Vehicle headlight control

• US 9,744,902 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dziurda, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DON P
• Application Number:
  US14/947,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 315 82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling headlight systems of vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle comprises a headlight system, a processor, and a sensor unit. The processor is configured to at least facilitate transmitting one or more light images with an identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system. The sensor unit is configured to receive one or more light images. The processor is further configured to at least facilitate determining whether one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic, and taking an action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting one or more light images with an identifiable characteristic from a vehicle via a headlight system of the vehicle, wherein the step of transmitting the one or more light images comprises transmitting the one or more light images with a modulated frequency from the vehicle via the headlight system of the vehicle;

determining whether one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic, wherein the step of determining whether one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic comprises determining whether one or more received light images have the modulated frequency; and

taking an action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic, wherein the step of taking the action comprises taking the action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the modulated frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of transmitting the one or more light images further comprises transmitting a plurality of light images with a known pattern from the vehicle via the headlight system of the vehicle;

the step of determining whether one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic further comprises determining whether a plurality of received light images have the known pattern; and

the step of taking the action further comprises taking the action based at least on part on whether the plurality of received light images have the known pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

tracking the known pattern as the plurality of light images are transmitted; and

if the plurality of received light images have the known pattern, determining whether the plurality of received light images are consistent with the tracking of the known pattern;

wherein the step of taking the action comprises taking the action based also at least on part on whether the plurality of received light images are consistent with the tracking of the known pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the headlight system is configured to operate in a first setting, in which light images are transmitted with a first level of intensity with respect to a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and a second setting, in which light images are transmitted with a second level of intensity with respect to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, the second level of intensity being greater than the first level of intensity;

the step of transmitting the one or more light images comprises transmitting the one or more light images with the identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system while the headlight system is operating in the second setting; and

the step of taking the action comprises;

continuing to operate the headlight system in the second setting if the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic;

operating the headlight system in the first setting, instead of the second setting, if the one or more received light images do not have the identifiable characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle;

wherein the step of transmitting the one or more light images comprises transmitting the one or more light images with the identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system, after the one or more other vehicles are detected in proximity to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle;

wherein the step of taking the action comprises;

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are not powered on if the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic; and

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are powered on if the one or more received light images do not have the identifiable characteristic.

7. A system comprising:

a processor configured to at least facilitate transmitting one or more light images with a modulated frequency from a vehicle via a headlight system of the vehicle; and

a sensor unit configured to receive one or more light images;

wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate;

determining whether one or more received light images have the modulated frequency; and

taking an action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the modulated frequency.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

transmitting a plurality of light images with a known pattern from the vehicle via the headlight system;

determining whether a plurality of received light images have the known pattern; and

taking the action based at least on part on whether the plurality of received light images have the known pattern.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

tracking the known pattern as the plurality of light images are transmitted;

if the plurality of received light images have the known pattern, determining whether the plurality of received light images are consistent with the tracking of the known pattern; and

taking the action based also at least on part on whether the plurality of received light images are consistent with the tracking of the known pattern.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the headlight system is configured to operate in a first setting, in which light images are transmitted with a first level of intensity with respect to a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and a second setting, in which light images are transmitted with a second level of intensity with respect to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, the second level of intensity being greater than the first level of intensity; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate;

transmitting the one or more light images with the modulated frequency from the vehicle via the headlight system while the headlight system is operating in the second setting; and

continuing to operate the headlight system in the second setting if the one or more received light images have the modulated frequency; and

operating the headlight system in the first setting, instead of the second setting, if the one or more received light images do not have the modulated frequency.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate transmitting the one or more light images with the modulated frequency from the vehicle via the headlight system, after the one or more other vehicles are detected in proximity to the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate;

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are not powered on if the one or more received light images have the modulated frequency; and

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are powered on if the one or more received light images do not have the modulated frequency.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a headlight system;

a processor configured to at least facilitate transmitting one or more light images with an identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system; and

a sensor unit configured to receive one or more light images vehicle and to at least facilitate detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate;

determining whether one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic;

taking an action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic, wherein the taking the action comprises;

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are not powered on if the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic; and

determining that the one or more other vehicles'"'"' lights are powered on if the one or more received light images do not have the identifiable characteristic.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

transmitting a plurality of light images with a known pattern from the vehicle via the headlight system;

determining whether a plurality of received light images have the known pattern; and

taking the action based at least on part on whether the plurality of received light images have the known pattern.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

transmitting the one or more light images with a modulated frequency from the vehicle via the headlight system;

determining whether one or more received light images have the modulated frequency; and

taking the action based at least on part on whether the one or more received light images have the modulated frequency.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the headlight system is configured to operate in a first setting, in which light images are transmitted with a first level of intensity with respect to a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and a second setting, in which light images are transmitted with a second level of intensity with respect to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, the second level of intensity being greater than the first level of intensity; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate;

transmitting the one or more light images with the identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system while the headlight system is operating in the second setting; and

continuing to operate the headlight system in the second setting if the one or more received light images have the identifiable characteristic; and

operating the headlight system in the first setting, instead of the second setting, if the one or more received light images do not have the identifiable characteristic.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate detecting one or more other vehicles in proximity to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate transmitting the one or more light images with the identifiable characteristic from the vehicle via the headlight system, after the one or more other vehicles are detected in proximity to the vehicle.