A vehicle headlamp includes a housing, at least one lamp located in the housing, at least one beam alignment light source positioned in the housing and configured to project an image to aid in alignment of the at least one lamp, and at least one beam alignment mechanism operably coupled to the housing and configured to adjust the direction of light from the at least one lamp based on an image projected by the beam alignment light source.

An automotive adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlamp (20) includes a housing (22), a digital camera (32), an ADB controller (28), a segmented lighting array (24), and an ADB driver (30), wherein the digital camera (32) is integral with the ADB headlamp (20). The housing (22) includes an attachment structure (34) for attachment to a vehicle headlamp cavity (15). The digital camera (32) captures an image preceding the vehicle (2) and the ADB controller (28) detects an object (48) in the image and generates a control signal based, at least in part, on a position of the object (48). The segmented lighting array (24) is disposed within the housing (22) and includes a plurality of solid-state light sources (40a-n) arranged to emit a light in a light distribution pattern (26). The ADB driver (30) selectively drives the solid-state light sources (40a-n) based on the control signal from the ADB controller (28).

A vehicle may have lights such as headlights. The lights may be moved using a positioner. Control circuitry in the vehicle may use sensor circuitry to monitor the environment surrounding the vehicle. The sensor circuitry may include one or more sensors such as a lidar sensor, radar sensor, image sensor, and/or other sensors to measure the shape of a surface in front of the vehicle and the location of the surface relative to the vehicle. These sensors and/or other sensors in the sensor circuitry also measure headlight illumination on the surface. Based on the known shape of the surface in front of the vehicle and the distance of the surface from the vehicle, the control circuitry can predict where a headlight should be aimed on the surface. By comparing predictions of headlight illumination on the surface to measurements of headlight illumination on the surface, the vehicle can determine how to move the headlight with the positioner to align the headlight.

An automotive adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlamp (20) includes a housing (22), a digital camera (32), an ADB controller (28), a segmented lighting array (24), and an ADB driver (30), wherein the digital camera (32) is integral with the ADB headlamp (20). The housing (22) includes an attachment structure (34) for attachment to a vehicle headlamp cavity (15). The digital camera (32) captures an image preceding the vehicle (2) and the ADB controller (28) detects an object (48) in the image and generates a control signal based, at least in part, on a position of the object (48). The segmented lighting array (24) is disposed within the housing (22) and includes a plurality of solid-state light sources (40a-n) arranged to emit a light in a light distribution pattern (26). The ADB driver (30) selectively drives the solid-state light sources (40a-n) based on the control signal from the ADB controller (28).

A method for checking the plausibility of detected features of a light distribution of a headlamp of a motor vehicle includes irradiating, by the headlamp, a scene in surroundings of the motor vehicle; capturing, by a camera of the motor vehicle, the irradiated scene in an image; dynamically seeking and identifying at least one initial optical feature in the image, adaptively producing and analyzing local surroundings of the at least one initial optical feature; dynamically extracting at least one further optical feature from the local surroundings; and carrying out, using a learned algorithm and on the basis of the at least one initial optical feature and the at least one further optical feature, an adaptive check as to whether the at least one initial optical feature and the at least one further optical feature are plausibly arranged in the local surroundings.

A computer includes a processor that is programmed to activate a vehicle exterior light, and measure a luminance in a predetermined region outside the vehicle based on vehicle camera data. The processor is programmed to determine whether the vehicle exterior light is operational based the measured luminance.

A computer includes a processor that is programmed to activate a vehicle exterior light, and measure a luminance in a predetermined region outside the vehicle based on vehicle camera data. The processor is programmed to determine whether the vehicle exterior light is operational based the measured luminance.

A vehicle headlamp device includes headlamps, which are structured so as to be able to project or irradiate given patterns and given shapes without distortion on a given virtual surface in front of a vehicle from a left headlight and a right headlight, respectively, a camera that captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle, and a state detecting portion configured to detect distortion of the given patterns, which are projected or irradiated on an irradiated surface in front of the vehicle, relative to the given patterns projected or irradiated on the given virtual surface in front of the vehicle, based on the captured image, and also detect a state of the irradiated surface based on the distortion, and a correcting portion configured to correct a relative optical axis deviation between the left headlight and the right headlight.

A vehicle headlamp includes a housing. One or more lamps are located in the housing. A beam alignment light source is positioned in the housing and is configured to aid in alignment of the one or more lamps. A beam alignment mechanism is operably coupled to the housing and configured to adjust the direction of light from at least one of the one or more lamps. A method of aligning the vehicle headlamp includes the steps of: illuminating an alignment light source within the vehicle headlamp; projecting the illuminated alignment light source onto a surface; aligning the alignment light source to a pre-determined position on the surface; and adjusting one or more lamps to correspond with the pre-determined position of the alignment light source.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for camera assisted vehicle lamp diagnosis via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example vehicle includes a forward-facing camera and a processor. The processor classifies a target vehicle based on images captured by the camera. Based on the classification, the processor determines locations of lamps on the target vehicle and determines when one of the lamps is not functioning properly. Additionally, when one of the lamps is not functioning properly, the processor sends, via a first communication module, a message to the target vehicle indicating of one of the lamps not functioning properly.