JP2010162960A - Vehicle headlight device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve driver's visibility while reducing the possibility of giving glare to a vehicle ahead. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle headlight device is provided with: a high-beam lighting fixture unit for horizontally movably forming a partial region PHR and a partial region PHL; and a headlight device control ECU for controlling the high-beam lighting fixture unit based on information obtained from a vehicle detection device. The headlight device control ECU forms a high-beam light distribution pattern PH including a light-shielding region SA by these partial regions PHR and PHL, and deforms the light-shielding region SA to the vehicle location of a moving vehicle 200 by moving the partial region PHR, and returns the partial region PHR to the initial location thereof while holding the partial region PHR formed when the partial region PHR reaches a moving range end L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device, and more particularly to a vehicle headlamp device used in an automobile or the like.

  In general, a vehicle headlamp apparatus can switch between a low beam and a high beam. The low beam illuminates the neighborhood with a predetermined illuminance so as not to give glare to the preceding vehicle including the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and is mainly used when traveling in an urban area. On the other hand, the high beam illuminates a wide area in the front and a distant area with a relatively high illuminance, and is mainly used when traveling at high speed on a road with few front vehicles.

  The high beam is more visible to the driver than the low beam, but there is a problem that glare is given to the driver of another vehicle. Therefore, a low beam is often used particularly during night driving in an urban area, and a high beam light source is not used during a low beam. On the other hand, there is always a demand for improving the visibility of the road by the driver during low beam. On the other hand, in the state of irradiating the high beam, by forming a light shielding area according to the area where the preceding vehicle is detected when detecting the preceding vehicle, etc., while preventing glare given to the preceding vehicle, A technique is known in which the visibility of the driver is improved in the other regions in a state equivalent to the high beam irradiation state (see Patent Document 1).

German Patent Application No. 102007045150

  In the above situation, the present inventor has come to recognize the following problems. That is, in the above-described prior art, since the light-shielding area is formed in accordance with the moving front vehicle, the visibility in the rear area of the front vehicle may be significantly reduced. For example, when a light shielding region is formed for an oncoming vehicle, a region with low visibility is formed behind the oncoming vehicle. In that case, there is a possibility of overlooking a pedestrian or the like trying to cross the rear of the oncoming vehicle from the oncoming lane side toward the own lane on which the host vehicle travels.

  The present invention has been made based on such recognition by the inventor, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for further improving the visibility of the driver while reducing the possibility of giving glare to the preceding vehicle. is there.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a vehicle headlamp device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first additional light distribution pattern and a second additional light distribution pattern including a region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern. A first lamp unit and a second lamp unit that are formed to be movable in the horizontal direction, respectively, and a controller that controls the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit based on information obtained from the vehicle detection device. . The control unit forms an overall additional light distribution pattern including a light-shielding region in accordance with the vehicle position detected by the vehicle detection device, based on the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern, and the first additional light distribution When at least one additional light distribution pattern of the pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern is moved to deform the light shielding region in accordance with the moving vehicle position, and when one additional light distribution pattern reaches the end of the moving range In addition, the additional light distribution pattern is returned to the initial position while one additional light distribution pattern is formed.

  According to this aspect, the visibility of the driver can be further improved while reducing the possibility of giving glare to the preceding vehicle.

  In the above aspect, when the one additional light distribution pattern reaches the end of the moving range, the control unit reduces the illuminance of the one additional light distribution pattern and returns the illuminance to the initial position at a predetermined low illuminance. May be increased. According to this, the possibility of giving glare to the preceding vehicle can be further reduced.

  Further, in the above aspect, an illuminance restriction range is defined in the movement range, and the control unit, when the vehicle is in the illuminance restriction range when the one additional light distribution pattern is returned to the initial position, The additional light distribution pattern may be maintained at a low illuminance. According to this, it can avoid that the illumination intensity of one additional light distribution pattern increases / decreases frequently.

  Further, in the above aspect, a tracking allowable range that allows movement of the other additional light distribution pattern of the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern following the one additional light distribution pattern is determined, and the control unit May move the other additional light distribution pattern following the movement of the one additional light distribution pattern within the allowable tracking range. According to this, the visibility of the driver can be further improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a driver | operator's visibility can be improved more, reducing the possibility of giving a glare to a preceding vehicle.

1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp device according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the vicinity of a high beam lamp unit. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern for low beams and high beams formed on a virtual vertical screen. It is a control block diagram of a vehicle headlamp device. FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. It is a control flowchart at the time of the automatic adjustment control of the lamp unit for high beams. FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern according to the second embodiment. FIGS. 8A to 8C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high beam light distribution pattern according to the third embodiment. FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern according to the third embodiment. It is a control flowchart at the time of the automatic adjustment control of the lamp unit for high beams.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The embodiments do not limit the invention but are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp device according to a first embodiment.
The vehicle headlamp device 1 of the present embodiment includes a right headlight unit 1R and a left headlight unit 1L (not shown), and the right headlight unit 1R is located on the right side in front of the vehicle. The lighting unit 1L has a structure arranged on the left side. However, since these headlamp units have the same configuration except for a symmetrical structure, the right headlamp unit 1R will be described below as an example, and the description of the left headlamp unit 1L will be given below. Omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle headlamp device 1 (right headlamp unit 1 </ b> R) according to Embodiment 1 includes a lamp body 12 and a translucent cover 14 attached to a front end opening of the lamp body 12. The low-beam lamp unit 20 and the high-beam lamp unit 30 are accommodated in the lamp chamber 13 formed in the above. Hereinafter, the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30 are collectively referred to as a lamp. The lamps are supported in the lamp chamber 13 by support members (not shown). In addition, an extension member 16 having an opening in an area where the lamp is present is fixed to the lamp body 12 or the translucent cover 14, whereby the area between the front opening of the lamp body 12 and the lamp is covered forward. ing.

  The low beam lamp unit 20 is a so-called parabolic lamp unit, and includes a light source bulb 21 and a reflector 23. Examples of the light source bulb 21 include a halogen lamp using halogen gas, a discharge lamp using arc discharge (so-called HID lamp: High Intensity Discharge Lamp), and the like. The low beam lamp unit 20 reflects light emitted from the light source bulb 21 to the reflector 23, cuts a part of the light traveling forward from the reflector 23 with a light shielding plate (not shown), and has a predetermined cutoff line. A light distribution pattern is formed in front of the vehicle. A shade 25 is provided at the tip of the light source bulb 21 to cut the light emitted directly from the light source bulb 21 forward. The shape of the low beam lamp unit 20 is not particularly limited to this, and may be a so-called projector type lamp unit.

  Similarly to the low beam lamp unit 20, the high beam lamp unit 30 is a so-called parabolic lamp unit, and includes a light source bulb 31 and a reflector 33. Examples of the light source bulb 31 include a halogen lamp and an HID lamp. The high beam lamp unit 30 reflects light emitted from the light source bulb 31 to the reflector 33 to form a high beam light distribution pattern in front of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the high beam lamp unit 30 provided in the right headlamp unit 1R constitutes the first lamp unit, and the high beam lamp unit 30 provided in the left headlamp unit 1L serves as the second lamp unit. It is composed. The shape of the high beam lamp unit 30 is not particularly limited to this, and may be a so-called projector-type lamp unit.

Further, the vehicle headlamp device 1 includes an optical axis adjustment unit that adjusts the angle of the optical axis Ax of the high beam lamp unit 30. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the vicinity of the high beam lamp unit.
As shown in FIG. 2, the high beam lamp unit 30 including the light source bulb 31 and the reflector 33 is supported in the lamp chamber 13 by a swivel mechanism 40 or the like. The high beam lamp unit 30 is configured such that the optical axis Ax can be swiveled in a horizontal direction by an optical axis adjustment unit 42 including a motor, a gear, and the like. Adjustment of the optical axis Ax of the high beam lamp unit 30 is controlled by a headlamp apparatus control ECU which will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern for a low beam and a high beam formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a predetermined position in front of the lamp, for example, at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp.
In the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the first embodiment, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by the irradiation light from the low beam lamp unit 20. The low beam light distribution pattern PL shown in FIG. 2 is a left light distribution pattern for low beam, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 at the upper edge.

  The cut-off line CL1 is formed on the right side of the VV line that is a vertical line passing through the vanishing point in the front direction of the vehicle headlamp device 1 so as to extend in parallel with the HH line that is a horizontal line. Yes. The cut-off line CL1 is an oncoming lane side cut-off line. The cut-off line CL2 is formed on the left side of the V-V line so as to extend in parallel with the H-H line at a position higher than the cut-off line CL1. The cut-off line CL2 is a lane-side cut-off line. The cut-off line CL3 is formed as an oblique cut-off line that connects the end of the cut-off line CL2 on the VV line side and the end of the cut-off line CL1 on the VV line side. The cut-off line CL3 extends from the intersection of the cut-off line CL1 and the VV line obliquely upward to the left with an inclination angle of 45 °.

  Further, a high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the irradiation light from the high beam lamp unit 30. The high beam light distribution pattern PH is a light distribution pattern including regions above the cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and is formed in addition to the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Light pattern. The high beam light distribution pattern PH is obtained by the partial region PHR as the first additional light distribution pattern formed by the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlight unit 1R and the high beam lamp unit 30 of the left headlight unit 1L. It is divided into a partial region PHL as a second additional light distribution pattern to be formed. The partial region PHR and the partial region PHL are both substantially rectangular and are arranged in a horizontal row. It should be noted that the partial region PHR and the partial region PHL may be partially overlapped with each other. The partial region PHR and the partial region PHL form a high beam light distribution pattern PH as an overall additional light distribution pattern.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the vehicle headlamp device according to the present embodiment.
The vehicle headlamp device 1 controls irradiation of the lamps included in the right headlight unit 1R and the left headlight unit 1L, and both headlamp units based on information from a vehicle detection device described later. The headlamp device control ECU 50 is provided as a control unit for controlling the high beam lamp unit 30. The vehicle headlamp device 1 also includes a power supply circuit 44 that supplies power for lighting the lamps to the lamps of both headlamp units based on a control signal from the headlamp device control ECU 50, and a headlamp. And an optical axis adjustment unit 42 that adjusts the optical axis of the high beam lamp unit 30 of both headlamp units based on a control signal from the lamp device control ECU 50.

  The vehicle 100 is provided with a vehicle control ECU 150 that executes various controls of the vehicle 100 and an in-vehicle camera 152 that can capture the front situation of the host vehicle. An image captured by the in-vehicle camera 152 is transmitted to the vehicle control ECU 150, and the vehicle control ECU 150 performs signal processing to perform image analysis to detect a vehicle within the imaging range. In the present embodiment, the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152 constitute a vehicle detection device. The configuration of the vehicle detection device is not particularly limited to this, and a vehicle detection unit that performs vehicle detection from the image of the in-vehicle camera 152 may be provided instead of the vehicle control ECU 150. It may be provided on the headlamp device 1 side, and the vehicle detection unit may be the headlamp device control ECU 50.

  When the driver operates a light switch (not shown) and receives a low beam or high beam instruction from the driver, the vehicle control ECU 150 outputs a control signal to the headlamp device control ECU 50. The headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the power supply circuit 44 based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 to perform lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp. For example, when the driver instructs the low beam, the low beam lamp unit 20 is turned on, and light irradiation at the time of the low beam is performed by the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Further, when the driver instructs the high beam, the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30 are turned on, and light irradiation at the time of high beam is performed by the high beam light distribution pattern PH and the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Is called.

  Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 can automatically adjust the optical axis Ax of each of the high beam lamp units 30 included in the left and right headlamp units individually, and the light quantity (luminance of each light source bulb 31). ), The illuminances of the partial areas PHR and PHL can be automatically adjusted individually. This automatic adjustment control is performed, for example, when the driver instructs a low beam and also instructs automatic adjustment control of the optical axis Ax and illuminance (hereinafter simply referred to as automatic adjustment control as appropriate). At the time of automatic adjustment control of the high beam lamp unit 30, the headlamp apparatus control ECU 50 determines the optical axis Ax of the high beam lamp unit 30 and the light source bulb 31 according to the detection results of the vehicle detection apparatus including the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152. Is adjusted to form a suitable light distribution pattern according to the presence of the preceding vehicle.

  Hereinafter, the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern when the driver instructs the automatic adjustment control will be described. FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern.

  When the driver gives an instruction to automatically adjust and control the high beam lamp unit 30, the headlamp device control ECU 50 includes a light distribution pattern for high beam that includes a light-blocking region that matches the vehicle position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle detection device. PH is formed. At this time, the same electric power as that during normal high beam is supplied to the high beam lamp unit 30, and the illuminance of the partial area PHR and the partial area PHL becomes normal illuminance, for example, maximum illuminance. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), when the vehicle 200 traveling in the oncoming lane is detected by the vehicle detection device, the headlight device control ECU 50 moves the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlight unit 1R. The high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated while being swiveled. As a result, a high beam light distribution pattern PH including a light shielding region SA that matches the vehicle position of the vehicle 200 is formed. By forming the light shielding area SA, the possibility of glare on the vehicle 200 can be reduced.

  Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves at least one of the partial area PHR and the partial area PHL, thereby deforming the light shielding area SA in accordance with the moving vehicle position. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the vehicle 200 traveling in the oncoming lane approaches the host vehicle, the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves the partial area PHR to the right side to match the vehicle position of the vehicle 200. Thus, the light shielding area SA is deformed.

  When the moved partial area reaches the end of the movement range, the headlamp device control ECU 50 returns to the initial position while forming the partial area. The movement range of the partial areas PHR and PHL is, for example, a range in which there is a high possibility that glare will be given to the preceding vehicle, and formation of the light-shielding area SA is strongly desired. . For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the left end (end on the VV line side) of the partial region PHR reaches the moving range end L (hereinafter, “the partial region PHR is moved to the moving range as appropriate”). 5), the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves the partial area PHR to the left and returns it to the initial position while forming the partial area PHR, as shown in FIG. 5C. . The headlamp device control ECU 50 has, for example, swivel angle data of the high beam lamp unit 30 as movement range information of the partial areas PHR and PHL in a memory unit (not shown), and the swivel amount of the high beam lamp unit 30 , It is possible to detect that the partial region PHR has reached the movement range end L.

  Here, when the light shielding area SA is deformed according to the position of the vehicle 200, the visibility in the rear area of the preceding vehicle may be reduced. On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is returned to the initial position while forming the moved partial region, whereby the state of low visibility in the rear region of the preceding vehicle can be made shorter. As a result, the visibility of the driver is further improved. For example, the possibility of overlooking a pedestrian or the like trying to cross the rear of the vehicle 200 traveling in the oncoming lane from the oncoming lane side toward the own lane side is reduced. Can do. If the partial region PHR is returned to the initial position while the partial region PHR is formed, the partial region PHR instantaneously irradiates the vehicle 200. However, since the partial region PHR irradiates the vehicle 200 for a very short time, there is a low possibility that glare will be given to the occupant of the vehicle 200. Therefore, the visibility of the driver can be further improved while considering the possibility of giving glare to the preceding vehicle.

  Further, when the moved partial area reaches the end of the movement range, the illuminance of the partial area may be reduced and returned to the initial position at a predetermined low illuminance, and then the illuminance may be increased. According to this, the possibility of giving glare to the preceding vehicle can be further reduced. The predetermined low illuminance is illuminance that does not give glare to the occupant of the preceding vehicle, and can be set based on an experiment or simulation by a designer.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart for automatic adjustment control of the high beam lamp unit 30.
First, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether an automatic adjustment control instruction for the high beam lamp unit 30 has been issued based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 (step 1: hereinafter abbreviated as S1). The same). When the instruction for the automatic adjustment control is not given (S1_No), this routine is terminated. When the instruction for the automatic adjustment control has been given (S1_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the vehicle detection device (S2). When there is a preceding vehicle (S2_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 forms a high-beam light distribution pattern PH including a light-blocking area SA that matches the position of the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the vehicle detection device. (S3).

  Then, the headlamp device control ECU 50 deforms the light shielding area SA in accordance with the moving front vehicle (S4). Subsequently, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not the moved partial area has reached the movement range end L (S5). When the partial area has not reached the moving range end L (S5_No), the light shielding area SA is continuously deformed (S4). When the partial area reaches the movement range end L (S5_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 reduces the illuminance of the moved partial area, returns the partial area to the initial position, and then increases the illuminance ( S6). When there is no preceding vehicle (S2_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 without swiveling to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH that does not include the light shielding area SA (see FIG. S7).

  When the operations according to the configuration described above are summarized, in the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment, the headlamp device control ECU 50 matches the vehicle position of the preceding vehicle with the partial region PHR and the partial region PHL. A high beam light distribution pattern PH including the light shielding area SA is formed. Thereby, the visibility of the driver can be ensured while preventing glare from being given to the preceding vehicle. Then, the headlamp device control ECU 50 deforms the light shielding area SA in accordance with the vehicle position of the preceding vehicle, and when the moved partial area reaches the end of the moving range, the moved partial area remains formed. The partial area is returned to the initial position. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the state of low visibility in the rear region of the preceding vehicle. As a result, the visibility of the driver can be further improved while reducing the possibility of glare on the preceding vehicle.

  Also, when returning the moved partial area to the initial position, if the illuminance of the partial area is reduced and returned to the initial position at a predetermined low illuminance, there is a risk of glare on the preceding vehicle. It can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In the vehicle headlamp device according to the second embodiment, in addition to moving one partial region as in the first embodiment, the other partial region is moved following the movement of one partial region. Different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. The main configuration of the vehicular headlamp apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The vehicle headlamp device 1 of this embodiment includes a low beam lamp unit 20 and a high beam lamp unit 30. A low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by the light emitted from the low beam lamp unit 20, and a high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the light emitted from the high beam lamp unit 30. The high beam light distribution pattern PH is divided into a partial region PHR and a partial region PHL.

  The vehicle headlamp device 1 includes a headlamp device control ECU 50, a power supply circuit 44, and an optical axis adjustment unit 42. The vehicle 100 is provided with a vehicle control ECU 150 and an in-vehicle camera 152. In the present embodiment, the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152 constitute a vehicle detection device. When receiving a low beam or high beam instruction from the driver, the headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the power supply circuit 44 to control lighting / extinguishing of the lamp. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 can automatically adjust the illuminance of the optical axis Ax and the partial areas PHR and PHL of the high beam lamp unit 30, and the automatic adjustment control is performed by, for example, the driver instructing the low beam and automatically. This is performed when adjustment control is instructed. Hereinafter, the formation control of the high beam light distribution pattern when the driver instructs the automatic adjustment control will be described. FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high beam light distribution pattern according to the second embodiment.

  When the driver gives an instruction to automatically adjust and control the high beam lamp unit 30, the headlamp device control ECU 50, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the high beam lamp unit of the right headlamp unit 1R. 30 is swiveled and the high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated. As a result, a high beam light distribution pattern PH including a light shielding region SA that matches the vehicle position of the vehicle 200 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves the partial region PHR to the right in accordance with the approach of the vehicle 200 to the host vehicle. In addition, a follow-up allowable range that allows movement of the partial region PHL following the partial region PHR is defined, and the headlamp device control ECU 50 follows the movement of the partial region PHR within the allowable follow-up range. To the right. By moving the partial area PHL to follow the partial area PHR, the size of the portion formed in the area where the vehicle 200 does not exist in the light shielding area SA can be reduced. Can be further improved.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the left end of the partial area PHR reaches the movement range end L, the headlamp device control ECU 50, as shown in FIG. 7C, the partial area PHR. The partial region PHR is moved to the left while the pattern is formed to return to the initial position. Further, the right end (end on the VV line side) of the partial region PHL reaches the allowable follow-up range end M (hereinafter, appropriately expressed as “the partial region PHL reaches the allowable follow-up range end M”). Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves the partial area PHL to the left while returning to the initial position while forming the partial area PHL. Here, the following allowable range is a range provided on the inner side of the swivelable range of the high beam lamp unit 30 of the left headlamp unit 1L, and is formed on the left side of the vehicle by moving the partial area PHL to the right. It is determined in consideration of the size of the low-visibility area that is generated. That is, the following allowable range end M is defined so that the low-visibility region formed on the left side of the vehicle does not exceed the allowable range for ensuring the safety of pedestrians and the like in the left side region of the vehicle. . The allowable tracking range can be set based on experiments and simulations by the designer. Note that after the left end of the partial region PHR reaches the movement range end L and the right end of the partial region PHL reaches the followable range end M, only the partial region PHR is returned to the initial position, The area PHL may be stopped as it is.

  Further, the followable allowable range is defined by the headlamp device control ECU 50, for example. The headlamp device control ECU 50 has swivel angle data of the high beam lamp unit 30 when the partial area PHL reaches the followable allowable range end M as followable allowable range information of the partial area PHL in a memory unit (not shown), By comparing the data and the swivel amount of the high beam lamp unit 30, it is possible to detect that the partial region PHL has reached the tracking allowable range end M. The headlamp device control ECU 50 determines, for example, whether or not the partial area PHR has reached the following allowable range end M at the same time as determining whether or not the partial area PHR has reached the movement range end L. The headlamp device control ECU 50 returns the partial area PHL to the initial position when the partial area PHL reaches the allowable follow-up range end M, and continues when the partial area PHL does not reach the allowable follow-up range end M. Control to move the partial area PHL to the right side is executed. Alternatively, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines the high beam lamp unit of the left headlamp unit 1L so that the partial region PHL reaches the followable allowable range end M almost simultaneously with the partial region PHR reaching the movement range end L. 30 and when the partial area PHR reaches the movement range end L, the partial areas PHR and PHL can be controlled to return to the initial positions. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 returns the partial area PHR to the initial position after the partial area PHR reaches the movement range end L and the partial area PHL reaches the followable allowable range end M, and the partial area PHL remains as it is. You may control to stop.

  Summarizing the operations according to the configuration described above, in the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment, the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves one partial region to block the light in accordance with the vehicle position of the preceding vehicle. The area SA is formed and the other partial area is moved following the one partial area. Therefore, in addition to the effect of Embodiment 1, the effect that a driver's visibility can be improved more is acquired.

(Embodiment 3)
When the vehicle headlamp device according to the third embodiment returns the moved partial area to the initial position, the vehicle headlamp apparatus according to the presence or absence of the front vehicle in the illuminance restriction range defined within the movement range of the partial area. The point which controls the illumination intensity of a partial area differs from Embodiment 1. FIG. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. The main configuration of the vehicular headlamp apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The vehicle headlamp device 1 of this embodiment includes a low beam lamp unit 20 and a high beam lamp unit 30. A low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by the light emitted from the low beam lamp unit 20, and a high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the light emitted from the high beam lamp unit 30. The high beam light distribution pattern PH is divided into a partial region PHR and a partial region PHL.

  The vehicle headlamp device 1 includes a headlamp device control ECU 50, a power supply circuit 44, and an optical axis adjustment unit 42. The vehicle 100 is provided with a vehicle control ECU 150 and an in-vehicle camera 152. In the present embodiment, the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152 constitute a vehicle detection device. When receiving a low beam or high beam instruction from the driver, the headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the power supply circuit 44 to control lighting / extinguishing of the lamp. The headlamp device control ECU 50 can automatically adjust the illuminance of the optical axis Ax of the high beam lamp unit 30 and the partial regions PHR and PHL. This is performed when adjustment control is instructed. Hereinafter, the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern when the driver instructs the automatic adjustment control will be described. FIGS. 8A to 8C and FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high beam light distribution pattern according to the third embodiment.

  When the driver gives an instruction to automatically adjust and control the high beam lamp unit 30, the headlamp device control ECU 50, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8 (A) and 9 (A), the right headlamp unit. The 1R high beam lamp unit 30 is swiveled and the high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated. As a result, a high beam light distribution pattern PH including a light shielding region SA that matches the vehicle position of the vehicle 200 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8B and FIG. 9B, the headlamp device control ECU 50 moves the partial area PHR to the right side in accordance with the approach of the vehicle 200 to the host vehicle. The light shielding area SA is deformed in accordance with the position 200. In FIG. 9B, the vehicle 300 following the vehicle 200 is detected by the vehicle detection device.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B, when the left end of the partial region PHR reaches the moving range end L, the headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the headlamp device control ECU 50 as shown in FIG. As shown in 9 (C), the illuminance of the partial region PHR is reduced and returned to the initial position at a predetermined low illuminance. Here, when there is a vehicle following the vehicle 200, the headlamp device control ECU 50 returns the partial region PHR to the initial position, and then forms a light shielding region SA in accordance with the position of the following vehicle, and deforms it. The control to be executed is executed. Then, when the partial area PHR reaches the movement range end L, the operation of reducing the illuminance of the partial area PHR again and returning to the initial position is repeated. At this time, when the following vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle 200, the above-described operation is repeated in a relatively short time, and the illuminance of the partial region PHR may be frequently increased or decreased. If the illuminance of the partial area PHR is frequently increased or decreased, the driver may feel uncomfortable or may be erroneously recognized as passing by the preceding vehicle.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the illuminance restriction range LR is set within the movement range of the partial area PHR, and the headlamp device control ECU 50 follows the illuminance restriction range LR when the partial area PHR is returned to the initial position. The illuminance of the partial area PHR returned to the initial position is controlled according to whether or not a vehicle exists. That is, as shown in FIG. 8C, when there is a vehicle 300 that follows the illumination limit range LR, the headlamp device control ECU 50 swivels the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlamp unit 1R. At the same time, the high-beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated to form a high-beam light distribution pattern PH including a light-shielding area SA that matches the vehicle position of the vehicle 300. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the following vehicle 300 exists within the illuminance restriction range LR, the headlamp device control ECU 50 maintains the partial area PHR at low illuminance at the initial position. In this case, the headlight device control ECU 50 may maintain the low illuminance state when returning the partial region PHR to the initial position, or may change the illuminance within an illuminance range that does not give glare to the vehicle occupant. Good.

  Thus, by maintaining the illuminance of the partial area PHR at a low illuminance when the following vehicle 300 exists within the illuminance restriction range LR, it is possible to avoid a situation where the illuminance of the partial area PHR is frequently increased or decreased. it can. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or erroneously recognizing passing from the preceding vehicle. Note that the illuminance restriction range LR is a range in which the illuminance of the partial region PHR can be avoided from being frequently increased or decreased when there is a following vehicle in the vehicle 200, and can be set based on experiments or simulations performed by the designer. is there. The illuminance restriction range LR is defined by, for example, the headlamp device control ECU 50.

FIG. 10 is a control flowchart for automatic adjustment control of the high beam lamp unit 30.
First, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether an automatic adjustment control instruction for the high beam lamp unit 30 has been issued based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 (S31). When the instruction for the automatic adjustment control is not given (S31_No), this routine is finished. When the instruction for the automatic adjustment control has been given (S31_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not there is a preceding vehicle (S32). When there is a preceding vehicle (S32_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 forms a high-beam light distribution pattern PH including the light shielding area SA (S33). Then, the headlight device control ECU 50 deforms the light shielding area SA in accordance with the moving front vehicle (S34). Thereafter, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not the moved partial area has reached the movement range end L (S35). When the partial area has not reached the moving range end L (S35_No), the light shielding area SA is continuously deformed (S34). When the partial area reaches the movement range end L (S35_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 reduces the illuminance of the moved partial area and returns it to the initial position (S36).

  Subsequently, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not there is a preceding vehicle in the illuminance restriction range LR (S37). When there is a preceding vehicle in the illuminance restriction range LR (S37_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 maintains the moved partial area at low illuminance (S38). When there is no preceding vehicle in the illuminance restriction range LR (S37_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether there is a preceding vehicle (S39). Thereby, the presence / absence of a preceding vehicle in the area outside the illumination limit range LR is determined. When there is a preceding vehicle (S39_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 forms a high-beam light distribution pattern PH including the light shielding area SA (S40). When there is no preceding vehicle (S32_No or S39_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 to form a normal high beam light distribution pattern PH that does not include the light shielding area SA. (S41).

  When the operations according to the configuration described above are summarized, in the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment, the movement of the partial region is performed when the headlamp device control ECU 50 returns the moved partial region to the initial position. The illuminance of the partial area is controlled in accordance with the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle within the illuminance limit range defined within the range. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect that the driver can feel uncomfortable, or the possibility of being mistaken for passing from the preceding vehicle can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is possible to combine the embodiments or to add various modifications such as design changes based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Embodiments to which modifications are made are also included in the scope of the present invention. Each of the above-described embodiments and a new embodiment resulting from the combination of each of the above-described embodiments and the following modified examples have the effects of the combined embodiments and modified examples.

  For example, in the first embodiment and the modification, the high beam lamp unit 30 is a lamp unit that forms an additional light distribution pattern. However, the high beam lamp unit 30 includes a region above the cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Other light sources may be used as long as they can form a light pattern. For example, in addition to the low beam lamp unit and the high beam lamp unit, an intermediate beam lamp that forms an additional light distribution pattern may be provided, and the additional light distribution pattern may be formed using the intermediate beam lamp. The light source may be a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED).

  Further, the vehicle headlamp device may be a so-called two-lamp vehicle headlamp device in which a low beam lamp unit and a high beam lamp unit are integrated. In this case, it is possible to reduce the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern by providing a shade of a predetermined pattern in front of the light source bulb. Further, this shade may be constituted by a light transmission type LCD (liquid crystal) device in which a large number of fine pixels are arranged in a matrix, for example. In this case, for example, the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern can be reduced stepwise or continuously by controlling the shape of the light blocking portion formed on the shade by the headlamp device control ECU 50.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlamp unit 1R is swiveled and the partial area PHR is moved to form the light shielding area SA. The same control is also performed when moving. In addition, the position of the movement range end L and the follow-up allowable range end M and the range of the illuminance restriction range LR described above are changed according to the shape of the road on which the host vehicle travels and the relative speed between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Is possible. Further, the movement range end L, the allowable follow-up range end M, and the illuminance restriction range LR may be equal to or not equal to the VV line in the partial region PHR and the partial region PHL. Also good.

  CL1, CL2, CL3 Cut-off line, L Moving range end, LR Illumination limit range, M Tracking allowable range end, PH High beam light distribution pattern, PHL, PHR partial area, PL Low beam light distribution pattern, SA Light blocking area, 1 Vehicle Headlamp device, 20 low beam lamp unit, 30 high beam lamp unit, 42 optical axis adjusting unit, 44 power supply circuit, 50 headlamp device control ECU, 100 vehicle, 150 vehicle control ECU, 152 vehicle-mounted camera, 200, 300 vehicles.

Claims (4)

A first lamp unit and a second lamp unit that form the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern including the region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, respectively;
A controller that controls the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit based on information obtained from the vehicle detection device;
The control unit forms an overall additional light distribution pattern including a light shielding region matched with a vehicle position detected by the vehicle detection device, based on the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern, By moving at least one additional light distribution pattern of the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern, the light shielding region is deformed according to the moving vehicle position, and the one additional light distribution pattern is obtained. When the pattern reaches the end of the movement range, the additional light distribution pattern is returned to the initial position while the one additional light distribution pattern is formed.   When the one additional light distribution pattern reaches the end of the moving range, the control unit reduces the illuminance of the one additional light distribution pattern to return to the initial position at a predetermined low illuminance. The vehicular headlamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular headlamp apparatus is increased. An illumination limit range is defined within the movement range,
The control unit maintains the one additional light distribution pattern at a low illuminance when a vehicle exists within the illuminance restriction range when the one additional light distribution pattern is returned to the initial position. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 2. A followable allowable range that allows movement of the other additional light distribution pattern of the first additional light distribution pattern and the second additional light distribution pattern following the one additional light distribution pattern is determined,
4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the other additional light distribution pattern following the movement of the one additional light distribution pattern within the allowable tracking range. 5. The vehicle headlamp device described in 1.

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