Driving assistance method and device

• US 9,676,324 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Hue, David, El Idrissi, Hafid, Monchy, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): HAMMOND, DEDEI KHALIEAH
• Application Number:
  US15/022,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20160207452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• 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 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of the vehicle, the assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between the road scene (SR) and a driver of the vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, synchronously control a light emission of at least one light source of the illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal. The assisting device is configured so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type is approaching.

Claims

1. A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of said vehicle, said assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between said road scene (SR) and a driver of said vehicle, said assisting device being configured to, when active, synchronously control a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal, wherein said assisting device is configured to continuously modify said pulsed signal, while said assisting device is active, so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type is approaching;

wherein said assisting device comprises a microcontroller adapted to generate at least one of an unmodified pulsed signal of fixed frequency and zero phase shift or a modified pulsed signal that has been produced in response to modification parameters for controlling said variable transmission screen;

said assisting device further comprising a circuit for;

(i) receiving said unmodified pulsed signal and for producing a second modified pulsed signal in response thereto using said modification parameters for controlling said variable transmission screen, and/or (ii) receiving said modified pulsed signal;

wherein said pulsed signal which is received by said variable transmission screen is defined by either said modified pulsed signal generated by said microcontroller or said second modified pulsed signal, generated by said circuit, each of said modified pulsed signal or said second modified pulsed signal is generated in response to said unmodified pulsed signal being continuously modified;

wherein there is no shift created between the pulsed signal received by said variable transmission screen and a pulsed signal generated by said microcontroller for use in energizing said at least one illumination device.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is configured to modify said pulsed signal by applying a phase shift thereto.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the average of said pulsed signal during said period T after modification of said pulsed signal is the same as the average of said pulsed signal during said period T before modification of said pulsed signal.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is configured to modify said pulsed signal periodically with a period P.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said period P is equal to a period of synchronization between said illuminating device and said variable transmission screen.

14. A method for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of said vehicle and an assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between said road scene (SR) and a driver of said vehicle, said method comprising a step of synchronously controlling a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal, wherein said method comprises the step of continuously modifying said pulsed signal so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle implementing a method of the same type is approaching;

wherein said assisting device comprises a microcontroller adapted to generate at least one of an unmodified pulsed signal of fixed frequency and zero phase shift or a modified pulsed signal that has been produced in response to modification parameters for controlling said variable transmission screen;

said assisting device further comprising a circuit for;

(i) receiving said unmodified pulsed signal and for producing a second modified pulsed signal in response thereto using said modification parameters for controlling said variable transmission screen, and/or (ii) receiving said modified pulsed signal;

wherein said pulsed signal which is received by said variable transmission screen is defined by either said modified pulsed signal generated by said microcontroller or said second modified pulsed signal, generated by said circuit, each of said modified pulsed signal or said second modified pulsed signal is generated in response to said unmodified pulsed signal being continuously modified;

wherein there is no shift created between the pulsed signal received by said variable transmission screen and a pulsed signal generated by said microcontroller for use in energizing said at least one illumination device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said modifying step comprises a step of shifting the phase of said pulsed signal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said pulsed signal is periodic and of period T.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the average of said pulsed signal during said period T after said modifying step is the same as the average of said pulsed signal during said period T before said modifying step.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said modifying step is carried out periodically with a period P.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said period P is equal to a period of synchronization of said pulsed signal between said illuminating device and said variable transmission screen.