Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image used for a headlamp controller. SOLUTION: The imaging system used for the controller of a headlamp for a vehicle has an aperture; an image sensor; a red lens for shutting off a red complementary color beam of light provided between the aperture and the image sensor; and a red complementary color lens for shutting off a red beam of light provided between the aperture and the image sensor. The respective lenses focus light on different windows of the image sensor. By the imaging system, a processing control logic can detect whether a headlamp of an on-coming vehicle and a tail lamp of the vehicle approaching from back exist with the control of the headlamp as a purpose. When a light sampling (sampling) lens is used, the direction of the beam of light can be made to a substantially parallel beam of light from the state of an arc reaching from substantially above the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a continuously variable head lamp so as to be properly operated over a broad range of ambient light conditions. SOLUTION: This continuously variable head lamp has an effective illumination range by changing at least one parameter selected from a set including an aim horizontal direction, an aim vertical direction, and projected illumination. A system for automatically controlling the continuously variable head lamp mounted in a vehicle includes an imaging system which can determine the position of the lateral direction and height of a head lamp of an incoming vehicle and a tail lamp of an antecedent vehicle. This system further includes a control unit which can capture an image from the front face of the control vehicle. This image covers a glare area including a point where a driver in an incoming or antecedent vehicle perceives the head lamp and causes an excessive level of glare. When at least one vehicle is within the glare area, the illumination range of the head lamp is narrowed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrochromic mirror, having a reflector which is at least partially transmissive within a region in front of a light source, such as a display, illuminator or signal light and having a reflector which does not show extreme yellow hue, but has relative color neutrality which is partially reflective and partially transmissive. SOLUTION: The electro-optic mirror is to be used in a rearview mirror assembly, having an electronic device 170 disposed in the back of an electro-optic mirror to selectively project and/or receive light. The mirror includes elements 112, 114 each having front and rear faces and disposed in the front and rear spaced elements, each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relation to define a chamber 125; a first transparent electrode 128, including a conductive material layer disposed on the rear surface of the front element 112; an electro-optic material 126 housed in the chamber; and a second electrode 120 superimposed on the front surface of the rear element 114 and including a means 172 to compensate for the blue-green reflected light. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a semiconductor radiation emitter package which combines a high emission amount of an output and protection from heat. SOLUTION: The semiconductor radiation emitter package 200 includes a lead frame 201, a semiconductor radiation emitter 202, and an encapsulant 203. The lead frame 201 supports the semiconductor radiation emitter 202, and includes a heat-absorbing member 204 for providing a heat path which removes heat generated in the emitter 202 into a surrounding environment, and at least two electrical leads 205 for electrically being connected to the semiconductor radiation emitter 202. The encapsulant 203 covers the emitter 202 and a selective line junction 211, and protects them from damage. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system that automatically dims a high-beam headlamp of a vehicle, and a headlamp dimming system suitable for dimming the high-beam headlamp at a different distance as a function of a horizontal angular position of a different vehicle with respect to a controlled vehicle. SOLUTION: The vehicle headlamp dimming system includes an optical system and an image processing system. The optical system is configured to discriminate headlamps and tail lamps, and focus light ray from the headlamps and tail lamps on different portions of a pixel sensor array. The optical system and the image processing system provide relatively improved discriminations of headlamps and tail lamps of the other vehicle and also enable the high beam headlamps of the controlled vehicle to be controlled as a function of the distance as well as horizontal angular position of the other vehicle relative to the controlled vehicle. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable and intelligent system for controlling vehicle exterior lights. SOLUTION: The system and the method of automatically controlling headlamps of a vehicle comprise an image sensor 201 and a controller 1105 for generating a control signal. The control signal is derived based on information obtained from the image sensor and other detected parameters pertaining to a detected light source. A control circuit simply turns certain exterior lights on or off, or changes brightness, aim and focus to produce various beam pattern, which maximizes illuminated area in front of the vehicle, without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control circuit for controlling various functions of an image array sensor such as an active pixel image array sensor. SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a control system for controlling an image array sensor and controlling communication between the image array sensor and a microcontroller by way of a serial communication interface. The control system is able to efficiently control various aspects of the image array sensor such as windowing, mode of operation, sensitivity as well as other parameters in order to reduce the data throughput. An important aspect of the invention relates to the fact that the control circuit can be rather easily and efficiently configured in CMOS with relatively few output pins which enable the control circuit to be rather easily and efficiently integrated with CMOS based on the image array sensor and even the microcontroller to reduce the part count and thus, the overall cost of the system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a signal mirror, which is lighter, has a small volume, emits greater lightness, is constructed more sturdily, and/or produces illumination and/or signal distinguishable easier. SOLUTION: The invention includes a housing 202 and at least two lamp assemblies 209 installed in the housing, wherein one of the lamp assemblies has an LED lamp 218 which has a heat absorbing member 400. One of the lamp assemblies is formed as a first illuminator, while the other is formed as a signaling device or a second illuminator. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lamp capable of reducing the glare of embarrassing a driver of a leading vehicle. SOLUTION: A sensor array 52 and a control unit 44 are included in a system 40 for controlling at least one vehicular exterior lighting fixture 22 of a control object vehicle. The sensor array 52 can detect a light level in front of the control object vehicle. The control unit 44 communicates with the sensor array 52 and at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture, and measures a distance and an angle up to the leading vehicle from at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture of the control object vehicle. The control unit 44 controls operation of at least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture as a function of the distance and the angle based on output from the sensor array 52. At least the one vehicular exterior lighting fixture 22 can operate so as to prevent impartment of the glare of embarrassing the driver of the leading vehicle. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrochromic back mirror assembly having a reflector formed as a continuous layer across the entire visible surface of a rear element of a mirror, and also across an area positioned in front of an optical sensor or a receptor arranged in front of an optical source such as a signal light, an information display, or an illuminator, or at the back of the electrochromic mirror. SOLUTION: This mirror comprises a housing formed to a vehicle; a front element 112 and a rear element 114 having a front face and a rear face respectively, sealably coupled with each other at an interval, defining a chamber, and installed in the housing; an electrochromic material 125 accommodated in the chamber; a first transparent electrode 112b including a conducting material layer carried on one face of the element; a second electrode 120 arranged on the front face of the rear element; a light emitting display assembly 170 installed in the housing; and a reflector arranged on the surface of the rear element. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI