Collaborative vehicle headlight directing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241996-B2
Application number	US-202016742197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2020
Priority date	Jan 14, 2020
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, etc., for collaboratively directing one or more headlights by two or more vehicles. Various aspects may include receiving, by a first vehicle processor, a first collaborative lighting message from a second vehicle, in which the first collaborative lighting message may request the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle, in collaboration with the second vehicle directing one or more headlights of the second vehicle according to a collaborative lighting plan, and directing, by the first vehicle processor, one or more of the headlights of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of collaboratively directing headlights by two or more vehicles travelling along a roadway, comprising:
receiving, by a first vehicle processor, a first collaborative lighting message from a second vehicle, wherein the first collaborative lighting message requests that the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate a first portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the first vehicle in collaboration with the second vehicle directing one or more headlights of the second vehicle to illuminate a second portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the second vehicle, according to a collaborative lighting plan, wherein the direction of travel of the first vehicle is different from the direction of travel of the second vehicle; and
directing, by the first vehicle processor, one or more headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate the first portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the first vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the first vehicle processor, whether the first vehicle can collaborate with the second vehicle according to the collaborative lighting plan; and
transmitting to the second vehicle a second collaborative lighting message and directing one or more headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate the first portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the first vehicle according to the collaborative lighting plan in response to determining that the first vehicle can collaborate with the second vehicle according to the collaborative lighting plan.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan includes pointing angles for headlights of the first and second vehicles to enable collaboratively directing one or more headlights to illuminate a common portion of the roadway for the first and second vehicles.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan includes pointing angles for headlights of the first and second vehicles to illuminate a larger continuous area of the roadway on which the first and second vehicles are traveling than the first and second vehicles would illuminate with headlights aimed in the respective direction of travel of the first and second vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan includes timing information and pointing angles for headlights of the first and second vehicles to direct one or more of the headlights of the first vehicle and the second vehicle to illuminate the roadway at the same time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan identifies an area in the roadway that the second vehicle requests the first vehicle to point headlights towards to provide better illumination for the second vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan identifies an area of uncertainty in the roadway that the second vehicle needs to continue illuminating.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second vehicles are traveling in opposite directions along the roadway.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first vehicle processor, a third collaborative lighting message from a third vehicle, wherein the third collaborative lighting message requests that the first and second vehicles direct one or more headlights of the first and second vehicles to illuminate the respective portion of the roadway in the respective direction of travel, in collaboration with the third vehicle directing one or more headlights of the third vehicle to illuminate a third portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the third vehicle according to another collaborative lighting plan.

10. A method of collaborative headlight directing between vehicles travelling along a roadway, comprising:
transmitting, to a first vehicle by a second vehicle processor, a first collaborative lighting message, wherein the first collaborative lighting message requests that the first vehicle direct one or more headlights of the first vehicle to illuminate a first portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the first vehicle in collaboration with the second vehicle directing one or more headlights of the second vehicle to illuminate a second portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the second vehicle, according to a collaborative lighting plan, wherein the direction of travel of the first vehicle is different from the direction of travel of the second vehicle; and
directing, by the second vehicle processor, one or more headlights of the second vehicle to illuminate the second portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the second vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the second vehicle processor, a second collaborative lighting message from the first vehicle, wherein receipt of the second collaborative lighting message indicate that the first vehicle agrees to follow the first collaborative lighting message,
wherein directing one or more of the headlights of the second vehicle to illuminate the second portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the second vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan is performed in response to receiving the second collaborative lighting message.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan includes the first and second vehicles collaboratively directing one or more headlights to illuminate a common portion of the roadway for the first and second vehicles.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan illuminates a larger continuous area of the roadway on which the first and second vehicles are traveling than the first and second vehicles would illuminate with headlights aimed in the respective direction of travel of the first and second vehicles.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein directing one or more of the headlights of the second vehicle in accordance with the collaborative lighting plan illuminates the roadway at the same time as one or more of the headlights of the second vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan identifies an area in the roadway that the second vehicle requests the first vehicle better illuminate.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the collaborative lighting plan identifies an area of uncertainty on the roadway that the second vehicle needs to continue illuminating.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second vehicles are traveling in opposite directions along the roadway.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receive, by the second vehicle processor, an amended collaborative lighting plan, wherein the amended collaborative lighting plan requests that the first and second vehicles direct one or more headlights of the first and second vehicles to illuminate the respective portion of the roadway in the respective direction of travel, in collaboration with a third vehicle directing one or more headlights of the third vehicle to illuminate a third portion of the roadway in the direction of travel of the third vehicle.

19. A vehicle for collaboratively directing one or more headlights with another vehicle while both are travelling along a roadway, comprising:
a wireless transceiver;
one or more directable headlights; and
a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the one or more directable headlights, wher

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Martin Paul Daniel
• Kushleyev Aleksandr
• Davis Jonathan Paul
• Coulibaly Moussa Ben
• Cerase Kristen Wagner

Classifications

• B60Y2200/11

  Passenger cars; Automobiles · CPC title

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title

• B60Q2800/10

  Autonomous vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q2300/47

  Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices · CPC title

• B60Q2300/45

  Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers · CPC title