JPH10147175A - Vehicle lamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent failure and shortening in use-life of a vehicle lamp device by controlling the irradiation of a lamp in response to a variation in posture of a vehicle in accordance with a result of determination of brightness and darkness around the vehicle. SOLUTION: A vehicle lamp device 1 comprises a vehicle posture detecting means 2 for detecting a posture of a vehicle during stopping or running, a daakness determining means 3 for determining brightness and darkness around the vehicle, and an irradiation control means 4 for controlling a drive means 5 for directing the direction of an irradiating beam of a lamp 6 is a desired direction. If the brightness and darkness determining means 3 determines darkness around the vehicle, the irradiation control means 4 controls the irradiation of the lamp 6 is accordance with a detection signal for a posture of the vehicle. Further, if the darkness determining means 3 determines brightness around the vehicle, the contort means 4 does not control the irradiation of the lamp 6 in accordance with a posture of the vehicle or limits the timing control.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp apparatus for controlling irradiation of a lamp in accordance with a change in the attitude of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Apparatus for automatically adjusting the irradiation direction of a lamp so that the irradiation direction of the lamp is maintained in a predetermined state even when the inclination of a vehicle body changes (a so-called auto-leveling apparatus).
This type of device has a detecting means for detecting the inclination and height of the vehicle body caused by the riding conditions (the number of occupants and the arrangement of the occupants) and the loading condition of the load. The amount of change in the inclination of the vehicle is calculated based on the obtained information, and the illumination angle of the lamp is corrected with respect to its initial adjustment value so that the illumination state of the lamp always becomes a predetermined state. It controls to obtain light.

For example, when a load is applied to the rear part of the vehicle, the inclination angle of the vehicle body in the front-rear direction at that time is obtained,
Adjustment (so-called leveling adjustment) is performed such that the irradiation direction of the lamp is always maintained in the reference direction by tilting the irradiation axis of the lamp downward, which would otherwise cause the irradiation direction to shift upward from the reference direction.

[0004]

In a country or a region where the headlights for vehicles are required to be lit not only at night but also at daytime, the auto-leveling device operates without distinction between day and night. The durability of the driving means of the lamp is a problem.

That is, since the auto-leveling device always operates while the headlight is on, the burden on the actuator and the like for controlling the irradiation of the lamp increases, which may lead to an increase in the frequency of failures and a shortened life of the device. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent a lamp device from malfunctioning and shortening its life by controlling the irradiation of a lamp corresponding to a change in the attitude of the vehicle in accordance with the result of determining the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle. And

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vehicle attitude detecting means for detecting the attitude of a vehicle that is stopped and / or running, and discriminates the brightness around the vehicle. Light / dark discriminating means, and irradiation control means for controlling a driving means for directing the irradiation light of the lamp in a desired direction, and when the light / dark discriminating means determines that the periphery of the vehicle is dark, the irradiation control means Irradiation control of the lamp is performed according to the detection signal of the vehicle attitude from the vehicle attitude detection means,
If the brightness determining means determines that the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the illumination control means does not perform the illumination control of the lamp in accordance with the attitude of the vehicle or limits the control timing.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the surroundings of the vehicle are judged to be bright by the light / dark judgment means, the irradiation control of the lamp is not performed or the control timing is restricted, so that the lamp is turned on. In this case, the irradiation control is not always performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of the present invention.
Brightness / darkness determination means 3, irradiation control means 4, driving means 5, lamp 6
It has.

The vehicle attitude detecting means 2 is provided for detecting the attitude of the vehicle at rest and / or running (including the up and down inclination in the traveling direction of the vehicle). When the vehicle height detecting means for detecting a height change is used, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance L between the vehicle height detecting means 7 and the road surface G is determined by detecting a detection wave such as an ultrasonic wave or a laser beam. And a method of detecting the amount of expansion / contraction x of the suspension S by a vehicle height detecting means (vehicle height sensor or the like) to detect vertical movement of the axle. There is an advantage that existing equipment can be used.

An output signal of the vehicle attitude detecting means 2 is sent to an irradiation control means 4, and the irradiation control means 4 sends a control signal for correcting an irradiation state of a lamp 6 to a driving means 5 according to the attitude of the vehicle. .

That is, the irradiation control means 4 sends a control signal to the driving means 5 in accordance with the detection signal from the vehicle attitude detecting means 2 so that the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 always faces a predetermined direction.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a horizontal line HH and a vertical line V-
When the vehicle body is in a forward ascending state with respect to a light distribution pattern PN (shown by a solid line in the figure) applied to a screen arranged at a sufficient distance in front of the vehicle with V as a reference line. Since the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 changes upward with respect to the horizontal line HH, the light distribution pattern changes upward like a pattern PU (indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure).
In such a case, the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 is changed downward, and the irradiation control unit 4 sends a signal for lowering the pattern to match the light distribution pattern PN to the driving unit 5 as shown by the arrow A in the figure. Send out. Conversely, when the vehicle body is lowered forward, the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 is changed to the horizontal line HH.
Light distribution pattern changes downward with respect to
(Indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure.) In such a case, the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 is changed upward to raise the pattern as shown by the arrow B in the figure. The irradiation control means 4 sends a signal for matching the light distribution pattern PN to the driving means 5.

The light / dark judgment means 3 is provided for judging the brightness around the vehicle, and the judgment can be made by the following method.

(I) A method of detecting the illuminance around the vehicle (II) A method of using a lighting instruction signal to an auxiliary lamp (III) A method of using information on date and time.

First, (I) is a method for detecting the illuminance around the vehicle, using illuminance detecting means attached to a predetermined position of the vehicle (for example, a front glass of the vehicle). For example, in the case of an automotive lamp, a device that detects the illuminance around the vehicle and automatically controls the lighting / extinguishing timing of the headlamp is known. The constituent illuminance detecting means can be used. In this method, when it is necessary to newly add an illuminance detecting means to the vehicle, the cost is increased accordingly, but there is an advantage that the illuminance around the vehicle can be directly detected.

(II) Illumination equipment other than the lamp 6 for indirectly determining the brightness around the vehicle, and auxiliary lights (tail lamps, small lamps, etc.) provided on the vehicle for use at night. ) Is a method using a lighting instruction signal. That is, it is highly probable that these auxiliary lights will be turned on during night driving, so that it is possible to determine that the surroundings of the vehicle are dark when a light-on instruction is given to the auxiliary lights.

Therefore, the light / dark discrimination means in (II) is a lighting instruction means for the auxiliary lamp, and includes a lighting signal generation circuit in an automatic lighting device in addition to a manual operation switch or an interlocking switch. This method has an advantage that existing equipment can be used for a vehicle.

(III) The sunrise and sunset times are determined by using time and date information obtained by a clock display and a calendar display device mounted on the vehicle, and the brightness around the vehicle at the current time is determined. How to judge. Although this method has an advantage that existing equipment can be used for a vehicle, it is necessary that the date and time be set accurately.

The driving means 5 is provided to change the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 in response to a signal from the irradiation control means 4, and the irradiation control can be performed in the following two methods.

(A-I) Method of Directing Irradiation Light as a Whole in a Predetermined Direction (A-II) Method of Directing Part of Irradiation Light in a Predetermined Direction

The simplest method of the above (AI) is as follows:
This is a method of turning the illumination axis of the lamp in a predetermined direction by rotating the entire lamp around its rotation axis. In addition, other components of the lamp (for example, a reflecting mirror, a lens, a light source, and a light shielding member) ) By controlling the attitude of the optical system in a predetermined direction as a whole.

Further, the method (A-II) is a method of changing only the irradiation axis of a specific lamp in an apparatus composed of a plurality of lamps (for example, a headlamp, a fog in an automobile) for partially changing the irradiation light. In the case where a lamp or a cornering lamp is provided, only the irradiation axis of one or two of the three lamps is changed.) Or a method of controlling the attitude of one or more of the constituent members of the lamp. (For example, the reflecting mirror is composed of a fixed reflecting mirror and a movable reflecting mirror, and the optical axis of the movable reflecting mirror is directed in a desired direction.)
Can be mentioned.

In the apparatus 1, the irradiation control means 4 includes a lamp 6
, That is, whether the light / dark state of the light source 6a of the lamp 6 is turned on or off, and when the light / dark judgment means 3 judges that the surroundings of the vehicle are dark (hereinafter, referred to as "at the time of dark judgment"). When the lighting direction of the lamp 6 is controlled in accordance with a change in the attitude of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and / or when the vehicle is traveling, and when the brightness determining unit 3 determines that the surroundings of the vehicle are bright (hereinafter, “brightness determining”). ), The irradiation control of the lamp 6 according to the posture of the vehicle is not performed, or the control timing and the like are limited.

That is, the irradiation control means 4 reduces the load on the driving means 5 by the following control method at the time of bright determination.

(1) A method for fixing the irradiation direction in a predetermined direction (2) A method for limiting the range of irradiation control (3) A method for limiting the timing of irradiation control (4) A method for reducing the irradiation control speed

First, the simplest method (1) of the above four methods is a method in which the irradiation direction of the lamp is fixed in a reference direction or a slightly downward direction. In this case, the driving means 5 is not moved. It is necessary.

In FIG. 4, "L" indicates a reference direction for irradiation control of the lamp 6, and when darkness is determined, the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 is controlled in a vertical plane including the irradiation axis of the lamp with reference to the L direction. In addition, the lamp 6
Is fixed in the L direction or in the L 'direction downward from the L direction. As for the fixation in the L 'direction, when the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the visibility when the own vehicle is viewed from the oncoming vehicle side is more important than the forward visibility of the own vehicle. It is preferable that the lighting direction of the lamp be fixed downward with respect to the reference direction so as not to dazzle the driver of the vehicle.

The method (2) is a method in which the allowable range for the irradiation direction control is narrowed so as to be smaller than the allowable range at the time of dark determination.

For example, when the irradiation control range of the lamp 6 during dark discrimination is “θd” and the irradiation control range during bright discrimination is “θb”, the ratio “n” (0 <(1 / n)
By introducing <1) and narrowing the range so that “θb = θd / n”, the control load on the driving unit 5 is reduced. In this method, it is also possible to set an upper limit with respect to the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 and regulate the irradiation direction so as not to be upward. The limit case where the ratio n is made infinite by this method is the method (1).

The method (3) is a method of performing illumination control of a lamp at a specific time or period in the same manner as in the dark discrimination even during the bright discrimination. Is stopped, the irradiation direction of the lamp is changed according to the attitude of the vehicle. This is thought to be because the vehicle attitude often changes due to changes in the riding conditions and loading conditions while the vehicle is stopped, and the problem of dazzling light to the oncoming driver during the running of the vehicle as described above. Depends on what you value. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle stop state is determined based on a vehicle speed detection signal sent from the vehicle speed detection unit 8 to the irradiation control unit 4, and the characteristics of the behavior (vibration and engine Rotation speed) or a method of detecting the state of the operating member (the presence or absence of a side brake operation, etc.).

Further, when the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, or when the vehicle is traveling on a rough road having a lot of unevenness (the determination can be made based on a fluctuation component of a detection signal detected by the vehicle height detecting means 7). Paying attention to the fact that the change in the vehicle attitude is smaller than the change in the attitude when the vehicle is accelerating and decelerating, the illumination direction of the lamp is set to a predetermined direction during bright discrimination and when the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed or on a rough road. , And irradiation control of the lamp according to the vehicle attitude may be performed when the vehicle is accelerated or decelerated. In short, the irradiation control can be prohibited only at the time of the bright determination and when the irradiation control of the lamp (including the auto-leveling control) is not required.

The method (4) is a method of controlling the response speed of the driving means 5 so that the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 does not frequently change during the bright determination. The driving means 5
The control of the response speed of the lamp varies depending on the configuration of the driving means, but the supply voltage and current to the actuators and the like constituting the driving means, the width of the control pulse, the duty cycle, and the like are changed to change the lamp. 6 can be slowed down. This method uses the driving means 5
Is not stopped, but the load on the driving means 5 is reduced by the extent that the driving control of the lamp is slowed down.

The response speed of the driving means 5 is changed in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle, or the response speed is changed in accordance with whether the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed or during acceleration / deceleration. It is of course possible to combine the methods 1) to 4) according to the situation of the vehicle (running state, change in attitude of the vehicle, etc.).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically showing the processing procedure of the irradiation control means 4 when the above method (1) is adopted. First, in step S1, the light / dark judgment means 3 judges the brightness around the vehicle. Then, at the time of determining the darkness, the process proceeds to step S2, in which the vehicle posture is detected by the vehicle posture detecting means 2, and then in step S3, the irradiation control of the lamp 6 according to the change in the vehicle posture is performed. At the time of the bright determination, the process proceeds to step S4, in which the irradiation direction of the lamp 6 is fixed at a predetermined reference direction or at a direction slightly lower than the reference direction.

When the above method (3) is adopted,
As shown in FIG. 6, a new step S5 is provided between step S1 and step S4. Here, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is stopped. If the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to step S2. If so, the process proceeds to step S4. In addition, step S
In 5, the acceleration / deceleration state of the vehicle is determined, and the process proceeds to step S <b> 2 at the time of acceleration / deceleration; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S <b> 4.

The processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is terminated by turning off the lamp.

In the above description, the brightness around the vehicle is divided into two in step S1. However, the brightness is divided into a plurality of sections, for example, bright, medium and dark, and the medium around the vehicle is medium. When it is determined that the brightness is (for example, morning and evening),
Various embodiments are possible by combining the classification of light / dark judgment and the irradiation control method corresponding thereto, such as making the irradiation control speed of the lamp smaller than the control speed at the time of dark judgment by using the above method (4). It is.

The instruction means 9 in FIG. 1 instructs the operation of the apparatus 1, and an instruction signal by this is sent to the irradiation control means 4. The instruction means 9 includes a switch for instructing the start of the power source (engine, motor, etc.) of the vehicle, a detection means for detecting the operation of the power source, and the like.

[0039]

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a device for turning on and off a headlamp for a vehicle without distinction between day and night (a so-called daytime running lamp device).

In the apparatus 10, the vehicle height sensors 11, 11 'provided on the axles before and after the vehicle are used as the vehicle attitude detecting means 2 described above.

The microcomputer 12 corresponding to the irradiation control means 4 has the above-mentioned vehicle height sensors 11, 1
1 ', a detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 13 and the illuminance sensor 14, a headlamp lighting instruction signal "SH", and an instruction signal "SI" from an illumination switch are input via an interface circuit (not shown).

The illuminance sensor 14 corresponds to the illuminance detecting means described above, and the illumination switch is a switch for turning on a lighting device such as an instrument provided in the vehicle.

The microcomputer 12 receives a headlamp lighting instruction signal SH or an engine start signal “S”.
In response to "G" (ignition signal), the power supply voltage from the power supply circuit 15 is supplied.

The microcomputer 12 sends control signals to the motor drive circuits 16L and 16R, and the headlamp 1 is controlled by actuators 17L and 17R including motors.
The irradiation directions of 8L and 18R are controlled respectively. In addition, "L" attached to the reference sign means a lamp attached to the front left portion of the vehicle and a portion related to control thereof, and "R" attached to the reference sign indicates a lamp attached to the front right portion of the vehicle and a portion related to control thereof. Means

Thus, in the device 10, the signal SG
When the engine of the vehicle is started, the head lamps 18L and 18R are turned on, and when the microcomputer 12 determines that the darkness is to be determined by the detection signal of the illuminance sensor 14 or the turning on of the illumination switch, the vehicle height sensors 11 and 11 The microcomputer 12 calculates the inclination angle (so-called pitching angle) of the vehicle in the front-rear direction based on the detection signal of the head ′, and sends a control signal of a correction angle for canceling the attitude change to the motor drive circuits 16L and 16R. The irradiation directions of the lamps 18L and 18R are controlled to be constant irrespective of changes in the vehicle attitude.

When the microcomputer 12 determines that a bright determination has been made by a detection signal of the illuminance sensor 14 or an OFF operation of the illumination switch, the microcomputer 12 sends the motor drive circuits 16L and 16R.
The headlamp 18L, 1
The irradiation direction of 8R is fixed in a direction slightly lower than the predetermined reference direction (see the above method (1)). However, when the microcomputer 12 determines the stop state of the vehicle based on the detection signal of the vehicle speed sensor 13 even in the bright determination, the same control as in the dark determination is performed (see the above method (3)).

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the brightness determining means determines that the periphery of the vehicle is bright, the illumination control of the lamp is not performed. Or the control timing is limited, so that the irradiation control is not always performed during the lighting of the lamp, so that the burden on the driving means used for the irradiation control of the lamp is reduced, the frequency of failure of the device is reduced, and the life is shortened. Thus, the reliability can be improved by preventing the occurrence of the problem.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the light / dark determining means determines that the periphery of the vehicle is bright, the irradiation control means fixes the irradiation direction of the lamp to a predetermined reference direction or a downward direction. This reduces the burden on the driving means by preventing the irradiating direction from frequently changing according to changes in the vehicle attitude, and reduces the frequency of irradiating dazzling light to pedestrians, oncoming drivers, etc. can do.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the light / dark judgment means judges that the periphery of the vehicle is bright and the vehicle is stopped, the irradiation control means emits light of the lamp in accordance with a change in the posture of the vehicle. By changing the direction, it is possible to control the irradiation direction corresponding to changes in the riding conditions and the loading conditions when the vehicle is stopped.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, by detecting the illuminance around the vehicle, it is possible to accurately determine the change in brightness around the vehicle.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle without complicating the configuration according to the state of the lighting instruction means of the auxiliary light which is highly likely to be used in night driving. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicular lamp device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a vehicle for explaining a vehicle height detecting means.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing correction control of an irradiation direction of a lamp.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an irradiation direction of a lamp.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure different from that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle lamp device, 2 ... Vehicle attitude detection means, 3 ... Light / darkness determination means, 4 ... Irradiation control means, 5 ... Drive means, 6 ... Lamp

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle lighting device in which an irradiation direction of a lamp is changed according to a posture of a vehicle, a vehicle posture detecting means for detecting a posture of a stopped and / or running vehicle, and a periphery of the vehicle. Light / dark discriminating means for discriminating the brightness of the vehicle, and irradiation control means for controlling driving means for directing the irradiation light of the lamp in a desired direction, wherein the light / dark discriminating means has determined that the periphery of the vehicle is dark. In this case, the irradiation control means controls the irradiation of the lamp in accordance with the detection signal of the vehicle posture from the vehicle posture detection means, and if the brightness determination means determines that the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the vehicle is controlled by the irradiation control means. A lighting device for a vehicle, wherein the irradiation control of the lighting device according to the attitude of the vehicle is not performed or the control timing is limited. 2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein when the brightness determining means determines that the periphery of the vehicle is bright,
The irradiation control unit fixes the irradiation direction of the lamp in the same direction as the reference direction for the irradiation control of the lamp when the light / dark determination unit determines that the periphery of the vehicle is dark, or fixes the direction downward from the reference direction. A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising: 3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lightness / darkness determination means determines that the periphery of the vehicle is bright, and when the vehicle is at a stop, the irradiation control means detects the light from the vehicle attitude detection means. A lighting device for a vehicle, wherein an irradiation direction of the lighting device is changed according to a detection signal of a posture of the vehicle. 4. The vehicular lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the brightness determining means is an illuminance detecting means for detecting illuminance around the vehicle. . 5. The vehicular lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the light / dark discrimination means is a lighting instruction means for an auxiliary light.