Control unit for controlling matrix headlights

Abstract

A control unit is provided for controlling matrix headlamps, especially in vehicles, with at least one interface for at least one of: reading in initial information about objects that are recorded by means of an image recognition system, for example other road users, and for transmitting control signals to at least one matrix headlamp that is suitable for illuminating a traffic situation. The type of light distribution is to be generated by the matrix headlamps to illuminate the traffic situation may be determined with the control unit, or it can be read into the control unit at an interface. The control unit can be used to define at least one initial area in the traffic situation that can be illuminated by the matrix headlamps depending on initial information, in that a brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution is set. The control unit can be used to define at least one second area in the traffic situation which can be illuminated by the matrix headlamps with a brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution irrespective of the initial information.

Claims

1. A control unit for controlling at least one matrix headlamp, in particular in vehicles, the control unit performing the following steps: at least one of: determining a type of light distribution is to be generated by the matrix headlamp in order to illuminate the traffic situation, and accepting an input of the type of light distribution that is to be generated by the matrix headlamp in order to illuminate the traffic situation; setting at least one control signal for at least one matrix headlamp in order to set the light distribution; providing the control signal via at least one interface of the control unit; defining, upon request, at least one area in the traffic situation that can be illuminated by the matrix headlamps in which a brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution is to be set; and wherein the at least one area and the deviating brightness are defined in the control signal.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one area is defined in the control signal by at least one of angle specifications, coordinates, lengths, and other geometric variables.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the brightness in the control signal is defined as a photometric variable.

4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein initial information about objects that are detected by means of an image acquisition system are read in via the interface, and wherein the control unit defines, depending on the initial information, at least one initial area in the traffic situation which can be illuminated by the matrix headlamps, in which the brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution can be set.

5. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the control unit can be used to define, independently of the initial information, at least one second area in the traffic situation, which can be illuminated by the matrix headlamps with a brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution.

6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein a second piece of information, of which there is at least one, can be read in via at least one interface, based on which a second area, of which there is at least one, is defined.

7. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is set up to assign priorities to the areas, in particular depending on the initial and/or second information, which forms the basis for defining the areas.

8. The control unit according to claim 6, wherein the second piece of information is at least one of: information from a blind spot sensor about a vehicle driving beside the vehicle, about road signs, about a road type, about a change between two light distributions, about a course of the road, and another piece of information.

9. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein areas that are adjacent to another or overlapping one another, for which a brightness deviation from the selected light distribution is set in the same direction, are combined into one area.

10. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein, for areas overlapping one another, for which a brightness deviation from the selected light distribution is set in a different direction, the area with the lower priority is reduced by the overlapping area.

11. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of areas is defined for which control signals are generated, which can be transmitted via the interface to the matrix headlamp or matrix headlamps.

12. The control unit according to claim 7, wherein, in the event that the defined quantity of areas for which control signals are generated is smaller than the quantity of defined areas, selecting from all the defined areas for which control signals can be generated for the matrix headlamp or matrix headlamps in order to illuminate the traffic situation in these selected areas by means of the matrix headlamps with a brightness which deviates from the selected light distribution.

13. The control unit according to claim 8, wherein when selecting the areas from the defined areas, the areas with the higher priority are preferred.

14. The control unit according to claim 7, wherein, in the event that the defined quantity of areas for which control signals are generated is the same as or greater than the quantity of defined areas, selecting from all the defined areas, wherein control signals for the matrix headlamp or matrix headlamps are generated for these defined areas in order to illuminate the traffic situation in these selected areas by means of the matrix headlamps with a brightness that deviates from the selected light distribution.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a traffic situation with an illumination with a specified light distribution and areas with a brightness that deviates from the light distribution.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the determination of the areas with a brightness that deviates from the light distribution.

[0032] The traffic situation depicted in FIG. 1 shows a two-lane road with a preceding and an oncoming vehicle and two road signs. The situation is illuminated with light distribution. The oncoming vehicle and the vehicle in front should be glare-free. For this purpose, initial areas in which both vehicles are located are defined. Road signs are to be illuminated with a lower brightness to avoid reflections with glare. Second areas are defined for the road signs in which the brightness is reduced compared to the set light distribution. In addition, two second areas are defined on the right and left edges of the illuminated traffic situation in which the brightness is also reduced.

[0033] The areas with the brightness that has been changed compared with the set light distribution can be determined using a control unit according to the invention. Control signals, which are supplied to the matrix headlamps of the vehicle in question, can also be generated by means of the control unit according to the invention. The control signals indicate the light distribution to be set and the areas in which a brightness that deviates from the light distribution is to be set.

[0034] The control unit S can define the light distribution depending on information that is read into control unit S. The control unit S can be set up to define areas depending on the initial and second information 1. The information 1 about the light distribution and the initial and second information can be read into control unit S via an interface 10. For every initial and second information 1, the control unit can define an area which is to be illuminated with a brightness that deviates from the light distribution (Ref no. 2).

[0035] The matrix headlamps are set up in such a way that they can be used to illuminate six areas each with a brightness that deviates from the light distribution. However, as the control unit defines more than six areas, it is necessary to select six from the defined areas (Ref no. 3). This is done on the basis of priorities assigned to an area depending on the type of information 1 and/or the content of information 1 that was used as the basis for defining the area.

[0036] The six areas with the highest priority are then taken into account during the selection. A high priority is given to the areas that have been defined in order to reduce glare to other road users. The next lower priority is given to areas that concern road signs and remove glare for the driver of the vehicle in question.

[0037] For the selected areas, the control unit S according to the invention then generates control signals (Ref no. 4) with which the matrix headlamps are controlled in order for the traffic situation to be illuminated as desired.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0038] S Control unit [0039] 1 Information [0040] 2 Definition of areas [0041] 3 Selection of areas [0042] 4 Generation of control signals [0043] 11 Interface