Automatic headlamp control

• US 8,376,595 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Higgins-Luthman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hines, Anne
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAZ, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US12/781,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20110280026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 362464-467, 362/508, 362512-515, 362523-537, 362/386, 362/802, 701/36, 701/49, 340600-601, 340/962, 340580-583
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• 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 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/146 Abnormalities, e.g. fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/33 Driving situation
• 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: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/54 using gas, e.g. hot air
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle which has an image sensor having a forward field of view that captures image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The image processor processes the image data and detects objects of interest. A controller is responsive to the image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle. The controller is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at the image sensor and is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

Claims

1. An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle, said automatic headlamp control system comprising:

an image sensor having a forward field of view and capturing image data of a scene forward of the vehicle;

an image processor processing said image data and detecting objects of interest;

a control responsive to said image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at said image sensor, and wherein operation of said control to detect an at least partial blocking condition is at least in part responsive to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level; and

wherein said control is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

2. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said control switches said beam illumination state of the vehicle headlamps between a lower beam illumination state and a higher beam illumination state in response to said image processing.

3. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 2, wherein said control is operable to limit switching to said higher beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

4. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to recognize an end of line testing situation of the equipped vehicle and is operable to limit blockage detection during the end of line testing situation.

5. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to limit generating a blockage detection signal in response to a detection that is indicative of the equipped vehicle being tested at an end of line testing station at a vehicle manufacturing facility.

6. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to limit switching to said different beam illumination state in response to a detection of a driving condition that is indicative of the equipped vehicle driving along a substantial curve in the road.

7. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to detect a construction zone at the road on which the equipped vehicle is traveling and to adjust the beam illumination state of the headlamps responsive to detection of the construction zone.

8. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level, said control switches to a cold weather processing algorithm.

9. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level that is at or near a freezing temperature, said control switches to a cold weather processing algorithm to enhance detection of snow or ice at said image sensor.

10. An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle, said automatic headlamp control system comprising:

an image sensor having a forward field of view and capturing image data of a scene forward of the vehicle;

an image processor processing said image data to detect an object of interest present in the forward field of view of said image sensor;

a control responsive to said image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at said image sensor; and

wherein, responsive to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level, said control switches to a cold weather processing algorithm to detect at least a partial blocking condition at said image sensor.

11. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 10, wherein said control switches said beam illumination state of the vehicle headlamps between a lower beam illumination state and a higher beam illumination state in response to said image processing.

12. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 11, wherein said control is operable to limit switching to said higher beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

13. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 10, wherein said control is operable to recognize an end of line testing situation of the equipped vehicle and is operable to limit blockage detection during the end of line testing situation.

14. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 10, wherein at least one of (i) said control is operable to limit switching to said different beam illumination state in response to a detection of a driving condition that is indicative of the equipped vehicle driving along a substantial curve in the road, and (ii) said control is operable to detect a construction zone at the road on which the equipped vehicle is traveling and to adjust the beam illumination state of the headlamps responsive to detection of the construction zone.

15. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 10, wherein said control is operable to limit switching of the beam illumination state of the headlamps at least in part responsive to the outside temperature at the equipped vehicle.

16. An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle, said automatic headlamp control system comprising:

an image sensor having a forward field of view and capturing image data of a scene forward of the vehicle;

an image processor processing said image data to detect an object of interest present in the forward field of view of said image sensor;

a control responsive to said image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle, wherein said control switches said beam illumination state of the headlamps between a first beam illumination state and a second beam illumination state in response to said image processing;

wherein said control is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at said image sensor; and

wherein, responsive to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level that is at or near a freezing temperature, said control switches to a cold weather processing algorithm to enhance detection of snow or ice at said image sensor.

17. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 16, wherein said first beam illumination state comprises a higher beam illumination state and said second beam illumination state comprises a lower beam illumination state.

18. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 17, wherein said control is operable to limit switching to said higher beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.

19. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 16, wherein said control is operable to recognize an end of line testing situation of the equipped vehicle and is operable to limit blockage detection during the end of line testing situation.

20. The automatic headlamp control system of claim 16, wherein said control is operable to limit switching of said beam illumination state in response to a detection of a driving condition that is indicative of the equipped vehicle driving along a substantial curve in the road.