JPH06104433B2 - Cornering lamp system for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle cornering lamp system in which the irradiation direction of a lamp unit is changed in association with steering of a steering wheel.

[Conventional technology]

Vehicles, especially automobiles, are equipped with headlights as a light means for illuminating the front of the night, and the headlights are fixed and illuminate only the front of the car.
When a vehicle approaches a curve, the direction of travel of the vehicle cannot be sufficiently illuminated. In other words, during cornering around a curve, there is a risk that sufficient irradiation may not be performed in the actual traveling direction, and a danger may occur.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, in recent years, a cornering lamp system has been proposed in which the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed in conjunction with steering of the steering wheel of an automobile to irradiate the traveling direction.

Recently, a control signal having a pulse width corresponding to the steering angle is periodically generated, and based on the generated control signal, it is determined in association with the actual irradiation direction of the headlight and the steering angle. There is also proposed a cornering lamp system in which the position deviation from the target irradiation direction is detected and the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed by driving an electric motor so that the detected position deviation is zero. (See Sho 62-223067).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the above-mentioned cornering lamp system in which the irradiation direction is changed based on the control signal of the pulse width according to the steering angle, the pulse width of the control signal changes narrowly when the power is interrupted. However, there is a possibility that a malfunction occurs because it is judged as if there is a positional deviation between the actual irradiation direction and the target irradiation direction.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a feedback means for feeding back an actual variable position in the irradiation direction, and an irradiation direction for reading the actual irradiation direction fed back by the feedback means in a predetermined cycle. The reading means, a calculation means for calculating a difference between the actual irradiation direction read by the irradiation direction reading means and a target irradiation direction determined in association with the steering angle, and an electric motor according to the difference calculated by the calculation means. And an irradiation direction changing means for changing the irradiation direction of the lamp means.

[Action]

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the power is interrupted,
After the momentary interruption, the reading of the actual irradiation direction in the next cycle is waited, and the irradiation direction of the lamp means is changed according to the difference between the read actual irradiation direction and the target irradiation direction.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of this cornering lamp system.
In the figure, 1 is a rotating disk that rotates in association with steering of a steering wheel, and 2 is a photosensor having two pairs of a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown). The rotating disk 1 is
The steering wheel to the right rotates to the right in the figure, and the steering wheel to the left rotates to the left. A plurality of slits 1a of the same shape are formed at equal angular intervals on the outer peripheral brim surface of the rotary disc 1, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photosensor 2 are arranged to face each other at the passing position of the slits 1a, and A photo interrupter including a first light emitting element and a light receiving element and a photo interrupter including a second light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged adjacent to each other in the photo sensor 2. Then, the rotating disk 1 is attached to the first and second photo interrupters.
By passing through the slit 1a due to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of, the pulsed electric signal having the same waveform and a phase difference of approximately 90 ° is generated, and this pulsed electric signal is passed through the terminals 3a and 3b. And is input to the UP / DOWN switching circuit 31 in the servo motor control circuit 3.

The UP / DOWN switching circuit 31 determines the rotation direction of the rotating disc 1, that is, the steering direction of the steering wheel based on the phase of the pulsed electric signal input via the terminals 3a and 3b, and determines the steering amount to the right of the steering wheel and This UP / DOW is configured to output as many up and down signals as the left steering amount.
The up and down signals sent from the output terminals 31a and 31b of the N switching circuit 31 are input to the UP / DOWN counter 32. The UP / DOWN counter 32 counts up or counts down the internal count value by the number of input up signals or down signals, and the count value in the UP / DOWN counter 32 is the first input terminal of the subtractor 33. It is given to IN1. The A / D converter 34 is connected to the second input terminal IN2 of the subtractor 33.
A digital value corresponding to the output voltage value of the potentiometer 41 in the actuator 4 which will be described later is given via the digital value given to the second input end IN2 and the count given to the first input end IN1. The difference from the value is generated at the output terminal 33a of the subtractor 33 as the subtraction result. And the subtraction result is positive (+)
Alternatively, when it is negative (-), the level of the output terminal 33b becomes "H" or "L" level, and when it is zero, the level of the output terminal 33c is from "H" level to "L" level. It is supposed to be reversed.

On the other hand, the oscillator is connected to the start terminal 34a of the A / D converter 34.
The reference clock pulse sent by 30 is frequency-divided by the frequency divider 36, and a pulse signal train whose one cycle is 20 msec is given as a start signal. Then, the A / D converter 34 reads the output voltage value of the potentiometer 41 given through its input terminal 34b at each rising edge of the start signal given through its terminal 34a, and finishes reading this output voltage value. After that, the end signal that is at the “H” level for a predetermined time appears at its output terminal 34c, and a digital value corresponding to the read output voltage value is given to the second input terminal IN2 of the subtractor 33. ing. On the other hand, the end signal appearing at the output terminal 34c of the A / D converter 34 is presettable UP / DOWN.
While being given to the counter 35 as its load signal,
It is also provided as a set signal for the flip-flop circuit 37. Presettable UP / DOWN counter 3
5 is the falling edge of the load signal given through the A / D converter 34, and calls in the subtraction result generated at the output terminal 33a of the subtractor 33, and the up signal or the down signal corresponding to the subtraction result. When is input, the carry signal or borrow signal of "H" level is transmitted from the output terminal 35a or 35b. Then, this "H" level carry signal or borrow signal is applied to the reset terminal of the flip-flop circuit 37 through the OR gate OR1, and the Q output of the flip-flop circuit 37 is supplied with the 3-input AND gates AND1 and AN.
It is provided to the first input terminal of D2.

The output level of the output terminal 33b of the subtractor 33 is directly applied to the second input terminals of the 3-input AND gates AND1 and AND2 via the inverter INV, and the subtraction is applied to the third input terminal. The output level of the output terminal 33c of the device 33 is given. Then, the outputs of the AND gates AND1 and AND2 are given to the motor driver 38, and while the output of the AND gates AND1 and AND2 is at the "H" level, the electric motor 42 in the actuator 4 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction. ing.

The outputs of the AND gates AND1 and AND2 are also given to one end of the AND gates AND3 and AND4, and the reference clock pulse of the oscillator 30 passing through the AND gates AND3 and AND4 is an up signal to the presettable UP / DOWN counter 35. And is given as a down signal. In addition, the power supply voltage from the vehicle battery 6 is a constant voltage power supply.
It is given to each part in the servo motor control circuit 3, the sensor 2 and the actuator 4 via 39.

On the other hand, in the actuator 4, the potentiometer 41 is such that its output voltage varies according to the rotational angle position of the electric motor 42, and the rotational driving force of the electric motor 42 causes the headlight 5 (first The irradiation direction in Fig. 2) is variable. That is, when the AND gate AND1 becomes the “H” level, the rotary shaft (42a shown in FIG. 3) of the electric motor 42 rotates clockwise (normally rotates) and is fitted and fixed to the rotary shaft 42a. The rotation force is sequentially transmitted to the first spur gear 43b, the second spur gear 43c, the third spur gear 43d, and the fourth spur gear 43e via the pinion gear 43a so that the fourth spur gear 43e rotates coaxially. The output shaft 43f is driven to decelerate, and the lamp 5a (second
4) The sub-reflector 5b provided on the back of
By rotating as shown by the broken line in the figure, the irradiation direction of the headlight 5 can be changed to the right when viewed from the driver's seat side. Further, when the AND gate AND2 becomes the “H” level, the rotation shaft 42a of the electric motor 42 rotates counterclockwise (reverse rotation), and the irradiation direction of the headlight 5 is leftward when viewed from the driver's seat side. It is designed to be variable.

The deceleration drive mechanism 43 is configured by mechanically connecting the first spur gear 43b, the second spur gear 43c, the third spur gear 43d, and the fourth spur gear 43e to the rotary shaft 42a of the electric motor 42 via the pinion gear 43a. This deceleration drive mechanism 43 is configured.
And a potentiometer 41 is attached.
That is, the potentiometer 41 is driven to rotate coaxially with the output shaft 43f.
An actuator 4 is configured by housing 41, a deceleration drive mechanism 43, and an electric motor 42 in a case 44, and the actuator 4 is built in on the back side of the headlight 5 (see FIG. 4). ). The actuator 4 and the servo motor control circuit 3 are electrically connected to each other by a total of five lines via the connector connecting portion 45 attached to the case 44. Then, the rotational force of the actuator 4 is transmitted by the link 52 to swing the sub reflector 5b to the right or left. Further, when the electric motor 42 is not driven, the "zero" mechanism 53 mechanically coupled to the link 52 forcibly returns the sub-reflector 5b to its rotation center position so that the headlamp 5 emits light. Is held and fixed to the front of the vehicle (front direction).

Next, the operation of the cornering lamp system thus configured will be described. That is, if it is assumed that the steering wheel is steered to the right starting from the straight steering position, the count value in the UP / DOWN counter 32 increases according to the right steering amount,
The incremented count value is given to the subtractor 33. On the other hand, the A / D converter 34 uses the potentiometer at the rising edge of the start signal applied to its start terminal 34a.
The output voltage value of 41 is taken in, and after the reading of this output voltage value is completed, an end signal appears at its output terminal 34c. The output voltage value read by the A / D converter 34 is converted into a digital value and given to the subtractor 33. Then, the difference between the digital value given through the A / D converter 34 and the count value given through the UP / DOWN counter 32 is calculated in the subtractor 33, and the difference is output to the output terminal 33a as the subtraction result. Will happen. Here, the digital value given through the A / D converter 34 is the electric motor 42 detected by the potentiometer 41.
Of the rotation angle position, that is, the actual irradiation direction of the headlight 5, and the count value given through the UP / DOWN counter 32 indicates the target irradiation direction determined in association with the steering angle. That is, the subtraction result generated at the output terminal 33a of the subtractor 33 has a value corresponding to the difference between the target irradiation direction and the actual irradiation direction. In this case, since the steering wheel is steered to the right starting from the straight-ahead steering position, the count value in the subtractor 33 becomes larger than the digital value, and the calculated subtraction result becomes a positive value. Therefore, the level of the output terminal 33c is "H", and the level of the output terminal 33b of the subtractor 33 is "H". On the other hand, the output terminal 34c of the A / D converter 34
When the end signal appears, the flip-flop circuit 37 is set and its Q output becomes "H" level. Therefore, the output of the AND gate AND1 becomes "H" level,
The electric motor 42 rotates forward, and the irradiation direction of the headlight 5 starts to change to the right. At the same time, since the “H” level output of the AND gate AND1 is given to one end of the AND gate AND3, the reference clock pulse of the oscillator 30 passing through the AND gate AND3 is presettable UP / DOW.
The N counter 35 starts to be input as an up signal. When the end signal falls after the subtraction result is obtained by the subtracter 33, the subtraction result generated at the output terminal 33a of the subtractor 33 at the falling edge is presettable U.
At the time when the P / DOWN counter 35 is called in and the number of up signals is input according to the called subtraction result, an "H" level carry signal is output from the output terminal 35a. As a result, the flip-flop circuit 37 is reset, the output of the AND gate AND1 becomes "L" level, and the rotation of the electric motor 42 is stopped. That is, the subtractor
The electric motor 42 is driven for a time corresponding to the subtraction result in 33, and the target irradiation direction and the actual irradiation direction can be matched by appropriately setting the relationship between the driving time and the subtraction result. Becomes

In the cornering lamp system that performs such a basic operation, the output voltage value of the potentiometer 41 is read at each rising edge of the start signal to the A / D converter 34, that is, every 20 msec, and based on the read output voltage value. The subtraction result in the subtractor 33 is updated. Then, at each falling edge of the end signal, the updated subtraction result is reset by the presettable UP / DOWN counter 3
Called to 5. For this reason, even if the power supply is interrupted for a moment, the conventional malfunction does not occur. In other words, if the power is interrupted, the next cycle (20
After reading the output voltage value of the potentiometer 41 in msec), the read output voltage value of the potentiometer 41 is given to the subtractor 33, and the subtraction result based on this output voltage value is presettable UP / DOWN counter 35. Will be called to. Therefore, after the momentary interruption, the irradiation direction variable operation is performed based on the subtraction result obtained at the time when the power supply voltage becomes stable, and the malfunction does not occur.

In the present embodiment, the power supply stabilization time after the momentary interruption was predicted to be within 20 msec, but it goes without saying that this time is not limited to 20 msec.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the vehicle cornering lamp system of the present invention, the feedback means for feeding back the actual variable position of the irradiation direction, and the irradiation direction reading means for reading the irradiation direction fed back by the feedback means in a predetermined cycle. Calculating means for calculating the difference between the actual irradiation direction read by the irradiation direction reading means and the target irradiation direction determined in association with the steering angle,
With the irradiation direction varying means for driving the electric motor in accordance with the difference calculated by the computing means and varying the irradiation direction of the lamp means, when the power source is interrupted for a short time, the next cycle Waiting for the reading of the actual irradiation direction, the irradiation direction of the lamp means is changed according to the difference between the read actual irradiation direction and the target irradiation direction, and the reading cycle of the actual irradiation direction is appropriately selected. As a result, it is possible to obtain an irradiation direction variable operation that does not cause a malfunction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a headlight whose irradiation direction is variable by using this cornering lamp system. FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing an actuator used in this cornering lamp system, and FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the headlamp shown in FIG. 3 ... Servo motor control circuit, 30 ... Oscillator, 31 ... UP
/ DOWN switching circuit, 32 …… UP / DOWN counter, 33 …… Subtractor, 34 …… A / D converter, 35 …… Presettable UP / DO
WN counter, 36 …… divider, 4 …… actuator, 41
...... Potentiometer, 4 ...... Electric motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cornering lamp system for a vehicle in which the irradiation direction of a lighting means is changed in association with steering of a steering wheel, feedback means for feeding back an actual variable position of the irradiation direction, and actual feedback from this feedback means. Irradiation direction reading means for reading the irradiation direction of a given irradiation cycle in a predetermined cycle, calculation means for calculating a difference between the actual irradiation direction read by the irradiation direction reading means and a target irradiation direction determined in association with the steering angle, and this calculation A cornering lamp system for a vehicle, comprising: an irradiation direction changing means for driving an electric motor according to a difference calculated by the means to change an irradiation direction of the light emitting means.