FR3058690B1 - ASSISTED LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR FORMING HYBRID IMAGE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assisted lighting system (1) for a motor vehicle, said assisted lighting system (1) comprising lighting means (10) configured to illuminate successively a first zone (Z1) illuminated with a scene (S) and at least one second zone (Z2) illuminated with said scene (S), the first illuminated zone (Z1) and said at least one second illuminated zone (Z2) being geographically consecutive; acquisition means (20) configured to successively acquire a first raw image of said first illuminated zone (Z1) and at least one second raw image (12) of said at least one second illuminated zone (Z2). The assisted lighting system (1) being remarkable in that it comprises calculation means (30) configured to form a hybrid image from the first raw image and said at least one second raw image, so as to improve the visualization of the scene (S) by a driver of the vehicle.

Description

ASSISTED LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR FORMING HYBRID IMAGE

[001] The invention relates, in general, the lighting means and / or light design of a vehicle. The invention more particularly relates to an assisted lighting system, mounted in a motor vehicle and a method of forming a hybrid image composed by such a system.

[002] In general, a motor vehicle comprises lighting and / or light signaling means arranged at the front and rear of the vehicle in order, on the one hand, to illuminate the road to improve the driver's visibility. of the vehicle, and / or, on the other hand, to signal the position of the vehicle to other road users.

[003] In practice, lighting and / or light signaling meansinclude mainly sidelights, dipped beam and traffic lights, whose different light intensities allow to adapt the lighting to the external light conditions. In night conditions, it is particularly known to use road lights whose range, typically of the order of 150 meters, is greater than the range of dipped beam. Such a range is however sometimes insufficient in case of reduced brightness.

[004] In order to improve the visibility of the driver in such night conditions, some vehicles are equipped with optional additional lights, whose range, which can reach 500 to 600 meters, makes it possible to complete the lighting of conventional traffic lights. Such additional lights, generally equipped with laser diodes, are designated very long-range high beam.

[005] In practice, very long-range headlamps project a very concentrated light beam, according to a narrow illumination window, of the order of 1 ° to 2 °. Such a narrow lighting window does not allow the driver to benefit from very long-range visibility over the entire road. Indeed, in case of presence of an object on the road, the highly concentrated light beam often does not allow the driver to distinguish precisely the danger.

[006] In known manner, in order to increase visibility on the roadway at a very longistance, some vehicles are equipped with means for adjusting the position of a front light of a vehicle to adjust the direction of the light beam. The direction is vertically adjusted, it is called "site adjustment", and horizontally, it is called "azimuth adjustment".

[007] Thus, the document EP 0642950 describes an automatic control device that makes it possible to modify the orientation of the lights of a motor vehicle according to the attitude of the vehicle, that is to say of its inclination towards the front or rearward. Such a control device makes it possible from the images provided by a video camera to control the orientation of the light beam with respect to a reference orientation. Encase of offset, the device then makes it possible to modify the orientation of the light beam by activating actuators.

[008] The use of the device described in EP 0642950 thus allowsdéplacer a light beam. However, such a device does not allow the driver to benefit from a very long distance visibility on the entire road. In case of road clearance, such a lack of visibility does not allow the driver to have a global vision of the danger or to anticipate the appropriate maneuver.

[009] The invention aims to overcome at least in part these disadvantages by proposing an assisted lighting system to benefit from a better overall visibility of the road when using a very long-range road light, to improve the anticipation of potential hazards on the road.

More specifically, in order to achieve this result, the present invention relates to an assisted lighting system for a vehicle, particularly for a motor vehicle, said assisted lighting system comprising lighting means configured to illuminate successively a first illuminated area of a scene and at least a second illuminated area of said scene, the first illuminated area and said at least one second illuminated area being geographically consecutive. The assisted lighting system also comprises acquisition means configured to successively acquire a first raw image of said first illuminated zone and at least a second imagebrute of said at least one second illuminated zone.

The assisted lighting system according to the invention is remarkable in that it comprises calculation means configured to form a hybrid image from the first raw image of the first illuminated area and said at least one second raw image said at least one second illuminated area, so as to improve the visualization of the scene by a driver of the vehicle.

Such an assisted lighting system makes it possible to form a hybrid image composed of a set of illuminated geographical areas, thus providing the driver with better visibility, enabling him to anticipate a maneuver in case of a disturbance.

[0013] Advantageously, the lighting means comprise an illumination and / or light signaling module adapted to emit a light beam, the assisted lighting system comprises motorization means adapted to modify the orientation of said light beam. Such motorization means can direct the light beam to different geographical areas of the scene.

[0014] Advantageously, the lighting module of the lighting means is a very long-range headlight module, allowing visibility at a very longistance, of the order of 500 to 600 meters.

[0015] Advantageously, the motorization means of the lighting system comprises at least one actuator, adapted to modify the orientation of the light beam, allowing a simple and rapid modification of the orientation of the light beam. In addition, the motorization means may comprise a plurality of actuators in order to control the orientation of the beam in several directions.

Preferably, the display means of the assisted lighting system are adapted to display said hybrid image composed of the first raw image and deladite at least a second raw image, allowing the driver to view the lascene directly on the means d display.

[0017] Advantageously, the control module of the assisted lighting system is configured to define the orientation of the light beam and / or to control the demotorization means, allowing the centralization of the information related to the orientation of the light beam in order to avoid possible transmission errors.

[0018] Advantageously, the acquisition means comprise the control means and / or the calculation means, making it possible to have a system largely included in the same equipment, allowing a saving of space.

Advantageously, the very long-range headlight module is adapted to emit a short-duration light beam of between 200 and 800 milliseconds, preferably of the order of 300 milliseconds. The emission of such a light source, similar to a flash, avoids dazzling other road users.

Advantageously, the acquisition means comprise a multifunction video camera adapted to capture an image of an illuminated area, allowing mounting of the acquisition means directly in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Moreover, such a video camera can provide other advantages, such as monitoring the trajectory or recording of a scene, all the advantages being then included in the same equipment.

Preferably, the control module is adapted to add a correction related to the speed of the vehicle, allowing the display of a better quality picture, sharper and comprising more details and details of the scene.

Advantageously, the display means comprises an embedded screen adapted to display the hybrid image corresponding to a combination of the first raw image and said at least one second raw image, allowing live viewing of the scene in real time.

Preferably, the vehicle comprising a windshield and the display means comprise a projection module capable of projecting the hybrid image on said windshield. Such a projection module allows a larger display and placed more directly in the field of view of the driver.

The invention also relates to a method of forming a hybrid image, comprising: a step of successively lighting a first illuminated area of a scene and at least a second illuminated area of said scene, the first illuminated area and laditeau minus a second illuminated area being geographically consecutive; a step of successively acquiring a first raw image of said first illuminated area and at least one second raw image of said at least one second illuminated area; anda step of forming a hybrid image from the first raw image of the first illuminated area and said at least one second raw image of said at least one second illuminated area. Such a method makes it possible to form a sharp and enlightened image of a scene located at a very long distance, of the order of 500 to 600 meters.

[0025] Finally, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assisted lighting system as described above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings which show: FIG. schematic representation of an assisted lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, • Figure 2, a schematic representation of a zone illuminated by the diffusion of the light beam of a lighting module of a lighting system. 1, and FIG. 3, a schematic representation of the steps of a method of forming a hybrid image by an assisted lighting system according to an embodiment of the invention.

In what follows, the described embodiments are particularly attached to an implementation of the assisted lighting system according to the invention ausein a motor vehicle. However, any implementation in a different context, especially in any type of vehicle, is also covered by the present invention.

As a reminder, a motor vehicle includes lighting means and / or lighting design to illuminate the road to improve the driver's visibility of the vehicle. Such means include in particular night-time traffic lights, sometimes supplemented by a long-range headlight module, allowing a visibility of the order of 500 to 600 meters.

Such a very long-range headlight module projects a very concentrated light beam, whose illumination window, of the order of 1 ° to 2 °, is too narrow to allow the driver of the vehicle to distinguish a particular danger. In order to optimize the use of such a very long-range high beam, the invention described in this document proposes to scan a scene composed of a plurality of geographical zones, in order to compose an image of this scene from the plurality of swept areas illuminated by the light beam of a very long-range driving light.

To this end, Figure 1 shows an assisted lighting system 1 for a vehicle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising: - lighting means 10 for illuminating a plurality of zones Z , geographically consecutive of a scene S, - acquisition means 20 for acquiring a plurality of raw images I, of the plurality of zones Z ,, - calculation means 30 for forming a hybrid image lh composed of the plurality of raw images I, obtained by the acquisition means 20.

Such an assisted lighting system 1 makes it possible to reconstitute a scene S located at a very long distance from a plurality of raw images I, of a plurality of zonesZ, illuminated by the lighting means 10. Such lighting means 10 comprise, according to one embodiment of the invention, a lighting module 11 before, preferably a lighting module 11 of very long range, to illuminate theplurality of zones Z, located geographically at a very long distance.

The lighting module 11 of very long range allows the emission of a fceaulumineux F whose range is of the order of 500 to 600 meters. Such a light beam F is preferably emitted over a very short time interval, in order to avoid dazzling other road users. Thus, such a light beam F is emitted for example over a time interval of 300 milliseconds duration, in order to emit a light equivalent to a flash. Such a lighting module 11 also emits a light source F in a variable orientation.

Indeed, with reference to Figure 1, the direction of the light beam F emitted by the lighting module 11 extends towards the front of the vehicle. In this example, the vehicle extends longitudinally along an axis X, laterally along an axis Y and vertically along an axis Z, so as to form an orthogonal reference (X, Y, Z). Thus by the horizontal term, we mean an object extending in the plane (X, Y). Similarly, the vertical meter designates an object extending in the plane (X, Z) and the transverse term, an object extending in the plane (Y, Z). Thus the variable light beam F, can be set vertically, it is called "site adjustment", and horizontally, it is called "azimuth adjustment".

For this purpose, the assisted lighting system 1 further comprises demotoring means 12, positioned at the rear of the lighting module 11. Preferably, in this example, the lighting means 10 comprise the motorization means 12, such as actuators whose operation allows to deflect the light beam Fet to adjust its orientation according to the desired lighting direction. As previously described, the motorization means 12 allow adjustment in elevation and in azimuth of the orientation of the light beam F. Such an adjustment makes it possible for the light beam F of the very long illumination device 11 to scan a scene S located at a very long distance. distance.

Still with reference to FIG. 1, as described above, such a sceneS is divided into a plurality of zones Z, so as to form a matrix of the scene S.The different geographical zones Z are thus illuminated successively during the scanning. of the scene S by the light beam F. According to a preferred form of the invention, the very long-range illumination module 11 oriented by the magnetization means 12 allows successive illumination of a plurality of zones Z, geographicallyconscious. In other words, a first zone is directly contiguous to a second zone Z2, itself contiguous to a third zone Z3, and so on.

During the scanning of the scene S, the acquisition means 20 successively allow the acquisition of a raw image I of each illuminated zone Z ,. For this, the acquisition means 20 comprise a display module 21 in this example in the form of a video camera. Such a video camera makes it possible to visualize a zone Z, when it is illuminated by the light beam F. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such acquisition means 20 also comprise a control module 22, making it possible to determine the zone Z, to illuminate.

To do this, the control module 22 makes it possible to determine the dimensions of each zone Z ,, from the opening angle of the light beam F, of the order of 1 to 2 degrees, thus making it possible to calculate the offset, horizontal or vertical, to apply to the light beam F so that it goes from a zone Z, illuminated to a new zone Z, to illuminate.

The control module 22 thus simultaneously makes it possible to determine a new zone Z, to be illuminated, to orient the display module 21 towards this new zone Z, and to depilate the motorization means 12 so as to orient the light beam F on this new zone Z ,. The zone Z is thus illuminated by the lighting module 11 and visualized by the display module 21.

The acquisition means 20 also make it possible to capture a raw image I of the illuminated zone Z. Such a raw image capture I is preferably controlled by the control module 22. Such a raw image I is recorded and stored by the calculation means 30 of the assisted lighting system 1.

Such computing means 30, preferably integrated with the control module 22, store the raw images I, and allow to analyze these raw images I ,, each representing a zone Z, illuminated at a very long distance. The decalculating means 30 thus make it possible to form a hybrid image 1h of the scene S composed of the set of raw images I, stored.

In this example the calculation means 30 and the control module 22, are integrated with the acquisition means 20, however it goes without saying that any other embodiment, in particular wherein each module is independent could be used.

By way of example, in a simplified manner, FIG. 2 represents a scene divided into four distinct geographical zones: Zb Z2, Z3, Z4. The first zone is geographically consecutive to the second zone Z2, itself geographically consecutive to the third zone Z3, itself geographically consecutive to the fourth zone Z4, the four zones Zb Z2, Z3, Z4 being positioned in a precise order, predetermined by the piloting module 22.

In this example, the control module 22 can successively steer the viewing module 21 and the lighting module 11 on the four zones Zb Z2, Z3, Z4. The lighting module 11 thus allows to illuminate successively these four zones Zb Z2, Z3, Z4. The acquisition means 20 make it possible to successively capture four frames h, 12, 13, 14 of the four zones Zb Z2, Z3, Z4. The calculation means 30, configured to store the four raw images h, l2, l3, l4, make it possible to reconstruct the scene S, situated at a very long distance, by creating a hybrid image lh, composed of the four raw images h, k, I3, L The assisted lighting system 1 according to the invention also comprises display means 40 for displaying the hybrid image 1h. The display means 40 are preferably in the form of a GUI type screen (meaning Human Machine Interface), however it goes without saying that other display means such as the projection of the hybrid image lh on the windshield of the vehicle for example, could be used.

Such display means 40 allow the driver to clearly and accurately view a danger located at a very long distance. Such a display brings the driver and his passengers more security by allowing him to anticipate the appropriate maneuver allowing him to avoid an obstacle or danger.

It will now be presented a method for forming a hybrid image 1h, reconstituting a scene S from a plurality of raw images I, captured from a plurality of zones Z, illuminated at a very long distance, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this example, the method of forming a hybrid image lh applies to a motor vehicle comprising a lighting module 11 of very long range as previously described. For the sake of simplicity, the scene S to be illuminated by such an illumination module 11 is divided in this example into four zones Zb Z2, Z3, Z4. It goes without saying that the same training method applies regardless of the number of zones Z, constituting the scene S.

According to a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the method according to the invention comprises a first step E1A of determination by the control module 22 of a first zone Z of the scene S to be illuminated. The control module 22 then drives the display module 21 as well as the drive means 12 in order to orient the light beam F towards the first zone Zb. The very long lighting module 11 then illuminates the first zone T in a step E2A.

Such a first illuminated zone T is thus visualized by the means of estimation 21. A first raw image h is then captured in a step E3A by the acquisition means 20 and stored in a step E4A by the calculation means 30.

The control module 22 then determines, in a step E1 B, a second zone Z2 to be illuminated, the second zone Z2 of the scene S being geographically consecutive to the first zone Zb. The piloting module 22 then drives the estimation module 21 as well. the motorization means 12 to direct the light beam F to the second zone Z2. The lighting module 11 of very long range then illuminates the second zone Z2 in a step E2B.

Such a second illuminated zone Z2 is thus visualized by the means of estimation 21. A second raw image 12 is then captured in a step E3B by the acquisition means 20 and stored in a step E4B by the calculation means 30.

The control module 22 then determines, in a step E1C, a third zone Z3 to be illuminated, the third zone Z3 of the scene S being geographically consecutive to the second zone Z2. The control module 22 then drives the display module 21 and the motorization means 12 in order to orient the light beam F towards the third zone Z3. The very long-range illumination module 11 then illuminates the third zone Z3 in a step E2C.

Such a third illuminated zone Z3 is thus visualized by the means of visualization 21. A third raw image 13 is then captured in a step E3C by the acquisition means 20 and stored in a step E4C by the calculation means 30.

The control module 22 finally determines, in a step E1D, a fourth zone Z4 to be illuminated, the fourth zone Z4 of the scene S being geographically consecutive to the third zone Z3. The control module 22 then pilot the package 21 and the motorization means 12 to direct the light beam F to the fourth zone Z4. The lighting module 11 of very long range then illuminates the fourth zone Z4 in a step E2D.

Such a fourth illuminated zone Z4 is thus visualized by the means of estimation 21. A fourth raw image 14 is then captured in a step E3D by the acquisition means 20 and stored in a step E4D by the calculation means 30.

Once the four raw images h, l2, l3, l4 have been stored, the computing means 30 form, in a step E5, a hybrid image lh, corresponding to the combination of which raw images h, l2, l3, l4 are stored, each representing a zone Z, different geographics of the scene S. Such a hybrid image lh is then displayed on the display means 40, in a step E6.

According to the embodiment presented in this document, the decalculating means 30 stores the four raw images h, l2, l3, l4 before forming the hybrid image lh, and displaying it on the display means 40. However, the hybrid image 1h could equally well start to be displayed as soon as the first raw image h is acquired, and be modified in real time on the display means 40 each time a raw image I, a new zone Z, geographical scene S is acquired. Each new raw image I, could thus be added to the previous raw images h, in order to progressively transform the hybrid image lh. Such a hybrid image lh would then be updated in real time with each acquisition of a new raw image I, of a new Z region, of a new scene S. Each new raw image I, of the new scene S would then be substituted. successively to the raw image I, corresponding to the previous scene S.

The display of the hybrid image 1h on the display means 40 allows the driver of the vehicle to view the scene S, located at a very long distance, in an illuminated manner. The driver of the vehicle can easily identify the presence of undanger and provide the appropriate maneuver to continue his journey safely.

Claims (3)

Claims: 1. Assisted lighting system (1) for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle, said assisted lighting system (1) comprising: lighting means (10) configured to illuminate successively a first area (Zi) illuminated with a scene (S) and at least one second zone (Z2) illuminated with said scene (S), the first illuminated zone (Z1) and said at least one second illuminated zone (Z2) being geographically consecutive, - acquisition means ( 20) configured to successively acquire a first raw image (h) of said first illuminated area (Z1) and at least one second raw image (I2) of said at least one second illuminated area (Z2), said assisted lighting system (1) characterized by comprising calculating means (30) configured to form a hybrid image (lh) from the first raw image (h) of the first illuminated area (Z1) and said at least one second raw image (I 2) of said at least one second illuminated zone (Z2), so as to improve the viewing of the scene (S) by a driver of the vehicle, and in thatthe illumination means (10) comprise a lighting module (11). ) and / or light designization adapted to emit a light beam (F), the assisted lighting system (1) comprising motorization means (12) adapted to modify the orientation of said light beam (F). 2. Assisted lighting system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lighting module (11) is a very long beam headlight module. 3. Assisted lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprisingdisplay means (40) adapted to display said hybrid image (lh) composed of the first raw image (h) and said at least one second raw image (I2). 4. Assisted lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprisinga driving module (22), configured to define the orientation of the light beam (F) and / or drive the drive means (12). 5. Assisted lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which pilotage module (22) is adapted to add a correction related to the speed of the vehicle. Assisted lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in whichthe display means (40) comprise an onboard screen adapted to display the hybrid image (lh) corresponding to a combination of the first raw image ( h) and said at least one second raw image (k). 7. Assisted lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, whereinthe vehicle comprising a windshield, the display means (40) comprises a projection module adapted to project the hybrid image (lh) on said windshield. 8. A method of forming a hybrid image (1h), implementing the lighting system according to one of the preceding claims, said method comprising: a step of lighting (E2) successive of a first zone (Z1) illuminated with an escène (S) and at least one second zone (Z2) illuminated with said scene (S), the first illuminated zone (Zi) and said at least one second illuminated zone (Z2) being geographically consecutive, the illumination of the first and second zones (Z1, Z2) being realized by a modification of the orientation of the light beam emitted by the lighting module; a step (E3) of successive acquisition of a first raw image (h) of said first illuminated zone (Z1) and at least one second raw image (I2) of the tentitus minus a second illuminated zone (Z2); step (E5) of forming a hybrid image (lh) from the first raw image (h) of the first illuminated area (Z1) and said at least one second raw image (12) of said at least one second area ( Z2) illuminated. 9. Motor vehicle comprising an assisted lighting system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7.