Method for operating a headlamp arrangement, headlamp system and motor vehicle

• US 10,086,748 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Neitzke, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US15/881,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20180215307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 315 77, 315 80, 315 82
• 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 1/1407 General lighting circuits comprising dimming circuits
• 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 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30241 Trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A method and headlight system is disclosed for operating a headlamp arrangement of a motor vehicle. At least one sensor monitors an area in the traveling direction in front of the motor vehicle. The system acquires an object and calculates object data relative to the motor vehicle, which include a distance of the object, a horizontal location angle of the object as well as an angular velocity of the object. Latency between the object acquisition and change in light distribution for the headlight system is known. A light distribution of the headlamp arrangement is modified as a function of the object data and latency.

Claims

1. A method for operating a headlamp arrangement of a motor vehicle comprises:

directing a light distribution from the headlamp arrangement in a forward traveling direction the motor vehicle;

monitoring a region in front of the motor vehicle with at least one sensor;

acquiring an image of an object in the region;

calculating an object data while the object is in the region, wherein the object data indicates an object trajectory based on a distance of the object, a horizontal location angle of the object relative and an angular velocity of the object with respect to the motor vehicle; and

modifying the light distribution as a function of the object data and a latency between the object acquisition and a change in the light distribution.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining the object data from a car-to-X communication system.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the object data from the image.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

acquiring at least two images of the object in the region;

calculating the object data from the at least two images;

predicting a change in the object trajectory; and

modifying the light distribution taking into account the change in object data.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising calculating the angular velocity based on a change in horizontal position of the object.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the object data are estimated in individual cycles when at least one of the distance, the horizontal location angle and the angular velocity of the object with respect to the motor vehicle cannot be calculated from the image.

7. The method according to claim 3, further comprising acquiring roadmap data indicating a travel path of the motor vehicle, and predicting the change in object data based on the travel path.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising changing a progression of the light distribution, wherein the progressions is pre-calculated and implemented based on the object data.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the change in progression is squared with the current object data.

10. A headlamp system of a motor vehicle comprising:

a headlamp arrangement operable to direct a variable light distribution from the headlamp arrangement in a forward traveling direction the motor vehicle;

at least one sensor configured to monitor a region in front of the motor vehicle; and

a headlamp controller configured to;

direct a light distribution from the headlamp arrangement in a forward traveling direction the motor vehicle;

monitor a region in front of the motor vehicle with at least one sensor;

acquire an image of an object in the region;

calculate an object data while the object is in the region, wherein the object data indicates an object trajectory based on a distance of the object, a horizontal location angle of the object relative and an angular velocity of the object with respect to the motor vehicle; and

modify the light distribution as a function of the object data and a latency between the object acquisition and a change in the light distribution.

11. The headlamp system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a front camera, a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a ultrasound sensor and combinations thereof.

12. The headlamp system according to claim 10, wherein the headlamp controller is further configured to calculate the object data from the image.

13. The headlamp system according to claim 10, wherein the headlamp controller is further configured to:

acquire at least two images of the object in the region;

calculate the object data from the at least two images;

predict a change in the object trajectory; and

modify the light distribution taking into account the change in object data.

14. The headlamp system according to claim 13, wherein the headlamp controller is further configured to calculate the angular velocity based on a change in horizontal position of the object.

15. The headlamp system according to claim 13, wherein the headlamp controller is further configured to acquire roadmap data indicating a travel path of the motor vehicle, and predict the change in object data based on the travel path.

16. The headlamp system according to claim 13, wherein the headlamp controller is further configured to change a progression of the light distribution, wherein the progressions is pre-calculated and implemented based on the object data.

17. The headlamp system according to claim 13, wherein the change in progression is squared with the current object data.

18. The headlamp system according to claim 10, wherein the headlamp arrangement comprises a matrix headlamp arrangement.