Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for adaptively steered vehicle headlamps that rely on driver gaze and head direction which may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 5th, 2023, published on July 11th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0227663.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has introduced a few interesting ideas revolving around adaptive features in recent months, filing patents for concepts such as adaptive puddle lights that would be capable of displaying all different types of images, as well as an automatic drive mode lighting system that would tie the operation of a vehicle’s auxiliary lighting systems to its selected drive mode. Now, this newly published patent adds another to that list – this time, an idea for adaptively steered vehicle headlamps that rely on driver gaze and head direction which may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
Current adaptive headlights are capable of turning as the vehicle approaches a curve or turns a corner, shedding light on areas where the vehicle is traveling at any given moment. However, as Ford notes in this patent, there are times when that sort of thing may not be ideal – including at an intersection or when traveling along a curvy stretch of road. Additionally, users may want to illuminate portions of the side of the road to see if there’s an animal or other object there.
As such, the automaker proposes tying headlight operation to one’s eye gaze or the direction their head is turned in at any given moment, which could prove useful in some cases. Regardless, this patent also notes that the system could be configured so that it could be turned on and off based on user preference, and it would have a built-in timer so that the direction of the lights returns to normal after a set period of time, too.
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Comments
Please don’t. That is WAY too “nanny” and just adds unwanted (and what’s now become unattainable for most customers) cost for vehicles.
Amen!
Something like this would be a premium feature, bundled into some high tech package – it requires eye tracking and those high end headlamps that can be directed (either by physical movement of a lens or bulb, or some kind of projection system).
Besides, how often do we see ideas protected but never implemented? IP has value of its own, even if it never gets into production.
Yup, you’re driving down the winding road, windows down, wind blow……. SQUIRREL!! Right into the tree you didn’t see on the next curve! No thanks.
How would there be a tree in the middle of the road on the next curve?
I’m usually just gazing at my phone screen…….
Eye tracking cameras are becoming more and more common and they are starting to alert the driver if they’re looking down and away from the roadway for too long.
While a funny comment, its something that is known and being addressed as drivers become less and less concerned with safety.
Its like a cancer-warning sticker on a pack of cigarettes.. people will always find excuses to get themselves killed.