JP2013226987A - Lighting apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the sense of discomfort that is applied to a driver of the other vehicle or an own vehicle when the other vehicle subject to light distribution control by the own vehicle moves.SOLUTION: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lighting means that can change light distribution for irradiating the periphery of an own vehicle at each region; an existence region detection means that detects the existence region of the other vehicle existent in the region irradiated by the lighting means; and a lighting control means that shields or reduces light to be irradiated to the region including the existence region by the lighting means when the existence of the existence region is detected by the existence region detection means. The lighting control means allows the luminance of light irradiated to the peripheral region of the periphery of the existence region out of the irradiation regions to be determined to a value not only larger than that of light irradiated to the existence region but also lower than that of light irradiated to the region other than the irradiation region.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular illumination device, and more particularly, to a vehicular illumination device that is suitable for shielding or dimming light emitted to an existing area when another vehicle exists in an irradiation area by an illumination unit. .

  Conventionally, a vehicular illumination device that controls light distribution of a headlamp mounted on a vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vehicular lighting device includes a headlamp that can change the light distribution emitted to the front of the host vehicle for each region, and a camera that can capture a front region of the host vehicle including at least an irradiation region of the headlamp. Yes. In this vehicular illumination device, based on the result of processing a photographed image taken by a camera, an existence area where a target (for example, another vehicle) emitting light is present in an irradiation area by a headlamp is detected. . Then, when it is detected that there is an existing area in which another vehicle exists, the light distribution of the headlamp is controlled so that the existing area becomes relatively darker than other areas in the irradiation area.

JP 2009-214801 A

  In the vehicle illumination device described in Patent Document 1 described above, when another vehicle is present in the irradiation area of the headlamp as described above, the existence area becomes relatively darker than other areas in the irradiation area. Thus, the light distribution of the headlamp is controlled. However, in the configuration in which only the existing area where the other vehicle exists is blocked or dimmed, the actual area is shielded or dimmed when the existing area (area to be blocked or dimmed) changes as the other vehicle moves. If the change in the target area cannot follow the change in the existing area, the other vehicle immediately moves from the area where the light is actually blocked or dimmed to the area where the light is not blocked or dimmed. End up. For this reason, in the above-described vehicular lighting device, when the area to be shielded or dimmed moves with the movement of the other vehicle, the amount of light irradiation from the own vehicle to the other vehicle may rapidly increase. As a result, there is a possibility that the driver of the other vehicle may feel uncomfortable by the light distribution control of the own vehicle, and that the lighting (light reduction) and the light extinction are repeated in a part of the irradiation area by the headlamp. This may give the driver of the vehicle an uncomfortable feeling due to flickering.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling given to the other vehicle and the driver of the own vehicle when the other vehicle that is subject to light distribution control in the own vehicle moves. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lighting device.

  The object is to provide illumination means capable of changing the light distribution radiated around the host vehicle for each area, existence area detection means for detecting an existence area where another vehicle exists within the illumination area by the illumination means, and the presence Illumination control means for shielding or dimming light emitted to an area including the existence area by the illumination means when the presence detection means detects that the existence area is present, and the illumination control means In the irradiation area, the brightness of the light irradiated to the surrounding area around the existing area is higher than the brightness of the light irradiated to the existing area, and other areas of the irradiated area are irradiated. This is achieved by the vehicular lighting device that is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light.

  In addition, the above-mentioned purpose is a lighting unit capable of changing the light distribution irradiated to the periphery of the host vehicle for each region, a presence region detection unit for detecting a presence region where another vehicle exists in the irradiation region by the lighting unit, An illumination control means for shielding or dimming light emitted to an area including the existence area by the illumination means when the existence area detection means detects the existence area; Moving area estimating means for estimating a moving area in a moving direction of another vehicle existing in the existing area, and the illumination control means irradiates the moving area estimated by the moving area estimating means This is achieved by a vehicular lighting device that sets the luminance of light to a value that is higher than the luminance of light irradiated to the existing region and lower than the luminance of light irradiated to other regions of the irradiation region.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when the other vehicle used as the object of light distribution control in the own vehicle moves, the discomfort given to the driver of another vehicle or the own vehicle can be reduced.

It is a block diagram of the illuminating device for vehicles which is one Example of this invention. It is the figure showing the division area of the irradiation area seen from the own vehicle by the headlamp with which the lighting device for vehicles of this example is provided. It is a flowchart of an example of the control routine performed in the vehicle lighting device of the present embodiment. It is the figure showing a mode that the presence area sa in which another vehicle exists among the all irradiation area | regions S by the illumination means in the vehicle illuminating device of a present Example is light-shielded. It is the figure showing a mode that the presence area sa where another vehicle exists among all the irradiation areas S by the illumination means in the illuminating device of the present embodiment is shielded and the adjacent area sb adjacent to the existence area sa is dimmed. is there. In the vehicle illumination device according to the present embodiment, out of the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp, the existence area sa where the other vehicle exists is shielded, the adjacent area sb adjacent to the existence area sa, and the other vehicle moves. It is a figure showing a mode that the moving area | region sc and the moving direction area | region sd which are in the direction to light are attenuated. In the vehicle illumination device according to the present embodiment, among the total irradiation area S by the headlamp, the existence area sa where the other vehicle exists is shielded, and the adjacent area sb adjacent to the existence area sa, the direction in which the other vehicle moves. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the moving area sc and the moving direction area sd in FIG. 5 and the relative moving area se in the direction in which the other vehicle moves relatively when the host vehicle turns to the left are dimmed.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a vehicular illumination apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 2 shows the figure showing the division | segmentation area | region of the irradiation area | region seen from the own vehicle by the headlamp with which the illuminating device 10 for vehicles of a present Example is provided. The vehicle lighting device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle and controls lighting / extinguishing of a headlamp (headlamp) and also controls light distribution when the headlamp is lit. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lighting device 10 includes a headlamp 12. The headlamp 12 is attached to the front part of the vehicle body of the host vehicle, and can irradiate light on a predetermined region (irradiation region) S ahead of the host vehicle. The headlamp 12 is composed of a plurality of LED light sources. The headlamp 12 controls light distribution to be irradiated in front of the host vehicle in the entire irradiation region S by independently controlling lighting (light irradiation) / light-off (light extinction) of each LED light source. It is possible to change for every s1-sn. That is, the entire irradiation region S is divided into a plurality of n regions, and the light distribution in the irradiation region S can be changed for each of the regions s1 to sn by turning on / off each LED light source.

  The headlamp 12 may be divided into a low beam and a high beam. Further, the entire irradiation region S by the headlamp 12 may be a high beam, and the irradiation region by the low beam may be a part of the entire irradiation region S. Further, the above-described areas s1 to sn are divided areas arranged in a matrix within the entire irradiation area S, for example, as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the above-described regions s1 to sn are referred to as divided regions s1 to sn, respectively.

  The vehicle illumination device 10 also includes a control device (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 14 mainly composed of a microcomputer. A camera 16 is connected to the ECU 14. The camera 16 is disposed in a vehicle front bumper, an in-vehicle rearview mirror stay, or the like, and can capture a front area of the host vehicle including the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 described above. The captured image captured by the camera 16 is supplied to the ECU 14.

  The ECU 14 has a map that defines the correspondence between the position in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 and the position in the imaging area by the camera 16. The ECU 14 processes the captured image supplied from the camera 16, so that another vehicle (front vehicle) such as a preceding vehicle preceding the own vehicle or an oncoming vehicle facing the own vehicle in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12. Is detected, and an area (existing area) in which another vehicle exists is detected among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12.

  Note that the divided areas s1 to sn in which a part of the vehicle body of the other vehicle in front of the host vehicle exists are detected as existing areas. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle body of the other vehicle has two divided areas s1 to s1. In the case of straddling sn, these two divided regions s1 to sn are existing regions. When the ECU 14 detects the presence of another vehicle in front of the host vehicle and detects its presence area, the ECU 14 tracks the other vehicle and calculates its movement trajectory and its movement direction.

  The ECU 14 is also supplied with information indicating the state of the host vehicle. The own vehicle state information supplied to the ECU 14 is information including at least information on presence / absence of a lighting switch instruction of the headlamp 12 and information indicating a blinker state of the own vehicle. For example, a low beam and a high beam in the headlamp 12 are Information such as a selection switch to be selected may be included, and information such as a switch indicating whether or not to execute light distribution control may be included. The ECU 14 detects the state of the host vehicle (for example, the presence or absence of a lighting switch instruction for the headlamp 12 or the presence or absence of a blinker instruction for the host vehicle) based on the supplied host vehicle state information, and the detected host vehicle state Based on the above, light distribution control described later is performed.

  A headlight driver 18 connected to each LED light source of the headlamp 12 is also connected to the ECU 14. The ECU 14 gives a lighting instruction to the headlamp driver 18 when the headlamp 12 should be turned on. The headlamp driver 18 turns on / off each LED light source of the headlamp 12 in accordance with an instruction from the ECU 14. Each LED light source of the headlamp 12 is independently turned on / off according to an instruction from the ECU 14 via the headlamp driver 18. For this reason, the headlamp 12 can partially turn off the irradiation area S.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 3-7, the operation | movement of the light distribution control of the illuminating device 10 for vehicles of a present Example is demonstrated.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the ECU 14 in the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the existence area sa where another vehicle exists is shielded from the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 in the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows that the existing area sa where the other vehicle exists is shielded from the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 in the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment, and the adjacent area sb adjacent to the existing area sa is dimmed. The figure showing how to do is shown. FIG. 6 shows an adjacent area sb that shields an existing area sa in which another vehicle exists in the entire irradiation area S of the headlamp 12 in the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment and is adjacent to the existing area sa. In addition, a diagram showing how the moving area sc and the moving direction area sd in the direction in which the other vehicle moves is dimmed. Further, FIG. 7 shows an adjacent area adjacent to the existence area sa, in which the existence area sa where the other vehicle exists is shielded from the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 in the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment. sb, the movement area sc and the movement direction area sd in the direction in which the other vehicle moves, and the relative movement area se in the direction in which the other vehicle moves relatively when the host vehicle turns to the left. The figure is shown.

  In the vehicular illumination device 10 of the present embodiment, the ECU 14 determines whether or not to perform an operation of turning on the headlamp 12 based on the own vehicle state information (step 100). The determination of whether or not the operation is performed may be denied when there is no lighting switch instruction for the headlamp 12, and may be affirmed when there is a lighting switch instruction for the headlamp 12. It may be affirmed when execution of light control is permitted by a switch operation or the like by the vehicle driver.

  If it is determined in step 100 that there is no operation request, the ECU 14 does not issue a lighting instruction to the headlamp driver 18 and thereafter ends the current routine without proceeding with any processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an operation request, the headlamp 12 is turned on and a lighting instruction is given to the headlamp driver 18 so that light is emitted toward the irradiation area S in front of the host vehicle. Next, by processing the captured image captured by the camera 16, the presence / absence of another vehicle (front vehicle) existing in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 in front of the host vehicle is detected (step 102).

  If the ECU 14 determines in step 102 that there is no other vehicle in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12, then the ECU 14 does not need to block or dimm the entire area of the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12. As described above, the headlamp 12 is turned on so that the entire area of the irradiation area S is irradiated with light (step 104), and the current routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that there is another vehicle in the irradiation area S of the headlamp 12, the existing area sa in which the other vehicle exists among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S. Is extracted, and the existence area sa is subjected to a light-shielding process (see FIG. 4), and the area adjacent to the existence area sa (adjacent area) sb is dimmed. The headlamp driver 18 is instructed to perform the dimming process (see FIG. 5) (step 106).

  In addition, said presence area sa is an area | region where the vehicle body of another vehicle exists among all the division areas s1-sn in the irradiation area | region S. FIG. Further, the adjacent region sb described above is an existing region sa that excludes the existing region sa among all the divided regions s1 to sn in the irradiation region S and does not include a region that has only a common corner with the existing region sa. It is an area that is adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions and has a common side with the existence area sa. However, the adjacent region sb is not limited to this, and excluding the existing region sa among all the divided regions s1 to sn, for example, the first adjacent region adjacent to the existing region sa vertically and horizontally, and the first adjacent region It may be composed of a second adjacent region that is adjacent to the region in the upper, lower, left, and right directions, may be composed of multiple regions having more stages, and is set according to other conditions. Also good.

  Further, in the light shielding process for the existence area sa, when the luminance of light normally irradiated by the headlamp 12 is set to 100%, light having a luminance of 0% is irradiated, that is, no light is irradiated. In other words, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is turned off or light irradiation of the LED light source is cut off. Further, in the dimming process for the adjacent area sb, when the light is irradiated so that the luminance is higher than the shading process for the existing area sa, and the luminance of the light normally irradiated by the headlamp 12 is 100%, For example, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so as to emit light having a luminance of, for example, 50%.

  When the ECU 14 performs the shading process and the dimming process due to the presence of the vehicle in step 106, the ECU 14 next determines whether or not the other vehicle moves in a direction approaching the own vehicle, that is, the other vehicle It is determined whether or not the vehicle is an oncoming vehicle approaching the vehicle (step 108). Note that this determination is made based on the movement trajectory of the other vehicle up to this determination point based on the camera image (that is, the result of tracking the other vehicle).

  As a result, when it is determined that the moving direction of the other vehicle is a direction approaching the own vehicle and the other vehicle is an oncoming vehicle, first, all the divided regions s1 to sn in the irradiation region S by the headlamp 12 are set. The area (movement area) sc in the direction in which the other vehicle moves with respect to the existence area sa, excluding the existence area sa, is extracted. Then, the headlamp driver 18 is instructed to perform a light reduction process (see FIG. 6) for reducing the light applied to the moving area sc (step 110).

  The moving area sc is set with priority over the adjacent area sb. This moving area sc is adjacent to the existing area sa vertically and horizontally, excluding the existing area sa among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S, and has the same side as the existing area sa. An area including the direction in which the other vehicle moves from sa (first movement area), and a point constituting the existence area sa is shared as a constituent point and is adjacent to the first movement area in the vertical and horizontal directions. And an area having a common side (second movement area). In addition, the moving area sc may be composed of multiple areas having more stages, and may be set according to other conditions. In addition, the range of the movement region sc may be varied according to the movement speed of the other vehicle, for example, it may become wider as the movement speed of the other vehicle increases.

  Further, the dimming process for the moving area sc in the step 110 is performed so that the luminance is higher than the shading process for the existence area sa and the luminance is lower than the dimming process for the adjacent area sb in the step 106. Do. For example, the luminance of light normally irradiated by the headlamp 12 is set to 100%, and the LED of the headlamp 12 is irradiated with light having a luminance of 50% with respect to the adjacent region sb in the step 106. When the light source is reduced, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so as to emit light having a luminance of 20%.

  In addition, when the ECU 14 performs a dimming process for dimming the light irradiated to the moving region sc in the step 110, the ECU 14 further includes an existing region sa and all of the divided regions s1 to sn in the irradiation region S. A region (moving direction region) sd that is adjacent to the moving region sc vertically and horizontally and has the same side as the moving region sc and includes the direction in which the other vehicle moves from another vehicle is extracted, and the moving region sc is extracted. The headlamp driver 18 is instructed to perform a light reduction process (see FIG. 6) for reducing the light applied to the movement direction region sd.

  The moving direction area sd is an area that is farther from the moving area sc than the moving area sc (ie, the position where another vehicle is present). In the dimming process for the moving direction area sd, light irradiation is performed so that the luminance is higher than that in the dimming process for the moving area sc. For example, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so that the brightness of the light normally emitted by the headlamp 12 is 100% and the light having the brightness of 20% is irradiated to the moving region sc. In this case, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so as to emit light having a luminance of, for example, 50%.

  When the ECU 14 performs the process of step 110 or when it is determined in step 108 that the moving direction of the other vehicle is not close to the own vehicle and the other vehicle is not an oncoming vehicle, the ECU 14 It is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a state of turning left or right based on the winker state (step 112). As a result, when it is determined that the host vehicle is not in a state of turning left or right, that is, the host vehicle is in a state of traveling straight, this routine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the host vehicle is in a state of turning left or right, first, among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12, first, the existence area sa and the movement area An area (relative movement area) se in the direction in which the other vehicle moves relative to the own vehicle due to the left turn or the right turn of the own vehicle is extracted from the existence area sa excluding sc. For example, when the host vehicle turns to the left, the relative movement area se in the right direction in which the other vehicle moves relative to the existence area sa as viewed from the host vehicle is extracted. Then, the headlamp driver 18 is instructed to perform a light reduction process (see FIG. 7) for reducing the light applied to the relative movement region se (step 114). When this process is performed, the current routine is terminated.

  The relative movement area se is set with priority over the adjacent area sb. This relative movement area se is adjacent to the existing area sa in the vertical and horizontal directions except for the existing area sa and the moving area sc among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S. This is a region that includes a direction in which the other vehicle moves relative to the own vehicle due to a left turn or a right turn of the own vehicle from the common area sa. Further, the relative movement area se may be composed of multiple areas having more stages, and may be set according to other conditions.

  The dimming process for the relative movement area se in step 114 is higher in luminance than the shading process for the existence area sa, and is lower in brightness than the dimming process for the adjacent area sb in step 106. Irradiate light. For example, the luminance of light normally irradiated by the headlamp 12 is set to 100%, and the LED of the headlamp 12 is irradiated with light having a luminance of 50% with respect to the adjacent region sb in the step 106. When the light source is reduced, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so as to emit light having a luminance of 20%.

  In addition, when the ECU 14 performs a dimming process for dimming light applied to the relative movement area se in step 114, the ECU 14 further includes an existing area among all the divided areas s1 to sn in the irradiation area S. excluding sa, moving region sc, and relative moving region se, and adjacent to moving region sc or relative moving region se vertically and horizontally, and has the same side as moving region sc or relative moving region se and the own vehicle The area (relative movement direction area) sf including the direction in which the other vehicle relatively moves due to left turn or right turn of the vehicle is extracted, and the dimming for dimming the light applied to the relative movement direction area sf The headlamp driver 18 is instructed to perform the process (see FIG. 7).

  The relative movement direction area sf is an area that is farther from the movement area sc or the relative movement area se than the existence area sa (that is, the position where another vehicle is present). In the dimming process for the relative movement direction area sf, the light is irradiated so that the luminance is higher than the dimming process for the relative movement area se. For example, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is set so that the luminance of light normally irradiated by the headlamp 12 is 100% and the light having the luminance of 20% with respect to the relative movement region se is irradiated. When the light is reduced, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced so as to emit light having a luminance of, for example, 50%.

  As described above, in the vehicular illumination device 10 according to the present embodiment, when there is no other vehicle in the irradiation area S in front of the host vehicle irradiated with light from the headlamp 12, all of the headlamps 12 are displayed. By illuminating the LED light source, the entire irradiation area S is irradiated with light. On the other hand, when there is another vehicle in the irradiation area S, the presence of other vehicles in the divided areas s1 to sn of the irradiation area S by performing light distribution control by the LED light source of the headlamp 12. Light is irradiated to the area excluding the area sa.

  Specifically, when there is another vehicle in the irradiation area S of the headlamp 12, the existence area sa where the other vehicle exists is not irradiated with light from the headlamp 12, and is adjacent to the existence area sa. The adjacent region sb is irradiated with light from the headlamp 12 with a brightness of, for example, about 50% compared to the normal time (100%). That is, the luminance of light irradiated on the adjacent region sb adjacent to the existing region sa in the irradiation region S of the headlamp 12 is higher than the luminance of light irradiated on the existing region sa, and the irradiated region. It is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light applied to other areas of S (normal areas that are not shielded and dimmed).

  If light from the headlamp 12 of the own vehicle is not irradiated to the existence area sa, glare caused by lighting of the headlamp 12 of the own vehicle is given to the driver of another vehicle located in the existence area sa. Is prevented. In addition, if the adjacent region sb adjacent to the existence region sa is irradiated with light whose luminance is lower than normal, the difference (luminance difference) between the luminance of the existence region sa and the luminance of the adjacent region sb is the adjacent region sb. Compared to the case where light having a luminance of 100% is irradiated. For this reason, when the existence area sa moves with respect to the own vehicle along with the movement of the other vehicle, the irradiation amount of light actually emitted from the own vehicle to the other vehicle is 0% luminance and 100% luminance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver of the other vehicle from feeling uncomfortable by the light distribution control of the own vehicle, and to turn on within the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 (100% Luminance) and off (brightness of 0%) are not repeated, so that the flickering feeling caused by repeatedly turning on / off the LED light source of the headlamp 12 for the driver of the host vehicle is reduced.

  Further, in this embodiment, when another vehicle is present in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 and the other vehicle is an oncoming vehicle approaching the host vehicle, light distribution by the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is further performed. By the control, light from the headlamp 12 is normally applied to the moving area sc in the direction in which the oncoming vehicle moves relative to the existing area sa where the oncoming vehicle exists, among the divided areas s1 to sn of the irradiation area S. For example, a moving direction area sd adjacent to the moving area sc on the side far from the position of the other vehicle (that is, the side close to the own vehicle) is irradiated with the brightness suppressed to, for example, about 20%. In addition, the light from the headlamp 12 is irradiated with a brightness of, for example, about 50% of the normal time (100%).

  That is, when there is an oncoming vehicle approaching the host vehicle in front of the host vehicle, the brightness of the light irradiated to the irradiation region S is determined in the direction in which the oncoming vehicle moves with reference to the presence region sa where the oncoming vehicle exists. The higher the distance, the higher the position. Specifically, the luminance of the light emitted from the existence area sa to the moving area sc adjacent in the direction in which the oncoming vehicle moves is higher than the luminance of the light emitted to the existence area sa, and the irradiation area. It is set to a value lower than the luminance of light applied to the other areas of S (the normal area that is not shielded and dimmed and the moving direction area sd). Further, the luminance of the light irradiated to the moving direction region sd adjacent to the moving region sc on the side far from the position of the other vehicle is the luminance of the light irradiated to the existence region sa and the light irradiated to the moving region sc. Is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light irradiated to the other region of the irradiation region S (a normal region that is not shielded and dimmed).

  If such irradiation is performed, the luminance gradually increases from the existing area sa to the moving direction of the other vehicle in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12. For this reason, when the existence area sa moves with respect to the own vehicle as the other vehicle moves, especially when the other vehicle comes to the own vehicle as an oncoming vehicle (further, when approaching the own vehicle at a high speed). ), The sudden increase in the amount of light actually radiated from the host vehicle to the oncoming vehicle can be reliably suppressed, so that it is possible to prevent the driver of the oncoming vehicle from feeling uncomfortable by the light distribution control of the host vehicle. In addition, since the lighting (100% luminance) and the extinguishing (0% luminance) are not repeated in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12, the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is given to the driver of the own vehicle. The flickering feeling caused by repeatedly turning on / off is reduced.

  Therefore, according to the vehicle lighting device 10 of the present embodiment, the light distribution control is performed by executing the light distribution control for switching the light distribution in the own vehicle in consideration of the movement of the other vehicle in front of the own vehicle. It is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling given to the other vehicle and the driver of the host vehicle when the other vehicle moves. In particular, when the other vehicle in front of the host vehicle is an oncoming vehicle approaching the host vehicle, the luminance increases stepwise from the existence area sa to the direction of movement of the oncoming vehicle, so that further discomfort to the driver is reduced. It is possible.

  Further, in this embodiment, when there is another vehicle in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12, when the host vehicle tries to turn left or right, the light distribution control by the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is performed. Of the divided areas s1 to sn of the irradiation area S, the vehicle is adjacent to the existing area sa in the up, down, left, and right directions, and other vehicles are relatively relative to the own vehicle due to the left or right turn of the own vehicle from the existing area sa The relative movement area se including the moving direction is irradiated with light from the headlamp 12 with a brightness of, for example, about 20%, compared to the normal time (100%). In the relative movement direction region sf adjacent on the side far from the position of the other vehicle (that is, the side close to the host vehicle), the light from the headlamp 12 is suppressed to a brightness of, for example, about 50% compared to the normal time (100%). And irradiated.

  That is, when the host vehicle makes a left or right turn, the brightness of the light applied to the irradiation region S is relative to the other vehicle due to the left or right turn of the host vehicle with respect to the presence region sa where the other vehicle exists. The higher the position, the higher the position in the moving direction. Specifically, the luminance of light irradiated from the existence area sa to the relative movement area se adjacent to the direction in which the oncoming vehicle relatively moves is higher than the luminance of light emitted to the existence area sa. In addition, it is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light irradiated to the other areas of the irradiation area S (the normal area that is not shielded and dimmed and the relative movement direction area sf). Further, the luminance of the light irradiated to the relative movement direction area sf adjacent to the relative movement area se on the side far from the position of the other vehicle is the luminance of the light irradiated to the existence area sa and the relative movement area. It is set to a value higher than the luminance of light irradiated to se and lower than the luminance of light irradiated to other regions (normal regions that are not shielded and dimmed) of the irradiation region S.

  If such irradiation is performed, the luminance gradually increases from the existing area sa in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 to the relative movement direction of the other vehicle caused by the left or right turn of the host vehicle. For this reason, even when the host vehicle makes a left turn or a right turn, the driver of the other vehicle is prevented from feeling uncomfortable by the light distribution control of the host vehicle, and is lit in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 (100 % Luminance) and light extinction (0% luminance) are not repeated, so that the flickering feeling caused by repeatedly turning on / off the LED light source of the headlamp 12 is reduced. Therefore, according to the light distribution control of the present embodiment, it is possible to further reduce the sense of incongruity with respect to the driver of another vehicle or the own vehicle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the headlamp 12 includes the “illumination means” recited in the claims in the adjacent area sb, the movement area sc, the movement direction area sd, the relative movement area se, and the relative movement. The direction area sf is the “surrounding area” described in the claims, and the ECU 14 detects the existence area sa where the other vehicle exists in the entire irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 based on the image taken by the camera 16. In the “existing area detecting means” described in the claims, the ECU 14 performs a process of blocking or dimming light applied to the area including the existing area sa where the other vehicle exists in the entire irradiation area S. It corresponds to “illumination control means” described in the claims.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the luminance of light in the dimming process by the headlamp 12 is set to 50% or 20% with respect to the luminance of normally irradiated light of 100%, but the present invention is limited to this. What is necessary is just to set it as the value between 0%-100%.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the right / left turn of the own vehicle is detected based on the winker state of the own vehicle, and the relative movement region se and the relative movement caused by the right / left turn in the irradiation region S by the headlamp 12 are detected. The brightness of the light to the direction area sf is made lower than usual, but the blinker state of the other vehicle existing in front of the host vehicle (whether or not the light is blinking) is determined by processing the captured image by the camera 16 or the like. When the other vehicle makes a right turn or left turn instruction and the other vehicle makes a right turn or a left turn, the other vehicle caused by the right or left turn in the irradiation area S by the headlamp 12 It is good also as reducing the brightness | luminance of the light to the movement area | region which may move rather than usual.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle lighting device 12 Headlamp 14 Control device (ECU)
16 camera 18 headlight driver S total irradiation area s1 to sn divided area sa existing area in divided area sb adjacent area in divided area sc moving area in divided area sd moving direction area in divided area se Relative movement area in divided area sf Relative movement direction area in divided area

Claims (7)

Illumination means capable of changing the light distribution radiated around the host vehicle for each area;
Presence region detection means for detecting a presence region in which another vehicle exists in the irradiation region by the illumination means;
An illumination control means for shielding or dimming light emitted to the area including the existence area by the illumination means when the existence area detection means detects that the existence area is present;
The illumination control means is configured such that the luminance of light irradiated to the surrounding area around the existence area of the irradiation area is higher than the luminance of light irradiated to the existence area, and the other area of the irradiation area An illumination device for a vehicle, wherein the lighting device is set to a value lower than the luminance of light irradiated to the area. As a part of the surrounding area, comprising a movement area estimation means for estimating a movement area in a direction in which another vehicle existing in the existence area moves;
The illumination control means further has a brightness of light irradiated to the moving area estimated by the moving area estimation means higher than that of light irradiated to the existence area, and other than the surrounding area. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light applied to the region.   The illumination control means, when the direction in which the other vehicle existing in the existence area moves is a direction approaching the own vehicle, the brightness of the light irradiated to the movement area estimated by the movement area estimation means, 3. The vehicular illumination according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle illumination is set to a value higher than the luminance of the light applied to the existing region and lower than the luminance of the light applied to another region of the surrounding region. apparatus. Illumination means capable of changing the light distribution radiated around the host vehicle for each area;
Presence region detection means for detecting a presence region in which another vehicle exists in the irradiation region by the illumination means;
An illumination control means for shielding or dimming light emitted to an area including the existence area by the illumination means when the existence area is detected by the existence area detection means;
A movement area estimation means for estimating a movement area in a direction in which the other vehicle existing in the existence area of the irradiation area moves;
The illumination control means is configured such that the luminance of the light irradiated to the moving area estimated by the moving area estimation means is higher than the luminance of the light irradiated to the existing area, and other areas of the irradiation area The vehicle lighting device is set to a value lower than the luminance of the light irradiated on the vehicle.   The moving area estimation means estimates a moving area where the other vehicle can move in the surrounding area or the irradiation area based on a moving direction of the other vehicle existing in the existence area. Item 5. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of Items 2 to 4.   6. The vehicular illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the movement area estimation means estimates the movement area based on a movement direction based on a movement locus and / or a winker state of another vehicle existing in the existence area. . The said existence area detection means detects the said existence area based on the result of having processed the picked-up image of the camera which image | photographs the area | region containing the said irradiation area, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle lighting device.

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