JPH0435376B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention reduces the irradiation light of automobile headlights by about half, and when it is too dark to use only the side lamps and too bright to turn on the headlights, The present invention relates to a dimming device for automobile headlights that is effectively used, for example, in the evening and at dawn.

(Prior Art) Conventional automobile lighting systems include width lights that are turned on when the light is dim, such as in the evening or early morning, and headlights that are turned on when it is completely dark, such as at night. ) is usually installed. However, even in the evening and early morning, there are times when it is too dark to use only the side lights and too bright to turn on the headlights. Although such times are left to the driver's discretion, most cars drive with only their side lights on, making it difficult to see cars and causing many traffic accidents. It is well known that.
In addition, position lamp bulbs are sold as options in card shops as lamps for use during such dim times, but these position lamp bulbs must be attached to the headlight part by yourself, and they are not very convenient. Unless you are a car enthusiast, it is normal for you not to have one installed. Furthermore, in recent years, many cars have headlights that are integrally molded, making it impossible to open the headlights in order to install position lamp bulbs. The current situation is that this has not been done.

On the other hand, headlights' high beams (lights pointing upwards) have a wider illumination area in front of them than low beams (lights pointing downwards), so it is better to use them more from the standpoint of accident prevention. It is extremely dazzling for drivers, and it is common sense for drivers not to use the high beam of headlights when there is an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle in front; therefore, it is common sense for drivers not to use the high beam of their headlights when there is an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle in front of them. This had the disadvantage that only high beam headlights could be used.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned points, and is such that when the lighting switch is turned off and the dimmer switch is turned on, the first and second headlight filaments are connected in series. The structure is configured so that current flows when the lighting switch is connected, and the filament is illuminated with about half the brightness compared to when the current flows when the lighting switch is turned on. Regardless of whether the switch is on or off, when the daymer switch switches to high beam or low beam, current flows to the high beam side or low beam side of the first and second headlight filaments, respectively, with the paths connected in parallel. By turning on the dimmer switch, the headlights will turn on at about half the normal brightness, making it easier to drive in dim light such as in the evening or early morning. Not only that, even when the headlights are on high beam, they are so bright that they do not dazzle the drivers of oncoming cars or cars in front, and for oncoming cars, not only the width lights but also the two headlights are on. The object of the present invention is to provide a dimming device for automobile headlights, which has the great advantage of facilitating visibility and reducing traffic accidents.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The gist of the present invention is to connect the high beam side terminal of the first headlight filament and the high beam relay output terminal by a first high beam connection line, and to connect the high beam side terminal of the first headlight filament to the high beam side terminal of the second headlight filament. The terminal and the high beam relay output terminal are connected by a second high beam connection line, and the low beam side terminal of the first headlight filament and the low beam relay output terminal are connected by the first low beam connection line, and the low beam side terminal of the first headlight filament is connected by the first low beam connection line. Connect the low beam side terminal and the low beam relay output terminal by a second low beam connection line, connect the midpoint terminals of the first and second headlight filaments to ground, and connect the low beam relay output terminal to the low beam relay output terminal. is opened and closed by the second coil, which is energized when the lighting switch is turned on and the daymer switch is switched to low beam. In an automobile headlight device that is opened and closed by a third coil that is energized when switching to high beam; Connect through the first contact of one dimmer relay, connect the midpoint terminal of the first headlight filament to ground through the second contact of the first dimmer relay, and connect the first low beam connection line and the first high beam connection line. A second dimmer relay is interposed on either side of the connection line,
The first dimmer relay has a first contact and a second contact switched by a first coil that is energized when the lighting switch is turned on, and the second dimmer relay has a first contact that is energized when the lighting switch is turned on. If the lighting switch is turned off and the dimmer switch is turned on, none of the first to third coils will be energized and only the first contact of the first dimmer relay will be closed. Both relay contacts are open, and current flows when the first and second headlight filaments are connected in series, compared to the normal case where current flows when they are connected in parallel. The headlight is illuminated at about half the brightness, and on the other hand, when the lighting switch is turned on, the first coil is energized regardless of whether the dimmer switch is on or off, and the first contact of the first dimmer relay is opened. The second contact is closed, and the contact of the second dimmer relay is closed, and the first and second headlight filaments are connected to the high beam side or the low beam side, respectively, in normal parallel according to the switching of the dimmer switch to high beam or low beam. A dimmer device for a headlight for an automobile is characterized in that a current flows when the headlight is connected to the headlight, and the headlight is illuminated with normal brightness.

If a second dimmer relay is interposed in the first low beam connection line, the brightness of the headlight's high beam can be reduced by approximately half, and a second dimmer relay is interposed in the first high beam connection line. For example, the brightness of the low beam of the headlight can be reduced by about half. Whether the high beam or the low beam is to be dimmed is set in advance as desired, but it goes without saying that it is preferable to dim the high beam in order to improve visibility.

The dimmer switch may also be used as a position switch, or the dimmer switch may be provided separately from the position switch.

If a light amount adjusting means is provided between the dimmer switch and the first dimmer relay, the amount of light from the headlight which has been reduced to about half can be further adjusted. When configuring this light amount adjusting means, it is important to prevent heat generation as much as possible. The light amount adjusting means includes a variable resistor, a multivibrator circuit connected to the variable resistor, and a driving transistor whose base is connected to the output of the multivibrator circuit.
If the device is composed of a power transistor whose base is connected to the output of the driving transistor emitter, and a resistor connected in parallel with the output of the power transistor, the amount of light can be adjusted without generating much heat.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an automobile headlight equipped with a dimming device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 2 and 3 indicate a pair of first and second headlight filaments that are turned on by the flow of current and function as headlights that illuminate the front. The headlight filaments 2 and 3 are high beam filaments 2a and 3a that emit upward light using midpoint terminals 2c and 3c as branch points, respectively, and low beam filament 2 that emit downward light.
b and 3b are configured separately. 4 is a battery that serves as a power source for the circuit, and the negative side is connected to the ground 6. 8 is a lighting switch that turns on the power to the headlights 2 and 3. 10 is
This is a dimer switch that switches between high beam and low beam for headlights 2 and 3.
Connected to 2. Reference numeral 14 denotes a position switch (not shown) for turning on/off the side lights. 16
is a dimmer switch that turns on and off the dimmer device of the present invention, but since this dimmer switch 16 is connected in series with the position switch 14, this dimmer switch 16 is omitted and the position switch is used instead. 14 can also function as a dimming switch.

18 is a first dimming relay, which has three first fixed contact pieces 20, a first movable contact piece 22, and a second
It has a first contact 26 consisting of a fixed contact piece 24 and a first fixed contact piece 20 and a first movable contact piece 22, and a second contact 28 consisting of a first movable contact piece 22 and a second fixed contact piece 24. are doing. When the lighting switch 8 is off, the first contact 26 is closed and the second contact 28 is open. When the lighting switch 8 is turned on, the first contact 26 is open and the second contact 28 is closed. The state will be as follows. The middle point terminal 2c of the first headlight filament 2 and the middle point between the battery 4 and the lighting switch 8 are connected via the position switch 14, the dimmer switch 16, and the first contact 26 of the first dimmer relay 18. has been done. The first hedrite filament 2
The middle point terminal 2c of is connected to the ground 30 via the second contact 28 of the first dimming relay 18.

The high beam filament side terminal 32 of the first headlight filament 2 and the high beam relay output terminal 36 are connected by the first high beam connection line 33, and the high beam filament side terminal 34 of the second headlight filament 3 and the high beam relay output terminal 36 are connected. and are connected by a second high beam connection line 35. Low beam filament side terminal 38 of first headlight filament 2
and the low beam relay output terminal 42 are connected by the first low beam connection line 39, and the low beam filament side terminal 40 of the second headlight filament 3 and the low beam relay output terminal 42 are connected by the second low beam connection line 41. do. 44 is a second dimming relay interposed in the first low beam connection line 39. The second dimming relay 44 is composed of a third fixed contact piece 46, a second movable contact piece 48, and a fourth fixed contact piece 50, and when the lighting switch 8 is off, the third fixed contact piece 46 and the second movable contact piece 48 are in contact with each other, and the second dimming relay 44 is open. When the lighting switch 8 is on, the second movable contact piece 48 and the fourth fixed contact piece 50 are brought into contact, and the second dimming relay 44 is closed.

The center terminal 3c of the second headlight filament 3 is connected to the ground 52.

The first dimmer relay 18 switches between the first contact 26 and the second contact 28 by the first coil 54 which is excited when the lighting switch 8 is turned on. The first coil 5 is energized when turned on.
4 is also opened and closed.

The low beam relay output terminal 42 is connected to the contact point of the low beam relay 56 when the lighting switch 8 is turned on and the dimer switch 10 is turned on.
A high beam relay 60 is opened and closed by a second coil 58 that is excited when the switch is switched to low beam L, and is connected to the high beam relay output terminal 36.
The contacts are opened and closed by the third coil 62, which is excited when the lighting switch 8 is turned on and the dimer switch 10 is switched to high beam H.

Note that F is a fuse.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 64 denotes a light amount adjusting means installed between the dimmer switch 16 and the first dimmer relay 18, if desired. As this light amount adjusting means 64, a known means that can adjust the current can be applied, but since the installation of this light amount adjusting means 64 causes a disadvantage in that the circuit generates heat, the method shown in FIG. It is desirable to adopt a configuration that minimizes the generation of heat as shown in .

In FIG. 2, 66 is a variable resistor whose resistance value can be changed. 68 is a multivibrator circuit connected to the variable resistor 66.
70 is a driving transistor whose base is connected to the output of the multivibrator circuit 63. 72 is a power transistor whose emitter output of the driving transistor is connected to its base. 74 is a resistor connected in parallel with the output of the power transistor, and a high voltage resistor is used. The connection between the transistors 70 and 72 is a Darlington connection, which is used to increase the current amplification factor. If you configure it like this,
By changing the resistance value of the variable resistor 66,
The on/off cycle of the multivibrator circuit 68 can be changed. Since this on-off cycle and the current flow to the base of the driving transistor 70 are synchronized, the multivibrator circuit 6
8, the longer the driving transistor 70 is on, the longer the driving transistor 70 operates, and therefore the current flowing through the high beam filaments 2a, 3a becomes larger, resulting in brighter light. On the other hand, if the off-time of the multivibrator circuit 68 is long, the operating time of the driving transistor 70 is shortened, and therefore the current flowing through the high beam filaments 2a and 3a becomes small, resulting in darkness. In this way, the amount of light can be adjusted. In addition, this bright and dark amount of light is about half the brightness of a normal headlight,
That is, it goes without saying that this is carried out within the range of the dimming state of the headlight according to the present invention.

The operation will be explained below using the configuration as described above.

Lighting switch 8 and dimming switch 16
When the position switch 14 is turned off and only the position switch 14 is turned on, only the vehicle width lights (not shown) are turned on.

When the lighting switch 8 is turned off and the position 14 and dimming switch 16 are turned on, each of the first to third coils 54, 58, and 62 is not energized, so none of them are excited. Therefore, the first dimming relay 18 and the second dimming relay 4
4. The low beam relay 56 and the high beam relay 60 are in the open state shown in FIG. That is, the first contact 26 of the first dimming relay 18 is closed, and the second contact 28 is open. In the second dimming relay 44, the third fixed contact piece 46 and the second
The second movable contact piece 48 is in contact with the movable contact piece 48 .
and the fourth fixed contact piece 50 are open, in other words, the second dimming relay 44 is open. Low beam relay 56 and high beam relay 60 are in an open state. The current flows from the battery 4, through the position switch 14 and the dimmer switch 16, through the first fixed contact piece 20 and the first movable contact piece 22, that is, the first contact 26, and then through the center point terminal 2c of the first headlight filament 2. , the high beam filament 2a of the first headlight filament 2, the high beam side terminal 32 of the first headlight filament 2, the high beam relay output terminal 36, the high beam side terminal 3 of the second headlight filament 3.
4. They pass through the middle terminals 3c of the second headlight filament 3 and fall to the ground 52. In this case, the high beam filaments 2a and 3a of the two headlights change from the normal parallel circuit to a series circuit, so their resistance doubles, the current decreases, and the brightness of the high beam of the headlights becomes approximately the same as in the normal case. It becomes half. In this way, it is possible to reduce the brightness of the headlight filament's high beam to approximately half of the normal brightness to eliminate glare, so it is possible to reduce the brightness of the headlight filament's high beam to approximately half of the normal brightness, so it is possible to reduce the brightness of the headlight filament's high beam to approximately half of the normal brightness. Since the vehicle can be illuminated, visibility becomes easier and leads to a reduction in traffic accidents.

Turn on the lighting switch 8, position switch 14, and dimming switch 16,
When the dimmer switch 10 is set to the low beam side L, the current flows from the battery 4 through the lighting switch 8 and the first coil 54 to the ground 30, and the first coil 54 is excited. When the first coil 54 is energized, the first contact 20 of the first dimmer relay 18 is open and the second contact is closed, contrary to the state shown in FIG. Closed. Further, the current flows from the battery 4 through the lighting switch 8, the second coil 58, and the low beam side L of the dimer switch 10, and falls to the ground 12, the second coil 58 is energized, and the low beam relay 56 is closed. Since no current flows through the third coil 62 and it is not excited, the high beam relay 60
remains open. In this state, the current is cut off by the first dimming relay 18, so the dimming effect of the headlight as described above does not occur. On the other hand, the current flows through the battery 4, fuse F, low beam relay 56, low beam relay output terminal 42,
Second dimmer relay 44, low beam side terminal 38 of first headlight filament 2, low beam filament 2b, first headlight filament 2
middle point terminal 2c, second contact 28 of the first dimming relay
It passes through and falls to Earth-30. On the other hand, the current flows through battery 4, fuse F, low beam relay 56,
Low beam terminal 42, low beam side terminal 40 of second headlight filament 3, low beam filament 3b, second headlight filament 3
It falls to the ground 52 through the midpoint terminal 3c of the. In this case, the low beam filaments 2b and 3b are in a parallel state as in the case of a normal headlight, so that when the headlight is turned on, the low beam of the headlight has normal brightness.

Turn on the lighting switch 8, position switch 14, and dimming switch 16,
Even when the daymer switch 10 is set to the high beam side H, the current falls from the battery 4 through the lighting switch 8 and the first coil 54 to the ground 30, and the first coil 54 is energized, as in the case of the low beam described above. Ru. When the first coil 54 is energized, the first contact 26 of the first dimmer relay 18 is open and the second contact is closed, contrary to the state shown in FIG. As mentioned above, it is closed. However, the excitation states of the second coil 58 and the third coil 62 are different. That is, the current flows from the battery 4 through the lighting switch 8, the third coil 62, and the high beam side H of the daymer switch 10, and falls to the ground 12, the third coil 62 is energized, and the high beam relay 60 is closed. Since no current flows through the second coil 58 and it is not excited, the low beam relay 56 remains open. In this state, as in the case of low beam lighting, the current is cut off by the first dimming relay 18, so the dimming effect of the headlights as described above does not occur. On the other hand, the current flows through the battery 4, the fuse F, the high beam relay 60, the high beam relay output terminal 36, the high beam side terminal 32 of the first headlight filament 2, the high beam filament 2a, the middle point terminal 2c of the first headlight filament 2, and the first headlight filament 2. It falls to ground 30 through the second contact 28 of the dimming relay. On the other hand, the current flows through the battery 6, fuse F, high beam relay 60, high beam relay output terminal 36, and high beam side terminal 3 of the second headlight filament 3.
4. It falls to the ground 52 through the high beam filament 3a and the middle terminal 3c of the second headlight filament 3. In this case, as in the case of normal headlights, the high beam filament 2
Since the lights a and 3a are connected in parallel, when the lights are turned on, the headlight high beam is of normal brightness.

Furthermore, when the above-mentioned light amount adjusting means 65 is installed, it is possible to further adjust the light amount of the headlight high beam in the dimmed state.

According to the light control device of the present invention, as described above,
The brightness of the headlight's high beam can be reduced to about half of the normal brightness, but in addition to this, the large current flowing through the lighting switch can be bypassed even when connected in parallel for use as a normal headlight. Since the circuit is configured in such a way that burnout and deterioration of the switch can be prevented, the current flows directly from the battery to the headlight filament, so there is no current loss and the brightness of the headlight increases during normal operation. can.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the brightness of the headlight high beam is reduced, but it is also possible to reduce the brightness of the headlight low beam by applying the same principle. In this case,
As shown in FIG. 3, a second dimming relay 44 may be interposed in the high beam connection line 33. The rest of the configuration is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention utilizes a conventional headlight filament as is, and has a configuration in which the connection of a pair of headlight filaments can be switched between a parallel connection in a normal state and a series connection in a dimmed state. When the headlight filaments are connected in series, the headlights turn on at about half the normal brightness, making it easier to drive a car in dim light such as in the evening or early morning, especially when using high beams. The brightness is bright enough to not dazzle the driver of an oncoming vehicle or the vehicle in front, even when the vehicle is moving, and for oncoming vehicles, not only the width lights but also two headlights are on, making it easy to see. Not only does it have the great advantage of reducing traffic accidents, it also eliminates the hassle of installing conventional position lamps, and in the normal parallel connection state, the large current flowing through the lighting switch is bypassed, reducing burnout and deterioration. In addition, since current is passed directly from the battery to the headlight filament, there is no current loss and the brightness of the headlight during normal operation is increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall circuit diagram when the headlight high beam of the device of the present invention is dimmed, Fig. 2 is an illustrative circuit diagram of the light amount adjusting means, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the case where the headlight low beam of the device of the present invention is dimmed. It is an overall circuit diagram. 2, 3...Hedrite filament, 2a,
3a...High beam filament, 2b, 3b...
...Low beam filament, 2c, 3c...Center terminal of headlight filament, 4...Battery, 8...Lighting switch, 10...Daimer switch, 16...Dimming switch, 18...
...First dimmer relay, 26...First contact of the first dimmer relay, 28...Second contact of the first dimmer relay, 3
2, 34...High beam side terminal of the headlight filament, 33...First high beam connection line, 36...High beam relay output terminal, 38,
40...Low beam side terminal of headlight filament, 39...First low beam connection line, 4
2...Low beam relay output terminal, 44...Second dimming relay, 54...First coil, 56...Low beam relay, 58...Second coil, 60...High beam relay, 62...Third coil, 64...
Light amount adjustment means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The high beam side terminal of the first headlight filament and the high beam relay output terminal are connected by the first high beam connection line, and the high beam side terminal of the second headlight filament and the high beam relay output terminal are connected to the high beam side terminal of the second headlight filament. The low beam side terminal of the first headlight filament and the low beam relay output terminal are connected by the first low beam connection line, and the low beam side terminal of the second headlight filament and the low beam relay output terminal are connected by the high beam connection line. In an automobile headlight device connected by a second low beam connection line; A first fixed contact piece and a first movable contact piece of the optical switch and the first dimming relay are connected via a first contact that is opened and closed by a first coil, and the midpoint terminal of the first headlight filament is connected to the first contact piece of the first dimming relay. The first movable contact piece and the second fixed contact piece of a dimming relay are connected to the ground via a second contact that is opened and closed by the first coil, and the first low beam connection line and the first high beam connection line are connected to the ground through a second contact that is opened and closed by the first coil. a third fixed contact piece on either side;
A second dimmer relay is interposed between the second movable contact piece and the fourth fixed contact piece and is opened and closed by the first coil, and a light amount adjustment means is provided between the dimmer switch and the first dimmer relay. A dimming device for automobile headlights, characterized by: 2. The light amount adjustment means includes a variable resistor, a multivibrator circuit connected to the variable resistor,
Consisting of a driving transistor to which the output of the multivibrator circuit is connected to the base, a power transistor to which the emitter output of the driving transistor is connected to the base, and a resistor connected in parallel with the output of the power transistor. A dimming device for an automobile headlight according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The dimmer device for an automobile headlight according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dimmer switch also serves as a position switch. 4 Claim 1, characterized in that a dimming switch is provided separately from the position switch.
2. A dimming device for an automobile headlight according to item 1 or 2.