METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEADLIGHTS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle. The headlights are operated in a low beam mode such that a low beam distribution is emitted by the headlights. An object is detected in front of the motor vehicle during operation in the low beam mode. An automatic reduction of a light intensity distribution is triggered exclusively in a region of the low beam distribution. the size and position of which depends on a distance of the motor vehicle from the object, on a position of the object and on a width of the object.

Claims

1. A method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: operating the headlights in a low beam mode so that a low beam distribution is emitted by the headlights; detecting an object in front of the motor vehicle during operation in the low beam mode; and triggering, upon detection of the object, an automatic reduction of a light intensity distribution solely in a region of the low beam distribution, a size and position of which are a function of a distance of the motor vehicle from the object, from a position of the object, and from a width of the object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction of the light intensity distribution is triggered only when the distance of the object from the motor vehicle is less than a distance threshold value.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance threshold value is 15 meters at most or 10 meters at most.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light intensity of the low beam distribution outside the region is maintained substantially simultaneously with the reduction of the light intensity distribution in the region.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction of the light intensity distribution is triggered only when the motor vehicle is traveling at a speed below a speed threshold or is stationary.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the low beam distribution is designed as a city low beam distribution.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the reduction of the light intensity distribution, the light intensity is set to a fixed value.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the reduction of the light intensity distribution, the light intensity in the region is controlled as a function of a brightness that is determined in the region.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object includes a group of multiple motor vehicles, wherein the region includes multiple sections that are separate from one another, and one motor vehicle from the group is situated in each of the sections.

10. A control unit for headlights of a motor vehicle, the control unit comprising: an electronic digital memory medium; and a digital signal processing unit, wherein machine-readable instructions are stored in the memory medium, and wherein the digital signal processing unit is designed to read out and execute the instructions, and during execution of the instructions to control the headlights by the method according to claim 1.

11. A motor vehicle that comprising at least one headlight and the control unit according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein the sole FIGURE shows a schematic view of a light distribution that is generated by use of a method according to an example the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] A low beam distribution 1 is generated by operation of headlights of a motor vehicle in a low beam mode. As soon as an object 2 has been detected in front of the motor vehicle, the light intensity is automatically reduced in a region 3 of the low beam distribution. The region 3 is positioned in such a way that a portion of the object 2 is present therein. The position and the size of the region 3 are thus a function of the width of the object 2, the position of the object 2, and the distance between the motor vehicle and the object 2.

[0023] The region 3 preferably includes a tolerance portion at both sides of the object 2 and below the object 2. This may be advantageous in reducing the likelihood of the object 2 being positioned outside the region 3 and inside the low beam distribution 1 due to errors or relatively rapid movements or changes in movement.

[0024] Due to the positioning of the object 2 within the region 3 having the reduced light intensity, reflections from the surface of the object 2 to the user of the motor vehicle are reduced, thus lowering the risk of blinding for the user. It is therefore particularly advantageous when the light intensity in the region 3 is controlled as a function of a brightness that is detected in the region 3. The light intensity in the region 3 may thus be reduced so greatly that the likelihood of blinding is reduced, but the region 3 is still sufficiently strongly illuminated.

[0025] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.