JPH07164965A - Auto light control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an auto light device which is constituted to switch on a head light without lighting operation to repeat switching on and off when disconnection occurs. CONSTITUTION:An ECU 1 comprising a microcomputer is provided with a function to detect a change time when the sensor output of a solar radiation sensor 2 is decreased to a value lower than a given voltage value; the function of the ECU 1 to define the occurrence of disconnection according to a ratio between the change time and a set change time; and the function of the ECU 1 to continue lighting of a head light 9 when it is defined that disconnection occurs. In a case disconnection occurs during a daytime, during running, and in the middle of a signal route, after the disconnection is detected by the function, it is decided that disconnection occurs, the head light 9 is lighted and the lighting thereof is continued. Even when disconnection owing to which hunting occurs occurs to a signal route, the lighting state of the head lamp 9 is continued from a time when disconnection occurs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle auto-light for turning on and off a headlight of the vehicle according to the light and dark around the vehicle.
The present invention relates to a trito control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to secure a field of view when a vehicle passes through a dark portion such as a tunnel during the daytime, while traveling,
It is necessary to turn on the headlights just before entering the tunnel and turn off the headlights after passing through the tunnel.

Such an operation of turning on / off the headlight is troublesome. Therefore, some automobiles are equipped with a device for automatically performing the operation of turning on / off the headlight, that is, an auto light control device.

Conventionally, such an auto light control device has an optical sensor (solar radiation sensor) for outputting a sensor output (voltage signal) according to the light and dark surroundings of an automobile and a map for light on / off (light on / off timing is set). According to a map determined according to the illuminance condition), an ECU for turning on / off the headlight of the automobile by the sensor output from the optical sensor is configured.

With this auto light control device, the headlight is turned off when it is bright in the daytime, and is turned on when the surroundings are dark such as when passing through a tunnel.

By the way, such an auto light control device is provided with a light lighting circuit for lighting the headlight as a fail safe when a disconnection occurs between the optical sensor and the ECU. There is.

Conventionally, the light lighting circuit is composed of an electric circuit provided in a signal output path between the optical sensor and the ECU for turning on / off the headlight, that is, a circuit using a capacitor and a resistor. The time constant is set so that the headlight is turned on when the disconnection occurs and the current no longer flows between the optical sensor and the ECU. As a result, even if a disconnection occurs in the signal output route during nighttime driving, the headlights are turned on.

[0008]

By the way, since the light lighting circuit constructed by using such a time constant circuit is an electric circuit itself, it certainly functions effectively when the signal path is completely disconnected. It is not good when hunting (a conducting state and a non-conducting state are repeated) occurs in the signal path.

The above-mentioned hunting is caused by, for example, a contact failure of the optical sensor contact at a connector connecting the optical sensor and a state in which the optical sensor does not normally start up.

In such a case, unlike a complete disconnection (the output of the illuminance signal disappears), the disconnection portion that occurs in the middle of the signal path becomes non-conductive or conductive due to vibration of the running of the automobile. The state is repeated.

Therefore, if the hunting occurs on the signal path while the vehicle is running during the daytime, the headlight unnecessarily repeats lighting and extinguishing depending on the conducting state and the non-conducting state. is there.

Moreover, the blinking of the headlight shortens the life of the headlight itself. The present invention is
This was done with attention to such circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an auto light for a vehicle that can turn on the headlights without unnecessary lighting operations such as repeated lighting and turning off when a disconnection occurs. It is to provide a control device.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in an auto light control device of the present invention, a voltage signal of an optical sensor, which receives a light lighting means by a headlight control means, is a predetermined voltage value or less. And a light-on means for turning on the headlight when the disconnection is determined by this determination means. There is something I did.

[0014]

In the automatic light control device according to the first aspect of the present invention, if a disconnection occurs during the daytime, during running, or in the middle of the signal path, the voltage signal from the optical sensor is less than the predetermined voltage by the voltage detecting means. Is detected.

Based on the detection result at this time, it is determined whether or not a disconnection has occurred in the signal path. Then, when it is determined that the wire is broken, the headlight is turned on. Therefore, even if a disconnection that repeats the non-conducting state and the conducting state occurs in the signal path, the headlight is turned on without causing a blinking operation and is started when the disconnection occurs.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on the first embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an auto light control device for an automobile (vehicle) to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ECU composed of a micro computer, which also functions as a light lighting means, and 2 denotes an automobile. It is a solar radiation sensor that outputs a voltage signal according to the brightness of the surroundings.

The solar radiation sensor 2 is constructed by connecting an amplifier 4 to the optical sensor 3. The sensor power supply of the solar radiation sensor 2 and the sensor GND are also connected to the ECU 1. In addition, 4a shows the signal line of the sensor power supply, and 4b shows the signal line of the sensor GND, respectively.

The signal output portion of the solar radiation sensor 2 is connected to the ECU 1 via the resistor 6a and the A / D converter 1a,
Convert the solar radiation signal from the solar radiation sensor 2 to digital,
The output is made to the ECU 1. Reference numeral 4c indicates a signal line (corresponding to a signal path) of the signal output unit.

A capacitor 5 and a resistor 6b are connected in parallel between the signal line 4c between the amplifier 4 and the resistor 6a and between the signal line 4b. The ECU 1 includes an ignition switch 7 (hereinafter referred to as an IG switch 7) for starting and stopping a vehicle running engine, an auto light switch 8 for turning on and off an auto light function, and a head for illuminating the front of the vehicle body. A light 9 and a room lamp 10 for illuminating the passenger compartment are connected.

The ECU 1 has a function of turning on / off the headlight 9 in accordance with a solar radiation signal of the solar radiation sensor 2, and a disconnection occurring in the signal line 4c from the solar radiation sensor 2 to the ECU 1 as each element constituting the light lighting means. A detection function, a function to determine the same disconnection, a function to keep the headlight 9 continuously lit when the disconnection is determined, and a function to notify the same are provided.

That is, the "headlight lighting map" as shown in FIG. 3 is set in the ECU 1.
The “headlamp lighting map” has a characteristic curve A in which the sensor output V of the solar radiation sensor 2 increases as the illuminance becomes brighter, and corresponds to the brightness Lx that does not require the headlight 9 among them. When the voltage is equal to or higher than the Vx voltage value, the headlight is turned off (turned off), and conversely, the brightness of the headlight 9 corresponds to the required brightness Ly.
The range below the y voltage value is the headlight on (lighting) range.

Further, in the "headlamp lighting map", a disconnection threshold value V ₁ (predetermined voltage value) is set for detecting disconnection on the low output side which is deviated from the lower limit value Vz of the characteristic curve A downward by Vh. A region below the same disconnection threshold value V ₁ is defined as a disconnection detection region.

When the IG switch 7 and the auto light switch 8 are turned on, the ECU 1 follows the characteristic curve A of this "headlamp lighting map" and follows the headlamp 9
Is turned on and off. Both are set to detect the disconnection from the disconnection detection threshold value V ₁ .

Further, in the ECU 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the change time V ₀ of the sensor output between the normal Vh and the normal Vh is previously set.
(What is determined by the next constant obtained by the capacitor 5 and the resistor 6b) is set. Further, the ECU 1 is set with a function of measuring the change time of the sensor output during the same Vh which occurs at the time of disconnection.

Further, the ECU 1 has a function of comparing the set change time V ₀ with the measured change time,
From the comparison, it is determined whether or not a wire break has occurred (if V ₀ > Vt, it is judged that a wire break has occurred).

Further, in the ECU 1, when it is determined that the wire is broken, the headlight 9 is turned on, and the lighting is turned on by a release signal such as the IG switch 7 and the auto light switch 8.
It is set to continue until is turned off.

In addition, the ECU 1 is set to turn on the room lamp 10 which is in the off state when it is determined that the wire is broken. With this setting, room lamp 1
0 is used as a notification means to notify the occupant of the disconnection state.

Next, the operation of the autolite control device thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. For example, a case where an automobile runs on a road having a tunnel during the day will be described as an example.

During this traveling, first, an occupant gets into the automobile, turns on the IG switch 7, and starts the traveling engine. Then, after turning on the auto switch 8, the vehicle travels on the target road.

By this series of operations, the flow chart advances to step S3 through steps S1 and S2.
Here, since the flag is not "1" indicating the "disconnection state", the process goes to step S4 and the auto light function is activated.

That is, the ECU 1 outputs the sensor output V (solar radiation signal) from the solar radiation sensor 2 through the signal line 4c.
Enter. Here, since the brightness around the automobile is the brightness during the day when the headlight 9 is not required, the solar radiation sensor 2 outputs the sensor output V corresponding to this brightness.

Next, in step S5, the ECU 1 reads the characteristic curve A corresponding to the sensor output V from the "headlight lighting map". That is, the ECU 1 reads, on the characteristic curve A, the range of the headlight off (extinguished) of the Vx voltage value or more.

The headlight 9 is controlled to the off side in accordance with this reading. As a result, the automobile continues to travel with the headlight 9 turned off. Then, the car enters the tunnel. As a result, the surroundings of the automobile are changed from the bright state up to that time to the dark state in which the headlight 9 needs to be turned on.

Then, the sensor output V of the solar radiation sensor 2 is
As the illuminance changes from the bright place to the dark place shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 4, the time constant (the capacitor 5 and the resistor 6b) is changed as shown in the lower diagram of FIG.
(Which is determined by and) and a change time V ₀ determined by

As a result, the sensor output V is reduced to the headlight-on range below the Vy voltage value. ECU1
Is the sensor output V from the “headlight lighting map”
The part of the characteristic curve A corresponding to is read. In other words, EC
On the characteristic curve A, U1 reads the range of the headlight off (extinguished) below the Vy voltage value.

The headlight 9 is controlled to the lighting side according to this reading. That is, the headlight 9 that has been turned off lights up as the tunnel enters. Then, when exiting the tunnel, the headlamp 9 is turned off again according to the "headlight lighting map".

As a result, the headlamp 9 is automatically controlled in accordance with the "light / dark" according to the "headlight lighting map". Then, it is assumed that a disconnection such as hunting occurs in the signal path from the optical sensor 3 to the ECU 1 while the vehicle is traveling on such a bright road.

Then, the sensor output V of the solar radiation sensor 2 is
Irrespective of the illuminance, the voltage value that is equal to or higher than the Vx voltage value sharply decreases. Since the change in the sensor output V here is caused by the disconnection, the change time V ₀ defined by the time constant as shown in the lower part of FIG. There is almost no change time V ₀ as shown in FIG.
Shows a steep descent (quite short).

The sensor output V drops from the lower limit value Vz of the characteristic curve A to the disconnection detection threshold value V _1, whereby the disconnection is detected. Then, in steps S6 and S7, the change time Vt in the same section Vh is measured.

Then, the process proceeds to step S8, and the preset change time V ₀ for the same period during the normal time is compared with the change time Vt. Here, it is known that the change time V ₀ is required for a normal change of the sensor output V, and the change time is shorter than the same time for a disconnection.

That is, the comparison result is "Vt <V ₀ ", and from the result, it is determined that the change in the sensor output V is due to the "break". If it is judged to be "broken", EC
U1 proceeds to step S9 and step S10 to turn on the headlight 9 and further turn on the room lamp 10 to notify the occupant of the disconnection state.

As a result, the headlight 9 is turned on when the wire breakage occurs. The lighting state of the headlight 9 is determined by the flag set in the subsequent step S11, and the IG switch 7 is turned on.
Is turned off and the auto light switch 8 is turned off.

Thus, the headlamp 9 is turned on when the disconnection occurs due to the recognition of the disconnection by the ECU 1,
Even if a disconnection occurs such that the non-conducting state and the energized state are repeated in the signal path, the lighting state is maintained from the time when the disconnection occurs without the conventional blinking operation.

Moreover, since the ECU 1 detects the change in the sensor output V, the failure of the solar radiation sensor 2 can also be detected. In addition, the auto light device that determines the disconnection based on the change time of the sensor output V is almost at the same time when the disconnection occurs.
The headlight 9 can be turned on and has high responsiveness.

Further, by utilizing the lighting of the existing room lamp 10, it is possible to inform the occupant that "the wire is broken" and "the solar radiation sensor is out of order". 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, it is not judged from the change time of the sensor output that there is a wire break, but that the wire break is judged according to the wire break time. That is, in the present embodiment, when the disconnection occurs, the time at the disconnection detection threshold value V ₁ , that is, the disconnection time Tn is used by using the ECU ₁ .
Is measured, and when the preset time value Tf for confirming the disconnection reaches the measured disconnection time, it is determined that the disconnection has occurred.

Specifically, the flow chart shown in FIG.
The chart is a chart in which steps S20 to S23 are set instead of the flow chart steps S6 to S8 shown in FIG.

That is, step S20 is a process for determining whether or not the sensor output V is less than or equal to the disconnection detection threshold V ₁ . By this processing, the presence or absence of disconnection is detected. Step S21 is a process of measuring the disconnection time at this time when it is determined that the wire is disconnected in step S20.

In step S22, the individual disconnection time Tn during hunting, which is a pre-process for determining the disconnection even during hunting in which the non-conductive state and the conductive state are repeated as shown in FIG. 7, is added. Processing.

Step S23 is a process for determining the disconnection when the total time TA becomes larger than a preset disconnection confirmation time value Tf in order to confirm the disconnection using the processing result.

If it is determined that the wire is broken by this processing, the process proceeds to step 9 and the headlight 9 is turned on as described in the first embodiment. Even in this case, as in the first embodiment, even if a disconnection that repeats the non-conducting state and the energizing state occurs in the signal path, there is no operation such as blinking as in the related art, and the head starts from the time when the disconnection occurs. The light 9 can be kept on.

8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ECU 1 is used to detect the solar radiation sensor 2
The disconnection is determined by whether or not the rising edge.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the power (5 V) is applied to the solar radiation sensor 2, the sensor output of the solar radiation sensor 2 that normally rises with the power on is noted,
After the power is turned on, if the sensor output does not rise for a predetermined time, it is determined that the wire is broken.

Specifically, the flow chart shown in FIG.
1 deletes the flow chart steps S6 to S8 shown in FIG. 1 and replaces them with steps S30 to S3.
It is a flow chart provided with 3.

That is, in step S30, the solar radiation sensor 2 is powered (5 V) in order to operate the auto light device.
It shows the process for inputting. Step S31
Is a process of determining whether the output from the solar radiation sensor 2 has risen after the power is turned on as shown by the solid line Tw in the lower part of FIG. 9 or does not rise as shown by the broken line in FIG.

Step S32 is a process for measuring the time when there is no rising output Tw. Step S33 is a state in which there is no rising output Tw in order to determine the disconnection using this processing result (state shown by a broken line in FIG. 9).
Is a process for determining a disconnection when a preset disconnection confirmation time T _D has elapsed.

When it is determined that the wire is broken by this process, the process proceeds to step 9, and the headlight 9 is turned on as in the first embodiment. Even in this case, as in the first embodiment, even if a disconnection such as a non-conduction state and a conduction state is repeated in the signal path,
The headlight 9 can be kept on from the time when the disconnection occurs.

In the above embodiment, the fact that the headlamp is in the lit state is notified by lighting the room lamp, but other existing lighting components may be lit.
Further, not only the light but also the sound may be notified of the same state.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the headlight can be turned on without an unnecessary lighting operation such as repeated lighting and extinction when a disconnection occurs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an auto light device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an E process performed when a wire break occurs in the auto light device.
Flow chart for explaining control by CU.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a headlight lighting map used for the control.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a change in sensor output due to a change in brightness during normal operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a change in sensor output when a wire breaks.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the control by the ECU that is performed when a wire breakage, which is an essential part of the second embodiment of the present invention.
Chart.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a change in sensor output when a wire breakage occurs due to hunting.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the control by the ECU that is performed when a wire breakage, which is the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention.
Chart.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the rise of the sensor output when the solar radiation sensor is powered on, together with the situation when it does not rise.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ECU 2 ... Solar radiation sensor 3 ... Optical sensor 4 ... Amplifier 7 ... Ignition switch 8 ... Auto light switch 9 ... Headlight 10 ... Room lamp (alarm)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical sensor that outputs a voltage signal according to the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle, and headlight control means that receives the voltage signal of the optical sensor and turns on / off the headlight of the vehicle according to the brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle. An automatic light control device for a vehicle having a light lighting means for lighting the headlight when the signal path of the optical sensor is broken, wherein the light lighting means receives the light received by the headlight control means. A voltage detecting means for detecting when the voltage signal of the sensor becomes a predetermined voltage value or less, a judging means for judging whether or not there is a disconnection from the detection result, and when the judging means judges that the headlight is disconnected, the headlight is turned on. An auto light control device for a vehicle, comprising: a light-on means for turning on the light.