JP2009012553A - Lighting unit for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting unit for a vehicle enabling the easy confirmation of lighting of a marker lamp while a head lamp is turned on. <P>SOLUTION: This lighting unit for a vehicle comprises a low-beam lamp (head lamp) LBL, and a turn signal lamp (marker lamp) TSL disposed in proximity to the low-beam lamp. The lighting unit comprises a light quantity control means 2 for controlling the quantity of light of one of LBL and TSL, and so controls that the ratio of the quantity of light of TSL to the quantity of light of LBL is higher when both LBL and TSL are turned on simultaneously. The blink of TSL is easily confirmed by suppressing the canceling of the light from TSL by a mechanism from LBL. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp provided with a headlamp of a vehicle such as an automobile and a marker lamp such as a turn signal lamp, and particularly when the marker lamp is disposed close to the headlamp, the indicator lamp is lit. The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that is prevented from being easily recognized by illumination light of a headlamp.

In recent automobiles, a composite headlamp (combination headlamp) in which a headlamp is integrated with a marker lamp such as a turn signal lamp is provided. For example, the headlamp of Patent Document 1 has a vehicle width lamp (clearance lamp) and a turn signal lamp integrated with the headlamp. The headlamp of Patent Document 2 is composed of a plurality of light source units, and by controlling the light quantity of each light source unit, it functions as a headlamp when the light quantity is large, and as a clearance lamp when the light quantity is small. As described above, since the composite type headlamp can be configured with a plurality of lamps as one lamp, it is advantageous in simplifying the assembly work of the automobile and reducing the cost.
JP 2006-236588 A JP 2004-276737 A

  In such a composite type headlamp, even if the indicator lamp is turned on at the same time as the headlamp is turned on, the light of the indicator lamp is canceled out by the light of the headlamp, and the other lamp or pedestrian is It may be difficult to check the lighting. For example, in the composite type headlamp of Patent Document 1, even if the turn signal lamp is turned on (flashing) while the low beam lamp of the headlamp is turned on, the amount of light emitted from the low beam lamp is from the turn signal lamp. Because it is larger than the amount of light emitted, other vehicles and pedestrians present in the area illuminated by the light emitted from the headlamp have difficulty in confirming that the turn signal lamp is lit and it is difficult to predict the traveling direction of the vehicle. There is a fear. In addition, when the preceding vehicle checks the succeeding vehicle with the rearview mirror while driving at high speed on an expressway, etc., confirm that the turn signal lamp of the following vehicle that changes the course with the headlamp light of the following vehicle is lit. May be difficult. Such a problem is not limited to the composite type headlamp, and similarly occurs when a headlamp and a marker lamp such as a turn signal lamp are provided close to each other in a vehicle body. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp that makes it easy to confirm the lighting of a marker lamp when a headlamp is lit, and that can ensure safe driving of the vehicle.

  The present invention controls a light quantity of at least one of a headlamp and a marker lamp in a vehicular lamp including a headlamp (headlamp) provided in a vehicle and a marker lamp disposed in proximity to the headlamp. A light quantity control means for controlling the light quantity ratio of the light quantity of the marker lamp to the quantity of headlamp light when the headlamp and the marker lamp are turned on simultaneously. For example, the light amount control means reduces the light amount of the headlamp or increases the light amount of the marker lamp. Here, the headlamp is not limited to the headlamp, and includes a clearance lamp and a fog lamp. The marker lamp is preferably applied to a turn signal lamp.

  According to the present invention, when the light from the marker lamp is canceled by the headlamp and it is difficult to confirm the marker, the amount of light from the marker lamp is relatively increased with respect to the light from the headlamp. This makes it easier to check and enables safe driving. In particular, the brightness of the illumination by the headlamp is ensured by increasing the light quantity of the marker lamp. Further, when the necessity of ensuring the brightness of the illumination by the headlamp is low, it is easy to check the marker lamp only by reducing the light quantity of the headlamp.

  In the present invention, the headlamp is preferably composed of a plurality of light source units, and is configured to synthesize the illumination light emitted from each light source unit to obtain a required light distribution pattern. The light quantity of some light source units arranged close to the marker lamp among the light source units is reduced. By reducing the light amount of only the light source unit that is close to the marker lamp among the plurality of light source units, the marker lamp can be easily confirmed without greatly changing the overall light distribution characteristics and brightness of the headlamp.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a means for detecting the vehicle speed of the vehicle is provided, and the light quantity control means changes the light quantity ratio following the change in the vehicle speed. By avoiding a significant reduction in the amount of headlamp light during high-speed driving, there is less need to check for sign lights, while at the same time ensuring safety in high-speed driving where you want to ensure front lighting of your vehicle. Secure.

  Next, a description will be given of a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a composite headlamp of an automobile. FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a right composite headlamp RHL among left and right composite headlamps arranged on the left and right of the front part of the automobile. The right composite type headlamp RHL is a lamp housing 1 in which a high beam lamp HBL, a low beam lamp LBL, and a turn signal lamp TSL are integrally incorporated. Here, there are six lamp units LU for constituting these lamps. The interior is in the required arrangement. These six lamp units LU are composed of a diffusion lamp unit or a condensing lamp unit using an LED (light emitting diode) as a light source, and the diffusion lamp unit has a square front view and light emitted from the LED. The condensing lamp unit has a circular shape when viewed from the front and reflects the light emitted from the LED after being reflected by the reflector and then condensed by the lens and emitted as a condensed light. Is configured to do.

  Of the six lamp units LU, the upper three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 form a low beam lamp LBL, and the two lower lamp units LUH1 and LUH2 on the vehicle center side constitute a high beam lamp HBL. One lamp unit LUT outside the lower vehicle constitutes a turn signal lamp TSL. The high beam lamp HBL includes one diffusing lamp unit LUH1 and one condensing lamp unit LUH2. As shown in FIG. 2A, the light distribution pattern PH1 of the diffusing lamp unit LUH1 and the condensing lamp. A required high beam light distribution pattern is obtained by combining the light distribution pattern PH2 of the unit LUH2. The low beam lamp LBL is composed of two diffusion lamp units LUL1, LUL2 and one condensing lamp unit LUL3. As shown in FIG. 2B, each of the three light distribution patterns PL1, PL2, A low beam light distribution pattern having a required cut-off line is formed by synthesizing PL3. The lamp unit LUT constituting the turn signal lamp TSL is configured as a diffusion lamp unit, and emits light emitted from the LED as amber color light. Although not shown, the left composite headlamp has the same configuration except that the lamp units are arranged symmetrically.

  In the right composite headlamp RHL, lighting of each lamp is controlled by a lighting circuit 2. As shown together with the lighting circuit 2 in FIG. 1, the lighting circuit 2 includes a lamp switch 31 operated by the driver of the own vehicle, and a turn operated by the driver when changing the course of the own vehicle. A switch 32 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 33 that detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle and outputs a vehicle speed signal, and controls lighting of the six lamp units LU based on a switching signal from the switch or a signal from the sensor. To do. The lighting circuit 2 includes a lighting control unit 21 and a light amount control unit 22, and the lighting control unit 21 selects a lamp unit LU that lights or blinks based on the switching signals of the lamp switch 31 and the turn switch 32. Select and supply power from the in-vehicle power supply to the selected lamp unit LU. The light amount ratio control unit 22 controls the amount of light by controlling the power supplied to the lamp unit LU selected by the lighting control unit 21 to be lit or blinked. At this time, it is possible to perform light amount control for referring to the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor 33 to increase or decrease the light amount with respect to the predetermined light amount. The lighting circuit 2 is similarly connected to the left composite type headlamp.

The lighting control of the composite headlamp including the lighting circuit 2 having the above configuration will be described.
(High beam lamp lighting)
When the driver sets the lamp switch 31 to the high beam, the lighting circuit 2 selects the high beam lamp HBL, that is, the two lamp units LUH1, LUH2 in the lighting control unit 21, and supplies predetermined power to the two lamp units LUH1, LUH2. Supply. As a result, each of the lamp units LUH1, LUH2 is turned on with a predetermined light amount, and the high beam lamp HBL illuminates with the high beam light distribution pattern shown in FIG.

(Low beam lamp lighting)
When the driver sets the lamp switch 31 to the low beam, the lighting circuit 2 selects the low beam lamp LBL, that is, the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 in the lighting control unit 21, and supplies predetermined power to the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3. Supply. As a result, the lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 are turned on at a predetermined luminous intensity, and the low beam lamp LBL performs illumination with the low beam distribution pattern shown in FIG. 2B.

(Turn signal lamp on)
Regardless of whether the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL is lit, when the driver operates the turn switch 32, the lighting control unit 21 selects the turn signal lamp TSL, that is, the lamp unit LUT, A predetermined power is supplied to the lamp unit LUT. As a result, the lamp unit LUT blinks and the turn signal lamp TSL blinks. The turn switch 32 can be switched between right, left, and hazard. When the switch is switched to right or left, the turn signal lamp of the corresponding headlamp on the right and left flashes and switched to the hazard. Sometimes the turn signal lamps of the left and right headlamps flash simultaneously.

  When each of these lights is turned on, if either the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL is turned on and the turn signal lamp TSL is blinked, the light quantity of the turn signal lamp TSL is larger than the light quantity of the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL. Since it is small, the light of the turn signal lamp TSL is canceled out by the light of the high beam lamp HBL and the low beam lamp LBL, and it becomes difficult to confirm from other vehicles and pedestrians. In FIG. 2A, PT is a light distribution pattern of the turn signal lamp TSL. In a region where the light distribution pattern PT and the light distribution patterns PH1 and PH2 of the high beam lamp HBL overlap, the light distribution pattern PT of the turn signal lamp TSL. Becomes difficult to confirm. In FIG. 2B, it is difficult to confirm the light distribution pattern PT in a region where the light distribution pattern PT of the turn signal lamp TSL and the light distribution patterns PL1, PL2, PL3 of the low beam lamp LBL overlap. In particular, the lamp unit LUT constituting the turn signal lamp TSL is directly below the condensing lamp unit LUL3 arranged on the outside of the vehicle among the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 constituting the low beam lamp LBL. Since they are arranged close to each other, the light emitted from the lamp unit LUT, that is, the amber color light as the turn signal lamp TSL, is canceled out by the white light having a high luminous intensity emitted from the lamp unit LUL3, and the light from the front of the host vehicle is lost. It becomes difficult to confirm blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL. In particular, the turn signal lamp TSL blinks in these driving states because there are oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles when changing courses at high speeds and medium speeds and when changing lanes at high speeds. Sometimes it is necessary to ensure that other vehicles confirm. Therefore, the light quantity control unit 22 controls each light quantity of the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL and the turn signal lamp TSL as follows to make it easy to confirm blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL from other vehicles or pedestrians.

(Light control 1)
Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL is lit, the light amount control unit 22 assumes that the low beam lamp LBL is lit (S11), and the turn signal lamp TSL blinks. Is started (S12), one of the preset light quantity controls 1 to 3 is performed (S13). Here, assuming that the light quantity control 1 is set, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4A, as soon as the turn signal lamp TSL starts blinking, the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL is reduced (S131). That is, the light quantity of the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 constituting the low beam lamp LBL is reduced. By reducing the light amount of the low beam lamp LBL, the relative light amount ratio R (R = LVT / LV) of the light amount LVT of the turn signal lamp TSL to the light amount LV of the low beam lamp LBL is increased. For example, when the conventional general light quantity ratio R is 0.5, R = about 0.7. This makes it difficult for the amber color light from the turn signal lamp TSL to be canceled out by the white light from the low beam lamp LBL, so that the blinking of the amber color light of the turn signal lamp TSL can be reliably confirmed. The same applies to the case where the high beam lamp HBL is turned on.

(Light control 2)
In the light amount control of step S13 in FIG. 3, when the light amount control 2 is set, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4B, the turn signal lamp TSL starts blinking and the light amount is increased. (S132). That is, the light quantity of the lamp units LUT1 to LUL3 constituting the low beam lamp LBL is kept as it is, and the light quantity of the lamp unit LUT constituting the turn signal lamp TSL is increased, so that the turn signal lamp TSL has a light quantity LV with respect to the light quantity LV of the low beam lamp LBL. The relative light amount ratio R of the light amount LVT is increased. For the light amount ratio R, the same value as in the case of the light amount control 1 is set to R = 0.7. As a result, the light quantity ratio of the turn signal lamp TSL to the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL is increased, and the amber color light from the turn signal lamp TSL is not easily canceled by the white light from the low beam lamp LBL. The flashing of colored light can be confirmed reliably. In this light quantity control 2, since the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL is kept constant, the illumination in front of the host vehicle does not become dark and is effective for safe driving. The light quantity control 2 immediately increases the light quantity of the turn signal lamp TSL when the low beam lamp LBL is turned on while the turn signal lamp TSL is blinking. The same applies to the case where the high beam lamp HBL is turned on.

(Light control 3)
In the light amount control of step S13 in FIG. 3, when the light amount control 3 is set, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4C, the light amount of the low beam lamp LBL is reduced and at the same time the turn signal lamp TSL The amount of light is increased (S133). In other words, the above-described light amount control 1 and light amount control 2 are performed simultaneously. The light quantity of the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 constituting the low beam lamp LBL is reduced, and at the same time, the light quantity of the lamp unit LUT constituting the turn signal lamp TSL is increased, and the turn signal lamp with respect to the light quantity LV of the low beam lamp LBL. The relative light amount ratio R of the light amount LVT of the TSL is increased. For the light amount ratio R, the same value as in the case of the light amount control 1 is set to R = 0.7. As a result, the light amount ratio R of the light amount of the turn signal lamp TSL to the light amount of the low beam lamp LBL is increased, and the amber color light from the turn signal lamp TSL is not easily canceled by the white light from the low beam lamp LBL. The flashing of can be confirmed reliably. In this case, the amount of light reduction of the low beam lamp LBL may be smaller than that in the case of the light quantity control 1, and it is possible to suppress the illumination in front of the own vehicle from becoming dark. On the other hand, the increase in the light amount of the turn signal lamp TSL is smaller than that in the light amount control 2, but the blinking can be made more conspicuous. The same applies to the case where the high beam lamp HBL is turned on.

(Light control 4)
When the light amount control 1 or 3 is performed in the light amount control of step S13 in FIG. 3 (S14), the light amount control unit 22 recognizes the vehicle speed of the own vehicle based on the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor 33 (S15). Then, the value of the light amount ratio R in the light amount control 1, 3 is controlled according to the vehicle speed (S16). Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle speed-light quantity ratio is correlated, and the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is set to a predetermined speed, for example, 40 km / h, and the threshold speed is lower and lower than that. These are classified into the above high-speed driving. Then, the light amount reduction amount of the low beam lamp LBL is increased during low / medium speed running so that the light amount ratio R is about R = 0.7, but the light amount reduction amount of the low beam lamp LBL during high speed running. And the light amount ratio R is set to a small value, for example, R = 0.6. As a result, the amount of light emitted from the low beam lamp LBL is increased by reducing the amount of light in the distance, which does not affect the running during low / medium speed driving, which is mostly driven by turning left and right in urban areas. Although the distant lighting of the vehicle becomes somewhat dark, it is easy to confirm blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL from other vehicles and pedestrians. Also, when driving at high speeds, mainly when changing lanes in the suburbs, the amount of light reduction of the low beam lamp LBL is reduced, and the lighting of the turn signal lamp TSL flashes on the oncoming vehicle while keeping the distant illumination of the vehicle at a necessary minimum level. It is possible to make it easier to check from the preceding vehicle. When the light amount control 4 is performed for the light amount control 3, the blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL can be more easily confirmed as the light amount of the turn signal lamp TSL is increased. The same applies to the case where the high beam lamp HBL is turned on.

(Light control 5)
Regardless of whether or not the light quantity ratio is controlled based on the vehicle speed in step S16 of FIG. 3, when reducing the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL (S17), among the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 constituting the low beam lamp LBL, Control may be performed so that a predetermined light amount ratio R is obtained by reducing only the light amount of one lamp unit LUL3 disposed in the immediate vicinity of the lamp unit LUT as the turn signal lamp TSL, here in the immediate vicinity (S18). . The light of the low beam lamp LBL that cancels the light of the turn signal lamp TSL is mostly due to the light from the lamp unit LUL3 that is closest to the turn signal lamp TSL, and thus only reduces the light amount of the lamp unit LUL3. But there is enough effect. Further, when the low-beam light distribution pattern is formed by the three lamp units LUL1 to LUL3 in this way, the distant portion of the low-beam light distribution pattern is illuminated by the condensing lamp unit LUL3 as shown in FIG. In many cases, the diffused lamp units LUL1 and LUL2 are set to have a light distribution characteristic for illuminating a region near the low beam light distribution pattern. Therefore, the condensing lamp unit LUL3 is positioned closest to the turn signal lamp TSL. By reducing only the light quantity of the lamp unit LUL3, it is possible to easily confirm blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL from other vehicles and pedestrians while keeping the illumination in the vicinity of the own vehicle bright. It becomes possible. In some cases, the light amounts of the two lamp units LUL2 and LUL3 adjacent to the turn signal lamp TSL may be simultaneously reduced.

  Here, in the light quantity control 1, 3, 4, 5, when the blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL is stopped, the light quantity control unit 22 returns the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL to the initial light quantity. Further, in the light quantity control 1, 3, it is possible to control the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL to the minimum light quantity, that is, turn off the light depending on the traveling state such as slow driving or stopping of the vehicle. In this way, when the light amount of the low beam lamp LBL is set to the minimum light amount or when the turn signal lamp TSL stops blinking when it is turned off, the low beam lamp LBL is turned on again. Note that the increase in the light amount of the turn signal lamp TSL in the light amount control 3 when the low beam lamp LBL is turned off may be very small. The same applies to the high beam lamp HBL.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of lighting control according to the second embodiment. Steps equivalent to the steps according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Here, the lighting of the high beam lamp HBL or the low beam lamp LBL is confirmed (S11), and then the lighting of the turn signal lamp TSL is confirmed (S12). It is determined whether the vehicle is traveling (S15). The light quantity control ratio R is set to R = 0.6 for high speed running (S161), and the light quantity control ratio R is set to R = 0.7 for low / medium speed running (S162). The setting of the light amount control ratio R corresponds to the light amount control 4 in the first embodiment.

  Next, in step S13, it is determined whether the light amount control is set to 1, 2, or 3. The determination in step S13 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the light amount control 1, 2, 3 is executed based on the determination result (S131, S131, S133). The control of these light quantity controls 1, 2, and 3 is the same as that in the first embodiment, but based on the light quantity control ratio R set in the preceding steps S161 and S162, the light quantity control ratio R is R for high speed running. The light quantity control of each of the high beam hump HBL, the low beam lamp LBL, and the turn signal lamp TSL is executed so that = 0.6. Further, in the case of low / medium speed traveling, the light amount control of each lamp is executed so that the light amount control ratio R becomes R = 0.7.

  After performing any one of the light quantity control 1, 2, 3, when reducing the light quantity of the low beam lamp LBL as in the first embodiment (S17), only the lamp unit LUL3 reduces the light quantity, and the light quantity control 5 is performed. It will be executed (S18). When the blinking of the turn signal lamp TSL is stopped, the light amount of each lamp is returned to the initial light amount, and the light amount of the low beam lamp LBL is controlled to the minimum light amount when the vehicle is slowing down or stopped. Same as 1.

  It goes without saying that the turn signal lamp TSL in the embodiment is similarly applied to the case where the turn signal lamps incorporated in the left and right composite type head lamps as so-called hazard lamps flash simultaneously.

  In the embodiment, a high beam lamp and a low beam lamp are applied as the headlamp in the present invention, and a turn signal lamp is applied as the marker lamp. However, other lamps can be applied as the headlamp and the marker lamp. That is, the headlamp in the present invention includes a clearance lamp and a fog lamp that can illuminate the front of the vehicle. For example, when the clearance lamp is lit when only one lamp unit on the outside of the vehicle is lit as a clearance lamp among the three lamp units constituting the low beam lamp in the first embodiment, What is necessary is just to comprise so that change control of the light quantity ratio of a clearance lamp and a turn signal lamp may be carried out when blinking a turn signal lamp.

  In the embodiment, a high beam lamp, a low beam lamp, and a turn signal lamp are constituted by a plurality of lamp units each having an LED whose light quantity is easy to control as a light source, and these constitute a composite headlamp. You may comprise with the lamp | ramp which used the discharge lamp and white light bulb which are obtained. In this case, since the driving state where the illumination with the high beam light distribution pattern is performed is almost the case where there is no oncoming vehicle and no preceding vehicle, the turn signal is paralleled by blinking of the turn signal lamps on the rear and side portions of the own vehicle. It is only necessary to be able to notify the traveling vehicle and the following vehicle, and even if the blinking of the turn signal lamp provided in the composite headlamp is canceled by the light of the high beam lamp, there is no particular problem. It is not necessary to execute light amount change control. Also in this case, when the light amount of the high beam lamp is reduced, it is difficult to reduce the light amount of the high beam lamp continuously or stepwise. Good.

It is the typical front view of the headlamp of Example 1 of this invention, and the block diagram of the lighting circuit for lighting a headlamp. It is a light distribution pattern figure of a high beam lamp and a low beam lamp. It is a flowchart for demonstrating light quantity ratio control. It is a timing diagram for demonstrating light quantity ratio control. It is a timing diagram for demonstrating light quantity ratio control based on a vehicle speed. 6 is a flowchart for explaining light amount control according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lamp housing 2 Lighting circuit 21 Lighting control part 22 Light quantity control part 31 Lamp switch 32 Turn switch 33 Vehicle speed sensor RHL Right composite headlamp HBL High beam lamp LBL Low beam lamp TSL Turn signal lamp LUH1, LUH2, LUL1-LUL3, LUT Lamp unit

Claims (5)

  In a vehicular lamp provided with a headlamp provided in a vehicle and a marker lamp disposed in proximity to the headlamp, a light quantity control means for controlling the light quantity of at least one of the headlamp and the marker lamp And the light amount control means controls the light amount ratio of the light amount of the marker lamp to the light amount of the headlamp when the headlamp and the marker light are turned on simultaneously.   2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light amount control unit reduces a light amount of a headlamp or increases a light amount of a marker lamp. 3.   The headlamp is composed of a plurality of light source units, and is configured to synthesize illumination light emitted from each light source unit to obtain a required light distribution pattern. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the amount of light of a part of the light source units arranged in proximity to the marker lamp is reduced.   4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle, wherein the light quantity control means changes the light quantity ratio following a change in the vehicle speed. 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the marker lamp is a turn signal lamp indicating a traveling direction of the vehicle.

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