Optical axis adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134342-B2
Application number	US-202217947516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 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, an operation information acquirer, and an optical axis adjuster. The engine temperature is configured to acquirer 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 temperature. The operation information acquirer is configured to acquire operation information indicating an operation status of a cooling device for the engine. The optical axis adjuster is configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount and the operation 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;
an operation information acquirer configured to acquire operation information indicating an operation status of a cooling device for the engine; and
an optical axis adjuster configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount and the operation 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 operation information 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 operation information indicates that a predetermined time has elapsed from a start of operation of the cooling device.

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 operation information indicates that the cooling device is in operation.

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 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 on a basis of the temperature,
acquire operation information indicating an operation status of a cooling device for the engine, and
adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the displacement amount and the operation information.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Yamasaki Kentarou
• Asano Noriaki

Classifications

• B60Q2300/05

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

• F21S45/10

  Protection of lighting devices (cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50) · CPC title

• B60Q1/06 Primary

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

• B60Q1/10 Primary

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