There is provided a lighting device arranged to produce a controllable light beam for illuminating a scene. The device comprises an addressable spatial light modulator arranged to provide a selectable phase delay distribution to a beam of incident light. The device further comprises Fourier optics arranged to receive phase-modulated light from the spatial light modulator and form a light distribution. The device further comprises projection optics arranged to project the light distribution to form a pattern of illumination as said controllable light beam.

There is provided a lighting device arranged to produce a controllable light beam for illuminating a scene. The device comprises an addressable spatial light modulator arranged to provide a selectable phase delay distribution to a beam of incident light. The device further comprises Fourier optics arranged to receive phase-modulated light from the spatial light modulator and form a light distribution. The device further comprises projection optics arranged to project the light distribution to form a pattern of illumination as said controllable light beam.

A variable beam pattern lamp system for a driver provides an input device that receives personal information of the driver, a lamp driving device that drives an indoor or outdoor lamp of a vehicle to output a beam pattern matched to the driver, based on the personal information of the driver, the personal information being input through the input device, and a vehicle controller that determines whether the personal information is registered driver information or unregistered driver information, when the personal information of the driver is input through the input device, and controls the lamp driving device to drive the indoor or outdoor lamp of the vehicle using beam patterns respectively corresponding to that the personal information is the registered driver information and that the personal information is the unregistered driver information.

A variable beam pattern lamp system for a driver provides an input device that receives personal information of the driver, a lamp driving device that drives an indoor or outdoor lamp of a vehicle to output a beam pattern matched to the driver, based on the personal information of the driver, the personal information being input through the input device, and a vehicle controller that determines whether the personal information is registered driver information or unregistered driver information, when the personal information of the driver is input through the input device, and controls the lamp driving device to drive the indoor or outdoor lamp of the vehicle using beam patterns respectively corresponding to that the personal information is the registered driver information and that the personal information is the unregistered driver information.

Example techniques are described for protecting passengers while entering or exiting a vehicle by determining a personalized protective zone immediately surrounding the vehicle. Information of the personalized protective zone and its borders may be communicated to nearby drivers and vehicles.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights by two or more vehicles. Various aspects may include receiving, by a first vehicle processor, a first collaborative lighting message from a second vehicle, in which the first collaborative lighting message may request the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle, in collaboration with the second vehicle directing one or more headlights of the second vehicle according to a collaborative lighting plan, and directing, by the first vehicle processor, one or more of the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights by two or more vehicles. Various aspects may include receiving, by a first vehicle processor, a first collaborative lighting message from a second vehicle, in which the first collaborative lighting message may request the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle, in collaboration with the second vehicle directing one or more headlights of the second vehicle according to a collaborative lighting plan, and directing, by the first vehicle processor, one or more of the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights among vehicles traveling in a platoon. Various aspects may include transmitting, by a first vehicle processor of a first vehicle traveling in the platoon, a collaborative lighting plan to a second vehicle traveling in the platoon, wherein the collaborative lighting plan may direct the second vehicle to direct one or more headlights of the second vehicle in a direction other than a direction of travel of the platoon. The first vehicle processor may then direct one or more the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights among vehicles traveling in a platoon. Various aspects may include transmitting, by a first vehicle processor of a first vehicle traveling in the platoon, a collaborative lighting plan to a second vehicle traveling in the platoon, wherein the collaborative lighting plan may direct the second vehicle to direct one or more headlights of the second vehicle in a direction other than a direction of travel of the platoon. The first vehicle processor may then direct one or more the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

A method for controlling a vehicle that includes at least one camera and a lamp, the method including: controlling the at least one camera to capture at least one image of an area in front of the vehicle; extracting, from the at least one image, a light distribution pattern formed by the lamp in the area in front of the vehicle; and performing at least one control related to the extracted light distribution pattern, based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the extracted light distribution pattern with a reference light distribution pattern.