Device for automatically switching lighting devices in vehicles

US6759761B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Patrick Schmitt · Lichtenau, DE
• Norbert Hog · Appenweier, DE
• Bruno Hodapp · Achern, DE
• Rainer Pientka · Achern, DE
• Hans Meier · Ottersweier, DE
• Henry Blizke · Laufenburg (Baden), DE
• Manfred Burkart · Iffezheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 6, 2002
• Grant date: Jul 6, 2004
• Expiry date: May 23, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02B20/40
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The device has a sensor device (20) and an evaluation device (30). The sensor device (20) has a global sensor (22), by which the general light intensity in the surroundings of the vehicle is detected nondirectionally, and a directional sensor (24), by which the light intensity is detected directionally in the travel direction of the vehicle. By the evaluation device (30), the signals (S1, S2) of the sensors (22, 24) of the sensor device (20) are compared with threshold values (SE), and if at least one threshold value (SE) is undershot, the lighting devices (10, 12) are switched on. A temperature measuring instrument (32) for detecting the temperature of the sensor device (20) is also provided, which supplies the evaluation device with a signal (ST) about the temperature. In the evaluation device (30), temperature-dependent basic signals (S10, S20) that the sensors (22, 24) generate without light incidence are stored in memory. By means of the evaluation device (30), a correction of the current signals (S1, S2) of the sensors (22, 24) of the sensor device (20) and/or of the threshold mn values (SE) is effected as a function of the basic signals (S10, S20).