JP2006193120A - Lighting system for vehicle, and vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system for a vehicle, capable of stably illuminating an occupant for favorably obtaining images of the occupant. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicle control device 1 is provided with a control part 2 to photograph a driver by means of a camera 3 disposed in the vehicle, and control vehicle equipment using photographed image data, an illumination part 4 with a light source to illuminate the driver by emitting light from the light source, and a seat position sensor 13 to detect position relation of the occupant to the illumination part 4. The control part 2 varies brightness of the illumination part 4 based on result of detection by the seat position sensor 13. In a case where the driver is close to the illumination part, the light source of the illumination part 4 emits light at low brightness. As the driver gets farther from the illumination part 4, the light source of the illumination part 4 emits light at higher brightness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle illumination device that illuminates a vehicle occupant, and a vehicle control device that photographs a vehicle occupant and controls vehicle equipment using the captured image data.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a vehicle control device that photographs a vehicle occupant and controls various vehicle equipments based on the captured image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this type of vehicle control device, the passenger can be photographed day and night, and the influence of disturbance light (such as illuminance change during the day and night or direct sunlight) can be reduced and the passenger image can be clearly photographed. In order to do so, it is desirable to illuminate the passenger. For this reason, it is desirable to equip the vehicle control device with a lighting device.
JP 2001-97070 A

  However, the passenger's seat position varies depending on the height and preference of the passenger. For this reason, the illuminance of the passenger changes depending on the seat position, and the clarity of the passenger's image varies. For this reason, it is difficult to appropriately acquire an image of the passenger simply by providing the lighting device, and there is a possibility that the vehicle equipment using the image cannot be reliably controlled.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular illumination device that can stably illuminate the passenger so as to suitably acquire an image of the passenger. is there.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device capable of improving the photographing accuracy of a passenger and reliably controlling vehicle equipment.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, for a vehicle used in a vehicle control device that takes a picture of a passenger in a vehicle and controls vehicle equipment using the taken image data. An illumination device having a light source and illuminating a passenger by causing the light source to emit light, a position detection unit that detects a positional relationship of the passenger with respect to the illumination unit, and detection by the position detection unit The gist of the present invention is to provide illumination control means for changing the luminance of the illumination means based on the result.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lighting device according to the first aspect, the lighting control means is based on a detection result by the position detecting means, and the luminance becomes lower as the passenger gets closer to the lighting means. The gist is to cause the light source of the illuminating means to emit light so that the passenger becomes farther away from the illuminating means and becomes brighter.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lighting device according to the first or second aspect, the illuminance detecting means for detecting the illuminance of the photographing region is provided, and the illumination control means is detected by the illuminance detecting means. Based on the result, the gist is to cause the light source of the illuminating unit to emit light so that the brightness becomes lower as the shooting area becomes brighter and the brightness becomes higher as the shooting area becomes darker.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lighting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the illuminance detecting unit that detects the illuminance of the photographing region is provided, and the illumination control unit is configured to detect the illuminance. The gist is to cause the light source of the illuminating means to emit light with a luminance at which the illuminance in the photographing region is always equal based on the detection result by the means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lighting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the lighting control means is configured to control the brightness of the lighting means in accordance with the control performed by the vehicle control apparatus. The gist is to change.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lighting device according to the fifth aspect, the control performed by the vehicle control device includes a constant monitoring control for constantly monitoring a passenger's state and a photographed face. Including at least one of authentication control for performing user authentication based on an image and emergency response control for transmitting an image captured when an abnormality occurs in a vehicle or a passenger to the outside. When the control and the emergency response control are performed, the gist is to cause the light source of the illuminating unit to emit light with higher brightness than when the constant monitoring control is performed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the photographing means for photographing the passenger in the vehicle compartment, the illumination means for illuminating the passenger by causing the light source to emit light, and the position of the passenger with respect to the illumination means A position detecting means for detecting a relationship; an equipment control means for controlling vehicle equipment using image data obtained by the photographing means; and a luminance of the lighting means is changed based on a detection result by the position detecting means. The gist of the present invention is to provide illumination control means.

The “action” of the present invention will be described below.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the luminance of the illumination unit changes according to the positional relationship between the illumination unit and the occupant, the occupant can be stably illuminated in order to appropriately acquire the occupant's image. It becomes possible.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the luminance of the illuminating means changes so that the brightness becomes lower as the occupant gets closer to the illuminating means, and the luminance becomes higher as the passenger gets farther away. For this reason, even when the positional relationship of the passenger with respect to the illumination means is different, it is possible to change the brightness of the illumination means so that the illuminance of the passenger is always constant, and it is preferable to acquire the passenger image. Therefore, it is possible to stably illuminate the passenger.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the luminance of the illumination means is low when the shooting area is bright and high when the shooting area is dark. For this reason, even if the illuminance in the vehicle interior changes significantly, such as a difference between day and night, the change in illuminance in the imaging region can be suppressed. Therefore, the illuminance of the passenger is kept constant.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the light source of the illuminating device emits light with a luminance at which the illuminance in the photographing region is always equal. For this reason, even if the illuminance in the vehicle interior changes significantly, such as a difference between day and night, the change in illuminance in the imaging region can be suppressed. Therefore, the illuminance of the passenger is kept constant.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the luminance of the illumination means changes according to the control performed by the vehicle control device. For this reason, for example, the brightness of the illumination means increases when control that requires a clear image of the passenger is performed, and decreases when control that does not require a clear image of the passenger is performed. This makes it possible to efficiently emit the light source of the illuminating means and to reliably obtain a necessary image.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since it is necessary to always take a picture of the passenger's state at the time of constant monitoring control, the brightness of the illumination means is made lower than at the time of authentication control or emergency response control, Power consumption can be kept low. On the other hand, since the light source of the illumination means emits light with high luminance during authentication control or emergency response control, a clear image of the passenger can be obtained. Moreover, since such authentication control and emergency response control are not always performed, it can suppress that the power consumption of an illumination means increases.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the luminance of the illumination unit changes according to the positional relationship between the illumination unit and the passenger. For this reason, it is possible to illuminate the passenger with stable illuminance, and it is possible to photograph the passenger under the stable illuminance. Therefore, the photographing accuracy for the passenger is improved, and it is possible to reliably control the vehicle equipment using the photographed image data.

As described above in detail, according to the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the passenger can be stably illuminated in order to appropriately acquire the image of the passenger.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to reliably control the vehicle equipment by improving the photographing accuracy of the passenger.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle control device 1 disposed in a vehicle compartment is a device that controls vehicle equipment and also has a function as a vehicle lighting device, and includes equipment control means, A control unit 2 as an illumination control unit, a camera 3 as an imaging unit, and an illumination unit 4 as an illumination unit are provided.

  The camera 3 is disposed in a vehicle interior (for example, in a room mirror), and as shown in FIG. 2A, can photograph at least a region (photographing region A1) including the driver's face as a photographing region. . The camera 3 captures a passenger (driver) based on an operation control signal from the control unit 2 and outputs the captured image data to the control unit 2.

  The illumination unit 4 is disposed in the camera 3 or in the vicinity of the camera 3. The illumination unit 4 includes a near-infrared LED as a light source, and illuminates the photographing area A1 of the camera 3 by causing the light source to emit light based on an illumination control signal from the control unit 2.

  Specifically, the control unit 2 includes a CPU unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and includes a nonvolatile memory 2a. In addition to the camera 3 and the illumination unit 4, the control unit 2 includes a seating sensor 11 as a passenger detection unit, an illuminance sensor 12 as an illuminance detection unit, a seat position sensor 13 as a position detection unit, and air as an abnormality detection unit. The bag sensor 14 and an engine control unit 15 as a vehicle equipment are electrically connected.

The seating sensor 11 is provided in the seat of the driver's seat or the like, and detects whether or not a passenger is seated in the driver's seat. Then, the seating sensor 11 outputs the detection result to the control unit 2.
The illuminance sensor 12 is provided in the driver's seat or in the vicinity of the driver's seat and detects the illuminance around the driver's seat. Then, the illuminance sensor 12 outputs the detection result to the control unit 2.

  The seat position sensor 13 detects displacement amounts of the reclining movable part and the front and rear movable part of the driver's seat, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 2. That is, the seat position sensor 13 detects the position of the driver's seat and outputs the detection result to the control unit 2.

The airbag sensor 14 detects whether or not the airbag is in operation, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 2.
The engine control unit 15 is an electronic control unit that performs engine fuel injection control, ignition timing control, and the like, and starts the engine when it is determined that a predetermined engine start operation has been performed in the engine start permission state. The engine control unit 15 is normally in an engine start prohibition state, and switches to the engine start permission state when an engine start permission signal is input from the control unit 2. Further, the engine control unit 15 outputs an engine driving state signal indicating the driving state of the engine to the control unit 2. Therefore, the control unit 2 can recognize whether the engine is in a driving state or a stopped state based on the engine driving state signal.

In the memory 2a, pre-registered user image data is recorded. In addition, a user shows the person recognized by the owner as a vehicle owner or a driver.
In addition, a map, parameters, and the like for determining the luminance of the illumination unit 4 are recorded in the memory 2a. This map includes a reference luminance determination map based on the detection result by the illuminance sensor 12 and a monitoring optimum luminance determination map based on the detection result by the seat position sensor 13. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the reference luminance determination map increases the luminance of the illumination unit 4 as the illuminance of the shooting area A1 decreases, and decreases the luminance of the illumination unit 4 as the illuminance increases. Is set to Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the monitoring optimum luminance determination map is used for determining a coefficient to be multiplied by the reference luminance in accordance with the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the photographing target (here, the driver). The coefficient value is set to be smaller as the distance is shorter, and the coefficient value is larger as the distance is longer. The reference luminance determination map is set so that the illuminance when the photographing area A1 is illuminated by the illumination unit 4 is always substantially constant. Further, the monitoring optimum luminance determination map is set so that the illuminance of the driver is always substantially constant even when the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the driver is displaced. Incidentally, FIG. 4B shows a monitoring optimum brightness determination map when the light source of the illumination unit 4 is a point light source.

  Furthermore, the memory 2a records parameters for determining the luminance of the illumination unit 4 during vehicle equipment control described later. Specifically, the memory 2a records authentication parameters used when authentication control is performed as vehicle equipment control, and emergency parameters used when emergency response control is performed as vehicle equipment control. Has been.

  The control unit 2 performs illumination based on various detection signals input from the seating sensor 11, the illuminance sensor 12, the seat position sensor 13, and the airbag sensor 14, and the engine drive state signal input from the engine control unit 15. The lighting control for determining the luminance of the unit 4 and the operation control of the camera 3 are performed, and the vehicle equipment control is performed. Various controls performed by the control unit 2 will be described in detail according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the control unit 2 periodically performs the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 at a predetermined timing.

  As shown in the figure, first, in step S1, the control unit 2 determines whether or not a passenger is seated in the driver's seat based on a detection signal from the seating sensor 11. As a result, when it is determined that the passenger is not seated in the driver's seat, the control unit 2 temporarily ends the process, and when it is determined that the passenger is seated, the control unit 2 proceeds to the process of step S2. . That is, the control unit 2 performs various controls on condition that the passenger is seated in the driver's seat, and does not perform various controls when the passenger is not seated in the driver's seat.

  In step S <b> 2, the control unit 2 determines the reference luminance luB based on the detection signal from the illuminance sensor 12. Specifically, the control unit 2 obtains the reference luminance luB corresponding to the illuminance of the photographing area A1 detected by the illuminance sensor 12 based on the reference luminance determination map (FIG. 4A) recorded in the memory 2a. That is, in step S2, the control unit 2 performs reference dimming control that changes the luminance of the illumination unit 4 in accordance with the illuminance of the imaging region A1.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the control unit 2 determines the optimum monitoring luminance lu <b> 1 based on the detection signal from the sheet position sensor 13. Specifically, the control unit 2 first obtains the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the driver based on the detection signal from the seat position sensor 13. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), when the seat position is at the front position ("A" position in the figure), the control unit 2 is located between the illumination unit 4 and the "A" position. Find the distance La. Similarly, when the sheet position is at the intermediate position (“B” position in the figure), the control unit 2 obtains the distance Lb between the illumination unit 4 and the “B” position. When the seat position is at the rear position ("C" position in the figure), the control unit 2 obtains the distance Lc between the illumination unit 4 and the "C" position. Accordingly, the relationship of distance La <distance Lb <distance Lc is established, and the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the driver becomes longer as the seat position is rearward.

  Subsequently, the control unit 2 obtains a luminance coefficient corresponding to the obtained distance based on the monitoring optimum luminance determination map recorded in the memory 2a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the luminance coefficient increases as the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the driver increases, and therefore, the seat positions at the “A” to “C” positions are increased. Among them, the coefficient value at the “A” position is the smallest and the coefficient value at the “C” position is the largest. Here, the case where the “A” position is the foremost sheet position is shown, and it is assumed that the coefficient value at this time is set to “1”.

  Then, the control unit 2 determines the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 by multiplying the reference luminance luB by the obtained luminance coefficient. That is, the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 (the optimum monitoring luminance lu1A) at the “A” position where the seat position is the front is set equal to the reference luminance luB, and the “B” position and the “C” which are behind the “A” position. The optimum monitoring luminance lu1 (monitoring optimum luminance lu1B, Lu1C) at the position is set higher than the reference luminance luB. Therefore, the relationship between the reference luminance luB and the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 (lu1A to lu1C) is as follows.

“LuB ≦ lu1 (lu1A <lu1B <lu1C)”
As described above, in step S <b> 3, the control unit 2 performs position-corresponding dimming control that further changes the luminance of the illumination unit 4 in accordance with the positional relationship between the driver who is a photographing target and the illumination unit 4.

  Next, in step S4, the control unit 2 determines whether or not it is in a state where it should perform authentication control. Here, when an engine drive state signal indicating that the engine is in a stopped state is input from the engine control unit 15, the control unit 2 determines that it is in a state where it should perform authentication control. On the other hand, when the engine drive state signal indicating that the engine is in the drive state is input from the engine control unit 15, the control unit 2 determines that the control unit 2 is not in a state where the authentication control should be performed. If the control unit 2 determines that it is not in a state where it should perform authentication control, the control unit 2 proceeds to the process of step S5.

  In step S5, the control unit 2 determines whether or not it is in a state where it should perform emergency response control. Here, when the detection signal indicating that the airbag is in operation is input from the airbag sensor 14 and the emergency notification process (S11) described later has not yet been completed, the control unit 2 It is determined that emergency response control should be performed. On the other hand, the control unit 2 has already performed emergency call processing when a detection signal indicating that the airbag is in an inoperative state is input from the airbag sensor 14 or during the previous processing in this flowchart. If it has been completed, it is determined that it is not in a state where it should perform emergency response control. If the control unit 2 determines that it is not in a state where it should perform emergency response control, the control unit 2 proceeds to the process of step S6.

  In step S <b> 6, the control unit 2 causes the light source of the illumination unit 4 to emit light with the optimum monitoring luminance lu <b> 1 determined in step S <b> 3 and activates the camera 3. That is, the control unit 2 determines that it is in a state where it should perform monitoring control except when performing authentication control and emergency response control, and emits the light source of the illumination unit 4 with the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 determined in step S4. In this state, the camera 3 is operated. For this reason, the illuminance of the photographing area A1 is the illuminance obtained by adding the illuminance increase due to the light emission at the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 of the illumination unit 4 to the natural illumination (illuminance before illumination by the illumination unit 4). Therefore, even if the natural illuminance is low, the camera 3 can reliably photograph the driver.

  In subsequent step S7, the control unit 2 performs normal monitoring processing (normal monitoring control). In the normal monitoring process in the present embodiment, the control unit 2 performs driving assistance control based on the photographed driver's image data. Specifically, the control unit 2 captures the driver's image as a moving image or a continuous still image, estimates the driver's operation state based on a temporal change in the image data, and is suitable for the operation state. Run assist control. As a specific example of the driving assistance control, the driver's eyes are closed continuously for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), or the driver's face is continuously facing a direction other than the front for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). For example, when the control unit 2 determines that the vehicle is on the basis of the image data, a risk avoidance control that alerts the driver by ringing a buzzer (not shown) or vibrating the seat is exemplified.

  As described above, in the normal monitoring process, control based on image data to the extent that the change in the driver's state can be determined is performed. For this reason, in the normal monitoring process, precise image data of the driver is not required. And the control part 2 will once complete | finish this process, if such a normal monitoring process is complete | finished.

On the other hand, if the control unit 2 determines in step S4 that it is in a state where it should perform authentication control, it proceeds to the process of step S8.
In step S8, the control unit 2 obtains the authentication optimum luminance lu2 based on the authentication parameter recorded in the memory 2a and the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 determined in step S3, and the light source of the illumination unit 4 is determined with the authentication optimum luminance lu2. Light is emitted and the camera 3 is operated.

  In step S9, the control unit 2 performs authentication processing (authentication control). In this authentication process, the control unit 2 captures the driver's image as a still image, and compares the captured driver's image data with the user's image data recorded in advance in the memory 2a (image authentication). . Based on the image authentication result, the control unit 2 controls the vehicle equipment. In the present embodiment, the control unit 2 performs engine start permission control for permitting engine start when there is user image data that matches or approximates captured image data as a result of image authentication.

  Thus, in the authentication process, control based on the driver's strict image data is performed. For this reason, in the authentication process, precise image data of the driver is required. And the control part 2 will once complete | finish this process, if such an authentication process is complete | finished.

On the other hand, if the control unit 2 determines in step S5 that it is in a state where it should perform emergency response control, it proceeds to the process of step S10.
In step S10, the control unit 2 obtains the emergency optimum luminance lu3 based on the emergency parameter recorded in the memory 2a and the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 determined in step S3, and the light source of the illumination unit 4 is determined with the emergency optimum luminance lu3. Light is emitted and the camera 3 is operated.

  In subsequent step S11, the control unit 2 performs emergency call processing (emergency response control). In the emergency call process according to the present embodiment, the control unit 2 transmits a radio signal including captured driver image data to the outside using a transmission device (not shown). This transmission device can communicate with a management center or the like disposed at a predetermined location away from the vehicle. For this reason, the image data is transmitted to the management center, and the management center can recognize the situation of the driver of the vehicle that has caused the airbag to operate. Moreover, during such emergency call processing, the brightness of the lighting unit 4 is set high, so that the management center can reliably recognize the driver's situation and sometimes even the situation in the surrounding vehicle compartment. Can also be recognized. Therefore, the management center can quickly take an optimum measure such as an ambulance or police arrangement according to the situation of the driver based on the image data. And the control part 2 will once complete | finish this process, if such an emergency call process is complete | finished.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, each of the monitoring optimum luminance lu1, the authentication optimum luminance lu2, and the emergency optimum luminance lu3 is set to have a relationship of “lu1 <lu2 <lu3”. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the reference luminance luB determined in step S2 is set to a value such that the increase in illuminance of the photographing region A1 due to illumination by the illumination unit 4 is always higher than the natural illuminance. Since the reference luminance luB is the lowest luminance when the illumination unit 4 illuminates, the illuminance increase in the imaging region A1 due to the illumination of the illumination unit 4 at the optimum monitoring luminance lu1, the authentication optimum luminance lu2, and the emergency optimum luminance lu3 is , Always higher than natural illuminance.

Next, an operation mode of the vehicle control device 1 that can be performed after the driver has boarded the vehicle will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as shown by a point P <b> 1 in FIG. 5, when the seating of the driver is detected by the seating sensor 11, authentication control is performed by the control unit 2. For this reason, the light source of the illumination part 4 is light-emitted with the authentication optimal brightness | luminance lu2.

  Then, as indicated by point P2, when the engine is driven, normal monitoring control is performed by the control unit 2. For this reason, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 is switched from the authentication optimum luminance lu2 to the monitoring optimum luminance lu1.

  Thereafter, as indicated by a point P3, when the operation of the airbag is detected by the airbag sensor 14, the emergency response control is performed by the control unit 2. For this reason, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 is switched from the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 to the emergency optimum luminance lu3.

  And as shown by the point P4, when the emergency call process by the control part 2 is completed, normal monitoring control will be performed again. For this reason, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 is switched from the emergency optimum luminance lu3 to the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 again.

  Moreover, various optimal brightness | luminances lu1-lu3 each change based on the illumination intensity (natural illumination intensity) of imaging | photography area | region A1 in the state which the illumination part 4 is not illuminating, and the positional relationship of the illumination part 4 and a driver | operator.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The brightness of the illumination unit 4 is changed according to the positional relationship between the illumination unit 4 and the driver. For this reason, the illumination unit 4 can stably illuminate the driver so as to appropriately acquire the driver's image. Therefore, the photographing accuracy for the driver is improved, and the vehicle equipment control (normal monitoring control, authentication control, and emergency response control) using the photographed image data can be reliably performed.

  (2) The luminance of the illumination unit 4 is controlled by the control unit 2 so that the luminance becomes lower as the driver gets closer to the illumination unit 4 and becomes higher as the driver gets farther away. For this reason, even if the driver's positional relationship with respect to the illumination unit 4 varies due to changes in the driver, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 can be changed so that the illuminance of the driver is always constant. Therefore, it is possible to stably illuminate the driver so as to appropriately acquire the driver's image.

  (3) The luminance of the illumination unit 4 is low when the illuminance of the shooting area A1 is high, that is, when the shooting area A1 is bright, and is high when the illuminance of the shooting area A1 is low, that is, when the shooting area A1 is dark. . For this reason, even if the illuminance in the vehicle interior changes significantly, such as the difference between day and night, the change in illuminance in the imaging region A1 can be suppressed. Therefore, the illuminance of the passenger can be kept substantially constant.

  (4) The brightness of the illumination unit 4 changes according to various controls (normal monitoring control, authentication control, and emergency response control) performed by the control unit 2, and authentication control and emergency response that require a clear image of the driver When the control is performed, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 is set high, and when the normal monitoring control that does not require a clear image of the driver is performed, the luminance of the illumination unit 4 is set low. For this reason, while being able to perform illumination by the illumination part 4 efficiently, a required image can be obtained reliably.

  (5) Since it is necessary to always photograph the driver's state during the regular monitoring control, the power consumption is kept low by making the brightness of the illumination unit 4 lower than that during the authentication control or emergency call control. be able to. On the other hand, since the light source of the illuminating unit 4 emits light with high luminance during authentication control or emergency response control, a clear image of the driver can be obtained. Moreover, since such authentication control and emergency response control are not always performed, it can suppress that the electric power consumption of the illumination part 4 increases.

  (6) The reference luminance luB is set to a value such that the increase in illuminance of the photographing area A1 due to the illumination of the illumination unit 4 is always higher than the illuminance (natural illuminance) of the photographing area A1 in a state where no illumination is performed. The Since the reference luminance luB is the lowest luminance for the illumination unit 4 to illuminate, the illuminance increase in the imaging region A1 due to illumination of the illumination unit 4 at the optimum monitoring luminance lu1, the authentication optimum luminance lu2, and the emergency optimum luminance lu3. Is always higher than natural illuminance. Therefore, in photographing the driver, it is possible to make it difficult to be adversely affected by ambient light, and it is possible to photograph the driver with high accuracy.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
In the embodiment, the control of the vehicle equipment (equipment control), the operation control of the camera 3 (imaging control), and the operation control of the illumination unit 4 (illumination control) are all performed by the control unit 2. It has become. However, the vehicle control device 1 may individually include an illumination control unit that performs only illumination control and a vehicle control unit that performs equipment control and imaging control. Therefore, FIG. 7 shows a specific example of such a change.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle control device 1 includes an illumination control unit 21 and a vehicle control unit 22. The illumination unit 4, the illuminance sensor 12, and the seat position sensor 13 are electrically connected to the illumination control unit 21, and the camera 3, the seating sensor 11, the airbag sensor 14, and the engine control unit 15 are electrically connected to the vehicle control unit 22. Is done. Thereby, the illumination control unit 21 and the illumination unit 4 constitute a vehicle illumination device 23.

  In such a modification, the vehicle control unit 22 outputs an operation command signal to the illumination control unit 21 when a detection signal indicating the seating in the driver's seat is input from the seating sensor 11. Further, when the vehicle control unit 22 determines that it is in a state where it should perform authentication control based on the engine drive state signal from the engine control unit 15, the vehicle control unit 22 outputs an authentication state signal indicating that fact to the illumination control unit 21. . In addition, when the vehicle control unit 22 determines that the vehicle control unit 22 is in a state where emergency response control should be performed based on the detection signal from the airbag sensor 14, the vehicle control unit 22 outputs an emergency state signal indicating the fact to the illumination control unit 21.

  The illumination control unit 21 includes a memory 21a corresponding to the memory 2a. When an operation command signal is input from the vehicle control unit 22, the illumination control unit 21 is based on detection signals from the illuminance sensor 12 and the seat position sensor 13 and has a reference luminance luB. And the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 is determined. The illumination control unit 21 determines the authentication optimum luminance lu2 when the authentication state signal is input from the vehicle control unit 22, and determines the emergency optimum luminance lu3 when the emergency state signal is input from the vehicle control unit 22. Then, the illumination control unit 21 outputs a luminance determination signal indicating that the corresponding optimum luminances lu1 to lu3 have been determined to the vehicle control unit 22, and emits the light source of the illumination unit 4 with the determined optimum luminances lu1 to lu3. Let

The vehicle control unit 22 operates the camera 3 when the luminance determination signal is input from the illumination control unit 21.
Note that the illumination control unit 21 may perform operation control of the camera 3 in addition to operation control of the illumination unit 4.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 2 determines whether or not to perform authentication control based on whether or not the engine is in a driving state in step S4 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. However, the controller 2 is not limited to the driving state of the engine, and may determine whether to perform authentication control based on, for example, whether or not a key is attached to the ignition key cylinder. In this case, the control unit 2 may determine that it is necessary to perform authentication control when it is determined that the key is not mounted on the ignition key cylinder and the state is changed to the mounted state. . In this way, authentication control can be reliably performed when the driver intends to start the engine. In addition, the control unit 2 performs authentication control based on whether wireless communication is established in the vehicle compartment between a portable device having a wireless communication function possessed by the user and an in-vehicle communication device disposed in the vehicle, for example. A determination as to whether or not to perform may be made. In this case, when it is determined that the control unit 2 has transitioned from a state in which communication between the portable device and the in-vehicle communication device in the vehicle interior is not established to an established state, it is necessary to perform authentication control. Change to judge. In this way, wireless communication between the portable device and the in-vehicle communication device is established, and the engine cannot be driven unless image authentication is established, so that the security level of the vehicle can be further improved. That is, the control unit 2 only needs to determine whether or not to permit engine start based on authentication control, and it is necessary to use the engine driving state as a trigger for performing the authentication control. There is no.

  Further, the control unit 2 may perform authentication control periodically even when the engine is in a driving state, for example, when the vehicle is not traveling (a state where the vehicle speed is “0”). . And the control part 2 may stop an engine or restrict | limit driving | running | working of a vehicle (for example, maximum speed restriction | limiting etc.), when this periodic authentication control is not materialized. In this way, even if the vehicle is stolen when the user moves away from the vehicle while the engine is driven, normal driving of the vehicle thereafter becomes impossible, and the willingness to steal can be reduced. As a result, the security level of the vehicle can be improved.

  Further, the control unit 2 determines that an operation for removing a dedicated IC card for charge settlement from, for example, an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection: Non-stop automatic toll collection system) vehicle-mounted device is performed regardless of the driving state of the engine. At this time, authentication control may be performed. In this case, the control unit 2 only needs to permit the removal of the dedicated IC card from the ETC on-vehicle device on condition that the authentication control is established. In this way, it is possible to prevent the dedicated IC card from being stolen. Further, the control unit 2 is not limited to the ETC in-vehicle device, and may perform authentication control when operating an in-vehicle mail device having an electronic mail function using an Internet communication line, for example. In this case, the control part 2 should just permit operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted mail apparatus on condition that the image authentication by this authentication control was materialized. In this way, it becomes impossible for the driver other than the user to operate the in-vehicle mail device, so that the privacy of the user is ensured. That is, the control unit 2 may include additional functions for the vehicle equipment such as a security monitoring function for the vehicle equipment and a user privacy function.

  In determining the reference luminance luB, the control unit 2 first determines the initial reference luminance luBe using the reference luminance map, and then the illuminance sensor 12 in a state where the light source of the illumination unit 4 is caused to emit light with the initial reference luminance luBe. The reference luminance luB may be determined by detecting the illuminance and finely adjusting the initial reference luminance luBe based on the detection result. In this way, it is possible to determine the reference luminance luB that makes the illuminance of the shooting area A1 more certain.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 2 determines the reference luminance luB based on the detection result by the illuminance sensor 12 so that the illuminance in the imaging region A1 is always substantially constant. However, the control unit 2 may not determine the reference luminance luB so that the illuminance in the imaging region A1 is always substantially constant.

  The control unit 2 determines the luminance of the illumination unit 4 so that the illuminance of the driver is always substantially constant even when the distance between the illumination unit 4 and the driver is displaced. However, the control unit 2 may not determine the luminance of the illumination unit 4 so that the illuminance of the driver is always substantially constant.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 2 determines the reference luminance luB and the monitoring optimum luminance lu1 based on the reference luminance determination map and the monitoring optimum luminance determination map recorded in the memory 2a. However, the control unit 2 is not limited to these maps, and may determine the reference luminance luB and the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 by calculation using a function. In this case, it is necessary to record a function for calculating the reference luminance luB and the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 in the memory 2a and the like.

  The position detection means is not limited to the seat position sensor 13, and may be configured by a distance measurement sensor that detects a distance to the driver by detecting a reflected wave such as infrared rays emitted from the illumination unit 4.

-The light source of the illumination part 4 may be comprised not only by near-infrared LED but by the light source which irradiates visible light.
The abnormality detection means is not limited to the airbag sensor 14 and may be configured by, for example, an acceleration sensor or a collision sensor provided in the vehicle. Even if it does in this way, when abnormality, such as an accident, arises in a vehicle, it can make control part 2 perform emergency response control automatically. Further, the abnormality detection means may be configured by an operation switch operated by a passenger. In this way, when the passenger determines that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle, the control unit 2 can perform emergency response control.

  -In the said embodiment, the control part 2 changes the brightness | luminance of this illumination part 4 according to the distance of the illumination part 4 and a driver | operator. However, the control unit 2 may change the luminance of the illumination unit 4 based on the relationship between the light irradiation direction by the illumination unit 4 and the direction in which the driver is facing. That is, the control unit 2 may change the luminance of the illumination unit 4 based on the angle formed by the light irradiation direction by the illumination unit 4 and the direction in which the driver is facing. For example, when the driver is facing the oblique direction with respect to the light irradiation direction, the control unit 2 has a higher brightness than when the driver is facing the front direction with respect to the light irradiation direction. The brightness may be changed. In general, when the driver is facing diagonally with respect to the light irradiation direction, it is difficult to recognize the driver's state due to shadows, etc., so the driver's state is recognized by increasing the brightness in such a state. It can be made easier.

  -In the said embodiment, the control part 2 performs normal monitoring control, authentication control, and emergency response control as control of vehicle equipment. However, one of authentication control and emergency response control may not be performed. In this way, the processing burden on the control unit 2 can be reduced, and for example, when the emergency response control is omitted, the airbag sensor 14 can be omitted.

  The control unit 2 may perform another control such as a room temperature adjustment control that automatically adjusts the temperature of the air conditioner based on the driver's clothes, for example, as the control of the vehicle equipment.

-The control part 2 does not necessarily change the brightness | luminance of the illumination part 4 according to control of various vehicle accessories.
In the embodiment, the control unit 2 performs reference dimming control that changes the luminance of the illumination unit 4 based on the natural illuminance of the shooting area A1. However, the control unit 2 may be configured not to perform such reference dimming control. That is, the control unit 2 may be configured not to perform dimming control according to ambient brightness. However, in this case, the monitoring optimum luminance determination map shown in FIG. 4B needs to be changed so that the luminance (absolute value) with respect to the distance is obtained instead of the luminance coefficient with respect to the distance.

In the above-described embodiment, the driver is a subject to be photographed, but a passenger other than the driver, such as a passenger on the passenger seat or a rear seat occupant, may be included as a subject to be photographed.
The illuminance increase in the shooting area A1 due to the illumination of the illuminating unit 4 does not necessarily have to be set higher than the natural illuminance. For example, only the increase in illuminance when light is emitted with the authentication optimum luminance lu2 and emergency optimum luminance lu3 is set higher than the natural illuminance, and the increase in illuminance when light is emitted with the optimum monitoring luminance lu1 is the natural illuminance. It may be set equally or low.

Next, the technical ideas grasped by the embodiment described above are listed below.
(1) The vehicle illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an illuminance detection unit that detects an illuminance of the imaging region, wherein the illumination control unit is configured to perform imaging that is increased by illumination of the illumination unit. Causing the light source of the illuminating means to emit light with a luminance that increases the illuminance of the area higher than the illuminance of the photographing area in a state where illumination is not performed.

  (2) In the vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the technical idea (1), the position detecting unit detects a position of a seat of a passenger to be photographed. Be a sensor.

  (3) A vehicle illumination device used in a vehicle control device that photographs a passenger in a vehicle and controls vehicle equipment using the captured image data, and has a light source and emits the light source. 5. An illumination unit that illuminates a passenger by causing the vehicle to illuminate a passenger, and an illumination control unit that changes a luminance of the illumination unit according to control performed by the vehicle control device. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the vehicle control apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows typically the positional relationship of the illumination means and passenger of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process performed by the vehicle control apparatus of the embodiment. (A) is a graph schematically showing a map used for determining the reference luminance, and (b) is a graph schematically showing a map used for determining the optimum monitoring luminance. The time chart which shows the luminance change of the illumination means of the embodiment. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the natural illumination intensity in the vehicle interior of the same embodiment, and the illumination intensity increase by illumination of an illumination means. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the vehicle control apparatus of other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle control apparatus (vehicle illumination device), 2 ... Control part as illumination control means and equipment control means, 3 ... Camera as imaging means, 4 ... Illumination part as illumination means, 11 ... Passenger detection means , An illuminance sensor as an illuminance detection means, 13 a seat position sensor as a position detection means, 14 an airbag sensor as an abnormality detection means, 15 an engine control unit as a vehicle equipment, 21. Illumination control unit as illumination control means, 22... Vehicle control unit as equipment control means, 23.

Claims (7)

A vehicle lighting device used in a vehicle control device that photographs a passenger in a vehicle and controls vehicle equipment using the captured image data,
An illuminating means having a light source and illuminating a passenger by emitting the light source;
Position detecting means for detecting a positional relationship of a passenger with respect to the illumination means;
An illumination apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an illumination control unit that changes a luminance of the illumination unit based on a detection result by the position detection unit.   The illumination control means is a light source of the illumination means based on the detection result by the position detection means so that the brightness becomes lower as the passenger gets closer to the illumination means, and the brightness becomes higher as the passenger gets farther from the illumination means. The vehicle illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle illumination device emits light. With illuminance detection means for detecting the illuminance of the shooting area;
The illumination control unit causes the light source of the illumination unit to emit light based on a detection result of the illuminance detection unit, so that the brightness becomes lower as the shooting area becomes brighter and the brightness becomes higher as the shooting area becomes darker. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 or 2. With illuminance detection means for detecting the illuminance of the shooting area;
The lighting control unit causes the light source of the lighting unit to emit light with a luminance at which the illuminance in the photographing region is always equal based on a detection result by the illuminance detection unit. The vehicle lighting device according to Item.   5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control unit changes a luminance of the lighting unit in accordance with control performed by the vehicle control device. The control performed by the vehicle control device includes constant monitoring control that constantly monitors the state of the passenger, authentication control that performs user authentication based on the photographed face image, and abnormality in the vehicle or the passenger has occurred. Including at least one of emergency response control for transmitting an image taken at the time to the outside,
6. The lighting control unit according to claim 5, wherein when the authentication control and the emergency response control are performed, the light source of the lighting unit emits light with higher brightness than when the constant monitoring control is performed. The vehicle lighting device described. Photographing means for photographing the passenger in the vehicle compartment;
An illuminating means having a light source and illuminating a passenger by emitting the light source;
Position detecting means for detecting a positional relationship of a passenger with respect to the illumination means;
Equipment control means for controlling vehicle equipment using image data obtained by the photographing means;
A vehicle control apparatus comprising: an illumination control unit that changes a luminance of the illumination unit based on a detection result by the position detection unit.

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