WO2023132044A1

WO2023132044A1 - Light control device, light control system and light control method

Info

Publication number: WO2023132044A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/000306
Authority: WO
Inventors: 極井上; 悟井上; 弘毅中本; 潤一今儀; 亮介虎間
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2022-01-07
Filing date: 2022-01-07
Publication date: 2023-07-13
Also published as: JPWO2023132044A1; JP7442756B2

Abstract

A light control device (HSD) is equipped with: a receiving unit for receiving one or more units of information related to the line of sight (SSN) of a driver (US), face orientation (KMK) or posture (SSI) orientation; a detection unit (KE) which divides the region to the front of the vehicle into a plurality of sectional regions (R) which include a frontal sectional region (SBRY) positioned to the front of said vehicle and sectional regions which are adjacent to and above, below, to the left of and to the right of said frontal sectional region, and include an upper sectional region (UEBR), a lower sectional region (SIBR), a left sectional region (HIBR) and a right sectional region (MIBR), and detects at which sectional region among the plurality of sectional regions the driver is looking; and a control unit (SE) for outputting an instruction signal to a light (SY) so as to illuminate the sectional region at which the driver is looking. Therein, the frontal sectional region is configured in a manner such that the size of the frontal sectional region based on face orientation or posture is smaller than the size of the frontal sectional region based on line of sight.

Description

LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE, LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD

The present disclosure relates to a light distribution control device, a light distribution control system, and a light distribution control method.

The vehicle interface described in Patent Document 1, which is common to the light distribution control device or the like according to the present disclosure in that it follows the line-of-sight direction of the driver of the vehicle, is intended to illuminate in the direction the driver wants to see. One method is to detect the amount of change over time in the line-of-sight direction of the driver.

Japanese Patent No. 3203951

However, in the vehicle interface described above, when the driver is wearing spectacles, sunglasses, or the like, for example, the line of sight of the driver cannot be detected. I couldn't do it.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a light distribution control device, a light distribution control system, and a light distribution control method that can illuminate a place that the driver wants to see even if the line of sight of the driver cannot be detected. to do.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a light distribution control device according to the present disclosure includes a receiving unit that receives at least one of information related to the driver's line of sight, face direction, or posture direction, and a region in front of the vehicle. It is divided into a plurality of partial areas including a front partial area positioned in front of the vehicle and an upper partial area, a lower partial area, a left partial area, and a right partial area that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to the front partial area. a detection unit for detecting which partial area is viewed by the driver; The partial area is one in which the front partial area of the face orientation or posture is smaller than the size of the front partial area of the line of sight.

According to the light distribution control device according to the present disclosure, even if the line of sight of the driver cannot be detected, the place that the driver wants to see, that is, the partial area that the driver wants to see can be illuminated. .

3 is a functional block diagram of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2A shows the region R and the partial region BR (in the case of line-of-sight SSN) of the first embodiment. FIG. 2B shows the region R and the partial region BR (in the case of face orientation KMK) of the first embodiment. FIG. 2C shows the region R and the partial region BR (for posture SSI) of the first embodiment. 2 shows a hardware configuration of a light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1; FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment. FIG. 6A shows the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 3 (in the case of line of sight SSN). FIG. 6B shows the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 3 (in the case of face direction KMK). FIG. 6C shows the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 3 (in the case of attitude SSI). 4 shows detection conditions in the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 8A shows the operation (part 1-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8B shows the operation (part 1-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8C shows the operation (part 1-3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8D shows the operation (part 1-4) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8E shows the operation (part 1-5) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9A shows the operation (part 2-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9B shows the operation (part 2-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9C shows the operation (part 2-3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10A shows the operation (part 3-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10B shows the operation (part 3-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10C shows the operation (part 3-3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10D shows the operation (part 3-4) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10E shows the operation (part 3-5) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11A shows the operation (part 4-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11B shows the operation (part 4-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11C shows the operation (part 4-3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 shows the operation (part 1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment; FIG. FIG. 13A shows the operation (part 2-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13B shows the operation (part 2-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 14A shows the operation (part 3-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 14B shows the operation (part 3-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15A shows the operation (part 4-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15B shows the operation (part 4-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 16A shows the operation (part 5-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 16B shows the operation (part 5-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 17A shows the operation (part 1-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 17B shows the operation (part 1-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 17C shows the operation (part 1-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 18A shows the operation (part 2-1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 18B shows the operation (part 2-2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 18C shows the operation (part 2-3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment.

An embodiment of a light distribution control device according to the present disclosure will be described.

Embodiment 1.
<Embodiment 1>
A light distribution control device according to the first embodiment will be described.

In the following, in order to facilitate explanation and understanding, a single symbol may be used to collectively refer to multiple names. For example, one code "SYBR" may indicate a "front partial region" that collectively refers to three names "front partial region SYBR1", "front partial region SYBR2", and "front partial region SYBR3".

<Functions of Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1. FIG. Functions of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1 constitutes a light distribution control system HSS together with the driver monitoring system DMS and the lamp SY, as shown in FIG.

The light distribution control device HSD includes, for example, a receiving unit JU, a detecting unit KE, and a control unit SE in order to control the operation of irradiation by the irradiation lamp SY mounted on the own vehicle JS (shown in FIG. 6, for example). including.

The receiving unit JU corresponds to the "receiving unit", the detection unit KE corresponds to the "detection unit", and the control unit SE corresponds to the "control unit".

The receiving unit JU receives at least one of the information related to the line of sight, face direction, or posture direction of the driver.

The detection unit KE receives information from the driver monitoring system DMS via the reception unit JU and selects a plurality of partial regions BR (for example, shown in FIG. 2) is detected. The detection unit KE receives information from the driver monitoring system DMS, such as, for example, the direction of the line of sight SSN of the driver US, the direction of the face KMK, and the direction of the posture SSI. The driver monitoring system DMS includes, for example, a camera that captures still or moving images. The illumination lamp SY additionally illuminates the low beam or high beam, and the additional illumination may be performed by the headlamp itself or by an additional lamp, such as a spot beam. When the headlamp itself is used, the light amount of the low beam and high beam may be increased or decreased, or additional low beam and high beam may be turned on.

FIG. 2 shows the region R and the partial region BR of the first embodiment.

A region R is a region in front of the vehicle, and as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, is a range that the driver US riding in the own vehicle JS may see.

The partial area BR is a range divided from the area R. The region R is divided, for example, into five partial regions BR, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Specifically, the region R includes a front partial region SYBR located in front of the host vehicle JS, that is, in the front (X-axis direction), and a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) or a horizontal direction ( Y-axis direction) are divided into an upper partial region UEBR, a lower partial region SIBR, a left partial region HIBR, and a right partial region MIBR. Here, the X-axis direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle JS, the Y-axis direction is the lateral direction of the vehicle, and the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction with respect to the road surface.

The area R corresponds to the "area".

Area R, more specifically, is divided into the following three types.

When the detection unit KE attempts to detect which partial region BR the line of sight SSN of the driver US is directed to, the region R is divided into the front partial region SYBR1, the upper partial region UEBR1, and the upper partial region UEBR1, as shown in FIG. 2A. It is divided into a lower partial area SIBR1, a left partial area HIBR1, and a right partial area MIBR1.

When the detection unit KE attempts to detect which partial region BR the face orientation KMK of the driver US faces, the region R is divided into the front partial region SYBR2 and the upper partial region UEBR2 as shown in FIG. 2B. , a lower partial area SIBR2, a left partial area HIBR2, and a right partial area MIBR2.

When the detection unit KE attempts to detect which partial region BR the posture SSI of the driver US faces, the region R is divided into the front partial region SYBR3, the upper partial region UEBR3, and the upper partial region UEBR3, as shown in FIG. 2C. It is divided into a lower partial area SIBR3, a left partial area HIBR3, and a right partial area MIBR3.

The front partial region SYBR1 corresponds to the "front partial region of the line of sight", the upper partial region UEBR1 corresponds to the "upper partial region of the line of sight", and the lower partial region SIBR1 corresponds to the "lower partial region of the line of sight". , the right partial region MIBR1 corresponds to the "right partial region of the line of sight", and the left partial region HIBR1 corresponds to the "left partial region of the line of sight".

The front partial region SYBR2 corresponds to the “front partial region for face orientation”, the upper partial region UEBR2 corresponds to the “upper partial region for face orientation”, and the lower partial region SIBR2 corresponds to the “lower partial region for face orientation”. , the right partial region MIBR2 corresponds to the “right partial region for face orientation”, and the left partial region HIBR2 corresponds to the “left partial region for face orientation”.
The front partial region SYBR3 corresponds to the “front partial region of posture”, the upper partial region UEBR3 corresponds to the “upper partial region of posture”, and the lower partial region SIBR3 corresponds to the “lower partial region of posture”. , the right partial region MIBR3 corresponds to the "right partial region of posture", and the left partial region HIBR3 corresponds to the "left partial region of posture".

The division of the region R into the partial regions BR is performed by the detection unit KE prior to detecting which partial region BR the line of sight SSN, face orientation KMK, and posture SSI of the driver US are directed to. It is performed by the unit KE or stored in advance in the storage medium KB (shown in FIG. 3) regardless of the timing of detection by the detection unit KE.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the size of the front partial region SYBR is [front partial region SYBR1 for detecting that the line of sight SSN is facing the front]>[face direction KMK is facing the front] Front partial region SYBR2 for detecting that the posture SSI is facing forward]>[Front partial region SYBR3 for detecting that posture SSI faces the front].

In general, the distances in which the line of sight SSN, face direction KMK, and posture SSI of the driver US move are in the relationship of [distance in which line of sight SSN moves] > [distance in which face direction KMK moves] > [distance in which posture SSI moves]. be. In other words, when the driver US tries to look in a certain direction, he/she twists his/her body to turn his/her posture in that direction, but the amount of twisting of the body is not so large. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the detection sensitivity in order to detect that the direction in which the driver US is looking is changed even if the posture is slightly changed. For this reason, the front partial region SYBR3 of posture is smaller in size than the front partial region SYBR1 of line of sight. The same applies to face orientation. Detection that the driver US is looking at one of the upper, lower, left, and right partial areas has a higher sensitivity in the order of line of sight<face direction<posture.

In addition to the above, in general, the line of sight SSN, face orientation KMK, and posture SSI of the driver US are aligned in the front, that is, in the front partial region SYBR1 (shown in FIG. 2A), respectively, and in the front partial region SYBR2. (shown in FIG. 2B) and into the front partial area SYBR3 (shown in FIG. 2C).

The principle by which the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1 detects the partial area viewed by the driver US is as follows.

(1) When performing detection based on the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US, referring to FIG. 2A, the line-of-sight SSN deviates from the relatively wide front partial region SYBR1 due to the movement of the above-described relatively long distance, and moves upward. The location that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which of the four partial regions BR from the partial region UEBR1 to the right partial region MIBR1 is moved to.

(2) When performing detection based on the face direction KMK of the driver US, referring to FIG. ), the upper partial region UEBR2 to The location that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which of the four partial areas BR of the right partial area MIBR2 is moved to.

(3) When performing detection based on the posture SSI of the driver US, referring to FIG. The location that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which of the four partial areas BR from the partial area UEBR3 to the right partial area MIBR3 is moved to.

Return to Figure 1 and continue the explanation.

The control unit SE causes the illumination lamp SY to illuminate the partial area BR facing the driver US detected by the detection unit KE. For example, when the detection unit KE detects that the line of sight SSN of the driver US is directed toward the upper partial region UEBR1, the control unit SE controls the illumination lamp SY to illuminate the upper partial region UEBR1. Further, for example, when the detection unit KE detects that the face direction KMK of the driver US is directed toward the lower partial region SIBR2, the control unit SE causes the illumination lamp SY to illuminate the lower partial region SIBR2. Control. Further, for example, when the detection unit KE detects that the posture SSI of the driver US faces the left partial region HIBR3, the control unit SE controls the illumination lamp SY to illuminate the left partial region HIBR3. do.

<Hardware Configuration of Embodiment 1>
FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment.

The light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a processor PC, a memory MM, a storage medium KB, and an input unit NY and an output SH.

A processor PC is the core of a well-known computer that operates hardware according to software. The memory MM is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The storage medium KB is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD: Hard Disk Drive), a solid state drive (SSD: Solid State Drive), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). A storage medium KB stores a program PR. The program PR is a group of instructions that define the content of processing to be executed by the processor PC.

The input unit NY is configured, for example, as an interface for receiving information from the driver monitoring system DMS. The output unit SH is configured as an interface that outputs an instruction signal to the irradiation lamp SY.

Regarding the relationship between the functions and the hardware configuration of the light distribution control device HSD, the processor PC executes the program PR stored in the storage medium KB using the memory MM, and if necessary, the program PR stored in the storage medium KB. , the functions of the detector KE and the controller SE are realized by controlling the operations of the input unit NY and the output unit SH.

<Operation of Embodiment 1>
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment. The operation of the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST11: The driver monitoring system DMS (illustrated in FIG. 1) detects at least one of the line of sight SSN, face direction KMK, and posture SSI of the driver US.

Step ST12: The detection unit KE receives information from the driver monitoring system DMS via the reception unit JU. , five partial regions BR, that is, the front partial region SYBR, the upper partial region UEBR, the lower partial region SIBR, the left partial region HIBR, and the right partial region MIBR, which partial region BR is viewed.

(1) Based on the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US, the detection unit KE, as shown in FIG. The partial area BR that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which partial area BR is facing.

(2) When the detection unit KE is based on the face orientation KMK of the driver US, as shown in FIG. The partial area BR that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which partial area BR is facing.

(3) When the detection unit KE is based on the posture SSI of the driver US, as shown in FIG. 2C, the posture SSI of the driver US is determined to be The partial area BR that the driver US is looking at is detected depending on which partial area BR is facing.

Step ST13: The control unit SE (shown in FIG. 1) controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to additionally irradiate the partial region BR detected by the detection unit KE.

(1) The detection unit KE detects that the line of sight SSN of the driver US is directed toward, for example, the upper partial region UEBR1 (shown in FIG. 2A). When it is detected, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate the upper partial region UEBR1.

(2) The detection unit KE detects that the face orientation KMK of the driver US is facing, for example, the lower partial region SIBR2 (shown in FIG. 2B). When the viewing is detected, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate toward the lower partial region SIBR2.

(3) When the detection unit KE detects that the posture SSI of the driver US faces, for example, the left partial region HIBR3 (shown in FIG. 2C), that is, when the driver US faces the left partial region HIBR3 is detected, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate the left partial region HIBR3.

<Effect of Embodiment 1>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment, the detector KE detects the front partial region SYBR (however, , the size of the front partial region SYBR1 for the line of sight>the size of the front partial region SYBR2 for the face direction>the size of the front partial region SYBR3 for the posture.) to the right partial region MIBR. to detect whether it is facing The control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to additionally irradiate the partial region BR detected by the detection unit KE. As a result, even if the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US cannot be detected, in other words, even if it is not possible to detect where the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US is directed, the face orientation KMK Alternatively, the partial region BR viewed by the driver US can be detected based on the posture SSI and additionally illuminated.

Embodiment 2.
<Embodiment 2>
A light distribution control device according to the second embodiment will be described.

<Functions of Embodiment 2>
The light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment basically has the same functions as the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 1).

Compared to the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment, the light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment has a partial region BR to which the line of sight SSN is directed, a partial region BR to which the face direction KMK is directed, and a posture SSI. The partial area BR that is being viewed by the driver US is adopted as the partial area BR that is being viewed by the driver US according to the priority of this order.

<Hardware configuration of the second embodiment>
The light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the hardware of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 3).

<Operation of Embodiment 2>
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment. The operation of the light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST21: The detection unit KE (illustrated in FIG. 1) can receive the line of sight SSN of the driver US from the driver monitoring system DMS via the reception unit JU and detect the partial area viewed by the driver. Check whether or not More specifically, when it is determined that the partial area viewed by the driver can be detected by receiving the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US, the driver US detects the front partial area based on the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US. When it is determined that which of the five partial areas BR (shown in FIG. 2A) from SYBR1 to right partial area MIBR1 can be detected, the process proceeds to step ST22. On the other hand, when it is determined that the sight line SSN of the driver US cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step ST23.

Step ST22: The control unit SE (shown in FIG. 1) causes the illumination lamp SY to additionally irradiate the partial area BR that the driver US is looking at, which is detected by the detection unit KE based on the line of sight SSN of the driver US. The irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY is controlled so as to

Step ST23: The detection unit KE confirms whether or not the face direction KMK of the driver US can be detected instead of the line of sight SSN of the driver US in step ST21. More specifically, when it is determined that the face orientation KMK of the driver US can be detected, the driver US detects the five regions from the front partial region SYBR2 to the right partial region MIBR2 based on the face orientation KMK of the driver US. When it is determined that it is possible to detect which of the regions BR (shown in FIG. 2B) is being viewed, the process proceeds to step ST24. On the other hand, when it is determined that the face orientation KMK of the driver US cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step ST25.

Step ST24: The control unit SE causes the irradiation lamp SY to additionally irradiate the partial region BR that the driver US is looking at, which is detected by the detection unit KE based on the face direction KMK of the driver US. control the irradiation operation of

Step ST25: The detection unit KE confirms whether or not the posture SSI of the driver US can be detected instead of the face orientation KMK of the driver US in step ST23. When it is determined that the posture SSI of the driver US can be detected, more specifically, based on the posture SSI of the driver US, the driver US detects five partial regions BR from the front partial region SYBR3 to the right partial region MIBR3. (shown in FIG. 2C), the process proceeds to step ST26. On the other hand, when it is determined that the posture SSI of the driver US cannot be detected, the process ends.

Step ST26: The control unit SE controls the illumination lamp SY so that the illumination lamp SY additionally irradiates the partial area BR that the driver US is looking at, which is detected by the detection unit KE based on the posture SSI of the driver US. Control the irradiation operation.

<Effect of Embodiment 2>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of the second embodiment, the detection unit KE detects the portion viewed by the driver US in the order of high priority to low priority: line of sight SSN→face orientation KMK→posture SSI. Try to detect the region BR. As a result, even if the driver US wears sunglasses, for example, and as a result, the line-of-sight SSN of the driver US cannot be detected, based on the face orientation KMK or posture SSI of the driver US, The partial area BR viewed by the driver US can be detected, and the partial area BR viewed by the driver US can be illuminated.

In addition to wearing the above-described sunglasses, the driver US wears, for example, a wide-brimmed hat or a large-sized mask, and as a result, both the line-of-sight SSN and face orientation KMK of the driver US are detected. Even if it is not possible, it is possible to detect the partial area BR that the driver US sees based on the posture SSI of the driver US, and additionally irradiate the partial area BR that the driver US sees. becomes possible.

Embodiment 3.
<Embodiment 3>
A light distribution control device according to Embodiment 3 will be described.

<Functions of Embodiment 3>
The light distribution control device HSD of the third embodiment basically has the same functions as the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 1).

The light distribution control device HSD of the third embodiment is different from the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment in that the range of illumination within the partial region BR viewed by the driver US detected based on the line of sight SSN, the face direction KMK and the range of irradiation within the partial region BR seen by the driver US detected based on the posture SSI are widened in this order. Become.

<Hardware configuration of the third embodiment>
The light distribution control device HSD of the third embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the hardware of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 3).

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the light distribution control device HSD of the third embodiment.

In the following, the following assumptions are made for ease of explanation and understanding.
(1) The detection unit KE (illustrated in FIG. 1) detects that the driver US is looking at the left partial region HIBR1 (illustrated in FIG. 6A) based on the line of sight SSN of the driver US.
(2) The detection unit KE detects that the driver US is looking at the left partial region HIBR2 based on the face orientation KMK of the driver US (shown in FIG. 6B).
(3) The detection unit KE detects that the driver US is looking at the left partial region HIBR3 based on the posture SSI of the driver US (shown in FIG. 6C).

In the case of (1) above, the control unit SE (illustrated in FIG. 1) controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate the left partial region HIBR1, as shown in FIG. 6A. More specifically, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate an irradiation range SH1 having a predetermined size in the direction toward which the line of sight SSN is directed within the left partial region HIBR1.

In the case of (2) above, the control unit controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate the left partial region HIBR2, as shown in FIG. 6B. More specifically, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate an irradiation range SH2 having a predetermined size in the direction in which the face orientation KMK is directed within the left partial region HIBR2. Here, the irradiation range SH2 is wider than the irradiation range SH1.

In the case of (3) above, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate the left partial region HIBR3, as shown in FIG. 6C. More specifically, the control unit SE controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY so as to irradiate an irradiation range SH3 having a predetermined size in the direction toward which the posture SSI is directed within the left partial region HIBR3. Here, the irradiation range SH3 is wider than the irradiation range SH2.

<Effect of Embodiment 3>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of the third embodiment, the control unit SE adjusts the size of the irradiation range SH irradiated by the irradiation lamp SY so that the irradiation range SH1<the irradiation range SH2<the irradiation range SH3. It controls the irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY. As a result, even with detection based on the face orientation KMK of the driver US, which is less accurate than detection based on the sight line SSN of the driver US, the driver US can be seen within the irradiation range SH2 (shown in FIG. 6B). It is possible to increase the possibility that the part where the

Similar to the above, even detection based on the posture SSI of the driver US, which is less accurate than detection based on the face orientation KMK of the driver US, does not cause the driver US to fall within the irradiation range SH3 (illustrated in FIG. 6C). can increase the likelihood that the part that the is looking at is included.

Embodiment 4.
<Embodiment 4>
A light distribution control device according to Embodiment 4 will be described.

<Functions of Embodiment 4>
The light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment basically has the same functions as the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 1).

Compared to the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment, the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment accumulates the time or the number of times the driver US looks at the partial region BR, and the result of the accumulation is Accordingly, a partial area is specified and additionally illuminated by the illumination lamp SY.

<Hardware configuration of the fourth embodiment>
The light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the hardware of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 3).

<Operation of Embodiment 4>
FIG. 7 shows an example of detection conditions in the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

In the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment, the detection unit KE (illustrated in FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. If so, the partial region BR to which the “line of sight SSN” faces for the cumulative time threshold value RJth “1 second” or more within the unit time TJ “3 seconds” is detected as the partial region BR that the driver US is looking at. .

For example, when the vehicle JS is traveling at a medium speed (up to 50 km/h), the detection unit KE detects that the "face direction KMK" reaches the cumulative number threshold RKth " The partial area BR that is facing 3 times or more is detected as the partial area BR that the driver US is looking at.

The cumulative time threshold RJth corresponds to a "predetermined cumulative time threshold", and the cumulative number threshold RKth corresponds to a "predetermined cumulative number threshold".

<Operation of Embodiment 4>
FIG. 8 shows the operation (part 1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows the operation (part 2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows the operation (part 3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows the operation (part 4) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

In the following, for ease of explanation and understanding, as shown in FIG. 2C, the partial area BR (front partial area SYBR3 to right partial area MIBR3) viewed by the driver US is based on the posture SSI of the driver US. is assumed to be detected.

The above detection of the partial area BR will be described separately for the viewing time and the number of viewing times.

〈Watching time〉
The control unit SE (shown in FIG. 1) receives from the detection unit KE (shown in FIG. 1) that the posture SSI of the driver US is being detected, and controls the vehicle speed (shown in FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. 7.) within a unit time TJ (also shown in FIG. 7.), the posture SSI of the driver US changes from the front partial region SYBR3 to the lower partial region SIBR3 (shown in FIG. 2C.). The time spent viewing each of the partial regions BR is measured, and more precisely, the accumulated viewing time is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 8B (second graph from the top) and FIG. When the cumulative time RJ facing the left partial region HIBR3 exceeds a predetermined cumulative time threshold value RJth (also shown in FIG. 7), the illumination lamp SY is illuminated toward the left partial region HIBR3. The control unit SE switches the illumination of the left partial region HIBR3 by the illumination lamp SY from off to 100% illumination at time t1, as shown in FIG. 9B (the second graph from the top). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9(C) (the third graph from the top), starting from time t, the lighting is gradually increased from off to 100% lighting.

<Number of times watched>
In the same manner as described above, control unit SE receives from detection unit KE that posture SSI of driver US is being detected, and as shown in FIG. During the unit time TJ (shown in FIG. 7), the posture SSI of the driver US was looking at each of the five partial regions BR from the front partial region SYBR3 to the lower partial region SIBR3 (shown in FIG. 2C). The number of times (the number of "facts seen" in FIG. 10) is counted, and more precisely, the cumulative number of times of viewing is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 10D (fourth graph from the top) and FIG. When the cumulative number of times RK facing the upper partial area UEBR3 exceeds a predetermined cumulative number of times threshold RKth (also shown in FIG. 7), the irradiation lamp SY is made to irradiate the upper partial area UEBR3. The control unit SE switches the irradiation of the upper region UEBR3 by the irradiation lamp SY from off to 100% lighting at the same time as the time t1, as shown in FIG. 11B (second graph). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11(C) (the third graph), starting from time t, the lighting is gradually increased from off to 100% lighting.

<Effect of Embodiment 4>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment, the control unit SE controls the time during which the driver US looks at the partial area BR (the left partial area HIBR3 and the upper partial area UEBR3 described above). When the accumulated time RJ per unit time TJ or the accumulated number of times RK exceeds the accumulated time threshold RJth or the accumulated number of times threshold RKth, the partial area BR (the left partial area HIBR3, the upper partial area UEBR3) is illuminated. SY is irradiated. This makes it possible to avoid unnecessary illumination of the partial area BR that is not necessary for the driving due to the so-called "flickering" of the driver US while driving the own vehicle JS. .

Embodiment 5.
<Embodiment 5>
A light distribution control device according to Embodiment 5 will be described.

<Functions of Embodiment 5>
The light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment basically has the same functions as the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 1).

The light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment is based on the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment, and the relative angle between the own vehicle JS and the obstacle SB (described later with reference to FIG. 12). increases over time, the time or number of times the driver US has looked at the partial region BR is accumulated, as in the fourth embodiment.

The obstacle SB corresponds to the "object".

<Hardware Configuration of Embodiment 5>
The light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the hardware of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 3).

<Operation of Embodiment 5>
FIG. 12 shows the operation (part 1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows the operation (part 2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows the operation (part 3) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows the operation (part 4) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows the operation (part 5) of the light distribution control device HSD of the fifth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, the relative angle .theta. It is the angle defined by a second imaginary straight line KC2 parallel to the direction.

When the host vehicle JS is traveling and the host vehicle JS is approaching the obstacle SB, it is clear from the comparison between the situation at time t1, the situation at time t2, and the situation at time t3 in FIG. Furthermore, the relative angle θ when the driver US is looking at the same obstacle SB increases over time in the order of relative angle θ1→relative angle θ2→relative angle θ3. In other words, the gradual increase of the relative angle θ over time means that there is an obstacle SB that the driver US is paying attention to, and that the possibility of the vehicle JS coming into contact with the obstacle SB gradually increases over time. means

<When the relative angle θ increases>
When the relative angle θ increases with time as shown in FIG. ), and the driver US is looking at the partial area BR (left partial area HIBR3) as in the fourth embodiment (the graph of FIG. 8B and the graph of FIG. 9A). Calculate the accumulated time RJ.

When the relative angle θ increases with time as shown in FIG. A) (upper graph) and similar to the fourth embodiment (the graph of FIG. 10(D) and the graph of FIG. 11(A)), the driver US is in the partial area BR Calculate the cumulative number of times RK of viewing the area UEBR3).

When the calculated cumulative time RJ exceeds the cumulative time threshold value RJth as shown in FIG. 13A (upper graph), control unit SE or When the calculated cumulative count RK exceeds the cumulative count threshold RKth, the driver US turns toward the partial region BR (left partial region HIBR3, upper partial region UEBR3) viewed by the driver US, as in the fourth embodiment. The irradiation operation of the irradiation lamp SY is controlled so as to irradiate.

<When the relative angle θ does not increase>
In contrast to the above, when the relative angle θ does not increase over time as shown in FIG. 15 (lower graph), control unit SE , the time during which the driver US looked at the partial area BR (left partial area HIBR3) is not accumulated, in other words, the accumulated time RJ is not gradually increased. In other words, the fact that the relative angle θ does not increase over time means that a different obstacle SB is glanced at. Here, the cumulative time means the cumulative time of seeing the same obstacle SB. Therefore, when glancing at different obstacles SB, it is meaningless to calculate the accumulated time.

Similarly, when the relative angle θ does not increase over time as shown in FIG. 16(B) (lower graph), control unit SE , the number of times the driver US looked at the partial area BR (upper partial area UEBR3) is not accumulated, in other words, the accumulated number RK does not gradually increase. In FIG. 16B (upper graph), the "x" mark indicates that the number of times the partial region BR was viewed is not accumulated.

<Effect of Embodiment 5>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of Embodiment 5, when the relative angle θ between the own vehicle JS and the obstacle SB increases over time, the time during which the driver US looks at the partial area BR is Or accumulate the number of times you have seen it. As a result, when the vehicle JS is likely to come into contact with the obstacle SB, the partial area BR viewed by the driver US is additionally illuminated. As a result, no additional irradiation is done when the possibility of the host vehicle JS coming into contact with the obstacle SB remains low.

Embodiment 6.
<Embodiment 6>
A light distribution control device according to Embodiment 6 will be described.

<Functions of Embodiment 6>
The light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment basically has the same functions as the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 1).

In addition to the above, the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment, like the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment, accumulates the time or the number of times the driver US looks at the partial area BR. , the irradiation lamp SY is extinguished according to the result of the accumulation, as compared with the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment.

<Hardware configuration of the sixth embodiment>
The light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the hardware of the light distribution control device HSD of the first embodiment (shown in FIG. 3).

<Operation of Embodiment 6>
FIG. 17 shows the operation (part 1) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows the operation (part 2) of the light distribution control device HSD of the sixth embodiment.

In the following, for ease of explanation and understanding, similar to the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2C, based on the posture SSI of the driver US and unlike the fourth embodiment, the driver US has Suppose we want to detect an unseen sub-region BR.

The above detection of the partial area BR will be described separately for the viewing time and the viewing count.
<Time I was watching>
The control unit SE (shown in FIG. 1) receives from the detection unit KE (shown in FIG. 1) that the posture SSI of the driver US is being detected. Graph), the posture SSI of the driver US changes within a unit time TJ (shown in FIG. 7) specified from the vehicle speed (shown in FIG. 8(B) (the second graph from the top) and FIG. 9(A) (the first graph from the top)) is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 17(A) (first graph from the top), the control unit SE controls unit time At time t2 after TJ, the accumulated time RJ during which the posture SSI of the driver US is directed toward the left partial region HIBR3 does not increase from time t1 to time t2. When the accumulated time RJ per unit time TJ up to t2 does not exceed a predetermined accumulated time threshold RJth(keep), the additional irradiation directed to the left partial region HIBR3 is stopped, that is, the irradiation lamp SY is turned off. turn off the light.

The cumulative time threshold RJth(keep) corresponds to the "second time threshold".

As shown in the second graph of FIG. 17(B), the control unit SE turns off the above-described illumination lamp SY by switching from lighting to 100% off at time t2, or As shown in 17(C) (the third graph), starting from time t2, the lighting is gradually decreased from lighting to 100% lighting.

<Number of times watched>
In the same way as described above, while receiving from the detection unit KE the fact that the posture SSI of the driver US is being detected, the control unit SE, as shown in FIG. 18A (the first graph from the top), Within a unit time TJ specified from the vehicle speed, the posture SSI of the driver US changes from the upper partial region UEBR3 (fourth graph from the top in FIG. 10 ((D)) of the fourth embodiment) to FIG. ) (also shown in the first graph from the top)) is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 18(A), control unit SE changes posture SSI of driver US at time t2 after unit time TJ from time t1 (shown in FIG. 11(A) of the fourth embodiment). The accumulated number RK facing the upper partial region UEBR3 has not increased. is not exceeded, the additional irradiation towards the upper partial region UEBR3 is stopped, ie the lamp SY is extinguished.

The cumulative count threshold RKth(keep) corresponds to the "second count threshold".

The control unit SE turns off the irradiation lamp SY by switching it from on to off at the same time as time t1, as shown in FIG. Then, starting from time t2, the lighting is gradually decreased from lighting to 100% lighting.

<Effect of Embodiment 6>
As described above, in the light distribution control device HSD of the fourth embodiment, the controller SE counts the time or number of times the driver US looked at the partial area BR (the left partial area HIBR3 and the upper partial area UEBR3). When the cumulative time RJ per unit time TJ or the cumulative count RK does not exceed the cumulative time threshold RJth (keep) or the cumulative count threshold RKth (keep), the partial region BR (left partial region HIBR3, upper partial region UEBR3 ) is extinguished. As a result, additional irradiation of the partial regions BR (the left partial region HIBR3 and the upper partial region UEBR3) no longer required for driving the own vehicle JS is stopped, and the driver US concentrates on driving the own vehicle JS. can be done.

The above-described embodiments may be combined without departing from the gist of the present disclosure, and components in each embodiment may be deleted, changed, or added as appropriate. good.

The light distribution control device according to the present disclosure can be used to illuminate the place that the driver wants to see even if the line of sight of the driver cannot be detected.

BR partial area, DMS driver monitoring system, HIBR1 to HIBR3 left partial area, HSD light distribution control device, HSS light distribution control system, JS own vehicle, JU receiving section, KB storage medium, KC1 first virtual straight line, KC2 second virtual straight line, KE detection unit, KMK face orientation, MIBR1 to MIBR3 right partial area, MM memory, NY input unit, PC processor, PR program, R area, RJ cumulative time, RJth cumulative time threshold, RK cumulative count, RKth cumulative Number of times threshold, SB Obstacle, SE Control part, SH Output part, SH1 to SH3 Irradiation range, SIBR1 to SIBR3 Lower part area, SSI Posture, SSN Line of sight, SY Light, SYBR1 to SYBR3 Front part area, TJ Unit time, UEBR1 ~ UEBR3 upper region, US driver, θ1 to θ3 relative angle.

Claims

a receiving unit for receiving at least one of information relating to driver's line of sight, face orientation or posture orientation;
An area in front of the vehicle is divided into a plurality of partial areas including a front partial area located in front of the vehicle and an upper partial area, a lower partial area, a left partial area, and a right partial area that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to the front partial area. a detection unit for detecting which of the plurality of partial areas the driver is looking at, and
a control unit that outputs an instruction signal to the illumination lamp so as to additionally illuminate the partial area viewed by the driver;
The light distribution control device, wherein the front partial area is smaller in face orientation or posture than the size of the front partial area in line of sight.
The detection unit decreases the size of the front partial area in the order of the front partial area of the line of sight, the front partial area of the face direction, and the front partial area of the posture, and further comprises: 2. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the partial area viewed by the driver is detected according to the order of decreasing priority.
When detecting that the driver is facing the left partial area or the right partial area, the control unit outputs an instruction signal to the irradiation lamp so as to additionally irradiate the area to which the driver is facing, and outputs the instruction signal to the lamp. 3. The light distribution control device according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation range widens in the order of line of sight, face orientation, and posture.
The control unit accumulates the time or number of times the driver has seen one of the plurality of partial areas, and the accumulated time or number of times per unit time is a predetermined time threshold or illuminating the one partial area with the lamp when the number of times exceeds the threshold;
The light distribution control device according to claim 1.
When the angle defined by the first virtual straight line connecting the object and the host vehicle and the second virtual straight line parallel to the traveling direction of the host vehicle increases with time, the driver may accumulating the time or number of times the one partial region is viewed;
The light distribution control device according to claim 4.
The control unit stops additional irradiation of the one partial region when the accumulated time or number of times per unit time does not exceed a predetermined second time threshold or a second number of times threshold. The light distribution control device according to claim 4.
A driver monitoring system that acquires information related to the driver's line of sight, face orientation, or posture, a light distribution control device that receives information from the driver monitoring system and outputs an instruction signal, and an instruction from the light distribution control device A light distribution control system comprising an illumination lamp driven by receiving a signal, the light distribution control device comprising:
a receiving unit that receives at least one of information relating to the driver's line of sight, face direction, or posture direction;
An area in front of the vehicle is divided into a plurality of partial areas including a front partial area located in front of the vehicle and an upper partial area, a lower partial area, a left partial area, and a right partial area that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to the front partial area. a detection unit for detecting which of the plurality of partial areas the driver is looking at, and
a control unit that outputs an instruction signal to the illumination lamp so as to additionally illuminate the partial area viewed by the driver;
The light distribution control system, wherein the front partial area is smaller in face orientation or posture than the size of the front partial area in line of sight.
receiving at least one of the driver's line of sight, face orientation or posture orientation;
An area in front of the vehicle is divided into a plurality of partial areas including a front partial area located in front of the vehicle and an upper partial area, a lower partial area, a left partial area, and a right partial area that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to the front partial area. and detecting which of the plurality of partial areas the driver is looking at;
and outputting an instruction signal to the illumination lamp to additionally illuminate the partial area viewed by the driver;
The light distribution control method, wherein the front partial area is smaller in face orientation or posture than the size of the front partial area in line of sight.