JP7213043B2 - vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

Vehicle lights play an important role in safe driving at night and in tunnels. If the area in front of the vehicle is illuminated brightly over a wide area, prioritizing the visibility of the driver, it will give glare to the drivers and pedestrians of the preceding and oncoming vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "front vehicles") in front of the vehicle. There's a problem.

In recent years, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) technology has been proposed that dynamically and adaptively controls a light distribution pattern based on the surrounding conditions of a vehicle. ADB technology detects the presence or absence of vehicles and pedestrians ahead (hereinafter also referred to as targets), and dims or extinguishes the area corresponding to the vehicles or pedestrians ahead to prevent drivers of vehicles ahead and pedestrians. It reduces the glare given to people.

When ADB control is performed, the glare given to the forward vehicle and pedestrians can be reduced, but the visibility of the shaded portions for the driver of the own vehicle is reduced. Alternatively, when performing automatic driving, it becomes difficult for the camera to detect a target existing in a light-shielded portion.

A method using infrared light has been proposed as a sensing technology for autonomous driving. When infrared light is used, it is also possible to detect a target existing in the shielded portion of the white beam.

JP 2015-064964 A JP 2012-227102 A JP 2008-094127 A

The inventors of the present invention have studied incorporating a light source for infrared light into a vehicle lamp, and have come to recognize the following problems.

Since infrared light is invisible to the human eye, there is a problem that surrounding pedestrians cannot notice the infrared light. In particular, if a person looks into the lamp, the strong infrared light will hit their eyes, and since they do not feel the glare, they will not be able to take evasive action. Situations in which the eye is illuminated may occur. It should be noted that this problem should not be regarded as a general recognition of those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and one exemplary purpose of certain aspects thereof is to provide a vehicle lamp with enhanced safety.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle lamp. The vehicular lamp includes a variable light distribution lamp capable of generating a white beam with a variable intensity distribution, an infrared illuminator that emits infrared probe light, and when an object approaches the vehicular lamp, at least the infrared probe light is emitted. a controller that controls the infrared illumination such that the intensity of the portion is reduced.

Proximity sensors such as sonar monitors the proximity of an object and suppresses the infrared probe light when it is in proximity. can increase

The proximity sensor can be built into the vehicle lamp. A controller may control the infrared illumination in response to the output of the proximity sensor. Alternatively, the proximity sensor may be provided outside the vehicle lamp, that is, on the vehicle side. In this case, the controller may control the infrared illumination based on proximity information received from the vehicle.

The controller may turn off the infrared illumination when an object approaches. In this case, infrared illumination can be simplified.

The controller may uniformly reduce the intensity of the infrared probe light as the object approaches. By continuing to emit weak infrared probe light, the target detection function can be maintained.

The controller may turn off only the portion of the infrared probe light that illuminates the object when the object approaches. As a result, the infrared probe light can continue to irradiate portions other than the object whose proximity is detected.

The controller may switch the light distribution pattern of the infrared illumination when an object approaches.

The controller may also reduce the intensity of the infrared probe light when an object proximity is detected in the opposite vehicle light.

Any combination of the above constituent elements, and conversion of expressions of the present invention between methods, devices, systems, etc. are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, safety can be improved.

1 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment; FIG. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the vehicle lamp of FIG. 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining operation|movement of the motor vehicle which concerns on a 1st modification. FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining the control of the vehicle lamp according to the third modification. 5(a) and 5(b) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the automobile according to the fourth modification.

(Embodiment)
The above is the outline of the vehicle lamp. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and not all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent constituent elements, members, and processes shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplication of description will be omitted as appropriate. In addition, the scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience in order to facilitate the explanation, and should not be construed as limiting unless otherwise mentioned. Also, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or in the claims, these terms do not represent any order or importance, and one configuration is different from another configuration. It is for distinguishing between

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment. The vehicle lamp 100 includes a variable light distribution lamp 110 , an infrared light 120 , a camera 130 , a light distribution controller 140 and a proximity sensor 150 . These may all be built in the same housing, or some members may be provided outside the housing, in other words, on the vehicle side.

The variable light distribution lamp 110 is a low beam, high beam, or combination headlamp, and includes a white light source. The variable light distribution lamp 110 receives data indicating the light distribution pattern PTN_W from the light distribution controller 140, emits a white beam L1 having an intensity distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN_W, and emits a white beam L1 in front of the vehicle according to the light distribution pattern PTN_W. form a uniform illuminance distribution. The configuration of variable light distribution lamp 110 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a semiconductor light source such as an LD (laser diode) or LED (light emitting diode), and a lighting circuit that drives and lights the semiconductor light source. The variable light distribution lamp 110 may include a matrix-type pattern forming device such as a DMD (Digital Mirror Device) or a liquid crystal device for forming an illuminance distribution according to the light distribution pattern PTN_W.

In this specification, the term "light distribution variable lamp" includes a lamp equipped with an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) system as well as a lamp in which only high beam and low beam can be switched.

Infrared illumination 120 includes an infrared light source that emits infrared probe light L2 in front of the vehicle. The infrared probe light L2 may be near-infrared light or light with a longer wavelength. Infrared probe light L2 is reflected by object 2 . The camera 130 has sensitivity to the wavelength range of the infrared probe light L2, and captures an image of the reflected light L4 of the infrared probe light L2 from the object 2. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the camera 130 also has sensitivity in the visible range, and captures the reflected light L3 of the white beam L1 from the object 2 together with the reflected light L4. Note that the camera 130 may include a camera having sensitivity only in the visible range and a camera having sensitivity only in the infrared range.

The image of camera 130 is supplied to light distribution controller 140 or a processor (not shown). For example, the light distribution controller 140 dynamically and adaptively controls the intensity distribution of the white beam L1, that is, the light distribution pattern PTN_W, based on the camera image IMG. For example, the vehicle lamp 100 is equipped with an ADB system, detects a target in front of the vehicle (a preceding vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, a pedestrian, etc.) based on the camera image IMG, and blocks light from blocking the target. Alternatively, a light distribution pattern PTN_W whose intensity is increased spotwise is generated.

The light distribution pattern PTN_W defines a two-dimensional illuminance distribution of a white light irradiation pattern 902 formed on a virtual vertical screen 900 in front of the vehicle by the variable light distribution lamp 110 . The light distribution controller 140 can be composed of a digital processor. For example, it may be composed of a combination of a microcomputer including a CPU and a software program, or composed of an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specified IC), or the like. may

The proximity sensor 150 detects an object 3 approaching the vehicle lamp 100 . The method of the proximity sensor 150 is not particularly limited, and a sonar using ultrasonic waves, an optical sensor, or a capacitive proximity sensor can be used. Light distribution controller 140 detects infrared illumination 120 when the distance to object 3 detected by proximity sensor 150 falls below a predetermined threshold value x, or when object 3 is detected within detection range x of proximity sensor 150 . to reduce the intensity of at least a portion of the infrared probe light L2. This is referred to herein as the proximity protection feature. "Reduce the intensity" refers to reducing the intensity to the extent that when the infrared probe light irradiates the human eye located closer than the distance x, it does not adversely affect the human eye.

In this embodiment, when the proximity of the object 3 is detected, the light distribution controller 140 turns off the infrared illumination 120 and sets the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 to zero. In this case, infrared illumination 120 can be configured as a light source that can only be turned on and off.

An automobile is equipped with vehicle lamps 100 on both the left and right sides. In the present embodiment, the left and right vehicle lamps 100 may independently control the intensity of the infrared probe light L2. That is, when the proximity of the object 3 is detected in one lamp, the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 is reduced only in that lamp, and the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 is maintained in the other lamp.

The above is the basic configuration of the vehicle lamp 100 . Next, the operation will be explained.
2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the vehicle lamp 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. Automobile 200 includes left lamp 210L and right lamp 210R. The left lamp 210L and the right lamp 210R respectively correspond to the vehicle lamp 100 in FIG.

FIG. 2(a) shows a situation in which the object 3 is not close to any lamp. In this case, the left lamp 210L and the right lamp 210R each emit infrared probe light L2 having a normal intensity distribution.

FIG. 2(b) shows a situation in which the object 3 approaches the left lamp 210L. In this case, the proximity of the object 3 is detected by the proximity sensor 150 of the left lamp 210L. The light distribution controller 140 of the left lamp 210L responds to the proximity of the object 3 and controls the infrared illumination 120 to turn off so that the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 becomes zero. The right lamp 210R emits infrared probe light L2 having a normal intensity distribution.

Objects 3 may typically be pedestrians or maintenance workers. If a surrounding person looks into the headlamp, the proximity sensor 150 reacts and the irradiation of the infrared probe light L2 is stopped. This can protect the eyes of people around the automobile 200 and improve safety.

When the lighting and extinguishing of the variable light distribution lamp 110 and the infrared illumination 120 are completely interlocked, the white beam is dazzling while the variable light distribution lamp 110 is on, so that people in the surroundings may feel as if they are looking into the headlamp. The situation may be difficult. However, when the on/off of the variable light distribution lamp 110 and the infrared illumination 120 are individually controlled, or when the on/off of the variable light distribution lamp 110 is controlled complementarily, even though the variable light distribution lamp 110 is off, A situation may arise in which the outside lighting 120 is turned on. In this case, the surrounding people do not feel the glare, so a situation may arise in which they look into the headlamp. In such a lamp, it can be said that control of the infrared probe light L2 using the proximity sensor 150 is particularly effective.

Note that this technology is not limited to adult pedestrians and workers. Adults rarely place their eyes at the height of the lamp fixture unless they intend to do so. On the other hand, for short infants and animals such as dogs, the eye level may correspond to the height of the headlamp. According to the vehicular lamp 100, even when an infant or a dog approaches, the proximity sensor 150 detects it as the object 3, so that the eyes of those children can be protected.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is merely an example, and that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each treatment process, and that such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. be. Such modifications will be described below.

(First modification)
When the object 3 is a worker, after looking into one lamp, he may look into the other lamp. Alternatively, the object 3 could be a pedestrian such as an infant crossing in front of the vehicle. Therefore, in the first modified example, the left and right vehicle lamps 100 cooperate to control the intensity of the infrared probe light L2. FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the operation of the automobile 200A according to the first modified example. When one lamp (the left lamp 210L in FIG. 3) detects the proximity of the object 3, the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 decreases not only in that lamp 210L but also in the opposite right lamp 210R. According to the first modified example, safety can be further enhanced.

(Second modification)
FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining control of the vehicle lamp 100 according to the third modification. 4A to 4C show the relationship between the distance to the object 3 and the intensity of the infrared probe light L2.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the proximity of the object 3 is detected, the light distribution controller 140 reduces the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 generated by the infrared illumination 120 to a predetermined non-zero level. may In this case, the infrared illumination 120 may be configured not only to be turned on/off but also to be able to adjust the intensity of the infrared probe light L2.

As shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c), the reduced intensity may reflect the distance to the object 3. FIG. That is, the intensity after reduction may be decreased as the distance to the detected object 3 becomes shorter.

(Third modification)
The infrared illumination 120 may be configured to change the intensity distribution of the infrared probe light L2. In this case, the light distribution controller 140 may reduce the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 in the portion where the object 3 is irradiated when the proximity of the object 3 is detected. Thereby, irradiation of the infrared probe light L2 can be maintained for portions other than the object 3 .

(Fourth modification)
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the automobile 200B according to the fourth modification. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the object 3 is in a non-proximity state, the irradiation pattern 300 of the infrared probe light L2 includes a portion (distant irradiation region) 302 that irradiates a long distance and a left and right portion of the vehicle that are diffusely irradiated. and a portion (diffuse illumination area) 304 to be illuminated. As the object 3 approaches, the intensity of the diffuse illumination area 304 may be maintained while the distant illumination area 302 is turned off or its intensity is reduced to a small non-zero value, as shown in FIG. 5(b). .

(Fifth modification)
When the proximity sensor 150 detects the object 3, the automobile 200 may warn the surroundings that the infrared probe light L2 is being emitted. For example, when the distance to the object 3 becomes shorter than the threshold value x, the intensity of the infrared probe light L2 is reduced. If the value y falls below, the surroundings may be warned. This can further improve safety.

(Sixth modification)
In addition, when the automobile 200 is traveling at a relatively high speed, it can be said that a situation in which a person looks into the lamp is unlikely to occur. Therefore, the intensity control of the infrared probe light L2 based on the proximity sensor 150 may be effective only when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.

(Seventh modification)
Some vehicles have a corner sensor or the like in order to assist the driver in crossing narrow streets or when turning in a parking lot. In this case, the corner sensor can be used as the proximity sensor 150 .

(Eighth modification)
Whether or not the infrared probe light L2 has a normal irradiation pattern is an important inspection item. When this inspection is carried out, the work vehicle will work in close proximity to the lamp fixture. become unable. Therefore, the proximity protection function should be disabled.

Although the present invention has been described using specific terms based on the embodiment, the embodiment only shows one aspect of the principle and application of the present invention, and the embodiment does not include the claims. Many variations and rearrangements are permissible without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in its scope.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 vehicle lamp 110 variable light distribution lamp 120 infrared lighting 130 camera 140 light distribution controller L1 white beam L2 infrared probe light L3, L4 reflected light

Claims (7)

A vehicle lamp,
a variable light distribution lamp capable of generating a white beam having a variable intensity distribution;
Infrared illumination for irradiating infrared probe light;
controlling the infrared illumination so that the intensity of at least part of the infrared probe light is reduced when an object approaches the vehicle lamp when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value, and the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined value; a controller that maintains the intensity of the infrared probe light even when an object approaches the vehicle lamp under high conditions ;
A vehicle lamp comprising : Further comprising a proximity sensor that detects the distance to the object,
2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the infrared illumination according to the output of the proximity sensor. 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the controller turns off the infrared illumination when the object approaches. A vehicle lamp,
a variable light distribution lamp capable of generating a white beam having a variable intensity distribution;
Infrared illumination for irradiating infrared probe light;
a controller that controls the infrared illumination such that the intensity of at least a portion of the infrared probe light is reduced when an object approaches the vehicle lamp;
with
A vehicular lamp, wherein, when the object approaches, the controller uniformly reduces the intensity of the infrared probe light while keeping the infrared illumination on , thereby maintaining a target object detection function . 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein when the object approaches, the controller turns off only a portion of the infrared probe light that is irradiated onto the object. 4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein the controller switches the light distribution pattern of the infrared illumination when the object approaches. 7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the controller reduces the intensity of the infrared probe light even when the proximity of an object is detected in the vehicle lamp on the opposite side. lamp.

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