
`8
`
`

`

`2309774
`
`A VEHICLE LAMP ILLUMINATION DIRECTION CONTROL DEVICE
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp
`illumination direction control device which detects the
`posture of a vehicle and correctly adjust the illumination
`direction of a vehicle lamp so that it can be always kept in
`a predetermined direction.
`
`Conventionally, there has been known a device (a so
`called automatic leveling device) which, even when the
`inclination of a vehicle body varies, is capable of
`automatically adjusting the illumination direction of the
`vehicle lamp so that the illumination direction of the
`vehicle lamp can be kept at a predetermined direction,
`The
`device of this type, with the conditions of occupants (such
`as the number of occupants, the position arrangement of the
`occupants, and the like) as well as the loaded conditions of
`loads on board the vehicle taken into consideration, corrects
`manually the illumination angle of the vehicle lamp with
`respect to the initially adjusted value of the vehicle lamp
`so that the illumination state of the vehicle lamp can be
`always kept in a desired state, thereby to control the
`illumination direction of the vehicle lamp to provide desired
`light distribution.
`For example, when a load is applied to the rear
`portion of the vehicle, the device finds the then inclination
`angle of the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction
`thereof, and inclines the vehicle lamp downward because the
`illumination direction of which would be displaced upwardly
`of the reference direction if the posture of the vehicle lamp
`is left as it is, thereby adjusting the illumination
`direction of the vehicle lamp so that the vehicle lamp
`
`1
`
`9
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`illumination direction can be always kept in the reference
`direction.
`However, in the above-mentioned manual adjustment,
`there is no guarantee that the illumination direction of the
`lamp can be always held in the optimum condition with respect
`to the posture of the vehicle. Therefore, there is
`conventionally known a device which includes a device for
`detecting the posture of the vehicle by detecting the
`inclination and height of a vehicle body, and calculates the
`amount of variations in the inclination of the vehicle based
`on the information that is obtained by the detect device,
`thereby being able to adjust automatically the illumination
`direction of the lamp.
`However, in the above-mentioned automatic adjustment
`device, since the lamp is driven with high frequency, an
`actuator used in a drive mechanism for driving the lamp is
`required to show high response property and high durability.
`Due to this, the adjustment device is expensive and consumes
`a large amount of electric power.
`Therefore, in order to avoid the above
`inconveniences, there can be expected a device which corrects
`the illumination direction of the lamp only when the vehicle
`is standing still. However, in such device, when the vehicle
`stops once on a road having a gradient, the illumination of
`the lamp cannot be corrected until the vehicle stops again on
`a road having a small gradient, which raises another
`inconvenience.
`For example, when the vehicle stops on a
`downhill road, because the vehicle posture detect device
`detects that the front portion of the vehicle is lower in
`position, the illumination direction of the lamp is corrected
`to a position which is set a little upwardly of a reference
`position.
`After then, when the driver starts the vehicle
`while the illumination direction of the lamp remains as it is
`corrected upwardly, and the vehicle passes through the
`
`2
`
`10
`
`

`

`downhill slope and then runs into a flat road, that is, even
`when the vehicle runs along the flat road, the illumination
`direction of the lamp is still left in the upwardly corrected
`condition until the vehicle stops again, which can cause an
`increase in the glare onto an oncoming vehicle or can worsen
`the visibility of the driver of the present vehicle.
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to
`provide a vehicle lamp illumination direction control device
`capable of not only reducing the cost thereof but also
`correctly adjusting the illumination direction of a lamp
`according to the stationary condition of the vehicle and the
`amount of variations in the gradient of the road to thereby
`improve the visibility thereof and guarantee the safety of
`the running of the vehicle.
`In attaining the above object, according to the
`invention, there is provided a vehicle lamp illumination
`direction control device so structured as to change the
`illumination direction of a vehicle lamp according to the
`vertical inclination of a vehicle in the advancing direction
`thereof, the vehicle lamp illumination direction control
`device comprising:
`a vehicle posture detection device for detecting the
`posture of the vehicle;
`a vehicle running condition detection device for
`detecting the running conditions of the vehicle including the
`stationary condition thereof;
`a drive device for directing the illumination light
`of the lamp to a desired direction; and,
`control device, when it is judged in accordance with
`a signal from the vehicle running condition detection device
`that the vehicle is in the stationary condition thereof and
`when it is judged that the vehicle has run from a road having
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`3
`
`11
`
`

`

`a small gradient into a road having a large gradient or the
`vehicle has run from a road having a large gradient into a
`road having a small gradient, for transmitting to the drive
`device a signal for correcting the illumination direction of
`the lamp in a predetermined direction in accordance with a
`signal from the vehicle posture detection device.
`Therefore, according to the invention, only when the
`vehicle is found stationary and when it is found that the
`vehicle has run from a road having a small gradient into a
`road having a large gradient or the vehicle has run from a
`road having a large gradient into a road having a small
`gradient, the illumination direction of the lamp can be
`corrected.
`In the accompanying drawings:
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the structure of a
`vehicle lamp illumination direction control device according
`to the invention;
`Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a vehicle, explaining
`height detection device provided in the vehicle;
`Fig. 3, together with Figs. 4 to 6, is a schematic
`graphical representation of the amount of variations with
`time in the output signal of the height sensor when the
`vehicle runs along a road having a large gradient; and, in
`particular, Fig. 3 shows the variations in the output of the
`height sensor when the vehicle firstly runs along an uphill
`slope and then runs along a road having a small gradient;
`Fig. 4 shows the amount of variations in the output
`of the height sensor when the vehicle firstly runs along a
`road having a small gradient and then runs along an uphill
`slope;
`
`Fig. 5 shows the amount of variations in the output
`of the height sensor when the vehicle firstly runs along a
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`4
`
`12
`
`

`

`downhill slope and then runs along a road having a small
`gradient;
`Fig. 6 shows the amount of variations in the output
`of the height sensor when the vehicle firstly runs along a
`road having a small gradient and then runs along a downhill
`slope;
`
`Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a processing for correction
`of the illumination direction of the lamp;
`Fig. 8 is a graphical representation in which
`variations in the output signal levels of the height sensor,
`the illumination angles of the lamp, and the vehicle speeds
`are shown in combination;
`Fig. 9 is a circuit block diagram of a first
`embodiment of a vehicle lamp illumination direction control
`device according to the invention; and,
`Fig. 10 is a circuit block diagram of a second
`embodiment of a vehicle lamp illumination direction control
`device according to the invention.
`
`Now, description will be given below of the
`embodiments of a vehicle lamp illumination direction control
`device according to the invention with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`At first, Fig. 1 shows the basic structure of the
`present invention, in which an illumination direction control
`device 1 is composed of vehicle posture detection device 2,
`vehicle running condition detection device 3, control device
`4, drive device 5 (which is composed of drive control device
`5a and a drive mechanism 5b), and a lamp 6.
`The vehicle posture detection device 2 is used to
`detect the posture of a vehicle (including the vertical
`inclination of the vehicle in the advancing direction
`thereof). For example, when there is used height detection
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`5
`
`13
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`device 7 which detects the height of the body of the vehicle,
`as shown in Fig. 2, there are available a method which
`measures a distance L between the height detection device 7
`and a road surface G by use of detect waves such as
`ultrasonic waves, laser beams or the like, and a method in
`which the height detection device 7 detects the expansion and
`contraction amount x of a suspension S in order to detect the
`amount of variations in the vertical position of the axle of
`the vehicle.
`The two methods are both advantageous in that
`the existing facilities of the vehicle can be used for
`detection of the posture of the vehicle.
`The output of the vehicle posture detection device 2
`is sent to the control device 4 and is used as basic
`information for correction calculation of the illumination
`direction of the lamp 6.
`The vehicle running condition detection device 3 is
`used to detect the running conditions of the vehicle
`(including the stopping or stationary condition thereof),
`while the detect signal of the vehicle running condition
`detection device 3 is transmitted to the control device 4.
`As the vehicle running condition detection device 3, for
`example, there can be used vehicle speed detection device
`which is one of the existing facilities of the vehicle.
`Also, every kind of information can be used, provided that it
`can be used to detect the running conditions of the vehicle.
`When the control device 4 receives the detect signal
`of the vehicle running condition detection device 3 and finds
`from this detect signal that the vehicle is standing still,
`the control device 4, in accordance with information on the
`vehicle posture obtained from the vehicle posture detection
`device 2, transmits to the drive signal 5 a control signal
`for correction of the illumination direction of the lamp 6.
`For example, in the stationary condition of the vehicle, when
`the front portion of the vehicle is situated lower (or
`
`6
`
`14
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`higher) than the rear portion thereof, the illumination
`direction of the lamp 6 is adjusted in the upward (or
`downward) direction so that the illumination direction can be
`always held substantially in the horizontal direction.
`By the way, the vehicle does not always stop on a
`road having no gradient but, as described above, the vehicle
`is sometimes caused to stop on the slanting road,
`In this
`case, with use of the above-mentioned method for adjusting
`the illumination direction of the lamp only when the vehicle
`is caused to stop, the thus adjusted illumination direction
`of the lamp cannot be corrected until the vehicle stops next.
`In view of this, the control device 4 is structured
`such that, based on the information from the vehicle posture
`detection device 2, it can detect the amount of variations in
`the gradient of the road and, therefore, when the road
`gradient varies suddenly, it can correct the illumination
`direction of the lamp 6.
`Now, Figs. 3 to 6 are respectively explanatory views
`of a method for detecting the amount of variations in the
`road gradient when a height sensor is used as the vehicle
`posture detection device 2 and, in these figures, an axis of
`abscissa expresses the time t and an axis of ordinate
`expresses the output level V of the height sensor; that is,
`in these figures, there is shown an example of the amount of
`variations in the output level V with the passage of time (
`by the way, for the purpose of simplified expression, the
`term "with the passage of time" is sometimes expressed as
`"with time" in this specification).
`In particular. Fig. 3 shows schematically the amount
`of variations in the output level V when the vehicle runs
`first along an uphill slope and thereafter runs along a road
`having a small gradient.
`In this case, when the vehicle runs
`over the uphill slope, the output level V falls down
`suddenly.
`
`7
`
`15
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Also, Fig. 4 shows schematically the amount of
`variations in the output level V when the vehicle runs first
`along a road having a small gradient and thereafter runs
`In this case, when the vehicle starts
`along an uphill slope,
`to run the uphill slope, the output level V rises up
`suddenly.
`Fig. 5 shows schematically the amount of variations
`in the output level V when the vehicle runs first along a
`downhill slope and thereafter runs along a road having a
`small gradient,
`In this case, when the vehicle has run
`through the downhill road, the output level V rises up
`suddenly.
`Fig. 6 shows schematically the amount of variations
`in the output level V when the vehicle runs first along a
`road having a small gradient and thereafter runs along a
`downhill slope.
`In this case, when the vehicle starts to run
`along the downhill slope, the output level V falls down
`suddenly.
`These figures show clearly that the magnitude of the
`amount of variations in the road gradients is reflected on
`the amount of variations in the outputs of the height sensor
`when the vehicle runs from the road having a small gradient
`to the road having a large gradient or when the vehicle runs
`from the road having a large gradient to the road having a
`small gradient.
`Therefore, when the amount of variations with time of
`the detect signal of the vehicle posture detect signal 2 is
`equal to or larger than a reference value, it may be judged
`that the gradient of the road has varied, and the
`illumination direction of the lamp 6 may be corrected in
`accordance with the detect signal of the vehicle posture
`detection device 2.
`That is, according to this way of
`correction, when the vehicle moves from the uphill or
`downhill slope to the road having a small gradient, or vice
`
`8
`
`16
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`versa, the illumination direction of the lamp 6 can be
`adjusted in a proper direction.
`By the way, in the present method, the control device
`4 is structured such that it can judge the amount of
`variations in the road gradients according to the detect
`information provided by the vehicle posture detection device
`2, which can in turn simplify the structure of the
`illumination direction control device.
`However, the
`invention is not limited to this but, for example, a device
`for detecting the road gradients or the amounts of variations
`therein may be provided separately from the vehicle posture
`detection device 2 and the control device 4 may judge the
`amounts of variations in the road gradients according to the
`information that is detected by the separately provided
`detection device.
`Also, in order to prevent the illumination direction
`of the lamp 6 from being corrected inadvertently when a
`sudden change in the posture of the vehicle occurs
`temporarily or due to the wrong operation of the lamp 6
`caused by external disturbances, for example, when the
`vehicle makes a sudden start or a sudden stop, preferably, a
`threshold value with respect to time may be set in detection
`of the road gradient and, only when the amount of variations
`in the detect signal of the vehicle posture detection device
`2 exceeds a given reference value and such excessive state
`continues for a time equal to or more than the threshold
`value, the illumination direction of the lamp 6 may be
`corrected; or, a threshold value with respect to the running
`distance of the vehicle may be set and, only when the amount
`of variations in the detect signal of the vehicle posture
`detection device 2 exceeds a given reference value and such
`excessive state continues for a distance equal to or more
`than the threshold value, the illumination direction of the
`lamp 6 may be corrected.
`Also, these threshold values may be
`
`9
`
`17
`
`

`

`set in various manners, for example, they may be set as a
`constant value, or may be set as a variable which varies
`according to the speeds of the vehicle.
`Now, Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a processing to be
`performed by the control device 4 .
`At first, in Step SI, it
`is checked in accordance with the information from the
`vehicle running condition detection device 3 whether the
`vehicle is stopped or not.
`If it is found that the vehicle
`is stopped, then the processing advances to Step S5 and, if
`the vehicle is found running, then the processing advances to
`Step S2.
`After the posture of the vehicle is detected by the
`vehicle posture detection device 2 in Step S2, in Step S3, it
`is checked from the amount of variations with time in the
`detect signal whether the amount of variations in the
`gradient of the road is large or not.
`If it is found that
`the amount of variations in the road gradients is large, then
`the processing advances to Step S4 and, if not, then the
`processing advances to Step S6.
`In Step S4, it is checked whether a state in which
`the amount of variations of the detect signal supplied by the
`vehicle posture detection device 2 is equal to or more than a
`given reference value continues for a given period of time or
`longer or not. If it is found that such state continues,
`then the processing advances to Step S5 and, if not, then the
`processing goes to Step S6.
`Here, when a threshold value
`relating to the running distance of the vehicle is set
`instead of setting a threshold value relating to the above-
`mentioned continuing time, in Step S4, it may be checked
`whether a state in which the amount of variations in the
`detect signal supplied by the vehicle posture detection
`device 2 is equal to or more than a given reference value
`continues over a given running distance or not.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`10
`
`18
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`In Step S5, in accordance with the information from
`the vehicle posture detection device 2, the control device 4
`transmits to the drive control device 5a a control signal
`which causes the illumination direction of the lamp 6 to be
`kept in a predetermined direction, and the illumination
`direction of the lamp 6 is corrected through the drive
`mechanism 5. After then, the processing goes back to the
`first step SI.
`Also, in Step 6, the correction of the illumination
`direction of the lamp 6 is not carried out but the processing
`returns to the first step SI.
`The correction of the illumination direction of the
`lamp 6 in Step S5 is carried out by the drive device 5 based
`on the control signal transmitted from the control device 4
`and, as a method for executing such correction, there are
`available two methods as follows:
`a method for inclining the entire lamp, and,
`1)
`a method for moving the component (such as a
`2)
`lens, a reflector, a shade or the like) of
`the optical system of the lamp.
`In particular, the method 1) is the simplest method
`that can change the illumination pattern of the lamp 6 within
`a vertical plane, in which the entire lamp is rotated about
`the rotary shaft thereof to thereby change the illumination
`angle of the lamp 6 with respect to a horizontal plane
`including the optical axis of the lamp.
`For example, in the
`method 1), there can be used a drive mechanism in which the
`right and left side surfaces of the lamp 6 are supported
`rotatably, and the rotary shaft of the lamp 6 is rotated
`directly by a drive source such as a motor or the like, or a
`member fixed to or formed integrally with the lamp 6 is
`rotated by the drive device 5. As an example of such lamp,
`there is available a lamp including a mechanism which can use
`the rotational force of the motor as the rotational force of
`
`11
`
`19
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`the lamp through a transmission mechanism using a worm and a
`worm wheel (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No.
`Sho. 63-166672).
`Also, in the method 2), there is employed a structure
`in which the reflector of the lamp 6 is rotated by the drive
`device 5 within a vertical plane including the optical axis
`of the lamp to thereby change the direction of the reflected
`light of the reflector. For example, there is available a
`structure in which part of the reflector is rotatably
`supported on the lamp and, in order that a screw member
`mounted on the other part than the lamp for adjusting the
`inclining angle of the remaining portions of the reflector
`can be rotated by a motor, there is employed a transmission
`mechanism including a worm and a worm wheel (for example, see
`Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho. 59-195441); or, there is
`also available a structure in which the lens is inclined by
`the drive device 5 to thereby change the direction of the
`illumination light of the lamp that has passed through the
`present lens (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication
`No. Hei. 7-37405). Here, instead of inclining the whole of
`the reflector and lens, part of them may be controlled in
`position to thereby change the main portions of the
`illumination light in a desired direction.
`Also, when a shade is interposed between the
`reflector and lens, the shade may be moved by the drive
`device 5 to thereby change a light and shade boundary in the
`light distribution pattern of the lamp 6 in the vertical
`direction (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No.
`Hei. 7-29401).
`Further, there are also possible other various
`embodiments according to the combinations of the optical
`components of the lamp 6; for example, the reflector and
`light source, the lens and reflector, or the lens and shade
`may be moved together by the drive device 5 to thereby change
`
`12
`
`20
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`the direction of the illumination light of the lamp in the
`vertical direction.
`In addition, in either of the method 1) or 2), of
`course, the illumination direction of the lamp 6 can be
`controlled in stages or continuously.
`Now, Fig. 8 is a graphical representation in which,
`when the vehicle runs down along a downhill slope from a road
`having a small gradient and runs again for a short time along
`a road having a small gradient and, after then, it stops,
`there are shown the respective amounts of variations with
`time in the output level V of the height sensor, in the
`illumination angle 0 of the lamp 6, and in the output signal
`vs of the vehicle speed sensor,
`Here, in the graph shown in
`the upper stage of Fig. 8 and showing the amount of
`variations in the output level V, reference character rVaJ
`represents a detect level detected on the downhill slope and
`Vb represents a detect level detected on the road having a
`small gradient, while Tsh stands for a judgment time relating
`to the detection of the variations in the road gradients.
`Also, in the graph shown in the middle stage of Fig. 8 and
`showing the amount of variations in the illumination angle 0,
`0a expresses an illumination angle when the vehicle is
`running on the slanting slope, while 0b expresses an
`illumination angle when the vehicle is standing still.
`Further, in the graph shown in the lower stage of Fig. 8 and
`showing the variations in the output signal vs, a period Tm,
`during which pulse trains continue, stands for a period
`during which the vehicle is running, whereas a period To,
`during which no pulse train exists, represents a period
`during which the vehicle is standing still.
`In this example, when the vehicle runs from a road
`having a small gradient into a downhill slope, the amount of
`variations in the output level V of the height sensor is
`equal to or more than a reference value and such high
`
`13
`
`21
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`variation amount state continues for a time equal to a
`judging time Ts or longer,
`Therefore, the illumination angle
`of the lamp 6 is corrected from zero to 0a after the passage
`of a time Tsh.
`And, when the vehicle runs into a road having
`a small gradient after the vehicle has run through the
`downhill slope, the variation amount of the output level V of
`the height sensor is equal to or more than a reference value
`and such high variation amount state continues for a time
`equal to a judging time Ts or longer,
`Therefore, the
`illumination angle of the lamp 6 is corrected from 0a to zero
`after the passage of the time Tsh.
`After then, if the
`vehicle is caused to stop in a period To, then the
`illumination angle of the lamp 6 is corrected according to
`the then posture of the vehicle.
`For example, when the
`loading condition of the vehicle is varied by unloading the
`cargo, the illumination angle of the lamp 6 is corrected to
`an angle of 0b.
`As described above, a threshold value (which is
`expressed as Ls) of the running distance can be substituted
`for the judging time Tsh, the illumination angle 0 can be
`corrected when the vehicle runs continuously for a distance
`equal to or larger than the threshold value Ls with the
`detect level of the height sensor remaining higher than the
`reference value, or the threshold value can be caused to vary
`with respect to a vehicle speed vs in accordance with an
`equation Ts = Ls/vs (*0).
`Also, in the above description, for the convenience
`of explanation, the number of height sensors to be provided
`on the vehicle is set as one. However, this is not
`limitative but other various embodiments are also possible,
`for example, some of a plurality of sensors provided in the
`front and rear portions and/or right and left portions of the
`vehicle can be selected and the detect signals of the
`selected sensors can be used.
`In particular, out of sensors
`
`14
`
`22
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`respectively provided in the front and rear portions of the
`vehicle as well as in the right and left portions thereof,
`the sensors provided in the right and left direction can be
`selected and the average value of the selected sensors can be
`used; or, out of four sensors which are respectively provided
`in the front, rear, right and left portions of the vehicle,
`there can be selected a pair of sensors positioned diagonally
`with respect to each other in a quadrangle having four
`vertices respectively consisting of the positions of the four
`sensors (for example, a pair of a left and front sensor and a
`right and rear sensor, or a pair of a right and front sensor
`and a left and rear sensor), and only the detect signals of
`the thus selected pair of sensors can be used; or, there can
`be used only the detect signals of two sensors which are
`respectively positioned in the front and rear portions of the
`vehicle and are also positioned on the same straight line
`extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (for
`example, sensors which are positioned in the front and rear
`portions of the vehicle on the right or left side of the
`vehicle).
`Now, in Figs. 9 and 10, there are shown the first and
`second embodiments of a vehicle lamp illumination direction
`control device according to the invention.
`In particular. Fig. 9 shows a block diagram of a
`vehicle lamp illumination direction control device according
`to the first embodiment of the invention.
`In the present
`embodiment, the vehicle posture detect member 2 is composed
`of four height sensors 9 which are respectively provided in
`the neighborhood of the front and rear as well as right and
`left wheels of the vehicle.
`Also, the control device 4 includes a microcomputer
`10 into which there are input the detect voltages of the four
`height sensors 9, and the output signals of a vehicle speed
`sensor 11 corresponding to the previously described vehicle
`
`15
`
`23
`
`

`

`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`running condition detection device 3.
`When a turn-on switch
`12 for the lamp 6 is put into operation, a supply voltage
`from a constant voltage supply circuit 13 and a reset signal
`from a reset circuit 14 are supplied to the microcomputer 10.
`Also, a non-volatile memory 15 (such as an electrically
`erasable EEPROM, or the like) for storing control programs
`and data values therein) and an oscillator 16 used to
`generate a clock signal are additionally attached to the
`microcomputer 10.
`And, into the microcomputer 10, there is input by
`switch device 17 a select signal which is used to instruct
`whether the above-mentioned control on the illumination
`direction of the lamp is to be carried out or not.
`The
`reason for such input of the select signal is as follows:
`that is, when a lamp is mounted on a vehicle and the
`illumination direction of the lamp is initially adjusted, or
`when the lamp is inspected, if the above-mentioned correction
`control on the illumination direction of the lamp is carried
`out, then the adjusting opera

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket