FR2468114A1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND ADJUSTING THE ORIENTATION OF VEHICLE HEADLAMPS AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING IT - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling and adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlights and to a device for its implementation. The method consists in visually comparing, in particular from the driving position of the vehicle 2, the position of the image 10b of the projector 9b by reflection on a mirror 3 and the position of the projection of the beam emitted by the projector 9b on a screen 4 , and to modify if necessary the orientation of the projector 9b to bring the image 10b and the projection to a predetermined relative position corresponding to a correct adjustment. Application to the control and adjustment of the orientation of vehicle headlights, in particular by the driver himself.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of

  control and adjustment of the orientation of vehicle headlights

  and a device for carrying out this process. For the adjustment of the orientation of headlamps mounted on motor vehicles, devices having an optical bench carried by a carriage have been used for a long time, and which are presented successively in front of each of the projectors to be checked and possibly adjusted; the optical bench of these known devices, described in particular

  French Patent Nos. 825,653 and 1,538,377, is essen-

  consisting of a lens intended to be placed in the immediate proximity of the mirror of the headlamp to be controlled, and of a screen placed at a determined distance from the lens and on which an image of the beam to be controlled is formed, an image of which the position to that of worn haunts

through this screen.

  Devices of this type, marketed by the plaintiff for many years, allow precise adjustments and give any satisfaction, but they

  - have the disadvantage of requiring on the part of the

  a voluntary approach, often forgotten at the expense of

  the security of everyone; indeed, the use of these devices involves a number of manipulations, that is to say a more or less prolonged stop of the vehicle; in addition, although simple, these known devices should * preferably be handled by a practitioner-who ensures - - - their correct positioning and then proceeds to the control

  -and the setting, which on the one hand can ask the auto-

  mobilist-a certain waiting time in that it is difficult to permanently assign a staff = $ e the manipulation of the device, and secondly diverts

the staff of his other duties.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and, for this purpose, to propose a method and a device enabling each motorist to control himself, quickly, the adjustment of the headlamps of his vehicle for the case appropriate, proceed to a

correction of this setting.

  Another object of the invention is to allow the motorist to quickly perform this control and adjustment, including without prior manipulation as required by the devices mentioned above, but naturally without the accuracy of control, and the

  adjustment performed with simultaneous control, suffers.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a control mode that can be implemented on a point of passage and stop obliged by the motorist, which could be arranged. to ensure that the motorist can control and adjust his headlamps without maneuvering, and without his time

stoppage is prolonged.

  It will be understood the importance of a device for controlling the orientation of the headlights of the vehicles permanently placed for example on a service station area, facing the headlights of a vehicle occupying the normal position of stopping at the pump, and at a sufficient distance from this stopping position so that the vehicles can disengage in the usual way, moving forward, once

  the full performed; it will then become possible for self-

  moubiliste to take advantage of the downtime required to refuel his fuel tank to carry himself the control of the orientation of the projectors of

  his vehicle, and to correct that

  often without even having to leave his post of

  because a growing number of vehicles are equipped

  means to change the orientation of the projec-

from the dashboard.

  By not imposing a delay or an additional stop to the motorist, such an installation will avoid any loss of time; moreover, by making readily available to the public, at a point where it is necessarily immobilized, means for effecting the control and adjustment of the orientation of the vehicle headlamps, this implementation will increase awareness of the

  motorists to the importance of a correct adjustment of the

  projectors, and to create in everyone the habit of controlling this setting and, if necessary, correcting it, with

  Naturally, this results in increased security for everyone.

  It should be noted that this educational purpose may be achieved by reducing the number of sites provided that

  these are judiciously chosen; we can

  to choose as the first point of

  placed at the entrance of major highways, where motorists stop to refuel, often before embarking on long-distance journeys under abnormal

  a correction of the orientation of the projectors.

  The method according to the invention, for controlling and adjusting the orientation of the vehicle headlights,

  is characterized by visually comparing, in particular

  from the driving position of a vehicle on the one hand

  the relative position of the image of a projector of this vehicle

  cule, observed by reflection on a semi-transparent mirror having an orientation substantially perpendicular to a predetermined correct orientation of the projector, and the projection of the beam emitted by the projector on a screen located substantially or approximately parallel to the mirror, beyond this mirror with respect to the projector and at a distance from this mirror substantially or approximately equal to the distance separating the projector, and secondly a predetermined relative osition, corresponding to the predetermined correct orientation of the projector, and in that if there is a difference between the observed relative position and the predetermined relative position, the orientation is changed

4 2468114

  from the spotlight until the observed relative position

  to the predetermined relative position and thus bring the

  the projector to the correct predetermined orientation.

  Other characteristics and advantages

  described below, relating to an example

  nonlimiting implementation, and the accompanying drawings which

  are an integral part of this description. t

  FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to the invention

  installed in a service station, in view from above.

  FIG. 2 shows a view of this installation in section through a vertical plane such as plane II-II of FIG.

figure 1.

  Figures 3 to 5 illustrate the relative positions

  of the image of the headlamp through the mirror and the projection of the beam emitted by the headlamp onto the screen, for correct adjustment, respectively in the case of a European-type dipped beam, in the case of a American type passing light, and in the case of a high beam. If we refer more particularly to the figures

  1 and 2, we see that a device for implementing the

  vention comprises a platform i able to receive a vehicle

  any type 2, a semi-transparent mirror 3, and

a screen 4.

  In general terms, the term "semi-

  transparent "any mirror which, when it receives a beam of light, reflects a part of it and is let through by the other part, for example, one-way glass, glass or plastic plates

transparent etc ...

  The mirror 3 and the screen 4 are flat, substantially

  or approximately vertical, and approximately or

  parallel to each other, the platform i being substantially or approximately horizontal at least in

  its zone defining for the vehicle 2 a predetermined position

  completed in which the orientation of its

projectors by means of the device.

  This predetermined position, which will subsequently serve as a positioning reference for the mirror 3 and

  the screen 4 is advantageously materialized on the platform

  form 1 by any suitable means, and for example by marking on the ground or, preferably, by means of parallel guide rails schematized in 5, between which the motor vehicle engages his vehicle and which, as and when it in advance, give its longitudinal mean axis a predetermined orientation 6, parallel to the rails 5; naturally, the rails 5 could be replaced by any similar function device without being

as much of the scope of the invention.

  Means are advantageously provided to define the predetermined position of the vehicle along the average direction 6; for this purpose, it is possible to use a marking on the ground or means constituting for the vehicle an abutment that can easily be crossed, but

  when the vehicle is moving forward

  ahead of the direction 6; we can for example provide for this

  effect a flexible rod 7, fixed down on the platform

  form i in a position where it is vertical, and in contact with which the motorist moving forward on the direction 6 brings the calender of his vehicle; when the contact is established, the predetermined position is reached but the vehicle can nevertheless easily restart before the adjustment is made, the rod 7 retracting by folding under the vehicle; Of course, other means could also be used

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle is illustrated in the predetermined position where one can practice control and adjustment according to the invention; advantageously, when the vehicle occupied this position and equipped with a device according to the invention a gas station, as illustrated, the rear of the vehicle

  is then placed in front of the gas pumps 8.

  If we take as a reference this pre-existing position

  of the vehicle, the mirror 3 is placed in front of the

  jectors 9a and 9b thereof, perpendicular to a

  plane perpendicular to platform 1, that is, appro-

  xiunativemant or substantially vertical, and including the axis 6; the screen 4 is also placed in such an orientation, but beyond the mirror 3 with respect to the projectors 9a and 9b, that is to say with respect to the predetermined position of the vehicle. The distance li separating the screen 4 from the mirror 3, measured parallel to the direction 6 and to the platform 1, is as close as possible to the distance 121 measured analogously, separating the mirror 3 from the projectors 9a and 9b of the vehicle, and the mirror 3 is inclined relative to the vertical, in the sense of a distance from the bottom upwards relative to the predetermined position of the vehicle, an angle be corresponding to the drawdown that is desired to communicate, to the bottom relative to the platform 1 or er.core with respect to the direction 6, the average direction of the beam of light emitted by the projectors 9a and 9b. Advantageously, the distances 1 and 12 are of the order of several meters, and for example five meters, which makes it possible to admit

  the positioning of the vehicle in relation to the position

  genuinely determined sufficient tolerances, by

  example of the order of a few tens of centimeters vis-

  distance 11, so that the vehicle can be placed without tedious maneuver in a position o control and adjustment of the invention can be practiced satisfactorily; it will also be noted that the lateral position of the vehicle can be any, within limits compatible with the dimensions of the mirror and

  of the screen, provided that its longitudinal axis is sensitive

  approximately parallel to an average direction. Thus, for an observer placed on the same side of

  aMiroir 3 than the vehicle 2, and in particular at the wheel of this

  ci, the mirror 3 gives projectors 9a and 9b a reflection image, respectively i0a symmetrical to the projector 9a relative to the mirror and 10b symmetrical projector 9b relative to the mirror, located substantially on the screen 4; in other words, for an observer located on the same side of the mirror 3 as the vehicle 2, the part of the beam emitted by the projectors 9a and 9b which is reflected by the mirror 3 seems to come from the virtual images 10a and 10b

  projectors, located substantially on the screen 4.

  Note that this screen 4 should theoretically be strictly parallel to the mirror 3, as schematized in 4a in Figure 2, the distances 11 and 12 are then measured perpendicular to the mirror 3; however,

  given the generally low value of the flap angle

  Because of the small differences in level with respect to the platform 1 between the different headlamps of the same vehicle or the headlamps of different vehicles, the checks and adjustments according to the invention can be practiced with a satisfactory approximation. using a screen 4 which is not strictly parallel to the mirror 3, and for example a screen 4 approximately perpendicular to the platform 1, that is to say approximately vertical; in particular, the screen 4 may advantageously consist of

by a wall of a building.

  The position of the images 10a and 10b on the screen 4 is indifferent to the setting of the projectors 9a and 9b, by construction, the average line joining the projector 9a to its image 10a and the mean line joining the projector 9b to its image 10b indicate the average orientations

  the beams emitted respectively by the projection

9a and the projector 9b.

  The portion of the beam emitted by the projector 9a or by the projector 9b which passes through the mirror 3 causes

  while on screen 4, the appearance of a light spot

  whose position is a function of the average orientation

of this beam respectively.

  If the projector orientation setting is correct, that is, if the average beam orientation

  emitted by this projector coincides with the average line joi -

  the projector 9a and its image 10a or the projector 9b at

  its image 1ob, respectively, ie again if the

  the hitting the mirror 3 in a medium orientation

  pendicular to this mirror, the beam is not deflected when it passes through the mirror 3 and the light spot where it forms on the screen 4 is centered with respect to the image of the projector

  provided by reflection on the mirror 3.

  Depending on the type of controlled projector, this

  For a viewer located on the same side as the vehicle 2 with respect to the mirror 3, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, or in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4, or as illustrated, FIG. to the

figure 5.

  Figure 3 corresponds to the case of a projector said

  "European code", characterized by the breaking of the beam

  a broken line, most often defining a "V" lar-

  openly, such headlamps being designed to illuminate the road and the side of the road nearest the vehicle

  taking into account the direction of movement, without dazzling

  other vehicles traveling on that road; this guy

  lighting is obtained by concealing, by means of an ap-

  proprié, the lower part of the reflector so that only the rays emitted upwards by the lamp of the projector, that is to say the rays which go towards the

down outside of it.

  In this case, the image 11 of the projector by reflection on the mirror 3, that is to say according to the case the image 10a or the image 10b, has an outer contour identical to that

  the projector, as it is schematized in dotted lines at the

gure 3.

  The projection PI of the beam on the screen 4 through the mirror 3 is translated by a lower zone.

  luminous D and a darker upper zone E, delimiting

  A line C which constitutes the image of the cut of the beam projected on the screen and thus has the shape of a V, with an angular point F located substantially in the mean orientation of the beam assumed uncut. When the adjustment is correct, the angular point F is substantially centered with respect to the image I, as illustrated in FIG. 3; we can admit that a correct setting is obtained with a sufficient approximation when the point? is located

  within the outline of the image I1.

  If, on the other hand, the setting is incorrect, it is to say if the average orientation of the beam actually emitted by the

  projector differs from the correct orientation pre-

  determined, or laterally as is schematized in Figure 1 in the case of the projector 9a, or upwards

  as shown schematically in Figure 2 in the case of projec-

  9b, or whatever the way, the line of separation between the zones D and E of the projection P1 of the beam on the screen is at least partially different from the line of

  cut C between the zones A and B of the fixed image I1 of the pro-

  jector, obtained by reflection thereof on the mirror 3; by adjusting the orientation of the projector,

  the positions relating to the relative position are then

  predetermined range shown in Figure 3.

  Figure 4 corresponds to the case of a projector of

  American type, and the image of this pro-

  jector obtained by reflection in the mirror 3, for an ob-

  servant located on the same side of the mirror of the vehicle 2, and P2 a bright spot obtained on the screen 4

  by projecting the beam through the mirror 3.

  In this case, the correct setting of the projector is a setting where the upper left corner of the bright spot P2 coincides with the lower right corner of the light spot 12; in case of different relative position, we change the orientation of the projector until this

predetermined relative position.

  FIG. 5 illustrates the case of the high beams, and the image of the projector 13 has been designated by reflection in the mirror 3, as it appears to an observer situated on the same side of this mirror of the vehicle 2, and by P3 the highly luminous spot obtained by projection of the beam on the screen 4 through the mirror 3; the correct setting corresponds in this case to a relative centering of the spots P3 and I3; if the two spots do not appear centered, we change the orientation of the Projector until the centering, that is to say the coincidence between

  the average axis of the beam and the average

  undermined. Naturally, these three corresponding examples

  current regulations are not

restrictive.

  Likewise, the invention is susceptible of numerous

  variants of implementation compared to the example il-

  gloss in Figures 1 and 2; it may be possible, in particular, to locate in places other than a service station, and to make various modifications to the provisions described

  without departing from the scope of the invention, these values

  could include ancillary arrangements, such as ways of

  vary the inclination of the mirror 3 according to the regulations

  tations, which may impose different folding angles O; it would also be possible, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to have an opaque partition disposed substantially vertically in the mean direction 6 between the screen 4 and the mirror 3, in order to establish in this

  zone a separation between the beams emitted respectively

  by the headlamps 9a and 9b and allow an observation

  separate view of their respective projection on screen 4

through the mirror 3.

  Many other variants could naturally be made without going out for

as much of the scope of the invention.

1 1

Claims (9)

REVENDICATION.S   1. A method for controlling and adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlamps, characterized in that: - a virtual image of a headlamp   vehicle by reflection on a semi-transparent mirror   sensing an orientation substantially perpendicular to a predetermined correct orientation of the headlamp, the projection of the beam emitted by the headlamp on a screen situated substantially or approximately parallel to the mirror, beyond this mirror with respect to the headlamp and at a distance, is simultaneously observed. of this mirror substantially or approximately equal to the distance between the headlamp, - comparatively visually, especially from the driving position of the vehicle, on the one hand the relative position of said image and said projection and on the other hand a   predetermined relative position, corresponding to the orienta-   predetermined correctness of the projector,   - and, in the event of any difference between the   observed value and the predetermined relative position,   sets the orientation of the headlamp until the posi-   the relative relative position observed at the predetermined relative position and thus bring the orientation of the projector to the orientation correct predetermined.   2. Method according to claim 1, for the con-   trèle and the adjustment of the orientation of a projector said type "European code" beam breaking along a broken line, having a sharp point, characterized in that said predetermined relative position is a position o   the angular point of the image of the cut of the beam   thrown on the screen is substantially or approximately centered   compared to the image of the reflection cut in the middle roir.   3. Method according to claim 1, for the con-   controlling and adjusting the orientation of a projector of the type   "high beam", characterized in that the said position   predetermined range is a relative centering position of the image of the projector by reflection on the mirror and the bright spot obtained by projection of the beam on the screen.   4. - Method according to claim 1, for the control and adjustment of the orientation of an American type projector, characterized in that said predetermined relative position is a position o an upper zone   left of the highly luminous spot obtained by projection   the beam on the screen coincides with a lower   right of the projector image by reflection on the mirror.   5. - Device for controlling the orientation of vehicle headlamps, characterized in that it comprises: - a platform adapted to receive a vehicle, in a predetermined position, - a semitransparent mirror, substantially or approximately perpendicular to the platform, facing the projectors of the vehicle when it occupies said predetermined position on the platform; a screen substantially or approximately parallel to the mirror at a distance from it substantially or approximately equal to the distance between them   headlamps of the vehicle occupying the said predetermined position undermined.   6. - Device according to claim 5, characterized   characterized in that the mirror is inclined in the direction of a distance from the projectors of the vehicle occupying said predetermined position, its inclination with respect to a plane perpendicular to the corresponding platform   folding to give the beam.   7. - Device according to any one of the   5 and 6, characterized in that it comprises on the platform means for guiding the vehicle, defining   said predetermined position thereof.   8. - Device according to any one of the   5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a 13 2468114   opaque, substantially or approximately vertically   wedge and substantially or approximately perpendicular   on the screen and in the mirror, between them.   9. - Device according to any one of the   5 to 8, characterized in that the distance separating from the mirror the screen or the projectors of the vehicle occupying said predetermined position is of the order of several meters.