Abstract: A light assembly and method for steering a vehicle headlight illumination pattern. In one aspect, a method includes providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of: illuminating a subset of consecutive LEDs in the line including LEDs associated with the first and second edge illumination fields; as the direction of the vehicle wheels changes: (i) fading the LED associated with one of the first and second illumination fields off while simultaneously fading the LED associated with the other of the first and second illumination fields on thereby changing the illumination pattern; and (ii) repeating step (i) so that the illumination pattern tracks the direction of the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A lighting device including a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices. The light-emitting semiconductor devices are separated into at least two subgroups. The lighting device further includes a plurality of optics separated into at least two subgroups, which are arranged relative to the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices such that each one of the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices of a first subgroup is located at a focal point of a respective optic of a first subgroup of the plurality of optics, and such that each one of the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor devices of a second subgroup is located at a focal point of a respective optic of a second subgroup of the plurality of optics. The optical properties of the first subgroup and second subgroup of the plurality of optics are different.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight device includes: a sensor acquiring information on an object in front of a host vehicle; a first lighting; a second lighting including a laser light, a movable mirror element reflecting the laser light, and an actuator driving the movable mirror element; and at least one processor that controls a light distribution pattern formed by the first lighting such that an irradiation suppressed site where the irradiation by the first lighting is reduced is included in a dark region where the irradiation by the first lighting is reduced, the irradiation suppressed site including at least a part of an irradiation suppression target object, set a laser light distribution pattern in a region not including the irradiation suppressed site and included in the dark region, and control the actuator such that the laser light is reflected in the laser light distribution pattern.

Abstract: A headlamp device for a motor vehicle includes a segmented light source, which has individually deactivatable light source segments for generating a glare-free main beam with the aid of an automatic dimming system. The headlamp device is configured such that one or more regions in the main beam distribution of the headlamp device can be suppressed selectively by deactivating individual light source segments. Each light source segment in the activated state lights up a main beam segment region with a respectively preset width in the main beam distribution of the headlamp. The width of the main beam segment region is preset in the main beam segment region depending on an expected average dynamic of objects to avoid dazzling under normal traffic conditions.

Abstract: A directional indicator includes a momentary type turn signal lever supported to undergo a swing operation and automatically returning to a neutral position after the swing operation, a turn switch operated by the swing operation of the turn signal lever in a first zone for generating a turn signal for informing a driving direction of a vehicle and for setting an auto turn cancel mode for automatically canceling the turn signal, a manual switch operated by the swing operation of the turn signal lever in a second zone for setting a manual mode for manually canceling the turn signal, and a turn signal control section for controlling cancellation of the turn signal based on an operating state of the turn switch and the manual switch.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of current channels located in different die areas of a shared circuit die, at least one of the plurality of current channels comprising a power device; at least one sense circuit connected to one or more of the different die areas and arranged to provide a sense current from sensing a current through a primary of the plurality of current channels comprising one of the different die areas. The at least one sense circuit comprises a compensation module arranged to provide a compensation current adapted to at least partly compensate a deviation of the sense current caused by crosstalk between the primary and one or more secondary of the plurality of current channels depending on one or more secondary currents flowing through the one or more secondary current channels; wherein the compensation module is arranged to provide the compensation current at least partly as a weighted sum of the one or more secondary currents.

Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus includes headlamp units placed in a vehicle and a control unit which controls the illumination of the headlamp units. The headlamp units form a lower beam distribution pattern and an upper beam distribution pattern, and is configured so that a partial region of the upper beam distribution pattern can be non-illuminated. When the entirety of vehicle existent area of a vehicle-in-front travelling in front of a driver's vehicle is contained within the partial region, the control unit controls the headlamp units in such a manner that the partial region is non-illuminated; when at least a part of the vehicle existent area is contained within a region of the upper beam distribution pattern which is other than the partial region, the control unit controls the headlamp units in such a manner that the upper beam distribution pattern is not formed.

Abstract: A turn signal device for a vehicle for activating a turn signal in accordance with operation of an operation lever. The turn signal device includes a turning state detection unit, which detects a turning state of the vehicle. The turning state detection unit monitors a temporal change in the turning state of the vehicle after the turn signal is activated. The turning state detection unit deactivates the turning signal when detecting that the vehicle first turns in an activation direction of the turn signal, then turns in a direction opposite to the activation direction, and afterward turns again in the activation direction.

Abstract: In a vehicle lamp control apparatus, a control unit controls sub lamps in a first condition based on a main information signal including a turn signal or a steering angle signal, and in a second condition based on a sub information signal. A noticeability of the second condition is lower than a noticeability of the first condition.

Abstract: A head light for a motor vehicle has a light source for generating a beam of light as well as a electronic beam steering module for steering the beam of light and/or a electronic beam shaping module for shaping the beam of light, wherein the head light has a light filter for eliminating at least the substantial portion of red light from the light generated by means of the light source.

Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus includes headlamp units placed in a vehicle and a control unit which controls the illumination of the headlamp units. The headlamp units form a lower beam distribution pattern and an upper beam distribution pattern, and is configured so that a partial region of the upper beam distribution pattern can be non-illuminated. When the entirety of vehicle existent area of a vehicle-in-front travelling in front of a driver's vehicle is contained within the partial region, the control unit controls the headlamp units in such a manner that the partial region is non-illuminated; when at least a part of the vehicle existent area is contained within a region of the upper beam distribution pattern which is other than the partial region, the control unit controls the headlamp units in such a manner that the upper beam distribution pattern is not formed.

Abstract: A light assembly and method for generating a light pattern, the assembly comprising a first light module including a first LED array, the first LED array including at least a first line of LEDs where each LED in the first array generates an LED light pattern and where dark areas occur between adjacent LED light patterns, the first LED array forming a first light pattern including interleaved bright and dark areas and a second light module wherein the first and second light modules are arranged with the first light pattern misaligned with a second light pattern generated by the second light module so that at least a subset of the bright areas in the first light pattern are aligned with dark areas in the second light pattern to generate a combined light pattern.

Abstract: In a vehicle lamp control apparatus, a control unit controls sub lamps in a first condition based on a main information signal including a turn signal or a steering angle signal, and in a second condition based on a sub information signal. A noticeability of the second condition is lower than a noticeability of the first condition.

Abstract: An adaptive forward lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor having a field of view forward of the direction of travel of the controlled vehicle. A control processes image data to determine, at least in part, at least one of (i) the presence of an object of interest in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor, (ii) the location of an object of interest in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor, and (iii) a characteristic of an object of interest in the forward field of view of the imaging sensor. A beam pattern of a vehicle headlamp of the controlled vehicle is adjusted responsive, at least in part, to the processing of the image data. The control receives vehicle data via a vehicle communication bus. The control, responsive to processing of image data, is operable to provide at least one other function.

Abstract: An ionizer includes a fan for blowing air, the fan being provided in an air blowing port which opens in a case, and a plurality of discharge electrodes for generating positive and negative ions by corona discharge, the discharge electrodes being provided in the case at positions facing the air blowing port. The ionizer also includes a plurality of discharge electrode pairs each constituted by two discharge electrodes for generating ions of different polarities. When a tip-center distance denotes a distance from the electrode tip to the center of the air blowing port, the tip-center distances of the two discharge electrodes in the discharge electrode pairs are different from each other.

Abstract: A gas-fed hollow cathode keeper can reduce ion bombardment erosion by expelling gas through the keeper faceplate. The expelled gas effectively creates a high-pressure “shield” around the keeper such that bombarding ions suffer energy-reducing collisions before impacting the keeper. If the bombarding ion energy is reduced enough, the erosion is eliminated since sputtering is a threshold phenomenon.

Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus in which discharge is less likely to occur between a charged particle source, and an extraction electrode, and an acceleration electrode without the need for increasing the capacity of a high voltage power supply for extraction. The charged particle beam apparatus includes a charged particle source which emits charged particles, an extraction electrode which extracts the charged particles from the charge particle source and an acceleration electrode which accelerates the extracted charged particles. A surge absorber is electrically connected between at least two of the charged particle source, the extraction electrode, and the acceleration electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating an area in front of a vehicle, including a lamp and means for deflecting a radiation direction of the lamp in response to a steering action, except when the steering action is performed in a direction opposite to a direction indicated by a turn signal from a turn signal switch. When the direction of the turn signal does not match the steering direction, the radiation direction of the lamp is maintained in the straight traveling direction of the vehicle until a predetermined period of time has passed. The exception might not be realized if the vehicle is traveling above a predetermined speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a direction of a light axis of a swingable auxiliary headlight of a vehicle includes a steered angle sensor detecting a steered angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle, a turning radius calculating device calculating a turning radius of the vehicle on the basis of the detected steered angle and the detected vehicle speed, and a control unit performing a swivel control by which the directions of the light axes of auxiliary headlights of the vehicle are adjusted to target directions determined depending on the detected steered angle and the detected vehicle speed. The control unit is configured to control the auxiliary headlights to be in an off state while the calculated turning radius shows a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a bending lamp apparatus and method of use. A first filament is energized as a vehicle begins to turn so as to provide illumination in the direction of the turn. As the turn becomes more severe, a second filament is energized such that an additional area is illuminated in the direction of the turn.

Abstract: A lamp's optical axis control system for a vehicle includes vehicle speed sensor, steering angle sensor, a circuit for calculating driver's viewpoint and a controller for controlling the optical axis according to the position of the driver's view point. The controller indicates the position of the driver's viewpoint a certain time in advance according to the vehicle speed signal and the steering angle signal. Therefore, the illumination range of the headlamps can timely provides a desirable driver's view point.

Abstract: A lamp body control system includes a steering angle sensor, a light emitting unit which can change a illuminating direction laterally, a driving unit changing the illuminating direction, a control unit controlling the driving unit based on an output from the steering angle sensor, and a straight driving condition determining unit determining the straight ahead driving condition of a vehicle. The control unit directs the illuminating direction to a direction according to a steering direction and a variation in the steering angle in the event that the variation is larger than a predetermined value, whereas in the event that the variation is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the control unit returns the illuminating direction toward a forward direction of the vehicle at a predetermined returning speed until the determining unit determines that the vehicle is in a straight driving condition after an ignition switch is turned on.

Abstract: In a headlight optical axis adjusting apparatus and method for a vehicle, the shape of a road in front of the vehicle is detected by a CCD camera based on a change in lane marking line which indicates the lane width on the road, before the steering angle of a vehicle steering wheel is detected by a steering angle sensor. Left and right swivel lights of the vehicle are swiveled and adjusted based on the change in the lane marking line or the steering angle. The optical axis of the left or right swivel light is first swiveled and adjusted based on the change in the lane marking line. The driver's forward visibility can thus be improved before the driver turns the steering wheel.

Abstract: A lamp body control system includes a steering angle sensor, a light emitting unit which can change a illuminating direction laterally, a driving unit changing the illuminating direction, a control unit controlling the driving unit based on an output from the steering angle sensor, and a straight driving condition determining unit determining the straight ahead driving condition of a vehicle. The control unit directs the illuminating direction to a direction according to a steering direction and a variation in the steering angle in the event that the variation is larger than a predetermined value, whereas in the event that the variation is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the control unit returns the illuminating direction toward a forward direction of the vehicle at a predetermined returning speed until the determining unit determines that the vehicle is in a straight driving condition after an ignition switch is turned on.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp device 10 can be equipped with a discharge lamp 11, a beam switch device 13 that is used to switch between the high beam and low beam, a light distribution switch device 14 which broadens the horizontal light distribution in the forward direction of the vehicle during cornering, and a lighting device 20 which supplies electric power to the discharge lamp. The light distribution switch device 14 can be controlled such that the horizontal light distribution is broadened in the forward direction when the vehicle speed and steering angle exceed specified values. The lighting device 20 can be controlled such that the electric power supplied to the discharge lamp increases only when the horizontal light distribution is broadened by the light distribution switch device 14.

Abstract: A light unit 1 for a vehicle has a driving-environment detecting device 2 for detecting information (the shape of the road, the position of the vehicle, whether or not oncoming and preceding vehicle exist, the traffic volume density and ambient luminous intensity) indicating a driving environment provided by a path through which a vehicle is driven. A mode determining device 3 determines a driving mode which is included in driving modes classified in accordance with combinations of information detected by the driving-environment detecting device 2 and which is dynamically changed when the driving environment is changed during driving of the vehicle. In accordance with an instruction signal supplied from the mode determining device 3 to an illumination control device 4 and corresponding to the driving mode, illumination which is performed by the light unit 5 is controlled.

Abstract: A head light system for controlling a distribution pattern based on a vehicle condition, includes: alight set having a variable irradiation intensity; a lamp body accommodating the light unit; and a control unit for controlling, based on the condition of the vehicle, the irradiation intensity of the light set while the control unit keeps on the light set in a turn-on status.

Abstract: The lighting device for a vehicle includes running direction detect means 3 for detecting the vehicle running direction or the vehicle steering angle and vehicle speed detect means 4 for detecting the vehicle speed. An illumination control means 5 specifies the turn-on and turn-off of a plurality of lamps in accordance with detect signals output from the means 3 and 4, thereby changing the combinations of the illumination ranges of the lamps.

Abstract: A lighting system for a motor vehicle includes at least two short range driving lights with chopped beams, for illuminating bends in the road. The system includes a control unit for controlling the power supplied to the short-range (bend lighting) driving lights as a function of the steering deflection of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A head lamp device for a vehicle by which a pedestrian on the opposing vehicle lane side can be easily perceived without giving glare on an opposing vehicle. The head lamp device comprises main light emitting mechanism capable of changing over a low beam and a high beam from each other; an auxiliary light emitting mechanism for lighting a front and upper portion on the opposing vehicle lane side; an opposing vehicle sensor for detecting existence of an opposing vehicle; and a control mechanism for controlling the auxiliary light emitting mechanism. The control mechanism decreases or turns off the light of the auxiliary light emitting mechanism in response to input of an opposing vehicle detection signal from the opposing vehicle sensor when the main light emitting mechanism emits the low beam and at the same time the auxiliary light emitting mechanism is turned on.

Abstract: A vehicle cornering headlamp system which can be applied to any type of vehicle without changing the correspondence to a radiation angle, and which enables the radiation angle to follow the return of driver's eyes when the vehicle exits a curved road. The angular velocity .omega..sub.new is calculated at the time of travelling on a curved road on the basis of the output from an angular velocity sensor and the vehicle speed v is measured on the basis of distance pulses from a distance sensor. The current angular velocity, .omega..sub.new, is divided by the vehicle speed v to calculate the reciprocal number of a revolution radius r, which is multiplied by a constant K, so as to obtain a target value .theta.s of the radiation angle. Then, on the basis of the difference between .omega..sub.old, the angular velocity detected at a previous time, and .omega..sub.new, it is determined that the vehicle is approaching an end of the curved road when the gradient of the angular velocity .omega.

Abstract: An implement lighting system providing enhanced turn signal warning with standard or enhanced tractor turn and warning lighting systems. The implement lighting system includes left and right brake lamps for connecting electrically to the ungrounded sides of the corresponding towing vehicle turn signal lamps. The implement lighting system also includes a control circuit which includes a plurality of diodes and a relay. If necessary for timing purposes, the control circuit may include a resistor and a capacitor.

Abstract: A vehicular cornering lamp system in which the amount of electric power consumed by the lamp is minimized. Until the angle of rightward (leftward) steering with respect to the position of straight-ahead steering reaches a predetermined angle .theta..sub.R (.theta..sub.L), the right (left) SI lamp remains turned off and the illuminating angle thereof is fixed to 30.degree. in the right (left) direction. After the point of time when the steering angle reaches .theta..sub.R R (.theta..sub.L), the right (left) SI lamp is turned on and the illuminating angle is changed in accordance with steering direction.

Abstract: A device for automatically correcting the elevation angle of at least one vehicle headlight during changes in the attitude of said vehicle, the device being of the type comprising at least two lighting sensors integrated in the headlight and constrained to move therewith, the two sensors being disposed to detect the brightness of the road in the field of illumination of the headlight in two different directions at two predetermined angles relative to a reference direction of said headlight, an actuator suitable for varying the angle of inclination of the headlight relative to the vehicle, and processor means suitable for generating an actuator control signal as a function of the signals delivered by the sensors which are essentially proportional to the quantity of light that each of them receives.

Abstract: A vehicle cornering headlamp system in which the direction of illumination of the headlamps of an automobile are made to follow the actual direction of movement of the vehicle, except that the direction of illumination is returned to the straight-ahead direction more quickly than it is moved away therefrom, thereby more accurately following the usual eye movement of the driver. For this purpose, a control signal is generated which has a pulse width indicative of the steering angle but which has a variation characteristic with respect to steering angle which is larger when the steering wheel is turned back towards the straight-ahead position than when the steering wheel is turned away from the straight-ahead position.

Abstract: An electrical translation circuit for detecting the initiation and termination of a turn or change in direction of a motorcycle, automobile, boat or other like vehicle and the cancellation of the turn indicator for that vehicle. Sensors detect relative steering angle, distance and velocity of the vehicle processing same to cancel a manually operated turn indicator. The detected change in steering angle is coupled with processed signals indicative of appropriate forward movement of the vehicle. The combined signals initiate a cancellation signal which will terminate the vehicle turn indicator signal. The vehicle turn indicator signal will not be reset until there has been an appropriate retracement of the steering angle coupled with appropriate forward movement of the vehicle thereby precluding inadvertent reset signals arising from lane changes or vehicle stoppage during the turning operation.