JPH06135281A - Automatic flashing device for vehicle lamp unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope with a tunnel in which high bright illumination is made, by determining artificial light by an illumination sensor which detects frequency components, and by setting the brightness of illumination to a relatively high value when the brightness of external light is higher than a reference value, but to a lower value when it is lower than the reference value. CONSTITUTION:An illumination sensor detects a frequency component Hx so as to determine artificial light. If the brightness of external light just before the detection, is higher than a reference value V set in a control unit, the brightness of the illumination is set to a relatively high value L1 while if it is below the reference value V, it is set to a low value L2. With this arrangement, the first brightness value L1 is set for a tunnel 20 so that relatively bright illumination is carried out during the day time, and the second brightness value L2 is set, coping with the light adjustment for the tunnel 20 during the twilight time, thereby it is possible to prevent the light-on operation from being delayed upon entrance under various conditions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided in a vehicle, and when the lighting of a vehicle lighting device is required at dusk or when entering or leaving a tunnel, the illuminance of outside light is measured and the lighting is automatically performed. The present invention relates to an automatic blinking device for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of a conventional automatic blinking device 90 of this type. An illuminance sensor 91 for detecting external illuminance is provided inside the front window of a vehicle 10, for example. The output of the sensor 91 is input to the control unit 92 to measure the illuminance of external light. As shown in FIG. 8, the illuminance Lx of external light from the illuminance sensor 91 is set in the control unit 92. The lighting device 11 is automatically turned on when the lighting illuminance becomes less than or equal to Ln.

At this time, the output of the illuminance sensor 91 is
Illumination is performed by artificial light when a frequency component in a predetermined frequency range (specifically, a commercial frequency of 50 Hz and 60 Hz, and a frequency range that is an appropriate multiple thereof, for example, 50 to 360 Hz) is detected. The control unit 92 determines that it is a place where the illuminance sensor 91 is substantially darker than the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 91.
Is to set the lighting illuminance La higher than the lighting illuminance Ln for the natural light described above.

In the actual implementation, the illuminance Lx of the external light is set for a certain period of time, for example, the immediately preceding past, so that a malfunction does not occur due to a temporary change in the illuminance, such as when a shadow of a building, a tree or the like passes by. It is said that measures such as measurement as an average value for 30 seconds are taken. Further, naturally, the control unit 92 is also set with an extinction illuminance for extinguishing the extinction when external light exceeds a predetermined illuminance, but normally, the extinction illuminance side is fixed.

[0005]

However, the conditions encountered when the vehicle 10 actually travels are extremely diverse and, for example, at a gas station or the like, a mercury lamp or other high-illuminance light is used to attract the driver's attention. The artificial light is turned on. In this case, if the lighting illuminance La with respect to the artificial light is set to be high, the lighting device 11 is turned on despite the illuminance Lx of the external light that the driver feels that the lighting is not necessary. The actual situation is that a large difference cannot be provided between the lighting illuminance Ln for natural light and the lighting illuminance La for artificial light.

In addition, in the highways of recent years,
In order to prevent the driver from temporarily becoming blind due to a large difference in illuminance during the daytime approach, tunnels in which high-illuminance lighting equipment is installed are becoming commonplace on highways. As described above, since the lighting illuminance La with respect to the artificial light has to be set to a relatively low value, the lighting is not performed immediately after entering the tunnel where it is encouraged to turn on the light. Despite the provision of the blinking device 90, it complicates the operation, such as allowing the driver to manually turn on the light, and solving this point is a problem.

[0007]

As a concrete means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention uses an illuminance sensor to determine the illuminance of external light and the presence / absence of frequency components in a predetermined range included in the external light. In the automatic blinking device of the vehicle lighting device that sets a lighting illuminance different from natural light when it is determined to be artificial light and artificial light by detecting the, in the automatic blinking device, the illuminance sensor to the When the frequency component is detected and determined as artificial light, and the illuminance of the external light immediately before the detection of the frequency component is equal to or higher than the reference value set in the automatic blinking device in advance, the illuminance is relatively high. One lighting illuminance is set, and when it is equal to or less than the reference value, a second lighting illuminance with a relatively low illuminance is set, and an automatic blinking device for a vehicle lighting device, and the predetermined range Frequency The light including the component is continuously detected during the predetermined traveling distance, and is detected during the traveling of the predetermined traveling distance and the illuminance at the start of detection of the light including the frequency component in the predetermined range. When there is a positive or negative illuminance difference greater than or equal to a set value with respect to the illuminance, by providing an automatic blinking device for the vehicle lighting, which is characterized by turning on the vehicle lighting, when entering a tunnel The object is to solve the problem by ensuring that lighting is performed reliably and promptly.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in detail based on the examples shown in the drawings. 1 shows a first embodiment of an automatic blinking device for a lighting device 11 for a vehicle 10 according to the present invention. The automatic blinking device 1 includes an illuminance sensor 2 for detecting external illuminance and a conventional one. The control unit 3 is provided with the lighting illuminance Ln for causing the lighting device 11 to be lit in the normal state described in the example, and the control unit 3 outputs the frequency component Hx from the output of the illuminance sensor 2.
Is basically the same as that of the conventional example, but the control unit 3 according to the present invention controls the illuminance of external light immediately before the frequency component Hx is detected. The value is also used as information for lighting the lighting device 11.

FIG. 2 shows the function of the automatic blinking device 1 of the present invention in more detail. The state of the tunnel 20 and the vehicle 1 in this tunnel 20 are shown in FIG.
The operation of the control unit 3 performed based on the output from the illuminance sensor 2 when 0 has entered is shown in contrast.

When the vehicle 10 is traveling under natural light with the lighting device 11 not lit, such as during the daytime, the output from the illuminance sensor 2 is measured by the control unit 3 as, for example, an average value in the immediately preceding 30 seconds. The measured value is compared with the normal lighting illuminance Ln with respect to the natural light held in the control unit 3, and when the lighting illuminance Ln is reached, the lighting device 11 is turned on. ing.

At this time, when the vehicle 10 enters a dark environment such as the tunnel 20 illuminated by artificial light, the light from the illumination lamp 21 provided in the tunnel 20 causes the illuminance sensor 2 to output. As shown in the figure, the frequency component Hx is included, and the control unit 3 controls the vehicle 1 while the frequency component Hx is being detected.
0 determines that the vehicle is traveling under the illumination of artificial light, and sets a lighting illuminance different from the above-described lighting illuminance Ln for natural light.

At the time of setting the other lighting illuminance, the present invention refers to the illuminance of external light which is natural light immediately before the frequency component Hx is detected, in addition to the information on the detection of the frequency component Hx. If the outside light has a higher illuminance than the reference value V set in the control unit 3 in advance, as indicated by a high outside light illuminance curve Lx-H in the figure, the control unit 3 Set a first lighting illuminance L1 set as a relatively high illuminance corresponding to a high illuminance tunnel, and an illuminance lower than the reference value V as shown by a low external light illuminance curve Lx-L in the same figure. If it is, the second lighting illuminance L2 set as a relatively low illuminance is set.

Here, the reference value V is an illuminance that the driver considers to be unnecessary to turn on during normal traveling except for special cases, and is set as an illuminance higher than the maximum illuminance of the illumination implemented in the high-illumination tunnel. It is what is done. Here, according to the results of various field surveys conducted by the inventor, the reference value V is 2000 l.
It was confirmed that about x is an appropriate numerical value, and that when the illuminance is set higher or lower than this, the operation becomes uncertain or the driver feels uncomfortable.

Therefore, the control unit 3 of the present invention
In the detection of artificial light by the illuminance sensor 2, two types of lighting illuminance L1 corresponding to the illuminance of natural light immediately before that are detected.
L2 is set, and a total of three types of lighting illuminance L including the lighting illuminance Ln for natural light described above is added.
1, L2, and Ln are prepared.

Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, when the external light (natural light) detected by the illuminance sensor 2 is the reference value V or more, the frequency component Hx is When detected, control unit 3
Sets the first lighting illuminance L1 which is a relatively high illuminance.

At this time, if the first lighting illuminance L1 is set to be approximately the same as or slightly lower than the illuminance near the entrance of the tunnel 20 where the high illuminance is applied,
As shown in FIG. 2, the high external light illuminance curve Lx-H indicates the tunnel 2
After entering 0, the first lighting illuminance L1 is quickly reached, and the lighting device 11 is lit immediately after entering the tunnel or immediately after traveling as shown by the lighting curve 11H.

Even if the tunnel 20 that has entered at this time is for normal lighting, since the first lighting illuminance L1 which is a relatively high illuminance is set, the lamp 11
Is quickly turned on. That is, in the present invention, in the daytime when the external light (natural light) has a high illuminance, the tunnel 20
By setting the first lighting illuminance L1 on the assumption that all are illuminated with high illuminance, the lighting after the approach is made prompt.

When the external light (natural light) is equal to or lower than the reference value V and the lighting is not performed before the tunnel 20 enters, the illuminance sensor 2 typically detects the frequency component Hx in the twilight state. Control unit 3
Sets the second lighting illuminance L2, which is a relatively low illuminance. During the twilight, even in the tunnel 20 in which the above-mentioned high-intensity illumination is performed, dimming is performed by thinning out the illumination lamp 21 for the purpose of preventing the driver from being dazzled, and the light is brighter than the outside light. Since it is avoided, the low ambient light illuminance curve Lx-L after entering the tunnel 20
Is similar to a normally illuminated tunnel,
As shown by the lighting curve 11L in the figure, the lighting of the lighting device 11 is quickly performed.

Here, the purpose of the present invention to set the second lighting illuminance L2 at the time of twilight is to prepare for the passage of the tunnel 20 at the time of the above-mentioned twilight, and at the time of twilight such as on a bridge or near a gas station. When passing through a place where high-illumination lighting is performed, only the setting of the first lighting illuminance L1 causes detection of the frequency component Hx and immediate lighting, which causes the driver to feel uncomfortable. Because it will be.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the automatic blinking device 1 includes a vehicle 10 in addition to the illuminance sensor 2 and the control unit 3.
Is provided with a traveling sensor 4 for detecting the number of rotations of the wheels 12 of the vehicle, and the output of the traveling sensor 4 is output from the control unit 3
It is supposed to be input to. In addition, in order to avoid making the description complicated, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be omitted except for the parts that are particularly necessary.

FIG. 4 shows the function of the automatic blinking device 1 of the second embodiment configured as described above in the state upon entering the tunnel 20 similar to that described in the first embodiment. Also in the case of the second embodiment, the illuminance sensor 2 detects the frequency component Hx at the same time when the tunnel 20 enters, and thus the control unit 3 determines that it has entered the environment illuminated by artificial light. .

In addition to the above, in the second embodiment, the continuity of the frequency component Hx is also measured and used as the judgment condition for entering the tunnel 20. Specifically, the control unit 3 is the traveling sensor 4 It is confirmed that the frequency component Hx continues while the vehicle 10 travels the predetermined distance X held in the control unit 3 by the output of, and the entry into the tunnel 20 is determined accordingly. .

In addition, in the second embodiment, a lighting means other than the lighting means for the lighting illuminances L1 and L2 of the first embodiment described above is prepared, which is the output of the illuminance sensor 2. Illuminance L3 immediately after the frequency component Hx is detected on the external light illuminance curve Lx (hereinafter referred to as initial illuminance L3)
And the illuminance L4 having the largest difference from the initial illuminance L3 among the illuminances measured on the outside light illuminance curve Lx while traveling the predetermined distance X (hereinafter, referred to as maximum difference illuminance L4), When the difference between the illuminances L3 and L4 is recognized, the lighting device 11 is turned on.

Here, to describe the results of the above-mentioned field survey, there are various different modes of attachment of the illumination lamp 21 in the actual tunnel 22, for example, as shown in FIG. And the tunnel 2 where there is a considerable difference in distance between the start point of illumination by the illumination lamp 21 and
2 was not a little recognized.

When entering such a tunnel 22 at dusk, the frequency component Hx is detected at the approach point X1 at the same time as entering, and the initial illuminance L3 is stored in the control unit 3 at the same time as this detection, and then the running sensor. The illuminance during the traveling of the predetermined distance X based on the output of 4 will be measured. In this case, the maximum differential illuminance L4 is obtained after traveling a little inside the tunnel 22, and naturally the comparison result by the control unit 3 is (initial illuminance L3 <maximum differential illuminance L4), which is shown in FIG. The relationship between size and size is reversed.

However, in this case as well, as is clear from the above-mentioned field survey, there is no doubt that it is the tunnel 22, so in this second embodiment the lighting device 11 is turned on. That is, in the second embodiment, all the lights are determined to be tunnels except when the initial illuminance L3 and the maximum difference illuminance L4 are the same.

Here, the reason why the lighting is not performed when the initial illuminance L3 and the maximum difference illuminance L4 are the same will be explained. For example, this is a tollgate on an expressway or a bus stop. This is to further improve the accuracy by discriminating a place where a relatively wide range is uniformly illuminated with high illuminance from the time of twilight, such as in the vicinity of. Note that, in reality, it is impossible to say that the initial illuminance L3 and the maximum difference illuminance L4 are completely the same even in the vicinity of the above-mentioned tollgate, so there is an appropriate range for determining that the illuminance is the same. When the difference of more than this width is recognized, the lighting device 11 is turned on.

Next, the operation and effect of the above-described second embodiment will be described. As is apparent from the above description, the function added as the second embodiment alone is sufficient as the automatic blinking device 1. It fulfills its function. Therefore, in the automatic blinking device 1 of the second embodiment, in addition to the lighting operation by the first lighting illuminance L1 and the second lighting illuminance L2 described in the first embodiment, when the frequency component Hx is detected, , Two types of lighting means, which are different in lighting operation by illuminance change of artificial light measured while traveling a predetermined travel distance X, are provided.

Explaining this in a concrete example, when the vehicle normally enters the tunnel 20 or the tunnel 22, the first lighting illuminance L that does not require the predetermined traveling distance X for the determination
A quick lighting device 11 depending on the first or second lighting illuminance L2
However, when the external light is below the reference value V and the illumination of high illuminance is continued in the tunnel 20 such as in cloudy weather, the illumination illuminance is lower. The second lighting illuminance L2 is set, and the prompt lighting is not performed after entering the tunnel 20.

However, in the automatic blinking device 1 of the second embodiment, the judgment of the lighting operation based on the predetermined traveling distance X, the initial illuminance L3 and the maximum difference illuminance L4 is also made at the same time. Even in such a case, it is detected that the illuminance is temporarily decreased as the tunnel 20 illuminated with high illuminance enters, and the lighting is performed when the vehicle travels the predetermined traveling distance X at the maximum.

Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, by preparing two kinds of lighting means having different means, even when one lighting means is in a non-operating state, the other one lighting means does not operate. As a complement, it becomes possible to more reliably achieve the purpose of prompt lighting in the tunnel without malfunction.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Also in this third embodiment, the automatic blinking device 1 basically comprises an illuminance sensor 2, a control unit 3 and a traveling sensor 4 (see FIG. 3). ) And the lighting illuminance L under normal natural light
Similarly, the lighting is performed by n, and the lighting device 11 is turned on by the lighting means of the first embodiment or the lighting means of the second embodiment under the artificial light.

However, in the third embodiment, the illuminance sensor 2 continues to detect the frequency component Hx, and the travel distance measured by the travel sensor 4 is set in the control unit 3. When the predetermined traveling distance Y is reached, the lighting device 11 is turned on regardless of the value of the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 2 or the variation of the illuminance.

With the above structure, the automatic blinking device 1 of the third embodiment is provided with a tunnel 20 in which illumination lamps 21 such as a mercury lamp and a sodium lamp are continuously illuminated regardless of day or night. When the vehicle travels, the detection of the frequency component Hx started at the same time as the approach is continued, and the lighting is performed when the vehicle travels the second predetermined traveling distance Y. Therefore, even if both the lighting means of the first embodiment and the lighting means of the second embodiment do not operate, the lighting means prepared as the third embodiment is added to light in the tunnel 20. Will be even more certain.

At this time, the second predetermined traveling distance Y
Is set to be longer than, for example, the range of lighting performed near the tollgate, so that even when passing near the tollgate where artificial light is turned on during dusk, the lighting device 1
It is prevented that 1 is turned on, which prevents a driver or the like from feeling uncomfortable.

When the street light 23 is turned on during the twilight, the street light 23 is installed so that the distance D2 is wider than the distance D1 of several meters such as 100 m. For example, if the light receiving angle of the illuminance sensor 2 is appropriately set to be narrow, the detection of the frequency component Hx is intermittent, the lighting device 11 is not turned on, and no malfunction occurs.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the illuminance sensor detects the frequency component and determines that the light is artificial light.
And when the illuminance of the external light immediately before the detection of the frequency component is equal to or higher than the reference value set in the automatic blinking device in advance, the first lighting illuminance, which is a relatively high illuminance, is set, and is equal to or less than the reference value. The first lighting illuminance was set to a relatively high illuminance during the daytime by detecting the artificial light during the daytime by using the automatic flashing device for the vehicle lighting in which the second lighting illuminance was set to a relatively low illuminance. Can be applied to tunnels that are illuminated by high illumination, and the second lighting intensity, which is relatively low during dusk, can be set to control the actual lighting of tunnels. Match, and in any case it is possible to light the lighting equipment promptly after entering the tunnel,
The manual operation for coping with the delay of the lighting operation at the time of entering the tunnel is unnecessary, and it is extremely effective in improving the performance of the automatic blinking device of this type of vehicle lighting device.

Further, the light containing the frequency component is continuously detected during the predetermined traveling distance, and the illuminance at the start of detection of the light containing the frequency component and the traveling distance during the predetermined traveling distance are detected. When there is a positive or negative illuminance difference between the illuminance and the set value, as an automatic blinking device that lights the vehicle lighting device, the illuminance change of the illumination in the tunnel even when the specific illumination intensity is not reached. It is possible to improve the accuracy by supplementing the above-mentioned configuration as a means for detecting and illuminating, and in addition, detection of the frequency component is continued, and after traveling for an appropriate traveling distance. By adding a configuration for forcibly lighting, the detection accuracy is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a first embodiment of an automatic blinking device for a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the operation of the first embodiment in comparison with the state of illumination in the tunnel.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a second embodiment of an automatic blinking device for a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the operation of the second embodiment in comparison with the state of illumination in the tunnel.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the operation of the second embodiment in comparison with the state of illumination in another tunnel.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the third embodiment of the automatic flashing device for a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an operation of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Automatic blinking device 2 ... Illuminance sensor 3 ... Control unit 4 ... Running sensor 10 ... Vehicle 11 ... Lighting device 12 ... Wheels 20 ... Tunnel 21 ... Illumination light 22 ... Street light D1 ... … Interval of illumination lights D2 …… interval of street lights Hx …… frequency component L1 …… first lighting illuminance L2 …… second lighting illuminance L3 …… initial illuminance L4 …… maximum difference illuminance Ln …… lighting against natural light Illuminance Lx, Lx-H, Lx-L ... Illuminance curve X ... Predetermined traveling distance Y ... Second predetermined traveling distance

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Toru Tanabe Toru Tanabe 1937-28 Kanai-cho, Machida-shi, Tokyo (72) Inventor Seiya Miyagawa 3-5-8 Aioi, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An illuminance sensor detects the illuminance of external light and the presence / absence of a frequency component in a predetermined range included in the external light to determine natural light and artificial light. In an automatic blinking device for a vehicle lighting device for setting a lighting illuminance different from the above, the automatic blinking device determines that the illuminance sensor detects the frequency component and determines that the light is artificial light, and detects the outside of the frequency component immediately before the detection. When the illuminance of light is equal to or higher than the reference value set in advance in the automatic blinking device, the first lighting illuminance that is relatively high illuminance is set,
An automatic blinking device for a vehicle lighting device, wherein a second lighting illuminance having a relatively low illuminance is set when the illuminance is equal to or less than the reference value. 2. The light including the frequency component in the predetermined range is continuously detected during a predetermined traveling distance, and the illuminance at the start of detection of the light including the frequency component in the predetermined range and the predetermined The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device for the vehicle is turned on when there is a positive or negative illuminance difference greater than or equal to a set value with respect to the illuminance detected while traveling the traveling distance. Flashing device. 3. A second predetermined traveling distance that is equal to or longer than the predetermined traveling distance is set in the automatic blinking device, and the detection state thereof is the second predetermined traveling distance. The lighting device for the vehicle is turned on when the distance is continued.
An automatic blinking device for the vehicle lighting device described.