IP Library Granted Patent US 12,630,076
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,076 · App. 18/382,715 · Granted May 19, 2026

Method for operating a light-based driver assistance system of a motor vehicle

Inventors: Christian Huester (Salzkotten, DE); Boris Kubitza (Moehnesee-Koerbecke, DE); Jeremias Spiegel (Lippstadt, DE); Carsten Wilks (Lippstadt, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
B60Q1/12B60Q1/50B60Q2300/122B60Q2300/322B60Q2400/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,076
App. No.
18/382,715
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a light-based driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein via at least one headlight of the motor vehicle, a light distribution is projected onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle. The light distribution produces a lane marking, the width of which is essentially equal to the vehicle width of the motor vehicle and the course of which corresponds to a predicted lane course when the motor vehicle is driving. The method steps are carried out continuously when driving through a curve: predicting the lane course when driving through the curve, determining the point of intersection of the inner lane boundary with the light field limitation of a light field projectable onto the roadway when driving through the curve, setting a distal boundary of the lane marking, and projecting a light distribution onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle.

Claims (12)

1 . A method to operate a light-based driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one headlight of the motor vehicle projects a light distribution onto a roadway in front of the motor vehicle, the light distribution produces a lane marking, a width of which is essentially equal to a vehicle width of the motor vehicle and a course of which corresponds to a predicted lane course when the motor vehicle is driving, the method comprising:

predicting a lane course of the motor vehicle when driving through a curve;

determining a point of intersection of an inner lane boundary of the predicted lane course with an inner light field limitation of a light field projectable onto the roadway via the headlight when driving through the curve;

setting a distal boundary of the lane marking, the distal boundary being a section of a straight line, wherein the straight line passes through the point of intersection and a center of the curve; and

projecting a light distribution onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle to create the lane marking that terminates at the distal boundary.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prediction of the lane course is carried out based on a steering wheel angle of the motor vehicle.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lane marking has two parallel and spaced single-lane markings.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lane marking is directly generated by the light distribution projected onto the roadway.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lane marking is generated by non-illuminated sections within the light distribution projected onto the roadway.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the steps of predicting, determining, setting, and projection are carried out continuously when driving through the curve.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the straight line also passes through the inner lane boundary of the predicted lane course and an outer lane boundary of the predicted lane course when the vehicle drives through the curve.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light distribution, that is projected on the roadway in front of the motor vehicle to create the lane marking that terminates at the distal boundary, is located within the light field projected onto the roadway.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2024
From: HUESTER, CHRISTIAN; KUBITZA, BORIS; SPIEGEL, JEREMIAS; WILKS, CARSTEN
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 067897/0986 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102022127863.8 · Oct 21, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Related Publication 20240131981A1 · Apr 25, 2024
Related Publication 20240227665A9 · Jul 11, 2024
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