Vehicle Headlight Low-Beam Zoning for ADB Glare Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlight systems face a challenge in improving lighting effect while minimizing glare during Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) control, as conventional methods either prioritize glare reduction or visibility, leading to suboptimal performance in both aspects.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and method for vehicle headlights that adjust the luminous intensity of a partial range within the low beam's irradiation area based on the presence of target objects, setting it to a lower intensity when glare is likely and higher intensity otherwise, using a variable light distribution pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the luminous intensity of the low beam is increased to improve lighting effect, then the lighting effect is improved, but glare may occur in the area above the cutoff line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the luminous intensity control for different vertical regions of the low beam. Specifically, the control device sets the luminous intensity to a first value for the range from the cutoff line to a predetermined position above it, and to a second value (higher than the first) for positions below the cutoff line. This localized differentiation allows the patent to improve lighting effect in the needed areas while preventing glare in areas that would affect preceding vehicles.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the luminous intensity of the entire low beam is lowered to avoid glare, then glare suppression is improved, but the lighting effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent avoids uniformly lowering the luminous intensity of the entire low beam by applying local quality control. Instead, it selectively sets the luminous intensity to a first value only in the specific range from the cutoff line to the predetermined position above it, while maintaining a second (higher) value for the remainder of the low beam range. This ensures glare suppression is achieved only where necessary without compromising overall lighting effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the low beam irradiation range into at least two distinct zones: a first range from the cutoff line to a predetermined position above it, and a second range below the cutoff line. By controlling luminous intensity independently for each segment, the patent can suppress glare in the upper segment while maintaining adequate lighting in the lower segment, thus resolving the contradiction between glare suppression and lighting effect.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If variable light distribution control is applied to dim high beams in areas with target objects, then glare to target objects is reduced, but dark zones may occur in areas immediately behind preceding vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the luminous intensity parameter based on the detected position of target objects. When a target object is detected within a specific angular range (from the cutoff line to a predetermined position above it), the control device changes the luminous intensity to a first value to prevent glare. This parameter adjustment is made conditional on target object position, allowing the patent to reduce glare while maintaining appropriate illumination in other areas.
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
To improve the lighting effect of a low beam while suppressing glare during ADB control. A control apparatus for controlling the operation of a vehicle headlight, the control apparatus having a variable light distribution ON mode when a target object is present in front of the vehicle, where, when the variable light distribution ON mode is set, the control apparatus sets luminous intensity of a partial range within the irradiation range of a low beam to a first luminous intensity, the partial range being a portion from a first virtual reference line parallel to a vehicle width direction of the vehicle to a predetermined position below the first virtual reference line and which is a portion of the low beam in the vehicle width direction, where, when the variable light distribution ON mode is not set, the control apparatus sets luminous intensity of the partial range to a second luminous intensity which is higher than the first luminous intensity, and where the control apparatus generates a control signal for operating the vehicle lamp based on the dimming range setting result and the luminous intensity setting result for the specific range, and outputs the control signal to the vehicle headlight.