Vehicle dynamic lighting effect system and use method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a vehicle dynamic lighting effect system and a using method thereof, and relates to the technical field of vehicle lamp projection control, and the system comprises a CSC, a front lamp color DLP, a lateral color DLP, a color Mini LED tail lamp and a word mark tail lamp; the front lamp color DLP comprises a left front color DLP driver, a right front color DLP driver and a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) module; the left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver are respectively connected with the CSC; the lateral color DLP comprises a left color DLP, a right color DLP and a color DLP side lamp controller, and the color DLP side lamp controller is connected with the CSC; the color Mini LED tail lamp comprises a Mini LED controller, a color light source and a color light source, wherein the Mini LED controller is connected with a CSC; and the word mark tail lamp is connected with the CSC through the vehicle body domain controller. According to the vehicle dynamic lighting effect system and the using method thereof, dynamic image projection of the vehicle lamp can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle lighting projection control technology, and in particular to vehicle dynamic lighting systems and their usage methods. Background Technology

[0002] Currently available vehicle headlight projection solutions can be broadly categorized into fixed template projection solutions and static image projection solutions.

[0003] The fixed template projection scheme can be seen in the welcome lights of the Wenjie M9 and Xiangjie M8. The Wenjie M9's lighting effects include: Kunpeng Spreading Wings, Wisdom Star Ring, Human Galaxy, Time Tunnel, and Phoenix Dancing in the Nine Heavens. The Xiangjie M8's lighting effects include: Cat Paw, Starlight, Congratulations on Your Fortune, and Flowers Blooming with Every Step.

[0004] The drawback of fixed template projection systems is that the projected content is limited to the welcome animations pre-installed by car manufacturers or pushed via OTA. Users cannot customize dynamic content and can only passively select content.

[0005] A static image projection solution can be seen in Tesla's light shows. It allows users to customize the light show and upload light timing files and music files to the vehicle via USB drive.

[0006] However, for static image projection solutions, the external lamp has a low resolution of only 108 pixels, requiring users to master the xLights software on their computers to generate timing files or download timing files shared by others, which is a relatively complicated operation.

[0007] In summary, the main drawback of existing vehicle headlight projection solutions is the lack of customization. They still rely on users selecting a particular effect, rather than generating a real-time effect specific to each user.

[0008] Moreover, the barrier to entry for creation is too high; users need to master professional software to produce videos that meet vehicle requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vehicle dynamic lighting system and its usage method, which can realize dynamic image projection using vehicle lights.

[0010] This invention provides the following solution:

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle dynamic lighting system is provided, the vehicle dynamic lighting system comprising:

[0012] CSC, headlight color DLP, side color DLP, color minimized taillights, letter taillights;

[0013] The headlight color DLP includes: a left front color DLP driver, a right front color DLP driver, and a DMD module. The left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver are respectively connected to the CSC.

[0014] The side-mounted color DLP includes: a left-side color DLP, a right-side color DLP, and a color DLP side light controller, which is connected to the CSC.

[0015] The colored Miniled taillights include: a Miniled controller, which connects to the CSC;

[0016] The taillights with lettering are connected to the CSC via the body domain controller.

[0017] Optionally, CSCs include: standalone CSCs, and CSCs integrated into the vehicle infotainment platform.

[0018] Optionally, the headlight color DLP has an independent DLP headlight controller and controls the side color DLP. The CSC is connected to the DLP headlight controller via Ethernet to transmit video and control commands.

[0019] Optionally, the DLP headlight controller transmits video to the side-mounted color DLP via USB protocol and transmits control commands to the side-mounted color DLP via backbone CAN.

[0020] Optionally, the color Miniled taillights have an independent Miniled controller. The CSC transmits video to the Miniled controller via Ethernet and transmits control commands to the Miniled controller via CAN.

[0021] Optionally, the lettering taillights are connected to the PDC via hardwire, and the PDC controls the lettering to light up.

[0022] Optionally, the graphics processing algorithm for the headlight color DLP is integrated into the CSC, which is connected to the DLP module via LVDS to transmit video and control commands.

[0023] Optionally, the side-view color DLP has an independent DLP side controller. The CSC transmits video to the DLP side controller via Ethernet and transmits control commands via backbone CAN.

[0024] Optionally, the color Miniled taillights have an independent Miniled controller. The CSC transmits video to the Miniled controller via Ethernet and transmits control commands via backbone CAN.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of using a vehicle dynamic lighting system is provided, applied to the vehicle dynamic lighting system described above, the method of using the vehicle dynamic lighting system comprising:

[0026] Users input creative keywords via voice or text, and the system automatically generates a 10-second video containing various elements;

[0027] The fully automated automotive-grade video creation pipeline allows users to preview and be satisfied with the AI-created video. Once satisfied, the video content is input from the vehicle's CSC control terminal to the high-pixel headlights via Ethernet or LVDS.

[0028] When a user wants the video to be projected, the headlights will automatically project the video.

[0029] The above solution achieves the following beneficial technical effects:

[0030] The vehicle dynamic lighting system provided by this invention can automatically generate video projection effects exclusive to specific users, and it requires no special software skills, making it easy to operate. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is an architecture diagram of a vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is an architecture diagram of a vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the usage method of the vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 1 This is an architectural diagram of a vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention. See also... Figure 1 The vehicle dynamic lighting system includes: CSC 11, headlight color DLP 12, side color DLP 13, color minimized taillights 14, and letter taillights 15.

[0036] In recent years, lighting has become an extremely popular medium for communication. Many products use a range of lighting behaviors and driving actions to convey various information states. The use of lighting to convey these information states has expanded beyond electronic products such as appliances, smartphones, smartwatches, and smart displays. Designs that utilize automotive lighting to convey information need to draw upon relevant design research on lighting behaviors in other products.

[0037] Harrison et al. were the first to introduce light communication into human-computer interaction research through their extracted vocabulary of light behaviors. This study extracted various light behaviors from smartphones and discussed the use of point lights in smart devices. Research on light communication is gradually emerging; Kerber et al. used expressive lights on a watch's low-resolution display to convey three different states: email, instant messages, and alarms. In the field of expressive lighting, much work has been done to design and develop a vocabulary of lights for human-computer interaction.

[0038] With the advent of the four new trends in automobiles (electrification, connectivity, intelligence, and sharing), vehicles are now equipped with their own welcome light signals. These signals involve the front and rear headlights illuminating their LEDs in a specific sequence as the driver unlocks, locks, and gets in or out of the car, creating a welcoming visual effect that enhances comfort and the overall experience. The welcome light system in a smart cockpit requires LED headlights, which display their unique light signals only during the sequential illumination process. In other words, when a user unlocks the car and gets in, the main unit plays a welcome light signal and video, and the front and rear headlights illuminate their respective LEDs in the pre-set order, creating a welcoming light signal for getting in. Similarly, when the user locks the car and gets out, the main unit plays a welcome light signal and video, and the front and rear headlights illuminate their respective LEDs in the pre-set order, creating a welcoming light signal for getting out.

[0039] The vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in this embodiment includes the following key components.

[0040] First is CSC 11, which is the cockpit domain controller. In this embodiment, CSC 11 is a standalone CSC. This means that CSC 11 is an independent entity with its own control and connectivity resources, and is not integrated into other physical chips.

[0041] CSC 11 is connected to the headlight color DLP 12, the side color DLP 13, the color minimized taillight 14, and the letter taillight 15.

[0042] Maintaining the connection is primarily for the convenience of command transmission. In other words, by utilizing the connection with the headlight color DLP 12, the side color DLP 13, the color minimized taillights 14, and the lettering taillights 15, the CSC 11 can transmit corresponding light effect control commands to these lights, thereby enabling them to display the appropriate light effects and achieving the purpose of controlling the display light effects of the lights.

[0043] In addition, for some complex lighting effects, the actual lighting effects to be displayed need to be edited into corresponding video files. The transmission of these video files also requires a connection between CSC 11 and these specific vehicle lights.

[0044] Since the control of light effects is achieved by recording and transmitting video files to the target vehicle lights, users do not need to use professional software to customize the actual light effects, thus lowering the barrier to entry for light effect applications.

[0045] CSC 11 connects to surrounding vehicle lighting controllers via various protocols. The reason for using multiple connection protocols is primarily to accommodate the control needs of different vehicle lighting components.

[0046] For example, vehicle headlights have high pixel counts and can display complex lighting effects. Therefore, the connection protocol between the headlights and the vehicle should use a protocol and version with higher transmission bandwidth.

[0047] The taillights of a vehicle have relatively low pixel counts. Therefore, the connection to the taillights can use a protocol or protocol version with relatively lower transmission bandwidth.

[0048] In this embodiment, the protocols used by CSC 11 include: Ethernet, backbone CAN, information CAN, private CAN, LVDS, USB-A LAN, hardwired connection, etc.

[0049] Specifically, the CSC 11 connects to the color DLP headlight controller via a backbone CAN and Ethernet. The color DLP headlight controller, in turn, connects to the color DLP sidelight controller via a USB-A LAN protocol.

[0050] The CSC 11 also connects to the Miniled controller via CAN and Ethernet.

[0051] CSC 11 is also interconnected with PDC-Master via backbone CAN and information CAN.

[0052] CSC 11 also connects to the intelligent driving controller via Ethernet.

[0053] The headlight color DLP 12 is directly connected to CSC 11.

[0054] Inside the color DLP 12 headlight, there is an independent color DLP headlight controller. The color DLP headlight controller is interconnected with the left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver via a proprietary CAN bus.

[0055] The color DLP headlight controller is also interconnected with the DMD modules corresponding to the left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver via LVDS.

[0056] The aforementioned color DLP headlight controller, left front color DLP driver, right front color DLP driver, and DMD modules corresponding to the left front color DLP driver and right front color DLP driver respectively, together constitute the headlight color DLP12.

[0057] The color DLP headlight controller includes a serializer. By serializing the video image to be transmitted, the amount of data actually transmitted can be reduced without degrading the image quality.

[0058] Correspondingly, at the other end of the LVDS connection, both the left and right front color DLP drivers are equipped with deserializers. With these deserializers, the left and right front color DLP drivers can deserialize data that has already undergone serialization, ensuring that the displayed image quality is not degraded.

[0059] In this embodiment, in addition to maintaining communication connections with other components inside the color DLP headlight 12, the color DLP headlight controller also maintains a communication connection with the color DLP side light controller. Through this communication connection with the color DLP side light controller, the color DLP headlight controller can control the side welcome lights.

[0060] Specifically, the communication connection between the color DLP headlight controller and the color DLP sidelight controller is a physical connection using the USB-A LAN communication protocol.

[0061] Through the physical connection of the aforementioned USB-A LAN communication protocol, reliable transmission of commands and video images can be achieved between the color DLP headlight controller and the color DLP sidelight controller.

[0062] In addition to maintaining a communication connection with the color DLP headlight controller, the color DLP sidelight controller also maintains communication connections with the left-side color DLP and the right-side color DLP, respectively.

[0063] The communication connection between the color DLP side light controller and the left and right color DLPs is a communication connection using the LVDS protocol.

[0064] For the left and right color DLPs, they function as both drivers and modules. Therefore, via LVDS communication, the transmission between the color DLP side light controller and the left and right color DLPs includes not only display commands but also the images to be displayed.

[0065] In addition to the headlights and sidelights, the vehicle lights controlled by the CSC also include: colored minimized taillights 14.

[0066] In this embodiment, the control components belonging to the color Miniled taillight 14 include: a Miniled controller and a Miniled module.

[0067] The Miniled controller connects to the standalone CSC 11 via Ethernet. In other words, the standalone CSC 11 transmits display commands and displays images to the Miniled controller via Ethernet.

[0068] The Miniled controller connects to the Miniled module via the LVDS protocol. Through the LVDS protocol, the Miniled controller can control the display process of the Miniled module.

[0069] Finally, the lighting fixtures controlled by CSC 11 also include: letter taillights 15.

[0070] In this embodiment, CSC 11 first connects to PDC-Master via backbone CAN and information CAN. PDC-Master then connects to PDC-Slave via backbone CAN. PDC-Slave finally connects to the logo taillight 15 via a hardwired connection. Through the above physical connections, CSC 11 controls the logo taillight 15.

[0071] Figure 2 This is an architectural diagram of a vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention. See also... Figure 2 The vehicle dynamic lighting system includes: CSC 21, headlight color DLP 22, side color DLP 23, color minimized taillights 24, and letter taillights 25.

[0072] In this embodiment, CSC 21 is no longer a separate component. Instead, it uses the 8397 chip from the vehicle's infotainment system as the CSC 21 for the entire vehicle.

[0073] The 8397 chip has abundant computing resources and powerful processing capabilities, which can meet the general computing tasks of the vehicle's CSC 21. Based on the powerful functions and abundant computing resources of the 8397, in this embodiment, not only are the original CSC control functions run on the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system, but the graphics processing algorithm originally used in the headlight color DLP 22 has also been migrated to the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0074] In addition to the DLP graphics processing algorithm, in this embodiment, the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle infotainment system is further equipped with a high-pixel ADB algorithm and a low-pixel ADB algorithm.

[0075] Since the graphics processing algorithm that originally ran on the headlight color DLP 22 has been migrated to the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system, there is no longer a need to configure a separate color DLP headlight controller on the headlight color DLP 22. Instead, the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system directly controls the various components of the headlight color DLP.

[0076] The headlight color DLP components directly controlled by the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system include: the left front color DLP driver, the right front color DLP driver, and their respective corresponding DMD modules.

[0077] The left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver each have their own independent power supply for their respective DMD modules.

[0078] A serializer is installed in the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system. This serializer serializes the video or still image to be displayed on the headlight color DLP. At the other end of the transmission link, deserializers are installed inside the left and right front color DLP drivers, respectively. The deserializers deserialize the received video or image. Through the aforementioned serializer and deserializer settings, reliable image transmission between the CSC 21 and the headlight color DLP 22 is achieved.

[0079] It should be noted that the communication link between the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system and the DLP 22 for the headlight color display is an LVDS communication link.

[0080] Because the CSC 22 itself has greatly enhanced computing and control capabilities, the side light color DLP 23 is no longer directly controlled by the headlight color DLP 22, but is instead controlled by the in-vehicle CSC 21, whose computing capabilities have been enhanced.

[0081] In other words, the USB-A LAN connection between the color DLP headlight controller and the color DLP side light controller, as described in the previous embodiments of the present invention, is no longer required in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the color DLP side light controller is directly connected to the vehicle's embedded CSC 21 infotainment system via Ethernet and backbone CAN.

[0082] In this embodiment, the color DLP side light controller is connected via LVDS to the left and right color DLP respectively.

[0083] Due to the adoption of the above-mentioned overall architecture, the color DLP headlight controller is no longer installed inside the headlight color DLP 22, and the side light color DLP 23 is no longer directly controlled by the headlight color DLP 22. In addition, the computing power of the CSC 21 itself has been greatly enhanced, and the transmission rate of video images or still images that need to be displayed or projected has been greatly improved.

[0084] Based on experimental calculations, in the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, the serialization process at one end of CSC 21 typically takes 30 to 100 milliseconds. The deserialization process inside the headlight color DLP 22 also generally takes 30 to 100 milliseconds.

[0085] With the overall architecture provided in this embodiment, the entire process of image transmission via LVDS takes about 10 milliseconds. In some special scenarios, the transmission latency may be reduced to less than 10 milliseconds.

[0086] The component that maintains a direct communication connection with the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system is the HAD. The HAD is directly connected to the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system via Ethernet.

[0087] In addition, the CSC 21 embedded in the vehicle's infotainment system is connected to the PDC-Master via Ethernet, backbone CAN, and information CAN. The PDC-Master is further connected to the PDC-Slave via backbone CAN. The PDC-Slave is further connected via hardwired connection to the taillights 25 that need to be controlled.

[0088] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method of using the vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention. See also... Figure 3 The operation steps for using the vehicle dynamic lighting system are as follows:

[0089] S31 allows users to input creative keywords via voice or text, and the system automatically generates a 10-second video containing various elements.

[0090] S32 is a fully automated automotive-grade video creation pipeline. After the user previews and is satisfied with the AI-created video, the video content is input from the vehicle's CSC control terminal to the high-pixel headlights via Ethernet or LVDS.

[0091] S33: When the user wants to project, the headlights will automatically project the video playback.

[0092] After applying the vehicle dynamic lighting system provided in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, users can generate videos that need to be displayed using vehicle lights by inputting creative keywords, and load the generated video images onto high-pixel headlights via CSC.

[0093] The present invention also provides a vehicle equipped with the vehicle dynamic lighting system described above.

[0094] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle dynamic light effect system, characterized in that, The vehicle dynamic light effect system comprises: CSC, front light color DLP, lateral color DLP, color Miniled tail light, and word mark tail light; The front light color DLP comprises a left front color DLP driver, a right front color DLP driver, and a DMD module, wherein the left front color DLP driver and the right front color DLP driver are connected with the CSC respectively; The lateral color DLP comprises a left lateral color DLP, a right lateral color DLP, and a color DLP lateral light controller, wherein the color DLP lateral light controller is connected with the CSC; The color Miniled tail light comprises a Miniled controller, wherein the Miniled controller is connected with the CSC; The word mark tail light is connected with the CSC through a vehicle body domain controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, The CSC comprises: A stand-alone CSC and a CSC mounted on a vehicle machine platform.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, The front light color DLP has a stand-alone DLP front light controller and controls the lateral color DLP, wherein the CSC is connected with the DLP front light controller through Ethernet to transmit video and control instructions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein, The DLP front light controller transmits video to the lateral color DLP through USB protocol and transmits control instructions to the lateral color DLP through backbone CAN.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein, The color Miniled tail light has a stand-alone Miniled controller, wherein the CSC transmits video to the Miniled controller through Ethernet and transmits control instructions to the Miniled controller through information CAN.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein, The word mark tail light is connected with a PDC through a hard wire, and the PDC controls the word mark light in the bottom layer.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein, The graphic processing algorithm of the front light color DLP is integrated in the CSC, wherein the CSC is connected with the DLP module through LVDS to transmit video and control instructions.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein, The lateral color DLP has a stand-alone DLP lateral controller, wherein the CSC transmits video to the DLP lateral controller through Ethernet and transmits control instructions through backbone CAN.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein, The color Miniled tail light has a stand-alone Miniled controller, wherein the CSC transmits video to the Miniled controller through Ethernet and transmits control instructions through backbone CAN.

10. A method of using a dynamic light effect system for a vehicle, applied in the dynamic light effect system for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The use method comprises: A user inputs creative keywords through voice or text, and the system automatically generates a 10-second video containing multiple elements; A full-automatic vehicle regulation level creation pipeline, after the user previews the AI creation video and is satisfied, the video content is input to a high-pixel headlamp from a vehicle machine CSC control end through Ethernet or LVDS; When the user wants to project, the headlamp automatically projects the playing of the video.

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