Headlight aiming and light pattern testing apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for aiming vehicle headlights and for visually displaying the illumination patterns of vehicle headlights. The apparatus focuses the light beam on a screen and includes a video sensor for sensing the intensity of the light in each cell of a matrix of cells overlying the focused light beam and for generating an electrical signal for each cell indicative of the position of the cell and the intensity of the light beam in each cell and a computer for comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other and with established criteria to determine whether the headlight is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy. The same apparatus may be used to describe the illumination pattern of a headlight by visually displaying at least some of the electrical signals, i.e. the light intensities and their locations, for example on a printer or CRT. The conformance of headlight aiming and illumination to established standards can be easily determined by including steps in the computer software to apply the applicable criteria. The aiming conformance tests may produce error signals for controlling powered screwdrivers to correct errors in aiming. The apparatus preferably includes a centering indicator for centering the headlight relative to the lens by comparing electrical signals produced by discrete light intensity sensors disposed around the periphery of the lens.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.