Dynamic Luminous Zone Control for Vehicle Object Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Driving assistance systems in vehicles, which rely on camera images for object classification, face reliability issues due to low image quality in night or low-visibility conditions, leading to potential inadequate vehicle responses and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically adjust the luminous intensity of selectively activatable light zones to enhance image quality, involving detection of objects, defining regions, triggering increased luminosity, capturing images, and classifying objects based on improved illumination, with optional secondary intensity boosts if initial classification fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses standard illumination in night or low-visibility conditions, then energy consumption is reduced, but image quality deteriorates leading to unreliable object classification
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system dynamically adjusts luminous intensity based on detected object characteristics and environmental conditions. The control unit selectively activates luminous zones and modulates their intensity in real-time, transitioning from standard illumination to enhanced illumination when objects require better visibility for classification, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and managing illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly illuminating the entire field of view, the system applies enhanced illumination locally to specific zones containing detected objects. The control unit identifies object locations and triggers increased luminous intensity only in relevant luminous zones, improving image quality where needed while minimizing overall energy consumption and avoiding unnecessary illumination in other areas.
2Reliability
If the system increases luminous intensity to improve image quality, then object classification accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial illumination enhancement by activating only the necessary luminous zones and intensity levels required for successful object classification. Rather than continuously operating at maximum intensity, the control unit triggers increased luminous intensity only when and where needed, achieving sufficient image quality for accurate classification while minimizing overall energy consumption through selective and temporary illumination boosts.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between standard illumination mode and enhanced illumination mode. The control unit monitors object detection status and image quality, triggering periodic increases in luminous intensity only when classification requirements demand improved visibility, thereby balancing energy consumption with classification accuracy through intermittent rather than continuous high-intensity operation.
3Reliability
If the vehicle triggers multiple intensity increases to ensure classification, then object detection reliability improves, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary object detection using standard illumination and detection systems (radar, lidar, or camera) before triggering enhanced illumination. By pre-identifying objects of interest and their locations, the control unit can immediately activate the appropriate luminous zones without delay, ensuring that the illumination enhancement is already in place or rapidly deployable when classification is required, thus minimizing time loss while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors image quality and classification success, using feedback to determine whether additional illumination increases are necessary. If the first enhanced illumination successfully enables classification, the system terminates the sequence, avoiding unnecessary time delays. Only if classification fails does the system trigger a second intensity increase, with the feedback loop ensuring that multiple intensity increases occur only when genuinely needed for reliable detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures sufficient image quality for reliable object classification, enabling accurate vehicle responses such as trajectory changes or braking, thereby enhancing user and road safety even in adverse visibility conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle emits, in front of it, a plurality of selectively activatable luminous zones at least partly forming a light beam for illuminating and/or signaling
Data Source
AI summary
A method for obtaining an image of an object to be classified for a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle emits a plurality of selectively activatable light areas in front of it, at least partly forming an illuminating and/or signaling light beam. The method includes the following successive steps: —detecting an object to be classified by determining at least one parameter and defining a region comprising said object to be classified; —triggering an increase in the light intensity of said light areas illuminating said region; —taking at least one image of said object to be classified simultaneously with the triggering step; and—classifying the detected object on the basis of the at least one taken image. The invention also relates to a system for implementing said method and a vehicle comprising such a system. Lastly, the invention relates to a computer program product and a medium comprising such a program.