Method for controlling a high beam assistant, and high beam assistant

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (5) for controlling a high beam assistant (4) of a vehicle (2) at night. The invention also relates to the high beam assistant (4) for carrying out the method (5).

Description

[0001] Method for controlling a high beam assistant and the high beam assistant

[0002] The invention relates to a method for controlling a high beam assistant of a vehicle at night according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to the high beam assistant for carrying out the method.

[0003] A vehicle may be equipped with a high-beam assistant to automatically turn the high beams on and off at night. The high-beam assistant relies on good object detection. The taillights and headlights of the other vehicle are essential for detecting other vehicles at night. Unfortunately, reflectors on guardrails often have the characteristics of a taillight and reflect red, or the characteristics of a headlight and reflect white. This can lead to errors when turning the high beams on and off.

[0004] US 8 587456 B2 describes a method for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights. The method identifies the reflectors and vehicle lights using a sensor in a vehicle with a camera directed at the vehicle's surroundings.

[0005] EP 1 905643 B1 describes a method for the anticipated detection of a curve on a road section travelled by a motor vehicle.

[0006] DE 10 2010 040650 A1 describes a method for adjusting a vehicle's lighting when negotiating blind bends. Furthermore, DE 102019 001 889 A1 describes a method for automatically controlling lighting functions. Finally, DE 10 2005 033 841 A1 describes a headlight system for a vehicle.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a method of the generic type, in which the described disadvantages are overcome. The object of the invention is also to provide a corresponding high-beam assistant for implementing the method.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​working with different confidence levels for curve radii and, if necessary, also including motion detection in order to avoid unnecessary dimming or unnecessary de-oiling or unnecessary switching off of the high beam.

[0010] The method according to the invention is intended or designed for controlling a high beam assistant of a vehicle at night or at night. The high beam assistant determines data on the presence of another vehicle in a road section ahead of the vehicle. The high beam assistant then uses the determined data, depending on an adjustable confidence level, to determine the presence of the other vehicle in the road section ahead. If the other vehicle is present in the road section ahead, the high beam assistant automatically switches the high beam off, and if the other vehicle is not present in the road section ahead, the high beam assistant automatically switches the high beam on. According to the invention, the high beam assistant also determines whether the vehicle is on a bend. If the vehicle is on a bend, the high beam assistant determines a curve radius for the bend.Depending on the curve radius, the high beam assistant changes the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle in the road section ahead.

[0011] According to the invention, when determining data on the presence of the other vehicle, the speed of the other vehicle in the preceding road section is determined. If the speed of the other vehicle is greater than 10 km / h, the high beam assistant will set the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle comparatively high, in particular equal to 99%, for a curve radius of less than 180 m.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the term "confidence level" is used synonymously with the terms "confidence" and / or "confidence interval" and / or "confidence interval" and / or "expected range." In the present invention, the abbreviations "m" stand for meters and "km / h" for kilometers per hour.

[0013] The method according to the invention can reduce the incidence of incorrect dimming or switching off of the high beam. In particular, an unidentified vehicle in a curve with a curve radius can be detected more reliably by changing the confidence level. This prevents reflective objects such as reflectors on guardrails from being recognized as unidentified vehicles, increasing the reliability of the high beam assist.

[0014] The high beam assistant can determine the vehicle's position in a curve based on the vehicle's steering angle and / or predictive route data from the road ahead. The predictive route data can be read, for example, from existing map data.

[0015] For curve radiuses of less than 180 m, the high beam assistant can set the confidence level for determining the presence of another vehicle comparatively high, specifically equal to 99%. For curve radiuses of greater than 180 m, the high beam assistant can set the confidence level for determining the presence of another vehicle comparatively low, specifically equal to 95%. This can reduce unnecessary dimming or switching off of the high beams by up to 50%.

[0016] The invention also relates to a high-beam assistant of a vehicle for automatically switching on and off high beams at night. According to the invention, the high-beam assistant is designed to carry out the method described above.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawing and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawing.

[0018] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0019] The sole figure 1 shows a schematic view of a road section 1 with a vehicle 2 and a foreign vehicle 3. The vehicle 2 has a high beam assistant 4 according to the invention for carrying out a method 5 according to the invention. In the method 5, the high beam assistant 4 determines data on the presence of the foreign vehicle 3 in the road section 1 and determines the presence of the foreign vehicle 3 from the determined data depending on an adjustable confidence level.

[0020] In addition, the high beam assistant 4 determines whether the vehicle 2 is in a curve 6. If the vehicle 2 is in curve 6, the high beam assistant 4 determines its curve radius R using a steering angle of the vehicle and / or predictive route data of the road section 1 ahead. Depending on the curve radius R, the high beam assistant 4 changes the confidence level when evaluating the data or when determining the presence of the other vehicle 3. In particular, the high beam assistant 4 can set the confidence level to 99% for a curve radius R of less than 180 m and set the confidence level to 95% for a curve radius R of greater than 180 m. Furthermore, the high beam assistant 4 can also set the confidence level to 99% for a curve radius of less than 180 m only if the speed of the other vehicle 3 is greater than 10 km / h.

[0021] In method 5, the presence of the other vehicle 3 can be reliably determined and the unnecessary dimming or switching off of the high beam can be reduced by up to 50%.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method (5) for controlling a high beam assistant (4) of a vehicle (2) at night, - wherein the high beam assistant (4) determines data on the presence of a foreign vehicle (3) in a road section (1) ahead of the vehicle (2), - wherein the high beam assistant (4) determines the presence of the other vehicle (3) in the preceding road section (1) from the determined data depending on an adjustable confidence level, - wherein the high beam assistant (4) automatically switches off the high beam when the other vehicle (3) is present in the preceding road section (1) and automatically switches on the high beam when the other vehicle (3) is not present in the preceding road section (1), - wherein the high beam assistant (4) determines whether the vehicle (2) is in a curve (6), - wherein the high beam assistant (4), when the vehicle (2) is in the curve (6), determines a curve radius (R) of the curve (6), and - wherein the high beam assistant (4) changes the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) in the preceding road section (1) depending on the curve radius (R). characterized in - that the high beam assistant (4) determines a speed of the other vehicle (3) in the preceding road section (1) when determining data on the presence of the other vehicle (3), and - that the high beam assistant (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) comparatively high, in particular equal to 99%, for a curve radius (R) of less than 180 m and a speed of the other vehicle (3) of greater than 10 km / h.

2. Method (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the high beam assistant (4) determines the position of the vehicle (2) in a curve (6) via a steering angle of the vehicle (2) and / or via predictive route data of the preceding road section (1).

3. Method (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - that the high beam assistant (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) comparatively high, in particular equal to 99%, for a curve radius (R) of less than 180 m, and - that the high beam assistant (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) comparatively small, in particular equal to 95%, for a curve radius (R) greater than 180 m.

4. High beam assistant (4) of a vehicle (2) for automatically switching on and automatically switching off a high beam at night, wherein the high beam assistant (4) is designed to carry out the method (5) according to one of the preceding claims.

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