Controlling a vehicle's high beam function via touch input
The vehicle high beam control system uses a touch screen interface to display a control interface only when relevant, allowing intuitive activation and deactivation through predefined inputs, addressing the challenges of existing systems by maintaining driver focus and reducing disruptive switching.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle high beam control systems are difficult for drivers to activate intuitively and efficiently, often requiring attention diversion and can be disruptive to other road users, especially with automatic systems that switch frequently.
A method for controlling a vehicle's high beam function via a touch screen interface that displays a control interface only when predefined conditions are met, allowing intuitive activation or deactivation through predefined touch inputs, including finger counts and voice commands, without requiring the driver to look away from the road.
Enables simple and intuitive high beam control, maintaining driver focus on the road while optimizing activation and deactivation based on contextual conditions, reducing disruptive switching and enhancing safety.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Control of a vehicle's high beam lighting function via touch input
[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of vehicle lighting control, in particular the control of a high beam function, also called HB for "High Beam" in English.
[0002] The term “vehicle” means any type of vehicle such as a private, utility or heavy goods vehicle.
[0003] The vehicles are equipped with front headlights comprising at least one light module capable of projecting a beam of light in front of the vehicle, to implement at least one lighting function.
[0004] At least two lighting functions are generally implemented, namely: - a dipped beam function, also called LB, for "Low Beam" in English; and - a high beam function, also called HB for "High Beam" in English.
[0005] The HB lighting beam is associated with a high lighting power, relative to the LB beam, and makes it possible to improve visibility in front of the vehicle over a large distance, in particular up to 100 meters in front of the vehicle.
[0006] The HB beam is therefore very dazzling and must not be projected when the vehicle is passing another vehicle on the road. However, the HB beam must be projected outside built-up areas on unlit and narrow roads.
[0007] Similarly, when the vehicle overtakes another vehicle, the HB beam must not be projected so as not to dazzle the driver of the other vehicle during overtaking.
[0008] In order to activate the high beam function, the vehicles are equipped with a dedicated physical control interface, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate the high beam function.
[0009] Such a physical control interface generally takes the form of a push button, a rotating ring near the steering wheel or a lever, among a plurality of other physical interfaces dedicated to other functions that are available in the passenger compartment.
[0010] It can then be difficult for the driver to find the high beam function activation interface, the type and location of which can vary depending on the vehicle. This can sometimes lead the driver to not look for the activation interface and therefore not benefit from the high beam function. In certain driving situations, such an omission can be dangerous.
[0011] In addition, the driver must be particularly focused on the driving situation in order to determine whether the high beam function is adequate or not in such a situation.
[0012] A driver assistance function known as "automatic high beam assist" is designed to automatically activate and deactivate the high beam function based on sensor data. However, the automatic high beam assist function is often deactivated by the driver because it can involve switching the high beams on and off too frequently. Furthermore, such rapid switching is disruptive to other road users, who may perceive it as flashing headlights.
[0013] There is therefore a need to improve the activation of the high beam function in a vehicle, in particular to make activation simpler and more intuitive for the driver.
[0014] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a high beam function of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: - obtaining contextual information relating to a vehicle driving situation; - if the contextual information satisfies at least one predefined condition, control of a vehicle touch screen to display a high beam function control interface, according to a predefined format; - upon detection of a touch input on the displayed control interface, activation or deactivation of the high beam function.
[0015] The invention thus allows the driver to control the high beam function intuitively, simply, and without taking their eyes off the road. Furthermore, the control interface is only displayed when a predefined condition is met by contextual information. The control interface can therefore be presented to the driver only when it is relevant to the driving situation.
[0016] According to some embodiments, predefined touch input types can be associated with respective activation modes of the high beam function. The method may further include, upon detection of the touch input on the displayed control interface, identifying a specific touch input type from among the predefined types and activating the high beam function according to the activation mode associated with the identified touch input type.
[0017] Thus, the driver can activate the high beam function using different activation methods depending on the type of touch input. This activation method can therefore be selected without consulting the central display, allowing the driver to remain focused on the driving situation.
[0018] In addition, the predefined touch input types can correspond to respective numbers of touch input fingers.
[0019] Such an embodiment allows for intuitive and simple control of the activation mode of the high beam function.
[0020] In addition or alternatively, the respective activation methods may include one or more of the following activation methods: - immediate activation of the high beam function; and / or - immediate and temporary activation of the high beam function, until a condition for activation of the high beam function is no longer met; - early activation, indicating to activate the high beam function as soon as a given activation condition of the high beam function is met.
[0021] Such activation methods allow precise control of the high beam function.
[0022] According to some embodiments, the at least one predefined condition may include one or more of the following activation conditions: - a first activation condition according to which the vehicle is travelling outside built-up areas, on a road without lighting, without crossing paths with another vehicle and / or after a maneuver to overtake another vehicle; - a second activation condition corresponding to a lack of information about the presence of other vehicles in the vehicle's environment; - a third activation condition according to which a voice instruction corresponds to a predefined activation voice instruction.
[0023] Thus, the high beam function control interface can be displayed to activate the high beam function in various situations where activation of the high beam function is relevant.
[0024] According to some embodiments, the at least one predefined condition may include one or more of the following deactivation conditions: - a first deactivation condition according to which the vehicle enters an urban area, and / or detects a lighting system of another vehicle on the road, and / or crosses paths with another vehicle and / or travels behind another vehicle going in the same direction of travel; - a second deactivation condition corresponding to the receipt of information indicating the presence of at least one other vehicle in the vehicle's environment; - a third deactivation condition according to which a voice instruction corresponds to a predefined voice deactivation instruction.
[0025] Thus, the high beam function control interface can be displayed to deactivate the high beam function in various situations where deactivation of the high beam function is relevant.
[0026] According to embodiments, the predefined format may be a default format in which the control interface occupies at least 50% of the touch screen.
[0027] Thus, the user does not have to take their eyes off the road to find the control interface. Indeed, by displaying a large control interface on the touchscreen, the driver can enter the touch input without having to look at the touchscreen. Therefore, very little precision is required in the user's touch input, since the control interface is large.
[0028] According to embodiments, the method may further include a preliminary step of setting a format for the control interface of the high beam function, and the predefined format may be the format set by the user.
[0029] Thus, the driver can define the format of the control interface himself, which facilitates the entry of the touch input.
[0030] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention, when these instructions are executed by a processor.
[0031] A third aspect of the invention relates to a control module in a vehicle, comprising a processor configured to: - to obtain contextual information relating to a vehicle driving situation; - if the contextual information satisfies at least one predefined condition, control a touch screen of the vehicle to display a control interface for the high beam function, according to a predefined format; - upon detection of a touch input on the displayed control interface, activate or deactivate the high beam function.
[0032] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings in which:
[0033] [Fig.1] illustrates a motor vehicle according to embodiments of the invention;
[0034] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a control process for a high beam function of a vehicle, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0035] [Fig.3a] illustrates a graphical interface of a touch screen of the vehicle, in a initial driving situation, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0036] [Fig.3b] illustrates a graphical interface of a vehicle touchscreen, with a high beam function control interface, in a first format, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0037] [Fig.3c] illustrates a graphical interface of a touch screen of the vehicle, with a control interface for the high beam function in a second format, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0038] [Fig.3d] illustrates a graphical interface of a touch screen of the vehicle, with a control interface for the high beam function in a third format, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0039] [Fig.4] illustrates a structure of a control module of a control interface of a high beam function, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0040] Fig. 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 100, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0041] The vehicle 100 includes a control module 101, capable of implementing the method according to the invention, for the control of a high beam function performed by at least one light module 111 of a lighting device 110 of the vehicle 100.
[0042] The lighting device 110 may be a front headlight of the vehicle, comprising at least one light module 111, for performing lighting and / or signaling functions. Typically, the vehicle comprises two front headlights, one integrated into a right-hand headlight and the other integrated into a left-hand headlight.
[0043] Thus, the vehicle 100 according to the invention can include two lighting devices 110, each comprising at least one light module 111.
[0044] For the sake of simplification, a single lighting device 110 with a single light module 111 is shown in [Fig.1].
[0045] According to the invention, the light module 111 is capable of implementing at least one high beam function, also called HB for "High Beam," which can be activated by the driver, for projecting a high beam in front of the vehicle 100. The light module 111 may also be capable of implementing a low beam function, also called LB for "Low Beam," for projecting a low beam in front of the vehicle. Alternatively, the LB function is implemented by a light module separate from the light module 111, which is capable of performing the HB function.
[0046] The control module 101 may be exclusively dedicated to controlling the high beam function or may alternatively implement other additional vehicle functions 100. For example, as described below, the control module 101 is a lighting function control module, capable of driving at least one light module 111, and is further capable of controlling the high beam function control interface. The control module 101 may be an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) type module.
[0047] The vehicle 100 may include at least one camera 102 capable of acquiring representative images of a scene facing the vehicle 100. The camera 102 may to be arranged, as shown in [Fig.1], at the top of the front windshield of vehicle 100, in a central position.
[0048] The representative images of the scene can be used by the control module 101 as contextual information relating to the driving situation, as described below.
[0049] The vehicle 100 may include a radio communication module 103 capable of communicating with a mobile access network via technologies such as 4G or 5G, for example, and / or with other road vehicles or road infrastructure elements, using technologies known as V2X, or "Vehicle to Air". The radio communication module 103 thus enables the establishment of communication sessions with remote entities, particularly for the implementation of applications running on the vehicle, some of which may be shared with other vehicles. As described below, certain data exchanged by applications via the radio communication module 103 may be used by the control module 101 as contextual information relating to the driving situation.
[0050] The vehicle 100 may further include a satellite positioning module 105, for example GPS, for "Global Positioning System", capable of determining the current position of the vehicle 100 in real time. The operation of such a satellite positioning module 105 is well known and is not described further in this description. The current position of the vehicle may be part of the contextual information relating to the driving situation which is used by the control module 101 for controlling the high beam function control interface.
[0051] The vehicle 100 further comprises a screen 106 which is a touch screen according to the invention. No restrictions are attached to the positioning of the touch screen 106 in the vehicle 100: the touch screen 106 is preferably located in the vehicle dashboard, for example in a central position.
[0052] The touch screen 106 is capable of displaying a graphical interface, including touch areas corresponding to buttons, allowing the user, by entering touch inputs, to control vehicle functions and / or navigate in a vehicle menu 100. In particular, in an initial configuration described below by way of example, the graphical interface displayed on the touch screen 106 can display guidance information from a navigation function implemented in the vehicle and information from other functions running in the vehicle in the initial situation.
[0053] No restrictions are attached to the technology associated with the touch screen 106, which may be in particular of the resistive or capacitive type.
[0054] The vehicle 100 may further include at least one sensor 104. According to the invention, at least one sensor 104 is capable of obtaining contextual information relating to the driving situation which can be used by the control module 101. No restriction is attached to the sensor, which may be a lidar, a radar, an additional camera in addition to the camera 102 described above, a light sensor, etc.
[0055] The vehicle 100 may further include a memory 107 capable of storing data, for example map data, which can be used in combination with the current position of the vehicle, to locate the vehicle 100 in its environment, in particular in the road infrastructure, such data forming contextual information usable by the control module 101 as described below.
[0056] The vehicle 100 may further include a microphone 108 arranged inside the vehicle, to capture voice instructions from the driver or another passenger in the vehicle, such voice instructions being usable by the control module 101 as contextual information relating to the driving situation.
[0057] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a control process for a vehicle high beam function 100, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0058] The process described with reference to [Fig.2] can be implemented in the vehicle 100 described with reference to [Fig.1], in particular by the control module 101.
[0059] Initially, the vehicle 100 is in an initial driving situation, at a stage 200, in which the high beam function is in an activation state that is either on or off. The control module 101 can thus determine the initial activation state of the high beam function at stage 200. In what follows, the case of an initial situation in which the high beam function is off is described first.
[0060] During step 200 corresponding to the initial situation, the graphical interface displayed by the touch screen 106 can indicate information relating to functions, in particular infotainment, being run by the vehicle, as shown in [Fig.3a].
[0061] Figure 3a illustrates a graphical interface 300 displayed on the touchscreen 106, in The initial situation of step 200. In the initial situation, the graphical interface 300 includes one or more graphical areas 302 associated with functions running in the vehicle, one graphical area 302 of which might correspond to a navigation function, for example. Two other graphical areas 302 are dedicated to two other vehicle functions. This example is, however, given for illustrative purposes only. The graphical area(s) 302 can evolve dynamically, for example, following receiving touch inputs from the user, for example to interrupt the navigation function, and access an audio content playback function from a vehicle's infotainment system.
[0062] Thus, in the initial situation, the graphical interface 300 may not display any graphical area 302 relating to the control of the high beam function.
[0063] At a step 201, the control module 101 obtains contextual information relating to the driving situation, which may include, as described previously: - an image captured, or a series of images captured, by at least one camera 102; and / or - data captured by at least one sensor 104; and / or - the current position of the vehicle, acquired by the satellite positioning module 105, relative to the map data stored in memory 107 or obtained from the radio communication module 103; and / or - data from digital applications, for example shared between several vehicles, and obtained by the radio communication module 103; and / or - a voice instruction captured by the microphone 108.
[0064] At a step 202, the control module 101 determines whether the contextual information satisfies at least one predefined condition. Several conditions can be predefined according to the invention. The predefined conditions can depend on the activation state of the high beam function in the initial situation 200: - if the high beam function is initially deactivated at step 200, at least one predefined condition is a condition for activating the high beam function; - if the high beam function is initially activated at step 200, at least one predefined condition is a condition for deactivating the high beam function.
[0065] If this is the case, that is, if the contextual information satisfies at least one predefined condition, the process proceeds to step 203, described below. Otherwise, if the contextual information does not satisfy any predefined condition, the process returns to step 201 to obtain new contextual information. The process may also return to step 200 if the driver has manually changed the high beam activation state via a physical control interface. In this case, steps 201 and 202 are repeated. As mentioned previously, the at least one predefined condition tested in step 202 may then change compared to the first iteration, since the high beam activation state has been modified.
[0066] The at least one activation condition may include one or more of the following activation conditions: - a first activation condition whereby the vehicle is travelling outside built-up areas, on an unlit road, without encountering another vehicle and / or after overtaking another vehicle. The contextual information used to determine whether such a first activation condition is met may include data from a light sensor and / or an image from camera 102 and / or the combination of the vehicle's current position with map data; - a second activation condition corresponding to an absence of information on the presence of other vehicles in the vehicle's environment. The contextual information used to determine whether such a second activation condition is satisfied may include data from digital applications shared between several vehicles, obtained via the radio communication interface 103, for example a navigation application shared by several vehicles allowing the determination of the relative positions of possible other vehicles in the environment of vehicle 100: in this case, the relative positions of the other vehicles indicate that they are not included in the vehicle's environment, for example within a predefined perimeter around vehicle 100; - a third activation condition whereby a voice command corresponds to a predefined voice activation command. The predefined voice activation command may include one or more keywords, for example, "lighting," "more," and "powerful." The contextual information used to determine whether such a third activation condition is met includes data captured by microphone 108.
[0067] The at least one deactivation condition may include one or more of the following deactivation conditions: - a first deactivation condition whereby the vehicle enters a built-up area, and / or detects the lighting system of another vehicle on the road, and / or passes another vehicle, and / or travels behind another vehicle traveling in the same direction. The contextual information used to determine whether such a first deactivation condition is met may include data from a light sensor and / or an image from camera 102 and / or a combination of the vehicle's current position with map data; - a second deactivation condition corresponding to the receipt of information indicating the presence of at least one other vehicle in the vehicle's vicinity.The contextual information used to determine whether such a second deactivation condition is satisfied may include data from digital applications shared between several vehicles, obtained through the radio communication interface 103, for example a navigation application shared by. several vehicles allowing the determination of the relative positions of possible other vehicles in the environment of vehicle 100: in this case, the relative positions of the other vehicles indicate that at least one other vehicle is within a given perimeter around vehicle 100; - a third deactivation condition whereby a voice command corresponds to a predefined voice activation command. The predefined voice activation command may include one or more keywords, for example, "light," "less," and "bright." The contextual information used to determine whether such a third deactivation condition is met includes data captured by microphone 108.
[0068] In step 203, the control module 101 commands the graphical interface of the touch screen 106, to display a control interface for the high beam function in a predefined format.
[0069] Advantageously according to the invention, the predefined format can be such that the control interface occupies more than 10% of the touch screen 106, preferably occupies more than 20% of the touch screen 106, or even more than 50%, and can occupy more than 90% of the graphical interface displayed on the screen 106.
[0070] The predefined format can be a first default format, illustrated with reference to [Fig. 3b], or a format defined during a prior user configuration step 207, as illustrated with reference to Figures 3c and 3d. In addition to its format, the control interface can display text indicating that it is associated with the high beam function control, for example by displaying the text "high beams" extending over at least half, in height and width, of the control interface, so as to improve the readability of such text.
[0071] Figure 3b illustrates the graphical interface 300 comprising a control interface 311 of the high beam function, according to the first format. According to the first format, the control interface 311 represents more than 90% of the graphical interface 300 displayed on the touch screen 106, and can, for example, occupy the entire touch screen 106.
[0072] The control module 101 can control the display of the control interface 311 by default in step 203, i.e. if the driver has not defined by parameter the format of the control interface of the high beam function during a prior parameterization step 207.
[0073] The user can also access the navigation function's control interface settings to modify the activation interface format in step 207. The format can be modified by touch input, for example, a touch swipe, by the user on a graphical interface similar to graphical interface 300 in [Fig. 3b], reducing the initial format to the format defined by settings, such as the second format or the third format, which are described below.
[0074] Figure 3c illustrates the graphical interface 300 displayed on the touchscreen 106, comprising a control interface 321 for the high beam function in a second format, which is user-configurable. In this second format, the control interface 321 has a primarily horizontal orientation and occupies 50% of the screen, namely, the upper half of the touchscreen 106, by way of illustration.
[0075] Figure 3d illustrates the graphical interface 300 displayed on the touchscreen 106, comprising a control interface 331 for the high beam function in a third format, which is user-configurable. According to the third format, the control interface 331 has a primarily vertical orientation and occupies 50% of the screen, namely, the left half of the touchscreen 106, by way of illustration.
[0076] Referring again to [Fig.2], following the control of the touch screen 106 to display the control interface of the high beam function in a predefined format, which is a default format or a format defined by parameterization, the process proceeds to a step 204.
[0077] In step 204, the control module 101 can determine whether a user touch input has been made on the control interface of the high beam function, displayed according to the predefined format. Such a determination can be implemented using data from the touchscreen 106, indicating a user touch input or the absence of a user touch input on the control interface 311, 321, or 331, according to the predefined format.
[0078] As long as the user has not interacted with the navigation function's control interface, the control module 101 maintains the display of the navigation function's control interface in the format predefined in step 204, and / or obtains new contextual information and verifies that at least one predefined condition is still met in a subsequent step 202. If the new contextual information still satisfies at least one predefined condition, the display of the control interface 311, 321, or 331 in step 203 is maintained. Otherwise, the process returns to step 201 or step 200.
[0079] If the control module 101 determines in step 204 that a touch input from the user has been received on the activation interface, the control module 101 can determine the type of touch input of the touch input received on the activation interface in a step 205. Step 205 may only be implemented when the initial activation state of the high beam function is an off state in step 200, and therefore when a predefined activation condition has been determined to be met in step 202. When the initial activation state of the high beam function in step 200 is an on state, and therefore when a predefined deactivation condition has been determined to be satisfied in step 202, step 205 is not implemented, and the process proceeds directly to a step 206 described below.
[0080] Several types of touch input can be predefined, each type of touch input being associated, according to embodiments, with control methods for the high beam function, in particular with activation methods for the high beam function.
[0081] No restrictions are attached to the predefined types of touch input, nor to their number. The types of touch input can, in particular, be defined by the respective number of fingers used for touch input. In the embodiment given in this description by way of illustration, the predefined types of touch input may include: - a first type of touch input, which includes any touch input with a single finger, for example a touch of the activation interface in the predefined format with one finger; - a second type of touch input, which includes any touch input with two fingers, for example a touch of the activation interface in the predefined format with two fingers; - a third type of touch input, which includes any touch input with three fingers, for example a touch of the activation interface in the predefined format with three fingers.
[0082] No restrictions are attached to the activation methods associated with the touch input types of the first touch input. By way of illustration, the activation methods may include at least some of the following: - a first activation method which is an immediate activation of the high beam function; and / or - a second activation method which is an immediate and temporary activation of the high beam function, until a given activation condition, for example the first activation condition described previously, of the high beam function is no longer met; - a third activation method, which is an early activation method, indicating that the high beam function should be activated as soon as a given activation condition for the high beam function is met, for example, the first activation condition described previously. Note that, in step 202, the second or third activation condition may be met even if the first activation condition is not. In this case, activation according to the third method indicates that the high beam function should only be activated once the first activation condition is also met.
[0083] By way of example, the first activation modality is associated with the first type of touch input, the second activation modality is associated with the second type of touch input, and the third activation modality is associated with the third type of touch input.
[0084] At a step 206, following step 205, the control module 101 controls the high beam function, by activating or deactivating the high beam function.
[0085] When the high beam function is initially in a disabled activation state in step 200, the control of the high beam function in step 206 includes the activation of the high beam function according to the activation modality associated with the type of touch input determined in step 206.
[0086] When the high beam function is initially in an activated state in step 200, the high beam function control in step 206 includes deactivating the high beam function, regardless of the type of touch input, so the type of touch input does not have to be determined in step 205.
[0087] The invention thus allows the driver to control the high beam function in an intuitive, simple way and without taking their eyes off the road.
[0088] Indeed, the user does not have to take their attention away from the road to search for a physical control interface among a plurality of physical interfaces, as the control interface is displayed on a touchscreen and can occupy more than 50% of the touchscreen area. In fact, by displaying a large control interface on a screen in a central position in the dashboard, the driver can enter the touch input during step 204, without even having to look at the touchscreen 106.
[0089] Furthermore, the control interface is only displayed when a predefined condition is met by contextual information. Control interface 311, 321, or 331 can therefore only be offered to the driver when it is appropriate to the driving situation or when the driver has requested it by voice command.
[0090] In addition, the driver can activate the high beam function according to different activation methods depending on the number of fingers with which he makes the touch input on the touch screen during step 204. Such a choice of activation method can also be made without consulting the central screen, which allows the driver to remain focused on the driving situation.
[0091] Figure 4 shows the structure of a control module 101, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0092] The control module 101 includes a processor 401 configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory 402 such as a "Random Access Memory", RAM, or a "Read Only Memory", ROM, or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, 402 memory includes several memories of the aforementioned types.
[0093] The memory 402 is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or resulting from the implementation of the steps of the process described with reference to [Fig.2].
[0094] In particular, the memory 402 can store, at least temporarily, descriptive information of the predefined format, including the first format, and optionally of a format set by the user of the vehicle 100 during step 207, such as the second or third format. Furthermore, the memory can store predefined conditions, including activation and deactivation conditions, as well as associations between touch input types and activation modes.
[0095] The processor 401 is capable of executing instructions, stored in memory 402, for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, the processor 301 can be replaced by a microcontroller designed and configured to perform the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2].
[0096] The control module 101 includes at least a first interface 403 which is a receiving interface capable of obtaining the contextual information described above, from at least one sensor 104, at least one camera 102, the microphone 108, the GPS module 105, the memory 107 and / or the radio communication module 103.
[0097] The control module 101 further includes a second interface 404 for controlling the touch screen 106 to display the control interface during step 203 described previously.
[0098] The control module 101 may include a third interface 405 capable of controlling the light module 111 during step 206 described above. For this purpose, the control module 101 may transmit an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the light module 111, which projects a high beam upon receiving an activation signal, and which interrupts the projection of the high beam upon receiving the deactivation signal.
[0099] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.
Claims
Demands
1. Method for controlling a high beam function of a vehicle (100), comprising the following steps: - obtaining (201) contextual information relating to a vehicle driving situation; - if the contextual information satisfies (202) at least one predefined condition, control (203) of a touch screen (106) of the vehicle to display a control interface (311; 321; 331) of the high beam function, according to a predefined format; - upon detection (204) of a touch input on the displayed control interface, activation or deactivation (206) of the high beam function.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein predefined touch input types are associated with respective activation modes of the high beam function, the method further comprising, upon detection (204) of the touch input on the displayed control interface, an identification (205) of a touch input type of the touch input, among the predefined touch input types, and the activation (206) of the high beam function according to the activation mode associated with the identified touch input type.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the predefined touch input types correspond to respective numbers of touch input fingers.
4. A method according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the respective activation methods include one or more of the following activation methods: - immediate activation of the high beam function; and / or - immediate and temporary activation of the high beam function, until a high beam function activation condition is no longer met; - early activation, indicating to activate the high beam function as soon as a given high beam function activation condition is met.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one predefined condition comprises one or more of the following activation conditions: - a first activation condition according to which the vehicle is travelling outside built-up areas, on an unlit road, without crossing paths with another vehicle and / or after overtaking another vehicle; - a second activation condition corresponding to a lack of information about the presence of other vehicles in the vehicle's environment; - a third activation condition according to which a voice command corresponds to a predefined activation voice command.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one predefined condition comprises one or more of the following deactivation conditions: - a first deactivation condition whereby the vehicle enters an urban area, and / or detects a lighting system of another vehicle on the road, and / or passes another vehicle and / or travels behind another vehicle going in the same direction of travel; - a second deactivation condition corresponding to the receipt of information indicating the presence of at least one other vehicle in the vehicle's environment; - a third deactivation condition whereby a voice command corresponds to a predefined voice deactivation command.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predefined format is a default format in which the control interface (311) occupies at least 50% of the touch screen (106).
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a prior parameterization step (207) of a control interface format (321; 331) of the high beam function, and wherein the predefined format is the user-parameterized format.
9. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when such instructions are executed by a processor (401).
10. Control module (101) in a vehicle (100), comprising a processor (401) configured to: - obtain contextual information relating to a vehicle driving situation; - if the contextual information satisfies at least one predefined condition, control a touch screen (106) of the vehicle to display a control interface (311; 321; 331) of the high beam function, according to a predefined format; - upon detection of a touch input on the displayed control interface, activate or deactivate the high beam function.