JP2006069244A - Vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein it is impossible to control the lighting of a lamp with a lighting pattern corresponding to the surrounding environment of a vehicle in the conventional system. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle lighting system is equipped with the lamps 1L, 1R, 1 mounted on the vehicle, a surrounding environment detection means 2 outputting a detection signal by detecting the vehicle surrounding environment, and a control device 3 which determines the vehicle surrounding environment based on the detection signal from the surrounding environment detection means 2, and controls the lighting of the lamps 1L, 1R, 1 with the lighting pattern corresponding to the vehicle surrounding environment. Since the lighting of the lamps 1L, 1R, 1 can be controlled with the lighting pattern corresponding to the vehicle surrounding environment, therefore, the system can contribute to the improvement of traffic safety. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device (vehicle lighting system) capable of controlling lamp lighting with a lighting pattern corresponding to an environment around the vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device that turns on a lamp corresponding to an environment around a vehicle (a rear-end collision prevention device in an automobile) has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, this apparatus will be described. In addition, the code | symbol with a parenthesis respond | corresponds to patent document 1, respectively. This device includes a light emitter (3) mounted on a vehicle, a light sensor (1) that senses light from a headlight of another vehicle, and the light sensor (1) senses light from another vehicle. And a rear-end collision prevention circuit (4) for causing the luminous body (3) to emit light for a certain period of time.

  However, in the conventional apparatus, the rear-end collision prevention circuit (4) causes the light emitter (3) to emit light for a certain period of time when the light sensor (1) senses the light of another vehicle. For this reason, the said conventional apparatus cannot control lighting of a lamp with the lighting pattern corresponding to the environment around the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-226491

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the conventional apparatus cannot control the lighting of the lamp with the lighting pattern corresponding to the environment around the vehicle.

  The present invention determines a surrounding environment of a vehicle based on a lamp mounted on the vehicle, an ambient environment detection means for detecting the ambient environment of the vehicle and outputting a detection signal, and a detection signal from the ambient environment detection means, And a control device that controls lighting of the lamp with a lighting pattern corresponding to the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

  According to the vehicle lighting device of the present invention, when the surrounding environment detection unit detects the surrounding environment of the vehicle and outputs a detection signal to the control device by the means for solving the above-described problem, the control device detects the surrounding environment detection unit. The surrounding environment of the vehicle is determined based on the detection signal from the lamp, and the lighting of the lamp is controlled with a lighting pattern corresponding to the surrounding environment of the vehicle. For this reason, since the lighting device for vehicles of this invention can control lighting of a lamp with the lighting pattern corresponding to the environment around the vehicle, it can contribute to the improvement of traffic safety.

  Embodiments of a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Description of the configuration of the embodiment)
The attached drawings show an embodiment of a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicular illumination device in this embodiment will be described. The vehicle lighting device in this embodiment is composed of lamps 1L, 1R, 1, ambient environment detecting means 2, and control device 3.

  The lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 are a left rear combination lamp, a right rear combination lamp, and a center high-mount stop lamp that are mounted on the rear of a vehicle (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left and right rear combination lamps 1L and 1R are tail lamps 10L and 10R, stop lamps 11L and 11R, tail / stop addition lamps 12L and 12R, turn lamps 13L and 13R, and a back lamp 14L. , 14R, and rear fog lamps 15L, 15R. The tail lamps 10L and 10R and the stop lamps 11L and 11R are a combined type.

  The lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 use LEDs as light sources. The LED can change the light intensity. In addition, the light emission area can be changed by changing the number of light emitting LEDs. In the present invention, a halogen lamp or an incandescent lamp may be used as the light source in addition to the LED.

  The tail lamps 10L and 10R are lamps that are turned on when a tail lamp switch (not shown) is turned on and turned off when the tail lamp switch is turned off. The stop lamps 11L and 11R are lights that are turned on when a brake switch (not shown) such as a brake pedal (not shown) is turned on and turned off when the brake switch is turned off. The tail stop addition lamps 12L and 12R are lamps that are turned on when the tail lamp switch or the brake switch is ON and are turned off when the tail lamp switch or the brake switch is OFF. The turn lamps 13L and 13R are lamps that are turned on when a turn signal switch (not shown) is turned on and turned off when the turn signal is turned off. The back lamps 14L, 14R are lit when a reverse switch (not shown) is ON (for example, when the shift position of the shift lever is in the reverse position) and are OFF (for example, the shift position of the shift lever is reverse). It is a lamp that goes off when it is in a position other than the position. The rear fog lamps 15L and 15R are lamps that are turned on when a fog lamp switch 22 described later is turned on and turned off when the switch is turned off. The high mount stop lamp 1 is a lamp that is turned on when a brake switch such as a brake pedal is turned on and turned off when the brake switch is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ambient environment detection unit 2 includes, for example, an optical sensor 20, a headlamp switch 21, a fog lamp switch 22, a wiper switch 23, a raindrop sensor 24, a shift state detection unit 25, and an imaging device 26.

  The optical sensor 20 is means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is, for example, clear or very bright. The optical sensor 20 is disposed in the vicinity of or inside the rear combination lamps 1L, 1R. The headlamp switch 21 is means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is, for example, at night or in a tunnel, depending on whether a headlamp (not shown) is turned on or off. The fog lamp switch 22 is a means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to fog or the like, depending on whether a front fog lamp (not shown) and the rear fog lamps 15L and 15R are turned on or off. is there. The wiper switch 23 is means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to, for example, rain depending on whether or not the wiper is operating. As with the wiper switch 23, the raindrop sensor 24 is means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to, for example, rain. The shift state detection means 25 determines whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to, for example, snow depending on whether or not the shift position of the shift lever of the AT vehicle is in the snow mode position or the 2D mode position. It is a means to detect. The imaging device 26 is means for detecting whether the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to, for example, rain or snow, etc. by imaging information around the vehicle with a CCD camera.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 3 includes an interface circuit 30, an ambient environment determination unit 31, and a lamp driver circuit 32. The control device 3 uses a computer mounted on a vehicle, for example, a car navigation (navigation system) computer, a control circuit unit, or a dedicated ECU (electronic control unit).

  The interface circuit 30 is connected to the ambient environment detection means 2 and the ambient environment determination unit 31, respectively, and converts a detection signal from the ambient environment detection means 2 into an electrical signal that can be handled by a computer.

  The ambient environment determination unit 31 determines the ambient environment of the vehicle based on the detection signal from the ambient environment detection means 2 via the interface circuit 30, and the ambient environment of the vehicle via the lamp driver circuit 32. The lighting of the lamps 1L, 1R, 1 is controlled by a lighting pattern corresponding to the above. That is, the ambient environment determination unit 31 determines the ambient environment of the vehicle based on the detection signal from the ambient environment detection means 2 as follows: 1—very bright and dazzling ambient environment, 2—rain, fog, snow, etc. It is determined that the surrounding environment is 3) a dark surrounding environment such as at night or in a tunnel, and 4 is a normal surrounding environment. Further, the ambient environment determination unit 31 turns on the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 through the lamp driver circuit 32 according to the determination of the ambient environment, 1-lighting pattern for increasing luminous intensity, and 2-light emission area. Control is performed by a lighting pattern that widens, a lighting pattern that increases the luminous intensity and the light emission area, and a normal lighting pattern.

  The lamp driver circuit 32 is connected to the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 and the ambient environment determination unit 31, respectively. Based on the control of the ambient environment determination unit 31, the luminous intensity of the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 , Change the light emission area, change the luminous intensity and the light emission area.

(Explanation of working example)
The vehicle lighting device in this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of the vehicle lighting device in this embodiment will be described below.

  First, it is detected that the headlamp switch 21 is OFF, the fog lamp switch 22 is OFF, the wiper switch 23 is OFF, and the optical sensor 20 is bright. Then, the surrounding environment determining unit 31 determines 1—very bright and dazzling surrounding environment, 1—in a lighting pattern that increases the luminous intensity, the stop lamps 11L, 11R, the turn lamps 13L, 13R, the back lamps 14L, 14R, high The lighting of the mount stop lamp 1 is controlled. Thereby, the fall of the visibility by the influence of sunlight can be prevented, and it can contribute to traffic safety.

  Further, it is detected that the headlamp switch 21 is ON, the fog lamp switch 22 is ON, the wiper switch 23 is ON, and the optical sensor 20 is dark. Then, the surrounding environment determination unit 31 determines that the surrounding environment has poor visibility due to 2-rain, fog, snow, or the like, and 1-lights increase lighting intensity, tail lamps 10L, 10R, stop lamps 11L, 11R, turn lamps 13L, 13R, back lamps 14L, 14R, and high mount stop lamp 1 are controlled, and, as shown in FIG. 4, the tail stop additional lamps 12L, 12R are lit in a lighting pattern that widens the light emission area. To control. Alternatively, the lighting pattern for increasing the luminous intensity by controlling the lighting of the turn lamps 13L and 13R and the back lamps 14L and 14R with the lighting pattern for increasing the luminous intensity, and increasing the luminous area with the lighting pattern for the tail lamps 10L and 10R. The lighting of the lamps 11L and 11R, the tail / stop addition lamps 12L and 12R, the rear fog lamps 15L and 15R, and the high-mount stop lamp 1 are controlled. As a result, the driver of the following vehicle can surely recognize the position and braking state of the own vehicle, which can contribute to traffic safety. Moreover, even if the vehicle is not equipped with the rear fog lamps 15L, 15R, the driver of the following vehicle can be surely recognized, and the lamp cost can be reduced.

  Further, it is detected that the headlamp switch 21 is ON and the optical sensor 20 is dark. Then, the surrounding environment determining unit 31 determines that the surrounding environment is dark, such as 3-night or in a tunnel, and controls lighting of the back lamps 14L and 14R with a lighting pattern that increases 1-luminance. Thereby, the visibility at the time of reverse drive at night can be improved, and it can contribute to traffic safety.

  Furthermore, when the ambient environment determination unit 31 determines that the ambient environment is a 4-normal ambient environment, the ambient environment determination unit 31 lights the lamps 1L, 1R, 1 in a 4-normal lighting pattern, for example, as shown in FIG. Further, lighting of the tail lamps 10L, 10R and stop lamps 11L, 11R is controlled. Thereby, power consumption can be saved.

(Explanation of effect of embodiment)
The vehicle lighting device in this embodiment is configured and operated as described above, and the effects of the vehicle lighting device in this embodiment will be described below.

  As is apparent from the configuration and operation as described above, the vehicle lighting device in this embodiment can achieve the following effects. That is, when the surrounding environment detection means 2 detects the surrounding environment of the vehicle and outputs a detection signal to the control device 3, the control device 3 determines the surrounding environment of the vehicle based on the detection signal from the surrounding environment detection means 2. In addition, lighting of the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 is controlled with a lighting pattern corresponding to the surrounding environment of the vehicle. For this reason, since the lighting device for vehicles in this embodiment can control lighting of the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 with a lighting pattern corresponding to the environment around the vehicle, it can contribute to improvement of traffic safety. it can.

  In particular, the vehicular lighting device in this embodiment increases the luminous intensity of the lamps 1L, 1R, and 1 and increases the light emitting area when the surrounding environment of the vehicle is poor in visibility due to rain, fog, snow, etc. This makes it possible for the driver of the vehicle to reliably recognize the position and braking state of the vehicle and contributes to traffic safety.

  Further, since the optical sensor 20 is arranged near or inside the rear combination lamps 1L, 1R where the driver's line of sight of the following vehicle is poured, it detects the brightness of the surrounding environment from the viewpoint of the driver of the following vehicle. This improves the reliability of lamp lighting control.

(Description of examples other than Examples)
In the above-described embodiment, the tail lamps 10L and 10R, the stop lamps 11L and 11R, the tail / stop addition lamps 12L and 12R, the turn lamps 13L and 13R, the back lamps 14L and 14R, and the rear lamps 1L and 1R are used. The fog lamps 15L and 15R and the high-mount stop lamp 1 are used. However, in the present invention, at least one of the lamps described above, or a combination with other lamps or other lamps may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ambient environment detection means 2 uses the optical sensor 20, the headlamp switch 21, the fog lamp switch 22, the wiper switch 23, the raindrop sensor 24, the shift state detection means 25, and the imaging device 26. It is. However, in the present invention, at least one of the above-described surrounding environment detection means 2 or a combination with other surrounding environment detection means or other surrounding environment detection means may be used.

  Furthermore, in the said Example, as a lighting control pattern of the lamp | ramp 1L, 1R, 1 of the control apparatus 3, the lighting pattern which raises 1-luminance, the lighting pattern which expands 2 light emission area, 3-light-increased, and light emission It is a lighting pattern that expands the area, 4-normal lighting pattern. However, in the present invention, at least one of the above-described lighting control patterns, or a combination with another lighting control pattern or another lighting control pattern may be used.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the optical sensor 20 is disposed near or inside the rear combination lamps 1L, 1R. However, in the present invention, an existing optical sensor used in an autolight system or the like that automatically turns on and off a lamp having an illumination function such as a headlamp may be used.

1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows a right-and-left rear combination lamp, a high pan, a stop lamp, an ambient environment detection means, and a control apparatus. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the tail lamp and the stop lamp are lighted with a normal lighting pattern. Similarly, it is an explanatory view showing a state in which the tail lamp, the stop lamp, and the tail / stop additional lamp are lit in a lighting pattern that widens the light emission area.

Explanation of symbols

1L Left rear combination lamp 1R Right rear combination lamp 1 High-mount stop lamp 10L, 10R Tail lamp 11L, 11R Stop lamp 12L, 12R Tail stop additional lamp 13L, 13R Turn lamp 14L, 14R Back lamp 15L, 15R Rear fog lamp 2 Ambient environment detection means 20 Optical sensor 21 Head lamp switch 22 Fog lamp switch 23 Wiper switch 24 Raindrop sensor 25 Shift state detection means 26 Imaging device 3 Control device 30 Interface circuit 31 Ambient environment judgment unit 32 Lamp driver circuit

Claims (4)

A lamp on the vehicle,
Ambient environment detection means for detecting the surrounding environment of the vehicle and outputting a detection signal;
A control device that determines the ambient environment of the vehicle based on a detection signal from the ambient environment detection means, and controls lighting of the lamp in a lighting pattern corresponding to the ambient environment of the vehicle;
A vehicle lighting device comprising:   2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lamp includes at least one of a tail lamp, a stop lamp, a tail / stop addition lamp, a turn lamp, a back lamp, a rear fog lamp, and a high-mount stop lamp. Lighting equipment.   The ambient environment detection means includes at least one ambient environment detection means among a light sensor, a headlamp switch, a fog lamp switch, a wiper switch, a raindrop sensor, a shift state detection means, and an imaging device. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1.   The control device controls lighting of the lamp with at least one lighting pattern among a lighting pattern for changing luminous intensity, a lighting pattern for changing light emitting area, and a lighting pattern for changing luminous intensity and light emitting area. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1.

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