# US 11,299,085 B2 · Low beam and work light control for a work vehicle

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- Number: US 11,299,085 B2
- Document ID: US11299085B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/931,731
- Filed: 2020-05-14
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-14
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Applicants: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Nathan R. Demski; Brian T. Mosdal; Matthew Lommen; Michael R. Gratton; Christopher J. Mahoney; Nathan D. Turnis; Keith C. Rottinghaus; Brian Huenink; Nathan D. Sherman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299085B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/1423: {Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic}
- B60Q 1/045: {with provision for adjusting the alignment of the headlamp housing with respect to the vehicle body}
- B60Q 1/06: adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle (B60Q1/05 takes precedence)
- B60Q 1/247: {for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323)}
- B62D 33/06: Drivers' cabs {(overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13)}
- G01S 19/42: Determining position
- B60Q 2300/314: Ambient light
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for roadway illumination by an industrial vehicle are disclosed. A work light of the industrial vehicle is operated to provide illumination to an area located between a forward end of the industrial vehicle and an area illuminated by a low beam light. The work light and the low beam light are operated together to provide improved illumination during travel of the industrial vehicle along the roadway while promoting visibility of operators of oncoming vehicles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An industrial vehicle having lights for providing illumination to a roadway during travel therealong, the industrial vehicle comprising:
an operator's compartment;
a low beam light located at an upper portion of the operator's compartment, the low beam light providing illumination to first a location extending between a first position disposed a first distance beyond the industrial vehicle and a second position disposed a second distance beyond the industrial vehicle, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and
a work light located at the upper portion of the operator's compartment, the work light providing illumination to a second location between an end of the industrial vehicle and the first position, the work light being automatically activated with the low beam light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a traction component, wherein low beam light is vertically disposed at least 9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) from a contact patch of the traction component, the contact patch configured to engage the roadway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a traction component, wherein work light is vertically disposed at least 9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) from a contact patch of the traction component, the contact patch configured to engage the roadway.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a traction component, wherein the low-beam light is vertically disposed between (9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) and 13.1 ft (4.0 m) from a contact patch of the traction component, the contact patch configured to engage the roadway.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a traction component, wherein the work light is vertically disposed between (9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) and 13.1 ft (4.0 m) from a contact patch of the traction component, the contact patch configured to engage the roadway.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a positioning system that detects a position of the industrial vehicle on the earth, and wherein the work light and the low beam light are automatically activated when the industrial vehicle is detected on a roadway using the positioning system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The industrial vehicle of claim 6, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second distance is 98.4 feet (ft) (30.0 meters (m)).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, wherein a lateral angular spread of the illumination provided by the low beam light is approximately 8°.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, wherein a lateral angular spread of illumination provided by the work light is approximately 45°.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The industrial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operator's compartment comprises a roof at the top of the operator's compartment, and wherein the work light is coupled to a side of the roof.

### Claim 12

A method of providing near field illumination for an industrial vehicle during movement along a roadway, the method comprising:
providing a low beam light at an upper portion of an operator's compartment of an industrial vehicle, the low beam light providing illumination to a first location between a first position disposed a first distance beyond the industrial vehicle and a second position disposed a second distance beyond the industrial vehicle, the second distance greater than the first distance;
providing a work light at the upper portion of the operator's compartment of the industrial vehicle, the work light providing illumination at second location disposed between an end of the industrial vehicle and the first position; and
activating the work light upon activation of the low beam light to provide illumination of the first location and the second location during movement of the industrial vehicle along a roadway.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting whether the industrial vehicle is on the roadway, and
wherein activating the work light upon activation of the low beam light for providing illumination of the first location and the second location during movement of the industrial vehicle along a roadway comprises automatically activating the work light and the low beam light when the industrial vehicle is detected along the roadway.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein detecting whether the industrial vehicle is on the roadway comprises:
detecting a position of the industrial vehicle using a positioning system; and
determining that the industrial vehicle is on the roadway when the detected position of the industrial vehicle corresponds to a location along a roadway.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the low-beam light is vertically positioned between (9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) and 13.1 ft (4.0 m) from the roadway.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the work light is vertically positioned between (9.8 feet (ft) (3.0 meters (m)) and 13.1 ft (4.0 m) from the roadway.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the second distance is 98.4 feet (ft) (30.0 meters (m)).

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein a lateral angular spread of the illumination provided by the low beam light is approximately 8°.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the operator's compartment comprises a roof at the upper portion of the operator's compartment, and wherein the work light and the low beam light are coupled to a side of the roof.

### Claim 21

A lighting fixture comprising:
a low beam light; and
a work light positioned adjacent to the low beam light, the low beam light and the work light coupled such that the low beam light and the work light activate simultaneously,
wherein the low beam light provides illumination to first a location between a first position disposed a first distance beyond the light fixture and a second position disposed a second distance beyond the light fixture, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and
wherein the work light provides illumination at a second location between an end of the light fixture and the first position.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the low beam light is located horizontally adjacent to the work light.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the low beam light comprises two low beam lights, wherein one of the low beam lights is located at a first end of the light fixture offset from a center of the light fixture, and wherein the second low beam light is provided on a second end of the light fixture, opposite the first side, the second light offset from the center.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The lighting fixture of claim of claim 23, wherein the work light comprises two work lights, wherein one of the work lights is located on the first end of the light fixture, outboard of the first low beam light, and wherein the second work light is located on the second end of the light fixture, outboard of the second low beam light.