Combined headlamp and climate control sensor having a light diffuser and a light modulator

Claim 2

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; 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; and light modulator means arranged in the vicinity of said diffuser input of said light diffuser for determining a position-responsive sensitivity characteristic of the photosensor arrangement, whereby said output electrical signal is responsive to the position of a source of the input light.

Claim 3

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(Fλ))(S(λ)) where c is a constant.

Claim 4

The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein said light modulator means is arranged to control an angular field of view of the photosensor arrangement.

Claim 5

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 said light sensor means.

Claim 6

The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein there is further provided a 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

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 8

The photosensor arrangement of claim. 6 wherein said predetermined period of time corresponds to approximately 1 second.

Claim 9

The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein the photosensor arrangement is arranged in a vehicle of the type having a cabin for accommodating passengers, and there is further provided a climate control means for controlling the climate within the cabin of the vehicle.

Claim 10

The photosensor arrangement of claim 1 wherein said light modulator means comprises coating means applied to said diffuser means for occluding all but a predetermined portion of said input of said light sensor means.

Claim 13

A headlamp and climate control system element for a vehicle for producing headlamp and climate control signals responsive to incidence of ambient light, the headlamp and climate 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; light modulator means for reducing the intensity of the ambient input light striking said light diffuser means from predetermined angular directions so as to determine the angular sensitivity of the system; lamp control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the headlamp in response to the incident ambient input light; and climate control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the climate in response to the incident ambient input light.

Claim 14

A headlamp and climate control system element for a vehicle for producing headlamp and climate control signals responsive to incidence of ambient light, the headlamp and climate 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; light modulator means for reducing the intensity of the ambient input light striking said light diffuser means from predetermined angular directions so as to determine the angular sensitivity of the system; lamp control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the headlamp in response to the incident ambient input light; and climate control means coupled to the output terminal of said photodetector means for controlling the climate in response to the incident ambient input light.