Method and system for adjustment of headlamps for motor vehicles

• US 8,738,236 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Moizard, Julien, Sadoux, Gregoire, Blandin, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US13/299,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• 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 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle

Abstract

A method and system for adjustment of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising a step for calculating a headlamp angle. The method furthermore comprises the steps of detecting a target vehicle, calculating a lateral position of the target vehicle with respect to the motor vehicle, calculating a lateral angular offset with respect to the said lateral position of the target vehicle and adjusting the headlamps as a function of the headlamp angle and of the lateral angular offset.

Claims

1. A method for adjustment of headlamps (PJ) for motor vehicles (V), comprising a step for calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) determined as a function of the path of the vehicle, said function comprising at least one of an angle of a steering wheel or GPS navigation data, wherein said method furthermore comprises the steps of:

detecting a position of a lamp of a target vehicle (VC) using a camera;

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V) using said detected position of said lamp of said target vehicle (VC);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC); and

adjusting, where necessary, the headlamp or headlamps (PJ) as a function of the headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL).

2. The method for adjustment according to claim 1, wherein said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) is calculated as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V).

3. The method for adjustment according to claim 2, wherein said method furthermore comprises an additional step for defining said position lateral angle (ALP) in a camera reference frame (X1Y1) as a function of a target light source (PJ, F) positioned at one end of said target vehicle (VC).

4. The method for adjustment according to claim 2, wherein said method furthermore comprises an initial step for verifying if said headlamps (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) are in an increased range operational mode of a beam.

5. The method for adjustment according to claim 1, wherein said method furthermore comprises an initial step for verifying if said headlamps (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) are in an increased range operational mode of a beam.

6. A computer program product (PG) comprising one or more instruction sequences executable by an information processing unit, the execution of said one or more instruction sequences allowing an implementation of the method according to claim 1.

7. A method for adjustment of headlamps (PJ) for motor vehicles (V), comprising a step for calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) determined as a function of the path of the vehicle, said function comprising at least one of an angle of a steering wheel or GPS navigation data, wherein said method furthermore comprises the steps for:

detecting a target vehicle (VC);

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC); and

adjusting, where necessary, the headlamp or headlamps (PJ) as a function of the headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL);

wherein said method furthermore comprises an additional step for applying a headlamp-camera reference frame change to a position lateral angle (ALP) in order to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

8. The method for adjustment according to claim 7, wherein said method furthermore comprises an additional step for defining said position lateral angle (ALP) as being the position lateral angle having the lower value between two position lateral angles (α

_R,α

_L) defined in two headlamp reference frames (X_RY_R, X_LY_L).

9. The method for adjustment according to claim 7, wherein said method furthermore comprises an initial step for verifying if said headlamps (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) are in an increased range operational mode of a beam.

10. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

detecting a position of a lamp of a target vehicle (VC) using a camera;

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V) using said detected position of said lamp of said target vehicle (VC);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC);

controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST); and

calculating said lateral angular offset (OFFST) with respect to said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL).

11. The device for adjustment according to claim 10, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of calculating said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V).

12. The device for adjustment according to claim 11, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of defining said position lateral angle (ALP) in a camera reference frame (X1Y1) as a function of a target light source (PJ, F) positioned at one end of said target vehicle (VC).

13. The device for adjustment according to claim 10, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of verifying if said headlamps (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) are in an increased range operational mode of a beam.

14. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

detecting a target vehicle (VC);

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC);

controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST); and

calculating said lateral angular offset (OFFST) with respect to said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL),

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of calculating said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of applying a camera-headlamp reference frame change to said position lateral angle (ALP) so as to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

15. The device for adjustment according to claim 14, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of defining said position lateral angle (ALP) as being the position lateral angle having the lower value between two position lateral angles (α

_R,α

_L) defined in two headlamp reference frames (X_RY_R, X_LY_L).

16. A method for adjustment of headlamps (PJ) for motor vehicles (V), comprising a step for calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) determined as a function of the path of the vehicle, said function comprising at least one of an angle of a steering wheel or GPS navigation data, wherein said method furthermore comprises the steps for:

detecting a target vehicle (VC);

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC); and

adjusting, where necessary, the headlamp or headlamps (PJ) as a function of the headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL);

wherein said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) is calculated as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

wherein said method furthermore comprises an additional step for applying a headlamp-camera reference frame change to said position lateral angle (ALP) in order to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

17. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

detecting a target vehicle (VC);

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC);

controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST); and

calculating said lateral angular offset (OFFST) with respect to said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of calculating said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of defining said position lateral angle (ALP) in a camera reference frame (X1Y1) as a function of a target light source (PJ, F) positioned at one end of said target vehicle (VC);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of applying a camera-headlamp reference frame change to said position lateral angle (ALP) so as to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

18. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

detecting a target vehicle (VC);

calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC);

controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST); and

calculating said lateral angular offset (OFFST) with respect to said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of applying a camera-headlamp reference frame change to a position lateral angle (ALP) so as to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

19. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

means for detecting a position of a lamp of a target vehicle (VC) using a camera;

means for calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V) using said detected position of said lamp of said target vehicle (VC);

means for deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC); and

means for controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL).

20. The device for adjustment according to claim 19, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of calculating said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V).

21. The device for adjustment according to claim 20, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of defining said position lateral angle (ALP) in a camera reference frame (X1Y1) as a function of a target light source (PJ, F) positioned at one end of said target vehicle (VC).

22. The device for adjustment according to claim 19, wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of verifying if said headlamps (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) are in an increased range operational mode of a beam.

23. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising an assembly of control units (UCS) comprising at least one control unit (UC), said assembly of control units being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said assembly of control units is furthermore capable of:

means for detecting a target vehicle (VC);

means for calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V), wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL);

means for deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC); and

means for controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of calculating said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

wherein said assembly of control units (UCS) is furthermore capable of applying a camera-headlamp reference frame change to said position lateral angle (ALP) so as to obtain a value of said position lateral angle (ALP) in a headlamp reference frame.

24. A device for adjustment (ACT) of headlamps for motor vehicles, comprising at least one control unit (UC), said device being capable of calculating a headlamp angle (DBL) as a function of a path of said motor vehicle, wherein said device is furthermore capable of:

said at least one control unit detecting a position of a lamp of a target vehicle (VC) and calculating a lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V) using said detected position of said lamp of said tar et vehicle (VC);

said at least one control unit further deducing a lateral angular offset (OFFST) as a function of said lateral position of said target vehicle (VC) and controlling an adjustment unit (ACT) capable of adjusting said headlamps (PJ) as a function of said headlamp angle (DBL) and of said lateral angular offset (OFFST);

wherein said at least one control unit calculates said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) as a function of a position lateral angle (ALP) and of a distance (D) of said target vehicle (VC) with respect to said motor vehicle (V);

wherein the calculation of said lateral angular offset (OFFST) is carried out as a function of said lateral position (POS) of said target vehicle (VC) and with respect to said headlamp angle (DBL).