US 12,252,069 B2
Light distribution control apparatus that irradiates different regions with a different illuminances
Tetsuya Ikuta, Miyoshi (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/533,845.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-006844 (JP), filed on Jan. 19, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0246477 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/14 (2006.01); F21S 41/657 (2018.01)
CPC B60Q 1/143 (2013.01) [F21S 41/657 (2018.01); B60Q 2300/054 (2013.01); B60Q 2300/42 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light distribution control apparatus comprising:
an imaging device capable of capturing an image of a front vehicle existing in front of an own vehicle;
a headlight capable of irradiating a front region of the own vehicle; and
a control unit capable of executing light distribution control for controlling light distribution of the headlight so that a predetermined first region including the front vehicle and a predetermined second region other than the first region are irradiated with different illuminances based on the captured image obtained by capturing an image of the front region of the own vehicle,
wherein the control unit is configured to:
set an illuminance to be irradiated in the first region to be less than an illuminance to be irradiated in the second region;
set an area of the first region based on a position in a lateral direction of the front vehicle in the captured image;
when an angle in the lateral direction of a right end and a left end of the front vehicle with respect to a front-rear axis of the own vehicle is defined as a right vehicle angle and a left vehicle angle, respectively,
calculate the right vehicle angle and the left vehicle angle based on positions in the lateral direction of the right end and the left end of the front vehicle in the captured image, respectively, and to calculate a difference between the right vehicle angle and the left vehicle angle as a vehicle width angle of the front vehicle;
execute the light distribution control so that a right margin from the right end of the front vehicle to a right end of the first region increases as at least one of an absolute value of the right vehicle angle or the vehicle width angle increases, and
execute the light distribution control so that a left margin from the left end of the front vehicle to a left end of the first region increases as at least one of an absolute value of the left vehicle angle or the vehicle width angle increases.