Pixelated Headlight Control for Traffic Sign Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting systems that switch to non-glare beams to avoid dazzling drivers often reduce road illumination, making it difficult for drivers to see traffic signs and impair driver assistance systems due to insufficient lighting.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a pixelated lighting system that adjusts light intensity based on the estimated time to cross a traffic sign, using selectively controllable elementary light sources to create a zone of lower intensity at the sign, optimizing illumination and reducing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lighting system switches to a non-glare beam to eliminate dazzling retroreflection from traffic signs, then driver comfort is improved, but road illumination and sign visibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independently controllable elementary light sources arranged in a matrix. Each light source can be individually controlled to emit light beams with different intensities, allowing selective illumination of different road zones. This segmentation enables the system to create a pixelated light beam pattern where specific areas (like traffic signs) receive reduced intensity to prevent glare, while other areas maintain full illumination for visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones of different luminous intensity within the overall light beam. A zone of lower intensity is specifically generated at the location of detected traffic signs to prevent dazzling retroreflection, while other road areas maintain normal or higher illumination intensity. This localized adjustment allows simultaneous optimization of both driver comfort and road visibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lighting system reduces light intensity at traffic signs to prevent glare, then driver comfort is improved, but the ability of drivers and cameras to perceive and understand signs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of traffic signs using a sensor system (camera) before the vehicle reaches them. Upon detection, the control system calculates the time to cross the sign and proactively adjusts the light intensity in the sign's location. This preliminary action ensures that the sign is illuminated at optimal levels throughout the approach, allowing adequate perception time while preventing glare at the moment of crossing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts light intensity based on real-time conditions. The control system continuously monitors the time to cross the detected sign and modifies the intensity of elementary light sources accordingly. This dynamic adjustment creates an optimized illumination pattern that evolves as the vehicle approaches the sign, ensuring sufficient illumination for perception while preventing dazzling retroreflection at the critical moment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional lighting system switches to dipped beam to avoid glare, then retroreflection is reduced, but overall road illumination and driver visibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of switching to a uniform dipped beam pattern, the system segments the light output into multiple independently controlled elementary beams. This allows the system to maintain high overall illumination intensity while creating specific low-intensity zones at traffic sign locations. The segmented approach enables simultaneous achievement of high road visibility and glare prevention, avoiding the need to reduce overall illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a pixelated light beam pattern with varying intensity zones. The overall road illumination maintains high intensity for optimal visibility, while localized zones at detected traffic signs have reduced intensity to prevent glare. This local adjustment approach allows the system to avoid the trade-off inherent in traditional dipped beam switching.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting system (3) of a motor vehicle (1), the lighting system comprising a plurality of elementary light sources (32i,j) each selectively controllable in order to emit an elementary light beam (HDi,j), the method comprising the following steps: (E1) detecting of a road sign (10) by a sensor system (2) of the motor vehicle; (E2) estimating a crossing time (TBC) between the moment (t0) of detection and a future instance (t1) at which the motor vehicle will pass the detected road sign; (E61, E63) controlling the elementary light sources of the lighting system of the host vehicle in order to emit a pixelated light beam, some of the elementary light sources being controlled according to the growth time, in order to generate a lower intensity zone (ZC) extending to the road sign.