JP2003260979A - Light distribution control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a driver from having incompatible feeling due to a light distribution control of a headlight in a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A first means 2 equipped on the vehicle 1 detects a curvature A of a front road from car navigation information. A second means 3 sets an irradiation angle B to rotate the headlight in a direction for irradiating the front road of the curvature A. A third means 4 sets speed V to rotate the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle B to be smaller as the radius of the curvature A becomes larger. A fourth means 5 rotates the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle B at the speed V. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light distribution control of a headlight in a vehicle, that is, a control for making the irradiation direction of the headlight deviate from the front-rear direction of the vehicle on the basis of a driving state of the vehicle, a curve of a traveling road and the like. For equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in JP-A-6-206491, JP-A-11-235948, etc., a radius of curvature of a traveling road is calculated based on a rotational angular velocity of a vehicle, a steering angle, a traveling speed and the like. However, there is conventionally known a light distribution control device that allows a headlight to accurately illuminate the course of the vehicle by laterally rotating the illumination direction of the headlight in the vehicle according to the radius of curvature.

However, turning the irradiation direction of the headlight to the left and right provides the driver with an appropriate field of view, but gives a feeling of discomfort and discomfort due to the change in brightness. However, there is a problem that the more accurate and quicker the controllability is improved, the greater the annoyance and discomfort experienced by the driver, and that the headlight irradiation direction is rotated left and right according to the steering angle. In the case of dynamic control, if the irradiation direction is faithfully rotated with respect to the correction steering that changes the steering angle during steering, the annoyance and discomfort experienced by the driver will be further increased.
There is a problem that the problem becomes more remarkable as the rotation is controlled more quickly. Furthermore, if the headlight irradiation direction is turned sideways at a speed suitable for high-speed roads, the speed of turning the headlight irradiation direction sideways becomes slower on streets at medium speeds, etc. There is a problem that the headlight cannot illuminate sufficiently.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prevent the light distribution control of headlights in a vehicle from causing a driver to feel uncomfortable.

[0005]

Therefore, the light distribution control device according to the present invention includes a first means for detecting the curvature of the road ahead of the vehicle, and the vehicle suitable for the curvature detected by the first means. Second means for setting the irradiation angle of the headlight in the above, the third means for setting the speed for rotating the irradiation direction of the headlight based on the curvature detected by the first means, and the third means. And a fourth means for rotating the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle set by the second means at a predetermined speed.

That is, since the fourth means rotates the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle set by the second means at the speed set by the third means, the irradiation direction of the headlight is actually driven. It becomes easy to appropriately change it depending on the situation and the like, and it becomes possible to reduce the annoyance that the driver's visual field is inappropriately shaken.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

In FIG. 1, the first means 2 mounted on the vehicle 1 uses a car navigation information, road-to-vehicle communication or road information by communication with a tracking vehicle to show a curvature A, ie, a curvature of a road ahead of the traveling vehicle 1, that is, The curvature degree, the bending angle, etc. are automatically and continuously detected, and the detection signal of the curvature A is immediately input to the second means 3 and the third means 4.

The second means 3 rotates the reflector of the lamp or the like so that the headlights of the vehicle 1 can appropriately irradiate the headlights of the vehicle 1 on the front road having the curvature A so that the headlight irradiation direction is in the front and rear of the vehicle 1. The irradiation angle B for turning from the direction to the side is set.

In the third means 4, the speed (responsiveness) V of turning the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle B is responsive to the curvature A, as illustrated as a to d in FIG. 2, respectively.
It is set so that it becomes smaller as the radius of curvature of becomes larger.

Further, the signal of the irradiation angle B is input from the second means 3 and the signal of the rotation speed V is input from the third means 4, and the fourth means 5 moves horizontally in the irradiation direction of the headlight. It is rotated at a speed V toward the irradiation angle B.

That is, since the fourth means horizontally rotates the irradiation direction of the headlight toward the irradiation angle B set by the second means 3 at the speed V controlled by the third means 4, Even when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed of 1, the light distribution control for moving the irradiation range of the headlights can be easily restricted from being performed frequently or excessively. According to the actual driving situation, etc., it becomes easy to change the driver appropriately without causing discomfort, and it is possible to reliably reduce the annoyance that the driver's field of vision is inappropriately shaken. Therefore, the safety of night driving can be improved.

The first means 2 detects the curvature A of the front road in advance by the car navigation information, road-vehicle communication, or road information by communication with the vehicle before tracking before the vehicle 1 enters the curved road. Therefore, it is possible to positively rotate the irradiation direction of the headlight laterally by the fourth means, and to effectively control the light distribution of the headlight.

In the above embodiment, the first means 2 detects the curvature A of the road ahead based on the car navigation information and the like. However, as in the case of the prior art, the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle, the steering angle, Even if the radius of the curvature A of the road ahead is calculated based on the traveling speed and the like, and the other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the above-described embodiment. Without further ado,
When the irradiation direction of the headlight is turned up and down because there is a climb up and down on the road ahead, the lateral light distribution control of the above embodiment is replaced with the vertical light distribution control, or It is also possible to combine the lateral light distribution control and the vertical light distribution control.

[0015]

In the light distribution control device according to the present invention, the fourth means rotates the irradiation direction of the headlight to the irradiation angle set by the second means at the speed set by the third means. However, it becomes easy to appropriately rotate the irradiation direction of the headlight according to the actual driving situation,
Since it is possible to reduce the inconvenience that the driver's view is inappropriately shaken, it is possible to enhance the safety of night driving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vehicle 2 First means 3 second means 4 third means 5 Fourth means A curvature V rotation speed

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first means for detecting a curvature on a road ahead of a vehicle, a second means for setting an irradiation angle of a headlight in the vehicle suitable for the curvature detected by the first means, and the headlight. Third means for setting the speed for rotating the irradiation direction of the head based on the curvature detected by the first means, and to the irradiation angle set by the second means at the speed set by the third means. A light distribution control device having a fourth means for rotating the irradiation direction of the light. 2. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the third means is set such that the rotation speed in the headlight irradiation direction becomes smaller as the radius of curvature detected by the first means becomes larger. . 3. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the first means detects the curvature based on car navigation information, road-to-vehicle communication, or road information by communication with a tracking vehicle. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fifth means for detecting a steering angle by a driver of the vehicle and a sixth means for detecting a vehicle speed, wherein the first means is the fifth means. A light distribution control device for detecting the curvature based on the steering angle detected by the means and the vehicle speed detected by the sixth means.