Lighting control device and computer program product

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting control device and a computer program product. A lighting control device according to one technical solution includes a processor, which controls the light quantity of a lighting unit provided in the vehicle based on a detection result of a detection unit that monitors the surrounding environment of the vehicle and a monitoring result of power balance provided in a power supply unit provided in the vehicle, and when it is determined based on the monitoring result of the power balance that the power consumption of the power supply unit should be reduced, the processor calculates an adjusted illumination level after reducing the current illumination level of the lighting unit based on the detection result of the detection unit, and reduces the light quantity of the lighting unit based on the adjusted illumination level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting control device and a computer program product capable of adjusting the illumination level of a lighting (illumination) part provided on a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the amount of light from vehicle lighting has increased, and the power consumption of the lighting has also increased. Therefore, in recent years, vehicle lighting is required to illuminate as wide a range as possible in normal conditions, and to adjust to reduce power consumption when the remaining power of a power supply device such as a secondary battery drops below a predetermined level.

[0003] Patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-002931) describes a vehicle lighting device including a control unit that changes an illuminated area to a high-speed state that is narrower than a normal state when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling on a highway.

[0004] According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, even when the power consumption in the vehicle is not tight, it is possible to reduce the illuminated area in the case of a vehicle that can be fully illuminated when traveling on a highway. The technology described in Patent Document 1 makes it possible to reduce the visibility of the illuminated range at unnecessary timing. According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, the illuminated range is changed in a reduced manner when the vehicle is traveling on a highway, so the visibility of vehicles parked on the roadside and / or objects on the roadside may be reduced. Summary of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting control device and a computer program product that can reduce power consumption by adjusting the irradiation range while irradiating an irradiation target existing around a vehicle.

[0006] A technical solution of the present invention is a lighting control device, which has a processor, which controls the light intensity of a lighting unit provided in the vehicle based on the detection result of a detection unit that monitors the vehicle's surrounding environment and the monitoring result of the power income and expenditure (balance) provided in the power supply unit provided in the vehicle. When it is determined based on the monitoring result of the power income and expenditure that the power consumption (power consumption) of the power supply unit should be reduced, based on the detection result of the detection unit, an adjusted illumination level is calculated after reducing (lowering) the current illumination level of the lighting unit, and based on the adjusted illumination level, the light intensity of the lighting unit is reduced.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption by adjusting the irradiation range while irradiating an irradiation target existing around a vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing the structure of the lighting control device according to the embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the lighting unit.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the adjusted irradiation range after the light amount of the irradiation range in the normal state is reduced.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an adjusted irradiation range including an irradiation object.

[0012] Figure 5 It is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the lighting control method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle 1 includes a lighting unit 2 for illuminating the front area, a detection unit 4 for monitoring the environment around the vehicle 1, and a lighting control device 5 for controlling the lighting unit 2. The lighting unit 2 includes, for example, a light source formed by an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light-emitting element. A circuit unit for adjusting the light amount is provided for the light source. The lighting unit 2 is supplied with power by a power supply unit 3 provided in the vehicle 1. The power supply unit 3 is composed of, for example, a rechargeable and dischargeable secondary battery and a control circuit for controlling the charge and discharge of power. The power supply unit 3 may also include a power generation device such as a fuel cell. In the case where the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle, the power supply unit 3 may also be configured to supply power not only to the lighting unit 2 but also for driving.

[0014] The detection unit 4 is composed of a plurality of sensors capable of detecting the environment around the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may include, for example, a camera for photographing the surroundings of the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also include, for example, a laser radar device for detecting objects around the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also include, for example, a communication unit for performing inter-vehicle communication with other vehicles around the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also include, for example, a communication unit for communicating with terminal devices owned by traffic participants such as pedestrians around the vehicle 1.

[0015] The detection unit 4 may also include, for example, a position sensor for detecting the current position of the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also include, for example, a six-axis sensor for detecting the posture and / or acceleration of the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also be composed of, for example, a navigation device for calculating a path to the destination of the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 may also include sensors for driving and / or driving assistance of the vehicle 1 in addition to this. The detection unit 4 may also include other sensors as long as it can detect information required for the driving of the vehicle 1. The detection unit 4 outputs the detection results of the predetermined sensors to the lighting control device 5.

[0016] The lighting control device 5 is a computer device configured to adjust the light amount of the lighting unit 2. The lighting control device 5 includes a control unit 6 for controlling the light amount of the lighting unit 2 and a storage unit 7 storing data and computer programs required for the control. The control unit 6 is composed of at least one hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage unit 7 is composed of a non-transient storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD).

[0017] The control unit 6 is connected to the lighting unit 2, and controls the circuit unit to adjust the light amount of the light source. The control unit 6 is connected to the control circuit of the power supply unit 3, and monitors the power balance and / or voltage of the power supply unit 3. The control unit 6 monitors the power balance of the power supply unit 3 based on the power consumption of the lighting unit 2 connected to the power supply unit 3 and the charging power input to the power supply unit 3. The control unit 6 calculates the current capacity of the power supply unit 3 based on the monitoring results of the voltage and power balance of the power supply unit 3. The control unit 6 can also calculate the future capacity of the power supply unit 3 based on the monitoring results of the voltage and power balance of the power supply unit 3.

[0018] When the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle, the control unit 6 may calculate the future capacity of the power supply unit 3 and / or the cruising range of the vehicle 1 based on the SOC (State Of Charge) indicating the charging state of the power supply unit 3 and the power consumption of the vehicle 1. The control unit 6 determines whether the power consumption of the power supply unit 3 should be reduced based on the monitoring result of the power balance of the power supply unit 3.

[0019] For example, when the current voltage of the power supply unit 3 is below a preset threshold, the control unit 6 determines that the power consumption of the power supply unit 3 should be reduced. In another example, the control unit 6 may determine that the power consumption of the power supply unit 3 should be reduced when it is predicted that the power capacity of the power supply unit 3 will be insufficient after a predetermined time based on the current power capacity and current power consumption of the power supply unit 3. In another example, when the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle, the control unit 6 may determine that the power consumption of the power supply unit 3 should be reduced when it is predicted that the cruising range of the vehicle 1 is insufficient to reach the destination based on the current SOC of the power supply unit 3.

[0020] The control unit 6 controls the lighting unit 2 in a normal state to illuminate an illumination range corresponding to the control value of the normal state, that is, the illumination level. When it is determined that the power consumption of the power supply unit 3 should be reduced, the control unit 6 calculates an adjusted illumination level after reducing the illumination level of the lighting unit 2 in the normal state. The adjusted illumination level is a control value that can reduce the power consumption compared to the current illumination level. The control unit 6 controls the lighting unit 2 to calculate an adjusted illumination range corresponding to the calculated adjusted illumination level. The control unit 6 controls the lighting unit 2 to illuminate the adjusted illumination range after reducing the amount of light in the illumination range in the normal state. The adjusted illumination range is calculated, for example, by reducing the area of ​​the illumination range in the normal state. The adjusted illumination range can also be calculated by reducing the amount of light irradiated to the illumination range in the normal state.

[0021] When the area of ​​the irradiation range in the normal state is reduced, the control unit 6, for example, controls the lighting unit 2 to reduce the light amount of the dimmable light source among the plurality of light sources to irradiate the adjusted irradiation range. When irradiating the adjusted irradiation range with a reduced light amount compared to the irradiation range in the normal state, the control unit 6 may also control the lighting unit 2 to simply reduce the light amount of the irradiation range in the normal state to irradiate the adjusted irradiation range.

[0022] When the irradiation object is detected by the detection unit 4, the control unit 6 calculates the adjusted irradiation range so that the irradiation object is irradiated. When the irradiation object is detected by the detection unit 4, the control unit 6 calculates the adjusted irradiation range in which the area not including the irradiation object is not irradiated compared with the irradiation range in the normal state. The irradiation object includes traffic participants such as pedestrians and other vehicles, objects and structures existing near and on the road, and the like.

[0023] The control unit 6 detects the irradiated object based on, for example, the analysis result of the image captured by the camera included in the detection unit 4. The control unit 6 detects the irradiated object based on, for example, the output value of the laser radar device included in the detection unit 4. The detection unit 4 detects the irradiated objects such as other vehicles around the vehicle 1 and traffic participants such as pedestrians around the vehicle 1 based on, for example, the communication result of the communication unit included in the detection unit 4.

[0024] The control unit 6 calculates the relative coordinates between the vehicle 1 and the irradiation object based on the detection value of the detection unit 4. The control unit 6 calculates the adjusted irradiation range that changes with time according to the relative moving speed of the irradiation object. The control unit 6 controls the lighting unit 2 to irradiate the adjusted irradiation range in a manner that changes with time.

[0025] like Figure 2As shown, the lighting unit 2 includes a pair of first lighting unit 2A and second lighting unit 2B for illuminating the front of the vehicle 1. The first lighting unit 2A and the second lighting unit 2B are, for example, juxtaposed (parallel) in the horizontal direction on the front side of the vehicle 1. The first lighting unit 2A includes, for example, a plurality of light sources D arranged in a matrix shape. The second lighting unit 2B includes, for example, a plurality of light sources D arranged in a matrix shape. The control unit 6 individually (single) controls the light amount of the plurality of light sources D provided in the first lighting unit 2A. The control unit 6 individually controls the light amount of the plurality of light sources D provided in the second lighting unit 2B. The correspondence between each light source D and its individual irradiation range is preset.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the lighting unit 2 illuminates a predetermined illumination range S1 in front of the vehicle 1. The lighting unit 2 illuminates the predetermined illumination range S1 according to the illumination level in the normal state. When the control unit 6 determines that the power consumption should be reduced, it illuminates the adjusted illumination range S2 after the illumination range S1 is reduced. The lighting unit 2 illuminates the adjusted illumination range S2 according to the adjusted illumination level. In the normal state, the control unit 6 individually controls the light amounts of the multiple light sources D provided in the first lighting unit 2A to be the normal light amount, and individually controls the light amounts of the multiple light sources D provided in the second lighting unit 2B to be the normal light amount, so that they illuminate the predetermined illumination range S1 in front of the vehicle 1.

[0027] When it is determined that the power consumption should be reduced, the control unit 6 controls the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the first light unit 2A individually and the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the second light unit 2B individually so as to make them irradiate the adjusted irradiation range S2 after reducing the light amount of the predetermined irradiation range S1 in front of the vehicle 1. The control unit 6 reduces the light amount of the dimmable light sources D among the plurality of light sources D provided in the first light unit 2A and the plurality of light sources D provided in the second light unit 2B so as to irradiate the adjusted irradiation range S2. The control unit 6, for example, makes the light unit 2 irradiate the adjusted irradiation range S2 by switching the light sources D between the on (ON) state and the off (OFF) state individually. The control unit 6 may also make the light unit 2 irradiate the adjusted irradiation range S2 not only by making the light amount of the light sources D be in the off state but also by reducing the light amount individually. Based on the above processing, the light control device 5 can reduce the power consumption by making the light unit 2 irradiate the adjusted irradiation range S2.

[0028] like Figure 4As shown, when it is determined that the power consumption should be reduced and the irradiation object K is detected by the detection unit 4, the lighting unit 2 irradiates the adjusted irradiation range S2A including the irradiation object K and reducing the area not including the irradiation object K. In a normal state, the control unit 6 individually controls the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the first lighting unit 2A to be the normal light amount, and individually controls the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the second lighting unit 2B to be the normal light amount, so that they irradiate the predetermined irradiation range S1 in front of the vehicle 1.

[0029] The control unit 6 controls the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the first light unit 2A individually and the light amounts of the plurality of light sources D provided in the second light unit 2B individually, so that they illuminate the adjusted illumination range S2A after reducing the light amount of the predetermined illumination range S1 in front of the vehicle 1. The control unit 6 reduces the light amount of the dimmable light sources D among the plurality of light sources D provided in the first light unit 2A and the plurality of light sources D provided in the second light unit 2B to illuminate the adjusted illumination range S2A. The control unit 6, for example, switches the on state and the off state of the light sources D individually, so that the light unit 2 illuminates the adjusted illumination range S2. The control unit 6 may also cause the light unit 2 to illuminate the adjusted illumination range S2A by reducing the light amount of the light sources D individually.

[0030] The control unit 6 controls the light unit 2 over time so that the illumination range S1 in the normal state is changed to the illumination adjustment range S2A according to the change over time of the relative coordinates of the illumination object K. When the illumination object K approaches the relative coordinates included in the adjustment illumination range S2, the control unit 6 changes the adjustment illumination range S2A to the adjustment illumination range S2 because the illumination object K can be visually recognized. Based on the above processing, when the illumination object K is detected, the light control device 5 can make the light unit 2 illuminate the adjustment illumination range S2A for illuminating the illumination object K. By illuminating the adjustment illumination range S2A for illuminating the illumination object K, the light control device 5 can reduce power consumption while improving the visibility of the illumination object K.

[0031] Figure 5 , a flow of processing of the lighting control method executed in the lighting control device 5 is shown. The lighting control method is executed by a computer program installed in the lighting control device 5. When the lighting unit 2 is in the lighting state, the control unit 6 monitors the power balance of the lighting unit 2 (S100). Based on the monitoring result of the power balance of the lighting unit 2, the control unit 6 determines whether the power consumption of the lighting unit 2 should be reduced (S102).

[0032] When the control unit 6 determines that the power consumption of the light unit 2 should be reduced, the control unit 6 determines whether there is an irradiation object K around the vehicle 1 based on the detection result of the detection unit that monitors the vehicle surrounding environment (S104). When the control unit 6 determines that there is no irradiation object K around the vehicle 1, the control unit 6 calculates an adjusted irradiation level after reducing the current irradiation level of the light unit 2 (S106). The control unit 6 calculates an adjusted irradiation range corresponding to the calculated adjusted irradiation level (S108). The control unit 6 reduces the light amount of the light unit 2 based on the adjusted irradiation level, and irradiates the adjusted irradiation range (S110).

[0033] When the control unit 6 determines in S104 that there is an irradiation object K around the vehicle 1, the control unit 6 calculates an adjusted irradiation level including the irradiation object K (S112). The control unit 6 calculates an adjusted irradiation range corresponding to the adjusted irradiation level including the irradiation object K (S114). The control unit 6 reduces the light amount of the light unit 2 based on the adjusted irradiation level including the irradiation object K, and irradiates the adjusted irradiation range (S110).

[0034] If the control unit 6 determines in S102 that the power consumption of the lighting unit 2 does not need to be reduced, it irradiates the irradiation range corresponding to the irradiation level in the normal state (S116) and continues the determination process in S102. The lighting control device 5 repeatedly executes the above process while the lighting unit 2 is turned on.

[0035] As described above, according to the light control device 5, when it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the light unit 2, the power consumption can be reduced by reducing the light amount of the light unit 2. According to the light control device 5, when there is an irradiation object K around the vehicle 1, the power consumption can be reduced by controlling the light unit 2 to irradiate the irradiation object K while reducing the irradiation range.

[0036] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the computer program executed in each component of the lighting control device 5 can also be provided in the form of a computer-readable, removable, non-transient recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic recording medium, or an optical recording medium. In the above-mentioned embodiment, various additions, substitutions, changes, partial deletions, etc. can be made without departing from the scope of the invention or the scope of the idea and purpose of the invention derived from the contents recorded in the claims and their equivalents.

[0037] For example, the first lighting unit 2A may be composed of one light source, and the second lighting unit 2B may be composed of one light source D. In this case, the lighting control device 5 may also control so that the light amount of one light source D of the first lighting unit 2A and the light amount of one light source D of the second lighting unit 2B are reduced. The lighting unit 2 may also be composed of a single first lighting unit 2A. The lighting unit 2 may be composed not only of an LED light source, but also of other light sources as long as the light amount is adjustable, such as an HID (High-Intensity Discharge) light source, a laser light source, a halogen bulb light source, etc. The light amount of the light source D in the normal state may also be changed according to the light amount of the environment around the vehicle 1.

[0038] The light control device 5 is applicable not only to electric vehicles but also to vehicles with internal combustion engines. The light control device is also applicable to hybrid vehicles with internal combustion engines. The light control device is not only applicable to four-wheeled vehicles but also to two-wheeled vehicles and vehicles with more than four wheels. The light control device 5 is also applicable to automatic driving vehicles and manually driven vehicles. The light control device 5 is also applicable to human-powered vehicles such as bicycles.

Claims

1. A lighting control device, comprising a processor, the processor, controlling the light intensity of a lighting unit provided in the vehicle based on a detection result of a detection unit monitoring the vehicle surrounding environment and a monitoring result of power balance of a power supply unit provided in the vehicle, When it is determined based on the monitoring result of the power balance that the power consumption of the power supply unit should be reduced, an adjusted irradiance level is calculated based on the detection result of the detection unit so as to reduce the current irradiance level of the lighting unit. Based on the adjusted illumination level, the amount of light of the lighting unit is reduced.

2. The lighting control device according to claim 1, the processor, controlling the lighting unit including a plurality of light sources to illuminate a predetermined irradiation range corresponding to the current irradiation level, In the adjustment of the light amount according to the adjusted irradiation level, based on the detection result of the detection unit, an adjusted irradiation range after the irradiation range is reduced is calculated, The light amount of the dimmable light source among the plurality of light sources is reduced to illuminate the adjusted illumination range.

3. The lighting control device according to claim 2, the processor, When the irradiation object is detected by the detection unit, the adjusted irradiation range is calculated so that the irradiation object is irradiated.

4. The lighting control device according to claim 3, the processor, When the irradiation object is detected by the detection unit, the adjusted irradiation range is calculated so that a region not including the irradiation object is not irradiated compared to the irradiation range.

5. A computer program product comprising a program, The program causes the processor to execute the following processing: monitoring a detection result of a detection unit, the detection unit monitoring an environment around the vehicle; monitoring the power balance of a power supply unit provided in the vehicle; When it is determined based on the monitoring result of the power balance that the power consumption of the power supply unit should be reduced, based on the detection result of the detection unit, an adjusted illumination level is calculated by reducing the current illumination level of the lighting unit provided in the vehicle; Based on the adjusted illumination level, the amount of light from the lighting unit is reduced.

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