# US 12,179,657 B2 · Lamp device and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,657 B2 - Document ID: US12179657B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/177,013 - Filed: 2023-03-01 - Published: 2024-06-27 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-22 - Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chang Myung Ryu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179657B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/50: for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking - G06V 20/58: Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads - B60Q 1/04: the devices being headlights - B60Q 1/545: {for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic} - G06V 10/145: Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings - H04N 9/3185: {Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence (optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)} - H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback} - B60Q 2300/312: Adverse weather - B60Q 2300/32: Road surface or travel path - B60Q 2300/45: Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers - B60Q 2400/50: Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body - G02B 26/08: for controlling the direction of light (in light guides G02B6/35) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A lamp device includes: an optical unit that is provided in a vehicle and irradiates light; a leveling unit configured to adjust an optical axis of the optical unit in a vertical direction; an object detection unit configured to detect an object around the vehicle to generate surrounding environment information; a driving condition determination unit configured to determine a driving condition of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to control the leveling unit, in which the control unit determines a projection surface of the optical unit based on the surrounding environment information and the driving condition and controls a projection distance of light by the leveling unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lamp device, comprising: an optical unit to be provided in a vehicle and configured to irradiate light; a leveling unit configured to adjust an optical axis of the optical unit in a vertical direction to adjust a projection distance of the light; an object detection unit configured to detect an object around the vehicle to generate surrounding environment information; a driving condition determination unit configured to determine a driving condition of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to control the leveling unit, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a projection surface of the optical unit based on the surrounding environment information and the driving condition and determine a projection distance of the optical unit by controlling the leveling unit; wherein the control unit is configured to sets the projection surface of the lamp based on whether the vehicle is driving and the type of the object, and set the projection distance based on a distance between the object and the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, wherein the object detection unit is configured to transmit information on whether there is the object around the vehicle, a type of the object, and a distance between the object and the vehicle to the control unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lamp device of claim 2, wherein the object is any one of a wall surface, a front vehicle, or a pedestrian. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select a target that is a criterion for recognizing the light of the lamp based on whether there is the object and the type of the object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to sets the projection surface as a wall surface when it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state and there is a wall surface in front of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to sets the projection surface as a road surface when it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state and there is no object in front of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to sets the projection surface as a road surface when it is determined that the vehicle is driving and there is a pedestrian or a vehicle in front of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lamp device of claim 1, further comprising: an image adjusting unit configured to adjust an image projected onto the projection surface from the optical unit based on the surrounding environment information and the driving condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lamp device of claim 8, wherein the image adjusting unit is configured to corrects a distortion according to the projection distance of the image projected onto the projection surface based on an image according to a pre-stored projection surface and projection distance. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling a lamp, comprising: collecting driving information of a vehicle; collecting surrounding environment information on an object around the vehicle; and setting a projection surface and a projection distance of the lamp of the vehicle based on the driving information and the surrounding environment information, wherein the setting includes: determining whether the vehicle is driving; selecting a target that is a criterion for recognizing light of the lamp based on whether there is the object and the type of the object; and setting the projection surface of the lamp based on whether the vehicle is driving and the type of the object, and setting the projection distance based on a distance between the object and the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the projection distance is determined by adjusting an optical axis of the lamp in a vertical direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the collecting of the surrounding environment information includes: determining whether there is an object around the vehicle; determining a type of the object; and determining the distance between the object and the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the object is any one of a wall surface, a front vehicle, or a pedestrian. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the projection surface is set as a wall surface when it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state and there is a wall surface in front of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the projection surface is set as a road surface when it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state and there is no object in front of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein when it is determined that the vehicle is driving and there is a pedestrian or a vehicle in front of the vehicle, the projection surface is set as a road surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: correcting an image projected onto a projection surface based on the driving information and the surrounding environment information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein in the correcting of the image, a distortion is corrected according to the projection distance of the image projected onto the projection surface based on an image according to a pre-stored projection surface and projection distance.