JPH0277343A - Automatic control system of lighting apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of an engine stall and to secure the field of vision of a driver by providing an engine starting detection device, a gear position detecting device, and a control device to light a lighting apparatus for vehicle when a specific time passes after the engine is started, or when the gear is shifted to a running step before the specific time passes after the engine starting. CONSTITUTION:An automatic light control unit ACU 6 judges whether the intensity of illumination outside the car is lower than a specific value or not, the engine rotation frequency Ne is lower than a specific value or not, and the vehicle is running or not, responding to signals from sensors 2 to 4 and a gear position detecting device 8. The ACU 6 decides the lighting and the putting-out of the lighting apparatus 1 for vehicle depending on the resultant judgement, and feeds the control signal to the lighting apparatus 1 for vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment.
In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment that automatically turns on and off depending on the illuminance outside the vehicle.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a so-called autolight system is known that automatically turns on or off vehicle lighting equipment such as headlights and small lights in accordance with the illuminance outside the vehicle.

According to this auto light system, even if the engine is not running, as long as the ignition switch is turned on, the headlights etc. will turn on when the external illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor falls below a predetermined value. . Therefore, since the load on the battery is high, the rotation of the starter becomes slow, and it may take a long time to start the engine, or in the worst case, it may not be possible to start the engine. An example of an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment to prevent this is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-247534. This automatic control system is configured to turn on headlights and the like after starting the engine.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, if the headlights are turned on immediately after starting the engine, the load on the AC generator is high, which may cause the engine to stall.

Also, it is not necessary to turn on the headlights after turning on the ignition switch and before starting the engine.
For example, when a vehicle is forced to start on a slope, the driver's visibility cannot be ensured unless the headlights are turned on, which is dangerous.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it prevents the engine from stalling when the headlights, etc. are turned on after the engine has started. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment that can ensure a driver's visibility by turning on the lights.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention automatically controls vehicle lighting equipment including headlights and small lights according to the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by an illuminance detection means that detects the illuminance outside the vehicle. In an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment that turns on or off automatically, the engine start detection means detects the start of the engine, the gear position detection means detects the gear position of the vehicle, The control means for turning on the vehicle lighting device when the gear is shifted to the drive gear before the elapse of a predetermined period of time for starting the engine is provided.

Further, in the automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment of the present invention, a control means for turning on the small light when the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by the illuminance detection means before the elapse of a predetermined time after starting the engine is below a predetermined value. We are prepared.

Further, in an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment that automatically turns on or off vehicle lighting equipment including headlights and small lights according to the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by the illuminance detection means that detects the illuminance outside the vehicle, and a control means for turning on the vehicle lighting device regardless of the operating state of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

(Example) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 in the figure is an auto light control unit (hereinafter referred to as r
ACUJ), and the input side of the ACU 6 includes an illuminance detection sensor 2, an engine rotation speed sensor (hereinafter referred to as rNe sensor J) 3, a vehicle speed detection sensor 4. An auto light switch (ALSW) 5, a gear position detection means 8, and a starter switch 7 are electrically connected to each other. ACU
On the output side of 6, headlight 1, small light 1a
Vehicle lighting equipment l including the like are electrically connected.

The ACU 6 is composed of a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device for storing various calculation programs and calculation results executed by the CPIJ, an output circuit, etc., and a timer for performing intermittent control of the vehicle lighting equipment l. The structure includes the following.

The illuminance detection sensor 2 detects the illuminance outside the vehicle.

Ne sensor 3 detects the engine speed.

Vehicle speed detection sensor 4 detects the speed of the vehicle. When the light control switch 5 is set to the manual position, the vehicle lighting equipment 1 can be turned on regardless of the illuminance outside the vehicle, and when the light control switch 5 is set to the automatic position, the ACU 6 can be operated. The gear position detection means 8 detects whether the gear position has been shifted to a running gear such as a low gear. When the gear position is other than neutral (neutral and parking range in the case of an AT vehicle), it is determined that the gear position has been shifted to the driving gear.

The ACU 6 starts operating based on a signal supplied from the auto light switch 5 when the switch is closed, and detects that the illuminance outside the vehicle is lower than a predetermined value in accordance with the signals from each sensor 2 to 4, gear position detection means 8, etc. , whether the engine speed Ne is lower than a predetermined value (for example, 600 rpm), whether the vehicle is running, etc., and based on the results of these determinations, turns on the vehicle lighting equipment l, It decides to turn off the lights and supplies the control signal to the vehicle lighting equipment l.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a program that controls turning on and off of the vehicle lighting device l. This program starts when the ignition switch is turned on, and first in step 201, the flag F1 is set to rQJ and the flag F2 is set to rl.

When the flag F+ is "0", it indicates that a predetermined time has not elapsed since the engine was started, and when it is "IJ", it indicates that a predetermined time has elapsed since the engine was started. Flag F2 is r
When it is lJ, it means that the engine has just started, and [
0'' indicates that the engine has not just started. Next, the process proceeds to step 202, and it is determined whether the vehicle speed is less than V). This determination is made based on the input signal from the vehicle speed detection sensor 4. If the answer is negative (No), that is, the vehicle speed is zero, it is determined whether the flag F1 is [1] (step 203). If the answer is negative (No), it is determined whether the starter switch (starter 5W) 7 is on (ON) (step 204). If this answer is negative (No), that is, when the starter switch 7 is switched from on to off, the engine speed (Ne) is set to a predetermined value (for example, 600 rpm).
m) Determine whether it is greater than or equal to (step 205). In steps 204 and 205, it is determined whether the engine has started. That is, when the starter switch 7 is turned off and the engine speed is 60 rpm or more, it is determined that the engine has started. If the answer to step 205 is affirmative (Yes), flag F2 is [OJ or not;
That is, it is determined whether or not the engine has just started (step 206). If the answer is negative (No), that is, immediately after the engine has started, a timer (not shown) (for example, a timer consisting of a down counter) is set to a predetermined time (for example, 2.3 seconds) and started (step 207). ) and set flag F2 to "0" (
Step 208). Next, the process proceeds to step 209, and it is determined whether or not the auto light switch (ALSW) 5 is turned on. If this answer is negative (NO), the auto light switch (ALSW) 5 is turned off (OFF).
), the process returns to step 202. If the answer to step 209 is affirmative (Yes), that is, the auto light switch 5
When is ON, it is determined whether the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 is less than or equal to a predetermined value for turning on the headlights (step 21O). This answer is negative (N
In case o), the vehicle lighting device 1 is turned off and the process proceeds to step 211) and step 202. If the answer to step 210 is affirmative (Yes), that is, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 is less than or equal to the predetermined value L1 at which the headlights should be turned on, only the small lights la are turned on (step 212), and step 202 Proceed to. Thereby, when the illuminance outside the vehicle is low, the small light 1a is turned on to indicate the presence of the vehicle, and safety can be ensured.

If the answer to step 204 is affirmative (Yes), that is, the starter switch is on, flag F2 is set to rl.
Next, the process proceeds to step 213) and step 211, where the vehicle lighting equipment 1 is turned off. Also, if the answer to step 205 is negative (No), that is, the engine speed is 60 Orp.
When the value is less than m, the process also proceeds to step 211, and the vehicle lighting device 1 is turned off. This is because if the vehicle lighting device 1 is turned on when the engine is not started, the load on the battery increases and the rotation of the starter becomes slower.

If the answer to step 206 is affirmative (Yes), that is, flag F2 is set to rQJ, and the engine has not just been started, the process proceeds to step 214, where it is determined whether or not the set timer measurement time has elapsed.

If the answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, the time measured by the timer has elapsed, the flag Fs is set to rlj (step 215), and the process proceeds to step 216. Step 216
When auto light switch (ALSW) 5 is on (
ON). If this answer is affirmative (Yes), the vehicle lighting equipment l including headlights etc. is controlled to be turned on according to the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 (
step 217). The answer to step 216 is negative (NO)
That is, when the auto light switch (ALSW) 5 is off (OFF), the process returns to step 216 again.

If the answer to step 214 is negative (NO), that is, the time measured by the timer has not yet elapsed, it is determined whether or not the gear is in the in-gear state where the gear is shifted to the drive gear (step 218). If this answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, when the gear is shifted to the drive gear and the rotational force of the crankshaft can be transmitted to the drive wheels, the timer measurement time elapses even before the timer measurement time elapses. In the same way as before, set the flag F1 to [IJ], proceed to step 216, and turn on the auto light switch 5.
In this case, the vehicle lighting device l is controlled to be turned on according to the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 (step 2I).
7). This makes it possible to ensure the driver's visibility when attempting to drive before the timer measurement time elapses. If the answer to step 218 is negative (NO), that is, the gear is not in gear, the auto light switch 5 is turned on (ON).
It is determined whether the answer is negative (step 209).
If the answer is NO, proceed to step 202, and if the answer is yes, proceed to step 202.
In step 210, the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 is the predetermined value at which the headlights should be turned on.
It is determined whether or not the following is true, and when the answer is affirmative (Yes), the small light la is turned on, and when the answer is negative (NO), the vehicle lighting equipment l is controlled to be turned off. Even if the timer measurement time has not elapsed after the engine has started,
When the illuminance outside the vehicle is low enough to require the headlights to be turned on, the presence of the vehicle in the surroundings can be indicated by turning on the small lights la.

As described above, since the headlights are not turned on until the time measured by the timer has elapsed after the engine is started, the load on the AC generator is lower than when the headlights are turned on immediately after the engine is started, and engine stall can be prevented.

In addition, if the timer measurement time elapses and the gear shifts to in-gear, depending on the illuminance outside the vehicle, turn on the headlights and small lights.
lights up, ensuring the driver's visibility and indicating the presence of the vehicle to those around it. Furthermore, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 is equal to or less than the predetermined value L+ after the engine is started and before the time measured by the timer has elapsed, the small light la lights up to indicate the presence of the vehicle to the surroundings.

If the answer to step 202 is affirmative (Yes), that is, if the vehicle is running regardless of the engine operating condition S (for example, the target for starting), the flag F1 is set to ``rl'' (step 220), and the auto Light switch (AL
Determine whether SW) 5 is on (ON) (Step 2
16) When the answer is positive (Yes), the small light la or the small light Ia and the headlight are turned on immediately according to the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle is pushed forward on a slope at night, the driver's visibility is ensured and it is possible to indicate to the surroundings that the vehicle is running.

The answer to step 203 is affirmative (Yes), that is, flag F! is rlJ (for example, after the engine starts and before the timer measurement time elapses), the auto light switch is turned on (ON
) (step 216).

If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the small light la or the small light la and the headlight are controlled to be turned on according to the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor 2 (step 217). Therefore, for example, if the engine stalls at an intersection, the headlights, etc. that were on will not go out. As a result, safety in running the vehicle can be achieved.

The automatic control system described above is reset when the ignition switch is turned off.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment of the present invention, the engine start detection means detects the start of the engine, the gear position detection means detects the gear position of the vehicle, and a control means for lighting the vehicle lighting device when a predetermined time has elapsed after the engine has started or when the gear has been shifted to the drive gear before the elapse of the predetermined time after starting the engine. Since the vehicle lighting equipment is turned on later and the load on the generator is lower than when the lighting equipment is turned on immediately after the engine starts, engine stall can be prevented. Furthermore, when the gear is shifted to the drive gear after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the vehicle lighting equipment is turned on, so that the driver's visibility is ensured and the presence of the vehicle can be indicated to the surroundings.

The control means is provided to turn on the small light la when the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by the illuminance detection means is below a predetermined value before a predetermined time elapses after the engine is started. If the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection sensor becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value before the time elapses, the small light is immediately turned on to indicate the presence of the vehicle to the surroundings.

Since the vehicle includes a vehicle speed detection means for detecting the speed of the vehicle, and a control means for turning on the vehicle lighting equipment regardless of the operating state of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, When the vehicle begins to move, the vehicle lighting equipment lights up, ensuring the driver's visibility and indicating to those around him that the vehicle is moving.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program for controlling lighting/extinguishing of the vehicle lighting equipment. l...vehicle lighting equipment, la...small light,
2... illuminance detection sensor, 3... Ne sensor, 4...
-Vehicle speed detection sensor, 6...ACU, 7...Starter switch 8...Gear position detection means. Applicant Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Vehicle lighting equipment that automatically turns on or off vehicle lighting equipment including headlights and small lights according to the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by an illuminance detection means that detects the illuminance outside the vehicle. In an automatic control system, an engine start detection means for detecting the start of the engine, a gear position detection means for detecting the gear position of the vehicle, and a gear position detection means for detecting the start of the engine, a gear position detection means for detecting the gear position of the vehicle, and a gear position detecting means for detecting the start of the engine when a predetermined time has elapsed after the engine start or before a predetermined time has elapsed after the engine start. 1. An automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment, comprising: control means for lighting the vehicle lighting equipment when the vehicle lighting equipment is shifted to a gear. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a control means for turning on the small light when the outside illuminance detected by the illuminance detection means is below a predetermined value before a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the engine. Automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment. 3. In an automatic control system for vehicle lighting equipment that automatically turns on or off vehicle lighting equipment including headlights and small lights according to the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by an illuminance detection means that detects the illuminance outside the vehicle, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the speed of the vehicle; and a control means for turning on the vehicle lighting equipment regardless of the operating state of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. Automatic control system for lighting equipment.