Method for improving vision in a motor vehicle

• US 7,400,266 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Haug, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/572,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 315 77- 80, 315/82, 315/149, 340/468, 340/600, 340/619, 340/621, 340/903, 340/904, 340/937, 362/487, 362/507, 348/216.1, 348/362
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• 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 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings

Abstract

A method, a device and a processing unit for improving visibility in a motor vehicle are described, a light source of the motor vehicle illuminating an illumination range. At least one monitoring sensor of the motor vehicle monitors the surroundings around the motor vehicle for the presence of objects. The light source is adjusted in such a way that the spatial and/or temporal irradiation of the objects which are present at least with light having wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum, e.g., near infrared light, is less than a specifiable limiting value.

Claims

1. A method for improving visibility in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having at least one light source illuminating an illumination range, comprising:

monitoring at least part of the illumination range of the light source for the presence of at least one object using at least one sensor in the motor vehicle, the sensor generating sensor signals as a function of the at least one object which is present, and

adjusting the light source as a function of the sensor signals in such a way that the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with light having wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum of the light source is less than a specifiable first limiting value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a headlamp which emits illumination at least in the near-infrared wavelength range.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor signals are generated by an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a LIDAR sensor or a video sensor.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the radar sensor operates in a wavelength range of 24 GHz or 77 GHz.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor signals are generated by an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a LIDAR sensor or a video sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light source is deactivated or activated as a function of the sensor signals.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the light source is deactivated or activated as a function of the sensor signals.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the light source is deactivated or activated as a function of the sensor signals.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial or temporal intensity of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the spatial or temporal intensity of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the spatial or temporal intensity of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spectral composition of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein the spectral composition of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

14. The method according to claim 3, wherein the spectral composition of the light from the light source is adjusted as a function of the sensor signals.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic or optical warning signal warns the at least one object which is present if the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with the light having wavelengths outside the visible spectrum of the light source is greater than a specifiable second limiting value, the second limiting value being less than or equal to the first limiting value.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein an acoustic or optical warning signal warns the at least one object which is present if the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with the light having wavelengths outside the visible spectrum of the light source is greater than a specifiable second limiting value, the second limiting value being less than or equal to the first limiting value.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein an acoustic or optical warning signal warns the at least one object which is present if the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with the light having wavelengths outside the visible spectrum of the light source is greater than a specifiable second limiting value, the second limiting value being less than or equal to the first limiting value.

18. A device for improving visibility in a motor vehicle, for carrying out the method according to claim 1, having at least one light source of the motor vehicle, the light source illuminating an illumination range, comprising:

at least one sensor in the motor vehicle, the sensor being configured in such a way that the sensor monitors at least part of the illumination range of the light source for the presence of at least one object, the sensor generating sensor signals as a function of the at least one object which is present, and

at least one processing unit which adjusts the light source as a function of the sensor signals in such a way that the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with light having wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum of the light source is less than a specifiable first limiting value.

19. A processing unit for improving visibility in a motor vehicle, for carrying out the method according to claim 1, the processing unit having at least a first interface for receiving sensor signals of at least one sensor in the motor vehicle, comprising:

means for processing the sensor signals, the sensor signals containing information about the presence of at least one object within at least one part of an illumination range—

of at least one light source—

monitored by the sensor,

means for generating adjustment signals for the light source, the adjustment signals being produced as a function of the sensor signals in such a way that the spatial or temporal irradiation of the at least one object which is present at least with light having wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum of the light source is less than a specifiable first limiting value, and

at least one second interface for transferring the adjustment signals which were produced to the light source.