EP1054211A2 - Projecteur adaptatif pour véhicules automobiles - Google Patents

Projecteur adaptatif pour véhicules automobiles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1054211A2
EP1054211A2 EP00830353A EP00830353A EP1054211A2 EP 1054211 A2 EP1054211 A2 EP 1054211A2 EP 00830353 A EP00830353 A EP 00830353A EP 00830353 A EP00830353 A EP 00830353A EP 1054211 A2 EP1054211 A2 EP 1054211A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
headlamp
reflector
hood
motor
generate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP00830353A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1054211B1 (fr
EP1054211A3 (fr
Inventor
Claudia Bigliati
Bartolomeo Pairetti
Piero Perlo
Sabino Sinesi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Original Assignee
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA filed Critical Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Publication of EP1054211A2 publication Critical patent/EP1054211A2/fr
Publication of EP1054211A3 publication Critical patent/EP1054211A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1054211B1 publication Critical patent/EP1054211B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0442—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/68—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on screens
    • F21S41/683—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on screens by moving screens
    • F21S41/692—Shields, i.e. screens not creating an image meant to be projected

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to headlamps for motor vehicles, of the type comprising a light source and a reflector associated to said source.
  • the invention regards a headlamp of the adaptive type, i.e., designed to generate as output a light beam, the pattern of which can be varied according to the driving conditions of the vehicle (steering angle, speed, etc.), the environmental and lighting conditions, as well as to the type of road.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to provide an adaptive headlamp which on the one hand makes it possible to obtain an optimal beam pattern in any condition of use and on the other presents a relatively simple structure, with very reduced overall dimensions and a relatively low cost.
  • the subject of the invention is a headlamp of the type specified above, characterized in that the light source is surrounded by a hood-like element presenting one or more openings, the position and configuration of which is calculated in such a way as to generate, in combination with a pre-determined geometry of the reflector, which is also calculated for this purpose, a light beam issuing from the headlamp which has a pre-determined basic pattern, and in that mounted in a mobile manner around the hood is a shutter designed to cover and uncover at least some of the aforesaid openings of the hood selectively in such a way as to illuminate selected areas of the reflector and thus generate an overall beam pattern which is different for each condition of use.
  • motor means are provided for controlling displacement of the shutter, and electronic means for controlling the aforesaid motor means, which receive signals from sensing means, such as means for detecting the driving conditions of the motor vehicle and/or the environmental conditions, and which control the motor means according to said signals.
  • sensing means such as means for detecting the driving conditions of the motor vehicle and/or the environmental conditions, and which control the motor means according to said signals.
  • the aforementioned sensing means may comprise one or more sensors chosen from among a steering-angle sensor, a speed sensor, an environmental-lighting sensor, a GPS receiver, or else a visible-light and infrared-light telecamera situated on board the motor vehicle and designed to record the environmental conditions and the conditions of the road along which the motor vehicle is travelling.
  • the aforesaid motor means may be controlled directly by the person driving the motor vehicle.
  • the reference number 1 designates, as a whole, an adaptive headlamp for motor vehicles, comprising a reflector 2 and a light source 3, which in the example illustrated consists of a D2S-type discharge lamp with a relatively elongated bulb.
  • the lamp 3 is surrounded by a hood 4 which, in the example illustrated, has a cylindrical shape with its axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the lamp 3.
  • the hood 4 can of course have any different conformation, for example it can be shaped like a cone.
  • the hood 4 has an end wall 5 which prevents direct emission of light rays along the axis of the lamp 3, and a side wall which presents slits or openings 6, 7, 8, the position and configuration of which is calculated in such a way as to generate, in combination with a pre-determined geometry of the headlamp 2, which is also calculated for this purpose, a light beam issuing from the headlamp that has a pre-determined basic pattern, such as the one illustrated tin Figure 5.
  • a shutter 9 designed to cover and uncover the opening 7 located in the bottom half of the hood 4 selectively, so as to illuminate a selected area of the headlamp 2 and thus generate an overall pattern which is different for each condition of use.
  • the shutter 9 consists of a flattened and elongated arm which projects in cantilever fashion from a toothed sector 10 that meshes with an actuating pinion 11 driven by an electric motor 12.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show the headlamp in two different operating conditions, corresponding to two different positions of the shutter 9.
  • the device according to the invention is pre-arranged for creating light beams with different conformations in the presence of the following different driving conditions: out-of-town driving, high-speed driving, curving, and town driving.
  • the condition of out-of-town driving is considered as a basic condition corresponding to the diagram illustrated in Figure 5. Additional light beams are superimposed on this basic configuration, the said additional light beams being obtained by displacement of the shutter in order to improve visibility whenever so required in the driving conditions referred to above.
  • the diagram of Figure 5 illustrates the isolux lines on a projection of the beam on a screen set at a distance of 25 metres from the headlamp.
  • the distribution of illuminance illustrated in Figure 5 enables a good vision of the obstacles, during driving, up to a distance of approximately 60 metres and has at the same time a good angular aperture.
  • This condition corresponds to the operating condition illustrated in Figure 1, in which the area of the reflector that is not illuminated is hatched.
  • the shape of the hood 4 is designed so as to reduce spurious beams that are generated on account of reflections inside the quartz bulb that create undesired dazzling effects on the resulting beam.
  • the amount of light emitted by the source in proportion to the flux necessary for obtaining a beam suitable for out-of-town driving makes it possible to use only one half of the flux emitted by the source, and to shut off the remaining part.
  • a slit 6 is therefore provided that extends over the entire top half of the hood 4.
  • This opening contributes to forming the basic beam, and in particular the asymmetric part of the pattern of Figure 5 above the horizontal axis, whilst the opening 7 is closed in the basic-beam condition and is opened independently to add the amount of light necessary in the various driving conditions.
  • the added light is directed to the correct position (central for high-speed driving, or to the right or left when curving), using a pre-determined calculated geometry of the reflector 2.
  • the reflector 2 is designed in such a way as to supply an asymmetric distribution of the light pattern without having to resort to the use of a diaphragm.
  • the principle on which the reflector is based is that of using two portions, a top one 2a and a bottom one 2b, which have two distinct focuses set in the vicinity of the ends of the discharge arc of the lamp 3.
  • Control over the horizontal divergence is carried out on a reference curve lying in a plane containing the horizontal axis itself, whilst vertical control of divergence of the beam is obtained by using sections of ellipsoids having one focus in one of the two main points close to the source and the other on a curve in the space passing through the aforementioned reference curve.
  • the right-hand curving and left-hand curving conditions are obtained on two distinct headlamps: the right-hand headlamp of the vehicle contributes to the creation of the condition of curving to the right, whilst the left-hand headlamp contributes to the creation of the condition of curving to the left.
  • the high-speed driving condition is instead obtained using both headlamps or proportionally favouring the right-hand one with respect to the left-hand one, or vice versa, as required.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
EP00830353A 1999-05-17 2000-05-17 Projecteur adaptatif pour véhicules automobiles Expired - Lifetime EP1054211B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO990413 1999-05-17
IT1999TO000413A IT1308101B1 (it) 1999-05-17 1999-05-17 Proiettore adattativo per autoveicoli

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1054211A2 true EP1054211A2 (fr) 2000-11-22
EP1054211A3 EP1054211A3 (fr) 2002-07-24
EP1054211B1 EP1054211B1 (fr) 2005-07-20

Family

ID=11417820

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00830353A Expired - Lifetime EP1054211B1 (fr) 1999-05-17 2000-05-17 Projecteur adaptatif pour véhicules automobiles

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1054211B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60021304T2 (fr)
IT (1) IT1308101B1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1248034A3 (fr) * 2001-04-04 2005-06-15 Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. Projecteur pour véhicule
EP1614959A3 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-12-27 Decoma International Inc. Réflecteur pour lampe à décharge à haute intensité avec double faisceux
FR2902491A1 (fr) * 2006-06-19 2007-12-21 Valeo Vision Sa Projecteur a plusieurs fonctions d'eclairage, en particulier pour vehicule automobile.

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1376728A (fr) * 1963-09-18 1964-10-31 Machal Projecteurs Projecteur à double faisceau, notamment pour véhicules routiers
US4149229A (en) * 1976-06-18 1979-04-10 Lucas Industries Limited Lamp reflector with downwardly-facing step
JP3095971B2 (ja) * 1995-02-07 2000-10-10 本田技研工業株式会社 車両用前照灯装置
DE19537838A1 (de) * 1995-10-11 1997-04-17 Bosch Gmbh Robert Scheinwerfer für Fahrzeuge
EP0989357B1 (fr) * 1998-09-25 2003-04-02 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Projecteur avec mécanisme pour changer la répartition de lumière

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1248034A3 (fr) * 2001-04-04 2005-06-15 Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. Projecteur pour véhicule
EP1614959A3 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-12-27 Decoma International Inc. Réflecteur pour lampe à décharge à haute intensité avec double faisceux
FR2902491A1 (fr) * 2006-06-19 2007-12-21 Valeo Vision Sa Projecteur a plusieurs fonctions d'eclairage, en particulier pour vehicule automobile.
EP1870634A1 (fr) * 2006-06-19 2007-12-26 Valeo Vision Projecteur à plusieurs fonctions d'éclairage, en particulier pour véhicule automobile

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60021304T2 (de) 2006-05-24
DE60021304D1 (de) 2005-08-25
ITTO990413A0 (it) 1999-05-17
EP1054211B1 (fr) 2005-07-20
EP1054211A3 (fr) 2002-07-24
ITTO990413A1 (it) 2000-11-17
IT1308101B1 (it) 2001-11-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6848814B2 (en) Vehicle headlamp
JP2001325817A (ja) 車両用前照灯
JP2000238576A (ja) 車輌用灯具装置
JP6261502B2 (ja) 自動車両ヘッドランプ用の光モジュール
JP2007080714A (ja) 車両用前照灯
JP2007250327A (ja) ドラム型可変遮光板及び該遮光板を使用したヘッドライト
US6742918B2 (en) Movable condenser lens
JP2008004512A (ja) 車両用補助前照ランプ
EP2100771B1 (fr) Phare de véhicule et son procédé de contrôle
JP4244015B2 (ja) 投射型自動車用ヘッドランプ
US7021791B1 (en) Vehicular headlamp apparatus
JP5317871B2 (ja) 車両用前照灯装置
EP2399776A2 (fr) Système de phare de véhicule, dispositif de commande et phare de véhicule
JP4261452B2 (ja) 車両用前照灯
US20030112635A1 (en) Lighting system for vehicle
JP2010257909A (ja) 車両用前照灯装置
EP1054211B1 (fr) Projecteur adaptatif pour véhicules automobiles
JP5470157B2 (ja) 車両用灯具システム、制御装置、車両用灯具、および車両用灯具の制御方法
JP2011240870A (ja) 車両用灯具システム、制御装置、および車両用灯具
JP5563884B2 (ja) 制御装置、車両用灯具システム、車両用灯具
JP5539784B2 (ja) 車両用灯具システム、制御装置、および車両用灯具
JP5530125B2 (ja) 車両用前照灯装置
JP2005335698A (ja) 車両投光装置を制御するための方法、および、コーナリング照明機能を有する車両投光装置
JP4902675B2 (ja) 車両用前照灯
JP2011238378A (ja) 車両用灯具システム、制御装置、および車両用灯具

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20030228

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20040206

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRE;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.SCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050720

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60021304

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20050825

Kind code of ref document: P

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20051031

ET Fr: translation filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060517

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20060421

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060517

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20080522

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20091201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20190418

Year of fee payment: 20