EP2414193A1

EP2414193A1 - Method and device for illuminating lateral road regions

Info

Publication number: EP2414193A1
Application number: EP10707287A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Schmack
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2009-04-01
Filing date: 2010-03-09
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: WO2010112303A1; US20120092882A1; CN102365190A; US8721144B2; DE102009002101A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for illuminating an edge region (40) of a road (12) by headlights (14, 30, 32) of a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) comprises a camera (20). At least one additional lighting unit (30) or a masking (32) of a headlight (14) present on the vehicle (10) is activated. An additional illuminating region (36) is created, extending in the vertical and lateral directions in relation to the vehicle (10). The activation of the at least one additional lighting unit (30) or headlight masking (32) on at least one headlight (14) present on the vehicle (10) is done by a navigation system of the vehicle (10) or by reducing the speed of the vehicle (10) and/or by an object-traffic sign detection using the camera (20).

Description

description

title

Method and device for illuminating road side areas

State of the art

DE 197 13 884 A1 relates to a method for controlling headlight range and / or direction of headlamps in a vehicle. Sensors collect information about the vehicle and its surroundings. Based on this information, the current headlamp setting of the headlamps of the vehicle is proactively adjusted to the requirement for the illumination of the lane ahead of the vehicle. The at least one sensor used is, in particular, a video sensor which records images of the roadway course, which in turn are evaluated by an image evaluation unit. By determining the pitch angle of the vehicle with respect to the road, the headlight range of

Headlamp regulated. The pitch angle is determined by determining the plane of the road. By determining the yaw angle between the vehicle and the lane and the lane ahead of the vehicle, the horizontal direction of illumination and / or headlamp range of the headlamps is regulated.

The image evaluation unit detects the headlights of other vehicles and automatically dimmers the headlights when the main beam is switched on, or otherwise issues a warning to the driver of the vehicle. The recognition of other vehicles is carried out by evaluating the information of the at least one video sensor with the aid of an image shift estimation.

The information of the at least one sensor, in particular of the at least one video sensor, are checked in the image evaluation unit, the headlights being set to a stationary starting position if no meaningful parameters for setting the headlights can be derived from the information. In video systems, for example, include the aforementioned video sensor and have wide-angle cameras, at night close, located laterally next to the moving vehicle objects, especially traffic signs, but also people, can no longer be detected. This is due to the fact that the illumination of the headlights is not sufficient. The dipped beam of a vehicle radiates more flat and less broad. The image explosion in a Night Vision System increases when the vehicle is moving to the edge. This leads, in particular, to a sharp increase in the motion blur of objects located on the roadside, such as traffic signs or people staying at the edge of the road. A remedy could be to reduce the exposure time. Reducing the exposure time, however, is accompanied by a reduction in contrast in the Night Vision System, which also does not promote the detection performance of this system. Video systems used in the above context in Night Vision Systems or the like include wide angle cameras. Under wide angle is to be understood in the present context that the opening angle of the video camera is greater than that of the headlamp.

Disclosure of the invention

Following the solution according to the invention, it is proposed to attach additional headlights to a vehicle or to modify already existing headlights in such a way that, for example, by applying a mask, the side area of the vehicle is better illuminated. In particular, it is achieved by the solution proposed according to the invention that the side area in front of the motor vehicle is particularly wide, i. both very far out, as well as in the height is illuminated.

The proposed additional headlights on the vehicle or a corresponding partial masking of existing in the vehicle headlights can be constantly activated when a video function of a Night Vision System is activated, or activated by a corresponding signal of an ambient light sensor or by a day and night detection , Alternatively, it is also possible to activate the auxiliary headlights or the masking when the low beam is activated. Finally, an activation of the inventively proposed additional headlights or a corresponding masking already installed in the vehicle headlights are left alone at the discretion of the driver and are sovereign in his decision, for example, by triggering a keystroke.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment variant of the present invention The additional headlamps can be linked with an in-vehicle navigation system or with a mobile navigation system, which is built into the vehicle. This makes it possible, for example, to activate the auxiliary headlight when an intersection or a fork in the road comes near.

In addition to the possibility of execution of additional headlamps as separate headlamps and a masking of the headlights already installed in the vehicle may alternatively be provided ren the auxiliary headlamps in the standard headlamps or in the fog lamp or to link with the daytime running lights, as it

Example in Scandinavia has long been a requirement.

An integration of the auxiliary headlamp proposed in the invention into the standard headlamp can be done, for example, by operating the standard headlamp as a partial infrared headlamp with a corresponding infrared masking in the side area.

The additional headlamp proposed according to the invention and which can be integrated in the motor vehicle into one of the abovementioned embodiments can be equipped, for example, with object and traffic sign recognition by a camera, e.g. a video camera of an already available Night Vision system can be combined. Detected signposts or signposts that can not be completely identified in terms of content by means of an optionally integrated traffic sign recognition system (RSR system) are specifically illuminated so that the driver is able to read them. This variant offers in conjunction with the

Driving speed of the vehicle another, very interesting embodiment. Only if it is ensured that the motor vehicle travels slowly enough does it make sense to illuminate the side area of the roadway, otherwise the symbolism, i. the image analysis of the Night Vision System, due to the increasing edge of this system image explosion in the border area unreadable.

In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the solution proposed according to the invention, the additional headlamp or the IR headlamp masking can be made on one side, in particular on the right-hand side in the case of left-hand drive vehicles. In variants of motor vehicles, which are designed in right-hand drive versions, the additional headlight or the dard headlamp masking for IR light accordingly on the left side. Finally, in a further advantageous embodiment of the additional headlight on both sides or the IR masking be provided on both sides of the vehicle.

The solution proposed according to the invention decisively improves the subjective sense of safety of the driver, in particular when the driver is in an unknown or in a little known environment in an unlit road, in particular a country road in the local exit area. The proposed solution according to the invention also gives the driver safety to the effect that, for example, traffic signs with smaller font due to multiple place names in driving past inadequate illumination can be processed only with difficulty by the driver in terms of presented information abundance. In this context, for example, especially coupled to a deceleration of the speed of the vehicle activation of auxiliary headlamps for improved illumination of the side lane area provides crucial help, especially for road users who are very uncertain at night.

Brief description of the drawings

With reference to the drawing, the invention will be described below in more detail.

It shows:

Figure 1 is a side view of an additional headlight or a

Headlight masking generated additional lighting area and

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the right-hand side of a roadway to be better illuminated by the solution proposed according to the invention;

3 shows a variant of a headlight mask with a flap, FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a restricted cone of light with activated masking by means of the flap according to FIG. 3, Figure 5 superimposed on the beam of standard and additional lighting device and

Figure 6 superimposed light cone of standard and additional lighting device in its width extension in front of the motor vehicle.

embodiments

The illustration according to FIG. 1 shows a side view of an additional illumination area generated by the solution proposed according to the invention, shown here in its vertically extending plane.

A vehicle 10 travels on a roadway 12, the area of the roadway 12 lying in front of the vehicle 10 being illuminated by a pair of headlights 14, of which only one headlight is shown in the side view according to FIG.

The headlights 14 of the vehicle 10 throw a standard beam 16 on the lying directly in front of the vehicle lane area. This condition corresponds to driving in darkness or in low visibility with low beam. Dipped-beam headlamps normally cover a distance of 25 to 50 m, depending on the position of the headlamp leveling system, which illuminates the road surface, depending on the vehicle's state of charge. From the illustration according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the standard light cone designated by reference numeral 16 has a very small opening angle 18. From the illustration according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the dipped beam or the dipped beam 16 of the vehicle 10 radiates rather flat and slightly upwards. The vehicle 10 may advantageously be equipped with a video camera for a night vision

System be equipped. The camera, which is preferably a video camera 20, is associated with a control unit 50.

The camera is a wide-angle camera, with the side of the vehicle located objects, such as traffic signs or people are difficult to recognize. The camera 20 used is preferably one whose opening angle is greater than that of the headlights 14.

From the illustration according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that with regard to the vertical illumination illustrated in FIG. 1, a first plate 22, which is located at a first distance 24 from the front of the vehicle 10, from the opening angle 18 flat-opening standard cone of light 16 is only partially detected. The essential information in this case, the speed limit, is not recognized. On the other hand, a second shield 26, which is located at a second distance 28 with respect to the front 10 of the vehicle, is detected by the standard light cone 16 and the information can be picked up by the driver. In the former case, ie only partial illumination of the first shield 22, this has already migrated out of the standard beam 16 and the driver is no longer able to receive all information. If it is not - as shown in Figure 1 - a road sign with a speed limit, but a panel with distance information on the highway or a sign with several place names and several kilometers, so is the recording of all information in insufficient illumination of this sign , which is usually located on the right edge of the road or mounted above the roadway, barely afford in unknown to the driver terrain.

Following the solution proposed according to the invention, the vehicle 10 is equipped with auxiliary light devices 30 on its front side or in the region of the right and / or left wing next to the headlights 14. The additional lighting devices 30, which may be mounted either on the right side of the vehicle or on the left side of the vehicle, for example in the area of the exterior mirrors or in the area of the fenders, create an additional lighting area 36, as shown in FIG. In addition to separate additional lighting devices 30, which may be integrated in the area of the headlights 14, the built-in headlights 14 already in the vehicle can also be provided with a headlight mask 32.

Instead of additional light devices 30, which may be located, for example, in the area of the exterior mirrors on the right or on the left side of the vehicle or on both sides of the vehicle, additional lighting devices integrated in the front fenders are also conceivable.

As can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 1, an additional illuminating area 36 can be created, for example, with an additional illuminating device 30 integrated in the floodlights 14, which is characterized by a very strong opening angle 38. The additional illumination area is shown hatched in the illustration in FIG. From the illustration according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that upon activation of the auxiliary lighting device 30 and during the extension of the conventional one Standard light cone 16 to the additional illumination area 36, the information of the first plate 22, which is located at the first distance 24 from the front of the vehicle 10, can be completely absorbed by the driver.

From the illustration according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that directly adjoins a first

Limit 34 of the standard light cone 16, which opens in the flat opening angle 18, with a slight overlap, extends a lower boundary of the additional illumination area 36. This reproduced in the illustration of Figure 1 in side view additional illumination area 36 is shown in the representation in Figure 1 only in side view, so that its vertical extent is illustrated. In addition, the additional illuminating region 36 also has a lateral region which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 and extends perpendicularly into the plane of the drawing of FIG.

Due to the overlap of the vertical dimensions of both the standard

Light cone 16 as well as the additional illumination area 36, both the top of the roadway 12 can be illuminated as well as on the right side strip or located above the vehicle signs 22, 26 are illuminated. In this case, the degree of illumination of the respective lying in the additional illumination area 36 signs 22, 26 by the auxiliary light means 30 and the

Headlamp mask 32 dimmed, i. take place in different intensity. For this purpose, the additional lighting device 30 can be coupled in an advantageous manner, for example, with the control device 50 shown in FIG. 1 for the camera 20, which is preferably a video camera.

The at least one auxiliary lighting device 30 or the at least one headlight mask 32 on the front or in the region of the front fenders of the vehicle 10 can be controlled such that it is always switched on as soon as the video camera 20 is activated in the context of a Night Vision System. On the other hand, it is possible to control the additional lighting device 30 or 32 by a sensor-controlled day / night detection or switch on immediately when needed, and this may remain, for example, left to the discretion of the driver.

Furthermore, the auxiliary headlamp can be coupled with the activation of the low beam. From the illustration according to FIG. 2, a plan view of the side lighting area additionally provided by the solution proposed according to the invention emerges.

As shown in FIG. 2, individual cones 46, 48 of the two overlap at the front of the

Vehicle 10 located headlight 14 the standard beam 16 as soon as the low beam is turned on. The two individual cones 46 and 48 overlap each other approximately in the region of a vehicle longitudinal axis 44 of the vehicle 10.

If the auxiliary light device 30, for example, as shown in Figure 2, mounted on the right side of the vehicle, which is a left-hand vehicle in the vehicle 10, it can be lit by the auxiliary light device 30, a side strip 40 on the right edge of the lane 12. Not shown in FIG. 2, perpendicular to the plane of drawing of the additional illumination area 36 shown in FIG. 2, the vertical extent of the additional illumination area 36 shown in FIG. 1 runs. As FIG. 2 shows, this lies at the first distance 24 from the front side of the vehicle Accordingly, this first sign 22 located just in front of the front of the vehicle 10 lies both in a side view and in the plan view according to FIG. 2, as well as in FIG The illustration according to FIG. 2 shows that a part of the second individual cone 48 of the main headlamp overlaps with the additional illuminating region 36 in relation to its lateral extent. The boundary 37 of the additional illumination area 36 covers the boundary 34 of the standard illumination area.

Light cone 16, which occurs via switching on the low beam of the vehicle 10.

As can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 2, the first plate 22, which is located at the right edge of the roadway 12 on the side strip 40, is illuminated, i. it is located in the additional illumination area 36 on the one hand in its lateral extent according to Figure 2 and on the other hand in its vertical extent, as shown in Figure 1.

From the plan view according to the illustration in FIG. 2, it is also apparent that a lateral opening angle 42 is of the order of 90 °. The lateral extent of the additional illumination area 36 expands the standard light cone 16, the is given by turning on the dipped beam of the vehicle 10, toward the side strip 40 along the roadway 12th

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the activation of the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 on the headlights of the vehicle 10 is to link them to a navigation system arranged in the vehicle. As soon as the navigation system of the vehicle 10 recognizes that the vehicle 10 is approaching a branch, either the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 can be activated via the navigation system. This means that both an illumination of the area lying vertically above the vehicle 10 and the side strips 40 of the roadway 12 lying laterally next to the vehicle 10 are effected by means of the at least one auxiliary lighting device 30 or by means of the at least one masking 32 of one of the headlights 14. Furthermore, a linking of the activation of the additional light device 30 or the headlight masking 32 with the current driving speed of the vehicle 10 can take place. As soon as the driver - assuming darkness or bad weather conditions prevail - has reduced the speed of the vehicle 10 and the vehicle 10 has reached a speed which is below a certain, specifiable, and also individually specifiable threshold, this speed of the vehicle 10 can already be reached the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 are activated on one of the headlights 14 of the vehicle 10. This offers the advantage that the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 makes it possible to illuminate the near area, be it vertically above the vehicle or laterally next to the vehicle 10, so that the driver can also use it in the dark or in poor weather conditions the writing of signs can still recognize.

Finally, in a further advantageous embodiment variant of the idea underlying the invention, a combination of the activation of the at least one additional lighting device 30 or a headlight masking 32 of one of the headlights 14 on the vehicle 10 by the camera 20 or its control device 50 can take place. Detected signposts or signs, such as the signs 22 and 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which can not be recognized by a possibly integrated RSR system, are illuminated by the at least one auxiliary lighting device 30 or the at least one in the area of the headlights 14 of FIG Vehicle 10 is provided hene headlamp masking 32 specifically illuminated, so that the driver of the vehicle 10 is able to record the information content of the signs even in bad weather or in the dark.

Furthermore, according to the representations in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solution proposed according to the invention provides the possibility of coupling the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 to one of the front headlights 14 or also to a fog light or also a daytime running light function. The additional light device 30 or the headlight masking 32 can also be used to activate the function of the camera 20, or of the control unit 40 of a night

Coupled with Vision Systems. The activation of the at least one additional lighting device 30 or the headlight mask 32 on at least one of the headlights 14 can also be effected by a corresponding signal of a light sensor or by a day / night detection. In addition, there is the possibility of the at least one additional lighting device 30 and the headlight mask 32 by the

Video control device 50 of a night vision system of the vehicle 10 to activate. The additional lighting device 30 or the headlight masking 32 can be designed in such a way that the luminous intensity can be controlled specifically, the luminous intensity is dimmable, in particular, in order to enable the best individual recognition performance from driver to driver.

As already mentioned above, an embodiment of the additional lighting device 30 as a separate, separate headlights in the fender area or on the outside mirrors of the vehicle 10 can be done; Furthermore, there is the possibility of integration thereof in the headlights 14 of the vehicle 10 or the

Fog lamp or a coupling to the daytime running lights. With regard to the spectral ranges of auxiliary headlamps, these can be designed both as infrared or as VIS headlights.

The illustration according to FIG. 3 shows a variant of a headlight masking by means of a flap.

The illustration according to FIG. 3 shows a headlamp module 52 in whose housing 56 a lighting device 54 is accommodated. The lighting device 54 radiates the housing 56 and throws a designated with reference numeral 16 standard beam with active low beam on the road ahead of the vehicle. From the position according to Figure 3 shows that the side of the housing 56 of the headlamp module 52, a headlight mask 32 is added. In the embodiment of Figure 3, this is designed as a pivotable about a pivot axis 60 flap 58. In the illustration according to FIG. 3, the headlight masking 32 is shown in the non-activated state, that is to say the lighting device 54 is able to bring the standard light cone 16 unrestrictedly onto the roadway area. To achieve maximum influencing capability of the standard light cone 16, the headlight masking 32 is mounted as close as possible to the exit region of the standard light cone 16 from the housing 56 of the headlight module 52.

The illustration according to FIG. 4 shows a restricted beam of light when the headlight masking is activated by means of the flap shown in FIG.

In Figure 4 is indicated that the flap 58 is pivoted in contrast to the representation of Figure 3 from its deactivated to its activated position. This is the

Flap 58 adjusted by means of a suitable actuator about the pivot axis 60 and assumes a position 62 a. As a result, a restricted beam of light is produced, which is reduced by a non-illuminated area 64 in comparison with the standard beam 16 as shown in FIG. Depending on requirements, the headlight masking 32 may be arranged on left-hand drive vehicles on the right-hand side of the vehicle and on right-hand drive vehicles on the left-hand side of the vehicle.

The headlight masking 32, in contrast to the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4, can also be hood-shaped or umbrella-shaped, and instead of a pivot axis 60 extending in the vertical direction, also in FIG

Form of a deployable multi-part curtain or the like, which is movable in front of the exit side of the headlamp 52 in the vertical direction and affects the light cone generated by the light device 54. In the following context, the term "lighting device" includes both a conventional H4 bulb and xenon driving light or the recently used LED

Headlight modules understood.

The representations according to the figures 5 and 6 are light cones of standard and additional lighting devices superimposed on each other both in the side view and in the plan view of the motor vehicle. The representation according to FIG. 5 can be inferred, for example, that in this embodiment variant on the vehicle 10 an additional lighting device 30 is mounted laterally on the front fender. By the additional lighting device 30, an additional illumination area 36 is generated, which expands fan-shaped in the vertical direction in front of the vehicle. By the headlights 14 of the vehicle 10 of the standard beam is generated with activated dipped beam 16 having a vertical opening angle 18, see comparison of Figure 1.

From the top view according to FIG. 6 it can be seen that the first individual cone 46 and the second individual cone 48 of the standard light cone generated by the standard

Headlight 14, the lane 12 in front of the vehicle 10 illuminate. The individual cones 46 and 48 overlap each other. On the right side of the vehicle is indicated in Figure 5 additional lighting device 30, which generates an additional illumination area 36. Along a boundary 37, there is an overlap between the standard headlamp 14 located on the right side of the vehicle and the second individual cone 48 generated thereby and the additional illuminating area 36 shown in plan view, i. lying in a two-dimensional plane.

Claims

claims

1 . Method for illuminating an edge region (40) of a roadway (12) by at least one headlight (14; 30, 32) of a vehicle (10) passing through the roadway (12) and comprising a camera (20), with following (a) activation of at least one auxiliary lamp device (30) or headlamp masking (32) of an existing headlamp (14); b) generation of an additional illuminating region (36) in vertical and lateral extent with respect to the vehicle (10); Activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the headlight masking (32) of a headlight (14) present on the vehicle via a navigation system of the vehicle (10), or by reducing the speed of the vehicle (10) and / or by an object traffic sign recognition the camera (20) takes place.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that according to method step c) the activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the at least one headlight masking (32) of an existing headlight (14) by the navigation system of the vehicle (10) takes place, Soon a turnoff, a fork or a crossroads is reached.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that according to method step c) activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the masking (32) of an existing headlight (14) on the vehicle (10) at a deceleration of the vehicle and / or at Falling below a certain, individually definable speed threshold takes place.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the headlight masking (32) at least one on the vehicle (10) existing headlight (14) by a day-night detection or in bad weather he follows.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that according to method step c) the activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the headlight masking (32) of at least one on the vehicle (10) existing headlight (14) by means of the camera (20 ), in particular configured as a video camera (20), by an object and traffic sign recognition.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that according to method step c) the activation of the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the headlight masking (32) of an existing headlight (14) by activating a Night Vision System function, by an individual signal the driver or by a corresponding signal of a day / Nachterkennenden light sensor.

7. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one or more of

Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one additional light device (30) is designed as a separate headlight, which is located in the fender area of the vehicle (10) or in the area of one or both headlights (14) of the vehicle (10).

8. A device for carrying out the method according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one auxiliary light device (30) or the masking (32) at least one on the vehicle (10) located headlight (14) in this or a fog light or a daytime running light function is integrated.

9. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one additional lighting device (30) or the at least one headlight masking (32) of a vehicle (10) existing headlamp (14) targeted specifically designed, in particular dimmable is and emits light in the IR and / or VIS range and / or integrated in a headlight range adjustment.

10. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that when forming the headlamp (14) as an LED headlamp module Einzel- ne LEDs to the edge of the roadway (12, 40) facing, create an additional illumination area (36) and are individually switched on or off.