Method for dynamically controlling vehicle lighting system, computing element, computer program and lighting system for implementing method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, a computing element, a computer program and a lighting system (1) for dynamically controlling the lighting of a so-called enhanced vehicle, the system (1) comprising a plurality of lighting devices (5) controlled by a control unit (2) for providing a plurality of lighting configurations of the system (1) and at least one sensor (3) for acquiring so-called driving data, the method comprises: pre-training the control unit (2) to detect the presence of another vehicle within the driver's field of view of the enhanced vehicle and to estimate the size of the another vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the another vehicle; pre-training to determine whether the illumination of the enhanced vehicle is correctly oriented with respect to the road, in particular with respect to a gradient change thereof; and pre-training to identify whether another detected vehicle travels in the same lane or another lane in front of the enhanced vehicle, and whether another detected vehicle travels on a lane in the opposite direction to the enhanced vehicle; then, when the vehicle travels on the road, the lighting system (1) is controlled by the control unit (2) in order to adapt the light beam of at least one of the lighting devices (5) of the enhancement vehicle as a function of the road, the presence of the other vehicle and its distance and / or height relative to the enhancement vehicle.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lighting and / or signal transmission devices for motor vehicles, particularly automobiles, and more specifically to power consumption management of these devices and the problem of uncomfortable glare caused to users by lighting devices in other vehicles.

[0002] Specifically, a recurring issue in the field of lighting equipment involves power consumption, and technologies for these devices have been developed to limit their power consumption and extend their lifespan. Beyond these solutions related to the equipment itself, the problem of managing vehicle lighting to limit power consumption remains. Specifically, current regulations worldwide specify various parameters for vehicle lighting, such as size, arrangement, range, and width. For example, UNECE Regulation 48 provides uniform regulations for the approval of vehicle lighting and light signaling equipment. Generally, these regulations aim to ensure the safe operation and use of lighting equipment, and the way certain parameters of lighting equipment (such as its range, width, and intensity) are defined ensures that vehicles are clearly visible from the outside and that users inside the vehicle can clearly see their surroundings. However, visibility conditions vary significantly during passage due to natural factors (such as time of day or weather) and environmental factors (such as public lighting, especially in urban areas, traffic density, etc.). Therefore, due to the superposition of various vehicle lighting and / or lighting in the surrounding environment, regulations often result in lighting levels exceeding those necessary to maintain the safety of passing users. Therefore, reducing the power used by vehicle lighting while complying with regulations remains a problem in this field.

[0003] In addition, recurring issues involve uncomfortable glare between users (especially when two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions) – either due to improper or poorly adapted lighting equipment, or due to factors such as road incline or differences in vehicle height.

[0004] Furthermore, motor vehicle manufacturers are increasingly using digital lighting equipment in mid-range and high-end products. These digital lighting devices typically include semiconductor light sources, which consume considerable power during operation. Additionally, controlling the temperature of these components is crucial and is often achieved through derating, meaning a reduction in the current supplied to the light source, resulting in a corresponding decrease in outlet flux and operating temperature. Therefore, the light source ratings must be increased to address these overheating issues, allowing for a reduction in operating parameter ratings while keeping them within acceptable limits.

[0005] These issues are even more important for new electric vehicles, which are crucial for energy conservation, as they directly affect the vehicle's driving range and, consequently, its CO2 emissions.

[0006] Finally, in some cases, if circumstances permit, it is useful to improve visual comfort, thereby enhancing user safety by limiting visual light pollution in the user's field of vision and, in particular, by reducing the risk of uncomfortable glare between users.

[0007] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a solution for managing vehicle lighting and optimizing the power consumption of these vehicle lighting systems, while complying with regulations, or even simultaneously improving user visual comfort and safety. Another technical problem involves more precise and dynamic adaptation of lighting based on traffic conditions, and particularly other users.

[0008] This objective is achieved by a method for dynamically controlling a vehicle's lighting system, referred to as an improved vehicle. The system includes, on one hand, multiple lighting devices controlled by a control unit for providing multiple lighting configurations of the system, and on the other hand, at least one sensor for acquiring data related to vehicle passage and its traffic conditions, referred to as traffic data. The method includes: - The control unit is pre-trained to detect the presence of another vehicle within the driver's field of vision of the improved vehicle and to estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle. - Pre-training to determine whether the improved vehicle's lighting is correctly oriented relative to the road, especially its slope. The method is characterized in that it includes: - Pre-trained to identify whether another detected vehicle is traveling in front of the improved vehicle in the same lane or a different lane, and whether the other detected vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction to the improved vehicle. Then, when the vehicle is traveling on the road, the control unit performs the following analysis and control steps: - Acquire traffic data from at least one sensor in the system to detect at least one other vehicle in front of the improved vehicle, and calculate the distance between the other vehicle and the improved vehicle. - Estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle based on the calculated distance and the pre-training. - Estimate the appropriateness of the improved vehicle's lighting relative to the road orientation. - Determine the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle, then - The control unit controls the lighting system to provide a lighting configuration adapted to the situation by defining the beam of at least one of the lighting devices of the improved vehicle according to the road, the direction of travel of at least one other vehicle and its distance and / or height relative to the improved vehicle.

[0009] According to another characteristic, the analysis step uses a brightness map based on data measured by at least one sensor. Figure 3 An illustrative and non-limiting example of such a brightness map, generated based on image data from a camera, is shown.

[0010] Based on another characteristic, the estimated size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle, based on the calculated distance and the pre-training, is used to identify the distribution of the lighting equipment of the other vehicle given the distance to the vehicle.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the estimation of the appropriateness of the lighting of the improved vehicle relative to the road orientation uses training data and measurements of the distance between the improved vehicle and the luminous pattern projected onto the ground by at least one of its lighting devices.

[0012] According to another characteristic, the determination of the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle uses an estimate of the position and relative speed of the other vehicle relative to the improved vehicle.

[0013] According to another characteristic, the control of the lighting system by the control unit to provide an adapted lighting configuration includes reducing the intensity and / or width and / or range of at least one of the lighting devices.

[0014] According to another characteristic, controlling the lighting system to provide the adapted lighting configuration includes controlling the luminous intensity of at least one of the devices.

[0015] According to another feature, the distance and / or direction of travel estimation combines the calculation of the collision time with a comparison of that time with a threshold—for example, two seconds.

[0016] According to another feature, after the adapted lighting configuration is activated, the control unit performs the following steps: - Monitor the presence of another detected vehicle and the distance between the improved vehicle and the other detected vehicle to determine whether the other detected vehicle has been overtaken, passed, or driven away, and then control the lighting system to modify the adapted lighting configuration according to the disappearance or change of the distance between the improved vehicle and the other detected vehicle. - Monitor the presence of additional vehicles in front of the improved vehicle to repeat the steps of the method and provide a new lighting configuration adapted to the presence of the additional vehicles.

[0017] According to another feature, the control unit monitors the steering angle and / or activation of the turn indicators of the improved vehicle to determine whether a turning or overtaking maneuver is being initiated and, if appropriate, provides a new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuver.

[0018] According to another feature, the new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuvering includes dynamic control of the lighting, the parameters of which are determined based on the vehicle's steering angle during maneuvering.

[0019] According to another feature, at least one of the automotive lighting devices includes an array arrangement of light-emitting pixels in rows and columns.

[0020] According to another feature, in the adapted lighting configuration, rows or columns are turned off relative to the initial luminous intensity.

[0021] According to another characteristic, the steps implemented by the control unit when the vehicle passes are periodically executed at a period of less than 1 second, and especially less than 0.5 seconds.

[0022] According to another characteristic, the training that the control unit undergoes involves the use of computerized machine learning algorithms.

[0023] According to another characteristic, the vehicle's traffic data acquired by at least one sensor includes at least two types of data among the following: the currently activated lighting equipment on the vehicle, external luminous intensity, the number of surrounding vehicles and their distances, the vehicle's current speed or the presence and color of traffic lights, location coordinates, and nearby road signs.

[0024] According to another characteristic, the plurality of sensors include at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of the lighting device, at least one camera, a geolocation sensor, radar, lidar, and an infrared sensor.

[0025] Another objective of this application is to provide a computing element that allows for at least partial overcoming of the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0026] This objective is achieved by a computing element comprising means for cooperating with at least one sensor (3) for acquiring passage data to implement steps of a method according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] Another object of this application is to provide a computer program that allows at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art to be overcome.

[0028] This objective is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a control unit, cause the control unit to cooperate with at least one sensor (3) for acquiring passage data to perform the steps of a method according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] Another objective of this application is to provide a vehicle lighting system that allows for at least partial overcoming of the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0030] This objective is achieved by a vehicle lighting system, which includes: - Multiple lighting fixtures; - Multiple sensors, configured to provide certain passage data; and - A control unit, which is used to perform the steps of the method according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] According to another characteristic, at least one of the lighting devices includes an array arrangement of semiconductor light sources.

[0032] According to another characteristic, the array arrangement includes at least 2,000 semiconductor light sources.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description of various embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specifically, a set of drawings is provided to supplement the specification and to better understand the invention. These drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention and form part of the specification; they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but are merely examples of how the invention can be practiced. These drawings include the following figures: [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 Schematic diagrams of systems according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown; [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 Schematic diagrams of methods according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown; [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 The image shows a photograph of a nighttime driving scene, along with a brightness map of the same scene (below). [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 Examples of lighting intensity (normal or dim) and lighting range are shown for various nighttime driving conditions.

[0034] This invention relates to a method for dynamically controlling a vehicle's lighting system (1), as well as computer components, computer programs, and a lighting system for implementing the method. This application relates to a control unit that controls lighting and is trained and performs calculations, comparisons, etc., in at least one training phase. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that it can be applied to multiple control units performing various tasks and interacting to implement the invention, or to a single unit performing all tasks. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will naturally understand that, due to the nature of the tasks performed, such a unit will typically include at least one processor for executing instructions, and various forms of implementation are possible, and therefore details regarding the types of hardware that can be used or have been used are not required. The highly schematic drawings depicted on the accompanying pages are provided by way of example only, and those skilled in the art will be able to contemplate any type of variation based on the content of this application.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this document (including technical and scientific terms) must be interpreted in the manner commonly used in the art, and particularly in the field of lighting and signaling of motor vehicles (especially automobiles). For example, the terms “range,” “width,” and “intensity” are commonly used and can be interpreted in a manner that also covers other terms used to define a beam (especially vertical and horizontal angles or focal length). Therefore, defining and adapting the beam according to the traffic conditions encountered in this application will affect at least one of these parameters, and those skilled in the art will be able to determine which parameters should be adjusted to limit uncomfortable glare in the area of ​​concern while meeting relevant regulatory requirements. Specifically, the range and / or width or even the projected area can be reduced when the lighting device allows the beam to rotate. In particular, such control of the lighting system (1) by the control unit (2) to provide a situation-appropriate lighting configuration by defining the beam of at least one of the lighting devices (5) of the improved vehicle makes the definition include at least one of the following adaptations: - Adaptation of the beam's range and / or intensity based on the distance to another vehicle. - Adaptation of the beam width and / or shape based on the direction of travel of another vehicle. - Adaptation of beam orientation based on road contours.

[0036] Similarly, other terms such as “field of view” (usually expressed in degrees) may be used without implying any particular limitation in this application. It will also be understood that, unless expressly defined in this document, commonly used terms should be interpreted according to the conventions of the relevant field, rather than in an idealized or overly formal sense, and should not be interpreted restrictively.

[0037] In this application, as is generally accepted in the field of patent applications, the terms “comprises,” “has,” and “includes,” and their derivatives (such as “comprising,” “having,” etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the described and defined content may include other elements, steps, etc.

[0038] The terms "lighting system" and "lighting equipment" in this application refer to means of apparatus used for both signal transmission and providing actual lighting, and in particular: Devices that allow illumination of the vehicle's environment - In order to be able to see (e.g., low beam (LB) or high beam (HB), even though the latter is often prohibited under certain conditions, especially in urban areas); - Or in order to be visible (e.g., position lights (PL), rear position lights (RPL), or daytime running lights (DRL)). It can also be a device that notifies other users of the driver's actions (e.g., brake lights (SL), turn signals (TI), or warning lights (W)).

[0039] Therefore, the lighting system (1) includes multiple lighting (or signal transmission) devices (5), which can be of the type of the examples (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) provided above, which are neither exhaustive nor limiting. Typically, the system will also be considered to include a control (or command) unit (2) for controlling the system (1) and implementing the method. Each device may include one or more light sources (6) commensurate with the type of lighting (e.g., incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes (LEDs)).

[0040] The term "road" in this application refers to the outline of a road on which a vehicle is traveling, including, in particular, its slope, curvature, and surface condition. Specifically, the fit will necessarily vary depending on factors such as whether the vehicle is uphill, downhill, on flat ground, in a depression, or even on a hilltop; whether the vehicle is traveling in a straight line or turning; and even the direction of the curve (especially due to the driver's position in the vehicle).

[0041] In general, this invention aims to reduce the power consumed by vehicle lighting, primarily when vehicles are driving at night in non-urban areas. Specifically, in this situation, low beams and high beams are necessary, but they consume a lot of power and often cause significant discomfort to other users passing or following them. Therefore, vehicle lighting typically does not need to consume as much power as currently in this situation, and the beam can be adapted to limit uncomfortable glare to other users. Therefore, this invention proposes to address these drawbacks by providing an adaptive lighting solution for vehicles.

[0042] Therefore, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for dynamically controlling a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, referred to as an improved vehicle, the system (1) comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of lighting devices (5) controlled by a control unit (2) for providing a plurality of lighting configurations of the system (1), and on the other hand, at least one sensor (3) for acquiring data (referred to as traffic data) relating to the vehicle's passage (e.g., speed, position, and steering angle), as well as to traffic conditions, and therefore to the vehicle's external environment (e.g., ambient light levels, weather conditions, distances to or relative to other vehicles, etc.). Such traffic data may be extensive and involve multiple sensors of various types, and those skilled in the art will be able to determine the most relevant data based on the data to be collected. Therefore, by way of non-limiting example, the following information, which is generally most relevant to achieving the objectives of the present invention, will be mentioned: - Information about the vehicle's speed or even acceleration (e.g., collected by means of its speed sensor or by means of a gyroscope); - Information about the steering wheel angle (collected using sensors in the steering wheel or gyroscopes (e.g., the gyroscopes in ESP systems)). - Information about the gradient of the road on which the vehicle is traveling (e.g., collected by means of a level sensor or a gyroscope), especially for identifying mountain roads; - Information about the distance to vehicles or obstacles (which can be measured by various sensors, lasers, or cameras); - Information about the relative speed of other vehicles (e.g., information collected using the vehicle's speed sensors and distance information integrated over time). - Information about the vehicle's location (e.g., geolocation via GPS); - Information about ambient light conditions (e.g., which can be measured by lighting and / or brightness sensors that are typically present in some vehicles).

[0043] In this specification, a vehicle equipped with the system and implementing the invention is referred to as an “improved vehicle” (or sometimes simply “the vehicle”) only to distinguish it from other described vehicles that the improved vehicle passes through or follows (these other vehicles are referred to as “other” or “additional” vehicles in this application), but obviously this is not intended to imply disparagement of other systems, nor does it constitute any limitation, especially not limiting the implementation of the invention in one or more of the described vehicles.

[0044] In general, the method includes: - The control unit (2) is pre-trained to detect the presence of another vehicle within the driver's field of vision of the improved vehicle and to estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the eye height of the driver of the other vehicle. - Pre-training to determine whether the improved vehicle's lighting is correctly oriented relative to the road, especially its slope.

[0045] Preferably, the control unit will also benefit from the pre-training of the control unit (2) to identify the characteristics of the urban area based on data provided by at least one sensor during the pre-training phase, and then determine whether to activate or deactivate the non-urban lighting function based on a comparison between the data provided by the sensor (3) of the system (1) and the learned characteristics of the urban area.

[0046] Therefore, the control unit within the vehicle that controls the lighting system can recognize that the vehicle is in a non-urban area and can dynamically adapt the lighting when the function is activated. However, activating appropriate lights on non-urban roads is well-known, so such training is not necessary. It should be noted that the various functions and the resulting lighting configuration can, of course, be authorized by the driver, for example, through pre-configuration on their dashboard or by consent verified when the control unit detects appropriate conditions for activating the function.

[0047] In some embodiments, the height of the other vehicle relative to the improved vehicle is estimated by combining an estimate of the size of the other vehicle with a measurement of the distance between the other vehicle and the improved vehicle, taking into account the road profile (i.e., its slope and / or its curvature and / or its surface condition (e.g., strong glare in low-light conditions during rain) and optionally using the average position of the driver among vehicles within a given clearance (higher in a truck than in a car). Information about the height of the improved vehicle can also be used, as this information is known, and similarly, the height of the lighting equipment present on the improved vehicle can be used.

[0048] Typically, and in various embodiments, the training of the control unit (2) involves using computerized machine learning algorithms, such as neural networks, classifiers, etc. The machine learning algorithm can be used both to design the luminous patterns for use cases and / or to classify each case in a predefined use case. Each of these options follows its own machine learning algorithm. Once the corresponding results have been verified, the values ​​from the control unit are used in the corresponding steps of the method of the present invention. Furthermore, in order to monitor traffic conditions and the environment in which the vehicle itself is located, the steps implemented by the control unit (2) when the vehicle is passing are preferably performed periodically at a period of less than 1 second, and especially less than 0.5 seconds.

[0049] In various embodiments, the vehicle traffic data acquired by at least one sensor (3) includes at least two types of data among the following: currently activated lighting equipment (5) on the vehicle, external luminous intensity, number of surrounding vehicles and their distances, the vehicle's current speed or the presence and color of traffic lights, location coordinates, and nearby road signs.

[0050] Similarly, in various embodiments, the plurality of sensors (3) include at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of the lighting device (5), at least one camera, a geolocation sensor, radar, lidar, and an infrared sensor.

[0051] Preferably, the method further includes pre-training to identify whether the detected other vehicle is traveling in front of the improved vehicle in the same lane or in another lane, and whether the detected other vehicle is traveling in a lane in the opposite direction to the improved vehicle.

[0052] Through this training, the control unit is trained to subsequently monitor the vehicle's environment and propose various lighting configurations as the vehicle passes. Specifically, passing vehicles typically have lighting configurations (preferably compliant with regulations) that depend on traffic conditions and the environment and involve various devices that activate the system. The training is called "pre-training" because it occurs before the methodological steps (acquisition, calculation, detection, comparison, etc.) implemented during vehicle passage; however, it should be noted that this training can be performed before or after the control unit is installed in the vehicle, allowing the training to be conducted under real-world conditions. Identifying the lane of another vehicle allows the beam to be adapted differently depending on whether the other vehicle is traveling in the same lane or an adjacent lane. Specifically, the driver of the vehicle ahead of the improved vehicle will experience less uncomfortable glare and will be in a different position than the driver of a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction in an adjacent lane.

[0053] In some embodiments, the control unit is the object of two training processes. These two training processes include machine learning steps, in which the control unit is trained using training data provided by multiple sensors.

[0054] The first training process involves designing emission patterns for various operating modes, each emission pattern being associated with multiple data values. This first training process includes: - Train the control unit in response to the training dataset to design an operating mode luminous pattern; - The control unit is tested by comparing the selected luminous pattern with the expected optimal results.

[0055] Using the algorithm described above, various use cases were defined, and the optimal luminous pattern was found for each use case.

[0056] The second training process involves classifying cases from predefined use cases. This second training process includes: - Use the training dataset to train the control unit to classify situations in predefined use cases; - The control unit is tested by comparing the selected predefined conditions with the expected best results.

[0057] In this embodiment, various scenarios were created, each with different data obtained from the sensors. The control unit was trained to identify which use case best fits that scenario.

[0058] Once these two training processes are completed, the control unit is installed in the vehicle to perform illumination control of the lighting system. However, as mentioned elsewhere in this application, pre-training can be performed after installation in the vehicle, and then it will be trained under real-world conditions. This training will then be verified by actions on the control unit (by an automatic monitor and / or a user monitoring the actions) (on-site or remotely).

[0059] During operation, the lighting system will then provide an initial luminous pattern based on the lighting function selected by the vehicle user.

[0060] In some embodiments, during use of the vehicle equipped to implement the invention, the control unit of the lighting system receives data from multiple sensors, for example every 0.2 seconds. This data includes external (or traffic) data of the vehicle (active lighting function, external luminous intensity, number of surrounding vehicles and their distances, the vehicle's current speed, or the presence and color of traffic lights, etc.). Through training, the control unit classifies the environment into use cases and associates a lighting map with that situation. The lighting system then projects a new luminous pattern to provide appropriate illumination with minimal power consumption. This process is repeated, for example, every 0.2 seconds. It should be noted that the term "luminous pattern" is used in this application with the same meaning as the term "lighting configuration," and it is not limited to a pattern in the strictest sense, and therefore does not necessarily imply a change in luminous intensity.

[0061] Therefore, after the control unit has been trained in various situations in which it must propose or provide a specific lighting configuration, the present invention stipulates that when the vehicle travels with the first lighting configuration of the system (1) (referred to as the initial lighting configuration), the control unit (2) performs the following analysis and control steps: - Acquire data from at least one sensor (3) of the system (1) to detect at least one other vehicle in front of the improved vehicle, and calculate the distance between the other vehicle and the improved vehicle. - Estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle based on the calculated distance and pre-training. - Estimate the appropriateness of the improved vehicle's lighting relative to the road orientation. - Determine the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle, then - The control unit (2) controls the lighting system (1) to provide a lighting configuration adapted to the situation by defining the beam of at least one of the lighting devices (5) of the improved vehicle according to the road, the driving direction of at least one other vehicle and its distance and / or height relative to the improved vehicle.

[0062] An assessment of suitability is often essential for compliance, as lighting must be adequate in a certain number of areas around the vehicle and not allowed to deviate into other areas, since these parameters are set to ensure user safety. In some embodiments, the analysis step uses a luminance map based on data measured by at least one sensor (3). Figure 3 An illustrative and non-limiting example of such a brightness map, generated based on image data from a camera, is shown.

[0063] In some embodiments, the estimated size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle, based on the calculated distance and pre-training, is used to identify the distribution of the other vehicle's lighting equipment given the distance to the vehicle.

[0064] In some embodiments, the estimation of the suitability of the lighting of the improved vehicle relative to the orientation of the road is made using training data and measurements of the distance between the improved vehicle and the luminous pattern projected onto the ground by at least one of its lighting devices (5).

[0065] In some embodiments, the determination of the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle uses an estimate of the position and relative speed of the other vehicle relative to the improved vehicle.

[0066] In some embodiments, the control of the lighting system (1) by the control unit (2) to provide an appropriate lighting configuration includes reducing the intensity and / or width and / or range of at least one of the lighting devices (5). Figure 4 Illustrative and non-limiting examples of variations in intensity (dimness level) and range are shown, where various parameters depend on the presence or absence of another vehicle that the improved vehicle is following and / or passing.

[0067] Significant energy savings can be achieved while maintaining satisfactory visibility in urban traffic flow. In particular, with LED lighting equipment (5), a simple (vertical or horizontal) beam can be obtained that is generally sufficient to meet regulatory requirements, and the shape (luminosity) of the beam can be changed. Furthermore, by reducing the illumination range and / or intensity, even greater energy savings can be achieved while improving user visual comfort, especially for strong beams such as high beams (HB), but also for low beams (LB) and / or daytime running lights (DRL).

[0068] It should be noted that, in order to detect passage through non-urban areas, the control unit may use image recognition based on the onboard camera to identify buildings and, for example, measure their density after training. However, the control unit may also use geolocation signals to determine whether the vehicle is in a town, and so other possibilities can be envisioned. Therefore, these examples are not limiting.

[0069] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to detect other vehicles, the control unit preferably uses image recognition and size measurement; however, these examples are not limiting, and the control unit may also additionally or alternatively use various sensors to determine the proximity of other vehicles (optionally, combining distance with image recognition makes it possible to identify whether they are indeed vehicles and not some kind of obstacle) or even use information remotely, for example, transmitted between vehicles equipped with compatible systems. In some embodiments, the estimation of distance (and / or speed, including relative speed) combines the calculation of the collision time with a comparison of that time with various thresholds, and may combine the monitoring of changes in that time to calculate relative speed, thereby determining how to pass or overtake a vehicle.

[0070] In some embodiments, the adapted lighting configuration involves the combined control of multiple lighting devices to supplement or replace various available light beams. Specifically, particularly to continue meeting regulatory standards regarding the lighting of vehicle visibility (especially its clearance) and / or the lighting of the vehicle's surrounding environment, various types of devices can be used in combination while reducing power consumption. Thus, the intensity of one lamp can be reduced or one lamp can be turned off while another is turned on, optionally also with a limited intensity. Therefore, many configurations are possible by implementing the invention.

[0071] In some embodiments, at least one of the automotive lighting devices (5) includes an array arrangement of rows and columns of luminescent pixels (2). In some specific cases, the array includes at least 2000 solid-state light sources. The array arrangement is a typical example of this process. Rows may be grouped together by projection distance ranges, with each column of each group representing an angular range. The angle value depends on the resolution of the array, which is typically between 0.01° and 0.5° per column. Control of rows and columns allows for independent control of angles and ranges, in addition to controlling intensity, and allows for the simultaneous management of multiple light sources. In some embodiments of these embodiments, after one of the reductions, some rows or columns are turned off relative to the initial luminous intensity. Specifically, modern lighting devices typically include “solid-state” light sources, and the present invention allows for the use of this type of device, particularly allowing for adaptation of luminous intensity. The term “solid-state” refers to light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid-state lighting produces visible light without generating excessive heat or dissipating excessive energy. Compared to fragile glass tubes / bulbs and thin filaments, the typically lighter weight of solid-state electronic lighting devices offers greater shock and vibration resistance. They also do not suffer from filament evaporation, potentially extending the lifespan of the lighting device. Some examples of this type of lighting include semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) when used as light sources, rather than lighting based on filaments, plasma, or gases. This method aims to find the optimal luminous pattern projected by the lighting device. Predefined use cases are defined, and when the method identifies the vehicle itself as being in one of these predefined use cases, the corresponding luminous pattern is projected. Therefore, due to the existence of a reasonable number of predefined use cases, the optimal luminous pattern can be found without excessive computational cost.

[0072] Therefore, in some embodiments, in order to provide the adapted lighting configuration, the control unit's control of the lighting system (1) includes control of the luminance of at least one of the devices. Specifically, each device emits a beam of light specific to that device and having a specific shape defined by the luminance. The invention provides for modification of this luminance in certain circumstances. For example, low beams include a beam illuminating a symmetrical area (referred to as the flat area) near the vehicle and an asymmetrical area further away. For example, the invention provides for retaining only the flat area when the vehicle is traveling through a congested town. In another example, in the case of daytime running lights, only the illumination required to indicate vehicle clearance may be retained. In the case of high beams, illumination of the entire field of vision may be restricted, but illumination of the oncoming lane may be restricted more, and a greater intensity and / or range may be maintained within (or on either side of) the lane of the improved vehicle. Thus, modifying the luminance allows user safety to be ensured by eliminating portions of the beam that are unnecessary in certain circumstances, while improving user visual comfort and saving power.

[0073] Particularly advantageously, some embodiments specify that, once the method has been implemented to provide the adapted lighting configuration, the control unit (2) continues to implement the adaptive method in the following manner: - Monitor the presence of another detected vehicle and the distance between the improved vehicle and the other detected vehicle to determine whether the other detected vehicle has been overtaken, passed, or driven away, and then control the lighting system (1) to modify the adapted lighting configuration according to the disappearance or change of the distance between the improved vehicle and the other detected vehicle. - Monitor the presence of additional vehicles in front of the improved vehicle to repeat the steps of the method and provide a new lighting configuration adapted to the presence of the additional vehicles.

[0074] In some embodiments, the control unit (2) monitors the steering angle and / or activation of the turn indicators of the improved vehicle to determine whether a turning or overtaking maneuver is being initiated, and provides a new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuver if appropriate. Preferably, in these embodiments, the new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuver includes dynamic control of the lighting, the parameters of which are determined based on the steering angle of the vehicle during the maneuver. Thus, depending on the angle adopted by the improved vehicle, the intensity and / or width and / or range and / or shape (luminosity) and / or orientation of the lighting are adapted, while taking into account the position and path of other vehicles.

[0075] Therefore, when the control unit detects that the driver intends to begin maneuvering the vehicle after the lighting has been modified, the control unit dynamically adapts the lighting based on the driver's behavior. Thus, this invention enables the lighting to remain constantly adapted to the inevitably changing traffic conditions and the driver's maneuvers.

[0076] It should be understood that the present invention provides a method for adaptively managing or controlling vehicle lighting according to traffic conditions. This method involves using a control unit (2) with computing resources connected to a sensor (3) to control the vehicle's lighting system (1). Such computing resources are known in themselves and can be implemented by computing elements. Therefore, some embodiments also relate to a computing element comprising means for implementing the steps of the method according to the invention. Similarly, it is known that such computing means for implementing this method typically requires a computer program unless simulation programming is contemplated. Therefore, some embodiments relate to a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by the control unit (2), cause the control unit to perform the steps of the method according to the invention. Finally, since the invention is intended to be embedded in vehicles, some embodiments relate to a vehicle lighting system (1) comprising: - Multiple lighting fixtures (5); - Multiple sensors (3), which are configured to provide certain (intrinsic and / or external) passage data; and - Control unit (2), which is used to perform the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0077] Similarly, as mentioned above in this application, in some embodiments of such a system, at least one of the lighting devices (5) includes an array arrangement of semiconductor light sources (2). In some of these embodiments, the array arrangement includes at least 2000 semiconductor light sources (2).

[0078] This application describes various technical features and advantages with reference to the accompanying drawings and / or various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that technical features of a given embodiment can actually be combined with features of another embodiment, unless explicitly stated otherwise, or unless these features are clearly incompatible, or the combination fails to provide a solution to at least one of the technical problems mentioned in this application. Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the technical features described in a given embodiment can be separated from other features of that embodiment.

[0079] A detailed list of reference numerals in the attached figures: .

Claims

1. A method for dynamically controlling a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, the vehicle being referred to as an improved vehicle, the system (1) comprising, on one hand, a plurality of lighting devices (5) controlled by a control unit (2) for providing a plurality of lighting configurations of the system (1), and on the other hand, at least one sensor (3) for acquiring data related to the passage of the vehicle and its traffic conditions, the data being referred to as traffic data, the method comprising: - The control unit (2) is pre-trained to detect the presence of another vehicle within the driver's field of vision of the improved vehicle and to estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle. - Pre-training to determine whether the improved vehicle's lighting is correctly oriented relative to the road, especially its slope. The method is characterized in that it includes: - Pre-trained to identify whether another detected vehicle is traveling in front of the improved vehicle in the same lane or a different lane, and whether the other detected vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction to the improved vehicle. Then, when the vehicle is traveling on the road, the control unit (2) performs the following analysis and control steps: - Acquire traffic data from at least one sensor (3) of the system (1) to detect at least one other vehicle in front of the improved vehicle, and calculate the distance between the other vehicle and the improved vehicle. - Estimate the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle based on the calculated distance and the pre-training. - Estimate the appropriateness of the improved vehicle's lighting relative to the road orientation. - Determine the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle, then - The control unit (2) controls the lighting system (1) to provide a lighting configuration adapted to the situation by defining the beam of at least one of the lighting devices (5) of the improved vehicle according to the road, the driving direction of at least one other vehicle and its distance and / or height relative to the improved vehicle.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, The analysis step uses a brightness map based on data measured by at least one sensor (3).

3. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, Based on the calculated distance and the pre-training, the estimation of the size of the other vehicle and / or the driver's eye height of the other vehicle is used to identify the distribution of the lighting equipment of the other vehicle given the distance to the vehicle.

4. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The estimation of the suitability of the lighting of the improved vehicle relative to the road orientation uses training data and measurements of the distance between the improved vehicle and the luminous pattern projected onto the ground by at least one of its lighting devices (5).

5. The method as described in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The determination of the lane and direction of travel of the detected other vehicle is made using an estimate of the position and relative speed of the other vehicle relative to the improved vehicle.

6. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The control of the lighting system (1) by the control unit (2) to provide an appropriate lighting configuration includes reducing the intensity and / or width and / or range of at least one of the lighting devices (5).

7. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, Controlling the lighting system (1) to provide the adapted lighting configuration includes controlling the luminance of at least one of the devices.

8. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The distance and / or direction of travel estimation combines the calculation of the collision time with a comparison of that time with a threshold—for example, two seconds.

9. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, After the adapted lighting configuration is activated, the control unit (2) performs the following steps: - Monitor the presence of the detected other vehicle and the distance between the improved vehicle and the detected other vehicle to determine whether the detected other vehicle has been overtaken, passed, or driven away, and then control the lighting system (1) to modify the adapted lighting configuration according to the disappearance or change of the distance between the improved vehicle and the detected other vehicle; - Monitor the presence of additional vehicles in front of the improved vehicle to repeat the steps of the method and provide a new lighting configuration adapted to the presence of the additional vehicles.

10. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The control unit (2) monitors the steering angle and / or activation of the turn indicator lights of the improved vehicle to determine whether a turning or overtaking maneuver is being initiated, and provides a new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuver if appropriate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, The new lighting configuration adapted to the maneuvering includes dynamic control of the lighting, the parameters of which are determined based on the vehicle's steering angle during maneuvering.

12. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the automotive lighting devices (5) includes an array arrangement of light-emitting pixels (2) arranged in rows and columns.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein, In the adapted lighting configuration, some rows or columns are turned off relative to the initial luminous intensity.

14. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The steps implemented by the control unit (2) when the vehicle passes are periodically executed at a period of less than 1 second, and especially less than 0.5 seconds.

15. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The training that the control unit (2) undergoes involves the use of computerized machine learning algorithms.

16. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The vehicle's traffic data acquired by at least one sensor (3) includes at least two types of data, such as the currently activated lighting device (5) on the vehicle, external luminous intensity, number of surrounding vehicles and their distances, the vehicle's current speed or the presence and color of traffic lights, location coordinates, and nearby road signs.

17. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The plurality of sensors (3) include at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of the lighting device (5), at least one camera, a geolocation sensor, radar, lidar, and an infrared sensor.

18. A computing element comprising means for cooperating with at least one sensor (3) for acquiring passage data to perform the steps of the method as described in any of the preceding claims.

19. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a control unit (2), cause the control unit to cooperate with at least one sensor (3) for acquiring access data to perform the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. A vehicle lighting system (1), comprising: - Multiple lighting fixtures (5); - Multiple sensors (3), the multiple sensors being configured to provide certain traffic data related to the passage of the vehicle and its traffic conditions; as well as - Control unit (2), the control unit being used to perform the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

21. The system (1) as described in the preceding claim, wherein, At least one of the lighting devices (5) includes an array arrangement of semiconductor light sources (2).

22. The system (1) as described in the preceding claim, wherein, The array arrangement includes at least 2,000 semiconductor light sources (2).

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