JPH0241451B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stop the illumination direction of a lamp at the front position while the lamp is turned off and improve the durability of the whole system by making the illumination of the lamp variable only while the lamp is turned on and constituting the lamp to direct the front while it is turned off. CONSTITUTION:The level condition of the pulse signal sent from output terminals 17, 18 of a photosensor 1 in response to the handle steering angle is processed by an AND gate 26 or 27. Next, it is converted into a count value of the increase/decrease of the illumination direction change by an UP/DOWN counter 28 to select the output terminal of a decoder/driver 29, and a DC motor 39 is rotated in the positive or reverse direction to change the illumination direction of a lamp. Then, when a lighting switch 54 is turned off to turn the lamp off, one side level of the signal input to a GATE 30 circuit is simultaneously made zero. Thereby, the illumination direction of the lamp is returned to the front and stopped. When the switch 54 is turned on to light the lamp, the illumination direction of the lamp is immediately changed in response to steering, thus allowing safety during the travel at night.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cornering lamp system for a vehicle that changes the irradiation direction of a lighting means in conjunction with steering wheel steering.

[Conventional technology]

Vehicles, especially automobiles, are equipped with headlights to illuminate the road ahead at night, but these headlights illuminate only the front of the vehicle, and when approaching a curve. In such a case, the direction in which the vehicle is traveling cannot be sufficiently illuminated. In other words, when cornering or the like, the vehicle is not sufficiently illuminated in the direction in which the vehicle is actually traveling, which may pose a danger.

In order to solve this problem, cornering lamp systems have been proposed in which the direction of the headlights is varied in conjunction with the steering wheel operation of the vehicle, so that the direction of travel is illuminated. .

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with such conventional cornering lamp systems, the illumination direction of the headlights is unnecessarily varied not only when the lights are on but also when they are turned off, in conjunction with steering wheel steering. The durability of the means was reduced.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and includes a counter means that increases or decreases the count value in conjunction with steering wheel steering, and a lighting direction of the lighting means that can be varied in accordance with the count value of the counter means. The irradiation direction variable operation prohibiting means is provided with an irradiation direction variable operation inhibiting means, when the lighting means is turned off,
In addition to prohibiting the variable operation of the irradiation direction according to the count value, the irradiation direction is stopped with the irradiation direction facing the front.

[Effect]

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the lighting means is turned on, the irradiation direction of the lighting means is varied according to the count value by the counter means. That is, the irradiation direction of the lighting means is varied in conjunction with steering of the steering wheel.

On the other hand, when the lighting device is turned off, the counter device linked to the steering wheel continues to increase and decrease the count value, and the irradiation direction variable operation according to the count value is prohibited, and the lighting device is turned off. The irradiation direction of the means stops facing the front.

Therefore, when the lighting means is turned on again, since the count value of the counter means is a value that is linked to the steering wheel steering, the irradiation direction of the lighting means that was stopped facing forward is immediately changed to the steering wheel steering wheel. It will face the direction according to the direction.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention will be explained in detail below. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing one embodiment of this cornering lamp system. In the figure, 1 is a photo sensor attached to a slit disk (not shown) linked to the handle, 2 is a processing circuit that processes the electrical signal sent out by this photo sensor 1, and 3 is a process sent out by this processing circuit 2. A lamp driving unit drives a headlamp (not shown) based on a signal, 4 is a DC power supply, and 5 is a headlamp lighting circuit. The photo sensor 1 includes a light emitting diode 11, a photo transistor 12 and a resistor.
First photo interrupter 1 consisting of R ₁ and R ₂
3, and a second phototransistor consisting of a light emitting diode 14, a phototransistor 15, and resistors R ₃ and R ₄ .
The output terminal 17 of the photo interrupter 13 and the output terminal 18 of the photo interrupter 16 are connected to a
A pulsed electrical signal having the same waveform and alternating "1" level and "0" level as shown in FIG. 1 is generated. In other words, by rotating the handle clockwise (clockwise) from the neutral point,
By rotating a positive electrical signal centered at 0° counterclockwise (rotated to the left), a negative electrical signal centered at 0° is generated, and a is The electrical signal generated at the output terminal 17 is
indicates an electrical signal generated at the output terminal 18. The electrical signal generated at the output terminal 17 leads the electrical signal generated at the output terminal 18 by 90 degrees in phase, and when the handle is at the neutral point, that is, at the second
At 0° in the figure, the electrical signal generated at the output terminal 18 is in the falling or rising period of changing from the "1" level to the "0" level, or from the "0" level to the "1" level, and the output The electrical signal generated at terminal 17 is at the "0" level.

On the other hand, the processing circuit 2 includes NAND gates 21, 2
2. Inverter 23, R/S flip-flop circuits 24, 25, AND gates 26, 27, UP/
It is composed of a DOWN counter 28 and a decoder/driver 29, and the R.S flip-flop circuits 24 and 25 are composed of OR gates 241, 242 and 251, 252 with negative logic inputs. Then, the electrical signal generated at the output terminal 17 of the photo sensor 1 is transmitted to the NAND gate 21.
and 22, and the reset terminals 24r and 2 of the R/S flip-flop circuits 24 and 25.
5r, and the electrical signal generated at the output terminal 18 of the photo sensor 1 is input to one end of the AND gate 26, the other end of the NAND gate 22, and the inverter 23. There is. The electrical signal output from the inverter 23 is input to the other end of the NAND gate 21 and one end of the AND gate 27. Further, the outputs of the NAND gates 21 and 22 are connected to the R/S flip-flop circuits 24 and 25.
It is designed to be input to the set terminals 24s and 25s of the R.S. flip-flop circuit 2.
The outputs of 4 and 25 are Q output terminals 24q and 2
5q to the other ends of AND gates 26 and 27. The outputs of the AND gates 26 and 27 are input to the up input terminal 28u and the down input terminal 28d of the UP/DOWN counter 28,
The UP/DOWN counter 28 increases or decreases the count value each time a "1" level signal is input to the input terminal 28u or 28d, and outputs a digital signal corresponding to the count value to the output terminal 2.
The signals are sent to input terminals 29A to 29D of the decoder/driver 29 via terminals 8A to 28D. The decoder/driver 29 receives this digital signal, selects a predetermined output terminal from among the output terminals 29a to 29o, and sets the level to "0". That is, the second
At point N in the figure, the count value of the UP/DOWN counter 28 is set to zero, and at this time the decoder/driver 29 selects the output terminal 29h and sets only the level of this output terminal 29h to "0". It is becoming more and more level.
Then, each time the count value of the UP/DOWN counter 28 increases by 1, the output terminals that become "0" level change from 29h to 29g, 29f...2.
9a and so on. Also,
Every time the count value in the UP/DOWN counter 28 decreases by 1 from zero, the output terminal which becomes the "0" level changes from 29h to 29i, 29j...29
o and so on. It goes without saying that even during countdown after count-up or count-up after countdown, the output terminals that are at the "0" level are successively carried down or carried up to the adjacent output terminals. Output terminals 29a, 29b, 29c, 29 of the decoder/driver 29
d, 29e, 29f, 29j, 29k, 29l,
29m, 29n, 29o are inverters 20a, 2
NAND gates 30a, 30b, 30c, 30 via 0b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, respectively.
d, 30e, and 30f. In addition, output terminals 29g, 29h and 29
i is connected to one input terminal of the negative logic input/negative logic output OR gate 30g, and the NAND gate 3
The other input terminals of 0a to 30f and the OR gate 30g are connected to the output terminal 5b of the headlamp lighting circuit 5. And Nand Gate 30a-30f
The output of the OR gate 30g is connected to the output terminals 2a to 2f and 2g of the processing circuit 2.

Thus, the output terminals 2a to 2g of the processing circuit 2 are connected to sliding contacts 34b to 34h, which are in sliding contact with the semicircular conductor patterns 32 and 33 formed on the sliding board 31 of the lamp drive unit 3, respectively. sliding contact 34a adjacent to sliding contact 34b
is connected to the DC power supply 4 via the coil 351 of the relay 35.
connected to the positive polarity side of the In addition, sliding contact 3
Sliding contact 34i adjacent to contact 4g is also connected to the positive polarity side of DC power supply 4 via coil 361 of relay 36, and diodes 37 and 38 are connected in parallel to coils 351 and 361.
A relay 35 is connected to both connection ends of the DC motor 39.
When the normally open/normally closed contact 352 of the relay 36 and the normally open/normally closed contact 362 of the relay 36 are connected and the relay 35 is energized, the common terminal 352c of the normally open/normally closed contact 352 and the normally open contact The terminal 352a is electrically connected, and the positive polarity side of the DC power supply 4 is connected to one end of the DC motor 39. Further, when the relay 36 is energized, the common terminal 362c of the normally open/normally closed contact 362 and the normally open contact terminal 362a are electrically connected, and the positive polarity side of the DC power supply 4 is connected to the other end of the DC motor 39. It is becoming connected. That is, normally open and normally closed contacts 352 and 36
2 usually has its common terminals 352c and 362
c and the normally closed contact terminals 352b and 362b are in a conductive state, and at this time both ends of the DC motor 39 are grounded. Then, the DC motor 39 is normally open.
When DC power is supplied through the normally closed contact 352, the motor rotates the lamp drive shaft 6 clockwise (clockwise rotation in the figure), and as the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates clockwise, the conductor patterns 32 and 33 It is designed to rotate clockwise integrally with the sliding base plate 31. In addition, a normally open/normally closed contact 36 is connected to the DC motor 39.
When DC power is supplied through 2, the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates counterclockwise, and as the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates counterclockwise, the conductor patterns 32 and 33 are integrated with the sliding board 31 and rotate to the left. It is supposed to rotate. It goes without saying that the irradiation direction of the headlight changes by rotating the lamp drive shaft 6 clockwise or counterclockwise.
When the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates to the right, the direction of illumination of the headlights rotates to the right when viewed from the driver's seat, and as the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates to the left, the direction of illumination of the headlights rotates to the left. It's becoming like that. A headlamp lighting circuit 5 is connected to the positive power supply line of the lamp drive unit 3 via a connection terminal 3a.

This headlight lighting circuit 5 includes a low beam lamp 51 and a high beam lamp 52 that constitute the headlights.
are provided in parallel, and a daylight switch 53 is used to switch between the low beam lamp 51 and the high beam lamp 52.
It is now possible to do this using Connection point 5a between low beam lamp 51 and high beam lamp 52 and connection terminal 3 of lamp drive unit 3
A lighting switch 54 is connected between the headlight lighting circuit 5 and the headlight lighting circuit 5, and the connection point 5a is also connected to the output terminal 5b of the headlamp lighting circuit 5.

Next, the operation of the vehicle cornering lamp system configured as described above will be explained. That is,
It is now assumed that the vehicle is traveling straight ahead with the lighting switch 54 closed and the headlights turned on. At this time, the handle is located at the neutral point (point N in FIG. 2), and the count value on the UP/DOWN counter 28 is zero. Therefore, in the decoder/driver 29, only the output terminal 29h is "0".
level, and gate 30a~30
A "0" level signal is input to one input terminal of f and OR gate 30g, respectively. on the other hand,
AND gates 30a to 30f and OR gate 3
Since the writing switch 54 is closed, a signal at the "1" level is input to the other input terminal of 0g, and therefore the output terminals 2a to 2f of the processing circuit 2 are at the "1" level. Only the output terminal 2g is at the "0" level. That is, power is not supplied to the relays 35 and 36, the DC motor remains stopped, and the headlight is stopped with the irradiation direction facing forward.

When the steering wheel is rotated to the right in such a state to start steering to the right, the electric signals sent by the photo interrupters 13 and 16 become "1" and "0" levels (point a in FIG. 2). As a result, the output of the NAND gate 21 changes from the "1" level to the "0" level, the R.S flip-flop circuit 24 is set, and the Q output terminal 24q becomes the "1" level. Then, when the right steering is further performed and point b in FIG.
A signal of level "1" is input to the up input terminal 28u of the UP/DOWN counter 28, and the count value of the UP/DOWN counter 28 is incremented by 1. This results in
The decoder/driver 29 moves up the "0" level signal that it had been sending out from the output terminal 29h to the output terminal 29g and sends it out. However, since the output terminal 29g is connected to the OR gate 30g like the output terminal 29h, the motor 3
No power is supplied to the vehicle 9, and the headlight remains stationary with its irradiation direction facing forward. Then, by continuing to steer to the right, the output terminals 17 and 18 of the photo sensor 1 go to the "0" and "1" levels (point c in FIG. 2), and the reset terminal 24r of the R/S flip-flop circuit 24 goes to "0" and "1" levels. '' level, the flip-flop is reset and the Q output terminal 24q becomes ``0'' level, preparing for the next count. When the point d in FIG. 2 is reached, the output of the NAND gate 21 changes from the "1" level to the "0" level, the R/S flip-flop circuit 24 enters the set state, and the Q output terminal 24
When q becomes ``1'' level again and reaches point e in FIG. 2, the output of AND gate 26 becomes ``1'' level, and the count value in UP/DOWN counter 28 is further incremented by 1.
Due to this increase in the count value, the decoder/driver 29 increments the "0" level signal that had been sent out until then and sends it out from the output terminal 29g to the output terminal 29f, and both inputs of the NAND gate 30c become "1" level. Therefore, the output terminal 2c of the processing circuit 2 becomes the "0" level, and current flows through the coil 351 of the relay 35 through the path of the sliding contact 34a, the conductor pattern 32, and the sliding contact 34d. By energizing the coil 351, the common terminal 352c of the normally open/normally closed contact 352 and the normally open contact terminal 3
52a becomes electrically conductive, the DC motor 39 rotates, and the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates clockwise. This clockwise rotation of the lamp drive shaft 6 moves the irradiation direction of the headlamp clockwise, and the sliding board 31 rotates clockwise while bringing the sliding contacts 34a to 34i into sliding contact with the conductor patterns 32 and 33 thereof. And sliding contact 3
4d is separated from the conductor pattern 32,
The energization to the coil 351 of the relay 35 is released, and the common terminal 352c of the normally open/normally closed contact 352
The normally open contact 352a becomes non-conductive, and the power supply to the DC motor 39 is cut off. The DC motor 39 rotates slightly due to inertia and then stops, and the sliding board 31
is the opposing gap 31 between the conductor patterns 32 and 33
It stops with the sliding contact 34d placed approximately in the center of a. Similarly, by continuing to steer to the right, the count value in the UP/DOWN counter 28 increases sequentially, and the position of the "0" level signal sent by the decoder/driver 29 is at the output terminal 29.
e, 29d, . . . , 29a, and as a result, the DC motor 39 rotates intermittently, and the irradiation direction of the headlight moves clockwise in stages.

Next, the operation when the handle is rotated to the left from the neutral point will be explained. That is, when left/right steering is performed from point N in FIG. 2, the output terminals 17 and 18 of the photo sensor 1 both go to the "1" level (point f in FIG. 2), and the output of the NAND gate 22 goes to the "0" level. As a result, the R.S flip-flop circuit 25 is set, and the Q output terminal 25q goes to the "1" level. When point q in FIG. A "1" level signal is input to the down input terminal 28d, and the UP/DOWN counter 28 counts down the count value by one. Due to this countdown, the decoder/driver 29 lowers the "0" level signal that it had been sending out from the output terminal 29h to the output terminal 29i and sends it out. When the point h in FIG. 2 is reached, both the output terminals 17 and 18 go to the "0" level, the R/S flip-flop circuit 25 is reset, and the Q output terminal 25q goes to the "0" level and the next Prepare for the count. However, when the i point in Figure 2 is reached, the UP/DOWN counter 28
The count value further counts down by 1, and the decoder/driver 29 sends "0".
The signal position of the level is carried down from the output terminal 29i to the output terminal 29j. As a result, current flows through the coil 361 of the relay 36 through the path of the sliding contact 34i, the conductor pattern 33, the sliding contact 34e, and the output terminal 2d.
The common terminal 362c of the normally open/normally closed contact 362 and the normally open contact terminal 362a are brought into conduction, the DC motor 39 rotates, and the lamp drive shaft 6 rotates to the left. This counterclockwise rotation of the lamp drive shaft 6 moves the irradiation direction of the headlight counterclockwise, and the sliding board 3
1 rotates to the left, and the sliding contact 34e connects to the conductor pattern 3.
3, the energization of the coil 361 of the relay 36 is released, the common terminal 362c of the normally open/normally closed contact 362 and the normally open contact terminal 362a become non-conductive, and the power supply to the DC motor 39 is cut off. be done.
As a result, the DC motor 39 rotates slightly due to inertia and then stops. Thereafter, in the same manner, by continuing to steer leftward, the count value in the UP/DOWN counter 28 sequentially decreases, and the position of the "0" level signal sent by the decoder/driver 29 is at the output terminals 29k, 29l...29o. As a result, the DC motor 39 rotates intermittently, and the irradiation direction of the headlight moves counterclockwise in stages.

The above-mentioned operations have been explained for right steering and left steering from the neutral point, but even in the case of left steering after right steering, or left steering after left steering, the UP/DOWN counter 28 It goes without saying that the count value in is sequentially counted down or counted up, and the irradiation direction of the headlight changes according to this count value.
Further, in this embodiment, the stepwise deflection angle in the irradiation direction of the headlight is set to 10 degrees, so that the irradiation direction of the headlight can be swung left and right by a maximum of 30 degrees each. In order to obtain such a deflection angle, the sliding contacts 34b to 34h are arranged at equal angular intervals, and the intervals are sufficient to swing the irradiation direction of the headlight by 10 degrees in one step.

As described above, in the cornering lamp system according to the present embodiment, the illumination direction of the headlight can be varied in conjunction with the steering wheel of the automobile when cornering, so that the illumination direction can be illuminated in the direction of travel. safety is ensured.

By the way, the headlights are normally turned off except when driving at night, and at this time the lighting switch 54 is in the open state. Lighting switch 5
4 is in the open state, AND gates 30a to 3
The "1" level signal is no longer input to 0f and the other input terminal of the OR gate 30g, and only the output terminal 2g of the processing circuit 2 becomes "0" level.
The output terminals 2a to 2f are all at the "1" level.
Therefore, the headlights that had been illuminating the direction of travel are turned off and at the same time the headlights are stopped with their illumination directed toward the front. That is, the AND gate 30a
~30f and OR gate 30g are used as irradiation direction variable operation prohibition means, and UP/DOWN counter 28
The variable operation of the irradiation direction of the headlight according to the count value in is prohibited, and the irradiation direction is stopped facing the front.

On the other hand, the UP/DOWN counter 28 continues to count according to the steering wheel even after the headlights are turned off, and the decoder/driver 29 outputs "0" at the output terminals 29a to 29o according to the count value.
Continue selecting the level signal sending position. Therefore, when the lighting switch 54 is next closed (turning on the headlights), the direction of illumination of the headlights is quickly rotated to illuminate the direction of travel.

According to the cornering lamp system according to this embodiment, when the headlights are turned on, the illumination direction is linked to the steering wheel of the vehicle, and when the headlights are turned off, the illumination direction is Since the lamp is stopped with the headlight facing forward, the durability of the lamp drive unit 3 and the drive mechanism (not shown) that changes the direction of irradiation of the headlight is improved. Furthermore, when the headlights are turned on, the direction of illumination of the headlights quickly rotates and illuminates the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, so safety during night driving is not compromised.

In this embodiment, when the lighting switch 54 is closed, the irradiation direction of the headlights consisting of the low beam lamp 51 and the high beam lamp 52 is changed, but as shown in FIG.
When the auxiliary light switch 55 is closed when the lighting switch 54 is closed, the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light 56 may be changed in conjunction with the steering of the steering wheel. That is, in the figure, the auxiliary light switch 55 is connected to the lighting switch 54 and the auxiliary light 56.
The auxiliary light switch 55 is connected in series with the auxiliary light switch 55.
A connection point 5c between the auxiliary light 56 and the auxiliary light 56 is connected to the output terminal 5b. The irradiation direction of the headlights consisting of the low beam lamp 51 and the high beam lamp 52 is fixed to the front, and the auxiliary lamp 56
The direction of irradiation can be varied by means of a lamp drive shaft 6 shown in FIG. Therefore, if the auxiliary light switch 55 is closed after turning on the headlights,
The auxiliary light 56 is turned on, and the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light 56 is linked to steering wheel steering so that it illuminates the direction of travel. Generally, there is a legal regulation that ``auxiliary lights must not be turned on independently except when the headlights are turned on.''

Taking these points into consideration, the auxiliary light lighting circuit shown in Figure 3 was constructed.The auxiliary light lighting circuit shown in Figure 3 changes the irradiation direction only when the auxiliary light is turned on while driving with the headlights on. Since the illumination is fixed and the direction of illumination of only the auxiliary light 56 is changed, visibility during driving is widened and legal regulations are also met. In this way, the lighting means may be an auxiliary light, and the headlights do not necessarily have to be linked to the steering wheel.

In this embodiment, the processing circuit 2 is constructed of a hardware circuit, but it may also be program-controlled using a microcomputer or the like, and sliding contacts may be used to detect the rotational position of the headlight. , detection may be performed using light. Further, although the irradiation direction is changed stepwise in conjunction with the steering wheel, it may be changed continuously.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the cornering lamp system for a vehicle according to the present invention, when the lighting means is turned on, the irradiation direction of the lighting means is varied in conjunction with the steering wheel steering, and when the lighting means is turned off, the irradiation direction of the lighting means is set to the front. Since the machine stops facing the direction of the vehicle, the durability of the entire system can be improved.

In addition, when the light means is turned off, the count value is increased by the counter means linked to the steering wheel.
While the down operation continues, the irradiation direction variable operation according to the count value is prohibited, and the lighting means stops with the irradiation direction facing the front.
When the lighting means is turned on again, since the count value of the counter means is a value that is linked to the steering wheel steering, the irradiation direction of the lighting means that was stopped facing forward is immediately changed to the direction that corresponds to the steering wheel steering. Therefore, safety when driving at night is not compromised.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an output waveform diagram of a photo sensor used in this cornering lamp system, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the output waveform of a photo sensor used in this cornering lamp system. FIG. 4 is an auxiliary light lighting circuit diagram that changes the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light depending on the state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Photo sensor, 2... Processing circuit, 3... Lamp drive unit, 4... DC power supply, 5... Headlight lighting circuit, 28... UP/DOWN counter, 29... Decoder/driver, 31... Sliding board, 32, 33 ...Conductor pattern, 34a to 34i...Sliding contact, 6...Lamp drive shaft, 39...DC motor, 54...Lighting switch, 55...Auxiliary light switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A counter means that increases or decreases the count value in conjunction with steering wheel steering, an irradiation direction variable means that changes the irradiation direction of the lamp light means in accordance with the count value of the counter means, and the lamp light. A cornering lamp system for a vehicle, comprising means for inhibiting variable operation of the illumination direction, which prohibits the variable operation of the illumination direction according to the count value and stops the illumination direction with the illumination direction facing forward when the means is turned off.