JP2021133824A - Vehicular headlight - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular headlight that allows a driver of an own vehicle to recognize the existence of an object.SOLUTION: A vehicular headlight 20 includes: a lighting fixture 30; a determination part 40 for determining whether an object satisfies a predetermined requirement on the basis of information from a detection device 100 for detecting an object positioned ahead of an own vehicle 10; and a control unit 50. When the determination part 40 determines that an object satisfies the predetermined requirement, the control unit 50 controls the lighting fixture 30 so that a volume of light emitted by the lighting fixture 30 toward at least part of the object increases to a predetermined amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to vehicle headlights.

Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle headlight system that detects a light emitting object such as a vehicle in front that emits light by itself and a retroreflective object such as a road sign that does not emit light by itself and retroreflects light at a predetermined spreading angle. .. Such a vehicle headlight system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The vehicle headlight system disclosed in Patent Document 1 captures a headlight that alternately repeats irradiation and non-irradiation of light, and an image of the front of the vehicle during irradiation and non-irradiation. It is provided with a photographing unit that generates a non-irradiated image and a non-irradiated image. In addition, the vehicle headlight system determines the high-brightness portion located in the non-irradiated image as a light emitting object, and recurses the high-brightness portion located in the irradiated image but not in the non-irradiated image. It is provided with a detection unit that determines as a reflecting object.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-110999

In the vehicle headlight system disclosed in Patent Document 1, information on an object such as a light emitting object or a retroreflective object determined by a determination unit is used for controlling the light distribution of light from the headlight. When the light distribution is controlled, the amount of light from the headlights of the vehicle approaching the object located in front of the vehicle has not changed, and the light from the headlights of the vehicle is the vehicle's. Even if the object located in front is irradiated, there is a concern that the driver of the own vehicle does not recognize the existence of the object.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlight that can make the driver of the own vehicle recognize the existence of the object.

In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle headlight of the present invention is based on information from a lamp for which a front portion of the vehicle is arranged and a detection device for detecting an object located in front of the vehicle. The control unit includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the object satisfies a predetermined requirement and a control unit that controls the lamp, and the control unit satisfies the predetermined requirement by the determination unit. When it is determined that the lamp is satisfied, the lamp is controlled so that the amount of light emitted from the lamp toward at least a part of the object is increased to a predetermined amount.

Here, the predetermined requirement will be described as, for example, that the distance between the vehicle and the object located in front of the vehicle is less than the predetermined distance. When the amount of light increases to a predetermined amount while the object satisfies a predetermined requirement, the driver's attention to the object can be called more than when the amount of light does not increase to a predetermined amount. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to recognize the existence of the object.

Further, it is preferable that the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light returns to the amount of light before the amount of light increases from the predetermined amount after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the amount of light has increased to the predetermined amount.

When light irradiates a retroreflective object as an object when the distance between the vehicle and an object located in front of the vehicle is less than a predetermined distance, part of the light is reflected from the retroreflective object as reflected light. There is a concern that it will go to the own vehicle and give glare to the driver of the own vehicle. In this vehicle headlight, after a predetermined period of time elapses, the amount of light returns to the amount before the increase, which is less than the predetermined amount. Therefore, after the driver of the own vehicle recognizes the existence of the object, the intensity of the reflected light is suppressed. obtain. As a result, even if the reflected light travels to the own vehicle, glare can be suppressed from being applied to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the control unit controls the lamp so that after the amount of light has increased to the predetermined amount, the amount of light increases and decreases repeatedly between the predetermined amount and the amount of light less than the predetermined amount.

As the amount of light increases or decreases, the object may blink, further alerting the driver of the vehicle to the object. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, the driver of the own vehicle can be made more aware of the existence of the object.

Alternatively, the control unit repeats an increase / decrease between the predetermined amount and a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount after the light amount increases to the predetermined amount, and the predetermined amount gradually decreases each time the amount of light increases. In addition, it is preferable to control the lamp.

Since the predetermined amount gradually decreases, the intensity of the reflected light from the retroreflective object as the object can be suppressed as compared with the blinking of the retroreflective object as the object when the predetermined amount is constant. As a result, even if the reflected light travels to the own vehicle, glare can be suppressed from being applied to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, the presence of the object can be further recognized by the driver of the own vehicle by blinking, and the deterioration of the visibility of the driver of the own vehicle can be suppressed. In addition, when the driver of the own vehicle can recognize the existence of the object in the first fixed period within the predetermined period, the amount of light is constant in the remaining period excluding the fixed period within the predetermined period. When the object blinks at, the driver may feel annoyed when visually recognizing the front. In this vehicle headlight, since the predetermined amount gradually decreases each time the amount of light increases, it is possible to suppress the trouble of visually recognizing the front when the object blinks while the amount of light is constant. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light increases to the predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount.

In this vehicle headlight, a sharp decrease in the amount of light from a predetermined amount to a light amount less than the predetermined amount is suppressed. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle due to a sharp decrease. Further, according to this vehicle headlight, the driver of the own vehicle can naturally become accustomed to the brightness in front of the vehicle as compared with the case where the amount of light does not gradually decrease. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light increases to the predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount.

In this vehicle headlight, since the state in which the amount of light is a predetermined amount is shorter than the state in which the amount of light remains in a predetermined amount in a predetermined period, it is possible to suppress the trouble of visually recognizing the front due to the amount of light. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle. Further, according to the vehicle headlight, the control unit may control the lamp at the timing when the amount of light is gradually reduced. Therefore, the burden on the control unit can be reduced as compared with the case where the amount of light is not gradually reduced.

Further, it is preferable that the determination unit determines whether or not the retroreflective object satisfies the predetermined requirement based on the information from the detection device that detects the retroreflective object which is the object. In this case, the driver's attention to the retroreflective object may be aroused. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to recognize the existence of the retroreflective object.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the determination unit determines whether or not the human has satisfied the predetermined requirement based on the information from the detection device that detects the human being the object. In this case, the attention of the driver of the own vehicle to humans such as pedestrians can be called out. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to recognize the existence of a human being.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlight that allows the driver of the own vehicle to recognize the existence of the object.

FIG. 1 is a plan view conceptually showing a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction schematically showing one lamp shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle headlights. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern when the object does not satisfy a predetermined requirement. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern when the amount of light is increased to a predetermined amount when the retroreflective object which is an object satisfies a predetermined requirement. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern when a retroreflective object, which is an object, satisfies a predetermined requirement and the light amount increases to a predetermined amount and then decreases to a reference light amount after a predetermined period elapses. Is. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern when the amount of light is increased to a predetermined amount when a human being as an object satisfies a predetermined requirement. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fifth modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. FIG. 14 is a plan view conceptually showing a vehicle in a modified example of distance calculation by the calculation unit.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the vehicle headlight according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments illustrated below are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not for limiting the interpretation of the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may appropriately combine the components in each of the embodiments exemplified below. For ease of understanding, some parts may be exaggerated in each figure.

FIG. 1 is a plan view conceptually showing the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle headlight 20 and a detection device 100.

The vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment is a headlight for an automobile. The vehicle headlight 20 mainly includes a pair of lamps 30 arranged on the left and right of the front portion of the vehicle 10, a determination unit 40, a control unit 50, and a recording unit 60. In the present specification, "right" means the right side in the traveling direction of the vehicle 10, and "left" means the left side in the traveling direction of the vehicle 10.

The pair of lamps 30 have shapes that are substantially symmetrical with each other in the left-right direction of the vehicle 10. The pair of lamps 30 of the present embodiment emits a low beam or a high beam in front of the vehicle 10. The configuration of one of the pair of lamps 30 is the same as the configuration of the other lamp 30b of the pair of lamps 30, except that the shape is substantially symmetrical.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction schematically showing one of the lamps 30a shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, one of the lamps 30a includes a light source 31, a reflector 32, a reflecting device 33, a projection lens 34, and a light absorbing plate 35 as main configurations.

In the present embodiment, the light source 31 emits light toward the front of the light source 31. The light source 31 is a light emitting element that emits light. Examples of such a light source 31 include an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits white light.

In the present embodiment, the reflector 32 is a curved plate-shaped member. The reflector 32 has a reflecting surface 32r located on the inner surface of the curved reflector 32. The reflecting surface 32r is curved so as to be concave on the side opposite to the light source 31 side. Such a reflecting surface 32r has, for example, a rotating elliptic curved surface shape. Further, the reflector 32 is arranged so that the reflecting surface 32r covers the light source 31 from the front side. The reflection surface 32r reflects the light emitted from the light source 31 onto the reflection control surface 33r of the reflection device 33, which will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the reflector 33 is arranged above the light source 31 and behind the reflector 32. The reflection device 33 of the present embodiment is a so-called DMD (Digital Mirror Device), and has a reflection control surface 33r that reflects light. The reflection control surface 33r is arranged so as to face the front side. The reflection control surface 33r is irradiated with light emitted from the light source 31 and reflected by the reflection surface 32r of the reflector 32. The reflection control surface 33r is composed of reflection surfaces of a plurality of reflection elements arranged two-dimensionally. These reflective elements are individually tiltably supported on a substrate (not shown). The plurality of reflecting elements have a first tilted state in which the light from the reflector 32 is reflected toward the projection lens 34 and a second tilted state in which the light from the reflector 32 is reflected toward the light absorption plate 35. It is said that each can be switched individually. By controlling the tilted state of the reflecting element, such a reflecting device 33 can form a desired light distribution pattern or change the light distribution pattern by the light directed from the reflection control surface 33r to the projection lens 34. Further, by controlling the tilted state of these reflecting elements over time, the light intensity distribution of a desired light distribution pattern can be made into a desired intensity distribution.

The projection lens 34 is a lens that adjusts the divergence angle of the incident light. The projection lens 34 is arranged in front of the reflection device 33, and light directed from the reflection control surface 33r toward the projection lens 34 is incident, and the divergence angle of this light is adjusted in the projection lens 34. The projection lens 34 is a lens having an incident surface and an exit surface formed in a convex shape. The rear focal point of the projection lens 34 is located on or near the reflection control surface 33r of the reflection device 33. A predetermined light whose divergence angle is adjusted by such a projection lens 34 is emitted from one of the lamps 30a, and the predetermined light is emitted to the front of the vehicle 10.

In the present embodiment, the light absorbing plate 35 is arranged in front of and above the reflecting device 33. The light absorption plate 35 is a plate-shaped member having light absorption property, and converts most of the light incident on the light absorption plate 35 into heat. When the light directed from the reflection control surface 33r toward the light absorption plate 35 enters the light absorption plate 35, most of this light is converted into heat by the light absorption plate 35. Heat is released from the light absorption plate 35 to the outside of the light absorption plate 35. Examples of the light absorbing plate 35 include a plate-shaped member made of a metal such as aluminum and having a surface subjected to black alumite processing or the like.

The configuration of one of the lamps 30a is not particularly limited to the above. On the other hand, the lamp 30a may be configured to scan the light emitted from the light source 31 using a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), a galvano mirror, or the like, and emit the light forward. Alternatively, one of the lamps 30a is configured to diffract the light emitted from the light source 31 using an LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon), a diffraction grating, or the like to form a desired light distribution pattern and emit it forward. You may.

Here, returning to FIG. 1, the description of the vehicle 10 will be continued.

In the present embodiment, the detection device 100 detects an object located in front of the vehicle 10. Examples of the object detected by the detection device 100 include a retroreflective object and an object other than the retroreflective object. A retroreflective object is an object that does not emit light by itself and retroreflects the light that irradiates the retroreflective object at a predetermined spread angle. Examples of such a retroreflective object include a road sign installed near the road. Examples of objects other than retroreflective objects include vehicles such as preceding vehicles and oncoming vehicles, and humans such as pedestrians. As a configuration of the detection device 100, the detection device 100 mainly includes, for example, a camera (not shown), an image processing unit, a detection unit, and the like. The camera is attached to the front part of the vehicle 10 and photographs the front of the vehicle 10. The captured image captured by the camera includes at least a part of the area irradiated with the light emitted from the pair of lamps 30. The image processing unit performs image processing on the captured image captured by the camera. The detection unit detects the ratio of the object in the photographed image and the amount of change in the size of the object in the photographed image from the photographed image processed by the image processing unit over time. When a vehicle away from the object approaches the object over time, the amount of change in the size of the object is small, and the vehicle moves forward over time and the vehicle close to the object is the object. The amount of change in the size of the object becomes larger when it gets closer to. The size of the object indicates, for example, the area of the object, the width of the object, and the like. When the detection device 100 detects an object located in front of the vehicle 10, the detection unit 40 determines information such as the ratio of the object in the captured image and the amount of time change in the size of the object in the captured image. Output to. Further, the detection device 100 outputs the captured image to the recording unit 60. The object to be detected by the detection device 100, the number of types of the object, and the configuration of the detection device 100 are not particularly limited. Examples of the configuration of the image processing unit and the configuration of the detection unit include the same configuration as that of the control unit 50. The configuration of the control unit 50 will be described later.

The determination unit 40 determines whether or not the object satisfies a predetermined requirement based on the information from the detection device 100 that detects the object located in front of the vehicle 10. The predetermined requirement is, for example, that the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than the predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is, for example, 130 m. The numerical value of this distance is recorded in the recording unit 60 as a threshold value, and may be appropriately changed according to the traveling condition of the vehicle 10 such as daytime or nighttime. As a configuration of the determination unit 40, the determination unit 40 mainly includes, for example, a calculation unit and a determination main body unit (not shown). The calculation unit calculates the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object based on the above ratio and the amount of change in the information from the detection device 100. The calculated distance is output to the determination main body. The determination main body unit reads a predetermined distance, which is a threshold value, from the recording unit 60, compares the calculated distance with the predetermined distance, and determines whether or not the calculated distance is larger than the predetermined distance. When the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the determination main body determines that the object does not satisfy the predetermined requirements. Further, when the calculated distance is less than a predetermined distance, the determination main body unit determines that the object is in a state of satisfying the predetermined requirement. The determination result of the determination main body unit is input to the control unit 50. The predetermined requirement is not particularly limited, and may be the size of an object in the captured image, etc., even if it is not a distance. As the configuration of the determination unit 40, for example, the same configuration as that of the control unit 50 can be mentioned.

The control unit 50 can use, for example, an integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, an IC (Integrated Circuit), an LSI (Large-scale Integrated Circuit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an NC (Numerical Control) device. Further, when the NC device is used, the control unit 50 may use a machine learning device or may not use a machine learning device.

The control unit 50 determines whether or not a control signal from a light switch (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 10 is input. The control signal is a signal instructing the start of light emission from each light source 31 of the pair of lamps 30. When the control signal is input to the control unit 50, the control unit 50 drives a pair of lamps 30. When the control signal is not input to the control unit 50, the control unit 50 stops the driving of the pair of lamps 30.

The recording unit 60 records a captured image output from the detection device 100, a predetermined distance which is the above-mentioned threshold value in the determination unit 40, and a predetermined amount of light amount which will be described later. Examples of the recording unit 60 include a semiconductor memory such as a ROM, a magnetic disk, and the like.

Next, the operation of the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle headlight 20 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the flowchart of the present embodiment includes steps S1 to S5.

(Step S1)
The detection device 100 photographs the front of the vehicle 10 with a camera. When the detection device 100 detects an object located in front of the vehicle 10 from the photographed image, the detection device 100 obtains information such as the ratio of the object in the photographed image and the amount of time change in the size of the object in the photographed image. Output to the determination unit 40. When the information is input to the determination unit 40, the process proceeds to step S2.

(Step S2)
In this step, the control unit 50 determines whether or not to emit light based on the control signal from the light switch. When the control signal is not input to the control unit 50 and no light is emitted, the control unit 50 stops driving the pair of lamps 30, and the process returns to step S1. Further, when the control signal is input to the control unit 50 and the light is emitted, the process proceeds to step S3.

(Step S3)
In this step, the determination unit 40 determines whether or not the object satisfies a predetermined requirement. Here, as a predetermined requirement, as described above, the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object located in front of the vehicle 10 is less than the predetermined distance. When the determination unit 40 determines that the object does not satisfy the predetermined requirements, the process proceeds to step S4. Further, when the determination unit 40 determines that the object is in a state of satisfying a predetermined requirement, the process proceeds to step S5.

(Step S4)
In this step, it is assumed that the object is located diagonally to the left of the vehicle 10 and the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Further, when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the light emitted from the pair of lamps 30 toward the front of the vehicle 10 including the object is used as the reference light, and the reference light is used. The amount of light will be described as a reference amount of light. For example, the reference light amount is such that even if a part of the reference light that illuminates the object is reflected from the object toward the own vehicle, the reflected light from the object does not give glare to the driver of the own vehicle. The amount of light.

By the way, FIG. 4 shows a change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. The vertical axis of FIG. 4 indicates a large amount of light, the upper side of the vertical axis indicates a large amount of light, and the lower side of the vertical axis indicates a small amount of light. The horizontal axis of FIG. 4 indicates the distance from the vehicle 10 to the object located in front of the vehicle 10. The left side of the horizontal axis is long and the object is far from the vehicle 10, and the right side of the horizontal axis is the distance. Shortly indicates that the object is close to the vehicle 10.

In this step, as shown in FIG. 4, when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the control unit 50 drives a pair of lamps 30 so that the reference light amount becomes constant. .. As a result, the pair of lamps 30 emits reference light toward the front of the vehicle 10. In this step, the control of the reference light amount is not particularly limited, and the reference light amount may change.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern 200 when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Here, for example, when the object is a retroreflective object 401 such as a road sign installed beside a road, the retroreflective object 401 is provided by, for example, a support portion 403 which is a metal support erected from the side of the road. Be supported. In FIG. 5, S indicates a horizontal line, and the light distribution pattern 200 is indicated by a thick line. The light distribution pattern 200 is a light distribution pattern formed on a vertical surface at a distance of, for example, 25 m from the vehicle 10. When the reference light is emitted and the light distribution pattern 200 is formed, the process returns to step S1.

(Step S5)
In this step, it is assumed that the object is located diagonally to the left of the vehicle 10 and the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance.

In this step, the control unit 50 drives the pair of lamps 30 so that the amount of light emitted from the pair of lamps 30 toward the front of the vehicle 10 including the object increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference light amount. Let me. As a result, the pair of lamps 30 emit light toward the front of the vehicle 10 with a light amount larger than the reference light amount. As shown in FIG. 4, the amount of light increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference amount of light after the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object becomes less than a predetermined distance.

Further, in this step, the control unit 50 drives the pair of lamps 30 so that the light amount increased to the predetermined amount returns to the light amount before the increase from the predetermined amount. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the amount of light remains the predetermined amount in the predetermined period, and decreases from the predetermined amount to the amount of light before the increase after the lapse of the predetermined period. In the present embodiment, the amount of light before the increase is the reference amount of light. The predetermined period is preferably, for example, the distance from when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object located in front of the vehicle 10 becomes less than the predetermined distance until the vehicle 10 passes the object. Therefore, at the end point of the predetermined period, the vehicle 10 is located in front of the object. Further, the distance in the predetermined period is calculated by the calculation unit in the same manner as when the determination unit 40 determines whether or not the object satisfies the predetermined requirement as described above. The predetermined period is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the time from when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object becomes less than the predetermined distance until the predetermined time elapses. The predetermined period is recorded in the recording unit 60 as a threshold value, and may be appropriately changed according to the traveling condition of the vehicle 10 such as daytime or nighttime.

Each of FIGS. 6 and 7 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance. Further, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern 310 when the amount of light is increased to a predetermined amount, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a light distribution when a predetermined period elapses after the amount of light is increased to a predetermined amount and the amount of light is reduced to a reference amount. It is a figure which shows the pattern 320. The region where the retroreflective object 401 and the support portion 403, which are the objects of the light distribution pattern 310 and the light distribution pattern 320, overlap is defined as the region AR1, and the region of each of the light distribution pattern 310 and the light distribution pattern 320. The area excluding AR1 is designated as area AR11.

In the light distribution pattern 310 shown in FIG. 6, since the light is emitted to the region AR1 and the region AR11, the amount of light in the region AR1 is the same as the amount of light in the region AR11. Further, the amount of light in the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 310 increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference light amount in the light distribution pattern 200 as described above. As a result, the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 320 become brighter than the regions of the light distribution pattern 200. Therefore, the driver of the own vehicle can feel that the field of view has become brighter, and the driver of the own vehicle is alerted to the front of the vehicle including the object.

In the light distribution pattern 320 shown in FIG. 7, since the light is emitted to the region AR1 and the region AR11, the amount of light in the region AR1 is the same as the amount of light in the region AR11. Further, the amount of light in the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 320 is reduced to the reference light amount in the light distribution pattern 200 as described above. Therefore, the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 320 are darker than the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 310, and have the same brightness as the regions of the light distribution pattern 200.

By the way, in step S4 and step S5, even if the object is a human such as a pedestrian, the control unit 50 drives and arranges the pair of lamps 30 as in the case where the object is the retroreflective object 401. Light patterns 200, 310, 320 are formed. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern 310 when the amount of light is increased to a predetermined amount when the human being 405, which is an object, satisfies a predetermined requirement. The region where the human 405, which is the object of the light distribution pattern 310, overlaps is defined as the region AR1, and the region of the light distribution pattern 310 excluding the region AR1 is designated as the region AR11. Even when the object is a human 405, the amount of light in the region AR1 is the same as the amount of light in the region AR11 in the light distribution pattern 310, as in the case where the object is the retroreflective object 401 shown in FIG. The amount of light in the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 310 increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference light amount in the light distribution pattern 200 as described above. Therefore, even if the object is a human 405, the driver of the own vehicle can feel that the field of view has become brighter, and the driver of the own vehicle is alerted to the front of the vehicle including the object. Further, when the vehicle 10 approaches the human 405 from the state shown in FIG. 8, the amount of light in the region AR1 in the region AR1 is the region in the light distribution pattern 320, as in the case where the object is the retroreflective object 401 shown in FIG. It is the same as the amount of light in AR11, and the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 320 are darker than the regions AR1 and AR11 of the light distribution pattern 310, and have the same brightness as the region of the light distribution pattern 200.

When the amount of light is controlled as described above, the process returns to step S1.

As described above, the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment has information from the pair of lighting fixtures 30 arranged in the front portion of the vehicle 10 and the detection device 100 that detects an object located in front of the vehicle 10. Based on the above, a determination unit 40 for determining whether or not the object is in a state of satisfying a predetermined requirement, and a control unit 50 for controlling the pair of lamps 30 are provided. The control unit 50 controls a pair of lamps 30 so as to increase to a predetermined amount when the determination unit 40 determines that the object satisfies a predetermined requirement. This predetermined amount is a target from the pair of lamps 30 when the amount of light emitted from the pair of lamps 30 toward the object is determined by the determination unit 40 that the object does not satisfy the predetermined requirements. It is larger than the reference light amount indicating the light amount of the reference light indicating the light emitted toward the object.

Here, the predetermined requirement will be described as, for example, that the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object located in front of the vehicle 10 is less than the predetermined distance. When the amount of light increases to a predetermined amount while the object satisfies a predetermined requirement, the driver's attention to the object can be called more than when the amount of light does not increase to the predetermined amount. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to recognize the existence of the object.

Further, in the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment, the control unit 50 returns to the light amount before the increase from the predetermined amount after a predetermined period has elapsed after the light amount has increased to the predetermined amount. To control.

When light irradiates a retroreflective object as an object when the distance between the vehicle 10 and an object located in front of the vehicle 10 is less than a predetermined distance, part of the light is retroreflected as reflected light. There is a concern that the object may move toward the vehicle and cause glare to the driver of the vehicle. In the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment, the amount of light returns to a reference amount less than the predetermined amount after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, so that the intensity of the reflected light is increased after the driver of the own vehicle recognizes the existence of the object. Can be suppressed. As a result, even if the reflected light travels to the own vehicle, glare can be suppressed from being applied to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle.

Further, in the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment, the object is, for example, a retroreflective object 401, and the determination unit 40 is based on the information from the detection device 100 that detects the retroreflective object 401 which is the object. , It is determined whether or not the retroreflective object 401 is in a state of satisfying a predetermined requirement. In this case, the driver of the own vehicle may be alerted to the retroreflective object 401. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to recognize the existence of the retroreflective object 401.

Alternatively, in the vehicle headlight 20 of the present embodiment, the object may be a human 405 such as a pedestrian, and the determination unit 40 may receive information from the detection device 100 that detects the human 405 as the object. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the human 405 is in a state of satisfying a predetermined requirement. In this case, the driver of the own vehicle may be alerted to the human 405 such as a pedestrian. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the driver of the own vehicle can recognize the existence of the human 405.

In the present embodiment, in step S5, in a state where the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance, the amount of light remains a predetermined amount in a predetermined period, and after a predetermined period has elapsed. It has changed from a fixed amount to a reference amount of light. However, the change in the amount of light depending on the distance to the object need not be limited to the above. A modified example of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object will be described below.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. In this modification, the control unit 50 controls the pair of lamps 30 so that after the amount of light has increased to a predetermined amount, the amount of light increases and decreases repeatedly between the predetermined amount and the amount of light less than the predetermined amount. In this modification, the amount of light less than the predetermined amount is, for example, the reference amount of light.

As the amount of light increases or decreases, the light distribution pattern including the object blinks, which may further arouse the driver's attention to the object. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, the driver of the own vehicle can be made to further recognize the existence of the object.

If the object blinks, the present invention is not limited to the above. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. In this modification, the control unit 50 repeats the increase / decrease between the predetermined amount and the amount of light less than the predetermined amount after the amount of light increases to the predetermined amount, and the predetermined amount gradually decreases each time the amount of light increases. Control a pair of lamps 30. In this modification, the amount of light less than the predetermined amount is, for example, the reference amount of light.

In this modification, since the predetermined amount gradually decreases, the intensity of the reflected light from the retroreflective object as the object is suppressed as compared with the blinking of the retroreflective object as the object when the predetermined amount is constant. Can be done. As a result, even if the reflected light travels to the own vehicle, glare can be suppressed from being applied to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20 of the present modification, the presence of the object can be further recognized by the driver of the own vehicle by blinking as in the first modification, and the visibility of the driver of the own vehicle can be further recognized. Can be suppressed. In addition, when the driver of the own vehicle can recognize the existence of the object within a certain period of the predetermined period, the amount of light is constant for the remaining period except the first certain period within the predetermined period. When the object blinks at, the driver may feel annoyed when visually recognizing the front. In this vehicle headlight, since the predetermined amount gradually decreases each time the amount of light increases, it is possible to suppress the trouble of visually recognizing the front when the object blinks while the amount of light is constant. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. In this modification, the amount of light remains at the predetermined amount in the first fixed period of the predetermined period after changing to the predetermined amount, and after a certain period of the predetermined period elapses, the light amount is changed from the predetermined amount to the reference light amount. The control unit 50 controls a pair of lamps 30 so as to change.

In this modification, the fixed period is, for example, a period from a point where the object is in a state of satisfying a predetermined requirement to a point where the amount of light returns from the predetermined amount to the reference amount of light. Further, the predetermined period is, for example, a period from a point where the object satisfies the predetermined requirement to a point where the driver starts reading the content of the road sign which is the object. When the amount of light changes from the predetermined amount to the reference amount of light at the reading start point of the road sign, which is the end point of the predetermined period, there is a concern that the driver may find it troublesome to visually recognize the front due to the change in the amount of light. Therefore, in the vehicle headlight 20 of the present modification, the amount of light changes from the predetermined amount to the reference amount of light before the end point of the predetermined period, which is the point where the driver starts reading the sign. As a result, according to the vehicle headlight 20 of the present modification, it is possible to suppress the trouble of visually recognizing the front due to the change in the amount of light at the reading start point of the road sign.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. In this modification, the control unit 50 controls the pair of lamps 30 so that the amount of light increases to a predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount. In this modification, the amount of light less than the predetermined amount is, for example, the reference amount of light. In this modification, the amount of light decreases from a predetermined amount to the reference amount of light at a constant rate of change, and decreases linearly. Further, in this modification, the amount of light decreases as the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object calculated by the calculation unit becomes shorter in a predetermined period.

In the vehicle headlight 20, a sharp decrease in the amount of light from a predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount is suppressed. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20 of the present modification, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle due to a sharp decrease. Further, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the driver of the own vehicle can naturally become accustomed to the brightness in front of the vehicle 10 as compared with the case where the amount of light does not gradually decrease. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle. In the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, the rate of change in the amount of light that decreases is constant, but the control unit 50 uses a pair of lamps 30 so that the rate of change changes in the middle during a predetermined period. You may control it. Further, in the vehicle headlight 20, the amount of light is not limited to linearly decreasing. The control unit 50 may control the pair of lamps 30 so that the amount of light is curvilinearly reduced from a predetermined amount to an amount of light less than the predetermined amount. For example, as the vehicle 10 approaches the object, the rate of change in the amount of light gradually increases, and the amount of light may decrease from a predetermined amount to a reference amount of light in a curve like an upwardly convex arc in FIG. Alternatively, as the vehicle 10 approaches the object, the rate of change in the amount of light gradually decreases, and the amount of light may decrease from a predetermined amount to the reference amount of light in a curve like a downwardly convex arc in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fifth modification of the change in the amount of light according to the distance to the object. In this modification, the control unit 50 controls the pair of lamps 30 so that the light amount changes to a predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount. In this modification, the amount of light less than the predetermined amount is, for example, the reference amount of light.

In the vehicle headlight 20 of the present modification, since the state in which the amount of light is a predetermined amount is shorter than the state in which the amount of light remains at a predetermined amount in a predetermined period, the troublesomeness of viewing the front due to the amount of light can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver of the own vehicle. Further, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the control unit 50 may control the lamp 30 at a timing when the amount of light gradually decreases. Therefore, the burden on the control unit 50 can be reduced as compared with the case where the amount of light is not gradually reduced.

The control unit 50 does not need to control the change in the amount of light by any of the above-described embodiment and each modification, and may control the change in the amount of light by any combination of the above-described embodiment and each modification. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, the calculation unit of the determination unit 40 includes the vehicle 10 and the target based on the ratio of the object in the photographed image included in the information from the detection device 100 and the amount of change in the size of the object in the photographed image. Calculate the distance to an object. However, the calculation of the distance does not have to be limited to the above. A modified example of distance calculation will be described below.

In the first modification, for example, the detection device 100 includes a millimeter wave radar. The millimeter wave radar transmits millimeter waves to an object and receives reflected waves that hit the object and are reflected. Therefore, in this modification, the information from the detection device 100 indicates the reception result of the millimeter wave radar that transmits the millimeter wave to the object and receives the millimeter wave reflected by hitting the object. The calculation unit calculates the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object based on the reception result input from the millimeter wave radar.

In the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is calculated even by using the millimeter wave radar, and the shorter the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object, the smaller the amount of light. , The intensity of the reflected light toward the own vehicle can be suppressed. As a result, even if a millimeter-wave radar is used, it is possible to suppress the application of glare to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, even if a millimeter-wave radar is used, it is possible to suppress a decrease in driver's visibility.

In the second modification, the detection device 100 includes a stereo camera that captures the front of the vehicle 10. The stereo camera includes two cameras, and outputs the captured image captured by each camera to the calculation unit. The calculation unit calculates the distance based on stereo matching for obtaining the parallax in the corresponding pixels, which are the pixels corresponding to each other in the two captured images. Therefore, in this modification, the information from the detection device 100 indicates a captured image taken by the stereo camera, and the calculation unit calculates the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object based on the captured image from the stereo camera. Understandable.

In the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is calculated even by using the stereo camera, and the shorter the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object, the smaller the amount of light. The intensity of the reflected light toward the own vehicle can be suppressed. As a result, even if a stereo camera is used, it is possible to suppress the application of glare to the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, according to this vehicle headlight, even if a stereo camera is used, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility of the driver.

Next, a third modification will be described. FIG. 14 is a plan view conceptually showing the vehicle in the third modification. First, the calculation unit determines the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object based on the ratio of the object in the photographed image included in the information from the detection device 100 and the amount of time change in the size of the object in the photographed image. Calculate D0. The recording unit 60 records the distance D0 as an initial value. Further, in the present modification, the vehicle headlight 20 further includes a measuring unit 45 for measuring the elapsed time T1 after the distance D0 is calculated and the speed V1 of the vehicle 10 at the elapsed time T1. The elapsed time T1 is, for example, the time when a certain time has elapsed since the distance D0 was calculated. The calculation unit reads the distance D0 from the recording unit 60, and inputs the velocity V1 and the elapsed time T1 from the measuring unit 45. The calculation unit calculates the distance D1 between the vehicle 10 and the object at the elapsed time T1 from the following equation (1) based on the distance D0, the speed V1, and the elapsed time T1.
D1 = D0-V1 x T1 ... (1)

In the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, when the calculation unit calculates the distance D1 again after the elapsed time T1 after calculating the distance D0 between the vehicle 10 and the object, the calculation unit is calculated. The distance D1 is calculated based on the distance D0, the speed V1 of the vehicle 10, and the elapsed time T1. Therefore, when the calculation unit recalculates the distance D1 after the elapse of the predetermined time, the calculation unit does not need to use the information from the detection device 100 after the elapsed time T1 elapses, and only uses the information from the detection device 100 once. good. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlight 20, the burden on the calculation unit can be reduced as compared with the case where the calculation unit uses the information from the detection device 100 each time the distance is calculated.

When the distance D1 is calculated, the calculation unit sets the calculated distance D1 as the distance D0, and the recording unit 60 records the set distance D0 again. Further, the measuring unit 45 resets the elapsed time T1 and measures the elapsed time T1 after the distance D0 is set again, and measures the speed V1 again. The calculation unit recalculates the distance D1 using the above equation (1). As described above, in this modification, the above processing by the calculation unit, the recording unit 60, and the measurement unit 45 may be repeated.

In the vehicle headlight 20 of this modification, the calculation unit uses the ratio of the object in the photographed image and the amount of change in the size of the object in the photographed image over time in order to calculate the distance D0. However, the distance D0 may be calculated using either the millimeter-wave radar of the first modification or the stereo camera of the second modification.

Further, the calculation of the distance in the first, second, and third modifications described above may be used for the calculation of the distance in a predetermined period.

Although the present invention has been described above by way of examples of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The configuration of one lamp 30a is the same as that of the other lamp 30b, but it may be different from the configuration of the other lamp 30b. The configuration of one lamp 30a and the other lamp 30b is not particularly limited. Further, for example, one lamp 30a and the other lamp 30b may be a parabolic lamp 30, a projector type lamp 30, a direct lens type lamp 30, or the like.

The captured image may be at least one of a moving image and a still image.

High beam light distribution for controlling the reference light amount when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance and the amount of light when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance. Although described using a pattern, in the low beam light distribution pattern, the reference light amount and the light amount are controlled in the same manner as in the high beam light distribution pattern.

At least a part of the configuration of the detection device 100 may be included in the configuration of the vehicle headlight 20. In this case, the camera, stereo camera, and millimeter-wave radar of the detection device 100 may be arranged inside the housing of the lamp 30. Further, the control unit 50 may function as an image processing unit and a detection unit, or the control unit 50, the image processing unit, and the detection unit may be mounted on the same control board. The image processing unit may be a microcontroller or the like specialized in image processing as compared with the control unit 50.

The detection unit of the detection device 100 may detect the existence of the object and the existence position of the object from the information image-processed by the image processing unit. Further, the detection unit of the detection device 100 may detect the existence of the object and the existence position of the object based on the reception result of the millimeter wave radar and the image captured by the stereo camera.

The distance calculated by the calculation unit is a value indicated by the SI unit system such as meters. The calculation unit does not need to calculate the actual measurement value of the distance, and may calculate a value proportional to the actual measurement value of the distance, and may calculate information on the distance such as the actual measurement value of the distance and the value.

The control unit 50 determines the reference light amount when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is equal to or more than a predetermined distance and the light amount when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance. Although the pair of lamps 30 is controlled for control, one lamp of the pair of lamps 30 may be controlled.

Light emitted toward the front of the vehicle 10 when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance and when the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance. May be light directed at at least a part of the object in front of the vehicle 10. In such a case, when the detection device 100 detects an object located in front of the vehicle 10, it outputs information such as the existence of the object and the existence position of the object to the control unit 50. Based on this information, the control unit 50 detects the region AR1 in which the objects overlap in the light distribution patterns 310 and 320. Further, the control unit 50 controls at least one light source 31 of the pair of lamps 30 that emits light toward at least a part of the region AR1. Here, the control unit 50 may control the light source 31 so that the amount of light emitted from the light source 31 increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference light amount as described above. The light emitted toward the front of the vehicle 10 may be at least the light toward the object in front of the vehicle 10. Even in such a case, the control unit 50 may control the light source 31 so that the amount of light emitted from the light source 31 toward the object increases to a predetermined amount larger than the reference light amount.

The amount of light in a state where the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance does not need to return to the reference light amount after increasing to a predetermined amount, and may be less than the predetermined amount after increasing to a predetermined amount. .. Therefore, the amount of light in a state where the distance between the vehicle 10 and the object is less than a predetermined distance may change to a predetermined amount and then to a light amount between the predetermined amount and the reference light amount, or may be a reference. It may be less than the amount of light.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle headlight 20 may alert the driver during a predetermined period and allow the driver to recognize the object after the predetermined period ends, or may operate during the predetermined period. A person may be made to recognize an object. Further, if the object is a road sign, the vehicle headlight 20 may alert the driver during the predetermined period and cause the driver to start reading the road sign after the predetermined period ends. Alternatively, the driver may be allowed to start reading the road sign during a predetermined period of time.

The amount of light directed toward the front of the vehicle 10 excluding the object from the pair of lamps 30 may remain the reference amount of light.

As described above, according to the present invention, a vehicle headlight capable of causing the driver of the own vehicle to recognize the existence of the object is provided, and the vehicle headlight is a vehicle headlight such as an automobile. It can be used in the fields of.

10 ... Vehicle 20 ... Vehicle headlight 30 ... Lighting equipment 40 ... Judgment unit 50 ... Control unit 60 ... Recording unit 100 ... Detection device

Claims (8)

The lighting fixtures placed in the front part of the vehicle and
A determination unit that determines whether or not the object satisfies a predetermined requirement based on information from a detection device that detects an object located in front of the vehicle.
A control unit that controls the lamp and
With
When the determination unit determines that the object satisfies the predetermined requirement, the control unit determines the amount of light emitted from the lamp toward at least a part of the object. A vehicle headlight, characterized in that the lamp is controlled so as to increase in a fixed amount. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light returns to the amount of light before the amount of light increases from the predetermined amount after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the amount of light has increased to the predetermined amount. Headlights for vehicles. 1. The control unit controls the lamp so that after the amount of light has increased to the predetermined amount, the amount of light increases and decreases repeatedly between the predetermined amount and the amount of light less than the predetermined amount. Vehicle headlights listed in. The control unit repeatedly increases and decreases between the predetermined amount and a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount after the light amount increases to the predetermined amount, and the predetermined amount gradually decreases each time the amount of light increases. The vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein the lighting equipment is controlled. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light increases to the predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount. Headlights for vehicles. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the lamp so that the amount of light increases to the predetermined amount and then gradually decreases from the predetermined amount to a light amount smaller than the predetermined amount. Headlights for vehicles. The determination unit is characterized in that it determines whether or not the retroreflective object satisfies the predetermined requirement based on the information from the detection device that detects the retroreflective object which is the object. The vehicle headlight according to any one of items 1 to 6. Claims 1 to 6 are characterized in that the determination unit determines whether or not the human is in a state of satisfying the predetermined requirement based on information from a detection device that detects a human being the object. The vehicle headlight according to any one of the above items.

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