JP3112964B2 - Lighting control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting control device for controlling lighting of a vehicle headlamp having a passing beam and a traveling beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional lighting control device for controlling lighting of a vehicle headlamp having a passing beam and a traveling beam. In FIG. 4 , E denotes a battery, HL4 denotes a left headlight, and HR4 denotes a right headlight.
D1 is a low-beam (low-beam) light source composed of a high-pressure discharge lamp, D2 is a traveling-beam (high-beam) light source composed of a high-pressure discharge lamp, and these are the left headlight HL4.
It is provided in. D3 is a traveling beam light source composed of a high pressure discharge lamp, D4 is a low beam light source composed of a high pressure discharge lamp, and these are provided in the right headlight HR4. B1, B2, B3, and B4 are lighting devices for lighting the low beam light source D1, the low beam light source D2, the low beam light source D3, and the low beam light source D4, respectively. SW0 is a switching type lighting switch that switches between a passing beam and a traveling beam.

In the illumination control device having the above configuration, when the lighting switch SW0 is switched to the side a, power is supplied from the battery E to the lighting devices B1 and B4, and the low beam light sources D1 and D4 are turned on. Since the power is not supplied to the traveling beam light sources D2 and D3, they are not turned on. Further, when the lighting switch SW0 is switched to the b side, power is supplied from the battery E to the lighting devices B2 and B3, and the light sources D2 and D3 for the traveling beam are turned on. No light is supplied to the low beam light sources D1 and D4, so they are not turned on.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a conventional illumination control device for controlling the lighting of a vehicle headlamp having a passing beam and a traveling beam. In FIG. 5, SW1 is turned switch for low beam, SW2 is a lighting switch for the high beam, which are an alternative to the lighting selector switch SW0 in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of FIG. In this illumination control device, the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 and the traveling beam light sources D2 and D3 can be simultaneously turned on.

[0005]

In the lighting control device shown in FIG. 4 , for example, the vehicle is running with the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 turned on by switching the lighting switch SW0 to the a side, and Light source D1,
When either D4 or one of the lighting devices B1 and B4 breaks down and either of the left and right headlights HL4 or HR4 does not light up the low beam light source D1 or D4, the lighting switch SW0 is switched to the a side. In this state, the vehicle travels only by turning on one of the headlights HR4 or HL4, and the illuminance ahead of the vehicle is insufficient, which is very dangerous for the driver.

Further, when the headlight HL4 or HR4 is turned off and the lighting switch SW0 is switched to the b side, both the left and right headlights HL4 and HR4 can be turned on and the vehicle can run. At this time, the headlights HL4 and H
R4 is illuminated in the traveling beam state, and the front illuminance of the vehicle becomes excessively large, which is preferable for the driver. However, on a road with heavy traffic, the driver of the oncoming vehicle may be dazzled. It is still dangerous. In addition,
This problem becomes a serious problem when the light sources D1 and D4 for the passing beam become inconsistent.

[0007] Also in the lighting control apparatus of FIG. 5, there is a problem similar to the lighting control device of FIG.

In the case of using an easily replaceable halogen lamp (iodine lamp) as the light source of the headlight, the vehicle is stopped when the bulb is cut off, and it may be dangerous to replace the spare bulb with a hand-held one. It is possible to travel to a service station or an auto supply store to change the valve. This is because the halogen bulb can be replaced relatively easily and safely even by a general driver, and is a highly available product on the market.

On the other hand, in a discharge lamp type headlamp, since a high voltage (a pulse of several tens of kV or the like) is generated from a lighting device in order to blink the discharge lamp instantaneously, skill is required for replacement work. It is impossible for a general driver to respond.

[0010] In order to solve such a problem, the safety of both the driver of the vehicle and the driver of the oncoming vehicle is ensured when one of the light source for the low beam and the light source for the traveling beam becomes defective due to a failure. For the purpose, the following lighting control devices have been proposed.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a proposed example of a lighting control device.

As shown in FIG.
Light source D for low beam provided on both left and right sides of the vehicle
1, D4 and a pair of headlights HL1 and HR1 having traveling beam light sources H2 and H3, respectively. Then, for each of the pair of headlights HL1, HR1, there is provided a non-lighting detection circuit ID1, ID2 for detecting a non-lighting when the lighting switch SW1 of the low beam light sources D1, D4 is turned on. A pair of headlights HL in response to the output of ID1 and ID2
1 and HR1, forcibly lighting circuits TN1 and T for lighting the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 only when the non-lighting is detected.
N2 is provided.

In this case, the high-frequency passing light sources D1 and D4 are respectively high-pressure discharge lamps, the low-frequency traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 are halogen lamps (incandescent lamps), respectively, and the non-lighting detection circuit ID
Non-lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp is detected by ID1 and ID2, and the halogen lamp is forcibly lighted by the forced lighting circuits TN1 and TN2.

In addition to the above configuration, lighting devices B1 and B4 and lighting switches SW1 and SW4 for a battery E and low-beam light sources D1 and D4 each composed of a high-pressure discharge lamp.
2 are provided.

Although a specific circuit configuration of the above-mentioned non-lighting detection circuit ID1 is not shown, for example, a circuit for detecting the presence / absence of energization of a lamp current may be considered. In FIG. 1, the forced lighting circuit TN1 includes an amplifier AMP1 that amplifies the output of the non-lighting detection circuit ID1, and a transistor Q1 that switches on and off according to the output level of the amplifier AMP1.
And a relay Ry1 driven by the transistor Q1
When the non-lighting detection circuit ID1 detects the non-lighting of the low beam light source D1, the contact ry1 turns on to form a power supply path to the traveling beam light source H2. The power supply for the non-lighting detection circuit ID1 and the forced lighting circuit TN1 is a lighting switch SW1.
Is supplied only when is turned on, and the non-lighting detection circuit ID1 and the forced lighting circuit TN1 operate only in a state where the low beam light source D1 is to be turned on.

The non-lighting detection circuit ID2 and the forced lighting circuit TN2 have the same configuration as described above. The forced lighting circuit TN2 includes an amplifier AMP2, a transistor Q2,
And a relay Ry2 having a contact ry2.

In the lighting control device having the above-described configuration, when the lighting switch SW1 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery E to the lighting devices B1 and B4, and the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 formed of high-pressure discharge lamps are used. Each of them is turned on, and the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 are turned off. At this time, power is supplied to the non-lighting detection circuits ID1 and ID2 to detect whether the low beam light sources D1 and D4 are lit.

In such a state, one of the low beam light sources D1 and D4, for example, the left headlight H
Assuming that the low-beam light source D1 of L1 is turned off (e.g., turned off), the unlit detection circuit ID1 generates an unlit detection signal, and the amplifier AMP1 outputs the transistor Q1.
Turn on. As a result, the relay Ry1 is excited, the contact ry1 is turned on, and the traveling beam light source H is supplied from the battery E through the lighting switch SW1 and the contact ry1.
Power is supplied to the halogen lamp 2, which is turned on.

At this time, the traveling beam light source H3 of the right headlight HR2 is not turned on. Therefore, even if the low beam headlight HL1 is turned off, even if the low beam light source D1 is turned off, the traveling beam light source H2 is turned on instead, so that the illuminance required for traveling can be obtained, and the right headlight HL1 can be obtained. With respect to the lamp HR1, the traveling beam light source H3 is not turned on and only the low beam light source D4 is turned on, so that the dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be reduced.

When the passing beam light source D4 of the right headlight HL2 is turned off (turns off, etc.), the traveling beam light source H3 is turned on by the same operation as described above.

When the lighting switch SW2 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery E to the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 composed of halogen lamps, the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 are turned on, and the passing beam light source D1 is turned on. , D
4 is off.

In this lighting control device, the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 are not forcibly turned on when the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 are turned off. When the switch SW1 is turned on, the illuminance required for traveling can be secured, and the oncoming vehicle is not dazzled, so there is no problem. Light source H for traveling beam
Naturally, when the H2 is turned off, the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 may be forcibly turned on.

The illumination control device of this proposed example provides a traveling beam light source H2 when the passing light sources D1 and D4 of the left and right headlights HL1 and HR1 do not turn on even when the lighting switch SW1 is turned on. H3 is forcibly turned on, and both the left and right headlights HL1 and HR1 can be turned on.

Therefore, the low beam light sources D1, D1
Even when any one of D4 does not turn on, the required front illuminance can be obtained, and the safety of the driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is running can be ensured. Further, only the running beam light source H2 is turned on only for the failed headlight HL1, for example, and the running beam light source H2 is not turned on for the normal headlight HR1, so that it is given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle. The dazzling feeling can be reduced, and the safety of the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be secured.

Further, when high-pressure discharge lamps are used as the low-beam light sources D1 and D4, which are frequently used, even if the high-pressure discharge lamp fails, a replacement lamp is difficult to obtain, and the high-pressure discharge lamp is turned on. Since the circuit includes a high-voltage circuit, it is not easy to replace the high-pressure discharge lamp. However, by turning on the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 consisting of halogen lamps until then, the forward illuminance required for operation can be reduced. Obtainable.

In the above-mentioned proposal, a halogen lamp is used as the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3. However, it is obvious that a discharge lamp similar to the passing beam light sources D1 and D4 may be used. The reason why the halogen lamp is used as the traveling beam light sources H2 and H3 in the above proposed example is that the halogen lamp is easily available, the lamp can be easily replaced, and the convenience is high.

However, in the above proposed example, the traveling beam light source H2 or H3 is turned on when the low beam light source D1 or D4 is not turned on, so that the dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle remains. It was desired to further reduce the dazzling feeling.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to ensure the safety of a driver of a vehicle when one of a light source for a low beam and a light source for a traveling beam becomes defective due to a failure, and furthermore, a driver of an oncoming vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting control device capable of further reducing the dazzling feeling given to the driver and ensuring the safety of both drivers of the oncoming vehicle.

[0029]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination control apparatus for controlling lighting of a pair of headlights provided on both left and right sides of a vehicle and having a passing beam light source and a traveling beam light source. A device, for each of the pair of headlights, a non-lighting detection circuit that detects non-lighting when the lighting switch is turned on, and an auxiliary light source that is provided separately from each of the pair of headlights. A forced lighting circuit that turns on the auxiliary light source when the non-lighting of the pair of headlights is detected in response to the output of the non-lighting detection circuit , and the auxiliary light source is used for a traveling beam light source and a passing beam light source.
It is characterized by having an intermediate light distribution between the light sources .

According to this configuration, the auxiliary light source is forcibly turned on when either the low beam light source or the traveling beam light source does not light even when the light switch is turned on. As a result, both the left and right headlamps can be turned on. Therefore, when either one of the passing beam light source and the traveling beam light source does not turn on, the required forward illuminance can be obtained, and the safety of the vehicle driver during traveling of the vehicle can be ensured. Also, since the auxiliary light source is provided separately from the original low beam light source and traveling beam light source,
When one of the light source for the passing beam and the light source for the traveling beam is not lit, unlike the one that substitutes the other, the light distribution characteristics can be arbitrarily set,
When the auxiliary light source is turned on instead of when the low beam light source is turned off, the dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be sufficiently reduced, and the safety of the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be sufficiently ensured. be able to.

Further , since the auxiliary light source has a light distribution intermediate between the traveling beam light source and the passing beam light source, when the auxiliary light source is turned on instead of the non-lighting of the traveling beam light source, the traveling beam light source is not used. A decrease in illuminance during non-lighting can be reduced, ensuring the safety of the driver sufficiently, and dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle when the auxiliary light source is turned on instead when the low beam light source is not lit And the safety of the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be sufficiently ensured.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a lighting control device in the form of implementation of the present invention.

[0034] The lighting control device, as shown in FIG. 2,
The left headlamp HL3 is composed of a low beam discharge light source D1 composed of a high pressure discharge lamp, a traveling beam light source D2 composed of a high pressure discharge lamp, and an auxiliary light source H21 having an intermediate light distribution between the low beam and the traveling beam. Illumination HR
3 is configured similarly to the left headlight HL3. Each of the low beam light source D1 and the traveling beam light source D2 is composed of a high pressure discharge lamp, and the auxiliary light source H21 is composed of a halogen lamp.

FIG. 3 shows a headlight HL in this embodiment.
3 shows a schematic perspective view of the left front part of the vehicle provided with 3; In FIG. 3 , reference numeral 11 denotes a vehicle, 12 denotes a traveling beam light source, and 13 denotes a passing beam light source. Reference numeral 14 denotes an auxiliary light source, which is arranged between the traveling beam light source 12 and the passing beam light source 13.

Then, from the battery E to the lighting switch SW
Power is supplied to the lighting device B1 through the lighting device 11, and the light source D1 for the low beam is turned on by the lighting device B1. Similarly, power is supplied from the battery E to the lighting device B2 via the lighting switch SW12, and the light source D2 for the traveling beam is turned on by the lighting device B2.

Further, there is provided a non-lighting detection circuit ID21 which operates at the time of supplying power to the lighting device B1 and detects whether or not the low beam light source D1 is turned on or off.
A non-lighting detection circuit ID22 that operates when power is supplied to the light source and detects whether the low beam light source D2 is turned on or off is provided.

Further, the non-lighting detection circuits ID21 and ID2
And transistors Q11 and Q12 which are turned on in response to the generation of the non-lighting detection signals from the light emitting devices B1 and B2, respectively.
To the auxiliary light source H2 from the middle point.
1 is supplied.

A non-lighting detection circuit ID23 for detecting whether the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on or off is provided, and the contacts ry2 which are turned on in response to the non-lighting detection signal from the non-lighting detection circuit ID23 are turned on by the lighting devices B1 and B2. Connected between the power input terminals.

The circuit block Y2 has the same configuration as the circuit block Y1.

In the lighting control device as described above, when the lighting switch SW11 is turned on, the power is supplied to the lighting device B1, the passing beam light source D1 is turned on, and when the lighting switch SW12 is turned on, the power is supplied to the lighting device B2. The traveling beam light source D2 is turned on. The non-lighting detection circuit ID21 operates when the low beam light source D1 is turned on, and the non-lighting detection circuit ID22 when the traveling beam light source D2 is turned on.
Operates.

When the low beam light source D1 is turned off, the transistor Q11 is turned on by the non-lighting detection signal from the non-lighting detection circuit ID21, the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on, and the non-lighting detection circuit ID23 operates. On the other hand, when the traveling beam light source D2 is turned off, the transistor Q1
2 turns on, the auxiliary light source H21 lights up, and the non-lighting detection circuit ID23 operates.

For example, in a state where the lighting switch SW11 is turned on, the passing beam light source D1 is turned off and the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on after the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on. The contact ry2 is turned on by the lighting detection signal, power is supplied to the lighting device B2, and the traveling beam light source D2 is turned on. Conversely, in a state where the lighting switch SW12 is turned on, the traveling beam light source D2 is turned off and the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on after the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on. The contact ry2 is turned on by the detection signal, power is supplied to the lighting device B1, and the low beam light source D2 is turned on.

The other points are the same as in the above-mentioned proposal.

In this embodiment, one auxiliary light source H12
Is provided, the auxiliary light source H2 is provided even when neither the passing beam light source D1 nor the traveling beam light source D2 is turned on.
1 can be turned on, and the safety of the driver of the vehicle can be ensured. Further, since the light distribution of the auxiliary light source H21 is set between the traveling beam light source D2 and the passing beam light source D1, the dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle when the auxiliary light source H21 is turned on. Can be reduced. In addition, although the forward illuminance is small because the optical axis is lower than that of the traveling beam light source D2, if the traveling speed is suppressed, the auxiliary light source H21 can be used as the traveling beam light source.

The auxiliary light source H21 may be constituted by a high-pressure discharge lamp.

[0047]

According to the lighting control device of the first aspect,
When one of the low beam light source and the traveling beam light source does not light even when the light switch is turned on, the auxiliary light source is forcibly turned on. As a result, both the left and right headlamps can be turned on.
Therefore, when either one of the passing beam light source and the traveling beam light source does not turn on, the required forward illuminance can be obtained, and the safety of the vehicle driver during traveling of the vehicle can be ensured. Further, since the auxiliary light source is provided separately from the original low beam light source and traveling beam light source, when one of the low beam light source and the traveling beam light source is turned off, one of the other is substituted. Unlike this, the light distribution characteristics can be set arbitrarily, and the dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle when the auxiliary light source is turned on instead when the low beam light source is not turned on is sufficient. Therefore, the safety of the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be sufficiently ensured.

Further , since the auxiliary light source has a light distribution intermediate between the traveling beam light source and the passing beam light source, when the auxiliary light source is turned on instead of the non-lighting of the traveling beam light source, the auxiliary light source does not emit light. A decrease in illuminance during non-lighting can be reduced, ensuring the safety of the driver sufficiently, and dazzling feeling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle when the auxiliary light source is turned on instead when the low beam light source is not lit And the safety of the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be sufficiently ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a lighting control device according to a proposal example of the present invention.

2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a lighting control device in the form of implementation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a front left portion of the vehicle to which the embodiment of FIG. 2 is applied;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a conventional lighting control device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of another example of a conventional lighting control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 E Battery SW1, SW2 Lighting switch B1, B2 Lighting device HL1, HR1 Headlight D1, D4 Light beam for passing beam H1, H2 Light source for traveling beam ID1, ID2 Non-lighting detection circuit TN1, TN2 Forced lighting circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60Q 1/00-1/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lighting control device for controlling lighting of a pair of headlights provided on both left and right sides of a vehicle and having a passing beam light source and a traveling beam light source, wherein each of the pair of headlights is controlled. A non-lighting detection circuit for detecting non-lighting when the lighting switch is turned on, an auxiliary light source provided separately from each of the pair of headlights, and a response to an output of the non-lighting detection circuit. A forced lighting circuit for lighting the auxiliary light source when non-lighting of the pair of headlights is detected, wherein the auxiliary light source is a light distribution intermediate between the traveling beam light source and the passing beam light source. A lighting control device comprising: