JPH0657516B2 - Cornering lamp system for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention is capable of changing the irradiation direction of a left-side lighting means provided on the left side of the front of the vehicle and a right-side lighting means provided on the right side of the front of the vehicle in conjunction with steering of a steering wheel. The present invention relates to a cornering lamp system for a vehicle.

[Conventional technology]

Vehicles, especially automobiles, are equipped with headlights on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle as a light source for illuminating the front of the vehicle at night. However, when a vehicle approaches a curve, the direction of travel of the vehicle cannot be sufficiently illuminated. In other words, during cornering around a curve, there is a risk that sufficient irradiation may not be performed in the actual traveling direction, and a danger may occur.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, in recent years, a cornering lamp system has been proposed in which the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed in conjunction with steering of the steering wheel of an automobile to irradiate the traveling direction.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in such a conventional cornering lamp system, if the steering wheel is steered even a little from the straight-ahead steering position, the irradiation direction of the headlight is changed in association with the steering wheel steering. Even when the steering angle is small, the irradiation direction is variable. That is, since the irradiation direction of the headlight frequently changes during driving, eyes are easily tired and mental fatigue is large. Further, due to the frequent change of the irradiation direction, the life of the drive mechanism is short, which causes a failure.

Further, in the conventional cornering lamp system, since the irradiation direction is variable so that the irradiation direction of the headlight coincides with the front direction of the vehicle at the straight-ahead steering position, it is likely that a delay occurs in the judgment when turning a corner. There was a problem.

Further, in the conventional cornering lamp system, since the irradiation directions of the right headlight and the left headlight are similarly changed in association with steering of the steering wheel, there is a problem that the front view cannot be secured. It was

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and when the steering wheel is in the straight steering position, the irradiation directions of the left and right lamp light means are fixed at predetermined irradiation angle positions in the front left and right directions of the vehicle. However, only the irradiation direction of the left-side lamp means is continuously changed from the predetermined irradiation angle position to the left steering direction in conjunction with the left steering over the predetermined steering angle to the left side of the front of the vehicle starting from the straight steering position of the steering wheel. On the other hand, only the irradiation direction of the right lamp means is continuously changed from the predetermined irradiation angle position to the right steering direction in conjunction with the right steering at a predetermined steering angle or more toward the right side of the front of the vehicle starting from the straight steering position of the steering wheel. It was done like this.

[Action]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the irradiation directions of the left and right lighting means are set to the left and right sides of the vehicle front within the range of the predetermined steering angle to the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle starting from the straight steering position. The irradiation direction variable operation of the left lamp light means and the right lamp light means, which is fixed at a predetermined irradiation angle position in the direction, and which is interlocked with steering of the steering wheel, is blocked.

Further, according to the present invention, when the left steering (right steering) of a predetermined steering angle or more is performed in the left direction (right direction) of the front surface of the vehicle from the straight steering position as a starting point, the left lighting means (right lighting means) is interlocked with this. Only the irradiation direction of) is continuously changed from the predetermined irradiation angle position to the left steering direction (right steering direction).

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an irradiation direction variable characteristic diagram showing the basic principle of this cornering lamp system.
That is, in the figure, S1 represents the irradiation direction variable characteristic of the headlight on the right side of the vehicle front side (right side as viewed from the driver's seat side),
S2 shows the irradiation direction variable characteristic of the headlight on the left side of the front of the vehicle. As can be seen from this characteristic diagram, the irradiation directions (lamp deflection angle) of the right headlight and the left headlight are set to 5 ° to the front right and left of the vehicle when the steering angle is zero degrees, that is, when the steering wheel is in the straight steering position. It is not fixed to the position, and the irradiation direction of only the right headlamp is steered right by interlocking with the right steering of a predetermined steering angle or more (in the present embodiment, a right steering angle of 25 ° or more) starting from the straight steering position. The steering direction is changed to a predetermined steering angle or more (in the present embodiment, the left steering angle is 25 ° or more), and the irradiation direction of only the left headlamp is changed to the left steering direction in association with the left steering. Therefore, within the range of the left and right steering angles of 25 ° or less starting from the straight-ahead steering position, the irradiation directions of the right and left headlamps are fixed with the front of the vehicle open 5 ° to the right and left, and the steering wheel is steered. The irradiation direction changing operation of the right headlight and the left headlight interlocked with is blocked.

That is, since the irradiation direction variable operation is not performed for small changes in the steering angle when changing lanes, the irradiation direction of the headlight does not change frequently during driving, and eye fatigue is reduced. It is possible to realize a safe and less fatigued cornering lamp system that reduces mental fatigue. Also,
Since the irradiation direction does not change frequently, the life of the drive mechanism can be extended and reliability can be improved.

Further, in the conventional cornering lamp system, generally, at the straight-ahead steering position, the irradiation direction is variable so that the irradiation direction of the headlight is aligned with the front direction of the vehicle, so that there is a delay in the judgment when turning a corner. As is the case with the present embodiment, the straight steering state is fixed by fixing the irradiation directions of the right headlight and the left headlight at 5 ° to the front and right of the front of the vehicle at the straight steering position. It is possible to quickly check the direction of the bend and the condition of the bend, and the safety when driving on the bend is secured. That is, in the investigation based on the actual vehicle of the inventor,
Based on an actual vehicle running test using a measuring instrument such as a mark recorder, it was made clear that it was possible to deal with the running on a curved road by moving the line of sight about 5 degrees to the left and right from the straight ahead state before the winding road. Therefore, if the irradiation directions of the right headlight and the left headlight in the straight ahead steering position are fixed in advance in a state where they are opened 5 ° to the right and left in front of the vehicle, it is possible to quickly cope with traveling on a curved road from the straight ahead steering state. It will be possible. In addition, by changing the irradiation direction of only the headlight on the steering direction side to the steering direction side by interlocking with the steering wheel steering at a predetermined steering angle or more from the state in which the front side of the vehicle is opened 5 ° to the right and left. In the state where the field of view in the front direction is secured, a natural irradiation direction variable operation according to the movement of the driver's line of sight is realized, and it becomes possible to construct a cornering lamp system with less fatigue even when driving for a long time.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the cornering lamp system to which the above-mentioned principle is applied. In the figure, 1 is "H" in conjunction with steering of the steering wheel.
And a steering wheel rotation angle sensor for sending out alternating pulsed electric signals of “L” level, and 21 receives the pulsed electric signal sent by the steering wheel rotation angle sensor 1 as input, and sets the steering amount to the left and right. The UP / DOWN switching circuit that sends out the corresponding number of up and down signals, 22 is the input of the up signal and down signal sent by this UP / DOWN switching circuit 21, and the number of the input up signal or down signal UP / DOWN counter that up-counts or down-counts the internal count value only, 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a D / A converter which receives the count value sent by the UP / DOWN counter 22 as an input and sends an output voltage Va corresponding to the count value.

The count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22 is set to zero when the steering wheel (not shown) is in the straight steering position, and the counter value is sequentially increased by the left rotation of the steering wheel, and the count value is sequentially rotated by the right rotation. Are going down sequentially. Then, the D / A converter 23 outputs an output voltage Va of 2.5 V from its output terminal 23a when the count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22 is zero, that is, when the steering wheel is located at the straight steering position. UP / DOWN counter 2 associated with left steering
The value of the output voltage Va is increased according to the increase amount of the count value in 2 and the UP / DOWN counter 22 associated with the right steering is
Output voltage V according to the amount of count down in
The configuration is such that the value of a is decreased. The output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 is determined by the comparator C
The non-inverting input terminal and the inverting input terminal of P1 and CP2 are set, and the divided voltage Vb of the resistors R1 and R2 is applied to the inverting input terminal of the comparator CP1 (in this embodiment, Vb = 3.0 V), and the divided voltage Vc of the resistors R3 and R4 (Vc = 2.0 V in this embodiment) is set at the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CP2. The output of the comparator CP1 is directly output to the bidirectional switch 241 via the terminal 241a.
To the bidirectional switch 242 via the terminal 242a via the inverter 25, and the output of the comparator CP2 is directly input to the bidirectional switch 243 via the terminal 243a and the inverter 26. It is adapted to be input to the bidirectional switch 244 via the terminal 244a passing through. The bidirectional switches 241-244 have their terminals 241a-244.
When the "H" level signal is input to a, the voltage set at the input terminals 241b to 244b is transmitted from the output terminals 241c to 244c. That is, the bidirectional switches 241 and 243.
The output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 is set to the input terminals 241b and 243b of the output terminal Va. This output voltage Va is based on the switching operation of the bidirectional switches 241 and 243. 24
Comparators CP3 and CP via 1c and 243c
4 is set to the inverting input terminal. Also,
The divided voltage Vb of the resistors R3 and R4 and the divided voltage Vc of the resistors R5 and R6 are set to the input terminals 242b and 244b of the bidirectional switches 242 and 244, and the divided voltages Vb and Vc are set. Bidirectional switches 242 and 2
Based on the switching operation of 44, its output terminal 242
c and 244c through comparators CP3 and CP4
Is set to the inverting input terminal of. At the non-inverting input terminals of the comparators CP3 and CP4, a sawtooth reference voltage Vd having a 20 msec cycle that rises from the zero volt potential sent by the sawtooth generator 27 as a starting point, reaches 5 volt potential, and falls is set. And the comparator CP
Based on the "H" level width of the comparison output sent by 3 and CP4, variable operation of the irradiation direction of the left headlight and the right headlight (not shown) is performed. That is, the irradiation direction of the left headlight is variable at the shake angle position determined according to the "H" level width of the comparison output sent from the comparator CP3, and as the "H" level width decreases, the left direction is changed. The deflection angle in the irradiation direction of the navel is increased. Further, the irradiation direction of the right headlight is variable at the shake angle position determined according to the “H” level width of the comparison output sent from the comparator CP4. The deflection angle in the irradiation direction of the navel is increased.

Next, the operation of the cornering lamp system thus configured will be described. That is, it is assumed that the vehicle is now traveling straight ahead with the headlights lit and the steering wheel is in the straight steering position. At this time, in the control signal generating circuit 2, the count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22 is zero, and the D / A converter 23 sends out the output voltage Va of 2.5V from the output terminal 23a.
Therefore, the output levels of the comparators CP1 and CP2 are both in the “L” level state, and the comparator CP3
The divided voltages Vb and Vc are set via the bidirectional switches 242 and 244 to the inverting input terminals of CP4 and CP4. At this time, the voltage setting to the inverting input terminals of the comparators CP3 and CP4 via the bidirectional switches 241 and 243 is not performed because the output levels of the comparators CP1 and CP2 are “L”. On the other hand, the sawtooth generator 2
The reference numeral 7 sends a sawtooth reference voltage Vd having a cycle of 20 msec which rises from the zero volt potential as a starting point, reaches 5 volt potential and then falls, and the sawtooth reference voltage Vd is set to the non-inverting input terminals of the comparators CP3 and CP4. It

Here, the divided voltage Vb (3.0 V) is set to the inverting input end of the comparator CP3 via the bidirectional switch 242, and therefore the comparison output of the comparator CP3 is set to the non-inverting input end thereof. While the sawtooth-shaped reference voltage Vd is higher than the divided voltage Vb set at the inverting input terminal, the level becomes "H", and the deflection of the left headlamp in the irradiation direction is based on the "H" level width (τ ₁ ). The angular position comes to be determined. In the present embodiment, the irradiation direction of the left headlight is supposed to coincide with the deflection angle position of 5 ° to the left in front of the vehicle in accordance with the “H” level width τ ₁ at this time. Further, the divided voltage Vc is applied to the inverting input terminal of the comparator CP4 via the bidirectional switch 244.
(2.0 V) is set, so that the comparison output of the comparator CP4 is "while the sawtooth reference voltage Vd set to the non-inverting input terminal thereof is higher than the divided voltage Vc set to the inverting input terminal thereof. The "H" level is reached, and the deflection angle position in the irradiation direction of the right headlamp is determined based on this "H" level width (τ ₂ ). In this embodiment,
According to the "H" level width τ ₂ (τ ₂ > τ ₁ ) at this time, the irradiation direction of the right headlamp is supposed to coincide with the deflection angle position of 5 ° to the front right of the vehicle. That is, at the time of straight steering, the irradiation directions of the left headlight and the right headlight are based on the “H” level widths τ ₁ and τ ₂ of the comparison outputs sent from the comparators CP3 and CP4. It is fixed at a 5 ° open position.

When, for example, left steering is performed from such a straight steering state, the count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22 increases according to the left steering amount, and D increases according to the up count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22. / A converter 23
The value of the output voltage Va sent by the device increases. Now, it is assumed that the value of the output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 increases along with the left steering and exceeds 3.0V. At this time, the output of the comparator CP1 is inverted from the “L” level state to the “H” level state, and the output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 is set to the inverting input terminal of the comparator CP3 via the bidirectional switch 241. Will be done. That is, when the output voltage Va sent by the D / A converter 23 rises above 3.0 V as the steering wheel is turned to the left, the "H" level width of the comparison output sent by the comparator CP3 increases in accordance with the rising value of the output voltage Va. Is reduced, and the irradiation direction of the left headlight is moved to the left steering direction based on the reduced "H" level width of the comparative output, and a predetermined leftward shake is determined according to the "H" level width. It comes to be fixed in an angular position. That is, even if the steering wheel is steered to the left from the straight-ahead steering position, the comparator CP3 keeps the left steering angle within the range in which the output voltage Va sent by the D / A converter 23 exceeds 3.0V. Since the “H” level width of the comparison output to be sent is kept at τ ₁ , the irradiation direction of the left headlight is kept fixed at the left 5 ° position. In such a left steering operation, the comparator C
The output of P2 maintains the "L" level, and the comparator CP
By keeping the divided voltage Vc meeting the bidirectional switch 244 at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 4,
Since "H" level width of the comparison output for sending the P4 is kept tau _2, state on the basis of the "H" level width tau _2, the irradiation direction of the right headlamp is fixed to the right 5 ° position To maintain.

When the steering wheel is steered to the right from the straight-ahead steering state, the count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22 decreases according to the right steering amount, and the D / A converter 23 sends out according to the down count value of the UP / DOWN counter 22. The value of the output voltage Va is decreased. Now, the value of the output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 decreases along with the right steering and becomes 2.0V.
Below. At this time, the output of the comparator CP2 is inverted from the “L” level state to the “H” level state,
A bidirectional switch 24 is provided at the inverting input terminal of the comparator CP4.
Output voltage V sent from the D / A converter 23 via
a is set. That is, the output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23 in accordance with the right steering is 2.0V.
When the output voltage Va falls below, the "H" level width of the comparison output sent from the comparator CP4 increases in accordance with the falling value of the output voltage Va, and based on the increased "H" level width of the comparison output. The irradiation direction of the right headlamp moves to the right steering direction, and is fixed at a predetermined swing angle position in the right direction that is determined according to the "H" level width. That is, even if the steering wheel is steered to the right from the straight-ahead steering position, the comparator CP4 keeps the right steering angle within the range of less than 2.0 V as the value of the output voltage Va sent from the D / A converter 23. Since the “H” level width of the comparison output to be sent out is maintained at τ ₂ , the irradiation direction of the right headlight is kept fixed at the 5 ° rightward position. During such a right steering operation, the output of the comparator CP1 maintains the “L” level, and the divided voltage Vb via the bidirectional switch 242 is continuously set at the inverting input terminal of the comparator CP3, whereby the comparator CP1 since "H" level width of the comparison output for sending the CP3 is kept tau _1, state on the basis of the "H" level width tau _1, the irradiation direction of the left headlamp is fixed to the left 5 ° position To maintain.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the vehicle cornering lamp system of the present invention, within the range of the predetermined steering angle to the vehicle front left direction and the right direction starting from the straight-ahead steering position, the left lamp means and the right lamp means are Since the irradiation direction is fixed at the predetermined irradiation angle positions in the left and right directions on the front surface of the vehicle, the irradiation direction variable operation of the left lamp light means and the right lamp light means linked to the steering of the steering wheel is blocked,
In addition to making it possible to quickly check the curved road direction and the degree of bending from the straight steering state, do not perform the irradiation direction variable operation for small changes in the steering angle when changing the diagonal line, etc. Can suppress frequent changes,
It is possible to reduce eyestrain and mental fatigue of the driver.
Also, since the irradiation direction does not change frequently, the life of the drive mechanism can be extended and the reliability can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, when left steering (right steering) of a predetermined steering angle or more is performed in a leftward direction (rightward direction) of the front surface of the vehicle with the straight-ahead steering position as a starting point, the left side lighting means (right side lighting means) is interlocked with this. ) Irradiation direction is continuously variable from the predetermined irradiation angle position to the left steering direction (right steering direction), and in the state where the field of view in the front direction is secured, the natural direction according to the movement of the driver's line of sight is ensured. It is possible to realize the irradiation direction variable operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an irradiation direction variable characteristic diagram showing a basic principle of a vehicle cornering lamp system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a cornering lamp system to which the basic principle is applied. is there. 2 ... control signal generation circuit, 21 ... UP / DOWN switching circuit,
22 ... UP / DOWN counter, 23 ... D / A converter, 241-244 ... Bidirectional switch, 25, 26 ...
... Inverter, 27 ... Sawtooth generator, CP1-CP4 ...
…comparator.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Kurita, 500 Kitawaki, Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Shizuoka Plant (72) Inventor, Kiyoshi Wada, 500, Kitawaki, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Koito Manufacturing, Shizuoka Plant ( 72) Inventor Kiyoshi Yamashita 500 Kitawaki, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Shizuoka Factory (56) Reference JP-A-63-112238 (JP, A) JP-A-62-244735 (JP, A) JP-A-SHO 62-77254 (JP, A) JP 62-77249 (JP, A) JP 63-305051 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 52-154840 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cornering lamp system for a vehicle in which the irradiation direction of a left-side lighting means provided on the left side of the vehicle front and a right-side lighting means provided on the right side of the vehicle front is changed in association with steering of a steering wheel. When the vehicle is in the position, the irradiation directions of the left-side lighting means and the right-side lighting means are fixed to a predetermined irradiation angle position in the left and right directions on the front side of the vehicle, and a predetermined left direction on the front side of the vehicle starting from the straight steering position of the steering wheel. Only the irradiation direction of the left-side lamp means is continuously changed to the left steering direction from the predetermined irradiation angle position in conjunction with the left steering over the steering angle, while the vehicle front right direction starting from the straight steering position of the steering wheel. In conjunction with the right steering at a predetermined steering angle or more, only the irradiation direction of the right side light emitting means is continuously changed from the predetermined irradiation angle position to the right steering direction. Cornering lamp system for a vehicle comprising including a radiation direction control means.