Condition Responsive (e.g., Position) Patents (Class 362/464)
  • Patent number: 11890985
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source unit including a plurality of light sources; an optical unit including a plurality of incidence lenses, a plurality of emission lenses corresponding to the plurality of incidence lenses, and a plurality of shields each configured to block a part of light from being incident on each of the plurality of emission lenses; and a light transmission unit that transmits light generated from the light source unit to the optical unit. In particular, the optical unit is divided into a plurality of transmission regions that transmit the light generated from each of the plurality of light sources to allow a pattern region corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Su Lee, Jong Woon Kim, Nak Jung Choi
  • Patent number: 11807157
    Abstract: A control system of an off-road work vehicle for performing a work function includes a controller for controlling the work vehicle, a light control module for controlling a lighting system of the work vehicle, and a sensing device disposed in communication with the controller. The lighting system includes a array field light that is operably controllable to project a light emission. The sensing device signals a location to be illuminated by the array field light to the controller, and the light control module operably controls an output of the array field light to direct substantially its entire light emission at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathan R. Demski, Brian M. Huenink, Eric A. Keen, Michael R. Gratton
  • Patent number: 11794641
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product may be provided for user guidance. In an example, the system includes an image projection device configured to project traffic patterns on a surface, at least one non-transitory memory configured to store computer program code, and a processor configured to execute the computer program code to control operation of the image projection device. For example, sensor data from one or more sensors onboard a vehicle is obtained. The sensor data is associated with a state of operation of the vehicle, and proximate movement associated with the vehicle. Based on the sensor data, one or more traffic patterns for projection is determined. Further, an image projection device is controlled to project the one or more traffic patterns in one or more direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Ryk E. Spoor, David J. Metacarpa, Zahid F. Mian
  • Patent number: 11787329
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp module for an industrial vehicle. The lamp module for an industrial vehicle according to an embodiment of the present utility model can be installed inside a counterweight, unlike the conventional method of embedding in the counterweight, thereby improving workability and assemblability of the operator and improving visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DOOSAN INFRACORE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mi Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 11739903
    Abstract: A movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight and a vehicular headlight capable of reducing the entire weight while enhancing rigidity of a bracket is provided. A movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight includes a shade member rotating around a rotary shaft and adjusting a shielding amount of light from a light source, a drive unit to generate power to drive the shade member, a transmission member to transmit power of the drive unit to the shade member, and a plate bracket to hold the rotary shaft and the drive unit, wherein the bracket includes a base that is disposed along a horizontal plane in a vehicle-mounted state and supports the drive unit, and a shade support that is bent upwardly from a rear end of the base in the vehicle-mounted state and supports the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiya Abe
  • Patent number: 11719409
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly including one or more movable light signature members that are selectively translated from a first position partially or wholly in front of conventional light units (low beams, high beams, taillights, etc.) to a second position away from the light units when the light units are in use. Thus, for example, the movable light signature member(s) can include one or more LEDs or the like that are illuminated to act as daytime running lights, turn signal indicators, accessory lights, etc. when they are disposed in front of the light units and when the low beams, high beams, or taillights are not in use. This provides the desired light signature. When the low beams, high beams, or taillights are in use, the movable light signature member(s) are translated out of the way, such that the light units are visible adjacent to and/or between the movable light signature member(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Fritzon, Berk Keskin
  • Patent number: 11694493
    Abstract: A method to utilize an animation feature of a vehicle lighting member includes receiving, by a controller, sensor data indicative of a vehicle condition, determining a vehicle condition type from the sensor data, generating a control signal to control the animation feature of the vehicle lighting member based on the vehicle condition type, and controlling the animation feature of the vehicle lighting member to visually illustrate the vehicle condition type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gregory M. Castillo
  • Patent number: 11667233
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for controlling a lamp for a vehicle. The device may include a lamp controller that determines whether to change a light range control code based on at least one of image information, map information, or illuminance information of a front region of the vehicle, and determines increase or decrease and an increase or decrease amount of the light range control code based on steering information, and a lamp for expanding or reducing a light irradiation range based on the light range control code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Young Sung
  • Patent number: 11638343
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a turn signal lamp, a daytime running lamp, and a position lamp. A first driving circuit drives a first light source that is the turn signal lamp. A second driving circuit drives a second light source that serves as both the daytime running lamp and the position lamp. A signal processing device executes a software program to control the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit based on the turn synchronization signal, the first switch-on request, and the second switch-on request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11623545
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control apparatus disposed in a vehicle and a control method of the vehicle. A vehicle control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle control apparatus disposed in a vehicle, and comprises: a camera for capturing an image of an object which approaches the vehicle; a seat driving unit for driving a seat disposed in the vehicle; and a processor for sensing information related to the object on the basis of the image captured through the camera and controlling the seat driving unit such that the seat is disposed at a predetermined position, on the basis of the sensed information related to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoungha Lee, Jungbin Yim, Inyoung Hwang
  • Patent number: 11524634
    Abstract: A housing assembly for mounting at least one electric component in a vehicle is provided as a three-dimensional form having an internal volume, a general material wall thickness, a top wall, a side wall, and a front wall surface presenting the at least one mounted electrical component to an operator in the vehicle, the form mountable at one side to a first installation point on a substantially vertical utility task vehicle (UTV) dashboard cover surface through an opening in the top wall and, and an elongated bracket fixed at one end to the inside wall of the side wall of the three-dimensional form, and at a second bracket end extending out from the side wall and below the three dimensional form mounted to a second installation point on the UTV dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Christensen, Sr., Kyle Christensen
  • Patent number: 11485293
    Abstract: A dump truck, which travels in travel directions and dumps loads in a dumping direction collinear to one of the travel directions, includes: a chassis provided with tires at front and rear parts in the travel direction; an obstacle detector provided at a dump-side end of the chassis, the obstacle detector detecting an obstacle in the dumping direction of the chassis; and a shifter that is capable of moving the obstacle detector to a first position at which the obstacle detector protrudes beyond dump-side ends of the tires and to a second position at which the obstacle detector is located inner than the dump-side ends of the tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Yabe, Daichi Yui
  • Patent number: 11480854
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in which one or more light sources, a detector, a processor and a controller are configured such that light from the one or more light sources can provide illumination or projections that can reduce accidents while the vehicle is in motion and when parked and may also provide information and illumination to the driver and vehicle occupants when entering or exiting the vehicle. These systems may, for example, provide spot illumination to moving objects or pedestrians on the road surface, with the spot illumination following the moving object. Alternatively or in addition these systems may project images on the ground, for example to communicate information to occupants of the vehicle, to occupants of another vehicle, or to pedestrians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Michael Camras, Jyoti Kiron Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 11383634
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights among vehicles traveling in a platoon. Various aspects may include transmitting, by a first vehicle processor of a first vehicle traveling in the platoon, a collaborative lighting plan to a second vehicle traveling in the platoon, wherein the collaborative lighting plan may direct the second vehicle to direct one or more headlights of the second vehicle in a direction other than a direction of travel of the platoon. The first vehicle processor may then direct one or more the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Daniel Martin, Aleksandr Kushleyev, Jonathan Paul Davis, Moussa Ben Coulibaly, Kristen Wagner Cerase
  • Patent number: 11383700
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control method includes, when controlling a vehicle having an autonomous travel control function to travel autonomously, detecting whether or not an object is present around the vehicle and displaying a predetermined pattern corresponding to a detection range at a certain position on a road surface toward the detection range so that the predetermined pattern is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11351913
    Abstract: In an approach for determining the illumination necessary along a vehicle's planned trajectory, a processor receives information relevant to the trajectory of a vehicle. A processor estimates the position of the vehicle at the particular time on the trajectory of the vehicle, using the data from the sensors. A processor estimates an illumination of the trajectory of the vehicle, using the model of the illumination of the road network and the data from the sensors, wherein a threshold is employed. A processor determines the threshold is exceeded. A processor changes a setting of the at least one headlight on the vehicle. A processor determines the threshold is exceeded. A processor alerts the user of the vehicle when adjustments to the at least one headlight that are necessary to illuminate the trajectory of the vehicle exceed physical limitations of the at least one headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Epperlein, Claudio Gambella, Yassine Lassoued, Jakub Marecek, Martin Mevissen, Julien Monteil, Giovanni Russo, Robert Shorten, Wynita M. Griggs, Rodrigo H. Ordonez-Hurtado
  • Patent number: 11346533
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle lights. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multipurpose vehicle light that can be removably attached to an external surface of a vehicle or vessel. The device is solar or battery powered, does not rely on the vehicle's power source to operate, and can be removably attached to a vehicle exterior without damaging or permanently modifying the exterior. The device is further comprised of a USB port and a charging case to recharge the device, a light source comprised of a plurality of LEDs that may be remote controlled or automatically activated, a camera and a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Gregory Emerson Palmer, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11325528
    Abstract: A rear turn lamp has a structure formed of divided components, i.e., a first lamp unit provided to a fixed portion of a vehicle body and a second lamp unit provided to a movable portion of the vehicle body. The first lamp unit is provided with a controller. A first lighting circuit turns on multiple first light sources. A second lighting circuit turns on multiple second light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Miyashita, Masashi Yamazaki, Toshikazu Tomono, Shinji Ohta
  • Patent number: 11297700
    Abstract: Systems and methods for illuminating an airplane cabin using a light strip comprising a plurality of spectrally-tuned illuminators within a housing are provided. The illuminators include a first visible light illuminator and an infrared illuminator. The light strip is disposed to provide indirect infrared illumination of the cabin via diffuse reflection from a surface of the cabin (wash lighting) from a shrouded location. The illuminators include light emitting diodes (LEDs), and include white and some combination of red, yellow, green, and blue. A controller varies intensities of each illuminator, to emphasize or de-emphasize various colors or infrared illumination throughout an interior of the airplane cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald B. Lee
  • Patent number: 11273755
    Abstract: A light output apparatus for vehicle according to an embodiment includes a transmission member disposed on an outer-surface side of a vehicle, the transmission member being adapted to let visible light pass therethrough, and to receive ultraviolet light and emit light by itself. The apparatus scans a visible light laser and an ultraviolet light laser, and projects the visible light laser and the ultraviolet light laser onto the transmission member. The apparatus performs control, based on vehicle information about the vehicle, to show first information by projecting the ultraviolet light laser onto the transmission member and thereby making the transmission member emit light, and to project the visible light laser onto the transmission member and thereby project second information onto a surface which the visible light laser reaches after passing through the transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Wada
  • Patent number: 11264707
    Abstract: Antenna apparatus and related communication systems for use with vehicle lamps are disclosed. A disclosed communication system for a vehicle and a trailer includes a lamp positioned on the vehicle and a conductive structure coupled to a stylized component of the lamp. The communication system also includes a primary antenna at least partially formed by the conductive structure and electrically coupled to a vehicle electronic device. The communication system also includes a secondary antenna positioned on the trailer and electrically coupled to a trailer electronic device. The primary and secondary antennas, together, are configured to interact with each other to provide wireless communication between the vehicle and trailer electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Varun J. Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 11220207
    Abstract: A lighting system, including: a first headlamp on a front of a local vehicle and including a first low-beam lamp for shining light in front of the local vehicle at a first angle below horizontal, a first middle-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a second angle below horizontal, and a first high-beam lamp for selectively shining light in front of the local vehicle at a third angle below horizontal; a sensory cluster for detecting a remote vehicle in front of the first headlamp; a controller for controlling operation of the first low-beam, middle-beam, and high-beam lamps, wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle and the second angle is greater than the third angle, and the controller controls operation of the first middle-beam and high-beam lamps based at least in part on signals from the sensory cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Grote Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Suyash Kulkarni, Sankalp Pampattiwar, Brian Norris, Cesar Perez-Bolivar
  • Patent number: 11223775
    Abstract: A method for the spatially resolved detection of an object outside a transportation vehicle with the aid of a sensor installed in a transportation vehicle wherein the viewing direction of a transportation vehicle occupant is captured. The captured viewing direction is analyzed over a period and a region of interest outside the transportation vehicle is determined. The sensor is then spatially sensitized and/or oriented in the direction of the determined region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: Sebastian Gehrling, Jens Kampermann, Sarah Strygulec, Sven Klomp, Jessica Apfel, Sandra Jürgensmeier, Wolfgang Theimer, Ernst Zielinski, Esref Köse, Ahmed Ali
  • Patent number: 11091087
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system includes a vehicle supported power and control system including a data bus. A sensor module can be connected to the data bus to provide information related to environmental conditions or information relating to presence and position of other vehicles and pedestrians. A separate headlamp controller can be connected to the vehicle supported power and control system and the sensor module through the bus. The headlamp controller can include an image frame buffer that can refresh held images at greater than 30 Hz speed. An active LED pixel array can be connected to the headlamp controller to project light according to a pattern and intensity defined by the image held in the image frame buffer and a standby image buffer can be connected to the image frame buffer to hold a default image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Bonne, Jyoti Kiron Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 11079085
    Abstract: A lighting module and a headlamp for vehicle lighting are provided. The lighting module includes a dynamic bending light module; and a lens that is situated in operative relationship with the dynamic bending light module; wherein the lens has a thin aspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Gavin Warner
  • Patent number: 11046238
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system includes a vehicle supported power and control system including a data bus. A sensor module can be connected to the data bus to provide information related to environmental conditions or information relating to presence and position of other vehicles and pedestrians. A separate headlamp controller can be connected to the vehicle supported power and control system and the sensor module through the bus. The headlamp controller can include an image frame buffer that can refresh held images at greater than 30 Hz speed. An active LED pixel array can be connected to the headlamp controller to project light according to a pattern and intensity defined by the image held in the image frame buffer and a standby image buffer can be connected to the image frame buffer to hold a default image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Bonne, Jyoti Kiron Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 11040750
    Abstract: A detection device includes sensor device configured to obtain environmental information about surroundings of a small vehicle, an output unit outputting the environmental information to a control device of the small vehicle, and a mount configured to be attached to a rider of the small vehicle so as to hold the sensor device and the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 10864845
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system includes a vehicle supported power and control system including a data bus. A sensor module can be connected to the data bus to provide information related to environmental conditions or information relating to presence and position of other vehicles and pedestrians. A separate headlamp controller can be connected to the vehicle supported power and control system and the sensor module through the bus. The headlamp controller can include an image frame buffer that can refresh held images at greater than 30 Hz speed. An active LED pixel array can be connected to the headlamp controller to project light according to a pattern and intensity defined by the image held in the image frame buffer and a standby image buffer can be connected to the image frame buffer to hold a default image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Bonne, Jyoti Kiron Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 10857934
    Abstract: First lighting bodies are provided to the outer surface of a vehicle body, and second lighting bodies are provided to the outer surface of a trunk lid, which can open/close a trunk. While the trunk lid is closed, a first mode is executed in which the second lighting bodies are lit and the lighting is maintained, and then the first lighting bodies are lit and the lighting is maintained for a prescribed period. When the trunk lid is open, a second mode is executed in which at least the former among the first lighting bodies and the second lighting bodies is lit and the lighting time thereof is set longer than the lighting time of the first lighting bodies in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Tsuchiya, Ikuo Koyama
  • Patent number: 10766409
    Abstract: A vehicle taillight assembly is provided that includes a housing having a light transmissive lens, a brake light located in the housing, a strobe light located in the housing and a controller activating the strobe light to strobe when the brake light is activated. The strobe light may also be activated when a turn signal light or reverse light is activated. The strobe light has a light source illuminating light onto a light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10741083
    Abstract: In this invention, letters that can be seen by a pedestrian (101) are drawn on an intersection (103). A mark (MM2) that can be seen by the driver of the host vehicle (C) is drawn on the road (104) between the intersection (103) and the host-vehicle (C). The shapes of the letters (MO4) are corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the pedestrian (101) and the intersection (103). The shape of the mark (MM2) is corrected in accordance with the positional relationship between the driver of the host-vehicle (C) and the road (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Masuda, Michihiko Hayakawa, Yuichi Shibata, Takayuki Yagi, Misako Nakazawa, Toshiaki Tsuda, Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10715738
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Juha Alakarhu
  • Patent number: 10576873
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a laser light source that is able to emit laser light and emits laser light generated by the laser light source forward from an emission end, and an optical mechanism that performs scanning with the laser light and depicts a figure in an irradiation destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toshiaki Tsuda, Noriko Sato, Masanobu Mizuno, Osamu Kuboyama, Takeshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 10538195
    Abstract: An adaptive lighting system of an off-road utility vehicle includes an illumination device controllable with respect to its emission characteristic or light intensity, and a control unit in communication with the illumination device. The control unit is configured to adapt the emission characteristic or light intensity level by controlling the illumination device based upon a determined gaze direction of a vehicle operator, an identified extraneous light effects, a determined relative position of an external off-road utility vehicle, or cartographic location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Jürgen Hollstein
  • Patent number: 10502381
    Abstract: A light-emitting module includes a light source unit including light-emitting elements horizontally aligned; a projection lens receiving light emitted from the light source unit, and projecting the light through a light exiting surface of the projection lens in a radiation direction; and a frame body holding the light source unit and the projection lens at predetermined positions. The projection lens comprise a first and second lenses each having the same focal length and curvature, and being disposed adjacently in a vertical direction or as an integrated body. A vertical division ratio of lower one of the first and second lenses to the other one is larger than 1. Optical axes of the first and second lenses differ in the vertical direction. A value in the vertical direction of a horizontal-to-vertical ratio for a light-emitting area of light-emitting elements is smaller than a value in the horizontal direction of a horizontal-to-vertical ratio for the light projected from the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Miyairi
  • Patent number: 10493900
    Abstract: In an approach for determining the illumination necessary along a vehicle's planned trajectory, a processor receives information relevant to the trajectory of a vehicle. A processor estimates the position of the vehicle at the particular time on the trajectory of the vehicle, using the data from the sensors. A processor estimates an illumination of the trajectory of the vehicle, using the model of the illumination of the road network and the data from the sensors, wherein a threshold is employed. A processor determines the threshold is exceeded. A processor changes a setting of the at least one headlight on the vehicle. A processor determines the threshold is exceeded. A processor alerts the user of the vehicle when adjustments to the at least one headlight that are necessary to illuminate the trajectory of the vehicle exceed physical limitations of the at least one headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Epperlein, Claudio Gambella, Yassine Lassoued, Jakub Marecek, Martin Mevissen, Julien Monteil, Giovanni Russo, Robert Shorten, Wynita M. Griggs, Rodrigo H. Ordonez-Hurtado
  • Patent number: 10449895
    Abstract: In embodiments, an illumination system includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of fixed communicators disposed within the passenger cabin. The plurality of fixed communicators can be configured to send signals to or receive signals from a mobile communicator coupled to or carried by an object. The illumination system further includes a controller in communication with the plurality of light sources and the plurality of fixed communicators and/or the mobile communicator. The controller is configured to determine a location of the object within the passenger cabin based on signals communicated between the plurality of fixed communicators and the mobile communicator. The controller is further configured to selectively activate one or more of the light sources based on the determined location of the object to illuminate a portion of the passenger cabin in proximity to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Pozzi, Francis Xavier L. Garing
  • Patent number: 10427590
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for controlling high lamp in a vehicle includes a camera photographing a subject in front of the vehicle, a brightness measurer measuring brightness from an image of the subject in front of the vehicle photographed by the camera, and a controller controlling the high lamp using a brightness data measured by the brightness measurer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yeongsun Jeon
  • Patent number: 10414335
    Abstract: A vehicle taillight assembly is provided that includes a housing having a light transmissive lens, a brake light located in the housing, a strobe light located in the housing and a controller activating the strobe light to strobe when the brake light is activated. The strobe light may also be activated when a turn signal light or reverse light is activated. The strobe light has a light source illuminating light onto a light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Stephen Kenneth Helwig, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10396679
    Abstract: A rectifying circuit is provided, which includes a first channel circuit, a comparator circuit, and a second channel circuit. The first channel circuit rectifies a first input signal using a transistor that is coupled between an input of the first channel circuit and a node. The comparator circuit is coupled with the transistor and controls it based on a difference between a representative voltage of the first input signal and a representative voltage of the node. The second channel circuit rectifies a second input signal using a diode coupled between an input of the second channel circuit and the node. The transistor may be a first MOSFET and the comparator circuit may be coupled with the first MOSFET by way of a second MOSFET. The second MOSFET controls the first MOSFET and is itself controlled by the comparator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventor: George Zhanqi Du
  • Patent number: 10371336
    Abstract: A headlamp apparatus may include: a light source configured to emit light; a reflector having a reflecting surface with different curvatures in first and second directions crossing each other, and configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source; and a lens configured to receive the light through the reflector, and change the magnification of the light so as to guide the light to the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 10343592
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods for vehicle headlight control. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving image data from a front facing camera of the vehicle and detecting at least one object in the image data. An illumination level of the at least one object in the image data is detected and a control setting is determined to modify illumination of at least one lighting element of the vehicle, wherein the control setting is determined to increase an illumination level for the at least one object. The method also includes controlling the at least one lighting element of the vehicle in response to the control setting. Vehicle systems and devices are provided with a front facing camera and a control unit for a plurality of lighting elements wherein control settings may be modified based on objects detected in image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajesh Biswal, Srinivas Sai, Pratyush Sahay
  • Patent number: 10253958
    Abstract: A lamp unit comprising a plurality of light sources; a plurality of supporting portions to support the light sources; a connector connected between two adjacent supporting portions; and an optical member disposed on the light sources and comprising a plurality of patterns disposed on a surface of the optical member, wherein the plurality of patterns is disposed on the surface corresponding to the supporting portions having an angle between a perpendicular line passing through a point on a surface of each supporting portions facing a corresponding one of the light sources and a reference line facing a predetermined reference direction of 0 to 45 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nam Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 10227033
    Abstract: The invention describes a lighting assembly (10, 10?, 20, 20?) for use in a lighting arrangement (2) of a vehicle (1), comprising a projection lens (11, 21) and an array (12, 22) of light sources (S11, . . . , S26), wherein the projection lens (11, 21) and the light source array (12, 22) are arranged according to an asymmetry displacement (?i, ?2, di, d2) of the optical axis (X1, X2) of the projection lens (11, 21), and wherein the light sources (S11, . . . , S26) of the light source array (12, 22) of the lighting assembly (10, 10?, 20, 20?) are individually controllable to adjust a swivel angle (?1, ?2) of a light beam (BL, BH) generated by that lighting assembly (10, 10?, 20, 20?). The invention further describes a controller (3) for controlling the light sources (S11, . . . , S26) of such a lighting assembly (10, 10?, 20, 20?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Marten Sikkens, Marcel De Jong, Silvia Maria Booij, Martinus Petrus Creusen
  • Patent number: 10222453
    Abstract: In a radar device mounted in a host vehicle, a radar transmitting unit transmits a radar signal; a light detection unit detects ON or OFF of a light of another vehicle in which the radar device is mounted; and a timing control unit sets a transmission timing of the radar signal and a light ON timing of a light of the host vehicle, the light ON timing is synchronized with the transmission timing on basis of detected ON or OFF of the light of the other vehicle. The set transmission timing is different from a transmission timing of a radar signal of the radar device mounted in the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekuni Yomo, Hirohito Mukai, Tomohiro Yui, Yoshito Hirai
  • Patent number: 10183614
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods for vehicle headlight control. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving image data from a front facing camera of the vehicle and detecting at least one object in the image data. An illumination level of the at least one object in the image data is detected and a control setting is determined to modify illumination of at least one lighting element of the vehicle, wherein the control setting is determined to increase an illumination level for the at least one object. The method also includes controlling the at least one lighting element of the vehicle in response to the control setting. Vehicle systems and devices are provided with a front facing camera and a control unit for a plurality of lighting elements wherein control settings may be modified based on objects detected in image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajesh Biswal, Srinivas Sai, Pratyush Sahay
  • Patent number: 10111567
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that includes: a suction part that is configured to receive dust; and a cleaner body that is coupled to the suction part, that is configured to collect dust from the suction part based on suction force, and that includes: a main body, a suction motor that is configured to generate suction force, a wheel that is coupled to a first surface of the main body and that is configured to rotate about an axis to move the main body, a driving unit that is configured to generate driving force to move the wheel, a display unit that is coupled to the wheel and that is configured to display operation state information of the vacuum cleaner, and a controller that is configured to control the driving unit and the display unit is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jungkyu Son, Bohyun Nam, Jaeyong Park, Sehwan Bae
  • Patent number: 10023100
    Abstract: A vehicle trim assembly is disclosed herein. The vehicle trim assembly includes a member having a transmissive member portion therein. A light source is configured to emit light through the light transmissive portion. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the member. A second photoluminescent structure is separated from the member and operably coupled with the light source. The first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Pietro Buttolo, Dragos Maciuca
  • Patent number: 10015411
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a driver including obtaining images from the first and second camera unit, checking whether a brightness of the image obtained from the first camera unit is equal to or greater than a reference value or whether the driver is detected from the image obtained from the second camera unit, if the brightness of the image obtained from the first camera unit is not equal to or greater than the reference value or the driver is not detected from the image obtained from the second camera unit, obtaining a first comparative image from the first camera unit by turning off the second illumination unit and a second comparative image from the first camera unit by turning on the second illumination unit, checking whether a difference value between a brightness of the obtained first comparative image and a brightness of the obtained second comparative image is equal to or greater than a reference difference value, and if the difference value between the brightness of the obtained f comparative image and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kwanhyung Kim, Youngman Kwon
  • Patent number: 9987974
    Abstract: A lighting system is provided herein. The lighting system includes a spotlight is mounted to a vehicle, a controller for operating the spotlight, and a pointer device for specifying an intended target. The controller aims the spotlight in the direction of the intended target based on input provided by the pointer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Christopher Anthony Danowski, Paul Kenneth Dellock