Method and system for storing light distribution of a matrix headlight system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for storing the light distribution of a matrix headlight system, wherein the matrix headlight system includes at least a first matrix light module, a control module and a memory unit, the method comprising: loading first control data for lighting elements of the first matrix light module for generating a first light distribution from the memory unit; feeding the first control data to a comparison module; loading second control data for lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for lighting elements of the second matrix light module for generating a second light distribution from the memory unit; feeding the second control data to the comparison module; comparing the first control data with the second control data; storing the first control data for the first light distribution if there is similarity or equality between the first control data and the second control data; and linking the second control data by means of a link with the first control data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for storing light distribution of a matrix headlight system. Background Art

[0002] So-called matrix headlight systems, typically consisting of two matrix headlights or matrix light modules, are increasingly being used in motor vehicles. These matrix headlights use multiple lighting elements as light sources, arranged in a matrix configuration. This creates a lighting matrix with selectively activatable or deactivatable lighting elements, whose light intensity can also be adjusted. This lighting matrix allows for a wide variety of lighting functions. For example, a glare-free high beam function is used to prevent oncoming road users from being dazzled by the activated high beam. Another lighting function is related to the specific lighting conditions in cities or on highways.

[0003] The control data for the light distribution of high-resolution headlights is created individually for each vehicle and stored in a memory unit or control unit at the end of production of the motor vehicle. To load and store data, each control unit typically includes a flash memory. The process of loading new software into a control unit is called flashing, and the software loaded into the control unit is called flashware.

[0004] The light distribution of a matrix headlight system is typically stored with up to 84 pixels and a depth resolution of 6 bits (i.e., 0 to 63 grayscale levels). This means that 10 light distributions of a matrix headlight system already require 1.2 kilobytes of memory space in the flash memory of the vehicle's control unit. For a high-resolution headlight system with, for example, 65,536 pixels and a resolution of 8 bits (i.e., 0 to 255 grayscale levels), this results in a data size of 1,300 kilobytes for 10 light distributions for a motor vehicle. However, this increases the flash memory time and the required memory space of the flash memory. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of data. However, due to legal requirements regarding light values, conventional compression methods are not possible.

[0005] DE 10 2018 101 047 A1 describes a matrix headlight system and a method for correcting pixel trajectories for assigning characteristic features of a pattern projection of the matrix headlight system to headlight segments of the matrix headlight system based on the trajectories.

[0006] US 10 878 735 B2 describes a plurality of lighting modules which each emit a segmented light beam and which are controlled by a common control processor having a single video output interface.

[0007] DE 10 2012 112 690 A1 discloses a method for representing the light intensity distribution of a light source to be tested.

[0008] DE 10 2010 033 351 A1 discloses a system for controlling the headlights of a motor vehicle for segmented lighting of an illumination range.

[0009] DE 10 2018 103 487 B4 discloses a method for operating a lighting device having a headlight for a motor vehicle, wherein the headlight has an overall light distribution consisting of a plurality of light distributions. The overall light distribution is generated by an algorithm based on a desired light distribution of the headlight and a target device.

[0010] DE 10 2015 203 889 A1 discloses a method for calibrating a lighting device, wherein the lighting device comprises a plurality of lighting elements as light sources, each lighting element generating an individual light distribution.

[0011] US 2008 / 0195276 A1 discloses an image array sensor including a plurality of pixels and an analog-to-digital converter for quantizing signals having the pixels into digital values. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a method, a system, a computer program product and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing light distribution of a matrix headlight system, which are characterized by efficient use of memory capacity and short flash times.

[0013] According to the present invention, this object is achieved with respect to a method according to the first aspect of the invention, with respect to a system according to the second aspect of the invention, with respect to a computer program product according to the third aspect of the invention and with respect to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for storing a light distribution for a matrix headlight system. The matrix headlight system comprises at least a first matrix light module, a control module, and a memory unit, wherein the matrix light modules each comprise: a plurality of lighting elements arranged in a matrix and each emitting light with an adjustable light distribution; and a plurality of control elements for individually adjusting the radiated light intensity, radiation direction, and / or focus of the light distribution of the respective lighting elements. The method comprises the following steps:

[0015] - loading first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module for generating a first light distribution for a specific lighting function from the memory unit;

[0016] - feeding the first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module to a comparison module;

[0017] - loading second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix headlight or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module from the memory unit for generating a second light distribution for a specific lighting function;

[0018] - feeding the second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module to the comparison module;

[0019] - comparing the first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module with the second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module to determine whether there is similarity or equality between the first control data and the second control data;

[0020] - storing the first control data for the first light distribution or the second control data for the second light distribution if there is a similarity or equality between the first control data for the first light distribution and the second control data for the second light distribution;

[0021] - linking the second control data for the second light distribution by means of a link to the control data for the first light distribution, or linking the first control data for the first light distribution by means of a link to the second control data for the second light distribution.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, it turns out that the lighting function is low beam or high beam or city light or motorway light or country road light.

[0023] In development, it turned out that the file size of the stored control data for the light distribution comprises at least 65536 pixels and a depth resolution of 8 bits (ie 0 to 255 grey levels).

[0024] Specifically, the comparison of the first control data and the second control data is performed pixel by pixel.

[0025] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a system for storing the light distribution of a matrix headlight system, wherein the matrix headlight system comprises at least a first matrix light module, a control module, and a memory unit. Each matrix light module comprises: a plurality of lighting elements arranged in a matrix and emitting light with an adjustable light distribution; and a plurality of control elements for individually adjusting the radiated light intensity, radiation direction, and / or focus of the light distribution of the respective lighting elements. The system is designed to perform the following method steps:

[0026] - loading first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module for generating a first light distribution for a specific lighting function from the memory unit;

[0027] - feeding the first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module to a comparison module;

[0028] - loading second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module from the memory unit for generating a second light distribution for a specific lighting function;

[0029] - feeding the second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module to the comparison module;

[0030] - comparing the first control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module with the second control data for the lighting elements of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements of the second matrix light module to determine whether there is similarity or equality between the first control data and the second control data;

[0031] - storing the first control data for the first light distribution or the second control data for the second light distribution if there is a similarity or equality between the first control data for the first light distribution and the second control data for the second light distribution;

[0032] - linking the second control data for the second light distribution by means of a link to the control data for the first light distribution, or linking the first control data for the first light distribution by means of a link to the second control data for the second light distribution.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, it turns out that the lighting function is low beam or high beam or city light or motorway light or country road light.

[0034] In development, it turned out that the file size of the stored control data for the light distribution comprises at least 65536 pixels and a depth resolution of 8 bits (ie 0 to 255 grey levels).

[0035] Specifically, the comparison of the first control data and the second control data is performed pixel by pixel.

[0036] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising executable program code configured to perform the method according to the first aspect.

[0037] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to the invention to be performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0039] Here:

[0040] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for storing light distribution of a matrix headlight system according to the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of storing control data for light distribution of a matrix headlight system;

[0042] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of storing control data for light distribution of a matrix headlight system according to the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 A flow chart is shown for explaining the individual method steps of the method according to the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 A computer program product according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Additional features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention, or exemplary embodiments thereof, will become apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the claims.

[0046] Figure 1A system 100 for storing the light distribution of a matrix headlight system 10 according to the present invention is shown. The matrix headlight system 10 includes at least a first matrix light module 12. In addition, a second matrix light module 14 can be provided. The matrix light modules 12 and 14 are composed of a plurality of lighting elements 17, each of which emits light with an adjustable light distribution. The lighting elements 17 are arranged in a matrix shape. Specifically, the lighting elements 17 are designed as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In order to adjust the radiated light intensity, radiation direction and / or focus of the light distribution, the lighting elements 17 are respectively connected to a control element 19. Therefore, each lighting element 17 can be individually adjusted with respect to its light distribution. The superposition of the individual light distributions emitted by the individual lighting elements 17 produces a first light distribution 22 for the first matrix light module 12 and a second light distribution 24 for the second matrix light module 14.

[0047] Control element 19 is then controlled using control data SD from control module 30 to generate the desired light distribution 22, 24 for a specific traffic and environmental situation, such as a parking beam, low beam, city beam, highway beam, or high beam lighting function. Specifically, control module 30 is equipped with a processor 35 for executing control operations to generate the lighting functions, and a memory unit 40 for storing control data SD for the various light distributions. Specifically, using an automated driving function stored, for example, as a software application in processor 35, it is possible to identify which light distribution 22, 24, and therefore which lighting function, is to be adjusted for a specific environmental situation.

[0048] Control data SD for the individual control elements 19 of the lighting elements 17 is stored in a memory unit 40. When a specific lighting function is to be activated, the control module 30 loads from the memory unit 40 the first control data SD1 stored therein for the various lighting elements 17 of the first matrix light module 12 for generating the first light distribution 22, and also loads from the memory unit the second control data SD2 stored therein for the various lighting elements 17 of the second matrix light module 14 for generating the second light distribution 24. The control module 30 uses the control data SD1 and SD2 to control the control elements 19 of the lighting elements 17. However, the second light distribution 24 may also be a light distribution of the first matrix light module 12 that is controlled using different control data SD than the first light distribution 22.

[0049] For example, "processor" can be understood in conjunction with the present invention to mean a machine or an electronic circuit system or a high-performance computer. Specifically, the processor can be a main control processor (central processing unit (CPU)), a microprocessor or a microcontroller, such as an application-specific integrated circuit or a digital signal processor, possibly in combination with a memory unit for storing program instructions, etc. The processor can also be understood to mean a virtual processor, a virtual machine or a soft CPU. For example, the processor can also be a programmable processor, which is equipped with a configuration step for performing the above-mentioned method according to the present invention, or is configured with a configuration step that enables the programmable processor to implement the features of the method, component, module or other aspects and / or parts of the present invention. In addition, a highly parallel computing unit and a high-performance graphics module can be provided.

[0050] A “memory unit” or a “memory module” etc. may be understood in connection with the present invention to mean, for example, a non-volatile memory in the form of a Flash memory (Flash EEPROM) or a permanent memory such as a hard disk drive.

[0051] "Module" can be understood, for example, in conjunction with the present invention, to mean a processor and / or a memory unit for storing program instructions. For example, the processor is specifically configured to execute program instructions so that the processor performs functions in order to implement or realize the method according to the present invention or the steps of the method according to the present invention.

[0052] Typically, control data SD1, SD2 are stored for up to 84 lighting elements 17 or pixels with a depth resolution of 6 bits (i.e., up to 0 to 63 gray levels) for generating light patterns 22, 24. This means that for ten light patterns 22, 24 for various lighting functions of a matrix headlight system 10 with two matrix light modules 12, 14, 1.2 kilobytes of memory space are required to store the control data SD1, SD2 in a memory unit 40 designed, for example, as a flash memory.

[0053] However, for high-resolution matrix headlight systems 10 that can precisely and automatically adapt to environmental characteristics with the aid of automated driving functions, significantly higher data volumes are generated. For example, to generate the light patterns 22, 24 of a high-resolution matrix headlight system 10, control data SD1, SD2 with a depth resolution of 8 bits (i.e., up to 255 grayscale levels) are required for 65,536 lighting elements 17, or pixels. This results in a data size of 1,300 kilobytes for ten light patterns 22, 24 of a matrix headlight system 10 for a motor vehicle having two matrix light modules 12, 14. However, for the required lighting functions, this increases the required memory space in the flash memory 40 and the flash time required to load the control data SD1, SD2 for the corresponding light patterns 22, 24.

[0054] However, for a specific lighting function in the symmetrically designed matrix headlight system 10, the light distribution 22 of the first matrix light module 12 is equal to or identical to the light distribution 24 of the second matrix light module 14, such as Figure 2 As shown. Figure 2 On the left side of the diagram, the light distribution 22 of the first matrix light module 12 and the light distribution 24 of the matrix light module 14 are schematically depicted, while on the right side, the associated control data SD1, SD2 for the grayscale values of some of the individual lighting elements 17 or pixels for generating the respective light distributions 22, 24 are represented in decimal notation (e.g. the values 010, 080, 150, etc.). Figure 2 As can be seen in FIG, the representation of the first light distribution 22 is identical to the representation of the second light distribution 24. This equality of the light distributions 22, 24 occurs primarily for low beam, high beam, city light or highway light.

[0055] Figure 3 It is shown that according to the present invention, if the first light distribution 22 for the first matrix light module 12 is equal to or similar to the second light distribution 24 for the second matrix light module 14, the control data SD1, SD2 for the first light distribution 22 and the second light distribution 24 are stored differently. To this end, the first control data SD1 and the second control data SD2 of the two light distributions 22, 24 are fed to the comparison module 70, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown. Specifically, in comparison module 70, first control data SD1 for lighting elements 17 of first matrix light module 12, used to generate first light distribution 22, and second control data SD2 for corresponding lighting elements 17 of second matrix light module 14, used to generate second light distribution 24, are compared pixel by pixel. If the comparison determines that first control data SD1 for lighting elements 17 of first matrix light module 12, used to generate first light distribution 22, and second control data SD2 for corresponding lighting elements 17 of second matrix light module 14, used to generate second light distribution 24, are equal or identical, then only first control data SD1 for first light distribution 22 is stored in memory unit 40, while second control data SD2 for second light distribution 24 is marked as equal or identical to first control data SD1 for generating first light distribution 22. However, second control data SD2 for the second light distribution 24 may also be stored in the memory unit 40 , while the first control data SD1 for the first light distribution 22 are marked as being equal or identical to the second control data SD2 for the second light distribution 24 .

[0056] In order to retrieve the second control data SD2 for the second light pattern 24, a link is provided to the first control data SD1 for the first light pattern 22, and vice versa. In this way, the memory requirements for storing the first control data SD1 and the second control data SD2 for the two light patterns 22, 24 can be reduced by half. Figure 2 The first control data SD1 and the second control data SD2 shown require 131 kilobytes of memory space, but for generating two light distributions 22, 24 with 65536 lighting elements 17 or pixels and a memory depth of 8 bits, Figure 3 Storing the first control data SD1 and the second control data SD2 for the two light patterns 22, 24 requires only 65.5 kilobytes of memory space.

[0057] A method for storing a light distribution of a matrix headlight system 10 comprising at least a first matrix light module 12 thus comprises the following steps:

[0058] In step S10 , first control data SD1 for the lighting elements 17 of the first matrix light module 12 for generating a first light distribution 22 for a specific lighting function are loaded from the memory unit 40 .

[0059] In step S20 , first control data SD1 for the lighting elements 17 of the first matrix light module 12 are fed to the comparison module 70 .

[0060] In step S30 , second control data SD2 for lighting elements 17 of first matrix light module 12 or for lighting elements 17 of second matrix light module 14 for generating second light distribution 24 for a specific lighting function are loaded from memory unit 40 .

[0061] In step S40 , second control data SD2 for the lighting elements 17 of the first matrix light module or for the lighting elements 17 of the second matrix light module 14 are fed to the comparison module 70 .

[0062] In step S50, the first control data SD1 for the lighting element 17 of the first matrix light module 12 is compared with the second control data SD2 for the lighting element 17 of the first matrix light module 12 or the lighting element 17 of the second matrix light module 14 on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine whether there is similarity or equality between the first control data SD1 and the second control data SD2.

[0063] In step S60 , if similarity or equality exists between first control data SD1 for first light distribution 22 and second control data SD2 for second light distribution 24 , first control data SD1 for first light distribution 22 or second control data SD2 for second light distribution 24 are stored.

[0064] In step S70 , second control data SD2 for second light pattern 24 are linked by means of a link to first control data SD1 for first light pattern 24 , or first control data SD1 for first light pattern 22 are linked by means of a link to second control data SD2 for second light pattern 24 .

[0065] The present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, causes one of the methods according to the present invention to be performed.

[0066] Thus, according to the present invention, the memory space required in a vehicle's memory unit 40 for controlling light distributions 22, 24 of a high-resolution matrix headlight system 10 can be significantly reduced. Specifically, the memory space can be halved. This means that the flash memory time required to load control data SD1, SD2 for lighting elements 17 of matrix headlight system 10 used to generate light distributions 22, 24 is reduced, thereby enabling faster activation of the desired lighting function.

Claims

1. A method for storing a light distribution of a matrix headlight system (10), wherein the matrix headlight system (10) comprises at least a first matrix light module (12), a control module (30) and a memory unit (40), wherein the first matrix light module (12) respectively comprises: a plurality of lighting elements (17), the plurality of lighting elements being arranged in a matrix shape and respectively emitting light having an adjustable light distribution; and a plurality of control elements (19) for individually adjusting the radiated light intensity, radiation direction and / or focus of the light distribution of the corresponding lighting elements (17), the method comprising the following method steps: - loading (S10) first control data (SD1) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) for generating a first light distribution (22) for a specific lighting function from the memory unit (40); - feeding (S20) the first control data (SD1) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) to a comparison module (70); - loading (S30) second control data (SD2) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) or for the lighting elements (17) of the second matrix light module (14) for generating a second light distribution (24) for a specific lighting function from the memory unit (40); - feeding (S40) the second control data (SD2) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) or for the lighting elements (17) of the second matrix light module (14) to the comparison module (70); - comparing (S50) the first control data (SD1) for the lighting element (17) of the first matrix light module (12) with the second control data (SD2) for the lighting element (17) of the first matrix light module (12) or for the lighting element of the second matrix light module (14) to determine whether there is similarity or equality between the first control data (SD1) and the second control data (SD2); - if there is a similarity or equality between the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) and the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24), storing (S60) the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) or the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24); - linking (S70) the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24) by means of a link to the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22), or linking the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) by means of a link to the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24). 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting function is low beam or high beam or city light or highway light or country road light.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the file size of the stored first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) and the stored second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24) comprises at least 65536 pixels and a depth resolution of 8 bits, i.e., 0 to 255 gray levels. 4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison of the first control data ( SD1 ) with the second control data ( SD2 ) is performed pixel by pixel.

5. A system (100) for storing light distribution of a matrix headlight system (10), wherein the matrix headlight system (10) comprises at least a first matrix light module (12), a control module (30) and a memory unit (40), wherein the first matrix light module (12) respectively comprises: a plurality of lighting elements (17), the plurality of lighting elements being arranged in a matrix shape and respectively emitting light having an adjustable light distribution; and a plurality of control elements (19) for individually adjusting the radiated light intensity, the radiated direction and / or the focus of the light distribution of the corresponding lighting elements (17), wherein the system is designed to perform the following method steps: - loading (S10) first control data (SD1) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) for generating a first light distribution (22) for a specific lighting function from the memory unit (40); - feeding (S20) the first control data (SD1) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) to a comparison module (70); - loading (S30) second control data (SD2) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) or for the lighting elements (17) of the second matrix light module (14) for generating a second light distribution (24) for a specific lighting function from the memory unit (40); - feeding (S40) the second control data (SD2) for the lighting elements (17) of the first matrix light module (12) or for the lighting elements (17) of the second matrix light module (14) to the comparison module (70); - comparing (S50) the first control data (SD1) for the lighting element (17) of the first matrix light module (12) with the second control data (SD2) for the lighting element (17) of the first matrix light module or the lighting element (17) of the second matrix light module (14) to determine whether there is similarity or equality between the first control data (SD1) and the second control data (SD2); - if there is a similarity or equality between the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) and the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24), storing (S60) the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) or the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24); - linking (S70) the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24) by means of a link to the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22), or linking the first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) by means of a link to the second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24).

6. The system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the lighting function is low beam or high beam or city light or highway light or country road light.

7. The system (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the file size of the stored first control data (SD1) for the first light distribution (22) and the stored second control data (SD2) for the second light distribution (24) comprises at least 65536 pixels and a depth resolution of 8 bits, i.e. 0 to 255 gray levels.

8. The system (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the comparison of the first control data (SD1) with the second control data (SD2) is performed pixel by pixel.

9. A computer program product (200) comprising executable program code (250) configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to be performed.

Images