Auto High Beam Radial Gradient Detection for Glare Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing auto high beam control systems for vehicle headlights are not optimally controlled in situations like driving on roadways with hills or inclines, leading to potential glare issues for oncoming vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize camera data to identify and calculate the radial gradient of pixels in a region of interest, automatically controlling the high beam intensity based on the size and density of the radial gradient to reduce glare by adjusting the headlights' intensity when certain thresholds are exceeded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing auto high beam control systems are used, then high beams are turned off when approaching vehicles are detected, but the systems do not work optimally on roadways with hills or inclines causing glare issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauto high beam control reliabilityVSAvoidglare for oncoming vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the radial gradient pattern in camera data before making high beam control decisions. By analyzing the radial gradient of pixels in the region of interest ahead of time, the system can early detect approaching vehicles even on hills or inclines, allowing proactive adjustment of high beam intensity to prevent glare before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the detection parameter from simple object detection to radial gradient analysis. By calculating the radial gradient of pixels and evaluating its size and density, the system adapts to varying terrain conditions (hills, inclines) and accurately determines approaching vehicle presence, thereby resolving the reliability issue in challenging terrain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If high beam intensity is reduced based on radial gradient detection, then glare is minimized for oncoming vehicles, but the system complexity increases due to radial gradient calculation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglare reductionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical or multi-sensor detection mechanisms with a computational approach using camera data and radial gradient analysis. By using image processing algorithms to calculate radial gradients from camera images, the system achieves accurate vehicle detection without adding mechanical complexity, thereby minimizing glare while keeping the system relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11377023B2Proactive headlight tracking for vehicle auto high beam assist

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling an auto high beam functionality for headlights of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes: obtaining camera data pertaining to an object in front of the vehicle; identifying, via a processor, a radial gradient of pixels in a region of interest from the camera data; and automatically controlling, via the processor, the auto high beam functionality for the headlights based on the radial gradient.