DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD AND DEVICE

• US 20160207452A1
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: El Idrissi, Hafid, Monchy, Etienne, Hue, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of the vehicle, the assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between the road scene (SR) and a driver of the vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, synchronously control a light emission of at least one light source of the illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal. The assisting device is configured so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type is approaching.

Claims

1. A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of said vehicle, said assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between said road scene (SR) and a driver of said vehicle, said assisting device being configured to, when active, synchronously control a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal, wherein said assisting device is configured to continuously modify said pulsed signal, while said assisting device is active, so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type is approaching.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is configured to modify said pulsed signal by applying a phase shift thereto.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

4. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the average of said pulsed signal during said period T after modification of said pulsed signal is the same as the average of said pulsed signal during said period T before modification of said pulsed signal.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said period P is equal to a period of synchronization between said illuminating device and said variable transmission screen.

15. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

16. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

17. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

18. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

19. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

20. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

8. A method for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of said vehicle and a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between said road scene (SR) and a driver of said vehicle, said method comprising a step of synchronously controlling a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal, wherein said method comprises the step of continuously modifying said pulsed signal so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle implementing a method of the same type is approaching.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said modifying step comprises a step of shifting the phase of said pulsed signal.

10. The device method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the average of said pulsed signal during said period T after said modifying step is the same as the average of said pulsed signal during said period T before said modifying step.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said modifying step is carried out periodically with a period P.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said period P is equal to a period of synchronization of said pulsed signal between said illuminating device and said variable transmission screen.