Patent · US Expired

Headlamp device with swivel control for a vehicle

US7204620B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 2, 2004
Grant dateApr 17, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q2300/128
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Front viewability during turning may be enhanced by a headlamp device for a vehicle arranged to perform swivel control. The headlamp device is arranged so that when a vehicle 2 is turning around a right curve with low beam, the vehicle velocity V and the estimated horizontal G value are used to calculate the curve turning radius R, which is then used together with the vehicle velocity R to calculate the driver viewing point angle θ to which the leftward deviation β of the highest light intensity position in the light distribution pattern PL for low beam is added to calculate the target swivel angle α on the basis of which the lighting fixture unit of the headlamp 10R is swung over the target swivel angle α so that light beam is emitted toward a region surrounding the driver viewing point EP on the road ahead of the vehicle in the forward direction. In this arrangement, the driver viewing point angle θ can be calculated using only from the vehicle velocity data as a parameter without using steering angle data, making it possible to simplify the operation for swivel control and to eliminate the need to use a steering angle sensor.

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