US20200039420A1 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Vehicle lamp Download PDF

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Publication number
US20200039420A1
US20200039420A1 US16/531,632 US201916531632A US2020039420A1 US 20200039420 A1 US20200039420 A1 US 20200039420A1 US 201916531632 A US201916531632 A US 201916531632A US 2020039420 A1 US2020039420 A1 US 2020039420A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
vehicle lamp
margin region
lamp according
reflected
size
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US16/531,632
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English (en)
Inventor
Tatsuma KITAZAWA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2018147921A external-priority patent/JP7173780B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2018150097A external-priority patent/JP7161337B2/ja
Application filed by Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd filed Critical Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Assigned to KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. reassignment KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KITAZAWA, TATSUMA
Publication of US20200039420A1 publication Critical patent/US20200039420A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1415—Dimming circuits
    • B60Q1/1423—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
    • B60Q1/143—Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/63—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
    • F21S41/64—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by changing their light transmissivity, e.g. by liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/65—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/67—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on reflectors
    • F21S41/675—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on reflectors by moving reflectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V14/00—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
    • F21V14/08—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of the screens or filters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0442—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
    • F21V23/0471—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
    • F21V23/0478—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/05—Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
    • B60Q2300/054—Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/05—Special features for controlling or switching of the light beam
    • B60Q2300/056—Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/30—Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
    • B60Q2300/31—Atmospheric conditions
    • B60Q2300/312—Adverse weather
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/40—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
    • B60Q2300/41—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions preceding vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/40—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
    • B60Q2300/42—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions oncoming vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2300/00—Indexing codes for automatically adjustable headlamps or automatically dimmable headlamps
    • B60Q2300/40—Indexing codes relating to other road users or special conditions
    • B60Q2300/45—Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2102/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2102/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
    • F21W2102/10—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light
    • F21W2102/17—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light for regions other than high beam or low beam
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2107/00—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
    • F21W2107/10—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles for land vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.
  • Vehicle lamps are important for traveling safely during nighttime or in a tunnel.
  • a driver prioritize visibility thereof and illuminate a wide range in front of a vehicle, there is a problem that glare is given to a driver of a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle existing in front of the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a front vehicle) or a pedestrian.
  • an adaptive driving beam (ADB) technique which dynamically and adaptively controls a light distribution pattern based on a state around a vehicle.
  • the ADB technology detects existence of the front vehicle or the pedestrian, and reduces the glare given to the driver of the front vehicle or to the pedestrian by, for example, dimming or extinguishing lighting in a region corresponding to the front vehicle or the pedestrian.
  • the present invention is made in view of this circumstance, and an exemplary object of such an aspect is to improve visibility of a front of a vehicle during snowfall.
  • An aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.
  • the vehicle lamp includes: a light distribution controller configured to generate a light distribution pattern including shaded portions in which margin regions are added around snow particles; and a variable light distribution lamp capable of generating a beam having an intensity distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern. At least one of sizes and shapes of the margin regions are variable.
  • the visibility of the front of the vehicle during snowfall can be improved.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 2A illustrates a camera image IMG
  • FIG. 2B illustrates a light distribution pattern PTN
  • FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a shaded portion
  • FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a shaded portion
  • FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a shaded portion
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing control of margin regions based on positions
  • FIG. 5 is a photograph taken from a traveling vehicle during snowfall
  • FIG. 6A illustrates a camera image IMG
  • FIG. 6B illustrates a light distribution pattern PTN
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp according to an example.
  • a vehicle lamp includes: a light distribution controller, configured to generate a light distribution pattern including shaded portions in which margin regions are added around snow particles; and a variable light distribution lamp, which is capable of generating a beam having an intensity distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern.
  • a light distribution controller configured to generate a light distribution pattern including shaded portions in which margin regions are added around snow particles
  • a variable light distribution lamp which is capable of generating a beam having an intensity distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern.
  • At least one of sizes and shapes of the margin regions may be set according to positions of the snow particles. Trajectories of the snow particles during traveling move radially from a vanishing point. Apparent lengths of the trajectories of the snow particles (amounts of movement per unit time) become longer when the snow particles become closer to a given vehicle, that is, farther from the vanishing point. Therefore, the margin regions may become larger in a case where the snow particles become farther from the vanishing point. Accordingly, a capability to follow snow particles that are close to the given vehicle can be improved.
  • the vanishing point of the snow particles is located above an image. Therefore, the sizes of the margin regions may become smaller in a case where positions of the snow particles become higher and may become larger in a case where the positions of the snow particles become lower. Accordingly, control can be simplified.
  • the sizes and shapes of the margin regions may reflect a vehicle speed. Accordingly, the capability to follow the snow particles can be improved during high-speed traveling, and the visibility can be improved during low-speed traveling or parking.
  • the sizes and shapes of the margin regions may reflect an output of a raindrop sensor. It is difficult to accurately detect sizes of the snow particles. Therefore, it can be assumed that there is a correlation between the output of the raindrop sensor and the sizes of the snow particles, and the sizes of the snow particles can be reflected by sizes of shaded portions through adjusting the margin regions.
  • a noticed object In a range in which an object to be noticed (hereinafter, referred to as a noticed object) is present, such as a preceding vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, or a pedestrian, it may be preferable to prioritize visibility of the noticed object instead of the capability to follow the snow particles.
  • the noticed object In a range in which the noticed object is absent, for example, a background is the sky, or in a range in which the object is located far away, there is no problem in giving priority to the capability to follow. Therefore, the sizes of the margin regions may be reduced in the range in which the noticed object is present.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the vehicle lamp according to the embodiment.
  • the vehicle lamp 100 includes a variable light distribution lamp 110 and a light distribution controller 140 .
  • the variable light distribution lamp 110 is a white light source, which receives data indicating a light distribution pattern PTN from the light distribution controller 140 , emits a beam L 3 having an intensity distribution (beam profile) corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN, and forms an illuminance distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN in front of the vehicle.
  • a configuration of the variable light distribution lamp 110 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a semiconductor light source, such as a laser diode (LD) or a light emitting diode (LED), and a lighting circuit for driving and lighting the semiconductor light source.
  • the variable light distribution lamp 110 may include a matrix-type pattern forming device, such as a digital mirror device (DMD) or a liquid crystal device, so as to form the illuminance distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN.
  • DMD digital mirror device
  • the variable light distribution lamp 110 has a resolution enough to shade only the portions of the snow particles.
  • the light distribution controller 140 dynamically and adaptively controls the light distribution pattern PTN supplied to the light distribution variable lamp 110 .
  • the light distribution pattern PTN is recognized as a two-dimensional illuminance distribution of a white light irradiation pattern 902 formed by the variable light distribution lamp 110 on a virtual vertical screen 900 in front of the given vehicle.
  • the light distribution controller 140 can be configured by a digital processor, or may be configured by a combination of a microcomputer (including a CPU) and a software program, by a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specified IC (ASIC), or the like.
  • the light distribution controller 140 detects the snow particles and generates the light distribution pattern PTN in which the portions corresponding to the snow particles are shaded. “Shading a certain portion” includes a case where a luminance (illuminance) of the portion is set to zero and a case where the luminance (illuminance) of the portion is reduced.
  • a method for detecting the snow particles is not limited.
  • the light distribution controller 140 can detect the snow particles by image processing based on a camera image IMG obtained by a camera (not shown).
  • a detection algorithm of the snow particles is not particularly limited.
  • the light distribution controller 140 may detect the snow particles based on a plurality of consecutive frames of the camera image IMG.
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B describe an operation of the vehicle lamp 100 of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 2A shows the camera image IMG
  • FIG. 2B shows the light distribution pattern PTN corresponding to the camera image of FIG. 2A .
  • Snow particles 6 , a person 8 , and a vehicle 10 are shown in the camera image IMG.
  • the light distribution controller 140 detects the snow particles 6 from the camera image IMG and shades corresponding portions 7 (referred to as shaded portions) of the light distribution pattern PTN.
  • the light distribution controller 140 may perform so-called ADB control, and in this case, when a target that should not be given glare to is detected, such as the vehicle 10 , a corresponding portion 11 is also shaded
  • the light distribution pattern PTN is updated at a rate of, for example, 30 fps or more, and the shaded portions 7 can be moved following the snow particles 6 . Accordingly, reflected light of the snow particles 6 can be reduced, and visibility of a front can be improved.
  • FIGS. 3A to 3C are enlarged views of the shaded portions 7 .
  • the shaded portions 7 include portions X of the snow particles 6 and margin regions Y added around the portions
  • the shaded portions 7 can have rectangular shapes which are longer in moving directions of the snow particles and shorter in directions perpendicular to the moving directions of the snow particles (indicated by arrows in the drawings).
  • at least one of the sizes and shapes of the margin regions Y are variable, and are dynamically and/or adaptively controlled.
  • a size of a margin region Y is the smallest, and the sizes of the margin regions Y sequentially become larger in FIGS. 3B and 3C .
  • lengths W of the margin regions Yin short directions are fixed, and lengths L of the margin regions Y in longitudinal directions are variable.
  • At least one of the sizes and the shapes of the margin regions Y can be variable according to positions of the snow particles (shaded targets).
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing control of margin regions based on the positions.
  • the camera captures an image of a front of the vehicle (S 100 ).
  • the snow particles are detected based on the camera image (S 102 ).
  • the size and the shape of the margin region Y is set for each snow particle depending on a position of the snow particle (S 104 ).
  • the shaded regions are set and the light distribution pattern is updated (S 106 ). This operation is repeated.
  • FIG. 5 is a photograph taken from a traveling vehicle during snowfall.
  • the snow particles move radially from a certain vanishing point DP.
  • the snow particles are observed as trajectories during exposure time. Lengths of the trajectories are apparent movement distances per unit time of the snow particles (apparent speeds).
  • a trajectory becomes shorter in a case where a snow particle becomes closer to the vanishing point DP, and a trajectory becomes longer if a snow particle becomes farther from the vanishing point DP. Therefore, the margin regions Y may become larger in a case where the snow particles become farther from the vanishing point. Accordingly, the capability to follow can be improved.
  • the vanishing point DP may be detected by the image processing based on traveling situations. Alternatively, since the snow falls from the sky, the vanishing point DP of the snow particles may be fixed. It may be considered that the snow particles becomes closer to the vanishing point DP in a case where the positions of the snow particles become higher in the image, and the snow particles become farther from the vanishing point DP in a case where the positions of the snow particles become lower in the image. Based on this assumption, the sizes of the margin regions Y may become smaller in a case where the positions of the snow particles become higher and may become larger in a case where the positions of the snow particles become lower. Accordingly, the control can be simplified.
  • a noticed object In a range in which an object to be noticed (hereinafter, referred to as a noticed object) is present, such as a preceding vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, or a pedestrian, it may be preferable to prioritize visibility of the noticed object instead of the capability to follow the snow particles.
  • the noticed object In a range in which the noticed object is absent, for example, a background is the sky, or in a range in which the object is located far away, there is no problem in giving priority to the capability to follow. Therefore, the sizes of the margin regions may be reduced in the range in which the noticed object is present.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B describe improvement of the visibility with respect to the noticed object.
  • FIG. 6A shows the camera image IMG
  • FIG. 6B shows the light distribution pattern PTN.
  • a noticed object OBJ is present in a region B including a road.
  • a background of a region A above the region B is the sky (or a distant area), it can be said that there is a low possibility that the noticed object is present.
  • the light distribution controller 140 may divide the region B in which the noticed object may be present and the region A in which the noticed object may be absent, control the margin regions corresponding to the positions of the snow particles in the region A, and exclude the region B from the control.
  • the sizes of the margin regions are preferably small. In other words, the region B may be excluded from shading control based on the snow particles.
  • the traveling situation can be reflected in the control of the margin regions.
  • the apparent speeds of the snow particles become faster if a vehicle speed v becomes faster, and becomes slower if the vehicle speed v becomes slower. Therefore, the lengths L of the margin regions may be controlled according to the vehicle speed v.
  • a y coordinate of a snow particle is referred to as y while the vehicle speed is referred to as v
  • a length L of a margin region can be expressed by a function f(y,v).
  • the light distribution controller 140 may calculate a value of the function f(y,v) or may have a lookup table.
  • an output of a raindrop sensor may be reflected in the control of the margin regions.
  • the output of the raindrop sensor is large, that is, when an amount of snowfall is large, the lengths L of the margin regions may be relatively larger. It is difficult to accurately detect the sizes of the snow particles only based on the camera image IMG. Therefore, it can be assumed that there is a correlation between the output of the raindrop sensor and the sizes of the snow particles, and the sizes of the snow particles can be reflected by sizes of shaded portions through adjusting the margin regions.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp 100 A according to an example.
  • the vehicle lamp 100 A includes an infrared illumination device 120 and an infrared camera 130 .
  • the infrared illumination device 120 and the infrared camera 130 may be incorporated in a housing (lamp body) of the vehicle lamp 100 or may be externally attached.
  • the infrared illumination device 120 may be incorporated in the housing, and the infrared camera 130 may be mounted on an inner side of a room mirror.
  • the infrared illumination device 120 is a probe light source that irradiates infrared probe light L 1 to the front of the vehicle.
  • the probe light L 1 may be near-infrared light or light having a longer wavelength.
  • the infrared camera 130 images reflected light L 2 of the probe light L 1 reflected by an object 2 in front of the vehicle.
  • the infrared camera 130 should be sensitive to at least a wavelength region of the probe light L 1 , and is preferably insensitive to visible light.
  • the light distribution controller 140 detects the snow particles by the image processing based on the camera image IMG obtained by the infrared camera 130 .
  • the vehicle lamp 100 A When white (visible) probe light is used to detect the snow particles, the snow particles shine whitely and generate glare each time the probe light is irradiated, resulting in a poor visual field. According to the present embodiment, since infrared rays are used as the probe light, there is an advantage that the glare can be prevented.
  • the infrared rays are used as the probe light, there is an advantage that it is difficult for the driver to recognize the probe light even when the probe light is continuously irradiated. Therefore, it is possible to follow and detect snow particles moving at high speeds.
  • the widths W may also be variable, and the shapes of the margin regions may also be variable.
  • the infrared rays are used as the probe light, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to use the beam L 3 emitted by the variable light distribution lamp 110 as the probe light to detect the snow particles. In this case, glare is given to the driver if irradiation time of the probe light is long, so that emission time of the probe light may be shortened to such a degree that the reflected light L 2 cannot be detected by the driver.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
US16/531,632 2018-08-06 2019-08-05 Vehicle lamp Abandoned US20200039420A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2018-147921 2018-08-06
JP2018147921A JP7173780B2 (ja) 2018-08-06 2018-08-06 車両用灯具
JP2018150097A JP7161337B2 (ja) 2018-08-09 2018-08-09 車両用灯具
JP2018-150097 2018-08-09

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US20200039420A1 true US20200039420A1 (en) 2020-02-06

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US16/531,632 Abandoned US20200039420A1 (en) 2018-08-06 2019-08-05 Vehicle lamp
US16/531,541 Active US11066006B2 (en) 2018-08-06 2019-08-05 Vehicle lamp

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US16/531,541 Active US11066006B2 (en) 2018-08-06 2019-08-05 Vehicle lamp

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US (2) US20200039420A1 (zh)
CN (2) CN110859018B (zh)
DE (2) DE102019211732A1 (zh)
FR (2) FR3084726B1 (zh)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11994266B2 (en) 2020-06-09 2024-05-28 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Light distribution control device, vehicular lamp system, and light distribution control method

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11423639B2 (en) * 2020-07-31 2022-08-23 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Hidden camera detection systems and methods

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