JP6154408B2 - Car interior lighting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle interior lighting device installed in a vehicle interior.

  Conventionally, when illuminating the entire interior of a vehicle with a monitor attached to the ceiling of the vehicle interior, the monitor emits light with a variable amount of light and color, and the interior of the vehicle interior is produced with illumination that matches the mood and atmosphere of the passenger etc. Is known (see Patent Document 1). Such illumination is referred to as atmosphere illumination.

  In recent years, illumination using RGB LEDs has been used in many commercial facilities.

JP 2006-44567 A

  However, when an illuminating lamp is installed in the passenger compartment and the illumination color is changed according to the mood, there are the following problems.

  It is possible to calculate the amount of light of each R, G, B LED by the control device so that the illumination becomes a desired color. However, if the color is changed frequently, the process takes time, It was thought that the color change did not follow the change operation. For this reason, usually, a table in which color data is registered is stored in advance in a memory, and the control device selects a desired color from this table and reads the light amounts of the R, G, and B colors, so that the light amount of the LED Was adjusting.

  However, registering all the color data, which is said to have more than 1 million colors, in the table leads to an increase in memory capacity and an increase in cost. In addition, when this control device is incorporated in a connector connected to the in-vehicle network, the size of the connector is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle interior lighting device capable of lighting suitable for various colors while suppressing a storage medium for registering color data to a small capacity. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the vehicle interior lighting device according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (4).
(1) A vehicle interior lighting device installed in a vehicle compartment,
An illuminating lamp that illuminates the vehicle interior with illumination light obtained by turning on a color light source of multiple colors;
A selection unit for selecting color data of the illumination light;
A storage medium in which a plurality of the color data is registered such that the smaller the light amount of the illumination light, the finer the interval,
A control unit for controlling the illuminating lamp based on the color data selected by the selection unit;
Equipped with a,
The control unit controls the illumination light by controlling the color light source on or off by pulse width modulation,
The storage medium stores, as the plurality of color data, light amounts of the color light sources of the plurality of colors for combinations of a plurality of types of hues and a plurality of levels of luminance, and the color light sources corresponding to the light amounts. Storing at least one of on-time and off-time at the step interval,
about.
According to the vehicle interior lighting device having the above configuration (1), on the low luminance side, a fine color change can be made as in the high luminance side by finely setting the interval of the light amount and increasing the number of color data. On the other hand, on the high luminance side, the amount of data is suppressed by increasing the interval between the light amounts and reducing the number of color data. Thereby, illumination suitable for various colors is possible while suppressing the storage medium for registering color data to a small capacity.

(2) A vehicle interior lighting device installed in a vehicle compartment,
An illuminating lamp that illuminates the vehicle interior with illumination light obtained by turning on a color light source of multiple colors;
A selection unit for selecting color data of the illumination light;
A storage medium in which a plurality of the color data is registered such that the smaller the light amount of the illumination light, the finer the interval,
A control unit for controlling the illuminating lamp based on the color data selected by the selection unit;
With
The control unit controls the illumination light by controlling the color light source on or off by pulse width modulation,
The storage medium includes, as a plurality of the color data, a first table in which the light amounts of the color light sources of the plurality of colors are registered, and the colors corresponding to the light amounts registered in the first table. Storing a second table in which at least one of an on time and an off time of the light source is registered at the step interval;
about.
According to the vehicle interior lighting device having the configuration (2), a plurality of color data is divided into the first table and the second table and registered in the storage medium, so that one table is not divided. As compared with the case of registering as, the amount of data stored in the storage medium can be reduced.

(3) In the vehicle interior lighting device configured as described in (2) above, when the light amount is large, the step interval is roughened as compared with the case where the light amount is small, and is registered in the second table. The number of data of at least one of the on time and the off time of the color light source is set to a predetermined number or less that can be expressed by a binary number having a predetermined number of bits.
According to the vehicle interior lighting device having the configuration (3), the interval of the color data is increased when the amount of light is large, and at least one of the on time and the off time is represented by a binary number having a predetermined number of bits. Since the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number, it is possible to adopt a small-capacity storage medium, and it is possible to reduce the size of the housing containing the storage medium.

(4) In the vehicle interior lighting device having the structure according to any one of (1) to (3), the step interval is divided into at least two stages.
According to the vehicle interior lighting device having the configuration (4), the step interval can be adjusted stepwise.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the illumination suitable for various colors is possible, suppressing the storage medium which registers color data to small capacity.
The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a vehicle interior lighting device in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of a vehicle interior of a vehicle on which the vehicle interior lighting device is mounted as viewed from above. 3A is a front view showing the appearance of the vicinity of the meter panel and the handle, FIG. 3B is a view showing the appearance of the steering switch SW, and FIG. 3C is displayed on the meter panel. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of illumination. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing color data registered in the color table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing on-time and off-time in PWM lighting control registered in the duty value step table. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicle interior lighting device.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle interior lighting device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a vehicle interior lighting device 10 according to this embodiment. The vehicle interior lighting device 10 is mainly composed of an illumination ECU (electronic control unit) 20. The illumination ECU 20 is a device that is connected to a connector 8 that can communicate with other devices via an in-vehicle network (for example, CAN) and can control various loads. The control unit 21, the communication unit 23, the input unit 25, An output unit 24 and a power supply unit 22 are incorporated. The illumination ECU is incorporated in a connector connected to the main ECU via a wire harness (main line), and can be realized as a connector (connector with a control function) capable of controlling various loads connected to the connector. Good. In this case, the illumination ECU is activated by an ON signal sent from the main ECU via the wire harness, and controls a load such as an illumination lamp.

  The control unit 21 incorporates a well-known CPU 21z, ROM, and the like, and controls the operation of each unit of the vehicle interior lighting device 10. The communication unit 23 is connected to the connector 8 of the in-vehicle network and can communicate with various devices such as the main ECU 14 and the meter ECU 15 connected to the in-vehicle network.

  The input unit 25 turns on a signal from an illuminance sensor that detects ambient brightness, an on / off signal of a personal switch (not shown) for switching on / off of a personal lamp (not shown), and a rear room lamp. Alternatively, a rear room switch on / off signal to be switched off is input.

  The output unit 24 outputs a signal for dimming the illuminations 31 and 33 and a signal for dimming a personal lamp (not shown). In the present embodiment, dimming of the illuminations 31 and 33 is performed by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control. Note that the LED may be driven by PFM control (pulse frequency modulation) instead of PWM control.

  The power supply unit 22 inputs battery voltage via the connector 8 and supplies power to each unit in the illumination ECU 20.

  Illuminations (decorative lights) 31 and 33 are installed on the ceiling of the passenger compartment 4 (see FIG. 2) and are mainly used as indirect illumination, and the color and brightness of the illumination light are changed according to the atmosphere in the passenger compartment. In this way, the hospitality for passengers (occupants) is provided. The illumination 31 has a red (R) LED 31r, a green (G) LED 31g, and a blue (B) LED 31b. By adjusting the amount of each light, the illumination 31 can be illuminated with over 1 million colors. is there. Similarly, the illumination 33 also includes a red (R) LED 33r, a green (G) LED 33g, and a blue (B) LED 33b. It can be illuminated.

  In addition, since the illumination can change the color of a plurality of colors as long as it has at least two LEDs, it has two LEDs without having all three LEDs of RGB. Also good. In addition, light emitting elements such as an organic EL or a liquid crystal display (LCD), an incandescent lamp, or the like may be used in place of the RGB LEDs (light emitting diodes).

  The table memory 28 is composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory) made of a semiconductor memory, and stores a duty value step table 54 (see FIG. 5) and a color table 52 (see FIG. 4) which will be described later. In this embodiment, the duty value step table 54 and the color table 52 are created so as to be less than or equal to a predetermined number (256 or less) that can be expressed in 8-bit binary numbers. Thereby, the table memory 28 is realized by a small-capacity ROM.

  Further, the connector 8 is connected to a main ECU 14 that centrally manages various ECUs arranged in each part of the vehicle compartment and a meter ECU 15. The meter ECU 15 controls the display on the meter panel 70 installed on the instrument panel 18 (see FIG. 3A), and is connected to the steering SW 65 provided on the handle 71, and inputs the switch state of the steering SW 65. To do.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the interior of the vehicle 1 in which the interior lighting device 10 is mounted as viewed from above. The vehicle 1 is a one-box car for seven persons with seats provided in three rows. The passenger compartment 4 is a uniform space where the front passenger compartment on the driver's seat 3 side is not shielded from the rear passenger compartment on the passenger (passenger) side. Illuminations 31 and 33 are respectively installed as ceiling lights for illuminating the passenger compartment 4 on the center and rear ceilings in the passenger compartment 4. In addition, although the case where both of the two illuminations 31 and 33 are turned on is shown here, only one of them may be turned on.

  FIG. 3A is a front view showing the appearance of the vicinity of the meter panel 70 and the handle 71. In the present embodiment, the mood color for lighting the illuminations 31 and 33 is selected by using the meter panel 70 installed on the instrument panel 18 and the steering switch 65 provided on the handle 71.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the appearance of the steering switch 65. The steering switch 65 has a Top button 65a, a Back button 65b, an Enter button 65c, and an up / down / left / right button 65d, and each item on the illumination setting screen 74 displayed on the meter panel 70 can be selected by operating these buttons. .

  FIG. 3C is a view showing an illumination setting screen 74 displayed on the meter panel 70. On the setting screen 74, 16 kinds of mood colors can be selected. The 16 kinds of mood colors are arbitrarily selected from a plurality of color data registered in a color table 52 shown in FIG. The correspondence relationship between the 16 kinds of mood colors (names) and the color data in the color table 52 is registered in the table memory 28. Note that the color data in the color table 52 corresponding to 16 kinds of mood colors can be changed as necessary. Further, the number of mood colors such as 24 types may be displayed as long as the selection operation by the driver is possible.

  One mood color is determined by selecting any one of the color numbers C1 to C16 in the color table 52 and further selecting any one of the luminance numbers 1 to N. The higher the luminance number, the darker the color. Each mood color number is displayed with a name that gives an image of the color. For example, the mood color number 3 is expressed by “Sakura”. The mood color number is designated by selecting and highlighting the mood color number with the steering switch 65. Thus, by using the steering switch 65, the driver can easily set the mood color while holding the handle 71. The steering SW 65 and the setting screen 74 correspond to a selection unit.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing color data registered in the color table 52. As described above, the color table 52 is stored in the table memory 28 including a ROM. In each row of the color table 52, a color number C is assigned as C1, C2, and C3. The color number C represents the hue of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Here, as an example, a green hue is shown. Note that other colors such as cold, warm, and neutral colors may be used. In each column of the color table 52, luminance numbers D are assigned as D1, D2,..., D (N). The luminance number D represents the light amounts of R, G, and B. The color data specified by the color number C and the luminance number D are represented by R, G, and B duty values. Here, as the green color, the color data is registered such that the larger the color number C is, the stronger the green color appears, and the larger the luminance number D is, the darker the duty value becomes. Note that the number of color data registered in the color table 52 is equal to or less than a predetermined number (256) that can be expressed by an 8-bit binary number for each color number C.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the on time and off time in the PWM lighting control registered in the duty value step table 54. All Duty values (0% to 100%) are set within 256 (in this embodiment, values 0 to 228 in decimal notation) so that they can be expressed in 8-bit binary numbers. Here, the darker the human eye is, the easier it is to notice color changes. For example, on the side where the luminances of RGB diodes are all close to 100%, even if the luminance of one diode changes by 1%, it is difficult for human eyes to see the difference, but conversely, the luminances of RGB diodes are all 0%. On the near side, the color of the diode becomes conspicuous just by increasing the luminance of a certain diode by 1%, resulting in a color different from the desired color. Therefore, in the duty value step table 54 shown in FIG. 5, the output change amount (step interval) expressed in% display on the dark side is set finely so that a desired color can be reproduced. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the duty value step table 54 has a duty value range of 10% as a boundary, with a 0.1% interval on the low luminance side and a 1% interval on the high luminance side. The ON time and OFF time corresponding to each Duty value are registered. This boundary can be appropriately adjusted by visual sense.

  In this way, on the dark (low brightness) side, by finely setting the interval between the duty values and increasing the number, it is possible to cope with subtle color changes, and on the bright (high brightness) side. The amount of data is suppressed by setting the interval of the Duty value coarsely and reducing the number thereof. This makes it possible to illuminate various mood colors while reducing the capacity of a memory for storing a table in which color data is registered.

  Specifically, the duty value of the PWM signal input to the red LED, the green LED, and the blue LED incorporated in the illuminations 31 and 33 is shown. For example, when the driver selects a desired mood color, the illumination ECU 20 first refers to the color table 52 and selects, for example, the luminance number D2 in the color number C2 corresponding to this mood color. As described above, the correspondence relationship between the 16 kinds of mood colors and the color data in the color table 52 is stored in the table memory 28. In the color table 52, R, G, and B duty values are registered as “20, 90, 60” in the luminance number D2 of the color number C2. The illumination ECU 20 refers to the duty value step table 54 for each color of R, G, and B, and obtains an OFF time and an ON time corresponding to each duty value. For example, since the duty value of R is “20”, the ON time and the OFF time are obtained by referring to the part of the duty value step table 54 where the percentage is 20.0%. The illumination ECU 20 controls the LEDs 31r and 33r for R in the illuminations 31 and 33 by pulse width modulation (PWM) with the duty ratio obtained from the ON time and the OFF time.

  Operation | movement of the vehicle interior lighting apparatus 10 which has the said structure is shown. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the vehicle interior lighting device 10. This operation program is stored in a ROM (not shown) in the illumination ECU 20, and is executed by the CPU 21z.

  First, the illumination ECU 20 waits until an ON signal of the illuminations 31 and 33 is received from the main ECU 14 (S1). When the ON signal is received from the main ECU 14, the illuminations 31 and 33 are turned on based on the default color data (S2). As the default color data, for example, R, G, and B duty values are set so as to be white lightness.

  The illumination ECU 20 determines whether or not the driver has operated the steering switch 65 and selected the color change to switch to the desired mood color using the mood color setting screen 74 displayed on the meter panel 70 (S3). When the color change is not selected, the illumination ECU 20 repeats the process of step S2.

  On the other hand, when the color change is selected, the illumination ECU 20 reads the color data corresponding to the selected mood color from the color table 52 based on the correspondence relationship registered in advance in the table memory 28 (S4). Further, the illumination ECU 20 refers to the duty value step table 54 based on the color data read from the color table 52, and obtains the OFF time and ON time of each color of R, G, B.

  The illumination ECU 20 outputs the OFF time and ON time of each color of R, G, and B to the output unit 24, performs PWM lighting control by the output unit 24, and illuminates the illuminations 31 and 33 with illumination light having a selected mood color. Turn on (S5). Thereafter, the illumination ECU 20 returns to the process of step S3.

  As described above, in the vehicle interior lighting device 10, the illumination ECU 20 lights the LEDs of R, G, and B colors so that the illuminations 31 and 33 illuminate the interior of the vehicle interior 4. The driver selects a mood color on the setting screen 74 displayed on the meter panel 70 by using the steering SW 65. The table memory 28 stores a color table 52 and a duty value step table 54 in which color data corresponding to a plurality of mood colors are registered such that the smaller the light amount, the finer the step interval. The illumination ECU 20 controls the illumination of the illuminations 31 and 33 based on the color data corresponding to the selected mood color.

  Therefore, on the dark side (low duty value) side, by finely setting the interval between the duty values and increasing the number of color data, as in the case of the high duty value side, many representations can be made corresponding to subtle color changes. Is possible. On the other hand, on the bright (high duty value) side, the data amount can be suppressed by setting the interval between the duty values coarsely and reducing the number of color data.

  As a result, the number of color data can be suppressed within 256 (predetermined number) that can be expressed in an 8-bit binary number. Accordingly, it is possible to perform atmosphere illumination suitable for various mood colors while suppressing the storage capacity of the table memory 28 in which the color table 52 and the duty value step table 54 are stored. In other words, illumination suitable for various colors is possible while keeping the storage medium for registering color data to a small capacity.

  Also, by dividing a plurality of color data into the color table 52 and the duty value step table 54 and registering them in the table memory 28 (ROM), it is possible to store them in the ROM as compared with the case of registering them as one table without dividing them. The amount of data stored can be reduced.

  In addition, the interval of color data on the high duty value side (when the amount of light is large) is increased, and at least one of the on time and the off time can be expressed by a binary number of 8 bits (predetermined number of bits) or less. Since the number is 256 (predetermined number) or less, the table memory 28 (storage medium) can have a small capacity, and when the illumination ECU 20 is built in the connector, the housing of the connector can be downsized.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The above-described embodiments can be accompanied by various modifications and improvements within the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the duty value step table is set so that the duty value is in the range of 10%, the interval is 0.1% on the low luminance side, and the interval is 1% on the high luminance side. Although it has been set in two steps, the step interval may be set in three steps or more. Moreover, you may set so that a step interval may be changed continuously. Further, the step interval is not limited to 0.1%, but may be other numerical values such as 0.2%.

  In the above embodiment, the illuminations of the two illuminations 31 and 33 are controlled in the same manner. However, the illumination 31 and the illumination 33 may be controlled to illuminate with different mood colors. Thereby, it can change to a more various color and the effect which produces an atmosphere increases.

  In the above embodiment, R, G, and B LEDs (color light sources) are used. However, illumination light may be obtained by turning on at least two color light sources. For example, one of R, G, and B LEDs may always be turned off (extinguished). In the color table 52 shown in FIG. 4, the case where both the G and B LEDs are turned on simultaneously is shown, but only the G LED and only the B LED may be turned on.

  In the above embodiment, the driver selects the name of the mood color. However, the driver directly designates the color data (color number C and luminance number D) registered in the color table by a number or the like. In this case, more color data can be selected.

  Further, in the above embodiment, for one mood color selected by the driver, the illuminance is changed within a certain range according to time, brightness outside the vehicle (environmental light), etc., or the color slightly fluctuates. It may be changed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the atmosphere lighting is performed using the illumination installed on the substantially central ceiling in the vehicle interior. However, the atmosphere illumination is performed using the line illumination arranged on the upper side of the vehicle interior. May be.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle interior lighting device according to the present invention are summarized and listed in the following [1] to [4], respectively.
[1] A vehicle interior lighting device (10) installed in the vehicle compartment (4),
Illuminating lamps (illuminations 31, 33) for illuminating the vehicle interior with illumination light obtained by turning on the color light sources of a plurality of colors;
A selection unit (steering switch 65, setting screen 74) for selecting color data of the illumination light;
A storage medium (table memory 28) in which a plurality of the color data are registered such that the smaller the light quantity of the illumination light, the finer the interval,
A control unit (21) for controlling the illumination lamps (illuminations 31, 33) based on the color data selected by the selection unit (steering switch 65, setting screen 74);
With
A vehicle interior lighting device (10) characterized by the above.
[2] The control unit (21) controls the illumination lamps (illuminations 31, 33) by controlling the color light source on or off by pulse width modulation,
The storage medium (table memory 28) includes a first table (color table 52) in which the light amounts of the color light sources of the plurality of colors are registered as the plurality of color data, and the first table (color table 52). And a second table (Duty value step table 54) in which at least one of the on-time and off-time of the color light source corresponding to each light quantity is registered at the step interval, is stored.
The vehicle interior lighting device (10) according to [1] above, wherein
[3] When the amount of light is large, the on-time of the color light source registered in the second table (Duty value step table 54) is reduced by making the step interval coarser than when the amount of light is small. The number of data of at least one of the off times is not more than a predetermined number that can be expressed by a binary number of a predetermined number of bits.
The vehicle interior lighting device (10) according to the above [2], characterized in that.
[4] The step interval is divided into at least two stages.
The vehicle interior lighting device (10) according to any one of the above [1] to [3].

1 vehicle 4 vehicle interior 8 connector 10 vehicle interior lighting device 14 main ECU
15 Meter ECU
18 Instrument panel 20 Illumination ECU
21 control unit 21z CPU
22 Power supply unit 23 Communication unit 24 Output unit 25 Input unit 28 Table memory 31, 33 Illumination 31r, 33r Red LED
31g, 33g Green LED
31b, 33b Blue LED
52 Color table 54 Duty value step table 65 Steering SW
65a Top button 65b Back button 65c Enter button 65d Up / down / left / right button 70 Meter panel 71 Handle 74 Setting screen

Claims (4)

A vehicle interior lighting device installed in a vehicle compartment,
An illuminating lamp that illuminates the vehicle interior with illumination light obtained by turning on a color light source of multiple colors;
A selection unit for selecting color data of the illumination light;
A storage medium in which a plurality of the color data is registered such that the smaller the light amount of the illumination light, the finer the interval,
A control unit for controlling the illuminating lamp based on the color data selected by the selection unit;
Equipped with a,
The control unit controls the illumination light by controlling the color light source on or off by pulse width modulation,
The storage medium stores, as the plurality of color data, light amounts of the color light sources of the plurality of colors for combinations of a plurality of types of hues and a plurality of levels of luminance, and the color light sources corresponding to the light amounts. Storing at least one of on-time and off-time at the step interval,
A vehicle interior lighting device. A vehicle interior lighting device installed in a vehicle compartment,
An illuminating lamp that illuminates the vehicle interior with illumination light obtained by turning on a color light source of multiple colors;
A selection unit for selecting color data of the illumination light;
A storage medium in which a plurality of the color data is registered such that the smaller the light amount of the illumination light, the finer the interval,
A control unit for controlling the illuminating lamp based on the color data selected by the selection unit;
With
The control unit controls the illumination light by controlling the color light source on or off by pulse width modulation,
The storage medium includes, as a plurality of the color data, a first table in which the light amounts of the color light sources of the plurality of colors are registered, and the colors corresponding to the light amounts registered in the first table. Storing a second table in which at least one of an on time and an off time of the light source is registered at the step interval;
Vehicle interior lighting system you wherein a. When the amount of light is large, the number of data of at least one of the on time and the off time of the color light source registered in the second table is reduced by making the step interval larger than when the light amount is small. Be less than or equal to a predetermined number that can be expressed in binary with a predetermined number of bits,
The vehicle interior lighting device according to claim 2. The step interval is divided into at least two stages.
The vehicle interior lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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