Determination and setting of optimal intensity

A method of modulating the intensity of illumination of the fog lights a vehicle, comprising:

• using a first sensor to detect a speed of a vehicle and outputting a corresponding speed signal;
• using a second sensor to detect an amount of precipitation falling proximately to said vehicle and outputting a corresponding precipitation amount signal;
• calculating an optimal light intensity based on said speed signal and said precipitation amount signal, wherein said optimal light intensity is calculated based on said speed of said vehicle as a fraction of a maximum speed of said vehicle times said amount of precipitation as a fraction of a maximum amount of precipitation;
• selecting a spray propensity coefficient from a plurality of spray propensity coefficients, each of which corresponds to specific aerodynamic characteristics of a corresponding plurality of vehicles;
• adjusting said optimal light intensity by the selected spray propensity coefficient;
• and
• modulating a light positioned in a rear of said vehicle to have an intensity corresponding to said calculated optimal light intensity after a predetermined event.

A vehicle having a fog light modulation system, comprising:

• a first sensor for detecting speed of a vehicle and outputting a signal representing said speed of said vehicle;
• a second sensor for detecting an amount of precipitation falling proximately to said vehicle and outputting a signal representing said amount of precipitation;
• at least one light positioned in the rear of said vehicle and having an intensity;
• a light driver operatively coupled to the at least one light and configured to adjust said intensity of said at least one light;
• a controller comprising a microcontroller coupled to said first sensor, said second sensor, and said light driver, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to include a series of spray propensity coefficients representing vehicle specific aerodynamic characteristics for a respective series of corresponding vehicles and to allow one of said series of spray propensity coefficients to be selected for adjusting said intensity;
• wherein said microcontroller is programmed to calculate an intensity value for said at least one light based on said speed received from said first sensor as a fraction of a maximum speed of said vehicle times said amount of precipitation received from second sensor as a fraction of a maximum amount of precipitation and to adjust said intensity value by the selected one of said series of spray propensity coefficients;
• and
• wherein said microcontroller is programmed to modulate said intensity of said at least one light according to said intensity value by controlling said at least one light driver.