Vehicle headlight detection system

• US 8,946,990 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Balkishan Malay
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don
• Application Number:
  US14/075,689
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 250/208.2, 340/435, 340/438
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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 2300/47 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: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle headlight detection system includes a vehicle sensor, a light sensor, and a controller. The vehicle sensor is configured to detect a remote vehicle approaching the vehicle sensor. The light sensor is configured to detect a light output of the remote vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine, based on the light output detected by the light sensor, whether the light output of the remote vehicle meets a predetermined minimum condition when the vehicle sensor detects the remote vehicle, and programmed to communicate with an indicator to notify a driver of the remote vehicle when the light output of the remote vehicle does not meet the predetermined minimum condition.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlight detection system comprising:

a vehicle sensor configured to detect a remote vehicle approaching the vehicle sensor;

a light sensor configured to detect a light output of the remote vehicle; and

a controller programmed to determine, based on the light output detected by the light sensor, whether the light output of the remote vehicle meets a predetermined minimum condition when the vehicle sensor detects the remote vehicle, and programmed to communicate with an indicator to notify a driver of the remote vehicle when the light output of the remote vehicle does not meet the predetermined minimum condition.

2. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 1, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicating that the light output of the remote vehicle does not meet the predetermined minimum condition.

3. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to the remote vehicle so as to automatically activate a headlight of the remote vehicle.

4. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to the remote vehicle, the indicator is an audible indicator, and, upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the remote vehicle is configured to activate the audible indicator.

5. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to an adjacent vehicle traveling adjacent to the remote vehicle,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the adjacent vehicle is configured to activate the visible indicator so as to be perceivable by an occupant of the remote vehicle.

6. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to an electronic road sign,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the electronic road sign is configured to activate the visible indicator so as to be perceivable by an occupant of the remote vehicle.

7. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to the remote vehicle,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the remote vehicle is configured to activate the visible indicator.

8. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the vehicle headlight detection system is disposed in a host vehicle,

the vehicle sensor is further configured to detect an adjacent vehicle traveling adjacent to the remote vehicle in an opposite direction of both the remote vehicle and the host vehicle,

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to the adjacent vehicle,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the adjacent vehicle is configured to activate the visible indicator so as to be perceivable by an occupant of the remote vehicle.

9. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 1, further comprising

a global positioning system (GPS) configured to determine a number of traveling lanes of a road on which the remote vehicle is traveling, with the controller being configured to activate the vehicle headlight detection system only when the GPS determines that the number of traveling lanes is two or more in a direction of travel of the remote vehicle.

10. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the light sensor is configured to take multiple readings within a predetermined period of time while the controller determines the light output of the remote vehicle.

11. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the indicator is a visible indicator.

12. A vehicle headlight detection system comprising:

a vehicle sensor configured to detect one of a remote vehicle approaching a host vehicle equipped with the vehicle headlight detection system or the host vehicle approaching the remote vehicle;

a light sensor configured to detect a light output of the remote vehicle;

a controller programmed to determine, based on the light output detected by the light sensor, whether the light output of the remote vehicle meets a predetermined minimum condition when the vehicle sensor detects the remote vehicle; and

an indicator configured to notify a driver of the remote vehicle that the predetermined minimum condition is not met.

13. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 12, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicating that the light output of the remote vehicle does not meet the predetermined minimum condition.

14. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to the remote vehicle so as to automatically activate a headlight of the remote vehicle.

15. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to an adjacent vehicle traveling adjacent to the remote vehicle,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the adjacent vehicle is configured to activate the visible indicator so as to be perceivable by an occupant of the remote vehicle.

16. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal to an electronic road sign,

the indicator is a visible indicator, and

upon receipt of the signal from the transmitter, the electronic road sign is configured to activate the visible indicator so as to be perceivable by an occupant of the remote vehicle.

17. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 12, wherein

the indicator is a light on a rear quarter panel of the host vehicle.

18. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 12, further comprising

a global positioning system (GPS) configured to determine a number of traveling lanes of a road on which the host vehicle is traveling, with the controller being configured to activate the vehicle headlight detection system only when the GPS determines that the number of traveling lanes is two or more in a direction of travel of the host vehicle.

19. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 12, wherein

the light sensor is configured to take multiple readings within a predetermined period of time while the controller determines the light output of the remote vehicle.

20. The vehicle headlight detection system according to claim 12, wherein

the light sensor is mounted on an instrument panel of the host vehicle and is configured to automatically operate headlamps of the host vehicle based on ambient lighting conditions.