Device for automatically switching ligthing installations of motor vehicles

• Main Authors: BRUNO HODAPP, NORBERT HOG, PATRICK SCHMITT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.07.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING ORSUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES INGENERAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

The system has a sensor device (20), by which the light intensity in the surroundings of the vehicle is detected and which is connected to an evaluation device (32), by which the signals (S) of the sensor device (20) for the light intensity are compared with at least one threshold value, and from that it is ascertained whether a change in the switching state of the lighting devices (10, 12) is necessary. By means of the evaluation device (32), the signals (S) of the sensor device (20) are evaluated for the presence of at least one periodically variable signal component (Sk), and in the presence of such a signal component (Sk), the lighting devices are either turned on at a certain level, or remain turned on at that level. By this evaluation, light originating from artificial light sources and having a variable intensity depending on the alternating voltage with which these sources are operated, can be detected and it can be assured that the lighting devices will be turned on or will remain turned on if the vehicle is driving in a tunnel or underground garage, for instance, where lighting is provided by artificial light sources.