US 12,377,777 B2
Vehicle state-based light projection communication system
Brian Mason, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Sridhar Lakshmanan, Belleville, MI (US); Pam McAuslan, LaSalle (CA); and Marie Waung, West Bloomfield, MI (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/375,959.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/412,470, filed on Oct. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109478 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/50 (2006.01); B60Q 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/507 (2022.05) [B60Q 1/0023 (2013.01); B60Q 1/5037 (2022.05); B60Q 1/545 (2022.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light projection system for use in communicating intent of an automated system of a vehicle to a user comprising: a light projector mounted on a vehicle and configured for projecting light onto a surface behind the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the light projected by the light projector, wherein the controller is configured to cause the light projector to project light onto the surface behind the vehicle as a displayed graphic configured for alerting pedestrians behind the vehicle of the vehicle's intention in response to determination of a traffic state and of a vehicle state when at least one pedestrian is detected in a predetermined zone around the vehicle, and wherein the light projection system is configured to update the projected light in response to updated sensor data from a sensor on the vehicle.