ADAPTIVE LIGHTING APPARATUS

• US 20160318437A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Vilakathara, Haridas
• Application Number:
  US15/013,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• 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: F21S 41/60 characterised by a variable light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

One example discloses an adaptive lighting apparatus, comprising: a first input configured to receive a set of radar data; a lighting module configured to generate a visible illumination signal based on the set of radar data; and a first output configured to transmit the illumination signal. Another example discloses an article of manufacture including at least one non-transitory, tangible machine readable storage medium containing executable machine instructions for adaptive lighting, wherein the instructions comprise: receiving a set of radar data; generating a visible illumination signal based on the set of radar data; and transmitting the illumination signal.

Claims

1. An adaptive lighting apparatus, comprising:

a first input configured to receive a set of radar data;

a lighting module configured to generate a visible illumination signal based on the set of radar data; and

a first output configured to transmit the illumination signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the radar data includes an angle to a foreign object; and

wherein the illumination signal sets a light source beam pattern based on the angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the radar data includes a range to a foreign object; and

wherein the illumination signal updates a light source intensity based on the range.

4. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the radar data includes a radar signature corresponding to a foreign object; and

wherein the illumination signal sets a light source beam pattern based on the radar signature.

5. The apparatus of claim 4:

further comprising an attribution module configured to classify the foreign object based on the radar signature; and

wherein the illumination signal sets a light source beam pattern, having a beam intensity that varies in azimuth and elevation, based on the classification.

6. The apparatus of claim 5:

wherein the attribution module is configured to classify the foreign object by comparing the radar signature to a set of known foreign object radar signatures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the attribution module is configured to classify using a best-match algorithm.

8. The apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the set of known foreign object radar signatures includes radar signatures corresponding to at least one of;

a road condition, a road feature, an environmental condition, a vehicle type, a vehicle feature, an animal type or a plant type.

9. The apparatus of claim 1:

further comprising a second input configured to receive a set of camera data; and

wherein the lighting module configured to modify the visible illumination signal based on the set of camera data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9:

wherein the camera data includes an image signature corresponding to a foreign object;

further comprising an attribution module configured to classify the foreign object based on the image signature; and

wherein the illumination signal modifies the visible illumination signal based on the classification.

11. The apparatus of claim 10:

wherein the attribution module is configured to classify the foreign object as either self-illuminated or not self-illuminated based on the image signature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1:

further comprising a second input configured to receive at least one of;

a set of ambient light data, a set of humidity data or a set of temperature data; and

wherein the lighting module configured to modify the visible illumination signal based on the at least one data set.

13. The apparatus of claim 1:

further comprising a second input configured to receive a set of parent object data including at least one of;

a number of lighting sources, types of lighting sources, a current velocity or an Advanced Driver Assistance System attribute; and

wherein the lighting module configured to modify the visible illumination signal based on the parent object data.

14. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the illumination signal includes at least one of;

a lighting array activation signal or a lighting array illumination beam intensity signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the illumination signal includes a first lighting source control signal and a second lighting source control signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15:

wherein the first lighting source is an LED array and the second lighting source is a laser diode array.

17. The apparatus of claim 15:

wherein the set of radar data includes an first angle to a first foreign object and a second angle to a second foreign object; and

wherein the first lighting source control signal illuminates the first foreign object with a first illumination beam intensity and the second lighting source control signal illuminates the second foreign object with a second illumination beam intensity.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is included in a system, the system comprising:

a radar sensor coupled to the first input and configured to generate the set of radar data; and

first and second light sources coupled to the first output and responsive to the illumination signal.

19. An article of manufacture including at least one non-transitory, tangible machine readable storage medium containing executable machine instructions for adaptive lighting, wherein the instructions comprise:

receiving a set of radar data;

generating a visible illumination signal based on the set of radar data; and

transmitting the illumination signal.

20. The article of claim 19:

wherein the radar data includes a radar signature corresponding to a foreign object;

further comprising;

classifying the foreign object based on the radar signature;

setting a light source beam pattern in the illumination signal, having a beam intensity that varies in azimuth and elevation, based on the classification; and

directing the light source beam pattern at the foreign object.