Process for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A process is provided for controlling a headlamp of a motor vehicle. The headlamp includes a first light source module and a second light source module. The light source modules each feature several light sources that emit light. The light emitted by the light sources of the light source module represents a first light distribution, and the light emitted by the light sources of the second light source module represents a second light distribution. The first light distribution and the second light distribution partially overlap. The first light distribution and the second light distribution together form an overall light distribution. A subarea of the overall light distribution is formed only by the first light distribution, and the subarea is a vertical edge area of the overall light distribution.

Claims

1. A light distribution arrangement for a headlamp of a motor vehicle, the light distribution arrangement comprising: a first light distribution; a second light distribution including a used part and an unused part, wherein light is emitted in the used part, and wherein light is not emitted in the unused part; an overlapping area where the first light distribution overlaps the used part of the second light distribution; a vertical edge area defined by an upper edge of the first light distribution; wherein in a first configuration, the used part of the second light distribution abuts the vertical edge area; and wherein in a second configuration, the used part of the second light distribution is shifted away from the vertical edge area such that the used part of the second light distribution does not abut the vertical edge area.

2. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein a resolution of the first light distribution is lower than a resolution of the second light distribution.

3. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the second configuration, the used part of the second light distribution is shifted downward.

4. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of light sources, each light source corresponding to one of the first light distribution and the second light distribution; wherein each light source of the second light distribution includes a first light intensity and a second light intensity, wherein the first light intensity is generated in the first configuration, and wherein the second light intensity is generated in the second configuration; and wherein the second light intensity of each light source of the second light distribution is smaller than or the equal to the first light intensity of the light source.

5. The light distribution arrangement process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the second light intensity of each light source of the second light distribution is reduced by a threshold amount if, without such reduction, the second light intensity of the light source would be larger than the first light intensity of the first light source; and wherein if the second light intensity of a light source of the second light distribution is reduced by the threshold amount, then in the second configuration, a light intensity of at least one light source of the first light distribution is increased by the threshold amount compared to the light intensity of the light source in the first configuration.

6. The light distribution arrangement of claim 5, wherein in the second configuration, a light intensity of a light source of the first light distribution is increased by the threshold amount if the light source of the first light distribution illuminates the same area as a light source of the second light distribution with the second light intensity reduced by the threshold amount.

7. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first light distribution and the second light distribution are controlled depending on at least one of: an overall light distribution, an operating mode of the headlamp, a vertical pivoting of the overall light distribution, and a horizontal pivoting of the overall light distribution.

8. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein high contrast areas in the light distribution arrangement are illuminated by third light sources, and wherein an optimization algorithm is performed exclusively to control the third light sources.

9. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the first light distribution and the second light distribution are controlled depending on an overall light distribution, an operating mode of the headlamp, a vertical pivoting of the overall light distribution and/or a horizontal pivoting of the overall light distribution; high contrast areas in the light distribution arrangement are illuminated by third light sources; an optimization algorithm is performed exclusively to control the third light sources; and high contrast areas are determined taking account at least one of: the operating mode of the headlamp, the vertical tilting of the overall light distribution, and the horizontal tilting of the overall light distribution.

10. The light distribution arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first light distribution and the second light distribution are controlled in such a way that at least one of the first light distribution and the second light distribution projects a symbol.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an overall light distribution without a second light distribution shifted by an offset.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an overall light distribution with a second light distribution shifted by an offset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a first possible light distribution 100 of a first light source module and a second possible light distribution 101 of a second light source module of a headlamp. It should be noted that it is not absolutely necessary for the entire respective light distribution 100 or 101 to be present when using one of the light source modules. It is possible to use only one part of the corresponding light distribution 100 or 101. The first light distribution 100 features a lower resolution than the second light distribution 101. The two light distributions 100 and 101 overlap in an overlapping area 102.

(5) If the headlamp is operated in low beam mode, the entire first light distribution 100 is used while only the part of the second light distribution 101 within the overlapping area 102 is used. The vertical edge area 103 of the overall light distribution arising from the first light distribution 100 and the part of the second light distribution 101 used is thus formed in one part exclusively from the first light distribution 100 and in a second part from the two light distributions 100 and 101. This is the light-dark cut-off line running several meters in front of the motor vehicle.

(6) To reduce the risk of double images and blurs in particular in the overlapping area 102 from FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the invention in accordance with FIG. 2 the overlapping area 102 is shifted downwards by an offset by the part of the first light distribution 101 used being shifted downwards by the offset.

(7) If the two light distributions 100 and 101 now no longer correspond in practice to the data stored in the control system due to instances of mechanical imprecision, temperature fluctuations and/or aging effects, the risk of double images and blurs is reduced in the overall light distribution from FIG. 2 as the entire vertical edge area 103 is formed exclusively by the first light distribution 100. This means that if, for example, the second light distribution 101 is shifted slightly upwards in an undesired manner, this will be hardly perceptible to the driver of the motor vehicle as the light-dark cut-off line is still formed by the first light distribution 100 alone.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(8) 100 First light distribution

(9) 101 Possible second light distribution

(10) 102 Overlapping area

(11) 103 Vertical edge area