Headlamp control to prevent glare

• US 20030107323A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Stam, Joseph S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,861,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• 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 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/331 characterised by the driving side, e.g. on the left or right hand side
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/332 on city roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/00 Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps reversing lights F21S43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 : Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 : Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 : the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 : the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 : arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 : arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 : Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/172 : High-intensity discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 : Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 : Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 : the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/40 : characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 : characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/47 : Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable screens F21S41/683
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/62 : for adaptation between right-hand and left-hand traffic
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 : by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/67 : by acting on reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 : by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/68 : by acting on screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/686 : Blades, i.e. screens moving in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/692 : Shields, i.e. screens not creating an image meant to be projected
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/698 : Shaft-shaped screens rotating along its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 : with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/13 : for high-beam region or low-beam region
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/135 : the light having cut-off lines, i.e. clear borderlines between emitted regions and dark regions
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle includes an array of sensors and a control unit. The array of sensors are capable of detecting light levels in front of the controlled vehicle. The control unit is in communication with the array of sensors and the at least one exterior vehicle light and determines a distance and an angle from the at least one exterior vehicle light of the controlled vehicle to a leading vehicle. The control unit is operable to control operation of the at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of the distance and angle, based on the output from the array of sensors, and prevent the at least one exterior vehicle light from providing a disruptive glare to a driver of the leading vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an array of sensors capable of detecting light levels in front of the controlled vehicle; and

a control unit in communication with the array of sensors and the at least one exterior vehicle light, the control unit determining a distance and an angle from the at least one exterior vehicle light of the controlled vehicle to a leading vehicle, wherein the control unit is operable to control operation of the at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of the distance and angle based on output from the array of sensors and prevent the at least one exterior vehicle light from providing a disruptive glare to a driver of the leading vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one exterior vehicle light includes two low-beam headlamps.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit prevents the disruptive glare by causing the at least one exterior vehicle light to be one of aimed downward and reduced in intensity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the distance to a leading vehicle by determining one of the brightness of a tail lamp of the leading vehicle, determining the distance between two tail lamps of the leading vehicle and utilizing an output signal provided by one of a radar, laser and ultrasonic sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of sensors is a two-dimensional array of sensors that is incorporated within a camera.

6. An illumination control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an array of sensors for generating electrical signals; and

a control unit in communication with the at least one exterior vehicle light and operable to acquire and process electrical signals received from the array of sensors to determine an illumination gradient associated with the at least one exterior vehicle light on a road surface, the control unit comparing a sensed illumination range, which is based on the illumination gradient, to a desired illumination range and being operable to control the at least one exterior vehicle light to achieve the desired illumination range.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one exterior vehicle light includes two low-beam headlamps.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the control unit achieves the desired illumination range and prevents disruptive glare by controlling at least one of an aim and intensity of the at least one exterior vehicle light.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the control unit determines a distance to a leading vehicle by at least one of determining the brightness of a tail lamp of the leading vehicle, determining the distance between two tail lamps of the leading vehicle and utilizing an output signal provided by one of a radar, laser and ultrasonic sensor.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the array of sensors is a two-dimensional array of sensors.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the desired illumination range is based on at least one of a constant, a controlled vehicle speed, an ambient light level, weather conditions, a presence of another vehicle, an absence of another vehicle and a type of roadway.

12. An illumination control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

a discrete light sensor for generating electrical signals; and

a control unit in communication with the at least one exterior vehicle light and operable to acquire and process electrical signals received from the discrete light sensor to determine when the at least one exterior vehicle light should transition to a town lighting mode, wherein the discrete light sensor provides an indication of an AC component present in ambient light, and wherein the control unit causes the at least one exterior vehicle light to transition to the town lighting mode when the AC component exceeds a predetermined AC component threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one exterior vehicle light includes two low-beam headlamps.

14. The system of claim 12, further including:

a vehicle speed sensor coupled to the control unit and providing an indication of a speed of the controlled vehicle, wherein the control unit only causes the at least one exterior vehicle light to transition to the town lighting mode when the speed of the controlled vehicle is below a controlled vehicle speed threshold.

15. An illumination control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an imaging system for obtaining an image to a front of the controlled vehicle, the imaging system including an array of sensors each generating electrical signals representing a light level sensed by the sensor; and

a control unit in communication with the at least one exterior vehicle light and operable to acquire electrical signals received from the array of sensors and to separately process the electrical signals, wherein the control unit is operable to examine a position and brightness of an on-coming vehicle headlamp over time, as indicated by the electrical signals provided by the array of sensors to determine when a median width is appropriate for the activation of a motorway lighting mode, and wherein the control unit causes the at least one vehicle light to transition to the motorway lighting mode responsive to the determined median width.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one exterior vehicle light includes two low-beam headlamps.

17. An illumination control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an imaging system for obtaining an image to a front of the controlled vehicle, the imaging system including an array of sensors each generating electrical signals representing a light level sensed by the sensor;

a spatially controlled variable attenuating filter positioned approximate the at least one exterior vehicle light; and

a control unit in communication with the at least one exterior vehicle light and the attenuating filter, wherein the control unit is operable to acquire electrical signals received from the array of sensors and to process the electrical signals and control the attenuating filter to vary an illumination range of the at least one exterior vehicle light in response to the electrical signals, and wherein the control unit is operable to control the attenuating filter to distinguish between vehicular and non-vehicular light sources.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the attenuating filter is one of a liquid crystal device and an electrochromic device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the attenuating filter is controlled to vary the direction of the at least one exterior vehicle light in response to the electrical signals.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the array of sensors is incorporated within a camera.

21. An illumination control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an imaging system for obtaining an image to a front of the controlled vehicle, the imaging system including an array of sensors each generating electrical signals representing a light level sensed by the sensor;

a spatially controlled reflector positioned approximate the at least one exterior vehicle light; and

a control unit in communication with the at least one exterior vehicle light and the reflector, wherein the control unit is operable to acquire electrical signals received from the array of sensors and to process the electrical signals and control the reflector to vary an illumination range of the at least one exterior vehicle light in response to the electrical signals, and wherein the control unit is operable to control the reflector to distinguish between vehicular and non-vehicular light sources.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the reflector is a metal-hydride switchable mirror.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the reflector is a digital micro-mirror.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the reflector is also controlled to vary the direction of the at least one exterior vehicle light in response to the electrical signals.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the array of sensors is incorporated within a camera.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one exterior vehicle light is a headlamp and the reflector is incorporated within the headlamp.

27. A system for controlling at least one headlamp of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an array of sensors capable of detecting light levels in front of the controlled vehicle; and

a control unit in communication with the array of sensors and the at least one headlamp, the headlamp having a high color temperature and the control unit receiving data representing the light levels detected by the array of sensors to identify potential light sources, the control unit distinguishing light that is emitted from the headlamp and reflected by an object from other potential light sources, wherein the control unit is operable to control operation of the at least one headlamp as a function of the light levels output from the array of sensors.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the color temperature is greater than 3500 Kelvin.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the color temperature is 3700 Kelvin.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the color temperature is greater than 4500 Kelvin.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headlamp is a high-intensity discharge headlamp.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headlamp is at least one light emitting diode.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headlamp is a halogen-infrared headlamp.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headlamp is a halogen headlamp.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headlamp is a blue-enhanced halogen headlamp.

36. A system for controlling at least one headlamp of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an array of sensors capable of detecting light levels in front of the controlled vehicle; and

a control unit in communication with the array of sensors and the at least one headlamp, the control unit determining a distance and an angle from the at least one headlamp of the controlled vehicle to a leading vehicle, wherein the control unit is operable to continuously control the illumination provided by the at least one headlamp as a function of the distance and angle based on output from the array of sensors, and wherein the at least one headlamp provides the illumination at more than two distinct beam patterns.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the array of sensors is a two-dimensional array of sensors that is incorporated within a camera.

38. A controllable headlamp, comprising:

at least one light source; and

a spatially controlled variable attenuating filter positioned approximate the at least one light source, wherein the attenuating filter is controlled to provide a variable illumination range for the at least one light source, and wherein the attenuating filter is controlled to distinguish between vehicular and non-vehicular light sources.

39. The headlamp of claim 38, wherein the attenuating filter is one of a liquid crystal device and an electrochromic device.

40. The headlamp of claim 38, wherein the attenuating filter is controlled to vary the direction of the at least one light source in response to the electrical signals.

41. The headlamp of claim 38, wherein the array of sensors is incorporated within a camera.

42. A controllable headlamp, comprising:

at least one light source; and

a spatially controlled reflector positioned approximate the at least one light source, wherein the reflector is controlled to provide a variable illumination range for the at least one light source, and wherein the reflector is controlled to distinguish between vehicular and non-vehicular light sources.

43. The headlamp of claim 42, wherein the reflector is a metal-hydride switchable mirror.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the reflector is a digital micro-mirror.

45. The headlamp of claim 42, wherein the reflector is also controlled to vary the direction of the at least one light source in response to the electrical signals.

46. The headlamp of claim 42, wherein the array of sensors is incorporated within a camera.

47. A controllable headlamp, comprising:

at least one light source; and

a rotatable mask positioned approximate the at least one light source, wherein a control unit that is in communication with the at least one light source and the rotatable mask is operable to acquire electrical signals which correspond to light levels sensed by an array of sensors and to process the electrical signals and control the rotatable mask to vary an illumination range of the at least one light source in response to the electrical signals.

48. The headlamp of claim 47, wherein the rotatable mask includes a plurality of profiles and is coupled at an end to a motor that is coupled to the control unit, and wherein each of the profiles provides a different illumination pattern.

49. The headlamp of claim 47, wherein a face of the rotatable mask is coupled off-center to a motor that is coupled to the control unit, and wherein a different illumination pattern is achieved through rotation of the mask.

50. A control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory subsystem for storing processor executable code coupled to the processor, the processor executable code when executed causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a distance and an angle from the at least one exterior vehicle light of the controlled vehicle to a leading vehicle based on output from an array of sensors; and

controlling the operation of the at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of the distance and angle to prevent the at least one exterior vehicle light from providing a disruptive glare to a driver of the leading vehicle.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the processor prevents the disruptive glare by causing the at least one exterior vehicle light to be one of aimed downward and reduced in intensity.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the processor determines the distance to a leading vehicle by determining one of the brightness of a tail lamp of the leading vehicle, determining the distance between two tail lamps of the leading vehicle and utilizing an output signal provided by one of a radar, laser and ultrasonic sensor.

53. A control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory subsystem for storing processor executable code coupled to the processor, the processor executable code when executed causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining an illumination gradient associated with the at least one exterior vehicle light on a road surface based on output from an array of sensors;

comparing a sensed illumination range, which is based on the illumination gradient, to a desired illumination range; and

controlling the at least one exterior vehicle light to achieve the desired illumination range.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the processor achieves the desired illumination range and prevents disruptive glare by controlling at least one of an aim and intensity of the at least one exterior vehicle light.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the processor determines a distance to a leading vehicle by at least one of determining the brightness of a tail lamp of the leading vehicle, determining the distance between two tail lamps of the leading vehicle and utilizing an output signal provided by one of a radar, laser and ultrasonic sensor.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the desired illumination range is based on at least one of a constant, a controlled vehicle speed, an ambient light level, weather conditions, a presence of another vehicle, an absence of another vehicle and a type of roadway.

57. A control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory subsystem for storing processor executable code coupled to the processor, the processor executable code when executed causing the processor to perform the steps of;

examining a position and brightness of an on-coming vehicle headlamp over time, as indicated by electrical signals provided by an array of sensors, to determine when a median width is appropriate for the activation of a motorway lighting; and

causing the at least one vehicle light to transition to the motorway lighting mode responsive to the determined median width.

58. A control system for controlling at least one exterior vehicle light of a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory subsystem for storing processor executable code coupled to the processor, the processor executable code when executed causing the processor to perform the steps of;

receiving electrical signals from an array of sensors;

controlling a spatial light modulator (SLM) to vary an illumination pattern of the at least one exterior vehicle light in response to the received electrical signals; and

controlling the SLM to distinguish between vehicular and non-vehicular light sources.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the SLM is also controlled to provide redirected light to a portion of the SLM that is contributing to the illumination pattern provided by the at least one exterior light.

60. A method for controlling the forward lighting of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a vehicular input that includes at least one of a vehicle speed, a vehicle turn rate, a vehicle wheel angle, a vehicle compass direction, a vehicle pitch and an ambient light level;

determining a desired beam pattern based upon the vehicular input;

receiving an image of a forward field of view of the motor vehicle from an image sensor;

analyzing the received image; and

modifying the desired beam pattern based upon the analyzed image, wherein more than two distinct beam patterns can be provided.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the analyzing step includes detecting oncoming or preceding vehicle light sources.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the beam pattern is modified to prevent glare to detected oncoming or preceding vehicles.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the analyzing step includes determining a light gradient on a road.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the beam pattern is modified to achieve the desired illumination range based upon the light gradient on the road.