JP6827674B2 - Headlights for driving vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a traveling headlight mounted on a vehicle.

Recently, a variable light distribution type headlight system has been developed that can properly check traffic obstacles in front of the vehicle at night and that the irradiation light does not obstruct the traffic of oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles. There is. The variable light distribution type headlight system analyzes the image taken by the in-vehicle camera to detect the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and directs the illumination light to an area other than the area where the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle exists. While maintaining the shining state, the illumination light is not radiated only in the area where the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle exists. The variable light distribution type headlight system enables safe night driving using the driving headlight (high beam) without dazzling the passengers of the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle.

As a specific mechanism for changing the light distribution pattern of the headlight, a reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light source is driven by an actuator to shift the direction of the optical axis (for example, the following patent). (See Document 1) and those in which the irradiation range of the illumination light is finely controlled by frequently switching the on / off of a large number of independent light sources (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 below) are known. ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-128071

"Audi (registered trademark) matrix LED headlight", [online], Audi Akuchen Gezel shaft, [searched on December 15, 2016], Internet <URL: http://www.audi.co.jp/jp/ brand / ja / vorsprung_durch_technik / content / 2013/10 / audi-a8-in-a-new-radiant-light.html ＞

In a variable light distribution type headlight system having a plurality of light source segments as components, when the appearance of an oncoming vehicle is recognized, the light source segment pointing to the oncoming vehicle is turned off, or the light source emitted from the light source segment is turned off. By reducing the amount of light from normal, the dazzling of passengers on the oncoming vehicle is suppressed.

On the other hand, since the oncoming vehicle itself also lights the headlights, the front of the own vehicle is remarkably brightly illuminated by the illumination light emitted by the oncoming vehicle's headlights when the oncoming vehicle is present. .. Then, light adaptation to the visual sense of the passenger of the own vehicle, that is, a decrease in sensitivity to visible light occurs.

If the light source segment pointing to the oncoming vehicle is turned off or dimmed while the passenger's vision of the own vehicle is being adapted to light, the passenger's vision will make the front appear dark. Therefore, for the light source segment (which does not turn off or dimming) other than the light source segment that points to the oncoming vehicle, it is preferable to increase the amount of luminous flux emitted with the appearance of the oncoming vehicle more than usual.

Further, the light source segment that is turned off or dimmed with the appearance of the oncoming vehicle is turned on again after the oncoming vehicle passes by the own vehicle and its existence disappears, or the amount of the luminous flux emitted is returned to the original size. At that time, if the influence of light adaptation remains on the visual sense of the passenger of the own vehicle, the passenger's visual sense makes the front feel darker than before the appearance of the oncoming vehicle. Therefore, it is preferable to temporarily increase the amount of luminous flux emitted from the light source segment that has been turned off or dimmed due to the appearance of an oncoming vehicle when the light source segment is turned on or brightened again.

On top of that, for the light source segment that increased the amount of luminous flux emitted from the normal level, when the amount of light flux is returned to the normal amount, if the amount of light flux is sharply reduced, the front is suddenly seen from the passenger. There is a concern that it may give the feeling of darkening.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above problems for the first time, and when the amount of light flux emitted from the light source segment provided in the traveling headlight is increased more than usual, the light source segment is used. This is to prevent the front of the vehicle from appearing to suddenly become dark when the amount of luminous flux is returned to the normal amount.

In the present invention, when the amount of light flux emitted from at least one of a plurality of light source segments illuminating the front of the vehicle is increased more than normal, the amount of light flux emitted from the light source segment is the normal amount. A headlight for running a vehicle was constructed in which the amount of light flux emitted gradually was reduced by spending 6 seconds or more when reducing the amount to.

According to the present invention, when the amount of light flux emitted from the light source segment provided in the traveling headlight is increased more than normal, when the amount of light flux of the light source segment is returned to the normal amount, It is possible to prevent the front of the car from appearing to be suddenly dark.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a light distribution pattern of a plurality of light source segments installed at a portion on the opposite lane side (left side) of the vehicle in one embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows typically the state which projected the light distribution pattern of a plurality of light source segments installed in the part on the opposite lane side of the vehicle of the same embodiment on the screen facing the vehicle. The side view which shows typically the irradiation range of the illumination light of the specific light source segment installed in the part on the opposite lane side of the vehicle of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a light distribution pattern of a plurality of light source segments installed at a portion on the oncoming lane side (right side) of the vehicle in the same embodiment. The figure which shows typically the state which projected the light distribution pattern of a plurality of light source segments installed in the part on the opposite lane side of the vehicle of the same embodiment on the screen facing the vehicle. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a state in which a plurality of light source segments are turned on / off in a situation where an oncoming vehicle is present in the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a state in which a plurality of light source segments are turned on / off in the presence of a preceding vehicle in the same embodiment. The side view which shows typically the irradiation range of the illumination light of the specific light source segment installed in the vehicle of the same embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the specific light source segment installed in the vehicle of the same embodiment. A side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a specific light source segment installed in the vehicle of the same embodiment. The timing diagram which shows the control pattern of the amount of the light flux emitted from the light source segment installed in the vehicle of the same embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The traveling headlight of the vehicle C of the present embodiment is formed by installing a plurality of light source segments on the left and right side portions of the front end portion of the vehicle C. Each light source segment comprises an illumination light source that emits illumination light, such as a light emitting diode, and a reflector that directs the illumination light emitted from the illumination light source to the front of the vehicle C. The illumination light sources of each light source segment can be turned on / off independently of each other. The amount of luminous flux emitted from an illumination light source is controlled by, for example, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control that increases or decreases the average amount of current applied to the light source via a FET (Field Effect Transistor) or other semiconductor switching element. it can.

The traveling headlight of the present embodiment is provided with four light source segments each on the left side portion and the right side portion of the vehicle C. 1 to 5 show an example of a light distribution pattern of each light source segment. The light distribution pattern in this illustrated example assumes a country or region that adopts left-hand traffic, and when applied to a country or region that adopts right-hand traffic, it is necessary to invert it left and right.

In a conventional vehicle driving headlight, a light source segment installed on the left side when viewed from the passenger (or driver) of vehicle C mainly illuminates an area to the left of the vehicle center line, and a light source installed on the right side. The segment mainly illuminated the area to the right of the vehicle centerline. In such a case, when the variable light distribution type headlight system detects the presence of an oncoming vehicle, most of the light source segment on the right side is turned off so as not to irradiate the oncoming vehicle with strong light. It becomes. As a result, the amount of light that illuminates the front of the vehicle, particularly the right half of the own lane CL, may decrease, and the visibility of distant obstacles may decrease. In order to avoid dazzling oncoming passengers and ensure sufficient visibility of distant obstacles, the number of light source segments must be increased, but increasing the number of light source segments increases costs. Directly connected to.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the light source segment installed on the left side of the passenger of the vehicle C illuminates the area to the right of the vehicle center line, and the light source segment installed on the right side illuminates the area to the left of the vehicle center line. The light is distributed so as to illuminate the area of.

More specifically, of the four light source segments of the first light source segment, the second light source segment, the third light source segment, and the fourth light source segment installed on the left side when viewed from the passenger, the first light source segment is the own lane CL. Illuminate the front along. According to the example shown in FIG. 2, the illumination light 10 emitted from the first light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C (established at a distance of 10 m in front of the vehicle C) from the driver's seat (established at a distance of 10 m in front of the vehicle C). When viewed (facing the front of the vehicle C), the vehicle is slightly biased to the right from the intersection of the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C and the front end of the vehicle C to the left. The region up to the angle biased to is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light 10.

The second light source segment illuminates the oncoming lane OL rather than the own lane CL. When the illumination light 20 emitted from the second light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it deviates to the right from the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The area is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light 20.

The third light source segment illuminates an area further to the right of the area illuminated by the second light source segment when viewed from the driver's seat. The optical axis points around the shoulder of the oncoming lane OL at a point more than 100 m ahead of the vehicle C. When the illumination lights 31 and 32 emitted from the third light source segment are projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, the right side from the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The biased region is included in the irradiation range of the illumination lights 31 and 32. The optical axes of the second light source segment and the third light source segment point to the right of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. These second light source segment and third light source segment illuminate obstacles existing on the right side (particularly, oncoming lane OL) of the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line, and the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line. It is not actively trying to illuminate obstacles on the left side of the vehicle (particularly, the own lane CL and its shoulder). As shown in FIG. 1, the second light source segment and the third light source segment do not irradiate the illumination lights 20, 31, and 32 to the left of the left end of the vehicle C when viewed from the passenger. As will be described in detail later, the third light source segment has a plurality of light sources L1 and L2, and the illumination light 31 emitted from one of the light sources L1 is a horizontal plane located at the same height as the light source segment. The region above the road surface (plane parallel to the road surface) H is illuminated, and the illumination light 32 emitted from the other light source L2 illuminates the region below the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment. That is, the illumination range by the third light source segment is divided into upper and lower parts with the horizontal plane H as a boundary.

In addition, the fourth light source segment illuminates the front along the own lane CL. When the illumination light 40 emitted from the fourth light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C and the front end of the vehicle C The irradiation range of the illumination light 40 includes a region from an angle deviated to the right to an angle deviated to the left with respect to the intersection with the portion.

The resolution of the illumination range of the illumination light 10, 20, 31, 32, 40 by the light source segment installed on the left side when viewed from the passenger is finer on the right side than the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line, and the vehicle center line is Coarse to the left than the including vertical face A. That is, through switching the lighting light source of each light source segment installed on the left side when viewed from the passenger, the illumination light 10, 20, 31, 32, 40 on the right side of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line It is possible to finely control the irradiation range.

The optical axes of the first light source segment and the second light source segment are set in the horizontal direction, that is, in the direction parallel to the road surface. The illumination lights 10 and 20 emitted by the first light source segment and the second light source segment illuminate the front of the vehicle C in the same manner as the existing driving headlights, that is, in a direction parallel to the road surface (horizontal direction) or more. Head upwards. On the other hand, the optical axis of the fourth light source segment is set so as to face diagonally downward at the intersection with the road surface and reach the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line or its vicinity at the intersection with the road surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the illumination light 40 emitted by the fourth light source segment is mainly directed downward from the direction parallel to the road surface (however, directed toward the direction parallel to the road surface or above the road surface). Dimmed light that does not dazzle the eyes may be emitted), on the road surface from a point 50 m or a few meters in front of the vehicle C to a point more than 100 m (for example, 120 m) and on the road surface. Illuminate the obstacles that exist in. This fourth light source segment is a so-called "middle beam" between the high beam and the low beam, which illuminates a region farther than the illumination light 90 emitted by the passing headlight (low beam) mounted on the vehicle C. ..

Of the four light source segments, the fifth light source segment, the sixth light source segment, the seventh light source segment, and the eighth light source segment, which are installed on the right side when viewed from the passenger, the fifth light source segment is largely to the left when viewed from the driver's seat. Illuminate an area that is biased toward you. The optical axis points to the shoulder of the own lane CL at a point more than 100 m ahead of the vehicle C. According to the example shown in FIG. 5, the illumination lights 51 and 52 emitted from the fifth light source segment are projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat (facing the front of the vehicle C). At this time, a region deviated to the left from the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C is included in the irradiation range of the illumination lights 51 and 52. As will be described in detail later, the fifth light source segment has a plurality of light sources L1 and L2, and the illumination light 51 emitted from one of the light sources L1 is a horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment. The area above the area is illuminated, and the illumination light 52 emitted from the other light source L2 illuminates the area below the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment. That is, the illumination range by the third light source segment is divided into upper and lower parts with the horizontal plane H as a boundary.

The sixth light source segment is located slightly to the right of the area illuminated by the fifth light source segment when viewed from the driver's seat, that is, the area closer to the vehicle center line, and the left half of the own lane CL up to a point about 100 m ahead of the vehicle C. Illuminate the area containing. When the illumination light 60 emitted from the sixth light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it deviates to the left from the vertical surface A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The area is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light 60.

The seventh light source segment illuminates an area slightly to the right of the area illuminated by the sixth light source segment when viewed from the driver's seat, and includes an area including most of the own lane CL. When the illumination light 70 emitted from the seventh light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it deviates to the left from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The area is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light 70. The optical axes of the fifth light source segment, the sixth light source segment, and the seventh light source segment point to the left of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. These fifth light source segment, sixth light source segment, and seventh light source segment illuminate obstacles existing on the left side (particularly, own lane CL and its shoulder) from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. It is not actively trying to illuminate obstacles on the right side of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line (particularly, the oncoming lane OL and its shoulder). As shown in FIG. 4, the fifth light source segment, the sixth light source segment, and the seventh light source segment provide illumination lights 51, 52, 60, and 70 to the right of the right end of the vehicle C when viewed from the passenger. Do not irradiate.

In addition, the eighth light source segment illuminates the front along the own lane CL. When the illumination light 80 emitted from the eighth light source segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C and the front end of the vehicle C The irradiation range of the illumination light 80 includes a region from an angle slightly deviated to the left to an angle deviated to the right with respect to the intersection with the portion.

The resolution of the irradiation range of the illumination light 51, 52, 60, 70, 80 by the light source segment installed on the right side when viewed from the passenger is finer on the left side than the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line, and the vehicle center line is Coarse to the right than the including vertical face A. That is, through switching the lighting light source of each light source segment installed on the right side when viewed from the passenger, the illumination light 51, 52, 60, 70, 80 on the left side of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. It is possible to finely control the irradiation range.

The optical axes of the sixth light source segment, the seventh light source segment, and the third light source segment are set in the horizontal direction, that is, in the direction parallel to the road surface. The illumination lights 60, 70, and 80 emitted by the sixth light source segment, the seventh light source segment, and the eighth light source segment illuminate the front and infinity of the vehicle C in the same manner as the existing headlights for traveling.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the light source segment that illuminates the outermost left and right sides when viewed from the passenger of the vehicle C, that is, the third light source segment that illuminates the illumination lights 31 and 32 toward the road shoulder of the oncoming lane OL. , And the fifth light source segment that irradiates the illumination lights 51 and 52 toward the road shoulder of the own lane CL includes a plurality of light sources L1 and L2, respectively. One light source L1 emits illumination lights 31 and 51 that illuminate a region above the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment. The other light source L2 emits illumination lights 32 and 52 that illuminate a region below the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source L2.

9 and 10 show the structures of the third light source segment and the fifth light source segment. In the third light source segment and the fifth light source segment, two light sources L1 and L2, for example, light emitting diodes are arranged along the front-rear direction on the downward surface of the substrate S, and are downward from each of the light sources L1 and L2. The illumination lights 31, 51, 32, and 52 emitted from the above are applied to the front surface of the concave reflector R, reflected by the reflector R, and radiated to the front of the vehicle C.

The main optical axes of the illumination lights 31 and 51 emitted from the light source L1 located in front of the substrate S are reflected by the reflector R so that they face diagonally upward with respect to the horizontal plane H. On the other hand, the main optical axes of the illumination lights 32 and 52 emitted from the light source L2 located behind the light source L1 on the substrate S are the same locations as the main optical axes of the illumination lights 31 and 51 in the reflector R. Or it corresponds to a place near it. Then, by being reflected by the reflector R, it faces diagonally downward from the horizontal plane H.

The illumination light sources L1 and L2 in each of the third light source segment and the fifth light source segment can be turned on / off independently of each other. As described above, the control of the amount of light flux emitted from the illumination light sources L1 and L2 can be realized by, for example, PWM control in which the average amount of current applied to the light source is increased or decreased via a FET or other semiconductor switching element.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, the illumination ranges of the former illumination lights 31 and 51 and the illumination ranges of the latter illumination lights 32 and 52 are basically overlapped with each other. Is separated by a horizontal plane H. In particular, the upper edge of the illumination range of the latter illumination lights 32 and 52 has a cut-off line (clear boundary line), and the cut-off line has a height equivalent to that of the third light source segment or the fifth light source segment. It is in the vicinity of the horizontal plane H located at.

The electronic control device (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the variable light distribution type headlight system of the vehicle C in the present embodiment is a moving image taken by an in-vehicle camera (image sensor) capable of photographing the front of the vehicle C. (Detecting the headlights of the oncoming vehicle O appearing in the image, the taillights of the preceding vehicle F, pedestrians, etc.), the oncoming vehicle O traveling in the oncoming lane OL, and the preceding vehicle traveling in the own lane CL Recognize the presence of F and / or pedestrians on the sidewalk. Then, the illumination light source of the light source segment that irradiates the oncoming vehicle O, the preceding vehicle F, the pedestrian, etc. with the illumination light 10, 20, 31, 32, 40, 51, 52, 60, 70, 80. The light source is turned off in a timely manner, or the amount of light flux emitted from the light source is dimmed from the normal level, while the illumination light sources of the other light source segments are kept on.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when an oncoming vehicle O is present on the oncoming lane OL at a point near 200 m ahead of the vehicle C, a light source that captures the oncoming vehicle O in the irradiation range of the illumination lights 10, 20, and 80. While turning off or dimming the segments, that is, the first light source segment, the second light source segment, and the eighth light source segment (illumination light source), the oncoming vehicle O is illuminated with illumination light 31, 32, 40, 51, 52, 60, 70. The light source segment that is not captured in the irradiation range of, that is, the third light source segment, the fourth light source segment, the fifth light source segment, the sixth light source segment, and the seventh light source segment (illumination light source) is turned on. As a result, it is possible to avoid dazzling the passengers of the oncoming vehicle O while securing a necessary and sufficient amount of light to illuminate the front of the vehicle C. After that, as the distance from the oncoming vehicle O decreases, the light source segment that captures the oncoming vehicle O in the irradiation range of the illumination light 10, 20, 31, 32, 40, 51, 52, 60, 70, 80 changes. The light source segment that is turned off or dimmed and the light source segment that is turned on are switched each time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the preceding vehicle F is on the own lane CL at a point near 200 m ahead of the vehicle C, the light source captures the preceding vehicle F in the irradiation range of the illumination lights 10, 70, and 80. While turning off or dimming the segments, that is, the first light source segment, the seventh light source segment, and the eighth light source segment (illumination light sources), the oncoming vehicle O is illuminated with illumination lights 20, 31, 32, 40, 51, 52, 60. The light source segment that is not captured in the irradiation range of, that is, the second light source segment, the third light source segment, the fourth light source segment, the fifth light source segment, and the sixth light source segment (illumination light source) is turned on. As a result, it is possible to avoid dazzling the passengers of the preceding vehicle F while ensuring a necessary and sufficient amount of light to illuminate the front of the vehicle C. When the distance to the preceding vehicle F changes, the light source segment that captures the preceding vehicle F in the irradiation range of the illumination lights 10, 20, 31, 32, 40, 51, 52, 60, 70, 80 changes. The light source segment that is turned off or dimmed and the light source segment that is turned on are switched each time.

Further, when there is a pedestrian or a road sign passing on the sidewalk adjacent to the shoulder of the own lane CL, the light source L1 of the third light source segment is turned off while the light source L2 of the third light source segment is turned on. , Or the amount of luminous flux emitted from the light source L1 is reduced from normal. As a result, while maintaining the illumination of the road shoulder side of the own lane CL by the illumination light 32, the illumination light 31 can be dimmed or dimmed to prevent dazzling of pedestrians on the sidewalk on the own lane CL side. It is also possible to avoid the problem that the illumination light 31 hits the road sign on the CL side of the own lane and is reflected, and the strong reflected light gets into the eyes of the passenger of the vehicle C.

When there is an oncoming vehicle O traveling on the oncoming lane OL or a pedestrian passing on the sidewalk adjacent to the shoulder of the oncoming lane OL, the fifth light source is kept lit while the light source L2 of the fifth light source segment is lit. The light source L1 of the segment is turned off, or the amount of light flux emitted from the light source L1 is reduced from the normal level. As a result, the illumination light 51 is dimmed or dimmed while maintaining the illumination on the road shoulder side of the oncoming lane OL by the illumination light 52, and the passengers of the oncoming vehicle O and the pedestrians on the sidewalk on the oncoming lane OL side are dazzled. Can be prevented.

In the traveling headlight of the present embodiment, among the plurality of light source segments installed on the oncoming lane side (right side when viewed from the passenger) of the vehicle center line in the vehicle C, from the own lane CL or the own lane CL. The number of light source segments (fifth light source segment, sixth light source segment, seventh light source segment) that irradiate light 51, 52, 60, 70 toward the opposite lane side (left side when viewed from the passenger). The number is larger than the number of light source segments (eighth light source segments) that irradiate the light 80 toward the oncoming lane side (right side when viewed from the passenger).

As a result, even if the light source segment that irradiates the oncoming vehicle O with illumination lights 10, 20, 31, 32, 40, and 80 is turned off in order to avoid dazzling the passengers of the oncoming vehicle O, the light source segment is still lit. The light source segment of the vehicle C can sufficiently illuminate the front of the vehicle C (particularly, the right half of the own lane CL). In other words, in the presence of the oncoming vehicle O, the number of light source segments that are turned off can be reduced, and the number of light source segments that are turned on to illuminate the road shoulders of the own lane CL and the own lane CL can be increased. Therefore, the visibility of obstacles in night driving is improved, and the safety of night driving is improved. Further, it is not necessary to install a large number of light source segments in the vehicle C in order to increase the amount of illumination light, and it is possible to construct a useful light distribution variable headlight system at low cost.

In addition, the light source segment installed on the oncoming lane side of the vehicle C illuminates the opposite lane side of the vehicle center line, that is, the shoulder of the own lane CL or the own lane CL, while the part on the opposite lane side of the vehicle C. Since the light source segment installed in the vehicle illuminates the oncoming lane side of the vehicle center line, that is, the road shoulder of the oncoming lane OL or the oncoming lane OL, the light distribution pattern in which the optical axes cross is adopted. It is possible to keep many light source segments lit without turning them off, even if they approach the distance. Even when the preceding vehicle F located at a distance approaches the curve, the illumination light emitted by the light source segment does not easily hit the preceding vehicle F and does not dazzle the passengers of the preceding vehicle F.

In addition, the traveling headlight of the present embodiment has a direction parallel to the road surface as a plurality of light source segments installed on the opposite lane side (left side when viewed from the passenger) of the vehicle center line in the vehicle C. The first light source segment and the second light source segment, which are light source segments that irradiate the lights 10 and 20 in a directed manner, and the light 40 that is directed diagonally downward at the intersection with the road surface and irradiate the light 40, 100 m from a point 50 m in front of the vehicle C. It is provided with a fourth light source segment, which is a light source segment that includes the road surface to the above point in the irradiation range of the light 40.

In such a case, it is not necessary to immediately switch the lighting in front of the vehicle C from the traveling headlight to the passing headlight when the presence of the distant preceding vehicle F is detected. That is, until the distance from the preceding vehicle F approaches about 100 m, it is possible to keep the fourth light source segment lit without turning it off and continue to illuminate the illumination range 40. As a result, it is possible to avoid a sudden change from the lighting ranges 10 and 20 of the traveling headlights to the lighting range 90 of the passing headlights.

The passing headlights that irradiate light toward the road surface 40 m in front of the vehicle C cannot illuminate obstacles existing at a point 50 m or more in front of the vehicle C. In order not to dazzle the passengers of the preceding vehicle F, using the passing headlights instead of the traveling headlights increases the risk of delaying the detection of obstacles in front during nighttime driving. As a component of the traveling headlight as in the present embodiment, the light 40 is directed diagonally downward at the intersection with the road surface, and the road surface in front of the light irradiation range of the passing lighting is the light 40. If a light source segment included in the irradiation range, for example, a light source segment including the road surface from a point 50 m to a point 100 m ahead of the vehicle C in the irradiation range of the light 40 is provided, the other light source segment can be turned on while the light source segment is lit. It is possible to improve the visibility by illuminating an obstacle existing at a point 50 m or more in front of the vehicle C while avoiding the dazzling of the passenger of the preceding vehicle F by turning off the light as necessary.

Further, the above-mentioned fourth light source segment analyzes the image taken by the in-vehicle camera to recognize the existence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle C, and automatically causes the vehicle C immediately before the vehicle C collides with the obstacle. Collision damage mitigation braking It also contributes to improving the performance of the braking system. In the case of turning on the passing headlight instead of the running headlight and the case of turning on the fourth light source segment of the running headlight, the latter can illuminate a distant obstacle. This is possible, and the system will recognize the existence of obstacles at an early stage, and the certainty of avoiding collision with obstacles, especially during high-speed driving, will increase.

The light source segment (third light source segment and fifth light source segment) that irradiates light 31, 32, 51, 52 toward the road shoulder of the own lane CL or the road shoulder of the oncoming lane OL includes a plurality of light sources L1 and L2. One of the light sources L1 illuminates the area above the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment, and the other light source L2 illuminates the region above the horizontal plane H located at the same height as the light source segment. The area below H is illuminated. As a result, the illumination lights 31 and 51 emitted from the former light source L1 can be appropriately extinguished or dimmed, and the illumination lights 31 and 51 dazzle passengers of vehicles C and O and pedestrians on the sidewalk. It becomes possible to effectively avoid the problem of causing.

The ECU that controls the variable light flux distribution type headlight system turns off the light source segment that points to the vehicle in front when it recognizes the appearance of another vehicle, especially the oncoming vehicle O or the preceding vehicle F, in front of the own vehicle. Or, by reducing the amount of luminous flux emitted from the light source segment from the normal level, the dazzling of the passengers of the vehicle in front is prevented.

On the other hand, since the vehicle in front itself also lights the lighting (headlight of oncoming vehicle O, tail light of preceding vehicle F, etc.), the illumination light emitted by the vehicle in front immediately after the appearance of the vehicle in front The front of the own vehicle C will be remarkably brightly illuminated. Then, light adaptation occurs in the vision of the passenger of the own vehicle C, and when the light source segment pointing to the vehicle in front is turned off or dimmed in that state, the front becomes dark from the vision of the passenger who caused the light adaptation. It feels like.

Therefore, reduction in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, ECU is the time t ₀ after recognizing the occurrence of the forward vehicle, than to turn off the light source segments that emits illumination light directed to the front vehicle or normal As it shines, it increases the amount of luminous flux emitted from at least one of the other (not extinguished or dimmed) light source segments above normal. As a result, even if the light source segment pointing to the vehicle in front is turned off or dimmed, the front of the vehicle C does not seem dark to the passenger who has adapted to the visual sense.

Then, ECU has disappeared existence of a vehicle ahead that was recognized, the time t ₁ after the front vehicle deviates from the illumination range of the light source segment of the travel headlight of the vehicle C in other words, the front vehicle occupant The light source segment that had been turned off or dimmed is turned on again to prevent dazzling, or the light source segment is brightened again. At this time, the amount of light flux emitted from the light source segment is temporarily increased from the normal amount. This corresponds to the fact that the visual sense of the passengers of the own vehicle C is adapting to light, and is intended to prevent the front of the own vehicle C from feeling darker than before the appearance of the oncoming vehicle. is there.

And, ₁ after time point t that the presence of the forward vehicle is lost, (not off or dimmed during the period from the time point t ₀ to time t ₁₎ the amount of the light beam to emit had increased than normal from the light source segment The amount of luminous flux emitted is gradually reduced to a normal amount over a predetermined time. The time required from the above time point t ₁ to the time point t ₂ when the amount of light of the light source segment returns to the normal amount is preferably set within a few seconds to a dozen seconds, and is particularly preferably set to a length of 6 seconds or more. preferable. This is due to the finding that human vision does not notice even if the illuminance is gradually increased or decreased by 20% over 6 seconds or more.

Also, the time t ₁ after, the temporarily normal of (off or was dimmed during the period from the time point t ₀ to time t ₁₎ source segment had increased than the amount the amount of light flux emitted Even when the amount of emitted light flux is returned to the normal amount, the amount of light flux is gradually reduced over a predetermined time. From the time t ₃ when begin to decrease the amount of light of the light source segments, required time to time t ₄ when the light quantity of the light source segment returns to the normal amount is preferably set within a few seconds to tens of seconds, in particular six seconds It is preferable to have the above length.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above. Needless to say, the number of light source segments and the light distribution pattern are not limited to the above embodiments. The irradiation range (angle, direction of the optical axis) of the light emitted from each light source segment is adjusted according to the power of the illumination light source.

Further, the application target of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned variable light distribution type headlight system. With existing headlight systems, the luminous flux emitted from the light source segment when the vehicle travels in dark areas at night, such as the suburbs, compared to when traveling in relatively bright areas, such as urban areas, even at night. It controls to increase the amount of. The ECU that controls the headlight system analyzes the moving image taken by the in-vehicle camera (the number of street lights and other illumination lights appearing in the image, the number of headlights of oncoming vehicles, etc., or the surroundings of the vehicle. Detects the illuminance of the vehicle) to determine the area where the vehicle is currently traveling. Then, if it is determined that the vehicle is traveling in an urban area, a normal amount of luminous flux is emitted from the light source segment of the headlight, while if it is determined that the vehicle is traveling in the suburbs, the light source segment of the headlight is used. The amount of luminous flux emitted is brighter than the normal amount.

On top of that, when the vehicle enters the city from the suburbs, the amount of luminous flux emitted from the light source segment of the headlight is dimmed to a normal amount. In this case, the ECU determines the time. It is conceivable to spend time to gradually reduce the amount of luminous flux emitted. The time required to reduce the amount of the brightened luminous flux to a normal amount is preferably set to a few seconds to a dozen seconds, and particularly preferably a length of 6 seconds or more.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to a traveling headlight mounted on a vehicle.

10 ... Illumination light of the first light source segment 20 ... Illumination light of the second light source segment 31, 32 ... Illumination light of the third light source segment 40 ... Illumination light of the fourth light source segment 51, 52 ... Illumination light of the fifth light source segment 60 ... Illumination light of the sixth light source segment 70 ... Illumination light of the seventh light source segment 80 ... Illumination light of the eighth light source segment A ... Vertical surface including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C ... Vehicle CL ... Own lane F ... preceding vehicle H ... horizontal planes located at the same height as the light source segment L1, L2 ... light source O ... oncoming vehicle OL ... oncoming lane

Claims (1)

When the amount of luminous flux emitted from at least one of a plurality of light source segments illuminating the front of the vehicle is increased more than normal, and the amount of luminous flux emitted from the light source segment is reduced to the normal amount. In addition, the headlights for running vehicles that spend more than 6 seconds to gradually reduce the amount of luminous flux emitted.