Headlamp and headlamp control system

Abstract

The invention provides a headlamp and a headlamp control system capable of improving visual observability under low beam. A headlamp (10A) is capable of switching between a first low beam distribution state and a second low beam distribution state, in the first low beam distribution state, a low beam region in front of a vehicle is irradiated, in the second low beam distribution state, at least one of a width direction middle portion, a width direction one end portion, and a width direction other end portion of the low beam region is irradiated brighter than in the first low beam distribution state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a headlamp for a vehicle and a headlamp control system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a headlamp for a vehicle, the light amount is controlled according to the surrounding environment. In Patent Literature 1, it is described that in a city, glare generated to a driver of an oncoming vehicle or the like is prevented by reducing the light amount of the headlamp.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-7001 SUMMARY

[0006] The technology described in Patent Literature 1 aims at reducing glare in a high beam region and improving visual observability, and is a problem of glare reduction and visual observability in a city or the like where the use frequency of a high beam is low (in other words, the use frequency of a low beam is high).

[0007] The present application has been achieved in view of the above, and aims to provide a headlamp and a headlamp control system capable of improving visual observability in a low beam.

[0008] To solve the above problem, the headlamp of the present application is a headlamp that distributes a low beam to the front of a vehicle, and the headlamp is capable of switching between a first low beam distribution state and a second low beam distribution state, in the first low beam distribution state, a low beam region in front of the vehicle is irradiated, and in the second low beam distribution state, at least one of a width direction middle portion, a width direction one end portion, and a width direction other end portion of the low beam region is irradiated brighter than in the first low beam distribution state.

[0009] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to the present application, by being configured to increase the light amount of a low beam in a direction, it is possible to improve visual observability in a low beam that is used frequently in a city or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a headlamp control system of a first embodiment of the present application.

[0012] Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of an irradiation region irradiated by a vehicle based on a headlamp control system to which the first embodiment of the present application is applied.

[0013] Figure 3This is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the illumination area emitted by a vehicle based on a headlight control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a headlight control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the illumination area emitted by a vehicle based on a headlight control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0017] 1A, 1B Headlight Control System

[0018] 10A and 10B headlights

[0019] 11 First Light-Glowing Section

[0020] 12A, 12B Second Light-Emitting Section

[0021] 20. Turning auxiliary lights

[0022] 40 Control Department

[0023] C1 vehicles Detailed Implementation

[0024] The following is a brief reference to the appendix. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Identical structural elements will be labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions will be omitted. Terms indicating directions such as up / down, front / back, and left / right (vehicle width direction) will be based on the vehicle occupant (driver).

[0025] <First Implementation>

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the headlight control system 1A of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of left and right headlights 10A, 10A, a pair of left and right cornering lamps 20, 20, a front camera 31, a raindrop detection unit 32, a steering angle detection unit 33, a direction indicator operation unit 34, a light switching operation unit 35, and a control unit 40.

[0027] <Headlight>

[0028] The headlight 10A is controlled by the control unit 40 based on the driver's operation, etc., to illuminate the front of the vehicle C1. The headlight 10A is a multi-eye type with multiple light-emitting parts, each light-emitting part consisting of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and an optical control surface such as a reflector that divides each light-emitting part and covers the LED from the rear. The headlight 10A includes a first light-emitting part 11 and a second light-emitting part 12A as low beam light-emitting parts, and a third light-emitting part 13 and a fourth light-emitting part 14 as high beam light-emitting parts.

[0029] The First Luminous Section

[0030] The first light-emitting part 11 is directed towards the front of the vehicle C1, towards a relatively narrow area (see reference). Figure 2 , 3 The first low beam lamp emitting part 11 illuminates the area A1 of the LED. The first light-emitting part 11 directs the light emitted from the LED toward the area A1 below the parallel line via an optical control surface. Furthermore, in Figure 3 In the diagram, the vertical axis indicates the up-down direction, the horizontal axis indicates the left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and the parallel line HL passes through the headlight 10A and is parallel to the road surface.

[0031] The Second Luminous Section

[0032] The second light-emitting part 12A is a region that is wider in the vehicle width direction than the first light-emitting part 11, facing the front of the vehicle C1 (see reference). Figure 2 , 3 The second low beam headlight 12 illuminates the first region A1 within the illumination area (second region) A2. The second region A2 is wider than the first region A1 in the vehicle width direction. The second headlight 12 directs the light emitted from the LED toward the illumination area A2, which is located below the parallel line HL, via an optical control surface.

[0033] The second light-emitting part 12A includes a central light-emitting part 12a and a pair of left and right end light-emitting parts 12b. The central light-emitting part 12a irradiates light onto the central portion A21 of the irradiation area A2 in the width direction. The central portion A21 in the width direction is configured to overlap with the central portion in the width direction of the irradiation area A1. The end light-emitting parts 12b irradiate light onto the end portions A22 in the width direction of the irradiation area A2. The end portions A22 in the width direction are configured to overlap with the upper portion of the end portion in the width direction of the irradiation area A1 and extend outward in the width direction compared to the irradiation area A1. In this way, the irradiation area A1 irradiated by the first light-emitting part 11 is divided into three parts (the central portion in the width direction and a pair of end portions in the width direction) in the width direction. The central light-emitting part 12a increases the amount of light in the central portion in the width direction of the irradiation area A1, and the end light-emitting parts 12b increase the amount of light in the end portions in the width direction of the irradiation area A1.

[0034] Third light emitting portion

[0035] The third light emitting portion 13 is a first high beam light emitting portion that mainly irradiates light to a region above the parallel line HL with respect to the front of the vehicle Cl. That is, the headlamp 10A causes the third light emitting portion 13 to emit light as a high beam light with respect to a region (refer to Figure 2 、 3 irradiation region (third region) A3). The third light emitting portion 13 has a plurality of light emitting portions 13a. The light emitting portion 13a irradiates light to one region divided in the left-right direction in the third region A3. In other words, the third region A3 is divided into a plurality in the left-right direction, and the plurality of light emitting portions 13a are arranged in the left-right direction. One light emitting portion 13a corresponds to one region divided in the left-right direction in the third region A3, and irradiates light to the corresponding one region.

[0036] The fourth light emitting portion 14 is a second high beam light emitting portion that irradiates light to a region above the parallel line HL with respect to the front of the vehicle Cl. That is, the headlamp 10A causes the fourth light emitting portion 14 to emit light as a high beam light with respect to a region (refer to Figure 2 、 3 irradiation region (fourth region A4). That is, the fourth region A4 is set at a position (a far distance from the vehicle Cl) above the third region A3.

[0037] <Steering assistance illuminating lamp>

[0038] The steering assistance illuminating lamp 20 is a light emitting portion that irradiates light with respect to a region (refer to Figure 2 、 3 irradiation region (fifth region) A5) diagonally in front of the vehicle Cl. The fifth region A5 is set to overlap with a lower portion of a width direction end portion of the irradiation region Al, and is set to extend to the outside in the width direction and to the lower portion (a vicinity of the vehicle Cl) compared to the irradiation region Al.

[0039] <Front camera>

[0040] As shown in Figure 2 , the front camera (for example, a stereo camera) 31 photographs the front of the vehicle Cl, and outputs the photographed result to the control portion 40. The front camera 31 is a part of a moving body detection portion that detects a moving body M present in front of the vehicle Cl. The front camera 31 as a part of the moving body detection portion can also preferably use a camera other than a stereo camera.

[0041] <Raindrop detection portion>

[0042] The raindrop detection section 32 is a sensor that detects raindrops that have fallen on the front windshield or the like of the vehicle Cl and outputs the detection result to the control section 40.

[0043] <Steering angle detection section>

[0044] The steering angle detection section 33 is a sensor that detects the steering angle of the steering device of the vehicle Cl or the steering angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle Cl and outputs the detection result to the control section 40.

[0045] <Direction indicator operation section>

[0046] The direction indicator operation section 34 is an operation section that causes the direction indicator of the vehicle Cl to operate on the basis of the operation of the driver and outputs the operation result to the control section 40.

[0047] <Light switching operation section>

[0048] The light switching operation section 35 is an operation section that switches the low beam and the high beam of the headlamp 10A on the basis of the operation of the driver and outputs the operation result to the control section 40.

[0049] <Control section>

[0050] The control section 40 is a so-called ECU (Electrical Control Unit) that is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an input / output circuit, and the like. The control section 40 has the moving body detection section 41 and the lamp control section 42 as functional sections.

[0051] <Moving body detection section>

[0052] The moving body detection section 41 acquires the imaging result of the front camera 31, and detects (extracts) a moving body M (an oncoming vehicle C2, a bicycle, a pedestrian, etc.) based on the acquired imaging result. The moving body detection section 41 outputs the detection (extraction) result to the light control section 42. In addition, the moving body detection section 41 measures (calculates) the distance from the vehicle Cl to the detected moving body M and the relative position (direction) of the moving body M with respect to the vehicle Cl based on the imaging result of the front camera 31, and outputs the measurement result to the light control section 42. Further, the moving body detection section 41 is not limited to a detection section that extracts the moving body M from the imaging result of the front camera 31. For example, the moving body detection section 41 can also be a structure that detects the moving body M (the oncoming vehicle C2) based on the detection result of a radar that emits ultrasonic waves toward the front of the vehicle Cl and detects the reflected waves, the communication result of a communication mechanism that acquires the position information of the oncoming vehicle C2, etc. In addition, the moving body detection section 41 can also be a structure that detects the moving body M by acquiring the position information of a mobile terminal held by a pedestrian. Here, the moving body detection section 41 can also be a structure that measures the distance from the vehicle Cl to the moving body M based on the detection result (the transmission time and the reception time) of the radar. In addition, the moving body detection section 41 can also be a structure that detects the moving body M and the distance to the moving body M by acquiring the detection result of a sensor that detects the moving body M and a sensor that detects the distance to the moving body M.

[0053] In addition, the moving body detection section 41 can also be a structure that judges whether the moving body M is a person (a pedestrian, a user of a bicycle, etc.) using a contour extraction technique, a face recognition technique, etc. In this case, the light control section 42 can be a structure that performs the control described later in the case where the moving body M is a person.

[0054] Light Control Section

[0055] The light control section 42 controls the headlamp 10A and the cornering auxiliary illuminating lamp 20. The light control section 42 causes the headlamp 10A and the cornering auxiliary illuminating lamp 20 to be turned on or off based on the operation of the driver, etc. In addition, the light control section 42 causes the headlamp 10A to be set to the low beam or the high beam based on the operation of the light switching operation section 35 by the driver, etc. In detail, the light control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to be turned on and the second light emitting section 12A to be turned on as necessary in the case of the low beam, and causes the third light emitting section 13 and the fourth light emitting section 14 to be turned off. In addition, the light control section 42 causes the third light emitting section 13 to be turned on and the fourth light emitting section 14 to be turned on as necessary in the case of the high beam, and causes the first light emitting section 11 and the second light emitting section 12A to be turned off.

[0056] Low Beam Light Distribution State

[0057] The light control section 42 realizes the low beam light distribution state by performing the lighting control on the first light emitting section 11 and the second light emitting section 12A. In the low beam light distribution state, the third light emitting section 13, the fourth light emitting section 14, and the turning assist illuminating lamp 20 are maintained in the extinguished state. The light control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to be always lit in the low beam light distribution state, and causes the second light emitting section 12A to be lit as necessary. Further, the light control section 42 can also cause the turning assist illuminating lamp 20 to be lit in the low beam light distribution state.

[0058] The first low beam light distribution state

[0059] The light control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to be lit as the first low beam light distribution state. Here, the second light emitting section 12A is maintained in the extinguished state. In this case, the irradiation region (low beam region) Al as the basic light distribution of the low beam lamp is irradiated (refer to Figure 2 , 3 ).

[0060] The second low beam light distribution state

[0061] The light control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to be lit and at least one of the light emitting sections 12a, 12b, 12b of the second light emitting section 12A to be lit as the second low beam light distribution state. Here, the remaining light emitting sections of the light emitting sections 12a, 12b, 12b of the second light emitting section 12A are maintained in the extinguished state.

[0062] In a case where the intermediate light emitting section 12a is lit, the irradiation region A21 overlapping with the intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the irradiation region Al is irradiated, whereby the intermediate portion in the width direction of the irradiation region Al is further brightly irradiated (refer to Figure 2 , 3 ).

[0063] In a case where one of the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b is lit, the irradiation region A22 overlapping with the end portion in the left-right direction of the irradiation region Al is irradiated, whereby the end portion in the width direction of the irradiation region Al is further brightly irradiated (refer to Figure 2 , 3 ). Further, in a case where one of the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b is lit, the irradiation region A22 set over a wide range on the outside in the width direction of the irradiation region Al is irradiated, whereby the outside in the width direction is brightly irradiated (refer to Figure 2 , 3 ).

[0064] Further, in a case where one of the turning assist illuminating lamps 20, 20 is lit, the irradiation region A5 set over a wide range on the outside in the width direction and below the irradiation region Al is irradiated, whereby the outside in the width direction and below are brightly irradiated (refer to Figure 2 ,3 ).

[0065] <Control method corresponding to external situation>

[0066] Next, a control method corresponding to an external situation of the first light emitting portion 11 and the second light emitting portion 12A implemented by the light control portion 42 will be described. The light control portion 42 causes the first light emitting portion 11 to emit light as a first low beam distribution state and causes the second light emitting portion 12A to be turned off at a normal time (at a fine day, when a person is not detected).

[0067] <Control method at bad weather time>

[0068] The light control portion 42 causes the first light emitting portion 11 and the intermediate light emitting portion 12a of the second light emitting portion 12A to emit light as a second low beam distribution state and causes the end light emitting portions 12b, 12b to be turned off at a bad weather time such as a rainy day or a snowy day, in a case where raindrops are detected by the raindrop detection portion 32 as one example of the bad weather detection portion in the present embodiment. In addition, the light control portion 42 also causes the first light emitting portion 11 and the intermediate light emitting portion 12a of the second light emitting portion 12A to emit light as the second low beam distribution state and causes the end light emitting portions 12b, 12b to be turned off in a case where bad weather is detected based on a detection result of the bad weather detection portion that detects bad weather such as foggy weather, which is not illustrated. Thereby, by making the road surface that is difficult to visually observe due to the bad weather brighter, the driver's field of view can be favorably ensured.

[0069] <Control method at moving body detection time>

[0070] The light control portion 42 causes the first light emitting portion 11 to emit light, causes the light emitting portions 12a, 12b, 12b of the second light emitting portion 12A in a direction in which the moving body M (for example, a person) is present to emit light, and causes the remaining light emitting portions 12a, 12b, 12b to be turned off in a case where the person is detected by the moving body detection portion 41 in front of the vehicle C1 in the present embodiment. Thereby, the driver can favorably recognize the moving body M, and the moving body M (for example, a person) can favorably recognize the vehicle C1.

[0071] <Control method corresponding to operation situation>

[0072] Next, a control method corresponding to an operation situation of the first light emitting portion 11, the second light emitting portion 12A, and the turn assist irradiation lamp 20 implemented by the light control portion 42 will be described. The light control portion 42 causes the first light emitting portion 11 to emit light as a first low beam distribution state and causes the second light emitting portion 12A and the turn assist irradiation lamp 20 to be turned off at a normal time.

[0073] <Control method at turn operation time>

[0074] The lamp control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to emit light, and causes the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b of the second light emitting section 12A and the end light emitting section and the turn assist illuminating lamp in the direction corresponding to the steering angle in the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 (for example, the left end light emitting section 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 in the left turn) to emit light, and causes the intermediate light emitting section 12a and the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 on the other side (for example, the right end light emitting section 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 in the left turn) to be turned off, in the case where the steering angle is detected by the steering angle detection section 33 in the case where the steering device is operated. Thus, the driver's field of view in the direction of travel can be ensured well.

[0075] The lamp control section 42 can also be configured to cause the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b in the direction corresponding to the steering angle to emit light in the case where the steering angle is less than a predetermined value, and to cause the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b and the end light emitting section and the turn assist illuminating lamp in the direction corresponding to the steering angle in the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 to emit light in the case where the steering angle is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. In addition, the lamp control section 42 can also be configured to prohibit the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 from emitting light in the case where the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor or the like is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and to allow the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 to emit light in the case where the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor or the like is less than the predetermined value.

[0076] 《Control method when direction indicator is operated》

[0077] The lamp control section 42 causes the first light emitting section 11 to emit light, and causes the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b of the second light emitting section 12A and the end light emitting section and the turn assist illuminating lamp in the direction corresponding to the steering angle in the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 (for example, the left end light emitting section 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 in the left turn) to emit light, and causes the intermediate light emitting section 12a and the end light emitting sections 12b, 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 on the other side (for example, the right end light emitting section 12b and the turn assist illuminating lamp 20 in the left turn) to be turned off, in the case where the steering angle is detected by the steering angle detection section 33 in the case where the steering device is operated. Thus, the driver's field of view in the direction of travel can be ensured well.

[0078] The headlamp 10A of the first embodiment of the present application is a headlamp 10A that performs light distribution of a low beam toward the front of a vehicle C1, and is capable of switching between a first low beam light distribution state and a second low beam light distribution state. In the first low beam light distribution state, a low beam region (a light distribution region A1) that illuminates the front of the vehicle C1 is irradiated. In the second low beam light distribution state, at least one of a width direction middle portion, a width direction one end portion, and a width direction other end portion of the low beam region is irradiated more brightly than in the first low beam light distribution state.

[0079] Therefore, the headlamp 10A can improve the visual observability under the low beam by increasing the light amount of the low beam in the direction in front of the vehicle C1 in the second low beam distribution state.

[0080] In addition, the headlamp 10A can improve the visual observability under the low beam by increasing the light amount of the low beam in the direction corresponding to the direction in which the driver's attention is desired to be drawn, and can suppress the power consumption and the like by maintaining the light amount of the low beam in other directions.

[0081] The headlamp 10A described above, in the second low beam distribution state, irradiates a position farther outside in the width direction than the side on which the one end portion in the width direction and the other end portion in the width direction are irradiated brighter than in the first low beam distribution state.

[0082] Therefore, the headlamp 10A can improve the visual observability under the low beam by expanding the irradiation region of the light outside in the width direction of the vehicle C1 in the second low beam distribution state.

[0083] The headlamp control system 1A of the first embodiment of the present application includes the headlamp 10A described above and a control portion 40 that controls the headlamp 10A, and the control portion 40 controls the headlamp 10A in accordance with the external condition of the vehicle C1.

[0084] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A can improve the visual observability under the low beam by switching the first low beam distribution state and the second low beam distribution state in accordance with the external condition of the vehicle C1, and setting the direction in which the light amount is increased in the second low beam distribution state.

[0085] In the headlamp control system 1A, the control portion 40 controls the headlamp 10A to irradiate the middle portion in the width direction brighter than in the first low beam distribution state in the second low beam distribution state in bad weather.

[0086] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A can improve the visual observability of the driver in rainy weather.

[0087] In the headlamp control system 1A, the control portion 40 controls the headlamp 10A to irradiate the region in which the moving body M is present among the middle portion in the width direction, the one end portion in the width direction, and the other end portion in the width direction brighter than in the first low beam distribution state in the second low beam distribution state in the case where the moving body M is present in front of the vehicle C1.

[0088] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A can improve the visual observability of the driver in the direction in which the moving body M is present.

[0089] The headlamp control system 1A of the embodiment of the present application is provided with the above-described headlamp 10A and a control portion 40 that controls the above-described headlamp 10A, and the above-described control portion 40 controls the above-described headlamp 10A in accordance with the operating condition of the above-described vehicle Cl.

[0090] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A is able to improve the visual observability under the low beam by switching the first low beam distribution state and the second low beam distribution state in accordance with the operating condition of the vehicle Cl, and setting the light amount increase direction in the second low beam distribution state.

[0091] In the headlamp control system 1A, the above-described control portion 40 controls the above-described headlamp 10A to a state in which the region corresponding to the operation among the above-described width direction one end portion and the above-described width direction other end portion is irradiated brighter than in the above-described first low beam distribution state in the above-described second low beam distribution state in a case where the operation of the steering device or the operation of the direction indicator is performed.

[0092] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A is able to improve the visual observability under the low beam by increasing the light amount of the low beam in the direction of travel of the vehicle Cl.

[0093] The headlamp control system 1A is provided with a corner auxiliary lamp 20 that irradiates a corner region on the left and right of the above-described vehicle Cl, and the above-described headlamp 10A irradiates a position that is farther outside in the width direction than the side that is irradiated brighter among the above-described width direction one end portion and the above-described width direction other end portion in the above-described second low beam distribution state in a case where at least one of the above-described width direction one end portion and the above-described width direction other end portion is irradiated brighter than in the above-described first low beam distribution state, thereby irradiating the front of the above-described corner region, and the above-described control portion 40 controls the above-described headlamp 10A to a state in which the region corresponding to the operation among the above-described corner regions on the left and right is irradiated and the region corresponding to the operation among the above-described width direction one end portion and the above-described width direction other end portion is irradiated to a position farther outside in the width direction than in the above-described first low beam distribution state in the above-described second low beam distribution state in a case where the operation of the steering device or the operation of the direction indicator is performed.

[0094] Therefore, the headlamp control system 1A is able to further improve the visual observability under the low beam by expanding the irradiation region of the low beam in the direction of travel of the vehicle Cl using the corner auxiliary lamp 20.

[0095] <Second Embodiment>

[0096] Next, the headlamp control system of the second embodiment of the present application will be described focusing on the points of difference from the headlamp control system 1A of the first embodiment. As with the first embodiment, the headlamp control system 1B of the second embodiment is provided with the headlamp 10B and the control portion 40 that controls the headlamp 10B. Figure 4As shown, the headlamp control system IB of the second embodiment of the present application is provided with the headlamp 10B instead of the headlamp 10A. The headlamp 10B is provided with the second light emitting section 12B instead of the second light emitting section 12A.

[0097] The second light emitting section 12B is provided with the intermediate lower light emitting section 12al and the intermediate upper light emitting section 12a2 instead of the intermediate light emitting section 12a. The intermediate lower light emitting section 12al irradiates light to the area A211 which is the lower portion (e.g., the lower half, i.e., the vicinity of the vehicle Cl) of the width direction intermediate portion A21 (see FIG. 6). The intermediate upper light emitting section 12a2 irradiates light to the area A212 which is the upper portion (e.g., the upper half, i.e., the remote of the vehicle Cl) of the width direction intermediate portion A21 (see FIG. 6). Figure 5 Figure 5

[0098] The second light emitting section 12B is provided with the end lower light emitting section 12bl and the end upper light emitting section 12b2 instead of the end light emitting section 12b. The end lower light emitting section 12bl irradiates light to the area A221 which is the lower portion (e.g., the lower half, i.e., the vicinity of the vehicle Cl) of the width direction end portion A22 (see FIG. 7). The end upper light emitting section 12b2 irradiates light to the area A222 which is the upper portion (e.g., the upper half, i.e., the remote of the vehicle Cl) of the width direction end portion A22 (see FIG. 7). Figure 5 Figure 5

[0099] The lamp control section 42 performs the lighting control of the intermediate lower light emitting section 12al, the intermediate upper light emitting section 12a2, the end lower light emitting section 12bl and the end upper light emitting section 12b2 in the same control method as the intermediate light emitting section 12a and the end light emitting section 12b. Further, the lamp control section 42 lights up the intermediate lower light emitting section 12al (the intermediate upper light emitting section 12a2 is in the extinguished state) under the same conditions as the case of lighting up the intermediate light emitting section 12a, further, in the case where the vehicle speed of the vehicle Cl is low (less than the prescribed speed). The lamp control section 42 lights up the intermediate lower light emitting section 12al and the intermediate upper light emitting section 12a2 in the case where the vehicle speed of the vehicle Cl is high (more than the prescribed speed). Similarly, the lamp control section 42 lights up the end lower light emitting section 12bl (the end upper light emitting section 12b2 is in the extinguished state) under the same conditions as the case of lighting up the end light emitting section 12b, further, in the case where the vehicle speed of the vehicle Cl is low (less than the prescribed speed). The lamp control section 42 lights up the end lower light emitting section 12bl and the end upper light emitting section 12b2 in the case where the vehicle speed of the vehicle Cl is high (more than the prescribed speed).

[0100] The headlamp 10B and the headlamp control system IB of the second embodiment of the present application can light up only the lower portion of the low beam region as needed when the vehicle Cl is traveling at a low speed, and thus can achieve low power consumption and can effectively call the attention of the driver to the lower portion of the low beam region. ​​​​

[0101] The above describes the embodiment of the application, but the application is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist of the application. For example, it can also be a structure in which the headlamp has a light emitting portion that irradiates the middle portion in the width direction of the irradiation region Al and a pair of light emitting portions that irradiate both end portions in the width direction of the irradiation region Al, and the control portion realizes the first low beam light distribution state and the second low beam light distribution state by controlling the light quantity of each light emitting portion. In addition, it can also be a structure in which, in the control method on rainy days, the lamp control portion realizes the above-described second low beam light distribution state in a case where the wiper operation portion that causes the wiper to operate is operated and the wiper is operating or in a case where weather information obtained from a car navigation system or the like shows bad weather (for example, rainy days, snowfall, heavy fog, or the like).

Claims

1. A lamp, characterized in that, have: Headlights, which direct the low beam beams forward onto the vehicle; and Cornering assist lights illuminate the left and right corner areas of the vehicle. The headlight can switch between a first low beam distribution state and a second low beam distribution state. In the first low beam illumination state, the low beam area on the front of the vehicle is illuminated. In the second low beam illumination state, at least one of the middle portion, one end portion, and the other end portion of the low beam region in the width direction is illuminated brighter than in the first low beam illumination state. When the headlight is in the second low beam configuration, and at least one of the ends in the width direction and the other end in the width direction is illuminated brighter than in the first low beam configuration, it illuminates a position on the outer side of the width direction of the side that is illuminated brighter than the end in the width direction and the other end in the width direction in the low beam region, thereby illuminating the front of the corner region.

2. A lighting control system, characterized in that, have: The lamp as claimed in claim 1; and The control unit that controls the lamp The control unit controls the headlights according to the external conditions of the vehicle.

3. The lighting control system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In bad weather, the control unit controls the headlights to illuminate the middle portion of the beam in the width direction in the second low beam configuration state, making it brighter than in the first low beam configuration state.

4. The lighting control system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, When there is a moving object in front of the vehicle, the control unit controls the headlights to illuminate the area where the moving object is located in the middle part, one end and the other end of the width direction in the second low beam configuration state to be brighter than in the first low beam configuration state.

5. A lighting control system, characterized in that, have: The lamp as claimed in claim 1; and The control unit that controls the lamp The control unit controls the lights according to the vehicle's operating status.

6. The lighting control system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, When the steering device or the direction indicator is operated, the control unit controls the headlights to illuminate the area corresponding to the operation at one end and the other end of the width direction in the second low beam configuration state to be brighter than in the first low beam configuration state.

7. The lighting control system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, When the steering device or the direction indicator is operated, the control unit controls the headlights to be in the following state: illuminating the area corresponding to the operation in the left and right corner areas, and in the second low beam distribution state illuminating the area corresponding to the operation at one end in the width direction and the other end in the width direction to a position further outward in the width direction than in the first low beam distribution state.

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