Method and device for grouping illumination units

A method for ascertaining a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units during a travel of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• recognizing at least one first illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• performing at least one of:
• beginning a measurement of a distance which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor, and
• beginning a measurement of a time during which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• grouping the first illumination unit with a second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• the measured distance up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance threshold value, and
• the measured time up to the departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a time threshold value, and
• not grouping the first illumination unit with the second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• an instantaneously measured distance is greater than the distance threshold value, and
• an instantaneously measured time is greater than the time threshold value.

A method for recognizing a continuous roadway illumination along a roadway to be traveled by the vehicle, comprising:

• reading in at least one individual illumination unit and a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units which has been ascertained by:
• recognizing at least one first illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• performing at least one of:
• beginning a measurement of a distance which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor, and
• beginning a measurement of a time during which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• grouping the first illumination unit with a second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• the measured distance up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance threshold value, and
• the measured time up to the departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a time threshold value, and
• not grouping the first illumination unit with the second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• an instantaneously measured distance is greater than the distance threshold value, and
• an instantaneously measured time is greater than the time threshold value;
• assessing the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units as one individual illumination unit;
• and
• recognizing the continuous roadway illumination using the individual illumination unit and the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units which is assessed as one individual illumination unit.

A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of the vehicle, comprising:

• recognizing the continuous roadway illumination by:
• reading in at least one individual illumination unit and a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units which has been ascertained by:
• recognizing at least one first illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• performing at least one of:
• beginning a measurement of a distance which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor, and
• beginning a measurement of a time during which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• grouping the first illumination unit with a second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• the measured distance up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance threshold value, and
• the measured time up to the departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a time threshold value, and
• not grouping the first illumination unit with the second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• an instantaneously measured distance is greater than the distance threshold value, and
• an instantaneously measured time is greater than the time threshold value;
• assessing the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units as one individual illumination unit;
• and
• recognizing the continuous roadway illumination using the individual illumination unit and the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units which is assessed as one individual illumination unit;
• and
• changing the light emission of the at least one headlight of the vehicle in response to a presence of an ascertained group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units.

A device having units for ascertaining a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units during a travel of a vehicle, the device comprising:

• an arrangement for recognizing at least one first illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• an arrangement for performing at least one of:
• beginning a measurement of a distance which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor, and
• beginning a measurement of a time during which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• and
• an arrangement for performing at least one of:
• grouping the first illumination unit with a second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• the measured distance up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance threshold value, and
• the measured time up to the departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a time threshold value, and
• not grouping the first illumination unit with the second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• an instantaneously measured distance is greater than the distance threshold value, and
• an instantaneously measured time is greater than the time threshold value.

A computer program product having a program code for carrying out, when the program code is executed on a device, a method for ascertaining a group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units during a travel of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• recognizing at least one first illumination unit in a detection range of a sensor and recognizing a subsequent departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• performing at least one of:
• beginning a measurement of a distance which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor, and
• beginning a measurement of a time during which the vehicle travels after the departure of the first illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• grouping the first illumination unit with a second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• the measured distance up to a departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a distance threshold value, and
• the measured time up to the departure of the second illumination unit from the detection range of the sensor has a predetermined relationship with respect to a time threshold value, and
• not grouping the first illumination unit with the second illumination unit into the group of at least two adjacently situated illumination units when at least one of:
• an instantaneously measured distance is greater than the distance threshold value, and
• an instantaneously measured time is greater than the time threshold value.