The present disclosure is generally related to a vehicle headlamp and more particularly to a system and a method for automatically turning off a high beam and on a low beam in order to make a person coming from in front safer as he gets blinded by the high beam, thereby reducing road accidents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The headlamps of modern automobiles are usually controlled alternately to generate high and low beams providing illumination under varying conditions. The low beams provide less illumination and are used to illuminate the forward path when other vehicles are present at night. The high beams provide more illumination and are used primarily during the night or when there is low visibility.
[0003] Drivers generally face the issue of glared vision for short duration due to the high beam light coming from the head lamps of the vehicle coming from the opposite direction which falls directly onto driver’s eyes. This causes that driver to become disoriented which makes it difficult for him to see a curve or any obstacle in the front. This creates a distraction to the driver which is the prime cause of many road accidents.
[0004] US5194779A discloses a headlight assembly for a vehicle. A headlight assembly including a pair of headlight units each having first and second headlights. The first headlight has a halogen bulb (or Projector LED) having a high-beam filament for illuminating a range far away from the vehicle. The second headlight has a discharge bulb (or Projector LED) for a low beam for illuminating a range in the vicinity of the vehicle. The headlight assembly further includes a lighting control circuit for controlling lighting and turning-off of these headlights in such ways that both the bulbs of the first and second lamps are lighted during the main lighting which illuminates the range far away from the vehicle with a high-beam and the range close to the vehicle with a low-beam, that the bulbs of the second headlights are lighted during dimmer lighting which illuminates the range in the vicinity of the vehicle with a low-beam, and that only the bulbs of the first headlights are lighted during passing. The headlight assembly further includes a detector provided in the lighting control circuit for detecting that either of the discharge bulbs (or Projector LED) of the second headlights of the headlight units is unlighted or turned off, and a relay provided in the lighting control circuit for supplying electrical power to the auxiliary low-beam filament (or Projector LED) of the first headlight of the headlight unit when the detector detects that the discharge bulb (or Projector LED) of the second headlight of the headlight unit is unlighted or turned-off, to cause the auxiliary low-beam filament (or Projector LED) to illuminate.
[0005] Conventionally, there exist various methods and systems for helping a user(s) while driving. However, in order to achieve the objective, a plurality of sensors may be used for detecting a turn and switching on/off a vehicle's headlamps.
[0006] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there is a need to provide a system that is an enhancement to the normal vehicle and is capable of switching a beam from high to low so that the opposite rider may see the curve or any obstacle easily.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The principal objective of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is reduction in number of components used thus helping with cost and reliability.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system that helps in safe driving by controlling a vehicle headlamp by switching a high beam into a low beam at the curve so that another driver may see the turn or any obstacle easily.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system with multiple beam patterns that enlarge the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a scalable/versatile system that may add multiple features/accessories with minimal changes in the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention relates to a multipurpose system installed in a vehicle that controls the vehicle headlamps by switching a high beam lighting mode into a low beam lighting mode automatically when a turn is initiated in order to improve accidental conditions of oncoming traffic.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for controlling vehicle headlamps, comprising, a plurality of turn indicators mounted on a front and a rear part of a vehicle and configured to be flashed synchronously through a turn switch which is activated either manually or automatically is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch, a plurality of headlamps that is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp, a xenon lamp, a projector LED, and a halogen lamp, wherein the plurality of headlamps placed on the front part of the vehicle, configured to work at a first lighting mode and a second lighting mode known as a high beam and a low beam respectively, and at least one control unit coupled with the turn switch and the plurality of headlamps for switching the high beam into the low beam when a turn is initiated and the plurality of turn indicators are activated, wherein the control unit switches off the plurality of turn indicators when the turn is finished.
[0014] According to an another embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling vehicle headlamps, including, triggering on, a plurality of turn indicators by a turn switch which is activated either manually or automatically is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch, determining an activation state of a plurality of headlamps that is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp, a xenon lamp, a projector LED, and a halogen lamp by a control unit, wherein the plurality of headlamps is configured to be active in a first lighting mode and a second lighting mode known as a high beam and a low beam respectively, and switching the plurality of vehicle headlamps by the control unit from the determined first lighting mode to the second lighting mode when at least one pair of the plurality of turn indicators are activated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of systems, methods, and embodiments of various other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g. boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. It may be that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive descriptions /are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles.
[0016] Fig.1 illustrates a line diagram of a system 100, according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0017] Fig. 2 is a front elevation view showing a front portion of a vehicle 200 equipped with a plurality of headlamps of the present invention;
[0018] Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram 300 of a control unit of the system 100, according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0019] Fig 4A,4B illustrates a flow chart depicting a method 400, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
[0021] Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0022] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred systems and methods are now described.
[0023] The present invention relates to a system and a method to control vehicle headlamps for adjusting the lighting between a high beam and a low beam lighting mode so that the curve of a road or any obstacle is visible to a driver who is coming from front or opposite direction. This system has automatic switching capability so that it allows automatic lighting on the road without the need of driver intervention.
[0024] FIG.1 illustrates a line diagram of a system 100, according to an embodiment of a present invention. The system 100 essentially includes a plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) associated with a turn switch 110, wherein at least two of the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B) each of which are present on a front left and a rear left or a front right and a rear right flash synchronously to indicate that a vehicle is turning left or right when a respective turn indication is initiated. The turn switch 110 is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch. The switch 110 is activated either manually or automatically. The turn switch 110 is activated automatically by anyone or a combination of an accelerometer sensor, and an IR (Infrared) Sensor.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view showing a front portion of a vehicle 200 equipped with a plurality of headlamps of the present invention The vehicle 200 includes a plurality of headlamps (102A, 102B, 104A, 104B) placed at a left side and a right side of the front part 205 of the vehicle 200, configured to work at a first lighting mode 202 and a second lighting mode 203. The first 202 and the second lighting mode 203 is a high beam and a low beam respectively. The first lighting mode 202 having a lamp for illuminating a large range from the vehicle 200 and the second lighting mode 203 having the lamp for illuminating a range in the vicinity of the vehicle 200. The plurality of headlamps (102A, 102B, 104A, 104B) is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps, a xenon lamp, a projector LED and a halogen lamp.
[0026] Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram 300 of a control unit 106 of the system 100. The control unit 106 may, according to another embodiment of the invention, be coupled with the turn switch 110 and the plurality of headlamps (102A, 102B, 104A, 104B). The control unit connected with a PCB 302 (Printed Circuit Board) which contains the turn switch 110, a turn identifier switch 322, a high beam lighting mode controller switch 320, and a low beam lighting mode controller switch 310. The control unit 106 activates at least one of the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when the turn 304 is initiated, then it switches 314 the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A, 102B, 104A, 104B) from the first lighting mode 202 to the second lighting mode 203. It also turns off 308 the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when the turn is finished. The control unit 106 may be a dedicated controller for the various headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) operations or it may be a microprocessor that can be shared with other vehicle 200 function controlling operations. The control unit 106 may be adapted to detect the turn 304 and initiate the system 100 automatically. So, the control unit 106 perform various functions like – determining the turn 304 through the turn identifier switch 322, turn on the turn indicator 306 through the turn switch 110, determining the high beam on state 310 through the high beam lighting mode controller switch 320, turn off the high beam 312 and on the low beam 314 through the low beam lighting mode controller 318, determining the turn 304 is over or not through the turn identifier switch 322, turn on the high beam 310 again and either keep on 314 or turn off the low beam. But according to the present invention, the low beam keep on 314 also even if high beam is on 310.
[0027] Now referring to Fig. 4, depicting a method 400 to control vehicle headlights by adjusting the headlamp lights in between the high beam 202 and low beam lighting mode 203. It is to be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art that there may be additional steps involved within the method.
[0028] Fig. 4A illustrates the flowchart of the present invention. At step 402, the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) are activated 306 by the turn switch 110 that is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch. The turn switch 110 is activated either manually or automatically. It is initiated automatically with help of anyone or a combination of an accelerometer sensor, and an IR (Infrared) Sensor. At step 404, the method further determining an activation state of the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) configured to be active in a first lighting mode 202 and a second lighting mode 203 by a control unit 106, wherein the first 202 and the second lighting mode 203 is the high beam and the low beam respectively. At step 406, the control unit 106 switching (312,314) the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) from the first lighting mode 202 to the second lighting mode 203 when at least one pair of the plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B) are activated 306. The plurality of headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps, a xenon lamps, a projector LED and a halogen lamp. The control unit 106 is also used for switching on/off (306,308) the plurality of turn indicator (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when the turn (304) is initiated and finished respectively.
[0029] Fig. 4B illustrates the method 400 of the present invention. At step 402, the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) are activated 306 by the turn switch 110 that is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch. At step 404, the method includes the control unit 106 for determining an activation state (310, 314) of the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) configured to be active in a first lighting mode 202 and a second lighting mode 203, wherein the first 202 and the second lighting mode 203 is the high beam and the low beam respectively. At step 406, the control unit 106 switches (312,314) the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) from the first lighting mode 202 to the second lighting mode 203 when at least one pair of the plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B,1040A,1040B) are activated 306. At step 408, the control unit 106 further determining the turn 304 is over or not. At step 410, the control unit 106 switches (310) the plurality of vehicle headlamps from the second lighting mode 203 to the first lighting mode 202 again in order to get a previous state of the vehicle 200.
[0030] Alternatively, the control unit 106 may always keep the low beam 203 activated when the vehicle 200 gets its ignition. It is useful for other road users to identify an active vehicle 200. The control unit 106 may also be connected to a pass switch which works independently, and it is not affected by the automatic beam switching (310) system of the present invention. This pass switch is important for the driver’s freedom of using it for giving dipper to the vehicle during asking for pass from the front vehicle and the vehicle coming from the opposite directions. This pass switch is either optional or mandatory apparatus as it is used in hazard light operation when the plurality of turn indicators (1020A, 1020B, 1040A, 1040B) and the plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A, 102B, 104A, 104B) are activated, as usage of dipper in both the cases even in bad weather. The user may also add this feature on a console or add a switch to turn the high beam 202 on/off during hazardous condition.
[0031] Moreover, although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

We Claim:

1. A system for controlling vehicle headlamps, comprising;
a plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) configured to be flashed synchronously through a turn switch 110, wherein said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) are fixed to a front 205 and a rear part of a vehicle 200;
a plurality of headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B), fixed on said front part 205 of said vehicle 200, configured to work at a first lighting mode 202 and a second lighting mode 203; and
at least one control unit 106 coupled to said turn switch 110 and said plurality of headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B), wherein said control unit 106 switches (312,314) said plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B) from said first lighting mode 202 to said second lighting mode 203 when at least one pair of said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B) are activated 306.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turn switch 110 is activated either manually or automatically.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said turn switch 110 is activated automatically by anyone or a combination of an accelerometer sensor, and an IR (Infrared) Sensor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turn switch 110 is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit 106 switches on 306 said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when a turn 304 is initiated.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit 106 switches off 308 said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when said turn 304 is finished.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first 202 and second light mode 203 is a high beam and a low beam respectively.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said headlamp (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps, a xenon lamps, a projector LED, and a halogen lamp.

9. A method for controlling vehicle headlamps, comprising:
triggering on 306, a plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) by a turn switch 110;
determining an activation 310 state of a plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) by a control unit 106, wherein said plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) configured to be active in a first lighting mode 202 and a second lighting mode 203; and
switching (312,314) said plurality of vehicle headlamps (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) by said control unit 106 from determined said first lighting mode 202 to said second lighting mode 203 when at least one pair of said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B,1040A, 1040B) are activated 306.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said turn switch 110 is activated either manually or automatically.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said turn switch 110 is activated automatically by anyone or a combination of an accelerometer sensor, and an IR (Infrared) Sensor.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said turn switch 110 is anyone of an electronic power switch, a combination switch, and a multiway switch.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control unit 106 switches on 306 said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when a turn 304 is initiated.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control unit 106 switches off 308 said plurality of turn indicators (1020A,1020B, 1040A, 1040B) when said turn 304 is finished.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first 202 and second lighting mode 203 is a high beam and a low beam respectively.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said headlamp (102A,102B, 104A, 104B) is anyone of a plurality of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp, a xenon lamp, a projector LED, and a halogen lamp.