Vehicle Lamp Pixel Control With Hardware Fallback Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lamp systems, particularly those using adaptive driving beams (ADB), face challenges in controlling high-resolution LED arrays when the microcontroller becomes inoperable or when the system requires high processing capabilities for complex light distribution patterns.
Innovation Solution
A light distribution controller is designed with a memory, a processor, an abnormality detector, and a hardware logic circuit. The processor generates images defining light distributions and writes them to memory, while the hardware logic circuit generates light distribution image data based on these images in a normal state. In an abnormal state, the hardware logic circuit uses an auxiliary image to maintain lighting, reducing reliance on the processor and minimizing memory access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a general-purpose microcontroller is used to generate light distribution patterns, then the system is simple and cost-effective for low-resolution LED arrays, but it cannot handle high-resolution arrays (exceeding 100×100) due to processing limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light distribution pattern generation into two independent parts: a software-based microcontroller that generates base pattern data, and a hardware-based logic circuit that performs real-time processing and pixel control. This segmentation allows the microcontroller to handle only essential control tasks while the hardware circuit handles the computationally intensive real-time processing, enabling support for high-resolution LED arrays exceeding 100×100 pixels.
2Reliability
If the system relies solely on a software-controlled microcontroller for light distribution control, then the architecture is simple, but the system becomes inoperable when the microcontroller fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hardware logic circuit that can independently generate and output light distribution patterns without requiring the microcontroller to be operational. This pre-prepared hardware capability acts as a cushion against microcontroller failures, ensuring that the headlamp system remains operable even when the software-controlled microcontroller becomes inoperable, thus significantly improving system reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the hardware logic circuit continuously accesses memory to generate light distribution image data, then accurate light control is achieved, but excessive heat is generated from frequent memory access operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware logic circuit reads essential pattern data from memory in advance and stores it in local registers before generating light distribution image data. By performing preliminary data loading and maintaining it in fast-access registers, the circuit minimizes frequent memory access operations during real-time processing, thereby reducing heat generation while still achieving accurate light distribution control.
Data Source
AI summary
A light distribution controller controls a light distribution variable lamp including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. The processor executes the software program to generate at least one image defining the light distribution of the light distribution variable lamp, and writes the image in the volatile memory. A monitoring microcontroller detects an abnormality of the processor. A hardware logic circuit (i) generates a light distribution image data to be output to the light distribution variable lamp on the basis of at least one image written in the volatile memory in a normal state of the processor, and (ii) generates a light distribution image data on the basis of the generated auxiliary image without depending on the processor in an abnormal state of the processor.