JP2009149190A - Headlamp device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent luminance of a headlamp from increasing more than necessary in a headlamp device for a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A traveling position of the vehicle is detected and the luminance of the headlamp is adjusted on the basis of the traveling position when the headlamp is lighted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle headlamp device that lights a headlamp when the illuminance around the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this headlamp device, the headlight is automatically turned on to reduce the burden on the driver even if the driver does not bother to turn on the headlight when entering a tunnel during the daytime or at night.
JP 2007-91023 A

  By the way, even if the illuminance around the vehicle is equal to or lower than the predetermined illuminance, there is a case where it is not necessary to increase the luminance of the headlamp so much depending on the traveling position of the vehicle.

  In response to this requirement, in Patent Document 1, the headlamp is simply turned on in accordance with the illuminance around the vehicle, and the brightness of the headlamp can be made to be in accordance with the traveling position of the vehicle. Therefore, the brightness of the headlamp may be higher than necessary.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, The place made into the objective is to suppress that the brightness | luminance of a headlamp becomes higher than necessary.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a headlamp that illuminates the front of a vehicle, illuminance detection means that detects illuminance around the vehicle, and illuminance around the vehicle detected by the illuminance detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance. A vehicle headlamp device that includes an autolight control unit that turns on the headlamp, and includes a travel position detection unit that detects a travel position of the vehicle, and a front unit by the autolight control unit. The apparatus further comprises brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the headlamp based on the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detecting means when the headlamp is turned on.

  Thus, when the headlight is turned on by the autolight control means, the brightness adjustment means adjusts the brightness of the headlamp based on the traveling position of the vehicle detected by the traveling position detection means. The luminance can be set to a luminance according to the traveling position of the vehicle, and the luminance of the headlamp can be suppressed from becoming higher than necessary.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the brightness adjusting means lowers the brightness of the headlamp below the normal brightness when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detecting means is indoors. It is comprised so that it may carry out.

  The normal luminance is the luminance when entering a tunnel during the day or at night.

  By the way, when the traveling position of the vehicle is indoors, even if the illuminance around the vehicle is equal to or lower than the predetermined illuminance, the illuminance is considered to be relatively high, and the luminance of the headlamp does not need to be so high.

  Here, according to the present invention, when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detection means is indoors, the brightness adjustment means lowers the brightness of the headlamps below the normal brightness. It can suppress that the brightness | luminance of a lamp becomes higher than necessary.

  According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the indoor includes an indoor parking lot.

  By the way, when the traveling position of the vehicle is in an indoor parking lot (for example, a multi-story parking lot), even if the illuminance around the vehicle is below a predetermined illuminance, the illuminance is considered to be relatively high, and the brightness of the headlamp Need not be so high.

  Here, according to the present invention, when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detection means is in the indoor parking lot, the brightness adjustment means lowers the brightness of the headlamp from the normal brightness, so that the indoor parking It can suppress that the brightness | luminance of the headlamp in a field becomes higher than necessary.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, vehicle speed detection means for detecting the travel speed of the vehicle is further provided, and the brightness adjustment means is the travel of the vehicle detected by the travel position detection means. When the position is indoor, the brightness of the headlamp is adjusted based on the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detecting means.

  Thereby, when the vehicle travel position detected by the travel position detection means is indoor, the brightness adjustment means adjusts the brightness of the headlamp based on the vehicle travel speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means. Thus, the brightness of the headlamp can be set to a brightness according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, and the brightness of the headlamp can be further suppressed from becoming higher than necessary.

  In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the brightness adjusting means is configured such that when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detection means is indoor, the travel speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detection means. It is characterized by being configured to lower the brightness of the headlamp as the speed is slower.

  By the way, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is slow, the vehicle is considered to be about to stop, and it is not necessary to increase the brightness of the headlamp so much.

  Here, according to the present invention, when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detection means is indoors, the headlight is lowered as the travel speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detection means decreases by the brightness adjustment means. Since the brightness of the headlamp is lowered, it is possible to suppress the brightness of the headlamps near the stop from becoming higher than necessary.

  According to a sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the travel position detecting means includes a navigation system.

  Thereby, since the traveling position detecting means has the navigation system, the traveling position of the vehicle can be accurately detected.

  In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to fifth aspects, the traveling position detecting means has imaging means for imaging the front of the vehicle, and image information captured by the imaging means. Based on the above, it is configured to detect the travel position of the vehicle.

  As a result, the traveling position detection means has an imaging means for imaging the front of the vehicle, and detects the traveling position of the vehicle based on the image information captured by the imaging means. It can be detected accurately.

  According to the present invention, when the headlamp is turned on, the brightness of the headlamp is adjusted based on the travel position of the vehicle. Therefore, the brightness of the headlamp can be adjusted to the brightness according to the travel position of the vehicle. It is possible to suppress the brightness of the headlamp from becoming higher than necessary.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the headlamp device mounted on the vehicle V according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed at the front end of the vehicle V and radiates the front of the vehicle V ( Headlamps), an illuminance sensor 2 (illuminance detection means) such as a camera that is attached to the side of the vehicle V and detects the illuminance around the vehicle V, and the surroundings of the vehicle V detected by the illuminance sensor 2 An electric control unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”; auto light control means, brightness adjustment means) that turns on the headlight 1 when the illuminance is less than or equal to a predetermined illuminance is provided. The ECU 3 includes a headlight 1 and an illuminance sensor 2, a navigation system 4 (travel position detection means) that detects the travel position of the vehicle V, and a vehicle speed sensor 5 (vehicle speed detection means) that detects the travel speed of the vehicle V. Are connected so that signals can be exchanged. The navigation system 4 detects the traveling position of the vehicle V based on the data from the GPS 6 and the built-in map data 7.

  The ECU 3 adjusts the luminance of the headlight 1 based on the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4 when the headlight 1 is turned on. Specifically, when the headlight 1 is turned on and the traveling position of the vehicle V is outdoors, the ECU 3 sets the brightness of the headlight 1 to the normal brightness (the brightness at the time of entering a tunnel in the daytime or at night). For example, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is an indoor parking lot (for example, a three-dimensional parking lot) or an indoor such as a factory, the luminance of the headlight 1 is set to the first luminance. Lower than the predetermined luminance.

  The ECU 3 adjusts the brightness of the headlight 1 based on the traveling speed of the vehicle V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 5 when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors. Specifically, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors, the ECU 3 decreases the brightness of the headlight 1 as the traveling speed of the vehicle V is slower. In the present embodiment, the ECU 3 sets the luminance of the headlight 1 to the first predetermined luminance when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors and the traveling speed of the vehicle V is higher than a predetermined speed (for example, 5 km / h). When the traveling speed of the vehicle V is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed while the second predetermined luminance is lower than the second predetermined luminance (for example, 70% of the maximum luminance), the luminance of the headlight 1 is lower than the second predetermined luminance. The brightness (for example, 50% of the maximum brightness) is set.

  The auto light control by the ECU 3 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the auto light switch is in an ON state. If the determination result in step S1 is YES (that is, if it is in the ON state), the process proceeds to step S2, while if NO, the process returns to step S1.

  In step S2, the illuminance around the vehicle V is detected, and in subsequent step S3, it is determined whether or not the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance. When the determination result of step S3 is YES (that is, when the illuminance is equal to or lower than the predetermined illuminance), the process proceeds to step S4, and the traveling place of the vehicle V is detected. In a succeeding step S5, it is determined whether or not the traveling place is indoors. If the determination result in step S5 is YES (that is, indoors), the process proceeds to step S6 to determine whether or not the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. If the decision result in the step S6 is YES (that is, if it is equal to or less than a predetermined speed), the process proceeds to a step S7 so as to turn on the headlight 1 with the third predetermined luminance, and then returns to the start.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step S6 is NO (ie, greater than the predetermined speed), the process proceeds to step S8 to turn on the headlight 1 with the second predetermined luminance higher than the third predetermined luminance, and then return to the start. To do.

  If the determination result in step S5 is NO (that is, if it is outdoors), the process proceeds to step S9, the headlight 1 is turned on with a first predetermined luminance higher than the second predetermined luminance, and then the process returns to the start.

  Further, if the determination result in step S3 is NO (that is, greater than the predetermined illuminance), the process proceeds to step S10, and the headlight 1 is not turned on (if the headlight 1 is on, the headlight 1 is turned off). ), Then return to the start.

-Effect-
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the headlight 1 is turned on, the brightness of the headlight 1 is adjusted by the ECU 3 based on the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4. The luminance can be set to a luminance according to the traveling position of the vehicle V, and the luminance of the headlight 1 can be suppressed from becoming higher than necessary.

  By the way, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors, even if the illuminance around the vehicle V is less than or equal to the predetermined illuminance, the illuminance is considered to be relatively high, and the luminance of the headlight 1 does not need to be so high. .

  Here, according to the present embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4 is indoor, the ECU 3 lowers the luminance of the headlight 1 below the normal luminance. It is possible to suppress the brightness of the light from becoming higher than necessary.

  By the way, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is in an indoor parking lot (for example, a three-dimensional parking lot), even if the illuminance around the vehicle V is less than or equal to a predetermined illuminance, Is considered to be relatively high, and the luminance of the headlight 1 does not need to be so high.

  Here, according to this embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4 is in the indoor parking lot, the ECU 3 lowers the luminance of the headlight 1 below the normal luminance. It is possible to prevent the luminance of the headlight 1 from becoming higher than necessary.

  Further, when the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4 is indoor, the brightness of the headlight 1 is adjusted by the ECU 3 based on the traveling speed of the vehicle V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 5. The brightness of the light 1 can be set to a brightness according to the traveling speed of the vehicle V, and the brightness of the headlight 1 can be further suppressed from becoming higher than necessary.

  By the way, when the traveling speed of the vehicle V is low, the vehicle V is considered to be about to stop, and the brightness of the headlight 1 does not need to be so high.

  Here, according to the present embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle V detected by the navigation system 4 is indoors, the slower the traveling speed of the vehicle V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 5 by the ECU 3, the more the headlight 1 Therefore, it is possible to suppress the brightness of the headlight 1 near the stop from becoming higher than necessary.

  Furthermore, since the travel position detecting means is composed of the navigation system 4, the travel position of the vehicle V can be accurately detected.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, when the headlight 1 is turned on and the traveling position of the vehicle V is outdoors, the luminance of the headlight 1 is set to the first predetermined luminance, while when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors. The brightness of the headlight 1 is set lower than the first predetermined brightness, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as the brightness of the headlight 1 is adjusted based on the travel position of the vehicle V.

  In the above embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors and the traveling speed of the vehicle V is higher than the predetermined speed, the luminance of the headlight 1 is set to the second predetermined luminance, while the vehicle V When the traveling speed of the vehicle is lower than the predetermined speed, the brightness of the headlight 1 is set to the third predetermined brightness. However, as long as the brightness of the headlight 1 is adjusted based on the traveling speed of the vehicle V, Not limited to. For example, the luminance of the headlight 1 may be lowered linearly as the traveling speed of the vehicle V is slower.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the traveling position of the vehicle V is indoors and the traveling speed of the vehicle V is higher than a predetermined speed, the brightness of the headlight 1 is set to the second predetermined brightness, while the vehicle V When the traveling speed of the vehicle is lower than the predetermined speed, the luminance of the headlight 1 is set to the third predetermined luminance. However, the luminance of the headlight 1 is made constant regardless of the traveling speed of the vehicle V. You may do it.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the travel position of the vehicle V is detected by the navigation system 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a camera (imaging means) that captures the front of the vehicle V is provided. The travel position of the vehicle V may be detected by the ECU 3 based on image information captured by the camera. As described above, the traveling position detection unit has a camera that images the front of the vehicle V, and detects the traveling position of the vehicle V based on the image information captured by the camera. The position can be detected accurately.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  As described above, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is not limited by the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the vehicle headlamp device according to the present invention can be applied to uses for suppressing the brightness of the headlamp from becoming higher than necessary.

It is a side view of the vehicle by which the headlamp apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a block diagram of a headlamp device. It is a flowchart of the auto light control by ECU.

Explanation of symbols

1 Headlight (headlight)
2 Illuminance sensor (illuminance detection means)
3 ECU (auto light control means, brightness adjustment means)
4 Navigation system (traveling position detection means)
5 Vehicle speed sensor (vehicle speed detection means)
V vehicle

Claims (7)

A headlamp that illuminates the front of the vehicle, an illuminance detector that detects the illuminance around the vehicle, and the illuminance around the vehicle detected by the illuminance detector is less than or equal to a predetermined illuminance. A vehicle headlamp device comprising an auto light control means for lighting a lamp,
Traveling position detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the vehicle;
And a brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the headlamp based on the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detecting means when the headlight is turned on by the autolight control means. A vehicle headlamp device that is characterized. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1,
The brightness adjusting means is configured to make the brightness of the headlamp lower than the normal brightness when the travel position of the vehicle detected by the travel position detecting means is indoors. Headlamp device. In the vehicle headlamp device according to claim 2,
A vehicle headlamp device characterized in that the indoor includes an indoor parking lot. In the vehicle headlamp device according to claim 2 or 3,
Vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle,
The brightness adjusting means adjusts the brightness of the headlamp based on the running speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detecting means when the running position of the vehicle detected by the running position detecting means is indoors. A vehicle headlamp device configured as described above. In the vehicle headlamp device according to claim 4,
The brightness adjusting means lowers the brightness of the headlamp as the vehicle traveling speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means decreases when the vehicle traveling position detected by the traveling position detecting means is indoors. A vehicle headlamp device configured as described above. In the vehicle headlamp device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The vehicle headlight device, wherein the travel position detecting means includes a navigation system. In the vehicle headlamp device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The travel position detecting means has an image capturing means for capturing an image of the front of the vehicle, and is configured to detect the travel position of the vehicle based on image information captured by the image capturing means. A vehicle headlamp device characterized by the above.

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