Vehicle Headlight and Windshield Control for Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reducing glare in vehicle drivers, such as increasing ambient luminance through head-up displays and dimming windshields, either fail to address physiological glare, cause blinding of other road users, or make it difficult to improve visibility of diffuse objects due to limited contrast changes on small displays.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first measuring device to assess lighting conditions, a lighting device for programmable light distribution, and a darkening device to dim external light from dazzling sources while enhancing illumination of dark objects relevant to the driving situation, using thermal imaging and intensity control films on windshields for dynamic adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If head-up display is used to increase ambient luminance, then visibility is improved, but physiological glare cannot be avoided and other road users may be blinded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by projecting light only in specific regions where dark objects are detected, rather than uniformly increasing ambient luminance. The projection system targets specific areas with adjusted luminance to illuminate dark objects while leaving other regions unchanged, thus avoiding physiological glare and preventing blinding of other road users.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If windshield is darkened to reduce glare, then glare is reduced, but dark objects become even darker and can be easily overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of dark objects using image processing before the driver observes them. By identifying dark objects in advance through contrast analysis and thermal imaging, the system can prepare to illuminate them selectively, ensuring they remain visible even when the windshield is darkened to reduce glare.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection system applies local quality by illuminating only the specific regions where dark objects are detected, rather than uniformly brightening the entire windshield area. This selective illumination maintains contrast for dark objects while allowing overall windshield darkening to reduce glare.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If segmented windshield control is used to reduce glare, then glare reduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the windshield into multiple independently controllable segments. Each segment can be adjusted for transparency or darkening based on the position of glare sources and dark objects detected in that region, allowing precise glare reduction while maintaining visibility of important objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented windshield control system is made dynamic by continuously adjusting segment transparency based on real-time detection of glare sources and dark objects. The system adapts to changing driving conditions, moving glare sources, and appearing dark objects, optimizing both glare reduction and object visibility dynamically.
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
Effectively reduces glare, improves visibility of dark objects, and enhances driving safety by dynamically adjusting light distribution and transparency to match the driver's field of view, thereby minimizing psychological and physiological blinding and improving overall lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
darkening device to at least partially dim external light entering a vehicle interior from the outside, preferably controllably
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for improving light conditions from the point of view of a driver of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle (KFZ) comprises a first measuring device (ME1, ME1', ME1"), at least one illumination apparatus (BV), a dimming device (IWS) and a control device (SE), wherein the first measuring device (ME1, ME1', ME1") is set up to measure an area in front of the vehicle with regard to light conditions, distances to and speeds of objects in front of the motor vehicle and to generate measurement data, the at least one illumination apparatus (BV) is set up to generate a programmable light distribution (LV) in front of the motor vehicle (KFZ), the dimming device (IWS, IWS') is set up to at least partially dim outside light entering a vehicle interior from the outside, and the control device (SE) is set up to carry out the following steps using the measurement data from the first measuring device: measuring a light density distribution in front of the motor vehicle and distances to and speeds of objects in front of the vehicle and generating measurement data; evaluating the measurement data in order to generate evaluated measurement data; identifying objects in front of the motor vehicle as dazzling using the evaluated measurement data; identifying objects in front of the motor vehicle as dark and relevant to the driving situation using the evaluated measurement data; dimming the outside light (the dazzling outside light) generated by objects (S) identified as dazzling by means of the dimming device; changing the light distribution by increasing the illumination of the objects (AB) identified as dark and relevant to the driving situation, which is produced by the illumination apparatus, and/or reducing the illumination of the objects (S) identified as dazzling.