Driver-Gaze Headlamp Steering Without Erratic Beam Sweeping
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive headlight systems face challenges in providing optimal illumination where the driver's attention is focused, often resulting in erratic headlamp movements due to reliance on eye tracking or head orientation alone.
Innovation Solution
Combining gaze determination (eye tracking) with head tracking, the system adjusts the headlamp beam only when the driver's gaze is significantly offset from the vehicle's direction and their head is aligned with the gaze, indicating focused attention on a specific area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If headlamps are steered to match driver gaze direction, then illumination is directed where the driver is looking, but erratic sweeping movements occur because the driver's gaze scans the roadway to maintain situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines gaze direction detection with head orientation detection to determine headlamp steering. By merging these two detection methods, the system distinguishes between intentional focus (both eyes and head directed at same location) and casual scanning (eyes moving independently), thereby directing illumination accurately while preventing erratic headlamp movements
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors both gaze direction and head orientation, using this feedback to dynamically adjust headlamp steering. The controller compares real-time gaze and head angle data to determine when to steer the headlamps, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to driver intent while filtering out unnecessary movements
2Measurement precision
If object detection systems are used to steer illumination toward detected objects, then illumination targets specific objects, but subtle or rare types of objects such as small animals, obscured driveways, or dirt roads cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using object detection to determine where to illuminate, the patent inverts the approach by using driver gaze and head orientation to determine illumination direction. This allows the system to detect and illuminate any area the driver is interested in, including subtle or rare objects that object detection systems would miss
3Object-affected harmful factors
If headlamp beams are steered to avoid shining into oncoming drivers' vision, then glare is prevented, but visibility for the own driver may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts headlamp beam parameters (direction and intensity) based on real-time detection of oncoming vehicles and driver intent. When an oncoming vehicle is detected, the beam direction is steered away from the oncoming driver's path while maintaining illumination in areas the driver is actively observing, thus preventing glare while preserving necessary visibility
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle for travelling on a roadway with a driver has a driver monitor, a head lamp system, and a controller. The driver monitor senses a driver gaze angle relative to a vehicle heading along the roadway and senses a driver head angle relative to the vehicle heading. The a headlamp system has a steerable headlamp configured to illuminate the roadway with a light beam along a selectable projection angle. The controller is configured to compare the driver gaze angle to a first threshold angle, determine a difference between the driver gaze angle and the driver head angle, and when the driver gaze angle is greater than the first threshold angle and the difference is less than a second threshold angle, then adjust the projection angle to a target angle based on the driver gaze angle.