System and method for electronic adaptive front-lighting

• US 8,080,942 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Heider, Christian, Diaz, Luis Sampedro
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US12/392,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 362/459, 362/487, 362/516, 362/543, 362/545, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

A system and method relates to electronic adaptive front-lighting of a vehicle, including at least one fixed solid state light source. The fixed solid state light source is configured to illuminate a front peripheral region of a vehicle. In addition, the fixed solid state light source is integrated with a daytime running light module of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for electronic adaptive front-lighting of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one fixed solid state light source configured to illuminate a front peripheral region of a vehicle, and

a control unit configured to independently control the at least one fixed solid state light source, and configured to vary an intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source based on an angle at which an overall light distribution is to be directed;

wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source is integrated with a daytime running light module of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes at least one light emitting diode.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an optical element configured to provide a smooth light distribution.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the optical element includes at least one of:

(a) a reflector, and (b) a lens.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes a plurality of fixed light sources.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources are arranged at least one of:

(a) vertically, (b) horizontally, (c) diagonally, (d) in a straight line, and (e) in a curved line.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein each fixed light source is configured to illuminate a different front peripheral region of the vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein each fixed light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to independently control the at least one fixed solid state light source based on at least one of:

(a) a particular driving situation, (b) a vehicle speed, (c) a steering wheel angle, (d) a proximity to other vehicles, (e) a selected driving program, (f) an actuation of an input device, and (g) road characteristics.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the varying intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source includes at least one of:

(a) automatic dimming, (b) comfort dimming, (c) steep dynamic dimming, (d) smooth dynamic dimming, and (e) individually defined dimming modes.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to be at least one of:

(a) automatically activated, and (b) manually activated.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to be automatically activated based on at least one of:

(a) haptic feedback of a steering wheel, (b) haptic feedback of pedals, (c) haptic feedback of a vehicle suspension, and (d) engine behavior.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to be manually activated based on at least one of:

(a) a dedicated switch, and (b) a dedicated menu of vehicle controls.

15. A method for electronic adaptive front-lighting of a vehicle, comprising:

illuminating, by at least one fixed solid state light source, a front peripheral region of a vehicle; and

independently controlling, by a control unit, the at least one fixed solid state light source;

wherein the control unit varies an intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source based on an angle at which an overall light distribution is to be directed; and

wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source is integrated with a daytime running light module of the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing, by an optical element, a smooth light distribution.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes a plurality of fixed light sources.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources are arranged at least one of:

(a) vertically, (b) horizontally, (c) diagonally, (d) in a straight line, and (e) in a curved line.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources each illuminates a different front peripheral region of the vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources each shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit independently controls the at least one fixed solid state light source based on at least one of:

(a) a particular driving situation, (b) a vehicle speed, (c) a steering wheel angle, (d) a proximity to other vehicles, (e) a selected driving program, (f) an actuation of an input device, and (g) road characteristics.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit varies the intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source by at least one of:

(a) automatic dimming, (b) comfort dimming, (c) steep dynamic dimming, (d) smooth dynamic dimming, and (e) individually defined dimming modes.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is at least one of:

(a) automatically activated, and (b) manually activated.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit is automatically activated based on at least one of:

(a) haptic feedback of a steering wheel, (b) haptic feedback of pedals, (c) haptic feedback of a vehicle suspension, and (d) engine behavior.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit is manually activated based on at least one of:

(a) a dedicated switch, and (b) a dedicated menu of vehicle controls.