# US 9,751,456 B1 · Headlight setting activation via a stalk switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,456 B1 - Document ID: US9751456B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/368,248 - Filed: 2016-12-02 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-02 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Robert Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751456B1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/1469: {controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches} - 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 1/143: {combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers} - B60Q 1/46: for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights} - B60Q 2300/056: Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind - B60Q 2300/42: oncoming vehicle - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract Method, apparatus, and computer storage media are disclosed for headlight setting activation via a stalk switch. An example vehicle includes a stalk switch and a headlamp controller. The example headlamp controller is to monitor the stalk switch and detect, in response to identifying the stalk switch is transitioning to a high-beam position, a number of occurrences the stalk switch is set at the high-beam position in a predetermined time period. Also, the example headlamp controller is to activate, in response to determining the number of occurrences is two, a first headlight setting of headlamps. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a stalk switch; and a headlamp controller to: monitor the stalk switch; detect, in response to identifying the stalk switch is transitioning to a high-beam position, a number of occurrences the stalk switch is set at the high-beam position in a predetermined time period; and activate, in response to determining the number of occurrences is two, a first headlight setting of headlamps. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period starts when the headlamp controller identifies that the stalk switch is transitioning to the high-beam position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first headlight setting is a wig-wag setting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the headlamp controller activates high-beam lamps of the headlamps in the first headlight setting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the headlamp controller activates low-beam lamps of the headlamps in the first headlight setting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the headlamp controller activates a high-beam setting in response to determining the number of occurrences is one. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the headlamp controller activates a second headlight setting of the headlamps different than the first headlight setting in response to determining the number of occurrences is three. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second headlight setting is an anti-glare setting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the headlamp controller deactivates the first headlight setting in response to detecting the stalk switch transitioned from the high-beam position after the predetermined time period has ended. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the headlamp controller activates a low-beam setting in response to detecting the stalk switch transitioned from the high-beam position after the predetermined time period has ended. ### Claim 11 A method to activate a high-beam setting, the method comprising: monitoring, via a headlamp controller, a stalk switch; detecting, in response to identifying the stalk switch is transitioning to a high-beam position, a number of occurrences the stalk switch is set at the high-beam position in a predetermined time period; and activating, in response to determining the number of occurrences is two, a first headlight setting of headlamps. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including starting the predetermined time period upon identifying the stalk switch is transitioning to the high-beam position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first headlight setting is a wig-wag setting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including activating a high-beam setting in response to determining the number of occurrences is one. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including activating a second headlight setting of the headlamps different than first headlight setting in response to determining the number of occurrences is three. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including deactivating the first headlight setting in response to detecting the stalk switch transitioned from the high-beam position after the predetermined time period has ended. ### Claim 17 A tangible computer storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed, cause a machine to: monitor, via a headlamp controller, a stalk switch; detect, in response to identifying the stalk switch transitioning to a high-beam position, a number of occurrences the stalk switch is set at the high-beam position in a predetermined time period; and activate, in response to determining the number of occurrences is two, a first headlight setting of headlamps. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tangible computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to start the predetermined time period upon identifying that the stalk switch is transitioning to the high-beam position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The tangible computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first headlight setting is a wig-wag setting. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The tangible computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to activate a high-beam setting in response to determining the number of occurrences is one.