Vehicle monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11375134-B2
Application number	US-202016813828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2019
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle monitoring system includes a lamp unit that includes a first light source configured to emit light that forms a first light distribution area on a virtual vertical screen disposed at a predetermined distance from a vehicle, and a second light source configured to emit light that forms a second light distribution area having a luminance higher than that of the first light distribution area on the virtual vertical screen, and forms a predetermined light distribution pattern on the virtual vertical screen by the first light distribution area and the second light distribution area; a visible light camera that captures a periphery of the vehicle; and a controller configured to control at least one of an emission timing of the second light source or an image capturing timing of the visible light camera.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle monitoring system comprising:
a lamp including a first light source configured to emit light that forms a first light distribution area on a virtual vertical screen disposed at a predetermined distance from a vehicle, and a second light source configured to emit light that forms a second light distribution area having a luminance higher than that of the first light distribution area on the virtual vertical screen, the first light distribution area and the second light distribution area being combined to form a predetermined light distribution pattern on the virtual vertical screen;
a visible light camera configured to capture a periphery of the vehicle including an area where the light distribution pattern is formed; and
a controller configured to control at least one of an emission timing of the second light source or an image capturing timing of the visible light camera such that the visible light camera performs an image capturing while only the first light source emits light.

2. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the image capturing timing of the visible light camera based on the emission timing of the second light source.

3. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the lamp includes an optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source and the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the lamp includes:
a first optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source toward an outside of the vehicle; and
a second optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution pattern including a cut-off line,
the second light distribution area is at least partially overlapped with the first light distribution area,
the second light distribution area forms a cut-off line at a center portion of the light distribution pattern, and
the first light distribution area is an area positioned below the cut-off line of the second light distribution area.

6. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a high beam light distribution pattern, and
the second light distribution area is narrower than the first light distribution area and overlapped with the first light distribution area.

7. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the emission timing of the second light source based on the image capturing timing of the visible light camera.

8. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 7 , wherein the lamp includes an optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source and the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 7 , wherein the lamp includes:
a first optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source toward an outside of the vehicle; and
a second optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 7 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution pattern including a cut-off line,
the second light distribution area is at least partially overlapped with the first light distribution area,
the second light distribution area forms a cut-off line at a center portion of the light distribution pattern, and
the first light distribution area is an area positioned below the cut-off line of the second light distribution area.

11. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 7 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a high beam light distribution pattern, and
the second light distribution area is narrower than the first light distribution area and overlapped with the first light distribution area.

12. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes an optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source and the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 12 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution pattern including a cut-off line,
the second light distribution area is at least partially overlapped with the first light distribution area,
the second light distribution area forms a cut-off line at a center portion of the light distribution pattern, and
the first light distribution area is an area positioned below the cut-off line of the second light distribution area.

14. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 12 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a high beam light distribution pattern, and
the second light distribution area is narrower than the first light distribution area and overlapped with the first light distribution area.

15. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes:
a first optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the first light source toward an outside of the vehicle; and
a second optical unit configured to emit light emitted from the second light source toward an outside of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 15 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution pattern including a cut-off line,
the second light distribution area is at least partially overlapped with the first light distribution area,
the second light distribution area forms a cut-off line at a center portion of the light distribution pattern, and
the first light distribution area is an area positioned below the cut-off line of the second light distribution area.

17. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 15 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a high beam light distribution pattern, and
the second light distribution area is narrower than the first light distribution area and overlapped with the first light distribution area.

18. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution pattern including a cut-off line,
the second light distribution area is at least partially overlapped with the first light distribution area,
the second light distribution area forms a cut-off line at a center portion of the light distribution pattern, and
the first light distribution area is an area positioned below the cut-off line of the second light distribution area.

19. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the light distribution pattern is a high beam light distribution pattern, and
the second light distribution area is narrower than the first light distribution area and overlapped with the first light distribution area.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kamiya Misako

Classifications

• H04N23/74 Primary

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023 Primary

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• B60Q1/143 Primary

  combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers · CPC title

• B60R1/002

  specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like (integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08) · CPC title

• B60Q1/14

  having dimming means · CPC title