JP2008080932A - Vehicular light controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular light controller capable of properly performing light control by certainly discriminating an artificial light and a natural light. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular light controller is provided with a UV ray sensor; a visible light sensor; and an infrared light sensor. A micro-computer 4 lights the vehicle lamp 6 by recognizing it as the artificial light when at least one of the cases that illuminance of a light in a UV area detected by the UV ray sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, illuminance of a light in a visible area detected by the visible light sensor is larger than the predetermined value and illuminance of a light in an infrared area detected by the infrared light sensor is larger than the predetermined value is satisfied in the state in which the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle light control device.

As a vehicle light control device, there is a technique of turning off a vehicle lamp only when both exceed a predetermined amount of light using a sensor that detects visible light and a sensor that detects infrared light (Patent Document 1). Also, with two illuminance sensors installed, when a tunnel is found with one sensor, the reference illuminance is raised, and when the illuminance by the other illuminance sensor reaches the reference illuminance, it is turned on, and when entering the tunnel There is a technique for quickly lighting (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44860 JP-A-2005-199974

  However, in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to automatically turn off the vehicle lamp by distinguishing between the sodium lamp used in street lights and tunnel lights and sunlight, it is not possible to distinguish between white LED having a wide wavelength distribution and sunlight. Have difficulty. Further, in Patent Document 2, when adjusting the reference illuminance, if the reference illuminance is increased, it is possible to reduce the time from entering the tunnel until it is lit, but it is likely to cause erroneous lighting due to a bridge or the like. .

  The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle light control device capable of accurately discriminating between artificial light and natural light and accurately performing light control. .

  In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, an ultraviolet sensor that detects light in the ultraviolet region around the vehicle, a visible sensor that detects light in the visible region around the vehicle, In an infrared sensor for detecting infrared light in the surroundings and the vehicle lamp being turned off, the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, and the visible light of the visible sensor is Switch on lighting when detecting artificial light when at least one of the illuminance is greater than a predetermined value and the illuminance of infrared light by the infrared sensor is greater than a predetermined value, the vehicle lamp is turned on as artificial light And a vehicle light control device including the means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the artificial light detection lighting switching means is configured such that, in a state where the vehicle lamp is turned off, the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, and the visible light by the visual sensor is visible. If at least one of the illuminance of the light in the region is larger than the predetermined value and the illuminance of the light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor is larger than the predetermined value, the vehicle lamp is turned on as artificial light.

Therefore, artificial light having a wide wavelength distribution can be discriminated, and artificial light and natural light can be reliably identified and light control can be performed accurately.
As described in claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, in a state where the vehicle lamp is turned off, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor is smaller than a predetermined value and visible by the visible sensor. When the illuminance of light in the region is smaller than a predetermined value and the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor when a predetermined time elapses When it is smaller than the predetermined value, it is possible to turn on the vehicle lamp accurately when it is switched from daytime to nighttime by further including a low-illuminance lighting switching means for lighting the vehicle lamp when the ambient environment has low illuminance. .

  As described in claim 3, in the vehicle light control device according to claim 1 or 2, when the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor is larger than a predetermined value in a state where the vehicle lamp is turned off, If the light-off state maintaining means for detecting sunlight that maintains the light-off state of the vehicle lamp as sunlight is further provided, the light-off state of the vehicle lamp can be appropriately maintained.

  In the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor is a predetermined value when the vehicle lamp is turned off. And when the illuminance of light in the visible region by the visible sensor is smaller than a predetermined value and the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, the predetermined time has passed. When the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor is larger than a predetermined value, it is temporarily reduced in illuminance and the vehicle lamp is turned off to maintain the illuminance-off state maintaining means for temporarily reducing the illuminance. When the vehicle passes, the vehicle lamp can be appropriately kept off.

  As described in claim 5, in the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, when the vehicle lamp is turned on, the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor is a predetermined value. If the illuminance of light in the visible region by the visible sensor is larger than a predetermined value and the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor is larger than a predetermined value, the illuminance of the surrounding environment by sunlight If it is further provided with an extinguishing switching means for extinguishing the vehicle lamp because it is high, the vehicle lamp can be appropriately extinguished.

  As described in claim 6, in the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when the vehicle lamp is turned on, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor is a predetermined value. Less than, and the illuminance of light in the visible range by the visible sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, and at least one of the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, If the lighting state maintaining means for maintaining the lighting state of the vehicle lamp is further provided, the lighting state of the vehicle lamp can be appropriately maintained.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle light control device according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a sensor unit 3 is provided on the back surface of the room mirror 2 of the vehicle 1. The sensor unit 3 is connected to the microcomputer 4, and the output signal of the sensor unit 3 is sent to the microcomputer 4.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 3 has three illuminance sensors, that is, an ultraviolet sensor 3a, a visible sensor 3b, and an infrared sensor 3c. The ultraviolet sensor 3a detects light in the ultraviolet region around the vehicle (front of the vehicle in FIG. 1). The visible sensor 3b detects light in the visible light region around the vehicle (in FIG. 1, in front of the vehicle). The infrared sensor 3c detects light in the infrared region around the vehicle (in front of the vehicle in FIG. 1). As the visible sensor 3b and the infrared sensor 3c, silicon photodiodes used for general light sensors, solar radiation sensors, and the like are used. As the ultraviolet sensor 3a, a single-wavelength ultraviolet region silicon photodiode having a wavelength of 322 nm or the like is used. For example, S9050 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics is used. By detecting three wavelength regions using such three sensors 3a, 3b, and 3c, it becomes possible to discriminate sunlight having a wide wavelength range and artificial light having a narrow wavelength range.

  In FIG. 1, a microcomputer 4 is connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) 5 for light control. A vehicle lamp 6 such as a headlamp can be turned on / off by the electronic control unit 5. The microcomputer 4 can turn on and off the vehicle lamp 6 via the electronic control unit 5. For example, when entering the tunnel in the daytime, the microcomputer 4 turns on the vehicle lamp 6 via the electronic control device 5 and turns off the vehicle lamp 6 at the tunnel exit.

Next, the operation of the vehicle light control device in this embodiment will be described.
First, the principle will be described.
FIG. 4 shows the wavelength distribution of sunlight. 5 and 6 show wavelength distributions in various artificial lights. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows the wavelength distribution of an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, and a white LED. FIG. 6 shows the wavelength distribution of the sodium lamp.

  As shown in FIG. 4, sunlight has a wide and smooth wavelength distribution from the ultraviolet region to the infrared region. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wavelength distribution of the artificial light is narrow. In particular, even in the case of white LEDs (see FIG. 5), which are expected to be widely used in street lights and tunnel lights in the future, the wavelength distribution is from the visible range to the infrared range, and light in the ultraviolet range is lighter than sunlight. small.

  Thus, most of the artificial light is from visible light to infrared light, and the fact that the output from the illuminance sensor in the ultraviolet region, that is, the ultraviolet sensor 3a, is small is the possibility of artificial light. It will be suggested.

The microcomputer 4 in FIG. 1 controls turning on / off of the vehicle lamp in accordance with a determination flow as shown in FIG.
When the vehicle lamp 6 such as the headlamp of the own vehicle is in an off state (light-off state), the microcomputer 4 is activated in step 20 in FIG. 3A and executes the following processing.

  First, in step 21, the microcomputer 4 determines whether or not the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is smaller than the reference illuminance α of the ultraviolet sensor. If the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is larger than the reference illuminance α, the microcomputer 4 determines that the surroundings are bright due to sunlight, and proceeds to step 22 to leave the vehicle lamps 6 such as headlamps off (unlit state). To do.

  On the other hand, when the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is smaller than the reference illuminance α of the ultraviolet sensor in step 21, the microcomputer 4 proceeds to step 23 and compares the illuminance by the visible sensor 3b with the reference illuminance β and the infrared sensor 3c. The illuminance by and the reference illuminance γ are compared. When the microcomputer 4 has either the visible sensor 3b or the infrared sensor 3c or both are larger than the respective reference illuminances β and γ, the vehicle enters the place of artificial light such as a tunnel and is artificial light. Judgment is made, and immediately after proceeding to step 24, the vehicle lamp 6 such as the headlamp of the own vehicle is turned on (lights on).

  On the other hand, the microcomputer 4 determines in step 23 that both the visible sensor 3b and the infrared sensor 3c are smaller than the reference illuminances β and γ, (i) when the surroundings approach the night and the illuminance decreases, and (ii) due to bridging, etc. Two types of temporary illuminance drop are assumed. In order to make the determination, the microcomputer 4 shifts to step 25, for example, after a time lag of 3 seconds, shifts to step 26, and again determines whether the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is smaller than the reference illuminance α. . If the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is larger than the reference illuminance α in step 26, the microcomputer 4 proceeds to step 27 because it is a temporary decrease in illuminance due to the bridge (ii) described above and the vehicle such as a headlamp. The lamp 6 is kept off (light-off state). On the other hand, when the illuminance of the ultraviolet sensor 3a is smaller than the reference illuminance α in step 26, the microcomputer 4 proceeds to step 28 assuming that the surrounding (i) approaches the night and the illuminance of the surrounding environment is low, and the headlamp or the like. The vehicle lamp 6 is turned on (lights on).

In this manner, by re-determining the ultraviolet sensor 3a after a certain period of time, erroneous lighting due to bridges or the like can be prevented.
When the vehicle lamp 6 such as the headlamp of the own vehicle is in an on state (lighted state), the microcomputer 4 is activated in step 30 in FIG. 3B and executes the following processing.

  First, in step 31, the microcomputer 4 determines whether all of the ultraviolet sensor 3a, the visible sensor 3b, and the infrared sensor 3c are larger than their respective reference illuminances. If any one of the ultraviolet sensor 3a, the visible sensor 3b, and the infrared sensor 3c is smaller than the reference illuminance, the microcomputer 4 proceeds to step 32, and there is a street lamp or a vehicle lamp such as a headlamp of the own vehicle because it is dark at night. 6 remains on (lights off). On the other hand, if all of the ultraviolet sensor 3a, the visible sensor 3b, and the infrared sensor 3c are larger than the respective reference illuminances in step 31, the microcomputer 4 proceeds to step 33 and assumes that the illuminance of the surrounding environment is high due to sunlight. The vehicle lamp 6 is turned off (turned off). That is, the microcomputer 4 turns off the vehicle lamp 6 only when all of the ultraviolet sensor 3a, visible sensor 3b, and infrared sensor 3c are larger than their respective reference illuminances. Thereby, it is possible to prevent erroneous turn-off due to a streetlight or the like.

  As described above, in the vehicle light control device that automatically turns on / off the vehicle lamp 6 according to the ambient brightness, the artificial light is mostly visible light to infrared light, and the artificial light and natural light are changed depending on the wavelength. Considering that identification is possible, it has three illuminance sensors (3a, 3b, 3c), each of which detects each light in the ultraviolet region, visible region, and infrared region, and has a wide wavelength range Sunlight and artificial light with a narrow wavelength range can be distinguished. In other words, artificial light and natural light can be reliably discriminated using the three sensors of the ultraviolet sensor 3a, the visible sensor 3b, and the infrared sensor 3c. ).

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The microcomputer 4 that includes the ultraviolet sensor 3a, the visible sensor 3b, and the infrared sensor 3c and serves as lighting switching means for detecting artificial light executes steps 21, 23, and 24 in FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off, the microcomputer 4 has the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of the visible light by the visible sensor 3b is larger than the predetermined value. When at least one of the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor 3c is greater than a predetermined value, the vehicle lamp 6 is turned on as artificial light. Therefore, artificial light having a wide wavelength distribution can be discriminated, and artificial light and natural light can be reliably identified and light control can be performed accurately.

  (2) The microcomputer 4 as the lighting switching means at the time of low illuminance executes steps 21, 23, 25, 26, and 28 in FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off, the microcomputer 4 has the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor 3b is smaller than a predetermined value. In addition, when the illuminance of the infrared light by the infrared sensor 3c is smaller than a predetermined value, if the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a is smaller than the predetermined value when a predetermined time has elapsed, the illuminance of the surrounding environment Is low, the vehicle lamp 6 is turned on. Thus, the vehicle lamp can be turned on accurately when the daytime is changed to the nighttime.

  (3) The microcomputer 4 as the extinguishing state maintaining means at the time of detecting sunlight executes steps 21 and 22 in FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off, if the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a is larger than a predetermined value, the microcomputer 4 maintains the vehicle lamp 6 in the turned off state as sunlight. Therefore, the vehicle lamp can be appropriately kept off.

  (4) The microcomputer 4 as the extinguishing state maintaining means when the illuminance is temporarily reduced executes steps 21, 23, 25, 26, and 27 in FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off, the microcomputer 4 has the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor 3b is smaller than a predetermined value. In addition, when the illuminance of the infrared light by the infrared sensor 3c is smaller than a predetermined value, the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a is larger than the predetermined value when a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) elapses. The vehicle lamp 6 is kept in the extinguished state as a temporary decrease in illuminance. Therefore, when the vehicle passes through a bridge or the like, the vehicle lamp can be appropriately kept off.

  (5) The microcomputer 4 serving as the extinguishing switching unit executes steps 31 and 33 in FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned on, the microcomputer 4 has the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a larger than a predetermined value and the illuminance of the visible light by the visible sensor 3b larger than the predetermined value. If the illuminance of the infrared light by the infrared sensor 3c is larger than a predetermined value, the vehicle lamp 6 is turned off because the illuminance of the surrounding environment is high due to sunlight. Therefore, the vehicle lamp can be appropriately turned off.

  (6) The microcomputer 4 as the lighting state maintaining means executes steps 31 and 32 of FIG. That is, in the state where the vehicle lamp 6 is turned on, the microcomputer 4 has an illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor 3a smaller than a predetermined value, and an illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor 3b is smaller than a predetermined value. When the illuminance of the infrared light by the infrared sensor 3c is at least one smaller than a predetermined value, the lighting state of the vehicle lamp 6 is maintained because the illuminance of the surrounding environment is low or the light is artificial light. To do. Therefore, the lighting state of the vehicle lamp can be appropriately maintained.

  In FIG. 1, the sensors (3a, 3b, 3c) detect light in front of the vehicle so as to detect light in the vicinity of the vehicle. However, the light is not in front of the vehicle but in another direction, for example, light above the vehicle. May be detected.

The schematic block diagram of the vehicle light control apparatus in this embodiment. The schematic block diagram which shows the structure of a sensor unit. (A), (b) is a flowchart for demonstrating an effect | action. The characteristic view which shows wavelength distribution of sunlight. The characteristic view which shows the wavelength distribution of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, and white LED. The characteristic view which shows the wavelength distribution of a sodium lamp.

Explanation of symbols

  3a ... ultraviolet sensor, 3b ... visible sensor, 3c ... infrared sensor, 4 ... microcomputer, 6 ... vehicle lamp.

Claims (6)

An ultraviolet sensor (3a) for detecting light in the ultraviolet region around the vehicle;
A visible sensor (3b) for detecting light in the visible range around the vehicle;
An infrared sensor (3c) for detecting light in the infrared region around the vehicle;
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned off, the illuminance of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of the visible light by the visible sensor (3b) is lower than the predetermined value. And when at least one of the illuminance of infrared light by the infrared sensor (3c) is greater than a predetermined value, the vehicle lamp (6) is turned on as artificial light. A vehicle light control device comprising switching means (4). The vehicle light control device according to claim 1,
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned off, the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor (3b) is more than a predetermined value. And the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor (3c) is smaller than a predetermined value, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) exceeds a predetermined value when a predetermined time has elapsed. Is low, lighting switch means (4) at low illuminance for lighting the vehicle lamp (6) because the illuminance of the surrounding environment is low
And a vehicle light control device. The vehicle light control device according to claim 1 or 2,
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned off, if the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is larger than a predetermined value, sunlight that maintains the light-off state of the vehicle lamp (6) as sunlight. Means for maintaining off state at detection (4)
And a vehicle light control device. In the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned off, the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor (3b) is more than a predetermined value. And the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor (3c) is smaller than a predetermined value, the illuminance of light in the ultraviolet region by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is less than the predetermined value when a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is larger, it is assumed that the illumination is temporarily lowered, and the extinguished state maintaining means (4) for maintaining the extinguished state of the vehicle lamp (6).
And a vehicle light control device. In the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned on, the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is larger than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor (3b) is more than a predetermined value. And when the illuminance of the infrared light by the infrared sensor (3c) is larger than a predetermined value, the light-off switching means (4) for turning off the vehicle lamp (6) because the illuminance of the surrounding environment is high due to sunlight.
And a vehicle light control device. In the vehicle light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In a state where the vehicle lamp (6) is turned on, the illuminance of ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet sensor (3a) is smaller than a predetermined value, and the illuminance of visible light by the visible sensor (3b) is more than a predetermined value. And at least one of the illuminance of light in the infrared region by the infrared sensor (3c) is smaller than a predetermined value, a lighting state maintaining means (4) for maintaining the lighting state of the vehicle lamp (6) )
And a vehicle light control device.

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