METHOD FOR AUTOMATING THE DETECTION OF A DECREASE IN VEHICLE LIGHT

Abstract

A method for automatically detecting deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting, comprising: generating a unique pattern to be executed by at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; sending a command corresponding to the unique pattern to a lighting control module to cause the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit to emit the unique pattern; extracting features from camera images of the pattern emitted by the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; and comparing the features extracted from the camera images with features from the instructed unique pattern to determine deterioration or failure of the health of the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; and determining an ambient luminescence level and an optimal time of day for carrying out the method of detecting deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting.

Description

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY Devices and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments relate to methods for detecting a deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting. In particular, devices and methods in accordance with an exemplary embodiment relate to a method for automating the detection of a deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting. STATE OF THE ART Parking lights, sidelights, daytime running lights, and taillights indicate the presence, position, dimensions, and direction of travel of a motor vehicle. Reflectors make a motor vehicle safely visible after dark, even with its lights off or malfunctioning. This is distinct from the vehicle's forward-facing lights, which guide the driver ahead at night or make driving safer during the day. Combination lights may include a mix of forward-facing lights, signal lights, and reflectors. Validating a motor vehicle's lights means checking that all required lights are present, in good working order, and functioning correctly. Essentially, all lights and reflectors fitted to the vehicle must be functional, including optional ones. Current methods for validating external vehicle lighting involve limited internal circuit diagnostics and / or manual inspection while the vehicle is not in operation. Therefore, there is a need for a method to automatically detect the deterioration or failure of external vehicle lights before, during, or after vehicle operation, independent of any existing internal circuit diagnostics. SUMMARY One or more embodiments address the above problem by providing a method for automating the detection of a failure or deterioration of motor vehicle lighting. According to aspects of one embodiment, a method for automating the detection of deterioration or failure of a motor vehicle light includes generating a unique pattern to be emitted by at least one motor vehicle light and sending a command corresponding to the unique pattern to a light control module, which causes the at least one motor vehicle light to emit the unique pattern. Other aspects of the embodiment include extracting features from camera images of the unique pattern emitted by the at least one motor vehicle light and comparing the features extracted from the camera images with features from the instructed unique pattern to determine deterioration or failure of the health of the at least one motor vehicle light. Another aspect of the embodiment involves determining whether conditions for testing the health of the at least one vehicle headlight are suboptimal. Yet another aspect of the embodiment involves determining an ambient luminescence level. Further aspects include the use of at least one light detection sensor for determining the ambient luminescence level, wherein the at least one light detection sensor is a camera. Still other aspects of the method include generating a pattern from combined high beam, low beam, daytime running light, and dimmer beam signals in a unique pattern and generating the unique pattern that is recognizable in the camera images. Furthermore, according to aspects of the embodiment, the method includes sending a warning message to a motor vehicle driver when a deterioration or failure of the health of at least one vehicle light is detected, and storing at least one diagnostic fault code in the vehicle memory when a deterioration or failure of the health of at least one vehicle light is detected. It also includes a further aspect in which the method is effective in automatically detecting a deterioration or failure of at least one vehicle light before, during, or after vehicle operation. Finally, it includes a further aspect in which the method is effective in being executed automatically at predetermined regular intervals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present embodiment will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a representation of a block diagram of a system for enabling a method for automating the detection of a failure or deterioration of motor vehicle lighting according to an embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a representation of a flowchart for the method for automatically detecting a failure or deterioration of motor vehicle lighting according to aspects of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application or uses thereof. Fig. 1 provides a block diagram of a system 10 for enabling a method for automating the detection of deterioration or failure of vehicle headlights according to an exemplary embodiment. The system 10 includes a control module 12, which is connected to at least one light detection sensor (14, 16), including a luminescence / light sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a photosensor, a photoresistor, a camera, and a transmission control module (TCM). The various light detection sensors and control module(s) (14, 16) are used to determine the ambient luminescence level and an optimal time of day for carrying out the method for automating the detection of deterioration or failure of vehicle headlights.An optimal time to perform the procedure according to one embodiment would be, for example, when the vehicle is in a low-light environment, such as before sunrise, after sunset, or when the vehicle is parked in a garage or other dimly lit structure. Conversely, it may not be optimal to perform the procedure outdoors on bright sunny days or at high speed and with oncoming traffic. Thus, the sensors and the vehicle module(s) (14, 16) are used to determine the optimal time to perform the procedure. System 10 also includes a light control module 18, which communicates with the control module 12. It is understood that the light control module 18 can be a standalone module, as shown, or it can be presented as a subsystem integrated within the control module 12. The light control module 18 effectively instructs the vehicle lights 20 to switch between different modes, such as high beam mode, low beam mode, daytime running mode, emergency mode, etc. After receiving input signals from the sensors and the vehicle module(s) (14, 16), the control module 12 determines whether it is an optimal time to perform the procedure. If so, the control module 12 generates a unique pattern before sending a command corresponding to the unique pattern to the light control module 18.The light control module 18 receives the command from the control module 12 and causes at least one of the vehicle lights 20 to emit the unique pattern 21. The unique pattern 21 is a pattern of combined high beam, low beam, daytime running light, dimmer beam signals, or other lighting functions in a unique pattern. The unique pattern 21 is preferably directed at an object or target 22, which reflects the unique pattern 21 back to a camera 24 mounted on the motor vehicle. The camera 24 is effective in capturing and extracting features from camera images of the unique pattern 21 emitted by the at least one motor vehicle light 20. The camera 24 then delivers the camera images back to the control module 12 for comparison of the features extracted from the camera images with features of the instructed unique pattern in order to detect a deterioration or failure of the health of the at least one motor vehicle light.If a deterioration or failure is detected, the control module 12 sends a warning to the driver information center 26 that the vehicle light(s) 20 need to be repaired or replaced. Furthermore, the control module 12 also stores at least one diagnostic fault code or other information that service personnel can access during a service call. Additionally, the method according to the exemplary embodiment is effective in automatically detecting a deterioration or failure of the at least one vehicle light before, during, or after vehicle operation. The method is also effective in being executed automatically at predetermined regular intervals to determine whether a deterioration or failure of a vehicle exterior light has occurred. With reference to Fig. 2, a flowchart 50 is now provided for the method for automatically detecting a failure or deterioration of motor vehicle lighting according to aspects of the exemplary embodiment. The method begins in block 55 by checking the motor vehicle environment and the motor vehicle mode to determine whether the time is optimal for performing the method. At least one light detection sensor is used to determine the ambient luminescence, and the TCM (Transmission Control Module) is used to determine the mode in which the motor vehicle is located, e.g., parked or moving. If, in block 60, it is determined that it is a good time to perform the method, the method proceeds to block 65, in which the control module 12 generates a unique pattern and sends a command to the light control module to cause the at least one light to emit the unique pattern.The unique pattern emitted by the at least one light is captured by the camera system mounted on the motor vehicle. The procedure then continues in Block 70 by extracting features from the captured camera images of the unique pattern emitted by the at least one light for comparison with the specified unique pattern. In Block 75, the control module determines, based on differences between the features extracted from the camera images and the specified unique pattern, whether deterioration or a fault has occurred in the at least one light. If deterioration or a fault is determined, the control module, in Block 80, causes a warning to be sent to the driver via the driver information center and also stores at least one diagnostic fault code for retrieval during a service call. The disclosed method provides a means for detecting the deterioration or failure of external lighting hardware, which can be used before, during or after the operation of a motor vehicle, regardless of any existing circuit diagnostics. The description of the invention is merely exemplary, and variations that do not deviate from the essence of the invention are intended to fall within the scope of protection of the invention. Such variations are not to be considered a deviation from the spirit and scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

A method for automatically detecting deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting, comprising: generating a unique pattern to be executed by at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; sending a command corresponding to the unique pattern to a lighting control module to cause the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit to emit the unique pattern; extracting features from camera images of the pattern emitted by the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; and comparing the features extracted from the camera images with features from the instructed unique pattern to determine deterioration or failure of the health of the at least one motor vehicle lighting unit; and determining an ambient luminescence level and an optimal time of day for carrying out the method of detecting deterioration or failure of motor vehicle lighting. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether conditions for testing the health status of the at least one motor vehicle light are not optimal. The method of claim 1, further comprising the use of at least one light detection sensor to determine the ambient luminescence level. Method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one light detection sensor is a camera. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating further comprises generating a pattern of combined high beam, low beam, daytime running light and dimmer beam signals in the unique pattern. The method of claim 5, wherein generating further comprises generating the unique pattern that is recognizable in the camera images. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a warning message to a vehicle driver when a deterioration or failure of the health of at least one motor vehicle light is detected. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing at least one diagnostic fault code in the motor vehicle memory when a deterioration or failure of the health of the at least one motor vehicle light is detected. Method according to claim 1, which serves to automatically detect a deterioration or failure of the at least one motor vehicle light before, during or after the operation of the motor vehicle.

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