JP3284790B2 - Automatic headlight irradiation direction control mechanism for automobiles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make safe and easy starting drive on a dark road or a mountain pass by detecting the steering angle by a steering sensor, improving an automatic controller for tilting right and left lamp units light and left according to the steering angle, and tilting a headlamp right or left to the maximum angle in relation to the small steering angle in starting. CONSTITUTION: The vehicle speed is detected by providing a vehicle speed sensor 31, an output signal of a vehicle speed judging comparator 33 is changed on the basis of the vehicle speed condition, and a headlamp is so controlled that the right and left oscillating angles of right and left lamp units 17l, 17r may become the maximum angle (for example, 30 deg.) in relation to the small steering angle (for example, 10 deg.) in accelerating within the specified speed (for example, 20km/h).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic control mechanism for detecting the steering state of a steering device provided in an automobile and tilting the irradiation direction of a headlight in the steering direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a control mechanism for automatically following the irradiation direction of a headlight to the steering direction of a steering device. , (B) shows the control circuit portion, and (C) shows the horizontal cross section of the headlight. Reference numeral 1 denotes a steering sensor, which includes a rotating disk having a rotation angle signal slit (not shown) and an optical sensor (not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a control circuit, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 3 denotes a headlamp, which has a lens 3b mounted thereon so as to cover the front opening of the lamp housing 3a, and a reflector 3c is disposed therein.
The reference numeral 4 denotes a planar double-sided mirror, which is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft 5 in a substantially vertical direction. Reference numeral 6 denotes a drive unit having a built-in motor and a speed reducer.
Is tilted around the pivot shaft 5. Although the light source bulb and the reflector 3c, which are not shown, are fixed members, when the double-sided mirror 4 tilts left and right, the light projection direction swings right and left. When the double-sided mirror 4 is in the neutral position (shown by a solid line),
The center of the projection is in the standard irradiation direction (arrow S). The standard irradiation direction generally means the front of the vehicle body.
Specifically, it refers to an irradiation direction that can produce a legal illumination pattern. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the headlight irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 described above. Figure 7
6A is a steering sensor shown in FIG. 6A, and outputs a pulse-like electric signal in which an "H" level and an "L" level alternate with the steering of a steering wheel or the movement of a knuckle arm. Output. The pulse-like electric signal is input to the Up / Down switching circuit 11, and an up signal or a down signal corresponding to the steering amount is output, and is input to the Up / Down counter 12. The Up / Down counter 12
Up-counting or down-counting is performed by the number of the up signal and the down signal. The 4-bit signal output from the Up / Down counter 12 is input to the 7-bit output decoder circuit 13, and only the bit at the position corresponding to the count value is output. The D / A converter 14 outputs an analog signal corresponding to the bit whose “H” level is output among the 7-bit signal output from the decoder circuit 13. On the other hand, the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r constituting left and right headlights are provided with left and right lamp angle sensors 181 and 18r, respectively, and the irradiation directions (depending on the deflection angle θ) of the respective lamp units. ) Is detected, and the signal voltages F and G are fed back to the comparator circuit 15. The comparator circuit compares a signal corresponding to the steering angle input from the D / A converter 14 with the signal voltages F and G. In this way, the irradiation directions of the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r are automatically controlled in accordance with the values detected by the steering sensor 1. FIG. 13 is a chart showing the relationship between each of the left and right ramp units shown in FIG. 7 and the steering angle. FIG.
Since the signals F and G representing the swing angles of the left and right lamps are controlled to be equal to the output signal of the D / A converter 14 as shown in FIG. Control is performed so that the deflection angle becomes the same.

[0003]

According to the conventional headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, even if the steering device of the automobile is steered in either the left or right direction. , The irradiation direction of the headlight automatically tilts in the steering direction according to the steering angle. Thus, when the car is turning, the headlight illuminates the expected travel zone a few seconds later, which is advantageous. Under normal driving conditions,
It is desirable to have a tilting function according to the steering angle, such as (a) the headlight swings greatly when the steering wheel is sharply turned, and the headlight swings slightly when the steering wheel is slightly turned, as in the above conventional example. However, under special running conditions, the headlight tilting function according to the steering angle may not always be the best. That is, for example, when starting on a dark road or a mountain pass without a streetlight, it is desirable that the headlight swings largely in the same direction by turning the steering wheel a little.
However, in this case, slightly turning the steering wheel means a minimum steering angle when turning the steering wheel with the intention of steering. The large swing of the headlight means a maximum tilt angle during normal running. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a headlight tilting function according to a steering angle during normal driving, and a comparison between a start and a normal driving state after starting. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic control mechanism in which a headlight tilts greatly for a small steering angle. As a result, it can be naturally expected that the starting operation on a dark road or a pass road becomes easy and safe.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlight illuminating direction automatic control mechanism according to the present invention, which detects a steering state of a steering device provided in a vehicle. An automatic control mechanism for tilting the irradiation direction of the vehicle headlamp in the steering direction based on the detection signal of the steering state, wherein the steering sensor detects the steering direction and the steering state of the vehicle; Automatic control means for outputting a command signal for tilting the headlight to the left or right according to the output level of the steering sensor, wherein a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle is provided, and automatic control means, the vehicle speed sensor
Until the output of the sensor reaches the specified output level,
The output level of the ringing sensor reaches the specified output level
Then , it has a priority control function of outputting a command signal for setting the left-right tilt angle of the headlight to the maximum angle.

[0005]

According to the above means, the output level of the steering sensor reaches the predetermined output level (for example, a steering angle of 10 degrees) until the output of the vehicle speed sensor reaches the predetermined output level (for example, 20 km / h). Then, the swing angle of the headlight becomes the maximum angle (for example, 30 degrees in the steering direction).
The predetermined output level of the vehicle speed sensor is set to a level recognized to shift to a normal running state after the vehicle starts, and the predetermined output level of the steering sensor is set as follows:
By setting the minimum level that allows the driver's will to be recognized, the headlight swings largely in the steering direction just by turning the steering wheel a little while driving slowly, and dark roads and toll roads The visibility on the road immediately after the vehicle starts on the road is greatly improved.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, referring to FIGS.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an automatic headlight irradiation direction control mechanism for a vehicle according to the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the first invention is applied to the above-mentioned conventional example and is improved. FIG.
It is a figure corresponding to (conventional example). Differences from FIG. 7, that is, matters improved by applying the first invention are as follows. FIG. 1 (embodiment) has a configuration in which a circuit portion Pat indicated by a chain line is added to the circuit of FIG. 7 (conventional example). The vehicle speed sensor 31 includes a permanent magnet that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the driving wheels, and a reed switch (both not shown) that is opened and closed by the permanent magnet. Output a signal. The above-mentioned frequency signal is converted into a voltage signal proportional to the frequency by the F / V converter 32, and is sent to the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33. The above-mentioned vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 keeps “ L ” until the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined speed (20 km / h in this example) after the vehicle starts.
Outputs the level, "H" when the vehicle speed exceeds 20km / h
It is configured to output a level. Although a vehicle speed judgment comparator having only such a function can provide a certain effect, the present embodiment further includes the following function. That is, when the vehicle traveling at a speed of 20 km / h or more decelerates, the output of the "H" level is continued even when the speed of the vehicle becomes 20 km / h or less, and the output becomes the "L" level when the vehicle stops. FIGS. 2A and 2B are views for explaining the function of the vehicle speed judgment comparator in the above embodiment, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are drawn by sharing the same time axis. Is a time chart showing the output voltage of the F / V converter, that is, the input of the vehicle speed judgment comparator, and (B) is "H", "L" of the vehicle speed judgment comparator.
5 is a time chart showing a level output state.

[0007] The automobile is starting at a time t _0, and gradually increase the speed, reach a speed of 80km at a time t _3, moving at a constant speed running until the time t _3. It gradually decelerates from time t ₃ to time t ₅
After becoming at the time the instantaneous velocity 10km / in, reached at 60km / at time t ₇ and accelerated again, this 60km / begun again deceleration as the peak of the time, once stopped at the time t _9, it has been immediately start. (A) The output voltage (v) of the F / V converter shown in the figure increases and decreases in direct proportion to the above-described change in the vehicle speed.

Next, the change of the output voltage (v) of the vehicle speed judgment comparator according to the above-mentioned change of the vehicle speed will be described.
Although not shown in the figure, it is at the “L” level until the vehicle departs at time t ₀ . Then, the vehicle speed at the time t ₁ is 20k
m / h, and the output voltage of the F / V converter becomes “an output voltage e corresponding to a predetermined vehicle speed (20 km / h in this example)”.
(V) ", the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator becomes" H "level. After the time t ₁ has elapsed, the time t ₂
Hayashi increased up to, and constant-speed running until the time t _3, even if starts to decelerate after time t _3, the vehicle speed decision comparator output voltage continues to maintain the "H" level. Becomes the vehicle speed 20 km / hour or less after time t _4, when it is time vehicle speed 10 km / at time t _5, but F / V converter output voltage is lower than the voltage e, the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage is "H to maintain a "level, when the vehicle is stopped is the time t _9, it becomes the first time to the" L "level. Thereafter, when the vehicle restarts, the same effect as previously appeared at time t ₁ occurs at time t ₁₀ . That is, when the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / h and the output voltage of the F / V converter exceeds the voltage e corresponding to the predetermined vehicle speed, the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator switches from "L" level to "H" level.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the running state. As understood from this example, the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator is, as a rule, at the "L" level when the vehicle is stopped, and during normal running (20 km / hour). Above), the level is “H”, but when the vehicle speed is between 0 and 20 km / hour, a. During acceleration, until it reaches 20 km / h,
Maintain the “L” level. b. During deceleration, it has a function of maintaining the “H” level until it stops. The vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 output as described above
The control signal K (see FIG. 1) is input to the decoder circuit 13 '. This decoder circuit 13 'has the U
The output signal N of the p / Down counter 12 has also been input. FIG. 3 is a truth table of the decoder circuit in the block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, in which the steering steering angle between left and right 30 degrees is divided and displayed every 10 degrees. The arithmetic functions shown in FIG. 3 can be broadly understood according to the running state of the automobile. That is, when the vehicle is accelerating at a low speed (when the vehicle speed judgment comparator output F is at the “L” level),
When the vehicle is normally driven at a high speed or decelerated at a low speed (when the output of the vehicle speed determination comparator is "H"), it is convenient to understand the relationship with the operation of the headlight left / right tilt control described later. It is. FIG. 4 is a characteristic chart showing the relationship between the D / A converter output voltage A shown in FIG. 1 and the left and right steering wheel steering angles, wherein the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage K is at the "H" level. The time is drawn by a solid line, and the time at the “L” level is drawn by a broken line. However, a portion where the solid line and the broken line overlap (within a steering angle of 10 degrees) is represented by a solid line. FIG. 5 shows essentially the same action as FIG. 4 above.
The horizontal axis represents the steering angle of the steering wheel, as in FIG. 4. The vertical axis represents the output voltage A of the D / A converter, and the left and right swing angles of the headlight.

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As an initial state,
It is assumed that the car is stopped with the headlights turned on.
The steering wheel is in the straight steering position. At this time, Up / Dow
The count value of n counter 12 is zero, and “L” level is output from vehicle speed determination comparator 33.

[0011] It is assumed that the vehicle starts with the headlights turned on. This state corresponds to the time t ₀ in FIG. 2 (A). Further, as can be seen from the truth table of FIG. 3, since the traveling state is "low speed / acceleration", the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator is at "L" level. Between the time t ₀ to time t _1, since the vehicle speed is within 20 km / hr F / V converter output voltage is a voltage e (v) below. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in (B), the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator is at the “L” level. This is also shown in the truth table of FIG. Even if the steering angle θ is steered within a range of 10 degrees right>θ> 10 degrees left in a state where the vehicle speed is within 20 km / hour, the count value of the Up / Down counter 12 is zero, and the vehicle speed determination comparator 33 "L" level is outputted from the other terminal output B is a (see truth table) the output terminal b only ₄ "H" level of the decoder circuit 13 'is "L" level. When the steering angle is within 10 degrees on the left and right sides, the output voltage A of the D / A converter becomes a ₄ as shown in the corresponding column of FIG. 3 and FIG.
It has become. This corresponds to the terminal b ₁ of the decoder circuit 13 '.
The output of ~b ₇ is input to the D / A converter 14 is obtained by outputting a voltage value of a _4. Output voltage of the a ₄ is input to the comparator circuit 15 '. The comparator circuit 15 ′ compares the voltage values of the angle sensors 18 r and 18 l and outputs an “H” level or “L” level signal to the motor drive circuit 16. However, the angle sensor 18r in the state of this example, since the output voltage F of 18l, G is equal to the a _4, "L" level is output from the comparator circuit 15 'to the motor driving circuit 16. This level "L" signal is a stop command to the motor drive circuit 16, and the "L" level signal is given to both the right lamp unit 17r and the left lamp unit 17l to stop. Specifically, the power supply circuit of the drive unit 6 that drives the double-sided mirror 4 is shut off (see FIG. 6), and the tilting of the double-sided mirror 4 is stopped. Thus, the irradiation direction of the headlight 3 becomes the reference direction (arrow S). That is, FIG.
The right lamp unit 17r and the left lamp unit 17l stop toward the front, and the state of zero swing angle is detected by the left and right angle sensors 18r and 18l, respectively. Then, the vehicle speed 20 km / less time state, i.e., during a period from the time t ₀ in FIG. 2 to time t _1, the steering angle 10 degrees when subjected to steering operation exceeding (left, right either the same) Is considered. As can be seen from the truth table of FIG. 3, when the traveling state is accelerating at low speed,
The classification of the steering angle θ is θ ≧ 10 degrees to the right or θ ≧ 10 degrees to the left, and no classification is made as to whether the steering angle exceeds 20 degrees or not. When the steering angle reaches 10 degrees after the steering operation is started, the steering sensor 1 starts to send out a pulse-like electric signal, and an up signal corresponding to the steering amount is input to the Up / Down counter 12. As a result, the Up / Down counter 12 starts counting up the count value sequentially from zero, and outputs a 4-bit signal corresponding to the count number to the decoder circuit 13 '.
Output to. As shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, during acceleration at a low speed (less than 20 km / h) after the vehicle starts,
The output level of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 is at the "L" level (this can be clearly understood by comparing (A) and (B) of FIG. 2). The low speed, an acceleration state, the output of the steering when the steering angle θ is equal to or greater than the right 10 degrees decoder circuit 13 ', only the terminal b ₁ becomes the "H" level, the other terminal becomes "L" level. Terminals b ₁ to b ₁ of the decoder circuit 13 ′
When the output of the b ₇ is input to the D / A converter 14, D / A
The converter 14 outputs the voltage value a ₁ (see the rightmost column of the column “θ ≧ 10 ° in the truth table of FIG. 3”). This voltage value a ₁ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', the headlamp of the angle sensor 18r, the output F of 18l, is compared with G. The angle sensor 18r, the output voltage of 18l is not in a state equal to a _4, lower than the new voltage value a _1. Therefore, an "H" level signal is output from the comparator circuit 15 ', and the motor drive circuit 16'
As a result, an "H" level signal meaning a motor operation command signal is output. Therefore, the right lamp unit 17
r and the left lamp unit 17l operate the built-in drive unit 6 (see FIG. 6). This operation, the angle sensor 18r, the output voltage of 18l performed toward the voltage value a ₁ of the. The angle sensor 18
r, the output voltage of 18l is equal to a _1, the comparator circuit 15 '"L" level signal is output, which is also from the motor drive circuit 16 in accordance with, means that the motor is stopped "L" level A signal is output.
As a result, the swing angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 in the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r stops at 30 degrees (details will be described later). In FIG. 4, and is a ₁ reads the ordinate value of the dashed curve corresponding to the handle steering angle right 10 plus degrees. This indicates the above-described operation.
Then, the ordinate value (headlight swing angle) corresponding to the steering angle of 10 degrees (right) in FIG. 5 is 30 degrees. This value is a maximum angle corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees or more during normal traveling.

With this function, after the vehicle starts,
If the steering wheel is turned slightly to the right intentionally until the vehicle enters the middle or high-speed normal running state (in the example of FIG. 2, the vehicle speed is less than 20 km / h from time t ₀ to time t ₁ ), the headlight The light swings to the right up to the maximum tilt angle (30 degrees), so that when starting on a dark road or a mountain pass, a desired area on the road surface is properly illuminated, and the driving operation is not only easy, but also The effect of traffic safety is great. The above description is the operation and effect of right steering during acceleration at low speed after starting. Steering the steering wheel to the left during low speed and acceleration after starting (until the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / h). When the steering operation is performed, as shown in the truth table of FIG.
The output voltage of the D / A converter 14 is a voltage value a _7. When this is applied to FIG. 4, it is a signal voltage corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees or more in a normal traveling state (solid curve), and as understood from FIG. 30 degrees.

Next, the operation at the time of normal running at a vehicle speed of 20 km / h or more, and the vehicle speed of 20 km / h
The operation in the case where the motor stops after a state of less than m / hour will be described. When the vehicle is running at a vehicle speed of 20 km / h or more without steering the steering wheel to the right or left, the swing angle of the headlight is zero and the headlight is directed toward the front of the vehicle body. In the present invention, a predetermined steering angle (1 in this embodiment)
Neither the left nor right steering less than 0 °) is considered to be an intentional turning operation of the pilot. This is because the steering operation at such a small angle is performed not at the time of turning such as turning left or right at an intersection, but at the time of yielding while traveling straight. During the truth table of FIG. 3, in, column fast normal running, right 10 °>theta> rightmost column of the left 10 ° is adapted to the voltage value a _4. The output voltage of the D / A converter 14 is a ₄
Then, the left and right swing angles of the headlamp become zero (as in the case of low speed and acceleration first), and the front of the vehicle body is illuminated.
When the steering wheel is steered left or right by 10 degrees or more while traveling at a vehicle speed of 20 km / h or more, the headlight according to the steering angle is set in the same manner as described in the related art. Swing angle ". That is, when steering is started by turning the steering wheel to the right in this state (vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more), a signal corresponding to the steering amount is output from the steering sensor 1 via the Up / Down switching circuit 11 to Up / D.
It is input to the own counter 12. When the count value becomes a value corresponding to the steering angle of 10 degrees, the vehicle speed judgment comparator 3
The output of 3 becomes the "H" level as depicted in the truth table of FIG. 3, the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is an output terminal b ₃ becomes "H" level, the other terminal "L Level. The output of this decoder circuit is supplied to the D / A converter 14.
Is input, the voltage value of a ₃ is output (this effect, the
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal traveling at high speed during the traveling state”, the steering steering angle “right 20 °>θ> right 10”
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _3). The voltage value a ₃ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', the angle sensor 17r, the output voltage F of 17l, G
Is compared to At this time, the signal voltages F and G are a ₄
(Before this point, the left and right swing angles of the headlight were zero). Than the voltage a _4, since the higher voltage a ₃ newly inputted, the comparator circuit 1
An “H” level signal is output from 5 ′ and applied to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r. Actuation direction in this case is the left and right lamp units 17l, the angle sensor 18l in conjunction with 17r, a direction in which the output voltage G of 18r, F approaches the voltage value a ₃ above. The output voltages G and F have a voltage value a ₃
, The output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, and the operation of the drive unit 6 stops. In this state (steering angle, right 10 degrees), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 10 degrees right. This state corresponds to the point “A” shown in FIG. When the steering wheel is further turned clockwise from the above state to continue right steering, a signal corresponding to the steering amount is sent from the steering sensor 1 to Up / Do.
Up / Down counter 12 via wn switching circuit 11
Is input to In this way, the count value becomes the steering angle 2
When a value corresponding to 0 degree is reached, the vehicle speed determination comparator 33
Output of, as represented in the truth table of FIG. 3 becomes "H" level, the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is the output terminal b ₂ becomes the "H" level, the other terminal "L" Level. The output of this decoder circuit is supplied to the D / A converter 14.
And the voltage value of a ₂ is output (this action is
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal traveling at high speed during the traveling state”, the steering steering angle “right 30 °>θ> right 20”
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _2). Voltage value a ₂ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', the angle sensor 17r, the output voltage F of 17l, G
Is compared to At this time, the signal voltages F and G are a ₃
(Before this point, it was 10 degrees to the right of the headlight). Than this voltage a _3, since higher in voltage a ₂ newly inputted, "H" level signal is output from the comparator circuit 15 ', the motor drive circuit 16
Given to. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r. In this case, the operation direction is determined by the angle sensors 181 and 181 linked with the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r.
Output voltage G of 18r, a direction in which F approaches the voltage value a ₂ of the. The above output voltage G, and F is equal to the voltage value a _2, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. In this state (steering angle / right 20 degrees), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 20 degrees right. This state is shown in FIG.
(B). Above state (swing right 2
0 °), when the steering wheel is further turned clockwise to continue right steering, a signal corresponding to the steering amount is output from the steering sensor 1 to U.
The signal is input to the Up / Down counter 12 via the p / Down switching circuit 11. When the count value becomes a value corresponding to the steering angle of 30 degrees, the output of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 becomes "H" level as shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, and the output B of the decoder circuit 13 '. Is the output terminal b ₁
Are at "H" level, and the other terminals are at " L " level. The decoder circuit output is input to the D / A converter 14, the voltage value is output (the effect of a _1, the column of "running state, normal running at high speed" in the truth table of FIG. 3,
Steering steering angular sections are shown in the column of the "theta> Right 30 °", the character of the right end of the row is set to a _1).
Voltage value a ₁ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', the angle sensor 17r, the output voltage F of 17l, is compared with G.
At this time, the signal voltages F and G are a ₂ (because the swing angle of the headlight was 20 degrees to the right before this time). Since the newly input voltage a ₁ is higher than the voltage a ₂ , an “H” level signal is output from the comparator circuit 15 ′ and supplied to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r. In this case, the operation direction is determined by the angle sensors 181 and 1 linked with the left and right lamp units 171 and 17r.
Output voltage G of 8r, F is a direction approaching the voltage value a _1. The above output voltage G, and F is equal to the voltage value a _1, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. Double-sided mirror 4 in this state (steering angle / right 30 degrees) (FIG. 6)
Is 30 degrees to the right. This state corresponds to "C" shown in FIG. The operation described above is an example of right steering after shifting to normal running (vehicle speed of 20 km / h or more), but the same applies to left steering. Also, as can be understood from the fact that the indication of the traveling state in the truth table of FIG. 3 does not distinguish between “medium, high-speed normal traveling” and “low-speed deceleration”, when decelerating from the normal traveling state, In the same manner as in the normal traveling state described above, automatic control is performed so that the headlight swing angle according to the steering angle is obtained. Accordingly, when the steering operation is performed at a little over 10 degrees during deceleration, the headlamp swing angle is 10 degrees, and there is no maximum swing up to 30 degrees as in the case of low-speed acceleration. This kind of function is fulfilled as described for FIG. 2, even if the vehicle speed becomes when 20 km /, for example, the time t _8,
This is because the output voltage of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 maintains the “H” level during deceleration. This allows
By applying the present invention, fine (three-step) automatic control is performed without deteriorating automatic control of headlight swing angle at the time of deceleration → stop (two-step control).

[0014]

According to the present invention, when the output level of the steering sensor reaches the predetermined output level until the output of the vehicle speed sensor reaches the predetermined output level, the swing angle of the headlight becomes the maximum angle. become. The predetermined output level of the above-mentioned vehicle speed sensor is set to a level recognized to shift to a normal running state after the vehicle starts, and the predetermined output level of the steering sensor is set to a minimum level at which the driver's will is recognized. By setting to the level, just turning the steering wheel a little while turning slowly, the headlight swings greatly in the steering direction, and the visibility on the road immediately after starting on a dark road or a mountain pass is very low. It has an excellent practical effect of improving the driving performance of automobiles and contributes to the improvement of drivability of automobiles and the safety of traffic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic headlight irradiation direction control mechanism for a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of a vehicle speed judgment comparator in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a truth table of the decoder circuit in the block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, in which a steering steering angle between left and right 30 degrees is divided and displayed every 10 degrees. .

FIG. 4 shows the output voltage A of the D / A converter shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a characteristic chart showing the relationship between the steering wheel steering angle and the left and right steering angles. is there. However, a portion where the solid line and the broken line overlap (with a steering angle of 10 degrees or less) is represented by a solid line.

FIG. 5 shows essentially the same operation as in FIG. 4 described above, in which the horizontal axis represents the steering angle of the steering wheel as in FIG. 4, but the vertical axis represents the D / A converter output voltage A; The left and right swing angles of the headlight are set.

FIG. 6 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a control mechanism for automatically following the irradiation direction of a headlight to the steering direction of a steering device. Represents a control circuit portion, and (C) represents a horizontal cross section of the headlight.

7 is a block diagram of a headlight irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 described above.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Steering sensor 2. Control circuit 3.
Headlights, 3a: lamp housing, 3b: lens, 4 ...
Double-sided mirror, 5: pivot axis, 6: drive unit, 7: lever link mechanism, 31: vehicle speed sensor, 32: F / V converter, 33: vehicle speed judgment comparator.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60Q 1/12

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An automatic control mechanism for detecting a steering state of a steering device provided in an automobile and tilting an irradiation direction of a vehicle headlamp in a steering direction based on a detection signal of the steering state. A steering sensor for detecting a steering direction and a steering state of a vehicle, and automatic control means for outputting a command signal for tilting a headlight right and left in accordance with an output level of the steering sensor. In, there is provided a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle,
In addition, the automatic control means sets the output of the vehicle speed sensor to a predetermined value.
Until the output level is reached, the steering sensor
When the output level of the headlight reaches a predetermined output level , the vehicle headlight has a priority control function of outputting a command signal for making the left-right tilt angle of the headlight the maximum angle. Irradiation direction automatic control mechanism. 2. The priority control function is configured to operate when the running state of the vehicle is accelerating and running at a constant speed, and not to operate when the vehicle is decelerating. The headlight irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The steering sensor outputs a pulsed electric signal having an H level and an L level that alternate according to a steering state, and the automatic control means inputs the pulsed electric signal. An Up / Down switching circuit that outputs a number of up signals / down signals according to the steering direction and the steering amount, and an Up / Down circuit that counts the number of the up signals / down signals.
A Down counter, a decoder circuit that converts the output of the Up / Down counter into a digital signal of 3 bits or more, a D / A converter that receives an output of the decoder circuit and sends out an analog signal, and the analog signal And a comparator circuit that compares an output signal of an angle sensor attached to the headlight and provides a command signal to a motor drive circuit that changes the irradiation direction of the headlight. The headlight irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The vehicle speed sensor according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed sensor includes a magnet that rotates in synchronization with a vehicle wheel, and a switch that is opened and closed by the magnet, and outputs an electric signal having a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed. A converter that converts the frequency signal into an analog signal; and a vehicle speed determination comparator that determines whether the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value based on the signal of the converter. An output signal of the vehicle speed determination comparator Is provided to the decoder circuit. 4. The automatic headlamp irradiation direction control mechanism according to claim 3, wherein 5. The decoder circuit according to claim 1, wherein the decoder circuit outputs an "H" level only to a bit corresponding to a steering angle of the steering wheel based on an input signal from a vehicle speed determination comparator and an input signal from the Up / Down counter. Is output, and the acceleration / deceleration state of the vehicle is determined based on an input signal from the Up / Down counter, and the priority control function is not activated when the vehicle is decelerating. The vehicle headlight irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to claim 4.