Method for lane brightening in front of a vehicle and corresponding vehicle, as well as a computer program product and a machine-readable storage medium

Abstract

Method for lane brightening in front of a vehicle, with the following features: - at a distance in front of the vehicle which increases with increasing driving speed, a threshold (1) is set at which the lane brightening begins, and - a transition zone (2) is defined over a certain length beyond the threshold (1), over which the lane brightening increases with the distance from the vehicle, characterized by the following feature: - the length of the transition area (2) is determined depending on the threshold (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for lane lighting in front of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a corresponding vehicle, a corresponding computer program, and a corresponding storage medium. State of the art

[0002] In the field of vehicle lighting, adaptive lighting systems are well known, which can dynamically adapt to different driving situations. These systems include, in particular, adaptive front lighting systems (AFS), which enable variable light distribution.

[0003] The use of LED technology in headlights has led to significant improvements in light output and energy efficiency. In particular, matrix LED headlights, which consist of a multitude of individually controllable light sources, have initiated a technological leap in vehicle lighting. These make it possible to selectively illuminate or dim specific areas of the road without dazzling other road users.

[0004] An important application of adaptive lighting systems is lane illumination. This involves adjusting the light in front of the vehicle to better illuminate the lane ahead. This function contributes significantly to increasing driving safety, especially on highways and at high speeds, by providing better visibility and thus earlier detection of obstacles.

[0005] Today's adaptive lighting systems are capable of varying lane illumination depending on parameters such as vehicle speed and steering angle. Increased speed, for example, requires an expansion of the illuminated area, as the driver needs to see further into the distance to react to events on the road in a timely manner.

[0006] From DE102012004823A1, EP2420728A1 and DE102014113478A1 it is known to brighten the lane depending on the speed and to shift the starting point.

[0007] The advanced control of lighting systems is typically achieved through complex algorithms that process a wide range of sensor data and optimize light distribution in real time. These algorithms control not only the intensity and direction of the light, but also the light distribution to ensure the most natural and pleasant perception of the vehicle's surroundings for the driver. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] One problem is that the perceived illumination of the road ahead of the vehicle is not consistent as the distance at which the illumination begins changes. This is particularly relevant when the lighting is adjusted depending on the vehicle's speed to ensure adequate visibility.

[0009] At higher speeds, it is necessary to move the starting point of the lane illumination further in front of the vehicle to give the driver sufficient time to react to obstacles or changes in the lane. However, this shift leads to a reduction in the perceived light intensity, as the maximum light output of the headlights is only achieved at a certain distance. The result is a brightening that appears darker from the driver's perspective than if the starting point of the illumination were closer to the vehicle.

[0010] This effect is amplified by the physical properties of light, which cause the intensity of the light on a given area to decrease with increasing distance from the light source. Therefore, a higher luminous intensity is required for lane illumination at a greater distance to achieve the same visibility as a closer illumination.

[0011] The problem is further complicated by the need to create a smooth gradation of brightness to make the transition from darkness to full illumination as smooth as possible. This effect, known as the fade, is intended to prevent glare and protect the driver's eyes by avoiding abrupt changes in light intensity. One challenge is to regulate this fade effect in such a way that sufficient and uniform illumination of the lane is achieved despite the shift in the starting point of the brightening and the associated reduced light intensity.

[0012] The described problem is solved by a method for lane brightening in front of a vehicle, a corresponding vehicle, a corresponding computer program and a storage medium according to the independent claims.

[0013] This approach has the advantage of intelligently adjusting the transition area illuminated by the fade function, where the brightness gradually increases. By making this area dependent on the distance from the starting point of the brightening, it becomes possible to allocate the headlight output more effectively. This leads to more effective illumination of the lane, even if the initial area of ​​illumination is further away from the vehicle depending on the speed.

[0014] The improved light distribution contributes to a significant improvement in visual perception by providing more even and intense illumination of the road ahead. This results in better visibility for the driver, which is particularly crucial at high speeds on highways.

[0015] In addition, the technology ensures that, despite dynamically adjusting the lighting to the speed, the transitions in the light pattern remain smooth and pleasant to the human eye. By avoiding abrupt changes in light intensity, glare to other road users is avoided and the overall risk of traffic accidents caused by inadequate lighting is reduced.

[0016] By implementing the algorithm that affects the control of the matrix LED headlights, the method can be implemented without requiring extensive modifications to existing systems. The flexibility of the algorithm allows for easy adaptation to different vehicle models and lighting configurations, ensuring broad applicability of the solution.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. Short description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 shows a state-of-the-art vehicle at low speed. Fig. Figure 2 shows the state-of-the-art vehicle at higher speed. Fig. Figure 3 shows a vehicle configured according to the invention at high speed. Embodiments of the invention

[0018] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a conventional vehicle traveling at low speed in the center lane of a three-lane highway. The dark-to-light threshold (1) marks the beginning of the transition area (2) defined by the fade function, which extends to the maximum lane brightening (3). At low speeds, the threshold (1) is relatively close to the vehicle, resulting in the transition area (2) being short and the lane brightening (3) appearing intense.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 shows the same vehicle, but at an increased speed. To accommodate the driver's changing visibility needs, the dark-light threshold (1) is shifted further away from the vehicle. The maximum lane illumination (3) appears subjectively darker due to the distance to the vehicle. The required light intensity over the greater distance is not achieved due to the limited power of the headlights, resulting in suboptimal illumination of the roadway.

[0020] In Fig.Figure 3 illustrates the vehicle according to the invention at high speed. Here, the length of the transition area (2) is adjusted depending on the dark-light threshold (1). Given the high speed, the transition area (2) is shortened in order to achieve the greatest possible lane illumination (3) after a short distance. This enables bright and effective illumination of the roadway even at high speeds. The driver perceives the illumination as continuous and intense, which significantly improves safety while driving, especially when driving on highways.

[0021] The length of the transition zone (2) is precisely controlled by an algorithm. This algorithm receives the distance of the dark-to-light threshold (1) as input and then adjusts the length of the transition zone (2) accordingly to achieve strong lane brightening (3) even at short distances. The interaction of these components leads to improved light distribution, allowing the road ahead of the vehicle to be optimally illuminated depending on the speed and the associated visibility requirements.

Claims

[1] Method for lane brightening in front of a vehicle, with the following features: - at a distance in front of the vehicle which increases with increasing driving speed, a threshold (1) is set at which the lane brightening begins, and - a transition zone (2) is defined over a certain length beyond the threshold (1), over which the lane brightening increases with the distance from the vehicle, characterized by following feature: - the length of the transition area (2) is determined depending on the threshold (1). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by following features: - the length of the transition area (2) is determined according to an algorithm and - the algorithm is chosen so that the length decreases the greater the distance from the threshold (1). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by following feature: - the lane brightening occurs when the vehicle is driving on a motorway. [4] Vehicle, characterized by following features: - the vehicle has a matrix LED headlight and - the vehicle is designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 3. [5] Computer program which is designed to carry out all the steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 3. [6] A machine-readable storage medium having a computer program according to claim 5 stored thereon.

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