Vehicle lamp control system

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to efficiently control a vehicle lamp including complex control such as animation with a simple configuration. The vehicle lamp control system includes: a first lamp control device that controls a first lamp provided in a vehicle; and a second lamp control device that controls a second lamp provided at a position different from the first lamp of the vehicle, the first lamp control device and the second lamp control device being communicably connected to each other, the first lamp control device having: a first lamp control unit that controls the first lamp in a predetermined control mode; and a first control instruction transmission unit that transmits a first control instruction for controlling the second lamp in the prescribed control mode to the second lamp control device, the second lamp control device having: a first control instruction reception unit that receives the first control instruction; and a second lamp control unit that controls the second lamp in accordance with the first control instruction by means of a prescribed control method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a lighting control system for vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-119666, filed on July 24, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] In recent years, there has been a growing market demand for structures that utilize headlights, taillights, and other lights mounted on vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle lights") to display a wide variety of animations and prompts, enabling high-density and efficient information transmission between drivers of following vehicles, oncoming vehicles, and pedestrians. To achieve the aforementioned rich and varied displays using vehicle lights, a simple and low-cost structure for efficiently controlling these lights is required.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle lighting control device configured to control all lighting fixtures at the front and rear of the vehicle, reduce the number of lighting controllers to lower vehicle component costs, save space, and improve vehicle system safety. The lighting control device includes an integrated communication module, a first control module, and a second control module. The communication module acquires image information collected by an onboard camera and vehicle sensor information collected by the body controller. The first control module connects to the front lights via a vehicle CAN bus (Controller Area Network) and a LIN bus (Local Interconnect Network), generates control commands based on the image information and vehicle sensor information, and controls the front lights by sending these commands. The second control module connects to the rear lights via the LIN bus and controls the rear lights by sending control commands to them.

[0005] Existing technical documents Patent documents Patent Document 1: Chinese Utility Model Patent No. 214564942 Summary of the Invention

[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved The lamp control device in Patent Document 1 integrates the communication module, the first control module, and the second control module into a single structure. Therefore, the load is easily concentrated on this device, requiring high-performance and high-cost components to handle high-load control tasks such as animation display. Furthermore, because all modules are integrated, if the lamp control device malfunctions, neither the front nor the rear lamps can be controlled. Additionally, by integrating the first control module controlling the front lamps and the second control module controlling the rear lamps, the distance between either the front or rear lamps and the lamp control device inevitably increases, potentially leading to communication instability and delays.

[0007] The present invention was made in view of the following background, and its object is to provide a vehicle lighting control system that can efficiently control vehicle lighting including complex controls such as animation with a simple structure.

[0008] (II) Technical Solution One embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objectives is a vehicle lighting control system, comprising: a first lighting control device configured using an information processing device, for controlling a first lighting fixture installed in a vehicle; and a second lighting control device configured using an information processing device, for controlling a second lighting fixture installed in the vehicle at a different location than the first lighting fixture. The first lighting control device and the second lighting control device are communicatively connected to each other. The first lighting control device includes: a first lighting control unit that controls the first lighting fixture using a predetermined control method; and a first control instruction transmitting unit that sends a first control instruction to the second lighting control device for controlling the second lighting fixture using the predetermined control method. The second lighting control device includes: a first control instruction receiving unit that receives the first control instruction; and a second lighting control unit that controls the second lighting fixture corresponding to the first control instruction using the predetermined control method.

[0009] Furthermore, the technical problems and solutions disclosed in this application are made clear through the detailed embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] (III) Beneficial Effects The vehicle lighting control system according to the present invention enables efficient control of vehicle lighting systems, including complex controls such as animation, with a simple structure. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1A This is a diagram showing the general structure of a vehicle lighting control system.

[0012] Figure 1BThis is an example of ECU hardware.

[0013] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the main functions of the vehicle's ECU, rear ECU, and front ECU.

[0014] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the rear ECU.

[0015] Figure 3B This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the front ECU.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the front ECU.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the software update process performed on the rear ECU.

[0018] Figure 6A This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the rear ECU based on the trigger signal.

[0019] Figure 6B This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the front ECU.

[0020] Figure 7 This is an example of a rear light.

[0021] Figure 8A This diagram illustrates an example of taillight control based on conventional control methods.

[0022] Figure 8B This diagram illustrates an example of brake light control based on conventional control methods.

[0023] Figure 8C This diagram illustrates an example of turn signal control based on conventional control methods.

[0024] Figure 9A This diagram illustrates an example of taillight control based on a prescribed control method.

[0025] Figure 9B This diagram illustrates an example of taillight control based on a prescribed control method.

[0026] Figure 9C This diagram illustrates an example of reversing light control based on a prescribed control method.

[0027] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication protocol used in communication between devices. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The specific embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the following description, common reference numerals are sometimes used to label the same or similar structures, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0029] exist Figure 1A The diagram shows a general structure of a vehicle lighting control system 1 mounted on a vehicle 2, as an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle lighting control system 1 includes a rear light 3 (first light), a front light 4 (second light), a vehicle ECU 21 (main control device), a rear ECU 22 (first light control device), and a front ECU 23 (second light control device).

[0030] Furthermore, in the following description, vehicle ECU21, rear ECU22, and front ECU23 are sometimes collectively referred to as "ECU20". Also, rear light 3 and front light 4 are sometimes collectively referred to as "vehicle lights".

[0031] The rear light 3 is a light fixture located at the rear of vehicle 2. The rear light 3 is composed of light-emitting elements such as LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), laser diodes, and organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence). Examples of rear lights 3 include rear combination lights (RCL) (containing taillights, stop lights, and turn signals), rear fog lights (RFOG), high-mounted brake lights (HMSL), backlights, license plate lights, and emblem lights.

[0032] The headlight 4 is a light fixture located at the front of the vehicle 2. The headlight 4 is composed of light-emitting elements such as LEDs, laser diodes, and organic EL. Examples of headlights 4 include headlights (Hi / Lo), side marker lights, daytime running lights (DRL), fog lights, license plate lights, and emblem lights.

[0033] As shown in the figure, the vehicle ECU 21 is communicatively connected to the rear ECU 22 and the front ECU 23. Furthermore, the vehicle ECU 21 is communicatively connected to other devices (other ECUs, etc.) not shown, other than the rear ECU 22 and the front ECU 23, located in the vehicle 2. The vehicle ECU 21 controls the front ECU 23 and the rear ECU 22, and acquires information such as sensor information sent from them. Additionally, as shown in the figure, the rear ECU 22 is communicatively connected to the front ECU 23.

[0034] exist Figure 1BAn example of the hardware of ECU20 is shown. The illustrated ECU20 functions as an information processing device (computer) and includes a processor 201, a storage device 202, a power supply device 203, and a communication device 204. They are communicatively connected via internal communication interfaces such as SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) and I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit).

[0035] The processor 201 is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit).

[0036] Storage device 202 may be constructed using, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM), SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. Alternatively, storage device 202 may be integrated into processor 201.

[0037] The power supply unit 203 is a circuit that supplies drive power to various structures of the ECU 20, including, for example, overvoltage / overcurrent protection circuits, DC / DC converters, etc.

[0038] The communication device 204 includes various circuits for communicating with other ECU 20, vehicle lights, sensors, actuators, external information processing devices of the vehicle 2, etc. Communication device 204 includes, for example, devices for wirelessly communicating with other devices via CAN transceivers (CAN: Controller Area Network), CAN FD transceivers, FlexRay (registered trademark) transceivers, LIN transceivers (LIN: Local Interconnect Network), SENT (Single Edge Nibble Transmission), PSI5 (Peripheral Sensor Interface 5), serial communication circuits using straight-through communication (straight-through line: a line that connects devices one-to-one), UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), communication circuits based on on / off signals or analog signals, LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling), communication circuits based on automotive Ethernet ("Ethernet" is a registered trademark), OTA (Over-The-Air), and other communication protocols or methods.

[0039] exist Figure 2 The figure shows the main functions of the vehicle ECU 21, rear ECU 22, and front ECU 23. The functions shown in the figure are implemented by the hardware of ECU 20, or by the processor 201 of ECU 20 reading and executing the program stored in the storage device 202 of ECU 20.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the vehicle ECU 21 has a second control instruction transmitting unit 211. The second control instruction transmitting unit 211 generates a control instruction (hereinafter referred to as "second control instruction") for controlling at least one of the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4, and sends the generated second control instruction to the rear ECU 22. Additionally, the second control instruction transmitting unit 211 generates a control instruction (hereinafter referred to as "direct control instruction") for directly controlling the front lights 4 via conventional control methods, and sends the generated direct control instruction to the front ECU 23.

[0041] The aforementioned second control indication includes, for example, an indication for controlling at least one of the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4 in a conventional control manner (hereinafter referred to as "conventional control manner"). Here, control based on the conventional control manner refers to control that conforms to the original purpose of the vehicle's lighting fixtures (e.g., control necessary when the vehicle 2 is in motion). Examples of control based on the conventional control manner include the control of illuminating / extinguishing the brake lights (STOP) corresponding to the driver's braking operation, and the control of illuminating / extinguishing the turn signals corresponding to the driver's operation of the turn indicators.

[0042] Additionally, the second control instruction includes, for example, an instruction for controlling at least one of the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4 in a prescribed control manner (hereinafter referred to as the "prescribed control manner"). Control based on the prescribed control manner includes more complex or even advanced control than control based on conventional control methods (e.g., control different from the original purpose of the vehicle lights), and requires a higher load than the prescribed control method. As an example of control based on the prescribed control manner, it includes control over at least one of the following: brightness (luminance), temporal variation of the brightness of the light-emitting elements constituting the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4, and the sequence in which the light-emitting elements are turned on or off. As an example of control based on the prescribed control manner, there is control that displays animation via the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4.

[0043] As shown in the figure, the rear ECU 22 has a second control instruction receiving unit 221, a first lighting control unit 222, a first control instruction transmitting unit 223, an update request receiving unit 224, a software update unit 225, and a trigger signal receiving unit 226.

[0044] The second control instruction receiving unit 221 receives the second control instruction sent from the vehicle ECU 21.

[0045] The first lighting control unit 222 controls the taillights 3 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode according to the second control instruction. The first lighting control unit 222 generates control signals and control information for controlling the taillights 3 in a conventional control mode according to the second control instruction. For example, the first lighting control unit 222 stores information corresponding to the control specified by the second control instruction sent from the vehicle ECU 21, which forms the basis of the control signals and control information (e.g., algorithms and data for generating the control signals and control information prepared for each mode of the displayed animation), and generates the control signals and control information based on this information. The first lighting control unit 222 controls the taillights 3 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode using the generated control signals and control information.

[0046] The first control instruction transmitting unit 223 generates control signals and control information for controlling the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a specified control mode according to the second control instruction, and generates an instruction for controlling the headlight 4 (hereinafter referred to as "first control instruction") containing the generated control signals and control information, and sends the generated first control instruction to the forward ECU 23.

[0047] Furthermore, the first control instruction sending unit 223 sends a first control instruction to the forward ECU 23 upon receiving the trigger signal (described later) by the trigger signal receiving unit 226. In this case, the first control instruction sending unit 223 may, for example, spontaneously generate a first control instruction and send it to the forward ECU 23.

[0048] The update request receiving unit 224 receives update requests and update information for the software (firmware stored in the storage device 202, various data (e.g., information that forms the basis of the aforementioned control signals and control information)) that implements the various functions of the ECU 22, through communication with other devices (wired or wireless communication). These other devices include, for example, wireless communication terminals (tablet computers, laptops, smartphones, etc.) used by the vehicle ECU 21 or the dealer of the vehicle 2. In the latter case, the update request receiving unit 224 receives software update requests and update information by communicating wirelessly with other devices, for example, through the OTA function of the ECU 22.

[0049] The software update unit 225 updates the software based on the update information received by the update request receiving unit 224.

[0050] The trigger signal receiving unit 226 receives, via wireless communication, a signal (hereinafter referred to as the "trigger signal") from other devices that instructs control of at least one of the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4 (based on a conventional control method or a predetermined control method). These other devices may be, for example, a wireless communication terminal held by the user of the vehicle 2 (a key with the function of wireless communication with the rear ECU 22 (e.g., a key used for locking and unlocking the vehicle 2 in a keyless entry system), a smartphone, a tablet, etc.). The trigger signal contains information specifying (determining) the content of the control performed on the vehicle's lights. The first lighting control unit 222 controls at least one of the rear lights 3 and the front lights 4 according to the control content specified by the trigger signal.

[0051] As shown in the figure, the front ECU23 has the functions of the control instruction receiving unit 231 and the second lighting control unit 232.

[0052] The control instruction receiving unit 231 receives a direct control instruction sent from the vehicle ECU 21 and a first control instruction sent from the rear ECU 22.

[0053] The second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a conventional control manner based on the received direct control instruction. Alternatively, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a specified control manner or a conventional control manner based on the aforementioned control signals and control information contained in the received first control instruction.

[0054] Next, the control of vehicle lamps based on the vehicle lamp control system 1 composed of the above structure will be specifically explained.

[0055] <Lighting Control Processing> Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by ECU22 when controlling vehicle lights (hereinafter referred to as "lighting control processing S300"). The lighting control processing S300 will be explained below with reference to this flowchart.

[0056] As shown in the figure, the second control instruction receiving unit 221 of the rear ECU 22 waits to receive a second control instruction from the vehicle ECU 21 (S311: No). If the second control instruction receiving unit 221 receives a second control instruction from the vehicle ECU 21 (S311: Yes), the process proceeds to S312.

[0057] In S312, the first lighting control unit 222 determines whether the second control instruction received in S311 includes a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S312). If the received second control instruction includes a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S312: Yes), the process proceeds to S313. If the received second control instruction does not include a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S312: No), the process proceeds to S314.

[0058] In S313, the first lighting control unit 222 generates control signals and control information based on the second control instruction received in S311, and controls the rear light 3 in a conventional control mode or a specified control mode. Afterward, the process proceeds to S314.

[0059] In S314, the first control instruction sending unit 223 determines whether the second control instruction received in S311 includes a control instruction for the headlight 4. If the second control instruction received in S311 does not include a control instruction for the headlight 4 (S314: No), the process returns to S311. On the other hand, if the second control instruction received in S311 includes a control instruction for the headlight 4 (S314: Yes), the first control instruction sending unit 223 generates a control signal and control information for controlling the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode based on the second control instruction, and generates a first control instruction (S315) that includes the generated control signal and control information and instructs the control of the headlight 4, and sends the generated first control instruction to the forward ECU 23 (S316). After this, the process returns to S311.

[0060] Figure 3B This is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the front ECU 23 based on the first control instruction from the rear ECU 22 when controlling the aforementioned vehicle lights (hereinafter referred to as "lighting control process S350"). The lighting control process S350 will be explained below with reference to this diagram.

[0061] As shown in the figure, the control instruction receiving unit 231 of the front ECU 23 waits to receive the first control instruction from the rear ECU 22 (S351: No). If the control instruction receiving unit 231 receives the first control instruction (S351: Yes), the process proceeds to S352.

[0062] In S352, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode according to the first control instruction received in S351. Specifically, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode based on the control signals and control information contained in the received first control instruction. After this, the process returns to S351.

[0063] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the front ECU 23 based on direct control instructions from the vehicle ECU 21 (hereinafter referred to as "lighting control processing S400"). The lighting control processing S400 will be explained below with reference to this diagram.

[0064] As shown in the figure, the control instruction receiving unit 231 of the front ECU 23 waits to receive a direct control instruction from the vehicle ECU 21 (S411: No). If the control instruction receiving unit 231 receives a direct control instruction (S411: Yes), the process proceeds to S412.

[0065] In S412, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 according to the direct control instruction received in S411. Specifically, the headlight 4 is controlled in a conventional control manner based on the control signals and control information contained in the direct control instruction received in S411. After this, the processing returns to S411.

[0066] <Software Update Processing> Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the rear ECU 22 based on software update requests sent from the vehicle ECU 21 via OTA from other devices (hereinafter referred to as "software update processing S500"). The software update processing S500 will be explained below with reference to this diagram.

[0067] As shown in the figure, the update request receiving unit 224 of the rear ECU 22 waits to receive update requests (with update information (update differential)) from the vehicle ECU 21 and other devices for the software that implements the various functions of the rear ECU 22 (S511: No). If the update request receiving unit 224 receives a software update request (S511: Yes), the process proceeds to S512.

[0068] In S512, the software update unit 225 updates the software of various functions of the ECU 22 after implementation based on the update information received along with the update request.

[0069] <Trigger Response Control Processing> Figure 6A This is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by ECU 22 (hereinafter referred to as "trigger response control processing S600") after controlling vehicle lights based on trigger signals sent wirelessly from other devices (such as a key in a keyless entry system, a smartphone, etc.) held by the user of vehicle 2. The trigger response control processing S600 will be explained below with reference to this diagram.

[0070] As shown in the figure, the trigger signal receiving unit 226 of the rear ECU 22 waits to receive a trigger signal from another device (S611: No). If the trigger signal receiving unit 226 receives a trigger signal (S611: Yes), the process proceeds to S612.

[0071] In S612, the first lighting control unit 222 determines whether the content of the trigger signal received in S611 includes a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S612). If the content of the received trigger signal includes a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S612: Yes), the process proceeds to S613. On the other hand, if the content of the received trigger signal does not include a control instruction for the rear light 3 (S612: No), the process proceeds to S614.

[0072] In S613, the first lighting control unit 222 generates a control signal and control information corresponding to the content (control instruction) of the trigger signal received in S611, and controls the rear light 3 in a specified control manner. The process then proceeds to S614.

[0073] In S614, the first control instruction sending unit 223 determines whether the content of the trigger signal received in S611 includes a control instruction for the headlight 4. If the content of the trigger signal received in S611 does not include a control instruction for the headlight 4 (S614: No), the process returns to S611. On the other hand, if the content of the trigger signal received in S611 includes a control instruction for the headlight 4 (S614: Yes), the first control instruction sending unit 223 generates a control signal and control information corresponding to the content of the trigger signal (control instruction), generates a first control instruction (S615) including the generated control signal and control information, and sends the generated first control instruction to the forward ECU 23 (S616). After this, the process returns to S611.

[0074] Figure 6B According to the front ECU23 Figure 6A The flowchart below describes the processing of the first control instruction sent from the rear ECU 22 (hereinafter referred to as "trigger response control processing S650"), which is part of S616. The trigger response control processing S650 will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

[0075] As shown in the figure, the control instruction receiving unit 231 of the front ECU 23 waits to receive the first control instruction from the rear ECU 22 (S651: No). If the control instruction receiving unit 231 receives the first control instruction (S651: Yes), the process proceeds to S652.

[0076] In S652, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode according to the first control instruction received in S651. Specifically, the second lighting control unit 232 controls the headlight 4 in a conventional control mode or a predetermined control mode based on the control signal and control information contained in the received first control instruction. After this, the process returns to S651.

[0077] In this way, the rear ECU22 can control the taillights 3 and headlights 4 according to instructions from the key in the keyless entry system, smartphones, and other devices, thereby enhancing the functionality of vehicle 2.

[0078] =Examples of vehicle lighting control= Figure 7This is an example of a rear light 3 installed on vehicle 2. The figure is a view of vehicle 2 from the rear (rear side). As shown in the figure, the illustrated vehicle 2 has a high-mounted brake light (HMSL) 71, a taillight (TAIL) 72, a brake light (STOP) 73, a turn signal light (TURN) 74, a backlight (BACKUP) 75 (with a road surface drawing function based on a projector), and a license plate light (LICENCE) 76 as the rear light 3.

[0079] <Examples of control based on conventional control methods> Figure 8A It means Figure 7 The diagram illustrates an example of conventional control of the taillights 72 in the rear light 3. As shown in the diagram, when the ignition switch of the vehicle 2 is turned on, the taillights 72 are illuminated by conventional control.

[0080] Figure 8B It means Figure 7 This diagram illustrates an example of conventional control of the brake light (STOP) 73 in the rear light 3. The brake light (STOP) 73 is activated / deactivated in conjunction with the driver's braking operation of vehicle 2 via conventional control. The diagram shows the brake light (STOP) 73 illuminated during braking.

[0081] Figure 8C It means Figure 7 This diagram illustrates an example of conventional control of the turn signal (TURN) 74 in the rear light 3. The turn signal (TURN) 74 is illuminated (or its color changes) in conjunction with the driver's turn indicator operation in vehicle 2, controlled via a conventional control method. The diagram shows the turn signal (TURN) 74 on the right side of the vehicle when the turn indicator is activated for a right turn.

[0082] <Examples of control based on prescribed control methods> Figure 9A It means Figure 7 The diagram illustrates an example of control of the taillight 72 in the rear light 3 based on a predetermined control method. In this example, by controlling the taillight 72 based on a predetermined control method, the light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs) of the taillight 72 are sequentially illuminated from left to right with a time difference, displaying an animation of light flowing from left to right (e.g., displaying an animation of a "Welcome" message when the driver unlocks the vehicle 2 key and a "Farwell" message when locking the vehicle).

[0083] Figure 9B It means Figure 7The diagram shows an example of control of the taillight 72 in the rear light 3 based on a prescribed control method. In this example, by controlling the taillight 72 based on a prescribed control method, an animation is displayed on the taillight 72 showing the remaining amount (charge amount (SOC (State of Charge))) of the battery (rechargeable battery) of the vehicle 2 as an electric vehicle (an animation showing that the more remaining charge, the more light-emitting elements are lit).

[0084] Figure 9C It means Figure 7 The diagram illustrates an example of control of the backlight (BACKUP) 75 in the rear light 3 based on a prescribed control method. In this example, the backlight (BACKUP) 75 is controlled by a prescribed control method, thereby displaying an animation on the road surface (e.g., an animation informing following vehicles of the required inter-vehicle distance).

[0085] =Communication Protocol= Figure 10 This is an example of a communication protocol (communication method) used in the communication between devices in the vehicle lighting control system 1. As shown in the figure, in this example, a differential transmission-based communication protocol (CAN, CAN FD, FlexRay, vehicle Ethernet, etc.) is used between vehicle ECU 21 and rear ECU 22, and between vehicle ECU 21 and front ECU 23. This is because high-speed and stable transmission of the second control instruction and direct control instruction is required between vehicle ECU 21 and rear ECU 22, and between vehicle ECU 21 and front ECU 23. Similarly, a differential transmission-based communication protocol is also required between rear ECU 22 and front ECU 23 because high-speed and stable transmission of the first control instruction is required.

[0086] On the other hand, the rear ECU22 and the rear light 3 use an appropriate communication protocol depending on the control method of the rear light 3.

[0087] For example, for the rear lights 3 (rear combination lights (RCL) (taillights (TAIL) 72, brake lights (STOP) 73, turn signals (TURN) 74, and backlights (BACKUP) 75) that are controlled based on a specified control method, a communication protocol based on differential transmission is used as the communication protocol between the rear ECU 22.

[0088] Furthermore, for the rear lights 3, namely the high-mounted brake light (HMSL) 71 and the license plate light 76, which are controlled using conventional control methods, communication protocols such as direct-connect communication and LIN are adopted. In addition, since the rear ECU 22 is positioned closer to the rear lights 3 than the vehicle ECU 21 and the front ECU 23, stable communication can be achieved even when using communication protocols such as direct-connect communication and LIN.

[0089] In this way, by selecting an appropriate communication protocol for each taillight 3 according to the control method of each taillight 3, it is possible to simplify and reduce the cost of the vehicle lighting control system 1 while ensuring the required communication performance.

[0090] Furthermore, even if communication between the rear ECU22 and the rear light 3, which is the object of control based on the prescribed control method, is conducted stably using a communication protocol based on a direct connection or LIN (for example, when the two are very close and not easily affected by engine noise), differential transmission can of course be omitted, and a communication protocol based on a direct connection or LIN can be used instead.

[0091] =Summary= As described above, the vehicle lighting control system 1 according to this embodiment can efficiently control vehicle lighting devices with complex controls, including animation, using a high-load, prescribed control method with a simple structure.

[0092] Furthermore, for example, since the control of the headlights 4 based on the prescribed control method is handled by the rear ECU 22 as the master controller, the front ECU 23, which is subordinate, can be configured with a simpler structure than the headlights 4. Additionally, the surplus resources of the headlights 4 resulting from this simplification can be used for other purposes, for example.

[0093] Furthermore, since the rear ECU 22 is responsible for receiving the second control instruction from the vehicle ECU 21 and processing the corresponding second control instruction, the front ECU 23 can be configured with a simpler structure than the rear ECU 22.

[0094] Furthermore, by having the rear ECU 22 function as the master controller and the front ECU 23 function as a subordinate controller that performs the control of the headlights 4 based on the first control instruction from the rear ECU 22, control conflicts between the two can be prevented, thus preventing system malfunctions. Additionally, by having the rear ECU 22, as the master controller, uniformly control the headlights 4 based on a prescribed control method, the entire system can perform coherent processing.

[0095] Furthermore, the rear ECU 22 communicates with other devices via OTA or similar means, thereby receiving update information for the software that implements the functions of the rear ECU 22, and updating the software of the rear ECU 22 based on the received update information. Therefore, for example, updates to the software used for control based on a specified control method can be performed only for the rear ECU 22, thus allowing the front ECU 23 to be configured with a simpler structure than the rear ECU 22.

[0096] In addition, the rear ECU22 can control the taillights 3 and headlights 4 according to instructions from the key in the keyless entry system, smartphones and other devices, thus enhancing the functionality of vehicle 2.

[0097] Furthermore, in the communication between the rear ECU22 and the rear lamp 3, for the communication between the rear ECU22 and the rear lamp 3, which are objects controlled by the rear ECU22 and require high speed and stability, a differential transmission communication protocol based on CAN or the like is adopted as the communication protocol. As for the communication between the other rear lamps 3 and the rear ECU22, a communication protocol using direct connection or LIN or the like is adopted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid unnecessary redundancy and to construct the vehicle lighting control system 1 simply and at low cost.

[0098] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and includes various modifications. Furthermore, the above embodiments have been described in detail for the purpose of easily understanding the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to having all the described structures. Additionally, for a part of the structure of the above embodiments, it is possible to add, delete, or replace it in other structures.

[0099] For example, the above description illustrates a scenario where the rear ECU 22 functions as the master controller and the front ECU 23 functions as a slave controller. Conversely, the front ECU 23 can also function as the master controller and the rear ECU 22 as a slave controller; that is, the front ECU 23 performs the functions of the rear ECU 22, and the rear ECU 22 performs the functions of the front ECU 23. In this case, the vehicle ECU 21 sends a second control instruction to the front ECU 23 and a direct control instruction to the rear ECU 22.

[0100] Alternatively, for example, the rear ECU 22 may send a first control instruction to the front ECU 23, which is used to control the second lamp in sync with the control of the rear lamp 3 based on a predetermined control method, and display an animation that synchronizes the rear lamp 3 and the front lamp 4. Thus, for example, it is possible to display (including driver-facing) highly visible messages and impactful (eye-catching) messages (emergency warnings, help requests, etc.), and to reliably transmit information to the surroundings of the vehicle 2.

[0101] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1: Vehicle lighting control system; 2: Vehicle; 3: Rear light; 4: Headlight; 20: ECU; 21: Vehicle ECU; 211: Second control instruction transmitter; 22: Rear ECU; 221: Second control instruction receiver; 222: First lighting control unit; 223: First control instruction transmitter; 224: Update request receiver; 225: Software update unit; 226: Trigger signal receiver; 23: Front ECU; 231: Control instruction receiver; 232: Second lighting control unit; S300: Illumination control processing; S350: Illumination control processing; S400: Illumination control processing; S500: Software update processing; S600: Trigger response control processing; S650: Trigger response control processing.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting control system, comprising: A first lighting control device, comprising an information processing unit, controls a first lighting fixture installed on a vehicle; and The second lighting control device, which is composed of an information processing unit, controls a second lighting fixture located at a different position on the vehicle than the first lighting fixture. The first lighting control device and the second lighting control device can be communicatively connected to each other. The first lighting control device has: A first lighting control unit controls the first lighting fixture through a predetermined control method; and A first control instruction transmitting unit sends a first control instruction to the second lighting control device, the first control instruction being used to control the second lighting fixture through the predetermined control method. The second lighting control device has: A first control instruction receiving unit, which receives the first control instruction; and The second lighting control unit controls the second lighting fixture corresponding to the first control instruction through the prescribed control method.

2. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control based on the specified control method is the control of displaying animation through at least one of the first lamp and the second lamp.

3. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control of the animation includes, for at least one of the first lamp and the second lamp, control of at least one of the following: the brightness of the light-emitting element constituting the respective light-emitting element, the time variation of the brightness, and the order in which the light-emitting element is turned on or off.

4. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lighting control device also includes: The update request receiving unit receives update information for the software implementing the first lighting control unit by communicating with other devices; and The software update department updates the software based on the received update information.

5. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The update requires the receiving unit to wirelessly communicate with other devices via OTA (Over-The-Air) download, thereby receiving the update information.

6. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a main control unit, which is constructed using an information processing device and is communicatively connected to the first lighting control unit and the second lighting control unit. The main control device includes a second control instruction transmitting unit, which sends a second control instruction to the first lighting control device for the first lighting fixture or the second lighting fixture. The first lighting control device also includes a second control instruction receiving unit for receiving the second control instruction. The first lighting control unit controls the first lighting fixture according to the second control instruction and through the prescribed control method. The first control instruction sending unit sends the first control instruction to the second lighting control device according to the second control instruction.

7. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lighting control device and the second lighting control device can be communicatively connected via differential transmission.

8. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lighting control device can be communicatively connected to the first lighting fixture via a direct connection or a LIN (Local Internet Connection) network. The second lighting control device is communicatively connected to the second lighting fixture via a direct connection or LIN.

9. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle is equipped with multiple first lights and multiple second lights. Of the plurality of first lamps, those controlled by the prescribed control method are communicatively connected to the first lamp control device via differential transmission; those not controlled by the prescribed control method are communicatively connected to the first lamp control device via a direct connection or LIN (Local Internet Connection Network). Of the plurality of second lamps, those controlled by the specified control method are communicatively connected to the second lamp control device via differential transmission, while those not controlled by the specified control method are communicatively connected to the second lamp control device via a direct connection or LIN.

10. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lighting control device sends the first control instruction to the second lighting control device. The first control instruction is used to control the second lighting device synchronously with the control of the first lighting device based on the specified control method.

11. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first lighting control device includes a trigger signal receiving unit. The trigger signal receiving unit receives a trigger signal from another device via wireless communication. The trigger signal indicates the control of the first lamp or the second lamp based on the predetermined control method. The first lighting control unit controls the first lighting fixture based on the predetermined control method upon receiving the trigger signal. The first control instruction sending unit sends the first control instruction to the second lighting control device upon receiving the trigger signal. The first control instruction is used to control the second lighting fixture through the specified control method.

12. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The trigger signal is the unlocking signal for the vehicle in the keyless entry system.

13. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The trigger signal is a signal sent by the other device that indicates the control of the first or second lamp based on the specified control method.

14. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first light fixture is a taillight located at the rear of the vehicle. The second light fixture is a headlight located at the front of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first light fixture is a headlight located at the front of the vehicle. The second light fixture is a taillight located at the rear of the vehicle.

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