JPH05298903A - Head lamp for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To project an infrared ray far by forming a far radiation preventing shielding plate disposed close to a filament for a low beam of a visible light shielding member through which the infrared ray among projected ray of the filament for the low beam is transmitted. CONSTITUTION:Filaments 6, 7 for a low beam and a high beam are disposed at focal point positions of a reflection mirror 2, and a far radiation preventing shielding plate 8 is disposed under the filament 6. The shielding plate 8 comprises a visible ray cut filter, and a visible ray radiated from the filament 6 is cut, while an infrared ray is projected far, so the visible ray becomes a low beam. A reflected ray of the infrared ray at an obstacle is received by a distance measuring device, whether the obstacle is within a danger zone is determined based on a distance to the obstacle and a car speed at the time, and an alarm is issued. Even in the case where the filament 6 is selected for a light source, the infrared ray can be radiated far, thereby the distance can be measured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a vehicle headlamp having a light source for a passing beam and a light source for a traveling beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of automobiles, traffic accidents tend to occur frequently, which is a major social problem. Therefore, in recent years, efforts have been focused on the development of vehicles having a function for preventing danger. As one of them, when there is an oncoming vehicle in a vehicle headlight, a passing beam (hereinafter referred to as a passing beam) for illuminating a lower side in order to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled. A robot beam). This is a passing beam, as is already known.
This is due to the action of the far-field irradiation prevention shield plate arranged in the vicinity of the filament.

As a part of this development, the applicant of the present application detects an obstacle by using infrared light projected together with visible light from the above-mentioned existing automobile headlight, and the obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle. We are thinking of a system that can inform the driver that the vehicle is approaching and prevent accidents in advance.

[0004]

However, if the conventional automotive headlamp is used as it is, the following problems occur. In other words, when there is an oncoming vehicle, the headlight can be switched to the lobe beam, but at this time the infrared light also faces downward together with the visible light, so the infrared light cannot reach far away and is sufficient. The effect (obstacle detection) could not be expected.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to always project infrared light to a distant place, regardless of which one of the passing beam filament and the traveling beam filament is selected as the light source. It is to provide an automobile headlight that can be used.

[0006]

The present invention provides a passing beam.
The far-distance irradiation preventing shield arranged in the vicinity of the beam filament is formed of a visible light shielding member that transmits infrared light of the light projected by the passing beam filament.

[0007]

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing its internal structure.

In these figures, 1 is an automotive headlamp, 2 is a reflecting mirror which forms a rotating paraboloid, 3 is its reflecting surface, 4
Is a lens which covers the front surface of the reflecting mirror 2, and 5 is a bulb which is arranged in the headlight 1 and serves as a light source thereof.

Reference numeral 6 is a filament for a low beam and 7 is a filament for a traveling beam (for a high beam). These filaments 6 and 7 are arranged near the focal point of the reflecting mirror 2. To be done. Reference numeral 8 denotes a far irradiation prevention shield plate (hereinafter, in the embodiment, a sheer, which is arranged below the filament for roaming 6 and includes a visible light cut filter that cuts visible light emitted from the filament 6. By this, infrared light is transmitted through the shade 8 and projected to a distant place at the time of roaming, but visible light is shielded by the shade 8 as before. , It becomes a robot.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an automobile equipped with the above headlight 1.

As shown in the figure, the vehicle is provided with a distance measuring device 9, and the distance measuring device 9 includes a headlight 1
Infrared light projected at is reflected by the obstacle through the objective lens and the distance to the obstacle is measured (details will be described later). It has a function of determining whether or not the obstacle has entered the dangerous area (distance) based on the vehicle speed, and issuing a warning to that effect (details will be described later) when it enters.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the distance measuring device 9 shown in FIG. 3 and a mechanism of a main part.

First, the configuration of the above-mentioned objective lens and the portion for controlling the position thereof in FIG. 4 will be described, and then the operation thereof will be described.

In FIG. 4, MPRS is a control circuit for controlling each circuit in the distance measuring device 9. This is, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), RO
It is composed of a one-chip microcomputer having M and RAM, and controls the distance measurement and the focus adjustment operation of the objective lens according to the program stored in the ROM.

LNSF is a focus lens, LNSZ is a zoom lens, and these constitute an objective lens. MTF and MTZ are the focus lens LNS
F, a lens driving motor for driving the zoom lens LNSZ, ENCF, ENCZ are encoders for detecting the focus and zoom positions of the focus lens LNSF and the zoom lens LNSZ, MDRF, MDRZ
Is a motor driver.

In the above structure, the micro computer
The MPRP is based on the vehicle speed data at that time (described later),
The focus lens LNS so as to be in a predetermined position.
The drive of the F and zoom lens LNSZ is controlled. That is, the focus adjustment operation of the focus lens LNSF
The adjustment operation of the photographing range of the mullens LNSZ is performed.

Specifically, when the information that the automobile is running at low speed is input, the microcomputer MPR is used.
S is a lens driving motor through a motor driver MDRZ in order to detect an obstacle in a relatively wide range in the vicinity.
Reverse MTZ (or forward) to zoom lens LNS
Z is moved in the direction in which the focal length of the objective lens becomes smaller, and the lens driving motor MTF is reversed (or forward) via the motor driver MDRF to make the focus lens LNSF infinite from the near side. Move in the direction. The moving position of each lens LNSF, LNSZ is the encoder ENC.
Although detected by F and ENCZ, the micro computer MPRS reads respective position signals from the encoders ENCF and ENCZ, and the lenses LNSF and LNSZ.
When it has reached a predetermined position, it outputs a drive stop signal to the motor drivers MDRF and MDRZ.

When the information that the automobile is traveling at high speed is input, the lens driving motor MTZ is detected through the motor driver MDRZ in order to detect obstacles in a distant and relatively narrow range. In the normal direction (or reverse direction) to move the zoom lens LNSZ in the direction in which the focal length of the objective lens increases, and the lens drive motor MTF in the normal direction (or the normal direction) via the motor driver MDRF. (Reverse rotation), and the focus lens LNSF is moved further toward the infinity side than at the above low speed. And the encoders ENCF, ENC
When it is read in Z that the lenses LNSF and LNSZ have reached the predetermined positions, a drive stop signal is output to the motor drivers MDRF and MDRZ.

Next, the configuration of the portion for measuring the distance from the infrared light reflected by the obstacle to the obstacle in FIG. 4 will be described, and then the operation thereof will be described.

CLOCK is a micro computer MPR
A circuit that generates a signal for S to perform synchronization when performing various controls (hereinafter, CLOCK is described as a clock signal),
DRIVE is a drive circuit for driving the image sensor CCD, SH
& CDS is a sample-hold circuit that holds two image signals transferred to and stored in the image sensor CCD, AMP is an amplifier circuit, and A / D is an analog image signal input through the amplifier circuit AMP, which is a digital image signal. Conversion circuit D for converting to
SP is a digital signal processor, and MEMORY is a memory circuit for storing signals from the digital signal processor DSP.

In the above configuration, when the distance from the infrared light reflected by the obstacle to the obstacle is measured, the microcomputer MPRS uses the clock signal CLOC.
The drive circuit DRIVE is controlled in synchronization with K to drive the image sensor CCD. As a result, accumulation of two image signals is started in the image pickup device CCD on which the reflected light of the obstacle of the infrared light projected from the headlight 1 is incident. Then, when the accumulation of the predetermined charges is completed, the charges (image signal) of each pixel are sent to the sample hold circuit SH & CDS in time series in synchronization with the clock signal CLOCK,
After that, the signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit AMP, converted into a digital signal by the conversion circuit A / D, and sent to the digital signal processor DSP. Then, the sequential storage circuit ME
It is temporarily stored in MORY.

Thereafter, the digital signal processor D
At SP, the two image signals stored in the memory circuit MEMORY are taken out, the phase difference between the image signals is calculated, and the result is sent to the microcomputer MPRS.

The microcomputer MPRS which receives the phase difference data calculates the focus position from the phase difference data and the sensitivity of the focus detection system, and measures the distance to the obstacle.

Next, the structure of the portion for operating the headlight 1 in FIG. 4 will be described, and then the operation thereof will be described.

Reference numeral 10 is a lighting means for lighting the headlight 1, 11 is a low-beam / high-beam switching means for switching the headlight 1 to a low beam or a high beam, and 12 is a relay. -,
Reference numeral 13 is a filament for lo beam, 14 is a filament for high beam, and 15 is a battery as a power source.

In the above structure, when a signal for turning on the headlamp 1 is input from the lighting means 10, the microcomputer MPRS switches the low and high beam switching means 11 to each other.
It is further determined which signal for lighting is input, and the relay 12 is driven accordingly.

For example, when a signal is inputted by the low / high beam switching means 11 to turn on the high beam, the relay 12 is connected to the low beam filament 14 and the power source 15. And the high beam filament 14 as the light source of the headlight 1 is turned on.

When a signal is input by the low / high beam switching means 11 to turn on the low beam, the relay 12 is connected to the low beam filament 13 and the power source 15. Is switched to the connecting side, and the filament 13 for the robe beam as the light source of the headlight 1 is turned on. At this time, as described above, the shade 8 has a function of cutting visible light and transmits infrared light.
On the other hand, infrared light is projected toward a distant place as in the case of high beam.

Next, in FIG. 4, the structure of the portion for performing the warning operation when the possibility that the automobile will collide with an obstacle increases will be described, and then the operation will be described.

Reference numeral 16 is a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the traveling speed of an automobile (vehicle), and 17 is an alarm device for giving a warning to the driver.

In the above configuration, the micro computer
The vehicle MPRS takes in the traveling speed (vehicle speed) data of the vehicle from the vehicle speed sensor 16 and determines the vehicle as an obstacle from the vehicle speed data and the distance data to the obstacle obtained as described above. When it is determined that the possibility of collision is increased, the alarm device 17 is driven so as to issue an alarm for informing the driver of that fact.

According to the present embodiment, since the shade 8 arranged near the filament for roaming 6 is formed by the visible light cut filter, the filament for roaming 6 is formed. Even when is selected as the light source, it is possible to project infrared light toward a distance, as in the case where the high beam filament 7 is selected as the light source.

(Modification) In the distance measuring device 9 in this embodiment, the focus state is detected from the phase difference between the two images, and the distance to the obstacle is measured from this.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the distance measurement may be performed based on the principle of triangulation, which is widely known in cameras and the like.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The far-distance irradiation preventing shield disposed near the passing beam filament is formed by a visible light shielding member that transmits infrared light of the light projected by the passing beam filament. I am trying.

Therefore, regardless of which of the passing beam filament and the traveling beam filament is selected as the light source, infrared light can always be projected to a distant place.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automobile including the headlight of FIG.

4 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration and a mechanism of a main part of the distance measuring device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automotive Headlight 2 Reflector 4 Lens 5 Bulb 6 Robeam Filament 7 High-Beam Filament 8 Shade (Distance Irradiation Prevention Shield with Visible Light Cut)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Hideyuki Arai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Katsumi Azusa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Wada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takashi Kawabata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Within

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A headlight for an automobile, comprising: a filament for a passing beam, a filament for a traveling beam, and a far irradiation prevention shield plate arranged in the vicinity of the filament for a passing beam, An automotive headlamp, wherein the far-field irradiation prevention shield plate is formed by a visible light shield member that transmits infrared light of the light projected by the passing beam filament.