Vehicle state-based light projection communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377777-B2
Application number	US-202318375959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2023
Priority date	Oct 2, 2022
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A light projection system and method for use in communicating intent of an automated system to a user. The light projection system includes a light projector for projecting light onto a surface adjacent to the light projection system; and a controller for controlling the light projected by the light projector. The controller is configured to, in response to a vehicle state or a traffic state, cause the light to be projected by the light projector so that the light impinges the surface and is reflected as a displayed graphic conveying an intent based on the vehicle state or the traffic state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light projection system for use in communicating intent of an automated system of a vehicle to a user comprising: a light projector mounted on a vehicle and configured for projecting light onto a surface behind the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the light projected by the light projector, wherein the controller is configured to cause the light projector to project light onto the surface behind the vehicle as a displayed graphic configured for alerting pedestrians behind the vehicle of the vehicle's intention in response to determination of a traffic state and of a vehicle state when at least one pedestrian is detected in a predetermined zone around the vehicle, and wherein the light projection system is configured to update the projected light in response to updated sensor data from a sensor on the vehicle.

2. The light projection system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state indicates a state that the vehicle is in reverse or intending to be placed in reverse and wherein the traffic state indicates a state of pedestrian traffic or a state of vehicle traffic nearby the light projection system.

3. The light projection system of claim 2 , wherein the state of pedestrian traffic is determined by a motion detector installed at a road intersection where the motion detector faces a sidewalk or a crosswalk.

4. The light projection system of claim 3 , wherein the detection of a pedestrian is using the motion detector, and wherein the displayed graphic is selected based on a vehicle state of a nearby vehicle.

5. The light projection system of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle state is communicated from the vehicle to roadside equipment that is a part of and/or connected to the light projector system.

6. The light projection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller of the light projection system is configured to receive a projection instruction signal from a vehicle state controller of the vehicle.

7. The light projection system of claim 6 , wherein the projection instruction signal indicates the vehicle state, and wherein the vehicle state includes a vehicle operating state and a vehicle environmental state.

8. The light projection system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle state is determined using an onboard vehicle sensor.

9. The light projection system of claim 6 , wherein the projection instruction signal indicates a predetermined graphic to be displayed as the displayed graphic.

10. The light projection system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined graphic is selected from a set of predetermined graphics based on a vehicle state obtained from the vehicle state controller.

11. The light projection system of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle state controller of the vehicle is an AV controller that determines an autonomous maneuver or action of the vehicle.

12. The light projection system of claim 1 , wherein the light projector is a high-powered light projector.

13. The light projection system of claim 12 , wherein the light projector is a high-powered light emitting diode (LED) array device having an array of high-powered LEDs.

14. The light projection system of claim 13 , wherein the high-powered LED array device is mounted to the vehicle so that, when light is emitted from the high-powered LED array device, light impinges a ground plane thereby rendering a graphic that is perceivable by a pedestrian.

15. The light projection system of claim 12 , wherein the light projector is a very-high-powered light projector.

16. The light projection system of claim 1 , wherein the light projection system is configured to project the light while providing an audible alarm as a part of a multi-sensory alert.

17. The light projection system of claim 1 , wherein the update to the projected light includes modifying a color, position, or orientation of a graphic based on the updated sensor data.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Mason Brian
• Lakshmanan Sridhar
• Mcauslan Pam
• Waung Marie

Classifications

• B60Q1/545

  for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic · CPC title

• B60Q1/5037

  the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

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

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• B60Q1/507 Primary

  specific to autonomous vehicles · CPC title