JP2000233684A - Headlamp light distribution control device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for controlling a cutline as compared with the conventional technique, minimize the glare to the driver of a preceding vehicle caused by the delay of cutline control and quickly secure front visibility. SOLUTION: This headlamp light distribution control device is provided with headlamps 2 capable of regulating the glare to the driver of a preceding vehicle by changing a cutline, a cutline driving means changing the cutline of the headlamps 2, preceding vehicle detecting means 4, 7 detecting the position of the preceding vehicle, a preceding vehicle glare region setting means setting the glare region where the headlamps 2 give the glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle in advance, and a control means controlling the operation of the cutline driving means to suppress the glare when the preceding vehicle detected by the preceding vehicle detecting means 4, 7 is located in the glare region.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headlamp light distribution control device for an automobile, which controls the light distribution of a headlamp that illuminates the front of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A headlight of an automobile is a so-called traveling beam that irradiates a long-distance region when an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle does not exist. It is possible to switch between two stages, that is, a so-called passing beam that irradiates a short-distance region by cutting upward light so as not to give the driver a so-called glare.

[0003] In the passing beam, the cut line on the oncoming vehicle side (the right side when traveling on the left side) is formed by the optical axis of a pair of left and right headlights so as not to give glare to the driver of the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle. Is a horizontal cut line located below a horizontal line connecting the lines. The cut line on the pedestrian side (the left side in the case of left running) is a cut line inclined upward by about 15 degrees with respect to the horizontal line in order to improve the visibility in the front and side.

However, the traveling beam gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle, and the passing beam has a limit in improving the visibility. For this reason, a headlamp light distribution control device for a vehicle that controls the light distribution of the headlamp to improve the visibility in the front and side is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-275104 and JP-A-7-21803. And JP-A-8-183385.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-183385 describes a technique in which the irradiation range of a headlight is enlarged or moved in conjunction with the operation of a steering wheel, thereby changing the irradiation range to the turning direction of the vehicle. Have been. For this reason, the vehicle disclosed in the publication can improve both front and side visibility of the own vehicle at the time of turning of the own vehicle such as when traveling on a curve or turning right or left.

JP-A-6-275104 and JP-A-7-21803 disclose that a glare to a driver of a preceding vehicle is minimized by changing a headlight cut line based on the preceding vehicle detected by image processing. Are described. For this reason, those described in these publications reduce both front and side visibility of the own vehicle while minimizing glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle in a situation where the preceding vehicle exists in front of the own vehicle. Can be improved.

[0007]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-183385 does not consider preventing glare from a driver of a preceding vehicle in a situation where the preceding vehicle exists in front of the own vehicle. .

[0008] In each of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 6-275104 and 7-21803, the position of the cut line of the headlight is changed with respect to the detected preceding vehicle. For this reason, in order to prevent glare from the driver of the preceding vehicle, a reference position where high-intensity light that gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle does not reach at least the rearview mirror of the preceding vehicle is specified for the preceding vehicle. It is necessary to change the cut line so that the specified reference position is the position of the cut line of the headlight.

[0009] Accordingly, in the publications described in these publications,
It is necessary to specify the reference position, and as a result, it takes time from detecting the preceding vehicle to controlling the cut line of the headlight, and the delay of the cut line control gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle. there is a possibility.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the time required for controlling the cut line can be reduced as compared with the prior art.
Therefore, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle due to the delay of the cut line control can be minimized, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a headlamp light distribution control device for a vehicle, which can realize both front and side visibility quickly.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlight capable of controlling glare for a driver of a preceding vehicle by changing a cut line as a boundary line between light and dark, and the headlight. Cut line driving means for changing and driving the cut line, preceding vehicle detecting means for detecting the position of the preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the own vehicle, and a glare area in which the headlight gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle. When the position of the preceding vehicle detected by the preceding vehicle glare area setting means is within the set glare area, the cut line driving means is operated and controlled so as to suppress the glare. Control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlight light distribution control device for an automobile according to the first aspect, wherein a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of the own vehicle, and an irradiation range of the headlight. An irradiation range changing means for changing, based on a steering angle detected by the steering angle detection means, the control means changes the irradiation range of the headlight to the turning direction of the vehicle by the irradiation range changing means. The preceding vehicle glare area setting means resets the glare area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the headlight light distribution control device for an automobile according to the first or second aspect, wherein the glare area setting means for the preceding vehicle is one of a side mirror and a room mirror of the vehicle. The illuminance at the reference height that is the height to the lower end of the vehicle is set as an area on the road surface where the illuminance is equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance that gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle as the glare area. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the headlight light distribution control device for an automobile according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the preceding vehicle glare area setting means includes: When the preceding vehicle is detected at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle, the glare area is corrected by enlarging the side portion in the vehicle width direction of the glare area by the vehicle width.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlight light distribution control device for a vehicle according to the fourth aspect, wherein the preceding vehicle glare area setting means corrects the glare area. The amount of enlargement on both sides in the vehicle width direction is equivalent to the width of a large passenger car.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlight distribution control device for a vehicle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the headlight is movable to change a cut line of a low beam. It is characterized by having a shade.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the headlight light distribution control device for an automobile according to the sixth aspect, wherein the movable shade moves only the cut line on the pedestrian side of the low beam upward in the vehicle vertical direction. It is characterized by changing.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlamp light distribution control device for an automobile according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the preceding vehicle detecting means includes: Distance and
A radar device for detecting a direction angle of the preceding vehicle with respect to the own vehicle and a vehicle width of the preceding vehicle, and detecting the preceding vehicle based on the inter-vehicle distance, the direction angle, and the vehicle width detected by the radar device. And

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means presets a glare area in which the headlight gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle, and the control means detects the glare area by the preceding vehicle detecting means. When the position of the preceding vehicle is within the glare area, the cut-line driving means is operated and controlled so as to suppress glare.Therefore, the control means detects the preceding vehicle after the preceding vehicle detecting means detects all preceding vehicles. It is not necessary to specify a reference position at which the high-intensity light that gives glare to the driver does not reach at least the rearview mirror of the preceding vehicle with respect to the preceding vehicle.

Further, in the first aspect of the invention, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means sets the glare area in which the headlight gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle in advance. This can be performed in advance, and the time required to set the glare area can be excluded from the control time from the detection of the preceding vehicle to the control of the headlight cut line.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the time required for controlling the cut line is reduced as compared with the related art in which it is necessary to specify the reference position with respect to the preceding vehicle after detecting all preceding vehicles. As a result, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle due to the delay of the cut line control can be minimized, and both the forward and side visibility can be quickly secured. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means presets a glare area in which the headlight gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle, and the control means detects that the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the glare area. When the position of the preceding vehicle falls within the glare area, the cut-line driving means is operated and controlled so as to regulate glare, so that glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle can also be reliably prevented.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the control means changes the irradiation range of the headlight to the turning direction of the vehicle based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection means. Accordingly, both the forward and side visibility can be improved even when the vehicle is turning such as when traveling on a curve or when turning left or right.

In addition, since the preceding vehicle glare area setting means resets the glare area based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means, when the own vehicle turns, the irradiation range of the headlight in the turning direction of the own vehicle is set. The glare area can be reset according to the change of the vehicle, so that glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle can be minimized even when the vehicle turns, and both the forward and side It is possible to realize quick securing of visibility.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects of the invention, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means sets the height to the lower end of the rearview mirror of the vehicle as a reference height. If the area on the road surface where the illuminance of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance is set as the glare area, the illuminance light equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance is reflected by the room mirror of the preceding vehicle and glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle. Thus, it is possible to improve the visibility of both the front and side of the own vehicle while reliably preventing the occurrence of the vehicle.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means sets the height up to the lower end of the side mirror of the vehicle as a reference height, and the illuminance at the reference height is equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance. When the area on the road surface is set as the glare area, it is possible to prevent the illuminance light exceeding the glare limit illuminance from being reflected by the room mirror of the preceding vehicle and giving glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle, and to ensure the glare. It is possible to improve the visibility of both the front and side of the own vehicle while reliably preventing the illuminance light exceeding the limit illuminance from being reflected by the side mirror of the preceding vehicle and giving glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first to third aspects, when the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the preceding vehicle at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle, the preceding vehicle glare area setting means sets the glare area. Before the correction, at least one of the room mirror and the side mirror of the preceding vehicle may be located in the glare area even if the preceding vehicle is detected outside the glare area near the vehicle width direction boundary line of the glare area. However, this case can be eliminated after the correction.

Therefore, even when the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the preceding vehicle at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle, the setting of the side portion in the vehicle width direction of the glare region is properly performed and the boundary line in the vehicle width direction of the glare region is set. It is possible to prevent glare from the driver of the preceding vehicle located in the vicinity.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the preceding vehicle detected outside the glare area before correction near the boundary in the vehicle width direction of the glare area is a light vehicle. Of course, even if the preceding vehicle is a large passenger car,
After the correction, the preceding vehicle in which at least one of the room mirror and the side mirror of the preceding vehicle is located in the glare area before correction can be surely in the glare area. Therefore,
When the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the preceding vehicle at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle, it is possible to surely set the glare area appropriately in the vehicle width direction.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fifth aspects, the headlamp is provided with a movable shade for changing the cut line of the low beam, so that the movable shade can reduce the low beam. By changing the cut line, it is possible to control the light distribution of the headlight between the passing beam and the traveling beam. The visibility in both the front and side of the vehicle can be improved.

In the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 6, the movable shade changes only the cut line on the pedestrian side of the passing beam upward in the vehicle vertical direction, so that the oncoming vehicle of the passing beam The cut line on the side is invariable even if the movable shade moves, and therefore, when the oncoming vehicle approaches suddenly when the movable shade changes the cut line on the pedestrian side of the passing beam upward in the vehicle vertical direction However, glare to the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be minimized.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to seventh aspects, the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the preceding vehicle based on the detection result detected by the radar device. Can reduce the detection time as compared with the case where the preceding vehicle is detected by image processing. As a result, the control time of the cut line control based on the detection result of the preceding vehicle detection means can be reduced, Glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle due to a delay in line control can be minimized more quickly, and quicker securing of both front and side visibility can be realized.

[0033]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automobile equipped with a headlight control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 includes headlights 2 on both sides in the vehicle width direction at the front end. Below the front bumper 3, a laser radar 4 is disposed as a radar device for detecting the distance between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle, the direction angle of the preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle 1, and the width of the preceding vehicle. ing.

A steering angle sensor 6 as a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel 5 and a controller 7 for controlling the headlight 2 are provided inside the instrument. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a side mirror for side confirmation, and reference numeral 9 denotes a rearview mirror for rear confirmation.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the headlight control device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 7 controls the headlight 2 with a known structure (for example, FIG. 7 of JP-A-8-183385) based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor 6. By rotating the headlight 2 in the direction, the right and left control of the headlight 2 that moves the irradiation range of the headlight 2 in the turning direction of the automobile 1 is performed. Therefore, the known structure has an irradiation range changing means for changing the irradiation range of the headlight 2.

In this embodiment, the irradiation range changing means rotates the headlamp 2 in the vehicle width direction to move the irradiation range of the headlamp right and left. However, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-183385, for example, the irradiation range changing means rotates a part of the reflector of the headlight in the vehicle width direction to change the irradiation range of the headlight to the side. The illumination range of the headlight may be moved to the left and right and may be expanded to the side.

The controller 7 detects the position of the preceding vehicle based on the detection signal from the laser radar 4, and also performs cut line control for changing the cut line of the headlight 2 when detecting the preceding vehicle. I have. Therefore, the laser radar 4 and the controller 7 constitute preceding vehicle detecting means for detecting the position of the preceding vehicle, and the controller 7 also constitutes controlling means for controlling the cut line of the headlight 2.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing a headlight for a low beam. As shown in FIG. 3, the headlight 2 is of a projector type. Lamp body 1
A convex lens 11 is fixed to one of the openings of the lamp body 0, and a bulb 12 is attached to the other opening of the lamp body 10 so that a light emitting point is located on the optical axis H of the convex lens 11.

On the bulb 12 side of the lamp body 10, a reflector 13 having an elliptical reflecting surface is provided. Valve 1
Light emitted from the light source 2 is once collected by the reflector 13 at a light collection point between the bulb 12 and the convex lens 11. In the vicinity of the light condensing point, a shade 20 that blocks a part of the light emitted from the bulb 12 to form a cut line of the headlight 2 is provided.

This shade 20 has a fixed shade 21
And a movable shade 22 rotatably attached to the fixed shade 21. The movable shade 22 is rotated by a solenoid 23 that drives to change the cut line of the headlight 2. Therefore, the movable shade 22 and the solenoid 23 constitute a cut line driving unit.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow Z of FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state where the solenoid is OFF, and FIG.
Indicates that the solenoid is ON. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the cut line of the headlight.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the solenoid 23
Is OFF, the upper end line of the shade 20 forming the cut line of the headlight 2 is the upper end line 21a of the fixed shade 21 and the upper end line 22a of the movable shade 22.
It consists of Therefore, the solenoid 23 is turned off.
5, the cut line K of the headlight 2 is a low cut line K1, as shown in FIG. The cut line K1 is a cut line for passing beams.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the solenoid 23
Is in the ON state, the movable shade 22 is rotated by the solenoid 23 and the right side of the movable shade 22 is lowered, and instead of the upper end line 22a of the movable shade 22, the right side of the upper end line 21a of the fixed shade 21 appears. The upper end line of the shade 20 forming the cut line of the light distribution of the lamp 2 is only the upper end line 21 a of the fixed shade 21.

Therefore, when the solenoid 23 is in the ON state, as shown in FIG.
The pedestrian side (left side) of the low cut line K1, which is the cut line of the passing beam, is cut upward to become the high cut line K2.

Therefore, as for the cut line K of the headlight 2, only the cut line K on the pedestrian side (left side) changes in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The cut line K on the oncoming vehicle side (right side)
The cut line of the passing beam remains unchanged, and is formed parallel to the horizontal line L below the horizontal line L connecting the optical axes H of the pair of left and right headlamps 2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the cut line of the headlight with respect to the preceding vehicle. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower cut line K1 is located below a reference straight line M connecting the lower end edges of the pair of left and right side mirrors 8, 8 of the preceding vehicle A.

Therefore, in the case of the low cut line K 1, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A due to the reflected light reflected by the room mirror 9 can be prevented, and of course, the leading light reflected by the side mirror 8 can be prevented. Glare to the driver of the car A can also be prevented.

In the high cut line K2, the cut line on the pedestrian side is located above the vehicle with respect to the low cut line K1. For this reason, the visibility of the front of the vehicle and the side of the vehicle on the pedestrian side is improved in the case of the high cut line K2 as compared with the case of the low cut line K1.

However, the high cut line K2 is
A part thereof is located above the reference straight line M. For this reason, in the case of the high cut line K2, depending on the relative position between the own vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle A, the room mirror 9 of the preceding vehicle A
There is a possibility that glare may be given to the driver of the preceding vehicle A after being reflected by the side mirror 8.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the irradiation range of the headlight during straight running. In FIG. 7, reference sign G indicates a glare area in which the illuminance of the headlight 2 at the high cut line K2 illustrated in FIG. 6 is equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance that gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A. .

In this embodiment, the glare limit illuminance is 1 lux, which is a numerical value generally used by those skilled in the art, and the height of the reference straight line M is 0.8 m. The height of 0.8 m is generally the height to the lower end of the side mirror 8 of the sports vehicle having the lowest vehicle height.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the cut line K of the headlight 2 is a high cut line K2, the left side mirror 8 and the room mirror 9 of the preceding vehicle A1 and the front vehicle A2
Is the glare area G
And the preceding vehicle A3 and the preceding vehicle A4 are in the glare area G.
Located outside.

Therefore, when the cut line K of the headlight 2 is a high cut line K2, glare is given to the driver of the preceding vehicles A1 and A2, and the cut line K of the headlight 2 is cut low. It is necessary to switch to line K1. Hereinafter, the cut line K control of the headlight 2 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for controlling the headlight cut line during straight running. As shown in FIG. 8, in step S100, the controller 7 sets a glare area G when the cut line K of the headlight 2 is a high cut line K2. Therefore, the controller 7
Constitutes a preceding vehicle glare area setting means for setting the glare area G in advance.

In step S101, the controller 7 irradiates the laser radar 4 to read the inter-vehicle distance from the own vehicle 1 to the preceding vehicle A and the direction angle of the preceding vehicle A with respect to the own vehicle 1. In step S102, it is determined whether the preceding vehicle A has been detected. If the preceding vehicle A has been detected, the process proceeds to step S103. If the preceding vehicle A has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S103, step S100
It is determined whether or not the preceding vehicle A exists within the glare area G set in advance. When the preceding vehicle A exists in the glare area G, the process proceeds to step S104, and when the preceding vehicle A does not exist in the glare region G, the process proceeds to step S105. In step S104, the cut line K of the headlight 2 is set to a low cut line K1. In step S105, the cut line K of the headlight 2 is changed to the high cut line K2.
To

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the preceding vehicle A does not exist, or when the preceding vehicle A does not exist in the glare area G even when the preceding vehicle A exists, the cut line K of the headlight 2 Becomes a high cut line K2, and the visibility of both the front and side of the own vehicle 1 is improved. When the preceding vehicle A exists in the glare area G, the cut line K of the headlight 2 becomes a low cut line K1, and glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A can be minimized.

By the way, any of the structures described in JP-A-6-275104 and JP-A-7-21803 is required to prevent glare from the driver of the preceding vehicle A.
After detecting the preceding vehicle A, a reference position at which the illuminance light equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance that gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A does not reach at least the room mirror 9 of the preceding vehicle A is specified for the preceding vehicle A. It is necessary to change the cut line K so that the specified reference position is the position of the cut line K of the headlight 2.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a glare area G in which the headlight 2 gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A is set in advance, and when the detected preceding vehicle A falls within the glare area G, Since the cut line K of the headlight 2 is changed so that the vehicle A is outside the glare area G, it is not necessary to specify the reference position with respect to the preceding vehicle A after detecting all the preceding vehicles A. Moreover, since the setting of the glare area G is performed before the detection of the preceding vehicle A, the time required for setting the glare area G is
It is not included in the control time from when the preceding vehicle A is detected to when the cut line K of the headlight 2 is controlled.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the headlight 2 is detected after the preceding vehicle A is detected, as compared with the prior art in which it is necessary to specify the reference position with respect to the preceding vehicle A after detecting the preceding vehicle A. Control time until the cut line K is controlled can be shortened. As a result, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A due to the delay of the cut line K control can be minimized, and In addition, it is possible to quickly secure the visibility of both sides.

In this embodiment, a glare area G in which the headlight 2 gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A is set in advance, and when the detected preceding vehicle A falls within the glare area G, the preceding vehicle A Is changed outside the glare area G, so that glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A can be reliably prevented.

In addition, in this embodiment, the height of the reference straight line M shown in FIG. 6 is 0.8 m, which is about the height of the lower end of the side mirror in a sports car having the lowest vehicle height. Is a preceding vehicle A, and of course, even if a light vehicle, a sports car, or the like having a lower vehicle height than a normal vehicle is the preceding vehicle A, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A can be prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, a region where the illuminance of the headlight 2 at the height of the reference straight line M connecting the lower ends of the pair of left and right side mirrors 8 and 8 is 1 lux or more is defined as the glare region G. Since it is set, it is possible to reliably prevent the illuminance light of 1 lux or more from being reflected by the room mirror 9 of the preceding vehicle A and giving glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A, and the illuminance of 1 lux or more. Light is the side mirror 8 of the preceding car A
, And glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A can be reliably prevented.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a light car or a sports car having a height lower than that of an ordinary car is the preceding car A, the illuminance light of 1 lux or more emits the room mirror 9 of the preceding car A.
In addition, the visibility of both the front and side of the own vehicle 1 can be improved while preventing glare from being reflected by the side mirror 8 to the driver of the preceding vehicle A.

Further, in this embodiment, the cut line K of the headlight 2 can be controlled between the passing beam and the traveling beam by rotating the movable shade 22 of the headlight 2. It is possible to improve both front and side visibility of the own vehicle 1 while minimizing glare for the driver of the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle A.

Further, the movable shade 22 of the headlight 2 changes only the cut line K of the low beam on the pedestrian side upward in the vehicle vertical direction. Even if it turns, it is invariable. Therefore, even when the oncoming vehicle approaches when the movable shade 22 changes the pedestrian-side cut line K of the passing beam upward in the vehicle vertical direction, Glare to the driver of the car can be minimized.

Further, in this embodiment, a laser radar 4 for detecting the inter-vehicle distance from the own vehicle 1 to the preceding vehicle A and the direction angle of the preceding vehicle A with respect to the own vehicle 1 is provided, and the laser radar 4 detects the distance. Since the position of the preceding vehicle is detected based on the inter-vehicle distance and the direction angle, the position detection time of the preceding vehicle A can be shortened as compared with the case where the position of the preceding vehicle A is detected by image processing.

Therefore, in this embodiment, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A due to the delay of the cut line control is minimized more quickly than in the case where the position of the preceding vehicle A is detected by image processing. In addition to this, it is also possible to realize quicker securing of both front and side visibility.

In this embodiment, the position of the preceding vehicle A is detected using the laser radar 4. However, it is needless to say that a millimeter wave radar or the like may be used instead of the laser radar 4. is there.

Here, control of the cut line K of the headlight 2 when the vehicle 1 turns, such as when traveling on a curve or turning left or right, will be described by taking a curve traveling as an example. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an irradiation range of a headlight when traveling on a curve. FIG.
It is a flowchart which controls the cut line of a headlight at the time of curve running.

As shown in FIG. 9, when traveling on a curve, the controller 7 controls the steering angle θH detected by the steering angle sensor 6.
The irradiation range of the headlamp 2 is moved in the turning direction of the own vehicle 1 based on the distance between the own vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle A, and the direction angle of the preceding vehicle A with respect to the own vehicle 1 θL is detected.

Then, the controller 7 detects the preceding vehicle A based on the detection data of the laser radar 4, and when the preceding vehicle A is detected, the glare area according to the movement of the irradiation range of the headlight 2. G is reset, and the headlight 2 cut line K is controlled based on the reset glare area G.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in step S200, the controller 7 sets the glare area G when the cut line K of the headlight 2 is the high cut line K2. In step S201, the steering angle sensor 6
Inputs the detected steering angle θH of the steering wheel 5, irradiates the laser radar 4, and inputs the inter-vehicle distance X from the own vehicle 1 to the preceding vehicle A and the direction angle θL of the preceding vehicle A with respect to the own vehicle 1. I do.

In step S202, it is determined whether or not the preceding vehicle A has been detected. If the preceding vehicle A has been detected, the process proceeds to step S203. If the preceding vehicle A has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S206. I do.

In step S203, step S201
Based on the steering angle θH input in step S200, the glare area G set in advance in step S200 is moved in the turning direction of the vehicle 1, and the glare area G is reset.

In step S204, step S203
It is determined whether or not the preceding vehicle A exists in the glare area G reset by the above. If the preceding vehicle A exists in the glare area G, the process proceeds to step S205. If the preceding vehicle A does not exist in the glare region G, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S205, the cut line K of the headlight 2
To the lower cut line K1. In step S206, the cut line K of the headlight 2 is changed to the high cut line K2.
To

As described above, in the present embodiment, the controller 7 controls the headlight 2 based on the steering angle θH detected by the steering angle sensor 6 at the time of turning the vehicle such as when traveling on a curve or turning right or left. Since the irradiation range is moved in the turning direction of the own vehicle 1, both front and side visibility of the own vehicle 1 can be improved even when the own vehicle turns.

Further, when the own vehicle turns, the controller 7 moves the glare area G in the turning direction of the own vehicle 1 based on the steering angle θH to reset the glare area G, and the preceding vehicle A sets the glare after resetting. Since the cut line K of the headlight 2 is controlled to the cut line K outside the area G, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A even when the vehicle is turning, such as when driving on a curve or turning right or left. In addition to being able to be minimized, it is possible to realize quick securing of both front and side visibility.

The preceding vehicle detecting means including the laser radar 4 and the controller 7 detects the preceding vehicle A at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle A using a reflector or the like installed on the rear end surface of the preceding vehicle A. In this case, the glare area G needs to be corrected. This correction will be described below.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the correction of the glare area. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for correcting the glare area. In the present embodiment, since the laser radar 4 is used to detect the preceding vehicle, the rear end of the preceding vehicle is detected. In the preceding vehicle A4 in FIG. 11, even if the rear end of the vehicle is located within the glare area, the driver does not feel glare because the mirror is located outside the glare area. Also, in the preceding vehicle A1, even if the rear end of the vehicle is located outside the glare area, the driver feels glare because the mirror is located inside the glare area.

Therefore, the front end of the set glare area G3 is located closer to the rear mirror 9 than the actual glare area.
And the rear end of the set glare area G3 is set to be longer than the actual glare area by an amount corresponding to the distance B from the rear end of the vehicle to the side mirror 8. An appropriate glare area G3 is set without the driver of the preceding vehicle feeling glare and without unnecessarily narrowing the irradiation area of the headlight 2 and reducing the visibility of the driver of the own vehicle 1 (step). S300).

In the present embodiment, the distance C from the rear end of the vehicle to the rear-view mirror 9 is 2.5 m, which is equivalent to the distance from the rear end of the vehicle to the rear-view mirror 9 of the mini vehicle. The distance B to the mirror 8 is 4.0 m, which is equivalent to the distance from the rear end of the vehicle to the side mirror 8 in a large passenger car.

When the glare area G3 is set in step S300, the radar laser is irradiated in front of the own vehicle 1 in step S301, and it is determined in step S302 whether a preceding vehicle has been detected. If the preceding vehicle is not detected, the process proceeds to step S307 described below. If the preceding vehicle is detected, the process proceeds to step S303 to read the distance and direction between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle, and the width D of the preceding vehicle. .

Here, the preceding vehicle A2 and the preceding vehicle A in FIG.
3 assumes that the right side mirror 8 of the preceding vehicle A2 and the left side mirror 8 of the preceding vehicle A3 are located in the glare area G3 even though the rear end of the vehicle is not located in the glare area G3. It is a preceding car. Both preceding cars A
2 and A3 drivers feel glare. Therefore, when the vehicle width of both the preceding vehicles A2 and A3 is D, the glare area G3 that has been enlarged and corrected by the vehicle width D to the left and right is reset as the glare area G4 (step S30).
4). This vehicle width D is equivalent to 1.
8m is adopted.

The vehicle width D1 of the preceding vehicle A5 existing in the glare area G4 reset in step S304 is calculated by the amount of invasion into the glare area G4 (step S30).
5) It is determined whether the calculated vehicle width D1 is smaller than the vehicle width D (step S306). If it is smaller, the process proceeds to step S307, where the cut line K of the headlight 2 is set as a low cut line K1, If larger, step S30
Proceed to 8 and return to the start with the cut line K of the headlight 2 as the high cut line K2.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the preceding vehicle detecting means detects the preceding vehicle A at the rear end position of the preceding vehicle A, the glare area G3 can be properly reset, and the glare can be properly performed. Glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle A5 located near the area G3 can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automobile equipped with a headlight control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a headlight control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing a headlight for a low beam.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow Z of FIG. 2, wherein (a) shows a state where the solenoid is OFF, and (b) shows a state where the solenoid is ON.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a change of a cut line of a headlight.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in a cut line of a headlight with respect to a preceding vehicle.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an irradiation range of a headlight during straight running.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for controlling a cut line of a headlight during straight running.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an irradiation range of a headlight when traveling on a curve.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for controlling a cut line of a headlight when traveling on a curve.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing glare area correction.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for correcting a glare area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automobile (own vehicle) 2 Headlight 4 Laser radar (radar apparatus) 6 Steering angle sensor (steering angle detecting means) 7 Controller 8 Side mirror 9 Room mirror 22 Movable shade 23 Solenoid (cut line driving means) A, A1, A2, A3, A4 A preceding vehicle B Amount of movement of rear end of glare area C Amount of movement of front end of glare area D Enlargement amount of side area of glare area in vehicle width direction G Glare area K, K1, K2 Cut line X Inter-vehicle distance θH Steering angle θL Direction angle

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A headlight capable of restricting glare to a driver of a preceding vehicle by changing a cut line as a light-dark boundary line of irradiation light, and a cut line driving means for changing and driving the cut line of the head light. Preceding vehicle detecting means for detecting a position of a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the own vehicle; preceding vehicle glare area setting means for setting a glare area in which the headlight gives glare to a driver of the preceding vehicle in advance; When the position of the preceding vehicle detected by the preceding vehicle detecting means is within the set glare area, control means for controlling the operation of the cut line driving means so as to suppress the glare is provided. Headlight distribution control device for automobiles. 2. A headlight distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of the vehicle, and an irradiation range change for changing an irradiation range of the headlight. Means for controlling, based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection means, the control means changes the irradiation range of the headlight to the turning direction of the own vehicle by the irradiation range changing means and the glare of the preceding vehicle. The area setting means resets the glare area, and controls the light distribution of the headlight for a vehicle. 3. The headlight light distribution control device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the glare area setting means for the preceding vehicle has a height up to a lower end of either a side mirror or a room mirror of the vehicle. A vehicle headlight characterized in that an area on the road surface where the illuminance at the reference height is equal to or greater than the glare limit illuminance that gives glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle is set as the glare area. Light distribution control device. 4. The headlight light distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said preceding vehicle glare area setting means is configured such that said preceding vehicle detecting means includes a preceding vehicle rear end position. A headlamp light distribution control device for a vehicle, wherein when detecting a preceding vehicle, the glare area is corrected by enlarging a side portion of the glare area in the vehicle width direction by an amount corresponding to the vehicle width. 5. The headlight light distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the preceding vehicle glare area setting means corrects the glare area on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the glare area. A headlamp light distribution control device for an automobile, characterized in that each of the enlarged portions is equivalent to the width of a large passenger car. 6. The headlight distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the headlight includes a movable shade that changes a cut line of a passing beam. A headlight distribution control device for a vehicle, comprising: 7. The headlight distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the movable shade changes only a cut line on a pedestrian side of a low beam upward in a vehicle vertical direction. Headlight distribution control device for automobiles. 8. The headlight light distribution control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said preceding vehicle detecting means includes: an inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle; A radar device for detecting the direction angle of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle width of the preceding vehicle with respect to the vehicle, and detecting the preceding vehicle based on the inter-vehicle distance, direction angle and vehicle width detected by the radar device. Headlight distribution control device for automobiles.