Vehicle lamp control method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle lamp control method and device. When a lane of a host vehicle is changed, a light pattern is projected by a lamp of the host vehicle in a direction extending from the host vehicle toward a lane side of a lane change destination, the light pattern being a pattern in which three partial projection regions having a predetermined shape are arranged in a direction extending from the host vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination. Furthermore, at the timing at which the lane change progresses, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared to the timing at which the lane change starts by reducing the number of the partial projection regions of the predetermined shape included in the light pattern.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lamp control method and a vehicle lamp control device. Background Art

[0002] In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-79907, there is described a technique in which, when the own vehicle makes a left or right turn, a travel path display image indicating the travel path of the own vehicle is projected onto the road surface around the own vehicle (see paragraphs Figure 4 and Figure 5 etc. of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-79907). Summary of the Invention

[0003] When a light pattern is projected from the own vehicle toward the lane of the lane change destination when the own vehicle makes a lane change, there is a concern that the light pattern may be projected so as to extend beyond the lane of the lane change destination, thus causing confusion to traffic participants around the own vehicle.

[0004] The present disclosure has been completed in view of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a vehicle lamp control method and a vehicle lamp control device that can suppress causing confusion to traffic participants around the own vehicle when the own vehicle makes a lane change.

[0005] The vehicle lamp control method according to the first aspect is that, when the own vehicle makes a lane change, a light pattern is projected by a lamp of the own vehicle in a direction extending from the own vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and at a timing when the lane change has progressed, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared to the timing of the start of the lane change.

[0006] In the first aspect, at a timing when the lane change of the own vehicle has progressed, the length of the light pattern projected in the direction extending from the own vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination is shortened compared to the timing of the start of the lane change of the own vehicle. Thereby, since the case where the light pattern is projected so as to extend beyond the lane of the lane change destination is suppressed, it is possible to suppress causing confusion to traffic participants around the own vehicle.

[0007] The second aspect is that, in the first aspect, the light pattern is a pattern in which partial projection regions of two or more predetermined shapes are arranged in a direction extending from the own vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination.

[0008] In the second mode, since the light pattern is formed by arranging partial projection regions of two or more predetermined shapes in a direction extending from the host vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, traffic participants existing around the host vehicle can more easily recognize the light pattern.

[0009] The third mode is that, in the second mode, the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the number of the partial projection regions of the predetermined shape included in the light pattern.

[0010] In the third mode, the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the number of the partial projection regions of the predetermined shape included in the light pattern. As a result, traffic participants existing around the host vehicle can more easily recognize the situation where the length of the light pattern becomes shorter.

[0011] The fourth mode is that, in the first mode, the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the overall size of the light pattern.

[0012] In the fourth mode, the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the overall size of the light pattern. As a result, traffic participants existing around the host vehicle can more easily recognize the situation where the length of the light pattern becomes shorter.

[0013] The vehicle lamp control device according to the fifth mode includes a control unit that performs the following control: when the host vehicle changes lanes, a light pattern is projected in a direction extending from the host vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and at a timing when the lane change progresses, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared to the timing of the start of the lane change.

[0014] In the fifth mode, similarly to the first mode, when the host vehicle changes lanes, it is possible to suppress the situation of causing confusion to traffic participants existing around the host vehicle.

[0015] The present disclosure has an effect of being able to suppress the situation of causing confusion to traffic participants existing around the host vehicle when the host vehicle changes lanes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Hereinafter, the features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements, and:

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle lamp device according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a lamp unit.

[0019] Figure 2B A schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a lamp unit.

[0020] Figure 2C A schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a lamp unit.

[0021] Figure 2D A schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a lamp unit.

[0022] Figure 3 A flowchart showing an example of light pattern projection control processing.

[0023] Figure 4 An explanatory diagram for explaining a method of extinguishing a part of a light pattern according to the protrusion amount of a lane from a lane change destination based on the light pattern.

[0024] Figure 5 An explanatory diagram for explaining a method of reducing and deforming the entire light pattern according to the protrusion amount of a lane from a lane change destination based on the light pattern. Detailed implementation mode

[0025] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As Figure 1 shown, the vehicle lamp device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor group 12, a sensor control device 24, a driving operation information recording device 26, a navigation system 27, a lane change steering assist function unit 28, a lamp lighting control device 30, and a lamp unit 32. In addition, hereinafter, the vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp device 10 will be referred to as "this vehicle".

[0026] The sensor group 12 includes various sensors such as a camera 14, an angular velocity sensor 16, a vehicle speed sensor 18, a steering wheel angle sensor 20, and a turn signal lever switch 22. The camera 14 photographs the surroundings of this vehicle and outputs the photographing result as image information. The angular velocity sensor 16 detects the angular velocity of this vehicle and outputs angular velocity information. The vehicle speed sensor 18 detects the vehicle speed of this vehicle and outputs vehicle speed information. The steering wheel angle sensor 20 detects the steering angle of this vehicle and outputs steering angle information. The turn signal lever switch 22 switches the contact position by being turned on left or right by an occupant of this vehicle to the left or right when turning left or right of this vehicle and when changing the traveling path to the left or right, and then outputs contact position information indicating the contact position.

[0027] The sensor control device 24 performs the following processing: supplying power to each sensor of the sensor group 12, receiving the information output from each sensor, and monitoring the state of the vehicle. The driving operation information recording device 26 records the operation of the steering signal lever performed by the occupant of the vehicle as driving operation information. The navigation system 27 performs processing of displaying the position of the vehicle on a map or determining and guiding a route to a destination based on the position information of the vehicle located by a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) sensor and map information.

[0028] When the first lane change condition is satisfied and it is determined that the surrounding conditions detected by the sensor group 12 are in a lane-changeable state, the lane change steering assist function unit 28 works in cooperation with the sensor control device 24, the driving operation information recording device 26, and the navigation system 27 to perform automatic steering during the lane change of the vehicle. In addition, as the first lane change condition, for example, there may be a case where the steering signal lever is turned on by the occupant of the vehicle to the left or right during the period when the vehicle is traveling by cruise control.

[0029] The lamp lighting control device 30 incorporates a memory such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive). In the storage unit, a predetermined program for causing the CPU of the lamp lighting control device 30 to function as a control unit is stored. The control unit performs control to project a light pattern in a direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination by the lamp unit 32 of the vehicle. Moreover, the control unit performs the following control: shortening the length of the light pattern at the timing when the lane change progresses compared to the start timing of the lane change. In addition, the lamp lighting control device 30 is an example of a vehicle lamp control device according to the present disclosure.

[0030] On the other hand, the lamp unit 32 is an auxiliary lamp that emits light toward the surrounding road surface of the vehicle and is configured to be able to change the light pattern irradiated on the road surface. In the present embodiment, the lamp units 32 are respectively provided at the left and right front ends and the sides of the vehicle. Each lamp unit 32 can adopt, for example, as Figure 2Aa structure including an LED array 34 in which a plurality of LED chips 36 are arranged in a matrix and a lens 38 disposed on the light-emitting side of the LED array 34, as in the micro-LED method. In this structure (micro-LED method), the light emitted from each LED chip 36 is arranged in a matrix on the road surface, and by controlling the lighting and extinguishing of each LED chip 36, the light pattern irradiated on the road surface can be changed into any pattern.

[0031] Next, as the operation of this embodiment, regarding the light pattern projection control process executed by the CPU of the lamp lighting control device 30 during the period when the ignition switch of this vehicle is turned on, it will be described with reference to Figure 3 In step 70 of the light pattern projection control process, the lamp lighting control device 30 stops projecting the light pattern from the lamp unit 32 onto the road surface around this vehicle.

[0032] In step 72, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether the light pattern projection function for projecting the light pattern from the lamp unit 32 onto the road surface around this vehicle is set to "effective". Additionally, the light pattern projection function is set to "effective" or "invalid", for example, by an occupant of this vehicle operating a switch (not shown). If the determination in step 72 is negative, it returns to step 70, and if the determination in step 72 is affirmative, it proceeds to step 74.

[0033] In step 74, the lamp lighting control device 30 acquires the contact position information output from the turn signal lever switch 22 via the sensor control device 24. The lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether the turn signal lever is turned on and operated to the left or right based on the acquired information. If the determination in step 74 is negative, it returns to step 70, and if the determination in step 74 is affirmative, it proceeds to step 76.

[0034] In step 76, the lamp lighting control device 30 projects the light pattern in a fully lit state from the lamp unit 32 corresponding to the direction in which the turn signal lever is turned on and operated onto the road surface around this vehicle. As an example, Figure 4 (A) shows an example in which the turn signal lever is turned on and operated to the right, and the light pattern is projected in a fully lit state from the lamp units 32 at the right front end and the right side of the corresponding vehicle onto the surrounding road surface. Figure 4The light pattern shown in (A) is a pattern in which three partial projection regions shaped like an inverted V that are convex in the direction away from the host vehicle are arranged in the direction extending from the host vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and the width of the partial projection regions increases as the distance from the host vehicle increases. In this way, by projecting the light pattern onto the road surface around the host vehicle, traffic participants present around the host vehicle can be made to recognize a situation where the host vehicle intends to make a left or right turn or change lanes to the left or right. In the present embodiment, when the host vehicle makes a left or right turn or the like, the light pattern is maintained in a fully lit state.

[0035] In addition, the number of partial projection regions constituting the light pattern may be other than three. Further, in step 76 described above, when projecting the light pattern from the lamp unit 32 onto the road surface, it is not limited to maintaining the light pattern in a fully lit state. For example, the lit partial projection regions in the light pattern may be switched so that the light pattern changes like an animation.

[0036] In the next step 78, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether it is possible to communicate with each of the functional units of the sensor control device 24, the driving operation information recording device 26, the navigation system 27, and the lane change steering assist function unit 28, respectively. In the case where an abnormality such as a communication failure occurs, the determination in step 78 is negative and the process returns to step 70, while in normal times, the determination in step 78 is positive and the process proceeds to step 80.

[0037] In step 80, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether any one of the functional units of the sensor control device 24, the driving operation information recording device 26, the navigation system 27, and the lane change steering assist function unit 28 has sent a signal indicating that automatic steering is being performed during a lane change of the host vehicle. When the determination in step 80 is negative, the process proceeds to step 82, and when the determination in step 80 is positive, the process proceeds to step 84.

[0038] In step 82, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether the information from the sensor control device 24 satisfies the second lane change condition, that is, whether the lane change of the host vehicle is being performed manually. When the determination in step 82 is negative, the process returns to step 70, and when the determination in step 82 is positive, the process proceeds to step 84. An example of the second lane change condition is a situation where it is detected from an image captured by the camera 14 that the host vehicle is crossing a lane, and the steering angle of the steering wheel of the host vehicle is less than a predetermined angle threshold and the angular velocity of the host vehicle is less than a predetermined angular velocity threshold. In addition, as the angle threshold, for example, ±15° can be applied, and as the angular velocity threshold, for example, 0.3G can be applied.

[0039] In addition, the determination of whether the lane change of the vehicle is being implemented manually is not limited to the above method. For example, it can also be set such that by comparing the driving status of the vehicle that can be detected based on the image captured by the camera 14 with the map information of the navigation system 27, it is determined whether the lane change of the vehicle is being implemented manually. In addition, it can also be set such that based on the image captured by the camera 14 or the like, the locations where the driver has implemented lane changes in the past are pre-learned, and when the current position of the vehicle is a location where the driver has implemented lane changes in the past, it is determined whether to implement the lane change of the vehicle.

[0040] In step 84, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether to implement the control of the light pattern accompanying the lane change. When the determination in step 84 is negative, it returns to step 70, and when the determination in step 84 is affirmative, it proceeds to step 86.

[0041] In step 86, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines, for example, based on the image captured by the camera 14 or the like, whether the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the road surface extends beyond the lane of the lane change destination. At the timing immediately after the lane change starts, as shown in (A) of Figure 4 and (A) of Figure 5 the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the road surface converges within the lane of the lane change destination. Therefore, the determination in step 86 is negative and it returns to step 70.

[0042] On the other hand, at the timing when a certain amount of time has passed since the start of the lane change, as shown by the dashed lines in (B) and (C) of Figure 4 the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the road surface extends beyond the lane of the lane change destination. In this case, the determination in step 86 is affirmative and it proceeds to step 88.

[0043] In step 88, the lamp lighting control device 30 detects the amount by which the projection range of the light pattern extends beyond the lane of the lane change destination, and based on the detected amount, executes the first control (extinguishing control) to extinguish a part of the light pattern or the second control (shrinking and deforming control) to shrink and deform the light pattern. In the next step 90, the lamp lighting control device 30 determines whether the lane change is still ongoing. When the determination in step 90 is negative, it returns to step 70, and when the determination in step 90 is affirmative, it returns to step 86.

[0044] InFigure 4 Examples of control results are shown in (B) and (C) when steps 86 to 90 described above are repeatedly performed during a lane change to the right lane and the first control (extinguishing control) is performed during that period. At Figure 4 At the timing shown in (B) of, the host vehicle is crossing a lane. Among the lamp units 32 provided at the right front end and the right side of the host vehicle, the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the right side of the host vehicle extends from the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination. Therefore, in step 88, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4 (B) of, for the lamp unit 32 on the right side of the host vehicle, a partial projection area (the partial projection area with the largest distance from the host vehicle) of a part of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32, whose projection position extends from the lane adjacent to the right, is extinguished.

[0045] In addition, at Figure 4 the timing shown in (C) of, compared with the timing shown in (B) of Figure 4 the lane change has progressed, and the host vehicle is moving into the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination. At this timing, the projection ranges of the light patterns emitted from the lamp units 32 at the right front end and the right side of the host vehicle extend from the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination, respectively. Therefore, in step 88, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4 (C) of, for the lamp units 32 at the right front end and the right side of the host vehicle, a partial projection area of a part of the light patterns emitted from these lamp units 32, whose projection positions extend from the lane adjacent to the right, is extinguished. That is, the partial projection areas (the two partial projection areas with the largest distance from the host vehicle in sequence) of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the right side of the host vehicle, whose projection positions extend from the lane adjacent to the right, are extinguished. Moreover, the partial projection area (the partial projection area with the largest distance from the host vehicle) of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 at the right front end of the host vehicle, whose projection position extends from the lane adjacent to the right, is extinguished. Thereby, the situation of causing confusion to traffic participants existing around the host vehicle is suppressed.

[0046] In addition, examples of control results are shown in (B) and (C) when steps 86 to 90 described above are repeatedly performed during a lane change to the right lane and the second control (shrinking and deforming control) is performed during that period. At Figure 5 the timing shown in (B) of, the host vehicle is crossing a lane, and the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 on the right side of the host vehicle extends from the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination (also refer to Figure 5 (B) of Figure 4(B) of. Therefore, in step 88, as Figure 5 shown in (B), the light pattern is reduced and deformed for the lamp unit 32 on the right side of the vehicle so that the projection range of the light pattern emitted from the lamp unit 32 does not extend beyond the adjacent lane on the right (so that any of the three partial projection areas constituting the light pattern does not extend beyond the adjacent lane on the right).

[0047] In addition, at the timing shown in Figure 5 (C), compared with the timing shown in Figure 5 (B), the lane change has progressed, and the vehicle is moving into the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination. Moreover, at this timing, if the second control is not implemented, the projection ranges of the light patterns emitted from the right front end and the right side lamp unit 32 of the vehicle will extend beyond the lane adjacent to the right of the lane change destination respectively (also refer to Figure 4 (C)). Therefore, in step 88, as Figure 5 shown in (C), for the right front end and the right side lamp unit 32 of the vehicle, the light pattern is reduced and deformed at a reduction rate larger than that shown in Figure 5 (B) so that the projection ranges of the light patterns emitted from these lamp units 32 do not extend beyond the lane adjacent to the right. In this case, the situation of confusing the traffic participants existing around the vehicle is also suppressed. In addition, the reduction rate when reducing and deforming the light pattern may be the same or different in the extending direction (the arrangement direction of the partial projection areas) and the direction crossing it (the width direction of the partial projection areas).

[0048] When the lane change to the lane of the lane change destination is completed via the above control, the determination in step 90 is negated and returned to step 70, thus ending the projection of the light pattern.

[0049] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle changes lanes, the lamp unit 32 of the vehicle projects a light pattern in the direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and at the timing when the lane change has progressed, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared with the start timing of the lane change. Thereby, the situation where the light pattern is projected beyond the lane of the lane change destination can be suppressed, and thus the situation of confusing the traffic participants existing around the vehicle can be suppressed.

[0050] In addition, in the present embodiment, the light pattern is a pattern in which two or more partial projection areas of predetermined shapes are arranged in the direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination. Thereby, the traffic participants existing around the vehicle can easily recognize the light pattern.

[0051] In addition, in the first control of the present embodiment, by reducing the number of partial projection areas of a predetermined shape included in the light pattern, the length of the light pattern is shortened. As a result, traffic participants present around the vehicle can easily recognize that the length of the light pattern has become shorter.

[0052] In addition, in the second control of the present embodiment, by reducing the size of the entire light pattern, the length of the light pattern is shortened. As a result, traffic participants present around the vehicle can easily recognize that the length of the light pattern has become shorter.

[0053] Although in the above-described embodiment, the manner in which the lamp units 32 are respectively provided at the left and right front ends and the sides of the vehicle has been described, the number and the installation positions of the lamp units 32 are not limited thereto. For example, the lamp units 32 may be provided only at the left and right front ends of the vehicle, or may be provided only at the left and right sides of the vehicle.

[0054] In addition, although in the above-described embodiment, the manner in which the light pattern is formed by arranging two or more partial projection areas of a predetermined shape in a direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination has been described, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In particular, in the manner of implementing the second control (shrinking deformation control), the light pattern may also be formed by a single projection area (for example, an arrow-marked area).

[0055] In addition, although in the above-described embodiment, the structure of the lamp unit 32 capable of changing the light pattern irradiated on the road surface has been described as Figure 2A the micro-LED method shown, the present disclosure is not limited to the micro-LED method.

[0056] For example, in Figure 2BIn the DMD (Digital Mirror Device) method, a DMD 42 and a lens 38 are sequentially arranged on the light-emitting side of the LED light source 40. For the DMD 42, a plurality of micro mirrors 44 with variable angles are arranged in a matrix, and each micro mirror 44 is controlled to a first angle that reflects incident light into the lens 38 or a second angle that reflects incident light outside the lens 38. When the DMD method is adopted as the lamp unit 32, in a state where each micro mirror 44 of the DMD 42 is controlled to the first angle, the light reflected by each micro mirror 44 is arranged in a matrix on the road surface. Therefore, by controlling the angle of each micro mirror 44 to the first angle or the second angle, the light pattern irradiated on the road surface can be changed into any pattern.

[0057] In addition, for example, Figure 2C In the laser scanning method, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror 48, a phosphor 50, and a lens 38 are sequentially arranged on the light-emitting side of the blue laser light source 46. In the MEMS mirror 48, the angle of the mirror is controlled in a manner that two-dimensionally scans the incident laser. The phosphor 50 performs wavelength conversion of the incident scanned laser. When the laser scanning method is adopted as the lamp unit 32, the laser reflected by the MEMS mirror 48 and sequentially passing through the phosphor 50 and the lens 38 two-dimensionally scans the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to control the lighting and extinguishing of the blue laser light source 46 at the timing when the laser scans each position on the road surface, thereby changing the light pattern irradiated on the road surface into any pattern.

[0058] In addition, for example, Figure 2D In the liquid crystal method, a liquid crystal panel 56 and a lens 38 are sequentially arranged on the light-emitting side of the LED array 34 in which a plurality of LED chips 36 are arranged in a matrix. The liquid crystal panel 56 has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer 52 is sandwiched between a pair of polarizing plates 54 on the front and back surfaces. When the liquid crystal method is adopted as the lamp unit 32, the light passing through each liquid crystal element of the liquid crystal panel 56 is arranged in a matrix on the road surface. Therefore, by controlling the light transmittance of each liquid crystal element of the liquid crystal panel 56, the light pattern irradiated on the road surface can be changed into any pattern.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle lamp, wherein when the vehicle changes lanes, a light pattern is projected by the vehicle lamp in a direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and at a timing when the lane change has progressed, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared to the timing at the start of the lane change.

2. The method for controlling a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light pattern is a pattern formed by arranging two or more partial projection areas of a predetermined shape in a direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination.

3. The method for controlling a vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the number of the partial projection areas of the predetermined shape included in the light pattern.

4. The method for controlling a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the length of the light pattern is shortened by reducing the overall size of the light pattern.

5. A device for controlling a vehicle lamp, wherein it includes a control unit that performs the following control: when the vehicle changes lanes, a light pattern is projected by the vehicle lamp in a direction extending from the vehicle toward the lane side of the lane change destination, and at a timing when the lane change has progressed, the length of the light pattern is shortened compared to the timing at the start of the lane change.

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