Apparatus for controlling head lamp for vehicle

• US 8,952,616 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sekiguchi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DON P
• Application Number:
  US13/828,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 250/208.1, 362/460, 362464-466, 340933-938
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/60 characterised by a variable light distribution

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for controlling a head lamp for a vehicle. A control condition determining unit determines whether a condition for controlling a head lamp is established or not based upon whether a vehicle ahead is present or not, and a distance between the vehicle ahead and the vehicle. When the control condition is determined to be established, an illumination range control unit compares a reference pattern stored and held in a reference pattern holding unit and an illumination pattern of the head lamp recognized by an illumination pattern recognition unit, and controls the illumination range of the head lamp via an actuator in order that both patterns agree with each other.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a head lamp for a vehicle, the apparatus automatically controlling an illumination range of a head lamp mounted to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a reference pattern holding unit for storing and holding illumination patterns of the head lamp adjusted upon a shipment of the vehicle as reference patterns, the reference patterns including a first reference pattern corresponding to a condition in which a vehicle ahead of the vehicle is not present in front of the vehicle or a condition in which the vehicle ahead is present far from the vehicle, and a second reference pattern corresponding to a condition in which a vehicle is present in front of the vehicle;

a control condition determining unit for determining whether a condition for controlling the head lamp is established or not based upon whether a vehicle ahead of the vehicle is present or not, and a distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead during the vehicle travels;

an illumination pattern recognition unit for recognizing an illumination pattern of the head lamp by processing an image obtained by capturing an environment in front of the vehicle by a camera, when it is determined that the condition for controlling the head lamp is established; and

an illumination range control unit that;

when it is determined that the condition for controlling the head lamp is established and a vehicle ahead is not present in front of the vehicle or the vehicle ahead is present far from the vehicle, compares the first reference pattern held in the reference pattern holding unit and the illumination pattern recognized by the illumination pattern recognition unit, and controls the illumination range of the head lamp in order that both patterns agree with each other; and

when it is determined the condition for controlling the head lamp is established and a distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead is within a predetermined range, compares the second reference pattern held in the reference pattern holding unit and the illumination pattern recognized by the illumination pattern recognition unit, and controls the illumination range of the head lamp in order that both patterns agree with each other.

2. The apparatus for controlling a head lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a stereo camera for acquiring three-dimensional distance information, and the acquired distance information is used in the control condition determining unit.