JP2008126804A - Vehicular light shielding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular light shielding device for predicting whether lights from another car will be radiated to one's own car or not in the future and performing light shielding in advance based on map information and information of the own car and another car. <P>SOLUTION: Visual field of occupants in the own car within a predetermined period of time and a light axis of a light from an object vehicle are respectively calculated based on the map information obtained from a navigation device 3 and the information of the own car and the object vehicle (S6-S10). When the device determines that eye direction of the own car will be coincident with the light axis direction of a head light of the object vehicle within a predetermined period of time, it predicts that the light from another car will be radiated to the occupants of the own car at timing of the coincidence (S11) and controls the relevant area of dim glasses 5A-5D to be in a light shielding status (S14). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light shielding device for a vehicle that shields light emitted to an occupant of the own vehicle.

When driving a car, the light from the headlights of the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle temporarily took away the sight of the occupant during driving, which was one of the causes of the accident. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-136955, when the incident light quantity from the rear direction is detected and the reflectance of the mirror is continuously changed, the headlight of the vehicle following at night suddenly becomes dazzling. However, a vehicle shading device that automatically and appropriately shields light is described.
JP-A-8-136955 (pages 4 to 6, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, in the vehicle shading device described in Patent Document 1 described above, the light is detected by changing the reflectivity of the mirror after detecting the light of the headlight of the succeeding vehicle. There was not enough light shielding. Therefore, although it is a short time, the light of the headlight of the following vehicle enters the eyes of the passenger of the own vehicle, resulting in the loss of the sight of the passenger.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and can block light from an oncoming vehicle and a following vehicle even at the start of irradiation based on a preliminary prediction result. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle shading device that enables a light of a following vehicle to travel comfortably without taking the sight of a passenger.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle light shielding device according to claim 1 of the present application is a light shielding means (5A to 5D, 6) for shielding light irradiated to an occupant of the own vehicle, and a light shielding for controlling the light shielding means. In the vehicle shading device (1) having the control means (8), the map information storage means (16) for storing the map information, the own vehicle position detecting means (21) for detecting the current position of the own vehicle, Based on the other vehicle position detection means (4, 7) for detecting the current position of the other vehicle located in the vicinity of the own vehicle, the map information and the detection results of the own vehicle position detection means and the other vehicle position detection means. Predicting means (8) for predicting whether or not the light of the light of the other vehicle is irradiated to the occupant of the vehicle, and the shading control means for the occupant of the own vehicle by the predicting means Control the light blocking means when it is predicted that the car light will be irradiated And wherein the door.

  A vehicle shading device according to claim 2 is the vehicle shading device according to claim 1, wherein the predicting means (8) predicts that the light of another vehicle's light is irradiated. It has incident direction specifying means (8) for specifying the incident direction of light with respect to the own vehicle, and the light shielding control means (8) is made of the glass of the incident direction specified by the incident direction specifying means among the glasses of the own vehicle. Control is performed to reduce the transmittance of a predetermined region.

  Furthermore, the vehicle light-shielding device according to claim 3 is the vehicle light-shielding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predicting means (8) determines the field of view of a passenger of the own vehicle within a predetermined time. Based on the field-of-view calculating means (8) for calculating, the field of view of the occupant of the own vehicle calculated by the field-of-view calculating means, and the current position of the other vehicle detected by the other-vehicle position detecting means, Visibility determination means (8) for determining whether or not the light source of the other vehicle's light is located within the sight of the occupant, and the other within the sight of the occupant of the own vehicle within a predetermined time by the visibility determination means. When it is determined that the light source of the car light is located, the optical axis calculation means (8) for calculating the optical axis of the light of the other vehicle within a predetermined time, and the calculation results of the visibility calculation means and the optical axis calculation means Based on the direction of sight of the occupant of the vehicle within a predetermined time Coincidence determining means (8) for determining whether or not the optical axis direction of the light of the vehicle is coincident with each other, and the line-of-sight direction of the passenger of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle are determined by the coincidence determining unit. When it is determined that they match, it is predicted that the light of the light of the other vehicle is projected to the occupant of the own vehicle at the timing of matching.

  In the vehicle shading device according to claim 1 having the above-described configuration, is the light of the other vehicle illuminated to the vehicle occupant based on the map information, the current position of the own vehicle, and the current position of the other vehicle? If it is predicted that the light of the light of the other vehicle will be irradiated, the light blocking means is controlled to block the light irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle. When the headlight will be irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle in the future, it becomes possible to reliably block the light of the light from the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle even at the irradiation start time using the prior prediction result. Therefore, comfortable driving can be performed without the lights of the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle taking away the sight of the occupant.

  Moreover, in the vehicle light-shielding device according to claim 2, the light irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle by reducing the transmittance of a predetermined region of the glass in the incident direction in which the light enters among the glass of the own vehicle. Therefore, the light can be shielded only in the direction where the light shielding is necessary, and the view of the occupant is not narrowed in the direction where the light shielding is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to balance the shielding of the irradiation light and ensuring the front view in a balanced manner. Further, it is possible to shield the light without requiring a driving part such as a motor for driving the sun visor or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the light is not properly shielded due to a malfunction of the driving portion or the like.

  Further, in the vehicle shading device according to claim 3, it is determined whether or not the field of view of the occupant of the own vehicle and the optical axis of the light of the other vehicle coincide with each other within a predetermined time. Because it is predicted that the light of the other vehicle's light will be irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle at the timing, and the light irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle is blocked by controlling the light blocking means, so the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle It is possible to predict an accurate irradiation start time by the light of the light. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably block light from the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle at the start of irradiation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle shading device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on a specific embodiment.
First, a schematic configuration of a vehicle light shielding device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle shading device 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle shading device 1 according to this embodiment includes a navigation device 3 installed on a vehicle 2, a front radar device (another vehicle position detection means) 4, and a windshield of the vehicle 2. Light control glasses 5A to 5D installed on the door glass and the back glass, the liquid crystal drive circuit 6, the inter-vehicle communication device 7, and the light shielding ECU (light shielding control means, prediction means, incident direction specifying means, field of view) Calculation means, field of view determination means, optical axis calculation means, coincidence determination means) 8 and the like. A combination of the light control glasses 5A to 5D and the liquid crystal drive circuit 6 corresponds to the light shielding means.

  Here, the navigation device 3 constituting the vehicle shading device 1 is provided on the center console or panel surface of the vehicle 2, and is a liquid crystal display (not shown) or a route for displaying a search route to a map or destination. A speaker (not shown) for outputting voice guidance related to guidance is provided. Then, the current position of the vehicle 2 is specified by GPS or the like, and when the destination is set, the route to the destination is searched and guidance according to the set route is performed using a liquid crystal display or a speaker. . Further, in the navigation device 3 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the current position information of the own vehicle and the surrounding information of the vehicle such as the road gradient and the road shape around the own vehicle are acquired and acquired by the light shielding ECU 8. Information is output.

  The front radar apparatus 4 is attached near the upper center of a license plate mounted in front of the vehicle 2 and basically includes a radio wave transmission unit and a radio wave reception unit. Then, a radio wave beam is emitted from the radio wave transmission unit to the front of the vehicle 2 and a reflected radio wave reflected by a front object (specifically, another vehicle) is received by the radio wave reception unit. As a result, it is possible to detect the distance and relative speed to the oncoming vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 2 based on the intensity and wavelength of the received reflected radio wave.

  The light control glasses 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D are glass plates that sandwich a film-like liquid crystal sheet that changes its transmittance according to the voltage applied from the liquid crystal driving circuit 6. Here, the light control glasses 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D are respectively provided on the windshield, the door glass, and the back glass of the vehicle 2. Moreover, the light control glass 5A-5D which concerns on this embodiment is divided | segmented and provided in the some light shielding area | region 10 as shown in FIG. 2, and the light transmittance can be controlled for every area | region. . Then, the light transmittance of the predetermined light-shielding region 10 is changed according to the voltage applied from the liquid crystal driving circuit 6, and the light from the headlights of the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle and the non-light-shielded state where normal light is transmitted. It is configured to be able to switch between a light shielding state where light is shielded.

  Here, FIGS. 2 and 3 particularly show a case where the transmittance of the specific light shielding region 11 is lowered from the non-light shielding state to the light shielding state among the plurality of light shielding regions 10 of the light control glass 5A arranged on the windshield 12. It is the schematic diagram which showed. As shown in FIG. 2, when the transmittance of the light shielding regions 11 in the second to third rows from the top and the third to fourth rows from the right is lowered among the plurality of light shielding regions 10, as shown in FIG. The light emitted from the light is blocked or attenuated by the light shielding region 11. As a result, it is possible to block the light applied to the passenger seated in the driver's seat. Then, in the vehicle shading device 1 according to the present embodiment, as described later, the position of the shading region 11 to be in the shading state is adjusted in consideration of the positional relationship between the oncoming vehicle and the host vehicle, and the shading of the minimum range is performed. It is possible to reliably prevent light from entering the eyes of the occupant by making only the region 10 light-shielded.

  The liquid crystal driving circuit 6 is a circuit that changes the transmittance of an arbitrary light shielding region 10 in the light control glasses 5A to 5D by applying a voltage to the light control glasses 5A to 5D, as shown in FIG. To the light shielding ECU 8. Then, a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal sheets of the light control glasses 5A to 5D in a predetermined manner based on an instruction from the light shielding ECU 8.

  The inter-vehicle communication device 7 is a communication device that communicates information in a wireless manner using, for example, millimeter wave radio waves. And between other vehicles (subsequent vehicle, forward vehicle, oncoming vehicle, etc.) located in a predetermined wireless communicable range with respect to the vehicle 2 (for example, a range up to a radius of 2 km centered on the own vehicle position) Thus, it is possible to communicate information wirelessly. Here, the information transmitted / received between the vehicles by the inter-vehicle communication device 7 includes information on absolute coordinates for specifying the current position of the vehicle, speed and acceleration of the vehicle.

  Further, the shading ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 8 is connected to the navigation device 3, the front radar device 4 and the inter-vehicle communication device 7 (see FIG. 4). Whether or not the headlight light is irradiated to the occupant of the own vehicle within a predetermined time based on the vehicle information and the information of the oncoming vehicle or the following vehicle acquired from the front radar device 4 or the inter-vehicle communication device 7 Prediction process for prediction, incident direction specifying process for specifying the incident direction of light to the own vehicle when it is determined that light is irradiated, and specification of glass in the incident direction specified by controlling the liquid crystal driving circuit 6 This is an electronic control unit that performs a transmittance control process or the like for reducing the transmittance of the region. The light shielding ECU 8 may also be used as a navigation ECU used for controlling the navigation device. The detailed configuration of the light shielding ECU 8 will be described later.

  Next, the structure which concerns on the control system of the vehicle light-shielding apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the vehicle shading device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the navigation device 3 includes a current position detection processing unit (own vehicle position detection means) 15 that detects the current position of the own vehicle, a map information DB (map information storage means) 16 in which map information is recorded, The navigation ECU 17 performs various arithmetic processes based on the input information.

  The components constituting the navigation device 3 will be described below. The current location detection processing unit 15 includes a GPS 21, a geomagnetic sensor 22, a distance sensor 23, a steering sensor 24, a gyro sensor 25 as a direction detection unit, and an altimeter (not shown). And the like, and it is possible to detect the current position, direction, distance to a target (for example, an intersection), and the like.

  The map information DB 16 stores various information necessary for route guidance and map display. For example, map data for displaying a map, intersection data for each intersection, node data for a node point, road data for a road In addition, search data for searching for a route, facility data relating to a facility, search data for searching for a point, and the like are recorded. Further, as will be described later, the road data records the road shape for calculating the sight of the occupant and the optical axis of the headlight of the other vehicle, the road gradient, the presence / absence of a median, and the like.

  In addition, a vehicle speed sensor 26 and an acceleration sensor 27 are connected to the navigation ECU 17. The vehicle speed sensor 26 is a sensor that detects a moving distance and a vehicle speed of the vehicle 2 by generating a vehicle speed pulse according to the rotation of the wheel of the vehicle 2. The acceleration sensor 27 is a sensor that detects the acceleration of the vehicle 2.

  On the other hand, the light-shielding ECU 8 is used as a working memory when the CPU 31 performs various kinds of arithmetic processing as well as a CPU 31 as an arithmetic device and a control device that perform overall control of the vehicle light-shielding device 1, and the calculated occupant view In addition to the RAM 32 for storing the optical axis direction of the headlights of other vehicles and the control program, it is predicted whether or not the headlights of the other vehicles are irradiated to the occupants of the own vehicle. The ROM 33 or the like in which a light shielding control processing program (see FIG. 5) for controlling the light control glasses 5A to 5D is recorded so as to reduce the transmittance of the glass in the incident direction where light is incident when predicted to be performed. A storage device is provided.

  Next, a light shielding control processing program executed by the light shielding ECU 8 of the vehicle light shielding device 1 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the shading control processing program according to the present embodiment. Note that the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is stored in the ROM 33 and RAM 32 provided in the light shielding ECU 8 and is executed by the CPU 31.

  In the shading control processing program, first, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, the CPU 31 acquires the vehicle position information from the navigation device 3. Here, the own vehicle position information acquired in S1 is information on absolute coordinates where the own vehicle detected by the GPS 21 is currently located.

  Subsequently, in S <b> 2, the CPU 31 acquires vehicle periphery information from the navigation device 3. Here, the vehicle periphery information acquired in S2 is the map information around the vehicle position acquired in S1, and specifically includes road shape, road gradient, presence / absence of a median, traffic jam information, and the like. is there.

  Next, in S <b> 3, the CPU 31 acquires information related to surrounding vehicles that travel around the host vehicle from the navigation device 3. Here, the information on the surrounding vehicles acquired in S3 includes vehicle position information (absolute coordinates), vehicle travel speed, and acceleration. When the surrounding vehicle is within the sensing range of the front radar device 4, the front radar device 4 detects vehicle position information, the traveling speed and acceleration of the vehicle. On the other hand, when the surrounding vehicle is outside the sensing range of the front radar device 4, vehicle position information, vehicle travel speed, and acceleration are acquired by communication between vehicles using the inter-vehicle communication device 7.

  Thereafter, in S4, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is a target vehicle around the host vehicle based on the information on the surrounding vehicles acquired in S3. Here, the target vehicles are an oncoming vehicle and a succeeding vehicle that may irradiate the light of the headlight in the direction of the own vehicle among the vehicles traveling around the own vehicle.

  If it is determined that there is a target vehicle in the vicinity of the host vehicle (S4: YES), it is subsequently determined whether the target vehicle is a subsequent vehicle that travels behind the host vehicle (S5). . On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no target vehicle around the own vehicle (S4: NO), the shading control processing program is terminated.

  As a result of the determination in S5, if it is determined that the target vehicle is an oncoming vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle (S5: NO), within a predetermined time from the current position, vehicle speed and acceleration of the own vehicle (this embodiment) Then, within 5 seconds), the vehicle's planned driving trajectory is calculated, and based on the calculated traveling trajectory, the driver's front view θ1 that is the view through the windshield of the driver within a predetermined time is further calculated (S6). On the other hand, when it is determined that the target vehicle is a succeeding vehicle that travels behind the host vehicle (S5: YES), the driver's rearview mirror and rear glass within a predetermined time based on the calculated travel schedule trajectory. The rear driver field of view θ2 that is the field of view through is calculated (S7).

Hereinafter, a method for calculating the front driver view θ1 and the rear driver view θ2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
The forward driver field of view θ1 is calculated on the assumption that the vehicle travels on the planned travel path with the field of view shown in FIG. 6 determined based on the driver's line-of-sight height h and the size of the windshield fixed. The The line-of-sight height h may be a value input in advance by the user, or may be a value calculated from an image captured by a camera installed in the vehicle.
On the other hand, the rear driver field of view θ2 is calculated on the assumption that the vehicle travels on the planned travel path with the field of view shown in FIG. 6 determined based on the position of the rearview mirror and the size of the rear glass fixed. . As the position information of the rearview mirror, information previously input as vehicle information into the RAM 32 or the like may be used, or may be detected from an image captured by a camera installed in the vehicle.

Further, regarding the calculation of the front driver view θ1 and the rear driver view θ2, the vehicle peripheral information acquired in S2 is also taken into consideration. That is, when the road on which the vehicle travels is an uphill slope, the driver's field of view may be narrowed by the ground.
For example, when the vehicle is traveling on an uphill shown in FIG. 7, a tangent line from the height h of the line of sight to the gradient road shape curve is drawn, and this is defined as the forward driver visual line 11. Of the front driver field of view θ1, the field of view located above the front driver view line l1 is the actual front driver field of view θ1 ′, which is the actual field of view.
Similarly, a tangent line from the position of the rearview mirror to the gradient road shape curve is drawn, and this is set as the rear driver visual recognition line l2. Of the rear driver field of view θ2, the field of view located above the rear driver viewing line l2 is the actual rear driver field of view θ2 ′, which is the actual field of view. In FIG. 7, the rear driver view line 12 is below the rear driver view θ2, so the rear driver view θ2 and the actual rear driver view θ2 ′ coincide. Further, S6 and S7 correspond to the processing of the visual field calculation means.

  Next, in S8, the relative position of the target vehicle with respect to the own vehicle is specified on the map based on the information acquired in S1 to S3.

  Further, in S9, it is determined whether or not the light emitting unit of the target vehicle is located in the driver view within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment). Specifically, the CPU 31 first calculates a travel locus of another vehicle within a predetermined time from the current position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the target vehicle, and further displays each driver's field of view θ1 to θ2 within the predetermined time calculated in S6 or S7. From ′, the determination is made based on whether or not the target vehicle is located in the driver's field of view. Note that S9 corresponds to the processing of the visibility determining means.

  As a result, when it is determined that the light emitting unit of the target vehicle is located in the driver field of view (S9: YES), the process proceeds to S10. On the other hand, when it is determined that the light emission part of the target vehicle is not located in the driver's field of view (S9: NO), the light shielding control processing program is executed in a state where all the regions of the light control glasses 5A to 5D are in the non-light shielding state. finish.

  In S10, the CPU 31 calculates the travel locus of the other vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in this embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the target vehicle, and further within the predetermined time based on the calculated travel locus. The optical axis L of the headlight of the target vehicle is calculated.

  Subsequently, in S11, the CPU 31 performs a prediction process as to whether or not the driver of the own vehicle will be irradiated with the light of the headlight of the target vehicle detected in S3 within a predetermined time. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the line of sight of the driver of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle match within a predetermined time. On the other hand, it is predicted that the light of other cars will be irradiated.

Here, the processes of S6 to S11 will be described in more detail by dividing the case where the host vehicle is traveling on an upward slope and the case where the vehicle is traveling on a downward slope.
First, the case where the host vehicle is traveling on an uphill will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The CPU 31 travels the host vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in this embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the host vehicle. The trajectory is calculated, and the actual front driver view θ1 ′ and the actual rear driver view θ2 ′ within a predetermined time are calculated. Further, the CPU 31 calculates the travel locus of the other vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed and acceleration of the target vehicle, and the light emission unit of the target vehicle within the driver's field of view within the predetermined time in the future. When it is determined that is located, the optical axis L of the headlight of the target vehicle within a predetermined time is calculated.
When the angle θ3 formed by the front driver visual line 11 and the optical axis L becomes 0 degrees within a predetermined time, the driver's line-of-sight direction of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle coincide with each other. It is judged and it is predicted that the light of the headlight of the target vehicle is irradiated to the driver of the own vehicle.

Next, the case where the host vehicle is traveling on a downward slope will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The CPU 31 detects the host vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the host vehicle. A travel locus is calculated, a front driver view θ1 and a rear driver view θ2 within a predetermined time are calculated, and a viewable range M that is a ground range included in each driver view is calculated. Further, the CPU 31 calculates the travel locus of the other vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed and acceleration of the target vehicle, and the light emission unit of the target vehicle within the driver's field of view within the predetermined time in the future. When it is determined that is located, the optical axis L of the headlight of the target vehicle within a predetermined time is calculated.
Then, when the target vehicle is located within the viewable range M within a predetermined time and the optical axis L coincides with the line-of-sight height h of the own vehicle, the direction of the driver's line of sight and the light of the other vehicle's light It is determined that the axial direction matches, and it is predicted that the driver of the subject vehicle is irradiated with the light of the headlight of the target vehicle.

Further, the vehicle shading device 1 according to the present embodiment detects in S3 the driver of the own vehicle when traveling on the corner terrain as shown in FIG. 10 in addition to the ascending or descending terrain. It is also possible to predict whether or not the light from the headlight of the target vehicle will be irradiated. In this case, the CPU 31 calculates the traveling locus of the own vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed and acceleration of the own vehicle 52 traveling on the road 51, and the forward driver within the predetermined time. The field of view θ1 is calculated. Further, the CPU 31 calculates the travel locus of the other vehicle within a predetermined time (within 5 seconds in the present embodiment) from the current position, vehicle speed and acceleration of the target vehicle, and the light emission unit of the target vehicle within the driver's field of view within the predetermined time in the future. When it is determined that is located, the optical axis L of the headlight of the target vehicle within a predetermined time is calculated.
When the target vehicle is located within the forward driver field of view θ1 within a predetermined time and the optical axis L overlaps with the own vehicle position, the direction of the driver's line of sight and the optical axis direction of the lights of the other vehicle Are determined to match, and the driver of the subject vehicle is predicted to be irradiated with the light of the headlight of the target vehicle.

Furthermore, in the vehicular shading device 1 according to the present embodiment, even if the driver's line-of-sight direction and the optical axis direction of the other vehicle's light coincide with each other within a predetermined time, the vehicle's shading device 1 is exceptional. The driver may not be irradiated with the light of the headlight of the target vehicle detected in S3.
For example, if the link on which the vehicle is currently traveling is congested, even if it is determined in the calculation that the driver's line of sight direction matches the optical axis direction of the other vehicle's light Actually, the other vehicle becomes a wall and the light of the headlight of the target vehicle does not reach the host vehicle.
Also, if there is a median between the lane in which the target vehicle is traveling and the lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling, the sight line direction of the driver of the subject vehicle and the optical axis direction of the lights of other vehicles are similarly calculated. Even if it is determined that they coincide with each other, the light from the headlight of the target vehicle does not reach the host vehicle because the median strip is actually a wall.
Therefore, based on the information on the presence / absence of the median strip obtained from the navigation device 3 in S2 and the traffic jam information, if the link that the vehicle currently travels is congested or the link that the vehicle currently travels is If there is, it is predicted that the light of the headlight of the target vehicle will not be irradiated to the driver of the own vehicle within a predetermined time in the future. Note that S10 corresponds to the processing of the optical axis calculation means, S11 corresponds to the processing of the coincidence determination means, and S6 to S11 correspond to the processing of the prediction means.

  In S12, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the driver of the subject vehicle is irradiated with light from the headlight of the target vehicle within a predetermined time (5 sec) based on the result of the prediction process in S11. As a result, when it is determined that light is irradiated (S12: YES), the incident direction of light from the target vehicle to the host vehicle is specified (S13). Note that S13 corresponds to the processing of the incident direction specifying means.

Subsequently, in S14, the CPU 31 shields the predetermined light shielding region 10 of the light control glasses 5A to 5D arranged on the glass in the incident direction specified in S13 (any one of the windshield, door glass, and back glass). Control to As a result, it is possible to put a necessary area into a light-shielding state in advance 5 seconds before the light from the target vehicle is irradiated, and then to the light-shielding area 10 with reduced transmittance even when light is incident. The shadow formed based on the headlight can reliably prevent the light from the headlight from entering the eyes of the driver.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the light of the headlight of the target vehicle is not irradiated to the driver of the own vehicle within a predetermined time (5 sec) (S12: NO), the entire area of the light control glasses 5A to 5D is displayed. The light shielding control processing program is terminated in the non-light shielding state.

As described above in detail, in the vehicle shading device 1 according to the present embodiment, the field of view of the occupant of the own vehicle and the target vehicle within a predetermined time from the map information acquired from the navigation device 3 and the information of the own vehicle and the target vehicle. The optical axis of the light is calculated (S6 to S10), and when it is determined that the line-of-sight direction of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the headlight of the target vehicle coincide with each other within a predetermined time, Since it is predicted that the light of the light of the other vehicle is irradiated to the occupant (S11), the corresponding area of the light control glasses 5A to 5D is controlled to be in a light-shielded state (S14). When the headlight will be irradiated to the passenger of the own vehicle in the future, it becomes possible to predict the exact irradiation start time. Then, it is possible to reliably block the light of the light from the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle even at the start of irradiation using the prior prediction result. Therefore, comfortable driving can be performed without the lights of the oncoming vehicle and the following vehicle taking away the sight of the occupant.
Moreover, in the vehicle light-shielding device 1 according to this embodiment, the occupant of the own vehicle is irradiated by reducing the transmittance of a predetermined region of the glass in the incident direction in which light enters among the glass of the own vehicle. Since the light is shielded, the light can be shielded only in the direction where the light shielding is necessary, and the occupant's field of view is not narrowed in the direction where the light shielding is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to balance the shielding of the irradiation light and ensuring the front view in a balanced manner. Further, it is possible to shield the light without requiring a driving part such as a motor for driving the sun visor or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the light is not properly shielded due to a malfunction of the driving portion or the like.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the light control glass 5A to 5D and the liquid crystal drive circuit 6 are used as a light shielding means for shielding the irradiated light, and the light is shielded by lowering the transmittance of the windshield or the like. As the light shielding means, a plate-like member having a predetermined shape such as a sun visor and a drive means for changing the position of the plate-like member may be used. In that case, it is possible to appropriately shield the light by moving the plate member so as to block the light incident direction specified in S13.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when it determines with the light of the headlight from an object vehicle being irradiated to the driver of the own vehicle within 5 second, it is supposed that the transmittance | permeability of the applicable area | region of glass will be reduced at that time. However, it may be controlled to wait for one second before the predicted irradiation start timing and then decrease the transmittance.

It is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle light-shielding device which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the light control glass which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the case where the transmittance | permeability of a specific light-shielding area | region was reduced and it changed from the non-light-shielding state to the light-shielding state among the light-shielding areas of the light control glass shown in FIG. It is a block diagram showing typically the control system of the shading device for vehicles concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the light-shielding control processing program which the light-shielding ECU which concerns on this embodiment performs. It is explanatory drawing which showed the calculation method of a driver | operator's visual field. It is explanatory drawing which showed the calculation method of a driver | operator's visual field especially when the own vehicle is drive | working the uphill. It is explanatory drawing which showed the coincidence determination method of the driver | operator's gaze direction of the own vehicle, and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle, when the own vehicle is going up the slope. It is explanatory drawing which showed the coincidence determination method of the driver | operator's gaze direction of the own vehicle, and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle, when the own vehicle is going downhill. It is explanatory drawing which showed the coincidence determination method of the gaze direction of the driver | operator of the own vehicle, and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle when the own vehicle is drive | working the curve-shaped road.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle shading apparatus 2 Vehicle 3 Navigation apparatus 4 Front radar apparatus 5A-5D Light control glass 6 Liquid crystal drive circuit 7 Inter-vehicle communication apparatus 8 Shading ECU
15 Current location detection processing unit 16 Map information DB
31 CPU
32 RAM
33 ROM
L Optical axis

Claims (3)

A light shielding means for shielding light emitted to a passenger of the own vehicle;
A light shielding device for a vehicle having a light shielding control means for controlling the light shielding means,
Map information storage means for storing map information;
Own vehicle position detecting means for detecting the current position of the own vehicle;
Other vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of other vehicles located around the own vehicle;
Predicting means for predicting whether or not the light of the light of the other vehicle is irradiated to the occupant of the own vehicle based on the map information and the detection results of the own vehicle position detecting unit and the other vehicle position detecting unit; Have
The vehicle shading device is characterized in that the shading control means controls the shading means when it is predicted by the predicting means that the light of the other vehicle is irradiated to an occupant of the own vehicle. An incident direction specifying means for specifying the incident direction of the light with respect to the own vehicle when the light of the light of the other vehicle is predicted to be irradiated by the prediction means;
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking control unit controls the transmittance of a predetermined region of the glass in the incident direction specified by the incident direction specifying unit in the glass of the own vehicle. Shading device. The prediction means includes
A field-of-view calculating means for calculating the field of view of a passenger of the vehicle within a predetermined time;
Based on the field of view of the occupant of the host vehicle calculated by the field of view calculation unit and the current position of the other vehicle detected by the position detection unit of the other vehicle, the other vehicle's field of view of the occupant of the host vehicle is within a predetermined time. Visibility determining means for determining whether or not the light source is located;
Optical axis calculation for calculating the optical axis of the other vehicle's light within the predetermined time when it is determined by the visual field determination means that the light source of the other vehicle's light is located within the visual field of the occupant of the own vehicle within the predetermined time. Means,
A coincidence determining unit that determines whether or not the sight line direction of the occupant of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle coincide within a predetermined time based on the calculation results of the visibility calculating unit and the optical axis calculating unit; With
When the coincidence determining means determines that the line-of-sight direction of the occupant of the own vehicle and the optical axis direction of the light of the other vehicle coincide, the light of the light of the other vehicle is irradiated to the occupant of the own vehicle at a timing that coincides The vehicle shading device according to claim 1, wherein the shading device for a vehicle according to claim 1 is predicted.

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