Patent ID: 9090205
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A light distribution controller comprising: a headlight lighting an area ahead of a vehicle in such a manner that light distribution of the headlight is freely adjustable; an image capture unit mounted on the vehicle and generating a captured image of the area ahead of the vehicle; a pedestrian detector configured to detect a pedestrian in a predetermined area ahead of the vehicle on the basis of the image captured by the image capture unit; a determiner configured to determine whether or not a driver is aware of the pedestrian in the predetermined area on the basis of whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, when the pedestrian detector has detected the pedestrian in the predetermined area; and an illumination controller that causes the headlight to be lit with a light distribution pattern having no restrictions on illumination of the pedestrian until the determiner determines that the driver is aware of the pedestrian in the predetermined area even if the pedestrian detector has detected the pedestrian in the predetermined area, and that causes the headlight to be lit with a light distribution pattern having a restriction on illumination of a body member including at least an eye of the pedestrian after the determiner determines that the driver is aware of the pedestrian in the predetermined area, wherein the predetermined condition is that the driver releases an accelerator pedal of the vehicle or depresses a brake pedal of the vehicle when the pedestrian detector has detected the pedestrian in the predetermined area.