Automatic leveling apparatus for use with vehicle headlamps

Abstract

An automatic leveling apparatus includes a headlamp whose light axis is pivoted in a vertical direction relative to a vehicle body by an actuator,; a control unit,for controlling the operation of the actuator,; vehicle speed detection device,for detection of the speed of the vehicle; and pitch angle detection device,for detecting a pitch angle of the vehicle. When the pitch angle detection device,detects a pitch angle &thgr;,while the vehicle is in a stable traveling state, the control unit,controls the operation of the actuator,in consideration of the pitch angle &thgr;,. Consequently, the actuator is prevented from being controlled on the basis of a pitch angle obtained when the vehicle stops facing downhill or in an unnatural position such as in which the wheels on one side of the vehicle are on the curb.