JP2018197020A - Head lamp optical axis control system and optical axis control method, and vehicle, optical axis control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical axis control system for a head lamp by which optical axis control can be suitably performed with respect to gradient change in a road on which a vehicle travels.SOLUTION: A head lamp optical axis control system comprises: an information acquisition part 20 which acquires positional information S1 which represents a position on a road on which a vehicle travels, and gradient information S2 which represents a gradient of the road in a direction of travel of the vehicle; and an optical axis adjustment part 30 which adjusts an optical axis based on said positional information S1 and gradient information S2 acquired by the information acquisition part 20. The optical axis adjustment part 30 adjusts the optical axis in alignment with a position at which a gradient change is terminated while starting movement of the optical axis from the front of a position at which a gradient change of the road is started in a direction in which the gradient of the road is changed, and returning the optical axis from the front of the position at which the gradient change of the road is terminated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the gradient of the road is changed, and starts next optical axis adjustment from the front of a position at which a next gradient change is started in the case that there is a position at which the next gradient change is started before completion of the optical axis adjustment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical axis control system and an optical axis control method for a headlamp, a vehicle, and an optical axis control program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical axis adjustment (auto-leveling) function for variably controlling an optical axis of light emitted from a headlamp toward the front of a vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle is mounted on a mass-produced vehicle. The optical axis adjustment in the vertical direction of the vehicle includes (1) optical axis adjustment in a range in which no glare is given to the vehicle ahead, and (2) the driver in that range. There is an optical axis adjustment for ensuring the front visibility to the maximum.

  In particular, an optical axis control method called dynamic control realizes a function of detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction in real time and adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp in the direction (1) or (2). Yes.

  On the other hand, in this dynamic control, the change in the optical axis accompanying the change in the attitude of the vehicle is performed in order to adjust the optical axis of the light emitted from the headlamp toward the front of the vehicle after detecting the tilt in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Can be eliminated to some extent.

  However, in the conventional optical axis control method, there is a case where a difference occurs between a region that the driver actually wants to see and a region that is irradiated with light with respect to a change in road gradient. For example, when a vehicle enters an uphill or downhill from a flat ground, the driver has a psychology to check the uphill or downhill ahead before entering the uphill or downhill. This vehicle is in a state of irradiating light toward a flat ground until it enters an uphill or downhill.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a method has been proposed in which information indicating a change in road gradient is obtained, and the optical axis is adjusted based on the information before the road gradient changes ( For example, see the following Patent Documents 1 and 2.) In addition, a method for appropriately detecting a change in road gradient while imaging the front of the vehicle with a camera has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4 below).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-151046 JP 2013-43640 A JP 2015-44426 A JP2015-205546A

  However, in the optical axis control by the conventional method described above, the optical axis is adjusted in accordance with the time when the gradient change of the road is completed. For this reason, it is difficult to eliminate the difference that occurs between the area that the driver actually wants to see and the area that is irradiated with light with respect to the above-described change in road gradient.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and the optical axis control of the headlamp that makes it possible to appropriately adjust the optical axis with respect to the gradient change of the road on which the vehicle travels. It is an object to provide a system, an optical axis control method, a vehicle, and an optical axis control program.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
[1] An optical axis control system for a headlamp that variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlamp toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
An information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels, and gradient information indicating a road gradient in a traveling direction of the vehicle;
An optical axis adjustment unit that adjusts the optical axis based on position information and gradient information acquired by the information acquisition unit;
The optical axis adjustment unit starts optical axis movement in a direction in which the road gradient changes from a position before the road gradient change starts, and from a position before the road gradient change ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the road gradient changes, the optical axis is adjusted to the position where the road gradient change ends,
In a case where there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. Optical axis control system for headlamps.
[2] The optical axis adjustment unit calculates a movement amount of the optical axis based on a change rate of the gradient between a position where the gradient change of the road starts and a position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control system for a headlamp according to [1].
[3] A gradient detector that detects a gradient of a road on which the vehicle travels,
The optical axis adjustment unit corrects the movement amount of the optical axis based on gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit. The headlamp according to [1] or [2], Optical axis control system.
[4] A vehicle inclination detection unit that detects the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction,
The said optical axis adjustment part correct | amends the movement amount of the said optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information which the said vehicle inclination detection part detected, Any one of said [1]-[3] characterized by the above-mentioned. An optical axis control system for a headlamp described in 1.
[5] A vehicle including the headlamp optical axis control system according to any one of [1] to [4].
[6] An optical axis control method for a headlamp that variably controls an optical axis of light emitted from the headlamp toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
An information acquisition step of acquiring position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a road gradient in the traveling direction of the vehicle;
An optical axis adjustment step of adjusting the optical axis based on the position information and gradient information acquired in the information acquisition step,
In the optical axis adjustment step, the optical axis movement is started in the direction in which the road gradient changes from a position before the road gradient change is started, and from the position before the road gradient change ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the road gradient changes, the optical axis is adjusted to the position where the road gradient change ends,
In a case where there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. To control the optical axis of the headlamp.
[7] In the optical axis adjustment step, the movement amount of the optical axis is calculated based on a change rate of the gradient between a position where the gradient change of the road starts and a position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control method for a headlamp according to [6] above.
[8] In the optical axis adjustment step, the movement amount of the optical axis is corrected based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit while the gradient detection unit detects the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels. The optical axis control method for a headlamp as described in [6] or [7] above.
[9] In the optical axis adjustment step, a vehicle inclination detection unit detects an inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, and corrects the movement amount of the optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit. The optical axis control method for a headlamp according to any one of [6] to [8], wherein:
[10] An optical axis control program for executing the optical axis control method for a headlamp according to any one of [6] to [9].

  As described above, according to the present invention, an optical axis control system and an optical axis control method for a headlamp, and a vehicle capable of appropriately performing optical axis adjustment with respect to a change in the gradient of a road on which the vehicle travels. It is possible to provide an optical axis control program.

It is a mimetic diagram showing composition of an optical axis control system with which vehicles concerning one embodiment of the present invention are provided. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical axis control system with which the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the optical axis control method performed in the optical axis control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment by the optical axis control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment in the area where a gradient changes from the flat ground shown in FIG. 4 to an upward gradient. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment in the area where a gradient changes to the flat ground from the uphill shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating optical axis adjustment in case a gradient change is continuous. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the optical axis control method performed when the gradient change shown in FIG. 7 continues.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, as one embodiment of the present invention, for example, an optical axis control system 10 provided in the vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical axis control system 10 provided in the vehicle 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the optical axis control system 10 provided in the vehicle 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical axis control system 10 provided in the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment uses the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlamp 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1. It is variably controlled in the vertical direction.

  Specifically, the optical axis control system 10 acquires information for acquiring position information S1 indicating the position on the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels and gradient information S2 indicating the gradient of the road R in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. And an optical axis adjustment unit 30 that adjusts the optical axis X based on the position information S1 and the gradient information S2 acquired by the information acquisition unit 20.

  For example, the information acquisition unit 20 receives (acquires) position information S1 indicating the current position of the vehicle 1 by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Further, the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 is checked by comparing the current position of the vehicle 1 with a gradient information database such as 3D map data recorded in the car navigation system or a gradient information database published on the Internet. The gradient information S2 of the road R at is acquired. Furthermore, it is also possible to acquire the position information S1 and the gradient information S2 described above by inter-vehicle communication with a preceding vehicle.

  The optical axis adjustment unit 30 includes an optical axis adjustment mechanism 31 provided in the headlamp 2 and a control unit 32 that controls driving of the optical axis adjustment mechanism 31. In addition, the information acquisition unit 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 32, thereby supplying the position information S <b> 1 and the gradient information S <b> 2 described above to the control unit 32.

  The optical axis adjustment mechanism 31 adjusts the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlamp 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1. As the optical axis adjustment mechanism 31, for example, an actuator such as a motor is used to move the optical axis X of the light L in the vertical direction, or by switching the lighting of a plurality of light emitting elements, the optical axis X of the light L is moved up and down. A device that moves in the direction or a device that moves the optical axis X of the light L in the vertical direction using a variable mirror such as DMD (Digital Mirror Device) can be used.

  The light source of the headlamp 2 is not particularly limited. For example, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD), a halogen lamp, or an HID (light emitting diode). High-Intensity Discharge) lamps, projector lamps, and the like can be used.

  The control unit 32 is, for example, a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The control unit 32 develops and executes a control program stored in the ROM on the RAM, and controls the driving of the optical axis adjustment mechanism 31 according to the processing (calculation) result by the CPU.

  The optical axis control system 10 includes a gradient detection unit 40 that detects the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels. As the gradient detection unit 40, for example, a visible light camera that monitors the road surface condition in front of the vehicle 1, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) that detects a change in the gradient of the road using laser light, and the like can be used. The gradient detection unit 40 is electrically connected to the control unit 32 and supplies the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detection unit 40 to the control unit 32.

  Further, the optical axis control system 10 includes a vehicle inclination detection unit 50 that detects the inclination of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction. The vehicle tilt detection unit 50 may be any sensor that can detect the tilt of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction, such as a tilt sensor, an acceleration (G) sensor, and an angular velocity (gyro) sensor. The vehicle tilt detection unit 50 is electrically connected to the control unit 32 and supplies the vehicle tilt detection information S4 detected by the vehicle tilt detection unit 50 to the control unit 32.

  Further, the optical axis control system 10 includes, for example, sensors provided in each part of the vehicle 1 for vehicle traveling information S5 indicating the traveling state of the traveling vehicle 1 such as the steering angle (cutting angle) and speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle 1. (Not shown) or the like is supplied to the control unit 32.

  In the optical axis control system 10 of the present embodiment, the control unit 32 controls the driving of the optical axis adjustment mechanism 31 according to a control program (hereinafter referred to as an optical axis control program) that executes an optical axis control method to which the present invention is applied. However, the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlamp 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1 is variably controlled in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1.

  Specifically, an optical axis control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an optical axis control method executed in the optical axis control system 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment by the optical axis control system 10. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining optical axis adjustment in the section E2 in which the gradient changes from the flat ground E1 to the upward gradient E3 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining optical axis adjustment in the section E4 in which the gradient changes from the upward gradient E3 to the flat ground E1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical axis control method of the present embodiment includes an information acquisition step S100 including a step S101 for acquiring the position information S1 and a step S102 for acquiring the gradient information S2, the position information S1 and the gradient information. An optical axis adjustment step S200 including a step S201 for calculating the movement amount of the optical axis based on S2 and a step S202 for moving the optical axis based on the calculation result is executed in this order.

  Specifically, first, in step S <b> 101, the information acquisition unit 20 described above acquires position information S <b> 1 indicating the current position of the vehicle 1, and supplies this position information S <b> 1 to the control unit 32.

  Next, in step S102, the information acquisition unit 20 described above collates the gradient information database with the current position of the vehicle 1, thereby acquiring the gradient information S2 of the road R in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1, and this gradient information S2 Is supplied to the control unit 32.

  Next, in step S201, the control unit 32 calculates the movement amount of the optical axis X based on the position information S1 and the gradient information S2 supplied from the information acquisition unit 20 described above.

  In step S201, the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels is detected by the gradient detector 40, and the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detector 40. . In this case, by obtaining the gradient detection information S3 together with the gradient information S2, it is possible to more accurately grasp the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels.

  Further, in step S201, the vehicle inclination detection unit 50 detects the inclination of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction, and the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the vehicle inclination detection information S4 detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit 50. . In this case, even if there is a large divergence between the actual road R gradient and the vehicle 1 and the inclination by collating the gradient information S2 and the gradient detection information S3 described above with the vehicle inclination detection information S4. It is possible to correct the amount.

  Further, in step S201, the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the vehicle travel information S5 indicating the travel state of the traveling vehicle 1, such as the steering angle (cut angle) and speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle 1. Thereby, it is possible to perform correction according to the traveling state of the vehicle 1.

  Next, in step S202, the movement of the optical axis X in the direction in which the gradient of the road R changes starts from the position before the change of the gradient of the road R (hereinafter referred to as the gradient change start point) P1, The position where the gradient change of the road R ends (hereinafter referred to as the gradient change end point) The gradient change of the road R is completed while returning the optical axis X in a direction opposite to the direction in which the gradient of the road R changes from before P2. Adjust the optical axis according to the position.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 1 moves from the flat ground E1 through the gradient changing section E3 to the uphill gradient E2 having a constant angle, and moves from the uphill E2 through the gradient changing section E4 to the flat ground E1. The optical axis X is adjusted by taking as an example the case of moving from the flat ground E1 to the downward gradient E6 having a constant angle through the gradient changing section E5 and moving from the downward gradient E6 to the flat ground E1 through the gradient changing section E7. A specific optical axis control method will be described.

  First, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the flat ground E1 to the upward gradient E2 via the gradient change section E3, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the distance to the gradient change start point P1 in the gradient change section E3. When approaching by m, the movement of the optical axis X (X2 in FIG. 5) from the position of the optical axis X (X1 in FIG. 5) aligned with the flat ground E1 is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when approaching the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E3 by the distance n, the optical axis X (FIG. 5) matched with the downward gradient E3 while returning the optical axis X (X3 in FIG. 5) downward. When moving to the position X4), the optical axis adjustment in the gradient change section E2 is completed.

  Thus, when the vehicle 1 enters the ascending gradient E3 from the flat ground E1, the light L is emitted from the front of the ascending gradient E3 toward the ascending gradient E3. Can be secured. On the other hand, after entering the ascending slope E3, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view according to the ascending slope E3 without giving glare or the like to the vehicle ahead.

  Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the ascending slope E2 to the flat ground E1 via the slope changing section E4, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, the slope changing start point P1 in the slope changing section E4 is reached. When approaching the distance m, the movement of the optical axis X (X5 in FIG. 6) in the downward direction starts from the position of the optical axis X (X4 in FIG. 6) aligned with the upward gradient E3. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the distance n approaches the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E4, the optical axis X (X6 in FIG. 6) is adjusted to the flat ground E1 while returning the optical axis X (X6 in FIG. 6) upward. The optical axis adjustment in the gradient change section E4 is completed at the time when it has moved to the position X7).

  As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the flat ground E1 from the ascending slope E3, the light L is emitted from the front of the flat ground E1 toward the flat ground E1, and thus the driver's view is secured toward the flat ground E1. It is possible. On the other hand, after entering the flat terrain E1, it is possible to secure the driver's visual field in accordance with the flat terrain E1 while preventing the driver's visual field from narrowing.

  Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the flat ground E1 to the downward gradient E6 via the gradient change section E5, the gradient change start point P1 in the gradient change section E5 is the same as the case shown in FIG. When approaching the distance m, the movement of the optical axis X in the downward direction is started from the position of the optical axis X adjusted to the downward gradient E6. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the distance n approaches the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E5, this gradient is obtained when the optical axis X is moved upward and moved to the position of the optical axis X in accordance with the downward gradient E6. The optical axis adjustment in the change section E5 is completed.

  As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the downward gradient E6 from the flat ground E1, the light L is emitted from the front of the downward gradient E6 toward the downward gradient E6. Therefore, the driver's view toward the downward gradient E6 Can be secured. On the other hand, after entering the downward gradient E6, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view in accordance with the downward gradient E6 while preventing the driver's field of view from narrowing.

  Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the descending slope E6 to the flat ground E1 via the slope changing section E7, the slope changing start point P1 in the slope changing section E7 is similar to the case shown in FIG. When approaching the distance m, the optical axis X starts to move upward from the position of the optical axis X aligned with the flat ground E1. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the distance n approaches the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E7, this gradient change is obtained when the optical axis X is moved downward and moved to the position of the optical axis X aligned with the flat ground E1. The optical axis adjustment in the section E7 is completed.

  Thereby, when the vehicle 1 enters the flat ground E1 from the descending slope E6, the light L is emitted from the front of the flat ground E1 toward the flat ground E1, and thus the driver's view is secured toward the flat ground E1. It is possible. On the other hand, after entering the flat terrain E1, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view according to the flat terrain E1 without giving glare or the like to the vehicle ahead.

  By the way, in the actual road R, the direction of the gradient may change continuously. In that case, it is preferable to start the next optical axis adjustment before the optical axis adjustment described above is completed. Specifically, an optical axis control method in the case where the gradient change continues will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment when the gradient change continues. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the optical axis control method executed when the gradient change shown in FIG. 7 continues.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle 1 moves from the ascending gradient E3 to the ascending gradient E3 via the gradient changing section E2 without moving to the flat ground E1 via the gradient changing section E4, the previous gradient change Before completing the optical axis adjustment in the section E4, the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, after the information acquisition step S100, as the optical axis adjustment step S200, first, in step S203, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the previous optical axis adjustment is completed. It is determined whether or not the position exists.

  In step S203, a time point T1 that approaches the gradient change end point P12 in the previous gradient change section E4 shown in FIG. 7 by a distance n1, and a time point T2 that approaches the gradient change start point P21 in the next gradient change section E2 by a distance m2. If the time point T2 exists after the time point T1, the process proceeds to step S211. On the other hand, when the time point T2 exists before the time point T1, the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S211, after completing the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4, it is determined that the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started, and the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is performed. And the movement amount of the optical axis X in the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 are calculated. Thereafter, in step S202, after completing the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4, control is performed to start the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2.

  On the other hand, in step S221, it is determined that the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started before the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is completed, and the optical axis in the previous optical axis adjustment is determined. The movement amount of X and the movement amount of the optical axis X in the next optical axis adjustment are calculated. Thereafter, in step S202, control for starting the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is performed before the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is completed.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle 1 approaches the gradient change start point P11 in the previous gradient change section E4 from the uphill gradient E3 by the distance m1, the optical axis X adjusted to the uphill gradient E3. The movement of the optical axis X from the position downward is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S221 described above.

  Then, when the gradient change start point P12 in the next gradient change section E2 approaches the distance m2, the movement of the optical axis X in the upward direction is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S221 described above.

  Then, when approaching the slope change end P22 in the next slope change section E2 by the distance n2, the optical axis X is returned to the downward direction and moved to the position of the optical axis X in accordance with the upward slope E3. The optical axis adjustment in the gradient change section E2 is completed.

  Thereby, when the direction of the gradient changes continuously, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view when the direction of the gradient continuously changes while reducing the uncomfortable feeling felt by the driver. .

  In this embodiment, the movement of the optical axis X in the upward direction is started when the distance m2 approaches the gradient change start point P12 in the next gradient change section E2, but the gradient direction continues. In consideration of the length of the section that changes, the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1, etc., in some cases, the movement amount of the optical axis is reduced, the movement of the optical axis X is stopped, or the movement speed of the optical axis X is further reduced. Can be adjusted. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling felt by the driver and to secure the driver's field of view.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light L emitted from the headlamp 2 before the gradient changes according to the movement of the driver's line of sight while the gradient of the road R changes. It is possible to align the axis X.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the gradient is pre-read and the movement of the optical axis X is started at the same time or slightly earlier than the timing of moving the line of sight, so that the natural movement according to the movement of the driver's line of sight due to the gradient change is started. It is possible to adjust the optical axis in a shape. Further, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view without giving glare or the like to the vehicle ahead.

In addition, this invention is not necessarily limited to the thing of the said embodiment, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
For example, in the optical axis control system 10 described above, the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detector 40, the vehicle inclination detection information S4 detected by the vehicle inclination detector 50, and the vehicle travel information S5 indicating the travel state of the vehicle 1 However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration, and the gradient detection information S3 and the vehicle inclination detection information S4 are not necessarily limited to such a configuration. The moving amount of the optical axis X may be set while appropriately omitting the vehicle travel information S5.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where an optical axis adjustment was performed with respect to the gradient change of the road R on which the vehicle 1 drive | works, combining such an optical axis adjustment function and the conventional auto leveling function may be carried out. Is possible.

  Also in this case, it is possible to obtain an appropriate movement amount of the optical axis X in consideration of the optical axis control by the auto leveling function. In addition, when the dynamic leveling function is used in actual driving, the optical axis is frequently adjusted according to the inclination of the vehicle, and in some cases, the optical axis may be adjusted in a direction not intended by the driver. . In that case, the optical axis adjustment may be performed by giving priority between the optical axis adjustment according to the present embodiment and the optical axis adjustment by auto-leveling.

  Furthermore, in the optical axis adjustment corresponding to the gradient change, when a vehicle is present ahead, there is a possibility that glare is given to the vehicle ahead. In this case, by providing a sensor, camera, radar, and the like that detect the vehicle ahead, it is possible to adjust the optical axis while taking into account the presence of the vehicle ahead. If there is a preceding vehicle, for example, the optical axis adjustment may be performed such that the limit angle for raising the optical axis is set to the height of the tail lamp of the preceding vehicle.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle 2 ... Headlamp 10 ... Optical axis control system 20 ... Information acquisition part 30 ... Optical axis adjustment part 31 ... Optical axis adjustment mechanism 32 ... Control part 40 ... Gradient detection part 50 ... Vehicle inclination detection part S1 ... Position information S2 ... Gradient information S3 ... Gradient detection information S4 ... Vehicle inclination detection information S5 ... Vehicle travel information E1 ... Plane E2, E4, E5, E7 ... Gradient change section E3 ... Upgrade E6 ... Down grades P1, P11, P21 ... Gradient change Start point P2, P12, P22 ... Gradient change end point X ... Optical axis

Claims (10)

An optical axis control system for a headlamp that variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlamp toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
An information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels, and gradient information indicating a road gradient in a traveling direction of the vehicle;
An optical axis adjustment unit that adjusts the optical axis based on position information and gradient information acquired by the information acquisition unit;
The optical axis adjustment unit starts optical axis movement in a direction in which the road gradient changes from a position before the road gradient change starts, and from a position before the road gradient change ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the road gradient changes, the optical axis is adjusted to the position where the road gradient change ends,
In a case where there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. Optical axis control system for headlamps.   The optical axis adjustment unit calculates a movement amount of the optical axis based on a change rate of the gradient between a position where the gradient change of the road starts and a position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control system of the headlamp according to 1. A slope detector for detecting a slope of a road on which the vehicle travels;
The optical axis control of the headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis adjustment unit corrects a movement amount of the optical axis based on gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit. system. A vehicle inclination detector for detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction;
The said optical axis adjustment part correct | amends the moving amount | distance of the said optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information which the said vehicle inclination detection part detected. Optical axis control system for headlamps.   A vehicle provided with the optical axis control system of the headlamp as described in any one of Claims 1-4. An optical axis control method for a headlamp that variably controls an optical axis of light emitted toward the front of a vehicle from a headlamp in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
An information acquisition step of acquiring position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a road gradient in the traveling direction of the vehicle;
An optical axis adjustment step of adjusting the optical axis based on the position information and gradient information acquired in the information acquisition step,
In the optical axis adjustment step, the optical axis movement is started in the direction in which the road gradient changes from a position before the road gradient change is started, and from the position before the road gradient change ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the road gradient changes, the optical axis is adjusted to the position where the road gradient change ends,
In a case where there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. To control the optical axis of the headlamp.   The optical axis adjustment step calculates an amount of movement of the optical axis based on a change rate of the gradient between a position where the gradient change of the road starts and a position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control method of the headlamp of 6.   In the optical axis adjustment step, the amount of movement of the optical axis is corrected based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit while the gradient detection unit detects the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels. An optical axis control method for a headlamp according to claim 6 or 7.   In the optical axis adjustment step, a vehicle inclination detection unit detects an inclination in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and corrects the movement amount of the optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit. The method of controlling an optical axis of a headlamp according to any one of claims 6 to 8.   The optical axis control program which performs the optical axis control method of the headlamp as described in any one of Claims 6-9.

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