US6465963B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Headlight control system utilizing information from a microwave receiver
Assignee: Gentex Corp
•
Filing: 2000-06-28
•
Granted: 2002-10-15
•
Expires: 2020-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An inventive rearview mirror assembly is disclosed in which a microwave antenna is mounted so as to receive transmissions from one or more satellites through the front windshield of the vehicle. The microwave antenna may be tuned to receive satellite transmissions from a position identification system constellation of satellites, such as GPS or GLONASS. Additionally, the microwave antenna may be tuned to alternatively or additionally receive transmissions from at least one communication satellite, such as a CD radio satellite. In addition to the inventive rearview mirror assembly, an inventive electrical control system is disclosed that may be used as a navigation system, an electrochromic rearview mirror control system, a head lamp control system, a tire pressure monitoring and display system, a temperature sensing and display system, a vehicle compass system, a vehicle data recorder system, and/or a vehicle odometer verification system. In each of the above systems, new parameters are made available by the microwave antenna to perform control operations not previously performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Turnbull
- 👤 Robert C. Knapp
- 👤 Eric J. Walstra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/04; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/06; B60C23/061; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1423; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R1/12; G; G01; G01C; G01C17/00; G01C17/38; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/35; G01S19/36; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/32; H01Q1/325; H01Q1/3266; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/052; B60Q2300/10; B60Q2300/11; B60Q2300/112; B60Q2300/30; B60Q2300/31; B60Q2300/312; B60Q2300/314; B60Q2300/33; B60Q2300/332; B60Q2300/3321; B60Q2300/337; B60Q2300/40; B60Q2300/43; B60R2001/1215; B60R2001/1246; B60R2001/1261; B60R2001/1284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A headlight control system for automatically turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, a source of a clock signal that identifies the time of day, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on in response to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor and in response to the time of day identified in the clock signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A headlight control system for automatically turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, a source of a clock signal that identifies the time of day, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on in response to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor and in response to the time of day identified in the clock signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day and compares the filtered ambient light level to a first threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned on when the filtered ambient light level falls below the first threshold, level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 2 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day by decreasing a response time to the falling of the sensed ambient light level below the first threshold when the time of day indicates that it is nighttime.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 2 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day and compares the filtered ambient light level to a second threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned off when the filtered ambient light level rises above the second threshold level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 4 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day by decreasing a response time to the falling of the sensed ambient light level below the first threshold and by increasing a response time to the rising of the sensed ambient light level above the second threshold when the time of day indicates that it is nighttime.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day and compares the filtered ambient light level to a first threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned off when the filtered ambient light level rises above the first threshold level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 6 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the time of day by increasing a response time to the rising of the sensed ambient light level above the first threshold when the time of day indicates that it is nighttime.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
213 words
A headlight control system for automatically turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle and thereby tracking the location of the satellites relative to the vehicle and monitoring the presence or absence of a signal received from each of the satellites; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit configured to determine what portions of the microwave receiver's view of the sky over the vehicle are blocked by a potentially light blocking/filtering obstruction based upon a determination of whether a signal is or is not being received from one or more of the satellites, said control circuit being responsive to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor for causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on, wherein the responsiveness of the control circuit to changes in ambient light levels is changed as a function of the portions of the sky above the vehicle that are potentially obstructed by a light blocking/filtering structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
213 words
A headlight control system for automatically turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle and thereby tracking the location of the satellites relative to the vehicle and monitoring the presence or absence of a signal received from each of the satellites; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit configured to determine what portions of the microwave receiver's view of the sky over the vehicle are blocked by a potentially light blocking/filtering obstruction based upon a determination of whether a signal is or is not being received from one or more of the satellites, said control circuit being responsive to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor for causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on, wherein the responsiveness of the control circuit to changes in ambient light levels is changed as a function of the portions of the sky above the vehicle that are potentially obstructed by a light blocking/filtering structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A headlight control system for automatically, turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, a source of vehicle velocity data, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on in response to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor and in response to the vehicle velocity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A headlight control system for automatically, turning on headlights of a vehicle, said system comprising: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said ambient light sensor, a source of vehicle velocity data, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of causing said headlights to turn on, said control circuit causing the vehicle headlights to be turned on in response to ambient light levels sensed by said ambient light sensor and in response to the vehicle velocity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the velocity of the vehicle and compares the filtered ambient light level to a first threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned on when the filtered ambient light level falls below the first threshold level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 10 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the velocity of the vehicle by decreasing a response time to the falling of the sensed ambient light level below the first threshold, with increasing vehicle velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 10 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon velocity of the vehicle and compares the filtered ambient light level to a second threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned off when the filtered ambient light level rises above the second threshold level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 12 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the velocity of the vehicle by decreasing a response time to the falling of the sensed ambient light level below the first threshold or rising above the second threshold, with increasing vehicle velocity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the velocity of the vehicle and compares the filtered ambient light level to a first threshold level and causes the vehicle headlights to be turned off when the filtered ambient light level rises above the first threshold level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 14 , wherein said control circuit filters the sensed ambient light level based upon the velocity of the vehicle by increasing a response time to the rising of the sensed ambient light level above the first threshold, with decreasing vehicle velocity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, a source of a clock signal that identifies the time of day, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit controlling the vehicle headlights in response to light levels sensed by said sensor and in response to the time of day identified in the clock signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, a source of a clock signal that identifies the time of day, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit controlling the vehicle headlights in response to light levels sensed by said sensor and in response to the time of day identified in the clock signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 16 , wherein said sensor is an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside the vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 16 , wherein said sensor is mounted to a rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 16 , wherein said source of said clock signal is a microwave receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 19 , wherein said microwave receiver is a GPS receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 16 , wherein said control circuit controls the headlights by turning the headlights on and off.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 21 , wherein the headlights turned on and off are the low beam headlamps of the vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
192 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle and thereby tracking the location of the satellites relative to the vehicle and monitoring the presence or absence of a signal received from each of the satellites; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit configured to determine what portions of the microwave receiver's view of the sky over the vehicle are blocked by a potentially light blocking/filtering obstruction based upon a determination of whether a signal is or is not being received from one or more of the satellites, said control circuit being responsive to light levels sensed by said sensor for controlling the vehicle headlights, wherein the responsiveness of the control circuit to changes in light levels is changed as a function of the portions of the sky above the vehicle that are potentially obstructed by a light blocking/filtering structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
192 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle and thereby tracking the location of the satellites relative to the vehicle and monitoring the presence or absence of a signal received from each of the satellites; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit configured to determine what portions of the microwave receiver's view of the sky over the vehicle are blocked by a potentially light blocking/filtering obstruction based upon a determination of whether a signal is or is not being received from one or more of the satellites, said control circuit being responsive to light levels sensed by said sensor for controlling the vehicle headlights, wherein the responsiveness of the control circuit to changes in light levels is changed as a function of the portions of the sky above the vehicle that are potentially obstructed by a light blocking/filtering structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said sensor is an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside the vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said sensor is mounted to a rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said microwave receiver is mounted to a rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said microwave receiver is a GPS receiver.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 23 , wherein said control circuit controls the headlights by turning the headlights on and off.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 28 , wherein the headlights turned on and off are the low beam headlamps of the vehicle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
78 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, a microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit controlling the vehicle headlights in response to light levels sensed by said sensor and in response to vehicle velocity provided by the microwave receiver.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
78 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, a microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit controlling the vehicle headlights in response to light levels sensed by said sensor and in response to vehicle velocity provided by the microwave receiver.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 30 , wherein said sensor is an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light levels outside the vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 30 , wherein said sensor is mounted to a rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 30 , wherein said microwave receiver is a GPS receiver.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 30 , wherein said control circuit controls the headlights by turning the headlights on and off.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 34 , wherein the headlights turned on and off are the low beam headlamps of the vehicle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
90 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit being responsive to light levels sensed by said sensor and to information provided by said microwave receiver for controlling the vehicle headlights.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
90 words
A headlight control system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a sensor for sensing light levels outside of the vehicle; a microwave receiver for receiving signals from satellites in the sky over the vehicle; and a control circuit adapted to be coupled to said sensor, said microwave receiver, and to an electrical system of the vehicle so as to be capable of controlling the headlights, said control circuit being responsive to light levels sensed by said sensor and to information provided by said microwave receiver for controlling the vehicle headlights.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 36 , wherein said information provided by said microwave receiver is the time of day.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 36 , wherein said information provided by said microwave receiver is the velocity of the vehicle.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
125 words
The headlight control system as defined in claim 36 , wherein said microwave receiver tracks the location of the satellites relative to the vehicle and monitors the presence or absence of a signal received from each of the satellites, and wherein said control circuit is configured to determine what portions of the microwave receiver's view of the sky over the vehicle are blocked by a potentially light blocking/filtering obstruction based upon a determination of whether a signal is or is not being received from one or more of the satellites, wherein the responsiveness of the control circuit to changes in light levels is changed as a function of the portions of the sky above the vehicle that are potentially obstructed by a light blocking/filtering structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-14 | 2006-04-15 | 2006-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-14 | 2010-04-15 | 2010-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-14 | 2014-04-15 | 2014-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |