Automated vehicle and a vehicle lighting system thereof

• US 10,493,898 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurebayashi, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thuy V
• Application Number:
  US16/227,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20190202337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 362540, 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/14 Other vehicle conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system is provided in a vehicle capable of traveling in an automated driving mode. The vehicle lighting system includes a headlamp mounted on a front of the vehicle, an automated driving system (ADS) lamp configured to emit light toward an outside of the vehicle to visually present information relating to automated driving of the vehicle, and a lighting control unit configured to control visual modes of the headlamp and the ADS lamp. The lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to at least turning-on of the ADS lamp.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting system provided in a vehicle capable of traveling in an automated driving mode, the vehicle lighting system comprising:

a headlamp mounted on a front of the vehicle;

an automated driving system (ADS) lamp configured to emit light toward an outside of the vehicle to visually present information relating to automated driving of the vehicle; and

a lighting control unit configured to control visual modes of the headlamp and the ADS lamp,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to at least turning-on of the ADS lamp.

2. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that the visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to the turning-on of the ADS lamp and detection of an object around the vehicle.

3. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that the visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to the turning-on of the ADS lamp and speed of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that the visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to the turning-on of the ADS lamp, detection of an object around the vehicle, and speed of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to tilt an optical axis of the headlamp downward according to at least the turning-on of the ADS lamp.

6. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to reduce brightness of the headlamp according to at least the turning-on of the ADS lamp.

7. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change a light distribution pattern formed by the headlamp according to at least the turning-on of the ADS lamp.

8. A vehicle capable of traveling in an automated driving mode, the vehicle comprising:

a front; and

a vehicle lighting system including;

a headlamp mounted on the front of the vehicle;

an automated driving system (ADS) lamp configured to emit light toward an outside of the vehicle to visually present information relating to automated driving of the vehicle; and

a lighting control unit configured to control visual modes of the headlamp and the ADS lamp,

wherein the lighting control unit is configured to change the visual mode of the headlamp such that visibility of the ADS lamp from the outside of the vehicle is improved according to at least turning-on of the ADS lamp.