Vehicle Headlamp Control Device Using Localized Dimming for Pedestrian Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlamp control systems face challenges in simultaneously detecting pedestrians and providing glare protection without altering the basic performance of the camera, as they often fail to achieve both detection and protection due to limitations in light irradiation methods.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle headlamp control device that includes a camera for pedestrian detection, a headlamp capable of adjusting light quantity and direction, and a control system to form a sunglasses-shaped or dimmed light area at the pedestrian's eyes, allowing for both detection and glare protection without changing the camera's performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the headlamp irradiates the pedestrian's face for detection, then pedestrian detection accuracy is improved, but glare protection for the pedestrian deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp irradiation is divided into different quality zones: a dimmed light area covering the pedestrian's eyes to prevent glare, and a normally irradiated area covering other parts of the face and body to enable detection. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of detection accuracy and glare protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The irradiation pattern is segmented into multiple regions with different light intensities. The control portion divides the headlamp's light output into a first area (dimmed) and a second area (normal), enabling independent optimization of detection and protection functions in different spatial zones.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the headlamp avoids irradiating the pedestrian's eyes for glare protection, then glare protection is improved, but pedestrian detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Detection capability is maintained through local quality differentiation: while the eye area receives dimmed light for protection, other facial features (nose, mouth, chin) and body parts receive normal irradiation, providing sufficient image information for accurate pedestrian detection without compromising eye protection.
3Measurement precision
If a specialized camera capable of capturing pulsed light or near infrared is used for detection, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring a specialized camera capable of capturing pulsed light or near infrared, the system creates an optical copy of the desired effect by using the headlamp to project a sunglasses-shaped shadow pattern. This allows a standard camera to detect pedestrians as if they were wearing sunglasses, achieving specialized detection capability through optical manipulation rather than specialized hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The headlamp serves multiple functions: it provides both glare protection (by creating the dimmed light area) and detection illumination (by irradiating non-eye areas). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized detection equipment, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
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
Enables effective detection of pedestrians and glare protection by forming a dimmed light area at the eyes, improving visibility for drivers while preventing pedestrian dazzle without requiring specialized cameras.
Implementation Method 1
a headlamp that irradiates an area in front of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a camera that captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle headlamp control device includes a headlamp that irradiates an area in front of a vehicle, a camera that captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle, a pedestrian detection portion configured to detect a pedestrian in front of the vehicle from an image captured by the camera, and a control portion configured to control the headlamp and cause the headlamp to irradiate the pedestrian so that a given-shaped part that is not irradiated is formed at a location of an eye of the pedestrian, or a given-shaped part irradiated by dimmed light is formed at the location of the eye of the pedestrian.