JP6924615B2 - Optical axis control system and optical axis control method for headlights, as well as vehicle and optical axis control programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical axis control system and an optical axis control method for headlights, as well as a vehicle and an optical axis control program.

Conventionally, mass-produced vehicles have been equipped with an optical axis adjustment (auto-leveling) function that variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlight toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The optical axis adjustment in the vertical direction of the vehicle includes (1) optical axis adjustment within a range that does not give glare to the vehicle in front of the slope of the road on which the vehicle travels, and (2) the driver in that range. There is an optical axis adjustment to ensure maximum visibility ahead.

Among them, in particular, the optical axis control method called dynamic control realizes a function of detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction in real time and adjusting the optical axis of the headlight in the direction of (1) or (2). There is.

On the other hand, in this dynamic control, after detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, the optical axis of the light emitted from the headlight toward the front of the vehicle is adjusted, so that the optical axis changes with the change in the attitude of the vehicle. Can be eliminated to some extent.

However, in the conventional optical axis control method, there may be a difference between the area that the driver actually wants to see and the area that is irradiated with light with respect to the change in the slope of the road. For example, when a vehicle enters an uphill or downhill from a flat ground, the driver has a psychology of wanting to check the uphill or downhill before entering the uphill or downhill. The vehicle is in a situation of irradiating light toward the flat ground until it enters an uphill or downhill.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a method has been proposed in which information indicating a change in the slope of the road is obtained and the optical axis is adjusted before the change in the slope of the road based on the information (based on the information). For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below.) Further, a method of appropriately detecting a change in the slope of a road while capturing an image of the front of the vehicle with a camera has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4 below).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-151046 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-43640 JP-A-2015-44426 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-205546

However, in the optical axis control by the above-mentioned conventional method, the optical axis is adjusted according to the time when the slope change of the road is completed. For this reason, it is difficult to eliminate the difference that occurs between the area that the driver actually wants to see and the area that is irradiated with light with respect to the above-mentioned change in the slope of the road.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such conventional circumstances, and the optical axis control of the headlight that makes it possible to appropriately adjust the optical axis in response to a change in the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and an optical axis control method, as well as a vehicle and an optical axis control program.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
[1] An optical axis control system for headlights that variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlights toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
An information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a slope of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
It is provided with an optical axis adjusting unit that adjusts the optical axis based on the position information and the gradient information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
The optical axis adjusting unit starts the optical axis movement in the direction in which the slope of the road changes from before the position where the slope change of the road starts, and starts before the position where the slope change of the road ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the slope of the road changes, the optical axis is adjusted according to the position where the slope change of the road ends, and the optical axis is adjusted.
If there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. Optical axis control system for headlights.
[2] The optical axis adjusting unit includes position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and gradient information indicating a gradient between a position at which the gradient change of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle starts and a position at which the gradient change ends. The optical axis control system for a headlight according to the above [1], wherein the amount of movement of the optical axis is calculated based on the above.
[3] A gradient detection unit for detecting the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels is provided.
The headlight according to the above [1] or [2], wherein the optical axis adjusting unit corrects a movement amount of the optical axis based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detecting unit. Optical axis control system.
[4] A vehicle inclination detection unit for detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction is provided.
Any one of the above [1] to [3], wherein the optical axis adjusting unit corrects the movement amount of the optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detecting unit. Optical axis control system for headlights as described in.
[5] A vehicle provided with the optical axis control system for the headlight according to any one of the above [1] to [4].
[6] A method for controlling the optical axis of a headlight, which variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlight toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
An information acquisition step for acquiring position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a slope of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
The optical axis adjusting step for adjusting the optical axis based on the position information and the gradient information acquired in the information acquisition step is included.
In the optical axis adjustment step, the optical axis movement in the direction in which the slope change of the road is started from before the position where the slope change of the road is started, and the optical axis movement is started from before the position where the slope change of the road ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the slope of the road changes, the optical axis is adjusted according to the position where the slope change of the road ends, and the optical axis is adjusted.
If there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. How to control the optical axis of the headlight.
[7] In the optical axis adjustment step, position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and gradient information indicating the gradient between the position where the gradient change of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle starts and the position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control method for a headlight according to the above [6], wherein the amount of movement of the optical axis is calculated based on the above.
[8] In the optical axis adjustment step, while detecting the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels by the gradient detection unit, the movement amount of the optical axis is corrected based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit. The optical axis control method for a headlight according to the above [6] or [7].
[9] In the optical axis adjustment step, the vehicle tilt detection unit detects the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, and the movement amount of the optical axis is corrected based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit. The optical axis control method for a headlight according to any one of the above [6] to [8].
[10] An optical axis control program for executing the optical axis control method for the headlight according to any one of the above [6] to [9].

As described above, according to the present invention, the optical axis control system and the optical axis control method of the headlight, which makes it possible to appropriately adjust the optical axis with respect to the change in the slope of the road on which the vehicle travels, and the vehicle. , It is possible to provide an optical axis control program.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the optical axis control system provided in the vehicle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical axis control system provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the optical axis control method executed in the optical axis control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment by the optical axis control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment in the section where the gradient changes from the flat ground to the up gradient shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment in the section where the gradient changes from the ascending gradient to the flat ground shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the optical axis adjustment at the time of continuous gradient change. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the optical axis control method executed when the gradient change shown in FIG. 7 is continuous.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, as an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the optical axis control system 10 included in the vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the optical axis control system 10 included in the vehicle 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical axis control system 10 included in the vehicle 1.

In the optical axis control system 10 included in the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlight 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1 is the optical axis X of the vehicle 1. It is variably controlled in the vertical direction.

Specifically, the optical axis control system 10 acquires information acquisition of position information S1 indicating a position on a road R on which the vehicle 1 travels and gradient information S2 indicating a gradient of the road R in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. A unit 20 and an optical axis adjusting unit 30 that adjusts the optical axis X based on the position information S1 and the gradient information S2 acquired by the information acquisition unit 20 are provided.

The information acquisition unit 20 receives (acquires), for example, position information S1 indicating the current position of the vehicle 1 by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Further, by collating the gradient information database such as 3D map data recorded in the car navigation system and the gradient information database published on the Internet with the current position of the vehicle 1, the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 The slope information S2 of the road R in the above is acquired. Further, it is also possible to acquire the above-mentioned position information S1 and gradient information S2 by inter-vehicle communication with the preceding vehicle.

The optical axis adjusting unit 30 has an optical axis adjusting mechanism 31 provided in the headlight 2 and a control unit 32 that controls the drive of the optical axis adjusting mechanism 31. Further, the information acquisition unit 20 supplies the above-mentioned position information S1 and gradient information S2 to the control unit 32 by being electrically connected to the control unit 32.

The optical axis adjusting mechanism 31 adjusts the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlight 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1. As the optical axis adjusting mechanism 31, for example, an actuator such as a motor moves the optical axis X of the light L in the vertical direction, or the optical axis X of the light L is moved up and down by switching the lighting of a plurality of light emitting elements. A device that moves in the direction, a device that moves the optical axis X of the light L in the vertical direction by using a variable mirror such as a DMD (Digital Mirror Device) can be used.

The light source of the headlight 2 is not particularly limited, and for example, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD), a halogen lamp, or an HID (Halogen lamp) High-Intensity Discharge) lamps, projector lamps, etc. can be used.

The control unit 32 is, for example, a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The control unit 32 expands the control program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes it, and controls the drive of the optical axis adjusting mechanism 31 according to the processing (calculation) result by the CPU.

Further, the optical axis control system 10 includes a gradient detection unit 40 that detects the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels. As the gradient detection unit 40, for example, a visible light camera that monitors the road surface condition in front of the vehicle 1 or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) that detects a change in the gradient of the road using laser light can be used. The gradient detection unit 40 is electrically connected to the control unit 32, and supplies the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detection unit 40 to the control unit 32.

Further, the optical axis control system 10 includes a vehicle inclination detection unit 50 that detects the inclination of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction. The vehicle tilt detection unit 50 may be any sensor that can detect the tilt of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction, such as a tilt sensor, an acceleration (G) sensor, or an angular velocity (gyro) sensor. The vehicle inclination detection unit 50 is electrically connected to the control unit 32, and supplies the vehicle inclination detection information S4 detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit 50 to the control unit 32.

Further, the optical axis control system 10 provides sensors provided in each part of the vehicle 1 for vehicle traveling information S5 indicating the traveling state of the traveling vehicle 1 such as the steering angle (turning angle) and speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle 1. (Not shown) and the like are supplied to the control unit 32.

In the optical axis control system 10 of the present embodiment, the control unit 32 controls the drive of the optical axis adjusting mechanism 31 according to a control program (hereinafter, referred to as an optical axis control program) that executes the optical axis control method to which the present invention is applied. At the same time, the optical axis X of the light L emitted from the headlight 2 toward the front of the vehicle 1 is variably controlled in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1.

Specifically, the optical axis control method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. Note that FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an optical axis control method executed in the optical axis control system 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment by the optical axis control system 10. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment in the section E2 where the slope changes from the flat ground E1 shown in FIG. 4 to the uphill slope E3. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment in the section E4 where the slope changes from the uphill slope E3 shown in FIG. 4 to the flat ground E1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical axis control method of the present embodiment includes an information acquisition step S100 including a step S101 for acquiring the position information S1 and a step S102 for acquiring the gradient information S2, and the position information S1 and the gradient information. The optical axis adjustment step S200 including the step S201 for calculating the movement amount of the optical axis based on S2 and the step S202 for moving the optical axis based on the calculation result is executed in this order.

Specifically, first, in step S101, the above-mentioned information acquisition unit 20 acquires the position information S1 indicating the current position of the vehicle 1, and supplies the position information S1 to the control unit 32.

Next, in step S102, the information acquisition unit 20 described above collates the gradient information database with the current position of the vehicle 1 to acquire the gradient information S2 of the road R in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1, and the gradient information S2. Is supplied to the control unit 32.

Next, in step S201, the control unit 32 calculates the amount of movement of the optical axis X based on the position information S1 and the gradient information S2 supplied from the information acquisition unit 20 described above.

Further, in step S201, while detecting the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels by the gradient detection unit 40, the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detection unit 40. .. In this case, by obtaining the gradient detection information S3 together with the gradient information S2, it is possible to more accurately grasp the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels.

Further, in step S201, the vehicle inclination detection unit 50 detects the inclination of the vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction, and the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the vehicle inclination detection information S4 detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit 50. .. In this case, by collating the above-mentioned gradient information S2 and gradient detection information S3 with the vehicle inclination detection information S4, even if there is a large discrepancy between the actual slope of the road R and the vehicle 1 and the inclination. , It is possible to correct that amount.

Further, in step S201, the movement amount of the optical axis X is corrected based on the vehicle travel information S5 indicating the traveling state of the traveling vehicle 1 such as the steering angle (turning angle) and speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle 1. This makes it possible to make corrections according to the traveling state of the vehicle 1.

Next, in step S202, the movement of the optical axis X in the direction in which the slope of the road R changes is started from the front of the position (hereinafter, referred to as the slope change start point) P1 at which the slope change of the road R starts. The position where the gradient change of the road R ends (hereinafter referred to as the gradient change end point) The gradient change of the road R ends while returning the optical axis X in the direction opposite to the direction in which the gradient of the road R changes from before P2. Adjust the optical axis according to the position to be used.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 1 moves from the flat ground E1 through the slope change section E3 to the uphill slope E2 having a constant angle, and moves from the uphill slope E2 to the flat ground E1 through the slope change section E4. The optical axis X is adjusted by taking as an example the case of moving from the flat ground E1 to the down slope E6 having a constant angle via the slope change section E5 and moving from the down slope E6 to the flat ground E1 via the slope change section E7. A specific optical axis control method will be described.

First, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the flat ground E1 through the slope change section E3 to the uphill slope E2, the distance to the slope change start point P1 in the slope change section E3 is as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. When approaching by m, the movement of the optical axis X (X2 in FIG. 5) starts from the position of the optical axis X (X1 in FIG. 5) aligned with the flat ground E1. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E3 is approached by a distance n, the optical axis X (X3 in FIG. 5) is returned downward, and the optical axis X (FIG. 5) is aligned with the downward gradient E3. When it moves to the position of X4) in the inside, the optical axis adjustment in this gradient change section E2 is completed.

As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the uphill slope E3 from the flat ground E1, the light L is emitted from the front of the uphill slope E3 toward the uphill slope E3, so that the driver's field of view is toward the uphill slope E3. It is possible to secure. On the other hand, after entering the uphill slope E3, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view according to the uphill slope E3 without giving glare to the vehicle in front or the like.

Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the uphill slope E2 to the flat ground E1 via the slope change section E4, as shown enlarged in FIG. 6, the slope change start point P1 in the slope change section E4 is reached. When the distance m approaches, the optical axis X (X5 in FIG. 6) starts to move downward from the position of the optical axis X (X4 in FIG. 6) in accordance with the uphill slope E3. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E4 is approached by a distance n, the optical axis X (X6 in FIG. 6) is returned upward and the optical axis X aligned with the flat ground E1 (in FIG. 6). When it moves to the position of X7), the optical axis adjustment in the gradient change section E4 is completed.

As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the flat ground E1 from the uphill slope E3, the light L is emitted from the front of the flat ground E1 toward the flat ground E1, so that the driver's field of view is secured toward the flat ground E1. It is possible. On the other hand, after entering the flat ground E1, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view in accordance with the flat ground E1 while preventing the driver's field of view from being narrowed.

Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the flat ground E1 through the gradient change section E5 to the downward gradient E6, the gradient change start point P1 in the gradient change section E5 is reached, as in the case shown in FIG. When the distance m is approached, the movement of the optical axis X in the downward direction is started from the position of the optical axis X in accordance with the downward gradient E6. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E5 is approached by a distance n, the optical axis X is returned upward and moved to the position of the optical axis X in accordance with the downward gradient E6. The optical axis adjustment in the change section E5 is completed.

As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the downhill slope E6 from the flat ground E1, the light L is emitted from the front of the downhill slope E6 toward the downhill slope E6, so that the driver's field of view is toward the downhill slope E6. It is possible to secure. On the other hand, after entering the downhill slope E6, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view according to the downhill slope E6 while preventing the driver's field of view from being narrowed.

Next, when the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4 moves from the downhill slope E6 to the flat ground E1 via the slope change section E7, it reaches the slope change start point P1 in the slope change section E7 as in the case shown in FIG. When the distance m approaches, the movement of the optical axis X starts upward from the position of the optical axis X aligned with the flat ground E1. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S201 described above. Then, when the gradient change end point P2 in the gradient change section E7 is approached by a distance n, the optical axis X is returned downward and moved to the position of the optical axis X aligned with the flat ground E1. The optical axis adjustment in the section E7 is completed.

As a result, when the vehicle 1 enters the flat ground E1 from the downhill slope E6, the light L is emitted from the front of the flat ground E1 toward the flat ground E1, so that the driver's field of view is secured toward the flat ground E1. It is possible. On the other hand, after entering the flat ground E1, it is possible to secure the driver's field of view in accordance with the flat ground E1 without giving glare to the vehicle in front.

By the way, on the actual road R, the direction of the gradient may change continuously. In that case, it is preferable to start the next optical axis adjustment before the above-mentioned optical axis adjustment is completed. Specifically, the optical axis control method when the gradient change is continuous will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Note that FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical axis adjustment when the gradient change is continuous. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an optical axis control method executed when the gradient changes shown in FIG. 7 are continuous.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle 1 moves from the uphill slope E3 to the flat ground E1 through the slope change section E4 but moves to the uphill slope E3 through the slope change section E2, the previous slope change. Before completing the optical axis adjustment in the section E4, the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, after the information acquisition step S100, as the optical axis adjustment step S200, first, in step S203, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the previous optical axis adjustment is completed. Determine if the position exists.

In step S203, a time point T1 that approaches the slope change end point P12 in the previous slope change section E4 shown in FIG. 7 by a distance n1, and a time point T2 that approaches the slope change start point P21 in the next slope change section E2 by a distance m2. If the time point T2 exists after the time point T1, the process proceeds to step S211. On the other hand, if the time point T2 exists before the time point T1, the process proceeds to step S221.

In step S211, it is determined that the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started after the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is completed, and the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X in the above and the amount of movement of the optical axis X in the adjustment of the optical axis in the next gradient change section E2 are calculated. Then, in step S202, after completing the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4, control is performed to start the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2.

On the other hand, in step S221, it is determined that the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 is started before the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4 is completed, and the optical axis in the previous optical axis adjustment is determined. The amount of movement of X and the amount of movement of the optical axis X in the next optical axis adjustment are calculated. After that, in step S202, control is performed to start the optical axis adjustment in the next gradient change section E2 before completing the optical axis adjustment in the previous gradient change section E4.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle 1 approaches the slope change start point P11 in the slope change section E4 beyond the uphill slope E3 by a distance m1, the optical axis X aligned with the uphill slope E3 The movement of the optical axis X from the position downward is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S221 described above.

Then, when the gradient change start point P12 in the next gradient change section E2 is approached by a distance m2, the movement of the optical axis X in the upward direction is started. The amount of movement of the optical axis X at this time is set based on the calculation result in step S221 described above.

Then, when the gradient change end P22 in the next gradient change section E2 is approached by a distance n2, the optical axis X is returned downward and moved to the position of the optical axis X in accordance with the upward gradient E3. The optical axis adjustment in the gradient change section E2 is completed.

As a result, it is possible to secure the driver's field of vision when the direction of the gradient changes continuously while reducing the discomfort felt by the driver when the direction of the gradient changes continuously. ..

In the present embodiment, the optical axis X starts moving upward when the gradient change start point P12 in the next gradient change section E2 is approached by a distance m2, but the gradient directions are continuous. In some cases, the amount of movement of the optical axis may be smaller than usual, the movement of the optical axis X may be stopped, or the movement speed of the optical axis X may be taken into consideration in consideration of the length of the section that changes and the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1. It is possible to adjust. As a result, it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by the driver and to secure the driver's field of vision.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light of the light L emitted from the headlight 2 before the gradient changes according to the movement of the driver's line of sight while the gradient of the road R changes. It is possible to align the axis X.

That is, in the present embodiment, by pre-reading the gradient and starting the movement of the optical axis X at the same time as or slightly before the timing of moving the line of sight, it is natural to match the movement of the driver's line of sight due to the change in the gradient. It is possible to adjust the optical axis in the form. In addition, it is possible to secure the driver's field of vision without giving glare to the vehicle in front.

The present invention is not necessarily limited to that of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the optical axis control system 10, the gradient detection information S3 detected by the gradient detection unit 40, the vehicle inclination detection information S4 detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit 50, and the vehicle travel information S5 indicating the traveling state of the vehicle 1 are present. Is configured to correct the movement amount of the optical axis X by supplying the control unit 32, but the configuration is not necessarily limited to such a configuration, and the gradient detection information S3 and the vehicle inclination detection information S4 are not necessarily limited to such a configuration. , The movement amount of the optical axis X may be set while appropriately omitting the vehicle traveling information S5.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the optical axis is adjusted with respect to the change in the gradient of the road R on which the vehicle 1 travels has been described, but such an optical axis adjustment function may be combined with the conventional auto-leveling function. It is possible.

In this case as well, it is possible to obtain an appropriate amount of movement of the optical axis X in consideration of the optical axis control by the auto-leveling function. In addition, when the dynamic leveling function is used in actual driving, the optical axis is frequently adjusted by tilting the vehicle, so that the optical axis may be adjusted in a direction not intended by the driver in some cases. .. In that case, the optical axis adjustment may be performed by prioritizing the optical axis adjustment according to the present embodiment and the optical axis adjustment by auto-leveling.

Furthermore, in the optical axis adjustment corresponding to the gradient change, if there is a vehicle in front, glare may be given to the vehicle in front. In this case, by providing a sensor, a camera, a radar, or the like for detecting the vehicle in front, it is possible to adjust the optical axis while considering the existence of the vehicle in front. Further, when there is a preceding vehicle, the optical axis may be adjusted, for example, by setting the limit angle for raising the optical axis to the height of the tail lamp of the preceding vehicle.

1 ... Vehicle 2 ... Headlight 10 ... Optical axis control system 20 ... Information acquisition unit 30 ... Optical axis adjustment unit 31 ... Optical axis adjustment mechanism 32 ... Control unit 40 ... Gradient detection unit 50 ... Vehicle tilt detection unit S1 ... Position information S2 ... Gradient information S3 ... Gradient detection information S4 ... Vehicle tilt detection information S5 ... Vehicle running information E1 ... Flat ground E2, E4, E5, E7 ... Gradient change section E3 ... Uphill slope E6 ... Downhill slope P1, P11, P21 ... Gradient change Start point P2, P12, P22 ... Gradient change end point X ... Optical axis

Claims (10)

An optical axis control system for headlights that variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlights toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
An information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a slope of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
It is provided with an optical axis adjusting unit that adjusts the optical axis based on the position information and the gradient information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
The optical axis adjusting unit starts the optical axis movement in the direction in which the slope of the road changes from before the position where the slope change of the road starts, and starts before the position where the slope change of the road ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the slope of the road changes, the optical axis is adjusted according to the position where the slope change of the road ends, and the optical axis is adjusted.
If there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. Optical axis control system for headlights. The optical axis adjusting unit is based on the position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and the gradient information indicating the gradient between the position where the gradient change of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle starts and the position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control system for a headlight according to claim 1, wherein the amount of movement of the optical axis is calculated. A gradient detection unit for detecting the gradient of the road on which the vehicle travels is provided.
The optical axis control of the headlight according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical axis adjusting unit corrects the movement amount of the optical axis based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detecting unit. system. A vehicle inclination detection unit for detecting the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction is provided.
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical axis adjusting unit corrects the amount of movement of the optical axis based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detecting unit. Optical axis control system for headlights. A vehicle including the optical axis control system for the headlight according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A method for controlling the optical axis of a headlight, which variably controls the optical axis of light emitted from the headlight toward the front of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
An information acquisition step for acquiring position information indicating a position on a road on which the vehicle travels and gradient information indicating a slope of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
Includes an optical axis adjustment step that adjusts the optical axis based on the position information and gradient information acquired in the information acquisition step.
In the optical axis adjustment step, the optical axis movement in the direction in which the slope change of the road is started from before the position where the slope change of the road is started, and the optical axis movement is started from before the position where the slope change of the road ends. While returning the optical axis in the direction opposite to the direction in which the slope of the road changes, the optical axis is adjusted according to the position where the slope change of the road ends, and the optical axis is adjusted.
If there is a position where the next gradient change is started before the optical axis adjustment is completed, the next optical axis adjustment is started before the position where the next gradient change is started. How to control the optical axis of the headlight. In the optical axis adjustment step, based on the position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and the gradient information indicating the gradient between the position where the gradient change of the road in the traveling direction of the vehicle starts and the position where the gradient change ends. The optical axis control method for a headlight according to claim 6, wherein the amount of movement of the optical axis is calculated. In the optical axis adjustment step, the gradient detection unit detects the slope of the road on which the vehicle travels, and the movement amount of the optical axis is corrected based on the gradient detection information detected by the gradient detection unit. The optical axis control method for the headlight according to claim 6 or 7. In the optical axis adjustment step, the vehicle tilt detection unit detects the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, and the movement amount of the optical axis is corrected based on the vehicle inclination detection information detected by the vehicle inclination detection unit. The optical axis control method for a headlight according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the optical axis is controlled. An optical axis control program for executing the optical axis control method for a headlight according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

Images