Method and system for compensating for misalignment of a headlight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9061631-B2
Application number	US-201313867603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2013
Priority date	Apr 23, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2015
Grant date	Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

A method for compensating for misalignment of a vehicle headlight generating different beam patterns includes generating a light marking on an object outside the vehicle. The light marking is generated in a region that is located in front of, next to or behind the vehicle between a visibility limit of a camera and a visibility limit of a driver. Images of the light marking and an image of a surrounding area are recorded with a camera. A target illumination related to an image of the surrounding area is determined by taking into consideration illumination rules, and a light-marking-related target illumination is determined by taking into consideration the determined target illumination related to the image of the surrounding area and the recorded image of the light marking. The beam pattern of the headlight is then adjusted by taking into consideration the light-marking-related target illumination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for compensating for misalignment of a headlight for a vehicle, wherein the headlight generates light having different beam patterns, the method comprising:
generating with the headlight a light marking on an object located outside the vehicle, wherein the light marking is generated in a region that is located in front of, next to or behind the vehicle and is spatially located between a visibility limit of a camera and a visibility limit of a driver;
recording an image of the light marking with a camera;
recording an image of a surrounding area with the same camera;
determining a target illumination related to an image of the surrounding area, by taking into consideration illumination rules;
determining a light-marking-related target illumination by taking into consideration the determined target illumination related to the image of the surrounding area and the recorded image of the light marking; and
adjusting a beam pattern of the headlight by taking into consideration the light-marking-related target illumination.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image of the light marking is recorded before or after, or both, the image of the surrounding area is recorded.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image of the light marking is recorded at the same time as the image of the surrounding area is recorded.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a wavelength of light generating the light marking has a wavelength between 380 nm and 780 nm.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein light of the light marking has at least one of a feature selected from a frequency range, a modulation frequency and an amplitude that is imperceptible to a human eye.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light marking has an angular shape or an L-shape.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image of the light marking is generated from a plurality of recordings of the light marking.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different beam patterns of the headlight are each adjusted by electronically or mechanically adjusting a radiation pattern of the headlight.

9. A headlight system for a vehicle, comprising:
headlight generating light with an adjustable beam pattern;
a camera,
wherein the headlight system is configured to
generate with the headlight a light marking on an object located outside the vehicle, wherein the light marking is generated in a region that is located in front of, next to or behind the vehicle and is spatially located between a visibility limit of the camera and a visibility limit of a driver;
record an image of the light marking with the camera;
record an image of a surrounding area with the same camera;
determining a target illumination related to an image of the surrounding area, by taking into consideration illumination rules;
determine a light-marking-related target illumination by taking into consideration the determined target illumination related to the image of the surrounding area and the recorded image of the light marking; and
adjust the beam pattern of the headlight by taking into consideration the light-marking-related target illumination.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Totzauer Alexander

Classifications

• B60Q1/10 Primary

  due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution · CPC title

• B60Q2200/38

  Automatic calibration of motor-driven means for adjusting headlamps, i.e. when switching on the headlamps, not during mounting at factories · CPC title

• B60Q1/04 Primary

  the devices being headlights · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

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