A lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include a light output unit; an interface unit; and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to control the light output unit to generate light that illuminates an exterior of the vehicle. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive first information via the interface unit; and control the light output unit to display, via the light that illuminates the exterior of the vehicle, a visual image corresponding to the received first information. The at least one processor may further be configured to receive second information via the interface unit; and control the light output unit based on the received second information to change the visual image displayed by the light that illuminates the exterior of the vehicle.

A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.

There is provided a position lighting device configured to emit at least one road irradiation beam from a vehicle onto a road, thereby making the other moving object which is positioned behind the vehicle or at a side of the vehicle recognize an existence of the vehicle. A lighting unit is configured to emit the at least one road irradiation beam onto at least a portion of areas on the road behind and at the side of the vehicle. A distance detecting unit is configured to detect a distance between the vehicle and the other moving object. A lighting control unit is configured to control the lighting unit on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and the other moving object detected by the distance detecting unit, thereby changing a state of the at least one road irradiation beam.

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.

A reflector unit may behave as a retroreflector to reflect light of a selected color. The reflector unit may comprise a first reflector having a first color, a second reflector having a second color, and a mask that either allows incoming light to reach the first reflector and not the second reflector or allows incoming light to reach the second reflector and not the first reflector. An active light unit may emit light of a particular color in response to receiving light. In this fashion, the active light unit may simulate the operation of a reflector. The reflector unit and the active light unit may operate on a bi-directional vehicle.

A headlight controller and a vehicle headlight system including an ADB and AFS can include a headlight controller and an optical unit. The headlight controller can include a system controller and a camera photographing vehicles located in a travelling direction of a subject vehicle, and the system controller can be configured to output a control signal to provide favorable light distribution patterns by using image data output from the camera in accordance with traffic conditions. The optical unit can be configured to emit beam lights using lights emitted from a first and second light-emitting device via a projector lens so that the beam lights can be used as a high/low beam without movable parts. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can include providing vehicle headlight systems that can form various favorable light distribution patterns by utilizing the characteristics of the controller and the optical unit in accordance with the traffic conditions.

An imaging system for a vehicle includes a tail lamp assembly that illuminates a field of illumination rearward of the vehicle. A light source control may operate at least one light source of the tail lamp assembly in a repeating cycle that includes (i) a first illumination period wherein light emitted by the tail lamp assembly has a first brightness level and (ii) a second illumination period wherein light emitted by the tail lamp assembly has a second brightness level that is lower than the first brightness level. A camera is operable to capture image data representative of a region that is at least in part within the field of illumination. A camera control may operate the camera to capture image data during at least part of the first illumination period.

Systems and methods for a global headlamp. An example method includes obtaining configuration information indicative of a jurisdiction associated with a vehicle. Headlamp state information is accessed which includes multiple headlamp states. A current headlamp state of the multiple headlamp states is determined based on the configuration information. A propagation is output via a pixelated light source in a headlamp of the vehicle, the propagation representing a particular beam pattern which is compliant with the jurisdiction.

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 vehicle collaborative lighting message from a second vehicle, in which the first vehicle collaborative lighting message requests that the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate a target area of uncertainty that is disposed, relative to the first vehicle, in a direction other than a direction of travel of the first vehicle. The first vehicle processor may direct one or more the headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate the target area in accordance with the first vehicle collaborative lighting message.

A method for displaying an external communication message includes determining an external communication message display situation via environmental information of a surrounding of a vehicle, generating the external communication message based on the determined situation, and scanning the generated external communication message.