US5235178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light sensor with diffuser and eye-like response
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-03-25
•
Granted: 1993-08-10
•
Expires: 2012-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A twilight sensor for controlling the headlamps of vehicles employs a photodiode having a predetermined spectral response and a diffuser which also has a predetermined spectral response, the spectral responses being combined to achieve an overall spectral response which corresponds to that of the human eye. With this arrangement, the headlamps of a motor vehicle are turned on and off under different ambient light conditions, in a manner which corresponds to the perception of the driver. In addition, the invention employs a control system which turns the lights on rapidly after the vehicle enters a tunnel.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis J. Hegyi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4204; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1423; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/052; B60Q2300/30; B60Q2300/31; B60Q2300/314; B60Q2300/33; B60Q2300/337; G01J1/02; G01J1/04; G01J1/0488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A photosensor arrangement for producing an electrical signal responsive to an input light, the photosensor arrangement comprising: light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving the input light and a diffuser output for producing a diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the input light, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic whereby the diffuser output light corresponds to the input light modified in accordance with the predetermined diffuser spectral characteristic; and light sensor means having a sensor light input for receiving the diffused output light and an output terminal for providing an output electrical signal responsive to said diffused output light, said light sensor means having a predetermined sensor spectral characteristic whereby the output electrical signal is representative of a response characteristic applied to the input light which corresponds to that of a human eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A photosensor arrangement for producing an electrical signal responsive to an input light, the photosensor arrangement comprising: light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving the input light and a diffuser output for producing a diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the input light, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic whereby the diffuser output light corresponds to the input light modified in accordance with the predetermined diffuser spectral characteristic; and light sensor means having a sensor light input for receiving the diffused output light and an output terminal for providing an output electrical signal responsive to said diffused output light, said light sensor means having a predetermined sensor spectral characteristic whereby the output electrical signal is representative of a response characteristic applied to the input light which corresponds to that of a human eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein said predetermined diffuser spectral characteristic (F(λ)) and said predetermined sensor spectral characteristic (S(λ)) are related to the response characteristic of the eye (E(λ)), in accordance with the relationship: E(λ)=c(F(λ))(S(λ)) where c is a constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein there is further provided light modulator means for controlling an angular field of view of the photosensor arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein said light diffuser means comprises a light conduit with a predetermined spectral characteristic for collecting and diffusing the input light and directing same to the light sensor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein there is further provided lamp control means coupled to said output terminal of said light sensor means for controlling a lamp in response to said input light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 5 wherein there is further provided a noise suppression delay means for preventing actuation of the lamp for a predetermined period of time after a sudden change in the intensity of the input light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 6 wherein said predetermined period of time corresponds to approximately 30 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 5 wherein there is further provided a timer means for actuating the lamp within a predetermined period of time after a sudden diminution in the intensity of the input light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The photosensor arrangement of claim 8 wherein said predetermined period of time corresponds to approximately 1 second.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for producing an electrical signal responsive to an input light, the electrical signal being correlated to the input light in accordance with a spectral characteristic corresponding to that of a human eye, the system comprising: a light-responsive element having a light-sensitive optical input for producing at an electrical output thereof an electrical signal responsive to illumination by a light received at said light-sensitive optical input, the light-responsive element having a predeterminable spectral characteristic; light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving a light input and a diffuser output for producing a diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the light input, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic; and light modulator means for reducing the intensity of input light striking the diffuser from predetermined angular directions so as to determine the angular sensitivity of the system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for producing an electrical signal responsive to an input light, the electrical signal being correlated to the input light in accordance with a spectral characteristic corresponding to that of a human eye, the system comprising: a light-responsive element having a light-sensitive optical input for producing at an electrical output thereof an electrical signal responsive to illumination by a light received at said light-sensitive optical input, the light-responsive element having a predeterminable spectral characteristic; light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving a light input and a diffuser output for producing a diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the light input, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic; and light modulator means for reducing the intensity of input light striking the diffuser from predetermined angular directions so as to determine the angular sensitivity of the system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
A headlamp control system element for a vehicle for producing a headlamp control signal responsive to incidence of ambient light, the headlamp control system element comprising: light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving the incident ambient light and a diffuser output for producing diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the light input, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic whereby the diffuser output light corresponds to the ambient light modified in accordance with the predetermined spectral characteristic of said light diffuser means; photodetector means having a light input for receiving the diffused output light and an output terminal for providing an output electrical signal responsive to the diffused output light, said light sensor means having a predetermined photodetector spectral characteristic whereby the output electrical signal corresponds to a response characteristic applied to the ambient light which corresponds to that of a human eye; and lamp control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the headlamp in response to the incident ambient input light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
182 words
A headlamp control system element for a vehicle for producing a headlamp control signal responsive to incidence of ambient light, the headlamp control system element comprising: light diffuser means having a diffuser input for receiving the incident ambient light and a diffuser output for producing diffused output light which is scattered in many directions unrelated to a direction of incidence of the light input, said light diffuser means having a predetermined spectral characteristic whereby the diffuser output light corresponds to the ambient light modified in accordance with the predetermined spectral characteristic of said light diffuser means; photodetector means having a light input for receiving the diffused output light and an output terminal for providing an output electrical signal responsive to the diffused output light, said light sensor means having a predetermined photodetector spectral characteristic whereby the output electrical signal corresponds to a response characteristic applied to the ambient light which corresponds to that of a human eye; and lamp control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the headlamp in response to the incident ambient input light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The headlamp control system element of claim 11 wherein there is further provided light modulator means for controlling the incidence of the ambient light upon said input of said diffuser means in response to the direction of incidence of the sunlight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The headlamp control system element of claim 11 wherein there is further provided a timer means for actuating the lamp within a predetermined period of time after a sudden diminution in the intensity of the input light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The headlamp control system element of claim 11 wherein said predetermined period of time corresponds to approximately 1 second.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The headlamp control system element of claim 11 wherein said predetermined diffuser spectral characteristic (F(λ)) and said predetermined photodetector spectral characteristic (S(λ)) are related to the response characteristic of a human eye (E(λ)), in accordance with the relationship: E(λ)=c(F(λ))(S(λ)) where c is a constant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |