JP2013147138A - Light distribution controller of vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost light distribution controller for appropriately controlling light distribution of lamps disposed in pair on the right and left of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The light distribution controller includes: imaging means CAM for imaging a region forward of the vehicle CAR; and light distribution control means for detecting a preceding vehicle in the region forward of the vehicle, on the basis of the image captured by the imaging means CAM and for changing light distribution of one lamp RHL (V-LoL) of the lamps LHL, RHL making a pair according to the position of the detected front vehicle. The imaging means CAM is arranged at a position nearer to one lamp V-LoL on both sides of the vehicle CAR.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light distribution control device for a lamp that illuminates a front area of a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a light distribution control device that detects a vehicle in front of the host vehicle and appropriately controls the light distribution.

  A technique for controlling the light distribution of the headlamp of the host vehicle has been proposed in order to illuminate the front area of the host vehicle more brightly while preventing dazzling of the preceding vehicle such as the preceding vehicle and the oncoming vehicle existing in front of the host vehicle. ing. In Patent Document 1, a vehicle position in front of the host vehicle is detected, and light distribution control is performed by adding an additional light distribution pattern to a part of the low beam light distribution of the headlamp according to the detected vehicle position. There has been proposed a technique for illuminating a wide area in the front area of the host vehicle by performing light distribution control in which an additional light distribution pattern is added to a non-existing area without dazzling the preceding vehicle. Further, in Patent Document 2, an image pickup device is incorporated together with a light emitting element in a high beam lamp of a headlamp, a front vehicle existing in a front area of the host vehicle is detected by the image pickup element, and an area excluding the detected front vehicle is determined. There has been proposed a technique for preventing the dazzling of the vehicle ahead by controlling the light distribution so as to illuminate and illuminating a wide area in the front area of the host vehicle.

JP 2010-957 A JP 2010-260379 A

In Patent Document 1, headlamps capable of adding an additional light distribution pattern to the low beam light distribution are arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle. A head having a structure for adding such an additional light distribution pattern is provided. The lamp has a complicated structure and is expensive. In addition, as in Patent Document 2, a lamp in which an image pickup element is housed in a lamp body becomes expensive as the lamp becomes larger in order to secure a space for arranging the image pickup element. Therefore, when the lamp described in Patent Document 1 or 2 is applied to a headlamp of an automobile and arranged on the left and right of the automobile, the entire headlamp becomes large and the cost of the entire headlamp becomes extremely expensive. There is a problem. Further, the light distribution control means for controlling the light distribution of such headlamps also needs to be configured to control the light distribution of the two left and right headlamps respectively. The light distribution control device is expensive.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp light distribution control device capable of illuminating a wide area of the host vehicle while preventing dazzling with respect to the preceding vehicle in a vehicle including lamps arranged in pairs on the left and right. Can be realized at low cost.

The present invention is a light distribution control device that includes lamps arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of a vehicle, and obtains a required light distribution by superimposing illumination light of the lamps forming the pair. An image pickup means for picking up the front area of the vehicle, and a front vehicle existing in the front area based on the image picked up by the image pickup means is detected, and one of the lamps paired according to the detected position of the front vehicle is arranged. Light distribution control means for changing light is provided, and the imaging means is arranged at a position on one lamp side in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the image pickup optical axis of the image pickup means is disposed at the same position or in the vicinity of the optical axis of one lamp in the left-right direction of the vehicle. For example, the image pickup means is disposed at a position close to one lamp or a position on one lamp side of the upper part of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, one of the lamps is configured as a variable light distribution type lamp whose light distribution pattern is changed by the light distribution control means. For example, it is configured as a variable light distribution type lamp capable of performing light distribution control in which an additional light distribution pattern corresponding to high beam light distribution is superimposed on low beam light distribution.

  According to the present invention, among the pair of left and right lamps configured to obtain the required light distribution by superimposing the illumination light of each lamp, only one lamp is configured by the variable light distribution type lamp, It is possible to control the light distribution of the vehicle by controlling the light distribution of the lamps, particularly the light distribution in the area where the light distributions of both lamps are not superimposed. Therefore, the configuration of the entire lamp can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with a configuration in which variable light distribution type lamps are provided on both the left and right sides and the light distribution control is performed on the lamps on both sides. In addition, the optical axis of the imaging device for detecting the forward vehicle existing in the front area of the vehicle is arranged at one lamp side position in the left-right direction of the vehicle, preferably at the same position as or near the optical axis of one lamp. Accordingly, parallax generated between the imaging device and the lamp can be reduced, and appropriate light distribution control for the vehicle ahead can be performed with high accuracy.

The front view of the motor vehicle of Embodiment 1 and the front view which fractured | ruptured some right headlamps. The expanded sectional view along the II-II line of FIG. 1, and the figure which shows the block configuration of a light distribution control apparatus. The typical perspective view which shows the conceptual structure of a low beam lamp on either side. The light distribution diagram when not detecting the vehicle ahead and the state diagram of the variable shade. The light distribution diagram when the oncoming vehicle is detected and the state diagram of the variable shade. A light distribution diagram and a state diagram of a variable shade when a preceding vehicle is detected in a straight traveling direction. A light distribution diagram and a state diagram of a variable shade when a preceding vehicle is detected in the left front side region. The figure explaining parallax of an imaging device and a lamp. The front view of the motor vehicle of Embodiment 2. FIG. The front view of the motor vehicle of the modification of Embodiment 2. FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an automobile according to a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile headlamp light distribution control device. A right headlamp RHL and a left headlamp LHL are arranged on the left and right of the front portion of the automobile CAR. ing. The left head lamp LHL is configured as a lamp in which a clearance lamp CL, a low beam lamp LoL that performs illumination with a low beam light distribution, and a high beam lamp HiL that performs illumination with a high beam light distribution are incorporated in one lamp housing. . The right headlamp RHL includes a clearance lamp CL, a variable low beam lamp V-LoL, and a high beam lamp HiL in one lamp housing, as shown in a partially broken front view enlarged in FIG. The variable low beam lamp V-LoL is configured as a lamp capable of superimposing an additional light distribution pattern equivalent to a high beam on a low beam light distribution, as will be described in detail later.

The clearance lamp CL and the high beam lamp HiL provided for each of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL, and the low beam lamp LoL provided for the left headlamp LHL use conventional lamps having a general configuration. Therefore, detailed description is omitted here. The variable low beam lamp V-LoL provided in the right headlamp RHL is referred to as so-called ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam), and corresponds to high beam light distribution in a part of the region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern. Although it can be said that the light distribution pattern is additionally superimposed, and if the view is changed, it can be said that a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam light distribution is shielded, but the lamp is capable of such light distribution control. Further, in the first embodiment, an imaging device CAM for imaging the front area of the host vehicle is housed in the lamp housing of the right headlamp RHL.

The right head lamp RHL has a lamp housing 1 composed of a lamp body 11 and a transparent front cover 12 as shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged cross-sectional structure taken along line II-II in FIG. In the lamp housing 1, the variable low beam lamp V-LoL and the image pickup device CAM are arranged together with the clearance lamp CL and the high beam lamp HiL which are not shown in the drawing, and the image pickup device CAM is particularly variable. It is arranged at a position directly above the low beam lamp V-LoL. That is, the illumination optical axis Lx of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL and the imaging optical axis Cx of the imaging device CAM are arranged on the same vertical line or substantially the same vertical line.

The variable low beam lamp V-LoL has a reflector 22 based on a rotating ellipse, a light source 21 disposed at a first focal position of the reflector 22, and a rear focal point disposed at a second focal position of the reflector 22. The projector-type lamp 2 includes the irradiation lens 23 and the variable shade 24R that shields part of the light emitted from the light source 21 and reflected by the reflector 22. The light source 21 is an incandescent bulb or a discharge bulb, and further a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED. As will be described later, the variable shade 24R is configured by a plurality of divided shades, here, three divided shades divided into three in the horizontal direction. However, the variable shade 24R as a whole is arranged in the low beam lamp LoL of the left headlamp LHL. It is configured in a shape that obtains the same light distribution as the provided shade 24L (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a conceptual configuration of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL, which is shown together with a low beam lamp LoL disposed in the left head lamp LHL. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part equivalent to each part of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL to the low beam lamp LoL. The variable shade 24R of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is composed of divided shades S1, S2, and S3 divided into three from the left side in the horizontal direction to the right side (left and right direction as viewed from the light source 21, the same applies hereinafter). The left and right divided shades S1, S3 are larger in width in the left-right direction than the central divided shade S2. Each of the divided shades S1, S2, S3 is supported at the lower end portion so as to be tiltable by the fixed shaft 31, and each of the divided shades S1, S2, S3 is connected to the shade driving device 3. S2 and S3 are independently tilted in the front-rear direction, and when tilted, they are retracted from the illumination optical path region in the variable low beam lamp V-LoL and are configured to limit light shielding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the variable low beam lamp V-LoL has a predetermined cut by blocking a part of light from the light source 21 when all the divided shades S1, S2, S3 are not tilted. Light irradiation is performed with a normal low beam light distribution pattern PLo having an off-line. When the divided shades S1, S2, and S3 are tilted and retracted from the illumination optical path region, a part of the light that has been blocked by the tilted divided shades S1, S2, and S3 is not blocked and is not blocked. Light irradiation is performed with a light distribution pattern in which light is superimposed as an additional light distribution pattern A3, A2, A1 on the upper region of the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern PLo. The low beam lamp LoL of the left head lamp LHL is irradiated with light in the low beam distribution pattern PLo having a cut-off line by the shade 24L as before. Therefore, the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is configured to control the light distribution in the region by adding the additional light distribution patterns A1 to A3 in the region where the light distribution of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL is not superimposed. become.

  Since the imaging device CAM is composed of an existing CCD camera, the details are omitted, but an imaging optical system including an imaging lens, an imaging device that converts a subject image formed by the imaging optical system into an electrical signal, Here, a CCD imaging device is provided. The imaging device CAM can image the front area of the host vehicle through the front cover 12 of the lamp housing 1. As described above, the imaging device CAM is disposed immediately above the variable low beam lamp V-LoL. The optical axis of the imaging optical system, that is, the imaging optical axis Cx of the imaging device CAM is the same as that of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL. It is located on the same vertical line as the optical axis Lx or substantially on the same vertical line.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, lighting and light distribution of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL are controlled by a lamp ECU (electronic circuit unit) 100. The lamp ECU 100 is connected to a lighting switch 101 and a light distribution control switch 102 operated by a passenger. Here, the light distribution control switch 102 is “Hi” in which the light distribution pattern configured by superimposing the irradiation lights of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL of the host vehicle is “Hi”, and “Lo” is the low beam distribution. And “Auto” or “ADB” for controlling the light distribution based on the detection result of the forward vehicle existing in the host vehicle. Here, “ADB” is used. Further, the imaging device CAM and the variable shade device 3 housed in the variable low beam lamp V-LoL are connected to the lamp ECU 100, respectively.

On the other hand, the lamp ECU 100 includes a light distribution control unit 110. The lamp ECU 100 supplies electric power for lighting each lamp including the clearance lamp CL by operating the lighting switch 101, and operates the light distribution control switch 102. Thus, only the low beam lamp LoL and the variable low beam lamp V-LoL, or simultaneously, the left and right high beam lamps Hi can be turned on. Further, the lamp ECU 100 includes a forward vehicle detection unit 120, and detects a forward vehicle existing ahead of the host vehicle based on a captured image of a front area of the host vehicle captured by the imaging device CAM. Further, the lamp ECU 100 includes a shade control unit 130, and when the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is turned on, the variable low beam lamp V- is based on the outputs of the light distribution control switch 102 and the front vehicle detection unit 120. The shade driving device 3 built in the LoL is controlled.

  According to this light distribution control device, when the occupant turns on the lighting switch 101, the clearance lamps CL of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL are lit. When the light distribution control switch 102 is set to “Lo”, the light distribution control unit 110 lights the low beam lamp LoL of the left headlamp LHL and the variable low beam lamp V-LoL of the right headlamp RHL. The low beam lamp LoL emits light with the low beam light distribution pattern PLo shown in FIG. Further, in the “Lo” state, the forward vehicle detection unit 120 is not operating, and the shade control unit 130 controls the variable shade 24R to the normal state, that is, the state in which all the divided shades S1 to S3 are erected. The light distribution of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL becomes the same low beam distribution pattern PLo as the light distribution of the low beam lamp LoL. Therefore, light emitted from the low beam lamp LoL and the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is superimposed in the front area of the host vehicle, and illumination with a predetermined low beam light distribution pattern is realized. When the light distribution control switch 102 is switched to “Hi”, the light distribution control unit 110 turns on the high beam lamps Hi of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL. Therefore, the light emitted from the left and right high beam lamps Hi is superimposed in the front area of the host vehicle and is superimposed on the low beam light distribution pattern PLo described above, thereby realizing illumination with a predetermined high beam light distribution pattern.

On the other hand, when the light distribution control switch 102 is switched to “ADB”, the light distribution control unit 110 lights the low beam lamp LoL of the left headlamp LHL and the variable low beam lamp V-LoL of the right headlamp RHL in the same way as “Lo”. Let Next, the forward vehicle detection unit 120 detects the forward vehicle by analyzing the forward image of the forward area of the host vehicle imaged by the imaging device CAM. Based on the detection result, the shade controller 130 drives the shade driving device 3 of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL to control the variable shade 24R. Therefore, the light distribution of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is controlled by the difference of the preceding vehicle detected by the forward vehicle detection unit 120, and the vehicle CAR formed by superimposing the light distribution on the light distribution of the low beam lamp LoL. The light distribution in the front area is controlled to change as in the following example.

  FIGS. 4 to 7 are diagrams showing an example of light distribution control by the variable shade 24R in “ADB”. When no preceding vehicle is detected, there is no possibility of dazzling, so that the variable is as shown in FIG. All the divided shades S1 to S3 of the shade 24R are tilted from the normal position indicated by a broken line to be retracted from the illumination optical path region. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4A, the variable low beam lamp V-LoL has a light distribution equivalent to a high beam in which the additional light distribution patterns A1 to A3 are superimposed on the low beam light distribution pattern PLo. This light distribution is superimposed on the light distribution of the low beam lamp LoL of the left headlamp LHL. That is, since the light distribution is obtained by adding the additional light distribution patterns A1 to A3 by the variable low beam lamp V-LoL to the region where the low beam light distribution patterns PLo of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL are not superimposed, Widely illuminate the front area to ensure safe driving.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the oncoming vehicle CAR1 is detected in the right front area of the host vehicle in the forward vehicle detection unit 120, both the center and right split shades of the variable shade 24R as shown in FIG. 5 (b). S2 and S3 are tilted and retracted. As a result, light is not blocked by the divided shades S2 and S3, and the light distribution of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is centered on the upper left region and the center of the low beam light distribution pattern PLo as shown in FIG. The light distribution is such that the additional light distribution patterns A2 and A3 are superimposed on the region, that is, the region on which the low beam light distribution patterns PLo of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL are not superimposed. Therefore, while preventing dazzling on the oncoming vehicle CAR1 on the right front side, the central region which is the straight traveling direction of the host vehicle and the left region of the host vehicle are brightly illuminated to the far region to ensure safe driving. In addition, when the oncoming vehicle CAR1 exists in the front, it is preferable that the central divided shade S2 is not tilted and the additional light distribution pattern A2 is not superimposed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle, in this case, the preceding vehicle CAR2 is detected in the front area in the straight direction of the host vehicle in the forward vehicle detection unit 120, as shown in FIG. Then, the right and left split shades S1, S3 of the variable shade 24R are tilted and retracted. As a result, light is not blocked by the divided shades S1 and S3, and the light distribution of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is as shown in FIG. 6A. The upper left region and the right region of the low beam light distribution pattern PLo, That is, the light distribution is such that the additional light distribution patterns A1 and A3 are superimposed on the region where the low beam light distribution patterns PLo of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL are not superimposed. Therefore, while preventing dazzling with respect to the preceding vehicle CAR2 existing in the straight traveling direction, the left side area and the right side area of the host vehicle are brightly illuminated to the far area to ensure safe driving.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the preceding vehicle CAR3 is detected in the left front region of the host vehicle in the forward vehicle detection unit 120, the center and left divided shades S1 and S2 of the variable shade 24R are tilted. As a result, light is not blocked by the divided shades S1 and S2, and the light distribution of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL is the upper right region and the central region of the low beam light distribution pattern PLo, that is, the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL. The light distribution is such that the additional light distribution patterns A1 and A2 are superimposed on a region where each low beam light distribution pattern PLo is not superimposed. Therefore, while preventing dazzling with respect to the preceding vehicle CAR3 existing in the left region, the right region and the central region of the host vehicle are brightly illuminated far to ensure safe driving. In addition, when the preceding vehicle CAR3 exists in the front, it is preferable that the central divided shade S2 is not tilted and the additional light distribution pattern A2 is not superimposed.

In this way, the lamp ECU 100 controls the variable shade 24R of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL to perform the control of tilting the divided shades S1 to S3 corresponding to the area where the preceding vehicle does not exist, thereby causing dazzling with respect to the preceding vehicle. While preventing, it becomes possible to illuminate the area where the vehicle ahead does not exist, and to function as an “ADB” lamp. In order to realize such light distribution control, in the first embodiment, only one lamp out of a total of four lamps of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL and the high beam lamp, that is, a variable low beam lamp. Since only V-LoL needs to be configured with a variable light distribution type lamp, it is configured at a lower cost than those in which the left and right headlamps are each configured as a variable light distribution type lamp as in Patent Documents 1 and 2. can do. In addition, since the imaging device CAM for detecting the vehicle ahead is also provided only in the right headlamp RHL, the configuration of the left headlamp LHL is not complicated, and in this respect as well, cost reduction can be realized.

In addition, even if only one lamp is configured as a variable light distribution type variable low beam lamp V-LoL in this way and the cost of the headlamp is reduced, an appropriate light distribution control can be realized in the first embodiment. In other words, the front vehicle detection unit 120 of the lamp ECU 100 detects the position of the front vehicle by analyzing the front image captured by the imaging device CAM. In this case, the detected position of the front vehicle is determined by the light of the imaging device CAM. It is detected as an angle with respect to the axis Cx. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the detection angle θC of the forward vehicle CAR4 to be detected is an angle with respect to the optical axis Cx of the imaging device CAM. On the other hand, the light irradiation angle θL from the variable light distribution type lamp V-LoL to the forward vehicle CAR4 is an angle with respect to the lamp optical axis Lx. At this time, assuming that the imaging device CAM1 is arranged at the center of the left and right of the car CAR as shown in FIG. 8, the horizontal direction between the detection angle θC1 with respect to the preceding vehicle CAR4 and the light irradiation angle θL in the lamp irradiation direction. An angular deviation, that is, parallax occurs. Therefore, when appropriate light distribution control is performed on the forward vehicle CAR4 detected by the forward vehicle detection unit 120, calculation for correcting parallax is required in the light distribution control unit 110 and the shade control unit 130. In addition, when the parallax cannot be completely corrected, a shift is generated between the illumination area of the light distribution with respect to the forward vehicle CAR4 by the amount of the parallax, and the shift causes the front vehicle to be dazzled or to illuminate the front area more widely. There will be situations where you can't.

In the first embodiment, since the imaging device CAM is disposed at the same position in the horizontal direction as the variable light distribution lamp V-LoL, the detection angle θC and the light irradiation angle θL are equal to each other, that is, an angle shift between them, that is, parallax Will not occur. Moreover, even if parallax occurs, it is very slight. Therefore, in the control in the light distribution control unit 110 and the shade control unit 130 of the lamp ECU 100, the detection angle θC with respect to the preceding vehicle CAR4 can be replaced with the light irradiation angle θL as it is, and the calculation in each control unit is simplified and the accuracy is improved. High and appropriate light distribution control can be realized. In particular, when traveling on a curved road, the detection angle of the vehicle ahead changes abruptly. Therefore, it is possible to realize light distribution control that quickly responds to such a change in situation. Furthermore, even in the case of a headlamp configured to swivel control the lamp unit to the left and right, the detected angle of the preceding vehicle detected can be applied to swivel control as it is, and simplification of calculation and speeding up of control follow-up can be realized.

  In the first embodiment, the variable low beam lamp V-LoL and the imaging device CAM are disposed in the right headlamp RHL. However, the variable low beam lamp and the imaging device may be disposed in the left headlamp LHL. It is possible to obtain the same effect as that provided when the headlamp RHL is provided. In order to further simplify the configuration of the headlamps, although not shown in the figure, each of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL is provided with one high beam / low beam switching type lamp, and one of the high beam / low beam switching modes is provided. The shade of the mold lamp may be constituted by a shade having a divided configuration to constitute a variable light distribution type lamp. The high beam / low beam switching type lamp is a lamp capable of switching between high beam light distribution and low beam light distribution by controlling the shade, and this shade is composed of a plurality of divided shades as in the first embodiment, and each divided shade. Are configured to be controlled independently. In such a configuration, when the light distribution is switched to “ADB”, the other high beam / low beam switching type lamp is controlled to the low beam distribution, and the split shade of one high beam / low beam switching type lamp is set to the front vehicle. The light distribution control similar to that of the first embodiment can be realized by controlling independently based on the detection by the detection unit.

(Embodiment 2)
In Embodiment 1, the imaging device is built in the headlamp, but the imaging device may be configured separately from the headlamp. FIG. 9 is a front view of an automobile showing a schematic configuration of the second embodiment. The configurations of the left and right headlamps LHL and RHL of the automobile CAR are the same as those of the first embodiment, but the right headlamp RHL has a lamp housing 1. Is different in that no imaging device is provided. Instead, the imaging device CAM is disposed at the right side position along the upper edge of the windshield FG in the cabin of the car CAR, here the right end position closest to the right headlamp RHL. That is, the right headlamp RHL includes the variable low beam lamp V-LoL as in the first embodiment, and the imaging device CAR is disposed at a position where the imaging optical axis is closest to the illumination optical axis of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL. doing. Further, in this case, the image pickup apparatus is placed in the region WP to be wiped by the front wiper in order to prevent raindrops, dust and the like adhering to the windshield FG from affecting the image pickup and lowering the detection accuracy of the preceding vehicle based on the imaged image. It is preferable to arrange.

  Although illustration is omitted, the imaging device CAM is connected to the lamp ECU in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and is used to detect a forward vehicle existing ahead of the host vehicle. Further, it is also the same to realize the light distribution control of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL disposed in the right headlamp RHL based on the detection of the preceding vehicle. In this second embodiment, it is difficult to arrange the optical axis Cx of the imaging device CAM on the vertical line of the optical axis Lx of the variable low beam lamp V-LoL, but at least the center in the left-right direction of the automobile CAR as shown in FIG. Compared with the case where it is arranged at the position, the above-described parallax can be reduced, light distribution control in the lamp ECU can be facilitated, and light distribution accuracy can be improved. In addition to this, in the second embodiment, since the imaging device CAM is disposed on the upper part of the car body of the car CAR, the height of the imaging optical axis is made higher than that in the case where it is disposed in the headlamp as in the first embodiment. You can earn. Therefore, even in a situation where a preceding vehicle is present in the immediate vicinity of the host vehicle, the preceding vehicle is unlikely to interfere with imaging, and it is possible to image a wide area in front of the host vehicle, particularly a far front area of the host vehicle. It is possible to increase the detection accuracy by expanding the vehicle detection range. This makes it possible to increase the accuracy of light distribution control in the variable low beam lamp of the right headlamp.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a variable light distribution type lamp (variable low beam lamp V-LoL) is arranged on the driver's seat side of the windshield where the wiping area WP of the front wiper extends to the right area of the car CAR, that is, the right side. Accordingly, the imaging device CAR is arranged at the right end position of the windshield, but as shown in FIG. 10, the wiping area WP is expanded to the passenger seat side, that is, the left area of the windshield FG. In the case of a vehicle equipped with a wiper, a variable light distribution type lamp (variable low beam lamp V-LoL) is arranged on the left head lamp LHL, and accordingly the image pickup device CAR is arranged on the left side of the windshield FG. It is good also as composition to do. As described above, even if the variable light distribution type lamp V-LoL and the image pickup device CAM are arranged on the passenger seat side of the car CAR, the light beam axis and the lamp optical axis are the same as in the case where the present invention is applied to the left headlamp LHL in the first embodiment. It is the same that the parallax caused by the imaging optical axis can be reduced to realize appropriate light distribution control and the configuration of the headlamp can be simplified.

  In the first embodiment, the imaging device is disposed at a position immediately above or substantially directly above the variable light distribution lamp. However, the imaging device is disposed at a position directly above or substantially above the variable light distribution lamp due to design restrictions or the like. Even if it cannot be installed, it is arranged at a position as close to the variable light distribution lamp as possible in the left-right direction of the vehicle as in the second embodiment. In addition to reducing parallax and improving light distribution accuracy. Further, by arranging the imaging device on the left side or the right side of the vehicle in this way, a space can be secured in the central region of the vehicle. In particular, in recent vehicles, it may be required to dispose a plurality of imaging devices by providing imaging devices according to differences in vehicle control targets. In such a case, a secured central region is required. It is possible to dispose another imaging device. Alternatively, a sensor such as a raindrop sensor or an illuminance sensor can be provided instead of the imaging device.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example of the lamp configured to control the light distribution by switching the variable shade as the variable light distribution type lamp has been described. You may comprise as a lamp | ramp of the structure which changes light. In other words, the variable shade structure requires a mechanical structure for switching shades, but a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) are arranged to form a lamp, and light is distributed by selectively emitting these LEDs. When a variable light distribution type lamp that changes the angle is configured, a mechanical structure is not necessary, and the lamp configuration is further simplified, which is advantageous for cost reduction. Needless to say, it is the same even if it is configured as a lamp in which a plurality of light sources other than LEDs are arranged.

  In the first and second embodiments, the imaging device is configured separately from the variable light distribution type lamp and is disposed in the headlamp or the vehicle body of the vehicle. That is, it may be formed integrally with the variable light distribution type lamp. Even if it does in this way, since the other lamp can apply a normal lamp, the simplification of the structure of the whole lamp | ramp comprised by the lamp | ramp which makes a pair of right and left, and cost reduction are realizable.

  The present invention is a vehicular lamp arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of the vehicle, and can be applied to a vehicular lamp configured to change the light distribution of the lamp.

CAR Automotive LHL, RHL Headlamp Hi High beam lamp Lo Low beam lamp V-LoL Variable low beam lamp CL Clearance lamp S1 to S3 Split shade PLo Low beam light distribution pattern A1 to A3 Additional light distribution pattern 1 Lamp housing 2 Projector type lamp 3 Shade drive device DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Lamp body 12 Front cover 21 Light source 22 Reflector 23 Irradiation lens 24R Variable shade 24L Shade 100 Lamp ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Lighting switch 102 Light distribution control switch 110 Light distribution control part 120 Front vehicle detection part 130 Shade control part

Claims (5)

  A light distribution control device comprising lamps arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of a vehicle and superimposing illumination light of the lamps forming the pairs to obtain a required light distribution, wherein a front area of the vehicle is Based on the imaging means for imaging and the front vehicle existing in the front area based on the image captured by the imaging means, and the light distribution of one of the lamps in the pair according to the detected position of the front vehicle A vehicular lamp light distribution control device comprising: a light distribution control means for changing, wherein the imaging means is disposed at a position on the one lamp side in the left-right direction of the vehicle.   The light distribution of the vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the imaging optical axis of the imaging means is disposed at the same position or in the vicinity of the optical axis of the one lamp in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Control device.   3. The vehicle lamp light distribution control device according to claim 2, wherein the imaging unit is disposed at a position close to the one lamp or a position on the one lamp side of an upper portion of the vehicle. .   4. The light distribution of the vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the one lamp is configured as a variable light distribution lamp whose light distribution pattern is changed by the light distribution control means. Control device. 5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the one lamp is a variable light distribution type lamp capable of performing light distribution control in which an additional light distribution pattern corresponding to a high beam light distribution is superimposed on a low beam light distribution. Light distribution control device.

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