Method for controlling a vehicle member

• US 9,174,569 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Bradai, Benazouz, Kuoch, Siav Kuong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ROBERT T
• Application Number:
  US13/378,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 315/77, 315/79, 315/82, 362464-466
• 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 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method and a system for controlling lighting beams for vehicles. It proposes controlling the road lighting beam by combining data obtained from a navigation device and detection means suitable for supplying distance and nature information concerning target objects situated in front of the vehicle equipped according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one member of a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

obtaining navigation data suitable for characterizing a road context of the vehicle;

detecting target objects in front of the vehicle by using detection means onboard the vehicle;

determining a value of the relative distance between the vehicle and the target objects;

determining a state of traffic on the road used by the vehicle; and

controlling said at least one member by combining navigation data, a nature of the target objects, a relative distance values and said state of the traffic on said road used by the vehicle;

wherein based on relative speed between the vehicle and said target objects, characterizing a nature of said target objects as either moving vehicles or stationary obstacles;

in which the step for detecting target objects comprises;

measuring relative position and speed values between the vehicle and obstacles situated in front of the vehicle;

constructing target objects by (a) identifying objects lying a specified distance range from the vehicle, and grouping them into a first target object, and (b) identifying objects having a common relative speed range with respect to the vehicle, and grouping them into a second target object.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which said at least one member of the vehicle is a lighting device, said method controlling a road lighting beam of said vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, in which the detection means used include at least one sensor of the radar or lidar or camera type.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of using the navigation data to define a zone in which the target objects are identified.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, in which the step for characterizing the nature of the target objects comprises an identification of vehicles being followed.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the detection means used include at least one sensor of the radar or lidar or camera type.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of using the navigation data to define a zone in which the target objects are identified.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the detection step comprises:

obtaining navigation data defining potential target objects;

comparing the definitions of potential target objects and of the target objects detected.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, in which the potential target objects include a central divider of the road of a predetermined type.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which the step for controlling the member of the vehicle exploits:

a first control information item if the type of central divider corresponds to a detected target object;

a second control information item if the type of central divider does not correspond to any detected target object.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the step for characterizing the nature of the target objects comprises an identification of vehicles being followed.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, in which the control of the member of the vehicle is based on relative distance between the vehicle and of the vehicles being followed.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the step for characterizing the nature of the target objects comprises an identification of vehicles passed.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, in which the control of the member of the vehicle exploits a control information item that is a function of the relative distance of the vehicle and of the vehicles passed.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the member of the vehicle is controlled by discarding either (a) the navigation data or (b) the detection data or discarding both (a) and (b) if their reliability index is below a predefined threshold.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein dividers between traffic lanes, posts, bus shelters, and traffic lights are characterized as stationary obstacles.

18. A system for controlling at least one vehicle member, comprising an onboard navigation device, means for detecting target objects in front of the vehicle and processing means suitable for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1.

17. A method for controlling at least one member of a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

obtaining navigation data suitable for characterizing a road context of the vehicle;

detecting target objects in front of the vehicle by using detection means onboard the vehicle;

determining a value of the relative distance between the vehicle and the target objects;

determining a state of traffic on the road used by the vehicle; and

controlling said at least one member by combining navigation data, a nature of the target objects, a relative distance values and said state of the traffic on said road used by the vehicle;

wherein based on relative speed between the vehicle and said target objects, characterizing a nature of said target objects as either moving vehicles or stationary obstacles;

in which said at least one member of the vehicle is a lighting device, said method controlling a road lighting beam of said vehicle;

in which the step for detecting target objects comprises;

measuring relative position and speed values between the vehicle and obstacles situated in front of the vehicle;

constructing target objects by (a) identifying objects lying a specified distance range from the vehicle, and grouping them into a first target object, and (b) identifying objects having a common relative speed range with respect to the vehicle, and grouping them into a second target object.

19. A system for controlling at least one member of a vehicle comprising:

a navigation device for obtaining navigation data suitable for characterizing a road context of the vehicle;

a detector for detecting target objects in front of the vehicle by using detection means onboard the vehicle; and

a processor adapted to (1) determine a value of the relative distance between the vehicle and the target objects, (2) based on a relative speed between the vehicle and the target objects, characterize a nature of the target objects as either moving vehicles or stationary obstacles, wherein dividers between traffic lanes, posts, bus shelters, and traffic lights are characterized as stationary obstacles; and

(3) determine a state of traffic on the road used by the vehicle;

said processor also controlling said at least one member by combining navigation data, said nature of the target objects, a relative distance values and said state of the traffic on said road used by the vehicle;

wherein said detector;

measures relative position and speed values between the vehicle and obstacles situated in front of the vehicle;

constructs target objects by (a) identifying objects lying a specified distance range from the vehicle, and grouping them into a first target object, and (b) identifying objects having a common relative speed range with respect to the vehicle, and grouping them into a second target object.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, in which said at least one member of the vehicle is a lighting device, said system controlling a road lighting beam of said vehicle.

21. The system as claimed in claim 19, in which said detector used includes at least one sensor of the radar or lidar or camera type.