CN113508058A - Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit - Google Patents

Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN113508058A
CN113508058A CN202080017699.6A CN202080017699A CN113508058A CN 113508058 A CN113508058 A CN 113508058A CN 202080017699 A CN202080017699 A CN 202080017699A CN 113508058 A CN113508058 A CN 113508058A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
vehicle
marker
light
lamp
sign
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CN202080017699.6A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
杉本笃
伏见美昭
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd filed Critical Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Publication of CN113508058A publication Critical patent/CN113508058A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/507—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking specific to autonomous vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/543—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/547—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/15—Strips of light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/237—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide rod-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/239—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide plate-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/242—Light guides characterised by the emission area
    • F21S43/245—Light guides characterised by the emission area emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/249—Light guides with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/27—Attachment thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/30—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors
    • F21S43/33—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/50—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
    • F21S45/50—Waterproofing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V17/00—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V19/00—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B21/00—Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/18—Edge-illuminated signs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F21/00—Mobile visual advertising
    • G09F21/04—Mobile visual advertising by land vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/544—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)

Abstract

The marking system (4) comprises: a logo (20); a sensor (50) which is provided on the rear surface of the sign (20) and which can acquire information on the periphery of the vehicle; a marker lamp (41) that causes the marker (20) to emit light; and a lamp control unit (45) that changes the manner in which the marker lamp (41) is turned on when a signal indicating that the state in which the vehicle (1) is traveling in the manual driving mode and the state in which the vehicle is traveling in the automatic driving mode is acquired from a vehicle control unit (3) that controls the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit
Technical Field
The invention relates to a sign system, a sign unit for a vehicle, and a sign mounting unit for a vehicle.
Background
Patent document 1 discloses a notification system including a lamp that is provided at the rear of a vehicle and that is lit when the vehicle is automatically driving.
Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-004471
Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-159033
Disclosure of Invention
When the lamp is turned on to notify the surroundings that the own vehicle is under automatic driving, it is desirable that the visibility is high.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle sign system that makes it easier to know that the own vehicle is in automatic driving.
In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle marking system according to the present invention includes:
marking;
a sensor provided on a rear surface of the sign and capable of acquiring information around the vehicle;
a lamp that illuminates the sign; and
and a lamp control unit that changes a lighting mode of the lamp when a signal indicating that a state in which the vehicle travels in a manual driving mode and a state in which the vehicle travels in an automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular sign system having:
a grille provided at a front portion of a vehicle;
marking;
a grille lamp provided to the grille;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
a lamp control section for controlling the grille lamp and the marker lamp,
the lamp control unit changes the lighting mode of the marker lamp and the lighting mode of the grille lamp together according to a signal output from a vehicle control unit that controls a vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular sign system having:
a grille provided at a front portion of a vehicle;
marking;
a grille lamp provided to the grille;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
a lamp control section for controlling the grille lamp and the marker lamp,
the lamp control part is used for controlling the lamp,
either one of the grille lamp and the marker lamp is turned on in a manner different from that in a case where the vehicle is driven in a manual driving mode when the vehicle is driven in an automatic driving mode,
the lighting mode of any one of the grille lamp and the marker lamp is changed in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle when the vehicle is caused to travel in the automatic driving mode by the vehicle control unit.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular sign system having:
marking; and
a lamp having a plurality of light sources provided around the sign and capable of emitting lights of different colors,
the vehicle sign system includes a lamp control unit that controls turning on/off of the plurality of light sources in accordance with a signal obtained from a vehicle control unit when the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle to run in an automatic driving mode.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular index unit having:
an installation part for installing the mark;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
and a housing that accommodates the marker lamp and supports a marker mounted on the mounting portion in a state where the marker can be visually recognized from the outside.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicular sign system includes:
marking;
a light guide body that is provided in a linear shape on an outer peripheral portion of the sign when viewed from the front of the sign;
a light source that emits light to the light guide; and
a light source control unit that controls the light source,
the light source control unit turns on the light source when a signal indicating a state where the vehicle is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular sign mounting unit including:
a mounting substrate on which one or more light sources and a light source control unit for operating the light sources are mounted;
an annular light guide body that is attached to the mounting substrate and into which light emitted from the light source is incident; and
and a sign mounting portion for mounting a sign.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sign system that makes it easier to know that the own vehicle is in automatic driving.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle mounted with a sign system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a sign system and a vehicle system.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the sign unit and the grille.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the flag unit.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flag cell.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the second embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the fifth embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a front view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the sixth embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a front view of a marking unit of the marking system according to the seventh embodiment.
Fig. 10 is a front view of a marker system according to the eighth embodiment.
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the ninth embodiment.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the tenth embodiment.
Fig. 13 is a front view of a signage system according to an eleventh embodiment.
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit of the marker system according to the eleventh embodiment.
Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a sign unit including a sign attachment unit according to a twelfth embodiment.
Fig. 16 is a front view of a marker unit according to the twelfth embodiment.
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a marker unit according to a twelfth embodiment.
Detailed Description
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the description of the components having the same reference numerals as those already described in the description of the embodiment is omitted. The dimensions of the members shown in the drawings may be different from the actual dimensions of the members for the sake of convenience of explanation.
In the description of the embodiments, for convenience of description, the terms "left-right direction", "front-back direction", and "up-down direction" are appropriately used. These directions are relative directions set with respect to the vehicle 1 shown in fig. 1. Here, the "up-down direction" is a direction including the "up direction" and the "down direction". The "front-rear direction" is a direction including the "front direction" and the "rear direction". The "left-right direction" is a direction including the "left direction" and the "right direction".
< first embodiment >
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle 1 mounted with a sign system 4 according to a first embodiment. The vehicle 1 is an automobile capable of running in an automatic driving mode. As shown in fig. 1, a sign system 4 is mounted on a vehicle 1. The marking system 4 comprises more than or equal to one marking 20. The symbol 20 is a component indicating the name of the vehicle manufacturer, a logo, the name of the vehicle, and the like. The sign 20 is attached to, for example, the front, rear, side, and the like of the vehicle 1. The front flag 20 is provided together with a grill 30 (e.g., a front grill) or is disposed at a position close to the grill 30. The sign 20 forms part of the sign system 4.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle system 2 and a sign system 4 mounted on the vehicle 1. Referring to fig. 2, first, the vehicle system 2 will be described. As shown in fig. 2, the vehicle System 2 includes a vehicle control unit 3, an internal sensor 5, an external sensor 6, a lamp 7, an HMI 8(Human Machine Interface), a GPS 9(Global Positioning System), a wireless communication unit 10, and a map information storage unit 11. The vehicle system 2 includes a steering actuator 12, a steering device 13, a brake actuator 14, a brake device 15, an acceleration actuator 16, and an acceleration device 17.
The vehicle control unit 3 is constituted by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The vehicle control unit 3 includes a processor such as a cpu (central Processing unit), a rom (read Only memory) in which various vehicle control programs are stored, and a ram (random Access memory) in which various vehicle control data are temporarily stored. The processor is configured to develop programs specified from various vehicle control programs stored in the ROM on the RAM, and execute various processes in cooperation with the RAM. The vehicle control unit 3 is configured to control the traveling of the vehicle 1.
The lamp 7 is at least one of a headlight provided at the front of the vehicle 1, a position lamp, a rear combination lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle 1, a turn signal lamp provided at the front or side of the vehicle, various lamps for notifying the driver of the pedestrian or another vehicle of the status of the vehicle, and the like.
The HMI 8 is constituted by an input unit that receives an input operation from a user and an output unit that outputs travel information and the like to the user. The input unit includes a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a driving mode changeover switch for changing over the driving mode of the vehicle 1, and the like. The output unit is a display for displaying various kinds of travel information.
The interior sensor 5 is a sensor capable of acquiring information of the vehicle. The internal sensor 5 is at least one of an acceleration sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a wheel speed sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like. The internal sensor 5 is configured to acquire information of the vehicle including the traveling state of the vehicle 1 and output the information to the vehicle control unit 3. The internal sensor 5 may include a sensor for detecting a displacement of the HMI 8, a seating sensor for detecting whether the user is seated on the seat, a face direction sensor for detecting a direction of the face of the user, a human body sensor for detecting whether there is a person in the vehicle, and the like.
The external sensor 6 is a sensor capable of acquiring external information of the vehicle. The external sensor 6 is, for example, at least one of a camera, a radar, a LiDAR, a GPS 9, a wireless communication unit 10, and the like. The external sensor 6 is configured to acquire external information of the host vehicle including the surrounding environment of the vehicle 1 (other vehicles, pedestrians, road shapes, traffic signs, obstacles, and the like), and output the information to the vehicle control unit 3. Alternatively, the external sensor 6 may include a weather sensor that detects a weather state, an illuminance sensor that detects illuminance of the surrounding environment of the vehicle 1, or the like.
The camera includes an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (complementary MOS). The camera is a camera for detecting visible light or an infrared camera for detecting infrared light.
The radar is millimeter wave radar, microwave radar or laser radar.
LiDAR is short for Light Detection and Ranging or Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging. LiDAR is a sensor that emits invisible light to the front and acquires information such as the distance to an object, the shape of the object, and the material of the object based on the emitted light and the returned light.
The GPS 9, which is one of the external sensors 6, is configured to acquire current position information of the vehicle 1 by measuring distances between a plurality of satellites and the vehicle 1, and output the acquired current position information to the vehicle control unit 3. The wireless communication unit 10, which is one of the external sensors 6, is configured to receive the travel information of another vehicle in the periphery of the vehicle 1 from the other vehicle and transmit the travel information of the vehicle 1 to the other vehicle (inter-vehicle communication). The wireless communication unit 10 is configured to receive infrastructure information from infrastructure equipment such as traffic lights and beacon lights and transmit travel information of the vehicle 1 to the infrastructure equipment (road-to-vehicle communication). The map information storage unit 11 is an external storage device such as a hard disk drive that stores map information, and is configured to output the map information to the vehicle control unit 3.
The vehicle control unit 3 is configured to receive an output of an internal sensor 5 that detects a displacement of an operation element operated by a user, such as a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal, an output of the internal sensor 5 that detects a state of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor, a wheel speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a yaw rate sensor, and an output of an external sensor 6 that acquires external information of the vehicle 1. The vehicle control unit 3 is configured to generate a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a braking control signal based on these outputs, and to control (process) these signals as necessary.
The steering actuator 12 is configured to receive a steering control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the steering device 13 based on the received steering control signal. The brake actuator 14 is configured to receive a brake control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the brake device 15 based on the received brake control signal. The acceleration actuator 16 is configured to receive an acceleration control signal from the vehicle control unit 3 and control the acceleration device 17 based on the received acceleration control signal.
The vehicle 1 can travel in the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode. The vehicle control portion 3 can selectively execute an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode.
In the automatic driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 automatically generates a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a braking control signal in accordance with an output of the external sensor 6 that acquires external information of the vehicle 1. The vehicle control unit 3 automatically generates a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a braking control signal based on the output of the external sensor 6, regardless of the output of the internal sensor 5 that detects the displacement of the user-operable operation element.
For example, in the automatic driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 automatically generates a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a brake control signal based on the surrounding environment information in front of the vehicle 1 acquired by a camera mounted on the front portion of the vehicle 1, the current position information of the GPS 9, the map information stored in the map information storage unit 11, and the like. In the automatic driving mode, the vehicle 1 is driven without depending on the user.
In the manual driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 normally generates a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a brake control signal regardless of the output of the external sensor 6. That is, in the manual driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 normally generates the steering control signal based on the operation of the steering wheel by the user regardless of the output of the external sensor 6. The vehicle control unit 3 normally generates an acceleration control signal based on an operation of an accelerator pedal by a user, regardless of an output of the external sensor 6. The vehicle control unit 3 generates a brake control signal based on the operation of the brake pedal by the user, regardless of the output of the external sensor 6. In the manual driving mode, the vehicle 1 is normally driven by the user.
In the manual driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 may execute, for example, an anti-lock brake control that controls a brake control signal in accordance with an output of the wheel speed sensor, which is the internal sensor 5. In the manual driving mode, the vehicle Control unit 3 may execute a sideslip prevention Control (Electric Stability Control) for controlling at least one of the steering Control signal, the acceleration Control signal, and the braking Control signal, a traction Control, and the like in accordance with the outputs of the steering angle sensor, the wheel speed sensor, and the yaw rate sensor, which are the internal sensors 5.
Alternatively, in the manual driving mode, the vehicle control section 3 may execute pre-collision control and collision avoidance control for generating a steering control signal and a braking control signal in response to an output of the external sensor 6 such as a camera in an emergency. As described above, in the manual driving mode, the vehicle control portion 3 can generate at least one of the steering control signal, the acceleration control signal, and the braking control signal in accordance with the output of the external sensor 6 in an emergency.
In the manual driving mode, the trigger that typically generates the steering control signal, the acceleration control signal, and the braking control signal is the displacement of an operating member such as a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal operated by a user. In the manual driving mode, the vehicle control unit 3 can normally control (process) signals such as a steering control signal, an acceleration control signal, and a brake control signal generated by the displacement of the operation element in accordance with the outputs of the internal sensor 5 and the external sensor 6. In the first embodiment, a so-called assist driving mode in which driving by the user is assisted in accordance with outputs of the internal sensor 5 and the external sensor 6 is one mode of the manual driving mode.
In the definition of the ranks 0 to 5 of the automatic driving mode known in 2018, the automatic driving mode of the first embodiment corresponds to the ranks 3 to 5 (except for emergency and the like), and the manual driving mode of the first embodiment corresponds to the ranks 0 to 2.
Next, the marking system 4 of the vehicle 1 will be described with reference to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 2, the marking system 4 has: a flag unit 60 having a flag 20 and a flag lamp 41; a grille lamp 42; and a lamp control unit 45 that controls the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42. The flag unit 60 has the flag 20, the flag lamp 41, and the flag attachment sensor 50 also as the external sensor 6. The marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are communicably connected to the lamp control section 45. The mark mounting sensor 50 is provided together with the mark 20, and is a sensor capable of acquiring external information of the vehicle 1. The mark mounting sensor 50 will be described in detail later with reference to fig. 5.
The explanation of the vehicle 1 using the marker system and the marker system described with reference to fig. 1 and 2 is common to the second to twelfth embodiments described later.
The marker lamp 41 is a lamp for illuminating the marker 20. Marker lamp 41 is provided together with marker 20 or at a position close to marker 20.
The grille lamp 42 is a lamp that illuminates the grille 30. The grill light 42 is provided together with the grill 30 or in a position close to the grill 30.
The lamp control unit 45 is connected to the vehicle control unit 3, and controls the operations of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 based on a signal transmitted from the vehicle control unit 3. The lamp control unit 45 may turn on or off the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 simultaneously or may turn on or off individually based on a signal transmitted from the vehicle control unit 3. Further, the lamp control unit 45 may be connected to a lamp 7 (a headlight, a position lamp, a rear combination lamp, a turn signal lamp, or the like) connected to the vehicle control unit 3. The lamp control unit 45 may be configured to control the marker lamp 41, the grille lamp 42, and the lamp 7.
Note that the illustrated sign system 4 is configured as a system independent from the vehicle system 2, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the signage system 4 may also be incorporated into the vehicle system 2. Further, lamp control unit 45 of blinker system 4 is provided as a control unit separate from vehicle control unit 3, but may be provided as a part of an ECU constituting vehicle control unit 3, for example.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the grill 30 and the sign unit 60. The grill 30 is sometimes referred to as a front grill, a radiator grill, etc. The air outside the vehicle is sent into the hood of the vehicle 1 through the cells of the grille 30. A grill lamp 42 is provided on the grill 30. In the present embodiment, the grille lamp 42 has a long light-emitting member extending in the left-right direction. The light emitting member is attached to a member extending in the left-right direction of the grill 30. The grille lamp 42 has a plurality of grille light sources 44. These grid light sources 44 are arranged in the left-right direction to constitute a light emitting part.
In the present embodiment, the grid light source 44 includes 3 kinds of light sources, i.e., a first grid light source 44a that emits white light, a second grid light source 44b that emits cyan light, and a third grid light source 44c that emits violet light. The first grid light sources 44a, the second grid light sources 44b, and the third grid light sources 44c are arranged in this order in a straight line in the left-right direction.
Fig. 3 shows a flag 20 provided at the front portion of the vehicle 1 among the plurality of flags 20 mounted on the vehicle 1. The sign 20 is attached to the substantially center of the grille 30 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of the grille 30. As shown in the drawing, the sign 20 may be mounted on the grille 30, or may be provided at a position distant from the grille 30, unlike the example shown in the drawing. The mark 20 may be provided on the hood of the vehicle 1, for example.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the flag cell 60. As shown in fig. 4, the marker unit has a marker 20 and a marker lamp 41. The sign 20 is formed into an elliptical shape when viewed from the front, for example. In the illustrated example, the sign 20 is provided with a mark 28 of the vehicle manufacturer. By lighting the marker lamp 41, the marker 20 can be illuminated. The outer edge of the sign 20 is covered by a light shield 23.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flag cell 60. As shown in fig. 5, a mark mounting sensor 50 is disposed on the rear surface of the light guide 21. In the present embodiment, the marker-attached sensor 50 is a millimeter wave radar 50 that is one of the external sensors 6. The millimeter wave radar 50 includes an output unit 51 that outputs a millimeter wave to the front of the vehicle 1 and an input unit 52 that receives a reflected wave thereof (see fig. 4). The millimeter wave radar 50 is a sensor that emits a millimeter wave forward of the vehicle 1 and receives a reflected wave thereof to acquire information forward of the vehicle 1. The millimeter wave radar 50 emits millimeter waves to the front of the vehicle 1 via the sign 20.
In fig. 4, the emission part 51 and the incident part 52 are drawn by broken lines, but the emission part 51 and the incident part 52 are covered with the marker unit 60 when viewed from the front, and cannot be visually recognized directly.
As shown in fig. 5, the marker lamp 41 includes a light guide 21, a reflection portion 22, a marker light source 24, and a shade 23. The sign 20, the light guide 21, and the reflection portion 22 are arranged in this order from the front to the rear of the vehicle 1. The marker light source 24 is provided around the light guide 21. The sign unit 60 is attached to the grill 30 via a bracket 61. Note that the marker unit 60 may be directly attached to the grill 30.
The marker 20 is a plate-like member made of transparent resin. The marker 20 is made of a resin having light transmittance and radio wave transmittance. For example, the marker 20 may be made of a resin such as copolymerized PC (polycarbonate). The name of the vehicle manufacturer, the mark 28, the name of the vehicle, and the like are displayed on the sign 20. The mark 28 may be printed or engraved on the surface of the sign 20, or a member in the shape of the mark 28 may be embedded in the sign 20.
When the sign unit 60 is viewed from the front, a plurality of sign light sources 24 are provided on the outer periphery of the sign 20. In the illustrated example, 6 marker light sources 24 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and are radially opposed to each other. As the marker Light source 24, an led (Light Emitting diode), an oled (organic Light Emitting diode), or the like can be used. The marker light sources 24 arranged in a circumferential shape are arranged so as to emit light toward the inner peripheral sides thereof, respectively. The marker light source 24 is connected to the lamp control unit 45.
A shade 23 is provided in front of the marker light source 24 so as to cover the marker light source 24 when viewed from the front. The sign light source 24 is not visible when viewed from the front of the sign 20 through the light shield 23. The shade 23 is elliptical and surrounds the outer edge of the sign 20.
A plurality of light guides 21 are provided on the back of the sign 20. The plurality of light guides 21 are stacked in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The light guide 21 has the same shape as the marker 20 and is provided in close contact with the marker 20. The light guide 21 is made of a colorless and transparent resin having light transmittance and radio wave transmittance. The light guide 21 may be made of a resin such as copolymerized PC.
An incident portion 25 into which light from the marker light source 24 is incident is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each light guide 21 in units of two. The incident portion 25 is provided at a position facing the marker light source 24.
The light guide 21 has an emission portion 26 on the front surface thereof. In the illustrated example, the emission portion 26 is the front surface of the light guide 21. A reflection portion 22 is formed on the rear surface of the light guide body 21. The reflection section 22 is formed of a vapor-deposited film of indium metal. The reflection section 22 is an indium thin film provided in a sea island shape so as to be permeable to millimeter waves. The reflection section 22 is not limited to a deposited film of indium metal. For example, a reflection surface may be formed on the rear surface of the light guide 21 by a plurality of steps or textures.
The light incident on the light guide 21 from the incident portion 25 is repeatedly reflected by the reflection portion 22 and the inside of the light guide 21, and is emitted from the emission portion 26 on the front surface to the front of the marker 20. The millimeter waves output from the millimeter wave radar 50 provided on the back of the light guide 21 pass through the light guide 21 and are emitted forward.
In the present embodiment, 6 marker light sources 24 are provided on the outer periphery of the light guide 21. The light emitted from the marker light source 24 is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 21 and emitted from the emission portion 26 to the front of the marker 20. This allows the marker 20 to be displayed so that the region other than the marker 28 becomes bright and the marker 28 becomes conspicuous.
In the present embodiment, 3 kinds of marker light sources 24a, 24b, and 24c and 3 light guides 21a, 21b, and 21c are provided.
The 2 first marker light sources 24a are light sources for emitting white light. The light emitted from the first marker light source 24a enters the first light guide 21a and is emitted from the emission surface of the first light guide 21a toward the front of the vehicle 1.
The 2 second marker light sources 24b emit cyan light. The light emitted from the second marker light source 24b enters the second light guide 21b, and is emitted from the emission surface of the second light guide 21b toward the front of the vehicle 1.
The 2 third marker light sources 24c emit violet light. The light emitted from the third marker light source 24c enters the third light guide 21c and is emitted from the emission surface of the third light guide 21c toward the front of the vehicle 1.
The lamp control unit 45 can cause the signs 20 to emit light in different colors by appropriately controlling the turning on/off of the first to third sign light sources 24a to 24 c.
As described above, the vehicle marking system 4 of the present embodiment includes:
a logo 20;
a sensor 50 provided on the rear surface of the sign 20 and capable of acquiring information around the vehicle;
a sign light source 24 (lamp) that illuminates the sign 20; and
and a lamp control section 45.
In the vehicular sign system 4 according to the present embodiment, the lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting manner of the lamp when a signal indicating that the vehicle 1 is driven in the manual driving mode and the automatic driving mode is switched is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1. The details of the lamp control unit 45 will be described based on the operation of the signage system 4.
If the lamp control unit 45 receives a mode change signal indicating that the vehicle 1 is switched between the state of traveling in the manual driving mode and the state of traveling in the automatic driving mode from the vehicle control unit 3, the lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41. For example, if the user switches the driving mode switching switch, the switching signal is transmitted to the vehicle control portion 3. Upon receiving the switching signal, vehicle control unit 3 transmits a mode change signal to lamp control unit 45. Alternatively, if a predetermined output is input from external sensor 6, vehicle control unit 3 switches from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and a mode change signal is output from vehicle control unit 3 to lamp control unit 45.
The lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting mode of the marker lamp 41 in accordance with the driving mode signal acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
For example, the marker lamp 41 may be turned on when the vehicle is traveling in the automatic driving mode, and the marker lamp 41 may be turned off when the vehicle is traveling in the manual driving mode. Alternatively, the marker lamp 41 may be blinked when the vehicle travels in the automatic driving mode, and the marker lamp 41 may be continuously turned on when the vehicle travels in the manual driving mode. Alternatively, 3 marker light sources 24 may be blinked when traveling in the automatic driving mode, and 6 marker light sources 24 may be continuously lit when traveling in the manual driving mode.
Further, the light emission color of the marker lamp 41 when running in the automatic drive mode may be different from the light emission color of the marker lamp 41 when running in the manual drive mode. For example, the first marker light source 24a that emits white light when running in the manual driving mode may be turned on, and the second marker light source 24b that emits cyan light when running in the automatic driving mode may be turned on.
The mark 20 is originally provided in a position which is easily visible and noticeable by pedestrians and the like in many cases. Further, according to the marker system 4 of the first embodiment, the marker lamp 41 for emitting the marker 20 is provided, and the lighting mode of the marker lamp 41 is changed when the driving mode is switched. That is, since the lamp for displaying the driving mode can be provided at a position that is easy to be noticed, it is easier for pedestrians or the like to pay attention, and the driving mode of the host vehicle 1 can be easily transmitted to the surroundings.
Further, a sensor for acquiring information around the vehicle, such as the millimeter wave radar 50, is desirably provided at the front end portion of the vehicle so as to be able to acquire information in as wide a range as possible and so as not to be blocked by other portions of the vehicle. For example, a rear camera for acquiring information on the rear of the vehicle is preferably provided around a license plate or a high-mount stop lamp at the rear of the vehicle. Similarly, millimeter wave radar, LiDAR, cameras, and the like that acquire information in front of the vehicle are desirably provided on the hood and in the front grille of the vehicle. However, since the arrangement place as described above is easily seen by surrounding pedestrians, a sign is often provided. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the sensor is provided on the back surface of the mark, the mark can be provided at a position where it is easy to see, and the sensor can be provided at a position where information can be easily acquired.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to dispose a mark at a position where a driving pattern is easily transmitted to the surroundings and is easily visible, and it is possible to provide a sensor at a position where information is easily obtained.
< second embodiment >
In the first embodiment described above, an example in which the millimeter wave radar 50 as the external sensor 6 is provided on the rear side of the light guide 21 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a marker system 104 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The marker system 104 of the present embodiment is different from the marker system 4 of the first embodiment in that a camera 50, which is one of the external sensors 6 described above, is provided as the marker attachment sensor 50. Among the components of the marker system 104 according to the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In the second to twelfth embodiments hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
As shown in fig. 6, at least the reflection portion 22 of the light guide 21 is provided with a through hole 132. In the illustrated example, the through-holes 132 are provided in the marker 20, the light guide 21, and the reflection portion 22. The light receiving element 53 of the camera 50 is provided at a position facing the through hole 132. Light from the front of the vehicle is incident on the light receiving element 53 of the camera 50 through the through hole 132.
In the present embodiment, the reflection section 22 does not need to transmit millimeter waves, and therefore can be formed of an aluminum vapor-deposited film. Further, if the light transmittances of the mark 20 and the light guide 21 positioned in front of the lens of the camera 50 are sufficiently high, the through hole 132 may not be provided. Alternatively, a resin having higher light transmittance than the surroundings may be provided in the region of the through-hole 132. This allows more light to enter the light receiving element of the camera 50.
According to the blinker system 104 of the second embodiment, it is easy to notify the surroundings that the own vehicle is under automatic driving, as in the blinker system 4 of the first embodiment described above. Further, according to the marker system 104, the light guide 21 including the marker 20 and the reflection portion 22 is provided with a light transmission portion (through hole 132). Therefore, even when a camera is used as the marker attachment sensor 50, the presence of the camera is not recognized from the outside, and the external information can be acquired by the camera.
As the marker attachment sensor 50, LiDAR, which is one of the external sensors 6, may be provided on the rear surface of the light guide 21. In this case, at least the reflection unit 22 is provided with a through hole through which laser light (visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light) emitted from the LiDAR passes and a through hole through which reflected light of the laser light passes, at a position where the light emission unit and the light incidence unit of the LiDAR overlap each other in front view. The through-holes through which the outgoing light passes and the through-holes through which the reflected light passes may be provided as a single opening or may be provided as separate openings.
As described above, in the vehicular marker systems 4 and 104 according to the first and second embodiments,
it may be that the sensor 50 is a millimeter wave radar that emits millimeter waves,
the marker 20 has a reflection section 22, and the reflection section 22 transmits a millimeter wave and reflects light incident from a marker light source 24,
the reflection section 22 is an indium thin film provided in a sea island shape so as to be permeable to millimeter waves.
As with the vehicular sign system 104 of the second embodiment described above,
it may be that the sensor 50 is a camera,
the sign 20 is provided with a light transmitting portion 132 for allowing light to enter the lens of the camera 50.
As described above, as in the vehicular index system 4 of the first embodiment,
it may be that the sensor 50 is a LiDAR,
the marker 20 is provided with a light transmitting portion through which the laser light emitted from the LiDAR 50 and the incident laser light are transmitted.
< third embodiment >
In addition, the present inventors consider a case where it is known that the vehicle is in automatic driving by lighting a lamp that draws attention of surrounding pedestrians or the like. However, the mark is generally not so large, and therefore it is considered to further improve the visual recognizability.
Therefore, the third embodiment of the invention provides the marker system 4 that makes it easier to know that the own vehicle is in automatic driving.
The marking system 4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5. That is, the marking system 4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes:
a grille 30 provided at the front of the vehicle 1;
a logo 20;
a grill lamp 42 provided to the grill 30;
a marker lamp 41 for illuminating the marker 20; and
and a lamp control unit 45 for controlling the grille lamp 42 and the marker lamp 41.
In the marking system 4 according to the third embodiment,
the lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting manner of the grille lamp 42 in accordance with a signal output from the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1. Next, an operation example performed by the lamp control unit 45 will be described in detail.
The lamp control unit 45 of the present embodiment controls the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting manner of the grille lamp 42 in accordance with the signal output from the vehicle control unit 3. Here, as operation examples of the lamp control unit 45, a first operation example, a second operation example, and a third operation example will be described.
(first operation example of the third embodiment)
The first operation example is an operation example in which the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are displayed to indicate the driving mode. For example, if the user switches the driving mode switching switch, the switching signal is transmitted to the vehicle control portion 3. Upon receiving the switching signal, vehicle control unit 3 transmits a mode change signal to lamp control unit 45. Alternatively, if a predetermined output is input from external sensor 6, vehicle control unit 3 switches from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and a mode change signal is output from vehicle control unit 3 to lamp control unit 45.
The lamp control unit 45 changes at least one of the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting manner of the grille lamp 42 when the mode change signal is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3. More specifically, for example, in the manual driving mode, the lamp control unit 45 turns off the marker lamp 41 and turns on the grille lamp 42. When the manual driving mode is switched to the automatic driving mode, the lamp control unit 45 receives a mode change signal, and turns on the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42. When the automatic driving mode is switched to the manual driving mode again, the marker lamp 41 is turned off and the grille lamp 42 is continuously turned on.
Alternatively, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be turned off in the manual driving mode, and the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be turned on in the automatic driving mode.
Alternatively, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be continuously turned on in the manual driving mode, and the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be turned on in the automatic driving mode.
Alternatively, for example, the lighting systems of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be controlled to be lit in different colors for each driving mode based on a signal obtained from the vehicle control unit 3. For example, the first flag light source 24a of the marker lamp 41 and the first grille light source 44a of the grille lamp 42 may be turned on to emit white light in the manual driving mode, and the second flag light source 24b of the marker lamp 41 and the second grille light source 44b of the grille lamp 42 may be turned on to emit cyan light in the automatic driving mode.
Alternatively, the operation of the lighting modes of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 may be changed between the manual driving mode and the automatic driving mode. For example, all light sources are continuously lit during the manual driving mode. In the automatic driving mode, the marker lamp 41 is made visible so that the bright spot rotates around the outer edge, and the lighted marker light sources are sequentially moved clockwise in the front view. Alternatively, the grille lamp 42 may be made to look like a bright point moving in the left-right direction by sequentially moving the grille light sources 44 that are turned on in the left-right direction.
If a specific display mode (which lamp is turned on, which color is turned on, which cycle is blinked, or the like) is socially recognized as a display mode indicating the manual driving mode and a display mode indicating the automatic driving mode, at least one of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 displays the display mode, and thus the driving mode can be easily notified to the surroundings by the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 which are originally provided at a position where the driver easily draws attention.
(second operation example of the third embodiment)
In the first operation example, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are used to display the driving mode of the vehicle 1. In the second operation example, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are turned on so as to obtain an alternating current with the light of the vehicle, the pedestrian, or the like around the host vehicle 1. For example, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 can be used to give an instruction to a pedestrian or another vehicle to prompt a specific operation, to display the traveling direction of the vehicle, to display a stop notice of the vehicle, to display detection of a pedestrian or the like, to display the level of automatic driving, to display the presence or absence of a driver or a passenger, and the like.
For example, the vehicle 1 is assumed to travel in the automatic driving mode. A pedestrian who wants to stop walking by crossing the crosswalk is photographed by a camera, which is one of the external sensors 6, and image information thereof is output to the vehicle control unit 3.
The vehicle control unit 3 analyzes the received image information to recognize a crosswalk and a pedestrian, and determines to perform an operation of waiting for the pedestrian to cross the crosswalk while the vehicle is stopped, for example, when there is a pedestrian who wants to cross the crosswalk. Then, the vehicle control portion transmits a signal to the lamp control portion 45 to cause the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 to display a message prompting the pedestrian to cross the crosswalk. As described above, the signals used for display on the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 in order to obtain an alternating current to a pedestrian, another vehicle, or the like are hereinafter referred to as alternating current signals in the description.
The lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting mode of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting mode of the grille lamp 42 together based on the ac signal obtained from the vehicle control unit 3.
For example, in a state where the ac signal is not obtained, the lamp control section 45 turns off the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42. If lamp control unit 45 receives an ac signal from vehicle control unit 3, the following operation is performed. The lamp control unit 45 blinks the marker lamp 41 to attract the attention of the pedestrian so as to notify the pedestrian that "the vehicle is stopped, and controls the grille lamp 42 so that the lit portion of the grille light source 44 moves in the crossing direction of the pedestrian.
(third operation example of the third embodiment)
In the first operation example, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are used as lamps for displaying the driving mode (hereinafter, referred to as mode display lamps). In the second operation example, the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are used as lamps (hereinafter, referred to as "ac lamps") for communicating with an external vehicle or a pedestrian.
In a third operation example described below, one of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 is used as a mode display lamp, and the other is used as an ac lamp. Namely, the lamp control section 45,
when the vehicle 1 is running in the automatic driving mode, either the grille lamp 42 or the marker lamp 41 is turned on in a manner different from that when the vehicle 1 is running in the manual driving mode,
the manner of lighting the other of the grille lamp 42 and the marker lamp 41 is changed in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle 1 travels in the automatic driving mode by the vehicle control unit 3.
For example, the marker lamp 41 may be used as a mode indicator lamp, and the grille lamp 42 may be used as an ac lamp. In this case, for example, the lamp control unit 45 turns off the marker lamp 41 when the vehicle 1 travels in the manual drive mode, and turns on the marker lamp 41 when the vehicle 1 travels in the automatic drive mode. Alternatively, the lamp control unit 45 may cause the marker lamp 41 to light at a first light intensity while the vehicle 1 is traveling in the manual driving mode, and cause the marker lamp 41 to light at a second light intensity that is brighter than the first light intensity while the vehicle 1 is traveling in the automatic driving mode.
When the lamp control unit 45 receives the ac signal from the vehicle control unit 3, the plurality of light sources of the grille lamp 42 are sequentially turned on in the left-right direction. In a state where the ac signal is not acquired, the lamp control unit 45 turns off the grille lamp 42 or turns on the grille lamp at all times.
In addition, it has been proposed to illuminate a sign mounted on a vehicle in order to improve the visibility of the sign. The present inventors considered a method in which an automatically driven vehicle makes surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and the like aware of a driving pattern or acquires communication by emitting a sign that attracts the attention of surrounding pedestrians and the like. However, since the light emitting area of the mark is small, attention to the surroundings is limited only by the mark. Therefore, the present inventors have focused on the fact that the markers are often provided at positions close to the grid.
According to the first and second operation examples of the marker system 4 of the present embodiment, the marker lamp 41 for emitting the marker 20 and the grille lamp 42 for emitting the grille 30 are provided, and when the lamp control unit 45 acquires the mode change signal and the alternating current signal from the vehicle control unit 3, the lighting method of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting method of the grille lamp 42 are changed together. Therefore, compared to the case where only the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41 is changed, the attention of the surrounding vehicles and pedestrians is more likely to be attracted, the driving pattern of the host vehicle 1 can be more effectively notified to the surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, and the communication can be more effectively acquired.
In the third operation example of the marker system 4 according to the present embodiment, when communication is acquired that is intended to more strongly indicate the intention of the vehicle to other people, the marker 20 and the grille 30 are configured to emit light brightly, and thus to be more likely to attract attention of other people. That is, the case where the vehicle control unit 3 desires to communicate with another vehicle or the like is a case where the automatic driving mode is being executed. The automatic driving mode is being executed with at least one of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 turned on. The other of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 is turned on to obtain an alternating current, and at the time of obtaining the alternating current, both the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 are turned on, so that the attention of the other person is easily drawn.
The specific lighting modes of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 in the first to third operation examples are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these specific examples.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 4 of the third embodiment,
the lamp control unit 45 may change the lighting manner of the marker lamp 41 and the lighting manner of the grille lamp 42 together when a signal indicating that the state of the vehicle 1 running in the manual driving mode and the state of the vehicle running in the automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 4 of the third embodiment,
the lamp control unit 45 may change the lighting modes of the marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 together in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle 1 is driven by the vehicle control unit 3 in the automatic driving mode.
As described above, in the third embodiment, the vehicular index system 4 may include:
a grille 30 provided at the front of the vehicle 1;
a logo 20;
a grill lamp 42 provided to the grill 30;
a marker lamp 41 for illuminating the marker 20; and
a lamp control part 45 for controlling the grid lamp 42 and the marker lamp 41,
the lamp control section 45 causes either one of the grille lamp 42 and the marker lamp 41 to be turned on in a different lighting manner from that in the case where the vehicle 1 is driven in the manual drive mode when the vehicle 1 is driven in the automatic drive mode,
the manner of lighting the other of the grille lamp 42 and the marker lamp 41 is changed in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1 runs the vehicle in the automatic driving mode.
< fourth embodiment >
The present inventors have also studied a case where a vehicle traveling in the automatic driving mode uses a lamp to communicate with surrounding pedestrians and the like. The lamp described above is easily seen from surrounding pedestrians, and is required to be lit in various ways according to the kind of communication.
Therefore, the fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention provide a sign system having a lamp that can be lit in various ways easily seen by pedestrians and is suitable for a vehicle that can travel in an automatic driving mode.
The marking system 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5. That is, the marking system 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes:
a logo 20;
a marker lamp 41 having a plurality of marker light sources 24a, 24b, and 24c provided around the marker 20 and capable of emitting lights of different colors; and
and a lamp control section 45.
As described in detail below, the lamp control unit 45 controls turning on/off of the plurality of light sources 24a, 24b, and 24c in accordance with a signal obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1 drives the vehicle 1 in the automatic driving mode.
An example of the operation of the marker system 4 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.
The lamp control unit 45 of the present embodiment controls the lighting mode of the marker lamp 41 in accordance with the signal output from the vehicle control unit 3. Here, as operation examples of the lamp control unit 45, a first operation example, a second operation example, and a third operation example will be described.
(first operation example of the fourth embodiment)
The first operation example is an operation example in which the marker lamp 41 is displayed to indicate the driving mode. For example, if the user switches the driving mode switching switch, the switching signal is transmitted to the vehicle control portion 3. Upon receiving the switching signal, vehicle control unit 3 transmits a mode change signal to lamp control unit 45. Alternatively, if a predetermined output is input from external sensor 6, vehicle control unit 3 switches from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and a mode change signal is output from vehicle control unit 3 to lamp control unit 45.
The lamp control unit 45 controls turning on/off of the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c when the mode change signal is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3. More specifically, for example, in the manual driving mode, the lamp control unit 45 turns off the cyan second marker light source 24b and turns on the white first marker light source 24 a. When the manual driving mode is switched to the automatic driving mode, the lamp control unit 45 receives a mode change signal, and turns on the second marker light source 24b and turns off the first marker light source 24 a. When the automatic driving mode is switched to the manual driving mode again, the second marker light source 24b is turned off and the first marker light source 24a is turned on.
If a specific color is socially recognized as a display mode indicating the manual driving mode and a display mode indicating the automatic driving mode, the marker lamp 41 emits light of the specific color, and thus the driving mode can be easily informed to the surroundings by the marker lamp 41 originally provided at a position where the driver easily sees the attention.
(second operation example of the fourth embodiment)
In the first operation example, the marker lamp 41 is used to display the driving mode of the vehicle 1. In the second operation example, the marker lamp 41 is turned on so as to communicate with the vehicles, pedestrians, and the like around the host vehicle 1 by light. For example, the marker lamp 41 can be used to instruct a pedestrian or another vehicle to perform a specific operation, display the traveling direction of the vehicle, display a notice of stopping the vehicle, display detection of a pedestrian or the like, display the level of automatic driving, display the presence or absence of a driver or a passenger, and the like.
For example, the vehicle 1 is assumed to travel in the automatic driving mode. A pedestrian who wants to stop walking by crossing the crosswalk is photographed by a camera, which is one of the external sensors 6, and image information thereof is output to the vehicle control unit 3.
The vehicle control unit 3 analyzes the received video information to recognize a crosswalk and a pedestrian, and determines to perform an operation of waiting for the pedestrian to cross the crosswalk while the host vehicle 1 is stopped, for example, when there is a pedestrian who wants to cross the crosswalk. Then, the vehicle control unit 3 transmits a signal for causing the marker lamp 41 to display a message indicating that the pedestrian has passed the crosswalk to the lamp control unit 45. As described above, the signal used for displaying the marker lamp 41 to obtain an alternating current to a pedestrian, another vehicle, or the like is referred to as an alternating current signal in the following description.
The lamp control unit 45 controls the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c of the marker lamp 41 based on the ac signal acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
For example, in a state where the ac signal is not obtained, the lamp control unit 45 sets all the marker light sources 24a to 24c of the marker lamp 41 to the off state. If lamp control unit 45 receives an ac signal from vehicle control unit 3, the following operation is performed. The lamp control unit 45 sequentially lights the plurality of annularly arranged light sources in the circumferential direction so as to transmit the meaning of "the vehicle stops, and thus please pass through the crosswalk" to the pedestrian. Alternatively, the third marker light source 24c is turned on when it is desired that the pedestrian stops, and the second marker light source 24b of cyan color is blinked when it is desired that the pedestrian travels.
(third operation example of the fourth embodiment)
The marker lamp 41 of the present embodiment can be controlled by combining the first operation example and the second operation example described above. That is, when the signal indicating that the vehicle 1 is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3, the lamp control unit turns on the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c differently from the manner in which the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c are turned on when the signal for acquiring the alternating current is acquired from the vehicle control unit.
Specifically, the first white marker light source 24a is turned on in the manual driving mode, and the second cyan marker light source 24b is turned on in the automatic driving mode. In the automatic driving mode, when the lamp control unit 45 acquires the ac signal, the lamp control unit 45 turns on the third indicator light source 24c of purple color. For example, when the lamp control unit 45 acquires the ac signal, the third indicator light source 24c of purple color is turned on to indicate giving way to the pedestrian.
In addition, many of the markers 20 are originally provided at a position easily visible from surrounding pedestrians or the like, and a position easily noticeable. Further, according to the marker system 4 of the present embodiment, the marker lamp 41 for emitting the marker 20 is provided, and the lamp control unit 45 controls turning on/off of the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c of different colors in accordance with the signal obtained from the vehicle control unit 3. That is, the mark 20 can be made to emit light in a different color according to the signal output from the vehicle control unit 3 at a position that is easy to catch the attention of pedestrians or the like, and information can be easily transmitted from the host vehicle 1 to the surroundings. Further, by controlling the on/off of the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c, it is easy to transmit a plurality of kinds of information to the surroundings.
In addition, according to the marker system 4 of the present embodiment, a plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c are provided so as to surround the marker 20, and the marker light sources 24 to 24c of different colors are alternately arranged. Therefore, if lamp control unit 45 turns on/off different color marker light sources 24a to 24c according to the signal acquired from vehicle control unit 3, not only the color of marker 20 but also the portion where marker 20 emits light changes. Therefore, the outer shape of the sign 20 can be easily changed greatly depending on which color of the sign light sources 24a to 24c is lit, and information can be easily transmitted to the surroundings through the sign 20 accurately.
In the marker system 4 of the present embodiment, the marker lamp 41 includes light guides 21a to 21c to which light emitted from the marker light sources 24a to 24c is incident,
the light guides 21a to 21c have: an incident portion into which light emitted from the marker light sources 24a to 24c is incident; and an output part for outputting the light inputted from the input part,
the plurality of light guides 21a to 21c are stacked in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, and the sign 20 emits light in different colors by controlling on/off of the plurality of sign light sources 24a to 24 c.
According to the marker system 4 of the present embodiment, since the plurality of light guides 21a to 21c are stacked in the front-rear direction, the marker 20 can be seen to have a depth in the front-rear direction, and design can be improved. Further, when light is incident on the first light guide 21a and the second light guide 21b without being incident on the third light guide 21c and when light is incident on all the light guides 21a to 21c, the marker 20 can be emitted with different colors, and the degree of freedom in expression of the marker 20 is improved.
In the above-described embodiment, the colorless and transparent light guides 21a to 21c have been described, but a colored and transparent light guide may be used.
In the marking system 4 of the present embodiment, as in the first operation example described above,
when lamp control unit 45 receives a signal indicating that vehicle 1 is switched between the state of traveling in the manual driving mode and the state of traveling in the automatic driving mode from vehicle control unit 3,
the on/off of the marker light sources 24a to 24c is switched.
In the marking system 4 of the present embodiment, as in the second operation example described above,
the lamp control unit 45 may switch on/off of the marker light sources 24a to 24c in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle 1 is driven by the automatic driving mode by the vehicle control unit 3.
In the marking system 4 of the present embodiment, as in the third operation example described above,
when a signal indicating that the vehicle 1 is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3, the lamp control unit 45 may turn on the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c differently from the manner of turning on the plurality of marker light sources 24a to 24c that are turned on when a signal for acquiring an alternating current is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
< fifth embodiment >
In the fourth embodiment described above, the marker lamp 41 having the plurality of light guides 21a to 21c is described as shown in fig. 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a marker lamp 241 of a marker system 204 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The marker lamp 241 is different from the marker lamp 41 of the fourth embodiment in that a single light guide 221 is provided. Among the components of the marker system 204 according to the fifth embodiment, the components common to those of the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in fig. 7, the marker lamp 241 has a single light guide 221, a reflection portion 22, 6 marker light sources 24, and a shade 23 as in the fourth embodiment. The light guide 221 has 6 incident portions 25 on its outer peripheral surface. The marker light sources 24a to 24c are disposed so as to face the incident portion 25.
According to the above configuration, the thickness of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction can be reduced and the emblem 20 can be illuminated with different colors by using the single light guide 221.
< sixth embodiment >
Fig. 8 is a front view of a marker unit 360 of a marker system 304 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The marker system 304 of the sixth embodiment is different from the marker system 4 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the marker light sources 324a to 324 f. As shown in fig. 8, a plurality of marker light sources 324a to 324f may be provided so as to surround the marker 20, and the marker light sources 324a to 324f of different colors may be provided so as to face each other. In fig. 8, the 6 marker light sources 324a to 324f emit lights of different colors from each other. According to the marker lamp 341 as described above, if the lamp control unit 45 turns on/off the marker light sources 324a to 324f of different colors in accordance with the signal acquired from the vehicle control unit 3, not only the color of the marker 20 but also the portion where the marker 20 emits light largely changes. Therefore, the outer shape of the sign 20 can be easily changed greatly depending on which color of the sign light sources 324a to 324f is lit, and information can be easily transmitted to the surroundings through the sign 20 accurately.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 304 of the sixth embodiment,
a plurality of marker light sources 24 (light sources) may be arranged in such a manner as to surround the marker 20 when viewed from the front of the marker 20,
the marker light sources 24 emitting different colors are alternately arranged.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 304 of the sixth embodiment,
a plurality of marker light sources 24 (light sources) may be arranged in such a manner as to surround the marker 20 when viewed from the front of the marker 20,
the marker light sources 24 emitting different colors are arranged in an opposed manner.
As described above, the vehicular index system 304 according to the sixth embodiment,
the light guide 21 may be configured to have a light guide body 21 into which light emitted from a marker light source 24 (light source) is incident,
the light guide 21 has: an incident portion 25 to which light emitted from the marker light source 24 is input; and an emission part 26 for emitting the light incident from the incident part 25,
the plurality of light guides 21 are stacked in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, and the sign 20 emits light in different colors by controlling on/off of the plurality of sign light sources 24.
As described above, the vehicular index system 4, 204, 304 of the fourth to sixth embodiments,
it is possible to provide a light guide 21, into which light emitted from a marker light source 24 (light source) is incident,
the light guide 21 has: a plurality of incident portions 25 into which light emitted from the marker light source 24 is incident; and a single output portion 26 that outputs the light input from the input portion 25.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 4, 204, 304 of the fourth to sixth embodiments,
the lamp control unit 45 may be configured to switch on/off of the marker light source 24 when a signal indicating that the state of the vehicle 1 running in the manual driving mode and the state of the vehicle running in the automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 4, 204, 304 of the fourth to sixth embodiments,
the lamp control unit 45 may be configured to switch on/off of the marker light source 24 in accordance with a signal for obtaining communication with surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and the like through light, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit 3 when the vehicle is driven by the automatic driving mode by the vehicle control unit 3.
As described above, in the vehicular index system 4, 204, 304 of the fourth to sixth embodiments,
the lamp control unit 45 may be configured to turn on the plurality of marker light sources 24 differently from the manner of turning on the plurality of marker light sources 24 that are turned on when a signal indicating that the vehicle 1 is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3, and the signal is emitted when a signal for obtaining an alternating current with the surrounding vehicle 1, a pedestrian, or the like is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3.
In the marker systems according to the first to third embodiments and the seventh to twelfth embodiments, the plurality of marker light sources 24 may be configured to emit lights of different colors from each other. In this case, lamp control unit 45 may be configured to control turning on/off of these plurality of marker light sources 24 in accordance with a signal obtained from vehicle control unit 3 when vehicle control unit 3 drives the vehicle in the automatic driving mode. According to the above configuration, as in the fourth embodiment, there is also provided a sign system having a lamp which can be lit in various ways easily visible to pedestrians and is suitable for a vehicle capable of traveling in an automatic driving mode.
In the vehicle marker unit 60 according to the first to sixth embodiments, as shown in fig. 4 and 8, the marker light source 24 is not provided inside the annular shade 23 provided on the outer periphery of the marker 20 when the marker 20 is viewed from the front.
In the first to sixth embodiments, the marker light source 24 is provided at a position overlapping the annular light shield 23 when the marker 20 is viewed from the front. In addition to the examples shown in fig. 4 and 8, the marker light source 24 may be provided outside the annular light shield 23 when the marker 20 is viewed from the front, or the marker light source 24 may not be visually recognized when the marker 20 is viewed from the front.
< seventh embodiment >
Fig. 9 is a front view of a marking unit 460 of the marking system 404 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the signage system 404 of the seventh embodiment and the signage system 304 of the sixth embodiment is that an auxiliary light source 448 is provided. The flag unit 460 has a flag 20 and a flag lamp 441. As shown in fig. 9, the sign unit 460 of the present embodiment is provided with an auxiliary light source 448 different from the sign light source 24 inside the annular light shield 23 provided on the outer periphery of the sign 20 when the sign 20 is viewed from the front. In the example shown in fig. 9, the sign 20 is provided with an opening, and the auxiliary light source 448 emits light from the opening. The brightness of the marker light source 24 can be supplemented by the auxiliary light source 448. Alternatively, the auxiliary light source 448 emitting light in a color different from that of the marker light source 24 is used, whereby the design of the marker 20 can be further improved.
< eighth embodiment >
Fig. 10 is a front view of a sign system 504 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a marking unit 560 of a marking system 504 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The components common to those of the first embodiment are given common reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The flag cell 560 according to the eighth embodiment is not provided with the light shield 23 unlike the flag cell 60 according to the first embodiment.
The marker system 504 according to the present embodiment also includes the marker 20, the marker unit 560, and the lamp control unit 45 that controls the marker lamp 541, as in the first embodiment described above. The flag cell 560 has: a millimeter wave radar 50 provided on the rear surface of the sign 20 and capable of acquiring information on the periphery of the vehicle 1; a logo 20; and a marker lamp 541 for emitting light to the marker 20.
As shown in fig. 11, the flag unit 560 of the present embodiment includes: a mounting portion 95 for mounting the sign 20; a marker lamp 541 for emitting light to the marker 20; a millimeter-wave radar 50; and a housing 90. The marker lamp 541 and the millimeter wave radar 50 are housed in the case 90.
The mounting portion 95 is supported by the housing 90 in a state in which the marker 20 mounted on the mounting portion 95 is visually recognizable from the outside. In the present embodiment, the case 90 has an opening 91, and the attachment portion 95 is provided in the opening 91. The mounting portion 95 is formed of a resin that can transmit millimeter waves and light emitted from the marker lamp 541. The marker 20 is attached to the front surface of the attachment portion 95 with an adhesive or the like.
The flag 20 is fitted into the opening 91 of the housing 90 via the seal ring 92. This can keep the inside of the case 90 watertight. The housing 90 is provided with a vehicle fixing portion 93 fixed to the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the vehicle fixing portion 93 of the housing 90 is attached to the grille 30 by a bolt 94.
The marker lamp 541 is mounted inside the housing 90. The marker lamp 541 includes a light source table 49, a plurality of marker light sources 24 provided on the light source table 49, a plurality of light guides 21, and a lamp control unit 45. The lamp control unit 45 controls the operation of the marker light source 24.
In the present embodiment, the marker light source 24 is provided on the cylindrical light source base 49 so as to emit light toward the inner periphery. A plurality of light guides 21 are provided on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical light source table 49.
A plurality of light guides 21 are provided on the back of the sign 20. The plurality of light guides 21 are stacked in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The light guide 21 is made of a colorless and transparent resin having light transmittance and radio wave transmittance. The light guide 21 may be made of a resin such as copolymerized PC. The front surface of the light guide 21 is an emission surface 21d, and the rear surface is a reflection surface 21 e.
The reflecting surface 21e is formed by a vapor deposition film of indium metal. The reflecting surface 21e is an indium thin film provided in a sea island shape so as to be permeable to millimeter waves. The reflecting surface 21e is not limited to a deposited film of indium metal. For example, a reflection surface may be formed on the rear surface of the light guide 21 by a plurality of steps or textures.
The light emitted from the marker light source 24 is incident into the light guide 21 from an incident portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 21. The light entering the interior of the light guide 21 is repeatedly reflected by the inner and reflective surfaces 21e and emitted from the emission surface 21d, and is transmitted through the mounting portion 95 and the emblem 20 and emitted to the outside of the vehicle.
In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, 6 marker light sources 24 are provided on the outer periphery of the light guide 21. The light emitted from the marker light source 24 is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 21 and emitted from the emission surface 21d to the front of the marker 20. This allows the marker 20 to be displayed so that the region other than the marker 28 becomes bright and the marker 28 becomes conspicuous.
The millimeter wave radar 50 is disposed inside the housing 90 and behind the light guide body 21. The millimeter-wave radar 50 is mounted inside the housing 90 via the adjustment mechanism 70. The adjustment mechanism 70 includes: a support plate 71 that mounts the millimeter wave radar 50; and a plurality of adjusting bolts 72 connecting the support plate 71 and the case 90. The adjustment bolts 72 are provided at 3 corners of the support plate 71. By adjusting the position of the nut of the adjusting bolt 72, the posture of the support plate 71 can be tilted. This enables adjustment of the orientation of the millimeter wave radar 50.
A sensor control unit 73 is mounted on the support plate 71. The sensor control unit 73 is connected to the millimeter wave radar 50. The sensor control unit 73 controls the operation of the millimeter wave radar 50. A sensor cable extends from the sensor control unit 73. A lamp cable extends from the lamp control portion 45. The sensor cable and the lamp cable are bundled as a common wire harness 75, and extend from a common bushing 74 provided in the housing 90 to the outside of the housing 90. Thereby, water is prevented from entering from the outside to the inside of the housing 90 along the wire harness 75.
When a signal indicating that the state of the vehicle 1 traveling in the manual driving mode and the state of the vehicle traveling in the automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3, the lamp control unit 45 changes the lighting manner of the marker light source 24.
< ninth embodiment >
A sign mounted on a vehicle is known from patent document 1 and the like. The marker described in patent document 1 is visible by emitting light through the electroluminescent wheel.
Further, since the marker described in patent document 1 is provided inside the vehicle interior, it is not considered that water and dust adversely affect the electrical connection portion, and it is not considered that the marker is provided outside the vehicle interior.
A ninth embodiment and a tenth embodiment of the present invention provide a vehicular sign unit including a sign that can be provided outside a vehicle compartment to emit light.
The vehicle logo unit 560 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention is the same as the vehicle logo unit 560 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention described with reference to fig. 10 and 11.
That is, a vehicle marker unit according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention includes:
a mounting portion 95 for mounting the sign 20;
a marker lamp 541 for emitting light to the marker 20; and
and a housing 90 that houses the marker lamp 541 and supports the marker 20 mounted on the mounting portion 95 in a state of being visually recognizable from the outside.
In the vehicle marker unit 560 according to the present embodiment, the marker 20 and the marker lamp 541 are integrated and housed in the case 90. Since the marker lamp 541 as an electrical component is provided inside the housing 90, water and dust are less likely to adhere to the marker lamp 541, the vehicle marker 20 of the present embodiment can be provided not only inside the vehicle interior but also outside the vehicle interior, such as a position where the grille 30 is provided, a position where a lamp such as a front light or a rear combination lamp is provided, or a position where a rearview mirror is provided.
In the present embodiment, the LiDAR, which is one of the external sensors 6, may be disposed behind the light guide 21. In this case, at least the reflection surface 21e is provided with a through hole through which laser light (visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light) emitted from the LiDAR passes and a through hole through which reflected light of the laser light passes at a position where the light emitting portion and the light incident portion of the LiDAR overlap each other in front view. The through-holes through which the outgoing light passes and the through-holes through which the reflected light passes may be provided as a single opening or may be provided as separate openings.
< tenth embodiment >
In the ninth embodiment described above, an example in which the millimeter wave radar 50 as the external sensor 6 is provided behind the light guide 21 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing a marker unit 660 of a marker system 604 according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. The marker unit 660 is different from the marker unit 560 according to the ninth embodiment in that the camera 50, which is one of the external sensors 6 described above, is provided as the marker attachment sensor 50. Note that, of the components of the flag cell 660 according to the tenth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the ninth embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in fig. 12, a through hole 632 is provided in the index 20, the light guide 21, and the attachment portion 95. The light receiving element 53 of the camera 50 is provided at a position facing the through hole 632. Light from the front of the vehicle is incident on the light receiving element 53 of the camera 50 through the through hole 632.
The sign unit 660 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment also accommodates the sign 20 and the marker lamp 641 in the case 90 as a single body. Since the marker lamp 641, which is an electrical component, is disposed inside the housing 90, water and dust are less likely to adhere to the marker lamp 641. Therefore, the vehicle logo 20 of the present embodiment can be installed not only in the vehicle interior but also outside the vehicle, such as a position where the grille 30 is installed, a position where a lamp such as a headlight or a rear combination lamp is installed, and a position where a rearview mirror is installed.
In the present embodiment, the reflection surface 21e of the light guide 21 does not need to transmit millimeter waves, and therefore can be formed of an aluminum vapor-deposited film. Further, if the light transmittances of the index 20, the mounting portion 95, and the light guide 21 positioned in front of the lens of the camera 50 are sufficiently high, the through hole 132 may not be provided. Alternatively, a resin having higher light transmittance than the surroundings may be provided in the region of the through-hole 132. This allows more light to enter the light receiving element of the camera 50.
As described above, the vehicular index units 560, 660 according to the eighth to tenth embodiments include the external sensor 50, the external sensor 50 is housed in the housing 90 at the rear of the index 20, acquires information on the periphery of the vehicle 1 via the index 20,
the external sensor 50 may be attached to the case 90 via an adjustment mechanism 70 that can adjust the posture of the external sensor 50 with respect to the case 90.
As described above, the vehicle flag units 560, 660 of the eighth to tenth embodiments have:
an external sensor 50 housed in the housing 90 behind the sign 20 and configured to acquire information on the periphery of the vehicle 1 via the sign 20;
a sensor control unit 73 that controls the operation of the external sensor 50; and
a lamp control part 45 for controlling the operation of the marker lamp 41,
the sensor cable extending from the sensor control unit 73 and the lamp cable extending from the lamp control unit 45 may extend from a common bushing 74 provided in the housing 90 to the outside of the housing 90.
As described above, in the vehicular index units 560, 660 of the eighth to tenth embodiments,
a vehicle mounting portion 93 to be mounted to the vehicle 1 may be provided in the housing 90.
< eleventh embodiment >
Further, when the lamp is turned on to notify the surroundings that the own vehicle is under automatic driving, it is desirable that the visibility is high.
Therefore, the eleventh embodiment of the invention provides a flag unit that makes it easier to know that the own vehicle is in automatic driving.
A marker system 704 according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention has the same basic configuration as that of the eighth embodiment described with reference to fig. 11. That is, the marker system 704 according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention includes:
a logo 20;
a light guide 721;
a light source 24 for injecting light into the light guide 21; and
and a light source control unit 45 for controlling the light source 24.
In the vehicle marker unit 60 of the present embodiment, the light source control unit 45 turns on the light source 24 when a signal indicating a state where the vehicle 1 is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit 3 that controls the vehicle 1.
The marker system 704 of the present embodiment is different from the marker system 504 of the eighth embodiment in the shape of the light guide body 721. Fig. 13 is a front view of the signage system 704 of the present embodiment. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a marker unit 760 of the marker system 704 according to the present embodiment. A plurality of light guides 21 are provided on the back of the sign 20.
The flag unit 760 has a flag 20, a flag lamp 741, and a millimeter wave radar 50. The marker lamp 741 has a light guide 21 and a marker light source 24. The plurality of light guides 21 are stacked in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The light guide 21 is made of a colorless and transparent resin having light transmittance and radio wave transmittance. The light guide 21 may be made of a resin such as copolymerized PC. The front surface of the light guide 21 is an emission surface 21d, and the rear surface is a reflection surface 21 e. A plurality of steps and textures are formed on a reflection surface 21e which is a rear surface of the light guide 21. As shown in fig. 4, the output portion 51 and the input portion 52 of the millimeter wave radar 50 are positioned on the inner periphery of the light guide 21 when viewed from the front of the sign 20.
As shown in fig. 13, the light guide 21 is provided in a linear shape on the outer periphery of the sign 20 when viewed from the front of the sign 20. In the illustrated example, the light guide 21 is an elliptical ring-shaped flat plate-shaped member. The outer edge of the light guide 21 coincides with the outer edge of the index 20. The inner edge of the light guide 21 is located on the inner peripheral side of the outer edge of the index 20.
The light emitted from the marker light source 24 is incident into the light guide 21 from an incident portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 21. The light entering the interior of the light guide 21 is repeatedly reflected by the inner and reflective surfaces 21e and emitted from the emission surface 21d, and is transmitted through the mounting portion 95 and the emblem 20 and emitted to the outside of the vehicle.
In the present embodiment, 6 marker light sources 24 are provided on the outer periphery of the light guide 21. The light emitted from the marker light source 24 is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 21 and emitted from the emission surface 21d to the front of the marker 20. This brightens the outer periphery of the sign 20, and the mark 28 can be displayed so as to be conspicuous.
In the present embodiment, 3 kinds of marker light sources 24 and 3 light guides 21 are provided. A light source that emits white light is referred to as a first marker light source 24, a light source that emits cyan light is referred to as a second marker light source 24, and a light source that emits violet light is referred to as a third marker light source 24. The light emitted from the first marker light source 24 enters the first light guide 21 and is emitted to the outside from the emission surface of the first light guide 21. The light emitted from the second marker light source 24 enters the second light guide 21 and is emitted to the outside from the emission surface of the second light guide 21. The light emitted from the third marker light source 24 enters the third light guide 21 and is emitted to the outside from the emission surface of the third light guide 21. The lamp control unit 45 can cause the signs 20 to emit light in different colors by appropriately controlling the turning on/off of the first to third sign light sources 24.
According to the vehicle sign unit 760 of the present embodiment, the linear light guide 21 that emits light from the sign 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the sign 20 when viewed from the front, and therefore, even when the sign 20 itself is small, the area that emits light can be made large. Further, since the light guide body 21 is linear, it is easier to make the light-emitting portion emit light brightly, compared to the case where a wide light guide body is made to emit light by the same light source. As described above, the light guide 21 can be made to appear larger and brighter, and it is easy for a pedestrian, another vehicle, or the like to recognize that the sign 20 is emitting light, and it is easier to know that the host vehicle is in automatic driving.
In the vehicle marker unit 760 according to the present embodiment, the marker light source 24 is not provided inside the annular light guide 721 provided on the outer periphery of the marker 20 when the marker 20 is viewed from the front. However, as shown in fig. 9, an auxiliary light source 448 different from the marker light source 24 may be provided inside the ring-shaped light guide 21 when viewed from the front of the marker 20.
The vehicle marker unit 760 includes an external sensor 50, the external sensor 50 being disposed behind the marker 20, and is configured to acquire information on the periphery of the vehicle through the marker 20,
when the sign 20 is viewed from the front, the front of the detection portion 52 of the external sensor 50 is not covered with the light diffusing element of the light guide 21.
In the present embodiment, the incident portion 52 corresponds to a detection portion. The detection unit is a part that receives light or electromagnetic waves from the external sensor 50. The light diffusing element may be formed of a plurality of textures and steps provided on the surface of the light guide 21, or may be formed of a light diffusing material mixed in the light guide 21.
With the above-described configuration, the light diffusing element can be provided without affecting light or electromagnetic waves incident on the detection unit 52 of the external sensor 50.
In the vehicle marker unit 760 according to the present embodiment, the marker 20 and the marker lamp 41 are integrated and housed in the case 90. Since the marker lamp 41 as an electrical component is provided inside the housing 90, water and dust are less likely to adhere to the marker lamp 41. Therefore, the vehicle sign units 760 and 860 according to the present embodiment can be installed not only in the vehicle interior but also outside the vehicle, such as a position where the grille 30 is installed, a position where a lamp such as a headlight or a rear combination lamp is installed, and a position where a rearview mirror is installed.
In the present embodiment, the elliptical ring-shaped light guide 521 is described, but the shape of the light guide 521 is not limited to this example. The light guide 521 may have a rectangular frame shape with the inside cut out. Alternatively, the light guide 521 may have a shape in which the outer edge of the marker 20 is covered. The width of the light guide 521 is preferably equal to or less than half of the minor axis of the elliptical or rectangular mark 20. This makes it possible to make the light guide 521 look brighter and clearer.
As described above, in the eleventh embodiment,
the marker light source 24 may emit cyan light, or the light guide 21 may emit cyan light.
In the eleventh embodiment, as shown in fig. 13,
the sign light source 24 may not be provided inside the light guide 21 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the sign 20 when viewed from the front of the sign 20.
As described above, in the eleventh embodiment, as shown in fig. 9,
an auxiliary light source 448 different from the marker light source 24 may be provided inside the light guide 21 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the marker 20 when viewed from the front of the marker 20.
As described above, in the eleventh embodiment, as shown in fig. 14,
the vehicle may be configured to have an external sensor 50, the external sensor 50 being provided behind the sign 20, acquiring information on the periphery of the vehicle through the sign 20,
when the sign 20 is viewed from the front, the front of the detection portion of the external sensor 50 is not covered with the light diffusing element of the light guide 21.
As described above, in the eleventh embodiment, as shown in fig. 13,
the light guide 21 may be provided to border at least a part of the outer peripheral portion of the sign 20 when viewed from the front of the sign 20.
< twelfth embodiment >
Further, a sign mounted on a vehicle is known from patent document 1 and the like. The marker described in patent document 2 is visible by emitting light through the electroluminescent wheel.
In addition, the logo itself is prepared by the vehicle manufacturer of the delivery destination. The mark may vary depending on the vehicle manufacturer, and may vary depending on the vehicle type and the time of sale even for the same vehicle manufacturer. As in patent document 1, when a sign is incorporated as an integral component together with a mechanism for emitting light from the sign, a different sign unit is required for each different sign.
Therefore, the twelfth embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle sign mounting unit that can mount any sign.
The basic configuration of a sign system 804 including a sign attachment unit 80 according to a twelfth embodiment is the same as the basic configuration of the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, except for the configuration of a sign unit 860 including a sign attachment unit 80 according to the twelfth embodiment. Therefore, the flag unit 860 is described in detail with reference to fig. 15 to 17.
Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a sign unit 860 including a sign attachment unit 80 according to the twelfth embodiment. Fig. 16 is a front view of the flag cell 860. Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a flag cell 860.
The marker attaching unit 80 according to the twelfth embodiment includes:
a mounting substrate 83 on which one or more light sources 846 and a light source control unit 845 for operating the light sources 846 are mounted;
an annular light guide 82 attached to the mounting substrate 83 and receiving light emitted from the light source 846; and
and a marker mounting portion 81 for mounting the marker 20.
As shown in fig. 15 to 17, the sign unit 860 includes the sign 20 and the sign mounting unit 80. The sign 20 is attached to the sign attaching unit 80. The sign mounting unit 80 includes a sign light source 846, a lamp control section 845 (light source control section), a mounting substrate 83, a light guide 82, a sign mounting section 81, a front case 84, and a rear case 85. In the following description, the direction in which the marker 20 is provided is referred to as the front, and the direction in which the rear case 85 is provided is referred to as the rear.
The marker 20 is a plate-like member made of transparent resin. The marker 20 is made of a resin having light transmittance and radio wave transmittance. For example, the marker 20 may be made of a resin such as copolymerized PC (polycarbonate). The name of the vehicle manufacturer, the mark 28, the name of the vehicle, and the like are displayed on the sign 20. The mark 28 may be printed or engraved on the surface of the sign 20, or a member in the shape of the mark 28 may be embedded in the sign 20. The sign 20 is exposed to the outside through an opening provided in the grill 30.
The marker 20 is attached to the marker attaching portion 81. The marker mounting portion 81 is a transparent resin member. In the present embodiment, the marker mounting portion 81 is a plate-like member having the same shape as the marker 20. The marker 20 is attached to the attachment unit such as the marker attachment portion 81 by an adhesive or a screw.
The marker light source 846 causes the marker 20 to emit light via the light guide 82. As the marker Light source 846, an led (Light Emitting diode), an oled (organic Light Emitting diode), or the like can be used.
The lamp control section 845 controls the operation of the marker light source 846. The lamp control section 845 is constituted by an electronic circuit. The marker light source 846 and the lamp control unit 845 are mounted on the surface of the mounting substrate 83. The mounting substrate 83 is a plate-shaped member. The mounting substrate 83 has the same shape as the marker mounting portion 81.
The light guide 82 is an annular and plate-shaped member. The light guide 82 is a transparent resin member. The light guide 82 is positioned on the mounting substrate 83. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 847 provided on the mounting substrate 83 are fitted into recesses (not shown) provided in the light guide 82, and the light guide 82 is positioned on the mounting substrate 83. The light guide 82 is provided between the marker 20 and the mounting substrate 83.
As shown in fig. 17, an incident portion 82a into which light from the light guide 82 is incident is provided on the rear surface of the light guide 82. The light from the marker light source 846 incident from the incident portion 82a is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 82 and emitted from the front surface of the light guide 82. The light emitted from the light guide 82 passes through the marker mounting portion 81, and brightly emits light on the outer peripheral portion of the marker 20.
The front case 84 forms an accommodation space together with the rear case 85. The sign 20, the sign mounting portion 81, the light guide 82, the sign light source 846, the lamp control portion 845, and the mounting substrate 83 are housed in the housing space. An opening 84a is provided in the front case 84, and the sign 20 is disposed at a position facing the outside from the opening 84 a.
The front housing 84 and the rear housing 85 have a locking portion 86, and can be engaged with each other through the locking portion 86. The outer peripheral edge of the opening of the front housing 84 is provided with a restraining portion 87. When the front case 84 and the rear case 85 are engaged with each other, the suppressing unit 87 presses the sign 20 rearward, and slightly compresses the sign 20 and other members disposed in the housing space, thereby suppressing the occurrence of rattling. In fig. 16, the front case 84 and the rear case 85 are omitted and depicted.
Next, the operation of the marker system 804 will be described.
If the lamp control section 845 receives a mode change signal indicating that the state of the vehicle 1 traveling in the manual driving mode and the state of the vehicle traveling in the automatic driving mode are switched from the vehicle control section 3, the lamp control section 845 changes the lighting manner of the marker light source 846. For example, if the user switches the driving mode switch, a switching signal is sent to the vehicle control portion 3. Upon receiving the switching signal, vehicle control unit 3 transmits a mode change signal to lamp control unit 845. Alternatively, if a predetermined output is input from external sensor 6, vehicle control unit 3 switches from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and a mode change signal is output from vehicle control unit 3 to lamp control unit 845.
Lamp control unit 845 changes the lighting manner of sign light source 846 in accordance with the driving mode signal acquired from vehicle control unit 3.
For example, the flag light source 846 may be turned on when traveling in the automatic driving mode, and the flag light source 846 may be turned off when traveling in the manual driving mode. Alternatively, the marker light source 846 may be blinked when traveling in the automatic driving mode, and the marker light source 846 may be continuously lit when traveling in the manual driving mode. Alternatively, 3 flag light sources 846 may be blinked when traveling in the automatic driving mode, and 6 flag light sources 846 may be continuously lit when traveling in the manual driving mode.
Further, the light emission color of the marker light source 846 when traveling in the automatic driving mode may be different from the light emission color of the marker light source 846 when traveling in the manual driving mode. For example, the first marker light source 846 emitting white light may be turned on when traveling in the manual driving mode, and the second marker light source 846 emitting cyan light may be turned on when traveling in the automatic driving mode.
According to the vehicle logo attachment unit 80 of the present embodiment, the logo unit 860 is completed by attaching the logo 20 to the logo attachment portion 81. Therefore, the marker attaching unit 80 of the present embodiment can be commonly used for various markers 20 such as different markers 20 of different vehicle manufacturers and markers 20 of different vehicle models of the same vehicle manufacturer.
The light guide 82 is a separate member from the other members. The light guide 82 is a component contributing to the design of the sign 20. When the shape of the light guide 82 is changed to change the appearance of the sign 20, it is easy to change only the shape of the light guide 82 without affecting other members.
In addition, in the marker attaching unit 80 of the present embodiment,
has housings 84, 85 covering a mounting substrate 83, a light guide 82, and a sign mounting portion 81,
the housings 84 and 85 are provided with openings 84a (window portions), and the window portions 84a allow the sign 20 attached to the sign attaching portion 81 to be seen from the outside.
Therefore, the interior components such as the marker light source 846, the lamp control section 845, and the light guide 82 are not visible from the outside, and the design of the marker 20 can be improved. The opening 84a (window portion) may be formed of an opening as described above, or may be formed of a transparent resin.
In addition, in the marker attaching unit 80 of the present embodiment,
the mounting substrate 83 is provided with a positioning portion 547 for positioning the light guide 82.
Therefore, the position of the incident portion 82a of the light guide 82 can be easily aligned with respect to the marker light source 846 mounted on the mounting substrate 83. Further, since the mounting substrate 83 and the light guide 82 can be assembled in a state where their positions are aligned, the marker mounting unit 80 can be easily manufactured.
Further, since the marker light source 846 and the lamp control unit 845, which are electric components, are provided inside the cases 84 and 85, water and dust are less likely to adhere to them, the marker unit 860 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment can be provided not only inside the vehicle interior but also outside the vehicle interior, such as a position where a grille is provided, a position where a lamp such as a headlight or a rear combination lamp is provided, or a position where a rearview mirror is provided.
In the above-described embodiment, the outer dimensions of the marker mounting portion 81 are shown to be approximately the same as the outer dimensions of the annular light guide 82 and the outer dimensions of the marker 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The outer dimension of the marker attachment portion 81 may be slightly smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the annular light guide 82, and the marker attachment portion 81 may be fitted into the inside of the annular light guide 82. According to the above configuration, since the light emitted from the light guide 82 enters the marker 20 without passing through the marker mounting portion 81, the marker 20 can be more brightly emitted. Further, the outer diameter of the marker mounting portion 81 and the outer dimension of the marker 20 may be smaller than the outer dimension of the light guide 82, and the front surface of the outer peripheral portion of the light guide 82 may be directly exposed to the outside.
In the above-described embodiment, the sign unit 860 attached to the grille 30 has been described as an example, but the above-described configuration and control may be applied to the sign unit 860 provided in the rear, right, and left portions of the vehicle, which is not attached to the grille 30. The marker system 804 according to the present invention may include all of the marker units 860 provided at the front, rear, right, and left portions of the vehicle, or at least one of them. The signage system 804 may be configured to include a grille lamp or may be configured to exclude a grille lamp.
As described above, the vehicular sign mounting unit 80 according to the twelfth embodiment,
the display device may have housings 84 and 85 for covering the mounting substrate 83, the light guide 21, and the marker mounting portion 81,
the housings 84 and 85 are provided with window portions 84a, and the window portions 84a allow the sign 20 attached to the sign attaching portion 81 to be seen from the outside.
As described above, the vehicular sign mounting unit 80 according to the twelfth embodiment,
the mounting substrate 83 may be provided with a positioning portion 47 for positioning the light guide 21.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the description of the embodiments. This embodiment is merely an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiment can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
In the present embodiment, the description has been given so that the driving mode of the vehicle includes the fully automatic driving mode, the advanced driving assistance mode, the driving assistance mode, and the manual driving mode, but the driving mode of the vehicle is not limited to these 4 modes. The driving modes of the vehicle may be appropriately changed according to the laws and regulations relating to the automated driving in each country. Similarly, the definitions of the "full automatic driving mode", the "advanced driving assistance mode", and the "driving assistance mode" described in the description of the present embodiment are merely examples, and these definitions may be appropriately changed according to the laws and regulations relating to automatic driving in various countries.
In the first to third embodiments, the respective marker systems are configured to be provided with any one of a millimeter wave radar, a camera, and a LiDAR as a sensor, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each flag system may be configured to include 2 or more types of sensors. For example, a millimeter wave radar may be provided as the marker mounting sensor 50 in a marker unit mounted on the front portion of the vehicle 1, a camera may be provided as the marker mounting sensor in a marker unit mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle 1, and LiDAR may be provided as the marker mounting sensor in marker units mounted on the right and left portions of the vehicle 1.
In the above-described embodiment, the sign unit 60 attached to the grille 30 has been described as an example, but the above-described configuration and control may be applied to the sign units 60 provided at the rear, right, and left portions of the vehicle that are not attached to the grille 30. The marking system 4 of the present invention may include all of the marking units 60 provided at the front, rear, right, and left portions of the vehicle, and may include at least one marking unit. The sign system 4 may be configured to include the grille lamp 42, or may be configured not to include the grille lamp 42.
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the mark 28 is made conspicuous by illuminating the mark light source 24 and then illuminating the periphery of the mark 28 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The light may be transmitted only in the regions corresponding to the mark 28, the emission portion 51, and the incident portion 52, and not transmitted in other regions, of the surface of the marker 20. This makes the mark 28 noticeable. In this case, the regions corresponding to the emission part 51 and the incidence part 52 are preferably not excessively large. Alternatively, the emission portion 51 and the incidence portion 52 may be configured to overlap the mark 28 when viewed from the front.
The marker lamp 41 and the grille lamp 42 controlled by the lamp control unit 45 described in the third embodiment may be controlled by the marker system described in the other embodiment. Similarly, the control method of the marker light source 24 by the lamp control unit 45 described in the fourth embodiment may be executed by the marker system described in the other embodiment. Similarly, the control method of the marker light source by the lamp control unit 45 described in the tenth embodiment may be executed by the marker system described in the other embodiment.
The present application is based on japanese patent application filed on 3/1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037636), japanese patent application filed on 3/1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037637), japanese patent application filed on 3/1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037638), japanese patent application filed on 3/1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037639), japanese patent application filed on 3/1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037640), and japanese patent application filed on 1/2019 (japanese patent application 2019-037641), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Industrial applicability
According to the present invention, a vehicle sign system is provided that makes it easier to know that the own vehicle is in automatic driving.

Claims (29)

1. A vehicular sign system, comprising:
marking;
a sensor provided on a rear surface of the sign and capable of acquiring information around the vehicle;
a lamp that illuminates the sign; and
and a lamp control unit that changes a lighting mode of the lamp when a signal indicating that a state in which the vehicle travels in a manual driving mode and a state in which the vehicle travels in an automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle.
2. The vehicular sign system according to claim 1,
the sensor is a millimeter wave radar that emits millimeter waves,
the marker has a reflection section that transmits a millimeter wave and reflects light incident from the lamp,
the reflecting portion is an indium thin film provided in a sea island shape so as to be permeable to millimeter waves.
3. The vehicular sign system according to claim 1,
the sensor is a camera and the sensor is a camera,
the marker is provided with a light transmitting portion for allowing light to enter the lens of the camera.
4. The vehicular sign system according to claim 1,
the sensor is a light detection device (LiDAR),
the marker is provided with a light transmitting portion that transmits the laser light emitted from the LiDAR and the incident laser light.
5. A vehicular sign system, comprising:
a grille provided at a front portion of a vehicle;
marking;
a grille lamp provided to the grille;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
a lamp control section for controlling the grille lamp and the marker lamp,
the lamp control unit changes the lighting mode of the marker lamp and the lighting mode of the grille lamp together according to a signal output from a vehicle control unit that controls a vehicle.
6. The vehicular sign system according to claim 5,
the lamp control unit changes the lighting mode of the marker lamp and the lighting mode of the grille lamp together when a signal indicating that the state of the vehicle running in the manual driving mode and the state of the vehicle running in the automatic driving mode are switched is acquired from the vehicle control unit.
7. The vehicular sign system according to claim 5,
the lamp control unit changes the lighting modes of the marker lamp and the grille lamp together in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit when the vehicle is driven by the vehicle control unit in the automatic driving mode.
8. A vehicular sign system, comprising:
a grille provided at a front portion of a vehicle;
marking;
a grille lamp provided to the grille;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
a lamp control section for controlling the grille lamp and the marker lamp,
the lamp control part is used for controlling the lamp,
either one of the grille lamp and the marker lamp is turned on in a manner different from that in a case where the vehicle is driven in a manual driving mode when the vehicle is driven in an automatic driving mode,
the lighting mode of any one of the grille lamp and the marker lamp is changed in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle when the vehicle is caused to travel in the automatic driving mode by the vehicle control unit.
9. A vehicular sign system, comprising:
marking; and
a lamp having a plurality of light sources provided around the sign and capable of emitting lights of different colors,
the vehicle sign system includes a lamp control unit that controls turning on/off of the plurality of light sources in accordance with a signal obtained from a vehicle control unit when the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle to run in an automatic driving mode.
10. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
a plurality of the light sources are arranged so as to surround the sign when viewed from the front of the sign,
the light sources emitting different colors are alternately arranged.
11. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
a plurality of the light sources are arranged so as to surround the sign when viewed from the front of the sign,
the light sources emitting different colors are arranged in an opposing manner.
12. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
has a light guide body into which light emitted from the light source is incident,
the light guide body has: an incident portion into which light emitted from the light source is incident; and an output part for outputting the light inputted from the input part,
the plurality of light guides are stacked in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the sign is caused to emit light in different colors by controlling on/off of the plurality of light sources.
13. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
has a light guide body into which light emitted from the light source is incident,
the light guide body has: a plurality of incident portions into which light emitted from the light source is incident; and a single output unit that outputs the light input from the input unit.
14. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
the lamp control unit switches on/off of the light source when a signal indicating that the vehicle is switched between the state in which the vehicle is driven in the manual driving mode and the state in which the vehicle is driven in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit.
15. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
the lamp control unit switches on/off of the light source in accordance with a signal for obtaining an alternating current with light from a surrounding vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like, which is obtained from the vehicle control unit when the vehicle is driven by the vehicle control unit in the automatic driving mode.
16. The vehicular sign system according to claim 9,
the lamp control unit turns on the plurality of light sources differently from a manner of turning on the plurality of light sources that are turned on when the signal indicating that the vehicle is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from the vehicle control unit, and the signal is emitted when the signal for acquiring an alternating current with surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and the like through light is acquired from the vehicle control unit.
17. A vehicular index unit comprising:
an installation part for installing the mark;
a marker lamp that causes the marker to emit light; and
and a housing that accommodates the marker lamp and supports the marker attached to the attachment portion in a state in which the marker can be visually recognized from the outside.
18. The vehicular index unit according to claim 17,
an external sensor which is housed in the housing behind the sign and acquires information on the surroundings of the vehicle via the sign,
the external sensor is attached to the housing via an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the posture of the external sensor with respect to the housing.
19. The vehicular index unit according to claim 17,
comprising:
an external sensor housed in the housing behind the sign, the external sensor acquiring information on the periphery of the vehicle through the sign;
a sensor control unit that controls an operation of the external sensor; and
a lamp control section for controlling the operation of the marker lamp,
the sensor cable extending from the sensor control unit and the lamp cable extending from the lamp control unit extend from a common bushing provided in the housing to the outside of the housing.
20. The vehicular index unit according to claim 17,
the housing is provided with a vehicle mounting portion to be mounted to a vehicle.
21. A vehicular sign system, comprising:
marking;
a light guide body that is provided in a linear shape on an outer peripheral portion of the sign when viewed from the front of the sign;
a light source that emits light to the light guide; and
a light source control unit that controls the light source,
the light source control unit turns on the light source when a signal indicating a state where the vehicle is running in the automatic driving mode is acquired from a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle.
22. The vehicular sign system according to claim 21,
the light source emits cyan light, or the light guide emits cyan light.
23. The vehicular sign system according to claim 21,
the light source is not provided inside the light guide body provided on the outer peripheral portion of the sign when viewed from the front of the sign.
24. The vehicular sign system according to claim 21,
when viewed from the front of the sign, an auxiliary light source different from the light source is provided inside the light guide body provided on the outer peripheral portion of the sign.
25. The vehicular sign system according to claim 21,
an external sensor provided behind the sign and configured to acquire information on the surroundings of the vehicle through the sign,
when viewed from the front of the sign, the front of the detection portion of the external sensor is not covered with the light diffusing element of the light guide.
26. The vehicular sign system according to claim 21,
the light guide is provided so as to border at least a part of an outer peripheral portion of the sign when viewed from the front of the sign.
27. A vehicular sign mounting unit includes:
a mounting substrate on which one or more light sources and a light source control unit for operating the light sources are mounted;
an annular light guide body that is attached to the mounting substrate and into which light emitted from the light source is incident; and
and a sign mounting portion for mounting a sign.
28. The vehicular sign mounting unit according to claim 27,
has a housing covering the mounting substrate, the light guide body, and the sign mounting portion,
a window portion is provided in the housing, and allows the sign attached to the sign attaching portion to be seen from the outside.
29. The vehicular sign mounting unit according to claim 27,
the mounting substrate is provided with a positioning portion for positioning the light guide.
CN202080017699.6A 2019-03-01 2020-02-26 Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit Pending CN113508058A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2019037637 2019-03-01
JP2019037639 2019-03-01
JP2019037641 2019-03-01
JP2019037640 2019-03-01
JP2019-037641 2019-03-01
JP2019-037638 2019-03-01
JP2019-037636 2019-03-01
JP2019037636 2019-03-01
JP2019-037640 2019-03-01
JP2019-037639 2019-03-01
JP2019-037637 2019-03-01
JP2019037638 2019-03-01
PCT/JP2020/007701 WO2020179577A1 (en) 2019-03-01 2020-02-26 Vehicle emblem system, vehicle emblem unit, and vehicle emblem attachment unit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN113508058A true CN113508058A (en) 2021-10-15

Family

ID=72338663

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202080017699.6A Pending CN113508058A (en) 2019-03-01 2020-02-26 Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
JP (1) JP7389789B2 (en)
CN (1) CN113508058A (en)
WO (1) WO2020179577A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7408525B2 (en) * 2020-09-30 2024-01-05 本田技研工業株式会社 mobile object
JP7398355B2 (en) * 2020-10-09 2023-12-14 本田技研工業株式会社 mobile object
JP7444037B2 (en) * 2020-12-08 2024-03-06 豊田合成株式会社 luminous emblem
DE102021118372A1 (en) 2021-07-15 2023-01-19 HELLA Saturnus Slovenia d.o.o. RADAR DEVICE

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001260777A (en) * 2000-03-21 2001-09-26 Denso Corp Vehicle headlight device
JP2003178602A (en) * 2001-12-10 2003-06-27 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Lighting system
JP5132656B2 (en) 2009-10-28 2013-01-30 サカエ理研工業株式会社 Lighting device for decorative member
JP5473134B2 (en) * 2010-03-23 2014-04-16 本田技研工業株式会社 Winker device for saddle-ride type vehicles
JP4790095B1 (en) * 2010-07-14 2011-10-12 株式会社ジュナック LED emblem for vehicles
JP5546010B2 (en) * 2010-12-17 2014-07-09 株式会社ファルテック emblem
WO2013022027A1 (en) * 2011-08-08 2013-02-14 布施真空株式会社 Vehicle functional component
US20180304804A1 (en) * 2015-10-27 2018-10-25 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicular illumination device, vehicle system and vehicle
JP2017224414A (en) * 2016-06-13 2017-12-21 豊田合成株式会社 Display device and manufacturing method of the same
JP2018169771A (en) * 2017-03-29 2018-11-01 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Notification control method and notification control device, automatic driving control device, vehicle, program, and notification control system using the same
JP6784240B2 (en) * 2017-07-26 2020-11-11 豊田合成株式会社 Radio wave transmission cover
JP6690612B2 (en) * 2017-08-03 2020-04-28 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Out-of-vehicle alarm device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPWO2020179577A1 (en) 2021-12-23
JP7389789B2 (en) 2023-11-30
WO2020179577A1 (en) 2020-09-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10994658B2 (en) Vehicle display system
CN113508058A (en) Vehicle sign system, vehicle sign unit, and vehicle sign mounting unit
CN108349430B (en) Lighting device for vehicle, vehicle system, and vehicle
JP6750523B2 (en) In-vehicle device
EP3369620B1 (en) Vehicle
EP2653346B1 (en) Vehicle safety illumination arrangement and method
US20030227546A1 (en) Viewing arrangement
US7817022B2 (en) Vision enhancement device for use in vehicle
CN110121444B (en) Lighting device
KR20200057865A (en) Apparatus and method for transmitting driving information of vehicle
EP3858672A1 (en) Vehicle departure notification display device
JP2011238171A (en) Vehicle driving support device
US20200055446A1 (en) Rear wheel position indicator
US8721145B2 (en) Light device for a motor vehicle
US20240109478A1 (en) Vehicle state-based light projection communication system
US6603395B2 (en) No turn warning apparatus for a motor vehicle and method of projecting a no turn warning toward an oncoming motor vehicle
JP7264005B2 (en) Vehicle behavior notification device
US20240051460A1 (en) Display apparatus for vehicle
WO2023199897A1 (en) Information presentation device
CN111247034B (en) Lamp system for vehicle
JP2023158788A (en) Information presentation device
CN115681873A (en) Vehicle drawing device
JP2018069999A (en) Display device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination