Method for calibrating a lighting apparatus

• US 9,732,927 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US15/060,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 315152, 315307, 315312, 315 77, 315 82, 362230, 362231, 362276, 362802
• 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 2200/38 Automatic calibration of motor-driven means for adjusting headlamps, i.e. when switching on the headlamps, not during mounting at factories
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 Tunnels or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/63 by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/064 by using camera or other imaging system for the light analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for calibrating a lighting apparatus, particularly lighting apparatus for a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a lighting apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a lighting apparatus having a plurality of illuminants and a control element for individually controlling the settings of each illuminant of the plurality of illuminants,

producing a first superimposed overall light distribution by dint of superimposition of individual light distributions produced by an at least one illuminant of the plurality of illuminants,

producing a second essentially overlap-free light distribution from at least one selected illuminant of the plurality of illuminants,

using a sensor to detect the second light distribution,

independently determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions of the at least one selected illuminant,

calibrating the lighting apparatus by comparing the at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions among one another or with prescribable setpoint data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a discrepancy in an individual light distribution from a setpoint value, from which a correction value for actuating the selected illuminant is determined, so that the discrepancy is reduced.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the correction value is stored and is used or taken into account during operation of the illuminant.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each illuminant of the plurality of illuminants individually comprises an element for controlling the direction of radiation of the individual light distribution an element for controlling the focusing of the individual light distribution.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of each illuminant of the plurality of illuminants is individually adjustable by the control element.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a calibrating or ascertaining of control parameters for a lighting apparatus of a motor vehicle during a standstill or after the production of the motor vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a calibrating or ascertaining of control parameters for a lighting apparatus of a motor vehicle during a driving situation of the motor vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is a center or focus of an individual light distribution.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is an expansion or a profile of the individual light distribution.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions is a comparison of centers or of expansion parameters or of profile parameters from light distributions that are ascertained from different illuminants.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions is used to examine at least one regularity.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions is a comparison of centers or of expansion parameters or of profile parameters from light distributions that are compared with setpoint positions, setpoint expansions, or setpoint profiles.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein producing an essentially overlap-free distribution of the individual light distributions is performed over an area in front of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the area is an at least essentially even area that has a horizontal or vertical profile.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the area is a selected area or is a subregion of a selected area in which the operation of the headlamp is essentially unimpaired and the driver of the vehicle and other road users are not disturbed or influenced.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the area is not visible to the driver of the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method for calibration is performed cyclically in multiple calibration cycles.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method for calibration is performed such that only a portion of the illuminants of the lighting apparatus are calibrated in a calibration cycle, different calibration cycles involving a respective different portion of the illuminants being calibrated.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein after a complete pass through the calibration cycles, essentially all illuminants are calibrated.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the selected illuminants for calibration are selected such that they are currently not used to produce a light distribution that is needed on account of the situation, or such illuminants are used but they are at least intermittently replaced by other illuminants.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein only one individual light distribution for an illuminant at a time is calibrated in a calibration cycle.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the production of the overlap-free distribution of the individual light distributions is performed in at least one of various settings for the illuminants.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the setting that is set is a central position, a swivel position, a focusing or an, expansion.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein a dynamic setting for the individual light distribution or for the light distributions is made.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein swiveling or circling or expansion and contraction is set.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calibration is performed by setting the direction of radiation of the individual light distribution, the focusing of the individual light distribution, or the intensity of the individual light distribution.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein every illuminant of the plurality of illuminants produces an individual light distribution.

26. A method for actuating a lighting apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a lighting apparatus having a plurality of illuminants and a control element for individually controlling the settings of each illuminant of the plurality of illuminants,

producing a first superimposed overall light distribution by dint of superimposition of individual light distributions produced by an at least one illuminant of the plurality of illuminants,

producing a second essentially overlap-free light distribution from at least one selected illuminant of the plurality of illuminants at a selected time,

using a sensor to detect the second light distribution or the individual light distributions from the at least one selected illuminant,

independently determining and storing at least one characteristic of each of the individual light distributions,

actuating the lighting apparatus during operation based on the at least one characteristic.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the lighting apparatus is actuated by determining the difference between the at least one characteristic and a setpoint value for the at least one characteristic.