JP4835374B2 - Vehicle lighting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular illumination device, and more particularly to a vehicular illumination device that controls light distribution of a headlamp or the like.

  As a vehicular illumination device that controls light distribution of a headlamp or the like, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.

  In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, a plurality of light sources that illuminate different areas and form a predetermined light distribution pattern including a main light distribution unit and a peripheral light distribution unit as a whole, and a camera that images the front of the vehicle, , Based on the image acquired by the camera, when a dangerous object judging unit that judges a dangerous object for traveling of the vehicle as a dangerous substance, and the dangerous substance judged by the dangerous substance judging unit is outside the main light distribution unit In addition, it has been proposed to include a light source control unit that changes the direction of a plurality of light sources to illuminate a dangerous object.

Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is described that a plurality of light sources may be controlled so as to intermittently illuminate a pedestrian that is a dangerous object.
JP 2006-21631 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable that the pedestrian is given an uncomfortable feeling because the pedestrian is directly blinked.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and aims to notify the driver of the presence of an illumination target such as a pedestrian and to suppress discomfort on the illumination target side.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a vehicle illumination unit capable of changing the light distribution for each divided area of the plurality of divided light distribution areas, and a detection means for detecting an illumination target. , Based on the detection result of the detecting means, the specifying means for specifying the divided area corresponding to the illumination target; and the divided area of the vehicle lighting means specified by the specifying means is non-irradiated, and the specifying Control means for controlling the light distribution so that the divided area adjacent to the divided area specified by the means repeats irradiation and non-irradiation .

According to the invention described in claim 1, car dual illumination means, the light distribution is changeable for each of the divided regions of the light distribution area divided into a plurality. As the vehicle illumination means, for example, a vehicle headlamp can be applied. The vehicle illumination means includes, for example, a plurality of light sources such as LED light sources that can be divided into divided regions by each light source, and light modulation from a light source such as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or a liquid crystal element. A device that can be divided using an element or a device that can be divided using a shutter or the like can be used.

  The detection means detects an illumination target. As the detection means, for example, a camera, a radar, or the like can be applied, and an illumination target such as a pedestrian in front of the vehicle can be detected by the camera, the radar, or the like.

In the specifying means, a divided area corresponding to the illumination target is specified based on the detection result of the detecting means, and in the control means, the divided area of the vehicle lighting means specified by the specifying means is non-irradiated, and by the specifying means The light distribution is controlled so that the divided area adjacent to the identified divided area repeats irradiation and non-irradiation .

For example, when the illumination target is a pedestrian, the light distribution is controlled by controlling the light distribution in the divided area adjacent to the divided area corresponding to the pedestrian to repeat irradiation and non-irradiation . Since the position of the pedestrian can be confirmed by the driver confirming the state, the driver can be notified of the presence of an illumination target such as a pedestrian. In addition, the illumination target side area is controlled to be non-irradiated, and the light distribution of the division area adjacent to the illumination target split area is controlled to repeat irradiation and non-irradiation. Discomfort can be suppressed. Moreover, since the divided area adjacent to the divided area specified by the specifying means appears to blink, the position of the illumination target such as a pedestrian can be made to stand out.

Further, as in the second aspect of the invention, the apparatus further includes a movement state specifying unit that specifies the movement state of the illumination target detected by the detection unit, and the control unit sets the movement state specified by the movement state specifying unit. The light distribution may be controlled based on this. In this case, for example, as in the invention described in claim 3 , the movement state specifying unit detects the moving direction of the illumination target, and the control unit specifies the movement direction specified by the movement state specifying unit. By controlling the light distribution in the divided area adjacent to the divided area specified by the means, it is possible to notify the driver of the moving direction of the illumination target such as a pedestrian.

As described above, according to the present invention, by controlling the light distribution so that the divided region corresponding to the illumination target is not irradiated and the divided region adjacent to the divided region is irradiated and not irradiated , It is possible to notify the person of the existence of an illumination target such as a pedestrian and to suppress discomfort on the illumination target side.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicular illumination apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicular illumination device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a headlamp 12 provided in a vehicle is connected to a light distribution control ECU 14. The lighting and extinguishing of the lamp 12 are controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the light distribution control ECU 14 performs light distribution control so that the area corresponding to the pedestrian ahead of the light distribution area of the headlamp 12 is turned off, and the peripheral area of the pedestrian blinks. The light distribution control is performed as follows.

  The light distribution control ECU 14 includes a microcomputer including a CPU 14A, a RAM 14B, a ROM 14C, and an I / O 14D.

  The ROM 14C of the light distribution control ECU 14 stores a table for performing light distribution control of the headlamp 12, a program for executing a light distribution control routine described later, and the RAM 14B performs various calculations performed by the CPU 14A. It is used as a memory for performing

  A switch 16, a camera 18, and a headlight driver 20 are connected to the I / O 14D, and an operation state of the switch 16 and a photographing result in front of the vehicle by the camera 18 are input to the light distribution control ECU 14.

  The switch 16 instructs the headlamp 12 to be turned on / off, instructs the low beam and the high beam, and outputs the instruction result to the light distribution control ECU 14. The camera 18 captures the front of the vehicle and outputs the captured result to the light distribution control ECU 14.

  Then, the light distribution control ECU 14 controls the headlamp driver 20 in accordance with the state of the switch 16 to turn on the headlamp 12 and detect a pedestrian in front based on the photographed image of the camera 18. And the light distribution of the headlamp 12 is controlled so that the light from the headlamp to the area | region corresponding to a pedestrian is not irradiated.

  Two headlamps 12 are provided at the front end of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the light distribution area of the headlamp 12 is divided into a plurality of parts in the vehicle width direction. Thus, the light distribution and non-irradiation can be changed, so that the light distribution can be changed for each divided region, and the light distribution control ECU 14 controls the light irradiation or non-irradiation to each divided region.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing an example of a headlamp applicable to the vehicular illumination device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the headlamp 12 can be applied with a plurality of LED light sources 24, and the headlamp driver 20 controls turning on and off of the plurality of LED light sources 24. Thus, it is possible to perform irradiation or non-irradiation of light on each divided region 22 shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows an example of a headlamp that includes two LED lamps 26 each having a plurality of LED light sources 24. For example, one LED lamp 26 is used for a low beam and the other LED lamp 26 is used for a high beam. You may make it use properly as.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (B), the headlamp 12 reflects light from one light source 28 by a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) 30 and irradiates the front of the vehicle through a lens 31. You may make it apply. The DMD mirror 30 includes a plurality of micromirrors 32 as shown in FIG. 3C, and is a device that can control the rotation of each micromirror 32. That is, a light source driver 34 for turning on the light source 28 as a headlamp driver 20 and a DMD driver 36 for driving the rotation of each micromirror 32 of the DMD 30 are provided. By controlling the rotation of each micro mirror 32 of the DMD 30 by 36, it is possible to control the irradiation or non-irradiation of light to each divided region shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the following description is given assuming that a plurality of LED light sources 24 are provided. Further, the configuration of the headlamp 12 is not limited to the above. For example, a plurality of shutters that block light that illuminates the front of the vehicle from a single light source are provided, and the size of each shutter is made to correspond to the divided area. 2 may be turned on or off, or a light modulation element such as a liquid crystal element other than the DMD 30 may be used instead of the DMD 30.

  FIG. 4A is a view for explaining a divided region of the headlamp 12 of the vehicle lighting device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the divided pattern of the divided areas of the headlamp 12 according to the present embodiment is such that the divided width of the divided area at the substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction is wider than the end in the vehicle width direction. It is set to be short in the direction, and gradually becomes a divided region that is long in the vehicle width direction toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

  Moreover, the LED light source 24 corresponding to each divided area is set in advance in the headlamp 12, and the plurality of LED light sources 24 are selectively turned on to turn on / off each divided area.

  For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the LED light source No. 1. 1 to 8 correspond to each other, and the divided region No. LED light source 24 corresponding to 2 is LED light source No. 2. 9 to 12 correspond to each other, and the divided region No. 3 corresponds to the LED light source No. 3. 13 to 15 are associated with each other, and the divided region No. 4 corresponds to LED light source No. 4. 16 and the divided region No. LED light source 24 corresponding to LED No. 5 17 to correspond to the divided area No. 6 corresponds to the LED light source No. 18 and 19 are associated with each other, and the divided region No. 7 corresponds to the LED light source No. 20 to 22 correspond to each other, and the divided area No. 8 corresponds to the LED light source No. 23-27 are made to correspond. Then, by controlling the turning on and off of the LED light source 24 corresponding to each divided region, light irradiation or non-irradiation can be performed for each divided region. Therefore, the correspondence shown in FIG. The area correspondence table 38 is stored in the ROM 14C or the like, and the light distribution control ECU 14 performs lighting control using the light source divided area correspondence table 38, so that the headlamp 12 can be turned on and off for each area. It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, the divided area is determined based on the number of lighting of the LED light source 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the size of the divided area is determined based on the size or characteristics of the lens or the light source. You may do it.

(First embodiment)
The light distribution control of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a pedestrian in front of the vehicle is detected, and the divided region 22 corresponding to the pedestrian among the light distribution regions of the headlamp 12 is not irradiated, and the divided regions existing around the divided region. Is to repeat light irradiation and non-irradiation.

  Here, the details of the light distribution control performed by the light distribution control ECU 14 of the vehicle lighting device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a light distribution control routine performed by the light distribution control ECU 14 of the vehicle lighting device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The light distribution control routine shown in FIG. 5 is started when the lighting of the headlamp 12 is instructed by the operation of the occupant's switch 16. Further, when the switch 16 is provided with the automatic lighting mode, the automatic lighting may be instructed by the occupant, and may be started when a predetermined condition for lighting the headlamp 12 is satisfied.

  When the lighting of the headlamp 12 is instructed by the operation of the occupant switch 16, the headlamp 12 is turned on in step 100. That is, the CPU 14 </ b> A controls the headlamp driver 20 via the I / O 14 </ b> D to drive the LED light sources 24 of the two headlamps 12, thereby turning on the headlamp 12.

  In step 102, the photographing result obtained by photographing the front of the vehicle with the camera 18 is acquired by the light distribution control ECU 14 via the I / O 14D, and the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, a pedestrian is detected by the CPU 14A based on the photographing result of the camera 18, and the process proceeds to step 106. In addition, the detection of a pedestrian can be detected using various known techniques etc., for example, can be detected using image processing.

  Subsequently, in step 106, it is determined by the CPU 14A whether or not there is a pedestrian ahead. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 108, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 114.

  In step 108, the divided area of the headlamp 12 corresponding to the area where the pedestrian is present is specified by the CPU 14A, and the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, a divided area adjacent to the specified divided area is specified by the CPU 14A, and the process proceeds to step 112. That is, the divided areas 22 on both sides adjacent to the divided area 22 where the pedestrian is present are specified.

  Next, in step 112, the divided area 22 corresponding to the pedestrian is turned off, and the adjacent divided areas are blinked, and the process proceeds to step 114. That is, since the light distribution control ECU 14 controls the headlamp driver 20, the divided area corresponding to the pedestrian is turned off, so that glare light to the pedestrian can be suppressed even when traveling with a high beam. Moreover, since the divided area adjacent to the area where the pedestrian is present blinks, the driver can be made aware of the presence of the pedestrian.

  In step 114, the CPU 14A determines whether or not the switch 16 has been turned off. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination in step 114 is affirmed. The process proceeds to step 116, the headlamp 12 is turned off, and the series of processes is terminated.

  That is, when light distribution control is performed as described above by the light distribution control ECU 14 of the vehicle lighting device 10 according to the present embodiment, a pedestrian is present in front of the vehicle as shown in FIG. The divided light distribution area of the headlamp 12 is divided into a plurality of areas, a divided area corresponding to a pedestrian (divided area No. 6 in FIG. 6A) is detected, and the detected pedestrian exists. The light distribution is controlled so that only the area is turned off. And since light distribution control is performed so as to blink the divided areas (divided areas No. 4 and 5 in FIG. 6A) existing around the divided area where the pedestrian exists, the glare light for the pedestrian is suppressed. In addition, the driver can be notified of the presence of a pedestrian.

  In the present embodiment, the high beam and the low beam are not particularly mentioned, but the above light distribution control may be performed only for the high beam region, or the above light distribution control may be performed for the high beam and low beam regions. Alternatively, the light distribution control described above may be performed only for the low beam region. When the above-described light distribution control is performed for a high beam region, glare light for pedestrians is suppressed, and thus it is possible to always travel with high beam lighting.

  Further, in this embodiment, the light distribution control is performed so that the divided area adjacent to the divided area where the pedestrian is present is blinked. However, as a modified example, as illustrated in FIG. The divided areas adjacent to the divided areas where pedestrians exist (divided areas Nos. 5 and 7 in FIG. 6B) may be turned on, and the other high beam divided areas may be turned off. Accordingly, it is possible to notify the driver of a pedestrian in a high beam area, that is, a distant place while traveling with a low beam.

  In the present embodiment, the light distribution control is performed so that the divided areas on both sides adjacent to the divided area where the pedestrian exists are flashed. However, in the case where the divided area is further divided, the pedestrian Light distribution control may be performed so that all the divided areas around the existing divided areas blink.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the light distribution control is performed so as to blink the divided areas around the divided areas where the pedestrian exists, but in the second embodiment, the movement direction of the pedestrian is detected, The divided areas existing around the moving direction of the pedestrian in the divided area where the pedestrian exists are blinked. Since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a light distribution control routine performed by the light distribution control ECU of the vehicle lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same processes as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. The light distribution control routine is also started when the lighting of the headlamp 12 is instructed by the operation of the occupant's switch 16 as in the first embodiment. Further, when the switch 16 is provided with the automatic lighting mode, the automatic lighting may be instructed by the occupant, and may be started when a predetermined condition for lighting the headlamp 12 is satisfied.

  When the lighting of the headlamp 12 is instructed by the operation of the occupant switch 16, the headlamp 12 is turned on in step 100. That is, the CPU 14 </ b> A controls the headlamp driver 20 via the I / O 14 </ b> D to drive the LED light sources 24 of the two headlamps 12, thereby turning on the headlamp 12.

  In step 102, the photographing result obtained by photographing the front of the vehicle with the camera 18 is acquired by the light distribution control ECU 14 via the I / O 14D, and the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, a pedestrian is detected by the CPU 14A based on the photographing result of the camera 18, and the process proceeds to step 106. In addition, the detection of a pedestrian can be detected using various known techniques etc., for example, can be detected using image processing.

  Subsequently, in step 106, the CPU 14A determines whether or not there is a pedestrian ahead. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 107. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 114.

  In step 107, the moving direction of the pedestrian is detected by the CPU 14A, and the process proceeds to step 108. For example, the moving direction of the pedestrian is detected by detecting the moving direction of the image identified as the pedestrian using several frames of the image captured by the camera 18 by image processing.

  In step 108, the divided area of the headlamp 12 corresponding to the area where the pedestrian is present is specified by the CPU 14A, and the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, a divided area adjacent to the specified divided area is specified by the CPU 14A, and the process proceeds to step 112. That is, the divided areas 22 on both sides adjacent to the divided area 22 where the pedestrian is present are specified.

  Next, in step 112, the divided area 22 corresponding to the pedestrian is turned off, and the divided areas adjacent to the pedestrian in the moving direction are blinked, and the process proceeds to step 114. That is, since the light distribution control ECU 14 controls the headlamp driver 20, the divided area corresponding to the pedestrian is turned off, so that glare light to the pedestrian can be suppressed even when traveling with a high beam. In addition, since the divided area corresponding to the movement direction of the pedestrian is blinking adjacent to the area where the pedestrian exists, the driver can recognize the existence of the pedestrian and the movement direction of the pedestrian is also determined. Can be recognized.

  In step 114, the CPU 14A determines whether or not the switch 16 has been turned off. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination in step 114 is affirmed. The process proceeds to step 116, the headlamp 12 is turned off, and the series of processes is terminated.

  That is, by performing the light distribution control as described above by the light distribution control ECU 14 of the vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, when a pedestrian exists in front of the vehicle. The light distribution area of the headlamp 12 is divided into a plurality of areas, a divided area corresponding to a pedestrian (divided area No. 6 in FIG. 8A) is detected, and only the divided area where the detected pedestrian exists is detected. The light distribution is controlled so that is turned off. Then, since the light distribution control is performed so as to blink the divided area existing in the moving direction of the pedestrian in the divided area where the pedestrian exists (divided area No. 7 in FIG. 8A), glare for the pedestrian The light can be suppressed and the driver can be notified of the position and moving direction of the pedestrian.

  In the present embodiment, the high beam and the low beam are not particularly mentioned, but the above light distribution control may be performed only for the high beam region, or the above light distribution control may be performed for the high beam and low beam regions. Alternatively, the light distribution control described above may be performed only for the low beam region. When the above-described light distribution control is performed for a high beam region, glare light for pedestrians is suppressed, and thus it is possible to always travel with high beam lighting.

  In the present embodiment, the light distribution control is performed so that the divided areas adjacent to the pedestrian in the moving direction blink. However, the moving speed of the pedestrian is detected, and the blinking speed is determined according to the moving speed. Etc. may be changed.

  In this embodiment, the light distribution control is performed so that the divided areas adjacent to each other in the direction of the divided area where the pedestrian is present are flashed. As a modified example, as shown in FIG. In the area where the pedestrian is present, turn on the divided area adjacent to the pedestrian movement direction (divided area No. 7 in FIG. 8B) and turn off the other high beam divided areas. Also good. This allows the driver to recognize a pedestrian in a high beam area, that is, a distant place while traveling with a low beam.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the light distribution control is performed so that the divided area adjacent to the divided area where the pedestrian exists is blinking. However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the divided area where the pedestrian exists ( In FIG. 9, it is possible to perform blinking in which only lighting of the divided area No. 6) and lighting of divided areas other than the divided area where the pedestrian is present are alternately performed only in the high beam area.

  In each of the above embodiments, the camera 18 is used to detect a pedestrian in front, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a pedestrian or oncoming vehicle in front can be detected using various techniques such as radar. You may make it detect.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the headlamp 12 is applied as the vehicle illumination means of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an auxiliary headlamp or other vehicle illumination is applied. It may be.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle illuminating device concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the division area of the light distribution range of the headlamp of the illuminating device for vehicles concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the headlamp applicable to the illuminating device for vehicles concerning embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure for demonstrating the division area of the headlamp of the illuminating device for vehicles concerning embodiment of this invention, (B) is a figure which shows a light source division area correspondence table. It is a flowchart which shows the light distribution control routine performed by light distribution control ECU of the illuminating device for vehicles concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the light distribution control of the headlamp of the vehicle illuminating device concerning 1st Embodiment, (B) is a figure which shows an example of the light distribution control of a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the light distribution control routine performed by the light distribution control ECU of the vehicle illuminating device concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the light distribution control of the headlamp of the vehicle illuminating device concerning 2nd Embodiment, (B) is a figure which shows an example of the light distribution control of a modification. It is a figure which shows the blink which performs lighting of only the division area where a pedestrian exists, and lighting of division areas other than the division area where a pedestrian exists alternately.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle lighting device 12 Headlamp 14 Light distribution control ECU
18 Camera 20 Headlight Driver 22 Divided Area 24 LED Light Source 28 Light Source 30 DMD
32 Micromirror

Claims (3)

A vehicle illumination means capable of changing the light distribution for each of the divided light distribution areas;
Detection means for detecting an illumination target;
Based on the detection result of the detection means, a specifying means for specifying the divided region corresponding to the illumination target;
The vehicle lighting means specified by the specifying means is arranged so that the divided area is non-irradiated, and the divided areas adjacent to the divided area specified by the specifying means are repeatedly irradiated and non-irradiated. Control means for controlling the light;
A vehicle lighting device comprising: It further comprises a movement state specifying means for specifying the movement state of the illumination object detected by the detection means, and the control means controls light distribution based on the movement state specified by the movement state specifying means. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1. The movement state specifying unit detects a moving direction of an illumination target, and the control unit is adjacent to the divided area specified by the specifying unit corresponding to the movement direction specified by the movement state specifying unit. The lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the light distribution in the region is controlled .

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