An imaging system is provided herein. An image sensor is configured to acquire one or more images of a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is communicatively connected to the image sensor and is configured to receive and analyze the image data. The controller detects an object of interest in the image data and generates an ON signal or an OFF signal based on the detection of the object of interest in the image data, or lack thereof. A high beam control of the vehicle is turned ON based on the ON signal or turned OFF based on the OFF signal. The controller modifies a future response time at which the OFF signal is generated based on an external overriding of the ON signal or the OFF signal.

Disclosed is an optical unit wherein a rotating reflector rotates about a rotation axis in one direction, while reflecting light emitted from a light source. The rotating reflector is provided with a reflecting surface such that the light reflected by the rotating reflector, while rotating, forms a desired light distribution pattern, said light having been emitted from the light source. The light source is composed of light emitting elements. The rotation axis is provided within a plane that includes an optical axis and the light source. The rotating reflector is provided with, on the periphery of the rotation axis, a blade that functions as the reflecting surface.

Disclosed is an optical unit wherein a rotating reflector rotates about a rotation axis in one direction, while reflecting light emitted from a light source. The rotating reflector is provided with a reflecting surface such that the light reflected by the rotating reflector, while rotating, forms a desired light distribution pattern, said light having been emitted from the light source. The light source is composed of light emitting elements. The rotation axis is provided within a plane that includes an optical axis and the light source. The rotating reflector is provided with, on the periphery of the rotation axis, a blade that functions as the reflecting surface.

Disclosed is an optical unit wherein a rotating reflector rotates about a rotation axis in one direction, while reflecting light emitted from a light source. The rotating reflector is provided with a reflecting surface such that the light reflected by the rotating reflector, while rotating, forms a desired light distribution pattern, said light having been emitted from the light source. The light source is composed of light emitting elements. The rotation axis is provided within a plane that includes an optical axis and the light source. The rotating reflector is provided with, on the periphery of the rotation axis, a blade that functions as the reflecting surface.

A vehicle exterior environment recognition apparatus includes a computer and an illumination mechanism. The computer serves as a vehicle extractor that extracts a tail lamp of a preceding vehicle, a preceding vehicle recognizer that recognizes the preceding vehicle on a basis of the extracted tail lamp, and a light-distribution controller that determines light distribution of a headlamp. The illumination mechanism switches between a low beam and a high beam on a basis of instruction issued by the light-distribution controller. The vehicle extractor determines, on a basis of an angle of view and a depth distance of a block in the image, and a cut-off line angle of the high beam, whether the block is irradiated with the high beam, and changes, on a basis of a result of the determination as to whether the block is irradiated, thresholds that determine whether the tail lamp is the tail lamp.

Speed of a vehicle is acquired from a speed detecting device, and then a beam switching threshold, according to the acquired speed, of an irradiation direction of a headlight is initially set. When the number of appearance (i.e. frequency of appearance) of a light source in a predetermined time detected by a light source detection means have become the beam switching threshold or more, the headlight is switched to a low beam. When a predetermined time (beam switching prohibition time Tp) has been passed after the irradiation direction of a headlight was switched to the low beam, the irradiation direction of the headlight is switched to a high beam.

A method for recognizing an illuminated roadway ahead of a vehicle, having a step of recognizing a first light object as a first roadway illumination unit. The method also includes a step of ascertaining a distance covered by the vehicle. The method also includes a step of recognizing a second light object as a second roadway illumination unit. The method also includes a step of providing a signal when the first roadway illumination unit and the second illumination unit have been recognized. The signal is provided using the distance covered, the signal representing a recognition of an illuminated roadway ahead of a vehicle.

The disclosure provides for an automatic vehicle exterior light control system including an optical sensor and a processor. The processor is in communication with the optical sensor and a speed sensor. A light control subroutine may be activated in response to a control signal output by the processor in response to a plurality of conditions. The subroutine is activated in response determining that the speed of the vehicle is maintained between a first speed and a second speed and a detection of an external light from an external light source detected by the optical sensor. Once the light control subroutine is activated, the processor changes the light level of the light source from the first level to a second light level and maintains the second light level until the processor detects the vehicle speed exceeding a third speed.

Computer-implemented methods and related aspects for Adaptive High Beam Control (AHBC) for a vehicle are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining information about an existence of streetlighting for an upcoming road segment ahead of the vehicle from a digital map layer based on a current position of the vehicle, and wherein the digital map layer is formed from probe sourced data from a fleet of vehicles. Furthermore, the digital map layer comprises a plurality of streetlight blocks. Each streetlight block comprises a start and an end along a road, and each streetlight block defines a road segment having one or more streetlights. The method further comprises controlling an illumination of a space in front of the vehicle based on the obtained information about the existence of streetlighting for the upcoming road segment so to avoid casting high beam illumination towards road areas associated with streetlights.

The invention relates to a headlamp for vehicles comprising an imaging unit and comprising an optical unit for generating a predefined light distribution, which has a plurality of light spots, the lights each being produced by projection of at least one light pixel of the imaging unit, and comprising a control unit containing a control signal for controlling the light pixels of the imaging unit and/or for controlling optical elements of the optical unit arranged upstream of the light pixels, a light focal point of the light distribution being arranged displaceably depending on the control signal, and the control signal being designed in such a way that the light focal point is arranged in a right edge region and/or left edge region of the light distribution.