Device for the automatic switching of vehicle lights

The device comprises a sensor (20) to determine the ambient brightness at the vehicle, a control device (25) which switches on lights (10, 14) in dependence upon the brightness, wherein the sensing means (20) also serves to determine visibility in the surrounding area of the vehicle, and wherein the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors FRANK EWERHART, WERNER POCHMULLER
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 23.07.2003
Edition7
Subjects
ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING ORSUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES INGENERAL
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES IN GENERAL
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Summary:The device comprises a sensor (20) to determine the ambient brightness at the vehicle, a control device (25) which switches on lights (10, 14) in dependence upon the brightness, wherein the sensing means (20) also serves to determine visibility in the surrounding area of the vehicle, and wherein the control device (25) also switches on fog lights (12, 16) in dependence upon the determined visibility. In order to determine visibility, the sensor (20) measures contrast of at least one object (26), which may be in front of or behind the vehicle, from at least two positions at different distances from the object. The sensor may be an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS sensing device.
Bibliography:Application Number: GB20020020631