Method for controlling the light distribution of vehicle headlights and vehicle

• US 10,513,216 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Stahlin, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Application Number:
  US15/502,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 362466
• 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 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/16 illuminating the way asymmetrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/11 Linear movements of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/12 Steering parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices

Abstract

A method for controlling the light distribution of vehicle headlights using vehicle-to-X communication, as well as a vehicle having an electronic circuit that executes such a method. The method can be used to implement a variable light distribution of vehicle headlights without cameras and digital maps.

Claims

1. A method for controlling light distribution of vehicle headlights of a first vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver of the first vehicle, data from a second vehicle via a vehicle-to-X communication, the data including at least one position of the second vehicle,

calculating, by a processor of the first vehicle, the light distribution based on this data, and

adjusting the light distribution to a standard value when during a predetermined period of time, it is determined that;

a) the received data is insufficient to detect the second vehicle, or

b) the received data is insufficient to determine a course of a traffic lane on which the second vehicle is traveling.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the light distribution includes a light range of the vehicle headlights.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the light distribution includes a lighting direction of the vehicle headlights.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the light distribution includes a lighting direction of the vehicle headlights.

5. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the data at least partially comes from other vehicles.

6. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the data coming from the other vehicles at least partially contains information about a respective route traveled.

7. The method according to claim 6,

further comprising calculating a course of the route based on information about the respective routes traveled by the other vehicles,

wherein the calculated course of the route is used for calculating the light distribution.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the data that comes from the other vehicles at least partially includes periodic signals indicating a respective current position of the other vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data that comes from other vehicles at least partially includes periodic signals indicating a respective current position of the other vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the data that comes from other vehicles at least partially includes periodic signals indicating a respective current position of the other vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10,

further comprising calculating the course of a route based on the periodic signals,

wherein the calculated course of the route is used for calculating the light distribution.

12. The method according to claim 11,

wherein the calculating of a course of the route is performed at least partially by lining up the positions of other vehicles.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising detecting oncoming or preceding vehicles using the periodic signals, wherein the position and/or routes of the oncoming or preceding vehicles are used for calculating the light distribution.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting oncoming or preceding vehicles using the periodic signals, wherein the positions and/or routes of the oncoming or preceding vehicles are used for calculating the light distribution.

15. The method according to claim 10,

further comprising detecting oncoming or preceding vehicles using the periodic signals,

wherein the positions and/or routes of the oncoming or preceding vehicles are used for calculating the light distribution.

16. The method according to claim 1,

which is performed without using camera data and/or without using map data.

17. The method according to claim 1,

wherein calculating the light distribution is additionally based on camera data and/or map data.

18. The method according to claim 1,

which is executed in an electronic circuit.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

vehicle-to-X communication means,

an electronic circuit, configured to perform the method according to claim 1, and

at least one headlight whose light distribution is controlled by the electronic circuit.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is a high beam assist circuit.