Method for controlling the operation of a signalling device of a vehicle, and computer element, computer program and lighting system for implementing the method
By dynamically controlling vehicle lighting systems based on environmental conditions, the process optimizes energy consumption and ensures regulatory compliance, addressing the inefficiencies in existing systems and enhancing vehicle autonomy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2024/077188
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-26
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle lighting systems consume excessive energy due to regulatory requirements for high lighting intensities, which are often unnecessary under favorable weather and ambient conditions, leading to inefficiency and reduced vehicle autonomy in electric vehicles.
A process to dynamically control vehicle signaling devices with controllable light sources, adjusting light intensity based on external environment parameters such as weather conditions, ambient light, and proximity of other vehicles, using sensors and a control unit to maintain a variable braking-to-rest intensity ratio.
This solution optimizes energy consumption by reducing light intensity when conditions permit, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, thereby enhancing vehicle autonomy and reducing CO2 emissions.
Smart Images

Figure EP2024077188_03042025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Title: Method for controlling the operation of a vehicle signaling device, computer element, computer program and lighting system for implementing the method
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lighting and / or signaling devices for motor vehicles, in particular automobiles, and more particularly to the management of energy consumption by these devices.
[0002] Indeed, a recurring problem in the field of lighting devices concerns energy consumption and the technologies of these devices are evolving to limit their energy consumption and increase their lifespan. In addition to these solutions relating to the devices themselves, there remains a problem of vehicle lighting management to limit energy consumption. Indeed, the regulations in force in different countries around the world impose various parameters for vehicle lighting, such as sizes, arrangements, ranges, width, etc. For example, Regulation No. 48 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) provides uniform requirements for the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices.In general, the regulations aim to ensure the safety and the switching on of lighting devices, and some of their parameters, such as their ranges, widths and intensities, are defined to ensure good visibility of the vehicle from the outside and good visibility of users inside the vehicle's surroundings. However, in traffic, visibility conditions vary widely depending on natural factors such as time or weather, but also on environmental factors such as public lighting (particularly in built-up areas), the density of vehicles circulating, etc. Thus, the regulations lead to lighting being most often greater than what is necessary for the safety of users in traffic, due to the accumulation of lighting from various vehicles and / or their surroundings.Thus, saving energy for vehicle lighting while complying with regulations remains a problem in the field.
[0003] On the other hand, car manufacturers are increasingly adopting digital lighting devices for mid- and high-end products. These digital lighting devices generally include solid-state light sources, whose operation can involve high energy consumption. In addition, temperature control in these elements is a very sensitive aspect, and is generally carried out by derating, which means that the value of the current that powers the light source is reduced so that the output flux and operating temperature decrease accordingly. The performance of the light sources must therefore be significantly oversized to deal with these overheating problems, so that the operating values can be reduced while maintaining acceptable values.
[0004] These questions are even more important in the case of new electric vehicles, where energy saving is crucial, as it has a direct impact on the vehicle's range and therefore on CO2 emission values.
[0005] Finally, in certain cases, it is useful to be able to improve visual comfort if the environment allows it, in order to increase user safety by limiting visual light pollution in their fields of vision.
[0006] The present invention therefore aims to provide solutions for managing vehicle lighting and optimizing the energy consumption of the lighting system of these vehicles while complying with regulations, or even improving visual comfort and user safety.
[0007] According to a first aspect, this aim is achieved by a method for controlling the operation of a signaling device of a vehicle, the device comprising at least one controllable light source, said control making it possible to modify an intensity of light emitted by the light source between an intensity at rest when a driver of the vehicle does not apply a brake of the vehicle and an intensity during braking when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes, in which the intensity during braking and the intensity at rest have a relationship between them according to a determined braking-rest ratio, characterized in that said control is conditioned by at least one or more parameters of the external environment of the vehicle in which the device is mounted, including in particular parameters relating to the weather conditions and / or the ambient brightness and / or the presence of another vehicle to the rear and preferably its distance,through the implementation of the following steps:, - acquisition of at least one signal, by one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, making it possible at least to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient light in an environment outside the vehicle; and - analysis, by at least one processor, of the acquired signal to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient brightness in the vehicle's external environment; and - control, by a control unit, to adapt the light beams emitted by said light source according to the determined weather conditions and / or the determined ambient light, on the basis of said determined ratio.
[0008] According to another feature, said determined ratio can be defined variably on the basis of data from at least one sensor of the vehicle providing at least one of said parameters of the external environment.
[0009] Advantageously, said ratio determined by said processor can be defined variably on the basis of data from at least one sensor providing a parameter of said vehicle, representative of the operating state of the vehicle, preferably at least the light intensity of said device at the time preceding that at which the check is carried out.
[0010] According to another particularity, the sensor is chosen between: a rain sensor, a camera configured to determine the weather conditions and / or the proximity of other vehicles, a memory that records an operating state of the car's windshield wipers, a memory connected to a vehicle management system that records whether the car is stationary and / or how long the car has been stationary or a LiDAR configured to detect weather conditions and / or the proximity of other vehicles, and a GPS configured to determine whether the car is driving on a highway or not.
[0011] According to another particularity, the values of intensity at rest and / or intensity during braking are adapted according to the weather conditions and / or according to the ambient light and / or according to whether the car is traveling on a highway and / or according to whether the car is stationary and / or how long the car has been stationary.
[0012] According to another feature, said ratio is increased when the weather conditions and / or ambient light are unfavorable for driving and said braking-rest ratio is decreased when the weather conditions and / or ambient light are favorable for driving.
[0013] According to another feature, the intensity at rest and / or the intensity at braking is increased when the ambient light
[0014] According to another feature, the processor includes a machine learning model trained to adapt the rest intensity and / or the braking intensity and / or the braking-rest ratio according to the weather conditions and / or the ambient light and / or whether the car has been stationary for a predefined time and / or whether the car is driving on a highway or not.
[0015] Another aim of the present application is to propose a computer element making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0016] This aim is achieved by a computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to various embodiments of the invention in cooperation with at least one sensor (3) of said vehicle.
[0017] Another aim of the present application is to propose a computer program making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0018] This object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit, cause the control unit to execute the steps of a method according to various embodiments of the invention in cooperation with at least one sensor (3) of said vehicle.
[0019] Another aim of the present application is to propose a vehicle lighting system making it possible to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0020] This goal is achieved by a vehicle lighting system comprising: - a plurality of lighting devices; - a plurality of sensors configured to provide certain data relating to the external environment of the vehicle and possibly data on an operating state of the vehicle; and - a control unit for carrying out the steps of the method according to various embodiments of the invention.
[0021] According to another feature, at least one of the lighting devices comprises a matrix arrangement of semiconductor light sources.
[0022] According to another feature, the matrix arrangement includes at least 2000 semiconductor light sources.
[0023] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the description of various embodiments below, given with reference to the appended drawings. Indeed, to complete the description and to allow a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and form an integral part of the description, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but simply as an example of how the invention can be implemented. The drawings include the following figures: [Fig 1] Figure 1 shows a graph that illustrates the intensity of the light source when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes versus the intensity of the light source when the driver does not apply the brakes when the vehicle is traveling on a highway at night in weather conditions that are unfavorable for driving; [Fig 2] Figure 2 shows a graph that illustrates the intensity of the light source when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes versus the intensity of the light source when the driver does not apply the brakes when the vehicle is traveling on a highway at night in weather conditions that are favorable for driving; [Fig 3] Figure 3 shows a graph that illustrates the intensity of the light source when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes versus the intensity of the light source when the driver does not apply the brakes when the vehicle has been stationary, during the night, for more than 10s; and [Fig 4] Figure 4 depicts a system in which an embodiment of the present invention may be deployed.
[0024] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of at least one signaling device of a vehicle, the device comprising at least one controllable light source. The control may be a dynamic control. The present invention also relates to a system (1) for signaling a vehicle, as well as a computer element, a computer program and a signaling system for implementing the method. Thus, the present application describes a method for the dynamic control of a lighting system (1) of a vehicle, as well as a computer element, a computer program and a lighting system for implementing the method. The present application refers to a control unit which controls the lighting but also which is trained during at least one learning process and which performs calculations, comparisons, etc.The skilled person will of course understand that it may be a question of several control units for the different tasks and cooperating to implement the invention or of a single unit carrying out all the tasks. In addition, the skilled person will naturally understand, by the nature of the tasks carried out, that such a unit will generally comprise at least one processor executing instructions and that various forms of implementation are possible and that it is therefore not necessary to provide details on the types of hardware that can be used or used. The drawings presented on the figure pages are provided solely as an example and in a very schematic manner, so that the skilled person will be able to imagine any type of variants from the content of the present application.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document must be interpreted in accordance with professional practice, particularly in the field of lighting and signaling of motorized vehicles, in particular automobiles. For example, the terms "range", "width", and intensity are commonly used and may be interpreted to also cover other terms used to define light beams (in particular by vertical and horizontal angles or by focal lengths). Similarly, other terms such as "field of vision", often expressed in degrees, may be used without implying any particular limitation in this application.It is also understood that terms in common usage should be interpreted as being customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense and should not be interpreted in a limiting manner, unless they are expressly defined as such herein.
[0026] In the present application, as generally accepted in the field of patent applications, the terms "comprises", "comprises" and "includes" as well as their derivatives (such as "comprising", "comprising", etc.) are not to be understood in an exclusive sense, that is to say, these terms are not to be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include other elements, steps, etc.
[0027] The terms "lighting system" and "lighting device" are understood in this application to mean both the lighting itself and the signaling, including in particular: devices which make it possible to illuminate the vehicle's surroundings, - either to be able to see, such as low beam headlights (LB) or high beam headlights (HB) even if the latter are generally prohibited in certain conditions, particularly in built-up areas, - either to be seen, such as position lights (PL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "position light"), rear position lights (RPL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "rear position light") or daytime running lights (DRL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "day running light") but also devices which allow the actions of a driver to be signaled to other users, such as brake lights (SL, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "stop light"), direction indicator lights (turn indicators or TI, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "turn indicator") or hazard lights (W, according to the Anglo-Saxon terminology "warning").
[0028] The lighting system (1) may therefore comprise a plurality of lighting (or signaling) devices (5) which may be of the type of the examples (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) provided above, which are neither exhaustive nor limiting. In general, it will be considered that the system also comprises the control (or command) unit (2) which makes it possible to control the system (1) and implement the method. Each device (6) may comprise a or several light source(s) (6) depending on the type of lighting (incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diode (LED), for example).
[0029] In general, the present invention aims to save the energy consumed for vehicle signaling, preferably depending on weather conditions. According to one embodiment, this is depending on the ambient light. According to one embodiment, the fact that the car is traveling on a highway or not is taken into account. According to one embodiment, the fact that the car is stationary is taken into account and the time during which the car has been stationary can also be taken into account.
[0030] Thus, vehicle lighting generally does not require as much energy as it currently consumes under these conditions. The present invention therefore proposes to overcome this lack by providing adaptive lighting solutions for vehicles.
[0031] Generally speaking and in various embodiments, the learnings by the control unit (2) comprise the use of a machine learning algorithm, for example by neural networks, classifiers, etc. This machine learning algorithm can be used both for the design of the light patterns of the case and / or for the classification of each situation in a predefined use case. Each of the two options follows its own machine learning algorithm. Once the corresponding results are validated, the values of the control unit are used for the corresponding steps of the method of the invention.On the other hand, to monitor the traffic conditions and circumstances in which the vehicle is located, the steps implemented by the control unit (2) when the vehicle is in circulation are preferably carried out periodically with a period of less than 1 second, and in particular less than 0.5 seconds.
[0032] In various embodiments, the data on the external environment of the vehicle acquired by at least one sensor (3) comprises at least two types of data among the lighting devices (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) currently active on said vehicle, the external light intensity, the number of cars around and the distance from them, the current speed of the vehicle or the presence and color of traffic lights, the positioning coordinates and the surrounding road signs.
[0033] Likewise, in various embodiments, the plurality of sensors (3) comprises at least one of an external light sensor, an activation sensor of said lighting devices (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W), at least one camera, a geo-positioning sensor, a radar, a lidar or infrared sensors.
[0034] Thanks to this learning, the control unit can then monitor the vehicle's environment when it is in circulation to propose various lighting configurations. Indeed, the vehicle in circulation generally has a lighting configuration, preferably in accordance with the regulations) which depends on the traffic conditions and circumstances and involves the switching on of various devices of the system. The learning is said to be "prior" to the implementation of the method during the circulation of the vehicle, but it should be noted that this learning can either be carried out before the installation of the control unit on the vehicle, or be carried out after this installation so that the learning is carried out in real conditions.
[0035] In some embodiments, the control unit undergoes two training processes. Both training processes include machine learning steps, where the control unit is trained with training data provided by the plurality of sensors.
[0036] The first training process involves designing different embodiment light patterns, each associated with a plurality of data values. This first training process includes: - training the control unit to design a light pattern of embodiments in response to a set of training data - testing the control unit by comparing the chosen light pattern with the expected optimal results.
[0037] Different use cases are defined, and the optimal light pattern is found for each use case, using the algorithm mentioned above.
[0038] The second training process involves classifying a situation into a predefined use case. This second training process includes - training the control unit to classify a situation into a predefined use case with a training data set - a test of the control unit by comparing the chosen predefined case with the expected optimal results.
[0039] In this embodiment, different situations are set up, each with different data obtained by the sensors. The control unit is trained to identify which of the use cases best matches the situation.
[0040] Once both training processes are completed, the control unit is installed in a vehicle, to perform the light control of the lighting system. However, as mentioned elsewhere in this application, the training or prior learning can be done after installation on said vehicle and it will then be learning in real conditions. The validation of the learning will then be carried out by an action (by an automatic supervisor and / or a user supervising the operation) on the control unit, either on site or remotely.
[0041] The operation of this lighting system would then be to provide a preliminary light pattern, depending on the lighting functionality chosen by the vehicle user.
[0042] It should be noted that for traffic detection on a motorway the control unit can use image recognition from an on-board camera to identify buildings and for example measure their density, but it can also use the geo-positioning signal to determine whether the vehicle is in a city and other possibilities are therefore possible, so these examples are not limiting.
[0043] In some embodiments, at least one of the automotive lighting devices (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) comprises a matrix arrangement of light pixels (2) in rows and columns. In some particular cases, the matrix comprises at least 2000 solid-state light sources. A matrix arrangement is a typical example of this method. The rows can be grouped into projected distance intervals and each column of each group represents an angle interval. This angle value depends onthe resolution of the matrix, which is generally between 0.01° per column and 0.5° per column. This control of the rows and columns allows for independent control of the angle and range, in addition to the intensity, and allows for the management of multiple light sources at the same time. In some of these embodiments, following one of said reductions, certain rows or columns are turned off compared to the initial light intensity. Indeed, modern lighting devices often include “solid state” light sources, and the invention makes it possible to take advantage of this type of device, which notably allows for adaptation of the photometry. The term “solid state” refers to the light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light.Compared to incandescent lighting, solid-state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat generation and less power dissipation. The generally low mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides greater resistance to shock and vibration than brittle glass tubes / bulbs and long wires with thin filaments. They also eliminate filament evaporation, which can increase the lifespan of the lighting device. Some examples of these types of lighting include semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) as lighting sources rather than electric filaments, plasma, or gas. This process aims to find the optimal light pattern to be projected by a lighting device.Predetermined use cases are defined and a corresponding light pattern is projected when the method identifies that the vehicle is in one of the predefined use cases. An optimal light pattern is therefore found without excessive computational cost, since there are a reasonable number of predefined use cases.
[0044] Thus, in certain embodiments, said control of said lighting system (1) to provide the second or third lighting configuration comprises a control of the photometry of at least one of said devices. Indeed, the various devices emit a light beam which is specific to them and which has a particular shape, defined by the photometry. The invention provides for modifying this photometry in certain cases. For example, the dipped headlights have a beam illuminating a symmetrical zone close to the vehicle (called "fiat" in English) and an asymmetrical zone further away. The invention provides for example to keep only the "fiat" when driving in a city in congested traffic. In another example, for the daytime running lights, it is possible to keep only the lighting necessary to signal the size of the vehicle.The modification of photometry thus makes it possible to preserve user safety while saving energy by eliminating portions of light beams that are unnecessary in certain circumstances.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is sought to optimize the intensity of a light source, or a plurality of light sources, used to indicate to other users behind the car in which a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is deployed when the car is slowing down. Similarly, it is sought to optimize the intensity of the light source, or a plurality of light sources, used to indicate that the car is not slowing down. According to one embodiment, the aim is to optimize the ratio between these two intensities. There are regulatory standards for the values of these intensities and especially for the ratio between the different intensities. The standards require that the ratio between these two intensities be 5:1 plus or minus 10% or plus or minus 5%. The present invention, however, proposes to determine this ratio at at least one value which remains higher than the legal minimum but which varies depending on the external conditions encountered.
[0046] It is one of the aims of the present invention to adapt these intensities and / or to adapt the relationship, or the ratio, between these intensities so that the standard is respected, but that it is optimized in relation to the weather conditions and / or in relation to the ambient light, which implies the time of day and whether it is day or night, among other things since the position of the sun and many factors can influence visibility. According to one embodiment, it is taken into account whether the car is traveling on a highway or not. According to one embodiment, it is taken into account whether the car has already been stationary and for how long.
[0047] Some of these different cases are illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The resting intensity is the intensity of the light source when the driver does not apply the brakes. Conversely, the braking intensity is the intensity of the light source when the driver applies the brakes. These values can be automatically adapted according to weather conditions or the ambient light level. The ratio, or the relationship between these two intensities, can also be adapted according to these different conditions. Furthermore, as the vehicle may already be equipped with features for regulating the vehicle's lighting and / or signaling devices (lighting intensities or beam size and shape), particularly for energy consumption (or other purposes), taking into account the state of the vehicle and at least its lighting devices (at least in intensity) at a given time may be important.This is why certain embodiments propose to take into account not only the external conditions of the vehicle, but also the operating state of the vehicle and preferably and at a minimum, in particular the intensity level of the light source when applying the control to adapt the light beams. Thus, it is understood that said determined ratio is not fixed even if it is kept higher than a minimum value set by the standard, so that depending on the external conditions and / or the internal state of the vehicle (generally at least the intensity level at a given time, but possibly also including the fact that lights are on inside). Thus the ratio can be modulated to different values which depend on the situation encountered, unlike the prior art in which it is simply proposed to adjust an intensity without considering the ratio and without this ratio being able to be variable.
[0048] Thus, the method can be presented as a method for controlling the operation of a signaling device of a vehicle, the device comprising at least one controllable light source, said control making it possible to modify an intensity of light emitted by the light source between an intensity at rest when a driver of the vehicle does not apply a vehicle brake and a braking intensity when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes, wherein the braking intensity and the resting intensity have a relationship between them according to a determined braking-resting ratio. In particular, certain embodiments provide that the method is characterized in that said control is conditioned by at least one or more parameters of the external environment of the vehicle in which the device is mounted, including in particular parameters relating to weather conditions and / or ambient light and / or the presence of another vehicle to the rear and preferably its distance, by implementing the following steps: - acquisition of at least one signal, by one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, making it possible at least to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient light in an environment outside the vehicle; and - analysis, by at least one processor, of the acquired signal to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient brightness in the external environment of the vehicle; and control, by a control unit of said device, to adapt the light beams according to the determined weather conditions and / or the determined ambient light, on the basis of said determined ratio. In some of these embodiments, said ratio determined by said processor is defined variably on the basis of data from at least one sensor of the vehicle providing at least one of said parameters of the external environment (weather and / or brightness and / or distance from other vehicles).
[0049] On the other hand, an improvement of the method in certain embodiments provides that said ratio determined by said processor is defined variably on the basis of data from at least one sensor providing a parameter of said vehicle, representative of the operating state of the vehicle, preferably at least the light intensity of said device at the instant preceding that at which the control is carried out. A combination of information from the external environment and the operating state of the vehicle is of course preferred since it provides a synergy capable of optimizing the beams emitted by the light source.
[0050] In one embodiment, a signal is acquired by one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle. The sensor may be a camera to determine whether it is day or night, a LiDAR to measure the distance between the vehicle and an object, a rain sensor, or a memory connected to a vehicle management system to record whether the windshield wipers are on or off and at what speed they are rotating, to assist in determining weather conditions. In one embodiment, a GPS may be used as a sensor to detect whether the car is driving on a highway or not.
[0051] It is understood that the present invention provides a method for adaptive management or control of vehicle lighting according to traffic conditions. This method involves the use of a control unit (2) having computing resources and connected to sensors (3) to control the vehicle lighting system (1). Such computing resources are known per se and can be implemented by a computer element. Thus, certain embodiments also relate to a computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to the invention. Likewise, it is known that such computer means for implementing such a method generally require a computer program unless analog programming is envisaged. Thus, certain embodiments relate to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit (2), cause the control unit to execute the steps of a method according to the invention. Finally, as the invention is intended to be installed on a vehicle, certain embodiments relate to a vehicle lighting system (1) comprising: - a plurality of lighting devices (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W); - a plurality of sensors (3) configured to provide certain data on the external environment of the vehicle, and possibly also the operating state of the vehicle; and a control unit (2) for carrying out the steps of the method according to the invention.
[0052] As mentioned above in the present application, in some embodiments of such a system, at least one of the lighting devices (PL, LB, HB, DRL, SL, TI, W) comprises a matrix arrangement of solid-state light sources (2). In some of these embodiments, the matrix arrangement comprises at least 2000 solid-state light sources (2).
[0053] The present application describes various technical features and advantages with reference to the figures and / or to various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the technical features of a given embodiment may in fact be combined with features of another embodiment unless the opposite is explicitly mentioned or it is obvious that these features are incompatible or that the combination does not provide a solution to at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the present application. Furthermore, the technical features described in a given embodiment may be isolated from the other features of this embodiment unless the opposite is explicitly mentioned.
[0054] Detailed list of references in the figures: 1 lighting system 2 control unit 3 sensor 4. processor 5. lighting device 6. light sources.
Claims
Claims
1. Method for controlling the operation of a signaling device of a vehicle, the device comprising at least one controllable light source, said control making it possible to modify an intensity of light emitted by the light source between an intensity at rest when a driver of the vehicle does not apply a brake of the vehicle and an intensity during braking when the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes, in which the intensity during braking and the intensity at rest have a relationship between them according to a determined braking-rest ratio, characterized in that said control is conditioned by at least one or more parameters of the external environment of the vehicle in which the device is mounted, including in particular parameters relating to the weather conditions and / or the ambient brightness and / or the presence of another vehicle to the rear and preferably its distance, by implementing the following steps: - acquisition of at least one signal, by one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, making it possible at least to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient light in an environment outside the vehicle; and - analysis, by at least one processor, of the acquired signal to determine the weather conditions and / or ambient brightness in the vehicle's external environment; and - control, by a control unit, to adapt the light beams emitted by said light source, according to the determined weather conditions and / or the determined ambient light, on the basis of said determined ratio.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said ratio determined by said processor is variably defined on the basis of data from at least one sensor of the vehicle providing at least one of said parameters of the external environment.
3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said ratio determined by said processor is defined variably on the basis of data from at least one sensor providing a parameter of said vehicle, representative of the operating state of the vehicle, preferably at least the light intensity of said device at the instant preceding that at which the control is carried out.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor is selected from: a rain sensor, a camera configured to determine weather conditions and / or the proximity of other vehicles, a memory that records an operating state of the car's windshield wipers, a memory connected to a vehicle management system that records whether the car is stationary and / or how long the car has been stationary. stationary or a LiDAR configured to detect weather conditions and / or the proximity of other vehicles, and a GPS configured to determine whether the car is driving on a highway or not.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the values of intensity at rest and / or intensity during braking are adapted according to the weather conditions and / or according to the ambient light and / or according to whether the car is traveling on a highway and / or according to whether the car is stationary and / or how long the car has been stationary.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said ratio is increased when weather conditions and / or ambient light are unfavorable for driving and said brake-to-rest ratio is decreased when weather conditions and / or ambient light are favorable for driving.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the resting intensity and / or braking intensity is increased when ambient light
8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor comprises a machine learning model trained to adapt the rest intensity and / or the braking intensity and / or the braking-rest ratio according to the weather conditions and / or the ambient light and / or whether the car has been stationary for a predefined time and / or whether the car is driving on a motorway or not.
9. Computer element comprising means for implementing the steps of a method according to any one of the preceding claims, in cooperation with at least one sensor (3) of said vehicle.
10. Computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processor, cause a control unit to execute the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in cooperation with at least one sensor (3) of said vehicle.
11. A signaling system for a vehicle, the system comprising: - a signaling device for a vehicle, the device comprising at least one controllable light source; - one or more sensors configured to provide data on an environment outside the vehicle and possibly data on an operating state of the vehicle; and - a processor and a control unit, configured to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
12. A system according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one of the light sources is a solid-state light source.
13. System according to the preceding claim, wherein the controllable light sources are arranged in one or more matrices, said matrix arrangement comprising at least 2000 light sources.
Citation Information
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