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US 6,396,040 B1Granted
Ambient light sensor
AssigneeControl Devices, Inc.
InventorJonathan W. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved ambient light sensor 20 is provided. Light 105 passes to at least two photosensors 30, 35 with different peak response frequencies. A controller 80 accepts output signals from the photosensors 30, 35 and operates vehicle systems (e.g., headlights 70 or environmental controls 75) accordingly. The controller 80 may distinguish between natural and artificial light, so that headlights 70 are illuminated while a vehicle passes through a well lit tunnel, or is exposed to lights from another vehicle.
Claims26
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle with an actuatable system;
- a first photosensor with a first peak spectral sensitivity to a first wavelength, said first photosensor receiving light and producing a first electrical signal in response thereto;
- a second photosensor with a second peak spectral sensitivity to a second wavelength, said second photosensor receiving light and producing a second electrical signal in response thereto;
- and
- a controller for receiving the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, said controller actuating said actuatable system in response to the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal;
- wherein the second wavelength is at least about 150 nanometers less than the first wavelength, the first wavelength is greater than about 750 nanometers, and the second wavelength is less than about 750 nanometers.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle with an actuatable system;
- a first photosensor receiving light and infrared energy and producing a first signal in response thereto, the first signal including a first response to infrared energy and a first response to visible light;
- a second photosensor receiving light and infrared energy and producing a second signal in response thereto, the second signal including a second response to infrared energy and a second response to visible light;
- and
- a controller for receiving the first signal and the second signal, said controller actuating said actuatable system as a function of the first signal and the second signal;
- wherein the first infrared energy response is greater than the second infrared energy response, and the second visible light response is greater than the first visible light response.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.