Method for dynamically controlling a vehicle lighting system, computer element, computer program and lighting system for implementing the method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a computer element, a computer program and a lighting system for the dynamic control of a lighting system of a vehicle controlled by a control unit (2) for providing a plurality of lighting configurations of said system (1) and, on the other hand, at least one sensor (3) for acquiring data on the external environment of the vehicle, the method comprising a prior learning, by the control unit (2), of the presence and the color of traffic lights and / or traffic conditions by recognizing characteristics of vehicles or obstacles, in motion or stationary, around the vehicle equipped with said system (1), in order to discriminate characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation in fluid traffic and situations of said vehicle in circulation in congested traffic,in order to control said lighting system by providing modified lighting configurations according to the lighting devices (5) switched on and the circumstances to reduce energy consumption. Figure for abstract: Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Method for the dynamic control of a vehicle lighting system, computer element, computer program and lighting system for implementing the method

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lighting and / or signaling devices for motor vehicles, in particular automobiles, and more particularly to the management of energy consumption by these devices.

[0002] Indeed, a recurring problem in the field of lighting devices concerns energy consumption and the technologies of these devices are evolving to limit their energy consumption and increase their lifespan. In addition to these solutions relating to the devices themselves, there remains a problem of managing vehicle lighting to limit energy consumption. Indeed, the regulations in force in different countries around the world impose various parameters for vehicle lighting, such as sizes, arrangements, ranges, width, etc. For example, Regulation No. 48 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) provides uniform requirements for the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices.In general, the regulations aim to ensure the safety and the switching on of lighting devices, and some of their parameters, such as their ranges, widths and intensities, are defined to ensure good visibility of the vehicle from the outside and good visibility of users inside the vehicle's surroundings. However, in traffic, visibility conditions vary widely depending on natural factors such as time or weather, but also on environmental factors such as public lighting (particularly in built-up areas), the density of vehicles circulating, etc. Thus, the regulations lead to lighting being most often greater than what is necessary for the safety of users in traffic, due to the accumulation of lighting from various vehicles and / or their surroundings.Thus, saving energy for vehicle lighting while complying with regulations remains a problem in the field.

[0003] On the other hand, automobile manufacturers are increasingly adopting digital lighting devices for mid- and high-end products. These digital lighting devices generally include semiconductor light sources, the operation of which can involve high energy consumption. In addition, temperature control in these elements is a very sensitive aspect, and This is usually done by derating, which means that the current supplied to the light source is reduced so that the output flux and operating temperature decrease accordingly. The performance of light sources must therefore be greatly oversized to cope with these overheating problems, so that operating values ​​can be reduced while maintaining acceptable values.

[0004] These questions are even more important in the case of new electric vehicles, where energy saving is crucial, as it has a direct impact on the vehicle's autonomy and therefore on CO2 emission values.

[0005] Finally, in certain cases, it is useful to be able to improve visual comfort if the environment allows it, so as to increase the safety of users by limiting visual light pollution in their fields of vision.

[0006] The present invention therefore aims to provide solutions for managing vehicle lighting and optimizing the energy consumption of the lighting system of these vehicles while complying with regulations, or even improving visual comfort and user safety.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method for the dynamic control of a lighting system of a vehicle, said system comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of lighting devices controlled by a control unit to provide a plurality of lighting configurations of said system and, on the other hand, at least one sensor for the acquisition of data on the external environment of the vehicle, said method being characterized in that it comprises: - prior learning, by the control unit, of traffic conditions by recognizing characteristics of vehicles or obstacles, moving or stationary, around the vehicle equipped with said system, in order to discriminate characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation in fluid traffic and situations of said vehicle in circulation in congested traffic, - prior learning, by the control unit, of conditions for encountering a red traffic light, by recognizing characteristics of traffic lights and their color and / or the lit portion, in order to detect the stopping of said vehicle at a red light whether the traffic is flowing freely or congested, Then the implementation of the following steps by the control unit, when said vehicle is in circulation with a first lighting configuration, called initial, of said system: - Calculation of a distance and / or a time which separates said vehicle from another vehicle or obstacle, then comparison of this distance and / or this time with at least one threshold value recorded in the control unit, - Acquisition of the speed of said vehicle and comparison of this speed with at less than a speed threshold recorded in the control unit, - Image acquisition and recognition of the presence of a red light in front of the vehicle, - Measurement of the durations during which the speed is above and / or below said speed threshold and measurement of the frequency of crossing said speed threshold, - Detection, from said acquisitions, comparisons, measurements and learning, of a situation where said vehicle is stopped at a red light and / or is currently traveling in flowing traffic or a situation where said vehicle is currently in congested traffic, - Monitoring the activation of at least one lighting device among the direction indicator lights, the hazard lights and the brake lights and measuring the time elapsed from this activation to determine an activation duration, Then, when said activation duration exceeds a threshold value while said vehicle is stopped at a red light or in congested traffic: - detection, using at least one presence sensor, of the presence of another vehicle behind said vehicle at a distance less than a proximity threshold recorded in the control unit then measurement of the time elapsed since said detection to determine a duration of presence, - comparison between said duration of presence and a value recorded in the control unit, then decision, when said duration of presence exceeds this value, to activate an attenuated signaling functionality, - Controlling said lighting system to provide said dimmed signaling functionality by reducing the lighting intensity of at least one lighting device among the direction indicator lights, the hazard lights and the brake lights.

[0008] According to another feature, said attenuated signaling functionality also comprises control of at least one other lighting device of the system.

[0009] According to another feature, the discrimination of the characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation integrates a calculation of a time before collision and a comparison of this time with a threshold, for example two seconds.

[0010] According to another feature, following the activation of said attenuated signaling functionality, the control unit implements steps of: - Monitoring the vehicle's current steering angle to determine whether a turning maneuver is initiated in one direction and / or monitoring the vehicle's speed to determine whether it is moving forward again, and - Control of said lighting system to restore lighting intensity by canceling said dimmed signaling functionality.

[0011] According to another feature, at least one of the automotive lighting devices comprises a matrix arrangement of luminous pixels in rows and columns.

[0012] According to another feature, following one of said reductions, certain rows or columns are extinguished compared to the initial light intensity.

[0013] According to another feature, the steps implemented by the control unit when the vehicle is in circulation are carried out periodically with a period of less than 1 second, and in particular less than 0.5 seconds.

[0014] According to another feature, the learning by the control unit involves the use of an automatic computer learning algorithm.

[0015] According to another feature, the data on the external environment of the vehicle acquired by at least one sensor comprises at least two types of data among the lighting devices currently active on said vehicle, the external light intensity, the number of cars around and the distance from them, the current speed of the vehicle or the presence and color of traffic lights, the positioning coordinates and the surrounding road signs.

[0016] According to another feature, the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of said lighting devices, at least one camera, a geo-positioning sensor, a radar, a lidar or infrared sensors.

[0017] Another aim of the present application is to propose a computer element making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0018] This aim is achieved by a computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to various embodiments of the invention.

[0019] Another aim of the present application is to propose a computer program making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0020] This object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit, cause the control unit to execute the steps of a method according to various embodiments of the invention.

[0021] Another aim of the present application is to propose a vehicle lighting system making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0022] This object is achieved by a vehicle lighting system comprising: - a plurality of lighting devices; - a plurality of sensors configured to provide certain external data; and - a control unit for carrying out the steps of the method according to various embodiments of the invention.

[0023] According to another feature, at least one of the lighting devices comprises a matrix arrangement of semiconductor light sources.

[0024] According to another feature, the matrix arrangement comprises at least 2000 semiconductor light sources.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of various embodiments below, made with reference to the appended drawings. Indeed, to complete the description and to allow a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and form an integral part of the description, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but simply as an example of the manner in which the invention can be implemented. The drawings include the following figures:

[0026] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of a system according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a schematic view of a method according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0028] The present invention relates to a method for the dynamic control of a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, as well as a computer element, a computer program and a lighting system for implementing the method. The present invention relates to a method for the dynamic control of a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, as well as a computer element, a computer program and a lighting system for implementing the method. The present application refers to a control unit which controls the lighting but also which is trained during at least one learning process and which performs calculations, comparisons, etc. Those skilled in the art will of course understand that it may be a question of several control units for the different tasks and cooperating to implement the invention or of a single unit performing all the tasks.Furthermore, the person skilled in the art naturally understands, by the nature of the tasks performed, that such a unit will generally comprise at least one processor executing instructions and that various forms of implementation are possible and that it is therefore not necessary to provide details on the types of hardware that can be used or used. The drawings presented on the figure pages are provided solely as an example and in a very schematic manner, so that the person skilled in the art will be able to imagine any type of variants from the content of the present application.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document must be interpreted in accordance with professional practice, particularly in the field of lighting and signaling of motor vehicles, in particular automobiles. For example, the terms "range", "width", and intensity are commonly used and may be interpreted to also cover other terms used to define light beams (particularly by angles). vertical and horizontal or by focal lengths). Similarly, other terms such as "field of vision" (corresponding to the Anglo-Saxon term "field of vision", often expressed in degrees) may be used without implying any particular limitation in the present application. It is also understood that terms in common use should be interpreted as being customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense and should not be interpreted in a limiting manner, unless they are expressly defined as such in this document.

[0030] In the present application, as generally accepted in the field of patent applications, the terms "comprises", "comprises" and "includes" as well as their derivatives (such as "comprising", "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense, that is to say, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include other elements, steps, etc.

[0031] The terms "lighting system" and "lighting device" are understood in the present application to mean both the lighting itself and the signaling, including in particular: devices that illuminate the vehicle's surroundings, - either to be able to see, such as low beam headlights (LB) or high beam headlights (HB) even if the latter are generally prohibited in certain conditions, particularly in built-up areas, - either to be seen, such as position lights (PL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "position light"), rear position lights (RPL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "rear position light") or daytime running lights (DRL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "day running light") but also devices which signal the actions of a driver to other users, such as for example brake lights (SL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "stop light"), direction indicator lights (turn signals or TI, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "tum indicator") or hazard lights (W, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "warning").

[0032] The lighting system (1) therefore comprises a plurality of lighting (or signaling) devices (5) which may be of the type of the examples (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) provided above, which are neither exhaustive nor limiting. In general, it will be considered that the system also comprises the control (or command) unit (2) which makes it possible to control the system (1) and implement the method. Each device may comprise one or more light source(s) (6) depending on the type of lighting (incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diode (LED), for example).

[0033] Generally speaking, the present invention aims to save the energy consumed for lighting stationary vehicles, stopped at a red light or in traffic jams. Indeed, the distance between vehicles at a red light or in a traffic jam is such that the lights of the different vehicles overlap and the energy consumption for lighting the environment can be reduced. In addition, the vehicles are close enough to each other so that they can be seen while limiting energy consumption. On the other hand, among the lighting devices lit, some are used for signaling (in particular of the driver's intention) to indicate a planned maneuver using direction indicator lights (TI), a short or medium-term extension of the stop using brake lights or an indefinite extension of the stop using hazard warning lights (W).Due to short but fluctuating distances, vehicle lighting is rather a nuisance for drivers who are subjected to excessive lighting which fluctuates with the approach of vehicles, which has the harmful effect of generating fatigue. Thus, vehicle lighting does not generally require as much energy as it currently consumes under these conditions. The present invention therefore proposes to overcome this lack by providing adaptive lighting solutions for vehicles.

[0034] Certain embodiments of the invention therefore relate to a method for the dynamic control of a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, said system (1) comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of lighting devices (5) controlled by a control unit (2) to provide a plurality of lighting configurations of said system (1) and, on the other hand, at least one sensor (3) for the acquisition of data on the external environment of the vehicle.

[0035] In general, the method comprises at least one of the following learnings: - prior learning, by the control unit (2), of traffic conditions by recognizing characteristics of vehicles or obstacles, moving or stationary, around the vehicle equipped with said system (1), in order to discriminate characteristics of situations of said vehicle in fluid traffic and situations of said vehicle in congested traffic, - prior learning, by the control unit (2), of conditions for encountering a red traffic light, by recognizing characteristics of traffic lights and their color and / or the lit portion, in order to detect the stopping of said vehicle at a red light whether the traffic is flowing freely or congested.

[0036] Then, when said vehicle is in circulation with a first lighting configuration, called initial, of said system (1), the control unit (2) implements at least part of the following steps, according to the result of each of the steps depending on the circumstances encountered: - Calculation of a distance and / or a time which separates said vehicle from another vehicle or obstacle, then comparison of this distance and / or this time with at least one threshold value recorded in the control unit (2), - Acquisition of the speed of said vehicle and comparison of this speed with at least one speed threshold recorded in the control unit (2), - Image acquisition and recognition of the presence of a red light in front of the vehicle, - Measurement of the durations during which the speed is above and / or below said speed threshold and measurement of the frequency of crossing said speed threshold, - Detection, from said acquisitions, comparisons, measurements and learning, of a situation where said vehicle is stopped at a red light and / or is currently traveling in flowing traffic or a situation where said vehicle is currently in congested traffic, - Monitoring the activation of at least one lighting device (5) among the direction indicator lights (TI), the hazard lights (W) and the brake lights (SL) and measuring the time elapsed from this activation to determine an activation duration,

[0037] Thanks to learning and acquisitions, measurements, detections, monitoring, etc. the control unit (2) is then capable of implementing the following steps, when said activation duration exceeds a threshold value while said vehicle is stopped at a red light or in congested traffic: - detection, using at least one presence sensor (3), of the presence of another vehicle behind said vehicle at a distance less than a proximity threshold recorded in the control unit (2) then measurement of the time elapsed since said detection to determine a duration of presence, - comparison between said duration of presence and a value recorded in the control unit (2), then decision, when said duration of presence exceeds this value, to activate an attenuated signaling functionality, - Controlling said lighting system (1) to provide said dimmed signaling functionality by reducing the lighting intensity of at least one lighting device (5) among the direction indicator lights (TI), the hazard lights (W) and the stop lights (SL).

[0038] It is understood that a method is thus obtained which makes it possible to save energy in the lighting system (1) when the vehicle is in congested traffic or stopped at a red light, or even stopped for a certain time, and which makes it possible to monitor the presence of a vehicle behind in order to reduce energy consumption and the inconvenience of users, while guaranteeing their safety. Indeed, in order to be able to reduce the lighting in such circumstances, it is necessary to ensure that another vehicle is present behind the vehicle which implements the method, because in the absence of another vehicle, it is essential to maintain lighting that complies with regulations allowing visibility from a certain distance (which is greater than the threshold distance within which the method requires another vehicle to be present to activate the functionality). Thus, the intensity of the flashing lights (T) or hazard lights (W) or brake lights (SL) can be reduced when another vehicle is close enough for them to be optional (and partially mask them, providing additional protection and signaling compared to other users). Verification of the presence of the vehicle behind can be based on various types of sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors or cameras, etc. On the other hand, other lighting devices can possibly be reduced in certain embodiments.For example, the range and width of the dipped beam headlights (LB) can be reduced, for example, but the lighting can still be maintained, for example by keeping the "fiat" only. Alternatively, these lights can be replaced by the position lights. On the other hand, this type of functionality is particularly useful for daytime running lights that are no longer needed, especially if the position lights still serve to signal the vehicle's size.

[0039] Generally speaking and in various embodiments, the learning by the control unit (2) comprises the use of a machine learning algorithm, for example by neural networks, classifiers, etc. This machine learning algorithm can be used both for the design of the light patterns of the case and / or for the classification of each situation in a predefined use case. Each of the two options follows its own machine learning algorithm. Once the corresponding results are validated, the values ​​of the control unit are used for the corresponding steps of the method of the invention.On the other hand, to monitor the traffic conditions and circumstances in which the vehicle is located, the steps implemented by the control unit (2) when the vehicle is in circulation are preferably carried out periodically with a period of less than 1 second, and in particular less than 0.5 seconds.

[0040] In various embodiments, the data on the external environment of the vehicle acquired by at least one sensor (3) comprises at least two types of data among the lighting devices (5) currently active on said vehicle, the external light intensity, the number of cars around and the distance from them, the current speed of the vehicle or the presence and color of traffic lights, the positioning coordinates and the surrounding road signs.

[0041] Similarly, in various embodiments, the plurality of sensors (3) comprises at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of said lighting devices (5), at least one camera, a geo-positioning sensor, a radar, lidar or infrared sensors.

[0042] Thanks to the learning or learnings, the control unit can then monitor the environment of the vehicle when it is in circulation to propose various lighting configurations. Indeed, the vehicle in circulation generally has a lighting configuration, preferably in accordance with the regulations) which depends on the conditions and circumstances of circulation and involves the switching on of various devices of the system. The learning is said to be "preliminary" because it precedes the steps of the method which are implemented during the circulation of the vehicle (acquisition, calculation, detection, comparison, etc.), but it will be noted that this learning can either be carried out before the installation of the control unit on the vehicle, or be carried out after this installation so that the learning is carried out in real conditions.

[0043] In some embodiments, the control unit undergoes two training processes. Both training processes include machine learning steps, where the control unit is trained with training data provided by the plurality of sensors.

[0044] The first training process involves designing different embodiment light patterns, each associated with a plurality of data values. This first training process includes: - training the control unit to design a light pattern of embodiments in response to a set of training data - testing the control unit by comparing the chosen light pattern with the expected optimal results.

[0045] Different use cases are defined, and the optimal light pattern is found for each use case, using the algorithm mentioned above.

[0046] The second training process concerns the classification of a situation into a predefined use case. This second training process comprises - training the control unit to classify a situation into a predefined use case with a training data set - a test of the control unit by comparing the chosen predefined case with the expected optimal results.

[0047] In this embodiment, different situations are set up, each with different data obtained by the sensors. The control unit is trained to identify which of the use cases best matches the situation.

[0048] Once both training processes are completed, the control unit is installed in a vehicle, to perform the light control of the lighting system. However, as mentioned elsewhere in the present application, the training or The pre-learning can be done after installation on the said vehicle and it will then be a learning in real conditions. The validation of the learning will then be carried out by an action (by an automatic supervisor and / or a user supervising the operation) on the control unit, either on site or remotely.

[0049] The operation of this lighting system would then be to provide a preliminary light pattern, depending on the lighting functionality chosen by the user of the vehicle.

[0050] In some embodiments, when using said vehicle equipped to implement the present invention, every 0.2 seconds for example, the control unit of the lighting system receives the data from the plurality of sensors. This data includes the external data of the vehicle (active lighting functionality, exterior light intensity, number of cars around and distance from them, current speed of the vehicle or presence and color of traffic lights, etc.) Through its training / learning, the control unit will classify the environment into a use case and associate a lighting pattern with this situation. The lighting system then projects the new light pattern, which provides adequate lighting with minimal energy consumption. This process is for example repeated every 0.2 seconds.It will be noted that the term "light pattern" is used in the present application with the same meaning as the term "lighting configuration" and that it is not limiting of a pattern in the proper sense and therefore does not necessarily imply a variation of the photometry.

[0051] In some embodiments, following activation of the dimmed signaling functionality, the control unit (2) also implements, when the direction indicator lights (TI) or the hazard lights (W) are activated (with intermittent lighting), a control of said lighting system (1) to reduce the intensity, possibly to zero, of at least one other of said vehicle lighting devices (5), at least during each period when the hazard lights are switched on intermittently.

[0052] Thus, it is understood that the lighting of at least one of the lights will vary intermittently, in phase opposition with the intermittent switching on of the hazard lights or the indicators. When the vehicle has been stopped for a certain time, either in a traffic jam or at a red light, the control unit may decide to adjust the lighting parameters of the various devices, in particular with intermittent operation (flashing). In such cases, it is possible, for example, to provide that, while the hazard lights or the indicators are on, the position or dipped beam headlights or the daytime running lights are switched off (at least on the side where the lights are flashing). On the other hand, in particular in the case of a reduction in the intensity of the flashing lights, the control unit may monitor the steering angle of the vehicle and cancel this reduction in intensity as soon as the steering angle varies, so that a maneuver initiated by the driver becomes more visible. It is therefore understood that thanks to this monitoring of the immobility of the vehicle in particular circumstances, the control unit can also integrate a similar functionality to limit the consumption of certain lights (lighting devices) during the various signals provided by the vehicle.

[0053] Thus, in certain embodiments, the method also comprises, following activation of the attenuated signaling functionality, steps of: - Monitoring the vehicle's current steering angle and / or the activation of direction indicator lights (TI), to determine whether a turning maneuver is initiated in one direction, and - Control of said lighting system (1), on the side of the direction of the turning maneuver initiated, to restore the initial values ​​of the width and / or the range and the lighting intensity of the device or devices whose lighting has been reduced.

[0054] In some of these embodiments, said control of said lighting system (1), on the side of the direction of the turning maneuver initiated, comprises dynamic control of the lighting as a function of the steering angle of said vehicle as it maneuvers.

[0055] Thus, when the control unit detects that the driver of the vehicle wishes to begin a maneuver while the lighting has been modified, the control unit dynamically adapts the lighting to the circumstances and the maneuvers of the driver, in particular by increasing the lighting of at least one of the lights, at least on the side of the bend which corresponds to the most relevant side, so that, at a minimum, the vehicle is better seen, or even so that the driver can see better where he is going.

[0056] It is understood that by reducing the lighting width, a substantial saving can be achieved while maintaining satisfactory visibility for fluid traffic in built-up areas. In particular, in the case of LED lighting devices (5), it is possible to simply obtain light lines (vertical or horizontal) which are generally sufficient to meet regulatory requirements. On the other hand, by reducing the lighting range and / or intensity, an even more substantial saving can be achieved by taking advantage of the fact that the vehicle density in congested traffic makes the standard intensity and / or range of the lighting devices (5), in particular the dipped headlights (LB) and / or the daytime running lights (DRL), unnecessary.

[0057] It should be noted that for the detection of traffic lights (red, orange, green) it may involve recognition of characteristics of an agglomeration, by prior learning. Thus, the control unit can use image recognition from an on-board camera to identify buildings and for example measure their density, but it can also use the geo-positioning signal to determine if the vehicle is in town and other possibilities are therefore possible, so these examples are not limiting.

[0058] Similarly, it will be noted that for the detection of congested traffic, the control unit preferably uses said speed comparison and the monitoring of stops or slowdowns of the vehicle as explained above, but these examples are not limiting either and the control unit can also, in addition or as an alternative, use distance sensors (for example ultrasonic) to determine the proximity of other vehicles (possibly by combining this distance with image recognition making it possible to identify that they are indeed vehicles and not any obstacles). In certain embodiments, the discrimination of the characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation integrates a calculation of a time before collision and a comparison of this time with a threshold, for example two seconds.Thus, when a time to collision of less than two seconds is detected, the control unit can infer (preferably with the context provided by the other information) that safety distances are reduced due to congested traffic.

[0059] In certain embodiments, said control of said lighting system (1) to provide the second or third lighting configuration also comprises a control of at least one other lighting device to supplement or replace those modified, in particular if the modification consists of switching off one of said devices. Indeed, in particular to continue to meet the regulatory criteria concerning the visibility of the vehicle (its size in particular) and / or the lighting of the environment of the vehicle, it is possible to combine the use of the various types of devices while reducing energy consumption. Thus, it is possible to reduce the intensity use or switch off one of the lights and switch on another, possibly with a limited intensity as well. For example, the daytime running lights can replace the dipped beam headlights, possibly with a supplement by the position lights.Many configurations are therefore possible thanks to the implementation of the present invention.

[0060] In some embodiments, at least one of the automotive lighting devices (5) comprises a matrix arrangement of light pixels (2) in rows and columns. In some particular cases, the matrix comprises at least 2000 solid-state light sources. A matrix arrangement is a typical example of this method. The rows may be grouped into projected distance intervals and each column in each group represents an angle interval. This angle value depends on the resolution of the matrix, which is generally between 0.01° per column and 0.5° per column. This control of the rows and columns allows for independent control of the angle and range, in addition to the intensity, and allows for the management of several light sources at the same time. In some of these embodiments, following one of said reductions, certain rows or columns are extinguished compared to the initial light intensity. Indeed, modern lighting devices often include "solid state" light sources and the invention makes it possible to take advantage of this type of device which notably allows for adaptation of photometry. The term "solid state" refers to the light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid-state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat production and less energy dissipation.The generally low mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides greater resistance to shock and vibration than brittle glass tubes / bulbs and long wires with thin filaments. They also eliminate filament evaporation, which can increase the lifespan of the lighting device. Some examples of these types of lighting include semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) as lighting sources rather than electric filaments, plasma, or gas. This process aims to find the optimal light pattern to be projected by a lighting device. Predetermined use cases are defined, and a corresponding light pattern is projected when the process identifies that the vehicle is in one of the predefined use cases.An optimal lighting scheme is therefore found without excessive computational cost, since there are a reasonable number of predefined use cases.

[0061] Thus, in certain embodiments, said control of said lighting system (1) to provide the second or third lighting configuration comprises a control of the photometry of at least one of said devices. Indeed, the various devices emit a light beam which is specific to them and which has a particular shape, defined by the photometry. The invention provides for modifying this photometry in certain cases. For example, the dipped headlights have a beam illuminating a symmetrical zone close to the vehicle (called "fiat" in English) and an asymmetrical zone further away. The invention provides for example to keep only the "fiat" when driving in a city in congested traffic. In another example, for the daytime running lights, it is possible to keep only the lighting necessary to signal the size of the vehicle.The modification of photometry thus makes it possible to preserve the safety of users while saving energy by eliminating portions of light beams that are useless in certain circumstances.

[0062] It is understood that the present invention provides a method for adaptive management or control of vehicle lighting depending on traffic conditions. This method involves the use of a control unit (2) having resources of calculation and connected to sensors (3) to control the vehicle lighting system (1). Such calculation resources are known per se and can be implemented by a computer element. Thus, certain embodiments also relate to a computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to the invention. Similarly, it is known that such computer means for implementing such a method generally require a computer program unless analog programming is envisaged. Thus, certain embodiments relate to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit (2), cause the control unit to execute the steps of a method according to the invention. Finally, as the invention is intended to be installed on a vehicle, certain embodiments relate to a vehicle lighting system (1) comprising: - a plurality of lighting devices (5); - a plurality of sensors (3) configured to provide certain external data; and - a control unit (2) for carrying out the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0063] As mentioned above in the present application, in certain embodiments of such a system, at least one of the lighting devices (5) comprises a matrix arrangement of semiconductor light sources (2). In certain of these embodiments, the matrix arrangement comprises at least 2000 semiconductor light sources (2).

[0064] The present application describes various technical features and advantages with reference to the figures and / or to various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the technical features of a given embodiment may in fact be combined with features of another embodiment unless the opposite is explicitly mentioned or it is obvious that these features are incompatible or that the combination does not provide a solution to at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the present application. Furthermore, the technical features described in a given embodiment may be isolated from the other features of this embodiment unless the opposite is explicitly mentioned.

[0065] Detailed list of references in the figures: 1 lighting system 2 control unit 3 sensor 5 lighting device (and / or signaling)

Claims

1. Claims Method for the dynamic control of a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, said system (1) comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of lighting devices (5) controlled by a control unit (2) to provide a plurality of lighting configurations of said system (1) and, on the other hand, at least one sensor (3) for the acquisition of data on the external environment of the vehicle, said method being characterized in that it comprises: - prior learning, by the control unit (2), of traffic conditions by recognizing characteristics of vehicles or obstacles, moving or stationary, around the vehicle equipped with said system (1), in order to discriminate characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation in fluid traffic and situations of said vehicle in circulation in congested traffic, - prior learning, by the control unit (2), of conditions for encountering a red traffic light, by recognizing characteristics of traffic lights and their color and / or the lit portion, in order to detect the stopping of said vehicle at a red light whether the traffic is flowing freely or congested, Then the implementation of the following steps by the control unit (2), when said vehicle is in circulation with a first lighting configuration, called initial, of said system (1): - Calculation of a distance and / or a time which separates said vehicle from another vehicle or obstacle, then comparison of this distance and / or this time with at least one threshold value recorded in the control unit (2), - Acquisition of the speed of said vehicle and comparison of this speed with at least one speed threshold recorded in the control unit (2), - Acquisition of images and recognition of the presence of a red light in front of the vehicle, - Measurement of the durations during which the speed is above and / or below said speed threshold and measurement of the frequency of crossing said speed threshold, - Detection, from said acquisitions, comparisons, measurements and learning, of a situation where said vehicle is stopped at a red light and / or is currently traveling in flowing traffic or a situation where said vehicle is currently in congested traffic, - Monitoring the activation of at least one lighting device (5) among the direction indicator lights (TI), the hazard lights (W) and the brake lights (SL) and measuring the time elapsed from this activation to determine an activation duration, Then, when said activation duration exceeds a threshold value while said vehicle is stopped at a red light or in congested traffic: - detecting, using at least one presence sensor (3), the presence of another vehicle behind said vehicle at a distance less than a proximity threshold recorded in the control unit (2) then measuring the time elapsed since said detection to determine a presence duration, - comparing said presence duration with a value recorded in the control unit (2), then deciding, when said presence duration exceeds this value, to activate a dimmed signaling functionality,- Controlling said lighting system (1) to provide said dimmed signaling functionality by reducing the lighting intensity of at least one lighting device (5) among the direction indicator lights (TI), the hazard lights (W) and the stop lights (SL).,

2. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said dimmed signaling functionality also comprises control of at least one other lighting device of the system (1).

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the discrimination of the characteristics of situations of said vehicle in circulation integrates a calculation of a time before collision and a comparison of this time with a threshold, for example two seconds.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, following activation of said dimmed signaling functionality, the control unit (2) implements steps of: - Monitoring the current steering angle of the vehicle, to determine whether a turning maneuver is initiated in one direction and / or monitoring the speed of the vehicle to determine whether it is moving forward again, and - Controlling said lighting system (1) to restore the lighting intensity by canceling said dimmed signaling functionality.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the automotive lighting devices (5) comprises a matrix arrangement of light pixels (2) in rows and columns.

6. A method according to claim 7, wherein, following one of said reductions, certain rows or columns are extinguished relative to the initial light intensity.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the steps implemented by the control unit (2) when the vehicle is in circulation are carried out periodically with a period of less than 1 second, and in particular less than 0.5 seconds.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the learning by the control unit (2) comprises the use of a computer-assisted automatic learning algorithm.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data on the external environment of the vehicle acquired by at least one sensor (3) comprises at least two types of data among the lighting devices (5) currently active on said vehicle, the external light intensity, the number of cars around and the distance from them, the current speed of the vehicle or the presence and color of traffic lights, the positioning coordinates and the surrounding road signs.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of sensors (3) comprises at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of said lighting devices (5), at least one camera, a geo-positioning sensor, a radar, a lidar or infrared sensors.

11. Computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit (2), cause the control unit to execute the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. Vehicle lighting system (1) comprising: - a plurality of lighting devices (5); - a plurality of sensors (3) configured to provide certain external data; and - a control unit (2) for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. System (1) according to the preceding claim, in which at least one of the lighting devices (5) comprises a matrix arrangement of semiconductor light sources (2).

15. System (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the matrix arrangement comprises at least 2000 semiconductor light sources (2).

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