A method for optimizing the illumination of intersection areas between multiple vehicles emitting light beams.

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method (100) for optimizing illumination in an intersection region (202) between multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) emitting light beams (201-1, 201-2), comprising the steps of estimating a time interval during which each vehicle (200-1, 200-2) is present in said intersection region (202), estimating illumination of said intersection region (202) at any time within said estimated time interval, and evaluating whether said estimated illumination corresponds to a superposition of multiple said light beams (201-1, 201-2). determining, via communication between the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2), at least one action to be performed by the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) on the light beams (201-1, 201-2) based on each of a set of parameters related to consumption of one of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) if a corresponding overlap area (2021) exists, and executing each determined action in the intersection area (202).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field of the present invention is the technical field of lighting provided by vehicles, and in particular, the technical field of optimizing the lighting provided by vehicles in the intersection area between vehicles.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the lighting of an intersection area between a plurality of vehicles each emitting a light beam.

Background Art

[0003] When the lights of a motor vehicle are turned on, the lighting module emits a light beam that illuminates a part of the road located in front of the vehicle.

[0004] In the situation shown in FIG. 1 where two vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 each with their lights on intersect in an intersection area 202, there is an overlapping area 2021 between the two emitted light beams 201-1 and 201-2 where the brightness is greater than that of the part of the intersection area 202 illuminated by a single light beam. Therefore, this overlapping area 2021 creates an area of excessive brightness in the intersection area 202 that is likely to cause inconvenience to the driver.

[0005] To overcome this drawback, one conventional method is, for a vehicle, to pre-detect the overlapping area and impose a turn-off of the light beam in the detected overlapping area.

[0006] However, such a method applied to both vehicles results in the overlapping area no longer being illuminated at all, and thus shows a brightness lower than the minimum regulatory brightness required to ensure driver safety.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a method that enables each overlapping area to be illuminated with a brightness greater than the minimum regulatory brightness without creating an area of excessive brightness.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides a solution to the above-mentioned problem by enabling the illumination of each overlapping region of the intersection region in such a way that uniform illumination, i.e., illumination without significant discontinuities, is obtained in the illuminated portion of the intersection region. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a method for optimizing lighting in an intersection area between a plurality of vehicles, each having a lighting module that emits a related light beam, the method comprising the following steps, namely: The steps include: at least one vehicle estimates the location of the intersection area and the time interval at which each vehicle is located in the intersection area, based on an information set that includes at least the position, speed, and course of each vehicle; The steps include: at least one vehicle estimating the illumination within the intersection region at each point in time of the estimated position and estimated time interval, based on at least one characteristic of the relevant light beam for each vehicle; If, for at least one point in the estimated time interval, the estimated illumination has at least one overlapping region corresponding to the superposition of multiple related light beams within the intersection region, A step in which at least one vehicle obtains a parameter set, each of which has at least one parameter, wherein each parameter depends on at least one piece of data relating to the consumption or status of the lighting module of the vehicle associated with the parameter, which has been previously transmitted to the vehicle by the vehicle associated with the parameter. The steps include determining, based on a parameter set obtained through communication between multiple vehicles, at least one action to be performed by the vehicles on the relevant light beams so that the illumination within the overlapping area is distributed among multiple vehicles to a specified brightness, The corresponding vehicle performs each action determined when multiple vehicles are located in the intersection area. This includes methods.

[0010] According to the present invention, at each point in the estimated time interval, the location of the intersection and the time interval at which multiple vehicles cross are estimated in order to reconstruct the lighting present within the intersection area at the estimated location.

[0011] At that time, it is possible to detect in advance each overlapping region that corresponds to the superposition of multiple light beams emitted by multiple vehicles, based on the estimated illumination.

[0012] At that time, the vehicles of multiple vehicles have a period before they actually intersect in the intersection region in order to make a common decision regarding at least one operation concerning the light beams emitted by the vehicles, which should be performed in the overlapping region to ensure a specified brightness level among them.

[0013] The vehicles of the multiple vehicles communicate with each other to make decisions based on a set of parameters, each including parameters representing the vehicle's consumption and / or the status of the vehicle's lighting module. Once a decision is made, each of the decided actions is performed when the multiple vehicles cross each other in the intersection area.

[0014] Therefore, the present invention ensures in the overlapping area a brightness greater than the regulated minimum brightness but less than the brightness that would exist if the operation were not performed, thus simultaneously enabling optimized lighting, energy saving, and / or reduced CO2 emissions.

[0015] In addition to the features outlined in the previous paragraph, the method according to the present invention may have one or more additional features from the following, which can be considered individually or in any technically feasible combination.

[0016] According to one modified embodiment, a method according to the present invention is a step of at least one vehicle acquiring an information set, further comprising a substep of the vehicle receiving information previously transmitted by other vehicles, or a substep of determining information using the vehicle's sensors, or a substep of estimating information based on at least one piece of information relating to traffic and / or signals, with respect to at least one piece of information relating to another vehicle of a plurality of vehicles.

[0017] According to one modified embodiment that conforms to the previous modified embodiment, the method according to the present invention further includes the step of at least one vehicle receiving at least one piece of information regarding public lighting in the intersection area at each point in time of an estimated location and estimated time interval, and the step of estimating the lighting in the intersection area is also performed based on each piece of information received regarding public lighting.

[0018] Therefore, the reconfiguration of lighting within the intersection area should take into account the public lighting within that area.

[0019] According to one modified embodiment that conforms to the previous modified embodiment, the step of at least one vehicle estimating illumination in an intersection area includes a substep in which the vehicle receives characteristics previously transmitted by other vehicles with respect to each characteristic of a light beam related to another vehicle of a plurality of vehicles.

[0020] According to one modified embodiment that conforms to the previous modified embodiment, each characteristic is selected from the following set of characteristics: type, shape, brightness, and brightness relative to the minimum regulated brightness.

[0021] According to one variant embodiment conforming to the previous variant embodiments, each data is selected from the following data groups, namely, the cruising range, the remaining distance to be traveled, the ratio of the cruising range to the remaining distance to be traveled, the fuel consumption, the ratio of the fuel consumption to the remaining distance to be traveled, the model, the consumption of the lighting module, the ratio of the consumption of the lighting module to the remaining distance to be traveled, the brightness of the emitted light beam, the brightness of the emitted light beam relative to the minimum regulatory brightness, the temperature of the lighting module.

[0022] According to one variant embodiment conforming to the previous variant embodiments, each parameter is from the following parameter groups namely, the cruising range, the ratio of the cruising range to the remaining distance to be traveled, the fuel consumption, the ratio of the fuel consumption to the remaining distance to be traveled, the model, the consumption of the lighting module, the ratio of the consumption of the lighting module to the remaining distance to be traveled, the temperature of the lighting module selected.

[0023] Therefore, making a decision regarding the actions to be performed takes into account the electricity or fuel used by each vehicle to illuminate the overlapping areas.

[0024] According to one variant embodiment conforming to the previous variant embodiments, each action to be performed is an action of turning off the associated light beam or an action of reducing the brightness of the associated light beam by a predetermined value.

[0025] According to one variant embodiment conforming to the previous variant embodiments, each parameter of the parameter set has a type, and the step of determining each action to be performed includes the following sub-steps, namely, when each vehicle is associated with one and the same parameter type of the parameter set, a sub-step of performing a comparison between the parameter sets to determine at least one optimal parameter, and While multiple vehicles are not located in the intersection area and each operation to be executed has not been determined, the multiple vehicles communicate with each other to determine each operation to be executed so as to maximize the amount of illumination in the overlapping area provided by each vehicle associated with the optimal parameters of the parameter set. including Otherwise, the determined operation is the first default operation to be executed by each vehicle for the associated light beam. Otherwise, the determined operation is the second default operation to be executed by each vehicle for the associated light beam.

[0026] Thus, for example, the vehicle associated with the optimal parameters having the most electricity or fuel expends more effort than other vehicles to illuminate the overlapping area.

[0027] According to one variant embodiment conforming to the previous variant embodiments, the method according to the invention further includes the step that when multiple vehicles are located in the intersection area if the communication between the multiple vehicles is interrupted before each operation to be executed is determined, each vehicle executes a third default operation for the associated light beam.

[0028] Thus, even if the communication between the multiple vehicles is interrupted, operations are performed.

[0029] The second aspect of the present invention is a vehicle for implementing the method according to the invention, an illumination module configured to emit a light beam, a computer, estimating the position of the intersection area and the time interval during which each vehicle is located in the intersection area based on an information set including at least the position, speed, and course of each vehicle, estimating the illumination in the intersection area at each time point of the estimated position and the estimated time interval for each vehicle based on at least one characteristic of the associated light beam, The estimated illumination detects each overlapping region within the intersection region corresponding to the superposition of multiple light beams, If overlapping areas are detected, Obtain a parameter set containing at least one parameter for each vehicle, where each parameter depends on at least one piece of data previously transmitted by the vehicle associated with the parameter. Based on the acquired parameter set, at least one action to be performed by each vehicle on the relevant light beam is determined by communicating with other vehicles in the group of vehicles, so that the illumination within the overlapping area is distributed among multiple vehicles to exhibit a specified brightness. If a determined action should be performed, the determined action will be performed on the light beam emitted by the lighting module when multiple vehicles are located in the intersection area. A computer configured in such a way Regarding vehicles equipped with this feature.

[0030] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product that includes instructions causing a computer to perform steps of a method according to the present invention when the program is executed on the computer.

[0031] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium that, when executed by a computer, includes instructions causing the computer to perform steps of a method according to the present invention.

[0032] The present invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying drawings.

[0033] The drawings are presented as non-limiting representations of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the intersection area between two vehicles where the method according to the present invention is not implemented is shown. [Figure 2]A schematic diagram shows an implementation of the method according to the present invention for two vehicles before the two vehicles cross in the intersection area. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the intersection area between the two vehicles after the method according to the present invention has been implemented. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing a series of steps of the method according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different drawings is given a single reference numeral.

[0036] Figure 1 has already been explained with reference to the prior art.

[0037] The present invention relates to a method for optimizing lighting in an intersection area between multiple vehicles, i.e., between at least two vehicles.

[0038] Each of the multiple vehicles is preferably a powered vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, truck, or even a bus.

[0039] Each of the multiple vehicles may be a combustion, electric, or hybrid vehicle.

[0040] Each of the multiple vehicles may be an autonomous vehicle.

[0041] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an implementation of Method 100 according to the present invention for two vehicles before the two vehicles intersect in the intersection area 202.

[0042] In Figure 2, the multiple vehicles include a gray first vehicle 200-1 and a black second vehicle 200-2.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the intersection area 202 between the two vehicles in Figure 2 after Method 100 according to the present invention has been implemented.

[0044] Therefore, Figure 2 corresponds to a first time point that precedes the second time point corresponding to Figure 3.

[0045] Between the first and second time points, the first vehicle 200-1 has not moved, while the second vehicle 200-2 has turned left, as indicated by the curved white arrow in Figure 2.

[0046] Each of the multiple vehicles, vehicle 200-1, 200-2, is equipped with a lighting module configured to emit light beams 201-1, 201-2 toward the front of vehicle 200-1, 200-2.

[0047] In Figures 2 and 3, the first vehicle 200-1 emits a first light beam 201-1, and the second vehicle 200-2 emits a second light beam 201-2. Each light beam 201-1, 201-2 has at least one characteristic.

[0048] Each characteristic is selected from, for example, the following set of characteristics: the type of light beams 201-1 and 201-2, the shape of light beams 201-1 and 201-2, the brightness of light beams 201-1 and 201-2, or the brightness of light beams 201-1 and 201-2 relative to the minimum brightness required by regulations.

[0049] If each of the vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is a powered vehicle, the possible types of light beams are, for example, low beam and high beam.

[0050] In Figures 2 and 3, the first light beam 201-1 and the second light beam 201-2 are low beams, but they have different shapes.

[0051] Each of the multiple vehicles, 200-1 and 200-2, has a predetermined course, i.e., a known route.

[0052] The predetermined course is calculated based on the address provided by the user of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, using a navigation system built into or connected to vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation system integrated into a dedicated device or mobile phone.

[0053] Vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles are configured to communicate with each other; that is, each vehicle 200-1 and 200-2 can communicate with the other vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles, and therefore can send and receive data with the other vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles.

[0054] In Figure 2, communication between the first vehicle 200-1 and the second vehicle 200-2 is represented by a black double arrow between the first vehicle 200-1 and the second vehicle 200-2.

[0055] Vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of multiple vehicles, for example, use a common data communication protocol.

[0056] The communication protocols used are Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, or even 5G.

[0057] The data communication protocol is preferably a secure data communication protocol.

[0058] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a series of steps of Method 100 according to the present invention.

[0059] The first step 101 of method 100 according to the present invention is to obtain an information set with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles.

[0060] The first step 101 is performed, for example, by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a group of vehicles.

[0061] The information set includes at least the position, speed, and course of each of the multiple vehicles, 200-1 and 200-2.

[0062] Each piece of information in an information set is associated with a given point in time, and the information set may contain multiple pieces of information of the same type associated with different point in time.

[0063] The information set may include, for example, the position, speed, and course of multiple vehicles 200-1, 200-2 at a first time point, as well as the position, speed, and course of the same vehicles 200-1, 200-2 at a second time point later than the first time point.

[0064] The first step 101 is a first substep 1011 in which, with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 performing the first step 101, the first substep 1011 is to receive at least one piece of information that is included in an information set of other vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles, the information which may include the first substep 1011 which has been previously transmitted by the other vehicles 200-1, 200-2.

[0065] For example, each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a group of vehicles transmits its position, speed, and course to each other vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the group of vehicles, and then each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the group receives the position, speed, and course of each other vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the group of vehicles.

[0066] In the example shown in Figure 2, the first vehicle 200-1 receives the position, speed, and course of the second vehicle 200-2, and the second vehicle 200-2 receives the position, speed, and course of the first vehicle 200-1.

[0067] Each piece of information transmitted by other vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is transmitted, for example, at regular time intervals, for example, every second.

[0068] The first step 101 may include a second substep 1012 in which, with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 performing the first step 101, sensors of vehicle 200-1, 200-2 are used to determine at least one piece of information included in an information set for another vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles.

[0069] Sensors include, for example, cameras, lidar (laser image detection and ranging) devices, or radar (wireless detection and ranging) devices.

[0070] For example, vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a group of vehicles estimate the position and speed of another vehicle 200-1 or 200-2 of the group, which is located several meters or several hundred meters away from vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 and is positioned opposite them.

[0071] In the example shown in Figure 2, the first vehicle 200-1 estimates the position and speed of the second vehicle 200-2 at that time.

[0072] The first step 101 may include a third substep 1013 which, with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 performing the first step 101, estimates at least one piece of information that is included in a set of information about another vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles, based on at least one piece of information about traffic and / or signals.

[0073] Each piece of traffic and / or signal information is received, for example, directly from the city to which vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of multiple vehicles performing the third substep 1013 are connected at that time. The smart city is then referenced.

[0074] Each piece of traffic and / or signal information transmitted by the city is transmitted, for example, at regular time intervals, for example every second, and over a circular area having a predetermined diameter, for example, equal to 500 meters.

[0075] Transmitting traffic and / or signal information only within a circular perimeter makes it possible to avoid transmitting information to vehicles that are too far away to be affected.

[0076] Each piece of traffic and / or signal information may be selected from the following set of information regarding the area, namely, vehicle throughput, location of stop signs, e.g., stop signs and / or temporary stop signs, location of traffic lights, status of traffic lights, and maximum permissible speed for the area.

[0077] For example, each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 performing the first step 101 estimates the speed of the other vehicles 200-1, 200-2 as the maximum allowable speed or a percentage of the maximum allowable speed in the area where each of the other vehicles 200-1, 200-2 is located, and the percentage value depends on the vehicle throughput in that area.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4, the first step 101 may include a first substep 1011 for a first subset of information in the information set, a second substep 1012 for a second subset of information in the information set, and a third substep 1013 for a third subset of information in the information set.

[0079] In the example shown in Figure 2, the first vehicle 200-1 receives, for example, the course and position of the second vehicle 200-2 at a first time point, and estimates the speed of the second vehicle 200-2 at a second time point, which is later than the first time point, by receiving information about traffic and / or signals within a region including the previously received position. Then, when the second vehicle 200-2 is nearby, it determines the speed and position at a third time point, which is later than the second time point, for example, using a camera.

[0080] A second step 102 of method 100 according to the present invention is to estimate the location of the intersection area 202 and the time intervals in which each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 is located in the intersection area 202 with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles.

[0081] The second step 102 is performed, for example, by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a group of vehicles.

[0082] The estimation is performed based on the set of information obtained in the first step 101, for example, by estimating the position of each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 at each point in time intervals later than the present time.

[0083] In Figure 2, the intersection region 202 whose position was estimated in the second step 102 is shown by a dashed line.

[0084] Each of the multiple vehicles 200-1, 200-2 performing the second step 102 has either acquired the information set in the first step 101, or has received the information set from another vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles that performed the first step 101.

[0085] The second step, 102, is performed, for example, whenever new information is added to the information set.

[0086] Method 100 according to the present invention may include a third step 103 which involves receiving at least one piece of information regarding public lighting within the intersection area 202 of the estimated location over a time interval estimated in the second step 102, with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles.

[0087] The third step 103 is performed, for example, by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a group of vehicles.

[0088] Information regarding public lighting is received, for example, directly from the city to which vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of multiple vehicles performing the third step 103 are connected at that time.

[0089] Each piece of information regarding public lighting may be selected from the following set of information regarding the area, namely, the position of each light beam emitted by the public lighting, the shape of each light beam emitted by the public lighting, and the brightness of each light beam emitted by the public lighting within the area.

[0090] The third step 103 is performed, for example, each time the second step 102 is performed.

[0091] A fourth step 104 of the method 100 according to the present invention is to estimate the illumination within the intersection region 202 of the positions estimated in the second step 102 at each time point in the time interval estimated in the second step 102, with respect to at least one vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the plurality of vehicles.

[0092] The fourth step 104 is performed, for example, by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of a group of vehicles.

[0093] The estimation is performed based on at least one characteristic of the light beams emitted by each of the multiple vehicles, 200-1 and 200-2.

[0094] Figure 2 shows the illumination estimated in the fourth step 104 within the cross region 202 with respect to a given time point in the time interval estimated in the second step 102.

[0095] The estimated illumination includes an estimate of the first light beam 201-1 at a given time, shown in a grid pattern, and an estimate of the second light beam 201-2 at a given time, shown by a dotted line.

[0096] If the third step 103 is performed, the estimation is also performed based on each piece of information about public lighting received in the third step 103.

[0097] The fourth step 104 is performed, for example, each time the second step 102 or the third step 103 is performed.

[0098] The following steps of method 100 according to the present invention are performed only if, with respect to at least one time point in the time interval estimated in the second step 102, there exists within the intersection region 202 at least one overlapping region 2021 corresponding to the superposition of multiple light beams 201-1, 201-2 emitted by different vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles, with respect to a given time point.

[0099] Therefore, in the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, an overlapping region 2021 exists if the illumination estimated for at least one point in the time interval estimated in the second step 102 corresponds to the superposition of the first light beam 201-1 and the second light beam 201-2.

[0100] In Figure 2, the overlapping region 2021 between the estimation of the first light beam 201-1 and the estimation of the second light beam 201-2 at a given time point is shown by hatching.

[0101] A fifth step 105 of method 100 according to the present invention is to obtain a parameter set that includes at least one parameter for each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the plurality of vehicles, i.e., at least one parameter associated with vehicle 200-1, 200-2.

[0102] Each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 relates to the consumption of the associated vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, or to the status of the lighting modules of the associated vehicles 200-1 and 200-2.

[0103] If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 are electric vehicles, each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 relates, for example, to the power consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2; if vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 are combustion vehicles, each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 relates, for example, to the fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 or to the temperature of the lighting module.

[0104] The parameter set includes, for example, one parameter for each vehicle, such as vehicle 200-1 and 200-2.

[0105] Each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of multiple vehicles depends on at least one piece of data sent to vehicles 200-1, 200-2 that perform the fifth step 105, by the vehicles 200-1, 200-2 associated with the parameter.

[0106] If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a group of vehicles are electric vehicles, each data transmitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is selected from, for example, the following data sets: the range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the ratio of the range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the model of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the brightness of the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, and the brightness of the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 relative to the minimum brightness required by regulations.

[0107] If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a group of vehicles are combustion vehicles, each data transmitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 may include, for example, the following data sets: fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the ratio of fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the model of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, and vehicles 200-1 and 200-2. The following are selected: the consumption of the lighting modules of vehicle 200-2, the ratio of the consumption of the lighting modules of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the brightness of the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the brightness of the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 relative to the minimum brightness required by regulations, and the temperature of the lighting modules of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2.

[0108] If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a group of vehicles are hybrid vehicles, each data transmitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is selected, for example, from the data set described above for electric vehicles and / or for combustion vehicles.

[0109] Each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of multiple vehicles may be equal to the data transmitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, or may be calculated based on at least one piece of data transmitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2.

[0110] If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a group of vehicles are electric vehicles, then each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is selected from, for example, the following set of parameters: the driving range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the ratio of the driving range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, and the model of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2. If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a set of vehicles are combustion vehicles, then each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is selected from, for example, the following set of parameters: the fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the ratio of the fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the model of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the consumption of the lighting modules of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, the ratio of the consumption of the lighting modules of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 to the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, and the temperature of the lighting modules of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2. If vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of a set of vehicles are hybrid vehicles, then each parameter associated with vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 is selected, for example, from the set of parameters described above for electric vehicles and / or for combustion vehicles.

[0111] A sixth step 106 of method 100 according to the present invention is to determine at least one operation to be performed by vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles such that the lighting in the overlapping area 2021 is shared among the multiple vehicles 200-1, 200-2 to show a predetermined brightness.

[0112] The decision is made collectively across multiple vehicles based on the parameter set obtained in step 6, step 106.

[0113] Each operation to be performed by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles relates to the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2.

[0114] Each operation to be performed by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles is selected from, for example, the following group of operations: turning off light beams 201-1 and 201-2 in the overlapping region 202, or reducing the brightness of light beams 201-1 and 201-2 in the overlapping region 202 by a predetermined value.

[0115] Each of the lighting modules in the multiple vehicles, 200-1 and 200-2, comprises a solid-state light source having multiple element emitters whose current is individually controlled by pulse width modulation, i.e., the luminous intensity of each element emitter corresponds to the average current flowing through it, depending on the applied peak current value and the applied duty cycle.

[0116] At that time, the brightness of the light beams 201-1 and 201-2 emitted by the lighting module can be reduced, for example, by reducing the peak current value or duty cycle applied to at least one element emitter of the lighting module.

[0117] The specified brightness is defined, for example, based on the minimum regulated brightness and / or the brightness of at least one light beam 201-1, 201-2 superimposed in overlapping region 2021.

[0118] If only the first light beam 201-1 and the second light beam 201-2 are superimposed in the overlapping region 2021, the specified brightness is, for example, the average of the brightness of the first light beam 201-1 and the brightness of the second light beam 201-2.

[0119] The sixth step 106 may include a first substep 1061 which involves comparing the parameter sets obtained in the fifth step 105 with respect to vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of a plurality of vehicles on which the fifth step 105 was performed, in order to determine at least one optimal parameter.

[0120] The first substep 1061 is performed only if each of the multiple vehicles 200-1, 200-2 is associated with the same parameter type in one parameter set.

[0121] For example, each of the multiple vehicles, 200-1 and 200-2, is an electric vehicle and is associated in the parameter set with a parameter of the type of ratio between the range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 and the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1 and 200-2.

[0122] The optimal parameter may be the minimum or maximum parameter in the parameter set, depending on the parameter type.

[0123] The optimal parameter is, for example, the maximum parameter when the parameter is of the type of ratio between the driving range of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 and the remaining distance that vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 should travel, and the minimum parameter when the parameter is of the type of ratio between the fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 and the remaining distance that vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 should travel.

[0124] The sixth step 106 may include a second substep 1062 which involves communicating with the other vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of the group of vehicles in order to make common decisions regarding each operation to be performed with respect to each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the group of vehicles.

[0125] The second substep 1062 is performed as long as no multiple vehicles are located in the intersection area 202 and no individual actions to be performed have been determined.

[0126] The common decision is made to maximize the amount of illumination in the overlapping region 202 provided by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2, which is associated with the optimal parameter determined in the first substep 1061 within the parameter set.

[0127] For example, if the ratio of the optimal parameters associated with vehicles 200-1, 200-2 to the parameters associated with each other vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles is greater than a first threshold, the multiple vehicles communicate that the action to be determined is, for example, to turn off its light beams 201-1, 201-2 with respect to each other vehicle 200-1, 200-2, and if the ratio is between a second threshold and a first threshold, the multiple vehicles communicate that the action to be performed is, for example, with respect to each other vehicle 200-1, 200-2, vehicle 20 The vehicles communicate that the amount of lighting for vehicles 0-1 and 200-2 should be greater than the total amount of lighting for all other vehicles 200-1 and 200-2, for example, 70% for vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 and 30% for all other vehicles 200-1 and 200-2. If this ratio is below a second threshold, the vehicles communicate that the action to be decided should be, for example, to distribute the lighting evenly among each vehicle 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles.

[0128] In Figure 3, the overlapping region 2021 is illuminated only by the first light beam 201-1, and therefore the first vehicle 200-1 and the second vehicle 200-2 agree that the action to be performed is, with respect to the second vehicle 200-2, to turn off its light beam 201-2 in the overlapping region 2021. If the actions to be performed for each vehicle have not been determined before the multiple vehicles are positioned in the intersection region 202, i.e., if a common decision could not be made, the action to be performed is, for example, a first default action to be performed by each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles.

[0129] The first default operation is, for example, to provide an equal amount of lighting within the overlapping area 202 for each vehicle 200-1, 200-2 in a group of vehicles, that is, to provide a brightness equal to a predetermined brightness divided by the number of vehicles 200-1, 200-2 in the group of vehicles.

[0130] If each of the vehicles 200-1, 200-2 in the multiple vehicles is not associated with one of the same parameter types in the parameter set, the first substep 1061 cannot be performed, and the action that should be performed in that case is, for example, a second default action that should be performed by each of the vehicles 200-1, 200-2 in the multiple vehicles.

[0131] The second default behavior is, for example, identical to the first default behavior.

[0132] For example, if at least one of the vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles is an electric vehicle and is associated in the parameter set with a parameter of the type of ratio between the driving range of vehicles 200-1, 200-2 and the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1, 200-2, then at least one of the vehicles 200-1, 200-2 of the multiple vehicles is a combustion vehicle and is associated in the parameter set with a parameter of the type of ratio between the fuel consumption of vehicles 200-1, 200-2 and the remaining distance to be traveled by vehicles 200-1, 200-2.

[0133] The seventh step 107 of method 100 is to have the corresponding vehicles 200-1 and 200-2 of the multiple vehicles perform the actions determined in the sixth step 106 when the multiple vehicles are located in the intersection area 202.

[0134] In Figure 3, the overlapping region 2021 is illuminated only by the first light beam 201-1, and therefore the second vehicle 200-2 performs an action that turns off its light beam 201-2 in the overlapping region 2021.

[0135] Method 100 according to the present invention may include an eighth step 108 which is performed if a first condition CI is met in which communication between multiple vehicles is interrupted before each operation to be performed is determined.

[0136] The eighth step 108 is to perform a third default action with respect to each of the multiple vehicles 200-1, 200-2 when the multiple vehicles are located in the crossing area 202.

[0137] The third default behavior is, for example, identical to the first default behavior.

Claims

1. A method (100) for optimizing lighting in an intersection region (202) between a plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2), each having a lighting module that emits related light beams (201-1, 201-2), wherein the method (100) comprises the following steps: Step (102) of at least one of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) estimating the location of the intersection area (202) and the time interval at which each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) is located in the intersection area (202), based on an information set that includes at least the position, speed, and course of each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2), Step (104) of each of the at least one vehicle (200-1, 200-2) estimating the illumination within the intersection region (202) at each of the estimated positions and estimated time intervals based on at least one characteristic of the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) Includes, The above method (100) consists of the following steps, namely, With respect to at least one time point in the estimated time interval, if the estimated illumination has at least one overlapping region (2021) corresponding to the superposition of a plurality of associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) within the intersection region (202), Step (105) of obtaining a parameter set comprising at least one vehicle (200-1, 200-2) having at least one parameter for each vehicle (200-1, 200-2), wherein each of the parameters depends on at least one piece of data relating to the consumption or status of the lighting module of the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) associated with the parameter, which has been previously transmitted to the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) by the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) associated with the parameter. Step (106) of determining, based on the acquired parameter set via communication between the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2), at least one operation to be performed by the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) on the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) so that the illumination within the overlapping region (2021) is distributed among the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) to exhibit a predetermined brightness, Step (107) of the corresponding vehicle (200-1, 200-2) performing each of the determined actions when the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2) are located in the intersection area (202) A method (100) further comprising the above.

2. The method according to claim 1 (100), wherein the at least one vehicle (200-1, 200-2) acquires the information set, the step (101) further comprising a substep (1011) in which the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) receives information previously transmitted by the other vehicle (200-1, 200-2) with respect to at least one piece of information in the information set relating to another vehicle (200-1, 200-2) of the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2), or a substep (1012) in which the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) determines the information using sensors of the vehicle (200-1, 200-2), or a substep (1013) in which the vehicle estimates the information based on the at least one piece of information relating to traffic and / or signals.

3. The method according to claim 1 (100), further comprising the step (103) of the at least one vehicle (200-1, 200-2) receiving at least one piece of information relating to public lighting in the intersection area (202) at each of the estimated locations and estimated time intervals, wherein the step (104) of estimating the lighting in the intersection area (202) is also performed based on each of the received pieces of information relating to public lighting.

4. The step (104) in which at least one vehicle (200-1, 200-2) estimates the illumination in the intersection region (202) includes a substep (1041) in which, with respect to each of the characteristics of the light beams (201-1, 201-2) associated with another vehicle (200-1, 200-2), the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) receives the characteristics previously transmitted by the other vehicle (200-1, 200-2), The method according to claim 1 (100).

5. The method according to claim 1 (100), wherein each of the aforementioned characteristics is selected from the following set of characteristics: type, shape, brightness, and brightness relative to the minimum brightness required by regulation.

6. The method according to claim 1 (100), wherein each of the aforementioned data is selected from the following data set: cruising range, remaining distance to be traveled, ratio of the cruising range to the remaining distance to be traveled, fuel consumption, ratio of the fuel consumption to the remaining distance to be traveled, model, consumption of the lighting module, ratio of the consumption of the lighting module to the remaining distance to be traveled, brightness of the emitted light beams (201-1, 201-2), brightness of the emitted light beams (201-1, 201-2) relative to the minimum brightness required by regulations, and temperature of the lighting module.

7. The method according to claim 1 (100), wherein each of the parameters is selected from the following set of parameters: cruising range, the ratio of the cruising range to the remaining distance to be traveled, fuel consumption, the ratio of the fuel consumption to the remaining distance to be traveled, model, the consumption of the lighting module, the ratio of the consumption of the lighting module to the remaining distance to be traveled, and the temperature of the lighting module.

8. The method according to claim 1 (100), wherein each of the operations to be performed is an operation to turn off the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) or an operation to reduce the brightness of the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) by a predetermined value.

9. Each of the parameters in the parameter set has a type, and the step (106) of determining each of the operations to be performed is a substep, namely, If each of the aforementioned vehicles (200-1, 200-2) is associated with the same parameter type in the parameter set, A substep (1061) to perform a comparison between the parameter sets in order to determine at least one optimal parameter, Substep (1062) in which the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) communicate with each other to determine each of the actions to be performed, provided that the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) are not located in the intersection area (202) and each of the actions to be performed has not been determined, and Includes, Otherwise, the determined operation is a first default operation to be performed by each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) with respect to the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2). Otherwise, the determined action is a second default action to be performed by each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) with respect to the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2). The method according to claim 1 (100).

10. The method according to claim 1 (100), further comprising the step (108) that if communication between the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2) is interrupted before each of the operations to be performed is determined (C1), each of the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2) performs a third default operation with respect to the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2) when the plurality of vehicles (200-1, 200-2) are located in the intersection area (202).

11. A vehicle (200-1, 200-2) for carrying out the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A lighting module configured to emit light beams (201-1, 201-2), It is a computer, Based on an information set that includes at least the position, speed, and course of each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2), the position of the intersection area (202) and the time interval in which each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) is located in the intersection area (202) are estimated. For each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2), the illumination within the intersection region (202) at each point in time of the estimated position and estimated time interval is estimated based on at least one characteristic of the associated light beams (201-1, 201-2), The estimated illumination detects each overlapping region (2021) within the intersection region (202) corresponding to the superposition of multiple light beams (201-1, 201-2), If the aforementioned overlapping region (2021) is detected, A parameter set is obtained for each of the vehicles (200-1, 200-2) including at least one parameter, each of which depends on at least one piece of data previously transmitted by the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) associated with the parameter. Based on the acquired parameter set, at least one operation to be performed by the vehicle (200-1, 200-2) on the associated light beam (201-1, 201-2) is determined by communicating with the other vehicle (200-1, 200-2) of the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) so that the illumination within the overlapping region (2021) is distributed among the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) to exhibit a predetermined brightness, If the determined action should be performed, the determined action will be performed on the light beams (201-1, 201-2) emitted by the lighting module when the multiple vehicles (200-1, 200-2) are located in the intersection area (202). A computer configured in such a way Vehicles equipped with (200-1, 200-2).

12. A computer program product, A computer program product that, when executed on a computer, includes an instruction causing the computer to perform the steps of the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A computer-readable recording medium that, when executed by a computer, includes an instruction causing the computer to perform the steps of the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images