IP Library Granted Patent US 11,964,610
Granted Patent B2
US 11,964,610 · App. 17/723,988 · Granted Apr 23, 2024

Changing headlight properties to recommend vehicle speed

Inventors: Guillermo Pita Gil (Redwood City, CA); Jaime S. Camhi (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
B60Q1/54B60Q1/1423F21S41/65B60Q2300/112F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,964,610
App. No.
17/723,988
Granted
Apr 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for adjusting headlight properties according to the speed of the vehicle. In particular, some embodiments aim to optimize a vehicle's lighting in suboptimal conditions. Using the data processed by the ADAS, the system is able to optimize the vehicle's lighting by taking into account various factors beyond the current speed limit on the road.

Claims (59)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

a lighting matrix;

a processor; and

a memory encoded with instructions that when executed, cause the processor to:

determining the vehicle's route and current speed;

associating a lighting setting with the vehicle's route and current speed;

determining a suggested speed associated with the vehicle's route based on one or more environmental factors;

determining a suggested lighting setting associated with the suggested speed;

comparing the suggested lighting setting with the lighting setting associated with the vehicle's route and current speed;

creating a combined lighting setting; and

adjusting the lighting matrix based on the determined suggested speed to the combined lighting setting.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lighting matrix comprises a LED lighting matrix.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental factors comprise at least one of speed limit, visibility, weather conditions, operator state, and traffic.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein weather conditions are weighted more than the other factors for determining a suggested speed.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the suggested speed is limited to the speed limit.

6. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the suggested speed is determined by reducing the speed limit according to a weight associated with each of the one or more environmental factors.

7. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein operator state is determined with the use of an internal camera facing a driver of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein operator state is determined with an advanced driving assistance system (ADAS).

9. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the environmental factors are determined based on the application of cloud data in real-time.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the memory is encoded with instructions that when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine the current speed of the vehicle;

determine a lighting setting associated with the current speed; and

adjust the lighting matrix to distinguish lighting associated with the suggested speed from lighting associated with the current speed.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the lighting matrix to distinguish lighting associated with the suggested speed from lighting associated with the current speed involves setting lighting associated with the suggested speed as a first color and setting lighting associated with the current speed as a second color.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the lighting matrix to distinguish lighting associated with the suggested speed from lighting associated with the current speed involves setting a gradient of lighting colors between the lighting associated with the suggested speed and lighting associated with the current speed.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the lighting matrix automatically readjusts when the vehicle either increases or decreases speed.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the lighting matrix automatically readjusts when the vehicle approaches a deviation in the vehicle's route.

15. A method for projecting lighting from a vehicle, comprising:

determining the vehicle's route and current speed;

determining a suggested speed associated with the vehicle's route based on one or more environmental factors by reducing a speed limit associated with the vehicle's route according to a weight associated with each of the one or more environmental factors;

determining a suggested lighting setting associated with the suggested speed; and

adjusting a lighting matrix of the vehicle based on the suggested speed to the suggested lighting setting.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more environmental factors comprise at least one of speed limit, visibility, weather conditions, operator state, and traffic.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising creating a combined lighting setting by setting lighting associated with the suggested speed as a first color and setting lighting associated with the current speed as a second color.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising creating a combined lighting setting by setting a gradient of lighting colors between the lighting associated with the suggested speed and lighting associated with the current speed.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lighting matrix automatically readjusts when the vehicle either increases or decreases speed.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising readjusting the lighting matrix when the vehicle approaches a deviation in the vehicle's route.

21. A method for projecting lighting from a vehicle, comprising:

determining the vehicle's route and current speed;

determining a suggested speed associated with the vehicle's route based on one or more environmental factors;

determining a suggested lighting setting associated with the suggested speed;

creating a combined lighting setting by setting lighting associated with the suggested speed as a first color and setting lighting of the vehicle associated with the current speed as a second color; and

adjusting a lighting matrix of the vehicle based on the combined lighting setting.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more environmental factors comprise at least one of speed limit, visibility, weather conditions, operator state, and traffic.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein determining a suggested speed comprises reducing a speed limit associated with the vehicle's route according to a weight associated with each of the one or more environmental factors.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein creating the combined lighting setting comprises setting a gradient of lighting colors between the lighting associated with the suggested speed and lighting associated with the current speed.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lighting matrix automatically readjusts when the vehicle either increases or decreases speed.

26. The method of claim 21 , further comprising readjusting the lighting matrix when the vehicle approaches a deviation in the vehicle's route.

27. A method for projecting lighting from a vehicle, comprising:

determining the vehicle's route and current speed;

determining a suggested speed associated with the vehicle's route based on one or more environmental factors;

determining a suggested lighting setting associated with the suggested speed;

creating a combined lighting setting by setting a gradient of lighting colors between the lighting associated with the suggested speed and lighting associated with the current speed; and

adjusting a lighting matrix of the vehicle based on the combined lighting setting.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the one or more environmental factors comprise at least one of speed limit, visibility, weather conditions, operator state, and traffic.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein determining a suggested speed comprises reducing a speed limit associated with the vehicle's route according to a weight associated with each of the one or more environmental factors.

30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the lighting matrix automatically readjusts when the vehicle either increases or decreases speed.

31. The method of claim 26 , further comprising readjusting the lighting matrix when the vehicle approaches a deviation in the vehicle's route.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2024
From: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 067157/0658 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2022
From: PITA GIL, GUILLERMO; CAMHI, JAIME S.
To: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 059638/0312 →
Continuity (1)
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