US3821593A - Method and apparatus for turning vehicle lights on and off - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for turning vehicle lights on and off Download PDF

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Publication number
US3821593A
US3821593A US00300683A US30068372A US3821593A US 3821593 A US3821593 A US 3821593A US 00300683 A US00300683 A US 00300683A US 30068372 A US30068372 A US 30068372A US 3821593 A US3821593 A US 3821593A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cell
light
pane
output
windshield
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00300683A
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English (en)
Inventor
S Roselli
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.)
Saint Gobain Industries SA
Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
Original Assignee
Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
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 Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA filed Critical Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
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Publication of US3821593A publication Critical patent/US3821593A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
    • B60Q1/1423—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/05—Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
    • B60Q2300/052—Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/314—Ambient light

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A method of electrically activating apparatus from a variable source of light which comprises illuminating a pane of transparent material with the light from the variable source, illuminating a light responsive electric cell, shielded from other light, with the light that flows parallel to and within the broad surfaces of the pane, and utilizing the output of the cell to activate the apparatus.
  • the apparatus of that type have included a photosensitive element, which we shall call a cell, which may use a selenium element, a photoresistor, or a photoelectric transducer of other known type, of which the output signal is modified in a way which varies according to the type of transducer with the variation in luminous energy which strikes'the sensitive part.
  • the output signal is amplified by known electric means such as an electronic amplifier, which is used to command the opening and closing of a switch in the lighting circuit of the vehicle.
  • a principal cause of the poor results yielded by such apparatus in practice resides in the fact that the photoelectric transducer is not able in a number of situations to effectively detect the actual mean luminousity of the surrounding light at any instant.
  • the photocell On the top of the vehicle, point it upward to eliminate the effect of approaching vehicles, on the inside or outside of the body, etc., each solution having its own difficulties.
  • the active element of the cell is necessarily small, which is the source of other grave imperfections, e.g., a region of smoke, obstruction by an insect, mud from the road, any opaque object placed in front of the cell will impair its activity and induce an alteration in the electrical signal and a malfunction in the lighting circuits of the vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 a photosensitive cell E of tiny dimensions mounted in proximity to an edge of the windshield l0, and more precisely in the marginal zone inside the frame which holds the glass, the inner circumference of the frame being indicated by dash line 12.
  • the cell is hidden within'the frame 14 and is thus shielded from light other than that which comes through the glass of the windshield (FIGS. 2 to 5).
  • the frame is constituted generally, by a rubber channel clamped within the metal frame forming a part of the body. The cell E is thus shielded and protected against shock and is invisible.
  • the photosensitive element is shown in varying scales as a type of photo-resistor of tiny dimensions, for example from 5 mm. in diameter and 3 mm. in height.
  • a type P 401 of Hamamatsu TV Co. of Japan is satisfactory.
  • other types of photocells and other dimensions are compatible with this use.
  • FIG. 2 is schematically represented the optical phenomenon which is exploited according to the invention to activate the photocell E.
  • the transparent part of the windshield is made of a single sheet of glass of which the exterior surface fronts and is struck by daylight which, particularly at twilight, may be considered as essentially diffuse but coming mainly from the sky.
  • the photocell E is aligned so that its optical axis is prolonged into the thickness of the glass, that is to say, along a line within and parallel to the broad surfaces.
  • the total light Lt which strikes the outer surface of the windshield is only transmitted in part (a preponderant part) into the interior of the vehicle body. This light is indicated by the symbol Lu.
  • the system has been tested for sensitivity to the bright lights of an approaching car proceeding in the other direction by mounting the windshield according to this invention in a standard automobile and measuring the intensity of the light transmitted to the cell through the windshield.
  • the intensity of light energy impinging upon the windshield has not exceeded the value F of about 100 lux, which is well outside of the region of sensitivity of the apparatus.
  • F the value of the delay preceding the actual turn-off would not be necessary, but it is preferably included to protect against exceptional cases which do not conform to the usual norm.
  • a method of electrically activating apparatus from a variable source of light which comprises illuminating a pane of transparent material with the light from the variable source, illuminating a light responsive electric cell, shielded from other light, with the light from that source that flows parallel to and within the broad surfaces of the pane, and utilizing the output of the cell to activate the apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
US00300683A 1971-10-27 1972-10-25 Method and apparatus for turning vehicle lights on and off Expired - Lifetime US3821593A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT30416/71A IT939130B (it) 1971-10-27 1971-10-27 Sistema perfezionato per l accensio ne e lo spegnimento automatico del le luci esterne di autovetture con elemento fotosensibile ad eccita zione indiretta

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3821593A true US3821593A (en) 1974-06-28

Family

ID=11229723

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00300683A Expired - Lifetime US3821593A (en) 1971-10-27 1972-10-25 Method and apparatus for turning vehicle lights on and off

Country Status (14)

Country Link
US (1) US3821593A (enExample)
AR (1) AR194136A1 (enExample)
AT (1) AT329386B (enExample)
AU (1) AU477076B2 (enExample)
BE (1) BE790603A (enExample)
BR (1) BR7207520D0 (enExample)
CA (1) CA988992A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2252914C3 (enExample)
ES (1) ES408005A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2157901B1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1392998A (enExample)
IT (1) IT939130B (enExample)
NL (1) NL7214471A (enExample)
SE (1) SE389304B (enExample)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925244A (en) * 1973-10-19 1975-12-09 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Automatic control device for car lighting
US5051658A (en) * 1989-11-21 1991-09-24 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric high-pressure discharge lamp for use as a motor vehicle headlamp
US5517065A (en) * 1992-08-31 1996-05-14 Kover, Jr.; Joseph Automotive digital light control circuit with light bus monitor and windshield wiper light control circuit

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0009414B1 (en) * 1978-09-25 1984-04-25 Raymond James Noack Apparatus and method for controlling windscreen wiper and windscreen washer apparatus of a vehicle
DE3409497A1 (de) * 1984-03-15 1985-09-19 Siegfried 6751 Krickenbach Gruber Einrichtung zum automatischen ein- und ausschalten der beleuchtungsanlage eines fahrzeugs
FR2571320B1 (fr) * 1984-10-04 1987-01-30 Saint Gobain Vitrage Vitrage feuillete perfectionne a element photosensible incorpore et dispositif automatique d'allumage et d'extinction des feux d'un vehicule automobile en comportant application
GB8915727D0 (en) * 1989-07-10 1989-08-31 Price Brendan J Electronic vehicle lights management system
US6049171A (en) † 1998-09-18 2000-04-11 Gentex Corporation Continuously variable headlamp control
WO1998052790A1 (es) 1997-05-21 1998-11-26 Javier Bruna Brotons Dispositivo para el encendido y apagado automaticos del alumbrado de un vehiculo y para avisos del trafico

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1864624U (de) * 1962-08-10 1962-12-27 Detlef Schaffer Kraftfahrzeug.
AT258140B (de) * 1965-12-13 1967-11-10 Stefan Jaworski Anordnung zur Steuerung der Stadtlichter und Rücklichter, gegebenenfalls der Parklichter eines Kraftfahrzeuges

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925244A (en) * 1973-10-19 1975-12-09 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Automatic control device for car lighting
US5051658A (en) * 1989-11-21 1991-09-24 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric high-pressure discharge lamp for use as a motor vehicle headlamp
US5517065A (en) * 1992-08-31 1996-05-14 Kover, Jr.; Joseph Automotive digital light control circuit with light bus monitor and windshield wiper light control circuit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT329386B (de) 1976-05-10
AU4800872A (en) 1974-04-26
AU477076B2 (en) 1976-10-14
GB1392998A (en) 1975-05-07
AR194136A1 (es) 1973-06-22
FR2157901A1 (enExample) 1973-06-08
DE2252914C3 (de) 1981-10-29
IT939130B (it) 1973-02-10
BR7207520D0 (pt) 1973-08-21
FR2157901B1 (enExample) 1975-09-12
SE389304B (sv) 1976-11-01
BE790603A (fr) 1973-04-26
NL7214471A (enExample) 1973-05-02
ATA916172A (de) 1975-07-15
CA988992A (en) 1976-05-11
DE2252914A1 (de) 1973-05-03
ES408005A1 (es) 1975-11-01
DE2252914B2 (de) 1981-01-15

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