A procedure is provided for actuating at least one light module of a light unit of a vehicle, with at least one status recognition device for identifying a vehicle status and/or at least one surroundings recognition device for identifying a vehicle's surroundings, and with a light control system. The light module is automatically actuated by the status recognition device and/or the surroundings recognition device by means of the light control system depending on at least one input signal of the light control system. In order to improve a light distribution adapted to the respective driving situation, the light unit features a light distribution recognition device for identifying a light distribution of a light beam emitted by the light module into the surroundings of the vehicle and that the light module be automatically actuated by means of the light control system depending on at least one input signal of the light control system from the light distribution recognition device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a light unit for a vehicle, a computer program product and a machine-readable medium.

A method to operate a motor vehicle having a number of wheels is described. The method determines a steering angle for an automotive application. A steering angle is estimated using a yaw rate , a revolution rate of at least one wheel, a wheelbase L and a characteristic speed of the vehicle v.sub.ch based on a single-track model. Preferably, the steering angle is calculated using the yaw rate , the selected gear i, the wheelbase L, the speed v and the characteristic speed of the vehicle v.sub.ch according to the formula =[*i*L*(1+v.sup.2/v.sub.ch.sup.2)]/v. An application, such as adaptive light control during turns, that requires knowledge of the steering angle of the motor vehicle is carried out based on an estimated steering angle.

Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: a sensor unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information acquired by the sensor unit.

An adaptive forward lighting system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine presence of an object in the field of view of the camera. The control receives vehicle data via a communication bus of the vehicle, with the vehicle data including vehicle trajectory data. The image processor processes captured image data to determine presence of lane markers in the field of view of the camera. The control adjusts a light beam emitted by a headlamp of the vehicle at least in part responsive to determination of the presence of the object in the field of view of the camera. Adjustment of the light beam of the vehicle headlamp may depend, at least in part, on trajectory of the vehicle.

An exterior rearview system for an autonomous vehicle includes a housing adapted for mounting to an exterior side of a vehicle, the housing holding at least one of a reflective element or display screen for displaying to a driver a rear or side image of the vehicle, one or more lighting modules disposed in the housing and providing an adaptive lighting sector which is adaptively controlled, and a control system configured to receive input data related to at least one of a user's intention using a tracking sensor and a user's retaking control of the autonomous vehicle.

A headlamp control apparatus may include: an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a forward image of a vehicle; a driving information acquisition unit configured to acquire driving information including one or more of driving environment information and driving state information of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to decide a shadow area for a position of a forward vehicle, which is recognized based on the forward image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and control light emission of a headlamp according to the decided shadow area, wherein the control unit controls the light emission of the headlamp by variably adjusting the shadow area based on the driving information acquired by the driving information acquisition unit.

A luminous device for a motor vehicle, said device including a pixelized light source and an optical system that is arranged to project a pixelized light beam emitted by the pixelized light source, the optical system comprising a first mirror arranged to collect and reflect rays of the pixelized light beam emitted by the pixelized light source, a second mirror arranged to reflect the rays reflected by the first mirror, and a third mirror arranged to receive the rays reflected by the second mirror and to reflect these received rays so as to correct field aberrations. The invention enables improved projection of a pixelized light beam by a luminous motor-vehicle device.

For vehicles having left and right headlights, a steering direction signal input indicative of a left or right steering direction is used to modulate a control signal of a liquid crystal beam broadening device to broaden horizontally the vehicle headlight beam when the steering direction signal input is indicative of a selected one of a left or a right steering direction and to maintain or reduce a horizontal spread of the vehicle headlight beam when said steering direction signal input is indicative of one of a left or a right steering direction opposite to the selected steering direction.

A procedure is provided for actuating at least one light module of the light unit of a vehicle with a plurality of light sources and a light control system automatically actuating the light module. At least two first light distribution arrangements are generated and first data sets corresponding to the first light distribution arrangements are stored in a memory of the light control system. In order to implement a plurality of light distribution arrangements with less effort, at least one second light distribution arrangement is allocated to at least one pairing of two of the at least two first light distribution arrangements, and actuation of the light module for generating this at least one second light distribution arrangement is performed depending on the first datasets of the assigned pairing from the first light distribution arrangements.

An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 m and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 m.