Abstract: A single-track motor vehicle or a multi-track motor vehicle with tilt technology, includes one or more environment sensors that are installed in the front of the motor vehicle and that are arranged for detecting an area in front of the motor vehicle, and a control unit. The control unit controls an actuator while the motor vehicle is travelling depending on the position of the motor vehicle that is detected by the position sensor system in such a way that when the motor vehicle is tilted along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, the movable element is moved by means of the actuator so that the position of a respective environment sensor is not rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is tilted compared to the position of the respective environment sensor when the motor vehicle is not tilted.

Abstract: A directional lighting system fitted to an aircraft and comprising firstly a light source mounted on a motor-driven support and secondly a control device serving to control the motor-driven support. According to the invention, such a directional lighting system comprises a selector member for selecting a pointing target that is to be pointed to, a camera for acquiring a plurality of images of the surroundings outside the aircraft, image processor means for identifying the selected pointing target, a calculation unit configured to calculate the current coordinates of the pointing target, and a servocontrol member of the control device for servocontrolling the position of the motor-driven support to occupy an angular orientation as determined by the calculation unit.

Abstract: A headlight for a single-track motor vehicle has a support part, a light module which is connected to the support part, a first bearing device, a second bearing device, and a coupling device. The light module is mounted by the first bearing device in a rotatable manner about a first main axis relative to the support part and by the second bearing device in a rotatable manner about a second main axis perpendicular to the first main axis. The coupling device couples the light module to the support part such that the light module is rotated about the second main axis during a rotation about the first main axis.

Abstract: A motor driving device includes an abnormality detecting portion arranged to detect an abnormality of one of a plurality of position detection signals based on outputs from a plurality of Hall sensors arranged to detect a rotor position of a brushless DC motor, a measuring portion arranged to measure time between neighboring edges of a normal position detection signal when the abnormality detecting portion detects an abnormality, and a drive control portion arranged to control a drive signal for driving the brushless DC motor based on a latest time measurement result of the measuring portion.

Abstract: A blind spot detection system for a motorcycle, which includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a vehicle in at least one blind spot. The accelerometer detects a gravity force vector, and the gyroscope detects the position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector such that a lean angle of the motorcycle is calculated. The detection device is then configured to maintain the same position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector and compensate for the position of the motorcycle if the lean angle is greater or less than 90°, such that the detection device is able to detect the presence of the vehicle in the at least one blind spot, independent of the lean angle of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a head lamp which irradiates a head lamp irradiation region set in front of a vehicle body; an auxiliary lamp which irradiates an auxiliary lamp irradiation region set in front of the head lamp irradiation region; a bank state detecting section which detects a bank state of the vehicle body; and a lighting control section which lights the auxiliary lamp depending on the bank state, the lighting control section causes the auxiliary lamp to be lighted in a set lighting state when the bank state detecting section detects a predetermined set bank state, and the lighting control section causes the auxiliary lamp to be lighted in a preceding lighting state at luminosity lower than that of the set lighting state, when the bank state detecting section detects a preceding bank state which occurs before the vehicle body reaches the set bank state.

Abstract: A high/low beam switching device for a vehicle headlight includes a fixing plate and a frame, wherein the frame is fixed to one side of the fixing plate. The fixing plate defines a passage at a top edge thereof and two rods are fixedly provided at the fixing plate. A shielding panel is connected to a shaft of a solenoid device which is located in the frame fixed to the fixing plate. The shielding panel has a main portion and two bars respectively extending from two opposite sides of the main portion, which are configured to be in slight contact with the two rods. The two bars, which extend horizontally, can be stopped by the rods. The high/low beam switching device is easily made and assembled.

Abstract: A headlight device includes: a light source that emits light; a light guide element that receives the light emitted from the light source through an incident surface and guides the received light to emit the guided light from an emitting surface; and a radiation optical system that radiates the light emitted from the emitting surface ahead of a vehicle. The light guide element includes: a first light guide portion that extends from the incident surface to the emitting surface and guides the received light; and a second light guide portion that is in contact with the first light guide portion, extends from the incident surface to the emitting surface, and guides the received light. The first and second light guide portions have different refractive indexes. The light guide element is configured so that part of light entering the first light guide portion can enter the second light guide portion.

Abstract: A single axis actuator includes a driving-side timing pulley located at one end in a longitudinal direction of a device frame in such a manner that a rotational center thereof is vertically oriented, a rotation transmission shaft coaxially connected to the driving-side timing pulley and extending upwardly, a driven-side timing pulley located at another end in the longitudinal direction of the device frame in such a manner that a rotation shaft thereof is vertically oriented, a timing belt bridged between the driving-side and driven-side timing pulleys, a slider connected to a part of the timing belt to be made movable in the longitudinal direction of the device frame, and a motor having a motor shaft that is connected to an upper end of the rotation transmission shaft.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp angle-adjusting mechanism includes a driving unit having a motor and a motor gear connected with the motor, a transmission unit having a transmission gear shaft and a middle gear connected with the transmission gear shaft, and an output unit. The motor gear is engaged with the middle gear so that the motor in operation can transmit power to the transmission gear shaft. The output unit has an output gear engaged with the transmission gear shaft and an output shaft connected with the output gear so that the transmission gear shaft can drive the output gear to force a vehicular lamp to pivot through the output shaft. As a result, the vehicular lamp angle-adjusting mechanism provided by the present invention is structurally simplified and space-saving.

Abstract: An optical lighting system for an aircraft includes an optical unit that can be configured according to the phases of flight or taxiing of the aircraft in order to emit a beam of light the spread and aim characteristics of which are dependent on the said phases of flight or of taxiing.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes: a lamp unit including an upper support shaft and a lower support shaft that are coaxially formed each other; a bracket adapted to support the lamp unit via a ball bearing in the upper support shaft and via a slider in a lower shaft support portion; an actuator including a mechanism portion adapted to drive the lower support shaft of the lamp unit, the actuator being movable in a forward and backward direction with respect to the bracket; and a spring portion that is fixed to the bracket, and is adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft.

Abstract: There is provided an inclination sensor device. The inclination sensor device includes: a substrate which mounts an inclination sensor configured to calculate an inclination angle of a vehicle; a case which accommodates the substrate; a first positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a first direction that is substantially parallel to a first main surface of the substrate; and a second positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for communication between an emitting motor vehicle (Ve) and at least one target, the emitting vehicle (Ve) including at least one light device, the method comprising the step of automatically modulating a light signal (S) emitted by the light device for a communication between the vehicle (Ve) and the target; and the light device being chosen from: a lighting device, a daytime running light (DRL), a position light.

Abstract: A control device (100) for controlling a vehicle lamp (210) provided in a vehicle is provided. The device includes: a receiver (102) configured to receive an acceleration signal representing an acceleration of the vehicle, from an acceleration sensor configured to detect the acceleration of the vehicle, wherein an inclination angle (?) of the vehicle with respect to a horizontal plane is calculated based on the acceleration signal; a controller (104) configured to: i) generate a first control signal instructing the vehicle lamp to adjust an optical axis of the vehicle lamp in response to a change of the acceleration signal, when the vehicle has already stopped; and ii) generate a second signal instructing the vehicle lamp to maintain the optical axis of the vehicle lamp, when the vehicle is traveling on a road surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the robustness of a vehicle headlight comprising a cylindrical prism that can rotate about a rotary axis in a plurality of rotary positions and comprising a Hall effect sensor by means of the output signals of which the rotary position of the cylindrical prism can be determined. According to the method, a check is made as to whether a defect of the Hall effect sensor is present. In the event of a defect of the Hall effect sensor, a stop is temporarily provided and the rotary position of the prism is verified by being blocked at the provided stop.

Abstract: A detection method, system and device for a motor vehicle (V1). The method, system and device uses at least one camera which has a predetermined field of vision. The method includes the following steps: receiving information which is representative of a driving state associated with the vehicle; and modifying the field of vision of the camera, and in particular its orientation, according to the information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (1), having a motor (2) and an actuator component (3) operable by the motor (2), having a movable gear component (4) with a limit stop component (5a, 5b), and at least one limit stop element (6) with a reference plane serving as stop for the limit stop component (5a, 5b) of the gear component (4), wherein at least one limit stop element (6) and/or the first and/or the second limit stop component (5a, 5b) is/are made from a high-temperature plastic material. Furthermore, the invention of such an actuator (1) relates to the use of such an actuator for the headlamp leveling of a headlamp.

Abstract: An AFS-type vehicle headlamp is provided, and includes a bearing holder adapted to hold a bearing that is inserted into an upper support shaft of a lamp unit. The bearing holder is formed integrally with a fixing portion for a bracket, a bearing holding portion adapted to hold the upper support shaft, and a spring portion adapted to compress a tip end of the upper support shaft. The fixing portion includes the bearing holding portion adapted to hold the bearing on a flat plate member in such a manner that a center of the bearing is positioned in a plane that includes the flat plate member.

Abstract: There is provided an inclination sensor device. The inclination sensor device includes: a substrate which mounts an inclination sensor configured to calculate an inclination angle of a vehicle; a case which accommodates the substrate; a first positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a first direction that is substantially parallel to a first main surface of the substrate; and a second positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A device for controlling high beam and low beam of a headlight includes a fixing plate formed with a recess and bored with two pin holes, two curved slots and a sliding slot. A valve base secured on the fixing plate is installed therein with an electromagnetic valve having a valve rod inserted in the interior and a spring fitted on the valve rod. A positioning seat is mounted on the valve rod and has one side provided with a connecting rod to be inserted through two mutually overlapped ends of two connecting plates and in the sliding slot of the fixing plate. Two boards are oppositely and pivotally assembled on the fixing plate, having their lower sides respectively and pivotally connected with the upper ends of the two connecting plates by insert pins, which are then inserted in the two curved slots of the fixing plate.

Abstract: A road-adaptive vehicle headlight system includes at least one headlight device, which includes a curved base plate divided into an inner-side module, an outer-side module, and a middle module located between the inner-side and outer-side modules, and the middle module is further divided from top to bottom into an upper-side module, a basic module, and a lower-side module; a plurality of LED light sources differently distributed in the above modules; a power source assembly being connected to and driving the base plate to turn in different directions; and a controller electrically connected to the LED light sources and the power source assembly. With these arrangements, the headlight device of a car can quickly produce different light beam patterns, increase the road visibility and the illumination areas of the headlight devices, and accordingly, ensure high safety in driving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a headlight for a motor vehicle having a light source, which is arranged in a reflector, for emission of light beams in a light outlet direction, having a masking apparatus (1) which has a mask (2) which can be moved to a first position in order to mask out at least a portion of the light beams, and which can be moved to a second position in which the mask (2) is moved at least partially out of the light beams, wherein the movement of the mask (2) can be produced by an actuator unit (3) which has at least one magnet coil (4) and a magnet yoke (5) in order to form a magnetic flux circuit. According to the invention, a hinged armature (6) is provided, is held in an articulated manner on at least a part of the magnet yoke (5) and is in the form of part of the mask (2), such that the hinged armature (6) carries out a folding movement, and produces the movement of the mask (2), when current is passed through the magnet coil (4).

Abstract: A headlamp aiming system is configured to include: a lamp unit; an actuator configured to displace the light axis of the lamp unit; an imaging apparatus configured to acquire the information necessary for adjustment of the light axis; and an ECU configured to control the actuator. By imaging a light distribution pattern formed by lighting the lamp unit with the imaging apparatus, and by controlling the actuator by the ECU such that the deviation between the position of an attention point in a light distribution pattern, obtained from the imaged image information, and the position of a reference point that has been set beforehand becomes the minimum or zero, an attitude of the lamp unit is adjusted such that aiming of the lamp unit can be automatically performed in a self-contained manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a headlamp apparatus for vehicles. The headlamp apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED) light source located at a first focal point and emitting light, a reflecting member surrounding the LED light source and reflecting light emitted from the LED light source, a lens unit disposed in front of the LED light source and allowing light to pass therethrough, a cooler disposed under the LED light source to cool the LED light source and having a leading end located behind a second focal point, a shielding part rotatably disposed at the second focal point between the LED light source and the lens unit within a lamp housing, and a drive unit connected to the shielding part to rotate the shielding part.

Abstract: A bank angle detecting device includes a roll rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ?r about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle; a yaw rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ?y about an vertical axis of the motorcycle; a bank angle detecting unit for detecting the motorcycle bank angle ? for calibration use based on the yaw rate ?y and a traveling velocity v; and a bank angle correcting unit for correcting the basic motorcycle bank angle ?r, determined from an output ?r of the yaw rate sensor, so as to approach the motorcycle bank angle ? that is detected by the bank angle detecting unit, to thereby determine the estimated bank angle ?0.

Abstract: An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle which has an image sensor having a forward field of view that captures image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The image processor processes the image data and detects objects of interest. A controller is responsive to the image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle. The controller is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at the image sensor and is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

Abstract: A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account unstable driving situations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling a head lamp. The apparatus comprises: a lamp electronic control unit for generating a lamp steering signal according to a received steering angle and speed information; first and second head lamp control sections for generating motor driving signals corresponding to the lamp steering signal; and first and second step actuators for rotating first and second head lamp modules at predetermined angles by converting a rotational movement of a motor into a linear movement according to the motor driving signals of the first and second head lamp control modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (1), having a motor (2) and an actuator component (3) operable by the motor (2), having a movable gear component (4) with a limit stop component (5a, 5b), and at least one limit stop element (6) with a reference plane serving as stop for the limit stop component (5a, 5b) of the gear component (4), wherein at least one limit stop element (6) and/or the first and/or the second limit stop component (5a, 5b) is/are made from a high-temperature plastic material. Furthermore, the invention of such an actuator (1) relates to the use of such an actuator for the headlamp leveling of a headlamp.

Abstract: A vehicle head light includes a lighting casing; a lamp unit disposed in the lighting casing; a support member that supports the lamp unit so as to be rotatable at least in two directions; an actuator that rotates the lamp unit with respect to the support member; and a thrust receiver that receives a load of the lamp unit. The lighting casing includes a lamp housing opened on one side and a cover that closes the opening of the lamp housing. The lamp unit includes a light source and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source. The actuator is disposed under the lamp unit. A lower end of the lamp unit is coupled to the actuator. The actuator includes a case member; and a driving mechanism disposed in the case member. The lamp unit is coupled to the driving mechanism. The thrust receiver is integrally provided on the case member of the actuator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic lighting systems are disclosed. The dynamic lighting system invented has minimal mechanical wear and is reacting quickly to fast changes by using magnetic power transmission moving optical elements between light sources, preferably types of LEDs or OLEDS, and objects to be illuminated. Movements of the optical elements can be either linear in up to three dimensions, tilted or on spherical tracks. Positions of the optical elements can be progressively taken and appointed.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp is arranged to switch between a low beam and a high beam. The high beam illuminates a first illumination area, which lies ahead of and square to a center of a vehicle, and a second illumination area, which includes portions lying horizontally further leftwards and right wards and vertically further upwards than the first illumination area. When switching from the low beam to the high beam, the luminous intensity of the second illumination area is increased and thereafter the luminous intensity of the first illumination area is increased. When switching from the high beam to the low beam, the luminance intensity of the first illumination area is decreased and thereafter the luminance intensity of the second illumination area is decreased.

Abstract: The light distribution of a vehicle headlamp can be changed between various modes, including a basic mode and a motorway mode. In the basic mode, shaded region changeover means block a high light intensity region, and deflection control means controls a lamp optical axis Lx to a straight travel direction. In the motorway mode, the shaded region changeover means does not block the high light intensity region, and the deflection control means controls deflection of the lamp optical axis to a host vehicle lane side. A light distribution in which the high light intensity region faces a far distance ahead of the host vehicle lane can be obtained, and the host vehicle lane is brightly illuminated without dazzling a driver of a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle. Accordingly, illumination suited to the motorway mode during high speed and medium speed travel can be achieved.

Abstract: An adaptive projection system for the headlights of motor vehicles consists of a reflector (6) with light source (11), a lens (10), and a diaphragm system with a fixed screening diaphragm in the shape of a cradle and with a movable optical diaphragm (1) in the shape of a hyperboloid, cylindrical or conical sector, which rotates at the same time as the shaft of the motor (3), on which it is firmly fastened at both sides by means of stanchions (2), and by its controlled stopping in certain positions it produces the required light beams.

Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a light amount control device that controls the amount of light from at least two of a plurality of light source units each having a light-emitting element as the light source. The light amount control device performs a contrasting control of the lamp to increase the amount of light from at least one of the light source units and decrease the amount of light from the other light source unit, thus enhancing the visibility by increasing the amount of light from one light source unit and enhancing the brightness in an area that the unit illuminates, and decreasing the amount of light from the other light source unit that illuminates an area where visibility is required less, lowering the power consumption.

Abstract: A lamp system is provided. The lamp system includes a deflection angle calculating section configured to calculate a deflection angle of an irradiation direction of a lamp based on a steering angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, a swivel control section configured to control the irradiation direction in accordance with the calculated deflection angle, a filter section configured to change an output response of a change of the speed of the vehicle to be input to the deflection angle calculating section, and a filter control section configured to compare the calculated deflection angle with a reference value and to control the filter section to change the output response in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the irradiation direction of a lamp for a vehicle is provided with an actuator 3R for controlling the irradiation direction of a headlamp 2R and a controller (ECU) 1 for controlling the actuator 3R in accordance with a pitch angle of a vehicle. The controller 1 includes a monitor unit for monitoring the state of a control signal line CL for sending a control signal for controlling the actuator 3R and determines an abnormality of the controller, the actuator or the control signal line based on the state of the control signal line. The controller is not required to be connected to the actuator via a wire harness dedicated for the monitoring which is provided independently, so that the number of the wire harnesses can be prevented from increasing. Further, since the actuator is not required to be provided with a dedicated monitor circuit, the configuration of the actuator is prevented from being complicated.

Abstract: A vehicle light control apparatus includes an illumination control unit for executing illumination control on the mode of illumination of a subject vehicle based on signal transmission of a vehicle ID signal unique to the subject vehicle and signal reception of the vehicle ID signal unique to the subject vehicle. The control unit identifies a vehicle having brightness exceeding a predetermined threshold from an image of other vehicles acquired through an image recognition MPU as a vehicle having an illumination adjustment failure, and returns the same vehicle identification signal transmitted from the other vehicle thus identified to vehicles other than the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A step-by-step motor able to carry out up-and-down motion includes a housing, a transmitting gear, a worm gear, an interacting member, a top rod, a circuit board with a transmitting motor, a cover body and an adjusting member. The level of the headlamp of an automobile can be adjusted by inserting an adjustment tool through one lateral through hole of the recessed chamber of the cover body from outside to have the engage teeth of the adjustment tool engaged with one engage notch of the adjusting member and turning the adjustment tool to actuate the adjusting member to rotate and actuate the top rod to move upward, or by inserting an adjustment tool in the bottom slit of the projecting post of the adjusting member and turning it around to drive the adjusting member to rotate and actuate the top rod and the headlamp to move upward or downward.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight has a motor operated adjustable mounting for adjusting the beam of light in a plane. The adjustment device includes an ear on the headlight with an axially extendable arm, the extension of which is driven by an electric motor. Rotation of the motor causes motorized adjustment of the beam. The motor is slideably mounted in a retainer for movement parallel to the extendable arm. A manually adjustable screw adjusts the position of the motor along the slide to permit manual alignment of the headlight beam.

Abstract: The lighting and/or signaling system according to the invention comprises at least one lighting and/or signaling device which is able to emit at least one light beam and is equipped with at least one actuator for adjusting an angle of the light beam, and at least one actuator control device for controlling the actuator. According to the invention, the actuator control device transmits an active setpoint information item to the actuator only when a current value of the setpoint information item differs substantially from a previous value of the setpoint information item. The improved actuator control incorporated in the system according to the invention helps to achieve greater reliability and a longer service life.

Abstract: A seat state detecting apparatus is provided with a sensor unit including a plurality of pressure sensitive switch units connected in parallel to each other. Each of the pressure sensitive switch units is switched to an on state or an off state in correspondence to a pressure. A plurality of pressure sensitive switch units are arranged in the seat in a dispersed manner. The seat state detecting apparatus determines a load applied to the seat on the basis of the on/off state of a plurality of pressure sensitive switch units. The sensor unit is provided with a short-circuit detecting resistor which is connected in series to a plurality of pressure sensitive switch units. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect a short circuit of a power source line for feeding electricity to the sensor unit.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight apparatus includes a headlight and an actuator. The actuator horizontally changes a lighting direction of the headlight. The vehicle headlight apparatus drives the actuator such that the actuator horizontally changes the lighting direction of the headlight based on a target swivel angle that is determined based on a travel condition, upon the occurrence of one of the following conditions: (a) the vehicle headlight apparatus detects a dark road section located on a downstream side of a current position of a vehicle, or (b) the headlight is switched on.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a lamp unit with a light source and controls light from the light source to obtain a predetermined light distribution, and an actuator that rotates the lamp unit using an output shaft to change a direction of illumination. A direction for drawing out an external cord that is connected to a connector, which is provided in the actuator for admitting electric power and/or a signal from outside, is set toward the vehicle front or vehicle side in the actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of lighting a road with a vehicle headlight, in which the projected light is modulated in response to the presence of any persons on the road. The method comprises the following operations: detecting in the road scene at least one person, pinpointing the location of the person in the road scene, creating on an imager a mask having dimensions and position corresponding to the person, and lighting the road through the imager, to create a projected shadow around the person. The invention also provides a headlight for performing this method and having a first light source towards the imager, and an electronic system for generating light-occulting masks on the imager.

Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a light amount control device that controls the amount of light from at least two of a plurality of light source units each having a light-emitting element as the light source. The light amount control device performs a contrasting control of the lamp to increase the amount of light from at least one of the light source units and decrease the amount of light from the other light source unit, thus enhancing the visibility by increasing the amount of light from one light source unit and enhancing the brightness in an area that the unit illuminates, and decreasing the amount of light from the other light source unit that illuminates an area where visibility is required less, lowering the power consumption.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight apparatus includes a headlight and an actuator. The actuator horizontally changes a direction of an optical axis of the headlight. The vehicle headlight apparatus detects a rotational state of at least one predetermined wheel. The vehicle headlight apparatus determines whether a vehicle travels in a forward direction or a non-forward direction based on a detection result. A swivel operation, in which the actuator horizontally changes the direction of the optical axis of the headlight based on a steering operation of the vehicle, is performed when the vehicle headlight apparatus determines that the vehicle travels in the forward direction. The swivel operation is cancelled when the vehicle headlight apparatus determines that the vehicle travels in the non-forward direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adaptive head light assembly, comprising a parabolic reflector for housing a filament assembly; a lever arm having one end pivotably affixed to a bearing point of the parabolic reflector; an actuator in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm to actuate motion of the lever arm, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material adapted to change a shape orientation or modulus property upon receipt of an activation signal; and a spring in operative communication with the other end of the lever arm and adapted to provide a restoring force.

Abstract: This invention proposes lighting apparatus, for a vehicle having two passing lights for producing a passing beam, which are adapted to pivot to a position deflected to the left or to the right when the vehicle is on a left-hand bend or a right-hand bend, respectively, together with two auxiliary headlights for giving an auxiliary regulation light beam. The apparatus also includes a central unit which, when it detects failure of a passing light in its deflected position, causes the faulty passing light to be extinguished and at least one auxiliary headlight to be lit, so that the auxiliary headlight compensates for the extinction of the faulty passing light, by producing a compensating light beam which has regard to the maximum permitted regulation photometric values above a horizontal longitudinal plane.