Optical axis adjustment device for a headlamp unit based on engine load information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208725-B2
Application number	US-202217947504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

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. and the optical axis adjustment device includes a load information acquirer, a displacement amount calculator, and an optical axis adjuster. The load information acquirer is configured to acquire load information indicating a load on an engine of the vehicle. The displacement amount calculator is configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis on a basis of the load information. The optical axis adjuster is configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the 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:
a load information acquirer configured to acquire load information indicating a load on an engine of the vehicle;
a displacement amount calculator configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis on a basis of the load information; 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 displacement amount calculator is configured to
acquire, as the load information, one or more of a rotation speed of the engine, an accelerator pedal position of the vehicle, and fuel consumption of the vehicle,
predict a temperature rise in an engine compartment of the vehicle on a basis of the load information, and
calculate the displacement amount of the optical axis according to the predicted temperature rise.

3. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 2 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire rainfall information from a raindrop sensor provided in the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the rainfall information.

4. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 3 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

5. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 2 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire rainfall information from an operating state of a wiper provided in the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the rainfall information.

6. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 5 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

7. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 2 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

8. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire rainfall information from a raindrop sensor provided in the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the rainfall information.

9. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 8 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

10. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire rainfall information from an operating state of a wiper provided in the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the rainfall information.

11. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 10 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

12. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein
the load information acquirer is configured to acquire an outside temperature of the vehicle, and
the displacement amount calculator is configured to correct the displacement amount on a basis of the outside temperature.

13. 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 load information indicating a load on an engine of the vehicle,
calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis, the displacement amount being based on the acquired load information, 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

• B60Q1/085

  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

• B60Q2300/10

  Indexing codes relating to particular vehicle conditions · CPC title

• B60Q2300/112

  Vehicle speed · CPC title

• B60Q2300/05

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

• B60Q2300/312

  Adverse weather · CPC title