Motor vehicle system with a front headlight system with variable light distribution

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle system, wherein the system comprises a headlight system, the headlight system being configured to illuminate the front of the vehicle with a variable light distribution. The system includes an environment detection device configured to detect objects in the front of the vehicle with time resolution and, based on the time-resolved detection, to determine an instantaneous position of the object and an instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle, wherein the system includes a control device for controlling the headlight system, the control device being configured to control the headlight system such that the light distribution in the area of ​​the object detected by the environment detection device has a glare-reducing zone (7).wherein the glare reduction area (7) comprises a central glare reduction area (7a) that excludes the object and an outer predictive glare reduction area (7b), wherein the position and / or spatial extent of the outer predictive glare reduction area (7b) depends on the instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle system, wherein the system comprises a headlight system configured to illuminate the area in front of the vehicle with a variable light distribution. Headlight systems are known today that allow the light distribution in front of the vehicle to be flexibly adjusted. Typically, the basic light distribution corresponds to a traditional high beam distribution, but to avoid dazzling other road users, it is necessary to mask certain objects in the area in front of the vehicle. This masking of the light is also referred to as glare reduction, and the masked area is generally called the glare reduction zone.This means that if the motor vehicle detects an object that needs to be glare-free, for example another road user such as another motor vehicle, the light intensity in the direction of this object is reduced to a non-glaring value or even no light intensity is emitted into the area of ​​the object at all.

[0002] Such systems are described, for example, in DE 10 2017 119 745 A1, DE 10 2009 057 391 A1, DE 10 2014 110 628 A1, DE 10 2014 111 083 A1, DE 10 2021 104 621 A1 and DE 10 2020 116 224 A1.

[0003] A system of the type mentioned above exhibits inherent latencies, such as time delays in the acquisition and / or processing of signals. For example, the detection device requires a certain amount of time to identify objects requiring glare reduction from the images captured, for instance, by a camera. Furthermore, it takes time for the control unit to determine or calculate the necessary position and extent of the glare reduction area. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an additional safety margin for the detected objects requiring glare reduction, as the position of the object may have changed between the time of detection by the detection device and the actual adjustment of the variable light distribution.To ensure reliable glare control in all situations, this additional safety zone in modern headlight systems often needs to be relatively large. Furthermore, this safety zone is usually fixed in size around the object to be glare-free. This results in relatively large glare control zones, some of which are only needed in extreme situations. These relatively large glare control zones can lead to other objects that do not require glare control remaining unilluminated by the light distribution, which is considered a safety disadvantage.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to further develop a system of the type mentioned above in such a way that the smallest possible glare reduction area can be achieved, while still ensuring reliable glare reduction of the objects to be glare-reduced.

[0005] This problem is solved by a system that has the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are each the subject of dependent claims.

[0006] The motor vehicle system according to the invention is a system comprising a headlight system, wherein the headlight system is configured to illuminate the front of the vehicle with a variable light distribution. The system includes an environment detection device configured to detect objects in the front of the vehicle with time resolution and, based on this time-resolved detection, to determine the instantaneous position of the object and the instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle. The system includes a control unit for controlling the headlight system, wherein the control unit is configured to control the headlight system such that the light distribution in the area of ​​the object detected by the environment detection device has a glare-free zone.wherein the glare reduction area comprises a central glare reduction area that excludes the object, in particular a static safety area with regard to its extent, and an outer predictive glare reduction area, wherein the position and / or spatial extent of the outer predictive glare reduction area depends on the instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle.

[0007] In the system according to the invention, the predictive glare reduction area is adjusted accordingly, for example, depending on a relative movement in the lateral direction of the vehicle, such as a change in the object's speed to the side, as can occur, for example, when a vehicle ahead is cornering or when there is cross traffic. If, for example, the vehicle ahead is moving relatively quickly from right to left, for example, during a dynamic cornering maneuver, the predictive glare reduction area on the left side of the vehicle ahead is increased, since it can be expected that the vehicle ahead will continue to move in this direction, so that, despite any latencies in the system, it is ensured that the vehicle ahead is reliably glare-free. Conversely, the predictive glare reduction area on the right side can, for example, be chosen to be smaller.The area should be smaller, as it is not expected that the vehicle ahead will move into the right-hand zone. This ensures that objects on the right side of the vehicle are reliably illuminated and not unnecessarily excluded by an otherwise relatively large safety zone. This is particularly advantageous when the vehicle ahead turns, as it allows the road or sections of the road leading straight ahead to be illuminated as much as possible when the vehicle continues straight ahead.

[0008] The system according to the invention therefore makes it possible to keep the glare reduction as small as possible in calm driving situations, i.e., with minimal lateral movement of the objects, and to predictively increase it in the direction in which the objects are moving in dynamic driving situations, i.e., with rapid lateral movement of the objects, and, if necessary, to decrease it in the opposite direction. In this respect, the solution according to the invention provides for a dynamic adjustment of the glare reduction area depending on the current driving situation.

[0009] It is considered particularly advantageous to keep the glare reduction zone as small as possible on the side that does not lie in the direction of the object's movement. Therefore, it is considered particularly advantageous if the predictive glare reduction zone has a first sub-zone lying in the direction of the object's movement and a second sub-zone lying opposite the direction of the object's movement, with the first sub-zone having a larger extent (along the direction of movement) than the second sub-zone.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the environmental detection device is configured to determine the apparent size of the detected object, and the control device is configured to calculate the spatial extent of the central glare control zone for light distribution based on the apparent size of the object. In such an embodiment, it is conceivable that the spatial extent of the central glare control zone corresponds to the apparent size of the object. However, it is considered advantageous if the central glare control zone adds an additional safety zone to the apparent size of the object, for example, a static zone that is not dependent on the object's movement.The central glare reduction area preferably has a simplified spatial extent compared to the actual spatial extent of the object, for example a rectangular shape.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the control device is configured to calculate the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area based on the relative movement of the object. Such a design has the advantage of being particularly easy to implement, as the spatial extent of the glare reduction area can be determined by simply scaling the central glare reduction area, thereby avoiding additional latencies in the system.

[0012] In an advantageous further development, it is provided that the predictive glare reduction area has a first side area adjoining a first side of the central glare reduction area and a second side area adjoining a second side of the central glare reduction area, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the control device is configured to calculate a first spatial extent of the first side area and / or a second spatial extent of the second side area, wherein, in the case of relative movement of the object, the first spatial extent and the second spatial extent are different.This design has the advantage that the predictive glare reduction area is enlarged on one side of the object, namely in the direction of the object's movement, and predictively reduced on the other side, namely on the side facing away from the object's direction of movement. The first side could, for example, be the left side when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and the second side could be the right side when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0013] In this context, it is considered particularly advantageous if the control device is configured to calculate the first spatial extent of the first side area by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area with a first scaling factor dependent on the relative movement and / or to calculate the second spatial extent of the second side area by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area with a second scaling factor dependent on the relative movement.

[0014] The scaling factors can be determined, for example, via a characteristic curve stored in the control unit. Therefore, it is considered advantageous if the control unit contains a first characteristic curve for the first scaling factor and / or a second characteristic curve for the second scaling factor.

[0015] In a preferred further development, it is provided that the variable light distribution is a variable light distribution of a high beam function of the front headlight system.

[0016] The greater the latency present in the system, the larger the safety margin of the glare reduction zone must be. Therefore, it is considered particularly advantageous if the location and / or the spatial extent of the external predictive glare reduction zone depends on the latency present in the system. For example, with low latency, the extent of the external predictive glare reduction zone can be chosen to be larger than with low latency. For example, typical latency times for object detection are in the range of 300 ms.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the headlight system comprises a plurality of controllable light sources. In this context, it is considered particularly advantageous if the headlight system includes a plurality of LEDs, preferably a matrix LED headlight. Preferably, the matrix LED headlight has at least 10,000 LEDs.

[0018] Preferably, the environmental sensing device comprises one or more cameras. The environmental sensing device may be a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle and / or may use or include components of a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle.

[0019] The following figures explain the invention in more detail using one exemplary embodiment, without being limited to this embodiment. They show: Fig. 1. A motor vehicle in a view in the transverse direction of the vehicle, Fig. 2 a system of the motor vehicle with a front headlight system in a schematic representation, Fig. 3 a light distribution of the front headlight system of the motor vehicle in a front-side vehicle environment, Fig. 4a the variable light distribution in a first situation in a schematic representation, Fig. 4b the light distribution in a second situation in a schematic representation, Fig. 4c a light distribution in a third driving situation in a schematic representation, Fig. 5 a diagram.

[0020] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 in a view in the transverse direction Y. The motor vehicle 1 has a system 2, which is schematically represented in the Fig. Figure 2 is shown. System 2 comprises a front headlight system 3, which in this case includes a matrix LED headlight. Individual LEDs or clusters of LEDs can be controlled independently of one another, allowing the light distribution of the front headlight system 3 to be variable, insofar as the area in front of the vehicle can be illuminated variably. This makes it possible to adapt the light distribution to the driving situation and, in particular, to avoid illuminating objects such as another vehicle 4 ahead or pedestrians. Such a light distribution, in which another vehicle 4 ahead is masked, is shown in the Fig. Figure 3 shows that, to enable this, the system 2 includes an environment sensing device 5, which is configured to detect objects in the vehicle's front environment with time resolution and, based on this time-resolved detection, to determine the object's instantaneous position, apparent size, and instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the vehicle 1. The system 2 also includes a control unit 6, which is used to control the headlight system 3 in order to cause the headlight system 3 to generate a desired variable light distribution. For this purpose, the control unit can control the individual LEDs or clusters of LEDs and selectively change their luminous intensity, in particular by switching them off, in order to achieve the desired light distribution.The control unit 6 is configured to control the front headlight system 3 such that the light distribution in the area of ​​the object detected by the environmental detection device 5 has a glare reduction zone 7, wherein the glare reduction zone 7 comprises a central glare reduction zone 7a that excludes the object, in this case the other vehicle 4 driving ahead, and an outer predictive glare reduction zone 7b, wherein the spatial extent of the outer predictive glare reduction zone 7b depends on the instantaneous relative movement between the detected object, namely the other vehicle 4, and the vehicle 1. The central glare reduction zone 7a is a static zone that is calculated solely on the basis of, or depends solely on, the apparent size of the detected object.The central glare reduction zone 7a can certainly have an additional safety zone that extends beyond the apparent size of the detected object. System 2 makes it possible to keep the glare reduction or glare reduction zone 7 as small as possible in calm driving situations and to predictively increase it in more dynamic driving situations in the direction in which the object is moving relative to the vehicle 1. For example, if the other vehicle 4 is moving in the... Fig. 3 in the transverse direction Y to the motor vehicle 1, this relative movement is detected by the system 2, more precisely by the environment detection device 5, and the external predictive glare reduction area 7b is adjusted according to the relative movement of the other motor vehicle 4.

[0021] The Fig. Figures 4a to 4c show different driving situations regarding the relative motion between motor vehicle 1 and the other motor vehicle 4. In the Fig. Figure 4a depicts a driving situation in which the other vehicle 4 is not moving relative to vehicle 1 in the transverse direction Y. Accordingly, the outer predictive glare reduction area 7b is distributed symmetrically around the central glare reduction area 7a. As shown in the Fig. As shown schematically in 4a, in such a case there is a first side area 7b.1, which borders a first side of the central glare reduction area 7a, in which Fig. 4a, which borders on the right side of the central glare reduction area 7a, is as large in terms of its spatial extent in the transverse direction Y of the vehicle as a second side area 7b.2, which borders on a second side of the central glare reduction area 7a, in this case the left side of the central glare reduction area 7a.

[0022] If the object undergoes relative movement, the first side area 7b.1 and the second side area 7b.2 are adjusted in their spatial extent according to the relative movement of the object. These situations are schematically represented in the Fig. 4b and Fig. 4c is shown. In the situation in the Fig. 4b the object moves in the transverse direction Y of the vehicle in the direction of the second side area 7b.2, thus from right to left, indicated by the arrow v y In such a situation, the second side region 7b.2 is enlarged in terms of its spatial extent, and the first side region 7b.1 is reduced in terms of its spatial extent. The reverse case, i.e., a movement of the object from left to right, is indicated by the arrow v. y , is in the Fig. 4c shown.

[0023] The control unit 6 can be configured to calculate the first spatial extent of the first side region 7b.1 by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area 7a with a first scaling factor dependent on the relative movement, and to calculate the second spatial extent of the second side region 7b.2 by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area 7a with a second scaling factor dependent on the relative movement. In the diagram according to the Fig. Figure 5 shows two exemplary characteristic curves, 8.1 and 8.2, for the respective scaling factor. Curve 8.1 is assigned to the scaling factor for the first page area, 7b.1, and curve 8.2 is assigned to the scaling factor for the second page area, 7b.2. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2017 119 745 A1

[0002] DE 10 2009 057 391 A1

[0002] DE 10 2014 110 628 A1

[0002] DE 10 2014 111 083 A1

[0002] DE 10 2021 104 621 A1

[0002] DE 10 2020 116 224 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] System (2) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein the system (2) comprises a headlight system (3), wherein the headlight system (3) is configured to illuminate the front of the vehicle with a variable light distribution, wherein the system (2) comprises an environment detection device (5) configured to detect objects in the front of the vehicle with time resolution and, based on the time-resolved detection, to determine an instantaneous position of the object and an instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle (1), wherein the system (2) comprises a control device (6) for controlling the headlight system (3), wherein the control device (6) is configured to control the headlight system (3) such that the light distribution in the area of ​​the object detected by means of the environment detection device (5) has a glare reduction zone (7),wherein the glare reduction area (7) comprises a central glare reduction area (7a) that excludes the object and an outer predictive glare reduction area (7b), wherein the position and / or spatial extent of the outer predictive glare reduction area (7b) depends on the instantaneous relative movement between the detected object and the motor vehicle (1). [2] System (2) according to claim 1, wherein the predictive glare control area (7b) has a first sub-area located in the direction of movement of the object and a second sub-area located opposite the direction of movement of the object, wherein the first sub-area has a larger extent than the second sub-area. [3] System (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the environment detection device (5) is configured to determine an apparent size of the detected object, wherein the control device (6) is configured to calculate a spatial extent of the central glare reduction area for the light distribution based on the apparent size of the object. [4] System (2) according to claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to calculate a spatial extent of the glare reduction area (7) by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area (7a) depending on the relative movement of the object. [5] System (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the predictive glare control area (7b) has a first side area (7b.1) adjoining a first side of the central glare control area (7a) and a second side area (7b.2) adjoining a second side of the central glare control area (7a), wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the control device (6) is configured to calculate a first spatial extent of the first side area (7b.1) and / or a second spatial extent of the second side area (7b.1), wherein, in the presence of a relative movement of the object, the first spatial extent and the second spatial extent are different. [6] System (2) according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to calculate the first spatial extent of the first side area (7b.1) by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area (7a) with a first scaling factor dependent on the relative movement and / or to calculate the second spatial extent of the second side area (7b.2) by scaling the spatial extent of the central glare reduction area (7a) with a second scaling factor dependent on the relative movement. [7] System (2) according to claim 6, wherein a first characteristic curve for the first scaling factor and / or a second characteristic curve for the second scaling factor is stored in the control device (6). [8] System (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the variable light distribution is a variable light distribution of a high beam function of the front headlight system (3). [9] System (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position and / or the spatial extent of the external predictive glare control area (7b) depends on latency times present in the system. [10] System (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front headlight system (3) comprises a plurality of LEDs, preferably the front headlight system (3) comprises a matrix LED headlight.

Images