WO2022264870A1

WO2022264870A1 - Lamp device for small vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2022264870A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/022889
Authority: WO
Inventors: 例人田村
Original assignee: 株式会社小糸製作所
Priority date: 2021-06-17
Filing date: 2022-06-07
Publication date: 2022-12-22
Also published as: JP2023000007A

Abstract

Provided is a lamp device capable of displaying various travel states of a small vehicle with a small number of lamps. This lamp device is installed in a small vehicle (electric wheelchair) (MW) capable of traveling in various modes, and comprises a front lamp (FL) and a rear lamp (RL) for indicating a travel state of the small vehicle (MW), and a control means (6) for controlling lighting states of the lamps (FL, RL). The lamps (FL, RL) comprise a plurality of multicolor light-emitting elements. The control means (6) is capable of individually controlling each emission color of the plurality of multicolor light-emitting elements, and executes various lighting controls on the lamps (FL, RL) by controlling light emission and extinction, and emission color of each of the multicolor light-emitting elements in accordance with the travel state of the small vehicle (MW).

Description

Small vehicle lamp device

The present invention relates to a lamp device that is mounted on a small vehicle that travels at a low speed, such as a single-seater mobility support vehicle or an unmanned small transport vehicle, to indicate the running state of the small vehicle.

Mobility support vehicles and unmanned small transport vehicles that are permitted to travel on sidewalks are not required by law to be equipped with special lamps. Therefore, it is difficult for third parties such as pedestrians in the vicinity of a small vehicle that is not equipped with a traffic light to recognize the running state of the small vehicle, especially its course and behavior (running, stopping, turning, etc.). , accidents such as contact may occur.

Retable 2019/107147

Patent Document 1 proposes a technique of disposing a display device such as a display on the outer surface of the vehicle body of the vehicle and displaying the driving state of the vehicle by means of patterns (designs, etc.) displayed on the display device. Further, in Patent Document 1, a vehicle is equipped with a large number of lamps, and by switching the lighting state of these lamps in response to changes in the vehicle's running direction, various different driving conditions of the vehicle are displayed. Techniques for doing so have also been proposed.

A display device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 is difficult to miniaturize because the display device is expensive and it is necessary to secure a display area for performing the required display. It is practically difficult to equip the It is also difficult to equip small vehicles with a large number of lamps. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the technique of Patent Document 1 as it is to a marker lamp for a small vehicle. Furthermore, the large number of lamps disclosed in Patent Document 1 are set so that each light irradiation section (light emitting section) emits light in a fixed light emission pattern. Therefore, it is possible to display limited driving conditions such as forward and backward driving of the vehicle, but it is necessary to clearly differentiate and display various driving conditions of the vehicle, such as driving forward, backward, turning right and left, and turning. is difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lamp device capable of displaying various running states of a small vehicle with a small number of lamps.

The present invention is installed in a small vehicle that can travel in various ways, and comprises a lamp that displays the running state of the small vehicle and a control means that controls the lighting state of the lamp, and the lamp comprises a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements. and the control means is capable of individually controlling the emission colors of the plurality of multicolor light emitting elements, and controlling the emission or extinction of each multicolor light emitting element and the emission color according to the running state of the small vehicle. to control the lighting state of the lamp.

As a preferred form of the present invention, the compact vehicle has at least a driving operation unit for steering, and the control means controls the lighting state of the lamp based on the operation of the driving operation unit. More preferably, the control means controls the lighting state of the lamp based on at least the steering direction of the small vehicle. The control means generates a running signal and a steering signal based on the operation of the driving operation section, controls the running of the small vehicle based on these signals, and controls the lighting state of the lamp based on at least the steering signal. It is configured to include a lamp control unit for controlling.

In the lamp of the present invention, for example, a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements are arranged, and the control means causes all of the plurality of multicolor light emitting elements to emit light of the same color, or causes some of the multicolor light emitting elements to emit light of the same color. emits light of a different color from other multicolor light emitting elements. Specifically, a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements are arranged in a straight line, and the control means controls part of the multicolor light emitting elements in the longitudinal direction to emit light of a different color from other multicolor light emitting elements, or Light is emitted or extinguished at different timings.

The lamps in the present invention include, for example, front lamps and rear lamps respectively installed in the front part and the rear part of the vehicle body of a small vehicle, and the control means individually controls the lighting states of these front lamps and rear lamps. When the small vehicle is an electric wheelchair, the electric wheelchair has a seat on which the occupant sits, the front lamp is arranged on the front end surface of the left and right armrests of the seat, and the rear lamp is provided on the rear surface of the seat back of the seat. are placed.

According to the present invention, the lamp has a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements, and the control means controls the light emission and extinguishing of each multicolor light emitting element and the emission color in accordance with at least the steering state of the small vehicle to turn on the lamp. Since the state is controlled, a small number of lamps can be used to indicate various running states of the small vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is an external view of a small vehicle (electric wheelchair), (a) is the perspective view seen from the front, (b) is the perspective view seen from the back. (a) is an enlarged perspective view of a driving operation unit, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the operation direction of a joystick. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a drive unit; It is an external view of a tail lamp, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is an exploded perspective view in which a part is broken. Block diagrams of lighting states (A) to (F). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining margins in a joystick; Schematic diagram for explaining the effect of a margin.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an electric wheelchair MW as a compact vehicle equipped with a lamp device according to the present invention, (a) is a perspective view from the front, and (b) is a perspective view from the rear. This electric wheelchair MW is configured as a four-wheeled vehicle having four wheels 11, a front wheel 11f and a rear wheel 11r, on a vehicle body base 1 on which a passenger rides. A control/driving unit 2 is mounted on the vehicle body base 1. The control/driving unit 2 rotates the left and right rear wheels 11r independently in forward and reverse directions. It is possible to move the electric wheelchair MW forward, backward, turn left or right, and turn around.

In addition, a seat 12 is provided above the control/drive unit 2 so that an occupant can sit there. Armrests 13 are provided on the left and right sides of the seat 12, respectively. A rear lamp RL is provided on the rear surface of the seat back (backrest) 14 of the seat 12, and a front lamp FL is provided on the front end surfaces of the left and right armrests 13, respectively. Although the details of these rear lamps RL and front lamps FL will be described later, they are capable of lighting or blinking with desired colors and in desired light emission modes. In addition, one of the left and right armrests 13, here the right armrest 13r, is provided with the driving operation unit 3. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 2(a) is an enlarged view of the driving operation unit 3 provided on the right armrest 13r. The driving operation unit 3 includes a main switch 31 that can turn on/off the power of the control/drive unit 2 and switch between automatic operation and manual operation, and the control/drive unit 2 to move the electric wheelchair MW forward. It is provided with an operation stem 32 for controlling running and behavior of backward movement and rotation, and a selection switch 33 for manually controlling lighting states of the rear lamp RL and the front lamp FL.

The operating stem 32 is configured as a joystick that can be tilted horizontally 360 degrees. As schematically shown in FIG. 2(b), the operating direction of the joystick 32 corresponds to the steering direction of the electric wheelchair MW. The direction of corresponds to a right turn, and the direction of 270 degrees corresponds to a left turn. Further, the selection switch 33 is composed of six push button switches so as to be able to select and switch between six predetermined lighting modes.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the front sensor 4 used during automatic driving is arranged at the front end of the left armrest 13l. The front sensor 4 is composed of an imaging camera or an infrared sensor for detecting an obstacle Ob present in front of the electric wheelchair MW.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of the control/drive unit 2. FIG. The control/drive unit 2 incorporates a drive section 5 , a control section 6 , and a power supply section (battery) 7 . The drive unit 5 includes, for example, an electric motor 51 and a speed reduction mechanism 52, and drives the wheels 11, here the rear wheels 11r, under the control of the control unit 6. FIG.

The control section 6 includes an obstacle detection section 61 , a travel control section 62 and a ramp control section 63 . The obstacle detection unit 61 detects an obstacle (not shown) existing in front of the electric wheelchair MW based on the detection output of the front sensor 4 and outputs the detection signal S0 to the travel control unit 62 . Since various methods are already known for detecting obstacles in the obstacle detection unit 61, description thereof is omitted here.

The travel control unit 62 includes an automatic operation unit 621 and a manual operation unit 622. Based on the detection signal S0 from the obstacle detection unit 61, the automatic driving unit 621 generates a running signal S1 for controlling the running and stopping of the electric wheelchair MW and a steering signal (rudder angle signal) S2 for controlling the running direction. and output. The manual operation unit 622 generates and outputs a running signal S1 and a steering signal S2 based on the operation signal S3 when the joystick 32 is tilted.

During automatic operation and manual operation, the electric motor 51 of the drive unit 5 is controlled based on the generated running signal S1 and steering signal S2, and the rear wheels 11r are independently driven forward and backward. do. By independently rotating the two rear wheels 11r forward and backward, the electric wheelchair MW can travel forward, travel backward, and rotate left and right.

The lamp control unit 63 controls lighting states of the rear lamp RL and the front lamp FL based on the running signal S1 and the steering signal S2 generated by the running control unit 62 . The lamp control unit 63 is provided with a lighting mode storage unit 631 in which a plurality of different lighting modes are preset. Both lamps RL and FL are controlled in the same lighting mode. The selection switch 33 of the operation operation section 3 is connected to the lamp control section 63. Based on the lighting mode preset in the lighting mode storage section 631 by the selection signal S4 from the selection switch 33, both lamps are displayed. It is possible to control lighting of the lamps RL and FL.

FIG. 4(a) is an external perspective view of the rear lamp RL. The basic structure of the front lamp FL is the same as that of the rear lamp RL, except that it is shorter than the rear lamp RL. For example, the length of the rear lamp RL is about 20 cm, and the length of the front lamp FL is about 10 cm. As described above, the rear lamp RL is oriented in the horizontal direction, and the front lamp FL is oriented in the vertical direction.

FIG. 4(b) is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the rear lamp RL. On the surface of the elongated lamp base 100, a plurality of full-color LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 101 as multicolor light-emitting elements are arranged at required intervals. They are mounted in a state of being arranged in the longitudinal direction. Here, a long and narrow circuit board 102 is fixed to the surface of a lamp base 100, and a plurality of full-color LEDs 101 are mounted on this circuit board 102 and electrically connected to wiring circuits of the circuit board 102, respectively. The circuit board 102 is fixed to the lamp base 100 with a screw (small screw) or the like (not shown). Also, the wiring circuit is connected to the lamp controller 63 by an electric cord 105 .

Due to the difference in length between the rear lamp RL and the front lamp FL, the number of the plurality of full-color LEDs 101 provided for each lamp RL, FL differs in proportion to the length. The full-color LED 101 is composed of, for example, discrete LEDs containing LED chips of RGB (red, green, and blue).

A long, narrow gutter-shaped surface cover 104 made of a translucent material is fixed to the surface of the lamp base 100 to cover the full-color LEDs 101 . The surface cover 104 is made of, for example, a milky-white translucent resin having light diffusion properties, and its peripheral side protrudes at a required height. As a result, the light emitted from the full-color LED 101 is transmitted through the surface cover 104 and emitted to the outside. The light is diffused over a wide area on both sides to improve the visibility of the lamp.

The traveling control of the electric wheelchair MW with the above configuration is as follows. When the occupant sits on the seat 12, turns on the main switch 31, and further sets the main switch 31 to manual operation, manual running becomes possible. When the passenger operates the joystick 32, the manual operation section 622 of the travel control section 62 generates and outputs the travel signal S1 and the steering signal S2 based on the operation signal S3 from the joystick 32. FIG. The drive unit 5 drives the rear wheels 11r by the travel signal S1 and the steering signal S2, and the electric wheelchair MW is manually traveled in a desired direction.

In this manual travel, the travel direction of the electric wheelchair MW is controlled by the operating direction of the joystick 32, that is, the steering direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the steering direction of the joystick 32 is 0° for forward movement, 180° for backward movement, 90° for right rotation, and 270° for left rotation. state. In the direction between these directions, for example, the vehicle is in a running state such as forward diagonally to the right, backward diagonally to the right, backward diagonally to the left, forward diagonally to the left, and the like. Also, the speed of the electric wheelchair MW is controlled according to the amount of operation (operation stroke) of the joystick 32 .

On the other hand, when the main switch 31 is set to automatic, the automatic driving section 621 of the travel control section 62 generates and outputs the travel signal S1 and the steering signal S2 based on the detection signal S0 from the obstacle detection section 61. Here, automatic operation is configured to perform semi-automatic operation in combination with manual operation, and operation signal S3 of joystick 32 is referred to when generating travel signal S1 and steering signal S2. Therefore, when the electric wheelchair MW travels, stops, and travels in a manual operation, when an obstacle is detected by the front sensor 4 and the obstacle detection unit 61, the automatic operation unit 621 is operated to avoid the obstacle. The drive unit drives the rear wheel 11r by the running signal S1 and the steering signal S2.

In addition, in either manual operation or automatic operation, the lamp control unit 63 controls the lighting states of the rear lamps RL and the front lamps FL according to the running state of the electric wheelchair MW. That is, the lamp control unit 63 selects a lighting mode preset in the lighting mode storage unit 631 based on the running signal S1 and the steering signal S2 generated by the automatic driving unit 621 or the manual driving unit 622 of the running control unit 62. Then, the lighting of the rear lamp RL and the front lamp FL is controlled in the selected lighting mode.

When the passenger manually operates the selection switch 33 not only when the electric wheelchair MW is running but also when the electric wheelchair MW is stopped, the lamp control unit 63 operates based on the selection signal S4 from the selection switch 33. The lighting states of the rear lamp RL and the front lamp FL are controlled. Since the selection switch 33 is configured to select and turn on any one of the six switches, lighting control corresponding to each switch is performed.

The following 13 types of lighting modes are preset in the lighting mode storage section 631 of the lamp control section 63 as the lighting modes of the rear lamps RL and the front lamps FL.
(1) Lights white (2) Lights red (3) Lights blue-green (4) Lights yellow-green (5) Flashes white (6) Flashes blue-green (7) Lights white + flashes amber (8) Lights red + flashes amber ( 9) White lighting + Amber sequential (10) Red lighting + Amber sequential (11) Amber flashing (12) Red lighting + Green flashing (13) Yellow flashing (14) Rainbow lighting

In this embodiment, based on the operation of the driving operation unit 3, i.e., the steering direction when the joystick 32 is tilted, the lamp control unit 63 stores the above-described (1) and (2) in the lighting mode storage unit 631. , (7), (12), and (13) or a combination of these lighting modes. Further, by selecting with the six selection switches 33, lighting control based on the lighting modes in the above (3), (4), (5), (6), (11), and (14) is executed. The lighting modes (8), (9) and (10) are not used here.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the steering direction by the joystick 32 and lamp lighting control in manual operation. Lighting control (A) is when the joystick 32 is not operated, the joystick 32 is at the center position (neutral position) and the electric wheelchair MW is stopped. At this time, both the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL are turned off.

The lighting control (B) is when the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 0°, and the electric wheelchair MW is driven straight forward by the control of the drive section 5 by the travel control section 62 based on this operation signal S3. In this running state, under the control of the lamp control unit 63, the left and right front lamps FL continuously emit white light from the full-color LEDs 101 and are controlled to (1) white light. In the rear lamp RL, the full-color LED 101 continuously emits red light and is controlled to (2) red lighting.

Lighting control (C) is when the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 1° to 89°, and the travel control unit 62 causes the electric wheelchair MW to turn right, that is, travel diagonally forward to the right. In this running state, under the control of the lamp control unit 63, the right front lamp FL in the right-turn direction of the two front lamps FL has nearly half of the lower full-color LEDs 101 continuously emit white light, while the upper full-color LED 101 continuously emits white light. The LED 101 is flashed with amber colored light, and lighting control is performed to (7) white lighting + amber flashing. The left front lamp FL is controlled so that the full-color LED 101 continuously emits white light (1) white lighting. In the rear lamp RL, the full-color LED 101 continuously emits red light and is controlled to (2) red lighting.

Although not shown, on the contrary, when the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 271° to 359°, the electric wheelchair MW turns left, that is, runs diagonally forward to the left. In this running state, under the control of the lamp lighting control 63, of the two front lamps FL, the left front lamp FL in the left turn direction is controlled to (7) white lighting + amber flashing, and the right front lamp FL is ( 1) Lighting is controlled to white lighting. The rear lamp RL is controlled to (2) red lighting.

Lighting control (D) is a case where the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 90°, and the electric wheelchair MW is turned right at approximately that position. In this running state, the full-color LEDs 101 of the left and right front lamps FL flash yellow light (13) and are controlled to flash yellow. Almost all of the full-color LEDs 101 of the rear lamp RL are also controlled to flash yellow light (13).

Although not shown, on the contrary, when the joystick 32 is operated in the 270° direction, the electric wheelchair MW is turned left at approximately that position. In this running state, the left and right front lamps FL and rear lamps RL are controlled to flash yellow (13) in the same manner as when turning right.

　Lighting control (E) is when the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 91° to 179°, and the electric wheelchair MW runs obliquely backward to the left. In this running state, under the control of the lamp control unit 63, the left front lamp FL of the two front lamps FL has nearly half of the upper full-color LEDs 101 continuously emit white light, and the lower full-color LEDs 101 emit amber light. It is flashed with colored light and is controlled to (7) white lighting + amber flashing. The full-color LED 101 of the right front lamp flashes yellow (13) and is controlled to flash yellow. In the rear lamp RL, the full-color LED 101 continuously emits white light and is controlled to (1) white light.

Although not shown, on the contrary, when the joystick 32 is operated in the direction of 181° to 269°, the electric wheelchair MW travels obliquely backward to the right. In this running state, under the control of the lamp lighting control 63, the upper full-color LEDs 101 of the right front lamp FL continuously emit white light, and the lower full-color LEDs 101 blink with amber light. (7) white lighting + amber blinking. The left front lamp FL is controlled so that the full-color LED 101 continuously emits yellow light (13) to flash yellow. In the rear lamp RL, the full-color LED 101 continuously emits white light and is controlled to (1) white light.

　Lighting control (F) is the case where the joystick 32 is operated in the 180° direction, and the electric wheelchair MW travels backward toward the rear. In this running state, the left and right front lamps FL continuously emit red light from the full-color LEDs 101 excluding the center in the longitudinal direction, and the central full-color LED 101 blinks with green light (12) red lighting + green blinking. Lighting is controlled. In the rear lamp RL, the full-color LED 101 continuously emits white light and is controlled to (1) white light.

The ramp device of the electric wheelchair MW described above becomes ready for running when the passenger seated on the seat 12 turns on the main switch 31 of the driving operation unit 3 . Then, when the main switch 31 is set to manual operation, the driving is controlled by the passenger operating the joystick 32 thereafter. That is, when the passenger tilts the joystick 32 , the manual operation section 622 of the travel control section 62 generates the travel signal S 1 and the steering signal S 2 from the operation signal S 3 from the joystick 32 . Based on these running signal S1 and steering signal S2, the drive unit 5 is controlled to control the rotation direction and rotation speed of the left and right rear wheels 11r driven by the electric motor 51. FIG. When the rotational speeds of the left and right rear wheels 11r are the same, the electric wheelchair MW moves forward or backward in the straight direction, and when the rotational speeds of both rear wheels 11r are different, it turns left or right or turns left or right.

At the same time, the lamp control unit 63 controls (1), (2), (7), (1), (2), (7), Lighting control is performed in the lighting modes (12) and (13) or a lighting mode in which these are combined. As a result, the lighting control of the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL is executed corresponding to the running state of the electric wheelchair MW, like the lighting control (A) to (F) shown in FIG.

In the above description, the lamp control unit 63 executes lighting control based on the running signal S1 and the steering signal S2. lighting control may be performed by . Further, the running signal S1 may include information such as vehicle speed and acceleration, and the lighting control (A) to (F) may be appropriately changed and controlled by referring to these information.

Here, when the electric wheelchair MW is traveling forward, if there is an obstacle in front, the joystick 32 may be operated to temporarily change the course in order to avoid the obstacle. In this case, for example, if lighting control (C) is performed, a third person will misunderstand that the electric wheelchair MW is turning left or right due to (7) white + amber blinking of the front lamp FL on the travel change side. Sometimes. Therefore, a required margin may be set for the steering direction obtained from the joystick 32 .

For example, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, a margin of ±10° is set in the operating direction of the joystick 32, that is, the steering direction. The lighting control (C) is executed for the first time when it exceeds. The setting of this margin is performed with respect to the steering signal S2 generated by the manual operation section 622 of the travel control section 62 .

By setting this margin, when the electric wheelchair MW is moving forward in the straight-ahead direction and the lighting control (B) of FIG. When the steering direction of the joystick 32 is +10° or less and the electric wheelchair MW temporarily slightly changes its traveling direction, the lighting control (C) is not executed and the lighting control (B) is maintained. . That is, both the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL (1) are maintained in white lighting. This prevents a third party from erroneously recognizing that the electric wheelchair MW turns right or left when the electric wheelchair MW slightly changes its course.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7(b), when the steering direction of the joystick 32 exceeds +10°, lighting control (C) is executed at that point. That is, at first, the right front lamp FL is controlled to be lit in (7) white lighting + amber blinking lighting mode, and when the obstacle Ob is passed, the left front lamp FL is (7) white lighting + amber blinking lighting. When the vehicle returns to the straight-ahead direction, it returns to the lighting mode of (1) white lighting. Therefore, it becomes possible for a third party to recognize a temporary change in direction of the electric wheelchair MW, that is, a right or left turn.

Although a detailed description is omitted, the margin angle may be adjusted as appropriate according to the difference in vehicle speed of the electric wheelchair MW. That is, when the speed is relatively high, even if the angle of the steering direction of the joystick 32 is small, the course change width of the electric wheelchair MW is large, so the margin angle is made smaller. The margin angle may be increased because the course change width is reduced.

On the other hand, when the main switch 31 is set to automatic operation, basic traveling is the same as manual operation, but some control related to traveling, such as collision avoidance with an obstacle Ob as shown in FIG. Control becomes automatic control. That is, a temporary course change as shown in FIG. 7(a) is executed by automatic operation. That is, when the obstacle Ob is detected by the forward sensor 4 and the obstacle detection unit 61, the automatic driving unit 621 generates the travel signal S1 and the steering signal S2 for avoiding the obstacle Ob. The driving unit 5 controls the rear wheels 11r based on the running signal S1 and the steering signal S2 to control the running direction of the electric wheelchair MW, change the course, and avoid contact and collision with the obstacle Ob.

When the electric wheelchair MW changes course for obstacle avoidance by such automatic operation, the lamp control unit 63 controls lighting of the lamps FL and RL based on the travel signal S1 and the steering signal S2. This lighting control is executed in the same manner as the lighting controls (B) and (C) shown in FIG. In this automatic operation, it is possible to set a required margin for the steering signal S2 generated by the automatic operation section 621, in which case lighting control similar to that shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

On the other hand, either when the electric wheelchair MW is not running and the lighting control of the lamp is being performed based on the operation of the joystick 32, or when the lighting control is being performed, the occupant may send some kind of message to the third party. In the case of sending, the user selects and operates the six selection switches 33 provided on the driving operation unit 3 . By operating the selection switch 33, the lighting control of the lamp control unit 63 causes the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL to have six lighting modes (3), (4), (5), (6), and (11). ), (14), and the desired message is notified. The lighting control by the selection switch 33 may be executed with priority over the lighting controls (A) to (F) described above.

As described above, the lighting controls (A) to (F) of the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL are executed based on the course and behavior (running, stopping, turning, etc.) when the electric wheelchair MW travels. A third party such as a pedestrian present in the vicinity of the MW can visually recognize the lighting state of the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL. Therefore, the route and behavior of the electric wheelchair MW can be correctly recognized, and contact or collision with the electric wheelchair MW can be avoided to ensure safe travel. Further, by operating the selection switch 33 by the passenger, the front lamp FL and the rear lamp RL are controlled to light up in the lighting modes (3), (4), (5), (6), (11), and (14). A desired message can be notified to three parties, and safer traveling of the electric wheelchair MW is ensured.

The electric wheelchair MW is equipped with only two front lamps FL and one rear lamp RL, but these lamps FL and RL are provided with full-color LEDs 101 as a plurality of multicolor light-emitting elements, and each full-color LED 101 emits light. By individually controlling the quenching and emission color, each lamp FL, RL can be lit in various modes, and various driving modes can be realized by lighting control (A) to (F) in FIG. 5 and combinations thereof. Lighting can be controlled as a marker lamp to represent. As a result, various running states of the electric wheelchair MW, such as forward, backward, right/left turn, turning, etc., can be clearly differentiated and displayed. It is possible to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the electric wheelchair as a small vehicle.

In the embodiment, an electric wheelchair is exemplified as a small vehicle of the present invention, but it is possible to apply it as a ramp device for small vehicles such as unmanned home delivery vehicles and unmanned transport vehicles. When the lamp device of the present invention is applied to such a compact vehicle that runs unmanned, a steering signal and a running signal are taken in from a running control means for controlling unmanned running, and based on these steering signal and running signal. Lighting control of the lamp may be performed.

The lamps installed in the small vehicle are not limited to those configured as front lamps and tail lamps, and may be configured as side lamps equipped on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. Furthermore, each lamp is not limited to the configuration in which the full-color LEDs described in the embodiments are linearly arranged, but may be configured to have a large number of full-color LEDs arranged in a desired pattern on a plane. Moreover, the multicolor light emitting element is not limited to a full-color LED, and may be an LD (laser diode) or an organic EL as long as it can emit light of at least two colors.

In the embodiment, lighting control (8) to (10) is not used, but for example, when a small vehicle turns right or left, multicolor light emitting elements are arranged like lighting control (9) and (10). It is also possible to use a lighting form in which light is emitted sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, making it possible to make it easier to understand the traveling direction of the small vehicle.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-100563 filed on June 17, 2021, which is Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-100563. The entire contents of this International Application are incorporated by reference.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and modifications are possible in light of the above description.

Reference Signs List 1 vehicle body base 2 control/driving unit 3 driving operation unit 4 front sensor 5 drive unit 6 control unit (control means)
11 (11f, 11r) Wheel 12 Seat 13 (13r, 13l) Armrest 14 Seat back 31 Main switch 32 Operation handle (joystick)
33 Selection switch 61 Obstacle detection unit 62 Travel control unit 63 Lamp control unit 101 Full color LED (multicolor light emitting element)
MW electric wheelchair (small vehicle)
FL Front lamp RL Rear lamp

Claims

It is equipped in a small vehicle that can travel in various ways, and comprises a lamp that displays the running state of the small vehicle and a control means that controls the lighting state of the lamp, the lamp having a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements, The control means is capable of individually controlling the emission colors of the plurality of multicolor light emitting elements, and controls emission or extinction of each multicolor light emitting element and emission color according to the running state of the small vehicle. to control the lighting state of the lamp.
The lamp device for a small vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the small vehicle includes at least a driving operation unit for steering, and the control means controls the lighting state of the lamp based on the operation of the driving operation unit.
3. The lamp device for a small vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control means sets a required margin for the steering direction of the driving operation unit, and maintains the lighting state of the lamp in a constant state within the range of the margin.
The lamp device for a compact vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compact vehicle is capable of automatic operation, and the control means controls the lighting state of the lamp corresponding to the automatic operation control.
The lamp device for a compact vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driving operation unit includes switch means for manually controlling lighting control of the lamp by the control means.
The control means includes a driving control section for generating a driving signal and a steering signal based on the operation of the driving operation section, controlling driving of the small vehicle based on these signals, and a lamp control section for controlling at least the steering signal. 6. The lamp device for a compact vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a lamp control section for controlling a lighting state.
The lamp has a plurality of multicolor light emitting elements arranged therein, and the control means causes all of the plurality of multicolor light emitting elements to emit light of the same color, or causes some of the multicolor light emitting elements to emit light of the same color. 7. The lamp device for a compact vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light is emitted in a color different from that of the color light emitting element.
The plurality of multicolor light emitting elements are arranged in a straight line, and a part of the multicolor light emitting elements in the longitudinal direction are caused to emit or extinguish light with different colors or at different timings from other multicolor light emitting elements. Item 8. A lamp device for a small vehicle according to Item 7.
9. The lamps according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lamps include a front lamp and a rear lamp mounted respectively on the front part and the rear part of the vehicle body of the compact vehicle, and the control means individually controls lighting states of these front lamps and rear lamps. 2. The lamp device for a small vehicle according to .
The small vehicle is an electric wheelchair, the electric wheelchair includes a seat on which an occupant sits, the front lamp is arranged at the front end of the left and right armrests of the seat, and the rear lamp is provided on the rear surface of the seat back of the seat. 10. The light vehicle lamp assembly of claim 9, wherein a light vehicle lamp assembly is provided.