Method for aligning the beam pattern of a vehicle headlight depending on the vehicle's surroundings, device, computer program and machine-readable storage medium

Abstract

Method (600) for aligning a lighting area (406) of a headlight (408) of a vehicle (400) depending on the environment of the vehicle (400), wherein the method (600) comprises the following steps: Classifying (602; 704) at least one foreign vehicle (402) in the vicinity of the vehicle (400) depending on information (426) about a position of the foreign vehicle (402) in relation to the vehicle (400); Determining (604) a target position of the headlight (408), wherein the determination (604) is carried out independently of the foreign vehicle (402), if the foreign vehicle (402) is classified as passing the vehicle (400) or the vehicle (400) as passing the foreign vehicle (402); and Providing (606) a signal (428) to move the headlight (408) into the target position while the vehicle (400) is being passed by the foreign vehicle (402) or the foreign vehicle (402) is passing.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for aligning a lighting area of ​​a headlight of a vehicle depending on the vehicle's surroundings, to a corresponding device and to a corresponding computer program.

[0002] Modern high-beam assist systems adapt the light distribution to the ambient conditions. The classic high-beam assist, or HMA (short for High Beam Assist), automatically switches between low and high beams, while adaptive systems dynamically adjust the light distribution to the traffic situation. Adaptive systems include, for example, AHC (short for Adaptive High Beam Control), also known in the literature as aCOL (short for Adaptive Cut-Off Line) or aHDG (Adaptive Cut-Off Line), which raises the cut-off line of the headlight, similar to headlight range control, to just below the threshold of dazzling other road users.

[0003] The assistant CHC (Continuous High Beam Control), also known in the literature as vCOL (vertical Cut-Off Line), generates a light distribution similar to high beams, creating a shared shadow corridor around road users or groups of road users to selectively dim them. The so-called "matrix beam" or "pixel light" has more degrees of freedom and can, in principle, generate a separate shadow corridor for each individual road user. Furthermore, it is possible to activate specific static light distributions based on environmental information, such as city lights, highway lights, or rural road lights.

[0004] Document DE 10 2007 040 810 A1 discloses a method for operating headlights in a motor vehicle. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] Against this background, the approach presented here comprises a method for aligning the beam pattern of a vehicle's headlight depending on the vehicle's surroundings, a device that uses this method, and finally, a corresponding computer program according to the main claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the respective dependent claims and the following description.

[0006] Swiveling the headlight(s) of a vehicle to a new target position, even before a foreign vehicle currently next to the vehicle has passed or been passed by the vehicle, makes it possible, considering the inertia of the headlight movement, to switch the headlight to the optimal light distribution early.

[0007] For example, by swiveling the headlights earlier, the driver can be provided with more light in the road area, thus increasing driving comfort. Furthermore, important information, such as wildlife at the roadside, can be accessed more quickly. With an earlier light distribution of the headlights, also achievable according to the presented approach, the potentially disruptive high number of light distribution changes relative to the direction of travel required for optimal illumination can be reduced. Hectic changes in light distribution can be avoided. The overall light distribution can be changed more quickly, so that the driver has the light distribution in the required position particularly soon after passing another vehicle.

[0008] A method for aligning the beam pattern of a vehicle's headlight depending on the vehicle's surroundings is presented, the method comprising the following steps: Classifying at least one foreign vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle based on information about the foreign vehicle's position relative to the vehicle; Determining a target position of the headlight without regard to the other vehicle, when the other vehicle is classified as passing the vehicle or being passed by the vehicle; and Providing a signal to move the headlight to the target position while the vehicle is being passed by the foreign vehicle or the foreign vehicle is passing.

[0009] The headlight can be a front headlight. The vehicle can be a road-legal vehicle such as a motorcycle, a car, or a truck. In the case of a car or truck, the headlight can be one of two headlights at the front of the vehicle. The illuminated area can be a region around the vehicle that is lit by the headlight. Generally, this area will extend furthest in front of the vehicle and to a lesser extent to the sides. The illuminated area can be cone-shaped. The vehicle's surroundings can be defined as an area around the vehicle whose size corresponds to the maximum range of the headlight. One reason for adjusting the illuminated area is to avoid dazzling the driver of an oncoming or preceding vehicle with the headlight.The illuminated area can be varied in different ways. For example, the illuminated area can be shifted horizontally and / or vertically by swiveling the headlight. Additionally or alternatively, the light distribution of the emitted light from the headlight can be altered. Optimal alignment of the headlight's illuminated area can result in a shadow area around, for example, an oncoming vehicle, while a vehicle-free area adjacent to this shadow area is maximally illuminated by the headlight. Disregarding the other vehicle when determining the headlight's target position means that the headlight's target position is determined independently of the other vehicle. In this case, the determination is made as if the other vehicle were not detected or not even present in the vicinity.However, such determination of the target position only occurs once the other vehicle (for example, as an oncoming road user) has passed the vehicle, or once the vehicle has overtaken the other vehicle.

[0010] The other vehicle could be another road user, such as another motorcycle, car, or truck. Classifying the other vehicle can mean assigning it to one of several categories, each characterized by a specific geographical position or group of geographical positions relative to the vehicle. Information about the other vehicle's position can be sensor data. Environmental data from the vehicle's surroundings can be used to determine the headlight's target position. The headlight's target position can be defined as its rotational position relative to the vehicle's chassis. Alternatively, a target angle can be used to adjust the headlight and define its illumination range.A vehicle passing another vehicle can be a so-called "overtaking vehicle," meaning a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction to the vehicle's direction of travel on the opposite lane. A vehicle being passed by another vehicle can be a vehicle being overtaken. The signal can, for example, be provided to an interface of an electric motor integrated into the vehicle. The electric motor's function might be to move the headlight into the target position. The passing of the vehicle by the other vehicle, or the passing of the other vehicle by the vehicle, can be characterized by at least a partial overlap of a side area of ​​the vehicle facing the other vehicle and another side area of ​​the other vehicle facing the vehicle.

[0011] In particular, the target position of the headlight can be determined in the determination step using information about the position of another vehicle. In the classification step, this other vehicle can be classified as an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle ahead. With this embodiment, an optimal target position for the headlight can be found at an early stage, achieving the best possible and, above all, consistent ambient illumination while minimizing glare for the driver of the other vehicle.

[0012] For example, in the classification step, another vehicle can be classified as an oncoming or preceding vehicle if the distance between the vehicle and the other vehicle, measured in the direction of travel, exceeds a predefined distance threshold. This allows the other vehicle to be classified cost-effectively with minimal computational effort.

[0013] For even more precise identification of the other vehicle, the other vehicle can be classified as an oncoming vehicle during the classification step if its position, in right-hand traffic, is to the left of the vehicle in the direction of travel, or to the right of the vehicle in left-hand traffic. Alternatively, the other vehicle can be classified as a preceding vehicle if its position, in the direction of travel, is aligned with the position of the vehicle. This embodiment of the method offers a simple and cost-effective way to robustly determine the position of the other vehicle, particularly when using the vehicle's environmental sensors.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, in the determination step, the target position of the headlight can be determined based on an environmental assessment of the vehicle's surroundings using environmental data, provided the surroundings are free of other vehicles. This advantageously allows the illumination of the driving environment to be adapted to its specific characteristics. For example, driving through a forest requires different illumination than driving through a built-up area. Therefore, with this embodiment of the method, the headlight's illumination range can be optimally adapted to the current driving situation even in the absence of other vehicles in the vicinity.

[0015] For example, the procedure may include a step of reading in information about the position of the foreign vehicle and / or information about the position of another foreign vehicle and / or environmental data from an environmental sensor of the vehicle.

[0016] The environmental sensor could, for example, be an optical sensor on a camera mounted on the vehicle that is pointed at its surroundings. This allows the vehicle's surroundings, including any other vehicles that may be present, to be classified particularly quickly, reliably, and unambiguously. The process can also be implemented cost-effectively, as many vehicles are already equipped with an environmental sensor as standard.

[0017] Alternatively or additionally, if no other vehicles are in the vicinity, the target position of the headlight can be determined using information about the vehicle's trajectory. By illuminating the area around the vehicle based on this trajectory, it is possible to quickly and easily determine where optimal illumination is likely to be needed and where other vehicles are expected to appear in the near future.

[0018] In addition to determining the trajectory using the environmental sensor employed to detect other vehicles, the trajectory can alternatively or additionally be determined using at least one further sensor. This additional environmental sensor can utilize navigation information, which, for example, is based on the use of satellites or cell towers for position determination, combined with map data. The trajectory can then be advantageously determined from the map data together with the position.

[0019] Another embodiment is the determination of position and / or trajectory by means of car-to-x communication (i.e., the vehicle receives information from another vehicle or infrastructure).

[0020] A trajectory can be determined, for example, using an inertial sensor such as a steering angle sensor and / or yaw rate sensor together with a speed signal. A key advantage of this design is that these sensors are already standard components of vehicle stability control systems.

[0021] Furthermore, if no other vehicles are in the vicinity, the target position can be determined as aligned with the center of the headlight during the positioning step. Simply aligning the headlight straight ahead can advantageously save processing time.

[0022] In particular, the target position of the headlight can be determined during the setting step if the headlight is in low beam mode relative to the other vehicle. Low beam mode means that the headlight emits low beam light. Alternatively or additionally, low beam mode can consist of a change in light distribution, especially a switch to a flat beam pattern. This design allows for particularly early adaptation of the headlight illumination to upcoming traffic situations. In this way, the headlight's beam pattern can be adjusted very precisely to the current driving environment.

[0023] Furthermore, a device for aligning a lighting area of ​​a vehicle's headlight depending on the vehicle's surroundings is presented, wherein the device has the following features: a classification device for classifying at least one foreign vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle depending on information about the position of the foreign vehicle relative to the vehicle; a determining device for determining a target position of the headlight, wherein the determining device is configured to perform the determining without regard to (or independently of) the other vehicle, when the other vehicle is classified as passing the vehicle or being passed by the vehicle (i.e., when the vehicle is passing the other vehicle); and a provisioning device for providing a signal to move the headlight into the target position while the vehicle is being passed by the foreign vehicle or the foreign vehicle is passing.

[0024] This embodiment of the invention, in the form of a device, also allows the underlying problem to be solved quickly and efficiently. The device can be coupled to the vehicle's headlight or be part of a central control unit of the vehicle and be configured to perform, control, or implement the steps of a variant of the method presented here within its respective components. This embodiment of the invention, in the form of a device, also allows the underlying problem to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0025] In this context, a device can be understood as an electrical device that processes sensor signals and outputs control and / or data signals accordingly. The device may have an interface, which can be implemented in hardware and / or software. In the case of a hardware-based interface, the interfaces can, for example, be part of a so-called system ASIC, which incorporates various functions of the device. However, it is also possible that the interfaces are separate integrated circuits or consist at least partially of discrete components. In the case of a software-based interface, the interfaces can be software modules, which, for example, are located on a microcontroller alongside other software modules.

[0026] Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and is used to carry out, implement and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described above, in particular if the program product or program is executed on a computer or device.

[0027] The approach presented here is explained in more detail below using the attached drawings as examples. These show: Fig. 1 a diagram of an exemplary light distribution of a right and left headlight; Fig. 2 a perspective representation of an exemplary passing situation; Fig. 3 diagrams of an exemplary implementation possibility for glare-free high beam; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a device for aligning a lighting area of ​​a headlight of a vehicle depending on the environment of the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B a possible time lead time to the in Fig. 4 traffic scenes shown; Fig. 4C the lighting mode of the left headlight at the time of the encounter between the vehicle and the other vehicle as in Fig. 4 shown; Fig. 5 a block diagram of a device for aligning a lighting area of ​​a headlight of a vehicle depending on the environment of the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 a flowchart of a method device for aligning a lighting area of ​​a headlight of a vehicle depending on the vehicle's surroundings, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 7 a flowchart of a method device for aligning a lighting area of ​​a headlight of a vehicle depending on the environment of the vehicle, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In the following description of favorable embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and acting similarly, without repeating these elements.

[0029] Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of the light distribution of a right and left headlight of a vehicle for glare-free high beam, using a double diagram. The double diagram displays the light distribution of the headlights on a measuring screen. The right half of the diagram shows the first light distribution 100 of a right headlight, and the left half of the diagram shows the second light distribution 102 of a left headlight for glare-free high beam.

[0030] Typically, glare-free high beams produce only a single U-shaped shadow area intended to encompass all road users. This U-shape can be calculated, for example, by creating a bounding box around all vehicles and using it—with an offset—as the target angle. The shadow area can be generated by superimposing the light distributions 100, 102 from the left and right headlights while simultaneously swiveling the headlights apart. For instance, a target angle can be specified for the headlights, which they then execute with a suitable rotational movement 104. This angle specification describes a U-shape 106, clearly visible in the double diagram, defined by left, right, and lower shadow boundaries.

[0031] When a vehicle is overtaken, the light distribution changes from a U-shape 106 to an L-shape (not shown in the illustration). The same applies to vehicles passing the vehicle in front. This is achieved by a headlight emitting a flat light distribution, e.g., low beam. In this case, an L-shaped light distribution is obtained by superimposing the light distributions 100 and 102.

[0032] If the glare-free high beam or the position of the shadow 106 is achieved by swiveling the headlights - however, this is usually not the case with matrix beam headlights - then the headlight swivels as far outwards as possible to form a large shadow area 106 before the light distribution is switched in order to bring as much light into the traffic area as possible for as long as possible.

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary passing situation. It depicts a meeting of vehicles on a road from a bird's-eye view. The illuminated area 200 of the headlights of vehicle 202 meets oncoming vehicles 204. When passing the oncoming vehicles 204, the left section of the illuminated area 200 must be dimmed. The U-shape of the light distribution 200 becomes an L-shape when the left headlight of vehicle 202 is dimmed.

[0034] Due to the inertia of the headlights, they cannot immediately switch to the optimal light distribution after the oncoming vehicles 204 have passed vehicle 202. Either the headlight of vehicle 202 first swivels to the new target position (e.g., the new vehicle) and then switches from an L-shaped light distribution to a U-shaped light distribution, or the headlight switches immediately from an L-shaped to a U-shaped distribution and then swivels to the new target position.

[0035] Fig. Figure 3 shows diagrams of an exemplary implementation of glare-free high beams. Six diagrams illustrate changes in the headlight beam distribution over time during an encounter situation, viewed from a bird's-eye perspective. Diagram 300 shows an overlap of the illuminated areas of both headlights to form a central, closed cone of light. Diagrams 302 to 306 show a gradual outward swivel of the headlights to position the U-shaped light distribution. Diagram 308 shows an example of dimming, or rather, the creation of the L-shaped light distribution by dimming on one side when encountering another vehicle. Finally, diagram 310 shows the return to the centered high beam after the encounter, as also shown analogously in the first diagram 300.

[0036] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary encounter situation between a vehicle 400 and another vehicle 402 from a bird's-eye view. The vehicle 400 is equipped with an embodiment of a device 404 for aligning a lighting area 406 of a headlight 408 of the vehicle 400.

[0037] In the Fig. In the exemplary traffic scene shown in Figure 4, vehicle 400 is moving on a lane 410 of a road in a direction of travel 412, indicated by an arrow in the illustration. The other vehicle 402 is moving on an adjacent lane 414 of the road in a further direction of travel 416, again indicated by an arrow in the illustration, opposite to the direction of travel 412. Another other vehicle 418 is driving behind the other vehicle 402 on the other lane 414 in the further direction of travel 416. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, vehicles 400, 402, and 418 are passenger cars, each with two headlights. Headlight 408 is the left headlight in the example shown. Vehicle 400 also has a right headlight 419.

[0038] In the Fig. In the traffic scene shown in section 4, vehicle 400 and the other vehicle 402 are currently passing each other. In other words, the other vehicle 402 is currently passing vehicle 400. In the illustration in Fig. This is shown in Figure 4 by the fact that a side area 420 of vehicle 400 facing the other vehicle 402 and another side area 422 of the other vehicle 402 facing vehicle 400 are at least partially opposite each other. The side areas 420 and 422 here refer to the entire lateral flank of the chassis of vehicle 400 and the other vehicle 402, respectively. A variable distance 424, measurable in the direction of travel 412 of vehicle 400, lies between vehicle 400 and the other vehicle 418.

[0039] The device 404 is designed to align the illumination area 406 of the headlight 408 depending on the surroundings of the vehicle 400. For this purpose, the device 404 receives information 426 about the position of the other vehicle 402 relative to the vehicle 400 via a suitable interface. Using the information 426, the device 404 provides a signal 428 to the headlight 408 or to a motor for moving the headlight 408 in order to move the headlight 408 into a target position for aligning the illumination area 406.

[0040] One objective of the device 404 is to adjust the illumination area 406 of the headlight 408 in such a way as to prevent the headlight 408 from dazzling oncoming traffic. In the Fig. In the traffic situation shown in Figure 4, according to information 426, the other vehicle 402 has already moved so far past vehicle 400 that the driver of the other vehicle 402 is no longer blinded by the headlight 408. Therefore, the currently passing other vehicle 402 no longer plays a role in determining the target position of the headlight 408, and the signal 428 to move the headlight is provided while the other vehicle 402 is still passing vehicle 400. By adjusting the headlight 408 to the desired target position, it is ensured that the other other vehicle 418 is not blinded by the headlight 408.

[0041] How the representation in Fig. Figure 4 shows that when signal 428 is provided, the headlight 408 is already in a dimming mode due to the passing vehicle 402. This is evident from the diagram in Fig. The current L-shaped light distribution of the vehicle 400's lighting is clearly visible in Figure 4. Signal 428 is provided before the other vehicle 402 has completely passed vehicle 400 in order to adjust the lighting mode of the headlight 408 in relation to the other vehicle 418.

[0042] The term "low beam mode" can be understood here as a lighting mode in which the glare for a passing vehicle is avoided or reduced by the light distribution. It can also be understood as a lighting mode in which the glare for all other vehicles in a predetermined area around the vehicle – including the passing vehicle – is avoided or reduced, for example, by reducing the light intensity of the relevant headlight.

[0043] Unlike in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the foreign vehicle 402 can also be a vehicle that is being passed by vehicle 400, i.e., overtaken. In this case as well, the device 404 is able to determine the correct target position for the left headlight 408 and / or the right headlight 419 of vehicle 400 based on the information provided and to output the corresponding signal 428.

[0044] At the in Fig. In the embodiment of device 404 shown in Figure 4, the target position of the headlight 408 is determined using information 430 about the position of another vehicle 418. According to information 430, the position of the other vehicle 418 is defined as being to the left of vehicle 400. From this, it is concluded that the other vehicle 418 is an oncoming vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, signal 428 is therefore also provided depending on the finding that the other vehicle 418 is an oncoming vehicle and that the current distance 424 is above a predefined distance threshold.

[0045] Unlike in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the other foreign vehicle 418 can also be a vehicle traveling ahead. The device 404 is designed to determine the target position for the headlight 408 of vehicle 400 according to the variables dependent on this traffic situation.

[0046] At the in Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, information 426 about the position of the other vehicle 402 and information 430 about the position of the other vehicle 418 are provided by an environmental sensor 432 of the vehicle 400, here an optical sensor of a camera system installed in the vehicle 400. According to the embodiments shown, the vehicle 400 may have further environmental sensors.

[0047] According to another embodiment (not shown), the device 404 can be configured to provide the target position of the headlight 408 based on environmental data from the environmental sensor 432 when the area around the vehicle 400 is free of other vehicles. The environmental data could include, for example, information about buildings along the currently driven section of road, current weather conditions, etc.

[0048] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B shows a possible time lead to the one in Fig. 4 traffic scenes shown.

[0049] Fig. Figure 4A shows the encounter situation at an example point in time when the other vehicle 402 is approaching vehicle 400, but has not yet passed it. In order not to dazzle the driver of the other vehicle 402, at least the left headlight 408 of vehicle 400 is in a low-beam mode or dimming mode 434, as indicated by an arrow in the illustration.

[0050] Fig. Figure 4B shows the movement of the headlight 408 into the new target position caused by the device 404, while the other vehicle 402 has not yet reached or passed the vehicle 400. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 4B, the new target position of the left headlight 408 is achieved by pivoting the headlight 408 to the right by a predetermined angle 436. The target position of the headlight 408 is calculated based on the current position of the other vehicle 418. While moving into the target position, the left headlight 408 remains in low-beam mode 434.

[0051] Fig. 4C shows the lighting mode of the left headlight 408 at the time of the encounter between vehicle 400 and the other vehicle 402 as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows the new target position of the headlight 408. The light distribution of the headlight 408 is now switched, as there is no longer a risk of the driver of the other vehicle 402 being dazzled by the headlight 408 at this point in the encounter.

[0052] Fig. Figure 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the device 404 for aligning a lighting area of ​​a vehicle's headlight depending on the vehicle's surroundings. The exemplary device 404 is the one described in Figure 5. Fig. 4 shown. The device 404 comprises a classification device 500, a determination device 502 and a provisioning device 504.

[0053] The classification device 500 is configured to classify the foreign vehicle using information 426 about its position, and to classify the other foreign vehicle using information 430 about its position. The determination device 502 is configured to determine a target position of the headlight, disregarding the foreign vehicle (i.e., independently of the foreign vehicle), when the classification device 500 classifies the foreign vehicle as passing the vehicle or being passed by the vehicle. The provisioning device 504 is configured to provide the signal 428 to move the headlight to the target position while the vehicle is being passed by the foreign vehicle or while the foreign vehicle is passing the vehicle.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the device 404, the classification device 500 is configured to classify the other vehicle as an oncoming or preceding vehicle using the information 430 if the distance between the vehicle and the other vehicle, measured in the direction of travel, exceeds a predefined distance threshold. Furthermore, the classification device 500 can be configured to determine whether the other vehicle is an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle. For this purpose, the classification device 500 can, for example, access environmental data 506 about the vehicle's surroundings provided to the classification device 500 by an environmental sensor of the vehicle.

[0055] According to a further embodiment of the device 404, the target position of the headlight can also be determined when no other vehicle is present. Accordingly, the determination device 502 is configured to determine the target position of the headlight based on an environmental assessment of the vehicle's surroundings using the environmental data 506. Alternatively or additionally, in the absence of oncoming traffic, the determination device 502 can be configured to determine the target position of the headlight using information 508 about the vehicle's trajectory.

[0056] Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows one possible implementation of the proposed concept of advantageous headlight alignment for "passing vehicles" and / or "overtaking vehicles" and / or overtaking maneuvers by selecting a swivel angle of one or more headlights that is most favorable for the future traffic situation. For example, the concept can be integrated into a vehicle's CHC (Chronic Collision Warning) assistant.

[0057] The environmental sensor 432, here a camera system, of vehicle 400 detects the other vehicles 402, 418, determines their position 426, 460 and distance 424, as well as their direction of travel 416, e.g., by the color of their lights (headlights / taillights). The other road users 402, 418 are classified into different categories, e.g., "passing vehicle," here the other vehicle 402, and "vehicle far away," here the other vehicle 418. The previously determined data 424, 426, 430 are used for this purpose. For example, a "passing vehicle" in right-hand traffic can have the characteristics "distance less than threshold," "oncoming vehicle," and "in the left part of the image."

[0058] Once headlights 408 and 419 have switched from a U-shaped light distribution (around all vehicles) to an L-shaped light distribution, the new target position is determined based on the vehicle classification. Vehicles 402 that are being passed—and have therefore been assigned to a suitable class—are not used to determine the target position. The new target position is approached using the L-shaped light distribution while the passing vehicles 402 are still visible. Once the vehicles 402 have been passed, one of the regular control strategies can be used. For example, the light distribution can be switched first, and then headlights 408 and 419 can be fully swiveled, or headlights 408 and 419 can be swiveled first and then switched.However, the difference in significance for the lighting quality is marginal or non-existent and consists solely of whether the headlight 408, 419 has already reached the target position. As a rule, it is possible to switch directly from an L-shaped to a U-shaped light distribution.

[0059] If no vehicles are available to determine a target position, other environmental or vehicle characteristics can be used. For example, the area where the most light is needed or where the next vehicles are most likely to appear can be determined from the vehicle trajectory 508. The vehicle trajectory 508 can be determined based on the vehicle's own movement or travel path, detected tracks, and / or navigation data. To save processing time when determining the trajectory 508, the headlights 408 and 419 can alternatively be aligned straight ahead.

[0060] Fig. Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of method 600 for aligning the beam pattern of a vehicle headlight as a function of the vehicle's surroundings. Method 600 can be implemented to align the beam pattern of the headlight in Fig. The headlight shown in section 4 is to be aligned or adjusted depending on whether the vehicle is encountering other vehicles.

[0061] In step 602 of the classification process, a foreign vehicle and / or at least one other foreign vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle are classified. Classification is performed using information about the position of the foreign vehicle and / or information about the position of the other foreign vehicle relative to the vehicle. In a subsequent step 604 of the determination process, a target position for the headlight is determined. The determination process is performed without regard to the foreign vehicle (i.e., independently of the foreign vehicle) if the foreign vehicle was classified in step 602 of the classification process as either passing the vehicle or being passed by the vehicle. In step 606 of the provisioning process, a signal is provided to move the headlight to the target position while the vehicle is being passed by the foreign vehicle or while the foreign vehicle is passing the vehicle.

[0062] Fig. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of method 600 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. A symbol before the start of method 600 indicates a first light distribution 700 of a vehicle headlight. In step 702, the vehicle's surroundings are detected using the vehicle's environmental sensors. In a subsequent classification step 704, analogous to step 602 of the process described above, the following steps are performed: Fig. In the embodiment of method 6 shown, 600 detected vehicles are classified into categories. In step 706, a decision is then made as to whether there are any vehicles that should be included in the low beam area of ​​the vehicle's headlight.

[0063] If the answer in step 706 is "Yes," step 708 is then executed, in which a target angle for the headlight is determined based on vehicles not passing by. If the answer in step 706, which determines whether there are vehicles that should be included in the headlight's dipped beam area, is "No," step 710, which calculates the vehicle's trajectory, is then executed. In step 712, the headlight's target angle is determined from the trajectory. In step 714, following either step 708 or step 712, the target angle is approached. The system then waits for a predefined delay 716 until the passing vehicles have completely passed the vehicle. Finally, in step 718, the headlight's light distribution is switched. A symbol at the end of procedure 600 indicates a switched light distribution 720 of the headlight.

[0064] A passing vehicle that is ignored for the calculation of the new target angle in step 708 can be an oncoming vehicle, i.e. a classic "passing vehicle", but also a vehicle that was originally driving ahead and is overtaken or otherwise passed by the own vehicle, e.g. by turning.

[0065] The present invention can be particularly advantageously applied to passing vehicles, but its use is also possible and useful in principle for other classes of passing vehicles.

[0066] The embodiments described and shown in the figures are only examples. Different embodiments can be combined completely or with respect to individual features. An embodiment can also be supplemented by features from another embodiment.

[0067] Furthermore, the procedural steps presented here can be repeated and carried out in a different order than described.

[0068] If an embodiment includes an “and / or” connection between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read as meaning that the embodiment according to one embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature, and according to another embodiment either only the first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

[1] Method (600) for aligning a lighting area (406) of a headlight (408) of a vehicle (400) depending on an environment of the vehicle (400), the method (600) comprising the following steps: Classifying (602; 704) at least one other vehicle (402) in the surroundings of the vehicle (400) depending on information (426) about a position of the other vehicle (402) in relation to the vehicle (400); Determining (604) a target position of the headlight (408), wherein the determining (604) is carried out independently of the other vehicle (402) if the other vehicle (402) is classified as passing the vehicle (400) or the vehicle (400) is classified as passing the other vehicle (402); and Providing (606) a signal (428) for moving the headlight (408) to the target position while the vehicle (400) is being passed by the other vehicle (402) or while the other vehicle (402) is passing. [2] Method (600) according to claim 1,characterized by in that in the step of determining (604) the target position of the headlight (408) is determined using information (430) about a position of another foreign vehicle (418), wherein in the step of classifying (602; 704) the other foreign vehicle (418) is classified as an oncoming vehicle or as a vehicle traveling ahead. [3] Method (600) according to claim 2, characterized by in that in the step of classifying (602; 704) the further foreign vehicle (418) is classified as an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle driving ahead if a distance (424) to be measured in the direction of travel (412) of the vehicle (400) between the vehicle (400) and the further foreign vehicle (418) is above a predefined distance threshold value. [4] Method (600) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized byin that in the step of classifying (602; 704) the further foreign vehicle (418) is classified as an oncoming vehicle if its position in the direction of travel (412) of the vehicle (400) is to the left of the vehicle (400) in right-hand traffic and / or to the right of the vehicle (400) in left-hand traffic, and is classified as a preceding vehicle if its position in the direction of travel (412) of the vehicle (400) is aligned with a position of the vehicle (400). [5] Method (600) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by in that in the step of determining (604) the target position of the headlight (408) is determined based on an environmental assessment of the environment of the vehicle (400) using environmental data (506) when the environment is free of other foreign vehicles (418). [6] Method (600) according to claim 5, characterized bythat the method (600) comprises a step of reading in the information (426) about a position of the other vehicle (402) and / or the information (430) about a position of another other vehicle (418) and / or the environment data (506) from an environment sensor of the vehicle (400). [7] Method (600) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that in the step of determining (604) the target position of the headlight (408) is determined using information (508) about a trajectory of the vehicle (400) when the surroundings are free of other foreign vehicles (418). [8] Method (600) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in the step of determining (604) the target position is determined to be aligned with a center of the headlight (408) when the surroundings are free of other foreign vehicles (418). [9] Method (600) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that in the step of determining (604) the target position of the headlight (408) is determined when the headlight (408) is in a dimming mode (434) with respect to the other vehicle (402). [10] Device (404) for aligning a lighting area (406) of a headlight (408) of a vehicle (400) depending on the surroundings of the vehicle (400), the device (404) having the following features: a classification device (500) for classifying at least one other vehicle (402) in the surroundings of the vehicle (400) depending on information (426) about a position of the other vehicle (402) in relation to the vehicle (400); a determination device (502) for determining (604) a target position of the headlight (408), wherein the determination device (502) is designed to carry out the determination independently of the other vehicle (402) when the other vehicle (402) is classified as passing the vehicle (400) or the vehicle (400) is classified as passing the other vehicle (402); and a providing device (504) for providing (606) a signal (428) for moving the headlight (408) to the target position while the vehicle (400) is being passed by the other vehicle (402) or while the other vehicle (402) is passing. [11] Computer program configured to perform all steps of a method (600) according to any one of claims 1 to 9. [12] A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program according to claim 11.

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