JP7156925B2 - Vehicle headlight system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp system.

A light distribution pattern formed during platooning is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP-A-2006-21632

By the way, the inventor thought that there is room for improvement in the visibility of the light distribution pattern formed during platooning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle headlamp system capable of forming a highly visible light distribution pattern during platooning.

A vehicle headlight system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a headlight capable of forming at least one of a high beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution pattern, and at least a platooning light distribution pattern;
and a lamp control unit that controls the headlight,
The lamp control unit forms a light distribution pattern for illuminating the rear surface of the preceding vehicle as the platooning light distribution pattern.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle headlamp system which can form a highly visible light distribution pattern at the time of platooning is provided.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle headlight system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle system including a vehicle headlamp system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that it is platooning. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a headlamp of a headlamp system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. Fig. 5 is a schematic front view of the light source unit of the headlamp shown in Fig. 4; A high beam light distribution pattern is shown. A low beam light distribution pattern is shown. 2 shows a light distribution pattern for platooning; FIG. 10 shows a platooning light distribution pattern according to a modification of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a light distribution pattern for platooning according to a reference example.

An embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described below with reference to the drawings. For the sake of convenience, descriptions of members having the same reference numbers as members already described in the description of the present embodiment will be omitted. Also, the dimensions of each member shown in this drawing may differ from the actual dimensions of each member for convenience of explanation.

Further, in the description of the present embodiment, for convenience of description, the terms “horizontal direction”, “front-rear direction”, and “vertical direction” will be referred to as appropriate. These directions are relative directions set for the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. Here, the "vertical direction" is a direction including the "upward direction" and the "downward direction". "Fore-and-aft direction" is a direction that includes "forward direction" and "rearward direction." A "left-right direction" is a direction including a "left direction" and a "right direction."

A vehicle headlamp system 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as a headlamp system 4) according to this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 1. FIG. A vehicle 1 is a vehicle capable of running in an automatic operation mode, and includes a headlight system 4 .

Next, the vehicle system 2 of the vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the vehicle system 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle system 2 includes a vehicle control unit 3, a headlight system 4, a sensor 5, a camera 6, a radar 7, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 8, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) 9 , a wireless communication unit 10 (first wireless communication unit), and a map information storage unit 11 . Further, the vehicle system 2 includes a steering actuator 12 , a steering device 13 , a brake actuator 14 , a brake device 15 , an accelerator actuator 16 and an accelerator device 17 .

The vehicle control unit 3 is configured to control travel of the vehicle 1 . The vehicle control section 3 is configured by an electronic control unit (ECU). The electronic control unit includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing various vehicle control programs, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) temporarily storing various vehicle control data. It is composed of The processor develops on the RAM a program specified from various vehicle control programs stored in the ROM, and cooperates with the RAM to execute various processes.

The headlight system 4 includes a headlight 42 and a lamp controller 43 . The headlamp 42 includes one or more LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) or light-emitting elements such as lasers, and is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle 1 . The lamp control section 43 is configured by an electronic control unit (ECU).

The sensor 5 includes an acceleration sensor, a speed sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like. The sensor 5 is configured to detect the running state of the vehicle 1 and output running state information to the vehicle control unit 3 . The sensors 5 include a seating sensor that detects whether the driver is sitting in the driver's seat, a face orientation sensor that detects the direction of the driver's face, an external weather sensor that detects external weather conditions, and a sensor that detects whether or not there is a person inside the vehicle. A human sensor or the like for detection may be further provided.

The camera 6 is, for example, a camera including an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary MOS). The radar 7 is a millimeter wave radar, microwave radar, laser radar, or the like. The camera 6 and/or the radar 7 are configured to detect the surrounding environment of the vehicle 1 (other vehicles, pedestrians, road shape, traffic signs, obstacles, etc.) and output surrounding environment information to the vehicle control unit 3. ing.

The HMI 8 is composed of an input section that receives an input operation from the driver and an output section that outputs travel information and the like to the driver. The input unit includes a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, an operation mode switch for switching the operation mode of the vehicle 1, and the like. The output unit is a display that displays various running information.

The GPS 9 is configured to acquire current position information of the vehicle 1 and output the acquired current position information to the vehicle control section 3 . The wireless communication unit 10 receives information about other vehicles around the vehicle 1 (for example, travel information) from other vehicles, and transmits information about the vehicle 1 (for example, travel information) to the other vehicles. configured (vehicle-to-vehicle communication). Also, the wireless communication unit 10 is configured to receive a lighting control signal from the transportation infrastructure equipment. Furthermore, the wireless communication unit 10 is configured to receive infrastructure information from traffic infrastructure equipment and to transmit travel information of the vehicle 1 to the traffic infrastructure equipment (road-to-vehicle communication). The vehicle 1 may communicate directly with other vehicles or transportation infrastructure equipment, or may communicate with them via an access point. The map information storage unit 11 is an external storage device such as a hard disk drive storing map information, and is configured to output the map information to the vehicle control unit 3 .

When the vehicle 1 runs in the automatic driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 generates at least a steering control signal, an accelerator control signal, and a brake control signal based on the running state information, the surrounding environment information, the current position information, the map information, and the like. Automatically generate one. The steering actuator 12 is configured to receive a steering control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the steering device 13 based on the received steering control signal. The brake actuator 14 is configured to receive a brake control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the brake device 15 based on the received brake control signal. The accelerator actuator 16 is configured to receive an accelerator control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the accelerator device 17 based on the received accelerator control signal. Thus, in the automatic driving mode, the running of the vehicle 1 is automatically controlled by the vehicle system 2 .

On the other hand, when the vehicle 1 runs in the manual driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 generates a steering control signal, an accelerator control signal and a brake control signal in accordance with the driver's manual operations on the accelerator pedal, brake pedal and steering wheel. Thus, in the manual driving mode, the steering control signal, the accelerator control signal and the brake control signal are generated by the driver's manual operation, so that the driving of the vehicle 1 is controlled by the driver.

Next, driving modes of the vehicle 1 will be described. The operation mode consists of an automatic operation mode and a manual operation mode. The automatic driving mode consists of a fully automatic driving mode, an advanced driving assistance mode, and a driving assistance mode. In the fully automatic driving mode, the vehicle system 2 automatically performs all driving control including steering control, brake control and accelerator control, and the driver is not in a state where the vehicle 1 can be driven. In the advanced driving assistance mode, the vehicle system 2 automatically performs all driving control including steering control, brake control and accelerator control, and the driver does not drive the vehicle 1 although the vehicle 1 is ready to be driven. In the driving assistance mode, the vehicle system 2 automatically performs part of driving control out of steering control, brake control, and accelerator control, and the driver drives the vehicle 1 under the driving assistance of the vehicle system 2 . On the other hand, in the manual driving mode, the vehicle system 2 does not automatically perform travel control, and the driver drives the vehicle 1 without the driving assistance of the vehicle system 2 .

Moreover, the driving mode of the vehicle 1 may be switched by operating a driving mode changeover switch. In this case, the vehicle control unit 3 changes the driving mode of the vehicle 1 into four driving modes (fully automatic driving mode, advanced driving support mode, driving support mode, manual driving mode) according to the driver's operation of the driving mode switch. ). In addition, the driving mode of the vehicle 1 is automatically set based on information about drivable sections in which the autonomous vehicle can travel, prohibited sections in which the autonomous vehicle is prohibited from traveling, or information about external weather conditions. may be switched. In this case, the vehicle control unit 3 switches the driving mode of the vehicle 1 based on these pieces of information. Furthermore, the driving mode of the vehicle 1 may be automatically switched by using a seat sensor, face direction sensor, or the like. In this case, the vehicle control unit 3 switches the driving mode of the vehicle 1 based on the output signals from the seating sensor and face direction sensor.

The vehicle control unit 3 of the vehicle 1 equipped with the headlight system 4 according to the present embodiment operates in a platooning mode in addition to the fully automatic driving mode, advanced driving support mode, driving support mode, and manual driving mode described above. It is viable. The platooning mode is a mode in which a plurality of vehicles form a platoon and travel cooperatively. For example, the leading vehicle transmits a platooning control signal to the following vehicle, and the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle controls the behavior of the own vehicle 1 based on this platooning control signal.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the headlight system 4 according to this embodiment includes a headlight 42 and a lamp control section 43 that controls the headlight 42 .
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of vehicles including the own vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle S are platooning. As shown in FIG. 3, the headlight system 4 forms a platooning light distribution pattern R described in detail below when the own vehicle 1 participates in the platooning as a following vehicle. Specifically, when the lamp control unit 43 acquires a signal indicating that the vehicle control unit 3 is executing the platooning mode from the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1, the headlights 42 are turned on for platooning. A light distribution pattern R is formed.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the headlamp 42 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing the light source unit 44 of the headlamp 42 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 , the headlamp 42 includes a light source unit 44 and a projection lens 45 . The light source unit 44 has a light source 46 and a substrate 47 on which the light source 46 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 5, the board 47 has a plurality of LED light sources 46 mounted thereon. Each LED light source 46 is configured to be turned on and off independently of other LED light sources 46 .

6 to 9 show light distribution patterns that can be formed by the headlamp 42. FIG. 6 to 9, the lighting state of the LED light source 46 when forming each light distribution pattern is shown in the upper right.
FIG. 6 shows a known high beam light distribution pattern P. As shown in FIG. The high-beam light distribution pattern P is a light distribution pattern that can irradiate light widely and far. FIG. 7 shows a known low-beam light distribution pattern Q. FIG. The low-beam light distribution pattern Q is a light distribution pattern that does not dazzle an oncoming vehicle when passing an oncoming vehicle.

The projection lens 45 inverts the light emitted from the light source unit 44 vertically and horizontally and irradiates the light forward. The lamp control unit 43 causes the headlamp 42 to form a high beam light distribution pattern P by turning on all the LED light sources 46 . In addition, the lamp control unit 43 turns off the LED light source 46 positioned at the lower part in FIG. 5 and turns on the LED light source 46 positioned at the upper part in FIG. Let
The schematic diagrams of the LED light sources 46 shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 show examples in which the rectangular LED light sources 46 are arranged in an array. Actually, however, it is preferable that the arrangement be such that a cutoff line of the upper edge of the low beam light distribution pattern Q is formed.

FIG. 8 shows the light distribution pattern R for platooning. As shown in FIG. 8, the platooning light distribution pattern R illuminates the back surface of the preceding vehicle S. As shown in FIG. A part of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S may be illuminated, or the entire back surface may be illuminated. The platooning light distribution pattern R may be formed together with the low beam light distribution pattern Q as shown in FIG. 8, or may not be formed together with the low beam light distribution pattern Q. FIG.

Thus, in addition to the low-beam light distribution pattern Q, a light distribution pattern indicating that the vehicle 1 is running in a row is formed. The rear surface of the preceding vehicle S is irradiated with light by the light distribution pattern R for platooning. The back surface of the preceding vehicle S is an area that is likely to be visually recognized by drivers of other vehicles. Generally, when vehicles are running around the vehicle, the vehicle forms a low-beam light distribution pattern Q, so that the rear surface of the surrounding vehicles is not illuminated with light. For this reason, when the platooning light distribution pattern R according to the present embodiment is formed, the rear surface of the vehicle, which is normally not illuminated, is illuminated, and the other vehicles not participating in the platooning are illuminated by the preceding vehicle S. It is easy to recognize that the rear vehicle 1 is participating in the platooning.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the platooning light distribution pattern R irradiates the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light, but does not irradiate the right and left regions of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light. is preferred. It should be noted that "irradiating the back surface of the preceding vehicle S with light" may include irradiating an area including the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light, in addition to the aspect of irradiating only the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light. .
The area including the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S is an area including only the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S, and an area within 0.5 times the width of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S to the right and left of the preceding vehicle S. be. In other words, as the platooning light distribution pattern R, light may be emitted to an area having a width twice as large as the width of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S in the left-right direction. This is because other vehicles and pedestrians may exist at positions away from the preceding vehicle S to the right and left, so that they are not dazzled.
The area including the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S is an area including only the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S, and an area within 0.5 times the height dimension of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S above and below the preceding vehicle S. . In other words, as the platooning light distribution pattern R, light may be emitted to an area having a width twice as large as the height dimension of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S in the vertical direction.
Further, as the platooning light distribution pattern R, the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S may be irradiated with light in a region above the H line.

The platooning light distribution pattern R may be formed with light of the same color as the low beam light distribution pattern Q and the high beam light distribution pattern P, or may be formed with light of a different color. For example, the platooning light distribution pattern R may be formed with lights of green, blue, bluish green, and purple, which are different from the light colors of the low beam light distribution pattern Q and the high beam light distribution pattern P. In this case, the light source unit 44 uses a white light source for forming the low beam light distribution pattern Q and the high beam light distribution pattern P as the LED light source 46 positioned in the region emitting the light forming the platooning light distribution pattern R. It can be configured to include a light source unit 44 that includes an LED light source 46 that emits light and an LED light source 46 that emits light of a color different from white for forming the light distribution pattern R for platooning.

In addition, the platooning light distribution pattern R may illuminate at least the upper part of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S, as shown in FIG. The upper part of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S is an upper half area when the back surface of the preceding vehicle S is virtually divided into two in the vertical direction. However, the upper part of the preceding vehicle S may be the uppermost area when the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S is virtually divided into three in the vertical direction, or the horizontal line ( H line) may be located above. Further, the platooning light distribution pattern may be formed by dimming the high beam light distribution pattern P.

During platooning, the behavior of the own vehicle 1 is controlled mainly based on the running state of the preceding vehicle S and the like. Therefore, the surrounding environment has less influence on the behavior of the own vehicle 1 when the own vehicle 1 is traveling in a platoon than when the own vehicle 1 is traveling independently. Therefore, the purpose of turning on the headlights 42 during platooning is mostly to suppress interruptions by other vehicles, rather than to obtain information about the surrounding environment. That is, during platooning, the headlamp 42 is turned on to indicate that other vehicles are not desired to enter between the preceding vehicle S and the own vehicle 1 while the own vehicle 1 is running in the platoon as the following vehicle. often lit.

That is, the platooning light distribution pattern R is a light distribution pattern that is easily recognized by other vehicles that are positioned between the preceding vehicle S and the own vehicle 1 and that are traveling in the same direction as the own vehicle 1. desirable. In this case, the lower part of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S, which is about the same as the line of sight of the driver of the other vehicle, is often irradiated with the light of the low beam light distribution pattern Q from the other vehicle preceding the own vehicle 1. Even if the own vehicle 1 irradiates the area with light, it is difficult for the drivers of other vehicles to notice it.

The reason for this will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the host vehicle 1 irradiates the entire rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light, and the other vehicle forms a low-beam light distribution pattern Q1, unlike the light distribution pattern shown in FIG. . Here, another vehicle that tries to cut in between the own vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle S is ahead of the own vehicle 1 . That is, the upper edge of the region illuminated by the low beam light distribution pattern Q1 formed by the other vehicle preceding the own vehicle 1 is higher than the upper edge of the region illuminated by the low beam light distribution pattern Q formed by the own vehicle 1. is also located above. In addition, depending on the distance between the preceding vehicle S and the own vehicle 1 and the shape of the low beam light distribution pattern Q1 formed by the other vehicle, the low beam light distribution pattern Q1 of the other vehicle may cover the area below the back surface of the preceding vehicle S. often irradiated.

In other words, even if the lower area of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S is illuminated as the platooning light distribution pattern R, the preceding vehicle S, which is to be prevented from cutting in, also illuminates this area, so that the brightness of the area changes little. Low visibility. On the other hand, the upper area of the back surface of the preceding vehicle S is often located above the upper edge of the low beam light distribution pattern Q1 formed by the other vehicle. In other words, when the platooning light distribution pattern R is formed, the state in which light is not irradiated at all becomes a state in which light is irradiated, and the change in brightness is large. For this reason, it has been found that by irradiating the upper area of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S with light as the platooning light distribution pattern R, it is possible to effectively suppress the interruption of other vehicles.

A light distribution pattern that irradiates a region in front and above the own vehicle 1 so as to illuminate the upper part of the back of the preceding vehicle S generally gives glare to oncoming vehicles. It is a light distribution pattern that is not conceived. However, since the preceding vehicle S is always in front of the own vehicle 1 during platooning, even if the light is emitted toward the area in front and above the own vehicle 1, the light is blocked by the preceding vehicle S. Therefore, the problem of dazzling oncoming vehicles is less likely to occur.
Based on this idea, the present invention has been completed, which can clearly inform other vehicles that the own vehicle 1 is running in a platoon without giving glare to oncoming vehicles.

In the above-described embodiment, the headlamp 42 having the light source unit 44 having the plurality of LED light sources 46 and the projection lens 45 has a low beam light distribution pattern Q, a high beam light distribution pattern P, and a platooning light distribution pattern. An example of forming R has been described. The present invention is not limited to this example. The headlamp 42 includes a first light source unit capable of forming a low beam light distribution pattern Q and a high beam light distribution pattern P, and a second light source unit capable of forming the aforementioned platooning light distribution pattern R, unlike the first light source unit. You may have a unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the light distribution pattern is switched by controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the plurality of LED light sources 46 arranged in an array has been described. The present invention is not limited to this example.
For example, the headlamp has a light source and a light shielding section that can be controlled by the lamp control section, and the light shielding section partially blocks the light emitted from the light source, thereby switching the light distribution pattern. good too.
Alternatively, the headlight includes a laser light source and a movable mirror that reflects the laser light source to an arbitrary area, and the light emitted from the laser light source is scanned by the movable mirror to form a desired light distribution pattern. It may be configured as In this case, the lamp controller controls the laser light source and the movable mirror.

Note that the position of the preceding vehicle S with respect to the own vehicle 1 changes according to the distance from the preceding vehicle S, the curve of the road surface, and the like. Therefore, the lamp control unit 43 transmits a signal indicating that the vehicle control unit 3 is executing the platooning mode and a signal indicating the position and area of the preceding vehicle S to the lamp control unit 43 . The lamp control unit 43 may be configured to identify the rear surface of the preceding vehicle S according to the position and area of the preceding vehicle S, and control the headlamps 42 so as to irradiate the area with light. . Alternatively, the configuration may be such that a signal indicating the position and area of the preceding vehicle S is obtained from a lamp mounted camera incorporated in the headlamp 42 . However, since the relative position of the preceding vehicle S with respect to the own vehicle 1 is unlikely to change significantly, the platooning light distribution pattern is designed to always irradiate the same area without acquiring information such as the position and area of the preceding vehicle S. may be configured.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention should not be limitedly interpreted by the description of the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is merely an example, and that various modifications of the embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle driving mode includes a fully automatic driving mode, an advanced driving support mode, a driving support mode, and a manual driving mode, but the vehicle driving mode includes these four modes. should not be limited to The classification of the driving modes of the vehicle may be changed as appropriate in accordance with the laws and regulations related to automatic driving in each country. Similarly, the definitions of "fully automatic driving mode", "advanced driving support mode", and "driving support mode" described in the description of the present embodiment are only examples, and laws and ordinances related to automatic driving in each country In keeping with the rules, these definitions may be changed accordingly.

1 vehicle 2 vehicle system 3 vehicle control unit 4 headlight system 42 headlight 43 lamp control unit 44 light source unit 45 projection lens 46 LED light source 47 substrate P high beam light distribution pattern Q low beam light distribution pattern R light distribution pattern for platooning S preceding vehicle

Claims (5)

at least one of a high beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution pattern, and a headlamp capable of forming at least a platooning light distribution pattern;
and a lamp control unit that controls the headlight,
The vehicle headlamp system, wherein the lamp control unit forms a light distribution pattern for illuminating the rear surface of a preceding vehicle as the platooning light distribution pattern. 2. The vehicle headlamp system according to claim 1, wherein said lamp control unit forms a light distribution pattern for illuminating an upper portion of a back surface of a preceding vehicle as said platooning light distribution pattern. The lamp control unit forms, as the platooning light distribution pattern, a light distribution pattern that does not irradiate light to an area to the right of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle and to an area to the left of the upper portion of the rear surface of the preceding vehicle. 3. The vehicle headlamp system according to claim 1 or 2. The lamp control unit causes the headlamps to form the light distribution pattern for platooning when the vehicle control unit for controlling the vehicle receives a signal indicating that the platooning mode is being executed from the vehicle control unit. The vehicle headlamp system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The headlamp has a plurality of LED light sources arranged in an array,
5. The lamp control unit switches between the high beam light distribution pattern, the low beam light distribution pattern, and the platooning light distribution pattern by turning on and off the plurality of LED light sources. 1. The vehicle headlight system described in .

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