Abstract: A lighting system for a local vehicle, comprising: a head lamp including a low-beam lamp for shining low-beam light in a first zone, and a first high-beam lamp for shining first high-beam light in the first zone; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle proximate to the local vehicle, the sensory cluster including a distance sensor for determining a distance of the remote vehicle from the local vehicle, and a velocity sensor for determining a velocity of the remote vehicle with respect to the local vehicle; and a lighting controller for determining a minimum-distance target time when the remote vehicle will reach a minimum distance from the local vehicle based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle, and for controlling the operation of the first high-beam lamp based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: An adapter for use with components of a truck trailer. The adapter may include multiple input terminals corresponding with multiple terminals of a trailer component socket of a trailer, and multiple output terminals configured to electrically connect with corresponding input terminals of a trailer component. The adapter may also include an adapter circuit configured to electrically connect at least four of the input terminals with at least four of the multiple output terminals. The multiple output terminals may include at least two mode selection output terminals configured to provide a mode selection to the trailer component, and the trailer component optionally includes control logic configured to activate and deactivate the trailer component according to the mode selection.

Abstract: A vehicular error detection system is provided, comprising: a plurality of light circuits in a vehicle, each light circuit including a light and being associated with a corresponding unique identifier; a system controller located in the vehicle and configured to control operation of the light circuits; a plurality of wires connecting the light circuits to the system controller such that at least one wire is attached to each of the plurality of light circuits; a plurality of lighting error detectors each configured to detect a malfunctioning light from among corresponding lights in the light circuits, and configured to transmit an error message to the system controller when the malfunctioning light is detected, wherein each of the lighting error detectors transmits an error message to the system controller when the lighting error detector detects the malfunctioning light, and the error message includes the corresponding unique identifier of the malfunctioning light.

Abstract: A lighting system for a local vehicle, comprising: a head lamp including a low-beam lamp for shining low-beam light in a first zone, and a first high-beam lamp for shining first high-beam light in the first zone; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle proximate to the local vehicle, the sensory cluster including a distance sensor for determining a distance of the remote vehicle from the local vehicle, and a velocity sensor for determining a velocity of the remote vehicle with respect to the local vehicle; and a lighting controller for determining a minimum-distance target time when the remote vehicle will reach a minimum distance from the local vehicle based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle, and for controlling the operation of the first high-beam lamp based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: A lighting system, including: a first headlamp on a front of a local vehicle and including a first low-beam lamp for shining light in front of the local vehicle at a first angle below horizontal, a first middle-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a second angle below horizontal, and a first high-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a third angle below horizontal; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle in front of the first headlamp; a controller for controlling operation of the first low-beam, middle-beam, and high-beam lamps, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle and the second angle is greater than the third angle, and the controller controls operation of the first middle-beam and high-beam lamps based at least in part on signals from the sensory cluster.

Abstract: A lamp for a vehicle or other object that includes multiple functions. In one aspect, the lamp includes a first circuit for emitting a first color light (such as red light), and at least a second circuit for emitting a second color of light (such as amber light). In another aspect, the lamp optionally includes a microcontroller that may be programmed to control the activation of the different colored lamp circuits based on lamp location information, and based on an operating mode.

Abstract: A lamp or lens assembly for a motor vehicle that includes electrically conductive traces for defogging or deicing the lens. Aspects include a light transmissive lens coupled to a lamp housing. The light transmissive lens may define a curved cross-section with a curvature extending across the length and/or the width of the lens. The lens may include one or more electrically conductive traces positioned on a surface of the lens, the electrically conductive traces optionally extending across and curving with the curvature of the light transmissive lens. One or more coatings may optionally cover the conductive traces and a portion of the lens surface leaving portions uncovered. The electrically conductive traces may extend outwardly away from the surface of the lens with height that is greater than their width.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer for reducing the number and/or size of wiring in a commercial trailer cable system from seven to four, three, or two, while also facilitating bidirectional communication with all connected electronic devices in the trailer. The cable system has a ground cable, a power cable, and zero, one or two additional communication cables that may carry analog and/or digital communications between the control circuit and components of the trailer such as turn signal lamps, brake lamps, backup cameras, environmental sensors, and the like. A transformer for increasing the voltage on the power cable is disclosed, allowing the power and ground cables to be smaller without reducing power delivered to the trailer.

Abstract: A self-repairing lighting system is provided, including: a power line; a ground line; a first lighting circuit arranged between the power line and the ground line, the first lighting circuit including a plurality of first lights arranged in series; and a first switch arranged in series with the plurality of first lights; a second lighting circuit arranged between the powerline and the ground, the second lighting circuit including a plurality of second lights arranged in series; and a second switch arranged in series with the plurality of second lights; a detector configured to detect an operating parameter of the self-repairing lighting system; a controller configured to operate the first and second switches based on the operating parameter. The operating parameter is one of a voltage drop on or a current passing through the power line, the ground line, or one of the lighting circuits.

Abstract: A lighting system for a local vehicle, comprising: a head lamp including a low-beam lamp for shining low-beam light in a first zone, and a first high-beam lamp for shining first high-beam light in the first zone; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle proximate to the local vehicle, the sensory cluster including a distance sensor for determining a distance of the remote vehicle from the local vehicle, and a velocity sensor for determining a velocity of the remote vehicle with respect to the local vehicle; and a lighting controller for determining a minimum-distance target time when the remote vehicle will reach a minimum distance from the local vehicle based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle, and for controlling the operation of the first high-beam lamp based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting system for a local vehicle, comprising: a head lamp including a low-beam lamp for shining low-beam light in a first zone, and a first high-beam lamp for shining first high-beam light in the first zone; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle proximate to the local vehicle, the sensory cluster including a distance sensor for determining a distance of the remote vehicle from the local vehicle, and a velocity sensor for determining a velocity of the remote vehicle with respect to the local vehicle; and a lighting controller for determining a minimum-distance target time when the remote vehicle will reach a minimum distance from the local vehicle based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle, and for controlling the operation of the first high-beam lamp based on the distance of the remote vehicle and the velocity of the remote vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting system, including: a first headlamp on a front of a local vehicle and including a first low-beam lamp for shining light in front of the local vehicle at a first angle below horizontal, a first middle-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a second angle below horizontal, and a first high-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a third angle below horizontal; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle in front of the first headlamp; a controller for controlling operation of the first low-beam, middle-beam, and high-beam lamps, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle and the second angle is greater than the third angle, and the controller controls operation of the first middle-beam and high-beam lamps based at least in part on signals from the sensory cluster.

Abstract: An electrochromic adaptive driving beam system for a vehicle includes a vehicle headlamp, a high-beam light source, and a low-beam light source. The vehicle headlamp includes an electrochromic material that covers the high-beam light source attached to the vehicle headlamp. The low-beam light source is uncovered by the electrochromic material of the vehicle headlamp. The electrochromic material is transparent to transmit light projected from the high-beam light source and changes opacity to reduce glare projected from the high-beam light source through the vehicle headlamp in response to a voltage.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer for reducing the number and/or size of wiring in a commercial trailer cable system from seven to four, three, or two, while also facilitating bidirectional communication with all connected electronic devices in the trailer. The cable system has a ground cable, a power cable, and zero, one or two additional communication cables that may carry analog and/or digital communications between the control circuit and components of the trailer such as turn signal lamps, brake lamps, backup cameras, environmental sensors, and the like. A transformer for increasing the voltage on the power cable is disclosed, allowing the power and ground cables to be smaller without reducing power delivered to the trailer.

Abstract: A vehicular error detection system is provided, comprising: a plurality of light circuits in a vehicle, each light circuit including a light and being associated with a corresponding unique identifier; a system controller located in the vehicle and configured to control operation of the light circuits; a plurality of wires connecting the light circuits to the system controller such that at least one wire is attached to each of the plurality of light circuits; a plurality of lighting error detectors each configured to detect a malfunctioning light from among corresponding lights in the light circuits, and configured to transmit an error message to the system controller when the malfunctioning light is detected, wherein each of the lighting error detectors transmits an error message to the system controller when the lighting error detector detects the malfunctioning light, and the error message includes the corresponding unique identifier of the malfunctioning light.

Abstract: A lighting device, comprising: a circuit board; a receiver coil trace located on the circuit board and configured to receive transmitted power from a transmitting coil trace; a light-emitter located on the circuit board, configured to receive power from the receiver coil trace; and receiver electronics located on the circuit board, configured to receive power from the receiver coil trace and control operation of the light emitter.

Abstract: A cable system for a truck trailer for reducing the number and/or size of wiring in a commercial trailer cable system from seven to four, three, or two, while also facilitating bidirectional communication with all connected electronic devices in the trailer. The cable system has a ground cable, a power cable, and zero, one or two additional communication cables that may carry analog and/or digital communications between the control circuit and components of the trailer such as turn signal lamps, brake lamps, backup cameras, environmental sensors, and the like. A transformer for increasing the voltage on the power cable is disclosed, allowing the power and ground cables to be smaller without reducing power delivered to the trailer.