A vehicular forward viewing image capture system includes an accessory module configured for attachment at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, whereby a CMOS image sensor views through the windshield forward of the vehicle. With the accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield, and while the vehicle is traveling along a road, captured image data is processed to determine movement of an object of interest viewed by the image sensor. Multiple frames of captured image data are processed in determining movement of the object of interest. The accessory module includes an electrical connector for electrically connecting to a vehicle wiring system of the vehicle. Image data captured by the image sensor may be processed for an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle. The vehicular forward viewing image capture system may compensate for misalignment of the image sensor.

A lighting device comprises a light-emitting module with light-emitting elements, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged adjacent to each other and are configured to emit light towards a light-emitting side. The light-emitting module is configured such that the light-emitting elements can be addressed partially independently of each other, such that some may be brought into a switched-on state while others are brought into a switched-off state. A top layer is disposed on the light-emitting module at the light-emitting side. Further comprising a switching material capable of a reversible change in transmittance for the light emitted by changing to a higher transmittance in regions where the top layer situated on light-emitting elements in the switched-on state or to a lower transmittance in regions of the top layer situated in the switched-off state. The invention further refers to methods for producing and operating a lighting device and using a lighting device.

A method is provided for monitoring an image refresh frequency of HD headlights for a vehicle. The HD headlight has a control unit that causes a display with light point sources to generate light images in continued temporal succession for a predefined time duration. An image refresh frequency corresponding to the inverse of the predefined time duration is updated by a next light image. A video signal composed of image information items and signal information items is provided to the control unit by a video interface that impresses the temporally changing information item on the signal information items of the video signal. The control unit checks the signal information items of the video signal with respect to the temporally changing information item to assess correspondence with the temporal succession available to the HD headlight and a substitute reaction of the HD headlight is initiated in the event of erroneous correspondence.

A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes a main lens; a light source device configured to emit light; and a first reflecting unit provided in a partial area of a front surface of the main lens. The lighting apparatus also includes a scanning module configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source device to the first reflecting unit in a predetermined scanning pattern. The lighting apparatus further includes a reflective fluorescent body configured to convert a wavelength of light reflected by the first reflecting unit and to reflect the light having the converted wavelength into the main lens. The scanning module includes: a scanning unit configured to be driven according to a predetermined frequency and to reflect an incident light in the predetermined scanning pattern, and a first light condensing device configured to condense the light emitted from the light source device into the scanning unit.

A method for regulating a brightness of a luminous unit includes regulating the luminous unit by a pulse width modulator which provides an electric current having a predefined current value Y at a start time t0; modulating the electric current to a predefined brightness value at the start time t0 with a frequency of switching pulses that is chosen depending on a predefined brightness value; and progressively reducing the current value of respective switching pulses of the pulse-width-modulated electric current to a current value Y′ proceeding from a start time t0 until a target time t1. The current value Y′ is chosen in such a way that the luminous unit is luminous with the predefined brightness value upon a permanent supply with an electric current corresponding to the current value Y′. The respective switching pulses of the electric current are lengthened in their duration until a continuous electric current arises.

A method for providing sound detection information includes steps of: sensing sound around a host vehicle to generate sound data; generating a result of sound detection based on the sound data; calculating a rate of change based on the result of sound detection; generating a result of tunnel detection by comparing the rate of change with a threshold; and controlling at least one peripheral apparatus in the host vehicle according to the result of tunnel detection.

A lighting device is provided for controlling the photometric distribution of light emitted by two or more LEDs. The lighting device may be integrated with a control system of the vehicle and may be controlled by a remote controller. The lighting device may be capable of being operated in one or more modes of operation based on operating conditions, user input, or both. Operating conditions may include vehicle conditions, environmental conditions, and user conditions. The controller may operate a software application to enable the user to modify, control, or otherwise regulate any mode of operation or other feature of the lighting system.

A vehicle lamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light, a first reflective member configured to reflect the first light downward with respect to a vehicle advancing direction, a second reflective member configured to reflect some of the first light reflected by the first reflective member upward with respect to the vehicle advancing direction, a second light source disposed below the second reflective member and configured to emit second light in the vehicle advancing direction, and a projection lens configured to project the first light and the second light in the vehicle advancing direction, wherein the projection lens has a refracting surface configured to refract at least some of the second light downward than an optical axis of the second light.

A lighting device for a vehicle may include a light source; a lens; and a first reflecting unit provided on a partial area of a front surface of the lens. The lighting device may also include a light reducer configured to reduce a size of light emitted from the light source and to emit light having a reduced size toward the first reflecting unit on the lens. The lighting device may further include a reflective fluorescent body disposed on a rear side of the lens and configured to convert a wavelength of light reflected from the first reflecting unit and to reflect light having a converted wavelength into the lens.

A lighting device for an automotive vehicle comprising means for controlling the supply of power to a plurality of light sources, the plurality of sources being divided into at least two groups of sources. The device according to the invention is remarkable in that each of the light source groups fulfills a specific lighting function of the device and is distinguished by a requirement for electric current of a specific intensity. Additionally, the control means are capable of selectively supplying power to each of the light source groups exclusively of the other groups. A power supply method implementing the device according to the invention is also proposed.