Abstract: A leakage current detection circuit detects a switch current flowing in a switch which is targeted for leakage monitoring, and generates a detection signal to prohibit operation of a control target circuit which is targeted for control when the switch current does not reach a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In certain example embodiments, techniques for operating vehicle lights are provided. A capacitive light sensor is configured to sense a presence and intensity of light over at least one wavelength, with each said wavelength being associated with a respective output channel of the light sensor. A buffer is filled with data from the at least one output channel, with the buffer being filled with a predetermined number of data points at a predetermined frequency. An edge change is detected in the data in the buffer. An on/off state of the vehicle lights is maintained when an edge change is not detected.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a power converting unit; a voltage measuring unit for measuring an output voltage from the power converting unit or a value equivalent to the output voltage; a current measuring unit for measuring an output current from the power converting unit or a value equivalent to the output current; and a control unit for controlling the power converting unit. When one of the output voltage and the output current of the power converting unit is changed by a specific magnitude per unit hour, the control unit determines that a change in a load status has occurred and controls the power converting unit by switching constant current control in which a measurement value of the current measuring unit is kept at a specific current designated value to constant voltage control in which a measurement value of the voltage measuring unit is kept at a specific voltage designated value.

Abstract: A method for switching on a high-beam headlight of a vehicle includes: a step of receiving high-beam information by way of an interface, the high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high-beam headlight; a step of determining a traveled distance of the vehicle in response to receiving the high-beam information, and a step of supplying switch-on information for activating the high-beam headlight if the traveled distance after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source (LED) 2, a solenoid-type actuator 6, and a lamp control device LC. The light source 2 lights up when a current flows therethrough. The actuator 6 controls a light distribution of light that is illuminated from the light source 2. The lamp control device LC controls lighting-up of the light source 2 and driving of the actuator 6. The lamp control device LC includes a current control device 10 and an actuator control device 20. The current control device 10 outputs a constant current. The actuator control device 20 connects the actuator 6 to the light source 2 in series based on a predetermined signal so that the constant current, which is output from the current control device 10, flows through the light source 2 and the actuator 6.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one imaging sensor having a forward field of view with respect to a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The imaging sensor captures image data representative of objects present in the forward field of view. A control is responsive to the imaging sensor and processes image data captured by the imaging sensor to determine an object present in the forward field of view. The control processes image data to determine a distance between the vehicle and the object determined present in the forward field of view. The control may determine the distance between the vehicle and the determined object at least in part in response to at least one of (i) size of the determined object, (ii) position of the determined object, (iii) light intensity of the determined object, and (iv) rate of approach of the determined object.

Abstract: Lamp comprising: a light source comprising one or more LED type diodes; control means for controlling the geometry of the light beam of said light source in response to a control information or a control signal; a control unit for generating said control information or said control signal; wherein the control unit comprises a image sensor generating at least one image of the area illuminated by said light source and processing means for processing said image so as to generate said control information or said control signal.

Abstract: A power converter that receives a plurality of direct current (DC) powers, which are received in different modes and have a common ground and substantially the same potential, and operates a plurality of loads, wherein the power converter operates the respective loads according to input states of the plurality of DC powers and supplies the plurality of loads with power via at least a common switch element or a common coil.

Abstract: A lamp, as for example a headlamp, comprising: a light source having one or more LED-type diodes; a power unit for generating electric power of said light source, said unit being controlled by a control information or a control signal; a control unit for adjusting the light generated by said light source; wherein the control unit comprises an image sensor generating at least one image of the illuminated area from said light source and means for processing said image in order to generate said control information or said control signal The lamp also includes a processor for image processing capable of performing complex analysis of the image, including the recognition of a rope, fog detection etc. . . .

Abstract: A discharge path circuit, the circuit providing a discharge path for an input terminal of an IC (Integrated Circuit) formed with a power input port connected to a first input and an operation mode selection port connected to a second port, the circuit comprising: an LC filter unit interconnected between the power input port and the first input to filter a noise in power; a first resistor interconnected between the first input and the second input; and a second resistor interconnected between the second input and a ground to provide a discharge path.

Abstract: The discharge lamp lighting device in accordance with the present invention includes a controller configured to perform an abnormality judgment process of judging whether or not abnormality has occurred based on a measured value of a driving voltage defined as an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp. The controller is configured to, in the abnormality judgment process, judge whether or not an asymmetric state in which the driving voltage lacks symmetry has occurred over a predetermined period. The controller is configured to, upon concluding that the asymmetric state has occurred over the predetermined period, conclude that the abnormality has occurred.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus and method that enable high-precision and high-speed measurement by canceling variations of a delay circuit in the apparatus are provided. Pulsed light is branched into first and second reference light, and transmitted measurement light, and the difference in detection time among the first reference light along a first path with no optical variations, the second reference light along a second path with an optical delay, and received measurement light from an object to be measured is measured. The received measurement light and the first reference light are temporally separate, distance is calculated from the difference in detection time between the received measurement light and the first reference light.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes an active element connected in parallel to a second light source block and having an impedance that varies in accordance with a control signal input into a control terminal, and switches the second light source block between a lit condition and an extinguished condition by switching the active element ON and OFF. The switching circuit adjusts the impedance of the active element so that a current flowing to the active element matches a target value set by a switching control circuit. When the active element is to be switched ON, the switching control circuit varies the target value gradually over time, and therefore an excessive load current can be prevented from flowing while the active element shifts from an OFF condition to an ON condition.

Abstract: A vehicular LED lamp includes a mounting seat and a plurality of LED light-emitting units mounted on the mounting seat. Each LED light-emitting unit includes a carrier plate having inner and outer surfaces, a circuit board engaged on the outer surface of the carrier plate, and at least one LED mounted on the circuit board and in contact with the outer surface of the carrier plate. The mounting seat includes a plurality of mounting grooves each having a bottom wall and two side walls with inclined sections. The LED light-emitting units are received in the mounting grooves of the mounting seat, with the inner surface of each carrier plate in contact with the bottom wall of an associated mounting groove, with two sides of each carrier plate abutting the inclined sections of the associated mounting groove.

Abstract: A light source turn-on/off controller includes an input section of a turn-on/off timing signal, a PWM signal generating section for generating a pulse signal responding to a rise or a fall of the timing signal, a duty cycle of the pulse signal changing so as to simulate a rise or a fall of emission in turn-on or turn-off of a filament, an emission control section for controlling an emitting section responding to the pulse signal from the PWM signal generating section, and a storage section for storing a control data table for duty cycle control by the PWM signal generating section. The control data table includes a rise table to be referred to in the rise of emission and a fall table to be referred to in the fall of emission, and each of the rise table and the fall table indicates association between elapsed time from the rise or the fall of the timing signal and the duty cycle of the pulse signal, and a relationship between the tables indicates that they cannot be superposed on each other.

Abstract: A headlamp LED lighting apparatus, which lights an LED block 2 having a plurality of LEDs connected in series, samples the output voltage of the headlamp LED lighting apparatus, calculates the average voltage during every prescribed interval, and has a storage unit for storing the average voltage during every prescribed interval calculated. A control circuit 8 compares the voltage variation in the average voltage during every prescribed interval read out of the storage unit with a prescribed threshold, and decides an LED failure of the LED block 2 from a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A vehicle signal light assembly includes: at least one color mixing light source; a support element configured to support the at least one color mixing light source on a vehicle as a signal light; and a controller configured to selectively drive each color mixing light source to generate light of a selected visually perceived color based on a received control signal. In some such embodiments, each color mixing light source of the vehicle signal light assembly comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) of at least two constituent colors. In some such embodiments, the controller is configured to operate each color mixing light source of the vehicle signal light assembly using time domain multiplexing (TDM) to generate the light of the selected visually perceived color. In some such embodiments, the vehicle signal light assembly comprises a taillight assembly. In some of the embodiments, the vehicle light assembly comprises an ambient or auxiliary lighting, or a dashboard lighting assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes a first lamp configured to selectively produce a first high beam light distribution pattern and an infrared light distribution pattern, a second lamp configured to selectively produce a second high beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution pattern, a vehicle detector which detects a vehicle running ahead, and a condition-dependent selection controller which controls the first and second lamps. The condition-dependent selection controller controls the second lamp to produce the low beam light distribution pattern when the vehicle detector detects a vehicle and to produce the second high beam light distribution pattern when the vehicle detector detects no vehicle. The condition-dependent selection controller controls the first lamp to produce the infrared light distribution pattern, irrespective of whether the vehicle detector detects a vehicle.

Abstract: A discharge lamp unit has a supporting member supporting a discharge lamp, a circuit substrate supplying electric power to the discharge lamp, a housing case member, a separation wall, and a hollow part. The housing case member supports the circuit substrate in an inside space thereof and the supporting member. The supporting member is exposed to an outside of the housing case member. The separation wall separates the supporting member from the circuit substrate in the inside space of the housing case member. The hollow part is formed between the separation wall and the circuit substrate. When the supporting member is heated by heat energy of the discharge lamp, the separation wall shields the heat conduction from the supporting member to the circuit substrate. The presence of the hollow part between the separation wall and the circuit substrate prevents heat conduction from the discharge lamp side to the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a power converter configured to receive a power from a power source, convert it into a voltage required by a discharge lamp and supply the voltage to the discharge lamp; and a controller which controls the power converter to drive the discharge lamp. The controller controls the power supplied to the discharge lamp according to a predetermined power curve. The controller controls the power curve to change based on at least one of a source voltage of the power source, an ambient temperature, a device temperature, a discharge lamp temperature and a discharge lamp voltage, and sets a sustained period of a max power value to a predetermined time period when the lighting of the discharge lamp is performed in a state where the discharge lamp temperature is equal to or less than a reference temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic light emitting diode display, which can reduce image sticking caused by the deterioration of an organic light emitting diode, and a driving method thereof.

Abstract: A lamp head is configured to be electrically coupled solely to a power-supply element and a return element. A power voltage carried by the power-supply element is regulated by a control element. The lamp includes at least one LED configured to emit light, and a first circuit coupled to the at least one LED and configured to adjust the brightness of the light emitted by the at least one LED solely in response to adjustments made to the power voltage by the control element.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes right and left headlamps, and a controller which controls the right and left headlamps. Each of the right and left headlamps is configured to produce a low beam light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line to irradiate a region in front the vehicle headlamp apparatus, and is operable to selectively produce one or both of a right side auxiliary light distribution pattern above a right part of the horizontal cutoff line and a left side auxiliary light distribution pattern above a left part of the horizontal cutoff line. Based on a position of a forward vehicle ahead of the vehicle headlamp apparatus, the controller controls each of the right and left headlamps to produce one or both of the right side auxiliary light distribution pattern and the left side auxiliary light distribution pattern.

Abstract: Method and device for adjusting lighting for a vehicle in consideration of the visibility of a curve, light having a glare effect (high beam light) being deactivated before negotiating a curve, if the curve is not visible, or optionally the illumination being increased if the curve is visible. Adjusting the lighting, in particular of headlights, for a vehicle having a first step, in which an upcoming curve is recognized, its visibility is ascertained, the visibility representing the possibility of glare, in particular to other road users, in particular to oncoming traffic, and a second step, of adjusting the lighting between the least possible glare and the best possible illumination, characterized in that the adjustment is carried out as a function of the visibility.

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.

Abstract: A control system for vehicle headlights includes a navigation device and a control unit which controls the illumination characteristics of the headlights depending on geographic location information received by the navigation device. The illumination characteristics are adapted in compliance with predefined illumination settings if the acquired geographic location information shows that the vehicle headlights are being operated on public roads. The illumination characteristics are adapted with further consideration of illumination settings specified by the driver if the location information shows that the vehicle headlights are being operated on non-public roads.

Abstract: A luminous device includes at least one radiation-emitting semiconductor chip including at least two emission regions arranged spaced apart in a lateral direction, wherein each emission region includes at least one active zone that emits electromagnetic radiation; and a drive device that operates the emission regions.

Abstract: A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a plurality of sub headlight light sources to illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. The brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. When the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness. The reference values are greater than 0° and different from one another. The reference values are set to be values sequentially increasing at intervals from 0° such that the interval is smaller as the reference value is greater.

Abstract: A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a plurality of sub headlight light sources that illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. The brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. When the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness. As the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range of the sub headlight light source having a predetermined illuminance is located increasingly farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle in a plan view.

Abstract: Control system and method for automatically controlling headlights of a vehicle includes an optical system for imaging external sources of light within a predetermined field of view and an image processing system for processing images from the optical system and providing a control signal for controlling the headlights as a function of the processed images. Processing the images may entail identifying a source of radiation in the images, the control signal being provided to dim the headlights when a source of radiation in the images is identified as a headlight or taillight of another vehicle. To this end, the image processing system may include a trained pattern recognition system for processing the images to identify the source of radiation, e.g., a pattern recognition algorithm generated from data of possible sources of radiation including headlights and taillights of vehicles and patterns of received radiation from the possible sources.

Abstract: When a current which is conducted from a direct current power supply 8 to a choke coil L1 after a switching transistor 7 is turned on has a predetermined value, an LED lighting device. lights up an LED series circuit by conducting a pulse-shaped current which occurs by turning off the switching transistor 7 to the LED series circuit. A cycle period at which the pulse-shaped current is generated is determined according to the average value of the current flowing through the LED series circuit by using an oscillator (VCO) 4. The LED lighting device controls each of the pulse-shaped current value and the average current value arbitrarily.

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: A headlamp for a vehicle includes: a housing having a front opening; a lens cover arranged to cover the front opening of the housing; a lamp chamber defined by the housing and the lens cover; a light source provided in the lamp chamber; a lighting control circuit that controls lighting of the light source; and a heat dissipating member arranged in the lamp chamber. Further, the lighting control circuit is formed on a substrate. The heat dissipating member has a pillar portion and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. The pillar portion has the light source mounted thereto. The heat dissipating fins are provided on an outer periphery of the pillar portion so as to be spaced from one another. The pillar portion also has a recess formed therein. The substrate is received in the recess of the pillar portion.

Abstract: A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least first and second independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes, the first selectable current path having a resistance value that is greater than the second current path, controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, at least one light source, a controller linked to the control switch and determining the selected path and generating a control signal and a light driver linked between the output node and the light source, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal.

Abstract: A first light on/off check portion 3 checks the on/off of a light depending on the brightness, and a second light on/off check portion 9 checks the on/off of the light depending on the rain. A light control portion 10, when the rain-dependent on/off check shows the turn-on of the light, turns on a head lamp to avoid the visibility difficulty caused by the rain and, when the rain-dependent on/off check shows the turn-off of the light, according to the result of the check of the brightness-dependent on/off of the light, controls the head lamp and small lamp. A running scene check portion 8 checks the states of the inside and outside of a tunnel, and the second light on/off check portion 9, when the rain-dependent on/off check shows the turn-on of the light, continues the turn-on of the light on/off check for a given time.

Abstract: A process and a device for controlling a plurality of LED assemblies of an automotive vehicle, each LED assembly (Gi) executing a specific lighting/signalling function. The electrical power level (Pi) delivered by the electrical source is modulated according to distinct power levels (Pi) with relation to the function associated with each LED assembly (Gi) and temporary multiplexing is executed in order to successively transmit the distinct power levels (Pi) to the assemblies (Gi) over a multiplexing period (Tmux). Demultiplexing is effected and each distinct electrical power level (Pi) is selectively delivered to the LED assembly (Gi) concerned.

Abstract: A vehicular LED lamp monitoring/controlling system includes a vehicular LED lamp having first and second LEDs. A selection/control unit is connected to and controls separate activation of the first and second LEDs and is connected to a malfunction detecting unit that detects operation of the first and second LEDs. The second LED is activated when the first LED operates abnormally. A power control unit can send a control signal to the selection/control unit to control luminance of each of the first and second LEDs. A vehicle speed monitoring unit connected to the power control unit reads a speed of a vehicle on which the vehicular LED lamp is mounted. When the vehicle is moving, the first or second LED provides normal luminance. When the vehicle is not moving, the first or second LED provides reduced luminance.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a light source unit having an LED and an optical element that performs light distribution control for directing light from the LED in a predetermined direction, a heat sink to which the light source unit is attached, and a lamp chamber in which the light source unit is disposed. The LED is an LED module formed by installing an LED chip on a power supply circuit board. The LED module is installed on a circuit board installation portion of the heat sink, and an attachment, which has a frame shape a size larger than the LED module and has a circuit board retaining portion at a center open portion of the attachment, is attached and fixed to the heat sink by a fixing member, whereby the LED module is held between the attachment and the circuit board installation portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a LED collimator element for a vehicle headlight with a low-beam function, which emits at least visible light of one color from at least one region of a light source.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling a light function of a headlight of a vehicle and a method is provided for controlling the light functions of headlights of a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to at least two different light functions are set by at least one drive device and the drive device is activated via a light control unit. The light control unit communicates with a supervision authority, parameters stored in the supervision authority predefining the dynamic behavior of the light functions.

Abstract: A roadside-vehicle cooperative illumination system in which a headlight of a vehicle and a road illumination lamp can be controlled cooperatively through communications between an in-vehicle apparatus and a roadside apparatus. For example, when power consumption of the headlight has to be reduced, an in-vehicle apparatus side arbiter transmits a request to the roadside apparatus for increase illumination of the road illumination lamp. A roadside apparatus side arbiter determines whether or not to accept the request from the in-vehicle apparatus, and a roadside apparatus side controller controls the road illumination lamp according to the determination of the roadside apparatus side arbiter. This enables the road illumination lamp to be controlled cooperatively so that illumination of the road illumination lamp can compensate for deficiencies in illumination of the headlight, which leads to enhancement of vehicle driver's convenience and ensuring of safety.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas-discharge lamp (10) of a motor-vehicle headlamp comprises steps of operating the gas-discharge lamp (10) in a first operating mode at a comparatively higher power and alternating-current voltage and in a second operating mode in a temporally limiting manner at a comparatively lower power and direct-current voltage. When a switch is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, a polarity of the direct-current voltage is predefined depending on the respective polarities of the direct-current voltage in at least one previous operating phase of the second operating mode. A device or unit operates the gas-discharge lamp and controls a sequence of the method.

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: Provided is an Adaptive Front Lighting System and a control method thereof, which includes a motor driver which controls a beam irradiation direction of a headlamp by operating a motor coupled to the headlamp according to a motor control signal, and generates a motor fault signal when fail occurs in the motor, a power supply unit which controls a magnitude of electric power supplied to the headlamp according to a power control signal, and a controller which selectively outputs the power control signal to the power supply unit according to the motor fault signal of the motor driver.

Abstract: In a light chamber formed in a housing case and a lens cover placed at a front part of the housing case in a headlamp assembly, a projection lens, a shade and a light source are arranged in line from the front side of the light chamber along an optical axis of the light source. A radiating member has radiating fins of a plate shape vertically placed in the light chamber, and radiates heat energy generated by the light source to surrounding air. A slit composed of a vertical slit part and an inclined-slit part is formed in each of the radiating fins. The formation of the slit generates a change of heat capacity and a temperature difference at upper and bottom parts of each of the radiating fins. The incline-slit part is extended from the top of the vertical slit part to the upper part of the radiating fin.

Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus comprises: a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle. The controller reduces the illuminance of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns.

Abstract: An on-vehicle light distribution control system (100) for controlling light distribution of headlights (3), includes a vehicle detecting unit (10) configured to detect a front vehicle (LV) travelling in front of a self-vehicle; a detection difficulty determining unit (12) configured to determine difficulty of the detection by the vehicle detecting unit (10); an operational condition changing unit (14) configured to change an operational condition of light distribution control according to a determination result of the detection difficulty determining unit (12); and a light distribution control state display unit (13) configured to display a present state of the light distribution control for which the operational condition is changed by the operational condition changing unit (14).

Abstract: To provide a headlamp device for a vehicle that has LEDs as light sources, the headlamp device including a situation detection part that detects a lighting status of headlamps; and a dimming control part that reduces the luminance of the headlamps to a prescribed value that is greater than zero based on the lighting status of the headlamps.

Abstract: A system and method for re-enabling automatic mode after manually overriding automatic mode of an automatic headlamp control system for a motor vehicle. The system and method monitors the headlamp state in a controller, recommends a headlamp state from the automatic mode of the automatic headlamp control system, monitors a driver request for headlamp state in the controller, and causes the controller to return to the automatic mode when the recommended headlamp state matches the driver request for a headlamp state.