Variable adaptive projector system for motor vehicles

1. A multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles comprising:

an ellipsoidal reflector having a focal point and an optical axis;

a light source;

first and second shields, said shields being moveable between a position for low beam light, a position for motorway light, a position for wet road light and a position for high beam light, said shields operable to shield said light source and create a beam cutoff line;

an aspherical lens; and

a mechanism for varying the positions of said first and second shields in relation to said reflector between said position for low beam light, said position for motorway light, said position for wet road light and said position for high beam light, wherein

in said position for low beam light, said first shield is located in proximity of said focal point;

in said position for motorway light and wet road light, said first shield is shifted and located a first distance, z 1 , below said focal point where

z 1 =b 1 ·α+b 3 ·α 3 +b 5 ·α 5 +b 7 ·α 7 + . . . , for α≈(0 to 3),

where b 1,3,5,7, . . . are constants characterizing said aspherical lens and where α is the angle between said beam cutoff line created by said first shield and a horizontal plane;

in said position for high beam light, said first shield being shifted and located a second distance below said focal point of said reflector, said second distance being greater than said first distance;

in said positions for low beam light, motorway light and high beam light, said second shield being shifted and located above said focal point of said reflector by a third distance; and

in said position for wet road light, said second shield being shifted and located above said focal point by a fourth distance, z 3 , where

z 3 =b 1 ·β+b 3 ·β 3 +b 5 ·β 5 +b 7 ·β 7 + . . . , for β≈(0 to 5),

where b 1,3,5,7, . . . , are constants characterizing said aspherical lens and where β is the angle between said beam cutoff line created by said second shield and a horizontal plane, said fourth distance being less than said third distance.

2. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes a motor having an output shaft, said output shaft being linearly moveable and coupled to said first and second shields.

3. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 2 wherein a linear cam is connected to said output shaft, said linear cam including camming surfaces defining said positions of said first and second shields.

4. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said positions of said first and second shields are measured perpendicular to said optical axis.

5. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 3 wherein said positions are vertically aligned with said focal point.

6. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes a motor having an output shaft, said output shaft being rotatably moveable and coupled to said first and second shields.

7. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 6 wherein a rotational cam is connected to said output shaft and includes camming surfaces defining said positions of said first and second shields.

8. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said light source is an arc discharge light source.

9. The multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a filamented light source.

10. A headlamp assembly comprising:

a reflector having a generally concave surface and defining a focal point and an optical axis;

a light source mounted within a concavity defined by said concave surface and being located generally along said optical axis;

a first shield mounted in front of said light source relative to said optic axis, said shield being moveably mounted and having a low beam light position, a motorway light position, a wet road light position and a high beam light position, in said low beam light position said shield being located such that said shield is in proximity to said focal point, in said motorway light position and said wet road light position said shield being located a first distance away from said optical axis, in said high beam light position said shield being located a second distance away from said optical axis, said second distance being greater than said first distance; and

a second shield mounted in front of said light source relative to said optic axis, said shield being moveably mounted and having a low beam light position, a motorway light position, a wet road position and a high beam light position, in said wet road light position said second shield being located a third distance from said optical axis, in said low beam light position said second shield being located a fourth distance from said optical axis, said fourth distance being greater than said third distance.

11. The headlamp assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a mechanism for varying the positions of said first and second shields in relation to said reflector between said low beam light position, said motorway light position, said wet road light position, and said high beam light position.

12. The headlamp assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said mechanism includes a motor having an output shaft, said output shaft being linearly moveable and coupled to said first and second shields.

13. The headlamp assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a linear cam connected to said output shaft, said linear cam comprising camming surfaces defining said low beam light position, said motorway light position, said wet road light position, and said high beam light position.

14. The headlamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said low beam light position, said motorway light position, said wet road light position, and said high beam light position are measured perpendicular to said optical axis.

15. The headlamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said low beam light position, said motorway light position, said wet road light position, and said high beam light position are vertically aligned with said focal point.

16. The headlamp assembly according to claim 11 wherein said mechanism includes a motor having an output shaft, said output shaft being rotatably moveable and coupled to said first and second shields.

17. The headlamp assembly according to claim 16 wherein a rotational cam is connected to said output shaft, the rotational cam comprising camming surfaces defining said low beam light position, said motorway light position, said wet road light position, and said high beam light position.

18. The headlamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said light source is an arc discharge light source.

19. The headlamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said light source is a filamented light source.