US 12,330,551 B2
Method for operating at least one vehicle headlight and vehicle
Adriano Ruggiero, Pforzheim (DE)
Assigned to MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG, Stuttgart (DE)
Appl. No. 18/267,836
Filed by MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG, Stuttgart (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/078275
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 16, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/128201, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 23, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 007 773.0 (DE), filed on Dec. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0051456 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/143 (2013.01) [B60Q 2300/054 (2013.01); B60Q 2300/056 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating at least one vehicle headlight of a vehicle, the method comprising:
generating, by at least one optical sensor, sensor signals for an environment external to the vehicle;
evaluating the sensor signals to generate a control signal;
switching the at least one vehicle headlight between a dim light ground lighting mode and a bright light ground lighting mode depending on the control signal, wherein a light field emitted by the at least one vehicle headlight is at least partially dimmed in the bright ground lighting mode depending on the control signal or the light field emitted by the at least one vehicle headlight is at least partially brightened by switching on at least one additional light;
operating the at least one vehicle headlight in the bright ground lighting mode with the at least one additional light switched on;
determining, based on the sensor signals, whether it is necessary to dim at least one region of the light field or whether it is necessary to switch the at least one vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, wherein when it is necessary to dim at least one region of the light field or it is necessary to switch the at least one vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, the additional light is deactivated; and
determining, based on the sensor signals, whether it is still required to at least partially dim the light field or switch the at least one vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, wherein
when it is still required to at least partially dim the light field or switch the at least one vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, at least at least one region of the light field is dimmed or the vehicle headlight is switched into the dim ground lighting mode, and
when it is not still required to at least partially dim the light field or switch the at least one vehicle headlight into the dim ground lighting mode, the at least one vehicle headlight is operated in the bright ground lighting mode with the at least one additional light switched on.