Optical axis adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11987169-B2
Application number	US-202217947522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

Provided is an optical axis adjustment device for a vehicle headlamp. The optical axis adjustment device adjusts an optical axis of a headlamp unit to be mounted in a vehicle, and the optical axis adjustment device includes: an engine temperature acquirer; a displacement amount calculator; a speed information acquirer; and an optical axis adjuster. The engine temperature acquirer acquires a temperature in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The displacement amount calculator calculates a displacement amount of the optical axis based on the acquired temperature. The speed information acquirer acquires speed information including a travel speed and a travel time of the vehicle. The optical axis adjuster adjusts the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the calculated displacement amount and the acquired speed information.

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;
a speed information acquirer configured to acquire speed information including a travel speed and a travel time of the vehicle; and
an optical axis adjuster configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount and the speed information.

2. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical axis adjuster is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the travel speed and the travel time and adjusts the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the corrected displacement amount.

3. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical axis adjuster is configured to perform no adjustment of the optical axis of the headlamp unit in a case where the travel speed is a first speed determined in advance or higher.

4. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical axis adjuster is configured to perform no adjustment of the optical axis of the headlamp unit in a case where the vehicle has traveled at a second speed determined in advance or higher for a predetermined time or longer.

5. 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 a 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 on a basis of the acquired temperature,
acquire speed information including a travel speed and a travel time of the vehicle; and
adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount and the speed information.

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

• B60Q1/10 Primary

  due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution · CPC title

• B60Q1/12

  due to steering position · CPC title