JPH08282367A - Head light control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a delay of recognition by an opposite vehicle during a temporary stop under a right turning and an emergency stop and erroneous recognition of an own vehicle running intension by a method wherein an extinction control means prohibits an output of an extinction command during input of a right turn signal from a right turn signal detecting means. CONSTITUTION: An extinction controller 7 detects it based on a signal from the output terminal 51 of a light-ON and OFF controller 5, driving a head light relay 2, that external illuminance from a photo sensor 6 is low illuminance, and turns on and off a built-in output switch 70 when it is detected from a car speed signal Sv from a car speed sensor 8 that a vehicle stops. The extinction controller 7 reads a right turn signal lighting-on lamp signal Sr, being a signal voltage inputted from the high order end of a right turn signal lamp 92, and further reads a car speed signal Sv based on a signal voltage from a car speed sensor 8. When a relay 2 is turned ON and low illuminance right turn signal lamp is under light-on, and in a stop state, the output switch 70 is turn ON and OFF in a given duty ratio, and an incandescent lamp 72 is turned ON.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headlight control device for controlling the operation of a headlight according to the running condition of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-2730 proposes a headlight control device for dimming the headlight when the vehicle is stopped. FIG. 6 shows a conventional headlight control device which is not equipped with the vehicle stop light-attenuating means described above. Reference numeral 1 is a headlight, 2 is a headlight relay, one end of the headlight 1 is connected to a high end of a battery 3 through a normally-open contact 20 of the headlight relay 2, and the other end is a so-called long-distance or near-distance switch. It is grounded through the switch 4. Reference numeral 5 is a lighting / off controller composed of a microcomputer,
The operation of the headlight relay 2 is controlled based on the input of the external illuminance signal from the optical switch 6 and the manual lighting signal or the automatic switching signal from the operation switch of the driver's seat to turn on / off the headlight 1.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional example in which the vehicle stop dimming means disclosed in the above publication is added as an option to the headlight control device of FIG. The normally open contact 20 and the headlight 1 are disconnected, and the output switch 7 of the dimming controller 7
0 is connected in series with them. The dimming controller 7 is also composed of a microcomputer. When the vehicle stop is detected based on the vehicle speed signal received from the vehicle speed sensor 8, the output switch 70 is intermittently operated at a predetermined carrier frequency and a predetermined duty ratio (PWM control), As a result, even if the headlight relay 2 is turned on, dimming is performed when the vehicle is stopped.

The potential at the lower end of the exciting coil 21 of the headlight relay 2 is input to the dimming controller 7 through a signal line (not shown), and the dimming controller 7 operates when the potential of the exciting coil 21 is low level (head. The light relay 2 is activated only when the light relay 2 is turned on, which prevents power consumption of the dimming controller 7 during the daytime.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional headlight control device with a vehicle stop and dimming function, the headlight is dimmed or turned off even when the vehicle is temporarily stopped during a right turn or during an emergency stop. , It has been revealed that there is a possibility that the oncoming vehicle may be delayed in recognizing the own vehicle, or that the oncoming vehicle may give up the road from the own vehicle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and prevents delay of recognition of an own vehicle by an oncoming vehicle at the time of a temporary stop during a right turn or during an emergency stop, and misidentification of an intention to run the own vehicle by an oncoming vehicle. It is a problem to be solved to provide a possible headlight control device.

[0007]

The first structure of the present invention is as follows.
Headlight control means that is connected in series with the headlight in a power supply circuit that supplies power from a battery to the headlight, controls headlight intensity of the headlight, stop detection means that detects a stop and outputs a stop signal, and the stop signal In a headlight control device including a dimming control unit that outputs a dimming command for instructing the headlight control unit to reduce power supply to the headlight at the time of input, a right turn signal is output when a right turn signal lamp is turned on. In the headlight control device, a right turn signal detection unit is provided, and the dimming control unit prohibits output of the dimming command when the right turn signal is input.

The turning on of the right turn signal lamp is carried out at the time of right turn and at the time of emergency stop (hazard). Further, the reduction of the power supply includes stopping the power supply, and the dimming includes extinguishing the light. In a second configuration of the present invention, in addition to the first configuration, when the dimming control unit counts the input time of the right turn signal and the input time of the right turn signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In addition, the output prohibition of the dimming command is released.

According to a third structure of the present invention, in addition to the first structure, the stop signal is a pulse signal output from a speed sensor forming the stop detection means in a cycle inversely proportional to the vehicle speed, and the right turn is performed. The signal is composed of a blinking signal for blinking the right turn signal lamp, and the dimming control means has an input circuit section for outputting a logical sum signal of the stop signal and the right turn signal.

[0010]

According to the first structure of the present invention,
Although the headlights are dimmed when the vehicle is stopped, the headlights are not dimmed (or turned off) during an emergency stop when the right turn signal light is turned on or during a temporary stop during a right turn (temporary standby during a right turn). Therefore, in such a case, when the headlight dimming is performed, recognition of the own vehicle by the oncoming vehicle is not delayed, and it is not mistakenly recognized that the oncoming vehicle has yielded the road from the own vehicle.

Especially when turning right at an intersection with a lot of traffic,
In many cases, traveling and pausing are frequently repeated to proceed to the right turn position. Even in this case, it is prohibited to reduce the light each time the vehicle is stopped, so that it is possible to prevent the preceding vehicle from feeling uncomfortable. According to the second configuration of the present invention, in the above first configuration, a period during which the headlight dimming is prohibited during an emergency stop when the right turn signal light is turned on or during a temporary stop during a right turn exceeds a certain threshold value. If it continues for a long time, the prohibition of dimming is released and dimming is performed.

In this way, when the vehicle is stopped for a long time with the steering wheel turned to the right, the headlights do not light up under full load, which is useful in consideration of power saving and oncoming vehicles. is there. In the third configuration of the present invention,
Further, in the first configuration, the stop signal is used as a pulse signal output from the pulse output type speed sensor as a stop signal, and the blinking signal of the right turn signal lamp is used as a right turn signal. Then, a logical sum signal of the stop signal and the right turn signal is used instead of the stop signal. In this case, since both signals are blinking pulse signals, the conventional vehicle-dimming control device can be used, and the circuit configuration and the circuit change can be simplified.

[0013]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. However, components having the same basic function as those in FIGS. 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 1 is a headlight, 2 is a headlight relay (a part of headlight control means in the present invention), and one end of the headlight 1 is connected to a high end of a battery 3 through a normally open contact 20 of the headlight relay 2. The other end is grounded through a so-called distance switch or a near switch switch 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a lighting / extinguishing controller (a part of the headlight control means in the present invention) including a microcomputer. In this embodiment, the controller 5 includes a microcomputer, but may of course have a hardware circuit configuration. The lighting / extinguishing controller 5 is based on the input of an external illuminance signal from an optical sensor (the rest of the headlight control means in the present invention) 6 including a phototransistor, a manual lighting signal from a driver's seat operating switch, or an automatic switching signal. Then, the operation of the headlight relay 2 is controlled to turn on / off the headlight 1. As the optical sensor 6, it is natural that various optical sensors such as photodiodes and photoconductive elements can be adopted.

Further, a dimming controller 7 (dimming control means in the present invention) is added. The dimming controller 7 is also composed of a microcomputer in this embodiment,
You may comprise with a normal hardware circuit. The dimming controller 7 detects that the external illuminance is low based on the signal voltage received from the output terminal 51 of the lighting / extinguishing controller 5 for driving the headlight relay 2, and at the same time, the vehicle speed sensor (referred to in the present invention). When the vehicle stop is detected by the vehicle speed signal Sv received from the vehicle stop detection means 8 (when there is no pulse and vehicle speed = 0 is detected), the built-in output switch 70 is intermittently operated at a predetermined carrier frequency and a predetermined duty ratio. Further, under other conditions, the output switch 70 is turned off. The vehicle speed sensor 8 outputs a pulse signal (rectangular wave signal) having a period inversely proportional to the vehicle speed, but since it is well known, its structural description will be omitted. The output switch 70 is composed of a PNP bipolar power transistor, its emitter is connected to the high side of the normally open contact 20 of the headlight relay 2, and its collector is normally open contact 2.
It is connected to the low side of 0.

The dimming controller 7, as will be described later,
Output switch 7 when the right turn signal light is not lit (when it is not turning right or when there is no hazard), low illumination, and when a stop is detected.
Turn on 1. The output switch 71 comprises an NPN bipolar power transistor, the emitter of which is grounded,
The collector is supplied with the IG voltage through the incandescent lamp 72. The incandescent lamp 72 is arranged close to the light receiving surface of the optical sensor 6, and as a result, the optical sensor 6 has a low resistance when the right turn signal lamp is not lit, the illuminance is low, and the vehicle stop is detected.
The lighting / extinguishing controller 5 determines that the external illuminance is high and shuts off the power supply to the drive unit 21 of the headlight relay 2, and the normally open contact 20 of the headlight relay 2 opens. As a result, when the right turn signal light is not lit, the illuminance is low, and the vehicle is stopped, a current reduced in the duty ratio is supplied from the battery 3 to the headlight 1 through the output switch 70.
The headlight 1 is dimmed.

The lighting / extinguishing controller 5 and the dimming controller 7 are supplied with the IG voltage as a power supply voltage through an ignition switch (not shown). next,
The operation of the on / off controller 5 will be further described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is checked whether the operation switch is turned to the manual ON position (100), and if it is turned, the process proceeds to step 108 to unconditionally turn on the relay 2,
The headlight 1 is turned on. If not, it is checked whether or not the operation switch is turned to the automatic ON position (102). If not turned, the process proceeds to step 106 to turn off the relay 2 and if turned, the step is performed. Proceeding to 104, it is checked whether the external illuminance is high illuminance based on the signal voltage from the optical sensor 6, and if the illuminance is high, the relay 2 is turned off (106), and if the illuminance is not high (if the illuminance is low). The relay 2 is turned on (108), and then the process returns to step 100.

Next, the operation of the dimming controller 7 will be further described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. First, the flag N is reset to 0 (200), the right turn signal lamp lighting signal Sr, which is the signal voltage input from the high end of the right turn signal lamp 92, is read, and the vehicle speed signal Sv is further determined based on the signal voltage from the vehicle speed sensor 8. Is read (202), and it is judged whether the vehicle is stopped by checking whether the vehicle speed is 0 for a predetermined time (204). If the vehicle is not stopped, the flag N is reset to 0 (208) and the process returns to step 202. If the vehicle is stopped, it is checked whether or not the right turn signal lamp lighting signal Sr is a blinking signal (205), and if it is a blinking signal, it is determined that the right turn signal lamp is lighting (during a right turn) and the process proceeds to step 208. If so, it is determined that the right turn signal lamp is not being turned on (during a right turn), and the process proceeds to step 206.

In step 206, it is checked whether or not the relay 2 is on, that is, whether or not the external illuminance is low (206). If the relay 2 is on, that is, if the illuminance is low, the right turn signal lamp is turned on. The flag N is set to 1 when it is determined that the vehicle is in a medium and low illuminance and is in a stopped state (21
3) The output switch 70 is turned on and off at a predetermined duty ratio (214), and the incandescent lamp 72 is turned on (216).

If the relay 2 is off in step 206, it is checked whether the flag N is 1 (210), and N is 1
If so, it is determined that the dimming operation is currently being performed (the incandescent lamp 72 is emitting light), and the process proceeds to step 214. If N is not 1, it is determined that the incandescent lamp 72 is off and the external illuminance is high, and the output switch 70 Is turned off (212), and the process returns to step 202.

If the dimming controller 7 fails, the incandescent lamp 72 does not emit light and the headlight relay 2
Can be operated automatically or manually to turn on / off the headlight 1. In rare cases, incandescent lamp 7
Even when 2 continues to emit light, the dimming controller 7 can execute turning on and off by inputting a manual operation signal. (Embodiment 2) Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, step 2 in FIG.
05 to step 208, steps 300 to 30
3 is added. First, in step 205,
If the right turn signal lamp lighting signal Sr is not a blinking signal, it means that the vehicle is not making a right turn. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 206 as in FIG. 3, and if the right turn signal lamp lighting signal Sr is 0V, it is determined that the right turn signal lamp is lighting (flashing), and the right turn signal lamp 92 and the left turn. It is checked whether both the signal lights 92 are blinking (300), and if both are lit, it is determined that it is during a hazard (during an emergency stop) and the process proceeds to step 208. Only the right turn signal light 92 is blinking and the left turn signal light 92 is only blinking. If is not blinking, step 30
Go to 1 and check whether the timer (with built-in microcomputer) for counting the right turn signal lamp lighting time is counting (301). If it is not counting, start counting (302), proceed to step 303, and count. If so, the process directly proceeds to step 303. In step 303,
Check whether this timer has reached the set time (30
3) If yes, go to step 206, otherwise go to step 208.

In this way, even when the vehicle is stopped and the right turn signal light is turned on, the light is dimmed after a certain period of time has passed since the right turn signal light was turned on. However, during the hazard, the extinction is not performed regardless of whether a certain period of time has passed. (Embodiment 3) Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, in the circuit of FIG. 1, the right turn signal lamp lighting signal Sr and the vehicle speed signal Sv are combined to synthesize a combined vehicle speed signal Sv ', and the combined signal is sent to a microcomputer (not shown) of the dimming controller 7. It is something to enter. That is, 75
Is the load of the switch portion of the conventional vehicle speed sensor 8, and the OR circuit (the input circuit portion in the present invention) 76 forms the logical sum signal of the signal Sr and the signal Sv, and this logical sum signal is combined vehicle speed. The signal Sv 'may be input to the microcomputer. That is, the microcomputer conventionally detects traveling by inputting the vehicle speed signal Sv, which is a pulse signal, and stops when the vehicle speed signal Sv becomes 0V. Therefore, the signal Sr becomes a pulse signal (flashing signal) when the right turn signal lamp is lit. So
If a logical sum signal of both is formed, even when the vehicle is stopped, the same input state as when traveling is taken by the microcomputer when the right turn signal light is turned on, so it is possible to prohibit dimming when the right turn signal light is turned on. The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an apparatus according to a first embodiment.

2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an apparatus of Example 3.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional device.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 is a headlight, 2 is a headlight relay (a part of the headlight control means in the present invention), 5 is a turn-on / off controller composed of a microcomputer (a part of the headlight control means in the present invention), and 6 is a phototransistor. Is a light sensor (the rest of the headlight control means in the present invention), 7 is a dimming controller (dimming control means in the present invention), and 8 is a vehicle speed sensor (stop detection means in the present invention).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A headlight control unit that is connected in series with the headlight in a power supply circuit for supplying power from a battery to the headlight and controls the light amount of the headlight.
A stop detection unit that detects a stop and outputs a stop signal, and a dimming control unit that outputs a dimming command that instructs the headlight control unit to reduce power supply to the headlight when the stop signal is input The headlight control device has a right turn signal detection means for outputting a right turn signal when the right turn signal lamp is turned on, and the dimming control means prohibits the output of the dimming command when the right turn signal is input. A headlight control device characterized by the above. 2. The dimming control means counts the input time of the right turn signal and cancels the output prohibition of the dimming command when the input time of the right turn signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The headlight control device according to claim 1. 3. The stop signal comprises a pulse signal output from a speed sensor forming the stop detecting means in a cycle inversely proportional to a vehicle speed, and the right turn signal comprises a blinking signal for blinking the right turn signal lamp, The headlight control device according to claim 1, wherein the dimming control means includes an input circuit section that outputs a logical sum signal of the stop signal and the right turn signal.