JP6684609B2 - Vehicle lamp and its control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp including a light deflector that scans light and a control method thereof.

  As a vehicle lamp mounted on a vehicle, light from a light source such as a laser is scanned by an optical deflector such as MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), a two-dimensional image is drawn on a fluorescent screen, and this two-dimensional image is arranged. Some light patterns are projected forward.

  For example, in the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, a light distribution pattern is projected by irradiating light from a light source and rotating a light deflection mirror to scan the light. Further, the vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 includes an image capturing device that captures an image of the front of a vehicle in which the vehicle lamp is mounted, detects an oncoming vehicle or the like on the basis of an image captured by a camera, and detects the oncoming windshield of the oncoming vehicle. Mask processing is performed to change the light distribution pattern so that light is not emitted. In addition, the vehicle lamp is provided with a vehicle inclination sensor that detects the inclination of the vehicle.

JP, 2005-153645, A

  Since the interval at which images are taken by the camera is generally longer than the interval at which the vehicle tilt sensor detects the tilt of the vehicle, if the vehicle tilts while the interval elapses, at the time of imaging and projection. The relative positions of the object imaged by and the projection location are misaligned. As a result, the problem that the formed light distribution pattern becomes improper was the vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of forming an appropriate light distribution pattern and a control method thereof.

Vehicular lamp of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern, a light source for irradiating light, an optical system for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern, based on the first information, the predetermined A light distribution pattern setting means for setting a light distribution pattern, an inclination angle calculation means for calculating an inclination angle with respect to a road surface of a vehicle in which the vehicle lamp is mounted, and a new inclination angle calculation means based on the second information. When the vehicle inclination angle is calculated, the predetermined light distribution set by the light distribution pattern setting means is based on the difference between the calculated vehicle inclination angle and the newly calculated vehicle inclination angle. Light distribution pattern correction means for correcting a pattern , wherein the first information is provided in a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp and includes image data of the object in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp or the object. The distance The second information is the object data output from the acquisition device that acquires the information at the first predetermined interval, and the second information is the first predetermined interval from the inclination angle calculation sensor provided in the vehicle on which the vehicle lamp is mounted. It is characterized in that it is data used for calculating the inclination angle, which is output at a shorter second predetermined interval .

  According to the present invention, the inclination angle of the vehicle is calculated based on the second information input from the outside at an interval shorter than the first information, and the calculated inclination angle of the vehicle and the newly calculated inclination angle are calculated. Since the predetermined light distribution pattern is corrected based on the difference, a more appropriate light distribution pattern can be formed as compared with the case where the predetermined light distribution pattern is set only by the first information.

  In the present invention, the first information is captured image data captured by a camera mounted on the vehicle, and the light distribution pattern setting means sets the predetermined light distribution pattern based on the captured image data. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, the predetermined light distribution pattern can be set by the captured image captured by the camera.

  In the present invention, the second information is height information from a road surface of a specific portion of the vehicle, and the inclination angle calculating means calculates the inclination angle of the vehicle based on the height information of the vehicle. Is preferred.

  With this configuration, it is possible to correct the predetermined light distribution pattern based on the height information of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the timing at which the inclination angle of the vehicle is calculated by the inclination angle calculation unit coincides with the timing at which the predetermined light distribution pattern is set by the light distribution pattern setting unit at a predetermined cycle.

  According to this configuration, when setting the predetermined light distribution pattern, the inclination angle of the vehicle calculated at the same timing in the predetermined cycle is used to set the predetermined light distribution pattern. It is possible to form an appropriate light distribution pattern along the inclination angle of the vehicle as compared with the one set using the calculated inclination angle of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the optical system includes an optical deflector for scanning the light emitted from the light source, and the optical system forms the predetermined light distribution pattern by the light scanned by the optical deflector.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to correct the predetermined light distribution pattern in the vehicular lamp that forms the predetermined light distribution pattern by the light scanned by the light deflector.

The method of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, a light source for emitting light, a control method for a vehicle lamp and an optical system for forming a predetermined light distribution pattern, based on the first information, the predetermined A light distribution pattern setting step of setting a light distribution pattern, a vehicle inclination angle calculation step of calculating an inclination angle of a vehicle in which the vehicle lamp is mounted, and a vehicle inclination angle calculation step based on the second information are newly added. When the vehicle inclination angle is calculated, the predetermined light distribution set in the light distribution pattern setting step is based on the difference between the calculated vehicle inclination angle and the newly calculated vehicle inclination angle. A light distribution pattern correction step of correcting a pattern , wherein the first information is provided in a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp and includes image data of the object in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp or the object. To get the distance information of The second information is object data output from the acquisition device at a first predetermined interval, and the second information is a second shorter than the first predetermined interval from a sensor for calculating an inclination angle provided in a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp. It is characterized in that it is data used for calculating the inclination angle which is output at a predetermined interval .

  According to the present invention, the predetermined light distribution pattern is corrected based on the difference between the vehicle inclination angle calculated in the vehicle inclination angle calculation step and the newly calculated inclination angle. It is possible to form a more appropriate light distribution pattern as compared with the case where the light distribution pattern is set.

The perspective view which shows the vehicle lamp of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows a vehicle lamp. The block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle lamp. The figure which shows the operation timing of camera photography and vehicle height detection. The perspective view which shows an optical deflector. The figure explaining operation | movement of the piezoelectric actuator which has a meander structure. 3 is a schematic view showing a scanning range on a virtual vertical screen S. FIG. Schematic which shows a picked-up image. Schematic which shows a high beam light distribution pattern. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern before the light distribution pattern correction processing in a state where the vehicle is tilted. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a high beam light distribution pattern after light distribution pattern correction processing in a state where the vehicle is tilted. Schematic which shows a low beam light distribution pattern. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a low beam light distribution pattern before a light distribution pattern correction process in a state where the vehicle is tilted. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a low beam light distribution pattern after light distribution pattern correction processing in a state where the vehicle is tilted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp 2 includes a projection lens 3, a lens holder 4 that holds the projection lens 3, a main body cylinder 5 attached to the rear end of the lens holder 4, and a rear part of the main body cylinder 5. And a bottom cover 6 that closes the side opening. In this embodiment, the vehicular lamp 2 is used, for example, as a headlight of a vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle lamp 2 includes an excitation light source 11 and an optical deflector 12 that two-dimensionally scans the excitation light from the excitation light source 11 (horizontal direction and vertical direction). The drive of the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 is controlled by a control device 13 (see FIG. 3) described later in detail. The numbers of excitation light sources and optical deflectors can be changed as appropriate.

  Further, the vehicle lamp 2 includes a phosphor 14 (projection body) on which a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn by the light scanned by the light deflector 12. The two-dimensional image drawn on the phosphor 14 is projected forward by the projection lens 3.

  The excitation light source 11, the light deflector 12, and the phosphor 14 are arranged inside the main body cylinder 5 and fixed by a fixing member (not shown). A fin for heat dissipation may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body cylinder 5.

  The excitation light source 11 condenses, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element 11a such as a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in a blue region (for example, an emission wavelength of 450 nm) as excitation light, and light from the semiconductor light emitting element 11a ( For example, a condenser lens 11b for collimating). The semiconductor light emitting device 11a may be a semiconductor light emitting device such as a laser diode that emits laser light in the near ultraviolet region (e.g., emission wavelength is 405 nm). Further, the semiconductor light emitting element 11a may be an LED. Further, it may be a laser irradiator that irradiates laser light mixed with RGB.

  The excitation light source 11 irradiates the laser light toward the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the light deflector 12 which will be described in detail later.

  The phosphor 14 receives a laser beam that is two-dimensionally scanned by the optical deflector 12 and converts at least a part of the laser beam into light of a different wavelength. Or layered). The phosphor 14 is arranged near the focus of the projection lens 3. Note that the thickness of the phosphor 14 is exaggerated in FIG.

  For example, when a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in the blue range is used as the semiconductor light emitting element 11a of the excitation light source 11, the phosphor 14 emits yellow light when excited by the laser light in the blue range. Is used. A two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn as a white image on the phosphor 14 by the laser light in the blue region which is two-dimensionally scanned by the light deflector 12. The two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image because when the laser light in the blue region is irradiated, the phosphor 14 emits the laser light in the blue region and the laser light in the blue region that transmits (passes) the laser light. This is because white light (pseudo white light) that is a color mixture with (yellow light) is emitted.

  On the other hand, when a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in the near-ultraviolet region is used as the semiconductor light emitting element 11a, the phosphor 14 is excited by the laser light in the near-ultraviolet region and is red, green, or blue. What emits the light of is used. A two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn as a white image on the phosphor 14 by the two-dimensional scanning by the light deflector 12 and the laser light in the near-ultraviolet region. The two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image because when the laser light in the near ultraviolet region is irradiated, the phosphor 14 emits light by the laser light in the near ultraviolet region (light of three colors of red, green, and blue). ) Is emitted by emitting white light (pseudo white light). The blue phosphor and the yellow phosphor may be excited by the near-ultraviolet laser light to emit white light.

  The projection lens 3 is composed of four lenses 3a to 3d, and the lenses 3a to 3d are held by the lens holder 4. The aberrations (field curvature) of the lenses 3a to 3d are corrected so that the image surface becomes a flat surface, and the chromatic aberration is corrected. In this case, the phosphor 14 used is a flat plate, and is arranged along the image plane (plane).

  The focus of the projection lens 3 is located near the phosphor 14. The projection lens 3 can eliminate the influence of aberration on the predetermined light distribution pattern, as compared with the case where one convex lens is used. In addition, since the phosphor 14 has a flat plate shape, the manufacture thereof is easier than when the phosphor 14 has a curved shape. Furthermore, since the phosphor 14 has a flat plate shape, it is easier to draw a two-dimensional image than when the phosphor 14 has a curved shape.

  The projection lens 3 may be configured as a projection lens composed of one aspherical lens in which aberration (field curvature) is not corrected so that the image surface becomes flat. In this case, the phosphor 14 has a curved shape corresponding to the field curvature, and is arranged along the field curvature.

  The projection lens 3 projects the two-dimensional image drawn on the phosphor 14 to the front, and is arranged at a position of about 25 m in front of the virtual vertical screen S that faces the vehicular lamp 2. ), For example, a high beam light distribution pattern is formed as a predetermined light distribution pattern.

  The optical deflector 12 scans the excitation light condensed by the condenser lens 11b of the excitation light source 11 in the horizontal and vertical directions.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 are connected to a control device 13 that totally controls the vehicle lamp 2, and the drive is controlled by the control device 13.

  The vehicle lamp 2 also includes a headlamp controller 15, a light distribution calculator 16, and a memory 17. The light distribution calculation unit 16 is connected to the control device 13. Various light distribution patterns are stored in the memory 17, and the light distribution calculation unit 16 reads the light distribution pattern from the memory 17 and transmits a light distribution control signal according to the read light distribution pattern to the control device 13. To do.

  A vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp 2 is provided with first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d for detecting vehicle heights from road surfaces at four corners of the vehicle. The first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d are connected to the headlamp controller 15.

  The first vehicle height sensor 18a is provided in the front left corner of the vehicle, the second vehicle height sensor 18b is provided in the rear left corner of the vehicle, the third vehicle height sensor 18c is provided in the front right corner of the vehicle, and the fourth vehicle height The sensor 18d is provided at the rear right corner of the vehicle. The arrangement positions of the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d can be changed as appropriate.

  The first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d detect the distance (vehicle height) between the mounting location of each sensor 18a to 18d and the road surface, and transmit the detected vehicle height data to the headlamp controller 15. The headlamp controller 15 calculates the vehicle inclination angle based on the detected vehicle height data from the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d. As the calculation method, the distance between the first vehicle height sensor 18a and the third vehicle height sensor 18c and the distance between the second vehicle height sensor 18b and the fourth vehicle height sensor 18d are set to d, and the first to fourth vehicle When the vehicle heights detected by the height sensors 18a to 18d are set to ha to hd, for example, they are calculated by the following formula.

Vehicle inclination angle θ = sin ⁻¹ {((hc + hd) / 2− (ha + hb) / 2) / d}

  The headlamp control unit 15 transmits the calculated vehicle inclination angle data to the light distribution calculation unit 16.

  A vehicle 19 equipped with the vehicular lamp 2 is equipped with a camera 19 for photographing the front of the vehicle. The camera 19 is connected to the light distribution calculation unit 16.

  The camera 19 photographs the front of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling, and transmits the photographed image data to the light distribution calculation unit 16. The light distribution calculation unit 16 detects the positions and sizes of the oncoming vehicle and the pedestrian based on the captured image data from the camera 19. Then, as will be described later in detail, the light distribution calculation unit 16 detects the detected position and size data of the oncoming vehicle (hereinafter referred to as detected vehicle data), the detected pedestrian position and size data, and The light distribution control signal based on the vehicle inclination angle data is transmitted to the control device 13.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d detect the vehicle height, for example, every 30 msec and transmit the detected vehicle height data to the headlamp controller 15, and the headlamp controller 15 also. For example, the vehicle inclination angle is calculated every 30 msec and transmitted to the light distribution calculation unit 16.

  The camera 19 shoots, for example, every 60 msec and sends the taken image data to the light distribution calculation unit 16.

  The optical deflector 12 is, for example, a MEMS scanner. The drive system of the optical polarizer is roughly classified into a piezoelectric system, an electrostatic system, and an electromagnetic system, but any system may be used. In the present embodiment, a piezoelectric optical polarizer will be described as a representative.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical deflector 12 is a two-axis type optical deflector, which is manufactured using a semiconductor process or a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technique, and rotates the light incident from a certain direction. The light is reflected by the light deflection mirror 20 as a micro mirror and emitted as reflected light (laser light).

  The light deflector 12 includes a first supporting portion 21, and the first supporting portion 21 includes a light deflecting mirror 20, semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b, and torsion bars 24a and 24b. The laser light from the excitation light source 11 is reflected by the light deflection mirror 20, and the reflected light (laser light) scans the virtual vertical screen S via the phosphor 14 and the projection lens 3.

  At this time, the control device 13 sends a control signal to the optical deflector 12 and the excitation light source 11. The semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b of the optical deflector 12 are driven by the control signal, and the torsion bars 24a and 24b coupled to the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b are twisted to rotate the light deflecting mirror 20. Further, the control signal controls the on / off and brightness of the laser light in the excitation light source 11.

  In the present embodiment, in the two-axis orthogonal coordinate system, the horizontal rotation axis passing through the center of the circular light deflection mirror 20 is defined as the X axis, and the vertical rotation axis is defined as the Y axis. Further, in FIG. 5, the X axis is the left-right direction, the Y axis is the vertical direction, and the thickness direction of the light deflection mirror 20 is the front-back direction.

  The optical deflector 12 includes a second support portion 22 having a rectangular ring shape, and the first support portion 21 is arranged at the center of the second support portion 22. Further, bellows-shaped piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are arranged in line symmetry with respect to the Y axis passing through the center of the first support portion 21, and are coupled to the lower end of the side portion of the first support portion 21 and the second support portion 22. is doing. In FIG. 3, the first and second support portions 21 and 22, the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b, the torsion bars 24a and 24b, and the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are collectively referred to as a MEMS.

  The piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are formed in a meander structure in which a plurality of cantilevers are arranged in a direction in which the longitudinal directions thereof are adjacent to each other, are folded back in the vertical direction end portions, and are connected in series. Although details will be described later, by driving the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b by the control signal, the first support portion 21 is reciprocally rotated in the horizontal direction, that is, around the X-axis line passing through the center of the light deflection mirror 20 in the drawing. To do.

  Further, as described above, by driving the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b, the light deflection mirror 20 coincides with the axes of the torsion bars 24a and 24b, and the Y axis line passing through the center of the light deflection mirror 20 in the drawing is rotated. To reciprocate.

  As a result, when the optical deflector 12 reflects the laser light by the optical deflecting mirror 20, the optical deflector 12 emits the light in front of the optical deflector 12 and further scans in two directions of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. it can.

  Below the second support portion 22, electrode pads 32a to 32e (hereinafter referred to as electrode pads 32) and electrode pads 33a to 33e (hereinafter referred to as electrode pads 33) are arranged. The electrode pads 32 and 33 are electrically connected so that a drive voltage can be applied to the electrodes of the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b and the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b.

  It should be noted that the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b can be made to function as an optical deflector without the portions. In this case, the portion of the first support portion 21 serves as a support, and the light deflection mirror 20 constitutes a one-axis type light deflector that reciprocally rotates around the Y-axis.

  Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6 by taking the piezoelectric actuator 31a as an example. As described above, the optical deflector 12 makes it possible to reciprocally rotate the optical deflecting mirror 20 about the X axis by operating the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram in which the piezoelectric actuator 31a disposed on the left side is cut out when the optical deflector 12 is viewed from the front side. The piezoelectric actuator 31a has a shape in which four piezoelectric cantilevers are lined up, and the piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (1), 31a (2), 31a (3), and 31a (4) are arranged in order from the side away from the first support portion 21. is there.

  For example, in the piezoelectric actuator 31a, the first voltage is applied to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (1) and 31a (3). Further, a second voltage having a phase opposite to the first voltage is applied to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (2) and 31a (4).

  By applying the voltage in this way, as shown in FIG. 6B, the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (1), 31a (3) are bent and displaced upward in FIG. 6B, and the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a ( 2) and 31a (4) can be bent and displaced downward in FIG. 6B.

  The piezoelectric actuator 31b is composed of four piezoelectric cantilevers similarly to the piezoelectric actuator 31a, is the first, second, third, and fourth piezoelectric cantilevers in order from the one closer to the first support portion 21, and is an odd number. 5 can be bent and displaced rearward in FIG. 5, and the even-numbered two piezoelectric cantilevers can be bent and displaced forward in FIG.

  As a result, the lower side (torsion bar 24b side) of the light deflecting mirror 20 in FIG. 5 becomes the front side in FIG. 5 (upper side in FIG. 6) than the upper side (torsion bar 24a side) of the light deflecting mirror 20. The light deflecting mirror 20 can be displaced so that it moves in the U direction).

  By applying a second voltage to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (1) and 31a (3) and applying a first voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 31a (2) and 31a (4). The light deflecting mirror 20 is arranged so that the upper side (torsion bar 24a side) of the light deflecting mirror 20 in FIG. 5 is the front side in FIG. 5 from the lower side (torsion bar 24b side) of the light deflecting mirror 20. Can be displaced. By performing these controls continuously, the light deflection mirror 20 can be rotated (swing) around the X axis. During the rotation control of the light deflection mirror 20, the piezoelectric actuator 31b is also bent and displaced similarly to the piezoelectric actuator 31a.

  As a method of applying the first voltage and the second voltage, there is a method of applying a sine curve or an antiphase voltage that changes on the comb teeth to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers and the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers. In addition, it is not limited to the case where the cantilevers are alternately bent in the vertical direction, and one of the upper and lower bends and the state where the cantilevers are not bent may be alternately repeated.

  When driving the vehicular lamp 2 to form a high-beam light distribution pattern, the control device 13 first transmits a control signal to the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12.

  Laser light is output from the excitation light source 11 by the control signal, and the optical deflector 12 is driven to rotate each of the optical deflection mirrors 20 about the X axis and the Y axis.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the laser light output from the excitation light source 11 is incident on the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the light deflector 12, and is scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the rotating light deflection mirror 20. To be done.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the laser light emitted from the excitation light source 11 is scanned on the virtual vertical screen S in the scanning range SR via the light deflector 12, the phosphor 14 and the projection lens 3 (two-dimensional image). Is projected).

  Next, a case will be described in which the vehicle lighting device 2 mounted on the vehicle is driven to form a high beam light distribution pattern.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the camera 19 mounted on the vehicle photographs the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling and transmits the photographed image data to the light distribution calculation unit 16. In the present embodiment, the captured image PI has substantially the same size as the scanning range SR.

  The light distribution calculation unit 16 detects the position and size of the oncoming vehicle based on the captured image data from the camera 19 by a known detection method.

  The first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d provided on the vehicle detect the vehicle height and transmit the detected vehicle height data to the headlamp controller 15. The headlamp control unit 15 calculates the vehicle inclination angle based on the detected vehicle height data from the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d, and transmits the calculated vehicle inclination angle data to the light distribution calculation unit 16. To do.

  Based on the detected position and size of the oncoming vehicle and the vehicle inclination angle data from the headlamp control section 15, the light distribution calculating section 16 does not irradiate the windshield of the oncoming vehicle with a high beam, as shown in FIG. As described above, mask control for controlling the driving of the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 is performed. In FIG. 9, the vehicle is not inclined with respect to the road surface, and the vehicle inclination angle data is 0 °. When there is a preceding vehicle or a pedestrian, the light distribution calculation unit 16 detects the positions and sizes of the preceding vehicle and the pedestrian. In this case, mask control is performed so that the rear window of the preceding vehicle and the pedestrian are not irradiated with the high beam. Further, the light distribution calculation unit 16 may perform mask control based on only the captured image data.

  As the mask control, the light distribution calculation unit 16 transmits a light distribution pattern that is an irradiation range in which a part of the scanning range SR is masked as illustrated in FIG. 9. 9 to 11, the hatched portion is the light irradiation area, and the non-hatched portion is the mask area.

  The control device 13 drives the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 based on the light distribution control signal from the light distribution calculation unit 16. At this time, the controller 13 performs masking processing so that the excitation light source 11 does not emit light when scanning the masked area.

  When a vehicle rides on a small stone or the like and leans to the left or right (for example, 5 ° in the counterclockwise direction), the windshield of an oncoming vehicle may be irradiated with a high beam as shown in FIG. 10. In order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, light distribution pattern correction processing for correcting the light distribution pattern is performed according to the inclination of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle is inclined in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 10 and 11.

  In the light distribution pattern correction process, the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d provided on the vehicle detect the vehicle height at intervals of 30 msec and transmit the detected vehicle height data to the headlamp controller 15. The headlamp control unit 15 calculates the vehicle tilt angle based on the detected vehicle height data from the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d, and transmits the calculated vehicle tilt angle data to the light distribution calculation unit 16. To do.

  Based on the vehicle inclination angle data, the light distribution calculating unit 16 calculates the vehicle inclination angle (0 °) already calculated and the newly calculated vehicle inclination angle (+ 5 °) so that the windshield of the oncoming vehicle is not irradiated with the low beam. ) Is transmitted to the control device 13 so as to incline the light distribution pattern by a difference (−5 °: clockwise).

  The control device 13 drives the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 so as to incline the light distribution pattern by −5 ° (clockwise) based on the light distribution control signal from the light distribution calculation unit 16. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the light distribution pattern is inclined by the difference (−5 °), and the windshield of the oncoming vehicle is not irradiated with the high beam. If the calculated vehicle inclination angle is -5 ° and the calculated inclination angle is + 5 °, the difference -10 ° light distribution pattern is inclined.

  At the timing when the captured image data is received from the camera 19, the light distribution calculation unit 16 performs mask control based on the detected position and size of the oncoming vehicle and the vehicle inclination angle data from the headlamp control unit 15. That is, the light distribution pattern determination process is performed at the timing (60 msec) at which the captured image data is received from the camera 19, and the angle correction is performed at the timing at which the captured image data is received from the camera 19 from the headlamp control unit 15. It is performed at the timing when the inclination angle data is input.

  Next, a case where the vehicular lamp 2 mounted on the vehicle is driven to form a low beam light distribution pattern will be described.

  The light distribution calculation unit 16 detects the position and size of a pedestrian based on the captured image data from the camera 19 by a known detection method.

  As in the case of forming the high beam light distribution pattern, the headlamp controller 15 calculates the vehicle inclination angle based on the detected vehicle height data from the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d, and calculates the calculated vehicle inclination angle. The tilt angle data is transmitted to the light distribution calculation unit 16. Further, the light distribution pattern is read from the memory 17, and a light distribution control signal corresponding to the light distribution pattern corrected by the calculated tilt angle is transmitted to the control device 13. The light distribution pattern stored in the memory 17 is cut off so that the windshield of a distant or oncoming vehicle is not irradiated with light (see FIG. 12).

  Based on the detected position and size of the pedestrian and the vehicle inclination angle data from the headlamp control unit 15, the light distribution calculation unit 16 masks the pedestrian so that the low beam is not emitted, as shown in FIG. Take control. In addition, in FIG. 12, the vehicle is not inclined, and the vehicle inclination angle data is 0 °. In addition, in FIGS. 12 to 14, the hatched portion is the light irradiation area, and the non-hatched portion is the non-irradiation area.

  When the vehicle is tilted (for example, 5 ° in the clockwise direction), the pedestrian may be irradiated with the low beam as shown in FIG. 13. In order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, light distribution pattern correction processing for correcting the light distribution pattern is performed according to the inclination of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle is inclined in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 13 and 14.

  In the light distribution pattern correction processing, the headlamp control unit 15 is based on the detected vehicle height data from the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d at intervals of 30 msec, as in the case of forming the high beam light distribution pattern. Then, the vehicle inclination angle is calculated, and the calculated vehicle inclination angle data is transmitted to the light distribution calculation unit 16.

  Based on the vehicle inclination angle data, the light distribution calculating unit 16 calculates the calculated vehicle inclination angle (0 °) and the newly calculated vehicle inclination angle (−5 °) so that the pedestrian is not irradiated with the low beam. The light distribution control signal for inclining the light distribution pattern by the difference (+ 5 °: counterclockwise) is transmitted to the control device 13.

  The control device 13 drives the excitation light source 11 and the optical deflector 12 based on the light distribution control signal from the light distribution calculation unit 16. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the light distribution pattern is inclined by the difference (+ 5 °), and the pedestrian is not irradiated with the low beam.

  In this embodiment, the light distribution pattern is corrected based on the vehicle height data detected by the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d every 30 msec. Therefore, the captured image data captured by the camera at intervals of 60 msec. On the basis of the above, the time lag until the correction is shortened as compared with the case where the light distribution pattern is corrected.

  In the present embodiment, the camera captures images at intervals of 60 msec, and the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d detect vehicle heights at intervals of 30 msec. Therefore, the first to fourth vehicle height sensors 18a to 18d. The vehicle height detection timing in 18d coincides with the image capturing timing of the camera in a predetermined cycle, but each interval can be changed as appropriate. For example, the shooting interval may be 70 msec and the vehicle height detection interval may be 30 msec. In this case, since the photographing timing and the vehicle height detection timing are different from each other, it is preferable to periodically shift the photographing timing or the like so as to match the timing in a predetermined cycle.

  In the above embodiment, the light distribution pattern is set based on the image captured by the camera. However, the information for setting the light distribution pattern is not limited to the captured image, and may be, for example, a target such as a vehicle or a pedestrian. The light distribution pattern may be set based on the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor that measures the distance to the object.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the vehicle inclination angle is calculated based on the vehicle height data detected by the vehicle height sensor, but not limited to the vehicle height sensor, an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and The vehicle inclination angle may be calculated based on the data detected by each sensor.

  In the above embodiment, the excitation light source is used, but a light source that emits the color of the light source itself may be used. In this case, the phosphor (projection body) is not necessary, and the light from the light source is directly emitted. Further, a translucent diffusion plate may be used instead of the phosphor. Further, the light source may irradiate one concentrated light beam, and for example, the light may be guided by a fiber. The light guided to the fiber may be white light mixed with RGB.

  In the above embodiment, a rectangular phosphor is used, but the phosphor is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an ellipse.

  In the above embodiment, the alignment pattern is formed by scanning the light from the light source with the light deflector, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, light sources of light emitting elements arranged in a matrix may be used. The formation of the alignment pattern and the mask processing can be realized by switching ON / OFF depending on the position of the light emitting element (for example, the light source disclosed in JP-A-2015-015104). In this case as well, the control device controls the light emitting elements arranged in a matrix based on the calculation result by the processing similar to the above embodiment. Any light source can be used as long as it can mask the predetermined position.

  In the above embodiment, the orientation pattern correction process is performed based on the difference from the vehicle inclination angle calculated immediately before, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any timing may be used as long as the correction processing is performed based on the difference from the calculated vehicle inclination angle. It is preferable to take a difference from the orientation pattern at the time of the reference, with the time when the camera photographing and the tilt angle detection are performed at the same time.

2 ... Vehicle lamp, 3 ... Projection lens, 4 ... Lens holder, 5 ... Main body cylinder, 6 ... Bottom lid, 11 ... Excitation light source, 11a ... Semiconductor light emitting element, 11b ... Condensing lens, 12 ... Optical deflector, 13 ... Control device, 14 ... Phosphor, 15 ... Headlamp control unit, 16 ... Light distribution calculation unit, 17 ... Memory, 18a-18d ... First to fourth vehicle height sensor, 19 ... Camera, 20 ... Light deflection mirror, 21 and 22 ... 1st and 2nd support part, 23a, 23b ... Semiannular piezoelectric actuator, 24a, 24b ... Torsion bar, 31a, 31b ... Piezoelectric actuator, 32a-32e ... Electrode pad, 33a-33e ... Electrode pad

Claims (6)

A vehicular lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern,
A light source that emits light,
An optical system for forming the predetermined light distribution pattern,
A light distribution pattern setting means for setting the predetermined light distribution pattern based on the first information;
An inclination angle calculating means for calculating an inclination angle with respect to a road surface of a vehicle in which the vehicle lamp is mounted, based on the second information;
When the inclination angle of the vehicle is newly calculated by the inclination angle calculating means, the light distribution pattern setting means is based on a difference between the calculated inclination angle of the vehicle and the newly calculated inclination angle of the vehicle. A light distribution pattern correction means for correcting the predetermined light distribution pattern set in
Equipped with
The first information is provided at a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp at a first predetermined interval from an acquisition device that acquires image data of an object in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp or distance information to the object. It is the output object data,
The second information is data used for the tilt angle calculation that is output at a second predetermined interval shorter than the first predetermined interval from a tilt angle calculation sensor provided in a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp. Characteristic vehicle lighting. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
The first information is captured image data captured by a camera mounted on the vehicle,
The vehicular lamp, wherein the light distribution pattern setting means sets the predetermined light distribution pattern based on the captured image data. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2,
The second information is height information from a road surface of a specific portion of the vehicle,
The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle calculating means calculates a tilt angle of the vehicle based on height information of the vehicle. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a timing at which the inclination angle of the vehicle is calculated by the inclination angle calculation unit coincides with a timing at which the predetermined light distribution pattern is set by the light distribution pattern setting unit at a predetermined cycle. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An optical deflector for scanning the light emitted from the light source is provided,
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical system forms the predetermined light distribution pattern by the light scanned by the light deflector. A method for controlling a vehicular lamp including a light source that emits light and an optical system that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern,
A light distribution pattern setting step of setting the predetermined light distribution pattern based on the first information;
Based on the second information, and the vehicle inclination angle calculating step of calculating a tilt angle of the vehicle in which the vehicle lamp is mounted,
When the vehicle tilt angle is newly calculated in the vehicle tilt angle calculation step, the light distribution pattern setting is performed based on the difference between the calculated vehicle tilt angle and the newly calculated vehicle tilt angle. A light distribution pattern correction step of correcting a predetermined light distribution pattern set in the step,
Equipped with
The first information is provided at a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp at a first predetermined interval from an acquisition device that acquires image data of an object in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp or distance information to the object. It is the output object data,
The second information is data used for the tilt angle calculation that is output at a second predetermined interval shorter than the first predetermined interval from a tilt angle calculation sensor provided in a vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp. A method for controlling a vehicular lamp having a feature.