Device and method for controlling a headlight

Abstract

A device and a method for controlling at least one headlight for a motor vehicle involve a control apparatus, at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle and to supply the detected information to the control apparatus. The headlight can be adjusted by the control apparatus depending on at least one detected object. A range between at least one light source and at least one lens of the headlight can be adjusted by the control apparatus in order to adapt a projection of the light source to the at least one detected object.

Claims

1. A device for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a control apparatus; at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in an area surrounding the motor vehicle and to supply the information to the control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust the headlight depending on at least one detected object, wherein a light source comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or comprises an array of moveable micro-mirrors, wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust a range between the light source and at least one lens of the headlight so that a projection of the light source is focused on a certain range dependent on at least one detected object, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to compile an object list from the information about the objects, to select at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object, and to determine a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDar sensor, or a stereo camera.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the information about objects detected by the at least one sensor comprises an attitude angle, a range, or a rate of change in range of at least one object in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle.

4. A device for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a control apparatus; at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in an area surrounding the motor vehicle and to supply the information to the control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust the headlight depending on at least one detected object, wherein a light source comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or comprises an array of moveable micro-mirrors, wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust a range between the light source and at least one lens of the headlight so that a projection of the light source is focused on a certain range dependent on at least one detected object, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens, wherein the control apparatus is configured to compile an object list from the information about the objects, to select at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object, and to determine a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor, wherein a range change rate of at least one object in the surrounding area of the motor vehicle is determined using the at least one sensor such that the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens is tracked by the control apparatus in order to keep the projection of the light source focused with respect to the selected object in event of a relative movement between the selected object and the motor vehicle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two headlights are provided with corresponding servomotors, wherein the control apparatus is configured to focus projections of the light sources of the at least two headlights differently with respect to different objects.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is tiltable relative to the lens.

7. A method for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting, by at least one sensor, information about objects in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle; supplying, by the at least one sensor to a control apparatus, the information about the objects; adjusting, by the control apparatus, the at least one headlight depending on at least one detected object; adjusting, by the control apparatus, a range between at least one light source, which comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or which comprises an array of micro-mirrors, and at least one lens of the headlight to focus a projection of the light source on the at least one detected object, wherein the method further comprises compiling, by the control apparatus, an object list from the information about the objects; selecting, by the control apparatus, at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object; and determining, by the control apparatus, a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDar sensor, or a stereo camera.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information about objects detected by the at least one sensor comprises an attitude angle, a range, or a rate of change in range of at least one object in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining, using the at least one sensor, a range change rate of at least one object in the surrounding area of the motor vehicle; tracking, by the control apparatus, the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens; and adjusting, based on the determined range change rate and the tracked range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens, the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens to keep the projection of the light source focused with respect to the selected object in event of a relative movement between the selected object and the motor vehicle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrated in the headlight.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is integrated in the headlight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in greater detail below by means of drawings.

(2) Here are shown:

(3) FIG. 1 a schematic view of a device for controlling headlights in a motor vehicle,

(4) FIG. 2 a schematic view of a light source and a lens of a headlight and a substantially perpendicular projection of the light source, and

(5) FIG. 3 a schematic view of a light source and lens of a headlight and a substantially horizontal projection of the light source.

(6) Parts that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device 1 for controlling headlights in a motor vehicle. The device 1 comprises a control apparatus 2, at least one sensor 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and at least one servomotor 4 for at least one headlight 5. The servomotor 4 serves for setting a range between at least one light source and at least one lens of the headlight 5 in order to focus a projection of the light source at a certain range.

(8) Information about objects in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle can be supplied to the control device 2 from the at least one sensor 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, in particular from several sensors 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, three sensors 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 are provided, wherein the sensor 3.1 is formed as a radar sensor, the sensor 3.2 as a LiDar sensor and the sensor 3.3 as a stereo camera.

(9) In exemplary embodiments not depicted, a different number of sensors 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, for example only one sensor, two sensors or more than three sensors, can be provided.

(10) The information ascertained by means of the sensors 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 can, for example, comprise an attitude angle, a range and/or a rate of change in range of at least one object in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle.

(11) The control apparatus 2 is formed to compile an object list from this information, for example in the form of a three-dimensional surroundings model of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the control device 2 can be formed to select at least one of the objects from the object list as the relevant object, for example by means of a specific criterion, such as a greatest danger of dazzling for the respective object. The control apparatus 2 then determines a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object and the criterion and correspondingly controls the servomotor 4. For example, the projection of the light source can be focused exactly on this object in order to improve the perceptibility of the object. The projection of the light source can also be focused outside this object in such a way that the danger of dazzling for the object is reduced or minimized.

(12) In particular, a change in range of at least one object in the surrounding area of the motor vehicle is determined by means of the at least one sensor 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, such that the control apparatus 2 can track the servomotor 4 to avoid latencies, and the projection of the light source also remains focused with respect to the selected object in the event of a relative movement between the selected object and the motor vehicle, corresponding to the chosen criterion.

(13) In an exemplary embodiment, the device 1 has two or more headlights 5 having corresponding servomotors 4 which are focused by the control apparatus 2 with respect to different objects, in particular, at different ranges.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a light source 6 and a lens 7 of a headlight 5. The light source 6 can be formed substantially linear or planar and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is aligned substantially parallel to the lens 7, such that a plane of the light source 6 and a plane of the projection 8 of the light source 6 are substantially parallel, in particular in such a way that the projection 8 of the light source 6 is substantially perpendicular on a roadway 9. By controlling the servomotor 4 (see FIG. 1), the spacing between the light source 6 and the lens 7 and thus also the spacing between the lens 7 and the projection 8 can be varied.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a further schematic view of a light source 6 and a lens 7 of a headlight 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the light source 6 is tilted in relation to FIG. 2, such that it is not aligned in parallel to the plane of the lens 7. A plane of the light source 6 and a plane of the projection 8 of the light source 6 are thus also not parallel. The light source 6 is tilted in such a way that the projection 8 of the light source 6 deviates from the perpendicular, for example lies substantially horizontal on the roadway 9. By controlling the servomotor 4 (see FIG. 1), the spacing between the light source 6 and the lens 7 and thus also the spacing between the lens 7 and the projection 8 of the light source 6 can be varied.

(16) In an embodiment not depicted, a fixedly arranged light source 6 having a further optical element between the light source 6 and the lens 7 can be provided instead of the tiltable light source 6, the optical element causing a virtual tilting of the plane of the light source 6 relative to the plane of the lens 7.

(17) A further servomotor can be provided to tilt the light source 6 or the further optical element. This can also be controlled by the control apparatus 2 or by a further control apparatus.

(18) The light source 6 can be formed, in particular, as a row or an array of light-emitting diodes (LED). It can also be provided to switch off individual ones of these light-emitting diodes or individual rows or partial arrays of these light-emitting diodes in order to reduce or to minimize the danger of dazzling for detected objects.

(19) The light source 6 can also comprise an array of moveable micro-mirrors, in particular on one single chip (not depicted).

(20) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.