US5036437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle lamp control sensor
Assignee: Lectron Products Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-04
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Granted: 1991-07-30
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Expires: 2010-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle lamp control sensor for switching a lamp on or off depending on ambient levels. The device employs a silicon photodetector in combination with a filter chosen to give the detector a response curve that peaks at about 550 nanometers. This gives the control sensor the same proximate spectral response as the human eye. The photo detector transmits an electrical signal in response to the ambient light. The electrical signal is sensed by a lamp switching circuit to switch the vehicle lamp at predetermined light levels. The vehicle lamp control sensor will thus respond to changes in the ambient light levels in a manner which matches the perceived light levels of a human observer.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold R. Macks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1423; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/30; B60Q2300/31; B60Q2300/314
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle lamp comprising: sensor means for receiving ambient light, said sensor means providing an electrical signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said sensor means and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to said sensor means, said filter means having a spectral transmissivity curve such that the combination of the sensor means and filter means will have a spectral response that approximates the spectral sensitivity curve of the human eye; and means responsive to said sensor means for turning said vehicle lamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle lamp comprising: sensor means for receiving ambient light, said sensor means providing an electrical signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said sensor means and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to said sensor means, said filter means having a spectral transmissivity curve such that the combination of the sensor means and filter means will have a spectral response that approximates the spectral sensitivity curve of the human eye; and means responsive to said sensor means for turning said vehicle lamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor means alone has a spectral response curve that is generally linear, and increasing with the wavelength of said ambient light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lamp is an automotive headlamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor means is a silicon photodiode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter means is a BG-18 type filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vehicle lamp control sensor comprising: photodetector for receiving ambient light, and providing an electrical signal in response to said ambient light; and filter disposed between said photodetector and said ambient light for selectively filtering predetermined wavelengths of said ambient light, wherein said filter has a spectral transmissivity such that the combination of the photodetector and the filter will have a response curve that approximates the spectral sensitivity curve of the human eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vehicle lamp control sensor comprising: photodetector for receiving ambient light, and providing an electrical signal in response to said ambient light; and filter disposed between said photodetector and said ambient light for selectively filtering predetermined wavelengths of said ambient light, wherein said filter has a spectral transmissivity such that the combination of the photodetector and the filter will have a response curve that approximates the spectral sensitivity curve of the human eye.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle lamp control sensor of claim 6 wherein said said photodetector alone has a spectral response curve that is generally linear, and increasing with the wavelength of said ambient light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle lamp control sensor of claim 6 wherein said lamp is an automotive headlamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle lamp control sensor of claim 6 wherein said photodetector is a silicon photodiode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle lamp control sensor of claim 6 wherein said filter is a BG-18 type filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle lamp control sensor of claim 6 wherein said photodetector signal is a varying current signal, and said means responsive to said photodetector responds to predetermined levels of said current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle comprising: photodiode for receiving ambient light in the vicinity of said vehicle, said photodiode providing a current signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said photodiode and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to the photodiode, the filter means being chosen to have a spectral transmissivity curve so that the combination of the photodiode and the filter will yield a maximum spectral response in the range of approximately 540 to 580 nanometers; and lamp control circuit responsive to said photodiode for turning said headlamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels, whereby when the spectral composition of the ambient light changes, the response of said sensor will match the change in brightness perceived by a human observer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle comprising: photodiode for receiving ambient light in the vicinity of said vehicle, said photodiode providing a current signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said photodiode and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to the photodiode, the filter means being chosen to have a spectral transmissivity curve so that the combination of the photodiode and the filter will yield a maximum spectral response in the range of approximately 540 to 580 nanometers; and lamp control circuit responsive to said photodiode for turning said headlamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels, whereby when the spectral composition of the ambient light changes, the response of said sensor will match the change in brightness perceived by a human observer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The headlamp control system of claim 12 wherein said photodiode alone has a spectral response curve that is generally linear, and increasing with the wavelength of said ambient light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The headlamp control system of claim 12 wherein said filter means is a BG-18 type filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle comprising: photodiode for receiving ambient light in the vicinity of said vehicle, said photodiode providing a current signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said photodiode and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to the photodiode, the filter means being chosen to have a spectral transmissivity curve so that the combination of the photodiode and the filter will yield a spectral response curve having a slope with the same sign as the human photopic spectral sensitivity curve at the various wavelengths in the visible light spectrum; and lamp control circuit responsive to said photodiode for turning said headlamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels, whereby when the spectral composition of the ambient light changes, the response of said sensor will match the change in brightness perceived by a human observer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A headlamp control system for a motor vehicle comprising: photodiode for receiving ambient light in the vicinity of said vehicle, said photodiode providing a current signal in response to said ambient light; filter means disposed between said photodiode and said ambient light for selectively transmitting said ambient light to the photodiode, the filter means being chosen to have a spectral transmissivity curve so that the combination of the photodiode and the filter will yield a spectral response curve having a slope with the same sign as the human photopic spectral sensitivity curve at the various wavelengths in the visible light spectrum; and lamp control circuit responsive to said photodiode for turning said headlamp on or off at predetermined ambient light levels, whereby when the spectral composition of the ambient light changes, the response of said sensor will match the change in brightness perceived by a human observer.
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) | 1994-07-29 | 1995-01-28 | 1995-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-29 | 1999-01-28 | 1999-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-29 | 2003-01-28 | 2003-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |