JP4802910B2 - Vehicle headlamp lighting device, vehicle headlamp lamp, vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp and a vehicle headlamp lighting device having a function of controlling peripheral devices of the headlamp.

  In recent years, front modules including vehicle headlamps have become highly functional. In addition to turning on / off conventional halogen lamps, HID lamps that require electronic ballasts equipped with microcomputers, actuators that change the light distribution according to the steering angle of the steering wheel, and steering angle / vehicle speed. Auxiliary light that illuminates the turning direction of the vehicle in response, DTRL (Day Time Running Light) that is turned on to alert the oncoming vehicle during the day, and the headlamp automatically turns on when the outside light becomes dark Many functions such as an external light sensor for measuring the distance to the vehicle ahead and a sensor for measuring the distance to the vehicle ahead are required (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Of the front modules mentioned above, a microcomputer is required as described above to turn on a headlamp (such as an HID headlight or an LED headlight). This is because, for example, in order to keep the discharge lamp lit, it is necessary to monitor the discharge current flowing through the discharge lamp as needed and to control it so as to be substantially constant.

However, the passing beam or the like for which the HID lamp is being used in recent years is a system in which power is not supplied to the discharge lamp lighting device (electronic ballast) unless it is turned on by a column switch in the driver's seat. Although Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which power is supplied to the microcomputer for measuring the headlight turn-off time, other loads can be controlled while the headlight is turned off. There wasn't.
JP 2006-7987 A JP 2006-7988 A Japanese Patent No. 3259527

  In recent years, safety effects have been sung by turning on the headlamps during daytime running. However, it is too bright to turn on the HID lamp, and lighting during the day requires an extremely long life, and there is a problem that it is difficult to extend the life of the HID lamp that can be instantaneously restarted.

  The conventional headlamp lighting device is supplied with power only when a low beam lighting switch is turned on by a column switch in the driver's seat. For this reason, control such as initialization operation to the front position of the DTRL (Day Time Running Light) that lights up or flashes in order to call attention to the front and the actuator that changes the light distribution according to the steering angle of the steering wheel, etc. It was not possible to control with a headlamp lighting device that was not powered by the lighting switch.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a headlamp lighting device to operate even if a switch for lighting a low beam is not turned on.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, as shown in FIG. 4 , a vehicle including a converter 2 that converts a DC input voltage into a desired voltage and a control circuit 5 that controls the converter 2. The vehicle headlamp lighting device 1 has at least two input lines E1 and E2 of substantially the same potential supplied in different modes, and the vehicle headlamp La is turned on by one of the input lines E1. Power is supplied from the other input line E2 to the control circuit 5 that controls the converter 2, the load 7 other than the vehicle headlamp La is operated, and the at least two input lines E1, E2 having substantially the same potential are The rectifying element D1 is connected via a rectifying element D1, and the rectifying element D1 is connected in a direction in which a current flows from the circuit that lights the headlamp La toward the control circuit 5, and the rectifying element D1 and the control power supply unit 6 are connected. The other input to the part E2 is characterized in that it is connected.

  Here, the load 7 other than the vehicle headlamp La includes, for example, an actuator that changes the light distribution of the headlamp, a vehicle width lamp, a sign lamp that prompts attention in the daytime, a direction indicator, a sensor, and the like. is there.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control a load other than a vehicle headlamp, which could not be controlled unless a driver's seat light-on switch is turned on, by the headlamp lighting device. In addition, by utilizing the control circuit and control power supply for headlamp lighting control, a new control circuit is not required for a newly added load, and for a newly added load. The power line for supplying power from the battery can be shared with the headlamp lighting device, and the harness can be reduced.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the prior art is that, in addition to the power supply line E1 supplied by the switch SW1 for lighting the headlamp lighting device 1 with a passing beam (Low beam), the power supply line E2 supplied from the battery E is connected to the headlamp lighting device. 1 and that the headlamp lighting device 1 controls a load 7 other than the headlamp La. As a result, the headlamp lighting device 1 can control the load 7 (for example, DTRL) that cannot be controlled unless the switch SW1 for lighting the low beam is turned on. With the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to control other signs around the headlight such as a direction indicator as the load 7.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described. In the example of FIG. 1, a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID lamp) is used as the headlamp La. Reference numeral 2 denotes a DC / DC converter, which converts an input DC voltage (for example, 12V) into a voltage suitable for lighting the headlamp La (starting 400V, lighting stable 85V). Reference numeral 3 denotes a low-frequency inverter that converts the polarity of the voltage applied to the headlamp La into an alternating current of several tens to several hundreds of Hz in order to light the headlamp La with a long life. Reference numeral 4 denotes an igniter, which applies a high voltage pulse of approximately 30 KV to the headlamp La at the time of startup in order to start the headlamp La. A control circuit 5 controls the switching elements of the DC / DC converter 2 and the low frequency inverter 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a control power supply unit which supplies operation power such as an MPU (microprocessor) provided in the control circuit 5 and also supplies power to the load 7.

  When the headlight La is an LED, the low frequency inverter 3 and the igniter 4 are not necessary. Further, the DC / DC converter 2 does not need to output a high voltage of 400 V at the time of starting, but the DC / DC converter 2 as a ballast is necessary in terms of making the load current (LED current) constant. This is the same as in the case of a discharge lamp lighting device.

  According to the present embodiment, a new control ECU is not required for the load 7 newly added to the front module, and power is supplied from the battery E for the newly added load 7. One of the harnesses can be shared with one of the headlight lighting devices, and the harness can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the power supply E2 that is different from the power supply line E1 that is supplied to the switch SW1 that turns on the low beam is supplied to the ignition switch SW2 of the vehicle engine. It is a point that is linked. As a result, when the vehicle engine is not in operation, power is not supplied to the control power supply unit 6 of the headlamp lighting device 1, so that it is possible to prevent the battery E from being consumed and to ensure DTRL during travel. The effect is to light up.

  Further, since the power is supplied to the control circuit 5 of the headlamp lighting device 1 by turning on the ignition as in the process of FIG. 3A, the control power is turned on at the start of vehicle travel. For this reason, when the switch SW1 for turning on the low beam (Low beam) is turned on next, the control power supply has already started up, so there is no delay time due to the rise time of the control power supply or initialization of a control circuit such as a microcomputer. It becomes possible to quickly turn on the headlamp La.

  Further, even if the switch SW1 for turning on the passing beam (Low beam) is turned on before starting the engine as in the process of FIG. 3B, the vehicle is not started and does not affect the running itself. . In other words, after the low beam switch SW1 is turned on, the control power supply is turned on, and then the headlight La is turned on. There is no problem in use.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the third embodiment. The difference from the second embodiment is that a voltage E1 is supplied from the switch SW1 for turning on the low beam to the control power supply unit 6 of the headlamp lighting device 1 via the rectifying element D1. With the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, a power line E2 newly added to the headlamp lighting device 1 (here, the ignition switch SW2) is added to the power line E1 to the headlamp La that consumes several tens of watts of power. The power supply path to the headlamp La can be eliminated from the power line linked to the headlamp La, and power can be supplied to the headlamp La through the conventional path. That is, since it is not necessary to supply a large amount of power from the ignition-linked power supply line E2, it is not necessary to use a thick harness. Further, since the current for lighting the headlamp La does not flow through the rectifying element D1 that supplies power to the control power supply unit 6, the headlamp lighting device 1 can be configured without using a rectifying element having a large withstand capability.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment. The difference from the third embodiment is that the power supply line E2 linked to the ignition switch SW2 is also supplied with power via the rectifying element D2, and the control circuit of the headlamp lighting device 1 for lighting the DTRL composed of LEDs. It is the point which made it blink using 5 microcomputers (MPU). Since power is supplied from both power lines E1, E2 to the control power supply unit 6 via the rectifying elements D1, D2, the headlamp can be used even when one power supply is supplied to the headlamp lighting device 1. It does not affect other control devices via the lighting device 1.

  Further, since the DTRL is blinked by using the control circuit 5 of the headlamp lighting device 1, the electronic circuit unit for lighting the DTRL can be used as the control circuit for lighting the headlamp lighting device 1. Therefore, a system that can improve the visibility to the oncoming vehicle by flashing can be proposed at a low cost.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the fifth embodiment. The difference from the fourth embodiment is that the detected value of the external sensor S is read into the control circuit 5 of the headlamp lighting device 1 by the power supply from the power line E2 interlocked with the ignition switch SW2, and a low beam is transmitted. The other device 8 is controlled before lighting up.

  For example, in FIG. 6, a vehicle based on the weight of a person riding in a trunk or a boarding space is detected by receiving a power supply from the ignition switch SW2 and detecting a signal of a vehicle height sensor connected to a suspension of a rear wheel. The headlamp La is calculated (in this case, it is shown as one sensor S, but it is preferable to detect and calculate the vehicle heights of the front and rear wheels in order to accurately calculate the vehicle inclination). A signal for leveling is sent to the DC motor control unit 8a that performs leveling. The DC motor controller 8a and the DC brush motor 8b constitute a leveling actuator 8.

  With such a configuration, the leveling function can be operated only after the Low beam switch SW1 is turned on (that is, leveling is performed while lighting), but leveling is performed in advance before lighting. Therefore, it is possible to provide an appropriate light distribution without causing discomfort to the driver.

  Here, the vehicle height sensor is illustrated, but when the sensor is a brightness sensor, the brightness of the outside light is detected, and when the brightness is lower than the predetermined brightness, the headlamp La is automatically turned on. Is also possible. In this case, it goes without saying that the circuit configuration must be such that power can be supplied to the DC / DC converter 2 that turns on the headlamp La from the side of the power supply line E2 that is linked to the ignition switch SW2.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the sixth embodiment. The difference from the fifth embodiment is that a communication line that informs the traveling state of the vehicle is input to the headlamp lighting device 1 and the load of the headlamp lighting device 1 is other than the headlamp La. Actuators 9a and 9b (in this example, stepping motor loads) for changing the light distribution of the headlamp La are added.

  Conventionally, a control device that performs variable light distribution has been provided separately from the headlamp lighting device 1, but in the present embodiment, the control circuit 5 of the headlamp lighting device 1 is also used. Since the headlamp lighting device 1 and the light distribution variable actuators 9a and 9b are disposed close to the same lamp, the wiring for operating the actuators 9a and 9b is short and can contribute to weight reduction.

  In the present embodiment, the control of the headlight La and the control of the light distribution variable actuators 9a and 9b can be controlled by a single microcomputer, so that it is possible to construct a system that is cheaper than before.

  In addition, since the power is supplied from the ignition switch SW2 to the headlamp lighting device 1, the light distribution variable initialization is performed (for example, in conjunction with the steering angle) before the low beam switch SW1 is turned on to turn on the headlamp La. Thus, when the light distribution is varied to the left and right, an initialization operation in the front direction can be performed, so that a system that can be initialized without giving glare to other vehicles ahead can be configured.

  In this example, the vehicle speed sensor S1, the vehicle height sensor S2, the steering angle sensor S3, and the vehicle exterior environment sensor S4 are connected to the communication line to the control circuit 5, but the present invention is not limited to these.

(Embodiment 7)
Table 1 and FIG. 8 show the seventh embodiment. The difference from Embodiments 3 and 4 is that when the low beam is turned on by the passing beam switch being turned on by the headlight control circuit, the auxiliary lamp (vehicle width lamp, DTRL, etc.) is turned off. It is in the point which controlled as follows. By adopting such a configuration, when the headlamp La is turned on, the control of lighting (flashing) the DTRL is not performed, so only the lighting control of the headlamp La is performed, and the load on the microcomputer can be reduced. Needless to say, in this case, since the headlamp La is lit, a warning indicator lamp DTRL for the oncoming vehicle is not necessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the headlight La does not light for some reason (for example, due to the life of the discharge lamp), the control circuit detects that the headlight La is not lit, and the additional lamp ( It is also possible to light the vehicle width lamp or DTRL) instead.

(Embodiment 8)
FIG. 9 shows the operation of the eighth embodiment. In the present embodiment, in addition to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the blinking frequency of DTRL is controlled to blink in synchronization with the frequency f of polarity inversion of the low frequency inverter 3 of the headlamp lighting device 1. Thus, the DTRL can be controlled without imposing a large load on the microcomputer of the control circuit 5 of the headlamp lighting device 1. As shown in the figure, dimming is possible (approximately 100 Hz or more) by changing the ratio of lighting at a frequency close to the lighting frequency of the low-frequency inverter 3. Further, it goes without saying that the lighting ratio is not necessarily 50% but can be controlled.

  In addition, by synchronizing with the polarity reversal of the low frequency inverter 3 and blinking at a frequency lower than 100 Hz, it is possible to give a sparkle feeling from the oncoming vehicle, and pay attention to the driver or pedestrian of the oncoming vehicle. It becomes a sign lamp (DTRL) to prompt.

(Embodiment 9)
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the ninth embodiment. The difference from the sixth embodiment of FIG. 7 is that a second control unit 5c that receives and calculates the vehicle running state is provided in one of the left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b, and the calculation process is performed. The result is communicated to the other headlamp lighting device 1a to control the headlamps La1 and La2 and other loads 7a and 7b (for example, an actuator, an additional lamp, etc.) other than the headlamp. .

  In the future, headlights will be integrated with many functions (variable light distribution, auto lights, auto leveling, corner sensors, ranging sensors, etc.) as the core of the front module. Therefore, in order to efficiently control many other devices, the second control unit 5c is provided in one headlamp lighting device 1b, and only the calculation result is communicated to the other headlamp lighting device 1a. Is to control.

  Instead of installing new microcomputers in the left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b, it is possible to provide an inexpensive high-performance front module as a total system by performing arithmetic processing with one headlamp lighting device 1b. .

(Embodiment 10)
FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the tenth embodiment. The difference from Embodiment 9 of FIG. 10 is that the second control unit 5c that receives and calculates the vehicle traveling state is provided independently from the left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b, and results of the calculation process. Is communicated to the left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b to control the headlamps La1 and La2 and the loads 7a and 7b other than the headlamps La1 and La2 (indicated by additional lamps in the figure). In the point.

  By adopting the configuration as in the present embodiment, the left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b can be configured in the same manner, so that the headlamp lighting device with good mass productivity can be obtained. Produces symmetry and provides a system with good workability.

(Embodiment 11)
FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the eleventh embodiment. The left and right headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b receive the traveling state of the vehicle, perform arithmetic processing by the control circuits 5a and 5b, and add additional lamps 7a and 7b (for example, rudder) other than the headlamps La1 and La2 and the headlamp. It is characterized by controlling a curve lamp that blinks in accordance with the corner and the vehicle speed (shown here with LEDs).

  For the blinking of the additional lamps 7a and 7b, as shown in FIG. 13, dimming is possible by changing the ratio of lighting at a frequency close to the lighting frequency of the low frequency inverter (approximately 100 Hz or more). In this way, time-division dimming is performed in synchronization with the frequency f of polarity inversion of the low-frequency inverter of the headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b, and fade-in is performed when the lamp is lit, and fade-out is performed when the lamp is extinguished.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to smoothly control the flashing of the auxiliary lamp without imposing a heavy load on the microcomputer of the control circuits 5a and 5b of the headlamp lighting devices 1a and 1b.

(Embodiment 12)
FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the twelfth embodiment. In the figure, 1a and 1b are headlamp control devices, La1 and La2 are headlamps, E1 is a power source linked to the low beam switch, and E2 is a power source linked to an ignition. The present embodiment is a vehicle headlamp lamp equipped with the vehicle headlamp lighting device according to any of the first to eleventh embodiments described above, and a vehicle equipped with the vehicle headlamp lamp.

It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 9 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 10 of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 11 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 11 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of Embodiment 12 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Headlamp lighting device 2 DC / DC converter 5 Control circuit 6 Control power supply part 7 Load La Headlamp E Battery SW1 Low beam switch

Claims (11)

A vehicle headlamp lighting device including a converter that converts a DC input voltage into a desired voltage and a control circuit that controls the converter, wherein at least two input lines having substantially the same potential supplied in different modes are provided. A vehicle headlamp is lit by one input line, power is supplied from the other input line to a control circuit for controlling the converter, a load other than the vehicle headlamp is operated, and at least the The two input lines having substantially the same potential are connected via a rectifying element, and the rectifying element is connected in a direction in which a current flows from the circuit for lighting the headlamp to the control circuit, and is controlled with the rectifying element. The vehicle headlamp lighting device , wherein the other input line is connected to a connection portion of a power supply portion . 2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two inputs having substantially the same potential is supplied through a switch for lighting a passing beam, and the other is supplied by an ignition switch of the vehicle. Lighting device. The load other than the vehicle headlamp is sign lamp, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that flashes in synchronization with the cycle of polarity inversion for lighting control the discharge lamp is a headlamp for a vehicle The vehicle headlamp lighting device according to any one of the above. 4. The vehicular headlamp lighting device according to claim 3 , wherein the sign lamp blinks in synchronization with a cycle that is an integral multiple of a cycle of polarity reversal that controls lighting of the discharge lamp. The vehicle headlamp lighting device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein power supply to the headlamp is detected and the sign lamp is turned off. The vehicle headlamp lighting device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein when the power supply to the headlamp is detected and when the headlamp is not turned on, the sign lamp is turned on. . The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein a load other than the headlamp and the headlamp is controlled by inputting a running state of the vehicle to the control circuit. Lamp lighting device. The second control unit that performs calculation processing in response to the traveling state of the vehicle is housed in the left or right headlamp lighting device, and the calculation result is transferred from the second control unit to the control circuit of the other headlamp lighting device. The vehicle headlamp lighting device according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle and the load other than the headlamp are controlled. A second control unit that performs calculation processing in response to the traveling state of the vehicle is provided separately, communicates the calculation results to the control circuits of the left and right headlamp lighting devices, and loads other than the headlamp and the headlamp The vehicle headlamp lighting device according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle headlamp lighting device is controlled. A vehicular headlamp lighting device comprising the vehicular headlamp lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . A vehicle comprising the vehicle headlamp lamp according to claim 10 .

Images