US PATENT SUBCLASS 362 / 465
.~.~ Automatically adjusted headlamp beam

Current as of: June, 1999
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362 /   HD   ILLUMINATION

459  DF  SUPPORTED BY VEHICLE STRUCTURE (E.G., ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE) {17}
464  DF  .~ Condition responsive (e.g., position) {1}
465.~.~ Automatically adjusted headlamp beam {4}
466  DF  .~.~.~> Computer controlled
469  DF  .~.~.~> Weight biased or mechanically actuated
467  DF  .~.~.~> Electromagnetically, electrodynamically, or electronically actuated
468  DF  .~.~.~> Hydraulically or pneumatically actuated

DEFINITION

Classification: 362/465

Automatically adjusted headlamp beam:

(under subclass 464) Subject matter wherein the illuminating

means comprises a shaft of light ray or rays and wherein the intensity of light ray or rays is controlled without manual intervention.

(1) Note. Patents in this subclass include a light sensor attached on the pivotal headlamp for detecting the presence of a leading vehicle, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp, and a controller for actuating the adjusting mechanism in response to the sensor signal of the light sensor to move the headlamp for automatically adjusting the angle of the headlamp optical axis.

(2) Note. Patents in this subclass include (a) a sensor means, attached to the headlamp means, for detecting an obstacle and generating a sensor signal corresponding to the obstacle, (b) an adjusting means, associated with headlamp, for adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp means, and (c) a control means, coupled to the sensor means and the adjusting means, for actuating the adjusting means to automatically adjust the headlamp means to illuminate a predetermined area.

(3) Note. A system for the automatic correction of the orientation of the beam of light of the headlamp includes a means for turning at least the optical system of the headlamp about an axis of rotation adjacent the optical axis and a transducer detector system adapted to detect the angle of inclination of the vehicle while turning, and a means for turning the optical system of the headlamp being controlled by the transducer detector in such a manner that a compensating orientation variation is applied to the headlamp beam when the vehicle makes a turn.

(4) Note. There are some patents in this subclass which only adjust the headlights' intensity for fog, rain, or other light conditions.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems, 82+, for a vehicle headlight system, and subclass 84 for a door closure controlled load device.

340, Communications: Electrical,

468+, for a condition responsive external signal light system. [figure] [caption]A - Headlamp; B - Light source; C - Reflector; D - Lens; E - Light shielding plate