US3873881A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light axis adjusting system for motor vehicle
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-11-01
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A head lamp light axis adjusting system for a motor vehicle, which comprises an actuator for actuating the light units of the head lamps when energized so as to adjust the direction of the light axes of the head lamps, a position detector for producing a position voltage signal with a voltage according to the position of the light units, a distance detector for producing a distance signal with a voltage according to distance between the chassis and the wheel shaft, when energized, a detector controller for energizing the distance detector when the hand brake is actuated during the night time and for de-energizing the distance detector when the distance detector completes its detection operation, and actuator energizing means for energizing the actuator in accordance with the position and distance voltage signals when the distance detector is de-energized.
Inventors
- 👤 Naohiko Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q1/115; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/10; B60Q2300/11; B60Q2300/116; B60Q2300/13; B60Q2300/132; B60Q2300/14; B60Q2300/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
390 words
A system for adjusting direction of the light axis of the head lamp of a motor vehicle, which comprises: an actuator for moving the light axis of the head lamp when it is energized, said actuator including a reciprocally movable rod mechanically connected to the light unit of the head lamp, a first d-c electric motor, and a mechanical linkage connected between said reciprocally movable rod and the rotary shaft of said motor for making said reciprocally movable rod move in accordance with the motion of said motor; first detecting means for producing a first voltage signal having a voltage according to the tilt of the head lamp, said first detecting means including a first potentiometer having the slide contact thereof mechanically connected to said reciprocally movable rod, and a power supplying means connected to said first potentiometer for supplying a d-c power to said first potentiometer so as to build said first voltage signal at the slide contact, said power supplying means including a d-c power source, a first power line connecting between one output terminal of said power source and one terminal of said first potentiometer, a side marker lamp switch adapted to close when the side marker lamp is energized, a hand brake switch adapted to close when a hand brake of the vehicle is actuated and serially connected to said side marker lamp switch, an accelerator pedal depression switch adapted to open when an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is depressed and serially connected to said hand brake switch, and a second power line connecting through the series connection of said side marker lamp, hand brake and accelerator pedal depression switches between the other output terminal of said power source and the other terminal of said first potentiometer; second detecting means for producing a second voltage signal having a voltage according to distance between the vehicle chassis and one of the wheel shafts of the vehicle, when energized; detector control means connected to said second detecting means for energizing said second detecting means when the hand brake is actuated and for de-energizing said second detecting means when it completes its detecting operation; and actuator energizing means electrically connected to said actuator and said detEctor control means, for energizing said actuator in accordance with said first and second voltage signals when said second detecting means is de-energized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
390 words
A system for adjusting direction of the light axis of the head lamp of a motor vehicle, which comprises: an actuator for moving the light axis of the head lamp when it is energized, said actuator including a reciprocally movable rod mechanically connected to the light unit of the head lamp, a first d-c electric motor, and a mechanical linkage connected between said reciprocally movable rod and the rotary shaft of said motor for making said reciprocally movable rod move in accordance with the motion of said motor; first detecting means for producing a first voltage signal having a voltage according to the tilt of the head lamp, said first detecting means including a first potentiometer having the slide contact thereof mechanically connected to said reciprocally movable rod, and a power supplying means connected to said first potentiometer for supplying a d-c power to said first potentiometer so as to build said first voltage signal at the slide contact, said power supplying means including a d-c power source, a first power line connecting between one output terminal of said power source and one terminal of said first potentiometer, a side marker lamp switch adapted to close when the side marker lamp is energized, a hand brake switch adapted to close when a hand brake of the vehicle is actuated and serially connected to said side marker lamp switch, an accelerator pedal depression switch adapted to open when an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is depressed and serially connected to said hand brake switch, and a second power line connecting through the series connection of said side marker lamp, hand brake and accelerator pedal depression switches between the other output terminal of said power source and the other terminal of said first potentiometer; second detecting means for producing a second voltage signal having a voltage according to distance between the vehicle chassis and one of the wheel shafts of the vehicle, when energized; detector control means connected to said second detecting means for energizing said second detecting means when the hand brake is actuated and for de-energizing said second detecting means when it completes its detecting operation; and actuator energizing means electrically connected to said actuator and said detEctor control means, for energizing said actuator in accordance with said first and second voltage signals when said second detecting means is de-energized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, in which said mechanical linkage includes a guide member fastened to said reciprocally movable rod in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to said reciprocally movable rod, a worm gear adapted to be rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of said reciprocally movable rod, a pin mounted on the side surface of said worm gear and slidably coupling with said guide member, a worm member mounted on the rotary shaft of said first electric motor and meshed with said worm gear so as to form a worm gear drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, in which said second detecting means includes a lever vertically rotatavely mounted at one end portion thereof on such a portion of the chassis that the other end portion of said lever abuts on said one of the wheel shaft when said lever downwardly moves, a second electric motor, a second mechanical linkage connecting between said lever and the rotary shaft of said second electric motor for making said lever to vertically rotate in accordance with the motion of the rotary shaft of said second electric motor, and a second potentiometer having the slide contact thereof mechanically connected to said lever, the two terminals of said second potentiometer being connected to said power supplying means so as to build said second voltage signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system as set forth in claim 3, in which said mechanical linkage includes a worm gear adapted to be rotatable in a vertical plane, a pin mounted on the side surface of said worm gear in such a manner as to be engage with said lever, and a worm member mounted on the rotary shaft of said second electric motor and meshed with said worm gear so as to form a worm gear drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A system as set forth in claim 3, in which said detector control means includes a d-c power source, side marker lamp switch adapted to close when the side marker lamp is energized, a hand brake switch adapted to close when the hand brake is actuated, said hand brake switch being connected to said side marker lamp switch in series with each other, a relay coil having one terminal thereof connected through the series connection of said side marker lamp switch and hand brake switch to one terminal of said power source and the other terminal thereof connected to the other terminal of said power source, a motor stop switch adapted to open when the rotary shaft of said second d-c electric motor rotates through a predetermined angle, and a pair of relay switches so associated with said relay coil as to close when said relay coil is energized, one of said relay switches connecting one terminal of said power source through said motor stop switch to one input terminal of said second d-c electric motor and the other of said relay switches connecting the other input terminal of said second d-c electric motor to the other terminal of said power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
A system as set forth in claim 5, in which said actuator energizing means includes comparating means connected to the slide contacts of said first and second potentiometers for producing a drive signal until difference between the voltages of said first and second voltage signals becomes equal to a predetermined voltage, an observing means connected to said one input terminal or said second d-c electric motor for producing a detection completion signal when said second d-c electric motor is de-energized, and motor actuating means connected to said observing means and said comparating means, for energizing said first d-c electric motor when receiving both of said drive signal and said detection completion signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
A system as set forth in claim 6, in which said comparating means includes first and second transistors, biasing means connected to the slide contacts of said first and second potentiometers for biasing across the base and emitter terminals of said first and second transistors in opposite directions by difference between said first and second voltage signal, a first rectifier having one terminal thereof connected to the collector terminal of said first transistor, and a second rectifier having one terminal thereof of the same kind as said one terminal of said first rectifier connected to the collector terminal of said transistor and the other terminal thereof connected to the other terminal of said first rectifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system as set forth in claim 7, in which said observing means includes a resistor having one terminal thereof connected to said one input terminal of said second electric motor and the other terminal thereof connected to said other terminal of said power source, and a third transistor having the collector and emitter terminals thereof forwardly biased and the base terminal connected to an intermediate point of said resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system as set forth in claim 8, in which said motor actuating means includes an AND gate having one terminal thereof connected to the collector of said third transistor and the other input terminal thereof connected to a junction between said first and second diodes, a driver circuit having the input terminal thereof connected to the output terminal of said AND gate, and a relay circuit connected to said driver circuit for connecting said power source to the input terminals of said first electric motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |