throbber
(51) Int. Cl.6: B60Q 1/115, B60Q 1/14
`
`(71) Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
` 70442 Stuttgart (DE)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(72) Inventors:
` • Cochard, Roland
` 1110 Morges (CH)
` • Lopez, Eladio
` 1602 La Croix (CH)
`
`(19)
`
`
`
`
`
`Europäisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office europeén des brevets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(11) EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`
`
`(12)
`
`
`
`(43) Date of publication:
` 10/13/1999 Patent gazette 1999/41
`
`(21) Application number: 99105575.7
`
`(22) Filing date: 3/18/1999
`
`
`
`
`(84) Designated contracting states:
` AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
` MC NL PT SE
`
` Named extension states:
`
` AL LT LV MK RO SI
`
`
`
`
`
`(30) Priority: 4/9/1998 DE 19815985
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(54) Direction adjustment device for light beam emitted by at least one vehicle headlight
`
`
`(57) The headlight (10) includes at least one
`the temporally varying intensity, and this light
`light source (14) which is operated at least
`portion is supplied to a processing unit (46)
`occasionally so as to allow temporal variation of
`which compares the current illumination situation
`the intensity of the light emitted therefrom. For
`with a given target illumination situation with
`example,
`the apparatus
`is
`to control
`the
`correctly adjusted illumination range. If there
`illumination range of the light beam emitted by
`exists a difference,
`the processing unit
`the headlight (10) and includes a sensor device
`generates an output signal
`to actuate an
`(20) which detects an illumination situation in
`adjustment device (18) associated with the
`front of the vehicle in terms of the light reflected
`headlight (10) which adjusts the inclination of the
`by the roadway. The sensor device (20) is
`headlight until the correct illumination range is
`connected with an
`input unit (44) of an
`set.
`evaluation device (42) which processes the
`
`illumination situation detected by the sensor
`
`device (20) regarding the light portion containing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 1 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`1
`
`Specification
`
`Background Art
`
`[0001] The invention is based on an apparatus
`for adjusting the direction of a light beam emitted
`by at least one headlight of a vehicle according to
`the preamble of claim 1.
`[0002] Such an apparatus
`from
`is known
`DE 41 22 531 A1 in the form of an apparatus for
`controlling the illumination range of the light beam
`emitted by at least one headlight of a vehicle.
`This apparatus includes an adjustment device
`associated with the headlight by means of which
`the
`illumination
`range may be adjusted.
`Additionally, the apparatus includes at least one
`optoelectronic sensor device which detects an
`illumination situation in form of the light emitted by
`the headlight and reflected by the roadway in
`front of the vehicle. Finally, the apparatus also
`includes an evaluation device connected to the
`sensor device and the adjustment device which
`compares
`the current
`illumination situation
`detected by the sensor device with stored data of
`a target illumination situation. If there exists a
`difference between
`the
`illumination situation
`currently detected by the sensor device and the
`target
`illumination situation according
`to
`the
`stored data, the evaluation device controls the
`adjustment device such that the difference is
`eliminated or at least minimized. However, the
`sensor device not only detects the light emitted by
`the headlight of the vehicle and reflected by the
`roadway, but also light originating from other light
`sources and reflected by
`the roadway. For
`example, this light may be emitted by headlights
`of other vehicles or by street lighting and leads to
`inaccuracies of the adjustment of the illumination
`range of the headlight.
`
`Advantages of the Invention
`
`[0003] The apparatus for adjusting the direction
`of the light beam emitted by at least one headlight
`according to the invention has the advantage,
`that the light emitted by the headlight of the
`vehicle differs in terms of its temporally varying
`nature from the light originating from other light
`sources, and
`thus
`the
`illumination situation
`detected by the at least one sensor device is
`evaluated specifically regarding this portion of the
`light. The adjustment of the direction of the light
`beam emitted by the headlight may thus be
`performed with high accuracy, because it is not
`affected by light originating from other light
`sources.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
` 2
`[0004] The
`specify
`claims
`dependent
`advantageous embodiments and developments
`of the apparatus according to the invention for
`adjusting the direction of the light beam emitted
`by at least one headlight. The embodiment of
`claim 3 allows the intensity of the light emitted by
`the light source to be time modulated in a simple
`manner. The embodiment of claim 8 ensures that
`the time modulated light emitted by the light
`source is at least processed in an essentially
`targeted manner.
`
`Figures
`
`[0005] Several exemplary embodiments of the
`invention are shown
`in
`the drawings and
`discussed in detail in the description below.
`Figure 1 shows a vehicle having headlights
`illuminating the roadway in front of the vehicle,
`Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an
`apparatus to control the illumination range of the
`headlights of the vehicle, Figure 3 shows the
`intensity of a constant light portion emitted by a
`light source of a headlight as a function of time,
`Figure 4 shows the intensity of the variable light
`portion emitted by the light source as a function of
`time, and Figure 5 shows the superposition of the
`constant and the variable light portions emitted by
`the light source as a function of time.
`
`Description of Exemplary Embodiments
`
`[0006] A vehicle depicted in Figure 1, which is
`preferably a motor vehicle, includes in known
`fashion two low beam headlights 10 at its front
`end that are attached to the body of the vehicle.
`The low beam headlights 10 may only serve to
`generate low beam light or may be embodied as
`combined low beam and high beam headlights for
`selectively generating low beam light or high
`beam light. Each low beam headlight 10 includes
`a reflector 12 into which at least one light source
`14 is inserted. The low beam headlight 10 as a
`whole, or at least its reflector 12, can be pivoted
`about an axis 16 extending approximately
`horizontally and/or an axis 17 extending
`approximately vertically. By pivoting the low beam
`headlight 10 or its reflector 12, respectively, about
`the horizontal axis 16 the direction of the light
`beam emitted therefrom can be modified in a
`vertical plane and thus the illumination range of
`the light beam emitted by the low beam headlight
`can be modified. By pivoting the low beam
`headlight 10 or its reflector 12, respectively, about
`the vertical axis 17 the direction of the light beam
`emitted therefrom can be modified in a horizontal
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 2 of 11
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`3
`
`
`
`
`
` 4
`[0009] Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic of
`plane and thus the path of the light beam can be
`modified
`in a
`lateral direction. Thereby,
`for
`the device for controlling the illumination range.
`example, the direction of the light beam emitted
`The device includes at least one optoelectronic
`by the low beam headlight 10 may be adapted to
`sensor device 20. Only one common sensor
`the path of the roadway in front of the vehicle, in
`device 20 may be provided for both low beam
`particular when cornering, to achieve sufficient
`headlights 10, or one sensor device 20 each may
`illumination of the roadway.
`be provided for each low beam headlight 10. The
`[0007] The following is an exemplary description
`sensor device 20 detects the illumination situation
`of the adjustment of the direction of the light
`in front of the vehicle in terms of the light reflected
`beam emitted by the low beam headlight 10 in a
`by the roadway in front of the vehicle. The sensor
`vertical plane and thus the adjustment of the
`device 20 includes a plurality of discrete light-
`illumination range of the light beam emitted by the
`sensitive elements 22 that are, for example, be
`low beam headlight. Each low beam headlight 10
`embodied as photo cells, photo diodes, photo
`has an associated adjustment device 18 by
`transistors, or CCD (charge-coupled device). The
`means of which the entire headlight or at least its
`light-sensitive elements 22 are arranged in a
`reflector 12 can be pivoted about the axis 16.
`matrix-like or linearly distributed fashion. The
`Preferably,
`the adjustment devices 18 may
`sensor device 20 may also include only one light-
`include an electric motor as a drive which moves
`sensitive element which has a one-dimensional
`an adjustment member hinged to the headlight 10
`linear extension or a two-dimensional planar
`or its reflector 12 via a gear. Alternatively, the
`extension, wherein the light impinging on sub-
`adjustment devices 18 may also be actuated by
`areas of the element may be detected separately
`hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic means.
`for each sub-area. The light-sensitive element
`[0008] In operation, the low beam headlights 10
`may here be embodied as a PSD (photo sensing
`emit light beams which illuminate the area in front
`device). The image 23 of the illumination situation
`of the vehicle. Figure 1 illustrates the light beams
`is divided into a plurality of sub-areas 24 in grid-
`by means of a plurality of
`lines of equal
`like manner, wherein
`the sensor device 20
`illuminance, so-called isolux lines 20. The light
`detects the illuminance present in each sub-area
`beams have a greater range on the side of their
`24. Additionally, the sensor device 20 includes
`own travel, in the depicted embodiment for right-
`imaging optics, for example in form of a lens 26
`hand traffic the right side of traffic, than on the
`which images incident light onto the light-sensitive
`side of oncoming traffic. Due to the arrangement
`element(s) 22. The illuminances detected for the
`of the low beam headlights 10 on the vehicle
`various sub-areas 24 may be read out of the
`body, the inclination of the low beam headlights
`sensor device 20 in chronological sequence one
`10 relative to the roadway changes with the
`after the other for the light-sensitive elements 22
`inclination of the vehicle body. A change in
`associated with these sub-areas 24. If the light-
`inclination of
`the vehicle body occurs,
`for
`sensitive elements 22 are arranged linearly, they
`example, with changing vehicle load, during
`are moved to determine the illuminances in each
`acceleration or braking maneuvers of the vehicle,
`of the sub-areas 24 in order to allow all sub-areas
`or when traversing bumps in the roadway. The
`24 of the image 23 to be recorded. Thereby the
`change in inclination of the low beam headlights
`incident light may be detected in each position of
`10 also leads to a change of their range of
`the elements 22 for sub-areas 24 arranged in a
`illumination, in the sense that the range of
`row or a column, and then the elements 22 are
`illumination increases in case of deflection of the
`moved further, so that the incident light of sub-
`rear axle and the range of illumination decreases
`areas 24 arranged in an adjacent row or column
`in case of deflection of the front axle. An increase
`may be detected. The sensor device 20 is
`in the range of illumination leads to blinding of
`preferably positioned at the low beam headlight
`oncoming traffic, whereas a decrease in the
`10 such that the device can be pivoted together
`range of illumination leads to a decrease of the
`with the low beam headlight 10 or its reflector 12
`visibility range of the vehicle operator. In order to
`about the axis 16 by means of the adjustment
`compensate for the change in illumination range
`device 18.
`[0010] The light source 14 of the low beam
`of the low beam headlights 10 caused by the
`change in inclination of the vehicle body, a device
`headlight 10 is preferably a discharge lamp, for
`for controlling the range of illumination is provided
`the operation of which an electric ballast 30 is
`which keeps the range of illumination at least
`provided. The ballast 30 includes an ignition
`approximately constant and which is discussed in
`device which generates
`the high voltage
`more detail below.
`necessary for starting the discharge lamp 14. In
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`
`55
`
` 5
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 3 of 11
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`5
`
`
`
`
`
` 6
`addition, the ballast 30 includes an operating
`temporal resolution, wherein the variations in
`device 32
`for continuous operation of
`the
`intensity I(t) with the fundamental frequency f0
`discharge lamp 14, including, but not restricted to
`and the frequency f1 are superimposed over one
`a converter 34 for generating alternating current
`another. Figure 5 depicts the period t0 of the
`and alternating voltage, which are supplied to the
`fundamental frequency f0 and the period t1 of the
`discharge lamp 14, from the direct current and the
`frequency t1 caused by the control device 38.
`direct voltage supplied by the battery 36 on board
`During one period t1 of the frequency f1 there is a
`of the vehicle.
`plurality of periods
`t0 of
`the
`fundamental
`[0011] Connected to the operating device 32, in
`frequency f0.
`[0013] The amplitude Imax of the intensity I(t) is
`particular to its converter 34, is a control device
`38 which controls the flow of the alternating
`varied by the control device 38 with the frequency
`current and the alternating voltage supplied to the
`f1 between a first, higher value I1 and a second,
`discharge lamp 14 by the converter 34 at least
`lower value I2. Between the two values I1 and I2,
`intermittently. The flow of the electric current and
`the intensity I(t) may fall to zero for very short
`voltage or
`the electric power,
`respectively,
`time periods. The frequency f1 of the temporal
`supplied to the discharge lamp 14 is temporally
`variation of the intensity I(t) caused by the control
`varied by
`the control device 38 at
`least
`device 38 may be constant or vary over time. The
`intermittently, such that the intensity of the light
`difference of the amplitudes I1 and I2 may also be
`emitted by
`the discharge
`lamp 14 varies
`constant or vary over time. In order to achieve a
`correspondingly as a
`function of
`time
`in
`characteristic time-dependent variation of the
`characteristic manner as specified by the control
`intensity I(t) of the light emitted by the discharge
`device 38. Preferably, the converter 34 supplies
`lamp 14, for example, the control device 38 may
`an alternating current or an alternating voltage
`also cause a phase modulation of the alternating
`with a specific fundamental frequency and a
`current and
`the alternating voltage
`that
`is
`specific fundamental amplitude to the discharge
`supplied to the discharge lamp 14.
`[0014] A clock device 40 is connected to the
`lamp 14 as suitable for stable operation of the
`discharge lamp 14. The control device 38 then
`control device 38 and also connected to the
`varies
`the alternating current and/or
`the
`sensor device 20. The clock device 40
`alternating voltage supplied to the discharge lamp
`synchronizes the operation of the sensor device
`14 over time with one or more of a specific
`20 with the temporal variation of the characteristic
`frequency, amplitude, and phase based on the
`of the light emitted by the discharge lamp 14, that
`fundamental
`frequency and
`the
`fundamental
`is, the sensor device 20 detects the illumination
`amplitude. Here, the fundamental frequency and
`situation in front of the vehicle during the time
`the fundamental amplitude are preferably larger
`periods, during which the control device 38
`than the temporal variation of the frequency and
`modulates the intensity of the light emitted by the
`amplitude of the alternating current and/or the
`discharge lamp 14. The sensor device 20 is
`alternating voltage caused by the control device
`operated synchronized with the time varying
`38.
`characteristic of the intensity of the light emitted
` [0012] Figure 3 shows the intensity I(t) of the
`by the discharge lamp 14 at each respective point
`light emitted by the discharge lamp 14 as a
`in time. The clock device 40 may also control the
`function of time, if the discharge lamp 14 is
`movement of the linearly arranged light-sensitive
`supplied with an alternating current and/or an
`element(s) 22 of the sensor device 20 that is
`alternating voltage with constant fundamental
`necessary in order to detect the incident light in
`frequency and constant fundamental amplitude.
`all sub-areas 24 of
`the
`image 23 of
`the
`Here, the intensity I(t) varies according to the
`illumination situation.
`[0015] The sensor device 20 is connected to an
`fundamental frequency of the current or the
`voltage around an average value I0 which is
`evaluation device 42 which will be described
`determined by the amplitude of the supplied
`below. The evaluation device 42 includes an input
`current or voltage, respectively. Figure 4 shows
`unit 44 which is connected to the sensor device
`the intensity I(t) of the light emitted by the
`20 and the clock device 40. The input unit 44 is in
`discharge lamp 14 as a function of time, with a
`turn connected to a processing unit 46. The input
`temporal variation caused by the control device
`unit 44 transfers the signals provided by the
`38. The intensity I(t) according to Figure 4 varies
`sensor device 20 synchronized with the temporal
`with a
`frequency
`that
`is
`lower
`than
`the
`variation of the intensity of the light emitted by the
`fundamental
`frequency. Figure 5 shows
`the
`discharge lamp 14 caused by the control device
`intensity I(t) as a function of time with greater
`38 to the processing unit 46. The synchronization
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`
`55
`
` 5
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 4 of 11
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`7
`
`
`
`
`
` 8
`of the transfer of the signals from the sensor
`deviation of the current illumination range from
`device 20 to the processing unit 46 by the input
`the target illumination range. The difference E(t,α)
`unit 44 is ensured by means of its connection to
`depends on the angle of inclination α(t) of the
`the clock device 40. Transferring the signals of
`headlight 10 relative to the roadway which in turn
`the sensor device 20 synchronized with the
`is a function of time. In order to determine the
`temporal variation of the intensity of the light
`difference E(t,α), the processing unit 46 applies
`emitted by the discharge lamp 14 achieves that
`known correlation methods.
`[0018] The processing unit 46 generates an
`the portion of the light detected by the sensor
`device 20 originating from the discharge lamp 14
`output signal which drives the adjustment device
`is amplified and substantially only this light portion
`18 of the headlight 10 via a correction unit 50.
`is processed. External light originating from other
`The output signal of the processing unit 46 is
`light sources, for example from headlights of
`such that the adjustment device 18 is controlled
`other vehicles or from street lighting, is not
`such that the inclination α of the headlight 10 or
`synchronized
`or
`statistically
`correlated,
`its reflector 12, respectively, is changed such that
`respectively, with the temporal variation of the
`the light beam emitted by the headlight 10 has
`intensity of the light emitted by the discharge
`the given target illumination range and thus the
`lamp 14 and is thus filtered out by the input unit
`difference E(t,α) determined by the processing
`44 and not transferred or only transferred to a
`unit 46 becomes zero or is at least minimized.
`small extent to the processing unit 46. The input
`When
`the headlight 10 or
`its reflector 12,
`unit 44 thus transfers an image of the illumination
`respectively, pivots, the sensor device 20 pivots
`situation in front of the vehicle to the processing
`with it about the axis 16 as well.
`[0019] The correction unit 50 may be supplied
`unit 46, which image substantially only contains
`the portion of the illumination which is caused by
`with other signals other than the output signal of
`the light originating from the headlight 10.
`the processing unit 46, for example with one or
`[0016] In addition to the input unit 44, the
`more of signals about weather conditions such as
`processing unit 46 is connected to a memory unit
`rain or fog, the velocity of the vehicle, the
`48 as well which stores data about at least one
`acceleration of the vehicle, the speed of the motor
`image of the illumination situation in front of the
`of the vehicle, and signals of a controller of an
`vehicle as is present when the illumination range
`automatic
`transmission of
`the vehicle. The
`of the headlight 10 is set correctly. In the sub-
`correction unit 50 checks the output signal of the
`areas 24 of the image 23 of the illumination
`processing unit 46 for plausibility, that is, whether
`situation
`in
`front of
`the vehicle certain
`the output signal for driving the adjustment device
`illuminances are present when the illumination
`18 can lead to a correct adjustment of the
`range is set correctly, and a certain distribution of
`illumination range considering the information
`illuminances over the various sub-areas 24 is
`available to the correction unit 50 due to the
`present. The memory unit 48 may store data of
`additional signals. The correction unit 50 may
`various images of the illumination situation in front
`also estimate a reliability of the output signal of
`of the vehicle as they are detected by the sensor
`the processing unit 46 considering the available
`device 20, for example, under different weather
`additional information, for example the weather
`conditions, in case of dry or wet roadways or on
`conditions, and, depending on the reliability,
`different road surfaces. The data stored in the
`correct the signal. For this, the correction unit 50
`memory unit 48 are determined under actual
`may employ, for example, methods involving
`illumination of the roadway in front of the vehicle
`fuzzy logic.
`[0020] The time variation of the intensity of the
`by means of the headlight 10 and via detection of
`the illumination situation by the sensor device 20.
`light emitted by the discharge lamp 14 caused by
` [0017] The processing unit 46 compares the
`the control device 38 is preferably in terms of
`current data Ix(t,α), transferred to it by the input
`amplitude and frequency such that it is not
`unit 44, of the image of the illumination situation
`observable by the human eye and thus the
`generated by the sensor device 20 with the data
`illumination of
`the roadway
`for
`the vehicle
`Is(αs) present in the memory unit 48. The current
`operator is not compromised. It may be provided
`data Ix depend on time t and the inclination of the
`at each low beam headlight 10 that the intensity
`headlight 10 or of its reflector 12, respectively,
`of the light emitted by its light source 14 is
`relative to the roadway and the data Is represent
`modulated and that a sensor device 20 and an
`a target value. When comparing the data, the
`evaluation device 42 is associated with each low
`processing unit 46
`forms
`the difference
`beam headlight 10, wherein the illumination range
`E(t,α) = Is(αs) - Ix(t,α), which is a measure of the
`of each of the two low beam headlights may be
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`
`55
`
` 5
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 5 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`
`9
`other.
`each
`of
`independently
`adjusted
`Alternatively, it may be provided that one sensor
`device 20 is associated with each low beam
`headlight 10 and is connected to a common
`evaluation device 32. Alternatively, it may further
`be provided at one low beam headlight 10 that
`the intensity of the light emitted by its light source
`14 is modulated and a sensor device 20 and an
`evaluation device 42 is associate only with this
`low beam headlight 10. Here, the adjustment
`device 18 of the other low beam headlight 10 may
`be driven by the output signal of the evaluation
`device 42 as well. In this case, however, it must
`be ensured that the angles of inclination α of both
`low beam headlights 10 are the same.
`[0021] Instead of a discharge lamp 14, the low
`beam headlight 10 may also include one or more
`other light sources, for example semiconductor
`light sources in the form of light emitting diodes,
`where the intensity of the light emitted by these
`may be controlled by means of a control device
`38. Analogous
`to
`the adjustment of
`the
`illumination range of the light beam emitted by the
`low beam headlight 10 explained above, in
`addition or alternatively to the adjustment of the
`illumination range by means of the sensor device
`20, the evaluation device 42 and the control
`device 30, also the direction of the light beam
`emitted by the low beam headlight may be
`adjusted in a horizontal plane by means of an
`additional adjustment device, by means of which
`the low beam headlight 10 or at least its reflector
`12, respectively, may be pivoted about
`the
`vertical axis 17. Here, the evaluation device 42
`may be connected, for example, with another
`sensor device which detects the path of the
`roadway in front of the vehicle such that the
`direction of the light beam emitted by the low
`beam headlight 10 may be adjusted according to
`the path of the roadway. A satellite navigation
`device of the vehicle, in which data about the
`path of the roadway are stored and which detects
`the current position of the vehicle in the roadway,
`may here serve as
`the sensor device,
`for
`example.
`
`Claims
`
`
`4. The apparatus of claim 3, characterized in
`that the current supplied to the light source
`(14) by the electrical supply (30) is time
`modulated as
`the electrical operating
`parameter thereof.
`
`
`5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4, characterized
`in that the voltage supplied to the light source
`(14) by the electrical supply (30) is time
`modulated as
`the electrical operating
`parameter thereof.
`
`
`6. The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 5,
`characterized in that a control device (38) is
`provided which operates on the supply (30)
`for effecting the time modulation of the at
`least one electrical operating parameter.
`
`
`
`
` 10
`sensor device
`(20) which detects an
`illumination situation in terms of the light
`emitted by the headlight (10) and reflected by
`the roadway in front of the vehicle, and an
`evaluation device (42) which compares the
`current illumination situation detected by the
`sensor device (20) with at least one target
`illumination situation with a correctly adjusted
`direction of the light beam emitted by the
`headlight (10) and, in case of an existing
`difference between the current illumination
`situation and the target illumination situation,
`controls
`the adjustment device
`(18)
`to
`minimize the difference, characterized in that
`the light emission of the headlight (10) is time
`modulated at least occasionally and that the
`evaluation device (42) evaluates essentially
`only the time modulated portion of the current
`illumination situation detected by the sensor
`device (20).
`
`
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in
`that the intensity of the light emitted by the at
`least one light source (14) is time modulated.
`
`
`3. The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in
`that an electrical supply (30) is provided for
`the at least one light source (14) and for time
`modulating of the intensity of the light emitted
`by the at least one light source (14) an
`electrical operating parameter of the supply
`(30) is time modulated.
`
`
`
`
`
` 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`
`55
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1. Apparatus for adjusting a direction of a light
`beam emitted by at least one headlight of a
`vehicle, wherein the headlight (10) includes at
`least one light source (14), comprising an
`adjustment device (18) associated with the
`headlight (10) by means of which the direction
`of the light beam emitted by the headlight (10)
`may be changed, at least one optoelectronic
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 6 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`
`
`
`
` 12
`
`
`
`
`
` 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`
`
`
`55
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`7. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 6,
`characterized in that the at least one light
`source (14) is operated with a given base
`intensity (I0) superimposed with a temporal
`intensity variation (I(t)).
`
`
`8. The apparatus of any one of the preceding
`claims, characterized in that the detection of
`the illumination situation by the at least one
`sensor device (20) and the processing thereof
`by the evaluation device (42) is performed
`synchronously with the time modulation of the
`light emission of the headlight (10).
`
`
`9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding
`claims, characterized in that the at least one
`light source (14) is a discharge lamp.
`
`
`10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8,
`characterized in that the at least one light
`source (14) is a semiconductor light source.
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 7 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 8
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 8 of 11
`
`

`

`(oeee||Igy94U3a____ifa
`)a¢peoCee:
`
`FO||(0'3)3|
`
`RNWEE
`
`
`
`004oYINEEN|s6——~\PNB5—TONEYy,02COONS
`
`.Z¢Oldwva_aoy
`OeTefp}Ny
`
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 9 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`,
`
`CECcee
`
`CO —_—= t[s]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 10 of 11
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 10 of 11
`
`

`

`EP 0 949 118 A2
`EP 0 949 118 A2
`
`
`
`
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 11 of 11
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS EXHIBIT 1019
`Page 11 of 11
`
`

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