JPH0826023A - Optical axis adjusting device for head lamp of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always automatically adjust the optical axis of a head lamp in the appropriate direction. CONSTITUTION:When the light switch 31 of a head lamp 1 is ON and the lamp is directed downward and the vehicle speed V reaches a prescribed vehicle speed, the vehicle is running in the environment in which the vehicle can run at a certain speed, and there is possibility that a light emitted only from a head-on car enters this vehicle. When a quantity of light radiated to the vehicle is judged to be over a prescribed value by a light sensor 3, it is judged to be caused by a head-on car, and the optical axis of the head lamp is controlled so as to enable to change the direction left.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp optical axis adjusting device, and more particularly to a technique for constantly adjusting the optical axis of a headlamp to an appropriate direction by the presence of an oncoming vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional headlamp, the illuminance of the headlamp is increased in order to secure a visual field when driving at night. In order to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled, the optical axis of the headlamp can be manually adjusted up and down, and when there is an oncoming vehicle, the optical axis of the headlamp is directed downward. There is.

Also, when the vehicle is running, the headlamps are turned on.
There is a technique for controlling turning off (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-17942). There is also a headlamp housing provided with a hinge function (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 272143).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional vehicle, the light emitted by the own vehicle enters the eyes of the driver of the oncoming vehicle while facing the oncoming vehicle at night. There is a fear of causing dazzling oncoming vehicles.
Further, the dazzling may be caused when the vehicle is traveling at a certain speed.

Here, there is a possibility that the dazzling may cause insufficient recognition of a pedestrian walking on the left side of the vehicle or a traveling bicycle. For this reason, the driver must always pay attention to driving in order to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled, and the mental burden is placed on the driver to adversely affect drivability. was there.

In order to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled when a load is applied to the loading platform and the optical axis is directed upwards, the leveling actuator attached to the headlamp is operated and the optical axis of the headlamp is set as a reference. There is known a headlamp aiming device that can be vertically changed from a shaft (Nissan Diesel Circular, issued in January 1990, No. 176).
See page).

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when the headlamp is in a downward state during nighttime traveling, the presence of an oncoming vehicle causes the optical axis of the headlamp to be always appropriate rather than being manually operated. It is an object to provide a device for automatically adjusting the orientation.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the headlamp optical axis rotating means for rotating the optical axis of the headlamp on the right side of the vehicle to the left with respect to the traveling direction. A vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, an irradiation light detecting means for detecting light emitted to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle, a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means being equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed, and the irradiation light. Optical axis control means for rotating the optical axis of the headlamp on the right side of the vehicle to the left with respect to the traveling direction by the headlamp optical axis rotation means when the irradiation light is detected by the detection means. did.

Further, in a vehicle provided with an automobile lamp unit assembled by a housing of integral structure, a lamp unit optical axis rotating means for rotating the optical axis of the lamp unit on the right side of the vehicle to the left with respect to the traveling direction. A vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the vehicle speed, an irradiation light detecting means for detecting light emitted to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle, and a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means being equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed, and the irradiation light detection Lamp unit optical axis control means for rotating the optical axis of the lamp unit on the right side of the vehicle leftward with respect to the traveling direction by the lamp unit optical axis rotation means when the irradiation light is detected by the means. You may comprise.

[0010]

With this structure, when it is detected that the vehicle is irradiated with light from the front of the vehicle when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, it is determined that there is an oncoming vehicle, and the optical axis of the headlamp on the right side of the vehicle is detected. To the left with respect to the traveling direction.
So that the driver of the oncoming vehicle will not be dazzled,
The optical axis of the headlamp is automatically adjusted to the proper orientation.

Further, in a vehicle provided with an automobile lamp unit assembled by a housing of an integral structure, when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed, it is detected that the vehicle is irradiated with light from the front of the vehicle. Then, assuming that there is an oncoming vehicle, the optical axis of the lamp unit on the right side of the vehicle is rotated leftward with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, the optical axis of the lamp unit is automatically adjusted to an appropriate direction so that the driver of the oncoming vehicle will not be dazzled.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 11 is formed in the right front portion of the vehicle 10.
Is provided in the recess 11 from the front of the vehicle.
An optical sensor 3 is provided as irradiation light detecting means for detecting the light emitted to the.

The optical sensor 3 is provided in the recess 11 so that the light emitted to the vehicle 10 from the traveling direction can be easily detected. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the output signal from the optical sensor 3 is input to the optical sensor amplifier 5, and the output signal from the optical sensor amplifier 5 is output to the comparison circuit 6. The comparison circuit 6 compares a predetermined light amount reference value with the output signal from the optical sensor amplifier 5, and depending on the comparison result described later, the output circuit 7 causes the relay 8 of the headlight angle varying mechanism 2 described later to be headlighted. Outputs the variable lamp angle signal.

Further, the vehicle 10 is provided with a vehicle speed sensor 21, an output signal from the vehicle speed sensor 21 is inputted to a vehicle speed sensor amplifier 22, and an output signal from the vehicle speed sensor amplifier 22 is inputted to a comparison circuit 23. Is output. The comparison circuit 23 compares a predetermined vehicle speed reference value with the output signal from the vehicle speed sensor amplifier 22, and the output circuit 24 detects the irradiation light by the optical sensor 3 depending on the comparison result described later.

Next, the headlamp 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the headlamp 1 is built in a lamp housing 41 fixed to a housing fixing panel 42 and constitutes a lamp unit 40. When the headlamp 1 is turned on, light is emitted in a predetermined direction via a lamp lens 43 provided on the front surface of the lamp housing 41.

Here, as a structure according to the present invention, a hinge mechanism portion 44 is provided at the left end portion of the housing fixing panel 42, and the optical axis of the lamp unit 40 can be changed horizontally with respect to the traveling direction. Has become. Further, between the housing fixing panel 42 and the cab inner panel 45, there is provided the headlight angle varying mechanism 2 whose fixed end is fixed to the cab inner panel 45 and whose free end is supported by the housing fixing panel 42. Has been. In the present embodiment, the optical axis of the lamp unit 40 is up to 15 ° to the left with respect to the traveling direction.
The configuration is variable. That is, the headlamp angle changing mechanism 2 functions as a lamp unit optical axis rotating means.

That is, this embodiment is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2. The comparison circuit 23, the output circuit 24, the comparison circuit 6 and the output circuit 7 are respectively built in a control unit, and the control unit receives a light ON / OFF signal from the light switch 31 and a light downward signal. Is entered. Next, the control contents of the control unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 1 (abbreviated as S1 in the figure; the same applies hereinafter), it is determined whether or not the light switch 31 is ON. In step 2, the light switch 31
Determines whether is facing down. When it is determined that the light switch 31 is ON and the light switch 31 is facing downward, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at night and there is a possibility of an oncoming vehicle, and the routine proceeds to step 3.

In step 3, it is determined whether the vehicle speed V read by the vehicle speed sensor 21 is equal to or higher than the prescribed vehicle speed. Here, when the vehicle speed V does not reach the prescribed vehicle speed,
10 is running in a city area, and light other than the light emitted by the oncoming vehicle may enter the vehicle. That is, if the vehicle speed V has not reached the specified vehicle speed, the optical axis control may cause a malfunction, and therefore the process directly returns.

On the other hand, when the vehicle speed V has reached the prescribed vehicle speed, the vehicle 10 is traveling in an environment in which it can travel at a certain speed, and only the light emitted by the oncoming vehicle can enter the vehicle 10. If it is determined that the optical axis is controlled, it is determined that the optical axis control is performed, and the process proceeds to step 4. In step 4, based on the output signal from the optical sensor 3, it is determined whether or not the amount of light with which the vehicle is irradiated is equal to or larger than a specified amount. And
If it is determined that the amount of light is equal to or more than the specified amount, it is determined that the light is emitted from an oncoming vehicle, and step 5
Then, the optical axis control is performed assuming that there is an oncoming vehicle.

In step 5, a headlight angle changing signal is output to the relay 8 of the headlight angle changing mechanism 2 so that the headlight angle changing mechanism 2 rotates the hinge mechanism section 44 as the center of rotation of the lamp unit 40. The optical axis is changed to the left with respect to the traveling direction.
With such a configuration, in the vehicle provided with the automobile lamp unit 40 assembled by the housing having the integral structure, when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, the light sensor indicates that the vehicle is irradiated with light from the front of the vehicle. When detected by 3, it is determined that there is an oncoming vehicle, and the optical axis of the lamp unit 40 on the right side of the vehicle is rotated leftward with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, the optical axis of the lamp unit is automatically adjusted to an appropriate direction so that the driver of the oncoming vehicle will not be dazzled.

For this reason, the driver does not need to pay attention to the optical axis adjustment in order to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled, and the mental burden on the driver is reduced, and the driver's driving is reduced. It is possible to improve the property. Further, as an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 1, the lamp unit 40 in which the headlamp is incorporated is fixed, and the optical axis of the headlamp is variable in the left direction with respect to the traveling direction in front of the lamp unit 40. It may be equipped with a mechanism that enables it,
In this case also, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment are exhibited.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, the mechanism for changing the optical axis of the right headlamp to the left with respect to the traveling direction is provided, but the optical axis of the left headlamp to the traveling direction is provided. On the other hand, if it is made variable in the left direction, it hinders the traveling of a vehicle traveling in the same direction on the left side, so the optical axis changing mechanism is provided only on the right side.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when it is determined that there is an oncoming vehicle while driving at night, the optical axis of the lamp unit 40 on the right side of the vehicle is automatically moved to the left with respect to the traveling direction. Since it rotates, the headlamp optical axis can be properly maintained,
There is no danger of dazzling an oncoming vehicle, the mental burden on the driver is reduced, and drivability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle headlamp optical axis adjustment device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing attachment of an optical sensor of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of an embodiment of the same device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a lamp unit in the same device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Headlamp 2 Headlight angle variable mechanism 3 Optical sensor 6 Comparison circuit 7 Output circuit 21 Vehicle speed sensor 23 Comparison circuit 24 Output circuit 31 Light switch 40 Lamp unit 44 Hinge mechanism part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G01M 11/06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A headlamp optical axis rotating means for rotating an optical axis of a headlamp on the right side of a vehicle to the left with respect to a traveling direction, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, and a front side of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle. Irradiation light detecting means for detecting the light emitted by the vehicle, and the headlamp optical axis rotation when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed and the irradiation light is detected by the irradiation light detecting means. An optical axis adjusting device for a vehicle, comprising: an optical axis control means for rotating the optical axis of the headlamp on the right side of the vehicle to the left with respect to the traveling direction by means. 2. A vehicle provided with an automotive lamp unit assembled by a housing of integral structure, wherein a lamp unit optical axis rotating means for rotating the optical axis of the lamp unit on the right side of the vehicle to the left with respect to the traveling direction. A vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the vehicle speed, an irradiation light detecting means for detecting light emitted to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle, and a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means being equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed and detecting the emitted light. Lamp unit optical axis control means for rotating the optical axis of the lamp unit on the right side of the vehicle leftward with respect to the traveling direction by the lamp unit optical axis rotation means when the irradiation light is detected by the means. A headlamp optical axis adjusting device for a configured vehicle.