Adaptive Headlight Beam Control Using Object Ground Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light distribution control systems struggle to accurately detect vehicles and prevent erroneous detection of roadside objects, leading to inappropriate switching between high and low beams, which can cause daze to other drivers.
Innovation Solution
A light distribution control system that utilizes external sensors to acquire information about objects around the vehicle, including ground speed, and variably sets headlight emission ranges based on acquired ground speeds to prevent high beam emission to vehicles traveling at certain speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light distribution control is performed based on detection of another vehicle's light, then high beam emission to vehicles can be prevented, but detection becomes difficult due to disturbance or non-lighting vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground speed as an intermediary parameter to indirectly identify vehicles. Instead of directly detecting vehicles through their light (which fails under disturbance or non-lighting conditions), the system detects moving objects and determines their ground speed. Objects with ground speed below a threshold are identified as vehicles, enabling reliable vehicle detection without relying on light detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical detection mechanism (detecting vehicle light) with a mechanical/motion-based detection mechanism (measuring ground speed of objects). This substitution allows the system to identify vehicles through their motion characteristics rather than their light emission, solving the problem of undetected vehicles in dark or disturbed conditions.
2Productivity
If roadside objects are detected using conventional methods, then vehicle detection can be performed, but erroneous detection of roadside objects as vehicles occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from static object recognition to dynamic ground speed measurement. By measuring the ground speed of detected objects and comparing it against a threshold, the system can distinguish between vehicles (moving, low ground speed) and roadside objects (stationary, high ground speed). This parameter change eliminates erroneous detection while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
3Illumination intensity
If high beam is emitted to improve visibility, then driver visibility is improved, but daze is given to drivers of other vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors ground speed of detected objects and adjusts headlight beam intensity accordingly. When an object with ground speed below the threshold (indicating a vehicle) is detected, the system automatically reduces or redirects high beam emission toward that direction, preventing daze to other drivers while maintaining high beam in directions without vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle-external recognition is performed, and light distribution control over headlights mounted on a vehicle is performed based on the vehicle-external recognition. A configuration includes an external sensor that acquires information about an object around the vehicle, and a ground speed acquisition unit that acquires a ground speed of the object based on an output from the external sensor. An emission range of the headlights is variably set based on the ground speed acquired by the ground speed acquisition unit.