Vehicle headlight device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle headlight device capable of reducing a possibility of a driver failing to notice a pedestrian.SOLUTION: A vehicle headlight device 1 includes: a low-beam lamp 5 and a high-beam lamp 6 for projecting light onto a first light distribution region A1 ahead of a vehicle; and a pattern-light projection part PP for projecting light onto a second light distribution region A2 outside the first light distribution region A1 in a width direction of a vehicle 2 in such a light projection pattern that bright regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated. The pattern-light projection part PP projects light such that at least a partial region (a specific region A26) of the light projection pattern shows a movement different from that of another region. According to one aspect, the pattern-light projection part PP projects light such that the light projection pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and such that the whole region of the light projection pattern and the region (the specific region A26) with an object present in the light projection pattern show movements different from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology has been proposed for a vehicle headlamp device that improves the visibility of pedestrians to the driver by irradiating light from a light source in an irradiation pattern in which light areas and dark areas are alternately repeated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vehicle headlamp device of Patent Document 1 simultaneously irradiates light in a first irradiation pattern in which light areas and dark areas are alternately repeated, and in a second irradiation pattern in which the entire area is a light area, so that the driver can instantly recognize the presence of a pedestrian in the distance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-143872 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there has been an increasing demand in recent years for improved visibility of objects by drivers, and further technological improvements are desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle headlamp device that can reduce the risk of a driver overlooking an object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A vehicle headlight device (for example, vehicle headlight device 1 described later) including a low beam lamp (for example, low beam lamp 5 described later) and a high beam lamp (for example, high beam lamp 6 described later) that irradiate light to a first light distribution area (for example, a first light distribution area A1 described later) in front of a vehicle, and a pattern light irradiation unit (for example, pattern light irradiation unit PP described later) that irradiates light to a second light distribution area (for example, a second light distribution area A2 described later) that is located outside the first light distribution area in a width direction of the vehicle in an irradiation pattern in which a bright area (for example, a bright area a1 described later) and a dark area (for example, a dark area a2 described later) are alternately repeated, wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that at least a portion of the irradiation pattern (for example, a specific area A26 described later) exhibits a different movement from other areas.

[0007] (2) A vehicle headlamp device according to (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light so that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape and so that the entire area of ​​the irradiation pattern and an area within the irradiation pattern in which an object is present show different movements.

[0008] (3) The vehicle headlamp device of (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape and an upper region of the irradiation pattern and a lower region of the irradiation pattern exhibit different movements. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In the vehicle headlamp device of (1), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light so that at least a part of the irradiation pattern moves differently from the other parts. This allows the driver to recognize objects such as pedestrians in the part of the irradiation pattern in a distinctive manner compared to objects in the other parts of the irradiation pattern. This can reduce the driver's overlooking of objects.

[0010] In the vehicle headlamp device of (2), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light so that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and the entire area of ​​the irradiation pattern and the area in which the object exists within the irradiation pattern show different movements. This allows the driver to clearly recognize the behavior of objects such as moving pedestrians. Therefore, the driver can take early action according to the behavior of the object.

[0011] In the vehicle headlamp device of (3), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light so that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and the upper area of ​​the irradiation pattern and the lower area of ​​the irradiation pattern move differently. This allows the driver to clearly recognize the behavior of objects such as moving pedestrians. Therefore, the driver can take early action according to the behavior of the object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle headlamp device and a detection unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; [Diagram 2] 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a control system for each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing an illumination area of ​​each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 3 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a control system for the pattern irradiation lamp of FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 is a timing diagram showing the operation of the pattern irradiation lamp, the detection means and the control means of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 shows a driving field illuminated with one form of illumination from the patterned illumination lamp of FIG. 2. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram showing a driving field illuminated with another form of illumination light from the pattern illumination lamp of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of human visual characteristics according to the technical concept of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an irradiation pattern light distribution area is an area irradiated with a certain light, and an irradiation pattern is an irradiation form of light with respect to the irradiation pattern light distribution area.

[0014] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle headlamp device and a detection means according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle headlamp device 1 is provided on the left and right sides of a vehicle 2, in a symmetrical form when viewed from the center position in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle headlamp device 1 is provided with a turn signal lamp 3, a pattern irradiation lamp 4, a low beam lamp 5, and a high beam lamp 6 in the order from the outside to the inside in the vehicle width direction. The pattern irradiation lamp 4 is a collective term for a left pattern irradiation lamp 41 and a right pattern irradiation lamp 42.

[0015] The detection means includes a camera 50, a radar 60, a finder 70, and an object recognition unit 80 (described later). The camera 50 is disposed in the upper center of the front window of the vehicle 2. The radar 60 is disposed on the left side and the right side below the left and right vehicle headlamp devices 1, respectively. The finders 70 are disposed on the left and right sides of the lower front of the vehicle 2, spaced apart from each other on the left and right, at positions closer to the inside than the radar 60.

[0016] The turn signal lamp 3 is a normal lamp of this type. The pattern irradiation lamp 4, which is a component of the pattern light irradiation unit PP, irradiates light to a second light distribution area A2 (described later) of the vehicle 2 in an irradiation pattern (see FIG. 6) in which a bright area a1 and a dark area a2 are alternately repeated. The low beam lamp 5 irradiates light to a predetermined light distribution area AL for low beam. The high beam lamp 6 irradiates light to a predetermined light distribution area AH for high beam. Hereinafter, the vehicle 2 equipped with the vehicle headlamp device 1 will be referred to as the host vehicle 2 as appropriate. In the above description, the second light distribution area A2 on the right front of the host vehicle 2 on the roadway is the right second light distribution area A22. Also, the second light distribution area A2 on the left front of the host vehicle 2 on the roadway is the left second light distribution area A21.

[0017] The camera 50 is a stereo camera that periodically and repeatedly captures images of the area ahead of the vehicle 2. The radar 60 detects an object to be detected, for example, by a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FM-CW) method. The finder 70 is, for example, a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR, or Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) that measures scattered light relative to irradiated light and measures the distance to the object. The vehicle 2 is equipped with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) including a Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS).

[0018] Fig. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a control system for each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the illumination area of ​​each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device 1. The high beam lamp 6, the low beam lamp 5, the left pattern illumination lamp 41, and the right pattern illumination lamp 42 are operated under the control of the lamp control ECU 40. The lamp control ECU 40 switches the operation modes of the high beam lamp 6, the low beam lamp 5, the left pattern illumination lamp 41, and the right pattern illumination lamp 42 based on the output from the higher-level ECU 100 etc. mounted on the vehicle 2.

[0019] The high beam lamp 6 includes a light-emitting element as a light source, a reflector, a light shielding plate and a lens that define an illumination area. The light-emitting element emits light when power is supplied from a power source (not shown) in response to a control signal from the lamp control ECU 40. The light from the light-emitting element is reflected by the reflector. The reflected light from the reflector is irradiated from the lens toward the high beam light distribution area AH defined by the light shielding plate.

[0020] The low beam lamp 5 includes a light-emitting element as a light source, a reflector, a light-shielding plate and a lens that define an illumination area. The light-emitting element emits light when power is supplied from a power source (not shown) in response to a control signal from the lamp control ECU 40. The light from the light-emitting element is reflected by the reflector. The reflected light from the reflector is irradiated from the lens toward a low-beam light distribution area AL defined by the light-shielding plate.

[0021] With reference to Fig. 3, the illumination areas by the high beam lamp 6, the low beam lamp 5, and the pattern illumination lamp 4 when light is irradiated onto the test screen from the vehicle headlamp device 1 in Fig. 1 will be described. Here, the illumination area by the pattern illumination lamp 4 indicates the illumination area by the right pattern illumination lamp 42.

[0022] The irradiation area by the left pattern irradiation lamp 41 is symmetrical to the irradiation area by the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 with respect to the VV line as the axis of symmetry, but is not shown in the figure.

[0023] The configuration and operation of the left-side pattern irradiation lamp 41 are similar to those of the right-side pattern irradiation lamp 42. Therefore, hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the left-side pattern irradiation lamp 41 will be described with reference to the description of the right-side pattern irradiation lamp 42.

[0024] The low beam light distribution area AL by the low beam lamp 5 has an oncoming lane cutoff line extending parallel to the HH line (horizontal line) to the right of the VV line (vertical line) in the center of the left-right direction on the test screen. It also has a vehicle's own lane cutoff line extending along the HH line at a position higher than the oncoming lane cutoff line to the left of the VV line. The oncoming lane cutoff line and the vehicle's own lane cutoff line are connected by an oblique cutoff line inclined with respect to the HH line. The low beam light distribution area AL is a lower illumination area on the lower front side of the vehicle 2.

[0025] The high beam distribution area AH of the high beam lamp 6 forms a rectangle with long sides parallel to the HH line and short sides parallel to the VV line, and the intersection of the diagonal lines is located at a position that approximately coincides with the intersection of the HH line and the VV line. The high beam distribution area AH overlaps with the low beam distribution area AL in a lower partial area including the portion of the oncoming lane cutoff line and the own lane cutoff line closer to the VV line. The high beam distribution area AH is an upper illumination area above the low beam distribution area AL, which is a lower illumination area, and toward the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2. The low beam distribution area AL and the high beam distribution area AH are collectively referred to as the first light distribution area A1.

[0026] The right-side second light distribution area A22, which is an area illuminated by the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42, has its illumination pattern, such as the outline shape of the area and the form of the illumination pattern within the area, changed in various ways by a mode switching signal from the lamp control ECU 40. The left-side second light distribution area A21, which is symmetrical to the right-side second light distribution area A22 with respect to the line VV as the axis of symmetry, is not shown in the figure. The left-side second light distribution area A21 and the right-side second light distribution area A22 are collectively referred to as the second light distribution area A2.

[0027] Due to the capacity of the right-side pattern irradiation lamp 42, the right-side second light distribution area A22 can have a wide shape including an overlapping area A24 that overlaps with the high beam light distribution area AH. In this case, the right-side second light distribution area A22 has a horizontal trapezoid shape with the height direction parallel to the HH line and the upper and lower bases parallel to the VV line. The lower base of this trapezoid, which is relatively far from the VV line, is longer than the upper base, which is relatively close to the VV line. In other words, the right-side second light distribution area A22 has a shape in which the dimension along the VV line expands toward the outside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2.

[0028] Fig. 4 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a control system for the pattern irradiation lamp of Fig. 2. The detection means 90 includes the camera 50, the radar 60, the finder 70, and the object recognition unit 80. The object recognition unit 80 recognizes the position, type, speed, etc. of the detection target based on the detection results of some or all of the camera 50, the radar 60, and the finder 70.

[0029] The object recognition unit 80 is configured to include an object determination unit 81, a person identification unit 82, and an output signal formation unit 83. The object determination unit 81 detects the distance and direction of a detected object existing within a predetermined range from the vehicle 2, based on distance information included in the monitoring information input from the camera 50, the radar 60, and the finder 70. The object determination unit 81 specifies a position indicated by position information included in association with the distance information as a reference point, and determines the position of the detected object based on the distance and direction detected from the specified reference point.

[0030] The person identification unit 82 identifies people such as pedestrians 15 (described later) with respect to the detection object captured by the object determination unit 81, by referring to image information captured by the camera 50. The output signal formation unit 83 forms a person identification signal Spi as a detection output that becomes a high level H when the detection object is recognized as a person according to the identification result of the person identification unit 82, and supplies the signal to the lamp control ECU 40 as a control means.

[0031] In detail, the person identification signal Spi as the detection output includes a two-stage signal according to the pedestrian accuracy, that is, a person identification signal Spi1 indicating that the pedestrian accuracy, which is the degree to which the detected object is likely to be a pedestrian, is a first pedestrian accuracy that activates the pedestrian protection brake, and a person identification signal Spi2 indicating that the pedestrian accuracy is a second pedestrian accuracy that is lower than the first pedestrian accuracy. Therefore, when the vehicle 2 is traveling, the person identification signal Spi2 is generated (switches to high level H) at an earlier point in time than the person identification signal Spi1 is generated.

[0032] The person identification signal Spi1 and the person identification signal Spi2 are output, for example, on separate signal channels so that they can be distinguished from each other. It is also possible to superimpose the two signals on a single signal channel so that they can be distinguished from each other without separating the signal channels. The lamp control ECU 40 supplies the start-up command signal Sc1 and / or the start-up command signal Sc2 to the pattern irradiation lamp 4 when the person identification signal Spi2 from the object recognition unit 80 is at a high level H.

[0033] The pattern irradiation lamp 4 has a left pattern irradiation lamp 41 and a right pattern irradiation lamp 42. In response to a start command signal Sc1 supplied from the lamp control ECU 40, the light emitting element drive circuit 411 of the left pattern irradiation lamp 41 generates an element drive signal Ds1 and supplies it to the surface light emitting element 412. The surface light emitting element 412 emits light in response to the element drive signal Ds1. The left pattern irradiation lamp 41 irradiates the left side irradiation light PLL of the first irradiation pattern toward the left second light distribution area A21 through the light shielding mask 413 and the projection optical system 414 by the light emission of the surface light emitting element 412.

[0034] The light emitting element drive circuit 421 of the right side pattern irradiation lamp 42 generates an element drive signal Ds2 in response to a start command signal Sc2 supplied from the lamp control ECU 40, and supplies the signal to the surface light emitting element 422. The surface light emitting element 422 emits light in response to the element drive signal Ds2. The right side pattern irradiation lamp 42 irradiates the right side irradiation light PLR of the second irradiation pattern toward the right side second light distribution region A22 through the light shielding mask 423 and the projection optical system 424 by the light emission of the surface light emitting element 422. Note that, as described above, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first irradiation pattern and the second irradiation pattern are the same irradiation pattern.

[0035] Here, the light-shielding mask 413 in the left-side pattern irradiation lamp 41 may be configured to include an all-solid-state switchable mirror film in which a mirror state and a transparent state are electrically switched for each region. By electrically driving the surface light-emitting element 412 and the light-shielding mask 413 from a light-emitting element driving circuit 411, the projection optical system 414 emits irradiation light in an irradiation pattern in which bright regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated. This irradiation pattern may move along the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 while maintaining its shape.

[0036] As with the left pattern irradiation lamp 41, the light-shielding mask 423 of the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 may also be configured to include an all-solid-state switchable mirror film in which a mirror state and a transparent state are electrically switched for each region. By electrically driving the surface light-emitting element 422 and the light-shielding mask 423 from the light-emitting element drive circuit 421, the projection optical system 424 emits irradiation light in an irradiation pattern in which bright regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated. This irradiation pattern may move along the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 while maintaining its shape.

[0037] The pattern illumination lamp 4 and the circuit section related to its control, which have been described with reference to Figure 4, constitute a pattern light illumination unit PP that illuminates a second light distribution area A2, which is on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle 2 than the first light distribution area A1 of the high beam lamp 6 and the low beam lamp 5, with an illumination pattern in which bright areas a1 and dark areas a2 are alternately repeated.

[0038] Fig. 5 is a timing diagram showing the operations of the pattern irradiation lamp 4 and the detection means 90 and the lamp control ECU 40 as the control means in Fig. 4. As described with reference to Fig. 4, when the above-mentioned person identification signal Spi2 out of the person identification signals Spi from the object recognition unit 80 of the detection means 90 is at high level H, the lamp control ECU 40 issues a start command signal Sc2 to cause the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 to irradiate the right irradiation light PLR.

[0039] 5, at time t1 when the person identification signal Spi2 changes to high level H, the lamp control ECU 40 accordingly changes the start command signal Sc2 to ON, and causes the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 to emit the right side irradiation light PLR. The lamp control ECU 40 causes the right side irradiation light PLR to be emitted when it is determined based on information input from the upper ECU 100 that there is no problem in emitting the right side irradiation light PLR. When it is determined that the left side irradiation light PLL should be emitted, the lamp control ECU 40 issues a start command signal Sc1, and causes the left side pattern irradiation lamp 41 to emit the left side irradiation light PLL.

[0040] When the detection means 90 does not detect the presence of a pedestrian 15 in the irradiation pattern light distribution area 16, the person identification signal Spi2 that turns off the light irradiation unit becomes low level L. In Fig. 5, at the time tx when the person identification signal Spi2 turns to low level L, the lamp control ECU 40 accordingly turns the start command signal Sc1 to low level L and turns off the right-side pattern irradiation lamp 42.

[0041] The system shown in FIG. 4 in which the left pattern irradiation lamp 41 and the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 operate as described above under the control of the lamp control ECU 40 constitutes a projector.

[0042] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a driving field illuminated with one form of illumination light from the pattern illumination lamp of Fig. 2. A dividing line 12 is drawn on a road 11, and one side of the road 11 is a sidewalk 13. It is assumed that a pedestrian 15 is on the sidewalk 13. An area including one sidewalk 13, which is on the right side as seen from the driver, is the right-side second light distribution area A22 by the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42. The right-side pattern illumination lamp 42 illuminates light to the right-side second light distribution area A22 with right-side illumination light PLR having an illumination pattern in which bright areas a1 and dark areas a2 are alternately repeated.

[0043] As described above, the right-side illumination light PLR is emitted when the lamp control ECU 40 determines that the situation is such that it is possible to emit the right-side illumination light PLR based on information input from the upper ECU 100. In addition, when the lamp control ECU 40 determines that the situation is such that the left-side illumination light PLL should be emitted, the lamp control ECU 40 issues a start command signal Sc1 to cause the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 to emit the left-side illumination light PLL, thereby illuminating the left-side second light distribution area A21 on the other sidewalk 14 side, which is not visible in FIG. 6.

[0044] The patterned light irradiation unit PP irradiates light such that a specific region A26, which is a part of the irradiation pattern in which light regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated, exhibits a different movement from the other regions.

[0045] Specifically, under the control of the lamp control ECU 40, the person identification unit 82 in the detection means 90 described with reference to FIG. 4 sets a specific area A26 as a limited area including the identified person in the right second light distribution area A22 based on the person identification signal Spi emitted when the person, such as the pedestrian 15, is identified from the detection object captured by the object determination unit 81. In detail, the specific area A26 is set based on the emission of the person identification signal Spi2, which indicates that the pedestrian accuracy is a second pedestrian accuracy that is relatively low, out of the person identification signals Spi. As a result, when the object determination unit 81 captures the detection object, the specific area A26 is set promptly. In addition, the specific area A26 is set so that the detection object captured by the object determination unit 81 is located in the center of the area. As a result, the detection object to be noted can be accurately captured.

[0046] In addition, under the control of the lamp control ECU 40, the specific area A26 is set, and at the same time, the illumination pattern, for example, in which the bright area a1 and the dark area a2 are alternately repeated, moves while maintaining its shape in the specific area A26, and the flow is accelerated, compared to other parts of the right second light distribution area A22 (A2). This allows the driver to recognize objects such as the pedestrian 15 in the specific area A26 distinctively and specifically from those in other areas. Therefore, the driver's overlooking of objects such as the pedestrian 15 can be improved.

[0047] Instead of increasing the moving speed while maintaining the shape of the irradiation pattern within the specific area A26, the moving direction of the irradiation pattern may be different from that of the area outside the specific area A26. That is, when the movement of the irradiation pattern in the area outside the specific area A26 flows from the front side to the back side as seen by the driver of the vehicle 2, the irradiation pattern is made to flow from the back side to the front side as seen by the driver within the specific area A26. Conversely, when the movement of the irradiation pattern in the area outside the specific area A26 flows from the back side to the front side as seen by the driver of the vehicle 2, the irradiation pattern is made to flow from the front side to the back side as seen by the driver within the specific area A26. In these cases, the driver can also recognize objects such as the pedestrian 15 within the specific area A26 in a distinctive and unique manner compared to those within other areas. Therefore, the driver's overlooking of objects such as the pedestrian 15 can be improved.

[0048] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a vehicle headlamp device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a driving field illuminated by another form of illumination light from the pattern illumination lamp of FIG. 2. A dividing line 12 is drawn on the road 11, and one side of the road 11 is a sidewalk 13. It is assumed that a pedestrian 15 is on the sidewalk 13. An area including one sidewalk 13, which is on the right side as seen from the driver, is the right second light distribution area A22 by the right pattern illumination lamp 42. In FIG. 7, the right second light distribution area A22 is indicated by the symbol of the second light distribution area A2, which is a collective name for the left second light distribution area A21 together with the right pattern illumination lamp 42. The right pattern illumination lamp 42 illuminates the right second light distribution area A22 with right illumination light PLR having an illumination pattern in which light areas a1 and dark areas a2 are alternately repeated.

[0049] In this case, the right-side illumination light PLR is emitted when the lamp control ECU 40 determines that the situation is such that it is possible to emit the right-side illumination light PLR based on information input from the higher-level ECU 100. When the lamp control ECU 40 determines that the situation is such that the left-side illumination light PLL should be emitted, the lamp control ECU 40 issues a start-up command signal Sc1 to cause the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 to emit the left-side illumination light PLL, thereby illuminating the left-side second light distribution area A21 on the other sidewalk 14 side, which is not visible in FIG. 6.

[0050] In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the pattern light irradiation unit PP has an irradiation pattern that is divided into upper and lower parts and behaves differently. That is, in Fig. 7, the upper pattern P1 on the upper side and the lower pattern P2 on the lower side move while maintaining their shape, but they move differently from each other. Specifically, for example, the upper pattern P1 moves in a first direction along the traveling direction of the vehicle 2, and the lower pattern P2 moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Alternatively, the upper pattern P1 and the lower pattern P2 may have different flow speeds, like the irradiation patterns in the specific area A26 and the area outside the specific area A26 in Fig. 6.

[0051] The upper pattern P1 and the lower pattern P2 are realized as described above by driving the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 under the control of the lamp control ECU 40 of the pattern light irradiation unit PP. This allows the driver to clearly recognize the behavior of an object such as a moving pedestrian 15. Therefore, the driver can take an early action according to the behavior of the object.

[0052] Here, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a model of human visual characteristics that underlie the technical idea of ​​the vehicle headlamp device 1 of the present disclosure. In Fig. 8, the forward visual field 7 of a person H is divided into a central visual field 8 that spreads from the front to the left and right at a certain acute angle, and a left peripheral visual field 9 and a right peripheral visual field 10 adjacent to the left and right of the central visual field 8, based on the human visual characteristics.

[0053] In general human visual characteristics, shapes are clearly seen in the central visual field 8, but the reaction to movement tends to be slow. Shapes are vaguely seen in the left peripheral visual field 9 and the right peripheral visual field 10, but the reaction to movement is quick, that is, the sensitivity to movement tends to be high. The vehicle headlamp device 1 of the present disclosure is based on the idea of ​​actively utilizing the above-mentioned human visual characteristics. The vehicle headlamp device 1 of the present disclosure projects an illumination pattern in which a bright area a1 and a dark area a2 are alternately repeated in the left peripheral visual field 9 and the right peripheral visual field 10, so that the driver can clearly recognize moving objects such as pedestrians 15 on the roadside, and the possibility of overlooking them can be further effectively reduced.

[0054] The vehicle headlamp device 1 of this embodiment provides the following advantages.

[0055] The vehicle headlamp device 1 of (1) is equipped with a low beam lamp 5 and a high beam lamp 6 that irradiate light to a first light distribution area A1 in front of the vehicle, and a pattern light irradiating unit PP that irradiates light to a second light distribution area A2 that is on the outer side of the first light distribution area A1 in the width direction of the vehicle 2 with an irradiation pattern in which a bright area a1 and a dark area a2 are alternately repeated, and the pattern light irradiating unit PP irradiates light so that at least a specific area A26 of the irradiation pattern shows a movement different from other areas. Therefore, the driver can recognize objects such as pedestrians 15 in the specific area A26 in a distinctive and distinctive manner from those in other areas. Therefore, the driver's overlooking of objects can be improved.

[0056] In the vehicle headlamp device 1 of (2), the pattern light irradiation unit PP irradiates light so that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and the entire area of ​​the irradiation pattern and the area in the irradiation pattern where the object exists move differently. This allows the driver to clearly recognize the behavior of the object, such as a moving pedestrian 15. This allows the driver to take early action according to the behavior of the object.

[0057] In the vehicle headlamp device 1 of (3), the pattern light irradiation unit PP irradiates light so that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and the upper region (P1) of the irradiation pattern and the lower region (P2) of the irradiation pattern move differently. This allows the driver to clearly recognize the behavior of an object such as a moving pedestrian 15. This allows the driver to take early action according to the behavior of the object.

[0058] Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The detailed configuration may be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above description, the pattern light irradiation unit that irradiates light to the second light distribution area on the vehicle width direction outer side in an irradiation pattern in which light areas and dark areas are alternately repeated is configured to control the surface light emitting element and the light shielding mask by the lamp control ECU, but other configurations can be selected. That is, the pattern light irradiation unit can be configured as a projector unit including a light emitting element, a spatial light modulator, and a lens. As the spatial light modulator, a type that reflects light while independently modulating a large number of reflecting elements such as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) can be applied. Such a projector unit has a DLP (Digital Light Processing: registered trademark) configuration using a DMD, and can irradiate light from the lens to the front side of the vehicle and other surrounding areas in a desired irradiation pattern. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] A1: First light distribution area A2…Second light distribution area A21: Second light distribution area on the left A22…Second light distribution area on the right side A24…overlapping area A26…Specific area AL…Low beam light distribution area AH…High beam light distribution area a1…light area a2…dark area H...human Lp…Irradiation pattern P1…Upper pattern P2…Lower pattern PP: Pattern light irradiation part PLL…Left side illumination light PLR…Right side illumination light Spi, Spi1, Spi2...Human identification signal (detection output) 1... Vehicle headlamp device 2. Vehicle 3…Turn signal lamp 4...Pattern irradiation lamp 5…Low beam lamp 6...High beam lamp 7…Forward vision 8…Central vision 9…Left peripheral vision 10…Right peripheral vision 11…road 12...Division line 13...Sidewalk 14...Sidewalk 15...Pedestrian 16...Light distribution area of ​​irradiation pattern 17...Light distribution area of ​​irradiation pattern 18…Akabe 40…Light control ECU 41…Left pattern irradiation lamp 42…Right side pattern irradiation lamp 50…Camera 60…Radar 70…Finder 80...Object recognition section 81...Object determination section 82…Person Identification Department 83...Output signal forming unit 90…Detection methods 100...Top ECU

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp device including: a low beam lamp and a high beam lamp that irradiate light onto a first light distribution area in front of a vehicle; and a pattern light irradiating unit that irradiates light onto a second light distribution area that is located outside the first light distribution area in a width direction of the vehicle in an irradiation pattern in which bright areas and dark areas are alternately repeated, The pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that at least a portion of the irradiation pattern exhibits a different movement from other portions of the irradiation pattern.

2. 2. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and the entire area of ​​the irradiation pattern and an area in which an object is present within the irradiation pattern show different movements.

3. 2. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the irradiation pattern moves while maintaining its shape, and an upper region of the irradiation pattern and a lower region of the irradiation pattern move differently.

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