JP2006151287A - Illumination device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination device for a vehicle capable of alarming forward inattention condition of a driver. <P>SOLUTION: This illumination device 1 for a vehicle is constituted of a driver projecting device 11, a driver condition detecting portion 13, a memory 14, an auxiliary front illumination light control portion 15, and an auxiliary front illumination light 17. The driver condition detecting portion detects the opening/closing condition of an eyelid and an eye sight direction of the driver, and stores them in the memory in the sequence of time. The auxiliary front illumination light has an auxiliary front illumination emitting portion 21 using RGB three-color LED, an LED control portion 25, and an auxiliary front illumination optical axis driving portion 23 which changes the direction of the optical axis of the auxiliary front illumination light 17 to the right and left. The auxiliary front illumination light control portion determines the condition of the driver based on changes in the opening/closing condition of the eyelid and eye sight direction of the driver within the prescribed time stored in the memory, the auxiliary front illumination light is controlled so as to illuminate the front with a white light at the time of a normal state, illuminate the front by changing brightness of a yellow light at the time of lowering awareness degree, and illuminate the front with the yellow light by swaying the optical axis at the time of inattentive driving to the right and left to notify the driver of the front inattention condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device.

A dozing prevention meter illumination device has been proposed as a device that detects an inappropriate state or action of a driver such as a snooze and alerts the driver (see Patent Document 1).
In this dozing prevention meter lighting device, when the driver's brain wave is measured and it is determined that the driver is dozing, the light color of the illumination of the meter portion of the instrument panel is switched to a warning color. .
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-30796

However, since the meter is in the peripheral visual field when the driver gazes forward, there is a problem that the driver is not easily aware of the change in the light color of the meter illumination. Furthermore, in a state in which the arousal level is lowered, such as a dozing state, the frequency of the driver checking the meter is reduced, and there is a problem that the effect of alerting is further reduced.
In addition, when the driver is aware of his / her state to some extent, there is a problem that even if the light color of the meter illumination is switched, the motivation for prompting the driver to shift to some awakening state is weak.
A decrease in the driver's arousal level means a state of carelessness in the forward direction, and the same is true for aside.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a vehicle lighting device that can surely alert the driver of a driver's forward careless state and can be motivated to improve the state. The purpose is to do.

  For this reason, the present invention provides a light color switching means for changing the light color of the headlamp, a driver state detecting means for detecting the driver's state, and a light color switching means based on the detected driver's state. Control means for controlling the operation, and the control means controls the light color switching means to change the light color of the headlamp when the driver state detection means detects the driver's inattentional forward state. It was.

According to the present invention, for example, when the driver is likely to fall asleep while driving at night, the driver state detection means detects the driver's inattention state, changes the light color of the headlamp, and drives Since the scene illuminated by the headlamps in the front visual field of the hand is changed, the driver is easily perceived by the driver as being in a careless state.
Moreover, since the light color of the headlight is different from that of the normal time, it is embarrassed when the surroundings are noticed, and causes the driver to return to normal.
As a result, forward carelessness such as a reduction in the driver's arousal level can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the vehicular lighting device of the first embodiment.
The vehicle lighting device 1 according to this embodiment includes a driver photographing device 11, a driver state detection unit 13, a memory 14, an auxiliary headlamp control unit 15, and an auxiliary headlamp 17 provided separately from the main headlamp. Is done.
The driver photographing apparatus 11 is a stereo camera, and is installed on the upper part of the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle so as to photograph the entire face of the driver 3 as shown in FIG. The video of the driver photographing device 11 is sent to the driver state detection unit 13.

The driver state detection unit 13 is a microprocessor dedicated to image processing, detects the open / closed state of the driver's eyelids and the line-of-sight direction by image processing, and outputs them to the memory 14.
The memory 14 accumulates the opened / closed state and line-of-sight direction of the input eyelids in time series.
The driver state detection unit 13 detects the open / closed state of the eyelids, the direction of the line of sight, and the accumulation of the detection results in the memory 14 is performed at a constant cycle, and the detection result after a predetermined time, for example, when 30 seconds or more have elapsed Are automatically erased from the memory 14.
Note that the driver state detection unit 13 can detect the open / close state of the heel and the direction of the line of sight using a known technique, for example, FaceLAB (trademark) manufactured by Seeing Machines.

The auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 is composed of a microcomputer.
The auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 reads the open / closed state of the driver's eyelids within a predetermined time (here, the past 30 seconds) stored in the memory 14, and the time of the closed eye state is a predetermined ratio, for example, 20% or more If so, it is determined that the driver's arousal level has decreased, the auxiliary headlamp is controlled in the case of a decrease in the arousal level, and a control signal is output to the auxiliary headlamp 17.
Further, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 reads the change in the driver's line-of-sight direction within a predetermined time accumulated in the memory 14, and the line-of-sight departure time from the predetermined range ahead is a predetermined ratio, for example, 30% or more. If there is, it is determined that the driver is looking aside, and the auxiliary headlamp is controlled when looking aside.

The auxiliary headlamp 17 is composed of an array of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs. The LED control unit 25 controls the energization and light emission of the auxiliary headlamp, and the auxiliary headlamp optical axis drive unit 23 changes the direction of the optical axis of the auxiliary headlamp 17 to the left and right.
FIG. 3 shows the mounting position of the auxiliary headlamp 17. For example, it is disposed above the front bumper and under the main headlamp 19 and provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary headlamp light emitting unit 21 is arranged periodically so that the LEDs 33 of each color of RGB are adjacent to each other and form one unit of a triangular arrangement, for example.
A condensing lens 31 is arranged on the front side of the auxiliary headlamp light emitting unit 21 as shown in the figure. In addition, the rotation axis of the auxiliary headlight optical axis driving unit 23 supports the auxiliary headlight light emitting unit 21 and the casing 34 of the lens 31 so that the direction of the auxiliary headlamp 17, that is, the optical axis can be changed to the left and right. Yes.

The LED control unit 25 individually controls the voltages V _R , V _G , and V _B applied to the RGB LEDs 33 in the range of 0 to 100% according to the control signal from the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15, before the auxiliary It has a function of switching the light color of the illumination light emitter 21 and an illuminance control function for changing the illuminance.
Therefore, the auxiliary headlight light emitting unit 21 can emit light of a total of seven colors including white light emission at normal time by the function of switching the light color of the LED control unit 25.
Further, the auxiliary headlamp optical axis drive unit 23 fixes the optical axis of the auxiliary headlamp 17 at 0 ° in the front front direction or a left auxiliary headlamp by a control signal from the auxiliary headlamp controller 15. 17 is driven in such a manner that the optical axis is periodically oscillated in a range of 0 ° from the front direction to 30 ° on the left side and the right auxiliary headlamp 17 at the same time in a range of 0 ° from the front direction to 30 ° on the right side.

5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the control flow of the vehicular lighting device in the present embodiment.
In step 101, the driver photographing device 11 acquires an image of the driver's face and inputs it to the driver state detection unit 13.
In step 102, the driver state detection unit 13 detects the open / close state of the driver's heel and the line-of-sight direction.
In step 103, the memory 14 accumulates the results of the eyelid opening / closing state and line-of-sight direction detected in step 102 in time series.

  In step 104, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 determines the state of the driver. That is, the time-series eyelid open / close state and line-of-sight direction stored in the memory 14 in a predetermined time are read, and the ratio of the eye-closed time and the ratio of the eye-gaze departure time are calculated. When it is 20% or more, it is determined that the degree of arousal has decreased, and when the ratio of the gaze departure time is a predetermined value, which is 30% or more, it is determined that the person is looking aside. If it is neither, it is determined that the driver state is normal.

In step 105, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 checks whether or not the determination result has changed from the previous determination of the driver state in the repetitive processing in this control flow. If the determination result has changed, the process proceeds to step 106, and if the determination result is the same as the previous time, the process proceeds to step 110.
In step 106, the determination result is checked as to whether the degree of arousal is reduced, looking aside, or normal. If it is normal, the process proceeds to step 107. If it is a look aside, the process proceeds to step 108. If the awakening level is lowered, the process proceeds to step 109.

In step 107, the auxiliary headlamp 17 is set to a normal light color, and the optical axis is fixed to 0 ° in the forward direction for irradiation.
That is, the LED control unit 25 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 to set the voltages V _R , V _G , and V _B applied to the RGB three-color LEDs to 100%, emit white light, and the auxiliary headlight optical axis. As shown in FIG. 7, the drive unit 23 directs the optical axis in the forward direction of 0 °. In the figure, the illumination coverage area 43 indicates an effective area of the main headlamp 19 that irradiates the blue and white light forward, and the front distance of the irradiation is about 100 m (in the low beam state). Similarly, the illumination coverage areas 41L and 41R indicate the effective areas where the left and right auxiliary headlamps 17 irradiate in front, and the irradiating front distance is about 50 m.
After step 107, return to step 101

In step 108, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 changes the auxiliary headlamp 17 to the light color when looking aside, and irradiates it with the optical axis being shaken.
That is, the LED control unit 25 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 to set the voltages V _R and V _G applied to the two RG LEDs among the three RGB colors to 100%, and apply them to the B color LED. the voltage _{V B} to 0%. Therefore, the auxiliary headlamp 17 illuminates the front with yellow light.

Further, the auxiliary headlamp optical axis driving unit 23 of the left auxiliary headlamp 17 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 to change the optical axis direction _AL to a sine curve with a period T as shown in FIG. With L, shake in the range of 0 ° to -30 ° in the forward direction (30 ° on the left side). Similarly, the auxiliary headlamp optical axis driving unit 23 of the right auxiliary headlamp 17 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 so that the optical axis direction _AR is a sine curve R of the period T and the forward direction 0. Shake in the range of -30 ° (30 ° on the right side). The way of swinging the direction of the optical axis is synchronized between the left and right auxiliary headlamps 17, and the left and right auxiliary headlamps 17 are directed leftmost as shown in FIG. 9A. (Corresponding to time a in FIG. 8), the left auxiliary headlamp 17 faces the −30 ° direction, and the right auxiliary headlamp 17 faces the 0 ° direction. Similarly, as shown in (b), when the left and right auxiliary headlamps 17 have their optical axes directed to the rightmost (corresponding to time b in FIG. 8), the left auxiliary headlamp 17 has a 0 ° direction, The auxiliary headlamp 17 faces 30 °.
Such a way of swinging the optical axis of the auxiliary headlamp 17 is a movement imitating the side-viewing operation, and serves as a sign of the side-viewing operation for the driver who notices it and the oncoming vehicle.

In step 109, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 changes the illuminance by setting the auxiliary headlamp 17 to the light color when the awakening level is reduced, and fixing the optical axis forward.
That is, the LED control unit 25 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 to fix the voltage V _B applied to the B color LED among the three RGB colors to 0% and apply it to the RG two color LEDs. As shown in FIG. 10, the voltages V _R and V _G are gradually decreased from 100% to 0% in the period T, and voltage control for suddenly returning to 100% when the voltage becomes 0% is repeated. As a result, the auxiliary headlamp 17 irradiates yellow light while repeating a change in illuminance in the forward direction of 0 °.
Such a change in the illuminance of the auxiliary headlight 17 is a pattern that imitates the movement of the heel when it is asleep, gradually closing the heel and awakening. On the other hand, it becomes a sign of a drowsy driving.

Note that the above-mentioned period of swinging the optical axis to the left and right and the illuminance change period T are, for example, 2 seconds, and once proceeding to step 108 or 109, the swing of the optical axis to the left or right or the illuminance The change is repeated twice, for example.
After step 108 or 109, the process returns to step 101.
When the process proceeds from step 105 to step 110, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 continues the control of the auxiliary headlamp 17 based on the previous determination result.
The function of switching the light color of the LED control unit 25 of the present embodiment is the light color switching unit of the present invention, the illuminance control function of the LED control unit 25 is the illuminance control unit, and the auxiliary headlamp optical axis drive unit 23 is the optical axis. A drive means is comprised. Steps 101 to 104 in the flowchart constitute driver state detection means of the present invention, and steps 105 to 110 constitute control means.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the driver's arousal level is lowered, the auxiliary headlamp 17 fixes the optical axis in the forward direction of 0 °, and the movement of the heel during dozing The illuminance of yellow light changes. If it is determined that the driver is looking aside, the auxiliary headlight 17 is yellow light, and the optical axis is swung to the left and right as if looking aside.

Since the behavior of these auxiliary headlamps 17 is a movement with a light color different from that of the main headlamp 19 in the driver's front field of view, the driver recognizes the change rather than the light color change of the conventional meter illumination. In addition, the change in illuminance of the auxiliary headlight or the movement of the optical axis to the left or right is directly perceived by the driver because it directly resembles asleep and looks aside.
In addition, since the behavior of the auxiliary headlight 17 is presented outside the vehicle, it is embarrassed when the driver notices the surroundings, and it causes a feeling that the driver must return to normal. Be motivated.
Further, the oncoming vehicle can travel while watching the forward oncoming vehicle that behaves like such an auxiliary headlamp, and sounding a warning horn or being wary of the movement of the vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the vehicular illumination apparatus of the second embodiment.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
The vehicle lighting device 1 ′ of the present embodiment includes a driver photographing device 11, a driver state detection unit 13 ′, a memory 14, an auxiliary headlight control unit 15 ′, and an auxiliary headlamp provided separately from the main headlight. 17 '.

The driver state detection unit 13 ′ is a microprocessor dedicated to image processing as in the first embodiment, but detects only the driver's line-of-sight direction by image processing and outputs it to the memory 14.
The memory 14 accumulates the input line-of-sight direction in time series.
The detection in the driver state detection unit 13 ′ and the accumulation of the detection results in the memory 14 are performed at a constant cycle. A detection result after a predetermined time has passed, for example, when 30 seconds or more have elapsed, is automatically read from the memory 14. Erased.
The auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ is composed of a microcomputer.

  The auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ reads the driver's gaze direction within a predetermined time (here, the past 30 seconds) stored in the memory 14, and the standard deviation of the gaze direction distribution within the predetermined time is a predetermined angle. For example, if it is within 2 °, it is determined that the driver's attention is reduced, and the auxiliary headlamp 17 'is controlled when the attention is reduced.

The auxiliary headlamp 17 'includes an auxiliary headlamp light emitting unit 21' that emits yellow light, and an auxiliary headlamp shielding device 24 that changes the size of the illumination coverage of the auxiliary headlamp 17 '. .
The mounting position of the auxiliary headlamp 17 'is the same as in the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 12, the auxiliary headlamp shielding device 24 has a structure in which a semi-disc shaped shielding plate 35 is provided on a vertical axis driven by a shielding plate driving motor 37, and the auxiliary headlamp light emission is performed. It arrange | positions in the front side of part 21 '. The shielding plate drive motor 37 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′, and when the driver's state is normal, the surface of the shielding plate 35 is made parallel to the optical axis, the illumination coverage is fully opened, and the attention is reduced. In some cases, the surface of the shielding plate 35 is oriented perpendicular to the optical axis, and the left and right outside illumination coverage areas of the left and right auxiliary headlamps 17 ′ are covered with the shielding plate 35.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of control of the vehicular lighting device in the present embodiment.
In step 201, the driver photographing apparatus 11 acquires an image of the driver's face and inputs it to the driver state detection unit 13 ′.
In step 202, the driver state detection unit 13 ′ detects the driver's line-of-sight direction.
In step 203, the memory 14 accumulates the results of the line-of-sight direction detected in step 202 in time series.

  In step 204, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 'determines the state of the driver. That is, the time-series gaze direction within a predetermined time stored in the memory 14 is read out, the standard deviation of the gaze direction is calculated, and if it is within the predetermined value, it is determined that the attention is reduced. Otherwise, it is determined that the driver state is normal.

In step 205, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ checks whether or not the determination result has changed from the previous determination of the driver state in the repetitive processing in this control flow. If the determination result has changed, the process proceeds to step 206. If the determination result is the same as the previous time, the process proceeds to step 209.
In step 206, it is checked whether the determination result is reduced attention or normal. If normal, the process proceeds to step 207, and if the attention is reduced, the process proceeds to step 208.

  In step 207, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 'normally irradiates the auxiliary headlamp 17'. That is, the shielding plate drive motor 37 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ to drive the surface of the shielding plate 35 until it is parallel to the optical axis of the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′, and is in a fully open state. The auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ is irradiated with the shielding plate 35 fully opened (see FIG. 7).

In step 208, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ irradiates with the illumination coverage area of the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ narrowed. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the shielding plate drive motor 37 is controlled by the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ so that the orientation of the surface of the shielding plate 35 becomes perpendicular to the optical axis of the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′. The auxiliary headlamp 17 'is half open, the shielding plate 35 is in a half open state, the left auxiliary headlamp 17' is only the right half of the illumination coverage, and the right auxiliary headlamp 17 'is on the left side. Irradiate only half of the light coverage.
Since the illumination coverage area of the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ is biased toward the inside and narrows, the driver is aware of the situation where the driver's field of view is reduced. It is a sign of low attention driving for cars.

After step 207 or 208, the process returns to step 201.
When the process proceeds from step 205 to step 209, the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ continues the control of the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ based on the previous determination result.
The auxiliary headlamp shielding device 24 according to the present embodiment constitutes the coverage changing means of the present invention. Further, steps 201 to 204 in the flowchart constitute driver state detection means of the present invention, and steps 205 to 209 constitute control means.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the driver's attention is reduced due to, for example, the driver's conversation, the auxiliary headlamp 17 is compared with the case where the driver's attention is determined to be normal. The yellow light coverage of 'narrows towards the inside. Since the light color of the main headlight is different from the light color of the auxiliary headlamp, the behavior of the auxiliary headlamp 17 'imitating the narrowing of the driver's front vision is easily recognized by the driver himself.

In addition, since the behavior of the auxiliary headlight 17 'is presented outside the vehicle, it is embarrassed when the surroundings are noticed, and the driver is given a feeling that it must return to normal, thereby improving the driver's condition. It becomes motivation.
Further, the oncoming vehicle can travel while watching the forward oncoming vehicle that behaves like such an auxiliary headlamp, and sounding a warning horn or being wary of the movement of the vehicle.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ emits only yellow light. However, as in the first embodiment, the auxiliary headlamp light-emitting unit 21, which is composed of RGB three-color LEDs, the LED It is good also as a structure which has the control part 25. FIG.
In this case, when the auxiliary headlamp control unit 15 ′ determines that the driver is normal, the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ is irradiated with white light in step 207, and when the driver determines that the attention is reduced. In step 208, the auxiliary headlamp 17 ′ is irradiated with yellow light.

It is a block block diagram of the illuminating device for vehicles of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the vehicle interior mounting position of a driver | operator imaging device. It is a figure which shows the mounting position of an auxiliary headlamp. It is a figure which shows the structure of an auxiliary headlamp. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of the illuminating device for vehicles in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of the illuminating device for vehicles in a 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the illumination coverage of a main headlamp and an auxiliary headlamp when it determines with a driver | operator state being normal. It is a figure explaining the control which shakes the optical axis of an auxiliary headlamp when it judges with a driver's state being a look aside. It is a figure explaining the illumination coverage of a main headlamp and an auxiliary headlamp when a driver | operator state determines with a side look. It is a figure explaining the control which changes the illumination intensity of an auxiliary headlamp when it determines with a driver | operator state being awakening degree fall. It is a block block diagram of the illuminating device for vehicles of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an auxiliary headlamp. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of the illuminating device for vehicles in a 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining the illumination coverage of a main headlamp and an auxiliary headlamp when it determines with a driver | operator state being a low attentiveness.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Vehicle lighting device 3 Driver | operator 11 Driver imaging device 13, 13' Driver state detection part 14 Memory 15, 15 'Auxiliary headlamp control part 17, 17' Auxiliary headlamp 19 Main headlamp 21 and 21 'Auxiliary headlamp light emission part 23 Auxiliary headlamp optical-axis drive part 24 Auxiliary headlamp shielding apparatus 25 LED control part 31 Lens 33 LED
34 Housing 35 Shielding plate 37 Shielding plate drive motor 41L, 41R, 43 Illumination coverage

Claims (7)

Light color switching means for changing the light color of the headlamp;
Driver state detecting means for detecting the driver's state;
Control means for controlling the operation of the light color switching means based on the detected state of the driver,
The control means controls the light color switching means to change the light color of the headlamp when the driver state detection means detects a driver's forward careless state. Lighting device. Illuminance control means for controlling the illuminance of the headlamp;
Driver state detecting means for detecting the driver's state;
Control means for controlling the operation of the illuminance control means based on the detected driver state, the control means, when the driver state detection means detects a driver's forward careless state, An illuminating device for a vehicle, wherein the illuminance control means is controlled to change the illuminance of the headlamp. The change in the illuminance of the headlamp is a blinking mode in which the illuminance is gradually reduced from 100% to 0% and suddenly returns to 100% when the illuminance becomes 0%. The vehicle lighting device described. An optical axis driving means for changing the optical axis direction of the headlamp;
Driver state detecting means for detecting the driver's state;
Control means for controlling the operation of the optical axis driving means based on the detected state of the driver,
The control means controls the optical axis driving means to change the optical axis direction irradiated by the headlamp when the driver state detecting means detects a driver's forward careless state. Vehicle lighting device. Covering area changing means for changing the width of the front lighting covering area of the headlamp;
Driver state detecting means for detecting the driver's state;
Control means for operating the coverage change means based on the detected driver's condition,
The control means controls the coverage change means to change the front illumination coverage of the headlamp when the driver status detection means detects a driver's forward carelessness state. Vehicle lighting device. The said headlamp is an auxiliary headlamp provided separately from the main headlamp, and it illuminates with the light color different from a main headlamp, The any one of Claim 1 to 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle lighting device described in 1. The forward careless state means that the time ratio of the closed state of the eyelid is not less than a predetermined value, or the time ratio in which the line-of-sight direction deviates from the predetermined range in the forward direction is not less than the predetermined value, or the distribution of the line-of-sight direction within the predetermined time. 7. The vehicular lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the standard deviation is any one of a predetermined value or less.

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