GM has filed a patent for a new camera-based adaptive brightness system for a vehicle’s backup lights. The patent application was assigned patent number US 12,028,951 B2 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on July 2nd, 2024. The patent was originally filed on September 3rd, 2021, and lists several Shanghai-based engineers as the inventors, including An Xu, Xinliang Zhang, Li Shen, Jieping Wang, Zhijun Wang.
The patent application describes a camera-based adaptive brightness backup light system that is designed to improve the visibility and image quality of automobile rear cameras, especially in low-light conditions.
The system incorporates a camera that captures images behind the vehicle, with the images then divided into multiple different zones. The brightness of each zone is evaluated and compared to a predetermined threshold. A light controller then adjusts the brightness of the backup lights based on the data. If the brightness level for a certain zone is either too low or too high, the controller increases or decreases the intensity of the light accordingly.
The backup lights can be adjusted individually to provide optimal illumination around the rear of the vehicle. The system also incorporates a memory function that stores brightness values, calculating the average brightness level in order to make further adjustments as needed. The system can continuously evaluate and modify the brightness levels while the vehicle is reversing, ensuring that the camera captures clear, well-lit images, regardless of the lighting conditions.
The benefits of this sort of system include increased safety and spacial awareness for the driver.
Adaptive lighting systems are currently in use for vehicle headlights as well. Notably, the patent images show what appears to be the rear end of the Chevy Camaro. That said, the Camaro was recently discontinued, and the images used in the patent are simply for demonstration purposes.
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View Comments
A brighter bulb would work.
Probably a good idea since backup lights keep getting tinier and tinier.
Bravo, GM team for improving the rear view awareness.
BTW, I am the inventor mentioned on US Pat. 10530973, which protects the unique twin camera system to render a full 180 degrees of an undistorted panoramic view of the rear cross-traffic. It covers several lanes on both sides of the car. The idea also works when moving forward, disclosing objects missed from side mirrors' blind spots, when traveling forward as well.
It’s nice to see GM back to innovating like they did in the 70s and 80s. Under Wagoner the company wasn’t innovating anything except ways to cut cost and make garbage next to the much nicer Japanese brands at that time. Now they were the first ones to introduce rear view camera mirrors (the useful one in the center not the useless ones on the exterior that Lotus is doing), rear passenger alert system is useful, and with all the stupid safety tech, I much prefer the vibrating seat warnings over the annoying beeps that I noticed in several Stellantis vehicles. The vibrating seat does a better job at grabbing your attention without annoying the rest of the car (especially if you have a sleeping child). They have certainly come a long way since their bankruptcy.
GM has lots of ideas. They use them once or twice and only on the highest trims of those few models. Then their competition catches on to the idea and uses it everywhere giving the general public the impression they came up with it.
A tale as old as GM.
That's how it always is though. I remember Infiniti when they first introduced the Birds-eye camera (now known as the 360 degrees camera). And only high end trim Nissans get them now. But everyone else has it now. But its nice that they are the ones coming up with stuff first now and not afterwards.
You know sometimes you just need something to work. Tying such a simple yet important thing to technology is risking a rear end collision, or backing over your kid in the driveway is a foolish move. Just make em bright enough and more channels to radio or something instead...