WO2000022881A3 - Ambient light sensor - Google Patents

Ambient light sensor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000022881A3
WO2000022881A3 PCT/US1999/023746 US9923746W WO0022881A3 WO 2000022881 A3 WO2000022881 A3 WO 2000022881A3 US 9923746 W US9923746 W US 9923746W WO 0022881 A3 WO0022881 A3 WO 0022881A3
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ambient light
light sensor
photosensors
headlights
controller
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/023746
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2000022881A2 (en
Inventor
Jonathan W Hill
Original Assignee
Control Devices Inc
Jonathan W Hill
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Control Devices Inc, Jonathan W Hill filed Critical Control Devices Inc
Priority to EP99954859A priority Critical patent/EP1196306B1/en
Priority to US09/508,789 priority patent/US6396040B1/en
Priority to AT99954859T priority patent/ATE269239T1/en
Priority to DE69918185T priority patent/DE69918185T2/en
Priority to AU11102/00A priority patent/AU1110200A/en
Publication of WO2000022881A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000022881A2/en
Publication of WO2000022881A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000022881A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J1/00—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter
    • G01J1/42—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors
    • G01J1/4204—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors with determination of ambient light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
    • B60Q1/1423—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J1/00—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter
    • G01J1/42—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
    • H05B47/11—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/312—Adverse weather
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/314—Ambient light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/33—Driving situation
    • B60Q2300/332—Driving situation on city roads
    • B60Q2300/3321—Detection of streetlights
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/33—Driving situation
    • B60Q2300/337—Tunnels or bridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/40—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
    • B60Q2300/42—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions oncoming vehicle
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An improved ambient light sensor (20) is provided. Light (105) passes to at least two photosensors (30, 35) with different peak response frequencies. A controller (80) accepts output signals from the photosensors (30, 35) and operates vehicle systems (e.g., headlights (70) or environmental controls (75) accordingly. The controller (80) may distinguish between natural and artificial light, so that headlights (70) are illuminated while a vehicle passes through a well lit tunnel, or is exposed to lights from another vehicle.
PCT/US1999/023746 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 Ambient light sensor WO2000022881A2 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99954859A EP1196306B1 (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 Ambient light sensor
US09/508,789 US6396040B1 (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 Ambient light sensor
AT99954859T ATE269239T1 (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR.
DE69918185T DE69918185T2 (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 NATURAL LIGHT SENSOR.
AU11102/00A AU1110200A (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 Ambient light sensor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10385098P 1998-10-12 1998-10-12
US60/103,850 1998-10-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000022881A2 WO2000022881A2 (en) 2000-04-20
WO2000022881A3 true WO2000022881A3 (en) 2002-02-14

Family

ID=22297345

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/023746 WO2000022881A2 (en) 1998-10-12 1999-10-12 Ambient light sensor

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6396040B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1196306B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE269239T1 (en)
AU (1) AU1110200A (en)
DE (1) DE69918185T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2222040T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2000022881A2 (en)

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EP1196306B1 (en) 2004-06-16
DE69918185D1 (en) 2004-07-22
WO2000022881A2 (en) 2000-04-20
EP1196306A2 (en) 2002-04-17
US6396040B1 (en) 2002-05-28
AU1110200A (en) 2000-05-01
EP1196306A4 (en) 2002-04-17
ATE269239T1 (en) 2004-07-15
DE69918185T2 (en) 2005-06-30
ES2222040T3 (en) 2005-01-16

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