Method for controlling high beam assist and high beam assist

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (5) for controlling a high beam assist (4) of a vehicle (2) at night. The present invention also relates to a high beam assist (4) for performing the method (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling high beam assist of a vehicle at night according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention also relates to a high beam assist for carrying out the method.

Background Art

[0002] Some vehicles are provided with high beam assist for automatically turning on and off high beams at night. High beam assist contributes to good object recognition. The tail lamps and headlamps of other vehicles are essential functions for detecting other vehicles at night. However, it is a drawback that the reflectors of guardrails also often reflect red showing the characteristics of tail lamps or reflect white showing the characteristics of headlamps. This may lead to errors in turning on and off high beams.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method for distinguishing reflectors arranged on the roadside from vehicle lights. By this method, reflectors and vehicle lights are identified using sensors directed around the vehicle in a vehicle having a camera. Patent Document 2 describes a method for predictively detecting curves in a road section where an automobile travels. Patent Document 3 shows a method for adjusting vehicle lighting in a curve with poor visibility. Also, Patent Document 4 shows a method for automatically controlling lighting functions. Finally, Patent Document 5 shows a headlamp facility for vehicles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment to a standard type of method in which the aforementioned drawbacks are overcome. Another object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding high-beam assist for performing the method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above-mentioned problems are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claim.

[0007] This invention is based on the general idea of ​​operating with different levels of confidence at different curve radii, and in some cases including motion detection, to avoid unnecessary dimming, de-dimming, or unnecessary switching off of high beams.

[0008] The method according to the present invention is configured or designed to control the vehicle's high beam assist at night. Here, the high beam assist determines data about the presence of other vehicles in the road section ahead of the vehicle. Then, based on the determined data, the high beam assist determines the presence of other vehicles in the road section ahead, depending on an adjustable confidence level. The high beam assist then automatically turns off the high beams if other vehicles are present on the road ahead, and automatically turns on the high beams if no other vehicles are present on the road ahead. In addition, according to the present invention, the high beam assist determines whether the vehicle is on a curve. If the vehicle is on a curve, the high beam assist determines the radius of the curve. The high beam assist changes the confidence level depending on the radius of the curve (R) to determine the presence of other vehicles in the road section ahead.

[0009] According to the present invention, when determining the presence of other vehicles, the speed of other vehicles in the road section ahead is determined. High beam assist sets the confidence level for determining the presence of other vehicles to a relatively high level, particularly 99%, if the speed of other vehicles exceeds 10 km / h and the curve radius is 180 m or less.

[0010] In relation to the present invention, the term "confidence level" is used synonymously with the terms "confidence" and / or "confidence interval" and / or "credit interval" and / or "expected range." In the present invention, "m" represents meters and "km / h" represents kilometers per hour.

[0011] The method according to the present invention makes it possible to reduce the false switching of high beams to low beams or false switching off. In particular, by changing the confidence level, it is possible to more reliably detect other vehicles on curves with a curve radius. As a result, reflective objects such as reflectors on guardrails are no longer recognized as other vehicles, and the reliability of high beam assist can be improved.

[0012] High beam assist can determine if a vehicle is on a curve via the vehicle's steering angle and / or predicted section data of the road ahead. For example, predicted section data can be read from existing map data.

[0013] High beam assist can be set to a relatively high confidence level, specifically 99%, for detecting the presence of other vehicles when the curve radius is 180m or less. When the curve radius exceeds 180m, high beam assist can be set to a relatively low confidence level, specifically 95%, for detecting the presence of other vehicles. This can reduce unnecessary switching to low beams or unnecessary switching off of high beams by up to 50%.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a vehicle high beam assist for automatically turning high beams on and off at night. According to the present invention, the high beam assist is configured to perform the above-described method.

[0015] Other important features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, drawings, and the description of relevant figures based on the drawings.

[0016] The features described above, and the features further described below, should be understood to be usable not only in the combinations shown, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail in the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows road section 1 with vehicle 2 and other vehicles 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Here, the vehicle 2 comprises a high beam assist 4 according to the invention for executing the method 5 according to the invention. At this time, in the method 5, the high beam assist 4 determines data on the presence of other vehicles 3 in the road section 1 and determines the presence of other vehicles 3 from the determined data depending on an adjustable confidence level.

[0019] In addition, the high beam assist 4 determines whether the vehicle 2 is in a curve 6. If the vehicle 2 is in the curve 6, the high beam assist 4 determines the curve radius R via the steering angle of the vehicle and / or prediction section data of the forward road section 1. The high beam assist 4 changes the confidence level when evaluating the data or when determining the presence of other vehicles 3 depending on the curve radius R. In particular, the high beam assist 4 can set the confidence level to 99% when the curve radius R is 180 m or less, and can set the confidence level to 95% when the curve radius R exceeds 180 m. In addition, when the curve radius is 180 m or less, the high beam assist 4 can set the confidence level to 99% only when the speed of the other vehicle 3 exceeds 10 km / h.

[0020] In this method 5, it is possible to reliably determine the presence of other vehicles 3 and to reduce the unnecessary switching of the high beam to the low beam or the unnecessary turning off by up to 50%.

Claims

1. A method (5) for controlling the high beam assist (4) of a vehicle (2) at night, - The high beam assist (4) determines data regarding the presence of other vehicles (3) in the road section (1) ahead of the vehicle (2), - The high beam assist (4) determines the presence of the other vehicle (3) in the road section (1) ahead based on the determined data, depending on an adjustable confidence level. - The high beam assist (4) automatically turns off the high beams if there is another vehicle (3) in the road section (1) ahead, and automatically turns on the high beams if there is no other vehicle (3) in the road section (1) ahead. - The high beam assist (4) determines whether the vehicle (2) is on a curve (6), - The high beam assist (4) determines the curve radius (R) of the curve (6) if the vehicle (2) is on a curve (6), and - The high beam assist (4) changes the confidence level depending on the curve radius (R) in order to determine the presence of other vehicles (3) in the road section (1) ahead, - The high beam assist (4) determines the speed of the other vehicle (3) in the road section (1) ahead when determining the data regarding the presence of the other vehicle (3), and - The high beam assist (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) to a relatively high level, particularly 99%, when the curve radius (R) is 180 m or less and the speed of the other vehicle (3) exceeds 10 km / h. The method (5) is characterized by the above.

2. The method according to claim 1 (5), characterized in that the high beam assist (4) determines that the vehicle (2) is on a curve (6) via the steering angle of the vehicle (2) and / or predicted section data of the road section (1) ahead.

3. - The high beam assist (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) to a relatively high level, particularly 99%, when the curve radius (R) is 180m or less, and - The method according to claim 1 or 2 (5), characterized in that the high beam assist (4) sets the confidence level for determining the presence of the other vehicle (3) to a relatively low level, particularly 95%, when the curve radius (R) exceeds 180 m.

4. A high beam assist (4) for a vehicle (2) for automatically turning on and off high beams at night, wherein the high beam assist (4) is configured to perform the method (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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