Method for controlling the headlights of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the headlights of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - Acquisition (S1) of environmental data of an environment of the motor vehicle using sensors of the motor vehicle, wherein the environment includes a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling; - Detection (S2) using environmental data to determine whether there is street lighting independent of motor vehicles; - Detection (S3) using environmental data to determine whether trees are present next to the road; and - Setting (S4) the brightness of the headlights using the results of the detections.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0002] It is known from the prior art to adapt the brightness of the light emitted by the headlights to the surroundings of the vehicle. For example, WO 2023 / 133431 A1 discloses an autonomous vehicle with sensor-based environmental sensing. Areas that do not reach a desired light intensity threshold are illuminated more brightly than areas that do reach this threshold.

[0003] In contrast, the present invention is based on the objective of increasing road safety.

[0004] This problem is solved by a method according to claim 1, a control unit according to claim 7, and a motor vehicle according to claim 8. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to claim 1, environmental data from the vehicle's surroundings are acquired using the vehicle's sensors. The surroundings include a road on which the vehicle is traveling. Using this environmental data, the system detects whether street lighting independent of the vehicle is present. The street lighting can illuminate at least sections of the road. Furthermore, the system detects whether trees are present alongside the road. The brightness of the headlights is adjusted based on the results of these detections.

[0006] The results could be, for example, that trees are present or that no trees are present, and that street lighting is present or that no street lighting is present.

[0007] The application of these results is particularly advantageous in inner-city areas. Without trees, streets in city centers are typically very well illuminated by streetlights. However, trees can impair this illumination. It is therefore beneficial to adjust the brightness of the headlights depending on the presence of streetlights and trees.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the street lighting can include streetlights.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensors can comprise at least one camera.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brightness of the headlights can be set to a first value if it has been detected that street lighting is present and that there are no trees alongside the road. The brightness of the headlights can be set to a second value if it has been detected that street lighting is present and that there are trees alongside the road. The second value can be higher than the first value. This can mean, in particular, that the headlights are brighter when the brightness is set to the second value than when the headlights are set to the first value. It should be noted that, within the scope of this description, the first and second values ​​are each considered as the overall value for the brightness.It is possible that one of the headlights will have a different brightness than the other headlight when the brightness is set to the first value. The same applies analogously to the second value.

[0011] This brightness setting is particularly advantageous because it reliably increases the brightness when trees might obstruct the road's illumination. This ensures both good visibility of the vehicle and good road illumination, allowing the driver to clearly recognize potential hazards. Compared to prior art methods, this is beneficial when trees are present, as excessively dark areas cannot even appear once the trees are detected.

[0012] Furthermore, the brightness is reduced when sufficient illumination of the road is ensured by streetlights, for example, when there are no trees. This reduces energy consumption and the risk of dazzling other road users or the driver.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, a measurement can be determined using environmental data. This measurement can include information about the extent to which the trees impair the street lighting. It is possible that the brightness is only adjusted to the second value if the measurement exceeds a threshold.

[0014] The measured value can be determined, for example, by ascertaining parameters of the trees from which the measurement is derived. These parameters could include, for example, the size of the trees and / or their distance from the streetlights.

[0015] This embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageous because it prevents the brightness from being unnecessarily increased when there are relatively few small trees. By appropriately selecting the threshold value, it is possible to adjust how many trees are present and / or how large the trees must be for the brightness to be increased.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the measured value and the threshold value can each be a percentage. The measured value can indicate the proportion of the street whose illumination by the streetlights is impaired by the trees. This can also include, in particular, determining the measured value indirectly, for example, by determining the proportion of the street whose illumination by the streetlights is not impaired by the trees.

[0017] The control unit according to claim 7 is configured to execute a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] The motor vehicle according to claim 8 comprises a control unit according to an embodiment of the invention, the headlights and the sensors.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. The same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components, features, or elements, and for components, features, or elements with identical or similar functions. Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] In step S1, environmental data from the vehicle's surroundings are collected using the vehicle's sensors. The environment includes the road on which the vehicle is traveling. It also includes areas adjacent to the road where streetlights and / or trees may be located. The environmental data preferably consists of image and / or video data recorded by a camera.

[0021] Using the environmental data, step S2 detects whether there is street lighting that is independent of motor vehicles. This could be, for example, streetlights. Streetlights are frequently found in city centers.

[0022] In step S3, the system uses environmental data to detect whether there are trees next to the road. These trees may obstruct the road lighting if they are sufficiently large and / or close enough to the streetlights.

[0023] The brightness of the vehicle's headlights is adjusted in step S4 using the results of the detections from steps S2 and S3. For example, if it was detected that streetlights are present but no trees are, the headlight brightness is set to a first value. If it was detected that streetlights are present and trees are also present, the headlight brightness is set to a second value.

[0024] The first value is lower than the second value. Therefore, the headlights are adjusted to be brighter when streetlights and trees are present, than when streetlights are present but no trees are.

[0025] This is particularly advantageous in city centers, where the street lighting may be obstructed by trees. In this case, safety can be increased by adjusting the headlight brightness to the second value. Conversely, energy can be saved when there are no trees and the street is therefore unobstructed by the streetlights by adjusting the headlight brightness to the first value. This also reduces the likelihood of dazzling other road users and the driver of the vehicle.

[0026] If there is no street lighting, it is irrelevant whether there are trees next to the road. In this case, the headlights can be controlled using state-of-the-art technology. Reference symbol list S1 recording S2 detection S3 detection S4 setting 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] WO 2023 / 133431 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for controlling the headlights of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - Acquisition (S1) of environmental data of an environment of the motor vehicle using sensors of the motor vehicle, wherein the environment includes a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling; - Detection (S2) using environmental data to determine whether there is street lighting independent of motor vehicles; - Detection (S3) using environmental data to determine whether trees are present next to the road; and - Setting (S4) the brightness of the headlights using the results of the detections. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by , that street lighting includes streetlights. [3] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensors include at least one camera. [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the brightness of the headlights is set to a first value if it has been detected that street lighting is present and that there are no trees next to the road, wherein the brightness of the headlights is set to a second value if it has been detected that street lighting is present and that there are trees next to the road, the second value being higher than the first value. [5] Method according to the previous claim, characterized by , that a measurement is determined using the environmental data, the measurement including information on how much the trees impair the illumination of the road by the street lighting, the brightness being set to the second value only if the measurement is higher than a threshold. [6] Method according to the previous claim, characterized by, that the measured value and the threshold value are each a percentage value, where the measured value indicates a proportion of the road whose lighting by the streetlights is impaired by the trees. [7] Control unit for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a method according to one of the preceding claims. [8] Motor vehicle comprising a control unit according to the preceding claim, the headlights and the sensors.

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