WO1996018524A1

WO1996018524A1 - Illuminating lamp control apparatus and mobile body provided with illuminating lamp control apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1996018524A1
Application number: PCT/JP1995/002579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masatoshi Araya
Original assignee: Masatoshi Araya
Priority date: 1994-12-15
Filing date: 1995-12-15
Publication date: 1996-06-20
Also published as: AU4188996A

Abstract

An illuminating lamp control apparatus capable of regulating the illuminating direction of an illuminating lamp in accordance with the variation of the direction of movement of a mobile body. The illuminating direction of an illuminating lamp (14) provided on an automobile (12) is varied by a motor (20) and a shaft turning member (32). A potentiometer (78) and a control circuit (90) are adapted to control the motor (20) on the basis of an output from an acceleration sensor (88), which is adapted to detect the variation of the direction of movement of the automobile (12), in such a manner that the illuminating direction of the illuminating lamp (14) varies in accordance with the variation of a movement of the automobile (12).

Description

Specification

[Title of Invention]

Illumination light control device and moving object with illumination light control device

[Technical field]

The present invention relates to an illumination light control device that controls an irradiation direction of an illumination light provided on a moving body such as an automobile or a crane.

[Background technology]

Conventionally, automobiles, trains, aircraft, ships, motorcycles, bicycles, and the like have been provided with illumination lights such as headlights and auxiliary lights. By turning on the headlights and auxiliary lights, it is possible to illuminate the front of the vehicle in the traveling direction during low-light / night driving, enabling safe driving of cars and trains.

Such lighting is also provided on working machines such as cranes, and it is possible to perform safe work by illuminating the work place during dusk or nighttime work.

However, since the headlights provided on cars and trains are fixed facing forward in the direction of travel, it was not possible to illuminate the direction in which cars or trains would change direction when they change direction. . That is, as shown in Fig. 17, the vehicle 1 is strong, for example, when traveling on a curved road 2, the headlight 3 irradiates the direction in which the vehicle 1 has turned, so that the vehicle 1 is heading in the future. The place where you are trying to turn is not illuminated.

For this reason, it is desired that the vehicle 1 be illuminated in advance at the place where the vehicle 1 is going to turn, and that sufficient safety is ensured during twilight or night driving.

Similarly, for working machines such as cranes, it is desirable to illuminate the destination to which the cranes are heading in advance to enhance work efficiency and ensure sufficient safety during dusk and nighttime work.

An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating light control device capable of adjusting an irradiating direction of an illuminating light according to a change in a moving direction of a moving body.

Another object of the present invention is to change the irradiation direction of the illuminating lamp according to the change in the moving direction of the moving object. To provide a motor vehicle with a lighting control device that can be adjusted

[Disclosure of the Invention]

An illumination light control device according to an aspect of the present invention is mounted on an illumination light provided on a moving body, and detects an irradiation direction changing unit that changes an irradiation direction of the illumination light, and detects a change in a moving direction of the moving body. A control unit that controls the irradiation direction changing unit based on a detection output of the detection unit and changes an irradiation direction of the illumination lamp in accordance with a change in a moving direction of the moving body. It is characterized by the following.

Thereby, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp can be adjusted according to the change in the moving direction of the moving body.

In the illuminating light control device according to another aspect of the present invention, the detection unit detects a change in the moving direction of the moving body from left to right, and the control unit detects a change in the moving direction of the moving body to the left. The irradiation direction changing unit controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction to the right when the moving direction of the moving body changes to the right.

As a result, it is possible to detect that the moving direction of the moving body has changed to the left, and adjust the illumination direction of the illumination lamp to the left, and to detect that the moving direction of the moving body has changed to the right. The illumination direction of the illumination lamp can be adjusted to the right.

In the illuminating light control device according to still another aspect of the present invention, the detecting unit detects a vertical change in a moving direction of the moving body, and the control unit determines that the moving direction of the moving body changes upward. The irradiation direction changing unit controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction upward when the moving direction of the moving body changes downward.

With this, it is possible to detect that the moving direction of the moving body has changed upward, adjust the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp downward, and detect that the moving direction of the moving body has changed downward, The illumination direction of the illumination lamp can be adjusted upward.

An illuminating light control device according to still another aspect of the present invention is mounted on an illuminating light provided on a moving body, and configured to change an irradiating direction of the illuminating light, and an object in front of the moving direction of the moving body. An object detection unit that detects A control unit that controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp toward the object.

Thereby, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp can be changed toward the object ahead of the moving direction of the moving body.

An illumination light control device according to still another aspect of the present invention is mounted on an illumination light provided on a moving object, and an irradiation range switching unit that switches an irradiation range of the illumination light to a distant position and a near position, and a moving direction of the moving object. A light detection unit that detects light in front; and a control unit that controls the irradiation range switching unit based on a detection output of the light detection unit so that the irradiation range of the illumination lamp is far or near. It is characterized by having.

This makes it possible to switch the irradiation range of the illumination lamp between a distant place and a nearby place according to the brightness in front of the moving body.

A moving object with an illumination light control device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes an illumination light control device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an illumination light control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial explanatory view showing a mounting position of an illumination lamp for changing an irradiation direction by the illumination lamp control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an attached state of an illumination lamp for changing an irradiation direction by the illumination lamp control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relay section of the illumination light control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a motor of the illumination light control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the device main body of the illumination light control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle equipped with the illumination light control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention when traveling. It is explanatory drawing which shows the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp in.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the relay section of the illumination light control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an illumination light control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial explanatory view showing a mounting position of an illumination lamp for changing an irradiation direction by an illumination lamp control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of an illumination lamp for changing an irradiation direction by an illumination lamp control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the illuminating light control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the illuminating light control device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the irradiation direction of the illuminating lamp at the time of nose-up of an automobile equipped with the illuminating lamp control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the illumination direction of the illumination light when the vehicle equipped with the illumination light control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention nose-downs.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the irradiation direction of a lighting lamp provided in a conventional automobile.

[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

An illumination light control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an illumination light control device provided in an automobile, FIG. 2 is a partial explanatory view showing a front portion of the automobile to which an illumination light is attached, and FIG. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows a state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting control device 10 is connected to two lighting lights 14 installed at the front end of the automobile 12 and controls the irradiation direction of the lighting lights 14. be able to. Each illumination lamp 14 is connected to a relay section 18 by a flexible shaft 16, and the driving force of a motor 20 as a driving section is controlled by the illumination section 18 via the relay section 18. Lights 14 are transmitted. The relay section 18 and the motor 20 are the engine room of the car 12

22 It is installed in 2. The operation of the motor 20 is controlled by the device main body 26 installed in the passenger compartment 24 of the automobile 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the illuminator 14 is attached to a pump 28 attached to the front end of the automobile 12 (only one is shown). The illuminator 14 is installed with the irradiation surface 14a facing the front of the car 12 so that it can illuminate the front of the car 12. This illumination light 14 power For example, if it is a fog light, the irradiation light is hardly affected by fog, so turning on the illumination light 14 makes it easier to travel in the fog.

As shown in FIG. 3, a mounting shaft 30 protruding from a lower end of the illuminating lamp 14 is provided with a shaft rotating portion 32 as an operating mechanism. The shaft rotating portion 32 is made of, for example, a ball bearing, and can hold the mounting shaft 30 in a freely rotatable manner. At the upper end of the mounting shaft 30, a lighting lamp mounting portion 34 is formed, and at the lighting lamp mounting portion 34, a mounting protrusion 36 formed at the lower end of the lighting lamp 14 is screwed. I have. A thread is formed around the mounting shaft 30.

The mounting shaft 30 is inserted into a hole 38 formed in the upper surface 28 a of the van 28. On the mounting shaft 30 inserted into the hole 38, shaft rotating portions 32 are mounted on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the upper surface portion 28a, respectively. Mounting shaft protruding from shaft rotation part 32 on the back side

Nut 40 is screwed into 30. When the nut 40 is screwed, the mounting shaft 30 is attached to the bumper 28 via two shaft rotating portions 32 that sandwich the upper surface portion 28a from the front and back sides. You. The mounting shaft 30 mounted on the knob 28 is freely rotated in the hole 38 by two shaft rotating portions 32 sliding on the front and back surfaces of the upper surface 28a. A dustproof case 42 that covers the shaft rotating portion 32 on the front side is attached to the upper surface 28a.

At the lower end of the mounting shaft 30, a flexible shaft 16 is mounted. The flexible shaft 16 is integrated with the mounting shaft 30 by sandwiching the mounting shaft 30 between the locking protrusion 46 provided opposite the mounting portion 44 at the tip and the mounting screw 48. As shown in FIG. 4, the relay section 18 has a box-shaped case 50 having one end opened, and a lid 52 for closing the opening of the case 50. The lid 52 is fixed to the case 50 by screws 54. The lid 52 has two shaft connecting portions 56 arranged side by side. Each shaft connecting portion 56 freely rotates via a bearing 58 provided on the lid 52. At approximately the center of the shaft connecting portion 56 on the back surface side of the lid 52, a transmission gear 60 having the shaft connecting portion 56 as a rotation axis is mounted. The transmission gear 60 is fixed to the shaft connecting portion 56 with a tightening screw 62. At one end of the shaft connecting portion 56, a shaft receiver 64 protruding out of the lid 52 is formed. An insertion hole 66 into which the end of the flexible shaft 16 can be inserted is formed in the shaft receiver 64. The end of the flexible shaft 16 inserted into the insertion hole 66 is fixed to the shaft receiver 64 by a tightening screw 62. The other end of the shaft connecting part 5 6 is

It is rotatably supported by a bearing 68 installed in 50.

Between the two transmission gears 60, 60 arranged in parallel in the case 50, the two transmission gears 60,

A drive gear 70 corresponding to 60 is arranged. The drive gear 70 has an insertion hole 72 into which the end of the flexible shaft 16 can be inserted.フレキシブル The end of the flexible shaft 16 inserted into the inlet hole 72 is fixed to the drive gear 70 by the screw 62. The flexible shaft 16 that is drawn into the case 50 from the opening of the case 50 is fixed to the case 50 by a nut 76 that is screwed to the outer 74 that is the exterior of the flexible shaft 16. Have been.

The flexible shaft 16 attached to the drive gear 70 rotates and the drive gear

When 70 rotates, both transmission gears 60 and 60 rotate in opposite directions. By the rotation of both transmission gears 60, 60, both shaft connecting portions 56 also rotate in the same direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the motor 20 is equipped with a potentiometer 78 for detecting the rotation amount of the motor 20. The drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 is provided with a spur gear 82 having the drive shaft 80 as a rotation axis. A spur gear 86 having an operating shaft 84 of a potentiometer 78 as a rotation axis is combined with the spur gear 82. Double spur gears 8 2,

The rotation of the motor 20 is transmitted to the potentiometer 7 8 via 8 6. The angle at which the drive shaft 80 is rotated is detected by the potentiometer 78. The tip of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 is connected to a flexible shaft 16 connected to the drive gear 70. The driving power of the motor 20 is supplied from a vehicle battery (not shown) provided in the vehicle 12.

The motor 20, the potentiometer 78, the two spur gears 82, 86 and the like are housed in a case (not shown).

The drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 and the drive gear 70 of the relay 18 are flexible shafts By connecting the shaft connecting part 56 of the relay part 18 and the mounting shaft 30 of each lighting lamp 14 with the flexible shaft 16, the rotation of the drive shaft 80 is connected to each lighting lamp. It is transmitted to the mounting shaft 30 of 14. When the rotation of the drive shaft 80 is transmitted to the mounting shaft 30, the illuminating lights 14 simultaneously change their directions in the same direction according to the rotation of the drive shaft 80. Each lighting lamp 14 changes its irradiation direction from the front of the automobile 12 to, for example, the front left by the forward rotation of the drive shaft 80, and, for example, to the front right by the reverse rotation of the drive shaft 80. Change the irradiation direction.

Therefore, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp 14 can be changed by the shaft rotation unit 32 and the motor 20 which are irradiation direction changing units.

As shown in FIG. 6, the device main body 26 has an acceleration sensor 88 as a detection unit and a control circuit 90. The control circuit 90 incorporates electronic circuits constituting the amplification unit 92, the subtraction unit 94, the gain adjustment unit 96, and the output unit 98.

The acceleration sensor 88 detects lateral acceleration by centrifugal force (or centripetal force) generated when the vehicle 12 turns a curve. The acceleration sensor 88 is installed so that the left-right direction of the vehicle 12 that is substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle 12 is the detection direction. The direction of the lateral acceleration is detected as a positive value when the direction is the same as the detection direction, and as a negative value when the direction is opposite to the detection direction. When the acceleration sensor 88 detects the lateral acceleration, a detection output based on the detected direction and amount of the lateral acceleration is output. The detection output is amplified by the amplification unit 92 and input to the subtraction unit 94. The acceleration sensor 88 can detect a change in the moving direction of the car 12.

The output of the potentiometer 78 is fed back to the subtraction unit 94 while receiving the detection output detected by the acceleration sensor 88. The subtraction unit 94 calculates the difference between the detected output and the output of the potentiometer 78. The detection output is a change amount that changes in proportion to the lateral acceleration, and the output of the potentiometer 78 is the rotation amount of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20. The signal output from the subtraction unit 94 is input to the output unit 98 via the gain adjustment unit 96.

The output unit 98 outputs a control signal for controlling the rotation amount (or the rotation angle) of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 to the motor 20 based on the input signal. The control signal controls the rotation of the motor 20 so as to change the direction of the illuminator 14 in proportion to the change in the moving direction of the vehicle based on the detected lateral acceleration. Therefore, based on the detection output of the acceleration sensor 88, the control unit consisting of the control circuit 90 and the potentiometer 78 changes the irradiation direction of the illumination lamps 14 according to the change of the moving direction of the car 12. Then, the operation of the irradiation direction changing unit is controlled.

Next, the irradiation state of the illumination light of the illumination light control device according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when the car 12 with the light 14 turned on is running almost straight forward, the light 14 has the irradiation surface 14a facing forward.

In this case, since the direction of the automobile 12 does not change, the acceleration sensor 88 does not detect the lateral acceleration, and the output unit 98 does not output the control signal.

Next, when the direction of the moving car 12, for example, approaching a curve, is changed, the illumination light 14 changes the irradiation direction.

When the direction of the car 12 changes as the car 12 starts to turn a curve, the acceleration sensor 88 detects the lateral acceleration. Upon detecting the lateral acceleration, the output unit 98 outputs a control signal based on the detected lateral acceleration. The motor 20 operates in response to the input of the control signal, and as shown in FIG. 7, the illumination light 14 changes the irradiation direction to the direction in which the car 12 changes direction.

Lateral acceleration gradually increases from the start of the curve to the middle of the curve. In response, the illumination lamp 14 also changes the irradiation direction. As car 12 passes the middle of the curve, the lateral acceleration gradually decreases. When the lateral acceleration decreases, the polarity of the output of the subtractor 94 becomes opposite to that when the lateral acceleration increases, and the rotation of the motor 20 also reverses. When the rotation of the motor 20 is reversed, the illumination lamp 14 also changes the irradiation direction in a direction opposite to that when the lateral acceleration is increased. That is, the illuminating lamp 14 that has begun to change the direction of irradiation while the car 12 starts to turn the curve returns to the original state when the car 12 finishes turning the curve. When the output of the control signal is stopped and the operation of the motor 20 stops, the movement of the illuminator 14 also stops.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp 14 can be adjusted according to a change in the moving direction of the automobile 12. Therefore, when driving at night or at night when lighting is required, the direction of illumination of the lighting lamps 14 is changed according to the moving direction of the vehicle 12 so that the direction in which the vehicle 12 is about to move is determined in advance. Can be illuminated. For this reason, it is possible to detect obstacles and danger points on the traveling path at an early stage, and it is possible to secure sufficient safety during twilight or driving at night. This is for cars The same applies to moving objects such as trains, aircraft, ships, motorcycles, and bicycles.

Also, with working machines such as cranes, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamps 14 can be changed in accordance with the movement of the work site, and the direction of movement in the future can be illuminated in advance. For this reason, work efficiency can be improved and sufficient safety can be ensured during dusk or nighttime work.

The illuminating lamp 14 may be lit only when the acceleration sensor 88 detects the lateral acceleration, without being constantly lit. When the car 12 starts to turn, the light 14 turns on, and when the car 12 finishes turning, the light 14 turns off.

Also, by changing the direction of the lighting lamps 14, instead of changing the irradiation direction, a plurality of lighting lamps with the irradiation direction changed in advance is installed, and each lighting lamp is responded to by a control signal from the output unit. May be selectively turned on.

Further, the relay section 18, the motor 20, and the apparatus main body section 26 may be integrated. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the case 50 of the relay section 18 is enlarged, and the motor 20, the potentiometer 78, the acceleration sensor 88 and the control circuit section 90 are housed in the case 50. . The drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 is directly connected to the drive gear 70 without passing through the flexible shaft 16. The spur gear 86 of the operating shaft 84 of the potentiometer 78 is engaged with one of the transmission gears 60.

Further, an angular velocity sensor other than the acceleration sensor 88 may be used as a detection unit for detecting the direction of the automobile 12. As the angular velocity sensor, for example, there is a piezoelectric vibration jar. A piezoelectric vibrating gyroscope is a vibrating gyro with a piezoelectric element attached to a vibrator. When a rotating force is applied to the vibrator, a voltage is generated that is proportional to the speed of rotation (angular speed). By detecting this, the angular velocity is obtained. Based on the obtained angular velocity, the amount of motion and the direction and angle are calculated.

An illumination light control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The illumination light control device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the illumination light control device 100 according to the first embodiment in that a relay unit installed in an engine room of an automobile is installed near an illumination light. It has the same configuration and operation as the light control device 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an illumination light control device provided in an automobile, and FIG. 10 is a partial explanatory diagram showing a front part of the automobile to which an illumination light is attached.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the relay section 18 of the illuminating light control device 100 is installed on a bumper 28 attached to the front end of the automobile 12. The relay section 18 and the illuminating lights 14 located on both sides of the relay section 18 are connected by a flexible shaft 16. The engine 20 and the relay 18 installed in the engine room 22 are connected by a flexible shaft 16.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a mounting shaft 30 protruding from the lower end of the illuminator 14 is provided with a shaft rotating portion 32 as an operating mechanism. The shaft rotating portion 32 is formed of, for example, a ball bearing, and can hold the mounting shaft 30 in a freely rotatable manner.

The mounting shaft 30 is mounted on, for example, a cylindrical mounting bearing 104 provided in the dustproof case 102. The mounting bearing 104 is rotatably mounted on the dustproof case 102 via two shaft rotating portions 32 in the dustproof case 102. The dustproof case 102 is fixed to the pump 28, and each shaft rotating portion 32 is held by a bearing holding portion 106 in the dustproof case 102. A spur gear 108 having the mounting bearing 104 as a rotation axis is mounted between the two shaft rotation portions 32 of the mounting bearing 104. A worm gear 110 is connected to the spur gear 108, and a flexible shaft 16 connected to the relay portion 18 is connected to the worm gear 110.

The rotation of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 is transmitted to the mounting shaft 30 via the relay 18. The rotation of the flexible shaft 16 connected to the relay portion 18 is changed in direction through the worm gear 110 and the spur gear 108, and transmitted to the mounting shaft 30 via the mounting bearing 104. . When the rotation of the drive shaft 80 is transmitted to the mounting shaft 30, each of the illumination lamps 14 simultaneously changes the direction in the same direction according to the rotation of the drive shaft 80. Each of the illuminating lights 14 turns the irradiation surface 14a from the front of the automobile 12 to, for example, the front left side by the forward rotation of the driving shaft 80. The reverse rotation of the drive shaft 80 changes the irradiation surface 14a from the front of the automobile 12 to, for example, the front right.

The rotation of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 is changed direction through the worm gear 110 and the spur gear 108 and transmitted to the mounting shaft 30. Not only gears and spur gears but also bevel gears may be used as long as they can change direction and transmit rotation.

An illumination light control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The illuminating light control device 112 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes an object detection unit that detects an object such as an obstacle, instead of a detection unit that detects a change in the moving direction of the vehicle. When an object is present ahead of the traveling direction, it has the same configuration and operation as those of the illuminating light control devices according to the first and second embodiments, except that the irradiating direction of the illuminating light is directed to the object.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the illumination light control device.

As shown in FIG. 13, the device main body 26 has an infrared sensor 114 serving as an object detection unit and a control circuit 116. The control circuit section 116 incorporates electronic circuits that constitute the amplification section 118, the object determination section 120, the determination signal generation section 122, the subtraction section 124, and the output section 126. I have.

The infrared sensor 111 irradiates infrared rays toward the front of the car 12 to detect a heating element in front of the car 12. The detected heating element emits heat, for example, from living things such as humans and dogs and from automobiles. The infrared sensors 114 are arranged, for example, in a grid pattern so that a range having a predetermined width can be detected on both sides of the traveling direction of the automobile 12 as a center. When an object that is a heating element is detected ahead by the infrared sensor 114 while the automobile 12 is traveling, a detection output is output. The detection output is amplified by the amplification unit 118 and input to the object determination unit 120.

The object determination unit 120 determines the direction of the detected object with respect to the infrared sensor 114 based on the difference between the high output and the low output, the average output value of all infrared sensors, etc. from the input detection output. Determine if it is located. As a result of the determination, a determination signal indicating the direction of the detected object is output to the subtraction unit 124.

The judgment signal is input to the subtraction section 124, and the output of the potentiometer 78 is fed back. The subtraction unit 124 calculates the difference between the input determination signal and the output of the potentiometer 78, and outputs a signal based on the calculation result to the output unit 126. The judgment signal is a change amount that changes according to the movement of the automobile 12. The output of the potentiometer 78 is the rotation amount of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20.

The output unit 126 outputs the rotation amount of the drive shaft 80 of the motor 20 Or a control signal for controlling the rotation angle).

Therefore, based on the detection output of the infrared sensor 114, the control unit consisting of the control circuit unit 116 and the potentiometer 78 directs the illumination light 14 toward the object in front of the vehicle 12 in the traveling direction. The operation of the motor 20 of the irradiation direction changing unit is controlled so as to change the angle.

Next, the irradiation state of the illumination light of the illumination light control device according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when the vehicle 12 with the light 14 turned on runs, the light 14 is directed forward.

Next, for example, when a person is walking in front of the running automobile 12, the infrared sensor 114 detects the person.

When the infrared sensor 114 detects a person in front of the vehicle 12 and the vehicle 12, the output unit 126 outputs a control signal indicating the direction of the person based on the detected output. The motor 20 operates according to the input of the control signal, and changes the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp 14 so as to irradiate a person.

That is, the illumination lamp 14 whose irradiation direction has been changed to irradiate a person returns to the original state when the vehicle passes by the person and the infrared sensor 114 stops detecting the person. When the output of the control signal is stopped and the operation of the motor 20 stops, the movement of the illuminator 14 also stops o

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp 14 can be directed to an object in front of the automobile 12. Therefore, when the vehicle is driving at dusk or at night, the driver of the vehicle 12 can recognize the object by illuminating the object in front of the vehicle 12 with the illumination light 14, so that attention is paid to the object. Evoked. As a result, it is possible to detect obstacles and the like at an early stage while driving, and it is possible to secure sufficient safety when driving at dusk or at night. This applies not only to automobiles 12 but also to moving objects such as trains, aircraft, ships, motorcycles, and bicycles.

The object detection unit is not limited to the infrared sensor, but may be an ultrasonic sensor or a millimeter wave sensor, as long as it can detect an object in the traveling direction of the automobile 12.

An illumination light control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The lighting control device 128 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention The first embodiment and the second embodiment are different from the first and second embodiments except that a light detection unit for detecting light in front of the vehicle is provided in place of the detection unit for detecting the change, and a switching unit for switching the irradiation range is provided instead of the irradiation direction changing unit. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an illumination light control device having the same configuration and operation as the illumination light control device according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 14, the device main body 26 has a photodiode 130 as a photodetector and a control circuit 132. The control circuit section 132 incorporates electronic circuits constituting an amplification section 134, a light / dark determination section 133 and an output section 138. Photodiode 130 points the detection direction to the front of car 12 and detects illuminance based on the amount of light in front of car 12. What is detected is, for example, the brightness of the light of an opposing car or the brightness of a street light provided on the side of the traveling road. With this photodiode 130, the illuminance indicating the brightness in front of the car 12 is output as a detection output. The detection output is amplified by the amplifying unit 134 and input to the light / dark judging unit 1336.

The light / dark judgment unit 1336 judges whether or not the detected illuminance is equal to or greater than a predetermined value based on the input detection output. Based on the result of the determination, a bright signal when the illuminance is equal to or more than a predetermined value or a dark signal when the illuminance is equal to or less than the predetermined value is output to the output unit 138.

The output unit 138 outputs a control signal for controlling the switching of the illuminating lamp 14 to the switching unit 140 based on the signal input from the light / dark judgment unit 1336.

The switching unit 140 switches the irradiation range of the illuminating lamp 14 to either the far or near. Switching between the far and near irradiation ranges is performed, for example, by switching the irradiation state of the illumination lamp 14 between a high beam where the irradiation light reaches far and a low beam where the irradiation light only reaches near.

Therefore, based on the detection output of the photodiode 130, the control unit including the control circuit unit 130 changes the illumination range of the illumination lamp 14 in accordance with the brightness of the vehicle 12 in the traveling direction ahead. Then, the switching unit 140 is controlled.

Next, the irradiation state of the illumination light of the illumination light control device according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, when traveling in a place with dark surroundings, the automobile 12 travels with the illumination lamp 14 as a high beam so that the irradiation range becomes far.

Next, for example, an oncoming vehicle with a headlight on approaches in front of the running car 12 Then, the photodiode 130 detects the light emitted from the oncoming vehicle.

When the photo diode 130 detects the light emitted from the oncoming vehicle, the output unit 138 outputs a control signal based on the detected detection output. Since the light emitted by the oncoming vehicle has sufficient illuminance, a control signal based on the light signal is output from the output unit 138. When the control signal is input, the switching unit 140 switches from the high beam to the low beam so that the illumination range of the illumination lamp 14 is close.

Next, when moving from a bright place to a dark place, the vehicle that was running on the low beam 12 power, a control signal based on the 喑 signal is output from the output unit 1338, and the illumination light 14 is switched to the high beam.

That is, when the vehicle is traveling in a place where the surroundings are bright due to a street light or the like, a control signal based on the light signal is output from the output unit 138, and the switching unit 140 switches the illumination light 14 to a low beam. On the other hand, when the automobile 12 moves to a place where the surroundings are dark without a street light or the like, a control signal based on the dark signal is output from the output unit 1338, and the switching unit 140 switches the illumination light 14 to the high beam. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the irradiation range of the illumination lamp 14 can be switched to a distant place or a near place according to the surrounding brightness. Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling at dusk or at night, the light of the oncoming vehicle can be detected and the irradiation range of the illumination light 14 can be switched to the vicinity, so that it is possible to prevent the oncoming vehicle from dazzling. . In addition, it is possible to detect obstacles and targets at an early stage while driving, so that sufficient safety can be ensured when driving at dusk or at night. This applies not only to automobiles 12 but also to moving objects such as trains, aircraft, ships, motorcycles, and bicycles.

The light detection unit is not limited to the photo diode 130, but may be a phototube, a photo diode, a photovoltaic cell, or the like, and can detect the brightness of the automobile 12 in front of the traveling direction. Anything should do.

Further, the switching section 140 may change the irradiation direction steplessly by an amount proportional to the amount of light detected by the photo diode 130.

Further, in addition to automatically switching the irradiation range of the illuminating lights 14 according to the surrounding brightness, a manual switching unit may be provided so that the driver can arbitrarily switch, for example. .

In addition, by switching the irradiation range of the illumination lamps 14 to far or near, Although dazzling is prevented, the on-coming vehicle may be prevented from dazzling by narrowing the irradiation range of the illuminating lights 14 in the left-right direction.

An illumination light control device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The illumination light control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention can adjust the illumination direction of the illumination light even when the vehicle is nose-up or nose-down by using the angular velocity sensor as the detection unit. It has the same configuration and operation as the illuminating light control device according to the first and second embodiments, except that it has an irradiation direction changing unit that changes the irradiation direction up and down.

The angular velocity sensor is installed at the front of the vehicle body. With this angular velocity sensor, it is possible to detect a rotational angular velocity at the time of vertical movement of the front part of the vehicle body, for example, to detect a nose-up or a nose-down. A nose-up is a rotary motion in which the front of the vehicle body is lifted up with the rear wheel as the center of rotation, and a nose-down is a rotary motion in which the front of the vehicle body sinks down with the rear wheel as the center of rotation. .

The illuminating lamp is mounted so as to be able to turn up and down, for example, via turning holding means such as a bearing so that the irradiation surface can be turned upward or downward. The illumination lamp is controlled by an irradiation direction changing unit to change the irradiation direction up and down. When the rotation angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor is output to the amplification section as a detection output, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp changes due to the operation of the motor.

As shown in Fig. 15, during nose-up, the illumination direction of the illumination light 14 is directed downward from the direction when traveling on a flat road (see the dotted line). The front of the traveling path of the car 12 can be reliably illuminated by the lamp 14.

As shown in Fig. 16, when the nose-down occurs, the direction of illumination of the illumination lamp 14 is directed upward from the direction when traveling on a flat road (see the dotted line), and even if the vehicle 12 faces downward. The front of the traveling path of the automobile 12 can be reliably illuminated by the illumination lamp 14.

When the vehicle returns to its original state after nose-up and nose-down, the illumination direction of the illumination lamp 14 returns to the original direction when traveling on a flat road.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp can be adjusted according to the nose-up or nose-down of the vehicle. Therefore, when driving at night or at night when lighting is required, as the body of the car turns up and down, The irradiation direction of the illumination lamp can be changed so that the front of the traveling road can be surely irradiated. As a result, it is possible to detect obstacles and danger points on the traveling road at an early stage, and it is possible to secure sufficient safety during dusk or night driving. This applies not only to automobiles but also to mobiles such as electric vehicles, aircraft, ships, motorcycles, and bicycles. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the illumination lamp may be a fog lamp, a headlight, a rear illumination lamp, an auxiliary lamp, or the like. In addition, the relay section may be installed in the passenger compartment together with the motor and the apparatus main body, and the motor may be installed in the bumper together with the repeater or in the passenger compartment together with the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body may be installed in the bamba together with the relay section and the motor. That is, the relay section, the motor, and the main body of the apparatus may be installed in any of the vehicles such as a bamba, an engine room, and a passenger compartment.

Further, although the acceleration sensor is used as the detection unit for detecting the lateral acceleration, a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, or the like may be used as long as it can detect the lateral acceleration.

In addition, although a motor was used as a drive unit for changing the direction of the illuminating lamp, a device using a reaction force by magnetic force or a mechanical link as long as it rotates to rotate the mounting shaft forward and reverse. A mechanism using a mechanism may be used.

Further, in order to change the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp, the irradiation direction may be changed by changing the direction of the reflector of the illumination lamp by rotating the entire illumination lamp via a rotating shaft. Furthermore, a vane plate that changes the irradiation direction of irradiation light up and down or left and right may be provided outside the irradiation surface of the illumination lamp to change the irradiation direction.

Further, a flexible wire may be used instead of the flexible shaft. Further, a manually operable on / off switch may be provided in the apparatus main body so that the operation or non-operation of the illumination light control device can be selected as required.

[Industrial applicability]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as an illumination light control device that controls an illumination direction of an illumination light provided on a moving body that is a working machine such as an automobile, a train, an aircraft, a ship, a motorcycle, a bicycle, or the like, and a crane.

Claims

Range of request

1. An illumination direction changing unit that is attached to an illumination light provided on a moving body and changes an illumination direction of the illumination light;

A detecting unit that detects a change in the moving direction of the moving body,

Based on the detection output of the detection unit, the blue color corresponds to a change in the moving direction of the moving body.

A control unit configured to control the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction of the lighting lamp.

2. The lighting control device according to claim 1,

The detection unit detects a left-right change in the moving direction of the moving body,

The control unit is configured to change the irradiation direction to the left when the moving direction of the moving body changes to the left, and to change the irradiation direction to the right when the moving direction of the moving body changes to the right. An illumination light control device for controlling a changing unit.

3. The lighting control device according to claim 1,

The detecting unit detects a vertical change in the moving direction of the moving body,

The irradiation direction changing unit, wherein the irradiation direction changing unit changes the irradiation direction downward when the moving direction of the moving body changes upward, and changes the irradiation direction upward when the moving direction of the moving body changes downward. An illumination light control device, characterized by controlling the following.

4. An illumination direction changing unit that is attached to an illumination light provided on the moving body and changes an illumination direction of the illumination light;

An object detection unit that detects an object ahead of the moving body in the moving direction,

A control unit that controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction of the illumination lamp toward the object based on a detection output of the object detection unit.

An illumination light control device comprising:

5. An illumination range switching unit that is attached to an illumination lamp provided on the moving body and switches an illumination range of the illumination lamp between a distant place and a nearby place.

A light detection unit that detects light in the direction of movement of the moving body,

A control unit that controls the irradiation range switching unit based on a detection output of the light detection unit so that the irradiation range of the illumination lamp is far or near.

An illumination light control device comprising:

6. A moving body with a lighting control device, comprising the lighting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Claims of amendment

[Accepted by the International Bureau on May 20, 1996 (20.05.96): Claims originally filed at the time of application) have been withdrawn; Claims 2-6 originally filed have been amended. Done; other claims remain unchanged. (Page ₃ )]

1. (Delete)

2. (After correction) An irradiation direction changing unit that is attached to an auxiliary light provided separately from the headlight of the moving body and changes the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light,

A detection unit that detects a lateral acceleration in a left-right direction substantially orthogonal to a moving direction of the moving body,

Based on the direction and magnitude of the lateral acceleration detected by the detection unit, when the direction of the lateral acceleration is leftward, the lateral acceleration is changed so that the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light is changed to the left. A control unit that controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light to the right when the direction is right.

An illumination light control device comprising:

3. (after correction) an irradiation direction changing unit that is attached to an auxiliary light provided separately from the headlight of the moving object and changes the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light;

A detecting unit that detects a rotational angular velocity in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the moving body, based on a direction and a magnitude of the rotational angular velocity detected by the detecting unit, when the direction of the rotational angular velocity is an upward direction, When the direction of the lateral acceleration is downward so as to change the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light downward, the irradiation direction changing unit is controlled so that the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light is changed upward. Control unit and

An illumination light control device comprising:

4. (after correction) an irradiation direction changing unit that is attached to an auxiliary light provided separately from the headlight of the moving body and changes the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light;

An object detection unit that detects an object ahead of the moving body in the moving direction by detecting infrared rays from the front in the moving direction of the moving body;

A control unit that controls the irradiation direction changing unit so as to change the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light in a direction in which the infrared light is detected, when a light amount of the infrared light detected by the object detection unit is larger than a predetermined value;

An illumination light control device comprising:

5. (After correction) Attached to the lighting provided on the moving object, the irradiation range of the lighting

■ 19- An irradiation range changing unit for changing

A light detection unit that detects visible light from the front in the moving direction of the moving body,

When the amount of visible light detected by the light detection unit is larger than a predetermined value, control for controlling the irradiation range changing unit so as to narrow the irradiation range of the illumination lamp in the left-right direction of the moving body. Department and

An illumination light control device comprising:

6. (After amendment) A moving object with an illumination light control device, comprising the illumination light control device according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

-20- Corrected

Damage to account under Article 19 of the Convention

Citation 1 (JP, 6-3734), Citation 2 (JP, 6-206491)), Citation 3 (Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 62-176942), and Citation 4 (Japanese Utility Model) In view of the registration application (Showa 62-173489), claim 1 was deleted and claims 2 and 3 were amended.

The amendment in claim 2 clarifies the point of controlling the auxiliary light separate from the headlight of the moving object and the point of detecting the lateral acceleration of the moving object in the left and right direction.

The amendment in claim 3 clarifies the point of controlling the auxiliary light separate from the headlight of the moving object and the point of detecting the vertical angular velocity of the moving object.

Amended claim 4 to clarify the content of the invention. The amendment set forth in claim 4 clarifies the point that the auxiliary light that is separate from the headlight of the moving object is controlled, and the point that the object in the moving direction of the moving object is detected by detecting infrared rays. It is something that becomes.

Claim 5 has been amended in consideration of Reference Document 8 (Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 62-134469) and Reference Document 9 (Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 61-47002). did. The amendment in claim 5 clarifies the point that the control is performed so as to narrow the irradiation range of the illuminating lamp in the horizontal direction of the moving object when the detected amount of visible light is larger than a predetermined value.