CN113889002A - Lamp unit for road surface drawing and road surface drawing method of lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lamp unit for road surface drawing and a road surface drawing method using the lamp unit. The invention provides a road surface drawing lamp unit and a road surface drawing method of a lamp, which enable pedestrians to easily notice drawing patterns on a road surface. The road surface drawing lamp unit (10) comprises a road surface drawing light distribution forming part (22) for irradiating light towards the lower part of a specified height for drawing the road surface; and a pedestrian light distribution forming unit (24) that irradiates light above a predetermined height in synchronization with the irradiation of light generated by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit (22).

Description

Lamp unit for road surface drawing and road surface drawing method of lamp

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lamp unit for road surface drawing and a road surface drawing method using the lamp unit.

Background

Conventionally, a road surface drawing lamp unit is known which can draw a pattern of a desired shape on a road surface in order to present a vehicle traveling direction to a driver of the vehicle or to allow a pedestrian or the like to recognize the presence of the vehicle (for example, see patent document 1).

[ patent document ]

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-9829

However, with the recent spread of mobile information terminals, there are an increasing number of pedestrians who walk while watching the mobile information terminals. Such pedestrians tend to have difficulty paying attention to the drawn pattern on the road surface.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a road surface drawing lamp unit and a road surface drawing method using the lamp unit, which allow a pedestrian to easily notice a drawing pattern on a road surface.

In order to solve the above problem, a road surface drawing lamp unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes:

a road surface drawing light distribution forming part for irradiating light to the lower part of the prescribed height for the purpose of road surface drawing; and

the pedestrian light distribution forming unit irradiates light above a predetermined height in synchronization with the irradiation of the light generated by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit.

The pedestrian light distribution forming portion may be formed to irradiate light in a range of 10 ° to 90 ° in the horizontal direction including 0 ° to 8.5 ° in the vertical direction.

A pedestrian detecting section that detects a position of a pedestrian may be further included. The pedestrian light distribution forming unit may change the irradiation range in the horizontal direction according to the position of the pedestrian.

The road surface drawing light distribution forming unit and the pedestrian light distribution forming unit may use a common light source and lens.

Preferably, in the road surface drawing lamp unit according to the present invention, the light source and the road surface drawing light distribution lens constitute the road surface drawing light distribution forming portion, and the light source and the pedestrian light distribution lens constitute the pedestrian light distribution forming portion.

In the road surface drawing lamp unit according to the present invention, it is preferable that the light source and the projection lens constitute the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit, and the light source, the reflector, and the projection lens constitute the pedestrian light distribution forming unit.

Preferably, in the road surface drawing lamp unit according to the present invention, a light source, a projection lens, and a pixel type projector constitute both the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit and the pedestrian light distribution forming unit.

A road surface drawing method of a lamp according to another aspect of the present invention includes:

a road surface drawing light distribution forming step of irradiating light toward a lower side of a predetermined height for road surface drawing; and

and a pedestrian light distribution forming step of irradiating light above the predetermined height in synchronization with the irradiation of the light generated in the road surface drawing light distribution forming step.

The effects of the present invention are explained below:

according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a road surface drawing lamp unit and a road surface drawing method of a lamp, in which a pedestrian can easily notice a drawing pattern on a road surface.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a light distribution state for illuminating a pedestrian with respect to a pedestrian walking while viewing the mobile information terminal.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a light distribution pattern formed by the road surface drawing lamp unit.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8(a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining changes in the light distribution pattern for pedestrian direct lighting.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a time before a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian and a divergent end angle.

Fig. 10 (a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit after the vehicle has turned.

The symbols in the drawings have the following meanings:

10, 50, 60-lamp unit for road surface drawing

12-light Source

14-projection lens

17-image pickup device

19-image processing apparatus

20-control section

22-road surface drawing light distribution forming part

24-light distribution forming part for pedestrian

52-mirror

62-pixel type projector

100-vehicle headlamp device

102 lamp body

104-light-transmitting cover

106-Lamp Chamber

200-vehicle

Detailed Description

Next, a road surface drawing lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent constituent elements, components and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted where appropriate. The embodiments are illustrative, and do not limit the present description, and all the features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not limited to the essence of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The road surface drawing lamp unit 10 constitutes a part of a pair of vehicle headlamp apparatuses 100 arranged on the left and right in front of the vehicle. The road surface drawing lamp unit 10 is disposed in a lamp chamber 106 formed by a lamp body 102 having an opening on the vehicle front side and a light-transmitting cover 104 attached so as to cover the opening of the lamp body 102. The light-transmitting cover 104 is made of light-transmitting resin, glass, or the like. In the lamp room 106, other lamp units (not shown) constituting the vehicle headlamp apparatus 100, such as a high beam lamp unit and a low beam lamp unit, are also disposed.

The road surface drawing lamp unit 10 includes a light source 12 and a projection lens 14 that projects light emitted from the light source 12 to the front of the lamp. The light source 12 may be an LED or a semiconductor laser, etc. The projection lens 14 is disposed with its rear focal point on the light emitting surface of the light source 12.

In the present embodiment, the projection lens 14 is composed of two types of lenses having different curvatures. A lower portion of the projection lens 14 is a road surface drawing light distribution lens 14a, and an upper portion of the projection lens 14 is a pedestrian light distribution lens 14 b. The road surface drawing light distribution lens 14a and the pedestrian light distribution lens 14b are formed as an integral lens.

The road surface drawing light distribution lens 14a is a free-form surface lens having a free-form surface shape on the front side surface and the rear side surface, and receives light from the light source 12 and projects a pattern having a predetermined shape on a road surface. Since a free-form surface lens capable of projecting a pattern having such a predetermined shape is known, a detailed description of the configuration thereof will be omitted in the present specification.

In the present embodiment, the light source 12 and the road surface drawing light distribution lens 14a constitute a road surface drawing light distribution forming portion 22 that irradiates light downward at a predetermined height for the purpose of road surface drawing. In fig. 1, a light distribution L1 emitted downward at a predetermined height is shown by a solid line.

The pedestrian light distribution lens 14b is formed as a free-form surface lens having a curvature different from that of the road surface drawing light distribution lens 14a in order to receive the light from the light source 12 and direct the light to the pedestrian.

In the present embodiment, the light source 12 and the pedestrian light distribution lens 14b constitute a pedestrian light distribution forming unit 24 that irradiates light upward at a predetermined height in synchronization with irradiation of light generated by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22. In fig. 1, a light distribution L2 emitted upward at a predetermined height is shown by a broken line.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the adjustment of the intensity of light emitted from the light source 12. The control unit 20 is implemented as a hardware configuration by an element or a circuit including a CPU or a memory of a computer, and is implemented as a software configuration by a computer program or the like. Although the control unit 20 is provided outside the lamp chamber 106 in fig. 1, it may be provided inside the lamp chamber 106.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a state in which a vehicle 200 having the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 disposed on the left and right sides in front of the vehicle turns right at an intersection. In fig. 2, the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 disposed at the front right of the vehicle 200 draws a pattern 202 indicating a turning direction on the road surface. This makes it possible to early notify the pedestrian 204 who intends to cross the crosswalk that the vehicle 200 is about to turn right.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which a pedestrian light distribution L2 is irradiated to a pedestrian 204 walking while viewing the portable information terminal 206. When a pedestrian walks while watching the mobile information terminal 206, it tends to be difficult to notice the drawing pattern 202 on the road surface. Then, in the lamp unit 10 for road surface drawing according to the present embodiment, the light distribution L2 for pedestrians is irradiated by the light distribution forming unit 24 for pedestrians in synchronization with the irradiation of the light distribution L1 for road surface drawing by the light distribution forming unit 22 for road surface drawing. This makes it possible for a pedestrian who walks while viewing the mobile information terminal 206 to easily notice the pattern 202 drawn on the road surface.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a light distribution pattern formed by the road surface drawing lamp unit 10. Fig. 4 shows a light distribution pattern formed by the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 on the right side on a virtual vertical screen at a predetermined position (for example, in front of 25 m) arranged in front of the lamp when the vehicle 200 turns right.

As shown in fig. 4, a light distribution pattern 202 for road surface drawing formed by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22 is formed in an area below the horizontal line H and on the right side of the vertical line V on the virtual vertical screen. A light distribution pattern 203 for pedestrian direct projection formed by the pedestrian light distribution forming portion 24 is formed in an area above the horizontal line H and to the right of the vertical line V on the virtual vertical screen. The range of the light distribution pattern 203 for pedestrian direct projection may include, for example, a range of 0 ° to 8.5 ° in the vertical direction and 10 ° to 90 ° in the horizontal direction on an imaginary vertical screen. There is no problem even if the inside of 10 ° in the horizontal direction is irradiated. Since there is usually a low-beam overhead sign light in the range from the vertical line V to 10 °, the light distribution pattern 203 is formed outside of 10 ° in the horizontal direction. Fig. 4 shows a light distribution pattern formed by the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 arranged on the right side of the vehicle, but if the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle, a light distribution pattern symmetrical to the left and right of fig. 4 is formed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit 50 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The light distribution forming portion 24 for pedestrians of the lamp unit 50 for road surface drawing shown in fig. 5 is different in configuration from the lamp unit 10 for road surface drawing shown in fig. 1. The road surface drawing lamp unit 50 of the present embodiment includes a light source 12, a projection lens 14, and a reflector 52 disposed below the light source 12. In the present embodiment, the light source 12, the reflector 52, and the projection lens 14 constitute a pedestrian light distribution forming unit 24 that irradiates light upward at a predetermined height in synchronization with irradiation of light generated by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22. As shown in fig. 5, light from the light source 12 is reflected by the reflector 52, enters the projection lens 14, and is emitted upward by the projection lens 14 at a predetermined height (light distribution L2). The road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22 is composed of the light source 12 and the projection lens 14, and irradiates light toward a lower side of a predetermined height for road surface drawing (light distribution L1). In the present embodiment, the common light source 12 and the projection lens 14 are used for the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22 and the pedestrian light distribution forming unit 24. In this way, the light source 12 and the projection lens 14 are shared, so that the lamp unit configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a road surface drawing lamp unit 60 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The road surface plot light distribution forming portion 22 and the pedestrian light distribution forming portion 24 of the road surface plot lamp unit 60 shown in fig. 6 are different in configuration from the road surface plot lamp unit 10 shown in fig. 1.

The road surface drawing lamp unit 60 according to the present embodiment includes a light source 12, a projection lens 14, and a pixel projector 62. The pixel projector 62 may be a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror array in which a plurality of micromirrors are arranged in an array. Since the MEMS mirror array is well known, detailed description of the structure is omitted in this specification.

Each micromirror of the pixel-type projector 62 can control the direction in which light from the light source 12 is reflected by changing its tilt angle. By reflecting the light from the light source 12 downward by some of the micromirrors, a light distribution (light distribution L1) for road surface drawing can be irradiated. Further, by reflecting the light from the light source 12 upward by the other micro-mirror, it is possible to irradiate a light distribution (light distribution L2) for directing the pedestrian in synchronization with the irradiation of the light distribution for road surface mapping.

In the present embodiment, the light source 12, the projection lens 14, and the pixel projector 62 constitute both the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit 22 and the pedestrian light distribution forming unit 24. By sharing the light source 12, the projection lens 14, and the pixel projector 62, the structure of the lamp unit can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the adjustment of the emission intensity of the light from the light source 12 and the reflection of the light by the pixel projector 62. Although the control unit 20 is provided outside the lamp chamber 106 in fig. 6, it may be provided inside the lamp chamber 106.

In the present embodiment, the road surface drawing lamp unit 60 includes an imaging device 17 configured to image the surroundings of the vehicle, and an image processing device 19 configured to acquire image data imaged by the imaging device 17 and perform image processing. The image processing device 19 specifies a pedestrian included in the image data and detects the position thereof. The imaging device 17 and the image processing device 19 constitute a pedestrian detection unit that detects a pedestrian position. A technique of specifying a pedestrian and a technique of detecting a position are well known, and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. The detected positional information of the pedestrian is sent to the control unit 20. The positional information of the pedestrian is used for the control of the light source 12 and the pixel projector 62 by the control unit 20. For example, the control unit 20 may change the irradiation range in the horizontal direction according to the position of the pedestrian. The variable control of the irradiation range is explained below.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit 60 shown in fig. 6. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the vehicle 200 having the road surface drawing lamp unit 60 disposed on the left and right sides in front of the vehicle turns right at an intersection. Fig. 7 shows positions 3 seconds, 2 seconds, and 1 second before the collision between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204.

Fig. 8(a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining changes in the light distribution pattern 203 for pedestrian direct lighting. Fig. 8(a) shows a light distribution pattern 203 for direct pedestrian projection 3 seconds before the collision between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204. Fig. 8(b) shows a light distribution pattern 203 for pedestrian direct projection 2 seconds before the collision between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204. Fig. 8(c) shows a light distribution pattern 203 for direct pedestrian projection 1 second before the collision between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204. As is clear from (a) to (c) of fig. 8, the control unit 20 controls the pixel projector 62 so that the range of the light distribution pattern 203 becomes narrower as the distance between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204 approaches. As shown in fig. 8, the end of the light distribution pattern 203 in the horizontal direction is set to the diffusion end angle θ. As shown in (a) to (c) of fig. 8, the control unit 20 controls the pixel projector 62 so that the diffusion end angle θ becomes smaller as the distance between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204 becomes closer. Fig. 9 shows an example of the relationship between the time before the collision between the vehicle 200 and the pedestrian 204 and the divergent end angle θ. By changing the range of the light distribution pattern 203 for direct irradiation by a pedestrian in this manner, light can be efficiently irradiated to a pedestrian who may collide, and a situation in which glare is given to a pedestrian who has a low possibility of collision can be avoided.

Fig. 10 (a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the road surface drawing lamp unit 10 after the vehicle 200 has turned. During the turning of the vehicle 200, as shown in fig. 10(c), the traveling direction of the vehicle 200 does not coincide with the road surface drawing pattern 203, and there is a fear that the driver of the pedestrian or another vehicle may be misunderstood. In the present embodiment, the road surface drawing pattern 203 is turned off when the traveling direction of the vehicle and the traveling direction indicated by the road surface drawing pattern do not match (see fig. 10 c). The direction of travel of the host vehicle may be acquired based on the steering angle of the steering or the information captured by the imaging device 17. The light-off control for the road surface drawing pattern 203 may be control different from the light-off control for the turn signal lamp.

The present invention has been described above based on embodiments. These embodiments are illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in combination of the respective constituent elements and the respective processing steps, and such modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the MEMS mirror array provided with the plurality of micro mirrors is exemplified as the pixel type projector, but the pixel type projector is not limited to the MEMS mirror array, and may be, for example, a diffraction type MEMS array provided with the plurality of movable strips.

Of course, in the above-described embodiment, the numerical values indicated as the parameters are merely examples, and may be set to different values as appropriate.

The embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, and they are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A lamp unit for road surface drawing, comprising:

a road surface drawing light distribution forming part for irradiating light to the lower part of the prescribed height for the purpose of road surface drawing; and

and a pedestrian light distribution forming unit for irradiating light above the predetermined height in synchronization with the irradiation of the light generated by the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit.

2. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the pedestrian light distribution forming portion is formed to irradiate light in a range of 0-8.5 DEG in the vertical direction and 10-90 DEG in the horizontal direction.

3. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

further comprises a pedestrian detecting part for detecting the position of the pedestrian,

the pedestrian light distribution forming unit changes the irradiation range in the horizontal direction according to the pedestrian position.

4. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the road surface drawing light distribution forming unit and the pedestrian light distribution forming unit use a common light source and lens.

5. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the light source and the road surface drawing light distribution lens constitute the road surface drawing light distribution forming part,

the light source and the pedestrian light distribution lens constitute the pedestrian light distribution forming unit.

6. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the light source and the projection lens constitute the road surface drawing light distribution forming part,

the light source, the reflector, and the projection lens constitute the pedestrian light distribution forming unit.

7. The road surface drawing lamp unit according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the light source, the projection lens, and the pixel projector constitute both the road surface drawing light distribution forming section and the pedestrian light distribution forming section.

8. A road surface drawing method of a lamp is characterized by comprising the following steps:

a road surface drawing light distribution forming step of irradiating light toward a lower side of a predetermined height for road surface drawing; and

and a pedestrian light distribution forming step of irradiating light above the predetermined height in synchronization with the irradiation of the light generated in the road surface drawing light distribution forming step.

Images