Patent ID: 6429594
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B60Q,G06K

Abstract:
An illumination control system for controlling exterior illumination lights of a controlled vehicle where the exterior lights are capable of producing different illumination patterns, wherein at least one of the exterior lights includes a filament and produces illumination by heating the filament, said control system comprising:an array of sensors for generating electrical signals; and a control circuit in communication with the exterior lights and operable to acquire and process electrical signals received from said array of sensors to determine if at least one vehicle is in front of the controlled vehicle and, if at least one vehicle is detected in front of the controlled vehicle, said control circuit is operable to change the illumination pattern of the exterior lights, wherein, when the at least one exterior light including a filament is not to emit light, a low amount of current is supplied to the filament so as to heat the filament without causing the filament to emit light.