JP2017210016A - Vehicle signal lamp fitting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve enhancement in lateral visibility in a vehicle signal lamp fitting.SOLUTION: A vehicle signal lamp fitting system has: an optical sensor which detects an illumination intensity in a peripheral environment of an own-vehicle; a lamp unit which is located on at least a rear part of the own-vehicle, and emits irradiation light which spreads from the rear to the side of the own-vehicle; and a lamp drive circuit which controls the lamp unit so that irradiation light having a distribution of an irradiation intensity according to a magnitude of an illumination intensity in the peripheral environment. The lamp drive circuit controls the lamp unit so that when the illumination intensity in the peripheral environment is relatively large, a distribution of an irradiation intensity, in which an irradiation intensity in an oblique direction with a cross direction of the own-vehicle as a reference is further increased, can be obtained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting control technique in a vehicle signal lamp such as a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp, and a stop lamp.

  As a conventional technique related to a vehicle signal lamp such as a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp, and a stop lamp, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3730309 (Patent Document 1), an optical axis is relatively aligned with an irradiation direction of the vehicle signal lamp. A vehicle signal lamp having a light distribution LED having a narrow beam characteristic and a complementary LED having a relatively wide beam characteristic in which an optical axis is inclined in a lateral direction is disclosed.

  By the way, according to the vehicular signal lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, the unevenness of light is eliminated, the uniformity of the light emitting surface is maintained, and the subjective aesthetic feeling that the driver of the following vehicle can feel is improved. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of improving visibility from the side.

Japanese Patent No. 3700389

  The specific aspect which concerns on this invention makes it one of the objectives to aim at the visibility improvement from the side in the signal lamp for vehicles.

  The vehicle signal lamp system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: (a) an optical sensor that detects illuminance in the surrounding environment of the host vehicle; and (b) at least a rear portion of the host vehicle, from the rear of the host vehicle. A light forming unit that emits irradiation light that spreads to the side, and (c) the light forming unit so that the irradiation light having a distribution of irradiation light intensity according to the intensity of illuminance in the surrounding environment is formed. (D) The control unit further increases the irradiation light intensity in an oblique direction with respect to the front-rear direction of the host vehicle when the illuminance of the surrounding environment is relatively large. It is a signal lamp system for vehicles which controls the above-mentioned light formation part so that distribution of these may be obtained.

  According to the said structure, it becomes possible to aim at the improvement of the visibility from the side in the signal lamp for vehicles.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicular signal lamp system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the lamp unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a light distribution of irradiation light by the lamp unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the intensity of irradiation light. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicular signal lamp system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicular signal lamp system according to another aspect.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle signal lamp system according to an embodiment. The illustrated vehicle signal lamp system is used as a vehicle turn signal lamp (direction indicator), and includes a light sensor 10, an object detection unit 11, a control unit 12, a lamp drive circuit 13, and a lamp unit 14. It is configured. In the present embodiment, the lamp driving circuit 13 and the lamp unit 14 correspond to a “light forming unit”.

  The optical sensor 10 is for detecting the illuminance (light intensity) in the surrounding environment of the host vehicle, and is disposed at an appropriate position (for example, a dashboard) in the vehicle. The optical sensor 10 is connected to the control unit 12 and outputs an electrical signal indicating the detected illuminance to the control unit 12.

  The object detection unit 11 is connected to the control unit 12, detects a target object (for example, a succeeding vehicle or a pedestrian) existing behind the host vehicle, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 12. As such an object detection unit 11, for example, a laser radar can be used. Moreover, as the object detection part 11, the image processing apparatus containing the image recognition part which detects the target object based on the image which image | photographed the back of the own vehicle and this camera, for example can also be used.

  The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the vehicular signal lamp system. The control unit 12 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is configured using a computer system that performs information processing by executing a predetermined operation program. . The control unit 12 generates a control signal for controlling the operation of the lamp unit 14 based on the illuminance detected by the optical sensor 10 and the detection result of the target object by the object detection unit 11, and supplies the control signal to the lamp driving circuit 13. Supply.

  The lamp driving circuit 13 drives the lamp unit 14 based on a control signal supplied from the control unit 12. The lamp driving circuit 13 of the present embodiment can control the intensity (irradiation intensity) of the emitted light from the lamp unit 14 by variably setting the magnitude of the current supplied to the lamp unit 14.

  The lamp unit 14 has a plurality of LEDs (light emitting elements), and the lighting state is controlled by the lamp driving circuit 13. The lamp unit 14 is installed, for example, on the left end side and the right end side of the rear portion of the host vehicle, and is driven by the lamp driving circuit 13 to emit irradiation light that spreads from the rear side to the side of the host vehicle.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the lamp unit. In FIG. 2, a part of one lamp unit 14 is schematically shown. Here, it is assumed that the Y direction shown corresponds to the front-rear direction of the host vehicle, and the X direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) of the host vehicle. The illustrated lamp unit 14 includes a plurality of LEDs 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, and 114f. These LEDs 114a and the like are driven by the lamp driving circuit 13, and the intensity (luminance) of the emitted light is individually controlled. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted between LED114a and LED114b, it is assumed that some LED is arrange | positioned.

  Among the LEDs, the LEDs 114a and 114b and the LED (not shown) arranged between them have an optical axis (a main traveling direction of emitted light) substantially parallel to the Y direction. On the other hand, the LED 114c is oriented in a direction in which the optical axis forms an angle from the Y direction. The LEDs 114d and 114e are arranged such that the angle formed between each optical axis and the Y direction is larger than the angle formed between the optical axis of the LED 114c and the Y direction. Further, the LED 114f is arranged such that the angle formed between the optical axis and the Y direction is larger than the angle formed between the optical axis of the LED 114d and the like and the Y direction. As shown in the figure, the angle formed by the optical axis of each of the LEDs 114c to 114f and the Y direction is set to be smaller than 90 °. By using such a lamp unit 14, it is possible to irradiate light in an oblique direction in addition to the front-rear direction of the host vehicle.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a light distribution of irradiation light by the lamp unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the irradiation light intensity of the irradiation light. Here, a turn signal lamp on the left side of the rear part of the host vehicle to which the vehicle signal lamp system of the present embodiment is applied will be described as an example, but the right part of the rear part is symmetrical and has similar characteristics. In the vehicle signal lamp system of the present embodiment, the light distribution of the emitted light from the lamp unit 14 is made different between daytime and nighttime according to the detection result by the optical sensor 10.

  FIG. 3A shows the light distribution (irradiance distribution) of the irradiation light at night. As shown here, at night, the irradiation light of the light distribution 214a is formed such that it spreads from the front-rear direction of the host vehicle to the diagonally left rear and the irradiation light intensity of the irradiation light gradually decreases (see FIG. 4). ). Specifically, a control signal is output from the control unit 12 so that the light intensity of each LED 114a in the lamp unit 14 corresponds to the above-described light distribution, and a lamp driving circuit is based on this control signal. The lighting control by 13 is performed.

  FIG. 3B shows the light distribution (irradiance distribution) of the irradiation light in the daytime. As shown here, even during the daytime, irradiation light with a light distribution that basically spreads from the front-rear direction of the host vehicle to the diagonally left rear and gradually decreases the irradiation light intensity is formed. The However, during the day, the irradiation light is formed so as to have a light distribution 214b in which the irradiation light intensity of the emitted light obliquely backward of the host vehicle is larger (see FIG. 4). Specifically, among the LEDs 114a and the like in the lamp unit 14, a control signal is output from the control unit 12 so that the intensity of light from the LEDs 114c, 114d, 114e, and 114f is larger than that at night. Based on the above, lighting control by the lamp driving circuit 13 is performed.

  More specifically, the light distribution 214b has an irradiation light intensity in a range equal to or larger than the angle α with a direction inclined obliquely to the left rear of the vehicle by a predetermined angle α with the front-rear direction of the vehicle as a reference (0 °). It is set to be relatively larger than that at night. Here, the magnitude of the angle α can be set to 10 °, for example. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the increment rate of the illumination intensity (ratio of night illumination intensity and daytime illumination intensity) in the range of the angle α or more is an angle formed by the front-rear direction of the own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle outside angle”). ”) Within a predetermined range (for example, within a range of at least 45 ° or less), it is preferable that the increase rate of the irradiation light intensity increases as the vehicle outside angle increases. Further, the daytime light distribution 214b is preferably 10 times the increment rate at the position where the vehicle outside angle is 45 °. That is, it is preferable that the daytime illumination intensity is set to 10 times the nighttime illumination intensity at the position of the vehicle outside angle of 45 °.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicular signal lamp system. Here, the operation from when the switch for operating the turn signal of the host vehicle is operated by the driver and turned on until the switch is turned off will be described. The operation state of the switch of the turn signal is given to the control unit 12 from a switch (not shown).

  When the turn signal switch is operated and turned on, the control unit 12 acquires the illuminance (environmental illuminance) of the surrounding environment detected by the optical sensor 10 (step S11), and whether the environmental illuminance is a predetermined value or less. It is determined whether or not (step S12). The predetermined value here is a value suitable for determining whether the surrounding environment of the host vehicle is daytime or nighttime, and is determined in advance based on experiments or the like.

  When the environmental illuminance is less than or equal to the predetermined value (step S12; YES), the control unit 12 performs lighting control under the irradiation condition corresponding to the night (step S13). Specifically, a control signal is generated and output to the lamp driving circuit 13 so that the emitted light from the lamp unit 14 forms a light distribution corresponding to the nighttime described above. Accordingly, the lamp unit 14 is turned on under the lighting control of the lamp driving circuit 13, and a light distribution 214a corresponding to the night is formed (see FIG. 3A).

  On the other hand, when the environmental illuminance is greater than the predetermined value (step S12; NO), the control unit 12 performs lighting control under irradiation conditions corresponding to daytime (step S14). Specifically, a control signal is generated and output to the lamp driving circuit 13 so that the light emitted from the lamp unit 14 forms a light distribution corresponding to the daytime described above. Accordingly, the lamp unit 14 is turned on under the lighting control of the lamp driving circuit 13, and a light distribution 214b corresponding to the night is formed (see FIG. 3B).

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the turn signal switch is turned off (step S15). If not turned off (step S15; NO), the control unit 12 returns to the above-described step S11 and thereafter. Continue processing.

  When the turn signal switch is turned off (step S15; YES), the control unit 12 performs control to turn off the lamp unit 14 (step S16).

  In the operation procedure shown in FIG. 5, the light distribution by the lamp unit 14 is selected from the one corresponding to daytime and the one corresponding to nighttime. It may be changed. The operation procedure in that case will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicular signal lamp system according to another aspect. Here again, the operation from when the switch for operating the turn signal of the host vehicle is operated by the driver and turned on will be described. The operation state of the switch of the turn signal is given to the control unit 12 from a switch (not shown).

  When the turn signal switch is operated and turned on, the control unit 12 acquires the ambient illuminance detected by the optical sensor 10 (step S21).

  Next, the control unit 12 sets an irradiation condition according to the magnitude of the environmental illuminance (step S22), and performs lighting control under the set irradiation condition (step S23). Specifically, the distribution of the irradiation light intensity is set between the distribution of the irradiation light intensity indicated by the solid line and the distribution of the irradiation light intensity indicated by the dotted line in FIG. For example, when the ambient illuminance is lower than during the day and higher than during the night (for example, at dusk), the distribution of the illumination intensity indicated by the solid line and the distribution of the illumination intensity indicated by the dotted line may be set to an intermediate distribution. it can. The setting of the distribution of the luminous intensity at this time may be changed continuously according to the magnitude of the environmental illuminance, or may be changed stepwise.

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the turn signal switch is turned off (step S24). If not turned off (step S24; NO), the control unit 12 returns to the above step S11 and thereafter. Continue processing.

  When the turn signal switch is turned off (step S24; YES), the control unit 12 performs control to turn off the lamp unit 14 (step S25).

  Note that in any of the operation procedures shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the distribution according to the environmental illuminance is performed only when the object detection unit 11 detects a target object such as a following vehicle behind the host vehicle. A light distribution may be formed. In this case, prior to the detection of the environmental illuminance, the control unit 12 determines the presence / absence of the target object based on the detection result by the object detection unit 11, and only after step S11 to step S21 when the target object exists. It is sufficient to execute the process.

  According to the embodiment as described above, the turn signal visibility is improved when the turn signal is turned on during the day, and the visibility of the turn signal is improved. It is possible to make traffic users (following vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) more surely notice the turn signal. In addition, when the ambient illuminance is low, such as at night, the illumination intensity of light to the side of the host vehicle is lowered, so that glare is not given to traffic users due to turn signals.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the content of embodiment mentioned above, In the range of the summary of this invention, it can change and implement variously.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the distribution of the irradiation light intensity is variably set by controlling the light intensity of the emitted light of each LED of the lamp unit, but the method for setting the distribution of the irradiation light intensity is not limited to this. Specifically, by using a light forming unit that combines a reflector unit and a lamp unit including an actuator for changing the position of the reflector and a means for controlling the actuator, the position of the reflector is changed to change the traveling direction of the emitted light. The distribution of the irradiation light intensity may be variably set. In addition, the distribution of irradiation intensity can be varied by using a light forming unit that combines a lamp unit having an element (for example, a liquid crystal element) capable of freely changing light transmittance and refractive index and means for driving the element. May be set. Furthermore, the distribution of the irradiation intensity may be variably set using a light forming unit that combines a lamp unit including a lens whose focal length can be freely controlled and means for driving the lens.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the vehicle signal lamp system of the present invention is applied to the turn signal lamp installed in the rear part of the vehicle is shown. However, the present invention is applied to the turn signal lamp installed in the front part of the vehicle. Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to both the front and rear turn signal lamps of the vehicle. Further, in addition to the turn signal lamp, the present invention may be applied to a stop lamp, a tail lamp, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Optical sensor 11: Object detection part 12: Control part 13: Lamp drive circuit 14: Lamp unit

Claims (5)

An optical sensor for detecting the illuminance of the surrounding environment of the vehicle,
A light forming unit that is installed at least at the rear of the host vehicle and emits irradiation light that spreads from the rear to the side of the host vehicle;
A control unit that controls the light forming unit so that the irradiation light having a distribution of irradiation light intensity according to the illuminance magnitude of the surrounding environment is formed;
Including
The light forming unit is configured to obtain a distribution of irradiation light intensity obtained by increasing the irradiation light intensity in an oblique direction with respect to the front-rear direction of the host vehicle when the illuminance of the surrounding environment is relatively large. To control the
Vehicle signal lighting system. When the illumination intensity of the surrounding environment is greater than a predetermined value, the control unit is configured to form the irradiation light having a first irradiation light intensity distribution in which the irradiation light intensity in the oblique direction is relatively large. Controlling the light forming unit so that the irradiation light having the distribution of the second irradiation light intensity is relatively small when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value;
The vehicle signal lamp system according to claim 1. The control unit is configured to form the irradiation light having a distribution of irradiation light intensity in which the irradiation light intensity is increased in the oblique direction of the host vehicle continuously or stepwise according to the illuminance level of the surrounding environment. Controlling the light forming unit,
The vehicle signal lamp system according to claim 1. The controller is configured to determine an increment rate of the irradiation light intensity when the illuminance of the surrounding environment is high relative to the irradiation light intensity when the illuminance of the surrounding environment is relatively small, a position away from the host vehicle up to a predetermined range. Controlling the light forming unit to become larger as
The signal lamp system for vehicles according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An object detection unit for detecting a target object behind the host vehicle,
The control unit sets the distribution of the luminous intensity of the irradiation light according to the illuminance magnitude of the surrounding environment only when the target object is detected by the object detection unit.
The signal lamp system for vehicles according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images