Vehicle Headlight Control for Reflective Object False Dimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high beam assistants in vehicles often dim the high beam unnecessarily due to erroneous detections of static or dynamic environment objects that reflect light, leading to reduced visibility and increased risk of dazzling other drivers.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating vehicle headlights that involves switching on an additional light for bright ground lighting, deactivating it when dimming is required, and then re-evaluating the sensor signal to ensure accurate differentiation between traffic participants and reflective objects, thereby reducing unnecessary dimming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If high beam spot is used to illuminate distant objects, then visibility range is improved, but erroneous detection of reflective objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by temporarily deactivating the additional light (high beam spot) before evaluating the sensor signal. This preliminary deactivation prevents reflective objects from being illuminated during the detection phase, thereby eliminating false positives while maintaining the visibility benefits when the light is active for illumination purposes
2Measurement precision
If additional light is deactivated to reduce erroneous detections, then detection accuracy is improved, but visibility range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternately activating and deactivating the additional light in time-separated phases. The light is activated for illumination to provide long-range visibility, then deactivated for detection to ensure accurate sensor evaluation. This periodic switching allows both functions (illumination and detection) to be performed optimally at different times without compromising either visibility range or detection accuracy
3Length of moving object
If high beam is continuously emitted for long-range visibility, then visibility range is improved, but dazzling of reflective objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by deactivating the additional light before sensor evaluation. This preliminary deactivation prevents the high beam from illuminating reflective objects during the detection phase, thereby eliminating the dazzling effect on reflective objects while maintaining long-range visibility when the light is active for illumination
4Loss of time
If sensor evaluation is performed with additional light active, then response time is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by rapidly switching the additional light off and immediately evaluating the sensor signal in a cyclic manner. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain quick response times by continuously monitoring and rapidly alternating between illumination and detection phases, ensuring that detection accuracy is not compromised while minimizing the time lost during the switching cycle
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
This method effectively reduces the frequency of unnecessary dimming of vehicle headlights, enhancing visibility and comfort while driving, without requiring changes to the high beam assistant's construction.
Implementation Method 1
a static or dynamic environment object that reflects light emitted by the vehicle headlights back in the direction of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an oncoming vehicle with headlights switched on
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a vehicle headlight involves operating the vehicle headlight with an additional light switched on. If it is necessary to dim at least one region of the light field or to switch the vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, the additional light is deactivated. The sensor signal of the computing unit is checked to determine whether it is still required to at least partially dim the light field or switch the vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode. If it is still required to at least partially dim the light field, at least the region of the light field is dimmed or the vehicle headlight is switched into the dim ground lighting mode. Otherwise, the vehicle headlight is operated in the bright ground lighting mode with an additional light switched on.