System and method for providing an illuminated route for an object moving on a path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021287544-A1
Application number	US-202117168242-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for providing an illuminated path for an object, such as a pedestrian or bicyclist. The system includes a central system unit, a number of vehicles networked with the central system unit and parked in a region. Each of the vehicles includes a detection unit designed to detect an object approaching the parked vehicle and to activate a vehicle light and illuminate a path. Each of the vehicles include a communication unit designed to transmit geo-position data of the parked vehicle. The central system unit is designed, as a result of a route query, to ascertain a route for the object from a starting location to a destination location under the criterion that a maximum number of parked vehicles networked with the central system unit are present along the route so that the best possible path illumination is ensured on the route.

First claim

1 . A system for providing an illuminated path for an object ( 2 ) moving on a path along a route ( 1 ), the system comprising
a central system unit ( 10 ) comprising a processing unit; and a number of vehicles ( 4 ) in communication with the central system unit ( 10 ) and parked in a region ( 3 ), wherein each of the vehicles ( 4 ) includes:
a detection unit, which is designed to detect the object ( 2 ) approaching the parked vehicle ( 4 ) on the path and as a result of the detection to activate a vehicle light facing toward the path and illuminate the path, and
a communication unit, which is designed to transmit geo-position data of the parked vehicle ( 4 ) to the central system unit ( 10 ),
wherein the central system unit ( 10 ) is designed, as a result of a route query, to ascertain the route ( 1 ) for the object ( 2 ) from a starting location ( 7 ) located in the region ( 3 ) to a destination location ( 8 ) located in the region ( 3 ) based on a maximum number of parked vehicles ( 4 ) networked with the central system unit ( 10 ) are present along the route ( 1 ) so that a best possible path illumination is ensured on the route ( 1 ).

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the vehicles ( 4 ) includes a GPS unit for determining geo-position data of the vehicle ( 4 ), wherein each vehicle ( 4 ) in a parked state transmits geo-position data on a parking position to the central system unit ( 10 ).

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection unit of each vehicle ( 4 ) is designed to detect the approaching object ( 2 ) based on a wireless communication with a communication module of the object ( 2 ).

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the communication module is integrated into a mobile terminal.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object ( 2 ) continuously transmits its geo-position data to the vehicles ( 4 ) parked along the route ( 1 ) using a mobile terminal by transmitting the geo-position data to the central system unit ( 10 ) and relaying the geo-position data from the central system unit ( 10 ) to the vehicles ( 4 ) parked along the route ( 1 ).

6 . The system of claim. 1 , wherein the detection unit comprises a camera, which is designed to recognize the approaching object ( 2 ) optically or thermally.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle light is an LED matrix light.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein as a result of the detection of the object ( 2 ) approaching a respective vehicle ( 4 ), an item of route inthrmation comprising a direction sign ( 15 ) or a warning sign ( 16 ) is projectable on the path by the vehicle light.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each vehicle ( 4 ) includes a sensor unit, which is designed to sense light emitted by an adjacent vehicle ( 4 ) and as a result of this to activate a vehicle light, wherein as a result of the activation, an illumination of the path is executable and/or a direction sign ( 15 ) or a warning sign ( 16 ) is projectable on the path.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the central system unit ( 10 ) is designed, as a result of the route ascertainment, to transmit a request signal to a number of vehicles ( 4 a ) not parked along the route ( 1 ), according to which in the course of an autonomous vehicle movement, re-parking of the number of vehicles ( 4 a ) not parked along the route to a parking position ( 12 ) located along the route is to take place.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a pedestrian or bicyclist.

12 . A method for providing an illuminated path for an object ( 2 ) moving on a path along a route ( 1 ), the method comprising
providing a central system unit ( 10 ) comprising a processing unit; communicating with a number of vehicles ( 4 ) in communication with the central system unit ( 10 ) and parked in a region ( 3 ), wherein each of the Vehicles ( 4 ) includes
a detection unit, which is designed to detect the object ( 2 ) approaching the parked vehicle ( 4 ) on the path and as a result of the detection to activate a vehicle light facing toward the path and illuminate the path,
a communication unit, which is designed to transmit geo-position data of the parked vehicle ( 4 ) to the central system unit ( 10 ), and
determining by the central system unit ( 10 ) and as a result of a route query, the route ( 1 ) for the object ( 2 ) from a starting location ( 7 ) located in the region ( 3 ) to a destination location ( 8 ) located in the region ( 3 ) based on a maximum number of parked vehicles ( 4 ) networked with the central system unit ( 10 ) are present along the route ( 1 ) so that a best possible path illumination is ensured on the route ( 1 ).

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the vehicles ( 4 ) includes a GPS unit for determining geo-position data of the vehicle ( 4 ), wherein each vehicle ( 4 ) in a parked state transmits geo-position data on a parking position to the central system unit ( 10 ).

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection unit of each vehicle ( 4 ) is designed to detect the approaching object ( 2 ) based on a wireless communication with a communication module of the object ( 2 ).

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the object ( 2 ) continuously transmits its geo-position data to the vehicles ( 4 ) parked along% the route ( 1 ) using a mobile terminal by transmitting the geo-position data to the central system unit ( 10 ) and relaying the geo-position data from the central system unit ( 10 ) to the vehicles ( 4 ) parked along the route ( 1 ).

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection unit comprises a camera, which is designed to recognize the approaching object ( 2 ) optically or thermally.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein as a result of the detection of the object ( 2 ) approaching a respective vehicle ( 4 ), an item of route information comprising a direction sign ( 15 ) ora warning sign ( 16 ) is projectable on the path by the vehicle light.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each vehicle ( 4 ) includes a sensor unit, which is designed to sense light emitted by an adjacent vehicle ( 4 ) and as a result of this to activate a vehicle light, wherein as a result of the activation, an illumination of the path is executable and/or a direction sign ( 15 ) or a warning sign ( 16 ) is projectable on the path.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the central system unit ( 10 ) is designed, as a result of the route ascertainment, to transmit a request signal to a number of vehicles ( 4 a ) not parked along the route ( 1 ), according to which in the course of an autonomous vehicle movement, re-parking of the number of vehicles ( 4 a ) not parked along the route to a parking position ( 12 ) located along the route is to take place.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the object comprises a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ricke Tobias
• STAUFF Sebastian
• Alves Bruno

Classifications

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title

• H05B47/125 Primary

  by using cameras · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H05B45/00

  Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• Y02B20/40

  Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection · CPC title