# US 11,993,202 B2 · Vehicle light distribution control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,202 B2 - Document ID: US11993202B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/219,357 - Filed: 2023-07-07 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-15 - Assignees: Subaru Corporation - Applicants: Subaru Corporation - Inventors: Hiroaki Kuramochi; Masashi Okano; Satoshi Nakano; Shuhei Dairokuno; Motohiro Hidaka; Katsuyuki Umezawa; Tatsuro Suzuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993202B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/085: {due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence)} - B60Q 1/143: {combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers} - B60Q 1/08: automatically - B60Q 1/12: due to steering position - B60Q 2300/112: Vehicle speed - B60Q 2300/33: Driving situation - B60Q 2300/336: Crossings - B60Q 2300/45: Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A vehicle light distribution control apparatus includes a first surrounding environment recognition device configured to recognize a surrounding environment around a vehicle and detect first object information in the recognized surrounding environment, and a second surrounding environment recognition device configured to acquire map information in a predetermined range based on the positional information of the vehicle, and second object information included in the acquired map information, and an illumination device configured to radiate illumination light. An illumination control unit is configured to compare the first object information and the second object information, identify objects that are detected in the second object information and are not detected in the first object information, set the objects as light distribution candidate objects respectively, set light distribution priority levels of the light distribution candidate objects respectively, and perform the light distribution control based on the light distribution priority levels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle light distribution control apparatus to be applied to a vehicle, the vehicle light distribution control apparatus comprising: a first surrounding environment recognition device configured to recognize a surrounding environment around the vehicle and detect first object information in the recognized surrounding environment; a vehicle positional information acquiring device configured to acquire positional information of the vehicle; a second surrounding environment recognition device configured to acquire map information in a predetermined range based on the positional information of the vehicle, and second object information included in the acquired map information; an illumination device configured to radiate illumination light; and an illumination control unit configured to perform light distribution control on the illumination light to be radiated from the illumination device, wherein the illumination control unit is configured to compare the first object information and the second object information, identify objects that are detected in the second object information and are not detected in the first object information, set the objects as light distribution candidate objects respectively, set light distribution priority levels of the light distribution candidate objects respectively, and perform the light distribution control based on the light distribution priority levels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle light distribution control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution control is started at a timing when the objects are identified. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle light distribution control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution control is started at a timing when the objects are identified and a distance between the vehicle and each of the objects has decreased to a predetermined distance or shorter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle light distribution control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution control is started at a timing when the objects are identified and a predetermined duration or longer has elapsed in a state in which the objects are not detected in the first object information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle light distribution control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit is configured to perform the light distribution control when an intersection is recognized ahead of the vehicle and the vehicle is expected to turn right or left at the intersection. ### Claim 6 A vehicle light distribution control apparatus to be applied to a vehicle, the vehicle light distribution control apparatus comprising an illumination device configured to radiate illumination light, one or more electronic control units configured to: recognize a surrounding environment around the vehicle and detect first object information in the recognized surrounding environment; acquire positional information of the vehicle; acquire map information in a predetermined range based on the positional information of the vehicle, and second object information included in the acquired map information; and perform light distribution control on the illumination light to be radiated from the illumination device, wherein the one or more electronic control units are configured to: compare the first object information and the second object information; identify objects that are detected in the second object information and are not detected in the first object information; set the objects as light distribution candidate objects respectively; set light distribution priority levels of the light distribution candidate objects respectively; and perform the light distribution control based on the light distribution priority levels.