JP5317714B2 - Vehicle headlamp device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a vehicular headlamp apparatus used in an automobile or the like and a control method thereof.

  In general, a vehicle headlamp apparatus can switch between a low beam and a high beam. The low beam illuminates the neighborhood with a predetermined illuminance so as not to give glare to the preceding vehicle including the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and is mainly used when traveling in an urban area. On the other hand, the high beam illuminates a wide area in the front and a distant area with a relatively high illuminance, and is mainly used when traveling at high speed on a road with few front vehicles.

  The high beam is more visible to the driver than the low beam, but there is a problem that glare is given to the driver of another vehicle. Therefore, a low beam is often used particularly during night driving in an urban area, and a high beam light source is not used during a low beam. On the other hand, there is always a demand for improving the visibility of the road by the driver during low beam. On the other hand, in the state where the light distribution of the headlight is set to the high beam, the headlight light distribution is switched from the high beam to the low beam when the preceding vehicle is detected by the forward vehicle detection means such as a CCD camera. A technique for returning from a low beam to a high beam when a traveling vehicle is no longer detected is known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2007-112249 A JP 2007-112250 A

  In the above situation, the present inventors have recognized the following problems. That is, for example, when the host vehicle is traveling on a curved road, a undulating road, an intersection, or the like, it may be repeated that the preceding vehicle deviates from or enters the detection range of the forward vehicle detection means. For this reason, in the above-described prior art, switching from the low beam to the high beam and switching from the high beam to the low beam may be frequently performed. Even if the host vehicle is traveling on a straight road, if the weather is bad or the distance between the host vehicle and the host vehicle is far away, the preceding vehicle will be detected instantaneously due to a supplementary error by the vehicle detection means. There is a risk that switching between the low beam and the high beam is frequently performed. If the low beam and the high beam are frequently switched, the driver may feel uncomfortable or the vehicle may be erroneously recognized as passing by the preceding vehicle.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of such recognition by the inventors, and its purpose is to give the driver a sense of incongruity or to reduce the risk of misrecognizing that the vehicle is passing by the preceding vehicle. The purpose is to provide technology to ensure visibility and prevent glare from the preceding vehicle.

  In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle headlamp device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern including a region above the cut-off line of a low beam light distribution pattern, and a vehicle detection device. And a control unit that controls the light source to increase or decrease the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern based on the information obtained from the control unit, and the control unit adds the additional light distribution when the vehicle enters the detection range of the vehicle detection device. The illumination of the pattern is reduced, and when the vehicle within the detection range is out of the detection range, the illumination of the additional light distribution pattern is increased after the standby time has elapsed.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to ensure the driver's visibility and prevent glare from being imparted to the preceding vehicle while reducing the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or misrecognizing that the vehicle is passing by the preceding vehicle. it can.

  In the above aspect, the light source can increase or decrease the illuminance of the partial region of the additional light distribution pattern, and the detection range is defined as a partial detection range in the region corresponding to the partial region. If the illuminance of the partial area is reduced compared to the illuminance of the area other than the partial area when included in the range, and the vehicle moves from the partial detection range to the detection range outside the partial detection range, the waiting time does not wait If the illuminance of the partial area is increased and the vehicle moves out of the detection range from the partial detection range, the illuminance of the partial area may be increased after the standby time has elapsed. According to this, when the vehicle moves between the partial areas, it is possible to reduce a sense of discomfort given to the driver and a decrease in the driver's visibility.

  Moreover, in the said aspect, a control part controls a light source based on the information obtained from the road detection apparatus, and the front road detected by the road detection apparatus is at least one of a curve road, a undulation road, and an intersection. In such a case, control for increasing the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern after the standby time has elapsed may be executed. According to this, the load concerning a control part can be reduced.

  In the above aspect, the controller may determine whether the vehicle has entered the detection range after the standby time has elapsed, and may increase the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern when the vehicle is out of the detection range. According to this, the situation where the increase / decrease in the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern is frequently repeated can be avoided.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a control method for a vehicle headlamp device. The control method for a vehicle headlamp device is a cut-off line for a low beam light distribution pattern when a vehicle is detected in front of the host vehicle. The illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern including the region above is reduced, and when the detected vehicle is no longer detected, the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern is increased after the standby time has elapsed.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to ensure the driver's visibility and prevent glare from being imparted to the preceding vehicle while reducing the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or misrecognizing that the vehicle is passing by the preceding vehicle. it can.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the driver's visibility and prevent glare from being imparted to the preceding vehicle while reducing the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or erroneously recognizing passing from the preceding vehicle. it can.

1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp device according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern for low beams and high beams formed on a virtual vertical screen. It is a control block diagram of a vehicle headlamp device. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. It is a control flowchart at the time of the illuminance automatic adjustment of the light distribution pattern for high beams. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern for low beams and high beams which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high beam light distribution pattern. FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. It is a control flowchart at the time of the illuminance automatic adjustment of the light distribution pattern for high beams.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The embodiments do not limit the invention but are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
The vehicle headlamp device according to the present embodiment has been detected by reducing the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern including the region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern when the vehicle is detected in front of the host vehicle. When the vehicle is no longer detected, the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern is increased after the standby time has elapsed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp device according to a first embodiment.
The vehicle headlamp device 1 of the present embodiment includes a set of headlamp units disposed on the left and right sides of the front surface of the vehicle. However, since these headlamp units have the same configuration except that they have a bilaterally symmetric structure, the headlamp unit disposed on the right side will be described below as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the first embodiment includes an interior of a lamp chamber 13 formed by a lamp body 12 and a translucent cover 14 attached to a front end opening of the lamp body 12. In addition, the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30 are accommodated. Hereinafter, the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30 are collectively referred to as a lamp. The lamps are supported in the lamp chamber 13 by support members (not shown). In addition, an extension member 16 having an opening in an area where the lamp is present is fixed to the lamp body 12 or the translucent cover 14, whereby the area between the front opening of the lamp body 12 and the lamp is covered forward. ing.

  The low beam lamp unit 20 is a so-called parabolic lamp unit, and includes a light source bulb 21 and a reflector 23. Examples of the light source bulb 21 include a halogen lamp using halogen gas, a discharge lamp using arc discharge (so-called HID lamp: High Intensity Discharge Lamp), and the like. The low beam lamp unit 20 reflects light emitted from the light source bulb 21 to the reflector 23, cuts a part of the light traveling forward from the reflector 23 with a light shielding plate (not shown), and has a predetermined cutoff line. A light distribution pattern is formed in front of the vehicle. A shade 25 is provided at the tip of the light source bulb 21 to cut the light emitted directly from the light source bulb 21 forward. The shape of the low beam lamp unit 20 is not particularly limited to this, and may be a so-called projector type lamp unit.

  Similar to the low beam lamp unit 20, the high beam lamp unit 30 is a so-called parabolic lamp unit, and includes a light source bulb 31 as a light source and a reflector 33. Examples of the light source bulb 31 include a halogen lamp and an HID lamp. The high beam lamp unit 30 reflects light emitted from the light source bulb 31 to the reflector 33 to form a high beam light distribution pattern in front of the vehicle. The shape of the high beam lamp unit 30 is not particularly limited to this, and may be a so-called projector-type lamp unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern for low beams and high beams formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a predetermined position in front of the lamp, for example, at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp.
In the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the first embodiment, the light distribution pattern PL for low beam is formed by the irradiation light from the lamp unit 20 for low beam. The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution low beam light distribution pattern, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 at its upper edge.

  The cut-off line CL1 is formed on the right side of the VV line that is a vertical line passing through the vanishing point in the front direction of the vehicle headlamp device 1 so as to extend in parallel with the HH line that is a horizontal line. Yes. The cut-off line CL1 is an oncoming lane side cut-off line. The cut-off line CL2 is formed on the left side of the V-V line so as to extend in parallel with the H-H line at a position higher than the cut-off line CL1. The cut-off line CL2 is a lane-side cut-off line. The cut-off line CL3 is formed as an oblique cut-off line that connects the end of the cut-off line CL2 on the VV line side and the end of the cut-off line CL1 on the VV line side. The cut-off line CL3 extends from the intersection of the cut-off line CL1 and the VV line obliquely upward to the left with an inclination angle of 45 °.

  Further, a high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the irradiation light from the high beam lamp unit 30. The high-beam light distribution pattern PH is a light distribution pattern including regions above the cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, and is additionally formed with respect to the low-beam light distribution pattern PL. It constitutes a light distribution pattern. Therefore, the light source bulb 31 of the high beam lamp unit 30 constitutes a light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the vehicle headlamp device according to the present embodiment.
The vehicular headlamp apparatus 1 includes a headlamp apparatus control ECU 50 that receives a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 and controls turning on / off of the lamps (the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30). Yes. The headlamp device control ECU 50 constitutes a control unit that controls light irradiation of the high beam lamp unit 30 based on information obtained from a vehicle control ECU 150 that constitutes a vehicle detection device described later. Further, the vehicle headlamp device 1 includes a power supply circuit 40 that supplies power for lighting the lamp to the lamp based on a control signal from the headlamp control ECU 50. The headlamp device control ECU 50 changes the magnitude of the electric power output from the power supply circuit 40 to the high beam lamp unit 30, thereby maintaining the lighting state of the high beam lamp unit 30 while maintaining the lighting state of the high beam light distribution pattern PH. Illuminance can be increased or decreased. In addition, the expression “reducing illuminance” in the present embodiment includes, for example, providing the light distribution pattern PH for the high beam without glare to the occupant of the preceding vehicle and ensuring the visibility of the driver of the host vehicle. And a case where only the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed with the illuminance set to zero.

  The vehicle 100 is provided with a vehicle control ECU 150 that executes various controls of the vehicle 100 and an in-vehicle camera 152 that can image the front of the host vehicle. An image captured by the in-vehicle camera 152 is transmitted to the vehicle control ECU 150. The vehicle control ECU 150 performs signal analysis on the transmitted image to perform image analysis, and detects the presence of the vehicle within the imaging range of the in-vehicle camera 152. In the present embodiment, a vehicle detection device is configured including the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152. The configuration of the vehicle detection device is not particularly limited, and a means for detecting the vehicle from the image of the in-vehicle camera 152 may be provided instead of the vehicle control ECU 150, and the means is provided on the vehicle headlamp device 1 side. The headlight device control ECU 50 may be provided. Further, the vehicle 100 includes a navigation system 154 as a road detection device that provides road information to the headlamp device control ECU 50, a vehicle speed sensor 156 that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle 100, and a steering sensor that detects the steering angle of the steering. 158.

  For example, the vehicle control ECU 150 can determine whether the detected object is a vehicle by using the fact that the vehicle headlamp device of another vehicle emits light. That is, it is determined whether the light reaching from the detected object is only the reflected light of the light irradiated by the vehicle headlamp device 1 of the host vehicle or includes the direct light irradiated from the object. If it is only light, it is determined that the object is not a vehicle, and if it includes direct light, it is determined that the object is a vehicle.

  The determination of whether the light reaching from the detected object is only reflected light or includes direct light can be performed as follows, for example. That is, the headlight device control ECU 50 controls the pulsed light having a predetermined duty ratio to be emitted from the high beam lamp unit 30, and the vehicle control ECU 150 only receives the pulsed light having the same duty ratio from the detected object. If it is, the light reaching from the detected object is determined to be reflected light. On the other hand, when the light reaching from the detected object includes light other than pulse light having the same duty ratio, vehicle control ECU 150 determines that the light reaching from the detected object includes direct light.

  Alternatively, the determination of whether the light reaching the detected object is only reflected light or includes direct light is based on the amount of direct light emitted by the vehicle headlamp device of the other vehicle and the light emitted by the own vehicle. This can be implemented using the difference from the amount of reflected light. That is, the vehicle 100 or the vehicle headlamp device 1 includes a light amount detection unit (not shown) including a light receiving element and the like, and measures the amount of light reaching the object detected by the light amount detection unit. And vehicle control ECU150 judges that it is only reflected light when the light quantity measured by the light quantity detection part is below a predetermined light quantity, and includes direct light when it is above a predetermined light quantity. to decide. The predetermined amount of light can be set based on an experiment or simulation by a designer.

  In addition, when the detected object includes a light emitting unit that emits light of a predetermined light amount or more, the object is a vehicle based on the number of the light emitting units, the position of the light emitter including the height from the road surface, and the like. It can also be determined whether or not. Furthermore, by combining the above-described determination methods as appropriate, more accurate vehicle determination can be performed.

  When the driver operates a light switch (not shown) and receives a low beam or high beam instruction from the driver, the vehicle control ECU 150 outputs a control signal to the headlamp device control ECU 50. The headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the power supply circuit 40 based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 to control lighting / extinguishing of the lamp. For example, when the driver instructs the low beam, the low beam lamp unit 20 is turned on, and light irradiation at the time of the low beam is performed by the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Further, when the driver instructs the high beam, the low beam lamp unit 20 and the high beam lamp unit 30 are turned on, and light irradiation at the time of high beam is performed by the high beam light distribution pattern PH and the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Is called.

  Further, the headlight device control ECU 50 can automatically adjust the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH according to the detection result of the vehicle detection device including the vehicle control ECU 150 and the in-vehicle camera 152. For example, this is performed when the driver instructs a low beam and instructs automatic adjustment of illuminance. Hereinafter, the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH when the driver instructs automatic adjustment of the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH will be described. FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams for explaining the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern. In addition, in each figure, illustration of the light distribution pattern PL for low beams is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicle detection device has a detection range DA. The detection range DA is an imaging range of the in-vehicle camera 152, for example. The detection range DA is preferably wider than the formation region of the high beam light distribution pattern PH. When the driver instructs to automatically adjust the illuminance of the high beam lamp unit 30, the headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the light source bulb 31 of the high beam lamp unit 30 based on the information obtained from the vehicle detection device. By controlling, the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is adjusted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, from the state where the vehicle 100 (the host vehicle) is traveling on a curved road and the front vehicle 200 traveling in front of the vehicle 100 is outside the detection range DA, As shown in FIG. 4B, it is assumed that the preceding vehicle 200 enters the detection range DA. In this case, the headlamp device control ECU 50 immediately reduces the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the preceding vehicle 200 is out of the detection range DA as shown in FIG. 5B from the state where the preceding vehicle 200 is in the detection range DA. In this case, the headlamp device control ECU 50 increases the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH after a predetermined standby time has elapsed. The predetermined waiting time is a time that can avoid a state in which the low beam and the high beam are frequently switched (a waiting time for frequent increase / decrease avoidance), and can be set based on an experiment or simulation by a designer.

  As described above, when the preceding vehicle 200 is out of the detection range DA, the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is increased after waiting for the standby time to elapse. It is possible to avoid a situation in which increase / decrease in illuminance is frequently repeated, and to reduce the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or erroneously recognizing passing from the preceding vehicle.

  Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 acquires information about the road shape ahead from the navigation system 154 as a road detection device, and increases the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH after the standby time has elapsed based on the information. Control may be executed. That is, when the road shape ahead is a specific shape road including at least one of a curved road, a undulating road, and an intersection, for example, detection and non-detection of the preceding vehicle 200 are frequently repeated, Increasing or decreasing the illuminance of the light distribution pattern PH tends to be repeated frequently.

  Therefore, the headlamp device control ECU 50 performs control to increase the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH after the elapse of the standby time when the road ahead includes at least one of a curved road, an undulating road, and an intersection. Run. Thus, by limiting the conditions for executing the control for adjusting the illuminance after waiting for the standby time, the load on the headlamp device control ECU 50 can be reduced. It should be noted that the range of the road ahead (distance from the vehicle) where it is determined whether or not a specific shaped road is included can be set based on experiments and simulations by the designer. In addition to acquiring information about the road shape ahead from the navigation system 154, for example, using the vehicle speed information obtained from the vehicle speed sensor 156 and the steering angle information obtained from the steering sensor 158, the road shape ahead is obtained. You may make it predict.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart for automatically adjusting the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern.
First, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether an instruction to automatically adjust the illuminance of the high beam lamp unit 30 is given based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 (step 1: hereinafter abbreviated as S1). The same applies to the steps). When the instruction for automatic illuminance adjustment is not made (S1_No), this routine is terminated. When an instruction for automatic illuminance adjustment has been given (S1_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not a vehicle is detected ahead based on the detection result of the vehicle detection device (S2). When a vehicle is detected ahead (S2_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 reduces the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH by dimming the high beam lamp unit 30 (S3). When the vehicle is not detected ahead (S2_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether the front road is a specific shape road based on the information obtained from the navigation system 154 (S4).

  If the road ahead is not a specific shaped road (S4_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 immediately normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH with normal illuminance (S5). . When the front road is a specific shaped road (S4_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not a predetermined standby time has elapsed (S6). When the standby time has not elapsed (S6_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines again whether the standby time has elapsed (S6). When the standby time has elapsed (S6_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH with normal illuminance (S5).

  In the control flow described above, the high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated immediately after the standby time has elapsed (S6_Yes). However, the following control may be performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has been detected after the standby time has elapsed, and when the vehicle is not detected, the high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH with normal illuminance. You may do it. According to this, when the preceding vehicle 200 that was in the detection range DA is out of the detection range DA and then enters the detection range DA again after the standby time has elapsed, the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is reduced. A situation where the increase / decrease is frequently repeated can be avoided.

  Summarizing the operation according to the configuration described above, in the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines that the high beam when the front vehicle 200 enters the detection range DA of the vehicle detector. When the illuminance of the light distribution pattern PH for light is immediately reduced and the preceding vehicle 200 in the detection range DA deviates from the detection range DA, the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is increased after the standby time has elapsed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where the increase and decrease of the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is frequently repeated. As a result, it is possible to secure the driver's visibility and prevent glare from being imparted to the preceding vehicle, while giving the driver a sense of incongruity or reducing the possibility of erroneous recognition of passing by the preceding vehicle. Further, when the headlamp control ECU 50 maintains the irradiation state of the high beam lamp unit 30 and reduces the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH, the glare applied to the preceding vehicle is prevented while driving. The visibility of the person can be further improved.

  Further, when the road ahead is detected by the road detection device includes at least one of a curved road, a undulating road, and an intersection, the control for increasing the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH after the standby time has elapsed is performed. When the lighting device control ECU 50 executes, the effect that the load on the headlight device control ECU 50 can be reduced is obtained. Further, after the standby time has elapsed, it is determined whether the preceding vehicle 200 has entered the detection range DA, and control is performed to increase the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH when the preceding vehicle 200 is out of the detection range DA. When the headlamp device control ECU 50 is executed, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of giving the driver a sense of incongruity or erroneously recognizing passing from the preceding vehicle. In this case, since the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle 200 is confirmed again after the standby time has elapsed, the detection of the vehicle detection device is performed in bad weather or when the distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle is far away. Even in a situation where mistakes are likely to occur, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH is frequently increased or decreased.

(Embodiment 2)
The vehicle headlamp device according to the second embodiment can increase or decrease the illuminance of the partial area of the additional light distribution pattern, and the illuminance is reduced when the front vehicle moves between the partial detection ranges. When the illuminance of the area is immediately increased and the preceding vehicle moves out of the detection range from the partial detection range, the illuminance of the partial area is increased after the standby time elapses. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. The main configuration of the vehicular headlamp apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a right headlamp unit and a left headlamp unit. Each headlamp unit has a configuration in which a low beam lamp unit 20 and a high beam lamp unit 30 are housed in a lamp chamber 13 formed by a lamp body 12 and a light-transmitting cover 14 as in the first embodiment. Have

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating light distribution patterns for low beam and high beam according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the light distribution pattern for the low beam and the high beam formed on the virtual vertical screen is shown.
The light distribution pattern PL for low beam is formed by the irradiation light from the lamp unit 20 for low beam. The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution low beam light distribution pattern, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 at its upper edge.

  Further, a high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed by the irradiation light from the high beam lamp unit 30. The high beam light distribution pattern PH is a light distribution pattern including regions above the cut-off lines CL1, CL2, and CL3 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and constitutes an additional light distribution pattern. Therefore, the light source bulb 31 of the high beam lamp unit 30 constitutes a light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern. In the present embodiment, the high beam light distribution pattern PH includes a partial area PHR formed by the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlight unit and a partial area formed by the high beam lamp unit 30 of the left headlamp unit. It is divided into PHL.

  When receiving a low beam or high beam instruction from the driver, the headlamp device control ECU 50 controls the power supply circuit 40 to control lighting / extinguishing of the lamp. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 can automatically adjust the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH according to the detection result of the vehicle detection device. Hereinafter, the formation control of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH when the driver instructs automatic adjustment of the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern PH will be described. FIGS. 8A, 8 </ b> B, 9 </ b> A, 9 </ b> B, 10 </ b> A, and 10 </ b> B are schematic diagrams for explaining formation control of a high-beam light distribution pattern. In addition, in each figure, illustration of the light distribution pattern PL for low beams is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the vehicle detection device has a detection range DA. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 defines the right region corresponding to the right partial region PHR as the partial detection range DAR in the detection range DA of the vehicle detection device, and sets the left region corresponding to the left partial region PHL. The area is defined as a partial detection range DAL. Moreover, the vehicle headlamp device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the illuminances of the partial region PHR and the partial region PHL can be increased or decreased independently. The vehicle control ECU 150 may define the partial detection range.

  In such a configuration, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines the illuminance of the partial region corresponding to the partial detection range in which the preceding vehicle 200 is included when the preceding vehicle 200 is included in the partial detection ranges DAR and DAL. The illuminance of other partial areas is reduced. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, from the state where the vehicle 100 (the host vehicle) is traveling on a curved road and the preceding vehicle 200 traveling in front of the vehicle 100 is outside the detection range DA, As shown in B), it is assumed that the preceding vehicle 200 enters the partial detection range DAL of the detection range DA. In this case, the headlamp device control ECU 50 turns on the high beam lamp unit 30 of the right headlamp unit and the left headlamp unit to form the high beam light distribution pattern PH, and from the power supply circuit 40 to the left headlamp. The intensity of power supplied to the high beam lamp unit 30 of the lamp unit is adjusted so that the illuminance of the partial area PHL is smaller than the illuminance of the partial area PHR. Thereby, the visibility of the driver can be further improved while reducing the possibility of giving glare to the occupant of the preceding vehicle.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the preceding vehicle 200 has moved into the partial detection range DAR from the state in which the preceding vehicle 200 is in the partial detection range DAL, as shown in FIG. 9B. And In this case, the headlamp device control ECU 50 reduces the illuminance of the partial area PHR and increases the illuminance of the partial area PHL without waiting for a predetermined waiting time. When the preceding vehicle 200 moves between the partial detection ranges DAR and DAL within the detection range DA, the driver feels a sense of incongruity due to frequent increase / decrease in the illuminance of the partial region, and the possibility that the preceding vehicle misidentifies passing. In some cases, it may be preferable for safety to take into account the uncomfortable feeling that the driver feels due to the fact that the illuminance of the partial area following the movement of the preceding vehicle 200 is not increased or decreased in real time, or a decrease in the visibility of the driver. For this reason, the illuminance of the area where the preceding vehicle 200 was included is increased without waiting for the standby time to elapse.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, it is assumed that the preceding vehicle 200 is out of the detection range DA from the state in the partial detection range DAR as shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, the headlamp device control ECU 50 increases the illuminance of the partial region PHR after the standby time has elapsed. As described above, when the preceding vehicle 200 is out of the detection range DA, the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH is increased after waiting for the standby time to elapse. Therefore, the risk of erroneous recognition of passing from the preceding vehicle can be reduced.

  The headlamp device control ECU 50 executes control to increase the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern PH after the elapse of the standby time when the road ahead includes at least one of a curved road, an undulating road, and an intersection. You may do it. Thereby, the load concerning headlamp apparatus control ECU50 can be reduced.

FIG. 11 is a control flowchart at the time of automatic illuminance adjustment of the high beam light distribution pattern.
First, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not an instruction for automatically adjusting the illuminance of the high beam lamp unit 30 is given based on a control signal from the vehicle control ECU 150 (S21). When the instruction for automatic illuminance adjustment has not been given (S21_No), this routine ends. When an instruction for automatic illumination adjustment has been given (S21_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not the vehicle is detected in the partial detection range DAR, which is the right region, based on the detection result of the vehicle detection device. (S22). When the vehicle is detected in the partial detection range DAR (S22_Yes), the headlight device control ECU 50 normally illuminates the left headlight unit and dimmes the right headlight unit, and the illuminance of the partial region PHR Is reduced (S23).

  When the vehicle is not detected in the partial detection range DAR (S22_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not the vehicle is detected in the partial detection range DAL that is the left region (S24). When the vehicle is detected in the partial detection range DAL (S24_Yes), the headlight device control ECU 50 dimmes the left headlight unit and normally illuminates the right headlight unit, and the illuminance of the partial area PHL. Is reduced (S25). When the vehicle is not detected in the partial detection range DAL (S24_No), that is, when there is no vehicle ahead, the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines the road ahead based on the information obtained from the navigation system 154. Is determined to be a specific shaped road (S26).

  When the front road is not a specific shape road (S26_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 immediately normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 of the left and right headlamp units, and a high beam light distribution pattern with normal illuminance. PH is formed (S27). When the front road is a specific shape road (S26_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines whether or not a predetermined standby time has elapsed (S28). When the standby time has not elapsed (S28_No), the headlamp device control ECU 50 determines again whether or not the standby time has elapsed (S28). When the standby time has elapsed (S28_Yes), the headlamp device control ECU 50 normally irradiates the high beam lamp unit 30 of the left and right headlamp units to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH with normal illuminance ( S27).

  In the control flow described above, the high beam lamp unit 30 is normally irradiated immediately after the standby time has elapsed (S28_Yes), but it is determined whether or not the vehicle has been detected after the standby time has elapsed. If not detected, the high beam lamp unit 30 may be normally irradiated to form a high beam light distribution pattern PH with normal illuminance.

  If the operation | movement by the structure demonstrated above is summarized, the effect similar to Embodiment 1 will be acquired also in the vehicle headlamp apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the high-beam light distribution pattern PH is divided into partial areas PHR and PHL, and the illuminance of each partial area can be adjusted independently. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 defines the regions corresponding to the partial regions PHR and PHL as the partial detection ranges DAR and DAL in the detection range DA of the vehicle detection device. When included in the partial detection range, the illuminance of the partial area corresponding to the partial detection range is reduced from the illuminance of the area other than the partial area. Therefore, the visibility of the driver can be further improved while reducing the possibility of giving glare to the occupant of the preceding vehicle 200. Further, the headlamp device control ECU 50 increases the illuminance of the partial area without waiting for the standby time to elapse when the front vehicle 200 moves from a partial detection range to a detection range outside the partial detection range. I am letting. Therefore, the illuminance of the partial area that follows the movement of the preceding vehicle 200 in real time is increased and decreased, and the driver can feel uncomfortable or the driver's visibility can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications such as design changes can be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The embodiment to which such a modification is added is also the present embodiment. It is included in the scope of the invention. Each of the above-described embodiments and a new embodiment resulting from the combination of each of the above-described embodiments and the following modified examples have the effects of the combined embodiments and modified examples.

  For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the light source bulb 31 of the high beam lamp unit 30 is a light source that forms an additional light distribution pattern, and the high beam light distribution pattern PH is an additional light distribution pattern. Other light sources may be used as long as a light distribution pattern including an upper region from the cut-off line can be formed. For example, in addition to the low beam lamp unit and the high beam lamp unit, an intermediate beam lamp that forms an additional light distribution pattern may be provided, and the additional light distribution pattern may be formed using the intermediate beam lamp. The light source may be a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED).

  Further, the vehicle headlamp device may be a so-called two-lamp vehicle headlamp device in which a low beam lamp unit and a high beam lamp unit are integrated. In this case, it is possible to reduce the illuminance of the high beam light distribution pattern by providing a shade of a predetermined pattern in front of the light source bulb. Further, this shade may be constituted by a light transmission type LCD (liquid crystal) device in which a large number of fine pixels are arranged in a matrix, for example. In this case, for example, the illuminance of the high-beam light distribution pattern can be reduced stepwise or continuously by controlling the shape of the light blocking portion formed on the shade by the headlamp device control ECU 50.

  CL1, CL2, CL3 Cut-off line, DA detection range, DAR, DAL partial detection range, PH high beam light distribution pattern, PHR, PHL partial region, PL low beam light distribution pattern, 1 vehicle headlamp device, 20 low beam use Lamp unit, 21, 31 Light source bulb, 23, 33 Reflector, 25 Shade, 30 High beam lamp unit, 40 Power supply circuit, 50 Headlight device control ECU, 100 Vehicle, 150 Vehicle control ECU, 152 Vehicle-mounted camera, 154 Navigation system 156 Vehicle speed sensor, 200 Previous vehicle.

Claims (5)

A light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern including a region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern;
A controller that controls the light source to increase or decrease the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern based on information obtained from a vehicle detection device;
When the vehicle enters the detection range of the vehicle detection device, the control unit reduces the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern, and when the vehicle within the detection range is out of the detection range, after the standby time elapses It is judged whether the vehicle has entered the detection range, and the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern is increased when the vehicle is out of the detection range . A light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern including an upper region from a cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern, and a light source capable of increasing or decreasing the illuminance of a partial region of the additional light distribution pattern ;
A controller that controls the light source to increase or decrease the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern based on information obtained from a vehicle detection device;
As for the detection range of the vehicle detection device, a region corresponding to the partial region is defined as a partial detection range,
When the vehicle is included in the partial detection range, the control unit reduces the illuminance of the partial area from the illuminance of an area other than the partial area, and the vehicle is within the detection range outside the partial detection range from the partial detection range. When the vehicle moves to the position, the illuminance of the partial area is increased without waiting for the waiting time to elapse.When the vehicle moves out of the detection range from the partial detection range, car dual headlamp apparatus shall be the feature that allowed to increase the illumination. A light source capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern including a region above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern;
A controller that controls the light source to increase or decrease the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern based on information obtained from the vehicle detection device and the road detection device ;
The control unit reduces the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern when the vehicle enters the detection range of the vehicle detection device, and when the vehicle within the detection range is out of the detection range, the road detection device detected ahead of the road, curved road, undulating path, and if it contains at least one intersection, the car amphibious you characterized and Turkey made to increase the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern after the lapse of the waiting time Headlamp device. The controller determines whether the vehicle has entered the detection range after the standby time has elapsed, and increases the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern when the vehicle is out of the detection range. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 2 or 3 . When a vehicle is detected in front of the host vehicle, the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern including the upper area from the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern is reduced, and when the detected vehicle is no longer detected, the vehicle is A method for controlling a vehicle headlamp device , comprising: increasing the illuminance of the additional light distribution pattern when a vehicle is not detected .

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