DE102008008884A1 - Light system i.e. headlight, for car, has control device arranged such that solid angle-dependent intensity and/or spectral distribution of light are varied as reaction to actuation of signaling control element and detection of angles - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a detection device (6) detecting solid angles (R1, R2), in which a road user e.g. pedestrian, is found. An illumination device (1) radiates signal light with solid angle-dependent spectral distribution and/or a solid angle-dependent intensity. A control device (7) i.e. processor device, is coupled to the devices (1, 6) and a signaling control element (8) e.g. lever. The device (7) is arranged such that the intensity and/or distribution of light are varied as reaction to the actuation of the element and detection of angles. The device (1) has a light source (2) with LEDs (4, 5).

Description

The The invention relates to a vehicle light system.

For example, from the DE 19822142 A1 is known a headlamp with variable light intensity distribution. This headlight is set up such that the light intensity is set to zero in a variable range, so as not to dazzle an oncoming vehicle.

Furthermore vehicle light systems are known with a signal light (flare), which can be activated by means of a signaling control element is.

Of the Invention is now based on the object, one opposite state the prior art improved vehicle lighting system.

These The object is achieved by the features of the independent claim solved. Advantageous developments of the invention are to refer to the dependent claims.

The The invention is based on a lighting device which is designed in this way is that through them into different solid angles (with one each other emission direction or main emission direction) signal light specifically with different intensities and / or spectral Distributions can be emitted. This lighting device is then, for example, when activating a signal light means a signaling control element driven such that the Intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the in the different solid angle (with different directions of radiation) radiated light depending on the environment, in particular depending on the presence and / or location other road users (driver, vehicle, pedestrian, Animals).

Preferably For this purpose, a vehicle light system sees a detection device for detecting a solid angle in which a, in particular accommodating, Road users is located in front. In addition, a lighting device, in particular a vehicle headlight, for emitting signal light with a space angle dependent and thus radiation direction dependent Intensity (average intensity or current Intensity), in particular light intensity, and / or a space-angle-dependent and thus radiation-direction-dependent spectral Distribution provided.

A Control device, for example, a processor device, is with the detection device, the lighting device and a signaling control element, in particular a lever, a rocker, a button or a switch, coupled, and arranged such that the space angle dependent (radiation direction dependent) intensity and / or the space angle dependent (radiation direction dependent) spectral distribution of the radiated signal light as a reaction on the operation of the signaling control element and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user, particular predetermined type or class, is permanently (for example as long as the road user in principle by the Lighting device can be illuminated), temporarily or intermittently varied, modified or adjusted.

Thereby is achieved that signal light in certain solid angles, in which For example, another road user is targeted with one opposite a "normal" (for vehicle headlights or the other solid angle usual) intensity changed intensity and / or targeted with a compared to a "normal" (for vehicle headlights or the other solid angle usual) spectral distribution changed spectral distribution is emitted. The changed intensity and / or the changed spectral distribution are preferably chosen such that they are responsible for the perception of other road users and / or the perception by other road users advantageous is.

The Control element or the system operation may also be such be configured that a selective selection of at least one road user from a plurality of detected by the detection means Road users. The operating element can be designed in such a way that with simple operation the nearest local road user or the road user, with which a collision is most likely selected becomes. By a further actuation of the control element For example, other road users are selected. The Control element can also be equipped with a graphical interface, For example, a display to be connected, through which several Traffic participants recognized by the detection device are displayed become.

The signal light is preferably radiated into a solid angle in which the road user is located with an increased intensity, in particular with respect to an adjacent solid angle in which no road user is detected. By detecting a road user and the operation of a signaling control element, the intensity of the signal light emitted in the solid angle in which the detected road user is increased, while the intensity of the signal light in a solid angle is emitted, in which there is no detected road users, remains substantially the same or at least not increased as much as the intensity of the signal light emitted in the solid angle in which the detected road user is located. As a result, only targeted in a solid angle with detected road users and possibly its immediate environment. This facilitates the user of the vehicle lighting system, the perception of another road user. The energy consumption due to the signal light is low. The signal light is perceivable only for the other road user or especially well for the other road user. Other people, for example, in surrounding houses are not disturbed unnecessarily. Reflection glare, which could be annoying to the user of the signal light, are reduced.

Especially it is preferably provided that the signal light into a solid angle, in which the road user is located, with a time, especially periodic, variable, intensity is radiated, for example, with a predetermined frequency is activated and deactivated or with a periodic signal, how a sine wave or square wave signal is modulated. Preferably is the time period is so great that the change the intensity of the other road users resolved is perceptible. A period duration that is greater is preferred as 0.025 seconds and advantageously in addition thereto is less than 0.5 seconds. For example, to increase the signal effect in response to the actuation of the signaling operator and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user is located, the intensity of the radiated into the solid angle Signal light between several predetermined intensities switched back and forth.

A advantageous embodiment provides that the signal light in a Solid angle in which the road user is located with a, in particular with respect to an adjacent solid angle, in which no road user is detected changed spectral Distribution is radiated. By recording a road user and the actuation of a signaling operator is the spectral distribution of the signal light, which in the solid angle is emitted, in which the detected road user is located, changed while the intensity of the Signal light, which is emitted in a solid angle, in the there is no detected road user, essentially stays the same or at least does not change that much like the spectral distribution of the signal light, which is in the solid angle is emitted, in which the detected road user is located. Thereby becomes perception for the user of the vehicle lighting system another - by the signal light marked in color - road user relieved and / or the glare of the other road user reduced.

Prefers is provided that the lighting device by the control device is controlled such that of the in a solid angle, in the there is a road user, especially his eyes, radiated signal light the spectral component of the blue light in relation to the spectral component of the red or yellow-red Light is smaller than in a, in particular adjacent, solid angle or as in several or neighboring solid angles, in or in which there is no road user.

Thereby is achieved that another road user through the Users of the vehicle light system based on the longer wavelength Signal light or signal light shifted to reddish is still very noticeable, but the other road user through the long-wave signal light is not as much blinded as through the signal light with "normal" light distribution. Because the strength The glare of human eyes is not just on the retina radiating light output, but also from the spectral characteristics dependent on this light. So have the shorter wavelength spectral components rather the property of blinding than the longer-wavelength spectral components. This effect is also due to the dual visual system of the People with the essentially through the cones perceived Daytime vision and about 200 times more sensitive, perceived by chopsticks Night vision. After glare, for example, by xenon light, the eyes of a dazzled driver need a long time Adaptation time, to switch back to the night vision. This adaptation time is much longer than the normal readjustment of the sensitivity human eyes. To prevent drivers from becoming more responsive Vehicles on the highway through strong xenon signal light become bluish, for example, the bluish ones or more curable components of the radiation emitted in the corresponding direction Signal light attenuates, deactivates, filters or transmits the design of the headlamp in the relevant direction even not first generated. Nevertheless, these are oncoming vehicles due to the lighting with the remaining reddish or long-wave signal light continues to be good or due to the colored Marking even better noticeable.

A particularly advantageous vehicle lighting system provides that the spectral distribution of the signal light radiated into a solid angle in response to the actuation of the signaling control element and the detection of a road user, in particular predetermined type or Class, is shifted or changed in this solid angle in favor of long-wave components.

alternative this is advantageously done in response to the actuation the signaling operator and the detection or presence of a other road users, in particular given type or Class, in this solid angle the center of gravity wavelength For example, the centroid wavelength divides the spectral Distribution into two areas with equal integral power or describes the center of gravity of a spectrally distributed emission) in this Solid angle radiated signal light - opposite the signal light in this solid angle, if no road users is detected in this solid angle - magnified, preferably at least 10 nm, at least 30 nm, at least 50 nm, at least 100 nm or at least 150 nm.

Of the Signal effect of the signal light is preferably amplified by that as an alternative or in addition to the said measures in response to the actuation of the signaling operator and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user is located, the spectral distribution in the solid angle cyclically between several predetermined distributions, for example, a "yellow-red Distribution "and a" blue distribution ", switched or after a predetermined temporal function is changed continuously.

For example is activated when the high beam or dipped beam is activated the operation of the signaling control element and the Capturing a solid angle in which a road user is the intensity of the radiated into this solid angle Signal light (opposite the high beam intensity. or low beam intensity) increases. additional or alternatively, the road user is preferably colored marked by the spectral distribution of the in this solid angle radiated signal light compared to the "normal" high beam distribution or dipped beam distribution is changed.

alternative this is when the high beam or low beam is activated in response on the operation of the signaling control element and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user is the intensity of the radiated into this solid angle Signal light (opposite the high beam intensity. or low beam intensity) reduced. additional or alternatively, the road user is preferably colored marked by the spectral distribution of the in this solid angle radiated signal light compared to the "normal" high beam distribution or dipped beam distribution is changed. For example the light is usually through the lighting device, for example with activated high beam or dipped beam, over an entire given beam angle substantially with a predetermined spectral "Normal distribution" emitted. This "normal distribution" is under Consideration of various economic, legislative or technical boundary conditions selected such that road users, on which light falls with this spectral normal distribution, are well noticeable. The "normal distribution" is for example characterized by a certain "normal ratio" the spectral component of the blue light relative to the spectral Share of red light. Preferably, now for reduction glare in response to a detected road user in the spatial angle signal light to be assigned to this road user emitted, in which the ratio of the spectral component of blue light relative to the spectral component of the red light the "normal ratio" is reduced.

at switched off and high beam is preferably in response on the operation of the signaling control element and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user is the intensity of the radiated into this solid angle Signal light (compared to zero) increases while the intensity of the other through the lighting device fundamentally illuminable solid angles of radiated light remains equal to (zero). In addition, the road user can again be marked in color by the spectral distribution of the in these Solid angle radiated signal light compared to the "normal" Low and / or high beam distribution is changed.

alternative to these embodiments, the intensity in response to the actuation of the signaling operator and the detection of a solid angle in which a road user is, remain the same and only the spectral distribution of the signal light radiated into this solid angle the "normal" high beam distribution or low beam distribution be changed.

The detection device may be a known sensor or camera device with associated signal or image processing. Result of the signal or image processing is, for example, the location of a detected road user relative to the vehicle or lighting device, the movement of a detected road user relative to the vehicle or lighting device, the size and / or class (for example, pedestrians or animals) of a detected road user , The intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the signal light radiated into the corresponding solid angle can also depend on the class of a detected road user in this solid angle.

The Vehicle lighting system can be carried out in particular in this case be that captures the relative movement of another road user or is predicted to correspond to that of the relative movement Solid angle successively signal light with changed intensity and / or with respect to the normal spectral distribution to radiate changed spectral distribution. This results following one of the movement of the other road user Solid angle, in the signal light with one opposite the normal spectral distribution changed spectral distribution radiated becomes.

A Another embodiment of the invention provides that by the detection device or another detection device, information about the intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the ambient light, in particular the light in a certain surrounding area or from a certain range of arrival, and that the control device is set up in such a way that the space angle-dependent Intensity and / or spectral distribution of the radiated Signal light in response to the detection of a solid angle, in which a road user is located, and in response to or depending on the information collected about the intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the ambient light be changed or adjusted, in particular the perception contrast to improve.

at the generation of the signal light for at least one road user can such a radiation direction-dependent radiation be adjusted so that the radiated light from the vehicle Road users not directly, but for example after a Reflection of light on an object reached and / or indirectly by a targeted illumination of another object, for example a wall or a lane boundary reached. The intensity and / or the spectral distribution may be modified, for example be that the signal light hits a lane boundary that from the current spatial position of the road user you can see.

advantageously, is the intensity and / or spectral distribution of the signal light depending on the intensity and / or spectral Distribution of light, which reflects from the road user is, controlled or regulated. By capturing these sizes For example, by a camera, the intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the signal light are calculated, the in the direction of the road user is the desired Signal effect to achieve. Thus, the intensity and / or spectral distribution of the vehicle lighting system so controlled or be regulated that the signal light at the already given Illumination of the road user in his perception of the rest Lights can be sufficiently differentiated. By the provision necessary parameter of the radiated signal light is at the same time an "overdose", ie an unnecessary one Disturbance or glare of the road user prevented. In the case of frequent signaling can thereby also Energy saved.

advantageously, is by the regulation of the vehicle lighting system, the intensity and / or Spectral distribution of the detected from the environment of the vehicle Light taken into account. In particular, there is the illumination the environment of the vehicle shed light on how the Intensity and the spectral distribution of the signal light can be optimized to provide a sufficient contrast to the background of the vehicle. For example, that outweighs strong reddish light of a sunset or sunrise behind the vehicle, so can the reddish signal light, which in the direction of the road user, relatively easily overlooked become. Therefore, the signal light of the vehicle can be controlled or be regulated that its effectiveness despite changeable Light conditions in the background of the vehicle in his Strength is adjusted. Under the term "effectiveness" is here preferably the psycho-optic efficacy, in particular the - on the ability of a visual system that Recognizing intensity and / or color contrasts based efficacy Understood.

Advantageously, the intensity and / or spectral distribution of the light emitted by parts of the vehicle, in particular reflected light, is taken into account by regulating the vehicle lighting system. The visibility of the signal light compared to the surrounding parts of the vehicle (eg body parts) depends on how much they shine (for example by reflecting the light from the environment). Thus, an increase in the intensity of the light emitted in the direction of a road user of this light can be overlooked if the body parts surrounding the lights of the vehicle, at this time z. B. shine in the sun. A permanently set high signal light, in turn, an unnecessary disturbance or distraction of other road users z. B. at dusk and at the same time lead to increased energy consumption. By controlling the parameters of the radiated signal light at different degrees of illumination of the driving tool itself as a function of - of parts of the Vehicle emitted light - the effectiveness of the signal light can be kept largely constant or changed according to a predetermined function. Since a comparable effectiveness, in particular psycho-optical effectiveness, can be achieved by different combinations of the intensity parameters and the spectral distribution, a preferred sequence for changing these parameters for generating the signal light can be specified. By way of example, the spectral composition of the light emitted in the direction of a road user is only modified if the increase in intensity necessary for generating a specific required effectiveness of the signal light can not or should not be adjusted. If the effectiveness of the modification of the spectral composition is also exhausted, the effect of the signal light can be achieved by a temporal change in the emitted intensity and / or the spectral distribution. The generation of the required effectiveness of the signal light can also be designed such that a "soft" transition between the generation of an intensity contrast and / or a color contrast and / or a temporal change of these parameters is realized.

advantageously, will capture the spatial distribution of the light parameters (Intensity profile and / or course of the spectral distribution) in the vicinity of the vehicle and / or in the surroundings of a road user and / or the radiation reflected by the road user by means of Car cameras performed. A vehicle camera can the distribution of the intensity and / or the spectral distribution the ambient light or that of another road user capture reflected light. The capture of the light parameters another road user and his immediate surroundings as well as the capture of the light parameters in the environment of your own Vehicles can be executed by means of the same image sensor become. For this purpose, the corresponding optical device the focused beams from the surroundings of the other road user and the focused rays from a reflective surface, which is part of your own vehicle, on an image sensor to merge. The spectral distribution and / or intensity distribution of the light coming from a certain direction can from the ratio of the signals of the corresponding red, blue and green pixels of the image sensor.

additional can calculate the spatial position the road user, to analyze the traffic situation and the Trajectory of a road the data of other environment sensors such as radar, lidar, or infrared sensors used become.

in the The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to FIG to the following figures:

1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a vehicle lamp system;

2 to 5 show spectral distributions of the light of a lighting device;

6 shows a simplified representation of a motor vehicle.

1 shows a vehicle lamp system, for example, a vehicle headlight with a lighting device 1 , a detection device 6 and a control device 7 ,

The lighting device 1 includes a light source 2 with a matrix-like arranged plurality of light-emitting diodes 4 . 5 (Only two are shown by way of example) and an optical unit 3 by which the generated light is directed in the desired direction.

The entire area illuminated by the light-emitting diodes can be divided into a plurality of solid angles R1, R2 (only two are shown by way of example), each of which is a light-emitting diode 4 . 5 assigned. The different solid angles are assigned different emission directions A1, A2 (centroid emission directions or main emission directions). Depending on the design of the light-emitting diodes or of the optical unit, the solid angles can, for example, have approximately round or approximately quadrangular cross-sections, as shown here.

Each light-emitting diode 4 . 5 can be driven so differently regardless of other light-emitting diodes, that is emitted by the light emitting diode signal light with a correspondingly different spectral distribution. This can be easily realized, for example, by virtue of the fact that each light-emitting diode consists of several different-colored light-emitting diodes (for example blue and yellow-red or blue and red and green) which can be activated individually or the ratio of the power radiated by these differently-colored light-emitting diodes is controlled or is regulated. In addition, the LEDs can be operated in terms of pulse width modulation with different duty cycle to radiate different light intensities in different solid angles.

Will now when pressing the signaling control element 8th by a user or driver by the known detection device 6 in a solid angle R1 detects a road user, the corresponding in this Raumwin kel R1 emitting light emitting diode 4 controlled such that of the light emitting diode 4 radiated light with respect to the radiated before the detection of the road user light and / or with respect to that by the adjacent light emitting diode 5 radiated light has a modified spectral distribution, for example by in the light emitting diode 4 the blue LED is deactivated. In addition, the light intensity radiated into the solid angle R1 relative to the light intensity of the light prior to the detection of the road user or before the operation of the signaling control element 8th radiated light, for example, by a correspondingly adjusted pulse width modulation of the LED 4 reduced or increased.

A movement of the vehicle lighting system with the vehicle and / or a movement of the other road user and / or an expiry of the Signalichttimers and / or an end of the operation of the signaling control element 8th may cause after a certain time the light emitting diode 4 normally driven or operated again, and instead of the LED 5 is changed to mark the other road users in color.

Of course, it is also possible that due to the large number, the proximity or size of the other or the other road users in both light-emitting diodes 4 . 5 and / or other LEDs, the blue LED is disabled to highlight the other road users or color.

alternative for the realization by means of different LEDs, the generation room angle dependent intensities and room angle dependent Spectral distributions of the emitted signal light by means of a per se known digital micromirror system (DMD, DLP) respectively.

The 2a and 4a show the spectral distributions of the radiated vehicle light on the example of a vehicle lighting system, which is realized by means of blue and yellow LEDs, in a solid angle in which no signaling is to take place.

The 3a and 5a show the spectral distribution of a vehicle light with a continuous spectrum also in a solid angle in which no signaling is to take place.

The 2 B and 3b each show the spectral distributions in a solid angle in which a signaling is to take place. In the present example, the road user is in the light of a sunset or in a reddish illuminated tunnel. Therefore, in the solid angle in which the road user is, the proportion of the short-wave (blue) light is increased to produce a color contrast necessary for the visibility of the signal light. The magnitude of this increase may be controlled depending on how much the body of the vehicle is illuminated at that time. If the vehicle shines in direct sunlight, the intensity of the signaling must be further increased in order to produce a sufficient contrast ratio between its lights and the body parts and / or the particular illuminated background.

4b and 5b each show the spectral distribution of the radiated from a vehicle lighting system light in a solid angle in which is to be signaled. In the present lighting situation of the vehicle and the road user, for example in bright sunlight behind the vehicle, the power of the blue LEDs is not sufficient to produce a sufficient contrast ratio. Therefore, the radiated by the corresponding blue LEDs or the corresponding segments of a differently designed vehicle lamp light with a period of z. B. changed 0.3 sec. As a result, the signal effect can be sufficiently effective despite very unfavorable lighting conditions.

6 shows an example of the detection of the lighting situation with respect to the spatial distribution of the intensity and / or the spectral distribution of the light by means of a vehicle camera system.

The vehicle 61 is with the camera 62 which is accommodated, for example, in the mirror base and which serves to analyze the parameters of the light incident from different directions, in particular the respective intensities and spectral distributions. The same camera can also several other applications, such. B. also an automatic detection of other road users and the detection of the distance to these serve. The opening angle of this camera is chosen such that it also parts of your own vehicle 63 detected and analyzed the composition of the reflected light from this.

Another light sensor, an already existing rear view camera 64 or another camera at the rear of the vehicle analyzes the intensity, direction of radiation and the spectral distribution of the light behind the vehicle. Depending on these data, the vehicle lamp system is controlled such that the vehicle can be seen from the front against the background of the light conditions prevailing behind the vehicle sufficiently well. Through this sensor or this camera 64 also become parts of the vehicle 65 with him summarizes. The integrated in the exterior mirror top view camera 66 can also be parts of the bodywork of the vehicle 67 miter grasp and thus analyze the illumination of these parts. In a simplified embodiment of the invention, coarse-resolution light sensors or - composed of one or a few directed segments - photo elements can be used alternatively.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 19822142 A1 [0002]

Claims (8)

Vehicle lighting system - with a Detection device for detecting a solid angle in which a road user is located, - with a lighting device for emitting signal light with a space angle dependent spectral distribution and / or a space angle dependent Intensity, - with a signaling control and With a control device connected to the detection device, the lighting device and the signaling control element coupled is, and which is set up so that the space angle-dependent Intensity and / or the space angle-dependent spectral distribution of the radiated light in response to the operation the signaling control element and the detection of a solid angle, in which a road user is located, is varied. A vehicle lamp system according to claim 1, wherein the Signal light in a solid angle, in which the road user is emitted with an increased intensity becomes. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the signal light is in a solid angle, in which the road user is located, with a time, especially periodic, variable, intensity is emitted. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the signal light is in a solid angle, in which the road user is with an amended spectral distribution is emitted. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the intensity and / or spectral Distribution of the signal light radiated into a solid angle in Dependence on the intensity and / or spectral Distribution of the reflected by a road user in the solid angle Light is controlled or regulated. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the radiated in a solid angle Signal light depending on the intensity and / or the spectral distribution in the environment of the vehicle controlled or regulated. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the radiated in a solid angle Signal light depending on the intensity and / or the spectral distribution of parts of the vehicle radiated light is controlled or regulated. Vehicle lighting system according to one of the preceding Claims in which the intensity distributions and / or the spectral distribution of the light in the environment of the vehicle and / or the road user and / or the light emitted by parts of the Vehicle is radiated to be detected by an image sensor.