Vehicle Headlamp Control Using HD Maps and Electronic Horizon

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head lamps for vehicles do not effectively illuminate paths or objects at night, particularly in situations where high-definition map data is required for accurate navigation and object recognition.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device for vehicles that receives high-definition map data from a server, generates electronic horizon data, and sets a light irradiation region for the head lamp based on this data, including information about main and sub paths, static objects, and dynamic conditions like slippery roads or hidden objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional head lamps use steering direction or curvature information to set light emission direction, then the head lamp can emit light in an appropriate direction, but the user cannot accurately recognize paths or objects at night

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission direction accuracyVSAvoidpath and object recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates electronic horizon data including horizon map data and horizon path data before nighttime driving. This data is continuously updated based on HD map data received from servers, allowing the head lamp to accurately illuminate paths and objects ahead by referencing pre-computed horizon information rather than relying solely on real-time steering input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Electronic horizon data serves as an intermediary between HD map data and head lamp control. The processor generates this intermediate representation that combines map information with vehicle position and orientation, enabling more accurate light emission direction setting than direct steering input alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If low-scale standard definition map data is stored in vehicle memory, then the system is simple and compact, but high-scale high-definition map data is required for accurate navigation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap data storage simplicityVSAvoidnavigation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments map data by scale and type, storing only low-scale SD map data in vehicle memory while receiving high-scale HD map data from external servers as needed. This division allows the vehicle to maintain simple onboard storage while accessing high-precision navigation data when required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic horizon data generation system serves multiple functions: it processes both SD map data from vehicle memory and HD map data from servers, continuously generates updated horizon information, and provides this data to both navigation systems and head lamp control, making the system adaptable to different data sources and requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3875327B1Electronic device for vehicle, operating method of electronic device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3875327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3875327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3875327B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device for a vehicle includes a power supply configured to supply power, an interface configured to receive high definition (HD) map data of a specified region from a server through a communication device, and at least one processor configured to continuously generate electronic horizon data of the specified region based on the HD map data in a state in which the power is received, and to set a light irradiation region of a head lamp based on the electronic horizon data.