Light control device

Abstract

To suppress generation of operation errors.SOLUTION: A light control part releases an auto light mode and switches the mode to a small light lighting mode, when a rotation operator of an operation lever is located at a first time small light position, and releases the auto light mode and switches the mode to a light-off mode of turning off all the lights, when the rotation operator is located at a second time small light position longer than the first time. When the rotation operator is held at the small light position, according to a peripheral environment and a vehicle state, the light control part performs any one of (1) displaying an operation condition of switching to the small light lighting mode and an operation condition of switching to the light-off mode on a display machine (70), (2) displaying an operation condition of switching to the small light lighting mode on the display machine (74), and (3) not displaying the operation condition on the display machine (78).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a lever switch having a momentary mechanism that automatically returns a rotary operator provided at the tip of the lever body to the auto light position when the rotary operating force is removed while the rotary operator is in a position between the auto light position and the light off position. Patent Document 1 also describes that when the duration of the OFF operation that holds the rotary operator in the light off position is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the state transitions from the all-on state to the side light state, and further from the side light state to the all-off state (see paragraph "0030" etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-062929 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a user performs an OFF operation by holding a rotary operator in the light OFF position, the instruction intended by the user is determined based on the duration of the OFF operation. Therefore, since the user needs to continue the OFF operation for the time corresponding to the intended instruction, there is a possibility that an operation error will occur, for example, during the period until the user has mastered the operation technique.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a light control device that can suppress the occurrence of operational errors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A light control device according to a first aspect includes: a rotary operator provided at a tip end of a lever body and rotatable at least between an auto light position for instructing switching to an auto light mode and a small light position for instructing switching to a small light on mode in which the small lights are turned on; the lever body having a built-in light switch provided with a momentary mechanism that automatically returns the rotary operator to the auto light position when rotational force on the rotary operator is released at a position between the auto light position and the small light position; and a light control unit that cancels the auto light mode and switches to the small light on mode when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a first time period, and cancels the auto light mode and switches to a light off mode in which all lights are turned off when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a second time period that is longer than the first time period, and when the rotary operator is held in the small light position, the light control unit is configured to: (1) displaying on a display device the operation conditions for switching to the parking light lighting mode and the operation conditions for switching to the parking light off mode; (2) displaying on the display device the operation conditions for switching to the parking light lighting mode; (3) Do not display the operating conditions on the display. Do one of the following.

[0007] In the first mode, the light control unit cancels the auto light mode and switches to the small light on mode when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a first time, and cancels the auto light mode and switches to the light off mode in which all the lights are turned off when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a second time that is longer than the first time. This means that there is a possibility that an operating error may occur during the period until the user becomes familiar with how to operate the rotary operator.

[0008] In contrast, in the first mode, when the rotary operator is held at the parking light position, the following is performed depending on the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle: (1) Displaying on a display the operation conditions for switching to the parking light on mode and the operation conditions for switching to the parking light off mode (2) Display the operation conditions for switching to the parking light mode on the display unit. (3) Do not display the operating conditions on the display unit This allows the user to recognize the operation conditions by visually checking the operation conditions displayed on the display device, and can reduce the occurrence of operational errors even until the user has mastered the operation techniques.

[0009] Furthermore, the above (1) to (3) are selected depending on the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, if the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle are such that there is a possibility that a switch to the parking light on mode is instructed but a switch to the light off mode is not instructed, it is possible to select (2). Also, if the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle are such that there is no instruction to switch to either the parking light on mode or the light off mode, it is possible to select (3). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the display on the display device from becoming too complicated.

[0010] In a second aspect, in the first aspect, when the rotary operator is held at the small light position and the surrounding brightness exceeds a predetermined value, or when the rotary operator is held at the small light position and the surrounding brightness is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the vehicle drive system is stopped, or the shift position is in park, or the parking brake is applied, (1) Displaying on a display the operation conditions for switching to the parking light on mode and the operation conditions for switching to the parking light off mode Perform processing.

[0011] In the second mode, the condition "when the ambient brightness exceeds a predetermined value" and the condition "when the ambient brightness is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the vehicle's drive system is stopped, or the shift position is in park, or the parking brake is applied" are conditions that may instruct switching to either the parking light mode or the light off mode. In this case, by selecting (1) above, the display can be made to display appropriately.

[0012] In a third aspect, in the first aspect, when the rotary operator is held at the small light position, the ambient brightness is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the shift position is not in parking, and the parking brake is not in operation, (2) displaying on the display device the operation conditions for switching to the parking light lighting mode; Perform processing.

[0013] In the third mode, the condition "ambient brightness is below a predetermined value, the shift position is not in parking, and the parking brake is not applied" means that although a command to switch to the parking light mode may be issued, a command to switch to the light off mode is not issued. In this case, by selecting (2) above, the display can be made to display appropriately.

[0014] In a fourth aspect, in the first aspect, when the rotary operator is held at the small light position, the light control unit is configured to: (3) The display does not display the operating conditions.

[0015] In the fourth mode, the condition "ambient brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed" is a condition under which neither switching to the parking light mode nor switching to the light off mode is instructed. In this case, by selecting (3) above, the display can be made to display appropriately. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present disclosure has an effect of suppressing the occurrence of operational errors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing a light control process executed by a light control ECU. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing a state in which the rotary operator of the control lever has been rotated to a parking light position. [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing a state in which the rotary operator of the control lever is held at the parking light position. [Figure 5A] This is an image diagram showing the operation method displayed on the display when the ambient brightness exceeds a predetermined value, or when the ambient brightness is below a predetermined value and the vehicle's drive system is stopped, or the shift position is in park, or the parking brake is applied. [Figure 5B] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an operation method displayed on the display when the ambient brightness is below a predetermined value, the shift position is not in parking, and the parking brake is not applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. An in-vehicle system 10 shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on a vehicle and includes a vehicle speed determination ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 12, a shift position determination ECU 14, a parking brake ECU 16, a surrounding environment determination ECU 18, a display 20, and a light control ECU 22. The vehicle speed determination ECU 12, the shift position determination ECU 14, the parking brake ECU 16, the surrounding environment determination ECU 18, the display 20, and the light control ECU 22 are connected via a communication line (for example, a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus).

[0019] Although not shown, each of the above-mentioned ECUs includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and non-volatile storage units such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0020] The vehicle speed determination ECU 12 acquires a detection signal from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) and determines the vehicle speed based on the acquired detection signal. The shift position determination ECU 14 acquires a detection signal from a shift position sensor (not shown) and determines the shift position of the vehicle based on the acquired detection signal. The parking brake ECU 16 acquires a detection signal from a parking brake sensor (not shown) and determines the operating state (operated / inoperated) of the vehicle's parking brake based on the acquired detection signal.

[0021] The surrounding environment determination ECU 18 acquires a detection signal from a sensor (not shown) that detects the brightness around the vehicle, and determines the brightness around the vehicle as the surrounding environment of the vehicle based on the acquired detection signal. The sensor may be a brightness sensor provided in the vehicle for performing automatic light control that turns on and off the vehicle's headlights according to the brightness around the vehicle, or a camera provided in the vehicle for capturing images of the surroundings of the vehicle.

[0022] The surrounding environment determination ECU 18 may be configured to estimate the luminance around the vehicle by, for example, acquiring weather information from an external weather information server, determining whether it is day or night from the acquired weather information, or determining whether the weather is sunny, cloudy, etc. Alternatively, the surrounding environment determination ECU 18 may be configured to estimate the luminance around the vehicle by, for example, acquiring the current position of the vehicle from a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) device, and determining whether the vehicle is traveling through a tunnel.

[0023] The indicator 20 is a display that can display, via the light control ECU 22, how to operate the control lever 32 to cancel the auto light mode. For example, a meter display provided on the vehicle's instrument panel can be used as the indicator 20. A light switch 34 built into the control lever 32 is connected to the light control ECU 22 via a communication line such as a CAN bus, and a headlight device 26 is also connected. The headlight device 26 is provided with headlights 28 and small lights (also called position lights) 30.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the operating lever 32 includes a lever body 36 and a rotary operator 38. The lever body 36 is a rod-shaped member supported on the side of the vehicle's steering column so that the lever body 36 can be tilted in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle. When the axis of the lever body 36 is tilted, the light control ECU 22 switches the light axis of the headlights 28 or turns on and off the turn signal lamps depending on the tilt direction. The lever body 36 has a built-in light switch 34 (see Figure 1).

[0025] The rotary operator 38 is provided at the tip of the lever body 36 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the lever body 36. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the rotary operator 38 has the following rotational positions, which are provided in order along the rotation direction of the rotary operator 38: a light on position (HEAD) 40 for instructing the headlights 28 and the parking lights 30 to be always on; an auto light position (AUTO) 42 for setting an auto light mode that controls the on / off of the headlights 28 and the parking lights 30 based on the brightness around the vehicle; and a parking light position 44 for instructing a switch to a parking light on mode that turns on the parking lights 30.

[0026] The light switch 34 switches its contacts when a user, who is an occupant of the vehicle, rotates a rotary operator 38. The light switch 34 outputs switch contact information to the light control ECU 22, which indicates whether the rotary operator 38 is in a light-on position 40, an auto light position 42, or a small light position 44.

[0027] When the rotary operator 38 is located at the light-on position 40, it is maintained at the light-on position 40 even if the user no longer exerts any rotational force. When the rotary operator 38 is located at the automatic light position 42, it is maintained at the automatic light position 42 even if the user no longer exerts any rotational force.

[0028] Meanwhile, the light switch 34 is provided with a momentary mechanism that automatically returns the rotary operator 38 to the auto light position 42 when the user's rotation force is released while the rotary operator 38 is positioned between the auto light position 42 and the small light position 44. This momentary mechanism can be realized, for example, by using a spring mechanism (not shown) to constantly apply a rotational biasing force toward the auto light position 42 to the rotary operator 38 at the small light position 44 that is strong enough to allow the user to rotate the rotary operator 38.

[0029] A light control program (not shown) is stored in the storage unit of the light control ECU 22. The light control ECU 22 reads the light control program from the storage unit and loads it into a memory, and the light control program loaded into the memory is executed by a CPU, thereby functioning as the light control unit 24 shown in FIG.

[0030] When the rotary operator 38 is located at the light ON position 40, the light control unit 24 turns on all of the headlights 28 and small lights 30, regardless of the brightness around the vehicle (daytime, nighttime, etc.), based on switch contact information input from the light switch 34. Furthermore, when the rotary operator 38 is located at the auto light position 42, the light control unit 24 turns off all of the headlights 28 and small lights 30 if the brightness around the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value (daytime, etc.), and turns on all of the headlights 28 and small lights 30 if the brightness around the vehicle is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

[0031] When the rotary operator 38 is held in the small light position 44 against the rotational biasing force of the momentary mechanism, the light control unit 24 performs the light control process described below. The operating lever 32 including the lever body 36 and the rotary operator 38, and the light control ECU 22 functioning as the light control unit 24 are an example of a light control device according to the present disclosure.

[0032] Next, as an operation of this embodiment, a light control process executed by the light control unit 24 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Note that this light control process is repeatedly executed by the light control unit 24 while the user is in the vehicle.

[0033] In step 60 of the light control processing, the light control unit 24 determines whether the rotary operator 38 is being held at the small light position 44 against the rotational biasing force of the momentary mechanism. If the determination in step 60 is negative, the light control processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the rotary operator 38 is rotated to the small light position 44 against the rotational biasing force of the momentary mechanism as shown by arrow A in FIG. 4A and then held at the small light position 44 as shown in FIG. 4B, the determination in step 60 is affirmative and the processing proceeds to step 62. In step 62, the light control unit 24 starts measuring the time (holding time) that the rotary operator 38 is being held at the small light position 44.

[0034] In step 64, the light control unit 24 acquires the vehicle's surrounding environment and vehicle status. That is, the light control unit 24 acquires the luminance around the vehicle from the surrounding environment determination ECU 18 as the vehicle's surrounding environment. Furthermore, the light control unit 24 acquires the vehicle's speed from the vehicle speed determination ECU 12, the vehicle's shift position from the shift position determination ECU 14, and the vehicle's parking brake operation status from the parking brake ECU 16 as the vehicle status. Furthermore, the light control unit 24 acquires the vehicle's ignition switch status as the vehicle status. If the acquired vehicle's ignition switch status is "off," the light control unit 24 determines that the vehicle's drive system is stopped.

[0035] In step 66, the light control unit 24 determines whether the ambient brightness of the vehicle acquired in step 64 exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value in step 66 is set to a value for determining whether the ambient environment is daytime or nighttime. Therefore, in step 66, it is determined whether the ambient environment of the vehicle is daytime or nighttime. If the determination in step 66 is positive, the process proceeds to step 70, and if the determination in step 66 is negative, the process proceeds to step 68.

[0036] In step 68, the light control unit 24 branches the process based on the vehicle's surrounding environment and vehicle status acquired in step 64. Specifically, if the vehicle's surrounding brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and (the vehicle's drive system is stopped, or the shift position is in park, or the parking brake is engaged) (hereinafter, this is referred to as "condition A"), the process proceeds to step 70. If the vehicle's surrounding brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and the shift position is not in park, and the parking brake is not engaged (hereinafter, this is referred to as "condition B"), the process proceeds to step 74. If the vehicle's surrounding brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed (hereinafter, this is referred to as "condition C"), the process proceeds to step 78.

[0037] When the process proceeds from step 66 or step 68 to step 70, the light control unit 24 causes the display device 20 to display, as shown in FIG. 5A, a method for canceling the auto light mode and turning on the small lights 30, and a method for canceling the auto light mode and turning off all the lights. In FIG. 5A, the method for canceling the auto light mode and turning on the small lights 30 is to "hold the rotary control device 38 at the small light position 44 for one second (or more)." Also, the method for canceling the auto light mode and turning off all the lights is to "hold the rotary control device 38 at the small light position 44 for two seconds (or more)." After completing the process of step 70, the light control unit 24 sets the process number to "1" in the next step 72 and proceeds to step 82.

[0038] Furthermore, when the process proceeds from step 68 to step 74, the light control unit 24 causes the display unit 20 to display a method for canceling the auto light mode and turning on the small lights 30, as shown in FIG. 5B. In FIG. 5B, the method for canceling the auto light mode and turning on the small lights 30 is to "hold the rotary operator 38 at the small light position 44 for one second (or more)." After performing the process of step 74, the light control unit 24 sets the process number to "2" in the next step 76 and proceeds to step 82.

[0039] Also, when the process moves from step 68 to step 78, the light control unit 24 does not display the operation method on the display device 20. Then, in the next step 80, the light control unit 24 sets the processing number to "3" and moves to step 82.

[0040] In step 82, the light control unit 24 determines whether the operation of holding the rotary operator 38 at the small light position 44 has ended. If the determination in step 82 is negative, step 82 is repeated until the determination is affirmative. If the determination in step 82 is affirmative, measurement of the holding time ends and the process proceeds to step 84. Then, in step 84, the light control unit 24 determines the processing number and branches the process according to the processing number.

[0041] If the processing number is 1, the process proceeds from step 84 to step 86. In step 86, the light control unit 24 determines whether the measured retention time is equal to or longer than a second time t2. The second time t2 is set to, for example, about 2 seconds. If the determination in step 86 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 90. In step 90, the light control unit 24 cancels the auto light mode, turns off all the lights, and ends the light control process.

[0042] If the determination in step 86 is negative, the process proceeds to step 88. In step 88, the light control unit 24 determines whether the hold time is equal to or greater than the first time t1 and less than the second time t2. The first time t1 is set to, for example, about one second. If the determination in step 88 is positive, the process proceeds to step 94. In step 94, the light control unit 24 cancels the auto light mode, turns on the parking lights 30, and ends the light control process. If the determination in step 88 is negative, the light control process ends.

[0043] In this way, when the processing number is 1, that is, when the brightness around the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value or when the above-mentioned condition A is satisfied, the operation method shown in FIG. 5A is performed.

[0044] If the processing number is 2, the process proceeds from step 84 to step 92. In step 92, the light control unit 24 determines whether the hold time is equal to or longer than the first time t1. If the determination in step 92 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 94. In step 94, the light control unit 24 cancels the auto light mode, turns on the parking lights 30, and ends the light control process. If the determination in step 92 is negative, the light control process ends.

[0045] In this way, when the processing number is 2, that is, when the above-mentioned condition B is satisfied, the operation method shown in Fig. 5B is performed. Also, when the processing number is 3, that is, when the above-mentioned condition C is satisfied, the light control process ends.

[0046] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotary operator 38 is provided at the tip of the lever body 36 and is rotatable at least between an auto light position 42 for instructing switching to the auto light mode and a low light position 44 for instructing switching to the low light mode in which the parking lights are turned on. The lever body 36 also incorporates the light switch 34 equipped with a momentary mechanism that automatically returns the rotary operator 38 to the auto light position 42 when the rotational force on the rotary operator 38 is released between the auto light position 42 and the low light position 44. The light control unit 24 also cancels the auto light mode and switches the mode to the low light mode when the rotary operator 38 is in the low light position 44 for a first time period, and cancels the auto light mode and switches the mode to the light off mode in which all the lights are turned off when the rotary operator 38 is in the low light position 44 for a second time period that is longer than the first time period. When the rotary operator 38 is held at the small light position 44, the light control unit 24 performs the following operations depending on the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle: (1) Displaying on the display 20 the operation conditions for switching to the parking light on mode and the operation conditions for switching to the parking light off mode (2) Displaying on the display 20 the operation conditions for switching to the parking light lighting mode (3) Do not display the operating conditions on the display unit 20 This allows the user to recognize the operation conditions by visually checking the operation conditions displayed on the display device 20, and can prevent operation errors from occurring even until the user has mastered the operation techniques. It can also prevent the display on the display device 20 from becoming too complicated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 20 Display 22 Light control ECU 24 Light control unit 28 Headlight 30 Small Light 32 Operating lever 34 Light Switch 36 Lever body 38 Rotational Control 42 Auto light position 44 Small light position

Claims

1. a rotary operator provided at a tip of the lever body and rotatable at least between an auto light position for instructing switching to the auto light mode and a small light position for instructing switching to a small light lighting mode for turning on the small lights; the lever body incorporating a light switch having a momentary mechanism that automatically returns the rotary operator to the auto light position when a rotary operating force on the rotary operator is removed at a position between the auto light position and the small light position; a light control unit that, when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a first period of time, cancels the auto light mode and switches to the small light on mode, and, when the rotary operator is in the small light position for a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time, cancels the auto light mode and switches to a light off mode in which all the lights are turned off; Including, When the rotary operator is held at the small light position, the light control unit performs the following in response to the surrounding environment and the state of the vehicle: (1) Displaying on a display device an operating condition for switching to the small light lighting mode and an operating condition for switching to the light off mode (2) displaying on the display device the operation conditions for switching to the side light lighting mode; (3) Do not display the operating conditions on the display device A light control device that performs any of the following:

2. The light control unit, when the rotary operator is held at the small light position and the surrounding luminance exceeds a predetermined value, or when the rotary operator is held at the small light position and the surrounding luminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the vehicle drive system is stopped, or the shift position is in parking, or the parking brake is applied, (1) Displaying on a display device the operating conditions for switching to the low beam light mode and the operating conditions for switching to the low beam light off mode 2. The light control device according to claim 1, wherein the light control device performs processing.

3. The light control unit, when the rotary operator is held at the small light position, the surrounding brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the shift position is not in the parking position, and the parking brake is not in operation, (2) displaying on the display device the operation conditions for switching to the side light lighting mode; 2. The light control device according to claim 1, wherein the light control device performs processing.

4. When the rotary operator is held at the small light position, the ambient brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed, the light control unit: (3) Do not display the operating conditions on the display device The light control device according to claim 1.

Images