阅读说明：本技术 车辆的沟通照明系统 (Communication lighting system for vehicle ) 是由 安秉石 林政煜 于 2020-10-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种车辆的沟通照明系统。检测车辆周围的行人并且经由顺序地点亮的照明来执行行人与车辆之间的沟通,从而使车辆和行人能够相互识别,进而确保安全性。也就是说,提供了一种车辆的沟通照明系统,其中车辆通过跟随行人的移动路径投射光来发送车辆识别出行人的信号,并且行人识别车辆识别出行人。(The present invention relates to a communication lighting system for a vehicle. Pedestrians around the vehicle are detected and communication between the pedestrians and the vehicle is performed via sequentially lit illumination, thereby enabling the vehicle and the pedestrians to recognize each other, thereby ensuring safety. That is, there is provided a communication lighting system of a vehicle, in which the vehicle transmits a signal that the vehicle recognizes a pedestrian by projecting light following a moving path of the pedestrian, and the pedestrian-recognizing vehicle recognizes the pedestrian.)

1. A communication lighting system of a vehicle, the communication lighting system comprising:

an illumination unit including a plurality of light sources arranged sequentially to divide a light irradiation area into a plurality of areas and project light to each of the plurality of areas at different brightness;

a sensor configured to detect at least one object in a detection area around a vehicle to detect a position of the object, thereby providing information on the position of the object; and

a controller electrically connected to the lighting unit and the sensor, and configured to control the lighting unit, receive information from the sensor, set a priority of an object entering the detection area among the at least one object, and selectively control the brightness of light to be projected to the object at different brightness by selectively controlling each of the plurality of light sources of the lighting unit according to the priority of the object moving in the detection area.

2. The communication lighting system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

the controller sequentially sets each of the plurality of objects as an nth detected object when a plurality of objects among the at least one object enter the detection area, n being an integer;

the controller is configured to control the lighting unit to perform luminance control of light for a first detection object among the plurality of objects, perform luminance control of light for an nth object among the plurality of objects entering the detection area after the first detection object leaves the detection area, and then perform luminance control of light for an nth' detection object among the plurality of objects entering the detection area after the nth detection object leaves the detection area, thereby sequentially performing luminance control of light.

3. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the controller recognizes an object that enters the detection area among the at least one object via the sensor, the controller is configured to set an object that first enters the detection area as the first detection object, and perform brightness control for light of the first detection object by controlling the lighting unit.

4. The communication illumination system of the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein when the controller recognizes that another object of the at least one object enters the detection area subsequent to the first detection object, the controller is configured to set the another object as a second detection object, and when the first detection object is located within the detection area, the controller does not perform brightness control for light of the second detection object;

the controller is configured to perform brightness control for light of the second detection object when the first detection object leaves the detection area in a state where the first detection object and the second detection object are located in the detection area.

5. The communication illumination system of the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to perform brightness control of light for a third detection object when the third detection object enters the detection area after the first detection object leaves the detection area.

6. The communication lighting system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

the lighting unit is formed in plurality to include lighting units disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the vehicle;

the lighting unit includes a left lighting unit having a left irradiation region and a right lighting unit having a right irradiation region in a width direction of the vehicle;

the sensor is configured to detect a position of at least one object by dividing a detection area into a plurality of sub-areas including a left irradiation area and a right irradiation area, respectively.

7. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the detection area of the sensor includes: a first region including a left irradiation region, a second region including a right irradiation region, and a third region including a space between the first region and the second region.

8. The communication lighting system of a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein when the controller recognizes that at least two objects of the at least one object enter the first area, the controller is configured to set an object of the at least one object which first enters the first area as a first detection object, set an object of the at least one object which subsequently enters the first area as a second detection object, and control the left lighting unit so as to perform brightness control of light following the first detection object in the left illumination area.

9. The communication lighting system for a vehicle according to claim 8,

when the controller recognizes that the first detection object leaves the first area and enters the third area, the controller is configured to control each of the lighting units so as to perform luminance control on a right side of the left irradiation area and a left side of the right irradiation area;

when the controller recognizes that the first detection object exits the third area and enters the second area, the controller is configured to control the right illumination unit so as to perform luminance control following the movement of the first detection object.

10. The communication illumination system of the vehicle according to claim 8, wherein in a state where the first detection object is located in the detection area, the controller is configured to prevent execution of brightness control of light on other detection objects entering the detection area among the at least one object.

11. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when an additional object of the at least one object enters the detection area after the first detection object leaves the second area, the controller is configured to perform brightness control of light for the additional object.

12. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when the first detected object leaves the second area, the controller is configured to perform brightness control of light of the second detected object entering the detection area subsequent to the first detected object.

13. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when the first detected object leaves the first area and the second detected object is located in the first area, the controller is configured to control the left lighting unit so as to further perform the brightness control following the movement of the second detected object.

14. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when the second detected object is located in the third area, the controller is configured to control each of the lighting units so as to further perform brightness control on a right side of the left irradiation area and a left side of the right irradiation area.

15. The communication lighting system of a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein when the controller recognizes that a plurality of objects among the at least one object enter the first area and the second area, respectively, the controller is configured to set an object, which enters the first area and the second area first, of the objects as a first detection object, set an object, which enters the first area and the second area later, of the objects as a second detection object, and perform brightness control of light for the first detection object.

16. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to perform brightness control for lights of the remaining detection objects other than the first detection object and the additional detection object.

17. The communication illumination system of the vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to set a priority to each of the objects entering the first area and the second area and the object entering the third area, respectively, select the first detection object in each area, and perform the brightness control of the light for each first detection object by controlling the illumination unit.

18. The communication illumination system for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein in a state where the first detection object is located in the detection area, the controller is configured to prevent execution of brightness control of light on other detection objects entering the detection area.

19. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to perform brightness control of light for a predetermined detection object when the predetermined detection object enters the first area or the second area after the first detection object leaves the first area or the second area.

20. The communication lighting system of the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the detection area of the sensor further includes a fourth area in which an object approaching on the left side of the first area among the at least one object is detected, and a fifth area in which an object approaching on the right side of the second area among the at least one object is detected.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication lighting system for a vehicle, which provides information to a pedestrian using a lighting device of the vehicle.

Background

Lighting devices using various light sources are applied to vehicles, and each lighting device is appropriately used according to its characteristics and installation location and use purpose.

The illumination devices include, for example, an interior illumination lamp disposed inside the vehicle, and a headlamp, a fog lamp, a tail lamp, a side marker lamp, a license plate lamp, a brake lamp, a turn signal lamp, and an emergency flash lamp disposed outside the vehicle.

The lighting device disposed outside the vehicle also contributes to enhancing the appearance of the product, and therefore the lighting design and lighting effect of the vehicle are also important.

In general, a main object of a lighting device disposed in a vehicle is to radiate light toward a front side, and therefore technical development is focused on ensuring convergence and diffusion of light. Further, in order to improve the design of illumination, the shape of the periphery of the illumination apparatus is changed to improve the aesthetic property, and sequential lighting illumination is often applied.

Meanwhile, in recent years, autonomous vehicles have been developed, which require communication with external pedestrians for safety. However, when a separate device for communicating with an external pedestrian is provided, there is a problem in that an installation space of the device is limited.

The information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a communication lighting system of a vehicle (which may also be referred to as a "vehicle communication lighting system" hereinafter) which ensures stability by communicating with an external pedestrian using sequentially-lit lighting.

To achieve the object, a communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: an illumination unit including a plurality of light sources arranged sequentially to divide a light irradiation area into a plurality of areas and project light to each area at different brightness; the sensor unit is configured to detect an object of a detection area around a vehicle to detect a position of the object; the control unit is configured to control the illumination unit, receive information from the sensor unit, set a priority of an object entering the detection area, and selectively control the brightness of light to be projected to the object at different brightness by selectively controlling each light source of the illumination unit according to the priority of the object moving in the detection area.

When a plurality of objects enter the detection area, the control unit sequentially sets each object as an nth detection object, the control unit controls the illumination unit to perform brightness control of light for a first detection object, performs brightness control of light for an nth object entering the detection area after the first detection object leaves the detection area, and then performs brightness control of light for an nth' detection object entering the detection area after the nth detection object leaves the detection area, thereby sequentially performing brightness control of light.

When the controller recognizes that the object enters the detection area via the sensor unit, the control unit sets the object that first enters the detection area as a first detection object, and performs luminance control for light of the first detection object by controlling the illumination unit.

When the controller recognizes that another object enters the detection area subsequent to the first detection object, the control unit sets the other object as a second detection object, and when the first detection object is located within the detection area, the control unit does not perform brightness control for light of the second detection object.

The control unit performs luminance control for light of the second detection object when the first detection object leaves the detection area in a state where the first detection object and the second detection object are located in the detection area.

The control unit sets the further object as a third detection object when the controller recognizes that the further object enters the detection area following the second detection object, and performs luminance control of light for the third detection object when the third detection object enters the detection area after the first detection object leaves the detection area.

The illumination units are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the vehicle, and include a left illumination unit having a left irradiation region and a right illumination unit having a right irradiation region in the width direction of the vehicle, and the sensor unit detects a position of the object by dividing the detection region into a plurality of sub-regions respectively including the left irradiation region and the right irradiation region.

The detection area of the sensor unit includes: a first region including a left irradiation region, a second region including a right irradiation region, and a third region including a space between the first region and the second region.

When the controller recognizes that two or more objects enter the first area, the control unit sets an object that first enters the first area as a first detection object, sets an object that subsequently enters the first area as a second detection object, and controls the left illumination unit so as to perform luminance control of light following the first detection object in the left illumination area.

When the controller recognizes that the first detection object leaves the first area and enters the third area, the control unit controls each of the lighting units so that the luminance control of light is performed on the right side of the left irradiation area and the left side of the right irradiation area.

When the controller recognizes that the first detection object exits the third area and enters the second area, the control unit controls the right illumination unit so as to perform luminance control of light following the movement of the first detection object.

In a state where the first detection object is located in the detection area, the control unit prevents the luminance control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area.

When a third detection object enters the detection area after the first detection object leaves the second area, the control unit performs luminance control of light for the third detection object.

When the first detection object leaves the second area, the control unit performs luminance control of light of a second detection object that enters the detection area subsequent to the first detection object.

When the first detection object leaves the first area and the second detection object is located in the first area, the control unit controls the left illumination unit so as to further perform luminance control of light following movement of the second detection object.

When the second detection object is located in the third detection area, the control unit controls each illumination unit so as to further perform luminance control of light on the right side of the left irradiation area and the left side of the right irradiation area.

When the controller recognizes that the objects enter the first and second areas, respectively, the control unit sets an object that first enters the first and second areas as a first detection object, sets an object that subsequently enters the first and second areas as a second detection object, and controls the luminance of light for the first detection object.

The control unit performs luminance control for light of the remaining detection objects other than the first detection object and the additional detection object.

The control unit sets a priority to each object entering the first, second, and third areas, respectively, selects the first detection object in each area, and performs luminance control of light for each first detection object by controlling the illumination unit.

In a state where the first detection object is located in the detection area, the control unit prevents the luminance control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area.

The control unit performs brightness control of light for a specific detection object when the specific detection object enters the first area or the second area after the first detection object leaves the first area or the second area.

The detection area of the sensor unit further includes: a fourth area in which an object approaching on the left side of the first area is detected; an approaching object on the right side of the second area is detected in the fifth area.

The vehicle communication illumination system having the above-described structure detects a pedestrian around the vehicle and communicates with the pedestrian via the sequentially lit illumination, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle and the pedestrian. That is, the vehicle projects light along a moving path of the pedestrian, sends a signal that the vehicle recognizes the pedestrian, and the pedestrian is configured to recognize that the pedestrian moves safely around the vehicle by recognizing the vehicle.

The method and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in detail in the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, which are incorporated herein, and which together serve to explain certain principles of the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a lighting unit of the vehicle communication lighting system shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 and 4 are schematic views respectively showing exemplary embodiments of a vehicle communication lighting system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 9 and 10 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 11 and 12 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a suitably simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the invention incorporated herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and environment of use.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to like or equivalent parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that this description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. In another aspect, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternative embodiments, modified embodiments, equivalent embodiments and other embodiments, which are included in the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fig. 2 is a schematic view exemplarily showing a lighting unit of the vehicle communication lighting system shown in fig. 1, fig. 3 and 4 are schematic views each showing an exemplary embodiment of a vehicular communication illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, fig. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fig. 9 and 10 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicular communication illumination system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fig. 11 and 12 are schematic views respectively showing another exemplary embodiment of a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: an illumination unit 10, a sensor unit 20, and a control unit 30, the illumination unit 10 including a plurality of light sources 11, the plurality of light sources 11 being sequentially arranged to divide a light irradiation area into a plurality of areas and to project light to each area with different brightness; the sensor unit 20 is configured to detect an object of a detection area D around the vehicle to detect a position of the object; the control unit 30 is configured to control the lighting unit, receive information from the sensor unit 20, set a priority of an object entering the detection area D, and selectively control the brightness of light of the object to be projected at different brightness by selectively controlling each light source 11 of the lighting unit according to the priority of the object moving in the detection area D.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various types of objects such as pedestrians or small vehicles may be detected around a vehicle.

As shown in fig. 2, the lighting unit 10 includes a plurality of light sources 11, the plurality of light sources 11 being arranged in a predetermined direction, and such that each light source 11 is configured to be individually lit by the control unit 30. Accordingly, an illumination area to which light is projected by the illumination unit 10 may be divided into a plurality of areas such that the areas are configured to project light at different brightness, respectively. The lighting unit 10 may be disposed on a headlamp side of the vehicle, a rear lamp side of the vehicle, or a side mirror or side panel side of the vehicle.

The sensor unit 20 may include various sensors such as LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic sensors, and sets a detection area D around the vehicle to detect the position of an object detected in the detection area D.

The position information on the object detected by the sensor unit 20 is transmitted to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 sets the priority of the object entering the detection area (D) and controls each light source 11 of the lighting unit 10. The control unit 30 sets the priority of the object entering the detection area D, and selectively controls each light source 11 of the lighting unit 10 such that light is projected toward the moving object according to the priority of the object moving in the detection area D. Here, the controller 30 performs brightness control such that light is projected to the subject side at different brightness, and may increase the brightness of the light projected to the subject side to ensure that the light can be recognized.

That is, when a pedestrian or an object enters the detection region D, the control unit 30 determines a priority according to the entering order of the pedestrian or the object, and projects the light of the lighting unit 10 along the moving path of the pedestrian or the object according to the priority, thereby ensuring the psychological stability of the pedestrian through the communication between the vehicle and the pedestrian.

When a plurality of objects enter the detection area D, the control unit 30 sequentially sets each object as an nth detection object, where n is an integer, and the control unit 30 is configured to: controlling the illumination unit 10 to perform luminance control of light for the first detection object P; performing brightness control of light for an nth object after the first detection object P leaves the detection area D; then, after the nth detection object P leaves the detection region D, the luminance control of the light for the nth' detection object P entering the detection region D is performed, thereby sequentially performing the luminance control of the light.

That is, the control unit 30 sets the priority of each detection object P according to the entry order of the objects entering the detection area D, thereby sequentially performing the luminance control of the light for each detection object P based on the priority. As described above, the present invention designates an object entering the detection area D as the detection object P according to the priority, and performs the luminance control of the light for the detection object P according to the priority, so that it is possible to indicate to the outside that the vehicle is recognizing the object passing through the detection area D. Further, the vehicles perform sequential recognition in order of passing through the priorities near the vehicles from front to rear up to the last object, thereby avoiding a safety accident between the objects and the vehicles.

Referring to fig. 3, when it is determined that an object enters the detection area D via the sensor unit 20, the control unit 30 sets an object, which first enters the detection area D, as a first detection object P1, and controls the lighting unit 10 to perform luminance control of light for the first detection object P1.

That is, the control unit 30 sets an object that first enters the detection area D as the first detection object P1 having the highest priority, and performs luminance control of light such that the light is projected at different luminance to the first detection object P1 moving in the detection area D. Here, the brightness control of the light increases the brightness of the light for the first detection object P1 so that the light is condensed on the first detection object P1, thereby making recognition of the object and communication with the object clear. In this way, the illumination unit 10 performs illumination of each light source 11 following the moving path of the first detected object P1, thereby clearly identifying the first detected object P1 by continuously receiving light while moving.

Meanwhile, when another object is recognized to enter the detection area D after the first detection object P1, the controller 30 sets the object as the second detection object P2. That is, since a plurality of objects can enter the detection region D, the objects are set as the first detection object, the second detection object, and the nth detection object according to the order in which the objects enter the detection region D.

In the present case, the control unit 30 may perform control according to various embodiments as follows.

As various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the first detection object P1 is located in the detection area D, the control unit 30 does not perform light brightness control for the second detection object P2. That is, when the first test object P1 is located within the test region D, even if the second test object P2 is recognized subsequent to the first test object P1, the control unit 30 does not perform the luminance control of the light for the second test object P2, thereby preventing the sense of discomfort caused by the light due to the control of the plurality of light sources 11. Further, since communication between the vehicle and the object is possible even if only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed, only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed.

Here, in a state where the first and second inspections objects P1 and P2 are located in the inspection area D, when the first inspection object P1 leaves the inspection area D, the control unit 30 may perform luminance control of light for the second inspection object P2. That is, when the first detected object P1 leaves the detection area D, the luminance control of light via the lighting unit 10 is not performed in the detection area D, so that the first detected object P1 cannot be recognized. Accordingly, when the first detecting object P1 leaves the detecting region D, the luminance control of the light for the second detecting object P2 is performed so that the vehicle can clearly recognize the second detecting object P2 existing nearby, and so that the second detecting object P2 can recognize that the vehicle is also recognizing the second detecting object P2.

Meanwhile, as shown in fig. 4, when the third test object P3 enters the test area D after the first test object P1 exits the test area D, the control unit 30 may perform luminance control for the light of the third test object P3.

Here, the third test object P3 is an object that enters the test area D after the first test object P1 leaves the test area D, and is expressed only as the third test object P3 to aid in understanding the present invention. The third detection object P3 refers to the detection object P that enters the detection area D after the first detection object P1 leaves the detection area.

When the first test object P1 (currently projecting light to the first test object P1 at different brightness by the lighting unit 10) leaves the test area D, brightness control of light for the third test object P3 entering the test area D is performed after the first test object P1 leaves the first test area D, thereby maintaining light control performed by the lighting unit 10. In the present case, when the first detection object P1 is located in the detection region D, the luminance control for the light of the second detection object P2 (which is located in the detection region D together with the first detection object P1) is not performed, and only the luminance control for the light of the third detection object P3 (which enters the detection region D after the first detection object P1 leaves the detection region D) may be performed.

As described above, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, objects entering the detection area D around the vehicle are set as detection objects having priorities, and the lighting unit 10 projects light to the detection objects P according to the priorities, so that communication can be performed such that the vehicle recognizes the objects and the objects recognize the vehicle.

Next, description will be made assuming that the lighting unit 10 is disposed on the headlamp side of the vehicle. This is merely an example to aid understanding of the invention. Not limited thereto, the lighting unit may be disposed at various positions of the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 5, the lighting units 10 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Thus, the lighting unit 10 may include a left lighting unit 10a having a left irradiation region L1 and a right lighting unit 10b having a right irradiation region L2, and the sensor unit 20 may detect the position of the object by dividing the detection region D into a plurality of sub-regions respectively including the left irradiation region L1 and the right irradiation region L2.

That is, the lighting unit 10 includes a left lighting unit 10a and a right lighting unit 10b in the head lamp of the front of the vehicle, and the left lighting unit 10a and the right lighting unit 10b have a left irradiation region L1 and a right irradiation region L2, respectively. The left irradiation region L1 and the right irradiation region L2 have the same area. Accordingly, the luminance of light in the left irradiation region L1 may be adjusted differently within the irradiation region L by lighting the respective light sources 11 of the left illumination unit 10a, and the luminance of light in the right irradiation region L2 may be adjusted differently within the irradiation region L by lighting the respective light sources 11 of the right illumination unit 10 b.

The sensor unit 20 may divide the detection region D into a plurality of sub-regions, and may identify an object entering each sub-region. Here, the sensing region D of the sensor unit 20 may be divided into a first region D1 including the left irradiation region L1, a second region D2 including the right irradiation region L2, and a third region D3 including a space between the first region D1 and the second region D2. That is, the first region D1 and the left irradiation region L1 are within the same range, the second region D2 and the right irradiation region L2 are within the same range, and the third region D3 is a region between the first region D1 and the second region D2.

In addition, the detection region D of the sensor unit 20 may further include: a fourth region D4 and a fifth region D5, in which an object approaching on the left side of the first region D1 is detected in the fourth region D4; an approaching object on the right side of the second region D2 is detected in the fifth region D5. The fourth region D4 and the fifth region D5 are provided for detecting the approach of the object in advance. That is, the fourth region D4 can rapidly control light within the left irradiation region L1 of the first region D1 by detecting an object entering the first region D1 in advance, and the fifth region D5 can rapidly control light within the right irradiation region L2 of the second region D2 by detecting an object entering the second region D2 in advance. It is thereby possible to set the priority of the object entering the detection area D more finely, and accordingly control the brightness of the light of the illumination unit 10.

With respect to the detection areas of the left illumination unit 10a, the right illumination unit 10b, and the sensor unit 20 described above, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

As various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as can be seen from fig. 5, when it is recognized that two or more objects enter the first region D1, the control unit 30 may set an object, which first enters the first region D1, as a first detected object P1, and then sequentially set objects, which subsequently enter the first region D1, as a second detected object P2. Further, the control unit 30 may control the left illumination unit 10a so as to perform luminance control of light following the first detection object P1 in the left irradiation region L1.

Here, it is assumed that the object enters the first region D1, but this is only for understanding the present invention, and the same control may be performed when the object enters the opposite second region D2.

As described above, when two objects enter the first region D1, the control unit 30 determines the priority according to the order of entering the first region D1. That is, an object that first enters the detection region D may be set as a first detection object P1 having a first priority, and an object that subsequently enters the detection region D may be set as a second detection object P2 having a next priority. In this way, the detection objects may be sequentially set up to the nth detection object.

As described above, when the detected object P is determined according to the priority, the control unit 30 controls the light of the lighting unit 10 for the first detected object P1 entering the first region D1. Thus, since the first detection object P1 continuously receives light while moving in the detection region D, the first detection object P1 can be clearly identified.

Thereafter, when recognizing that the first detected object P1 exits the first region D1 and enters the third region D3, the control unit 30 controls each lighting unit 10 so as to perform luminance control of light on the right side of the left irradiation region L1 and the left side of the right irradiation region L2.

That is, as shown in fig. 6, when the first test object P1 leaves the first region D1 or the second region D2 including the irradiation regions of the lighting units and enters the third region D3, the control unit 30 controls the left lighting unit 10a and the right lighting unit 10b so as to perform luminance control of light on the right side of the left irradiation region L1 and the left side of the right irradiation region L2, thereby indicating that the first test object P1 is located in the third region D3.

That is, even if the detection object P leaves the irradiation region, communication with the detection object P can be maintained by indicating that the detection object P is located between the left irradiation region L1 and the right irradiation region L2.

Meanwhile, in a state where the first detection object P1 is located within the detection area D, the control unit 30 prevents the luminance control for the light of the other detection object that has entered the detection area D from being performed, thereby avoiding inconvenience due to the illumination of the plurality of light sources 11. Further, since communication between the vehicle and the object is possible even if only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed, only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed.

In this way, as shown in fig. 7, if it is recognized that the first detecting object P1 continuously moves, exits the third region D3, and enters the second region D2, the control unit 30 controls the right illuminating unit 10b so as to perform the luminance control of light following the movement of the first detecting object P1. Due to the given configuration, when the first test object P1 moves and enters the second region D2, the light naturally moves following the movement of the first test object P1, so that the first test object P1 can be clearly identified.

Meanwhile, as shown in fig. 8, when the third test object P3 enters the test area D after the first test object P1 leaves the second area D2, the control unit 30 performs luminance control of light on the third test object P3.

That is, when the first detecting object P1 passes through the first region D1 and the third region D3 and passes through the second region D2, it means that the first detecting object P1 leaves the vicinity of the vehicle. Thereby, the luminance control of the light for the main detection target P1 is terminated. Here, when the third test object P3 enters the test area D after the first test object P1 leaves the vicinity of the vehicle, there may be a lack of recognition between the vehicle and the third test object P3. Thus, the control unit 30 can perform the luminance control of the light on the third detected object P3, so that the third detected object P3 can be clearly recognized.

As described above, in the respective exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by performing the luminance control of light on the detection object P entering the first detection region D, communication can be made in which information is provided such that the vehicle is configured to recognize the object and the object also recognizes the vehicle-recognized object. Further, by performing luminance control of light on the additional detection object P that enters the detection area D after the detection object that first enters the detection area D leaves the vicinity of the vehicle, recognition of the additional detection object P is maintained, thereby ensuring stability of all the detection objects P.

Meanwhile, as another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the first sensing object P1 exits the second region D2, the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light on the second sensing object P2 entering the sensing region D after the first sensing object P1.

When the above-described first detecting object P1 passes through the first region D1 and the third region D3 and then passes through the second region D2 to exit the vicinity of the vehicle, the controller 30 may perform luminance control of light on the second detecting object P2 that enters the detecting region D following the first detecting object P1.

In this way, when the lights are sequentially controlled according to the priority of the detection object P entering the detection area D, it can be recognized that the vehicle continuously recognizes the object.

The sequential brightness control of the light may be selectively performed according to the distance between the first and second inspections P1 and P2 or the positions of the first and second inspections P1 and P2 in the respective regions.

As shown in fig. 9, when the first sensing object P1 leaves the first region D1 and the second sensing object P2 is located in the first region D1, the control unit 30 may control the left lighting unit 10a to further perform the luminance control of light according to the movement of the second sensing object P2.

That is, when the first test object P1 is located in the first region D1, since the luminance control of light is performed on the first test object P1, the control of light is not performed on the second test object P2. When the first test object P1 leaves the first region D1 and the second test object P2 is located in the first region D1, the control unit 30 controls the left illumination unit 10a so as to perform luminance control of light following the movement of the second test object P2. Accordingly, the vehicle can be instructed to recognize the second detection object P2 to the outside.

Here, as shown in fig. 10, when the second detected object P2 is located in the third region D3, the control unit 30 may control the respective lighting units 10 so as to further perform luminance control of light on the right side of the left lighting region L1 and the left side of the right lighting region L2.

That is, when the first test object P1 is located in the third region D3, the luminance control of light is performed on the right side of the left illumination region L1 and the left side of the right illumination region L2, so that the recognition of the first test object P1 can be maintained. Thereafter, when the first test object P1 is moved to the second area D2, the right lighting unit 10b can perform light control following the first test object P1. Further, when the second test object P2 enters the third region D3, the luminance control of light is performed on the right side of the left irradiation region L1 and the left side of the right irradiation region L2, thereby maintaining the recognition of the second test object P2.

Due to the given configuration, even if the second detection object P2 leaves the first region D1 or the second region D2 and is located in the third region D3, the recognition of the second detection object P2 can be maintained, so that the pedestrian can feel a sense of stability.

Hereinafter, a case where the object moves in the opposite direction around the vehicle will be described.

When the controller recognizes that the objects enter the first and second regions D1 and D2, respectively, the control unit 30 may set an object which first enters the first and second regions D1 and D2 as the first detected object P1, may set an object which subsequently enters the first and second regions D1 and D2 as the second detected object P2, and may perform brightness control of light on the first detected object P1.

To assist in understanding the present invention, the description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings which show that an object first enters the second region D2 and another object enters the first region D1.

That is, as shown in fig. 11, the control unit 30 sets an object that first enters the second region D2 as the first detection object P1, and sets an object that subsequently enters the first region D1 as the second detection object P2. Here, light is projected to the first detection object P1 at different brightness via the right illumination unit 10b, thereby controlling the light performed on the first detection object P1 via the illumination unit 10. In the present case, the luminance control of the light increases the luminance of the light to the first detection object P1, so that the traveling person can be clearly recognized and communication becomes clear.

Further, the illumination unit 10 performs illumination of each light source 11 following the moving path of the first test object P1, thereby clearly identifying the first test object P1 by continuously receiving light while the first test object P1 moves in the test area D.

Further, the control unit 30 controls the luminance of light for the remaining detection objects other than the first detection object P1 and the additional detection object, so that the remaining detection objects including the second detection object P2 can be clearly identified.

That is, referring to fig. 12, when the first test object P1 is located in the third region D3 and the second test object P2 is located in the first region D1, the left illumination unit 10a follows the movement of the second test object P2 to control light, and at the same time, also controls light on the right side of the left illumination region L1, and the right illumination unit 10b controls light on the left side of the right illumination region L2. As described above, since the light control is performed on both the first detection object P1 and the second detection object P2, the vehicle recognition object can be indicated to the outside, and the object can also recognize the vehicle recognition object.

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 30 may set a priority to each object entering the first, second, and third regions D1, D2, and D3, respectively, may select the first detection object P1 in each region, and may perform brightness control of light for each first detection object P1 by controlling the lighting unit 10.

As described above, by setting the priority for each region and selecting the first detection object P1 in each region, the luminance control of light can be performed differently for each region.

That is, even if an object enters each of the first and second regions D1 and D2, a pedestrian entering the first region D1 is set as the first detection object P1 in the first region D1, and a pedestrian entering the second region D2 is set as the first detection object P1 in the second region D2. Accordingly, in the left irradiation area L1 included in the first area D1, light control is performed on the first detection object P1 in the first area D1, and in the right irradiation area L2 included in the second area D2, light control is performed on the first detection object P1 in the second area D2. Further, when two or more objects enter the first area D1, the detection objects are set in the respective areas based on the priorities. Thus, sequential light control of the lighting units 10 can be performed.

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a state where the first detection object P1 is located within the detection area D, the control unit 30 may prevent the luminance control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area D.

That is, by performing only the luminance control of the light for the first detection object P1, it is possible to prevent inconvenience to an object moving near the vehicle due to the light generated by controlling the plurality of light sources 11. Further, since communication between the object and the vehicle is possible even if only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed, only the luminance control of the light for the first detected object P1 is performed.

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a specific test object enters the first region D1 or the second region D2 after the first test object P1 exits the first region D1 or the second region D2, the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light for the specific test object. That is, when the first test object P1 leaves the test region D, the luminance control of the light for another test object is performed so that the vehicle can clearly recognize the second test object P2 existing in the vicinity and the second test object P2 can recognize that the vehicle also recognizes the object.

The vehicle communication illumination system having the above-described structure detects a pedestrian around the vehicle and communicates with the pedestrian via the sequentially lit illumination, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle and the pedestrian. That is, the vehicle projects light following the moving path of the pedestrian, sends a signal that the vehicle recognizes the pedestrian, and the pedestrian is configured to safely move around the vehicle by recognizing that the vehicle recognizes the pedestrian.

In addition, the term "controller" or "control unit" refers to a hardware device including a memory and a processor configured to perform one or more steps interpreted as an algorithmic structure. The memory stores algorithm steps that are executed by the processor to perform one or more processes of the method according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by a nonvolatile memory configured to store an algorithm for controlling operations of various components of a vehicle, or data on software commands for executing the algorithm, and a processor configured to perform the above operations using the data stored in the memory. The memory and the processor may be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be integrated in a single chip. The processor may be implemented as one or more processors.

The controller or control unit may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program, which may include a series of commands for performing the methods according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention described above can also be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data, which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Disk (SSD), a silicon hard disk drive (SDD), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and are implemented as a carrier wave (e.g., transmission through the internet).

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "upward", "downward", "upwardly", "downwardly", "front", "rear", "back", "inside", "outside", "inwardly", "outwardly", "inside", "outside", "forward" and "rearward" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term "connected," or derivatives thereof, refers to both direct and indirect connections.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application to enable others skilled in the art to make and use various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as alternatives and modifications thereof. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.