JP2006168668A - Headlight device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headlight device for a vehicle for automatically change a light projection angle in a left/right direction of the headlight according to a steering angle of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The headlight device for the vehicle comprises the headlight (1) capable of adjusting the projection angle in the left/right direction; a steering angle detection means (9) for detecting the steering angle of the vehicle (3) and outputting an angle signal corresponding to the steering angle; a projection angle control means (11) for operating the projection angle in the left/right direction of the headlight based on the angle signal outputted from the steering angle detection means and outputting a control signal corresponding to the projection angle; and a headlight driving means (13) for changing the projection angle in the left/right direction of the headlight based on the control signal outputted from the projection angle control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp device, and more particularly to a vehicular headlamp that automatically changes the lateral illumination angle of a headlamp according to the steering angle of a vehicle such as an automobile. It concerns the device.

  A headlamp in a vehicle such as an automobile that is generally used at present can adjust the irradiation angle in the vertical direction but not in the horizontal direction. That is, the headlamps in these vehicles are fixed so that the angle cannot be adjusted in the left-right direction.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-1502 discloses an automatic switching device for the vertical illumination direction of a vehicle headlamp that automatically switches the illumination angle of the headlamp in the vehicle in the vertical direction.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-1502

  However, in a vehicle equipped with a headlight whose angle cannot be adjusted in the left-right direction, when driving on a curved road at night or in the dark, the headlight illuminates only the front of the vehicle, the steering direction of the vehicle, That is, the direction of the road on which the vehicle should travel is not irradiated. See FIG.

  In this case, it is not the front of the vehicle that the driver of the vehicle needs to visually recognize, but the steering direction of the vehicle, that is, the direction of the road on which the vehicle is to travel.

Therefore, the conventional headlamp that cannot adjust the angle in the left-right direction may interfere with traveling in a dark place.

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to provide a vehicular headlamp device that automatically changes the left and right illumination angles of the headlamp according to the steering angle of the vehicle.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides the following vehicle headlamp device.

  A headlamp with adjustable left and right illumination angle, steering angle detection means for detecting the steering angle of the vehicle and outputting an angle signal corresponding to the steering angle, and an angle signal output from the steering angle detection means The irradiation angle control means for calculating the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamp based on the output and outputting a control signal corresponding to the irradiation angle, and the headlamp based on the control signal output from the irradiation angle control means The vehicle headlamp device is characterized by comprising a headlamp driving means for changing the irradiation angle in the left-right direction.

[Operation of the invention]
When the driver rotates the steering wheel while the vehicle is running, the steering angle detection means detects the steering angle of the vehicle and sends an angle signal corresponding to the steering angle to the irradiation angle control means. The irradiation angle control means calculates the left and right irradiation angles of the headlamp based on the angle signal, and sends a control signal corresponding to the irradiation angle to the headlamp driving means. The headlamp driving means changes the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamp based on the control signal.

  According to the present invention, when the driver rotates the steering wheel while the vehicle is traveling, the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamp is automatically changed according to the steering angle of the vehicle. Therefore, when driving on a curved road at night or in the dark, the headlamp illuminates the steering direction of the vehicle, that is, the direction of the road on which the vehicle should travel. That is, visibility and safety are ensured when traveling on a curved road at night or in the dark.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle headlamp. The headlamps 1 are usually attached to the front end of the vehicle 3 as a pair of left and right.

The headlamp 1 can adjust the irradiation angle in the left-right direction.

In order to make the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamp 1 adjustable, the entire headlamp 1 including the storage case of the headlamp 1 may be rotatable in the left-right direction. As an example, FIG. As shown, only the reflecting means (reflector) 5 of the headlamp 1 may be rotatable in the left-right direction about the vertical axis 7 as a rotation center.

What is denoted by reference numeral 9 is a steering angle detecting means.

The steering angle detection means 9 detects the steering angle of the vehicle 3 and outputs an angle signal corresponding to the steering angle.

As an example, the steering angle detection means 9 is a steering sensor. The steering sensor is provided on the steering shaft of the vehicle 3.

What is denoted by reference numeral 11 is an irradiation angle control means.

The irradiation angle control means 11 includes a microcomputer, calculates the left and right irradiation angles of the headlamps 1 and 1 based on the angle signal output from the steering angle detection means 9, and sets the irradiation angle. Outputs the corresponding control signal.

What is indicated by reference numeral 13 is headlamp driving means.

The headlamp driving unit 13 changes the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamps 1, 1 based on the control signal output from the irradiation angle control unit 11.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the headlamp driving means 13 has a worm 19 attached to an output shaft 17 of a stepping motor 15, a worm gear 21 is engaged with the worm 19, and the worm gear 21 is reflected by the reflecting means. It is assumed that it is fixed to a vertical shaft 7 that is the center of rotation of 5.

What is denoted by reference numeral 23 is a power supply circuit. When the ignition switch 25 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery 27 to the power supply circuit 23, and the irradiation angle control means 11 is activated.

In addition, what is shown with the code | symbol 29 in FIG. 3 is a road.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the vehicle headlamp apparatus by this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of a headlamp drive means roughly. It is a top view which shows the vehicle which drive | works the curved road.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Headlamp 3 Vehicle 5 Reflection means 7 Vertical shaft 9 Steering angle detection means 11 Irradiation angle control means 13 Headlamp drive means 15 Stepping motor 17 Output shaft 19 Worm 21 Worm gear 23 Power supply circuit 25 Ignition switch 27 Battery 29 Road

Claims (1)

  A headlamp with adjustable left and right illumination angle, steering angle detection means for detecting the steering angle of the vehicle and outputting an angle signal corresponding to the steering angle, and an angle signal output from the steering angle detection means The irradiation angle control means for calculating the irradiation angle in the left-right direction of the headlamp based on the output and outputting a control signal corresponding to the irradiation angle, and the headlamp based on the control signal output from the irradiation angle control means The vehicle headlamp device is characterized by comprising a headlamp driving means for changing the irradiation angle in the left-right direction.

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