Method and Apparatus for Vehicle With Adaptive Lighting System

• US 20100188864A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Raghunathan, Badri, Coelho, Enylton M., Becker, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/466
• 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 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Abstract

In one embodiment, an adaptive external vehicle lighting system includes a vehicle communication network, a memory including program instructions for generating a model of a vehicle and the environment outside of the vehicle, identifying an object of interest based upon the generated model, analyzing rendering criteria associated with the identified object of interest, and rendering object of interest data based upon the analysis, a processor operably connected to the vehicle communication network and to the memory for executing the program instructions, and at least one rendering system operably connected to the processor through the vehicle communication network for rendering the object of interest data using an associated external lighting system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An adaptive external vehicle lighting system comprising:

a vehicle communication network;

a memory including program instructions for

generating a model of a vehicle and the environment outside of the vehicle,

identifying an object of interest based upon the generated model,

analyzing rendering criteria associated with the identified object of interest, and

rendering object of interest data based upon the analysis;

a processor operably connected to the vehicle communication network and to the memory for executing the program instructions; and

at least one rendering system operably connected to the processor through the vehicle communication network for rendering the object of interest data using an associated external lighting system of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein generating a model comprises:

generating a three dimensional model of the vehicle and the environment outside of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external lighting system comprises a headlight assembly.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rendering system comprises:

a first rendering system associated with a first external lighting assembly; and

a second rendering system associated with a second external lighting assembly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein;

the vehicle includes a plurality of headlight assemblies; and

the associated external lighting system includes a lighting source separate from a lighting source of the plurality of headlight assemblies.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the associated external lighting system lighting source comprises:

a laser.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions for:

diverting, from a vehicle headlight pattern formed by a vehicle headlight assembly, a light beam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein program instructions stored in the memory for rendering object of interest data comprises program instructions for:

illuminating the object of interest with a shaped beam of light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions for:

rendering a message readable by an occupant of the vehicle on the object of interest.

10. A method of rendering data outside of a vehicle comprising:

generating a model of a vehicle and the environment outside of the vehicle;

identifying an object of interest based upon the generated model;

analyzing rendering criteria associated with the identified object of interest; and

controlling a first rendering system through a vehicle communication system to render first object of interest data using a first associated external lighting system of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a model comprises:

generating a three dimensional model of the vehicle and the environment outside of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein using a first associated external lighting system of the vehicle comprises using a headlight assembly.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

controlling a second rendering system through the vehicle communication system to render second object of interest data using a second associated external lighting system of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

energizing a plurality of headlight assembly light sources; and

energizing a rendering light source separate from the plurality of headlight assembly light sources,

wherein using a first associated external lighting system comprises using the rendering light source;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein energizing a rendering light source comprises:

energizing a laser.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling a first rendering system comprises:

controlling at least one of a plurality of digital micro-mirrors in a headlight assembly.

17. A vehicle information system comprising:

a vehicle communication network;

a memory including program instructions for

generating a model of a vehicle and a plurality of objects located within an area outside of the vehicle,

identifying a first of the plurality of objects as a first object of interest based upon the generated model,

analyzing rendering criteria associated with the identified first object of interest, and

rendering first object of interest data based upon the analysis;

a processor operably connected to the vehicle communication network and to the memory for executing the program instructions;

a lighting system configured to provide illumination within the area outside of the vehicle; and

a rendering system operably connected to the lighting system and to the processor through the vehicle communication network for rendering the first object of interest data.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of databases within the memory, the plurality of databases including data for generating a three dimensional model of the vehicle and the plurality of objects located within the area outside of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one sensor, the at least one sensor configured to obtain sensory data associated with at least one of the plurality of objects located within the area outside of the vehicle, wherein the program instructions include program instructions for updating the generated model based upon the sensory data.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one input/output device, the at least one input/output device configured to obtain data associated with at least one of the plurality of objects located within the area outside of the vehicle from a location remote from the vehicle, wherein the program instructions include program instructions for updating the generated model based upon the obtained data.