Procedure for adjusting a front headlight system of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a headlight system (1) of a motor vehicle (2), wherein a headlight testing device is aligned by means of a track-parallel reference mark according to a track angle (8) of a first rear wheel (4a) which is arranged on a first side of the motor vehicle (2), wherein a first adjustment light distribution (9) of a first headlight (1a) which is arranged on a vehicle front (20) on the first side of the motor vehicle (2) is generated, wherein the first adjustment light distribution (9) is shifted with respect to a driving axis (10) by an angle (11) the magnitude of which corresponds at least approximately to the magnitude of the track angle (8) of the first rear wheel (4a) and extends parallel to the track of the rear axle of the motor vehicle (2) on the first side,and wherein the headlight testing device is moved in front of the first headlight (1a) and the first headlight (1a) is adjusted on the basis of the track-parallel first setting light distribution (9) until it corresponds to the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution (12) of the first headlight (1a) is obtained, the main direction of propagation of which extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis (10) of the motor vehicle (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adjusting a front headlight system of a motor vehicle.

[0002] It is known from the prior art to adjust the headlights of a motor vehicle's headlight system using a portable headlight testing device, in particular using a so-called light-collecting box. The conventional adjustment of a headlight using such a testing device, especially a light-collecting box, often results in the headlight not shining parallel to the vehicle's driving axis.

[0003] There are already established methods for adjusting a headlight using the rear wheel track of a vehicle. However, these require multiple measurements and a flat wall as a projection surface for the light emitted by the headlight. A further disadvantage is the minimum distance required between the headlight, and therefore the vehicle, and the wall, due to the headlight optics and the method's sensitivity to tolerances. Such a method therefore requires considerable space, which is rarely available in workshops. Averaging over multiple measurements can also be time-consuming and prone to errors.

[0004] DE 10 2013 019 022 A1 discloses a method for adjusting a front headlight of a motor vehicle with respect to a rear axle of the motor vehicle, wherein the adjustment is carried out using a headlight testing device and a line laser provided on the vehicle wheels of the rear axle.

[0005] From EP 1 016 873 A2, an adjustment device for adjusting a distance sensor or a headlight mounted on a motor vehicle is known, comprising an adjustment device which interacts with a wheel hub laser arranged on the rear wheels.

[0006] From DE 10 2014 003 370 A1, an adjustment device for laterally adjusting a front headlight is known, wherein the adjustment is carried out using lasers mounted on the rear wheels.

[0007] DE 10 2016 207 047 A1 discloses an attachment for a headlight aiming device, wherein the attachment can be mounted on a light collection box of the headlight aiming device and has five main side surfaces arranged at right angles to each other. These main side surfaces are connected to each other at the edges in such a way that they form a shell which has an opening on one side, wherein a first main side surface is located opposite the opening and has a reflective surface.

[0008] The invention aims to provide a method for adjusting a front headlight system of a motor vehicle that is further improved compared to the prior art, and which makes it possible in a simple way for the front headlights of the front headlight system to shine at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the motor vehicle after adjustment.

[0009] The solution to this problem is provided by a method for adjusting a front headlight system of a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further developments of the invention.

[0010] In an inventive method for adjusting a front headlight system of a motor vehicle, it is provided that a headlight testing device is aligned by means of a track-parallel reference mark according to a track angle of a first rear wheel which is arranged on a first side of the motor vehicle, wherein a first adjustment light distribution of a first front headlight which is arranged on a vehicle front on the first side of the motor vehicle is generated, wherein the first adjustment light distribution is shifted with respect to a driving axis of the motor vehicle by an angle the magnitude of which corresponds at least approximately to the magnitude of the track angle of the first rear wheel and extends parallel to the track of the rear axle of the motor vehicle on the first side,and wherein the headlight testing device is moved in front of the first headlight and the first headlight is adjusted on the basis of the track-parallel first setting light distribution until it corresponds to the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution of the first headlight is obtained whose main direction of propagation extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the motor vehicle.

[0011] The method according to the invention enables a simple adjustment of a first headlight of the headlight system, whereby the tracking angle – unlike in other methods – is not considered a disturbance variable to be compensated for, but rather functions as part of the solution. After adjustment, the first headlight of the headlight system advantageously illuminates at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the vehicle.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, a wheel hub laser is attached to the first rear wheel, which emits laser light during operation, using which the track-parallel reference marking is generated, on the basis of which the headlight testing device is aligned according to the track angle of the first rear wheel.

[0013] In order to compensate for a camber of the first rear wheel, it is proposed in a particularly advantageous embodiment that a self-leveling wheel hub laser be attached to the first rear wheel.

[0014] Since a headlight system is generally equipped with two headlights, a preferred embodiment proposes that the headlight testing device be aligned by means of a track-parallel reference mark according to the track angle of a second rear wheel, which is arranged on a second side of the vehicle opposite the first side, whereby a second adjustment light distribution of a second headlight, which is arranged at the front of the vehicle on the second side of the vehicle, is generated, wherein the second adjustment light distribution is shifted with respect to the driving axis of the vehicle by an angle, the magnitude of which corresponds at least approximately to the magnitude of the track angle of the second rear wheel and extends parallel to the track of the rear axle of the vehicle on the second side.and wherein the headlight testing device is moved in front of the second headlight and the second headlight is adjusted using the track-parallel second setting light distribution until it coincides with the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution of the second headlight is obtained whose main direction of propagation extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the vehicle. After adjustment, the second headlight of the headlight system then also advantageously illuminates at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the vehicle.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, a wheel hub laser is attached to the second rear wheel, which emits laser light during operation, using which the track-parallel reference marking is generated, on the basis of which the headlight testing device is aligned according to the track angle of the second rear wheel.

[0016] In order to compensate for a camber of the second rear wheel, it is proposed in a particularly advantageous embodiment that a self-leveling wheel hub laser be attached to the second rear wheel.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the method, a second adjustment light distribution is generated for a second headlight, which is arranged on the front of the vehicle on a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second adjustment light distribution is shifted with respect to the driving axis by an angle whose magnitude corresponds at least approximately to the track angle of the first rear wheel and extends parallel to the track of the rear axle of the motor vehicle on the first side, and wherein the headlight testing device is moved in front of the second headlight and the second headlight is adjusted on the basis of the track-parallel second adjustment light distribution until it coincides with the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution of the second headlight is obtained.whose main direction of propagation extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the motor vehicle. This embodiment has the advantage that the headlight testing device only needs to be aligned once using the reference mark. A laser is used only at the first rear wheel to generate the reference mark, and the first adjustment light distribution of the first front headlight, as well as the second adjustment light distribution of the second front headlight, is shifted parallel to the track of the first rear wheel.

[0018] Preferably, a light-collecting box can be used as a headlight testing device. This design is based on the understanding that light rays emitted from one of the headlights and striking the light-collecting box are projected to infinity. This means that in practical application, the light-collecting box can also be used as an angle gauge.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the enclosed Fig. 1, which illustrate the geometric considerations underlying a method for adjusting a front headlight system 1 of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention.

[0020] As in Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the motor vehicle 2 has a headlight system 1 with two headlights 1a, 1b, which are preferably high-resolution and may in particular be designed as matrix headlights. A first headlight 1a is arranged – viewed in the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle 2 – on the left side of the front 20 of the motor vehicle 2. A second headlight 1b is arranged – viewed in the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle 2 – on the right side of the front 20 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0021] The following section explains how the first (left) headlight 1a of the motor vehicle 2 can be adjusted. For this purpose, a wheel hub laser 3a is mounted on the first (left) rear wheel 4a of the motor vehicle 2. This wheel hub laser 3 emits laser light 5 during operation.

[0022] In Fig. For further explanation, a projection plane 6 was shown in which the laser light 5 is projected to "infinity". This geometrically corresponds to the situation in which the headlights 1a, 1b of the motor vehicle 2 are checked and adjusted using a headlight testing device, in particular using a light collection box. Fig. Figure 1 also shows a reference line 7, relative to which a toe angle 8 of the first (left) rear wheel 4a is defined. This reference line 7 corresponds to a toe angle of 0°.

[0023] Using the laser light 5 emitted by the wheel hub laser 3, it is possible to align the headlight testing device, in particular the light collection box, according to the known toe angle 8 of the first (left) rear wheel 4a. Preferably, the wheel hub laser 3a is self-leveling. This advantageously allows the camber of the first rear wheel 4a to be compensated.

[0024] The headlight testing device, which is preferably designed as a light collecting box, is aligned according to the track angle 8 of the first (left) rear wheel 4a using the laser light 5 emitted by the wheel hub laser 3, which generates a track-parallel reference mark.

[0025] The method for adjusting the headlight system 1 of the motor vehicle 2 further provides that a first adjustment light distribution 9 of the first headlight 1a is generated. As in Fig.As can be seen in Figure 1, the first setting light distribution 9 is shifted relative to a driving axis 10 by an angle 11, the magnitude of which corresponds at least approximately to the magnitude of the known track angle 8 of the first rear wheel 4a on the first side of the motor vehicle 2. The first setting light distribution 9 thus extends parallel to the track of the rear axle of the motor vehicle 2 on the first side.

[0026] The headlight testing device is then moved in front of the first headlight 1a and the first headlight 1a is adjusted using the track-parallel first setting light distribution 9 until it matches the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution 12 of the first headlight 1a is obtained, the main direction of propagation of which extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis 10 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0027] The adjustment of the second (right) headlight 1b is carried out analogously, taking into account the track angle of the second (right) rear wheel 4b. The headlight testing device, in particular the light collector box, is aligned according to the track angle of the second (right) rear wheel 4b using a wheel hub laser 3b, which is mounted on the second (right) rear wheel 4b and generates a track-parallel reference mark. Preferably, this wheel hub laser 3b is also self-leveling to compensate for the camber of the second (right) rear wheel 4b.

[0028] Specifically, to adjust the second headlight 1b, a second adjustment light distribution is generated by it, which is aligned parallel to the track of the second (right) rear wheel 4b. The second adjustment light distribution is shifted relative to the driving axis 10 of the vehicle 2 by an angle whose magnitude corresponds at least approximately to the track angle of the second (right) rear wheel 4b on the other side of the vehicle 2. The headlight testing device, which is preferably designed as a light collection box, is aligned with the track angle of the second (right) rear wheel 4b using the laser light emitted by the wheel hub laser 3b mounted on the second (right) rear wheel 4b, thereby generating a reference mark.Subsequently, the headlight testing device is moved in front of the second headlight 1b and the second headlight 1b is adjusted again using the track-parallel second setting light distribution until it corresponds to the reference mark in the headlight testing device and a light distribution of the second headlight 1b is obtained whose main direction of propagation extends at least approximately parallel to the driving axis of the motor vehicle 2.

[0029] Since all other light distributions of the two front headlights 1a, 1b have not experienced these track angle shifts, they illuminate, as intended, at least approximately parallel to the driving axis 10 of the vehicle 2. The adjustment of the two front headlights 1a, 1b is independent of body tolerances and depends solely on the track angle 8.

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