CN115243930A - Light distribution control device, vehicle lamp system, and light distribution control method - Google Patents
Light distribution control device, vehicle lamp system, and light distribution control method Download PDFInfo
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- CN115243930A CN115243930A CN202180018221.XA CN202180018221A CN115243930A CN 115243930 A CN115243930 A CN 115243930A CN 202180018221 A CN202180018221 A CN 202180018221A CN 115243930 A CN115243930 A CN 115243930A
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- 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
- B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
- B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
- B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
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Abstract
The invention provides a light distribution control device, a vehicle lamp system and a light distribution control method, which can realize reduction of glare caused by a light reflector and reduction and inhibition of reduction of visibility of the light reflector. A light distribution control device (4) is provided with: a calculation unit (14) that calculates the size of a light reflector present in a region in front of the vehicle, as viewed from the vehicle; and a lamp control unit (16) for controlling the vehicle lamp (2) so that a first light reflector having a first size and being visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a first illuminance, and a second light reflector having a second size and being visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
Description
Technical Field
The invention relates to a light distribution control device, a vehicle lamp system, and a light distribution control method.
Background
In recent years, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) control has been disclosed, which adaptively controls a light distribution pattern in a fluctuating manner according to the state of the surroundings of a vehicle. The ADB control detects the presence or absence of an extinction object, which is located in front of the vehicle and is to avoid high-brightness light irradiation, with a camera, and extinguishes or turns off a region corresponding to the extinction object (see, for example, patent literature 1).
Documents of the prior art
Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-088224
The matte target includes a preceding vehicle such as a preceding vehicle and an opposing vehicle. By performing extinction or lighting-off of the region corresponding to the preceding vehicle, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle can be reduced. Examples of the light-extinction object include light reflectors having high reflectance such as road signs, sight line inducers (delinterators), and signs. By making the region corresponding to such a light reflector dull, glare given to the driver of the vehicle by the light reflected by the light reflector can be reduced.
In particular, in recent years, the brightness of vehicle lamps has been increasing, and the intensity of light reflected by a light reflector tends to be increased. Therefore, countermeasures against flare due to light reflectors are urgently required. Further, not only in the ADB control, but also in the formation of a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern with a fixed light distribution, a measure against glare due to a light reflector is required.
On the other hand, since the light-reflecting object is not a self-luminous body, if the region corresponding to the light-reflecting object is extinguished, visibility of the light-reflecting object by the driver is degraded. Therefore, when light is emitted forward of the vehicle, both reduction of glare caused by the light-reflecting object and reduction of visibility of the light-reflecting object are required.
Disclosure of Invention
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can reduce both glare caused by a light reflector and reduce visibility of the light reflector.
In order to solve the above problem, one embodiment of the present invention is a light distribution control device that controls light irradiation from a vehicle lamp. The device comprises: a calculation unit that calculates a size of a light reflecting object existing in a front area of the host vehicle, the size being visually recognized from the host vehicle; and a lamp control unit that controls the vehicle lamp so that a first light reflector having a first size visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a first illuminance, and a second light reflector having a second size visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle lamp system. The system includes a vehicle lamp that irradiates light to a region in front of the vehicle, and a light distribution control device of the above-described type.
Another aspect of the present invention is a light distribution control method of controlling light irradiation from a vehicle lamp. The method comprises the following steps: calculating the size of a light reflector existing in a front area of the vehicle and visually recognized from the vehicle; the vehicle lighting device is controlled so that a first light-reflecting object having a first size and being viewed from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a first illuminance, and a second light-reflecting object having a second size and being viewed from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
In addition, any combination of the above-described constituent elements, and conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present invention.
According to the present invention, both reduction of glare caused by a light reflector and reduction of visibility of the light reflector can be suppressed.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp system of an embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the light distribution pattern determined by the light distribution control device.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the light distribution pattern determined by the light distribution control device.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of light distribution control performed by the light distribution control device.
Detailed Description
The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings based on the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are not intended to limit the invention but to exemplify the invention, and all the features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential features of the invention. The same or equivalent components, members and processes shown in the respective drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. For convenience of explanation, the scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are appropriately set, and are not to be construed as limiting unless otherwise specified. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the terms "first", "second", and the like used in the present specification and claims do not denote any order or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one structure from another. In the drawings, parts of the members that are not important to explain the embodiments are not shown.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle lamp system of an embodiment. In fig. 1, a part of the components of the vehicle lamp system 1 is shown as functional blocks. The functional blocks described above are realized by hardware components and circuits such as a CPU and a memory of a computer, and the software components are realized by a computer program or the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functional blocks described above can be implemented in various ways by a combination of hardware and software.
The vehicle lamp system 1 includes a vehicle lamp 2, a light distribution control device 4, an imaging device 6, a distance measuring sensor 8, a position information acquiring unit 10, and a storage unit 12. These may all be built into the same housing, or several components may be provided outside the housing. For example, the vehicle lamp 2, the light distribution control device 4, the imaging device 6, and the distance measuring sensor 8 are housed in a lamp room. A lamp chamber is defined by a lamp body having an opening portion on the vehicle front side and a translucent cover attached so as to cover the opening portion of the lamp body. The position information acquisition unit 10 and the storage unit 12 are housed in the vehicle body. The light distribution control device 4, the imaging device 6, the distance measuring sensor 8, the position information acquiring unit 10, and the storage unit 12 may be housed in a lamp house or a vehicle body, respectively.
The vehicle lamp 2 irradiates a front area of the vehicle with visible light. The vehicle lamp 2 according to the present embodiment can individually change the illuminance of light irradiated to the plurality of individual regions R arranged in the front region. That is, the vehicle lamp 2 of the present embodiment is a light distribution variable lamp that can irradiate the visible light beam L1, whose intensity distribution is variable, to the front region. The plurality of individual regions R are arranged in a matrix, for example. The vehicle lamp 2 receives data on the light distribution pattern PTN from the light distribution control device 4, and emits the visible light beam L1 having an intensity distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN. In this way, the light distribution pattern PTN is formed ahead of the host vehicle. The light distribution pattern PTN can be regarded as a 2-dimensional illuminance distribution of the irradiation pattern 902 formed on the virtual vertical screen 900 in front of the vehicle by the vehicle lamp 2.
The configuration of the vehicle lamp 2 is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, a plurality of light sources arranged in a matrix and a lighting circuit for driving each light source independently to light the light sources. Preferable examples of the light source include semiconductor light sources such as an LED (light emitting diode), an LD (laser diode), and an organic or inorganic EL (electroluminescence). Each individual region R corresponds to each light source, and each individual region R is irradiated with light from each light source. In order to form an illuminance distribution corresponding to the light distribution pattern PTN, the vehicle lamp 2 includes a matrix-type pattern forming Device such as a DMD (Digital Mirror Device) and a liquid crystal Device, a scanning optical-type pattern forming Device that scans the front of the vehicle with light from a light source, and the like.
The light distribution control device 4 controls light irradiation of the vehicle lamp 2, and performs ADB control for variably and adaptively controlling the light distribution pattern PTN. The light distribution control device 4 may be configured by a digital processor, for example, by a combination of a microcomputer including a CPU and a software program, or may be configured by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application specific IC). The operation of the light distribution control device 4 will be described in detail later.
The imaging device 6 has sensitivity in the visible light region and images the region in front of the vehicle. The imaging device 6 images reflected light L2 of the visible light beam L1 caused by an object in front of the vehicle. The image IMG acquired by the imaging device 6 is sent to the light distribution control device 4.
The distance measuring sensor 8 directs the measurement direction to the area ahead of the vehicle, and acquires target information TGT of the area ahead. The distance measuring sensor 8 may be formed of, for example, a millimeter wave radar or a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging or Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging). The distance measuring sensor 8 may acquire the presence of a target associated with the reflected wave or the reflected light, the distance to the target, the shape of the target, and the like, from the timing of transmitting the millimeter wave or the light to the front region of the host vehicle to the time of detecting the reflected wave or the reflected light. Further, by associating and accumulating such distance data with the detected position of the object, it is possible to acquire dynamic information of the object. The distance measuring sensor 8 transmits the target information TGT to the light distribution control device 4.
The positional information acquisition unit 10 acquires the positional information LCT of the vehicle using, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System). The position information acquisition unit 10 transmits the acquired position information LCT to the light distribution control device 4. The storage unit 12 stores MAP information MAP such as a dynamic MAP. The storage unit 12 transmits the held MAP information MAP to the light distribution control device 4. The position information acquiring unit 10 and the storage unit 12 constitute, for example, a part of a car navigation system.
The operation of the light distribution control device 4 will be described below. The light distribution control device 4 includes a calculation unit 14 and a lamp control unit 16. Each unit operates by executing a program stored in a memory by an integrated circuit constituting the unit.
The calculation unit 14 calculates the size of the light reflection object 18 existing in the front area of the vehicle, which is viewed from the vehicle. The light reflector 18 is at least 1 selected from the group consisting of a road sign, a sight line guide, and a signboard. Alternatively, the light reflector 18 is an object having a recursive reflecting surface at least in a portion that is viewed from the host vehicle.
For example, the calculation unit 14 may calculate the size of the light reflector 18 from the number of pixels overlapping the light reflector 18 in the image IMG obtained from the imaging device 6. In this case, first, the calculation unit 14 performs predetermined image processing on the image IMG to detect the light-reflecting object 18. The calculation unit 14 may detect the light reflector 18 by a known method including algorithm recognition, deep learning, and the like. For example, the calculation unit 14 may hold the characteristic points representing the light reflector 18 in advance, and recognize the presence and position of the light reflector 18 when the characteristic points representing the light reflector 18 exist in the estimated presence region of the light reflector 18 in the image IMG.
Alternatively, the calculation unit 14 may detect the light reflector 18 based on a change in brightness in the image IMG when the irradiation and non-irradiation of the light of the vehicle lamp 2 are switched. That is, since the light reflector 18 is not a self-luminous body, the luminance greatly changes depending on the presence or absence of light irradiation from the vehicle lamp 2. Here, the light distribution control device 4 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to switch between irradiation and non-irradiation of light to each individual region R. The switching is preferably performed at a speed at which the driver cannot visually recognize the switching, and is periodically repeated at predetermined intervals. The calculation unit 14 may detect the light reflector 18 based on a change in the luminance value of each pixel in the image IMG at this time.
After detecting the light reflector 18, the calculation unit 14 calculates the size of the light reflector 18 based on the number of pixels overlapping the light reflector 18. The calculation unit 14 of the present embodiment calculates the solid angle of the light reflector 18 as the size of the light reflector 18. For example, the calculation unit 14 holds a conversion table in which the number of pixels and the solid angle correspondence are associated with each other in advance, and can obtain the solid angle of the light reflector 18 by using the conversion table. The calculation unit 14 may use the number of pixels overlapping with the light reflector 18 as information representing the size of the light reflector 18.
The calculation unit 14 may calculate the size of the light reflector 18 from the distance from the vehicle to the light reflector 18 and the actual size of the light reflector 18. For example, the calculation unit 14 can grasp the presence and distance of the light reflector 18 from the target information TGT. Alternatively, the calculation unit 14 may grasp the presence and position of the light reflector 18 from the MAP information MAP. Then, the distance to the light reflector 18 can be calculated from the detection result and the position information LCT of the host vehicle.
In addition, in the case where the light reflector 18 is a road sign or a sight line induction sign, the actual size of the light reflector 18 is determined by regulations. Therefore, the calculation unit 14 can hold information about the size of the light reflector 18 in advance. The calculation unit 14 may determine the type of the light reflector 18 and the actual size of the light reflector 18 from the image IMG, the target information TGT, the MAP information MAP, and the like. When the light reflector 18 is a signboard, the calculation unit 14 may determine the actual size of the light reflector 18 from, for example, the MAP information MAP. The calculation unit 14 transmits information representing the size of the light reflector 18 to the lighting fixture control unit 16.
When the light reflector 18 viewed from the vehicle is the first light reflector 18a having the first size, the lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so that the first light reflector 18a is irradiated with light of the first illuminance. Further, when the light reflector 18 visually recognized from the vehicle is the second light reflector 18b having the second size larger than the first size, the lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to irradiate the second light reflector 18b with light of the second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
The vehicle lamp 2 according to the present embodiment can independently change the illuminance of the light irradiated to the plurality of individual regions R as described above. Therefore, the lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to irradiate the individual region R overlapping with the first light reflector 18a with light of the first illuminance and irradiate the individual region R overlapping with the second light reflector 18b with light of the second illuminance. That is, in the case where the first light reflector 18a and the second light reflector 18b are mixedly present, the irradiation of the first light reflector 18a with light of the first illuminance and the irradiation of the second light reflector 18b with light of the second illuminance may be simultaneously performed.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the light distribution pattern PTN determined by the light distribution control device 4. Fig. 2 illustrates a light distribution pattern PTN in control for independently changing the illuminance of light emitted to each of a plurality of individual area groups Ra arranged in front of the vehicle. Each individual region group Ra is a set of a plurality of individual regions R. The number and arrangement of the individual region groups Ra are not limited. Note that, instead of changing the illuminance for each individual region group Ra, the illuminance may be changed for each individual region R.
In the example of fig. 2, the lamp control unit 16 holds a threshold value of the size of the light reflector 18. The threshold is between the first size and the second size. The first size, the second size, and the threshold value can be set appropriately according to experiments and simulations by a designer.
The lighting device control unit 16 does not perform light extinction with respect to the first light reflector 18a smaller than the threshold value. Therefore, the lamp control unit 16 determines the light distribution pattern PTN so that the first individual area group Ra1 overlapping the first light reflector 18a is irradiated with light having the same illuminance (first illuminance) as the third individual area group Ra3 not including the light reflector 18. The first illuminance in this case is, for example, the maximum value of the illuminance range that can be irradiated by the vehicle lamp 2.
On the other hand, the lamp control unit 16 quenches the second light reflector 18b with respect to the threshold value or more. Therefore, the lamp control unit 16 determines the light distribution pattern PTN so as to irradiate the second individual area group Ra2 overlapping the second light reflector 18b with light having the second illuminance lower than the first illuminance. That is, the lamp control unit 16 switches between execution and non-execution of the extinction control on the light reflector 18 according to the size of the light reflector 18 viewed from the vehicle.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the light distribution pattern PTN determined by the light distribution control device 4. Fig. 3 also shows a light distribution pattern PTN in control for independently changing the illuminance of light irradiated to each of the plurality of individual region groups Ra, as in fig. 2. In the example of fig. 3, the lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so that the illuminance of the light irradiated to the light reflector 18 decreases stepwise or continuously as the size of the light reflector 18 viewed from the vehicle increases in the extinction control for the light reflector 18. That is, as the size of the external appearance of the light reflector 18 becomes larger, the extinction ratio of the light irradiated to the light reflector 18 is increased.
In the state shown in fig. 3, the 2 second light reflectors 18b to be extinguished are visually recognized from the own vehicle. One of the second light reflectors 18b is located to the left of the other second light reflector 18b and is visually smaller than the other second light reflector 18b. The second light reflector 18b is located on the right side of the first light reflector 18b and appears larger than the first light reflector 18b.
In this case, the lamp control unit 16 determines the light distribution pattern PTN such that the illuminance of light irradiated to the second individual area group Ra2 overlapping with the second light reflector 18b that appears large is lower than the illuminance of light irradiated to the second individual area group Ra2 overlapping with the second light reflector 18b that appears small. The light distribution pattern PTN is determined so that the first individual area group Ra1 overlapping the first light reflector 18a is irradiated with light having the same illuminance (first illuminance) as the third individual area group Ra3 not including the light reflector 18.
In fig. 2 and 3, the illuminance (first illuminance) of light irradiated to the first light reflector 18a having a magnitude less than the threshold value is set to the same value as the illuminance of light irradiated to the third individual area group Ra3 not including the light reflector 18, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first illuminance may be lower than the illuminance of the light irradiated to the third individual area group Ra 3.
That is, the lamp control unit 16 determines all the light reflectors 18 as extinction targets, and makes the extinction ratio of the light irradiated to the second light reflector 18b having the threshold value or more higher than the extinction ratio of the light irradiated to the first light reflector 18a having the threshold value less than the threshold value. Alternatively, the lamp control unit 16 determines all the light reflectors 18 as the extinction target, and increases the extinction ratio of the light irradiated to the light reflectors 18 in stages or continuously as the size of the appearance increases. In this case, one of the two light reflectors 18 having different sizes among all the light reflectors 18 is the first light reflector 18a, and the other is the second light reflector 18b. Further, the holding of the threshold value may be omitted.
Further, the light distribution of the vehicle lamp 2, such as the low beam light distribution pattern and the high beam light distribution pattern, forms a fixed light distribution pattern. In this case, if the second light reflector 18b is visually recognized in front of the own vehicle, the overall illuminance is uniformly reduced. For example, when the light reflector 18 viewed from the vehicle is only the first light reflector 18a, the lamp control unit 16 determines the light distribution pattern PTN having the first illuminance as a whole. When the second light reflector 18b is included in the light reflectors 18 viewed from the vehicle, the lamp control unit 16 determines the light distribution pattern PTN having the second illuminance as a whole.
Under the control, when the first light reflector 18a and the second light reflector 18b are present in a mixed state, light of the second illuminance is also irradiated to the first light reflector 18 a. However, the control of the irradiation of the first light reflector 18a with light of the first illuminance and the control of the irradiation of the second light reflector 18b with light of the second illuminance are performed at least temporarily.
The lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to transmit data about the determined light distribution pattern PTN to the vehicle lamp 2 to form the light distribution pattern PTN. For example, when the light source dimming method is analog dimming, the lighting control unit 16 adjusts the dc level of the drive current flowing to the light source. When the light source is dimmed by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), the lamp control unit 16 adjusts the average level of the drive current by changing (Switching) the current flowing through the light source to adjust the ratio of the on period. Further, when the vehicle lamp 2 includes a DMD, the lamp control unit 16 can control on/off switching of each mirror element constituting the DMD. When the vehicle lamp 2 has a liquid crystal device, the lamp control unit 16 controls the light transmittance of the liquid crystal device.
The calculation section 14 may detect the preceding vehicle from the image IMG or the like. When a vehicle ahead is detected, the lamp control unit 16 determines the illuminance of light to be irradiated to the individual region R overlapping with the vehicle ahead, for example, to 0, and determines the light distribution pattern PTN including the light shielding portion. In this way, glare to the driver of the preceding vehicle can be suppressed.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of light distribution control performed by the light distribution control device 4. The above-described flow is, for example, instructed to execute light distribution control by a lamp switch, not shown, and is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing when ignition is turned on. In the light distribution control described below, the size of the light reflector 18 is calculated from the image IMG as an example.
First, the light distribution control device 4 acquires an image IMG (S101). Next, the light distribution control device 4 determines whether or not there is a vehicle ahead from the image IMG (S102). When there is a preceding vehicle (yes in S102), the light distribution control device 4 determines the light blocking portion (S103). Next, the light distribution control device 4 determines whether or not the light reflector 18 is present from the image IMG (S104). If there is no preceding vehicle (no in S102), the routine proceeds to step S104 without determining the light shielding portion.
When the light reflector 18 is present (yes in S104), the light distribution control device 4 calculates the size of the light reflector 18 from the image IMG (S105). Then, the light distribution control device 4 determines the illuminance of the light irradiated to the light reflector 18 (S106). Next, the light distribution control device 4 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to form the determined light distribution pattern PTN (S107), and ends the present flow. If there is no light reflector 18 (no in S104), the process proceeds to step S107 without calculating the size of the light reflector 18 or determining the illuminance of the light to be irradiated to the light reflector 18. In the light distribution pattern PTN formed in step S107, the illuminance of light irradiated to the individual region R that does not overlap with the vehicle ahead and the light reflector 18 is set to a maximum value, for example.
As described above, the vehicle lamp system 1 of the present embodiment includes: a vehicle lamp 2 that irradiates light to a front area of the vehicle; and a light distribution control device 4 for controlling light irradiation from the vehicle lamp 2. The light distribution control device 4 includes: a calculation unit 14 that calculates the size of the light reflecting object 18 present in the area in front of the vehicle as viewed from the vehicle; and a lamp control unit 16 for controlling the vehicle lamp 2 so that the first light reflector 18a having a first size and visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a first illuminance, and the second light reflector 18b having a second size and visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light of a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
When the headlight of the vehicle irradiates the light reflector 18 with light, the driver feels dazzling by the light reflected from the light reflector 18. On the other hand, if the light irradiation to the light reflector 18 is weakened, the visibility of the light reflector by the driver is lowered. In contrast, the present inventors have focused on the visual characteristics that human beings have a glare source that is more likely to perceive glare as the angle of view is larger, and have found light distribution control in which light of a first illuminance is irradiated to the first light reflector 18a that appears to be small, and light of a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance is irradiated to the second light reflector 18b that appears to be large.
That is, by irradiating the second light reflector 18b, which is likely to cause glare, with low-illuminance light, glare caused by the second light reflector 18b can be reduced, and by avoiding irradiation of the first light reflector 18a, which is less likely to cause glare, with low-illuminance light, reduction in visibility of the first light reflector 18a by the driver can be suppressed. In other words, by applying high illuminance light to the first light reflector 18a, which is less likely to cause glare, it is possible to reduce glare caused by the second light reflector 18b by avoiding the application of high illuminance light to the second light reflector 18b, which is more likely to cause glare, while ensuring visibility of the first light reflector 18a to the driver. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, both reduction of glare caused by the light reflector 18 and reduction of visibility of the light reflector 18 can be achieved. As a result, the visibility of the driver to the front area can be improved.
In addition, the vehicle lamp 2 according to the present embodiment can individually change the illuminance of light irradiated to the plurality of individual regions R arranged in the forward region. The lamp control unit 16 controls the vehicle lamp 2 so that light of the first illuminance is applied to the individual region R overlapping the first light reflector 18a and light of the second illuminance is applied to the individual region R overlapping the second light reflector 18b. This can further improve the visibility of the driver to the front area.
The lamp control unit 16 of the present embodiment controls the vehicle lamp 2 so as to decrease the illuminance of the light irradiated to the light reflector 18 in stages or continuously as the size of the light reflector 18 viewed from the vehicle becomes larger. This can further improve the visibility of the driver to the front area.
The calculation unit 14 of the present embodiment calculates the size of the light reflector 18 based on the number of pixels overlapping the light reflector 18 in the image IMG obtained from the imaging device 6 for capturing the front area. Alternatively, the calculation unit 14 of the present embodiment calculates the size of the light reflector 18 based on the distance from the vehicle to the light reflector 18 and the actual size of the light reflector 18. In this way, the size of the light reflector 18 can be calculated using existing systems onboard the vehicle.
The embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above. The foregoing embodiments are merely representative of specific examples for practicing the invention. The contents of the embodiments are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention, and various design changes such as changes, additions, deletions, and the like of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the idea of the present invention defined by the claims. A new embodiment to which a design change is applied combines the respective effects of the combined embodiment and the modification. In the above-described embodiments, the contents of the design change that can be made are highlighted by adding descriptions such as "in the present embodiment", and the like, but the contents that are not described above allow the design change. Any combination of the above-described components is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. The shadow marked on the cross section of the drawing is not limited to the material of the object marked with the shadow.
The following modes may also be included in the present invention.
A light distribution control method for controlling light irradiation from a vehicle lamp (2),
the size of a light reflector (18) existing in the front area of the vehicle and visually recognized from the vehicle is calculated,
the vehicle lighting device (2) is controlled so that a first light reflector (18 a) having a first size and visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a first illuminance, and a second light reflector (18 b) having a second size and visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
This application claims priority based on japanese patent application No. 2020-088342, filed on 20.05.2020 to this franchise, and the entire content of said japanese patent application No. 2020-088342 is hereby incorporated by reference.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made in light of the above teachings.
Description of the reference numerals
The vehicle lighting system comprises a vehicle lighting system 1, a vehicle lighting 2, a light distribution control device 4, an image pick-up device 6, a distance measuring sensor 8, a position information acquisition part 10, a storage part 12, a calculation part 14, a lighting control part 16, a light reflector 18, a first light reflector 18a and a second light reflector 18b.
Claims (8)
1. A light distribution control device that controls light irradiation from a vehicle lamp, characterized by comprising:
a calculation unit that calculates a size of a light reflecting object existing in a front area of the host vehicle, the size being visually recognized from the host vehicle; and
and a lamp control unit that controls the vehicle lamp so that a first light reflector having a first size and being visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a first illuminance, and a second light reflector having a second size and being visually recognized from the vehicle is irradiated with light having a second illuminance lower than the first illuminance.
2. The light distribution control device according to claim 1,
the lighting device for vehicle can individually change the illuminance of light irradiated to a plurality of individual areas arranged in the front area,
the lamp control unit controls the vehicle lamp to irradiate the individual region overlapping the first light reflector with light of the first illuminance and to irradiate the individual region overlapping the second light reflector with light of the second illuminance.
3. The light distribution control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lamp control unit controls the vehicle lamp so as to decrease illuminance of light irradiated to the light reflector in a stepwise or continuous manner as a size of the light reflector viewed from the vehicle increases.
4. The light distribution control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the calculation unit calculates the size of the light reflection object based on the number of pixels overlapping with the light reflection object in an image obtained from an imaging device that images the forward region.
5. The light distribution control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the calculation unit calculates the size of the light reflection object based on a distance from a host vehicle to the light reflection object and an actual size of the light reflection object.
6. The light distribution control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the calculation section calculates a solid angle of the light reflection object.
7. A lamp system for a vehicle, characterized by comprising:
a vehicle lamp for irradiating light to a front area of the vehicle; and
the light distribution control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A light distribution control method that controls light irradiation from a vehicle lamp, characterized in that,
calculating the size of a light reflecting object existing in the front area of the vehicle and viewed from the vehicle,
the vehicle lighting device is controlled to irradiate a first light reflector having a first size, which is visually recognized from the vehicle, with light having a first illuminance, and to irradiate a second light reflector having a second size, which is visually recognized from the vehicle, with light having a second illuminance, which is lower than the first illuminance.
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| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020088342A JP7438022B2 (en) | 2020-05-20 | 2020-05-20 | Light distribution control device, vehicle lighting system, and light distribution control method |
| JP2020-088342 | 2020-05-20 | ||
| PCT/JP2021/018430 WO2021235353A1 (en) | 2020-05-20 | 2021-05-14 | Light distribution control device, vehicular lamp system, and light distribution control method |
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| CN115243930A true CN115243930A (en) | 2022-10-25 |
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| JP (2) | JP7438022B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN115243930A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2021235353A1 (en) |
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| WO2023234388A1 (en) * | 2022-06-02 | 2023-12-07 | 株式会社小糸製作所 | Light distribution control device, vehicle lighting tool system, and light distribution control method |
| WO2024069676A1 (en) * | 2022-09-26 | 2024-04-04 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Headlight control device and headlight control method |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| JP5394901B2 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2014-01-22 | 株式会社小糸製作所 | Vehicle headlight system |
| JP2012196999A (en) | 2011-03-18 | 2012-10-18 | Toyota Motor Corp | Vehicle lighting device and method |
| JP6988181B2 (en) | 2017-06-15 | 2022-01-05 | 市光工業株式会社 | Vehicle lighting |
| JP6932610B2 (en) | 2017-10-19 | 2021-09-08 | 株式会社小糸製作所 | Vehicle lighting system, vehicle lighting control device, and vehicle lighting control method |
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| WO2021235353A1 (en) | 2021-11-25 |
| JP7438022B2 (en) | 2024-02-26 |
| JP2024045508A (en) | 2024-04-02 |
| JP2021181292A (en) | 2021-11-25 |
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