Communication lighting system for vehicle

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0054985, filed on May 8, 2020, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

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

Lighting devices utilizing various light sources are applied to vehicles, and each lighting device is appropriately used according to the characteristics thereof, as well as the installation location and use purpose.

The lighting devices include, for example, an indoor lighting lamp, which is disposed inside the vehicle, and a headlight, a fog lamp, a tail lamp, a side marker lamp, a license plate lamp, a brake lamp, a turn indicator lamp, and an emergency flashing indicator lamp, which are disposed outside the vehicles.

Lighting disposed outside the vehicle also contributes to the appearance of the product, so that the lighting design and lighting effect of vehicles are also important.

In general, lighting disposed in the vehicles has the primary purpose of radiating light toward the front side, so that the development of technology has emphasized securing light convergence and diffusivity. Furthermore, to improve the design of lighting, the shape of the periphery of the lighting is changed to improve aesthetics, and sequentially lit lighting is often applied.

Meanwhile, autonomous vehicles have been developed recently, and autonomous vehicles require communication with external pedestrians for safety. However, when a separate device is provided for communication with an external pedestrian, there is a problem that the installation space for the device is restricted.

The information included in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and may 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.

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a communication lighting system for a vehicle (which may also be referred to as a “vehicle communication lighting system” below) that ensures stability through communication with an external pedestrian using sequentially lit lighting.

To achieve the purpose, a communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a lighting unit including a plurality of light sources disposed in sequence to divide a light irradiation area into a plurality of areas and to project light to each of the areas with different brightness; a sensor unit configured to detect an object with respect to a detection area around the vehicle to detect the position of the object; and a control unit configured to control the lighting unit, receive information from the sensor unit, set a priority of an object entering the detection area, and selectively control the brightness of the light to be projected to the object with different brightness by selectively controlling each of the light sources of the lighting 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 n-th detection object, and the control unit controls the lighting unit to perform brightness control of light for a first detection object, performs the brightness control of light for the n-th object entering the detection area after the first detection object leaves the detection area, and then performs the brightness control of light for an n′-th detection object entering the detection area after the n-th detection object leaves the detection area, whereby the brightness control of light is sequentially performed.

When the controller identifies that an object has entered the detection area via the sensor unit, the control unit sets the object that has first entered the detection area as a first detection object, and performs the brightness control of light for the first detection object by controlling the lighting unit.

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

When the first detection object leaves the detection area in the state in which the first detection object and the second detection object are located in the detection area, the control unit performs the brightness control of light for the second detection object.

When the controller identifies that yet another object has entered the detection area subsequent to the second detection object, the control unit sets the yet another object as a third detection object, and when the third detection object enters the detection area after the first detection object left the detection area, the control unit performs the brightness control of light for the third detection object.

Lighting units are provided to be spaced from each other in a width direction of the vehicle, including a left lighting unit having a left irradiation area and a right lighting unit having a right irradiation area in the width direction of the vehicle, and the sensor unit detects the position of an object by dividing the detection area into a plurality of sub-areas that include the left irradiation area and the right irradiation area, respectively.

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

When the controller identifies that two or more objects have entered the first area, the control unit sets the object that first entered the first area as a first detection object, sets the object that subsequently entered the first area as a second detection object, and controls the left lighting unit such that the brightness control of light is performed following the first detection object in the left irradiation area.

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

When the controller identifies that the first detection object leaves the third area and enters the second area, the control unit controls the right lighting unit such that the brightness control of light is performed following movement of the first detection object.

The control unit prevents the brightness control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area in the state in which the first detection object is located in the detection area.

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

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

When the first detection object has left the first area and the second detection object is located in the first area, the control unit controls the left lighting unit such that brightness control of light is further performed following the movement of the second detection object.

When the second detection object is located in the third area, the control unit controls each lighting unit such that the brightness control of light is further performed on the right side of the left irradiation area and on the left side of the right irradiation area.

When the controller identifies that objects have entered the first area and the second area, respectively, the control unit sets the object that first entered the first area and the second area as a first detection object, sets the object that subsequently entered the first area and the second area as a second detection object, and controls the brightness of light for the first detection object.

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

The control unit sets a priority for each of objects that enters the first area, the second area, and the third area, respectively, selects a first detection object in each area, and performs the brightness control of light for each first detection object by controlling the lighting unit.

The control unit prevents the brightness control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area in the state in which the first detection object is located in the detection area.

When a specific detection object enters the first area or the second area after the first detection object has left the first area or the second area, the control unit performs the brightness control of light for the specific detection object.

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

The vehicle communication lighting system having the structure described above detects a pedestrian around the vehicle and communicates with the pedestrian via lighting which is sequentially lit, ensuring the safety of the vehicle and pedestrian. That is, the vehicle projects light along a movement path of a pedestrian, transmitting a signal that the vehicle has recognized the pedestrian, and the pedestrian is configured to safely move around the vehicle by identifying that the vehicle has recognized the pedestrian.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

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 view exemplarily illustrating a lighting unit of the vehicle communication lighting system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views, each illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

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

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as 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 view exemplarily illustrating a lighting unit of the vehicle communication lighting system illustrated in FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views, each illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are views, each illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a vehicle communication lighting system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a lighting unit 10 including a plurality of light sources 11 disposed in sequence to divide a light irradiation area into a plurality of areas and to project light to each of the areas with different brightness; a sensor unit 20 configured to detect an object with respect to a detection area D around the vehicle to detect the position of the object; and a control unit 30 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 to be projected to the object with different brightness by selectively controlling each of the light sources 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 the vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the lighting unit 10 includes a plurality of light sources 11 disposed in a predetermined direction thereof, and each light source 11 is made to be configured for being individually lit by the control unit 30 . Accordingly, the illumination area to which light is projected by the lighting unit 10 may be divided into a plurality of areas such that the areas are configured for projecting light with different brightnesses, respectively. The lighting unit 10 may be disposed on the headlamp side of the vehicle, on the rear-lamp side of the vehicle, or on the side-mirror or side-panel sides of the vehicle.

The sensor unit 20 may include various sensors such as LiDAR, radar, and an ultrasonic wave sensor, 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 related to the object detected through 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 of the light sources 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 according to the priority of the object moving in the detection area D such that the light is projected toward the moving object. Here, the controller 30 performs brightness control such that light is projected to the object side with different brightness, and may increase the brightness of the light projected to the object side to ensure that the light is recognized.

That is, when a pedestrian or the object enters the detection area D, the control unit 30 determines the priority according to the order of entry of the pedestrian or the object, and the light of the lighting unit 10 is projected along the moving path of the pedestrian or the object according to the priority, whereby psychological stability of the pedestrian is secured by 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 n-th detection object, wherein the n is an integer, and the control unit 30 is configured to: control the lighting unit 10 to perform brightness control of light for the first detection object P; perform the brightness control of light for an n-th object after the first detection object P leaves the detection area D; and then perform the brightness control of light for an n′-th detection object P entering the detection area D after the n-th detection object P leaves the detection area D, whereby the brightness control of light is sequentially performed.

That is, the control unit 30 sets the priority of each of detection objects P according to the entry order of the objects entering the detection area D, and causes the brightness control of light to be sequentially performed for each of the detection object P based on the priority. The present invention designates an object entering the detection area D as a detection object P according to a priority, as described above, and brightness control of light is performed for the detection object P according to the priority, whereby it is possible to externally indicate that the vehicle is recognizing the object passing through the detection area D. Furthermore, the vehicle performs sequential recognition up to the last object in the priority sequence that finally passes the vicinity of the vehicle, preventing a safety accident between the object and the vehicle.

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 set the object that first enters the detection area D as a first detection object P 1 , and controls the lighting unit 10 to perform brightness control of light for the first detection object P 1 .

That is, the control unit 30 sets the object that first enters the detection area D as the first detection object P 1 having the highest priority, and performs brightness control of light such that light is projected to the first detection object P 1 moving in the detection area D with different brightness. Here, the brightness control of light increases the brightness of light for the first detection object P 1 to cause the light to be concentrated on the first detection object P 1 , making recognition of the object and communication with the object clear. In the present way, the lighting unit 10 performs the lighting of each light source 11 following the movement path of the first detection object P 1 , whereby the first detection object P 1 is clearly recognized by continuously receiving light while moving.

Meanwhile, when it is identified that another object enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 , the controller 30 sets the object as a second detection object P 2 . That is, since a plurality of objects may enter the detection area D, the objects are set as a first detection object, a second detection object, an n-th detection object according to the order in which the objects enter the detection area D.

In the present situation, 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 P 1 is located in the detection area D, the control unit 30 does not perform light brightness control for the second detection object P 2 . That is, even if the second detection object P 2 is identified subsequent to the first detection object P 1 , when the first detection object P 1 is located within the detection area D, the control unit 30 may not perform brightness control of light for the second detection object P 2 , preventing discomfort from being caused by light due to the control of the plurality of light sources 11 . Furthermore, since the communication between the vehicle and the object is possible even if brightness control of light is performed only for the first detection object P 1 , the brightness control of light is performed for the first detection object P 1 .

Here, when the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D in the state in which the first detection object P 1 and the second detection object P 2 are located in the detection zone D, the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light for the second detection object P 2 . That is, when the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D, the brightness control of light performed via the lighting unit 10 is not performed in the detection area D, and thus the second detection object P 2 cannot be recognized. Accordingly, when the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D, the brightness control of light is performed for the second detection object P 2 to allow the vehicle to clearly recognize that the second detection object P 2 is present in the vicinity thereof and to allow the second detection object P 2 to identify that the vehicle also recognizes the second detection object P 2 .

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , when a third detection object P 3 enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D, the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light for the third detection object P 3 .

Here, the third detection object P 3 is an object that enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D, and is only expressed as the third detection object P 3 to help understand the present invention. The third detection object P 3 means a detection object P that enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area.

When the first detection object P 1 , to which light is currently projected with different brightness through the lighting unit 10 , leaves the detection area D, the brightness control of light is performed for the third detection object P 3 that enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 leaves the first detection area D′ such that the light control performed by the lighting unit 10 is maintained. In the instant case, when the first detection object P 1 is located in the detection area D, the brightness control of light may not be performed for the second detection object P 2 located in the detection area D together with the first detection object P 1 , and the brightness control of light may be performed only for the third detection object P 3 , which enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D.

As described above, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an object entering a detection area D around the vehicle is set as a detection object with a priority, and the lighting unit 10 projects light to the detection object P according to the priority so that communication may be performed such that the vehicle recognizes the object and the object recognizes the vehicle.

In the following, a description will be made assuming that the lighting unit 10 is disposed on the headlamp side of the vehicle. This is only an example to help understanding of the present invention. Without being limited thereto, the lighting unit may be disposed at various positions of the vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , lighting units 10 may be provided to be spaced from each other in left and right directions. Thus, the lighting units 10 may include a left lighting unit 10 a having a left irradiation area L 1 and a right lighting unit 10 b having a right irradiation area L 2 , and the sensor unit 20 may detect the position of an object by dividing the detection area D into a plurality of sub-areas that include the left irradiation area L 1 and the right irradiation area L 2 , respectively.

That is, the lighting units 10 include a left lighting unit 10 a and a right lighting unit 10 b in the headlamps of the front of the vehicle, and the left lighting unit 10 a and the right lighting unit 10 b have the left irradiation area L 1 and the right irradiation area L 2 , respectively. The left and right irradiation areas L 1 and L 2 have the same area. Accordingly, the brightness of light in the left irradiation area L 1 may be adjusted differently within an irradiation area L by lightening respective light sources 11 of the left lighting unit 10 a , and the brightness of light in the right irradiation area L 2 may be adjusted differently within an irradiation area L by lightening respective light sources 11 of the right lighting unit 10 b.

The sensor unit 20 may divide the detection area D into a plurality of sub-areas, and may identify an object entering each sub-area. Here, the detection area D of the sensor unit 20 may be divided into a first area D 1 including the left irradiation area L 1 , a second area D 2 including the right irradiation area L 2 , and a third area D 3 including a space between the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 . That is, the first area D 1 and the left irradiation area L 1 are in the same range, the second area D 2 and the right irradiation area L 2 are in the same range, and the third area D 3 is an area between the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 .

Furthermore, the detection area D of the sensor unit 20 may further include a fourth area D 4 in which an approach of an object on the left side of the first area D 1 is detected and a fifth area D 5 in which an approach of an object on the right side of the second area D 2 is detected. The fourth area D 4 and the fifth area D 5 are provided for detecting an approach of an object in advance. That is, the fourth area D 4 enables fast control of light within the left irradiation area L 1 of the first area D 1 by detecting an object entering the first area D 1 in advance, and the fifth area D 5 enables fast control of light within the right irradiation area L 2 of the second area D 2 by detecting an object entering the second area D 2 in advance. This makes it possible to set the priority of an object entering the detection area D more finely, and to control the brightness of light of the lighting unit 10 accordingly.

Concerning the left lighting unit 10 a , the right lighting unit 10 b , and the detection area of the sensor unit 20 described above, embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

As various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as may be seen from FIG. 5 , when it is identified that two or more objects have entered the first area D 1 , the control unit 30 may set the object that first entered the first area D 1 as a first detection object P 1 and then sequentially set the object that subsequently entered the first area D 1 as a second detection object P 2 . Furthermore, the control unit 30 may control the left lighting unit 10 a such that brightness control of light is performed following the first detection object P 1 in the left irradiation area L 1 .

Here, it is assumed that the objects have entered the first area D 1 , but this is only for understanding the present invention, and the same control may be performed when the objects enter the opposite second area D 2 .

As described above, when two objects enter the first area D 1 , the control unit 30 determines priorities according to the order of entry into the first area D 1 . That is, the object that first entered the detection area D may be set as the first detection object P 1 with the first priority, and the object that subsequently entered the detection area D may be set as the second detection object P 2 with the next priority. In the present manner, detection objects up to an n-th detection object may be sequentially set.

When detection objects P are determined according to priorities as described above, the control unit 30 controls the light of the lighting unit 10 for the first detection object P 1 that entered the first area D 1 . Thus, since the first detection object P 1 continuously receives light while moving in the detection area D, the first detection object P 1 is clearly recognized.

Thereafter, when it is identified that the first detection object P 1 left the first area D 1 and has entered the third area D 3 , the control unit 30 controls each lighting unit 10 such that brightness control of light is performed on the right side of the left irradiation area L 1 and on the left side of the right irradiation area L 2 .

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , when the first detection object P 1 left the first area D 1 or the second area D 2 including the irradiation area of the lighting unit and has entered the third area D 3 , the control unit 30 controls the left lighting unit 10 a and the right lighting unit 10 b such that brightness control of light is performed on the right side of the left irradiation area L 1 and the left side of the right irradiation area L 2 , indicating that the first detection object P 1 is located in the third area D 3 .

That is, even if the detection object P left the irradiation area, communication with the detection object P is maintained by indicating that the detection object P is located between the left irradiation area L 1 and the right irradiation area L 2 .

Meanwhile, the control unit 30 prevents brightness control of light from being performed for other detection objects that have entered the detection area D in the state in which the first detection object P 1 is located within the detection area D, preventing inconvenience from being caused due to the lighting of a plurality of light sources 11 . Furthermore, since communication between the vehicle and the object is possible even if brightness control of light is performed for the first detection object P 1 , the brightness control of light is performed for the first detection object P 1 .

In the present way, if it is identified that the first detection object P 1 continuously moves, leaves the third area D 3 , and enters the second area D 2 , as shown in FIG. 7 , the control unit 30 controls the right lighting unit 10 b such that brightness control of light is performed following the movement of the first detection object P 1 . Due to the given configuration, when the first detection object P 1 moves and enters the second area D 2 , light is naturally moved following the movement of the first detection object P 1 , and thus the first detection object P 1 is clearly recognized.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , when the third detection object P 3 enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 has left the second area D 2 , the control unit 30 performs brightness control of light on the third detection object P 3 .

That is, when the first detection object P 1 passed through the first area D 1 and the third area D 3 and passed through the second area D 2 , it means that the first detection object P 1 left the vicinity of the vehicle. Thus, the brightness control of light for the primary detection target P 1 is terminated. Here, when the third detection object P 3 has entered the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 left the vicinity of the vehicle, there may be a lack of recognition between the vehicle and the third detection object P 3 . Thus, the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light on the third detection object P 3 such that the third detection object P 3 is clearly recognized.

As described above, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by performing brightness control of light on the detection object P that has entered the first detection area D, it is possible to perform communication in which information is provided such that the vehicle is configured to recognize the object and the object also identifies that the vehicle recognizes the object. Furthermore, by performing brightness control of light on an additional detection object P which has entered the detection area D after a detection object which first entered the detection area D left the vicinity of the vehicle, recognition is maintained on the additional detection object P and thus stability is ensured for all detection objects P.

Meanwhile, as another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a first detection object P 1 leaves the second area D 2 , the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light on a second detection object P 2 which enters the detection area D after the first detection object P 1 .

When the above-described first detection object P 1 passes through the first area D 1 and the third area D 3 and then passes through the second area D 2 , leaving the vicinity of the vehicle, the controller 30 may perform brightness control of light on the second detection object P 2 which enters the detection area D subsequent to the first detection object P 1 .

In the present way, when sequentially controlling light according to the priority of the detection object P entering the detection area D, it may be identified that the vehicle continuously recognizes the object.

The sequential brightness control of light may be selectively performed according to the distance between the first detection object P 1 and the second detection object P 2 or the positions of the first detection object P 1 and the second detection object P 2 in respective areas.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 , when the first detection object P 1 left the first area D 1 and the second detection object P 2 is located in the first area D 1 , the control unit 30 may control the left lighting unit 10 a such that brightness control of light is further performed according to the movement of the second detection object P 2 .

That is, when the first detection object P 1 is located in the first area D 1 , since the brightness control of light is performed on the first detection object P 1 , control of light is not performed on the second detection object P 2 . When the first detection object P 1 left the first area D 1 and the second detection object P 2 is located in the first area D 1 , the control unit 30 controls the left lighting unit 10 a such that brightness control of light is performed following the movement of the second detection object P 2 . Accordingly, it is possible to externally indicate that the vehicle recognizes the second detection object P 2 .

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , when the second detection object P 2 is located in the third area D 3 , the control unit 30 may control respective lighting units 10 such that brightness control of light is further performed on the right side of the left illumination area L 1 and the left side of the right illumination area L 2 .

That is, when the first detection object P 1 is located in the third area D 3 , brightness control of light is performed on the right side of the left illumination area L 1 and the left side of the right illumination area L 2 so that recognition of the first detection object P 1 may be maintained. Thereafter, when the first detection object P 1 moves to the second area D 2 , the right lighting unit 10 b allows light control to be performed following the first detection object P 1 . Furthermore, when the second detection object P 2 enters the third area D 3 , brightness control of light is performed on the right side of the left irradiation area L 1 and the left side of the right irradiation area L 2 so that recognition of the second detection object P 2 is maintained.

Due to the given configuration, even if the second detection object P 2 leaves the first area D 1 or the second area D 2 and is located in the third area D 3 , recognition of the second detection object P 2 is maintained so that pedestrians can feel a sense of stability.

Hereinafter, the situation in which objects move in opposite directions around the vehicle will be described.

When the controller identifies that objects have entered the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 , respectively, the control unit 30 may set the object that has first entered the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 as a first detection object P 1 , may set the object that has subsequently entered the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 as a second detection object P 2 , and may perform brightness control of light on the first detection object P 1 .

To help understanding of the present invention, descriptions are made with reference to the drawings illustrating that an object first enters the second area D 2 and another object enters the first area D 1 .

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the control unit 30 sets the object that first entered the second area D 2 as a first detection object P 1 , and sets the object that subsequently entered the first area D 1 as a second detection object P 2 . Here, light is projected to the first detection object P 1 with different brightness via the right lighting unit 10 b such that the control of light via the lighting unit 10 is performed on the first detection object P 1 . In the instant case, the brightness control of light increases the brightness of light with respect to the first detection object P 1 , so that a pedestrian is clearly recognized and communication becomes clear.

Furthermore, the lighting unit 10 performs lighting of each light source 11 following the movement path of the first detection object P 1 , whereby the first detection object P 1 is clearly recognized by continuously receiving light while moving in the detection area D.

Furthermore, the control unit 30 controls the brightness of light for the remaining detection objects other than the first detection object P 1 and additional detection objects, whereby the remaining detection objects including the second detection object P 2 are clearly recognized.

That is, referring to FIG. 12 , when the first detection object P 1 is located in the third area D 3 and the second detection object P 2 is located in the first area D 1 , the left lighting unit 10 a controls light following the movement of the second detection object P 2 , and at the same time, also controls light on the right side of the left irradiation area L 1 , and the right lighting unit 10 b controls light on the left side of the right irradiation area L 2 . As described above, since light control is performed on both the first detection object P 1 and the second detection object P 2 , it is possible to externally indicate that the vehicle recognizes the objects, and the objects are also able to recognize it.

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 30 may set a priority for each of objects entering the first area D 1 , the second area D 2 , and the third area D 3 , respectively, may select the first detection object P 1 in each area, and may perform brightness control of light for each first detection object P 1 by controlling the lighting unit 10 .

By setting a priority for each area and selecting the first detection object P 1 in each area as described above, brightness control of light may be performed differently for each area.

That is, even if an object enters each of the first area D 1 and the second area D 2 , a pedestrian entering the first area D 1 is set as a first detection object P 1 in the first area D 1 , and a pedestrian entering the second area D 2 is set as the first detection object P 1 in the second area D 2 . Accordingly, in the left irradiation area L 1 included in the first area D 1 , light control is performed on the first detection object P 1 in the first area D 1 , and in the right irradiation area L 2 included in the second area D 2 , light control is performed on the first detection object P 1 in the second area D 2 . Furthermore, when two or more objects enter the first area D 1 , the detection object is set based on the priority in the corresponding area. Thus, sequential light control of the lighting unit 10 may be performed.

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 30 may prevent brightness control of light from being performed on other detection objects entering the detection area D in the state in which the first detection object P 1 is located within the detection area D.

That is, by performing brightness control of light only for the first detection object P 1 , it is possible to prevent inconvenience caused to objects moving in the vicinity of the vehicle by the light generated by controlling the plurality of light sources 11 . Furthermore, since communication between an object and a pedestrian is possible even if brightness control of light is performed only for the first detection object P 1 , the brightness control of light is performed for the first detection object P 1 .

As another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a specific detection object enters the first area D 1 or the second area D 2 after the first detection object P 1 leaves the first area D 1 or the second area D 2 , the control unit 30 may perform brightness control of light for the specific detection object. That is, when the first detection object P 1 leaves the detection area D, the brightness control of light is performed for another detection object to allow the vehicle to clearly recognize that the second detection object P 2 is present in the vicinity thereof and to allow the second detection object P 2 to identify that the vehicle also recognizes the object.

The vehicle communication lighting system having the structure described above detects a pedestrian around the vehicle and communicates with the pedestrian via lighting which is sequentially lit, ensuring the safety of the vehicle and pedestrian. That is, the vehicle projects light following the movement path of a pedestrian, transmitting a signal that the vehicle has recognized the pedestrian, and the pedestrian is configured to safely move around the vehicle by identifying that the vehicle has recognized the pedestrian.

Furthermore, the term “controller” or “control unit” refers to a hardware device including a memory and a processor configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithm structure. The memory stores algorithm steps, and the processor executes the algorithm steps to perform one or more processes of a method in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The controller according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented through a nonvolatile memory configured to store algorithms for controlling operation of various components of a vehicle or data about software commands for executing the algorithms, and a processor configured to perform operation to be described above using the data stored in the memory. The memory and the processor may be individual 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 the control unit may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program which may include a series of commands for carrying out a method in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The aforementioned invention 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 may be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include hard disk drive (HDD), solid state disk (SSD), silicon disk drive (SDD), read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, etc. and implementation as carrier waves (e.g., transmission over the Internet).

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “internal”, “external”, “inner”, “outer”, “forwards”, and “backwards” 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 “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection.

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 present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.