Adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity

Abstract

The present invention provides an adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity. [Solution] The adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity comprises an ultra-wideband local area network controller and a modular adaptive headlamp. The ultra-wideband local area network controller includes an ultra-wideband chip, a Bluetooth chip, and a control unit. The modular adaptive headlamp includes a matrix LED headlamp, an imaging radar unit, and a first sub-ultra-wideband chip. The control unit generates a corresponding control signal based on real-time driving environment information generated by at least the imaging radar unit and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connectivity, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a headlamp control system, and in particular to an adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connection.

Background Art

[0002] Current adaptive headlamp control systems are generally divided into two major market segments: one is the original equipment market (factory-installed products, Original Equipment, OE) where products are installed at the time of vehicle shipment, and the other is the aftermarket market (aftermarket installed products, After Market, AM) where different products are selected and installed according to people's different demands after vehicle shipment. Adaptive headlamp control systems for the aftermarket market require rewiring, which involves complicated wiring work, complex installation processes, and high labor costs.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of prior art, one embodiment of the present invention provides an adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity. The system is vehicle-mountable and comprises an ultra-wideband local area network controller and a modular adaptive headlamp, the ultra-wideband local area network controller including an ultra-wideband chip used for managing and connecting the vehicle's ultra-wideband local area network, a Bluetooth® chip used for connecting to external devices, and a control unit electrically coupled to the ultra-wideband chip and the Bluetooth chip, which controls the connection and transmission of the ultra-wideband chip and the Bluetooth chip, respectively, the modular adaptive headlamp includes a matrix LED headlamp that emits a light beam and an image sensor that detects the environment in front of the vehicle and generates real-time driving environment information. The system includes an imaging radar unit and a first sub-ultra-wideband chip electrically coupled to the matrix LED headlamp and the imaging radar unit and ultra-wideband connected to the ultra-wideband chip, wherein the real-time driving environment information generated by the imaging radar unit is transmitted to the control unit via the ultra-wideband connection between the first sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip, and the control unit generates a corresponding first control signal based on at least the real-time driving environment information and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode.

[0004] In one preferred embodiment, the imaging radar unit is a 4D imaging radar, and the generated real-time driving environment information includes the bearing, distance, speed, and altitude of a target object in front of the vehicle.

[0005] In one preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to receive an on-board diagnostic (OBD) signal from the vehicle and to acquire real-time vehicle information from the on-board diagnostic signal, the real-time vehicle information including the vehicle's speed and engine speed, and the control unit generates a corresponding first control signal based on the real-time driving environment information and the real-time vehicle information, and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via an ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode.

[0006] In one preferred embodiment, an adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection further comprises an image recognition device, the image recognition device includes an image acquisition unit, an image recognition unit, and a second sub-ultra-wideband chip, the image acquisition unit being used to acquire an image, the image recognition unit being electrically coupled to the image acquisition unit and the second sub-ultra-wideband chip, the image recognition unit receiving and recognizing an image acquired by the image acquisition unit, generating corresponding real-time image recognition information, the real-time image recognition information being transmitted to the control unit via an ultra-wideband connection between the second sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip, the control unit generating the corresponding first control signal based on the real-time driving environment information, the real-time vehicle information, and the real-time image recognition information, and transmitting it to the matrix LED headlamp via an ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode.

[0007] In one preferred embodiment, an adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection further comprises an augmented reality head-up display device, the augmented reality head-up display device comprising an image generation unit and a third sub-ultra-wideband chip, the image generation unit being electrically coupled to the third sub-ultra-wideband chip, and the image generation unit being configured to receive the real-time image recognition information, the real-time driving environment information, or the real-time vehicle information via an ultra-wideband connection between the third sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip, and to generate corresponding image information to display visibly to the driver of the vehicle.

[0008] In one preferred embodiment, the control unit determines whether the external device requesting a connection via the Bluetooth chip is a legitimate user, and if it is determined to be a legitimate user, it generates a corresponding second control signal and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam for a predetermined time according to the welcome mode.

[0009] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the detailed description and accompanying drawings below. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustrative purposes only and do not limit the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention installed in a vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a modular adaptive headlamp according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a functional block diagram of an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]This is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention installed in a vehicle. [Figure 5] This is a functional block diagram of an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention installed in a vehicle. [Figure 7] This is a functional block diagram of an adaptive headlamp control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments disclosed herein will be described below using specific examples. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the information disclosed herein. The present invention can be carried out or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the various detailed descriptions herein can be modified and changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and uses without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be noted in advance that the drawings of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not based on actual dimensions. The technical content relating to the present invention will be described in more detail using the following embodiments, but the information disclosed is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0012] It should be understood that while this specification may use terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” to describe various elements, these elements are not limited to those described by these terms. These terms are primarily used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein includes, depending on the actual situation, any one or more of the items listed in relation to it.

[0013] Refer to Figures 1, 2, and 3. One embodiment of the present invention provides an adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection (hereinafter abbreviated as the adaptive headlamp control system). The system can be mounted on a vehicle 700, which may be an automobile, a large truck, a large bus, etc., and is not particularly limited. The adaptive headlamp control system according to this embodiment basically comprises an ultra-wideband local area network controller 10 and at least one modular adaptive headlamp 20.

[0014] The ultra-wideband local area network controller 10 may be the vehicle 700's own OBD (On-board Diagnostics) or a part thereof, or it may be connected to the OBD interface. Alternatively, the ultra-wideband local area network controller 10 may be integrated into devices such as the vehicle's main unit or digital meter, which are already installed at the time of vehicle shipment.

[0015] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the ultra-wideband local area network controller 10 may include an ultra-wideband chip 101, a Bluetooth chip 102, and a control unit 103.

[0016] The ultra-wideband chip 101 (UWB chip) can be used for managing and connecting the ultra-wideband local area network of the vehicle 700. Furthermore, the ultra-wideband chip 101 utilizes ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to manage and connect the ultra-wideband local area network of the vehicle 700. Ultra-wideband technology is a type of wireless communication technology that has the characteristics of low power consumption and high-speed transmission, and can provide low-latency data transmission of up to 27 Mbps. As a result, the ultra-wideband chip 101 and all UWB components in the ultra-wideband local area network of the vehicle 700 can perform high-speed and secure data transmission using ultra-wideband technology while maintaining extremely low power consumption. The control unit 103 is electrically coupled to the ultra-wideband chip 101 and can be used to control the connection and data or signal transmission of the ultra-wideband local area network composed of the ultra-wideband chip 101 and all UWB components.

[0017] The Bluetooth chip 102 can be used to connect to an external device 800, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The Bluetooth chip 102 uses Bluetooth technology to achieve connection with the external device 800. The control unit 103 is electrically coupled to the Bluetooth chip 102 and can be used to control the connection between the Bluetooth chip 102 and the external device 800 and the transmission of data or signals. Furthermore, the external device 800 can be identified via the Bluetooth chip 102, thereby identifying the identity of the vehicle user and determining whether they are a legitimate user (e.g., the vehicle owner).

[0018] In this embodiment, the control unit 103 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a system-on-a-chip (SOC). The control unit 103 is also used to receive or process vehicle diagnostic signals (OBD signals) from the vehicle 700, and can acquire real-time vehicle information from the vehicle diagnostic signals. The real-time vehicle information may include information such as driving speed, engine speed, coolant temperature, and battery voltage.

[0019] In this embodiment, the modular adaptive headlamp 20 may also be a UWB component within the ultra-wideband local area network of the vehicle 700. Two modular adaptive headlamps 20 may be mounted on the vehicle 700. For convenience of description, the following description will be made using only one modular adaptive headlamp 20. The modular adaptive headlamp 20 of this embodiment may include a matrix LED headlamp 201, an imaging radar unit 202, and a first sub-ultra-wideband chip 203.

[0020] The matrix LED headlamp 201 can be used to be mounted on the front side of the vehicle 700. As shown in Figure 2, the matrix LED headlamp 201 may have a lamp housing 2011 and a matrix LED element 2012 disposed inside the lamp housing 2011. In addition, the lamp housing 2011 may be a lamp housing for the aftermarket market, and its outer contour may correspond to a lamp housing for the original equipment market.

[0021] The imaging radar unit 202 may be disposed inside the lamp housing 2011 of the matrix LED headlamp 201, located in an area other than the matrix LED element 2012, and may be electrically coupled to the power supply of the matrix LED element 2012. In addition, the power may be converted and supplied from the generator or battery of the vehicle 700. The imaging radar unit 202 may be triggered after the vehicle 700 is started, and can detect the environment in front of the vehicle 700 by emitting a radar detection signal using imaging radar technology and receiving the corresponding reflected signal. Since the imaging radar unit 202 uses imaging radar technology, it has the function of accurately measuring the distance and speed to a target object, and can satisfactorily detect the environment in front of the vehicle 700 without being affected by environmental conditions such as rain, fog, and strong light.

[0022] Further, the imaging radar unit 202 of this embodiment is a 4D imaging radar, which can be used to detect the environment in front of the vehicle 700 and generate real-time driving environment information. The real-time driving environment information includes four-dimensional data of the azimuth, distance, speed and altitude of the target. In addition, since the imaging radar unit 202 has a sufficiently high dynamic range, it can detect smaller and farther objects, analyze the contour of the target, and enable the radar to realize an imaging function. This cannot be achieved by conventional 3D millimeter-wave radars.

[0023] The first sub ultra-wideband chip 203 of the modular adaptive headlamp 20 may be disposed in the lamp housing 2011 of the matrix LED headlamp 201, and may be located in an area other than the matrix LED element 2012 and the imaging radar unit 202. The first sub ultra-wideband chip 203 is electrically coupled to the imaging radar unit 202 and the matrix LED headlamp 201. The first sub ultra-wideband chip 203 and the ultra-wideband chip 101 are ultra-wideband connected using ultra-wideband technology, so that the real-time driving environment information generated by the imaging radar unit 202 is transmitted to the control unit 103 via the ultra-wideband connection between the first sub ultra-wideband chip 203 and the ultra-wideband chip 101. In addition, the control unit 103 generates a corresponding first control signal based at least on the real-time driving environment information, that is, the control unit 103 generates the corresponding first control signal based on at least one of the real-time driving environment information and the real-time vehicle information, and transmits the first control signal to the matrix LED headlamp 201 via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip 101 and the first sub ultra-wideband chip 203, so as to control the light beam emitted by the matrix LED headlamp.

[0024] As an example, the control unit 103 may acquire the distance, speed, direction, and altitude of a target object (e.g., an oncoming vehicle) based on real-time driving environment information, and further acquire the speed of its own vehicle 700 based on real-time vehicle information, generate a corresponding first control signal, and transmit it to the matrix LED headlamp 201 via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip 101 and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip 203, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp 201 to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode. That is, the brightness of the light beam emitted by the matrix LED headlamp 201 is gradually reduced according to the distance or speed of the oncoming vehicle, or the angle of the light beam emitted by the matrix LED headlamp 201 is gradually adjusted downward or upward according to the direction or altitude of the oncoming vehicle, thereby avoiding the risk of dazzling the driver of the oncoming vehicle with a high-brightness light beam.

[0025] As another example, the control unit 103 may identify the identity of the vehicle user and determine whether or not they are a legitimate user by identifying an external device 800 that requests a connection via the Bluetooth chip 102. If it is determined that the user is a legitimate user (e.g., the vehicle owner), it generates a corresponding second control signal and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp 201 via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip 101 and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip 203, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp 201 to emit a light beam for a predetermined time according to the welcome mode. That is, the matrix LED headlamp 201 is used as a welcome lamp by emitting a light beam in stages for each divided region within a predetermined time, or by continuously flashing the light beam.

[0026] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the adaptive headlamp control system may further include an image recognition device 30. The image recognition device 30 may join the vehicle 700's ultra-wideband local area network using ultra-wideband technology and may be one UWB component within the vehicle 700's ultra-wideband local area network.

[0027] In this embodiment, the image recognition device 30 may include an image acquisition unit 301, an image recognition unit 302, and a second sub-ultra-wideband chip 303.

[0028] The image acquisition unit 301 is implemented, for example, by a camera, and the image recognition unit 302 is implemented, for example, by an ARM image processing chip or a DSP image processing chip. The image acquisition unit 301 is used to acquire images, and the image recognition unit 302 is electrically coupled to the image acquisition unit 301 and the second sub-ultra-wideband chip 303, respectively. The image recognition unit 302 receives and recognizes the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 301, generates corresponding real-time image recognition information, and transmits it to the control unit 103 via an ultra-wideband connection between the second sub-ultra-wideband chip 303 and the ultra-wideband chip 101. As a result, the control unit 103 generates a corresponding first control signal based on real-time driving environment information, real-time vehicle information, and real-time image recognition information, and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp 201 via an ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip 101 and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip 203, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp 201 to emit a light beam according to the aforementioned active safety mode.

[0029] Furthermore, the image recognition unit 302 may, for example, use image recognition technology such as object recognition (R-CNN, Mask R-CNN) to recognize the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 301 and identify whether there is an oncoming vehicle in front of the vehicle 700, whether a pedestrian or animal is crossing the road, etc. Based on the identification result, it generates corresponding real-time image recognition information and transmits it to the control unit 103 using ultra-wideband technology. The control unit 103 then makes a comprehensive judgment not only based on the real-time driving environment information transmitted by the imaging radar unit 202 using ultra-wideband technology, but also based on the real-time image recognition information transmitted by the image recognition unit 302 using ultra-wideband technology, generates a corresponding first control signal, and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp 201 using ultra-wideband technology, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp 201 to emit a light beam according to the aforementioned active safety mode.

[0030] The image recognition unit 302 complements detailed visual features such as lanes, traffic signs, and traffic signals (signal lights), while the imaging radar unit 202 provides accurate orientation, distance, speed, and altitude of the target object. This improves complementarity, reduces misjudgments, and enhances reliability. Furthermore, it enables real-time response using ultra-wideband technology, improving driving safety.

[0031] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the adaptive headlamp control system may further include an augmented reality head-up display device 40 (AR HUD). The augmented reality head-up display device 40 may join the vehicle 700's ultra-wideband local area network using ultra-wideband technology and may be one UWB component within the vehicle 700's ultra-wideband local area network.

[0032] In this embodiment, the augmented reality head-up display device 40 may include a picture generation unit 401 (PGU) and a third sub-ultra-wideband chip 402. Of course, the augmented reality head-up display device 40 may further include other elements necessary for the operation of the augmented reality head-up display device 40, such as a reflector and a backlight.

[0033] The image generation unit 401 is electrically coupled to the third sub-ultra-wideband chip 402. The image generation unit 401 generates image information that can be reflected onto the windshield of the vehicle 700 from the received real-time image recognition information, real-time driving environment information, or real-time vehicle information via the third sub-ultra-wideband chip 402. This allows the driver to view the image information on the windshield in real time, avoiding distraction while driving and improving driving safety.

[0034] In summary, the adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity according to the present invention comprises an ultra-wideband local area network controller and a modular adaptive headlamp. The ultra-wideband local area network controller includes an ultra-wideband chip, a Bluetooth chip, and a control unit. The modular adaptive headlamp includes a matrix LED headlamp, an imaging radar unit, and a first sub-ultra-wideband chip. Real-time driving environment information generated by the imaging radar unit is transmitted to the control unit via an ultra-wideband connection between the first sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip. The control unit generates a corresponding control signal based on at least the real-time driving environment information and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via an ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode. Therefore, the modular adaptive headlamp of the present invention transmits real-time driving environment information using ultra-wideband technology, and the ultra-wideband local area network controller transmits corresponding control signals using ultra-wideband technology based on the real-time driving environment information. By controlling the modular adaptive headlamp and emitting a light beam according to the active safety mode, driving safety is actively improved. Furthermore, by using ultra-wideband technology for transmission, in addition to the advantages of low power consumption and high-speed transmission, the complexity of wiring can be avoided, and the complexity of installation and labor costs can be effectively reduced.

[0035] The information disclosed above is merely a preferred and implementable embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the scope of the claims. Therefore, equivalent technical modifications made using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention are all included within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10: Ultra-wideband local area network controller 101: Ultra-wideband chip 102: Bluetooth chip 103: Control Unit 20: Modular Adaptive Headlamps 201: Matrix LED Headlamps 202: Imaging Radar Unit 203: First sub-ultra-wideband chip 30: Image recognition device 301: Image acquisition unit 302: Image Recognition Unit 303: Second sub-ultra-wideband chip 40: Augmented Reality Head-Up Display Device 401: Image generation unit 402: Third sub-ultra-wideband chip 700: Vehicle 800: External device

Claims

1. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection that can be mounted on a vehicle, Equipped with an ultra-wideband local area network controller and modular adaptive headlamps, The aforementioned ultra-wideband local area network controller is An ultra-wideband chip used for managing and connecting the ultra-wideband local area network of the aforementioned vehicle, A Bluetooth chip used for connecting to external devices, A control unit electrically coupled to the ultra-wideband chip and the Bluetooth chip, which controls the connection and transmission of the ultra-wideband chip and the Bluetooth chip, respectively. Includes, The aforementioned modular adaptive headlamp is Matrix LED headlamps that emit a light beam, An imaging radar unit that detects the environment in front of the vehicle and generates real-time driving environment information, A first sub-ultra-wideband chip is electrically coupled to the matrix LED headlamp and the imaging radar unit and is ultra-wideband connected to the ultra-wideband chip, Includes, The real-time driving environment information generated by the imaging radar unit is transmitted to the control unit via the ultra-wideband connection between the first sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip. The control unit generates a corresponding first control signal based at least on the real-time driving environment information and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode. An adaptive headlamp control system based on ultra-wideband connectivity, characterized by the following features.

2. The imaging radar unit is a 4D imaging radar, and the generated real-time driving environment information includes the bearing, distance, speed, and altitude of a target object in front of the vehicle. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection as described in claim 1.

3. The control unit is configured to receive a vehicle diagnostic signal from the vehicle and to acquire real-time vehicle information from the vehicle diagnostic signal. The aforementioned real-time vehicle information includes the vehicle's speed and engine speed. The control unit generates a corresponding first control signal based on the real-time driving environment information and the real-time vehicle information, and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection as described in claim 2.

4. Further equipped with an image recognition device, The image recognition device includes an image acquisition unit, an image recognition unit, and a second sub-ultra-wideband chip. The aforementioned image acquisition unit is used to acquire images. The image recognition unit is electrically coupled to the image acquisition unit and the second sub-ultra-wideband chip, respectively. The image recognition unit receives the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, performs recognition, and generates corresponding real-time image recognition information. The real-time image recognition information is transmitted to the control unit via the ultra-wideband connection between the second sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip. The control unit generates a corresponding first control signal based on the real-time driving environment information, the real-time vehicle information, and the real-time image recognition information, and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam according to the active safety mode. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection as described in claim 3.

5. Further equipped with an augmented reality head-up display device, The augmented reality head-up display device includes an image generation unit and a third sub-ultra-wideband chip. The image generation unit is electrically coupled to the third sub-ultra-broadband chip. The image generation unit is configured to receive the real-time image recognition information, the real-time driving environment information, or the real-time vehicle information via the ultra-wideband connection between the third sub-ultra-wideband chip and the ultra-wideband chip, generate corresponding image information, and display it in a manner visible to the driver of the vehicle. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection as described in claim 4.

6. The control unit identifies the external device requesting a connection via the Bluetooth chip, determines whether it is a legitimate user, and if it determines that it is a legitimate user, generates a corresponding second control signal and transmits it to the matrix LED headlamp via the ultra-wideband connection between the ultra-wideband chip and the first sub-ultra-wideband chip, thereby controlling the matrix LED headlamp to emit a light beam for a predetermined time according to the welcome mode. An adaptive headlamp control system based on an ultra-wideband connection as described in claim 1.

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