IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,522,141
Granted Patent B2
US 12,522,141 · App. 18/430,516 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Vehicle with road surface rendering function

Inventors: Kentarou Yamasaki (Tokyo, JP); Makoto Kinoshita (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
B60R1/24B60Q1/50G06T7/0002B60Q2400/50B60R2300/30G06T2207/30168G06T2207/30252
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,522,141
App. No.
18/430,516
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle with a road surface rendering function includes a projection member, a controller, and a detection device. The projection member is configured to project perform light projection for road surface rendering at least toward a road surface ahead of the vehicle. The controller is configured to control the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member. The detection device is configured to perform detection of a road surface rendered image rendered on the road surface by the projection member. The controller is configured to determine whether the road surface rendered image has a bright spot based on the detection of the road surface rendered image by the detection device. The controller is configured to suppress the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member when the road surface rendered image has the bright spot.

Claims (25)

1 . A vehicle with a road surface rendering function, the vehicle comprising:

a projection member configured to perform light projection for road surface rendering at least toward a road surface ahead of the vehicle;

a controller configured to control the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member; and

a detection device configured to perform detection of a road surface rendered image rendered on the road surface by the projection member,

wherein the controller is configured to;

determine whether the road surface rendered image has a bright spot caused by unexpected reflection from road conditions, based on the detection of the road surface rendered image by the detection device; and

suppress the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member when the road surface rendered image has the bright spot.

2 . The vehicle with the road surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection device is an external camera configured to capture an image of the road surface where the projection member has performed the light projection for the road surface rendering, and

wherein the controller is configured to

extract a highest brightness in a detection image corresponding to the road surface rendered image included in the image captured by the external camera, and

suppress the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member by reducing a light intensity when the highest brightness is equal to or higher than a threshold.

3 . The vehicle with the road surface rendering function according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine whether an illuminance of the light projection by the projection member after the light intensity has been reduced is equal to or lower than a lower limit illuminance, and

stop the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member when the illuminance of the light projection by the projection member is equal to or lower than the lower limit illuminance.

4 . The vehicle with the road surface rendering function according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to, after the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member has been stopped,

continue to stop the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member until the vehicle passes through a road surface part determined as having the bright spot in the road surface rendered image, and

resume the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member after the vehicle has passed through the road surface part determined as having the bright spot in the road surface rendered image.

5 . A vehicle with a road surface rendering function, the vehicle comprising:

a projection member including a light source and configured to perform light projection for road surface rendering at least toward a road surface ahead of the vehicle;

a detection device including a camera and configured to perform detection of a road surface rendered image rendered on the road surface by the projection member; and

circuitry configured to:

control the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member,

determine whether the road surface rendered image has a bright spot caused by unexpected reflection from road conditions, based on the detection of the road surface rendered image by the detection device; and

suppress the light projection for the road surface rendering by the projection member when the road surface rendered image has the bright spot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2024
From: YAMASAKI, KENTAROU; KINOSHITA, MAKOTO
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066347/0462 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-021179 · Feb 14, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240270170A1 · Aug 15, 2024
References Cited (25)
US 10134283B2 · Masuda et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10654401B2 · Koji et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10718599B1 · Kirsch · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20030062838A1 · Niimi · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20080180962A1 · Edmond · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20090167563A1 · Liang · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20170023947A1 · McMillion · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170120887A1 · Kurahashi · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180074502A1 · Holben · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200027377A1 · Kobayashi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200292346A1 · Turner · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200334637A1 · Turner · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220348227A1 · Foster · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 105102269 · 2014 [cited by examiner]
CN 110023722 · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP H07108967 · 1993 [cited by examiner]
JP H07210795 · 1994 [cited by examiner]
JP 2015164828A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016055691A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016215877A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020111284A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Asaoka translation of CN 105102269 Mar. 31, 2014 (Year: 2014). [cited by examiner]
Imagawa translation of CN 110023722 Jan. 17, 2018 (Year: 2018). [cited by examiner]
Enomoto translation of JP H07210795 Jan. 24, 1994 (Year: 1994). [cited by examiner]
Watanabe translation of JP H07108967 Oct. 13, 1993 (Year: 1993). [cited by examiner]