JPH08132955A - Headlamp irradiating direction automatic control mechanism for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make safe and easy starting drive on a dark road or a mountain pass by detecting the steering angle by a steering sensor, improving an automatic controller for tilting right and left lamp units light and left according to the steering angle, and tilting a headlamp right or left to the maximum angle in relation to the small steering angle in starting. CONSTITUTION: The vehicle speed is detected by providing a vehicle speed sensor 31, an output signal of a vehicle speed judging comparator 33 is changed on the basis of the vehicle speed condition, and a headlamp is so controlled that the right and left oscillating angles of right and left lamp units 17l, 17r may become the maximum angle (for example, 30 deg.) in relation to the small steering angle (for example, 10 deg.) in accelerating within the specified speed (for example, 20km/h).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic control mechanism for detecting the steering state of a steering device provided in an automobile and tilting the irradiation direction of a headlight in the steering direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a control mechanism for automatically following the heading direction of a headlight to the steering direction of a steering device. , (B) show a control circuit portion, and (C) shows a horizontal section of the headlight. Reference numeral 1 denotes a steering sensor, which comprises a rotating disk having a rotation angle signal slit (not shown) and an optical sensor (not shown). Reference numeral 2 is a control circuit, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. A headlight 3 is provided with a lens 3b which covers a front opening of the lamp housing 3a, and a reflector 3c is disposed therein.
Reference numeral 4 shown in the figure is a plane double-sided mirror, which is tiltably supported by a substantially vertical pivot shaft 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a drive unit having a built-in motor and speed reducer, and the above-mentioned double-sided mirror 4 via a lever / link mechanism 7.
Tilt around the pivot 5. Although not shown, the light source bulb and the reflector 3c are fixed members, but when the double-sided mirror 4 tilts left and right, the light projecting direction swings left and right. When the double-sided mirror 4 is in the neutral position (shown by the solid line),
The center of projection is in the standard irradiation direction (arrow S). The standard irradiation direction generally means the front side of the front of the vehicle body.
Specifically, it refers to an irradiation direction that can reveal a legal illumination pattern. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the conventional example shown in FIG. This Figure 7
The steering sensor 1 shown in Fig. 6 is the steering sensor shown in Fig. 6 (A), and outputs a pulsed electric signal in which "H" level and "L" level alternate in association with steering of the steering wheel or movement of the knuckle arm. Output. The pulsed electric signal is input to the Up / Down switching circuit 11, and the number of up signals or down signals corresponding to the steering amount of the steering wheel is output and input to the Up / Down counter 12. The Up / Down counter 12 is
Count up or down by the number of the up signal and down signal. The 4-bit signal output from the Up / Down counter 12 is input to the 7-bit output decoder circuit 13, and only the bit at the position corresponding to the count value is output. The D / A converter 14 outputs an analog signal corresponding to the bit of which the "H" level is output among the 7-bit signal output by the decoder circuit 13. On the other hand, the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r forming the left and right headlamps are provided with left and right lamp angle sensors 18l and 18r, respectively, and the irradiation directions of the respective lamp units (at the deflection angle θ). (Represented), and the signal voltages F and G are fed back to the comparator circuit 15. The comparator circuit compares the signal corresponding to the steering angle input from the D / A converter 14 and the signal voltages F and G. In this way, the irradiation directions of the left and right lamp units 17l, 17r are automatically controlled in accordance with the values detected by the steering sensor 1. FIG. 13 is a chart showing the relationship between each of the left and right lamp units shown in FIG. 7 and the steering angle. Figure 7
As shown in FIG. 5, the signals F and G representing the deflection angles of the left and right lamps are controlled to be equal to the output signal of the D / A converter 14, so that the left and right lamps are It is controlled to have the same deflection angle.

[0003]

According to the conventional headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, no matter whether the steering device of the automobile is steered to the left or to the right. The irradiation direction of the headlight automatically tilts in the steering direction according to the steering angle. Therefore, as the vehicle turns, the headlights illuminate the expected driving area several seconds later. Under normal driving conditions,
It is desirable to have a tilting function according to the steering angle, as in the case of (a) the steering wheel is greatly swung as in the conventional example, and the headlamp is slightly swung when the handle is turned a little. However, under special traveling conditions, the headlight tilting function depending on the steering angle may not always be the best. That is, for example, when starting on a dark road or a mountain pass without streetlights, it is desirable that the headlights swing greatly in the same direction with a slight turning of the steering wheel.
However, in this case, slightly turning the handle means a minimum steering angle when the handle is turned intentionally. The large swing of the headlight means the maximum tilt angle during normal traveling. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, has a headlight tilting function according to the steering angle during normal traveling, and until the normal traveling state after starting, comparison It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic control mechanism in which the headlight tilts largely for a very small steering angle. As a result, it can be expected that the starting operation on a dark road or a pass becomes easy and safe.

[0004]

The structure of the automatic headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for an automobile according to the present invention created to achieve the above object detects the steering state of a steering device provided in the automobile. An automatic control mechanism for tilting the irradiation direction of the vehicle headlamp in the steering direction based on the detection signal of the steering state, a steering sensor for detecting a steering direction and a steering state of the vehicle; A vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of an automobile is provided, which comprises an automatic control means for outputting a command signal for tilting the headlight to the left or right according to the output level of the steering sensor, and When the vehicle speed sensor reaches a predetermined output level, when the output level of the steering sensor exceeds the predetermined output level, the automatic control means of FIG. Degrees and wherein the the one having a priority control function of outputting a command signal makes it up angle.

[0005]

According to the above-mentioned means, the output level of the steering sensor reaches the predetermined output level (for example, steering angle 10 degrees) until the output of the vehicle speed sensor reaches the predetermined output level (for example, 20 km / h). Then, the deflection angle of the headlight becomes the maximum angle (for example, 30 degrees in the steering direction).
The predetermined output level of the above-mentioned vehicle speed sensor is set to a level that is certified to shift to a normal running state after the vehicle has started, and the predetermined output level of the steering sensor is set to
By setting the level to the minimum level that the driver's will can be recognized, the headlight will shake greatly in the steering direction even if the steering wheel is turned a little during the slow speed immediately after the start of the vehicle. The visibility on the road is very good immediately after starting in.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an automobile headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the present invention. This embodiment is an example improved by applying the first invention to the above-mentioned conventional example, and this FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
It is a figure corresponding to (conventional example). Differences from FIG. 7, that is, matters improved by applying the first invention are as follows. FIG. 1 (embodiment) has a configuration in which a circuit portion Pat surrounded by a chain line is added to the circuit of FIG. 7 (conventional example). The vehicle speed sensor 31 includes a permanent magnet that rotates in synchronism with the rotation of the drive wheels, and a reed switch (neither is shown) that is opened and closed by the permanent magnet, and has an alternating H and L frequency with a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed. Output a signal. The frequency signal is analog-converted into a voltage signal proportional to the frequency by the F / V converter 32 and sent to the vehicle speed determination comparator 33. The vehicle speed determination comparator 33 is set to "H" until the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined speed (20 km / hour in this example) after starting.
Outputs the level and becomes "H" when the vehicle speed exceeds 20 km / hour.
It is configured to output the level. Even if the vehicle speed judgment comparator having only such a function can obtain a temporary effect, in the present embodiment, the following function is further added. That is, when the vehicle traveling at 20 km / hour or more decelerates, the output at the “H” level is continued even when the speed is 20 km / hour or less, and the output becomes the “L” level when stopped. FIG. 2 is shown to explain the function of the vehicle speed judgment comparator in the above embodiment, and both (A) and (B) are shown with the same time axis being shared, and (A). Is a time chart showing the output voltage of the F / V converter, that is, the input of the vehicle speed determination comparator, and (B) is “H” or “L” of the vehicle speed determination comparator.
It is a time chart showing the level output state.

[0007] The automobile is starting at a time t _0, and gradually increase the speed, reach a speed of 80km at a time t _3, moving at a constant speed running until the time t _3. The vehicle decelerates gradually from the time t ₃ , and the time t ₅
After becoming at the time the instantaneous velocity 10km / in, reached at 60km / at time t ₇ and accelerated again, this 60km / begun again deceleration as the peak of the time, once stopped at the time t _9, it has been immediately start. The F / V converter output voltage (v) shown in the figure (A) increases or decreases in direct proportion to the above-mentioned change in vehicle speed.

Next, the change in the output voltage (v) of the vehicle speed judgment comparator due to the above-mentioned change in vehicle speed will be described.
Although not shown in the figure, it is at the “L” level until departure at time t ₀ . The vehicle speed is 20k at time t _1.
m / hour, and the output voltage of the F / V converter is “the output voltage e corresponding to a predetermined vehicle speed (20 km / hour in this example).
(V) ”, the output voltage of the vehicle speed determination comparator becomes“ H ”level. After time t ₁ has passed, time t ₂
Hayashi increased up to, and constant-speed running until the time t _3, even if starts to decelerate after time t _3, the vehicle speed decision comparator output voltage continues to maintain the "H" level. When the vehicle speed becomes 20 km / hour or less after the time t ₄ and becomes 10 km / hour at the time t ₅ , the F / V converter output voltage becomes lower than the voltage e, but the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage becomes “H”. The "L" level is maintained, and the "L" level is not reached until the vehicle stops at time t ₉ . When the vehicle subsequently restarts, the same action as that which appeared earlier at time t ₁ occurs at time t ₁₀ . That is, when the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / hour and the F / V converter output voltage exceeds the voltage e corresponding to the predetermined vehicle speed, the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage switches from the "L" level to the "H" level.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a running state. As can be understood from this example, the vehicle speed judgment comparator output voltage is in principle "L" level when stopped and during normal running (20 km / hour). The above is “H” level, but during the vehicle speed of 0 to 20 km / hour, a. During acceleration, until it reaches 20 km / hour,
Maintain the "L" level. b. During deceleration, it has a function of maintaining the "H" level until it stops. The vehicle speed determination comparator 33 output as described above
The control signal K (see FIG. 1) is input to the decoder circuit 13 '. This decoder circuit 13 'has the above-mentioned U
The output signal N of the p / Down counter 12 is also input. FIG. 3 is a decoder circuit truth table in the block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 above, in which the steering steering angle between left and right 30 degrees is divided and displayed every 10 degrees. The arithmetic functions shown in FIG. 3 are roughly classified into two according to the running state of the automobile. That is, when the vehicle is accelerating at a low speed (when the vehicle speed determination comparator output F is at the “L” level),
It is convenient to understand the relationship with the operation of the headlamp left / right tilt control, which will be described later, when it is divided into the case where the vehicle is normally traveling at high speed or decelerating at low speed (when the vehicle speed judgment comparator output is “H”) Is. FIG. 4 is a characteristic chart showing the relationship between the D / A converter output voltage A shown in FIG. 1 and the steering angles of the left and right steering wheels, in which the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage K is at the “H” level. The time is drawn with a solid line, and the time when the level is "L" is drawn with a broken line. However, the portion where the solid line and the broken line overlap (the steering angle is within 10 degrees) is represented by the solid line. FIG. 5 shows essentially the same operation as FIG. 4 above,
The horizontal axis represents the steering angle of the steering wheel as in FIG. 4, but the vertical axis represents the D / A converter output voltage A and the left and right swing angles of the headlight.

The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. As an initial state,
It is assumed that the car is stopped with the headlights lit.
The steering wheel is in the straight steering position. At this time Up / Dow
The count value of the n counter 12 is zero, and the vehicle speed determination comparator 33 outputs the “L” level.

It is assumed that the vehicle starts with the headlights on. This state corresponds to time t ₀ in FIG. As can be seen from the truth table of FIG. 3, the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage is at the “L” level because the traveling state is “low speed / acceleration”. From time t ₀ to time t ₁ , the vehicle speed is within 20 km / hour, so the F / V converter output voltage is equal to or lower than the voltage e (v). Therefore, FIG.
As shown in (B), the vehicle speed determination comparator output voltage is at the "L" level. This is also shown in the truth table of FIG. Even when the steering angle θ is within the range of 10 degrees right>θ> 10 degrees left when the vehicle speed is within 20 km / hour, the count value in the Up / Down counter 12 is zero and the vehicle speed determination comparator 33 "L" level is outputted from the other terminal output B is a (see truth table) the output terminal b only ₄ "H" level of the decoder circuit 13 'is "L" level. When the steering angle of the steering wheel is within 10 degrees on the left and right, the output voltage A of the D / A converter is a ₄ as shown in the corresponding column of FIG. 3 and FIG.
It has become. This is the terminal b ₁ of the decoder circuit 13 '.
The outputs of b ₇ are input to the D / A converter 14 to output the voltage value of a ₄ . Output voltage of the a ₄ is input to the comparator circuit 15 '. In the comparator circuit 15 ', the voltage values of the angle sensors 18r and 18l are compared with each other, and the "H" level signal or the "L" level signal is output to the motor drive circuit 16. However, the angle sensor 18r in the state of this example, since the output voltage F of 18l, G is equal to the a _4, "L" level is output from the comparator circuit 15 'to the motor driving circuit 16. This level "L" signal is a stop command to the motor drive circuit 16, and the "L" level signal is given to both the right lamp unit 17r and the left lamp unit 17l to stop. Specifically (see FIG. 6), the power supply circuit of the drive unit 6 that drives the double-sided mirror 4 is shut off to stop the tilting of the double-sided mirror 4. As a result, the irradiation direction of the headlight 3 becomes the reference direction (arrow S). That is, FIG.
The right lamp unit 17r and the left lamp unit 17l in FIG. 1 stop toward the front, and the state where the deflection angle is zero is detected by the left and right angle sensors 18r and 18l, respectively. Next, when the vehicle speed is less than 20 km / hour, that is, when the steering operation exceeds a steering angle of 10 degrees (the same for both left and right) between time t ₀ and time t ₁ in FIG. Consider As can be seen in the truth table of Fig. 3, when the running state is accelerating at low speed,
The steering steering angle θ is classified as θ ≧ 10 degrees to the right or θ ≧ 10 degrees to the left, and it is not classified whether it exceeds 20 degrees or exceeds 30 degrees. When the steering wheel operation is started and the steering angle reaches 10 degrees, the steering sensor 1 starts to output a pulsed electric signal, and an up signal corresponding to the steering wheel steering amount is input to the Up / Down counter 12. As a result, the Up / Down counter 12 starts counting up its count value sequentially from zero, and outputs a 4-bit signal corresponding to the count number to the decoder circuit 13 '.
Output to. As shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, while accelerating at a low speed (less than 20 km / hour) after starting,
The output level of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 is the "L" level (it can be clearly understood by comparing (A) and (B) of FIG. 2). In this low speed and acceleration state, when the steering angle θ becomes 10 degrees or more to the right, only the terminal b ₁ of the output of the decoder circuit 13 ′ becomes “H” level and the other terminals become “L” level. Decoder circuit 13 'terminal b ₁ ~
When the output of b ₇ is input to the D / A converter 14, D / A
The converter 14 outputs the voltage value a ₁ (see the rightmost column in the column of “θ ≧ right 10 °” in the truth table of FIG. 3). This voltage value a ₁ is input to the comparator circuit 15 'and compared with the outputs F and G of the angle sensors 18r and 18l of the headlamp. The angle sensor 18r, the output voltage of 18l is not in a state equal to a _4, lower than the new voltage value a _1. Therefore, the comparator circuit 15 'outputs an "H" level signal, and accordingly the motor drive circuit 16
Also outputs an "H" level signal which means a motor operation command signal. Therefore, the right lamp unit 17
Each of the r and left lamp units 17l activates the built-in drive unit 6 (see FIG. 6). This operation is performed in a direction in which the output voltages of the angle sensors 18r and 18l approach the voltage value a ₁ . The angle sensor 18
When the output voltages of r and 18l become equal to a ₁ , an "L" level signal is output from the comparator circuit 15 ', and accordingly, the motor drive circuit 16 also outputs an "L" level signal that means to stop the motor. The signal is output.
As a result, the shake angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r is stopped at 30 degrees (details will be described later). In FIG. 4, the ordinate value of the broken line curve corresponding to a steering wheel steering angle of just over 10 degrees to the right is a ₁ . This represents the above-mentioned operation.
Then, in FIG. 5, the ordinate value (headlight swing angle) corresponding to the steering angle of 10 degrees (right) is read to be 30 degrees. This value is the maximum angle corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees or more during normal traveling.

With this function, after the car has started,
In the middle to high speed normal running state (in the example of FIG. 2, from time t ₀ to time t ₁ when the vehicle speed is less than 20 km / hour), if the steering wheel is intentionally turned slightly to the right, The lamp swings to the right up to the maximum tilt angle (30 degrees), which makes it possible to properly illuminate a desired area on the road surface when starting operation on a dark road or mountain pass, and not only to facilitate driving operation, The effect of traffic safety is great. The above explanations are about the action and effect when steering to the right during low speed after acceleration and during acceleration. However, during low speed after acceleration and during acceleration (until the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / hour), the steering wheel is operated to the left. When the steering operation is performed, as shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, as shown at the right end of the row of steering angle θ ≦ left 10 ° in the column where the vehicle is accelerating at a low speed in the traveling state,
The output voltage of the D / A converter 14 has a voltage value a ₇ . When this is applied to FIG. 4, it is a signal voltage corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees or more in a normal traveling state (solid curve), and as can be understood in comparison with FIG. It will be 30 degrees.

Next, the operation during normal running at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more, and the vehicle speed of 20 k after decelerating from the normal running state.
The operation in the case of stopping after the state of m / hour or less will be described. When the vehicle is traveling at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more without steering the steering wheel to the right or left, the headlight has a zero swing angle and is directed toward the front of the vehicle body. In the present invention, a predetermined steering angle (1 in this embodiment) is used.
Neither left nor right steering below 0 degrees is considered to be an intentional turning operation by the operator. This is because the steering wheel operation with such a small angle is performed not when turning at an intersection but turning left or right, but when making a concession while traveling straight ahead. In the truth table of FIG. 3, the voltage value a ₄ is at the right end of the column of 10 ° on the right>θ> 10 ° on the right, in the column of medium running at high speed. The output voltage of the D / A converter 14 is a ₄
Then, the left and right swing angles of the headlight become zero (as in the case of low speed and acceleration first), and the front of the vehicle body is illuminated.
Then, when the steering wheel is steered to the left or right by 10 degrees or more while traveling at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more, in the same manner as described in the related art, "a headlight according to the steering angle" It acts so that it becomes a swing angle. That is, when steering is started by turning the steering wheel to the right in this state (vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more), a signal according to the steering amount is output from the steering sensor 1 through the Up / Down switching circuit 11 to Up / D.
It is input to the own counter 12. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to a steering angle of 10 degrees, the vehicle speed determination comparator 3
3 becomes "H" level as shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, the output terminal b ₃ of the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'becomes "H" level, and the other terminals become "H" level. It becomes a level. The output of this decoder circuit is the D / A converter 14
And the voltage value of a ₃ is output (this action is
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal driving at high speed during traveling”, steering angle “right 20 °>θ> right 10
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _3). The voltage value a ₃ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', and the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l are input.
Compared to. The signal voltages F and G at this point are a ₄
(Because the left and right swing angles of the headlight were zero before this point). Since the newly input voltage a ₃ is higher than this voltage a ₄ , the comparator circuit 1
A signal of "H" level is output from 5'and applied to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. Actuation direction in this case is the left and right lamp units 17l, the angle sensor 18l in conjunction with 17r, a direction in which the output voltage G of 18r, F approaches the voltage value a ₃ above. The above output voltages G and F are voltage values a ₃
Is equal to, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, and the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. In this state (steering angle: 10 degrees right), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 10 degrees right. This state corresponds to the point "a" shown in FIG. When the steering wheel is further turned to the right from the above state and the steering is continued to the right, the steering sensor 1 outputs a signal corresponding to the steering amount Up / Do.
Up / Down counter 12 via wn switching circuit 11
Is input to In this way, the count value is 2 steering angles.
When the value corresponding to 0 degree is reached, the vehicle speed determination comparator 33
Output of, as represented in the truth table of FIG. 3 becomes "H" level, the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is the output terminal b ₂ becomes the "H" level, the other terminal "L" It becomes a level. The output of this decoder circuit is the D / A converter 14
And the voltage value of a ₂ is output (this action is
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal driving at high speed during traveling”, steering angle “right 30 °>θ> right 20
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _2). The voltage value a ₂ is input to the comparator circuit 15 'and the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l are input.
Compared to. The signal voltages F and G at this point are a ₃
(Because it was 10 degrees to the right of the headlight before this point). Since the newly input voltage a ₂ is higher than this voltage a ₃ , the comparator circuit 15 'outputs a signal of "H" level, and the motor drive circuit 16
Given to. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. The operating direction in this case is the angle sensor 18l, which interlocks with the left and right lamp units 17l, 17r.
The output voltages G and F of 18r approach the voltage value a ₂ . The above output voltage G, and F is equal to the voltage value a _2, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. In this state (steering angle: 20 degrees to the right), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 20 degrees to the right. This state is shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the point "b" shown in. The above state (angle 2 right)
From 0 degree), when the steering wheel is further turned to the right by continuing turning the steering wheel to the right, the steering sensor 1 outputs a signal corresponding to the steering amount U.
It is input to the Up / Down counter 12 via the p / Down switching circuit 11. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees, the output of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 becomes "H" level as shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, and the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is output. Is the output terminal b ₁
Becomes the "H" level, and the other terminals become the "H" level. The output of this decoder circuit is input to the D / A converter 14 and the voltage value of a ₁ is output (this action is performed by the column of "running state, high speed, normal running" in the truth table of FIG. 3).
It is shown in the column of “θ> 30 ° to the right” in the steering angle section, and the character at the right end of this column is a _1. )
The voltage value a ₁ is input to the comparator circuit 15 'and compared with the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l.
The signal voltages F and G at this time point are a ₂ (because the swing angle of the headlight was 20 degrees to the right before this time point). Since the newly input voltage a ₁ is higher than this voltage a ₂ , the comparator circuit 15 ′ outputs an “H” level signal and supplies it to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. The operating direction in this case is the angle sensors 18l, 1 interlocking with the left and right lamp units 17l, 17r.
The output voltages G and F of 8r approach the voltage value a ₁ . When the output voltages G and F become equal to the voltage value a ₁ , the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, and the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. Double-sided mirror 4 in this state (steering angle: 30 degrees to the right) (Fig. 6)
The stop angle position of is 30 degrees to the right. This state corresponds to “C” shown in FIG. The operation described above is an example of right steering after shifting to normal traveling (vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more), but the same applies to left steering. In addition, as can be understood from the fact that the running state markings in the truth table of FIG. 3 do not distinguish between “medium / high speed normal traveling” and “low speed deceleration”, when decelerating from the normal traveling state In the same manner as in the normal traveling state described above, the headlamp is automatically controlled to have the “headlight swing angle according to the steering angle”. Therefore, the headlamp swing angle is 10 degrees when the steering operation is performed at a little more than 10 degrees during deceleration, and it does not swing up to 30 degrees as in the low speed acceleration. As described with reference to FIG. 2, for example, even when the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / hour at time t ₈ ,
This is because the output voltage of the vehicle speed determination comparator 33 maintains the “H” level during deceleration. This allows
By the application of the present invention, the automatic control of the headlamp vibration angle at the time of deceleration → stop does not become coarse (two-step control), and fine-tuned (three-step) automatic control is performed.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when the output level of the steering sensor reaches the predetermined output level until the output level of the vehicle speed sensor reaches the predetermined output level, the deflection angle of the headlight becomes the maximum angle. become. The predetermined output level of the above-mentioned vehicle speed sensor is set to a level that is certified to shift to a normal running state after the vehicle has started, and the above-mentioned predetermined output level of the steering sensor is set to a minimum level at which the driver's will is recognized. By setting it to a level, the headlight will shake greatly in the steering direction even if the steering wheel is slightly turned during slowing immediately after starting, and the visibility on the road immediately after starting on a dark road or a pass will be extremely high. It has a great practical effect of improving the driving performance, and contributes to improving the drivability of automobiles and safety of traffic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory diagram of a vehicle speed determination comparator in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a truth table of a decoder circuit in the block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 above, in which the steering steering angle between left and right 30 degrees is divided and displayed every 10 degrees. .

4 is an output voltage A of the D / A converter shown in FIG. 1 above.
Is a characteristic chart showing the relationship between the steering wheel steering angle of the left and the right, the solid line when the vehicle speed judgment comparator output voltage K is "H" level, and the broken line when it is "L" level. is there. However, the portion where the solid line and the broken line overlap (the steering angle is within 10 degrees) is represented by the solid line.

5 shows essentially the same operation as in FIG. 4 above, in which the horizontal axis represents the steering angle of the steering wheel as in FIG. 4, but the vertical axis represents the output voltage A of the D / A converter, The left and right swing angles of the headlight are set.

FIG. 6 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a control mechanism that automatically follows the irradiation direction of the headlight in the steering direction of the steering device, where (A) is the steering device and (B) is the steering device. Represents a control circuit portion, and (C) represents a horizontal section of the headlight.

7 is a block diagram of the headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 above.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Steering sensor, 2 ... Control circuit, 3 ...
Headlight, 3a ... Lamp housing, 3b ... Lens, 4 ...
Double-sided mirror, 5 ... Pivot shaft, 6 ... Drive unit, 7 ... Lever / link mechanism, 31 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 32 ... F / V converter, 33 ... Vehicle speed judgment comparator.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 18, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an automobile headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism according to the present invention. This embodiment is an example improved by applying the first invention to the above-mentioned conventional example, and this FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
It is a figure corresponding to (conventional example). Differences from FIG. 7, that is, matters improved by applying the first invention are as follows. FIG. 1 (embodiment) has a configuration in which a circuit portion Pat surrounded by a chain line is added to the circuit of FIG. 7 (conventional example). The vehicle speed sensor 31 includes a permanent magnet that rotates in synchronism with the rotation of the drive wheels, and a reed switch (neither is shown) that is opened and closed by the permanent magnet, and has an alternating H and L frequency with a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed. Output a signal. The frequency signal is analog-converted into a voltage signal proportional to the frequency by the F / V converter 32 and sent to the vehicle speed determination comparator 33. The vehicle speed determination comparator 33 is set to " L " until the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined speed (20 km / hour in this example) after starting.
Outputs the level and becomes "H" when the vehicle speed exceeds 20 km / hour.
It is configured to output the level. Even if the vehicle speed judgment comparator having only such a function can obtain a temporary effect, in the present embodiment, the following function is further added. That is, when the vehicle traveling at 20 km / hour or more decelerates, the output at the “H” level is continued even when the speed is 20 km / hour or less, and the output becomes the “L” level when stopped. FIG. 2 is shown to explain the function of the vehicle speed judgment comparator in the above embodiment, and both (A) and (B) are shown with the same time axis being shared, and (A). Is a time chart showing the output voltage of the F / V converter, that is, the input of the vehicle speed determination comparator, and (B) is “H” or “L” of the vehicle speed determination comparator.
It is a time chart showing the level output state.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, the operation during normal running at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more, and the vehicle speed of 20 k after decelerating from the normal running state.
The operation in the case of stopping after the state of m / hour or less will be described. When the vehicle is traveling at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more without steering the steering wheel to the right or left, the headlight has a zero swing angle and is directed toward the front of the vehicle body. In the present invention, a predetermined steering angle (1 in this embodiment) is used.
Neither left nor right steering below 0 degrees is considered to be an intentional turning operation by the operator. This is because the steering wheel operation with such a small angle is performed not when turning at an intersection but turning left or right, but when making a concession while traveling straight ahead. In the truth table of FIG. 3, the voltage value a ₄ is at the right end of the column of 10 ° on the right>θ> 10 ° on the right, in the column of medium running at high speed. The output voltage of the D / A converter 14 is a ₄
Then, the left and right swing angles of the headlight become zero (as in the case of low speed and acceleration first), and the front of the vehicle body is illuminated.
Then, when the steering wheel is steered to the left or right by 10 degrees or more while traveling at a vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more, in the same manner as described in the related art, "a headlight according to the steering angle" It acts so that it becomes a swing angle. That is, when steering is started by turning the steering wheel to the right in this state (vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more), a signal according to the steering amount is output from the steering sensor 1 through the Up / Down switching circuit 11 to Up / D.
It is input to the own counter 12. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to a steering angle of 10 degrees, the vehicle speed determination comparator 3
The output of 3 becomes the "H" level as depicted in the truth table of FIG. 3, the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is an output terminal b ₃ becomes "H" level, the other terminal "L It becomes a level. The output of this decoder circuit is the D / A converter 14
And the voltage value of a ₃ is output (this action is
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal driving at high speed during traveling”, steering angle “right 20 °>θ> right 10
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _3). The voltage value a ₃ is input to the comparator circuit 15 ', and the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l are input.
Compared to. The signal voltages F and G at this point are a ₄
(Because the left and right swing angles of the headlight were zero before this point). Since the newly input voltage a ₃ is higher than this voltage a ₄ , the comparator circuit 1
A signal of "H" level is output from 5'and applied to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. Actuation direction in this case is the left and right lamp units 17l, the angle sensor 18l in conjunction with 17r, a direction in which the output voltage G of 18r, F approaches the voltage value a ₃ above. The above output voltages G and F are voltage values a ₃
Is equal to, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, and the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. In this state (steering angle: 10 degrees right), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 10 degrees right. This state corresponds to the point "a" shown in FIG. When the steering wheel is further turned to the right from the above state and the steering is continued to the right, the steering sensor 1 outputs a signal corresponding to the steering amount Up / Do.
Up / Down counter 12 via wn switching circuit 11
Is input to In this way, the count value is 2 steering angles.
When the value corresponding to 0 degree is reached, the vehicle speed determination comparator 33
Output of, as represented in the truth table of FIG. 3 becomes "H" level, the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is the output terminal b ₂ becomes the "H" level, the other terminal "L" It becomes a level. The output of this decoder circuit is the D / A converter 14
And the voltage value of a ₂ is output (this action is
In the truth table of FIG. 3, the column of “normal driving at high speed during traveling”, steering angle “right 30 °>θ> right 20
° are shown in the column of "character of the rightmost this column is in a _2). The voltage value a ₂ is input to the comparator circuit 15 'and the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l are input.
Compared to. The signal voltages F and G at this point are a ₃
(Because it was 10 degrees to the right of the headlight before this point). Since the newly input voltage a ₂ is higher than this voltage a ₃ , the comparator circuit 15 'outputs a signal of "H" level, and the motor drive circuit 16
Given to. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. The operating direction in this case is the angle sensor 18l, which interlocks with the left and right lamp units 17l, 17r.
The output voltages G and F of 18r approach the voltage value a ₂ . The above output voltage G, and F is equal to the voltage value a _2, the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. In this state (steering angle: 20 degrees to the right), the stop angle position of the double-sided mirror 4 (FIG. 6) is 20 degrees to the right. This state is shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the point "b" shown in. The above state (angle 2 right)
From 0 degree), when the steering wheel is further turned to the right by continuing turning the steering wheel to the right, the steering sensor 1 outputs a signal corresponding to the steering amount U.
It is input to the Up / Down counter 12 via the p / Down switching circuit 11. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to a steering angle of 30 degrees, the output of the vehicle speed judgment comparator 33 becomes "H" level as shown in the truth table of FIG. 3, and the output B of the decoder circuit 13 'is output. Is the output terminal b ₁
Becomes the "H" level, and the other terminals become the " L " level. The output of this decoder circuit is input to the D / A converter 14 and the voltage value of a ₁ is output (this action is performed by the column of "running state, high speed, normal running" in the truth table of FIG. 3).
It is shown in the column of “θ> 30 ° to the right” in the steering angle section, and the character at the right end of this column is a _1. )
The voltage value a ₁ is input to the comparator circuit 15 'and compared with the output voltages F and G of the angle sensors 17r and 17l.
The signal voltages F and G at this time point are a ₂ (because the swing angle of the headlight was 20 degrees to the right before this time point). Since the newly input voltage a ₁ is higher than this voltage a ₂ , the comparator circuit 15 ′ outputs an “H” level signal and supplies it to the motor drive circuit 16. The motor drive circuit 16 operates the drive unit 6 (FIG. 6) in the left and right lamp units 17l and 17r. The operating direction in this case is the angle sensors 18l, 1 interlocking with the left and right lamp units 17l, 17r.
The output voltages G and F of 8r approach the voltage value a ₁ . When the output voltages G and F become equal to the voltage value a ₁ , the output from the comparator circuit 15 'becomes "L" level, and the operation of the drive unit 6 is stopped. Double-sided mirror 4 in this state (steering angle: 30 degrees to the right) (Fig. 6)
The stop angle position of is 30 degrees to the right. This state corresponds to “C” shown in FIG. The operation described above is an example of right steering after shifting to normal traveling (vehicle speed of 20 km / hour or more), but the same applies to left steering. In addition, as can be understood from the fact that the running state markings in the truth table of FIG. 3 do not distinguish between “medium / high speed normal traveling” and “low speed deceleration”, when decelerating from the normal traveling state In the same manner as in the normal traveling state described above, the headlamp is automatically controlled to have the “headlight swing angle according to the steering angle”. Therefore, the headlamp swing angle is 10 degrees when the steering operation is performed at a little more than 10 degrees during deceleration, and it does not swing up to 30 degrees as in the low speed acceleration. As described with reference to FIG. 2, for example, even when the vehicle speed reaches 20 km / hour at time t ₈ ,
This is because the output voltage of the vehicle speed determination comparator 33 maintains the “H” level during deceleration. This allows
By the application of the present invention, the automatic control of the headlamp vibration angle at the time of deceleration → stop does not become coarse (two-step control), and fine-tuned (three-step) automatic control is performed.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic control mechanism for detecting a steering state of a steering device provided in an automobile and tilting an irradiation direction of an automobile headlamp in the steering direction based on a detection signal of the steering state. A steering sensor for detecting a steering direction and a steering state of the vehicle, and an automatic control means for outputting a command signal for tilting the headlight leftward or rightward according to an output level of the steering sensor. In the above, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed of the automobile is provided, and when the vehicle speed sensor reaches a predetermined output level, the automatic control means, when the output level of the steering sensor exceeds the predetermined output level, A vehicle headlight having a priority control function for outputting a command signal for making the left-right tilt angle of the headlight the maximum angle. Irradiation direction automatic control mechanism. 2. The priority control function is configured to operate when the vehicle is in a accelerating state and at a constant speed, and not when the vehicle is decelerating. The automatic headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The steering sensor outputs a pulsed electrical signal in which H level and L level alternate according to a steering state, and the automatic control means receives the pulsed electrical signal. As an Up / Down switching circuit that outputs a number of up / down signals according to the steering direction and steering amount, and Up / Do that counts the number of the up / down signals.
a wn counter, a decoder circuit that converts the output of the Up / Down counter into a digital signal of 3 bits or more, a D / A converter that receives the output of the decoder circuit and sends an analog signal, and the analog signal And a comparator circuit that compares the output signal of the angle sensor attached to the headlight and gives a command signal to the drive circuit of the motor that changes the irradiation direction of the headlight. The automatic headlamp irradiation direction control mechanism for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The vehicle speed sensor comprises a magnet that rotates in synchronization with a vehicle wheel and a switch that is opened and closed by the magnet, and has a structure for outputting an electric signal having a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed. A converter for converting the frequency signal to an analog signal is provided, and a vehicle speed determination comparator for determining whether or not the vehicle speed is a predetermined value or more based on the signal of the converter is provided, and an output signal of the vehicle speed determination comparator. The automatic headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for an automobile according to claim 3, characterized in that the above is provided to the decoder circuit. 5. The decoder circuit is based on an input signal from a vehicle speed judgment comparator and an input signal from the Up / Down counter, and sets only an "H" level to a bit corresponding to a steering angle. Is output, and the acceleration / deceleration state of the vehicle is determined based on the input signal from the Up / Down counter, and the deceleration control function is not activated during deceleration. The automatic headlamp irradiation direction automatic control mechanism for an automobile according to claim 4.