JP2004231137A - Vehicular headlamp lighting device and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlamp lighting device allowing travel with daytime headlamp lighting without depending on each time driver's operation and causing no exhaustion of a battery power supply, a headlamp, a harness, a connector and a generator for a vehicle, and the vehicle equipped therewith. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular headlamp lighting device comprises the power supply 1 provided on the vehicle, the headlamp 2 to be energized by the power supply 1 for lighting, a headlamp on-off switch 3 inserted in series to a lighting circuit connecting the power supply 1 to the headlamp 2, a travelling condition detecting means 4 for generating electric signals corresponding to the travelling condition of the vehicle, and a dimming circuit 5 to be actuated in the off-state of the headlamp on/off switch 3 and in the travelling condition of the vehicle in linkage with the headlamp on/off switch 3 and the travelling condition detecting means 4 for dimming the headlamp 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headlight lighting device for a vehicle that lights up in the daytime and a vehicle using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to prevent the occurrence of traffic accidents, traveling with the headlights of vehicles such as automobiles turned on during the day has been performed mainly for business vehicles such as taxis and transportation vehicles.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case where the headlight is turned on by operating the headlight on / off switch originally provided in the vehicle in the same manner as in the night, the following problem arises when the headlight is turned on in the daytime.
It is easy for the driver to forget the lighting operation of the headlight on / off switch. For this reason, a situation occurs in which the vehicle travels without being turned on, even though it is stated that the vehicle will run with the headlights turned on during the day.
It is easy for the driver to forget to turn off the headlight on / off switch. Therefore, a situation occurs in which the vehicle remains lit even when the vehicle is stopped.
If the lighting state of the headlamp continues while the vehicle is running or stopped, the battery power of the vehicle, the headlamp lamp, the harness, the connector, and the generator are consumed, and the life is shortened.
[0004]
The present invention enables driving by headlight lighting in the daytime without relying on the operation of the driver each time, and does not cause consumption of the battery power of the vehicle, the headlight lamp, the harness, the connector, and the generator. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle headlight lighting device and a vehicle provided with the same.
[0005]
[Means for achieving the object]
A vehicle headlamp lighting device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes: a power supply provided in the vehicle; a headlamp that is energized by the power supply and lit; and a lighting circuit that connects the power supply and the headlamp in series. A headlight on / off switch inserted into the vehicle; running state detecting means for generating an electric signal according to the running state of the vehicle; and a headlight on / off switch turned off in conjunction with the headlight on / off switch and the running state detecting means. And a dimming circuit that operates when the vehicle is running and dims and lights the headlight.
[0006]
In the present invention and each of the following inventions, definitions and technical meanings of terms are as follows unless otherwise specified.
[0007]
<Regarding Power Supply Provided in Vehicle> The power supply provided in the vehicle is allowed to be a battery. In the case of a vehicle that runs on engine power, the battery is configured to be charged by a generator driven by the engine. In the case of a vehicle driven by an electric motor, a headlight may be turned on using a driving battery. Alternatively, the power source may be a fuel cell.
[0008]
<Regarding the headlight> The headlight has a light source, and the light source may be a discharge lamp such as a halogen bulb or a metal halide lamp, or a light emitting diode. However, in the present invention, the power consumption is relatively large, which is particularly effective in the case of a halogen bulb.
[0009]
<Headlight On / Off Switch> The headlight on / off switch is a switch for turning on / off the headlight of the vehicle, and is operated by the driver. This switch is inserted in series into a lighting circuit of the headlight that connects the headlight and a power supply for energizing the headlight. The headlight on / off switch may be configured such that its contact is directly opened and closed by a driver, or may be configured to be opened and closed indirectly by a relay. Also, a mechanical contact type configuration or an electrical non-contact configuration may be used.
[0010]
<Regarding Traveling State Detecting Means> As the traveling state detecting means, a traveling speed detecting means provided in the vehicle can be used. The traveling speed detecting means generates an electric signal having a frequency that changes according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, and supplies the electric signal to a speedometer or the like. The waveform of the electric signal varies depending on specifications such as a pulse and a sine wave alternating current. However, in the present invention, any waveform may be used since the invention detects that the vehicle is running. When the electric signal waveform is a sine wave alternating current, it is subjected to waveform shaping using a waveform shaping circuit to obtain a rectangular wave traveling state detection signal.
[0011]
<About the dimming circuit> The dimming circuit is means for dimming the headlight. The degree of dimming can be selected as appropriate, but it should be bright enough to prevent accidents during driving, and not to cause wear on the power supply, headlight lamp, harness, connector and generator. Preferably, the light is dimmed. The circuit means for dimming is not particularly limited.
[0012]
The dimming circuit is configured to operate in conjunction with the headlamp on / off switch and the traveling state detecting means when the headlamp on / off switch is in the off state and the vehicle is in the traveling state. To configure the dimming circuit to be responsive when the headlamp on / off switch is off, for example, the dimming circuit may be connected in parallel with the headlamp on / off switch, which realizes a simple circuit configuration. can do. However, the present invention is not limited to this circuit configuration, and other circuit configurations can be adopted. In order for the dimming circuit to interlock with the traveling state detecting means, a control circuit responsive to the electric signal output from the traveling state detecting means is attached to the dimming circuit, and the dimming circuit operates when the vehicle is in the traveling state. It may be configured as follows.
[0013]
Further, the dimming circuit is preferably configured so that the DC voltage output from the power supply is preferably subjected to PWM control to reduce the power supplied to the headlight. In order to perform PWM control of the DC voltage, for example, a switching element is inserted in series in a lighting circuit that connects a power supply and a headlight, and switching of the switching element is controlled using a PWM control circuit. Then, a highly reliable dimming circuit with a non-contact operation type can be obtained. Further, the driving state detection signal obtained from the driving state detection means can be controlled and input to a PWM control circuit to form a PWM signal.
[0014]
As the switching element, various semiconductor switch elements such as a MOSFET, a bipolar transistor, an IGBT, a GTO, a thyristor, and an SIT can be used. The PWM control circuit has a circuit function of controlling the switching element to be turned on and off, and is configured to be linked with the headlight on / off switch and the traveling state detecting means. That is, the configuration is such that the PWM control circuit can operate when the headlight on / off switch is off. Further, the PWM control circuit is configured to be operable when the traveling state detecting means detects the traveling state. The PWM control circuit operates to intermittently turn on the switching element when the headlight on / off switch is in the off state and when the traveling state detecting means detects the traveling state. I do.
[0015]
<Other Configurations of the Present Invention> In addition to the essential components of the present invention described above, the following configuration is selectively added as desired, thereby improving the performance as a vehicle headlight lighting device. Or add features.
1. (Regarding Timer Circuit) The timer circuit is used when it is desired to hold a traveling state detection signal obtained from the traveling state detecting means for a predetermined time. For example, when the vehicle repeatedly repeats running and stopping in a short time, such as in a traffic congestion state, if the blinking of the headlight according to the present invention is repeated in a short time, the headlight lighting driving state in the daytime Cannot be substantially obtained. In addition, the blinking life of the lamp is significantly shortened. Furthermore, it feels annoying for oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. In such a case, it is convenient to add a timer circuit.
[0016]
The delay time of the timer circuit can be set as appropriate, but as a result of experiments and investigations by the present inventor, it has been found that the optimal setting is within a range of 60 to 120 seconds. Note that the driver can adjust the delay time as desired.
[0017]
Further, the timer circuit does not operate when an electric signal generated when the traveling state is detected from the traveling state detecting means is obtained, and when the vehicle stops and the detection signal disappears and the stop is detected, It is preferable to be configured to operate so as to maintain lighting of the headlight for a predetermined time after stopping. For this purpose, it is preferable that the PWM signal from the PWM control circuit for the switching element of the dimming circuit is maintained by the timer circuit for the predetermined time as described above.
[0018]
Further, the timer circuit can be configured as follows. That is, for example, the driving state detection means is configured to generate a vehicle stop signal when detecting the stop of the vehicle, and an integration circuit using a capacitor triggered by the vehicle stop signal or a pulse counter for counting elapsed time is used. Configure a timer circuit. Then, when the timer circuit measures the elapse of a predetermined time, the headlight is turned off.
2. (Short-circuit protection circuit of the dimming circuit) The short-circuit protection circuit of the dimming circuit is inserted in series with the dimming circuit, and turns on the headlamp when the switching element of the dimming circuit is destroyed due to a short-circuit mode failure. The circuit is opened to protect the headlight from its undesired continuous lighting. Preferably, a mechanical contact is provided, and when a failure in the short circuit mode occurs in the dimming circuit, the mechanical contact is opened in response to the failure. An electromagnetic relay can be used as such a configuration. In addition, when a short-circuit mode failure occurs in the switching element of the dimming circuit, a continuous DC current flows to the headlamp, and the headlamp is lit in the all-light state. As the circuit becomes larger, a circuit breaker that opens a mechanical contact in response to the large current may be used.
[0019]
Also, the short-circuit protection circuit of the dimming circuit, when the dimming circuit is normal, when the running state detecting means detects the running state and generates an electric signal, is turned on in response to this. Can be configured. This configuration does not affect the daytime lighting operation of the dimming circuit. When an electromagnetic relay is used in the short-circuit protection circuit of the dimming circuit, it is preferable that the contact is closed by energizing the electromagnetic relay by the detection output of the traveling state detecting means.
3. (Turn off lights other than headlights) Various lights other than the headlights of the vehicle, such as tail lights, can be configured to be turned off when the dimming circuit of the present invention is activated. Thereby, even if the headlight is turned on in the daytime, various lights other than the headlight are turned off when the dimming circuit of the present invention is activated, so that the battery power, the harness, the connector, and the generator Consumption can be further reduced.
[0020]
<Operation of the Present Invention> In the present invention, when the headlight on / off switch is operated to the off position and the traveling state detecting means detects the traveling state of the vehicle, the dimming circuit is activated and Dimming the lighting. Therefore, when the vehicle travels in the daytime, the headlight is automatically turned on without the driver turning on the headlight.
[0021]
In addition, the lighting of the headlight in the daytime is in a dimmed state, so that the headlight lamp, the harness, the connector, and the generator are hardly consumed, as well as the battery power. Therefore, the present invention is particularly effective in the case of a headlamp provided with a halogen lamp having relatively large power consumption.
[0022]
Further, in the present invention, the power supply, the headlight, and the headlight on / off switch are originally provided as a vehicle, and the traveling state detecting means uses the traveling speed detecting means originally provided as the vehicle. In addition, the parallel connection of the dimming circuit, which is a newly added member, to the headlight on / off switch and the connection to the traveling speed detection means can be performed in the vehicle by wiring processing for the same, so that the waterproof treatment is performed. Since there is no need, the structure is simplified and the wiring work is facilitated, so that it can be obtained at low cost.
[0023]
Further, in the daytime, when it is desired to turn on the headlight with all light, the headlight on / off switch may be turned on by a normal operation. In addition, at the time of high beam and passing, the light can be turned on to a normal degree by a normal operation.
[0024]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising: a vehicle main body; and the vehicle headlight lighting device according to the first aspect provided in the vehicle main body.
[0025]
In the present invention, the term “vehicle” includes all vehicles equipped with a headlight, and an automobile is particularly preferable. The “vehicle body” refers to the remaining portion excluding the vehicle headlight lighting device defined in claim 1.
[0026]
Thus, in the present invention, the above-described configuration provides the same operation and effect as the first aspect.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0028]
1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp lighting device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram, and FIG. 2 is a lighting circuit diagram of a headlamp by a dimming circuit. 3 shows an output voltage waveform of an electric signal generated from the traveling state detecting means, FIG. 3 (a) shows a pulse voltage, FIG. 3 (b) shows a sine wave AC voltage, and FIG. 4 shows a waveform shaping circuit. In the present embodiment, the vehicle headlamp lighting device includes a battery power source 1, a headlamp 2, a headlamp on / off switch 3, a running state detecting unit 4, and a dimming circuit 5.
[0029]
The battery power supply 1 constitutes a power supply, such as an engine ignition and various lights, supplied to various parts of the vehicle.
[0030]
The headlight 2 uses a halogen bulb as a light source, and a lighting circuit is configured so that lighting power is supplied from the battery power supply 1.
[0031]
The headlight on / off switch 3 is inserted in series in a lighting circuit that connects the battery power supply 1 and the headlight 2.
[0032]
The traveling state detecting means 4 uses the traveling speed detecting electric signal output from the traveling speed detecting means of the automobile to determine whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped. Then, a driving state detection signal is generated using an electric signal for detecting a traveling speed, and this signal is controlled and input to the dimming circuit 5 to operate a dimming circuit described later. The traveling speed detection signal has a frequency proportional to the traveling speed, and has a pulse voltage waveform shown in FIG. 3A or a sine wave AC voltage waveform shown in FIG. 3B.
[0033]
The dimming circuit 5 includes a switching element 5a and a PWM control circuit 5b, and is configured to reduce the DC power supplied to the headlight 2 by performing PWM control. The switching element 5a is composed of a MOSFET as shown in FIG. The source of the MOSFET is connected to the positive electrode of the power supply 1, the drain is connected to one end of the headlight, and the other end of the power supply 1 and the other end of the headlight 1 are grounded. The PWM control circuit 5b controls the driving state detection signal obtained from the driving state detection means 4 to generate a PWM signal, and controls the switching element 5a to input the PWM signal.
[0034]
When the traveling state detection signal generated from the traveling state detecting means 4 is an alternating sine wave AC as shown in FIG. 3B, the waveform is shaped into a rectangular wave by using a waveform shaping circuit 6 as shown in FIG. be able to. That is, the waveform shaping circuit 6 includes a differential amplifier 6a, a reference potential source 6b, a potential source 6c, an input terminal 6d, and an output terminal 6e. In the differential amplifier 6a, a potential source 6c is connected to one of the power supply terminals, the ground is connected to the other, and a reference potential source 6b is connected to a negative input terminal, and a positive input terminal is an input terminal 6d. Then, when the sine wave AC voltage is applied to the input terminal 6d from the traveling state detecting means 4, a rectangular electric signal Vsig is obtained at the output terminal 6e. Note that GND in FIG. 3B indicates a ground potential.
[0035]
Next, the circuit operation will be described. In the daytime, when the driver turns off the headlamp on / off switch 3, the headlamp 2 enters a standby state for dimmed lighting. When the headlight is lit at 55 W at the time of all-light lighting, the degree of dimming can be set so that the light is lit at, for example, about 30 W at dimmed lighting. Further, the tail lamp can be configured to be turned off at the time of dimming lighting.
[0036]
When the vehicle is in the running state, the running state detecting means 4 generates a running state detection signal. The running state detection signal is control-input to the dimming circuit 5. Then, the dimming circuit 5 operates and the headlight 2 is turned on in a dimmed state.
[0037]
When the vehicle stops, the running state detection signal is not generated, and the control input to the dimming circuit 5 stops, so that the headlight 2 is turned off.
[0038]
For example, when the headlamp on / off switch 3 is operated to turn on the switch 3 at night, the dimming circuit 5 is short-circuited, so that the headlamp 2 is turned on in the full light state.
[0039]
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a modification of the headlight lighting circuit by the dimming circuit of the first embodiment in the vehicle headlight lighting device of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. In this modification, the connection position of the switching element 5a is different. That is, the positive electrode of the power supply 1, the headlight 2 and the switching element 5a are connected in series in this order, the negative electrode of the power supply 1 and the drain of the switching element 5a are grounded, and the source is connected to the headlight 2.
[0040]
Hereinafter, another embodiment of the vehicular headlamp lighting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0041]
6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the vehicular headlamp lighting device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram, and FIG. 7 is a timing chart. The present embodiment is different in that a timer circuit 7 is provided.
[0042]
That is, first, the traveling state detection means 4 is configured to output a traveling state detection signal and a vehicle stop signal therefrom. Then, at the same time as the generation of the traveling state detection signal, the signal is controlled and input to the dimming circuit 5 to operate the dimming circuit 5. On the other hand, when the vehicle stop signal is generated, the signal is input to the timer circuit 7. Then, the timer circuit 7 starts the timer operation. Then, when the output from the timer circuit 7 is received after the elapse of a predetermined time, the output is control-input to the dimming circuit 5 to stop the operation of the dimming circuit 5.
[0043]
Next, the operation timing will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (a) is a headlight on / off switch 3, (b) is a traveling state detecting means 4, (c) is a dimmed lighting circuit, (d) is an all-light lighting circuit, (e) is a timer circuit 7, 3 shows the operation timing.
[0044]
In FIG. 7A, a high level indicates that the headlamp on / off switch 3 is off, and a low level indicates that it is on.
[0045]
In FIG. 7B, a high level indicates the traveling state of the traveling state detecting means 4, and a low level indicates the stopped state.
[0046]
In FIG. 7C, the high level indicates that the dimming lighting circuit is in the operating state, that is, the headlight 2 is in the dimming lighting state, and the low level indicates that the dimming lighting circuit is in the inoperative state, that is, the headlight 2 is in the off state. Shown respectively.
[0047]
In (d) of FIG. 7, the high level indicates that the all-light lighting circuit is operating, that is, the headlight 2 is in the all-lights-on state, and the low level indicates that the all-light lighting circuit is inoperative, ie, the headlights 2 are in the off-state. Shown respectively.
[0048]
In (e) of FIG. 7, the high level indicates the inoperative state of the timer circuit 7, and the low level indicates the operating state, that is, the holding state of the dimmed lighting state.
[0049]
FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram showing a third embodiment of the vehicle headlight lighting device of the present invention. This embodiment is different in that a short-circuit protection circuit 8 of a dimming circuit is provided.
[0050]
That is, the short-circuit protection circuit 8 of the dimming circuit is connected in series to the dimming circuit 5 and connected in parallel to the headlight on / off switch 3. The short-circuit protection circuit 8 of the dimming circuit has a mechanical contact, and when the traveling state detecting means 4 generates an electric signal for detecting the traveling state, the mechanical contact is energized to turn on. However, it is configured to be turned off when a direct current continuously flows. The short-circuit protection circuit 8 of the dimming circuit is configured using an electromagnetic relay.
[0051]
In the present embodiment, when a failure in the short-circuit mode occurs in the switching element of the dimming circuit 5, the mechanical contact of the short-circuit protection circuit 8 of the dimming circuit is opened, so that the short-circuit protection circuit 8 is protected from the abnormal state due to the short circuit. You.
[0052]
FIG. 9 is a front view showing an automobile as an embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a vehicle, 11 denotes a vehicle body, and 2 denotes a headlight.
[0053]
The vehicle 10 is a passenger car.
[0054]
The vehicle body 11 is composed of the remaining parts of the vehicle 10 excluding the components of the headlight lighting circuit according to the first aspect of the present invention.
[0055]
The headlight 2 may be a headlight in any of the headlight lighting circuits shown in FIGS. The other components of the headlight lighting circuit are not shown because they are provided inside the vehicle body 11.
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power supply provided in the vehicle, a headlight energized by the power supply and turned on, and a headlight inserted in series into a lighting circuit connecting between the power supply and the headlight. A lamp on / off switch, a traveling state detecting means for generating an electric signal according to the traveling state of the vehicle, and a headlight on / off switch in an off state in conjunction with the headlight on / off switch and the traveling state detecting means, and A dimming circuit that operates when the vehicle is in a running state and dims the headlights is provided, enabling driving by headlights in the daytime without depending on the driver's operation each time. In addition, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlight lighting device that does not cause consumption of a vehicle battery power source, a headlight lamp, a harness, a connector, and a generator.
[0056]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle having the effects of the first aspect is provided by including the vehicle main body and the vehicle headlight lighting device according to the first aspect mounted on the vehicle main body. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp lighting device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a headlamp lighting circuit using a dimming circuit. FIG. FIG. 3 (a) shows a pulse voltage, FIG. 3 (b) shows a sine wave AC voltage, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a waveform shaping circuit. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a modified example of a headlight lighting circuit using the dimming circuit of the first embodiment in the headlight lighting device. FIG. 6 is a second embodiment of the vehicle headlight lighting device of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a timing chart. FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram showing a third embodiment of the vehicle headlamp lighting device of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention. Front view showing an automobile as a form [Description of reference numerals]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power supply, 2 ... Headlight, 3 ... Headlight on / off switch, 4 ... Running state detection means

Claims (2)

A power supply provided in the vehicle;
A headlight that is energized and illuminated by a power source;
A headlight on / off switch inserted in series with a lighting circuit connecting the power supply and the headlight;
Traveling state detecting means for generating an electric signal according to the traveling state of the vehicle;
A dimming circuit that operates in conjunction with the headlamp on / off switch and the traveling state detecting means when the headlamp on / off switch is in the off state and the vehicle is in the traveling state to dimme the headlamp;
A vehicle headlamp lighting device comprising: Vehicle body;
The vehicle headlight lighting device according to claim 1, which is provided in a vehicle body;
A vehicle comprising:

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