Vehicle Patents (Class 315/77)
  • Patent number: 8952616
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for controlling a head lamp for a vehicle. A control condition determining unit determines whether a condition for controlling a head lamp is established or not based upon whether a vehicle ahead is present or not, and a distance between the vehicle ahead and the vehicle. When the control condition is determined to be established, an illumination range control unit compares a reference pattern stored and held in a reference pattern holding unit and an illumination pattern of the head lamp recognized by an illumination pattern recognition unit, and controls the illumination range of the head lamp via an actuator in order that both patterns agree with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8952614
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a light source; a lamp housing that accommodates the light source inside; and a power receiving section that is provided so as to be integral with the lamp housing and is configured to receive electric power wirelessly to supply the electric power to the light source. A power supply device that supplies electric power from a battery mounted on a vehicle to a lamp disposed in the vehicle includes a power transmission section that is provided in the vehicle and configured to transmit the electric power of the battery; and a power receiving section that is provided so as to be integral with the lamp and configured to receive the electric power from the power transmission section. The power transmission section and the power receiving section are disposed to be opposed to each other and electrically coupled by electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohisa Tatara, Naoki Tatara
  • Publication number: 20150035434
    Abstract: A system for controlling the exterior lighting of a motor vehicle has a switch unit having a rotary switch which can be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise to sequentially activate a plurality of operating modes of the vehicle lights. The rotary switch is a continuously adjustable rotary encoder, and a plurality of indicator lights are arranged around the rotary encoder, each of the operating modes is respectively assigned a mode indicator light. The operating mode selected by the rotary encoder is displayed by the corresponding indicator light. The rotary encoder has a plurality of latched positions that correspond to the plurality of indicator lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian BUMMEL, Michael ALBERTI, Martin SCHECK, Thomas OELTJEBRUNS, Frank AUST
  • Publication number: 20150035433
    Abstract: An illustrative inventory of vehicle accessory control components includes a plurality of first circuit boards and a plurality of second circuit boards. The first circuit boards each have a substrate with a plurality of circuit elements supported on the substrate. The first circuit board substrates have an overall perimeter shape including an outer edge profile and a plurality of first deviations from the outer edge profile. The second circuit boards each have a substrate with a plurality of circuit elements supported on them. The second circuit board substrates have the overall perimeter shape including the same outer edge profile as the first circuit board substrates. The second circuit board substrates include a plurality of second deviations from the outer edge profile. At least one portion of the second deviations is different than the first deviations of the first circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: UUSI, LLC d/b/a NARTRON
    Inventors: David W. SHANK, John M. WASHELESKI, Edward J. COX, II
  • Publication number: 20150036364
    Abstract: To provide a lighting system which can solve the inconvenience experienced by a pilot entering and leaving a control cabin of a transport such as an aircraft. A lighting system LS of an aircraft 1 includes: lights 21 that illuminate a control cabin 15; a lighting power supply system 22 including a main path 22M which supplies power to the lights 21 and a sub path 22S which supplies power to the lights 21; a first switch SW1 that enables and disables power supply through the main path 22M; and a second switch SW2 that enables and disables power supply through the sub path 22S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya Yoshiguchi, Makoto Goto, Takahiro Tsujinishi
  • Patent number: 8946927
    Abstract: A control device includes a plurality of LED arrays connected to a ground and connected in parallel to one another, each of the plurality of LED arrays including one or more LEDs connected in series and a resistance element connected in series to the LEDs, a first switching circuit disposed between each of the plurality of LED arrays and a power source, a second switching circuit disposed between each of the plurality of LED arrays and the power source, a capacitor having one end connected to the first switching circuit and another end connected to the plurality of LED arrays, a voltage detection circuit having an end connected to the other end of the capacitor, and a control circuit that controls switching of conduction states of each of the first and second switching circuits, and reads a voltage from the voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8941321
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device light which drives a discharge lamp with an alternating power includes a DC-DC converter, an inverter, a voltage detector which detects an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, and a current detector which detects an output current of the DC-DC converter. The discharge lamp lighting device light further includes a controller controlling a switching frequency of the DC-DC converter according to a detection value of at least one of the voltage detector and the current detector; and a PWM ON signal controller increasing a DC power by lengthening an ON duty of a PWM signal during a predetermined period after a start of polarity inversion of the alternating power. When the voltage detector and/or the current detector detects a detection value, the controller changes an increase amount of the DC power according to the detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8941260
    Abstract: A vehicle light control device mounted on a vehicle to control lighting of a light of the vehicle based on illuminance around the vehicle, has an infrared sensor that detects an infrared ray around the vehicle, an infrared illuminance detector that detects infrared illuminance from an output of the infrared sensor, a visible-light sensor that detects visible light around the vehicle, a visible-light illuminance detector that detects visible-light illuminance from an output of the visible-light sensor, a storage in which a first lighting threshold is stored, and a controller that controls the lighting of the light based on the infrared illuminance detected by the infrared illuminance detector, the visible-light illuminance detected by the visible-light illuminance detector, and the first lighting threshold stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Takahito Terayama
  • Patent number: 8941311
    Abstract: There is described a system and method for controlling the intensity of a lighting system for vehicles comprising light emitting diodes mounted on printed circuit boards (PCBs). The method comprises sending a first modulation signal to the lighting modules from a master controller upon detection of a presence of power from a power source by the master controller; and sending a second modulation signal to the lighting modules from the master controller upon detection of an absence of power from a power source by the master controller. The first modulation signal corresponds to a first LED intensity and the second modulation signal corresponds to a second LED intensity lower than the first light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Magalhaes Grave, Carl Lavertu, Daniel Lee
  • Publication number: 20150015143
    Abstract: A light-emitting-diode-driving device includes a control circuit that is configured to perform constant current control with a DC-DC converter so that a value of a current detected by a current detection unit agrees with a prescribed reference current value to be supplied to a light source. The control circuit includes a reference-current-instruction unit, a threshold-voltage-setting unit, and a comparator circuit. The reference-current-instruction unit is configured to set the prescribed reference current value. The threshold-voltage-setting unit is configured to set a threshold voltage for determining a short circuit failure in the light source. The comparator circuit is configured to compare, with the threshold voltage, a value of a voltage that is detected by a voltage detection unit. The control circuit is configured to make the threshold-voltage-setting unit reduce the threshold voltage, when the reference-current-instruction unit reduces the prescribed reference current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki INADA
  • Patent number: 8933627
    Abstract: A system for controlling a lighting system for a vehicle includes an ambient light sensor operable for detecting a level of ambient light and a lighting circuitry. The system also includes a logical control unit that receives input signals from a vehicle control unit, a user input device and the ambient light sensor. The logical control unit controls a voltage on the lighting circuitry to provide a minimum voltage based on the one or more input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Erik C. Nordstrom, Stephen M. Cichy, Mehrdad Teimorzadeh, Charles J. Swan
  • Publication number: 20150008823
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the taillight of a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes a visible light wireless communication data generation unit, a brightness control unit, a variable pulse position modulation (VPPM) signal generation unit, and a light source. The visible light wireless communication data generation unit generates information about the operation of a vehicle. The brightness control unit generates a brightness control value that is used to control the brightness of a light source installed at the tail of the vehicle. The variable pulse position modulation (VPPM) signal generation unit controls a pulse position and a pulse width within a unit pulse section of a pulse that controls the light source based on the information about the operation of the vehicle and the brightness control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Sangkyu LIM, Myungsoon KIM, Ilsoon JANG, Jindoo JEONG, Taegyu KANG
  • Patent number: 8928225
    Abstract: Provided is a display device in which design properties have been improved by eliminating the flickering when the display level changes. A microcomputer (5) causes light emission of first LEDs (23 and 24) which are the first and second ones counting from the right end among the emitting first LEDs (21 to 24), with decreasing brightness towards the right end. Furthermore, the microcomputer (5) causes light emission of second LEDs from a second LED (77) which is disposed at the right end of the second LEDs (71 to 77), to a second LED (73) which is disposed at a position overlapped with the first LEDs (23 and 24) that emit light with decreasing brightness towards the right end, and also causes light emission of second LEDs (73 and 74), which are the first and second ones counting from the left end among the emitting second LEDs (73 to 77), with decreasing brightness towards the left end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masuda, Yoshiyuki Furuya, Hideaki Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8928226
    Abstract: A combination lamp for use in a vehicle includes a number of reflector modules, with each reflector module including a reflector, a first light emitting diode (“LED”) positioned at a focus of the reflector, and a second LED offset from the focus of the reflector. The lamp may also include another reflector module having a reflector and a single, common LED positioned at a focus of the reflector. When the first LEDs and the common LED are energized, the combination lamp produces a first light pattern. When the second LEDs and the common LED are energized, the combination lamp produces a second light pattern. The first light pattern may be a fog lamp light pattern, and the second light pattern may be a daytime running lamp light pattern. The combination lamp may include four, five, or more reflector modules, including the one reflector module having the single, common LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Myotek Pacific Corp.
    Inventor: Robert T. Harrington, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8922051
    Abstract: A current control module is used in a vehicle having a marker or tail lamp, a stop lamp, a left turn signal and a right turn signal. The current control module includes a circuit board and at least one wire coupled to the circuit board, the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal. The current monitoring circuit includes a current sense resistor, a current sense amplifier, a voltage comparator, and a transistor coupled to the voltage comparator for turning off and preventing current from being delivered to the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Truck-Lite Co., LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Robert Romberger, Nedim Hamzic
  • Publication number: 20140375205
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement having at least one metameric illuminating device (4) which comprises at least a first, second, third and fourth LED (6) and an internal controller (5) for changing the colour rendering index of a light produced by additive colour mixing of the first, second, third and fourth LED (6) with the aid of a prescribed colour, having an external controller (8) for setting a parameter (K) influencing the colour rendering index, and having a data transmitting device (7) for transmitting the parameter (K) to the internal controller (5) of the at least one metameric illuminating device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank SCHMID, Martin BACHHUBER
  • Publication number: 20140368167
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter 1 is configured to allow separation of a primary side constitution unit 3 and a secondary side constitution unit 4 of a transformer 2. A secondary side switching element FET 2 is provided in the secondary side constitution unit 4, and controls power supply to a load 12 by intermitting an output of a secondary winding L2. The primary side constitution unit 3 detects an electrical behavior of the primary side generated by the intermittent operation of the secondary side, and controls the power supplied from the primary winding L1 to the secondary winding L2 by operating the intermittent operation of the primary side switching element FET 1 such that a cycle or duty of the intermittent operation of the secondary side falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Okura, Takashi Ohsawa
  • Publication number: 20140368113
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a base unit and a first modular light. The first modular light includes a first light unit, and a first lighting technology module. The first light unit includes a first light element that emits light, and a first mechanical, electrical, and control signal physical light unit interface that is removably coupled to a first mating light unit interface on the base unit. The first lighting technology module is physically separate from the first light unit and includes a first light driver that drives the first light element, a first light engine that is coupled to the first light driver, and a first mechanical, electrical, and control signal physical light technology module interface that is removably coupled to a first mating light technology module interface on the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: David P. Eckel
  • Patent number: 8914195
    Abstract: A system for powering a steering angle sensor coupled to a steering wheel and a controller comprising a switch, coupled to the sensor and the controller. The switch is activated upon motion of the steering wheel or steering shaft. The switch, when activated, connects a power supply, such as a vehicle battery, to the sensor and the controller so that a new steering angle may be sensed and stored. After a predetermined period of time, the controller sends a signal to deactivate the switch and disconnect the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Bradley G. Hochrein
  • Patent number: 8912721
    Abstract: A lamp and lamp driver are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one application, this lamp driver is coupled to a vehicle turn function wire and marker function wire, and a plurality of marker lamps in a row can be of the same style, but one lamp can be flashed in the row of marker lamps. In some embodiments, if all of the marker lamps are on, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash out of sequence with the turn signal flash. If all of the marker lamps are off, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash in sequence with the turn signal flash. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Peter H. Thompson, Darren L. Harmon
  • Publication number: 20140361686
    Abstract: A light coordination system for coordinating the operation of multiple lights systems/devices in multiple public safety vehicles is provided. The system includes a detection component that detects at least one vehicle and/or at least one light device on the at least one vehicle, a mode component in communication with the detection component that changes an operating mode of the system based on information from the detection component, an analysis component in communication with the mode component and the detection component that generates a light coordination scheme based on information from the detection component and the mode component, and an implementation component that implements the light coordination scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas J. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8907565
    Abstract: Provided is a power supply device, which is capable of coping with semiconductor light source loads to be set in various ways, and has high efficiency, in which a current to be supplied to each of the loads has a small ripple. The power supply device supplies power to a semiconductor light source load and lights the semiconductor light source load, and includes: a DC-DC converter; and a controller. The DC-DC converter includes an inductance element and a switching element, and performs voltage conversion by storing energy in the inductance element from an input power source when the switching element is on, and discharging the energy, the energy being stored in the inductance element, to a load side when the switching element is off. The controller controls ON/OFF operations of the switching element so that an output current of the DC-DC converter can be the same as a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kanbara
  • Patent number: 8907587
    Abstract: A method of providing synchronous control for a number of light-emitting diode (LED) units within a LED fixture is described herein. The method can include receiving an input signal. The method can also include sending, in response to receiving the input signal and for a period of time, a power-on delay signal to the LED units, wherein each LED unit includes a counter, a toggle, and a LED driver, where the power-on delay signal resets the counter, initializes the toggle, and disables the LED driver. The method can also include terminating, after the period of time, the power-on delay signal. A LED fixture and a LED unit within a fixture, having one or more components performing the aforementioned method, is also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Guckin, Durairaj Kumar
  • Patent number: 8905604
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp control apparatus is provided with: a receiving portion for receiving output values of an acceleration sensor; a control portion for deriving a variation in an inclination angle of a vehicle based on the output values of the acceleration sensor and generating a control signal for instructing an optical axis adjustment of a vehicle lamp; and a transmitting portion for transmitting the control signal to an optical axis adjusting portion of the vehicle lamp. The control portion is configured to detect an error factor of the output values occurring in the acceleration sensor based on the output values of the acceleration sensor and to correct an optical axis position of the vehicle lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kasaba, Masashi Yamazaki, Atsushi Toda
  • Publication number: 20140354153
    Abstract: A lighting system mounted on any surface, such as on an article of clothing. The light system comprises at least one illuminating object. The illuminating object is connected to a power source and a processing unit. The processing unit is capable of analyzing the rhythm of music and commanding the illuminating object to flash based on the music. The lighting system can also communicate wirelessly with other electronic devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio frequency, and voice command. The lighting effects of the lighting systems on different articles of clothing can be coordinated to form a special light show such as a light symphony. The lighting system can also be coupled with software application and flash based on the user command and the validity of the user command. The light system can also be installed in a vehicle and coupled with stereo component and other component to signify the road condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Gabriel Pulido, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140354152
    Abstract: A luminous device for a vehicle includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a series resistor connecting the plurality of light-emitting diodes to a voltage source, and a control unit configured to control the light-emitting diodes by means of pulse widths modulation (PWM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
    Inventor: Michael STECKEL
  • Publication number: 20140346951
    Abstract: An LED lamp is placed in service on an automotive vehicle to enhance nighttime visual ability or anywhere where increased lighting is needed. The LED lamp utilizes a multi-stage power and control design, where the LED drive current is managed by an LED constant current controller that is coupled to a microprocessor that commands the intensity value of an LED array. The microprocessor manages the light intensity of the LED array using well known pulse-width modulation control methods. The microprocessor measures the voltage of the DC power source and to detect when DC power is removed. Once this detection has occurred, the microprocessor signals the LED current controller to change the current operational mode being delivered to the LED array to the next available operational mode, or alternatively, to the next appropriate operational mode to be used as determined by software stored within the microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen P. Adams, James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8890416
    Abstract: A LED driving device adapted to driving N LED strings connected in series is provided. N is a positive integer greater than 1. The LED driving device includes (N?1) switch units, a current source, a detection unit and a control unit. The ith switch unit electrically connects to the (i+1) LED string in parallel or to the ith LED string in parallel, and 0<i?(N?1). The current source supplies a driving current to drive the N LED strings. The detection unit outputs a detection signal according to a voltage of the current source, a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The control unit outputs a plurality of first control signals according to the detection signal to dynamically control an amount of the (N?1) switch units turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Macroblock, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Chung Cheng, Yan-Cun Li, Ruei-Ming Gan
  • Patent number: 8890411
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting control system and method are provided. The vehicle lighting control system includes a light module with light carrier positions for receipt of individual light sources. A lighting controller coupled with the light module is configured to identify a light source type associated with the individual light sources occupying light carrier positions of the light module. A power source coupled with the lighting controller provides power to the individual light sources in accordance with the type of light source identified. The individual light sources are removable from the light module and may be replaced by other light sources of a different type. The lighting controller is adapted to be reconfigured such that the different type of light source associated with the other light sources is identified and power is provided to the other light sources in accordance with the different light source type identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Control Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Alyn Brown, James Wiff
  • Patent number: 8884521
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight element is specified which has at least one light-emitting diode and at least one control apparatus. The control apparatus is suitable for processing a signal which is dependent on a measurement variable and for applying a current, corresponding to the signal, to the light-emitting diode. The control apparatus and the light-emitting diode are arranged on a common mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Behr, Alois Biebl, Moritz Engl, Heinz Haas, Stefan Hackenbuchner, Peter Helbig, Günther Hirschmann, Markus Hofmann, Rainer Huber, Joachim Reill, Thomas Reiners, Ralf Vollmer
  • Patent number: 8884529
    Abstract: An integrated photonic device includes a number of LEDs and a feedback mechanism that measures individual LED light outputs using a photo sensor via a light transmitter disposed in the vicinity of individual LEDs. A controller or driver adjusts a current driven to each LED using the detected values according to various logic based on the device application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 8876343
    Abstract: A lighting system for a motor vehicle 1 is disclosed in which a light source 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is fitted to the inside of each door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R so as to selectively provide interior lighting when the respective door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R is closed and puddle lighting when it is open. Each of the light sources 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is mounted close to a waistline of the door 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R to which it is attached and is arranged to project light in a downward direction so as not to provide a distraction for a driver of the motor vehicle 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Murray, Torsten Gerhardt, John K. Harding, Will Farrelly
  • Patent number: 8866386
    Abstract: A direction indication lamp control device includes: a current control element including an end which outputs a drive current having a magnitude corresponding to amplitude of a pulse signal; a current clamp unit which limits the drive current to a current upper limit value; a voltage clamp unit which limits a reference voltage to a voltage upper limit value; and a wire disconnection detection unit which outputs a wire disconnection detection signal in a case where the drive current corresponding to the pulse wave of the pulse signal is equal to or less than a wire disconnection detection value, or in a case where the reference voltage is equal to the voltage upper limit value. The current upper limit value is smaller than the drive current flowing through a direction indication lamp when the reference voltage is the voltage upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kubota, Hideyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 8866388
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp controller includes a lamp control unit that performs lamp control, in which light amount or light distribution of each of a plurality of lamps to be provided on a vehicle that runs on electric power from a battery, is controlled, according to a priority that is assigned to each of the plurality of lamps, wherein the priorities are determined based on degrees of necessity of the plurality of lamps in securing safety for the vehicle. The vehicle lamp controller may further include a remaining battery charge detecting device for detecting a remaining charge of a battery, and the lamp control unit may be configured to perform the lamp control according to the priorities when the remaining charge becomes lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitaka Kanamori, Kentaro Tani, Naoki Tatara
  • Patent number: 8866387
    Abstract: The vehicular headlight apparatus includes a control means configured to change a light illumination area following a position of a detected target object until a shift angle between a reference direction and a direction to the target object with respect to a headlight is calculated to exceed a maximum limit shift angle, and configured to, when a vehicle speed is detected to exceed a predetermined threshold value, set the maximum limit shift angle to a small deflection angle, and change the present light illumination area to a low-beam light illumination area covered by the headlight in a low-beam state if the shift angle is calculated to exceed the maximum limit shift angle set to the small deflection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Futamura, Ryu Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20140306606
    Abstract: A stop lamp system includes a control apparatus that controls a turn-on state of a stop lamp based on a turned-on/off state of a stop lamp switch in conjunction with an operation of a brake pedal, a turned-on/off state of a stop lamp turn-on request signal and a turned-on/off state of a stop lamp turn-off request signal. When the stop lamp turn-on request signal is in the turned-on state and the stop lamp turn-off request signal is in the turned-on state, the control apparatus gives priority to the turned-on state of the stop lamp turn-on request signal and turns on the stop lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taiko Sato, Iwao Izumikawa
  • Patent number: 8851719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing adequate lighting and sighting for a bicycle are disclosed. A lighting system that includes an illumination ring configured to be coupled to a wheel is also disclosed. The illumination ring is configured to simultaneously project light forward and to the side of a front wheel and to project light rearward of and to the side of a rear wheel. The illumination ring may be mounted to or integrated with the bicycle wheel. Methods of controlling light sources on the illumination ring are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Revolights, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kent Frankovich
  • Patent number: 8841860
    Abstract: A power converter includes a single magnetic element in communication with a plurality of output channels. Each output channel includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that may output a desired light output. Desired amounts of current may be discharged from the single magnetic element through the LEDs to generate the desired light output. The current may be drawn through the LEDs by switching “on” and “off” switches connected to the LEDs. A controller in communication with the power converter may generate switching signals to turn “on” and “off” the switches to draw the desired amounts of current. The controller may measure the current and determine whether to adjust the switching signals if the measured current draw is not the desired current draw in order to generate the desired light output from the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gilliom
  • Patent number: 8841846
    Abstract: In a light-installed area where a plurality of lights are installed, a light managing system senses a moving object that enters the light-installed area and predicts an predicted stop position of the moving object based on record information on a channel of movement corresponding to identification information on the moving object. The light managing system calculates a predicted channel of movement of the moving object based on the predicted stop position, and selects lights to be driven based on the calculated predicted channel of movement. The light managing system turns on the selected lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung-mok Yoo, Kwang Soo Kim, Tae-Wook Heo, Hyunhak Kim
  • Publication number: 20140265837
    Abstract: An electrical power supply device for a trailer lighting system behind a truck is disclosed. The trailer lighting system including at least two FMVSS 108 compliant LED stop-tail-turn lamps. The electrical power supply device has an outer casing including a terminal to be electrically attached to and become part of the trailer lighting system. There are a plurality of electrically conductive wires within the casing. At least one of the wires is selected from one or more of the group consisting of low copper usage wire. The device has an over-current protection device along at least one which breaks current flow through the one wire below at an amperage threshold less than 25 amperes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert H. Dobrow, Timothy W. Brooks, Darren L. Harmon, Alfredo H. Hernandez, Shelly Ong, Eric Thorstensen
  • Publication number: 20140265838
    Abstract: A control device for lights having at least one input wherein a coded resistor can be connected to the input, and having at least one input wherein a passive temperature sensor 20a, 20c, particularly a PTC or an NTC, can be connected to the same. The invention also relates to an arrangement of such a control device and at least one light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HELLA KGaA and Company
    Inventors: Ralf Edelmeier, Thomas Franz Fark
  • Publication number: 20140265839
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting outage detection circuit is disclosed having a plurality of parallel branches connected at a common positive reference node. Each parallel branch comprises a branch resistor and a current controlled branch switching device connected in series. A constant current source is connected to the positive reference node and configured to deliver a substantially constant current to the positive reference node. The cathode of a zener diode is connected to the positive reference node. When current to a predetermined number of the branch resistors is interrupted due to the failure one or more LEDs connected to the control inputs of the branch switching devices, the voltage at the positive reference node increases beyond the breakdown voltage of the zener diode. In such a condition, excess current flow to the anode of the zener diode to supply an outage detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: NAKUL ANAND
  • Publication number: 20140265841
    Abstract: An automatic lighting system and method for a vehicle are provided and the automatic lighting system includes a sun visor switch operated by a controller and configured to be turned on when a sun visor is lowered and turned off when the sun visor is raised. A mirror cover sensor detects an opened state or a closed state of a mirror cover while the sun visor is lowered, and the mirror cover covers a mirror attached to the sun visor. In addition, an interior lamp that includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) is operated by the controller to be turned off when a vehicle runs and turned on when the vehicle stops while the mirror cover is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyelim Baek
  • Publication number: 20140265842
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture for use in connection with a swimming pool or spa. The lighting fixture includes a light source, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a bather in a pool or a spa. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the detection device and the light source. The microprocessor adjusts an output of the light source when a bather is detected in the pool or the spa. The microprocessor could adjust the color of the light emitted by the light source when a bather is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Stuart Baker
  • Publication number: 20140265843
    Abstract: Systems and methods for replicating vehicular illumination are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a detector configured to sense light emitted by a host light of a host vehicle for detecting a lighting state of the host light. The system also includes a communications system configured to communicate the detected lighting state between the host light and the remote light. Further, the system includes a remote light being located on one of the host vehicle and an operator of the host vehicle and configured to replicate the lighting state of the host light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Publication number: 20140265840
    Abstract: A current control module is used in a vehicle having a marker or tail lamp, a stop lamp, a left turn signal and a right turn signal. The current control module includes a circuit board and at least one wire coupled to the circuit board, the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal. The current monitoring circuit includes a current sense resistor, a current sense amplifier, a voltage comparator, and a transistor coupled to the voltage comparator for turning off and preventing current from being delivered to the at least one wire corresponding to one of the marker or tail lamp, stop lamp, left turn signal or right turn signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan Romberger, Nedim Hamzic
  • Publication number: 20140252948
    Abstract: An elevator interior illumination assembly comprising a primary LED driver that provides conditioned DC power to primary and backup LEDs when AC power is available from a primary electric power source. The backup LEDs receive DC power from a backup electric power source when AC power is not available to the primary LED driver from the primary electric power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Man-D-Tec, Inc.
    Inventors: Dalton J. Mandy, Terry R. Mandy, Brandon R. Mandy
  • Publication number: 20140252952
    Abstract: A dimmable LED reading light unit, in particular for a passenger transportation vehicle, such as an airplane, a bus or a ship, comprises an input which is connectable to a potentiometer that outputs a direct voltage having a voltage intensity corresponding to a selected potentiometer position; a load current source being configured to generate a predetermined load current; a current controller providing an operating current for operating at least one LED; and an electronic measuring and control unit; wherein the load current source and the current controller are connected to the input in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Trinschek, Tomasz Kordecki, Frederik Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20140252949
    Abstract: A vehicle having a lamp includes a multi lamp disposed to radiate a first color light for backward movement or a second color light for a turn movement of a vehicle. A turn lamp is disposed near the multi lamp portion to selectively radiate a second color light for a turning movement. A controller controls the operation of the multi lamp and the turn lamp depending on a turn signal or a reverse signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kwang Min KO, Jeong Gi KIM, Jongsik BAE
  • Publication number: 20140252951
    Abstract: A dimmable LED reading light unit according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, in particular for a passenger transportation vehicle, such as an airplane, a ship, a bus, or a railcar, comprises an input connectable to a potentiometer being supplied with a constant supply voltage and outputting a direct voltage having a voltage intensity corresponding to a selected dimming rate; an electronic measuring and control unit connected to at least one LED and providing an operating current to the at least one LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: STEFFEN ROEBKE