Vehicle Interior Lighting Adaptation Based on Occupant Viewing Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle interior lights can be distracting or difficult to see through due to their fixed brightness levels, especially at night or when occupants wear tinted lenses, and existing systems fail to adapt effectively to the occupant's viewing location and preferences.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize an image sensor, occupant viewing location module, light level module, and illumination control module to adjust the brightness of vehicle lights based on the occupant's viewing location, identity, ambient light, and vehicle status, including the use of user profiles and tinted lens detection to optimize illumination levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixed brightness vehicle interior lights are used, then the lighting provides consistent illumination, but the lights become distracting or difficult to see at night or when occupants wear tinted lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic brightness adjustment of vehicle interior lights based on real-time detection of occupant viewing location using image sensors. The system continuously monitors whether occupants are looking at dashboard displays, rearview mirrors, or other areas, and automatically adjusts light intensity accordingly. This resolves the contradiction by replacing fixed brightness with adaptive dynamic control that eliminates glare when occupants view sensitive areas while maintaining illumination when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the brightness parameter of interior lights based on detected viewing conditions. When the image sensor detects that an occupant is looking at a dashboard display or rearview mirror, the system reduces light intensity in those areas. When occupants are not viewing sensitive areas, the system increases brightness for optimal visibility. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between consistent illumination and glare prevention.
2Illumination intensity
If dashboard lights are increased in brightness, then visibility of dashboard elements improves, but the lights become more distracting to the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image sensors to continuously monitor driver eye position and viewing direction. When the driver's gaze is detected near dashboard displays or controls, the system provides feedback by reducing dashboard light intensity to eliminate distraction. When the driver is looking at the road ahead, the system increases dashboard brightness for optimal readability. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between visibility and distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different brightness levels to different dashboard regions based on local viewing conditions. Individual light zones are independently controlled according to where the driver is actually looking, rather than uniformly illuminating the entire dashboard. This localized quality adjustment ensures that only necessary areas are illuminated at any moment, improving visibility while minimizing distraction.
3Illumination intensity
If rear roof lights are turned on, then rear cabin visibility improves, but it becomes difficult to see out of the rearview mirror
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts rear roof light intensity based on real-time detection of driver viewing direction. When the image sensor detects that the driver is looking at the rearview mirror or rear window, the system automatically reduces or turns off rear roof lights to maintain mirror visibility. When the driver is looking forward at the road, the system activates rear roof lights for optimal rear cabin illumination. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between rear visibility and mirror viewing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If ambient light detection is used to adjust light levels, then the system adapts to external lighting conditions, but additional sensors and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the image sensor serve multiple functions: it detects both occupant viewing location for glare prevention and ambient light levels for overall brightness adaptation. By making the sensor multi-functional, the system achieves ambient light adaptation without adding separate light sensors or increasing overall system complexity. This universal application of the existing image sensor resolves the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
For automatically adjusting a vehicle light level based on a viewing location of an occupant, a system, apparatus, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes an image sensor, an occupant viewing location module that determines an illuminable region corresponding to a viewing location of a vehicle occupant based on data from the image sensor, a light level module that determines a light level for the illuminable region, and an illumination control module that adjusts an illumination setting of at least one light associated with the illuminable region based on the determined light level. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an occupant recognition module that identifies the vehicle occupant, wherein the light level module determines the light level based on the identity of the vehicle occupant.