DE102017203528A1 - Method and device for operating a lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an illumination system (102), the method comprising a step of determining a light demand signal (112) representing a light requirement in at least one area (110) and a step of providing a lighting signal (114) for driving at least one headlight (104) of the illumination system (102) using the light demand signal (112) to illuminate the area (110).

Description

State of the art

The invention is based on a device or a method according to the preamble of the independent claims. The subject of the present invention is also a computer program.

A work machine has work lights for illuminating a work environment of the work machine. The worklights are aligned so that the working environment is evenly illuminated.

Disclosure of the invention

Against this background, the method presented here introduces a method for operating a lighting system, furthermore a device which uses this method, and finally a corresponding computer program according to the main claims. The measures listed in the dependent claims advantageous refinements and improvements of the independent claim device are possible.

An operator of a work machine generally looks to where he is currently executing a task or is driving or running. Therefore, it is advantageous to illuminate a currently edited area well. But other areas can be illuminated less or not at all.

• Bestimmen eines einen Lichtbedarf in zumindest einem Areal repräsentierenden Lichtbedarfssignals; und
• Bereitstellen eines Beleuchtungssignals zum Ansteuern zumindest eines Scheinwerfers des Beleuchtungssystems unter Verwendung des Lichtbedarfssignals, um das Areal auszuleuchten.

A method for operating an illumination system is presented, the method comprising the following steps:

• Determining a light demand signal representing a light requirement in at least one area; and
• Providing an illumination signal for driving at least one headlight of the illumination system using the light demand signal to illuminate the area.

Under a light requirement, a light deficit can be understood. To work a minimum light intensity may be desired. An area can be a defined area. For example, the area may include a working position of a work machine. The area can also include the working position of a person. A work machine may be, for example, a construction vehicle, such as a wheel loader, an excavator, a crane, or a bulldozer. Likewise, the work machine may be an agricultural vehicle such as a combine harvester or a tractor. Also, the work machine may be a special vehicle, such as a snowcat. A headlamp can have at least one light source and one optical system. The headlight may have a directional radiation characteristic. The lighting system can be arranged offset from the working machine. For example, the lighting system may be stationary or attached to a mobile device. The area may also extend around a stationary danger spot or a stationary implement.

The area may be determined using a position of at least one user of the lighting system and a user's line of sight vector. In particular, the area may be determined using a head position of the user and the line of sight vector. A user may be, for example, an operator of a work machine or a worker in an area of the lighting system. This can be lit up where the user is looking.

The line of sight vector may be determined using a head orientation and / or an eye orientation of the user. The line of sight is in good agreement with the orientation of the head and / or the orientation of the eyes. By detecting the Kopforientierung and / or eye orientation can be quickly and easily closed to the line of sight. The eye orientation offers a high directional accuracy. The head orientation can be detected quickly.

The line of sight vector may be determined using a camera signal of a user-directed camera. The camera can also be an infrared camera. On camera images, a head movement and / or eye movement can be easily detected.

The line of sight vector can be determined using at least one marker arranged in the camera signal and arranged on a headgear of the user. A marker can be for example an embroidery or an application. The marker may have a contrasting color to a background color. The marker can be reflective. Several markers on the headgear give a characteristic movement picture. From the moving image, the head orientation can be easily detected. Headgear with markers allows different people to head for the lighting system as long as they wear headgear with similar or identical markers.

The illumination signal may be provided to a spotlight directed to the area. Alternatively or additionally, the Illumination signal are provided for a directional drive of a headlight which can be aligned with the area. For fixed headlamps, the lighting system may include an array of differently aligned headlamps. The headlights of the individual headlights may overlap, at least in peripheral areas. In a moving headlight, at least one axis may be rotatable. Thus, a design-related angle range can be illuminated. The headlight can also be gimbal mounted. Thus, the headlamp can be moved around two transversely aligned axes.

This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control unit.

The approach presented here also creates a device that is designed to perform the steps of a variant of a method presented here in appropriate facilities to drive or implement. Also by this embodiment of the invention in the form of a device, the object underlying the invention can be solved quickly and efficiently.

For this purpose, the device may comprise at least one computing unit for processing signals or data, at least one memory unit for storing signals or data, at least one interface to a sensor or an actuator for reading sensor signals from the sensor or for outputting data or control signals to the sensor Actuator and / or at least one communication interface for reading or outputting data embedded in a communication protocol. The arithmetic unit may be, for example, a signal processor, a microcontroller or the like, wherein the memory unit may be a flash memory, an EEPROM or a magnetic memory unit. The communication interface can be designed to read or output data wirelessly and / or by line, wherein a communication interface that can read or output line-bound data, for example, electrically or optically read this data from a corresponding data transmission line or output in a corresponding data transmission line.

In the present case, a device can be understood as meaning an electrical device which processes sensor signals and outputs control and / or data signals in dependence thereon. The device may have an interface, which may be formed in hardware and / or software. In the case of a hardware-based embodiment, the interfaces can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which contains a wide variety of functions of the device. However, it is also possible that the interfaces are their own integrated circuits or at least partially consist of discrete components. In a software training, the interfaces may be software modules that are present, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules.

Also of advantage is a computer program product or computer program with program code which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and for carrying out, implementing and / or controlling the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described above is used, especially when the program product or program is executed on a computer or a device.

• 1 ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zum Betreiben eines Beleuchtungssystems gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben eines Beleuchtungssystems gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the approach presented here are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a block diagram of an apparatus for operating a lighting system according to an embodiment; and
• 2 a flowchart of a method for operating a lighting system according to an embodiment.

In the following description of favorable embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and similar acting, with a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a block diagram of a device 100 for operating a lighting system 102 according to an embodiment. The lighting system 102 Here, for example, has three differently aligned headlights 104 or lamps 104 on. Light cone of the headlights 104 overlap in marginal areas. The lighting system 102 is part of a work machine, for example. Then the headlights 104 Worklight of the working machine.

The device 100 is with the lighting system 102 connected and has a device 106 for determining and a device 108 to deploy. The device 106 for determining is designed to a light requirement in an area to be illuminated 110 to determine and in a light request signal 112 map. The Facility 108 for providing is designed using the light demand signal 112 a lighting signal 114 for driving the headlights 104 of the lighting system 102 provide to the area 110 to illuminate.

Here is the area 110 in a working environment of the working machine. An operator 116 For example, the work machine in a cab of the work machine selects the area 110 out by looking at the area 110 looks. The area 110 is by a head position 118 of the operator 116 and a line of sight vector 120 identified. The line of sight vector 120 can be done using an eye orientation and / or using a head orientation of the operator 116 be determined. This is a camera 122 to the head position 118 of the operator 116 directed. The camera 120 at least forms the head of the operator 116 in a camera signal 124 from. In the camera signal 124 The head orientation and / or the eye orientation is also shown here. The camera 122 is directed, for example, in an interior of the cabin.

The device 106 for determining, the camera signal reads 122 and determines the head position 118 as well as the line of sight vector 120 , From the head position 118 from the points of view vector 120 directly on the area to be illuminated 110 , The area to be illuminated 110 is due to the light demand signal 112 characterized.

The device 108 for providing chooses the headlight in the illustrated embodiment 104 out, the area 110 best illuminates and activates it via the illumination signal 114 , If the area 110 is larger than a headlight cone of the headlight 104 , chooses the device 108 for providing at least one further at least partially to the area 110 directed headlights 104 and activates it as well.

In one embodiment, the area 110 surrounding area by the facility 108 illuminated for providing with a reduced brightness. These are directed to the area headlights 104 of the lighting system 102 via the illumination signal 114 activated and operated at reduced power.

When the line of sight vector 120 changes because the operator 116 moving the head and / or the eyes, a position of the area changes 110 , This also changes the light demand signal 112 and via the illumination signal 114 is at least one other headlight 104 driven to the new area 110 illuminate.

In one embodiment, the headlight 104 which has illuminated the previous area 110, left bright for a holding time. Thus, the user 116 can define an area to be illuminated via head movements and / or eye movements, which remains bright as long as he regularly surveys the area.

In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 at least one angularly movable headlight 104 on. The headlight 104 can be executed analogously to a searchlight. The headlight 104 has a drive in at least one axis. Here is the drive by the illumination signal 114 driven to the headlight 104 to align with area 110. Through a moving headlight 104 can the light cone of the headlight 104 the line of sight vector 120 follow directly. The moving headlight 104 Can also be used in combination with immovable headlamps 104 be used.

In one embodiment, the camera 122 alternatively or in addition to the head or eyes a headgear 126 of the operator 116 detected. The headgear 126 may be, for example, a cap, a cap or a helmet. The headgear 126 has at least one marker 128 on. The marker 128 may be, for example, an embroidery, an application. By headgear 126 and markers 128 Different people can use the machine as long as they have the headgear 126 with the marker 128 wear. The marker 128 always sits in a similar position on the head when the headgear 126 will be carried. Through the image of the marker in the camera signal 124 can the line of sight vector 120 be detected and so closed on the area to be illuminated 110.

In other words, a worklight control is presented via a sight line detection.

The viewing direction detection can be done by camera 122 respectively. For this purpose, a so-called personalization, that is, a face recognition and a teaching of the line of sight take place beforehand 120 the person 116 , For example, the typical facial features are first searched for and recognized. Then the person to be learned fixes 116 a symbol or a dot on the display with her gaze. The symbol or point is then moved over the display area several times.

This training process is for each person 116 once required on the respective system / vehicle. In the operation of the system, this recognizes the specific person 116 and may be due to the personalized learning data the line of sight 120 Assign to a position on the display with millimeter precision.

The camera used 122 , For example, an infrared camera, and the display are positioned defined to each other. The geometric calibration of the system can be done at the end of the tape by training with a chessboard. The cabin itself does not matter. It also compensates for manufacturing tolerances. For each additional display in the vehicle, another camera 122 be used.

With the recognition of the viewing direction 120 and associated position, for example, on a display so-called gaze controls can be implemented. That is, where the driver is going 116 looking at the display, so the direction of view as a pointer, this can be used for the operation of infotainment such as the selection of call lists or maps. Optionally confirmation inputs are possible, for example via push buttons or acoustic or interpretations of eyelid movements.

Face and sight detection can be used for attention and fatigue detection.

In the case of a driver's cab, which has been specially developed for construction machinery, the operating data of the vehicle can be analyzed on a tablet display on the driver's workstation to the second. More specifically, as any rear-view mirror could, ultrasound and video sensors monitor the environment of the vehicle to prevent downtime due to accidents.

In a networked construction site, vehicles and / or machines and / or tools on the construction site are provided with transmitters which permit geographic localization and / or identification and / or vehicle / machine-specific data and / or driver / operator-specific data to be transmitted. Not only can these be found very quickly, but construction site management can be further optimized.

At night or in poor visibility conditions work lights are on construction sites 104 used on or on the vehicles and equipment. Thus, in particular the work areas are sufficiently visible and thus given the conditions for work accuracy and safety. The Schweinwerfer 104 are supplied via the electrical system of the vehicle or the working machine, whereby the lighting power and the illuminated areas are limited. In addition, the electrical consumption corresponds to a fuel consumption that the operator wants to minimize.

Here a consumption-optimized lighting control of machines is presented while fulfilling the requirements on working accuracy and occupational safety.

This is done on the basis of sight line detection 106 a controller 108 the worklight 104 of machines. In this case, in the current viewing direction 120 of the machine operator 116 or in a typical or learned field of vision 110 the environment will be illuminated. Furthermore, it can be recognized in the central and distributed networked construction site management which vehicles / machines or even persons in the environment are active and also these areas are illuminated.

This makes it possible to optimize the efficiency of machines.

The view direction recognition 106 the operator is using the controller 108 the worklight 104 coupled on the working machine. The control 108 includes both switching on and off one or more worklights 104 , as well as moving work lights 104 the position control with respect to the angle and the direction of the light cone.

To avoid an abrupt change in the lighting conditions is a dimmed switching on and off the headlights 104 possible.

Likewise, the Schweinwerfer 104 not completely deactivated but dimmed, for example by a lower PWM rate.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ambient area 110 is illuminated in the direction of the currently recognized viewing direction 120 , This is particularly suitable for work machines in which the driver 116 not just looking in one direction. For example, he looks on the one hand on the operation of the blade and looks for material intake already in the direction of the unloading, such as the bed of a transport vehicle.

Changes the driver 116 For example, when maneuvering constantly the viewing direction 120, it may be possible that changing the illumination is not useful. In this case, for example, a half-side illumination of the machine can be done. Both sides can have half the number of lights.

The perception of the eye includes not only the area of the viewing direction 120 but also adjacent areas. Thus, especially with multiple worklights 104 with small light cones a past often used as recognized viewing angle area 110 be constantly lit. Is recognized that the learned line of sight 110 in one part has not been used for a long time, then this is no longer lit.

In one embodiment, viewing direction areas of other machines are illuminated without working lights. Provided the other machine within reach of your own machine also has a line of sight recognition, then the work lights 104 used to illuminate the viewing direction ranges of other machines. This approach can be used when the other machine has no work lights or work lights with sufficient illumination. The information is transmitted via a "networked construction site".

The worklights 104 may be arranged on fixed local carriers. Do the vehicles have no or insufficient work lights 104 , then the sum of all lines of sight or viewing direction ranges 110 of all machines in the radiation area of a radiation carrier 102 the individual worklights 104 switch on and off accordingly.

If positions of persons and / or tools on a construction site are known, these can also be illuminated by mobile or fixed worklights 104.

The embodiments described here can analogously be transferred to vehicles / machines / tools and drivers / operators in agriculture, for example in one field.

Due to difficult geometric conditions in a cab or constantly changing drivers 116 where learning to a driver 116 is impractical, the system can be assisted by auxiliaries. For example, a cap 126 that the driver 116 carries, used. A printed symbol / emblem 128 makes the system possible the viewing direction 120 easier to recognize.

2 FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a method for operating an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment. The method can be used, for example, on a device such as that described in US Pat 1 is shown executed. The method has one step 200 determining and a step 202 of providing. In step ( 200 ) of determining, a light demand signal representing a light requirement in at least one area is determined. In step ( 202 ) of providing, a lighting signal is provided for driving at least one light source of the lighting system using the lighting demand signal to illuminate the area.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, then this is to be read so that the embodiment according to one embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment either only first feature or only the second feature.

Claims (11)

A method of operating an illumination system (102), the method comprising the steps of: Determining (200) a light demand signal (112) representing a light requirement in at least one area (110); and Providing (202) an illumination signal (114) for driving at least one headlight (104) of the illumination system (102) using the light demand signal (112) to illuminate the area (110). Method according to Claim 1 in which, in step (200) of determining, the area (110) is determined using a position (118) of at least one user (116) of the illumination system (102) and a gaze vector (120) of the user (116). Method according to Claim 2 in which, in step (200) of determining, the gaze vector (120) is determined using a head orientation of the user (116). Method according to one of Claims 2 to 3 in which, in step (200) of determining, the gaze vector (120) is determined using an eye orientation of the user (116). Method according to one of Claims 2 to 4 in which, in the step of determining (200), the line of sight vector (120) is determined using a camera signal (124) of a camera (122) directed to the user (116). Method according to Claim 5 in which, in step (200) of determining, the line of sight vector (120) is determined using at least one marker (128) imaged on the headgear (126) of the user (116) imaged in the camera signal (124). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which, in the step (202) of providing, the illumination signal (114) is provided for a headlight (104) aligned with the area (110). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the step (202) of providing the illumination signal (114) for a directional drive of a spotlight (104) which can be aligned on the area (110) is provided. Apparatus (100) arranged to execute steps of the method according to any preceding claim in respective units. Computer program adapted to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims. Machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program is based Claim 10 is stored.

Images