JPS6130438A - Field-of-view improving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce dazzlement given to a driver of a car running on the opposite lane by providing a prejector mounted on the car for projecting a visible light intermittently or doing the same by changing its intensity at a high speed which is appeared to be continuous to a human eye, and controlling the amount of light from the projector in conformity with an output from opposite car detector means. CONSTITUTION:An incontinuous car-mount projector (a) for projecting visible light intermittently at a high speed which is appeared to be continuous to a human eye or doing the same by changing the intensity of the illuminance of said light to a prescribed region in front of a vehicle is provided on the vehicle. Moreover, a car-mount optical shutter plate (b) is disposed facing to the projection region in front of the vehicle, which is controlled in a high transmittance state in synchronism with an irradiation period of the light or a high irradiance period thereof projected from the car- mount projector (a). Furthermore, opposite car detector means (c) for detecting the presence or absence of the opposite car having the projector (a) with a prescribed distance in front of the vehicle is provided. The average amount of projected light from the projector (a) is controlled so as to set said amount of projected light to be higher than that at detecting the presence of the opposite vehicle, in a state of detecting the absence of the opposite vehicle.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides
We would like to improve a device that allows the vehicle's illumination light to reach long distances and improve visibility at night.

(Background of the Invention) In order to improve the visibility ahead of a vehicle driving at night, it is conceivable to increase the intensity of the headlight light, but such a method does not dazzle the driver of an oncoming vehicle. There is a risk that it will cause

On the other hand, in the case of anti-dazzle devices for vehicles, for example,
As seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-101526, there is a method of blocking the headlights of oncoming vehicles by using a polarizing plate, or a method of using a liquid crystal etc. in front of the driver as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-72830. A known method is to install a variable transmittance filter plate and use this filter plate to block the light from the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. However, in the former method, a similar polarizing plate is used not only for its own weight but also for the oncoming vehicle. If it is not installed, the effect will be weak, and in the latter case, if the light transmittance of the filter plate is reduced and the headlight light of an oncoming vehicle is blocked, the visibility in front of the vehicle will be simultaneously illuminated by the headlight light of its own weight. It's getting dark now, and this makes it difficult for drivers, such as pedestrians, to stand near oncoming cars. There is a risk of misjudging the target that requires JA recognition.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application first filed the patent application No. 59-00171.
No. 8 includes an on-vehicle floodlight that emits visible light to a predetermined area in front of the vehicle while intermittent or changing intensity at a high speed that appears as continuous light to the human eye; , and an on-vehicle light shutter plate that is controlled to a high transmittance state in synchronization with the irradiation period or strong illuminance period of the light projected from the on-vehicle floodlight. The company has presented a new visibility-enhancing device (not yet released) that reliably prevents dazzling from oncoming vehicle headlights without impairing visibility.

As the inventors of the present invention continued to conduct further research on such visibility improvement devices, they discovered the following points for improvement.

In other words, this device changes the light transmittance of an optical filter plate placed in front of the driver in a pulsed manner, thereby intermittent light from oncoming vehicle headlights reaching the driver, thereby preventing dazzling. Therefore, when considering the case where the headlight light of an oncoming vehicle is discontinuous light similar to that of the own vehicle, and the period of light irradiation or the period of strong illumination coincides with that of the own vehicle, Discontinuous headlight light from an oncoming vehicle reaches the driver's eyes without being attenuated by the filter plate, and may still dazzle the driver.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to reliably prevent dazzling caused by oncoming vehicles even when vehicles equipped with discontinuous light type vehicle-mounted floodlights face each other at night.

(Structure of the Invention) The structure of the present invention will be explained with reference to the claim correspondence diagram in FIG.

In the figure, a vehicle-mounted light projector a projects visible light onto a predetermined area in front of the vehicle while intermittent or changing the intensity of visible light at a high speed that appears as continuous light to the human eye.

The vehicle-mounted light shutter plate is disposed facing the front light projection area of the vehicle, and is controlled to a high transmittance state in synchronization with the irradiation period or strong illumination period of the light projected from the vehicle-mounted light projector a.

The oncoming vehicle detection means C detects the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle equipped with the discontinuous light type vehicle-mounted light projector a within a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle.

The light amount control means d changes the average amount of light emitted from the vehicle-mounted light projector a when the oncoming vehicle detection means C detects ``no oncoming vehicle'' to the average amount of light emitted when the oncoming vehicle is detected. Set higher than light m.

(Explanation of Embodiment) Figure 2 is an embodiment of the present invention (this is referred to as the first embodiment).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

The optical sensor 1 is a sensor that is attached to the front of the vehicle body and detects light from an oncoming vehicle.

The comparator 6 compares the reference voltage rfa with the output signal from the optical sensor 1 to determine the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle. When the optical sensor 1 detects an oncoming vehicle, the output of the comparator 6 becomes "H" ( Represents the t-1ight level (the same applies below)
Then, a control signal A indicating the presence of an oncoming vehicle is input from the monomulti 7 (monostable multivibrator will be abbreviated as above) to the microcomputer 13.

The comparator 8 compares the reference voltage with the output signal from the optical sensor 1 to determine whether the oncoming vehicle has approached to a close enough distance to cause dazzling compared to its own weight.

Therefore, when the optical sensor 1 detects the approach of an oncoming vehicle, the output of the comparator 8 becomes °'H'', and the monomulti 9 sends a control signal B indicating the approach of an oncoming vehicle to the microcomputer 1.
It is designed to output to 3.

Further, the AND circuit 11 is an AN of the output of the comparator 8 inverted by the inverter 10 and the output of the monomulti 9.
The D logic output is supplied to the microcomputer 13 via the monomulti 12.

Therefore, the AND circuit 11 determines whether the oncoming vehicle is equipped with a device that generates pulsed light similar to its own weight based on the outputs from the inverter 1o and the monomulti 9, and if it is equipped with a device that generates pulsed light similar to its own weight, the AND circuit 11 outputs a "tobi" signal. is output to operate the monomulti 12, and a control signal C indicating the presence of pulsed light is input to the microcomputer 13.

Note that the control signal input from the comparator 8 to the microcomputer 13 is for measuring the timing of the irradiation light from an oncoming vehicle.

The light switch 2 is a manual switch that instructs the microcomputer 13 to turn on a lighting device 3, which will be described later.

The light source 24 emits white light from a tungsten lamp, infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, ultrasonic waves, laser light, etc., and is driven by a drive circuit 23, and a filter 25 that passes only a predetermined wavelength is arranged in front. be done. Note that the drive circuit 23 is driven via the inverter 22.

And the lighting device H32 lighting device 14. Drive circuit 23, light source 24. The filter 25 constitutes a floodlight 21. For example, the illumination device 3 emits light from the front of the vehicle,
Light from the light source 24 is emitted from the rear of the vehicle. In addition,
The specific configuration of the illumination device 3, light source 24, etc. will be described later.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical shutter 4 plate is attached to the front of the driver's seat like a sun visor. this is,
As shown in FIG. 4, a PLZT or liquid crystal 4a with electrodes attached on both sides is placed between polarizing plates 5a, 5 with a phase shift of 90 degrees from each other.
The structure is such that the light transmittance is controlled by voltage control from the drive circuit 15 (see FIG. 2).

Note that the projector 21 and the drive circuit 15 are driven by a control signal E processed based on a control signal input to the microcomputer 13.

The filter 26 is similar to the filter 25 described above, and a sensor 27 is arranged behind the filter 26. This sensor 27 receives light and ultrasonic waves and converts them into electrical signals, and is connected to a comparator 28.

The comparator 28 compares the reference voltage C and the output signal from the sensor 27 to determine the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle.When the sensor +#27 detects the preceding vehicle, the output of the comparator 28 is determined to be Then, a control signal H indicating the presence of a preceding vehicle is input from the monomulti 29 to the microcomputer 13.

Furthermore, the AND circuit 31 connects the output of the comparator 28 inverted by the inverter 30 and the two outputs of the monomulti
The ND logic output is supplied to the microcomputer 13 via the monomulti 32.

Therefore, the 8N l) circuit 31 determines whether the preceding vehicle is equipped with a device that generates pulsed light similar to the own vehicle based on the outputs from the inverter 30 and the monomulti 29, and if the preceding vehicle is equipped with a device that generates pulsed light, The monomulti 32 is operated by outputting an 'H' signal, and a control signal I indicating the presence of pulsed light is input to the microcomputer 13.

In addition, from the comparator 28 to the microcomputer 13
The control signal J input to is for measuring the timing of the irradiation light of the preceding vehicle.

The AND circuit 33 outputs the AND logic output of the output of the AND circuit 31 and the output of the inverter 30 to the AND circuit 35, and the AND circuit 34 outputs the AND logic output of the output of the comparator 8 and the output of the AND circuit 11. AND the outputs
It is output to the circuit 35.

The AND circuit 35 outputs an AND logical output with both outputs of the AND circuits 33 and 34 to the monomulti 36, and when the irradiation timing of the preceding vehicle and the irradiation timing of the oncoming vehicle match, the AND The output of circuit 35 is HII
Thus, the control signal K is input from the monomulti 36 to the microcomputer 13. Note that the control signal is output when both the preceding vehicle and the oncoming vehicle have means for irradiating pulsed light.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the projector 21 shown in FIG. 2.

A light source pulp 3-8 is placed at the focal point of the parabolic mirror 39, and electrodes 41 are placed on both sides of the opening of the paraboloid tn39.
PLZT4.a, 41b pasted GJ. An optical shutter 40 made of O'a is arranged. This optical shutter 40 is driven by the lighting device 14.

A condensing lens 42. mirror 4
3 is arranged so as to condense parallel light rays from the parabolic mirror 39. Note that the focal point is located at the position reflected by the mirror 43, and a lens 44 is disposed at the focal point to return the condensed light to a parallel beam, and an optical fiber 45 is connected to the lens 44.

The output end face of the optical fiber 45 is attached to a headlight or auxiliary lamp reflector 46 of the vehicle, and is capable of irradiating a mirror 47 placed at the focal point of the reflector 46 with a parallel beam of light.

A lens 48 is arranged near the mirror 47 to condense parallel light rays from the mirror 47 toward the reflector 46 .

Therefore, when the light shutter 44 is operated 0N10FF at a predetermined timing via the lighting device @14, the light source bulb 3
The light from 8 is interrupted by an optical shutter 40, and is irradiated from a reflector 46 in a predetermined direction.

Further, on the top of the paraboloid 1t39, electrodes 50a and 5 are provided on both sides.
Four other optical shutters consisting of P L Z 'r 49 a with Qb pasted are arranged, and this optical shutter 4
One is operated by the drive circuit 23.

An optical fiber 51 is arranged in front of the optical shutter 49, the output end of the optical fiber 51 is guided to, for example, a tail lamp 53, and a lens 52 is arranged in front of the output end of the optical fiber 51.

Therefore, the light from the lighting bulb 38 is transmitted to the light shutter 49 at 0.
Pulsed light is emitted from the tail lamp 53 or the like by intermittent operation according to the N10FF operation. Therefore, the optical shutter 40.
49 is operated 0N10FF alternately, it becomes possible to alternately irradiate pulsed light in the direction of the headlight and tail lamp using one lighting bulb 38, and the light source bulb 38
It becomes possible to effectively use the light from the

Next, the processing contents of the microcomputer 13 are shown in FIG.
This will be explained using the 70-diameter shown in FIG.

The processing content shown in Figure 6 is to determine the light emission form of the light projector mounted on the other vehicle such as an oncoming vehicle, that is, whether it is intermittent light or continuous light. This determines the light projection form of the light projector 34.

In the figure, when the program is started, step (
In step 100), it is determined whether the light switch 56 is ON or not, that is, whether the lighting device 3 of the host vehicle is in an operating state. If it is determined as 'NO°' in step (100), the same determination is repeated; on the other hand, if it is determined as YES, in the next step (101) it is determined whether or not there is a preceding vehicle, that is, the monomulti 29 A determination is made as to whether the output signal H of is at H11. If it is determined in step (101) that there is no preceding vehicle, step (10
3), set the flag FA, and proceed to step (10).
6).

Further, if it is determined in step (101) that a preceding vehicle exists, in the next step (102>) it is determined whether the preceding vehicle light is an intermittent light or not, that is, the output signal ■ of the monomulti 32 is "' l -1". If it is determined in step (102> that the light of the preceding vehicle is continuous light), the flag FB is set in step (104), and the flag FB is set in step (106). to move to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (102) that the light of the preceding vehicle is intermittent light, the flag FC is set in step (105).
is set, and the process moves to step (106). and,
In step (106), it is determined whether there is an oncoming vehicle, that is, whether the output signal of the monomulti 7 is "HI+", and if it is determined as YES in step (10f3), the next step is to In step (107), it is determined whether the oncoming vehicle has approached close to its own weight, that is, whether the output signal B of the monomulti 9 is 'l-1', and it is determined whether the oncoming vehicle has approached close to its own vehicle. If it is determined, the process moves to step (108). Also, step (106')
, if it is determined NO in (107), step (1
09).

On the other hand, in step (108), it is determined whether the oncoming vehicle light is intermittent light or not, and if the oncoming vehicle light is continuous light, the process moves to step (111). On the other hand, step (
If it is determined in 108) that the light from an oncoming vehicle is intermittent light, the process moves to step (113). And step (
109) - Steps (114) perform flag determination, and if there is no preceding vehicle or oncoming vehicle (indicated by ■)
In this case, the processing shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

Next, the contents of the process shown in FIG. 7 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 11 (3), the lighting device 3 normally irradiates light for a time t+ and does not irradiate during a period t2. However, in the process shown in FIG. ,
If there is no oncoming vehicle, time t+/n (for example, n='
l), t2. /l11 (for example, the value of m = 100> is fixed, light is irradiated for time t1, and light is not irradiated for time t2, which is faster than the normal intermittent cycle and the amount of irradiated light per unit time, that is Intermittent light irradiation or continuous light irradiation (m=oo) is performed so as to increase the average amount of light.

In the same figure, when the timer T, is reset and activated in step <200), in the next step (201), the timer T is determined that t,/n has elapsed since the timer T, was activated. If it is determined that time t,/n has not elapsed since the start of the timer, the microcomputer 13 sends a control signal E of H'° in step (118). is output and step (2
Return to 01).

t after the timer T1 is started in step (201),
If it is determined that time /n has elapsed, timer T1 is reset in step (202>), and timer T2 is reset and started in step (203). Then, in step (204), timer T1 is reset. It is determined whether or not time t2/n has elapsed since T2 was started, and if it is determined in step (204) that the time t, 7m has not elapsed, step (205) is performed.
), the microcomputer 13 outputs the “L” control signal E.
is output, and the process returns to step <204).

On the other hand, if it is determined that t2/m has elapsed since the timer T2 was activated in step (204), the timer T2 is reset to 1 to 1 in step (206).
In the next step (207>, the flag FA is reset,
Execution of this process ends.

In this way, in the process shown in Fig. 7, when there is no other vehicle such as an oncoming vehicle, by increasing the amount of light per unit time, that is, the average amount of light, the visibility in front of the vehicle can be further improved. It can make you feel better. The intermittent timing of the irradiation light in this case is as shown in FIG. 11 (4).

Next, in the process shown in FIG. 6, if the flag is determined to indicate that an oncoming vehicle exists and 'a@light irradiation, a preceding vehicle exists,
In the case of continuous light irradiation, or in the case of continuous light irradiation for both the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle (indicated by ■), the process shifts to the process shown in FIG. The processing content shown in FIG. 8 is to irradiate intermittent light at a unique intermittent period so as not to dazzle the other vehicle in each of the above cases.

In the figure, when the timer T is set and activated in step (300), it is determined in step (301) whether or not time tl has elapsed since timer T1 was activated, and time t1 is If it is determined that the elapsed time has not elapsed, the micro combi coater 13 sends “FI 11
The control signal E is output and the process returns to step (301).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (301) that time t1 has elapsed since the timer T1 was started, step (301) is performed.
303), the timer T1 is reset, and in the next step (304), the timer T2 is reset and activated. Furthermore, in step (305), it is determined whether a time t2 has elapsed since the timer T2 was started;
If it is determined that the time t2 has not elapsed, the microcomputer 13 outputs 11 L at step (306).
The control signal E of II is output, and the process returns to step (305).

After timer 1-2 is activated in step (305), +
If it is determined that time T2 has elapsed, the process proceeds to step (307), where timer T2 is reset, and flags FA and FB are set at step (308).
is reset and the execution of this process ends.

The intermittent cycle of the irradiation light in the above process is the same as the normal intermittent cycle, as shown in FIG. 11 (3).

Next, in the flag judgment shown in Fig. 6, if there is no oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle light is intermittent light, if the oncoming vehicle light is continuous light and the preceding vehicle light is intermittent light, and if the oncoming vehicle light is continuous light and the preceding vehicle light is intermittent light, If both of the preceding vehicle lights are intermittent lights and their light irradiation periods do not match (indicated by ■), the process shifts to the process shown in FIG. 9. The process shown in FIG. 9 is to irradiate the own vehicle with intermittent light in synchronization with the light irradiation period of the preceding vehicle.

In the figure, in step <400), it is determined whether or not the intermittent light of the preceding vehicle is being illuminated, and it is determined that it is being illuminated! , : In the next step <401), the microcomputer 13 outputs the control signal E of "H", and the process moves to step (403).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (400) that the intermittent light of the preceding vehicle is not irradiated, the microcomputer 13 outputs a control signal E of "1 + 1" in step (402), and the process moves to step (403). Step (
In step 403), the flag FC is reset, and the execution of this process is ended.

In this way, by irradiating intermittent light of the vehicle's own weight in synchronization with the intermittent timing of the preceding vehicle light, the visibility ahead of the own vehicle can be further improved. Note that the timing of the own vehicle intermittent light in this process is as shown in FIG. 11 (5).

Furthermore, in the process of FIG. 6, steps (113), (
If the flag determination in step 114) and the determination step in step (115) indicate that the oncoming vehicle light is intermittent light and there is no preceding vehicle, or if the oncoming vehicle light is intermittent light and the preceding vehicle light is continuous light, the preceding vehicle light is If both the oncoming vehicle lights are intermittent lights, it is determined in step (116) whether or not the oncoming vehicle lights are being emitted, and if the oncoming vehicle lights are being emitted, it is determined in step (117). The flags FA, FB, and FC are reset and the execution of this process is ended.

If it is determined in step (116) that the light from an oncoming vehicle is not being irradiated (indicated by ■), the process shifts to the process shown in FIG. 10. As shown in Figure 10, the processing details are such that the light irradiation period of the oncoming vehicle intermittent light and the light irradiation period of the self-weight intermittent light do not overlap.
The vehicle's intermittent light is emitted at a unique intermittent cycle.

In the figure, when the timer T is reset and activated in step (500), in the next step (501), it is determined whether a time t1 has elapsed since timer king 1 was activated, If it is determined that the time t1 has not elapsed, the process moves to step (502). In step (502), it is determined whether or not the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is being irradiated, and if it is determined that it is not being irradiated, in step (503), the microcomputer 13 sends the
The control signal E of II is output and the process returns to step (501).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (501) that time t1 has elapsed since timer T1 was started, or if it is determined in step (502) that the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is being irradiated, In step (504), timer T+ is reset, and in the next step (505), timer 1-2 is reset and activated. And step (50
In step 6), it is determined whether or not time t2 has elapsed since the timer T2 was activated. If it is determined that time t2 has not elapsed, the microcomputer 13 in the next step (507) "L II control signal E is output, and in step (508) it is determined whether or not the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is being irradiated. If it is determined that the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is not being irradiated, step (506) Return to and repeat the same process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (506) that time t2 has elapsed since the timer T2 was started, or if it is determined in step (508) that the intermittent oncoming vehicle light is being irradiated, step ( 509), the timer T2 is reset, and in the next step (510), the flags FA and FB are reset.
, FC is reset and the execution of this process ends. In this case, the intermittent timing of the own vehicle intermittent light is as shown in FIG. 11 (6).

In this way, in the above processing, the intermittent light of the own vehicle is irradiated with its own intermittent period so that the light irradiation period does not overlap with the intermittent light of the oncoming vehicle, so that both the oncoming vehicle and its own weight are dazzled. The visibility ahead of the vehicle can be further improved compared to the case where light is irradiated in a normal intermittent cycle as shown in FIG. 11(3).

Next, FIG. 12 shows another embodiment (second embodiment) of the process shown in FIG. 10. This embodiment is applied to a case where there are a plurality of oncoming vehicles and intermittent light is emitted from these oncoming vehicles, as shown in FIGS. 13(1) and 13(2). In other words, once it starts emitting intermittent light due to its own weight, it attempts to emit light for a total of a predetermined period of time, for example, tl, as early as possible by skipping periods when oncoming vehicles are not emitting light. .

In FIG. 12, at step (600) timer TI,
'I-3 is reset, and timer T1.1-3 is started in step (601), and then the next step <60
2>, it is determined whether the time t1 has elapsed since the timers TI and T3 were started, and if it is determined that the time t1 has not elapsed, the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is turned on in step (603). A determination is made as to whether or not the beam is being irradiated. If it is determined in step (603) that the intermittent light from an oncoming vehicle is being irradiated, the microcomputer 13 outputs a control signal E of L'' in step (604), and the timer T is activated in step (605). The time measurement is interrupted and the process returns to step (603).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (603) that the oncoming vehicle intermittent light is not being irradiated, the microcomputer 13 outputs the control signal E of °H'' in step (606), and in the next step (607) The interruption of time measurement by timer T1 is canceled and the process returns to step (603).

On the other hand, if it is determined that time t1 has elapsed since timer T+, 1-3 was started in step (602>),
In step (608), timer T1 is reset, and then the process proceeds to step (609).

In step (609), it is determined whether or not time t3 has elapsed since the timer T3 was started, and step (609) is performed.
If it is determined in step (609) that the time t3 has not elapsed, then in step (610) the microcomputer 13
The control signal E of 'L' is outputted, and step (609
).

Time t3 has passed since timer T3 was started in step (609)! , : If it is determined that step (
611), the timer T3 is reset, and then, in step (612), the flags FA and FB are reset.

The FC is reset and the execution of this process ends.

The timing of the own vehicle's intermittent light during this process is as shown in FIG. 13 (3).

In the process shown in FIG. 10, the light irradiation is basically stopped for a time t2 after the self-vehicle finishes the light irradiation, whereas in this embodiment, the self-weight When starts irradiation, the second light irradiation is performed after time t3 (
However, if the light is being irradiated by an oncoming vehicle at that point, the light will last until the oncoming vehicle's light irradiation is finished), so in the end, overall fluctuations in the self-weight irradiation amount per unit time will be reduced. Can be made smaller.

As explained above, instead of increasing the light intensity by changing the duty of the intermittent pulse of the self-weight intermittent light, the voltage of the intermittent light pulse is controlled and the light amount during one light irradiation period of the self-weight intermittent light is increased. You may try increasing it. in this case,
In the light irradiation device shown in FIG. 5, the voltage applied to the PLZT ceramic of the optical shutter 40 may be changed.

In other words, if there is no preceding vehicle or oncoming vehicle, @
In the characteristics shown in Figure 14, the applied voltage corresponding to the point (a) where the light transmittance of PLZT ceramics is maximum is set to the point (c) at 100% of the reference voltage (for example, 420V), and the applied voltage corresponding to the point (c) where the light transmittance of the PLZT ceramic is maximum is set at the point (c) at 100% of the reference voltage (for example, 420V). If a car is present, the transmittance may be controlled to a point (b) where the transmittance is halved, for example, or a point (d) where the power supply voltage value is 80% of the standard.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, when driving at night, for example, it is possible to prevent dazzling from an oncoming vehicle equipped with a discontinuous light type floodlight, and to prevent the vehicle from being dazzled by an oncoming vehicle equipped with a discontinuous light type floodlight. Visibility can be further improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a dimensional diagram showing the structure of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of an embodiment of the visibility improvement device according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is an illustration of the arrangement of the optical shutter plate. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the If4 structure of the optical shutter, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the illumination device 3 in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 6 to 10 are micro Flowcharts 1 to 11 showing the processing contents of the computer 60, and FIG.
-1 Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing shown in Fig. 10, Fig. 13 is a timing chart for explaining the processing contents of Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing shown in Fig. 10. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the voltage applied between the electrodes and the light transmittance of the PLZT ceramic used. a... Vehicle-mounted floodlight b... Vehicle-mounted filter plate C... Oncoming vehicle detection means d... Light amount control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a vehicle-mounted light projector that projects visible light onto a predetermined area in front of the vehicle while intermittent or changing its intensity at a high speed that appears as continuous light to the human eye; disposed facing the light projecting area in front of the vehicle; and a vehicle-mounted light shutter plate that is controlled to a high transmittance state in synchronization with the irradiation period or strong illuminance period of the light projected from the vehicle-mounted floodlight; and the discontinuous light vehicle-mounted floodlight within a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle. an oncoming vehicle detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle; when the oncoming vehicle detecting means detects "no oncoming vehicle", the average amount of light emitted from the vehicle-mounted floodlight is determined as "an oncoming vehicle"; 1. A visibility improvement device comprising: a light amount control means for setting the amount of light to be higher than the average amount of projected light in a state in which the amount of light is detected.