Importance

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Abstract

A light-responsive vehicle control system is provided that is useful in the passenger compartment of a vehicle having a movable top, or cover, which may be opened to at least partially uncover the passenger compartment. The control system includes at least one control circuit which receives an input from the light sensor and produces an output to operate a device, such as an electro-optic mirror or the vehicle headlights, as a function of the light sensed by the light sensor and a sensitivity value. The control circuit is responsive to the position of the cover with respect to the passenger compartment to reduce the sensitivity level when the compartment is uncovered. The control circuit may filter a signal that is a function of light sensed by the light sensor according to a time-constant and be responsive to a reduction in the light level sensed by the light sensor to reduce the value of the time-constant. If the controlled device is the vehicle headlights, the headlights may be more rapidly actuated during an abrupt reduction in sensed light levels as may occur when entering a tunnel or the like.

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First Claim