WO1997017227A1

WO1997017227A1 - Device for automatically switching the actuation of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1997017227A1
Application number: PCT/IT1996/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Russino
Original assignee: Calabrese, Savino; Progida, Michele; Cocco, Domenico; Russino, Emanuele; Sitzia, Giancarlo; Mele, Fedele, Antonio
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-05
Publication date: 1997-05-15
Also published as: ITMI952308A0; ITMI952308A1; AU7504796A; IT1279055B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for automatically switching the actuation of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles and the like, comprising a light intensity detecting cell to be applied on the front portion of a motor vehicle and controlling, in order to vary the impinging light, a driving assembly for automatically switching the actuation of driving beams to traffic beams.

Description

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHING THE ACTUATION OF TRAFFIC AND DRIVING BEAMS ON MOTOR VEHICLES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for automatically switching the actuation of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles.

As is known, standardized traffic rules require that as a given speed limit is exceeded (in Italy 40 km per hour), as a motor vehicle is driven on extra-urban roads, driving or upper beams be energized in order to provide a better and greater vision for the motor vehicle driver, which driving or upper beams, on the other hand, must be compulsory disenergized as other vehicles are crossed.

A frequently occurring problem is that of a failure of disenergizing the driving or upper beams, because of distruction of the oncoming vehicle, which can cause serious accidents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problem, by providing a device for automatically switching the actuation or energizing of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles and the like, which allows to automatically and immediately switch off the driving or upper beams and switch on the traffic or lower beams, as other vehicles are crossed.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a device which prevents driving or upper beams from being used in urban places, so as to meet the unforcing law rules. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which, owing to its constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which can be easily made starting from easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, affords the possibility of using the instruments already installed on a motor vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for automatically switching the actuation of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles and the like, characterized in that said device comprises a light intensity detecting cell to be applied to a front portion of a motor vehicle and controlling, in order to change an impinging light intensity, a driving assembly for automatically switching off the driving beams and switching on the traffic beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a device for automatically switching the actuation of the traffic beams and driving beams on motor vehicles and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 illustrates a functional diagram of the device according to the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate a condition which usually occurs on straight roads and on curved roads as motor vehicles are crossed;

Figure 4 schematically illustrates the arrangement of the detecting cell on a motor vehicle, and

Figure 5 illustrates an electric diagram of the subject device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the above mentioned figures and, more specifically, to figure 1, the device according to the present invention, which is generally indicated by the reference number 1, is controlled by a control or driving assembly 2 for switching on and off the lighting system of the motor vehicle.

More specifically, the device 1, through an actuation assembly 3, operates on the driving beam switching off assembly 4, if the motor vehicle is subjected to a variation of the light intensity, or on a holding assembly 5 provided for holding the driving beams in an energized condition, in the case in which no light intensity variation is encountered.

As shown, the assembly 5 is connected to a further assembly 6 for manually switching off the driving beams, which assembly 6 is operatively associated with the device 1, whereas the assembly 4 is operatively connected to a further assembly 7 for switching on the driving beams.

The subject device further advantageously comprises a light intensity detecting cell, which can be advantageously constituted by photoresistance 10 in parallel to which is provided a switching off push-butTton 11 or the flashing lever which is conventionally provided on the motor vehicle, a further resistance R14 being series-connected with the push-button 11.

As shown, the photoresistance 10 is connected, through the resistance R13, to a first integrated circuit 12 of a first operational amplifier which is in turn connected to a trimmer 13 which can be adjusted in order to properly adjust the sensitivity or operating speed of the system.

The trimmer 13 is arranged between the resistances R9 and Rll which are interconnected between the ground line 20 and the DC power supply line 21.

As shown, the first operational amplifier 12 is connected to a second operational amplifier 15 the other input of which is coupled to a resistive voltage divider constituted by the resistances or resistors R6 and R7.

The output of the operational amplifier 15 is connected, through a resistance R3, to a first transistor 16, the base of which is connected between said resistance 13 and a further resistance R2 for connection to the ground line.

The collector of the first transistor 16 is coupled to a first relay 17, providing a switching between the positions 1 and 2, the position 1 of said relay being coupled to the line 21, whereas the position 2 is connected, through a resistance Rl, to a second transistor 18, the emitter of which is connected to a second relay 19 which is provided with a phase 1 for connecting the driving beams and a switching phase 2 on which the traffic beams are coupled. An actuating switch or switching" on/off push button, indicated by 30, is moreover provided, said push¬ button being arranged between the collector of the second transistor 18 and the line 21.

The circuit arrangement further comprises capacitors Cl, C2 and C3, and a Zener diode DZ1 which is connected between the line 21 and the ground.

In operation, as the photoresistance or photoreceptor 10 is masked, it will have an ohmic value of about 4 Moh , and the voltage at the ends thereof will correspond to about 10 volts.

The current passing though the resistance R12 interconnecting the first amplifier 12 and the resistance R13 will arrive at the integrated circuit 12 and, more specifically, on the pin No. 6 thereof.

In order to provide a voltage at the output of the first operational amplifier, i.e. on the pin 7, it is necessary to also have a voltage on the second input 5 of said amplifier.

More specifically, the voltage on this pin is adjusted by means of the trimmer 13, in order to properly adjust the sensitivity of the integrated circuit with respect to the signal variations transmitted to the detecting cell.

The voltage on the pin 7 is supplied to one of the two inputs of the second operational amplifier and, more specifically, to the input 2 thereof, the other input of said operational amplifier being supplied with a fixed voltage of about 5.5 volts, taken from the resistive voltage divider R6-R7; thus, if the voltage measured on the pin 2 is less than the voltage taken from the resistive voltage divider R6-R7, then the first transistor 16 will be conductively biased, thereby allowing the voltage to pass through the collector electrode thereof, and, accordingly, the first relay 17 will be switched from a disenergized condition to an energized condition, thereby switching from its position 1 to its position 2, and closing the contact so as to cause a voltage equal to the circuit supply voltage to pass therethrough, said voltage passing through the resistance Rl which is connected to the base of the second transistor 18.

In this condition, the device will allow the motor vehicle driver to switch on the driving or upper beams by means of the switching on push-button or actuation switch 30, connected, on a side, to the circuit power supply and, on the other side, to the collector of the second transistor 18.

Upon enabling, and by using the switch 30 for switching on the driving beams, the second transistor will be switched to a conductive condition, thereby energizing the second relay where, in a disenergized phase, or phase 1, are connected on the switching positions the traffic beams whereas in the operating phase 10, or phase 2, are connected th driving beams, thereby the latter are switched on.

In this condition, the cell will be held in a standby condition waiting for an illumination from the beams of the oncoming motor vehicles.

As a motor vehicle is encountered, as schematically shown in figures 2 and 3, the driver of which is signalling by flashing a failure of switching off the driving beams, then the motor vehicle driving ^"beams will be automatically switched off.

In this case, since the detecting cell is not masked but illuminated by the signallings of the crossing motor vehicle, it will have a very low ohmic value, i.e. it will switch from am ohmic value of about 4 Mohm, in the case of masking, to an ohmic value of about 300 ohm, as it is illuminated. This variation will cause the voltage measured at the ends of the photoresistance to pass from a value of 10 volts to a value of about 2 volts, thereby at the output of the first operational amplifier, i.e. at the pin 7, the voltage will be greater than the voltage taken from the connection point of the resistive voltage divider R6-R7, and will be applied to the pin 3, and, accordingly, at the output of the second operational amplifier 15, at the pin 1 thereof, a voltage will be present which is not sufficient to properly bias the base of the first transistor 16 driving the first relay 17. Thus, the first relay, by disenergizing, will switch from the position 2 to the position 1, i.e. it will open the contact providing the biasing current to the base of the second transistor and, accordingly, the second relay will be simultaneously disenergized and will switch from the phase 1, in which the driving beams are on, to the phase 2, in which the traffic beams will be on.

In this connection it should be moreover pointed out that the subject device also allows to switch off the driving beams of the motor vehicle on which it is installed by using a push-button or the lever 11.

The use of a push-button on a motor vehicle would involve a modification of the dashboard at the region of the driving controls, whereas, by using the flashing lever, already existing on the motor vehicle, no modification to the dashboard would be necessary.

The push-button or flashing lever 11 is connected in the circuit in parallel to the cell 10, thereby, by using the push-button 11 in order to switch off the driving beams, the photoresistance arm will be simply shorted, by momentarily excluding it.

All of the above disclosed operating steps are performed in a fraction of a second, thereby preventing safely the crossing vehicle driver from being affected by the driving or upper beams.

From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects and, in particular, the fact is to be pointed out that the subject device will allow to automatically switch off the driving or upper beams.

The invention as disclosed is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of the inventive idea.

Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, provided that they are compatible to the intended application, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any depending on requirements.

Claims

1. A device for automatically switching the actuation of traffic and driving beams on motor vehicles and the like, characterized in that said device comprises a light intensity detecting cell to be applied to a front portion of a motor vehicle and controlling, in order to change an impinging light intensity, a driving assembly for automatically switching off the driving beams and switching on the traffic beams.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said detecting cell comprises a photoresistance.

3. A device according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said device further comprises, in parallel with said detecting cell, a push-button or the motor vehicle flashing lever.

4. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said photoresistance is coupled to a first operational amplifier in turn coupled to a trimmer for adjusting the sensitivity of said device.

5. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of said operational amplifier is coupled to the inlet of a second operational amplifier the output of which is coupled to the base of the transistor the collector of which is coupled to a first switching relay.

6. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first switching relay, in a first position thereof, is coupled to the base of a second transistor having the emitter thereof coupled to a second switching relay for switching the power supply to the driving beams and to the traffic beams, the collector of said second transistor being coupled to a switching on switch or push-button.

7. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said photoresistance, constituting said light intensity detecting cell, is arranged on a front portion of said motor vehicle, preferably on a left portion thereof.

8. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said trimmer is arranged between two resistances coupled between a ground line and a DC power supply line.

9. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second operational amplifier has an input thereof coupled to a resistive voltage divider constituted by two resistances.

10. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of said second operational amplifier is connected, through a resistance R3, to said first transistor, the base thereof is connected between this resistance and a further resistance for coupling with the ground line.

11. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switching on push¬ button is arranged between the collector of said second transistor and said DC power supply line.

12. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a Zener diode is arranged between said DC power supply line and the ground.

13. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said photoresistance has, in a masked condition thereof, an ohmic value of about 4 Moh s.