Method for automatic full beam light control

• US 8,270,676 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Heinrich, Stefan, Fechner, Thomas, Almeida, Carlos, Kroekel, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Brian P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goradia, Shefali
• Application Number:
  US12/311,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/104, 362/465
• US Class Current: 382/104
• 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 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/134 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/136 Roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road

Abstract

A method for the automatic light control for a motor vehicle with a camera sensor for monitoring the environment in front of the motor vehicle is presented. With the camera sensor, an image sequence of the motor vehicle environment in front of the motor vehicle is recorded. The lane of the own motor vehicle is estimated from the image data. At least one evaluation window along the lane is set in the image, so that preceding and oncoming motor vehicles are recorded. Points of light in the image sequence are pursued (tracked). On the basis of the image data, the lights of other motor vehicles are detected, and the front headlights are controlled in such a manner that the drivers of other motor vehicles are not blinded.

Claims

1. A method for automatic light control for a subject motor vehicle with a camera sensor for monitoring the environment in front of the subject motor vehicle, comprising the steps:

recording image data as an image sequence of the subject motor vehicle'"'"'s environment;

estimating a lane of the subject motor vehicle from the image data;

setting at least one evaluation window along the lane in the image sequence and recording preceding and oncoming other motor vehicles;

tracking points of light in the image sequence which are located in the at least one evaluation window;

from the image data, detecting motor vehicle lights of other motor vehicles; and

controlling front headlights of the subject motor vehicle in such a manner that drivers of other motor vehicles are not blinded.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the lights of an other motor vehicle have left the evaluation window, determining a return probability of a return of the other motor vehicle'"'"'s lights into the evaluation window before changing from low beam to high beam headlights, and when the return probability is above a specified threshold value, then not changing to high beam headlights.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the return probability is determined, depending on a movement of the subject motor vehicle with respect to at least one of a pitch, a yaw and a rolling angle of the subject motor vehicle, when an oncoming or preceding motor vehicle leaves the evaluation window to a side or in a vertical direction.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the return probability for points of light that are extinguished within the evaluation window although their trajectory of movement has not yet reached the edge of the evaluation window is evaluated as being high, depending on recorded, non-continuous obstacles to visibility between lanes with oncoming traffic.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that for carrying out the tracking of points of light in the image sequence for at least a selected one of the points of light in a manner that optimizes a required computing time, a recording window (1) is specified, including an object trajectory (3) of the selected point of light, in which recording window the selected point of light is expected to be located to a high degree of probability in images of the image data to be recorded later in time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the motor vehicle lights comprises examining the image data for points of light occurring in pairs.

7. A motor vehicle with a camera sensor for a driver assistance system for recording the lane, further equipped with means for performing the method for the automatic light control according to claim 1.