Automated Valet Parking Lighting Control at Suppression Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated valet parking systems do not adequately address the issue of illuminance from vehicle lighting devices hindering the recognition of autonomous driving vehicles or causing improper influence on their surroundings.

Innovation Solution

An automated valet parking server sets an illuminance suppression point based on parking place map information and lighting device illuminance, instructing vehicles to turn off or adjust their front lighting devices at specific points to minimize interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the illuminance of front lighting devices is increased to improve visibility for autonomous driving, then the recognition of the autonomous driving vehicle is improved, but the improper influence on surroundings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecognition of autonomous driving vehicleVSAvoidimproper influence on surroundings
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the illuminance requirements for different spatial locations. The illuminance suppression point is specifically set at landmark positions where high illuminance would cause harmful effects, while other areas can maintain normal lighting levels. This allows the system to preserve recognition capability in most areas while locally suppressing illuminance at critical points to prevent improper influence on surroundings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If the illuminance of front lighting devices is maintained at high levels, then the autonomous driving vehicle can recognize its environment better, but the hindrance to recognition by other systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironment recognitionVSAvoidhindrance to recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-setting illuminance suppression points at landmark positions before the autonomous driving vehicle arrives. The automated valet parking server calculates and communicates these suppression points to the vehicle in advance, allowing the vehicle to proactively adjust its lighting levels when approaching these locations, thereby preventing recognition hindrance before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If simple illuminance threshold control is used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the effectiveness of illuminance suppression is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoideffectiveness of illuminance suppression
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the automated valet parking server - that acts as a mediator between the autonomous driving vehicle and the illuminance control system. The server calculates optimal illuminance suppression points based on landmark positions and communicates these to the vehicle, enabling effective illuminance suppression without requiring complex control systems within the vehicle itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4088992B1Automated valet parking server, autonomous driving vehicle, automated valet parking system
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4088992B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4088992B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4088992B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided an automated valet parking server that causes an autonomous driving vehicle in a parking place to perform automated valet parking by instructing the autonomous driving vehicle. The automated valet parking server includes an illuminance information acquisition unit configured to acquire illuminance information of front lighting devices of the autonomous driving vehicle, an illuminance suppression point setting unit configured to set an illuminance suppression point which is a position in the parking place at which illuminance of the front lighting devices of the autonomous driving vehicle is suppressed based on parking place map information of the parking place and the illuminance information of the front lighting devices of the autonomous driving vehicle, and an illuminance suppression instruction unit configured to instruct the autonomous driving vehicle to perform illuminance suppression at the illuminance suppression point.