Method and control device for switching on the high beam headlights of a vehicle

• US 9,637,046 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Ehlgen, Tobias, Foltin, Johannes, Meisner, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Application Number:
  US14/007,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• 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 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/136 Roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/305 Calendar date or clock time
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• 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

Abstract

A method for switching on a high-beam headlight of a vehicle includes: a step of receiving high-beam information by way of an interface, the high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high-beam headlight; a step of determining a traveled distance of the vehicle in response to receiving the high-beam information, and a step of supplying switch-on information for activating the high-beam headlight if the traveled distance after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance.

Claims

1. A method for switching on a high beam headlight of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, via an interface, high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high beam headlight;

determining a traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information; and

supplying switch-on information for switching on the high beam headlight if the traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance, wherein the predefined minimum distance varies as a function of at least one of (i) a road class on which the vehicle is located, (ii) a road form in a region in which the vehicle is located and (iii) information about a current traffic situation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch-on information for switching on the high beam headlight is supplied if the high-beam information is present without interruption while traveling the predefined minimum distance after receiving the high-beam information.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

determining an expected switch-off instant for switching off the high beam headlight;

wherein the switch-on information for switching on the high beam headlight is supplied if a predefined minimum switch-on period for the high beam headlight lies between an instant at which the switch-on information is supplied and the expected switch-off instant.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the predefined minimum distance is adapted by taking into account at least one stored characteristics curve representing a relationship between the minimum distance and a currently ascertained vehicle dynamics parameter.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the predefined minimum distance is determined using an empirical high-beam activation model having at least two input variables.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information about a current traffic situation includes information representing at least one of a location, speed and movement direction of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle.

7. A control device for switching on a high beam headlight of a vehicle, comprising:

a device for receiving high-beam information via an interface, the high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high beam headlight;

a device for determining a traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information; and

a device for supplying switch-on information for switching on the high beam headlight if the traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance, wherein the predefined minimum distance varies as a function of at least one of (i) a road class on which the vehicle is located, (ii) a road form in a region in which the vehicle is located and (iii) information about a current traffic situation.

8. The control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the information about a current traffic situation includes information representing at least one of a location, speed and movement direction of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program having program codes which, when executed on a computer, implements a method for switching on a high beam headlight of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, via an interface, high-beam information indicating a possibility of a glare-free operation of the high beam headlight;

determining a traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information; and

supplying switch-on information for switching on the high beam headlight if the traveled route distance of the vehicle traveled after receiving the high-beam information is greater than a predefined minimum distance, wherein the predefined minimum distance varies as a function of at least one of (i) a road class on which the vehicle is located, (ii) a road form in a region in which the vehicle is located and (iii) information about a current traffic situation.

10. The medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the information about a current traffic situation includes information representing at least one of a location, speed and movement direction of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle.