Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for controlling light distribution of headlamp

US5660454A · kind A · utility

542Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1993
Grant dateAug 26, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q2300/334
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the light distribution of a headlamp includes a vehicle speed sensor; a calculating device for estimating a position to be reached by the vehicle after a predetermined time along a forward roadway of the vehicle on the basis of a vehicle speed and information representing a route of the forward roadway, and for calculating a direction of illumination or a range of illumination by the headlamp so that light is illuminated onto an estimated position; and a control device for controlling the direction of illumination or the range of illumination by the headlamp on the basis of a result of calculation by the calculating device. The light is illuminated onto a position, which is located ahead of the vehicle and which is viewed by a driver, for obtaining an optimum light distribution for a field of view of the driver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.