Patent ID: 6014207
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
A vehicle lighting unit, comprising:detecting means which detects the brightness of the exterior of a vehicle; anda vehicle light which is mounted to said vehicle, and has a light source for illuminating at least one of the interior and the exterior of said vehicle;switching control means which switches on said vehicle light when said detected brightness of the vehicle exterior is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and which switches off said vehicle light when said detected brightness of the vehicle exterior is more than said predetermined value;estimating means which estimates whether or not the brightness of the exterior of the vehicle which starts to travel is in an intermittent state, thereby requiring said vehicle light to remain switched on, on the basis of the variation of said detected brightness of the vehicle exterior; andprohibiting means which prohibits said vehicle light from being switched off, when the brightness of said vehicle exterior has been estimated to be in said intermittent state by said estimating means.