DE102008058386A1 - Method for controlling headlamps, involves detecting environment of motor vehicle and interpreting environment for object recognition, where light distribution of headlamp is adjusted depending on recognized object - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting the environment of a motor vehicle (2) and interpreting the environment for object recognition. The light distribution of the headlamps (30,40) is adjusted depending on a recognized object to individually illuminate the detected object. The objects to be recognized are divided in a hazard class and the recognized object is assigned one of the hazard classes. The individual illumination of the recognized object is realized depending on the assigned hazard class. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) an arrangement for controlling a headlamp; (2) a computer program with program code unit for executing the headlamp controlling method; and (3) a computer program product with a program code unit, which is stored in a computer readable medium.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle headlight according to the preamble of claim 1, a corresponding Arrangement for carrying out the method, and a corresponding Computer program and a corresponding computer program product.

A conventional device for controlling the lighting of a Vehicle carried by a lighting unit is based on a detected vehicle environment, includes at least an environment detection sensor, whose information for setting a light distribution of the corresponding vehicle headlights be evaluated. Modern vehicle headlights can a plurality of LED light sources, which in at least a common light-emitting light source matrix summarized are. To achieve a desired light distribution of the light Set light source matrix, the individual LED light sources usually controlled individually by a light control device, d. H. the brightness levels of each LED light source will be from the light control unit depending on the desired Given light distribution. So can for front lights the light functions dipped beam, main beam, position light, fog light, Flashing light etc. by different light distributions and / or light source matrices be implemented.

In the patent EP 1 506 893 B1 For example, a motor vehicle with an environment detection device is described, which comprises a detection means and a means for analyzing the information given by the detection means for determining an object located in the vehicle environment. In addition, a control device is provided which, depending on the determination result, activates a lighting device in such a way that the determined object is individually illuminated, wherein the means for analysis is designed to determine any immovable and movable objects. In addition, a further device for environment detection is provided, which comprises a further detection means whose information is processed by the or a further analysis means for verifying the object determined via the first environment detection device or the first detection means, wherein the detection means operate in different wavelength ranges. At least one detection means is implemented as a camera operating in the wavelength range of visible light, and at least one optionally further detection means operates outside the wavelength range of the visible light. The object detection described is not limited to immovable objects, so that in addition to an immovable object, such as a lying on the road immovable object, even moving objects such as pedestrians, animals, cyclists, etc., which are relatively difficult to see are usually detected can. The analysis means determine the position or angle coordinates of the detected object with respect to the vehicle, on the basis of which the light control takes place in order to individually illuminate the detected object. As a lighting device, any known for vehicles lighting, such as separate adjustable light sources in the form of incandescent or LED headlights with individually controllable LED light sources, etc., can be used.

task The invention is a method and arrangement for driving a vehicle headlight, and a corresponding computer program and to provide a corresponding computer program product that allow individual lighting of an object recognized as a hazard and reduce the risk to other road users and increase traffic safety.

The The invention solves this problem by providing a Method for controlling a vehicle headlight with the features of claim 1 and an arrangement for driving a Vehicle headlight with the features of claim 13, and a corresponding computer program with the features of Patent claim 15 and a computer program product with the features of claim 16.

advantageous Embodiments and developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, objects to be recognized are classified into at least one hazard class, whereby a recognized object is assigned to one of the hazard classes, and an individual illumination of the detected object is performed as a function of the assigned hazard class. The corresponding arrangement for controlling a vehicle headlamp, which has an adjustable light distribution for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle, comprises an environment sensor system for detecting the surroundings of the vehicle and an evaluation and control unit, which evaluates information of the environment sensor system for object recognition. The evaluation and control unit adjusts a light distribution of the vehicle headlight as a function of a detected object in order to individually illuminate the detected object. According to the invention objects to be recognized are divided into at least one hazard class and stored in the evaluation and control unit, which detects the recognized object of the Assigns hazard classes and performs the individual lighting of the detected object depending on the associated hazard class. Due to the inventive individual lighting of the detected object as a function of the hazard class, the driver of the vehicle advantageously receives a hazard warning directly in the traffic area, ie without detours via an optical display unit. As a result, the reaction time can be shortened in an advantageous manner and a security gain can be achieved. In addition, it is advantageously possible to carry out a situation-adapted light distribution taking into account a potential reaction of a human or an animal. In conventional driving methods, it may happen, for example, that an animal is startled at the roadside by targeted lighting and runs on the roadway, so that the method according to the invention avoids direct illumination of an animal.

In Embodiment of the method according to the invention are visible through direct lighting with light from the visible Wavelength range to endangered object one assigned to the first hazard class. Through direct lighting to be informed with light from the visible wavelength range Objects are assigned to a second hazard class, and by a direct illumination with light from the visible wavelength range Non-endangered objects become a third hazard class assigned. In addition, moving objects to be detected becomes higher Hazard potential assigned as immobile objects to be detected. An object that is not clearly recognized becomes the first hazard class assigned.

at a recognized object assigned to the first hazard class is the individual lighting, for example, so executed be that direct illumination of the detected object with Light from the visible wavelength range avoided becomes. This may cause glare from oncoming traffic be avoided. In addition, by avoiding the direct lighting a roadside animal, such as a deer, a boar, etc., a frightening of the animal can be avoided. At a recognized Object assigned to the second hazard class can be the individual lighting, for example, be carried out so that a limited direct lighting with light from the visible wavelength range is performed and so a permanent direct illumination of the detected object avoided with light from the visible wavelength range becomes. The limited direct lighting with light from the visible wavelength range, for example a partial lighting only up to about the waistline and / or a flash and / or a stroboscopic direct illumination include an object recognized as a human. By the partial Illumination of the object recognized as a human being with light from the visible Wavelength range that only up to about Waist line is enough to avoid glare become. The flash and / or the stroboscopic lighting An object recognized as a human being can be considered part of an interaction used to be a pedestrian on the roadside and / or another oncoming road user, such as for example, a cyclist, motorcyclist, motor vehicle driver etc., confirms that he was recognized. At a recognized Object, for example, assigned to the third hazard class is, the individual lighting can be carried out in such a way that a permanent direct illumination of the detected object with visible light is performed. So can for example garbage cans, vehicles parked at the edge of the road, Objects on the roadway etc. can be lit directly to to alert the driver to the object to a collision to prevent.

In further embodiment of the method according to the invention the individual lighting of the object to be recognized becomes so executed that the recognized object marked by a danger marker becomes. For example, hazard marking can be used if the traffic space in front of the vehicle already lit with high beam becomes, so that recognized objects no longer only by a high beam spot In addition, it can be highlighted as this is still possible when switched on dipped beam. Furthermore the danger marking can be advantageously used to avoid dazzling other road users. The Hazard marking can be carried out, for example, that a luminous frame is placed around the detected object, without the detected object itself directly to illuminate. additionally or alternatively the hazard marking may be carried out in this way be that a blinking and / or a steady light pointer on the roadway is projected. Through these measures can the traffic safety can be further increased in an advantageous manner, because the driver has been alerted to the objects recognized by the system will endanger the other road users.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, flashing frequency and / or illuminance and / or color of the individual lighting can be set as a function of the danger class and / or the danger potential. Alternatively or additionally, the flashing frequency and / or the illuminance and / or the color of the individual illumination may be dependent on the relative speed of the vehicle and / or the detected object and / or on the distance of the detected object to the vehicle and / or be set by the distance of the detected object to the driving tube.

In Embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention the vehicle headlamp comprises at least one light-emitting Light source matrix with a plurality of LED light sources, the from the evaluation and control unit individually with a predetermined Brightness value are operable to the predetermined light distribution the light-emitting light source matrix and the individual Adjust the lighting of the detected object.

The The present invention can be used as a method, apparatus, computer program and / or realized as a computer program product. Corresponding The present invention may be considered hardware in its entirety and / or as software and / or as a combination of hardware and / or Software components are executed. In addition, the present Invention as a computer program product on a computer usable Storage medium with computer-readable program code executed using various computer-readable storage media such as hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical or magnetic storage elements, etc. used can be.

The For example, computer usable or computer readable media electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic infrared or Semiconductor systems, devices, devices or distribution media include. In addition, the computer-readable media a electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable one Computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a Read only memory (ROM), an erasable and programmable Read only memory (EPROM or flash memory, an optical line and a portable CD-ROM. The computer usable or the Computer readable medium can even be paper or another suitable one Medium on which the program is written and of which it, for example, by an optical scanning of the paper or of the other medium is electrically detectable, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed if necessary and then in Computer memory can be stored.

A advantageous embodiment of the invention is in the drawing and will be described below.

The single figure shows a block diagram of a lighting device for a vehicle.

As can be seen from the figure, the illumination device comprises 1 for a vehicle 2 an environment sensor 10 , an evaluation and control unit 20 and two vehicle headlights 30 . 40 each having a light-emitting light source matrix 32 . 42 comprising a plurality of LED light sources. To a predetermined light distribution of the light-emitting light source matrix 32 . 42 To set a light function, the individual LED light sources can be operated individually with a predetermined brightness value. So can for the vehicle headlights 30 . 40 For example, the light functions low beam, high beam, position light, fog light, flashing light, etc. are implemented by different light distributions and / or light source arrays. The evaluation and control unit 20 evaluates information for object recognition, that of the environmental sensors 10 be generated in the environment monitoring. Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit provides 20 a light distribution of the vehicle headlight 30 . 40 in response to a detected object to individually illuminate a detected object. The environmental sensor system has, for example, sensors that operate in the far IR light range, in the near IR light range, in the ultrasonic and / or high-frequency range. In addition, known from the prior art cameras for environment detection can be used, which operate in the visible wavelength range.

According to the invention objects to be recognized are divided into at least one hazard class, which in the evaluation and control unit 20 are stored. While carrying out the method according to the invention, the evaluation and control unit is arranged 20 the detected object to one of the hazard classes and performs the individual lighting of the detected object in dependence on the associated hazard class. Thus, for example, objects such as other road users or animals that can be endangered by direct illumination with light from the visible wavelength range, a first hazard class can be assigned. In the case of a recognized object assigned to the first hazard class, the evaluation and control unit is executed 20 the individual lighting so that a direct illumination of the detected object with light from the visible wavelength range is avoided.

Objects, such as pedestrians, cyclists, etc., to whom information may be transmitted by restricted direct illumination may be assigned to a second hazard class. In the case of a recognized object assigned to the second hazard class, the evaluation and control unit is executed 20 the individual lighting in such a way that a limited direct illumination is performed with light from the visible wavelength range. The evaluation and control unit 20 performs the limited direct illumination with light from the visible wavelength range rich, for example, by partial illumination only to about the waistline of an object recognized as a human. Additionally or alternatively confirms the evaluation and control unit 20 the object recognized as human by flashing and / or stroboscopic direct illumination with light from the visible wavelength range that it was recognized.

Objects such as vehicles parked at the roadside, trash cans, objects lying on the roadway, etc. that can not be endangered by direct illumination with visible light wavelengths are assigned to a third hazard class. In an identified object assigned to the third hazard class, the evaluation and control unit performs 20 the individual lighting in such a way that a permanent direct illumination of the detected object is carried out with light from the visible wavelength range.

Detects the evaluation and control unit 20 a movement of the detected object, so has the evaluation and control unit 20 the detected object to a higher risk potential, as a same stationary object. An object that is not clearly identified arranges the evaluation and control unit 20 the first hazard class too.

Additionally or alternatively, the evaluation and control unit 20 perform the individual lighting of the object to be recognized so that the recognized object is marked by a danger mark in the traffic space in front of the vehicle. For example, the danger marker may be implemented as a light frame that is placed around the detected object without directly illuminating it itself. Such a light frame can from the evaluation and control unit 20 be generated by a corresponding control of individual LED light sources. For example, LED light sources of the light source matrix 32 . 42 which directly illuminate the detected object, are driven or turned off with a low brightness value, and LED light sources which illuminate a limited area around the detected object are driven with a normal or high brightness value. In addition, the danger marking can be projected onto the road as a blinking and / or constant light pointer. This effect can likewise be achieved by a corresponding activation of corresponding LED light sources of the light source matrix 32 . 42 be generated.

In addition, the evaluation and control unit 20 to improve the perception flashing frequency and / or illuminance and / or color of the individual lighting depending on the hazard class and / or set the danger potential. Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit 20 the flashing frequency and / or the illuminance and / or the color of the individual illumination as a function of the relative speed of the vehicle 2 and / or the detected object and / or the distance of the detected object to the vehicle 2 and / or set from the distance of the detected object to the driving tube or change a set default.

During a trip without high beam, objects with a potential danger are usually outside of the vehicle headlights 30 . 40 illuminated traffic space in front of the vehicle 2 , So that a recognized object of the third danger class, for example, by a high beam spot, by a corresponding control of the LED light sources of the light source matrix 32 . 42 is generated, can be selectively illuminated. Detected potential danger objects from the first and / or second hazard class, such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, wild boars, etc. can be marked by the danger marker described above. In the case of objects recognized as human, an interaction can be established by the brief flash and / or the stroboscopic lighting, which can interpret the object recognized as a human being as confirmation that it has been recognized. When using the light source matrix 32 . 42 With LED light sources, a stroboscopic lighting can be easily realized by a corresponding control of the LED light sources.

While a drive with high beam, which is the traffic space in front of the vehicle At least partially illuminates with maximum brightness, it is requires a dazzling effect on an object recognized as a human being to avoid. Therefore, by a corresponding control the LED light sources corresponding areas in the traffic area before the vehicle is hidden or reduced in brightness. Also in this case can by the hazard marking described above achieved a considerable safety gain on the road become. Additionally, before fading the oncoming traffic a brief flash by switching off and on the corresponding LED light sources are running to the attention to increase the driver.

The present invention can be realized as a method, apparatus, computer program and / or as a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may be implemented entirely in hardware and / or software and / or a combination of hardware and / or software components. In addition, the present The invention can be performed as a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium with computer-readable program code, wherein various computer-readable storage media such as hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical or magnetic storage elements, etc. can be used. The computer usable or computer readable media may include, for example, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic infrared or semiconductor systems, devices, devices or distribution media. In addition, the computer-readable media may include an electrical connection to one or more lines, a portable computer disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable and programmable read only memory (EPROM or flash memory) The computer usable or computer readable medium may even be paper or other suitable medium on which the program is written and of which it is, for example by optical scanning of the paper or the other Medium is electrically detectable, then compiled, interpreted or if necessary processed in other ways and then stored in the computer memory.

By Embodiments of the present invention may be The driver of a vehicle without warning about the hazard warnings an optical display unit directly in the traffic area available be placed so that the reaction time is shortened and driving safety can be increased without other road users to endanger.

1

lighting device

2

vehicle

10

environment sensors

20

Light control unit

30 40

vehicle headlights

32 42

Light source matrix

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - EP 1506893 B1 [0003]

Claims (16)

Method for controlling a vehicle headlight, which has an adjustable light distribution for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle ( 2 ), wherein the environment of the vehicle ( 2 ) is detected and evaluated for object recognition, wherein the light distribution of the vehicle headlight ( 30 . 40 ) is set as a function of a recognized object in order to illuminate the detected object individually, characterized in that objects to be detected are classified into at least one hazard class, wherein the detected object is assigned to one of the hazard classes, and wherein the individual illumination of the detected object in Depending on the assigned hazard class is performed. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that by direct lighting with light from the visible Wavelength range to endangered object one first hazard class, being limited by a direct Illumination with light from the visible wavelength range Objects to be informed assigned to a second hazard class be, by direct illumination with light from the visible Wavelength range non-endangered objects be assigned to a third hazard class, and where moving objects to be detected are assigned a higher hazard potential, as immobile objects to be recognized. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that a not clearly recognized object of the first hazard class is assigned. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in a recognized the first hazard class assigned object the individual lighting so executed that is a direct illumination of the detected object with light is avoided from a visible wave range. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in a recognized the second Danger class assigned to the individual lighting is executed so that a limited direct Lighting performed with light from the visible wavelength range becomes. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that that the limited direct lighting with light off the visible wave area a partial illumination only until about the waistline and / or a flash and / or a stroboscopic direct illumination of a human detected object includes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in a recognized the third Danger class assigned to the individual lighting so running, that is a permanent direct lighting of the detected object with light from the visible wave range becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the individual illumination of the object to be detected is carried out so that the recognized object by a hazard marking in the traffic space in front of the vehicle ( 2 ) is marked. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that that the hazard marking is executed in such a way that Luminous frame is placed around the detected objects. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized that the hazard marking is executed in such a way that flashing and / or constant light pointer projected onto the roadway becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that flashing frequency and / or illuminance and / or color of the individual lighting depending set by the hazard class and / or the danger potential become. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the flashing frequency and / or the illuminance and / or the color of the individual illumination in dependence on the relative speed of the vehicle ( 2 ) and / or the detected object and / or the distance of the detected object to the vehicle ( 2 ) and / or from the distance of the detected object to the driving tube. Arrangement for controlling a vehicle headlamp, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 12, which has an adjustable light distribution for ambient illumination of the vehicle ( 2 ), wherein an environment sensor system ( 10 ) the environment of the vehicle ( 2 ) and an evaluation and control unit ( 20 ) Information of the environmental sensor system ( 10 ) evaluates for object recognition, wherein the evaluation and control unit ( 20 ) a light distribution of the vehicle headlight ( 30 . 40 ) in response to a detected object to individually illuminate the detected object, characterized in that objects to be detected are divided into at least one hazard class that in the evaluation and control unit ( 20 ) are stored, wherein the evaluation and control unit ( 20 ) assigns the detected object to one of the hazard classes, and wherein the evaluation and Control unit ( 20 ) performs the individual lighting of the detected object depending on the associated hazard class. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the vehicle headlight ( 30 . 40 ) at least one light-emitting light source matrix ( 32 . 42 ) comprising a plurality of LED light sources, which are provided by the evaluation and control unit ( 20 ) are individually operable with a predetermined brightness value to the predetermined light distribution of the light-emitting light source matrix ( 32 . 42 ) and adjust the individual illumination of the detected object. Computer program with program code means for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 12 by a computer system ( 20 ), if the program is executed by the computer system ( 20 ) is processed. A computer program product comprising program code means stored in a computer-readable medium for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, when the computer program product is stored on a computer system ( 20 ) is processed.