METHOD FOR DETERMINING A LIGHTING RANGE OF A HEADLIGHT

• US 20140167608A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Djordjevic, Dejan
• Application Number:
  US14/078,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20140167608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/79
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/324 Road inclination, e.g. uphill or downhill
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle

Abstract

A method for determining a lighting range of a headlight of a vehicle includes determining the lighting range for the vehicle as a function of a position of a second vehicle driving ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel. The method includes checking whether a braking process of the vehicle is occurring, and when a braking process is detected, reducing the determined lighting range by a correction value.

Claims

1. A method for determining a lighting range of a headlight of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining the lighting range for the vehicle as a function of a position of a second vehicle driving ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel,

checking whether a braking process of the vehicle is occurring, and

reducing, when a braking process is detected, the determined lighting range by a correction value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the correction value is dependent on another parameter.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the correction value depends on a roadway contour.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the correction value depends a roadway depression through which the vehicle drives.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the correction value depends on an inclination of the vehicle with respect to a normal inclination of the vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the correction value depends on a value of a negative acceleration of the vehicle during the braking process.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the correction value depends on a relative speed of the vehicle and the second vehicle with respect to one another.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the correction value depends on a direction of travel of the second vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the correction is carried out only if the vehicle drives through a roadway depression.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a position of the second vehicle is detected using a camera.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a relative altitude position of the second vehicle with respect to the vehicle is detected using the camera.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the braking process is detected by monitoring activation of a brake pedal.

13. A computing unit configured to carry out a method, the method comprising:

determining the lighting range for the vehicle as a function of a position of a second vehicle driving ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel,

checking whether a braking process of the vehicle is occurring, and

reducing, when a braking process is detected, the determined lighting range by a correction value.