Patent ID: 7999478
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A vehicle headlight device comprising: a lower beam unit for illuminating a lower beam, an upper beam/infrared ray switching unit for switching between illuminating an upper beam and an infrared ray, a control circuit that receives power from a power supply, and controls the switching of the upper beam/infrared ray switching unit; a low-beam abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of the lower beam unit and outputting an abnormal signal upon detection of abnormality; a power-supply abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of the power supply and outputting an abnormal signal upon detection of abnormality; and an infrared ray stop signal generating circuit for outputting an infrared ray stop signal to the control circuit based on the abnormal signal from the low-beam abnormality detecting circuit or the abnormal signal from the power-supply abnormality detecting circuit; wherein the control circuit inhibits the upper beam/infrared ray switching unit from illuminating the infrared ray in response to receiving the infrared ray stop signal from the infrared ray stop signal generating circuit, and commands the upper beam/infrared ray switching unit to illuminate the upper beam or the infrared ray when the infrared ray stop signal is not received from the infrared ray stop signal generating circuit.