Optical axis adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11890983-B2
Application number	US-202217947476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

An optical axis adjustment device for a headlamp unit to be mounted in a vehicle is configured to adjust an optical axis of the headlamp unit. The optical axis adjustment device includes an engine temperature acquirer, a displacement amount calculator, and an optical axis adjuster. The engine temperature acquirer is configured to acquire a temperature in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The displacement amount calculator is configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis on a basis of the acquired temperature. The optical axis adjuster is configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the calculated displacement amount.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical axis adjustment device for a headlamp unit to be mounted in a vehicle, the optical axis adjustment device being configured to adjust an optical axis of the headlamp unit, the optical axis adjustment device comprising:
an engine temperature acquirer configured to acquire a temperature in an engine compartment of the vehicle;
a displacement amount calculator configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis on a basis of the temperature; and
an optical axis adjuster configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount.

2. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein the engine temperature acquirer is configured to acquire the temperature in the engine compartment on a basis of an oil temperature of an engine of the vehicle.

3. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein the engine temperature acquirer is configured to acquire the temperature in the engine compartment on a basis of a temperature of a coolant used to cool an engine of the vehicle.

4. An optical axis adjustment device for a headlamp unit to be mounted in a vehicle, the optical axis adjustment device being configured to adjust an optical axis of the headlamp unit, the optical axis adjustment device comprising circuitry configured to
acquire a temperature in an engine compartment of the vehicle,
calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis, the displacement amount being based on the acquired temperature, and
adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the calculated displacement amount.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Yamasaki Kentarou
• Asano Noriaki

Classifications

• B60Q1/06 Primary

  adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle (B60Q1/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/08

  automatically · CPC title

• B60Q2300/05

  Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam · CPC title

• B60Q1/085 Primary

  due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/0683

  Adjustable by rotation of a screw · CPC title