Lighting device control system

Abstract

To provide a lighting device control system which can more surely detect an operation intention of a user.SOLUTION: A lighting device control system controls a lighting device of a vehicle. The lighting device control system includes: a switch device operated from a first position to a second position by a user of the vehicle; and a control device for controlling the lighting device according to a position of the switch device, wherein the switch device has: a momentary mechanism returned to the first position when an operation force disappears, while operated from the first position to the second position; and a click mechanism for giving click feeling to the user at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting device control system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a lighting device control system in which a rotating body provided at the tip of a lever switch is rotated by a vehicle user to switch the lighting state of the lighting device. The lighting device control system of Patent Document 1 has an auto position and an off position. In the lighting device control system of Patent Document 1, the lighting device is lit according to the value of an illuminance sensor in the auto position. In the lighting device control system of Patent Document 1, when the rotating body is operated to the off position, the lighting device is turned off.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the lighting device control system of Patent Document 1, the lighting device is turned off when the vehicle user operates the rotating body to the off position once. In the lighting device control system of Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the user may accidentally turn off the lighting device. In order to prevent such unintended control of the lighting device by the vehicle user, it is preferable to more reliably detect the operation intention of the user.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lighting device control system that can more reliably detect the operation intention of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A lighting device control system according to the present disclosure is a lighting device control system for controlling lighting devices of a vehicle. The lighting device control system includes a switch device operated from a first position to a second position by a user of the vehicle, and a control device for controlling the lighting device according to the position of the switch device, the switch device having a momentary mechanism that returns to the first position when an operating force is released while the switch device is operated from the first position to the second position, and a detent mechanism that gives the user a sense of detent at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

[0007] According to this configuration, the user can feel a sense of moderation at the intermediate position, which enables the lighting device control system to more reliably detect the user's intention to operate the switch device from the first position to the second position. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a lighting device control system that can more reliably detect a user's operating intention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a lighting device control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a vehicle interior in which a switch device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided and an enlarged view of a tip portion of the switch device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a headlight according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 11 is a graph showing a moderation feeling according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure performed by a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1, 2, and 3, the lighting device control system 1 is a system mounted on a vehicle C for controlling a lighting device H of the vehicle C. As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting device control system 1 includes a lighting device H, a switch device 2, an illuminance sensor 4, a speed sensor 6, a display 8, and a control device 10.

[0012] The lighting device H is a light that is attached to the vehicle C and can illuminate the surroundings of the vehicle C. As shown in Fig. 3, the lighting device H of this embodiment has headlights Hh that illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle C, and width lights (position lights or small lights) Hp. The lighting device H may also have fog lamps or accessory lamps that are mainly used for decoration.

[0013] The switch device 2 is operated at least from a first position to a second position by a user of the vehicle C. As shown in Fig. 2, the switch device 2 of this embodiment is a lever-type switch device 2 provided on the back of a handle device 12 of the vehicle C. In addition to switching the lighting device H, the switch device 2 is capable of switching, for example, a direction indicator (blinker) and switching the headlights Hh between low beam and high beam.

[0014] 2, the switch device 2 has a lever body 2a extending in the longitudinal direction, and a knob 2b provided at the longitudinal tip of the lever body 2a and rotating about a rotation axis extending in the longitudinal direction. The knob 2b is configured to be able to turn on and off the headlights Hh and the width lights Hp based on a predetermined rotation position provided on the lever body 2a.

[0015] In this embodiment, the predetermined rotation positions are four switch positions: headlight off position (OFF), auto headlight position (AUTO), sidelight on position (Small), and headlight on position (HEAD). The headlight off position, auto headlight position, small light on position, and headlight on position are provided in order along the rotation direction.

[0016] The headlight off position is a position that instructs the control device 10 to turn off the headlights Hh and the sidelights Hp. The auto headlight position is a position that instructs the control device 10 to control the lighting state of the headlights Hh and the sidelights Hp according to the illuminance around the vehicle C. The sidelight on position is a position that instructs the control device 10 to keep the sidelights Hp on all the time. The headlight on position is a position that instructs the control device 10 to keep the headlights Hh on all the time. In this embodiment, the auto headlight position is the first position, and the headlight off position is the second position. The switch device 2 is electrically connected to the control device 10, and converts the rotation direction and position of the knob 2b into a signal and transmits it to the control device 10.

[0017] The switch device 2 has a momentary mechanism. The momentary mechanism is a mechanism that returns the knob 2b to the first position when the operating force is removed while the user of the vehicle C is operating the knob 2b from the first position to the second position. In this embodiment, when the operating force is removed while the user is rotating the knob 2b from the auto headlight position to the headlight off position, the knob 2b is returned to the auto headlight position. The momentary mechanism is, for example, composed of a leaf spring or a coil spring that biases the knob 2b against the lever body 2a in the direction opposite to the rotation direction (see arrow A in FIG. 2, hereinafter referred to as the OFF direction in the specification) of the knob 2b from the auto headlight position to the headlight off position (see arrow B in FIG. 2).

[0018] The switch device 2 has a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism is a mechanism that changes the load applied to the knob 2b according to the amount of operation of the knob 2b to give the user a sense of detent. The graph in Fig. 4 is a graph showing the sense of detent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the horizontal axis showing the rotation operation amount (stroke S) of the knob 2b and the vertical axis showing the load applied to the knob 2b. The upper graph in Fig. 4 shows the change in load when the knob 2b is rotated in the OFF direction, and the lower graph shows the change in load when the knob 2b is rotated in the direction opposite to the OFF direction.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the detent mechanism gives the user a first detent feeling at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, and gives the user a second detent feeling at the second position. In this embodiment, the load F applied to the knob 2b increases or decreases with respect to the rotation operation amount (stroke S) of the knob 2b, thereby giving the user a detent feeling. More specifically, as the knob 2b is rotated from the auto headlight position (AUTO) to the intermediate position (M) between the auto headlight position and the headlight off position (OFF), the load F applied to the knob 2b increases once and then decreases. As a result, the user feels that the knob 2b has overcome some protrusion at the intermediate position (M) (see X1 of the load F), and gets a first detent feeling (click feeling).

[0020] Next, as the knob 2b is rotated from the intermediate position (M) to the headlight off position (OFF), the load F applied to the knob 2b increases once and then decreases. This causes the user to feel that the knob 2b has overcome some protrusion at the headlight off position (OFF) (see X3 of the load F), and gives a second sense of moderation (click feeling). At this time, the second peak P2, which is the peak of the load F generated from the intermediate position (M) to the headlight off position (OFF), is greater than the first peak P1, which is the peak of the load F generated from the automatic headlight position (AUTO) to the intermediate position (M). This allows the lighting device control system 1 to more reliably detect the user's intention to turn off the lighting device H.

[0021] Such a detent mechanism can be realized, for example, by providing a detent pin (not shown) on the lever body 2a and a convex portion (not shown) on the knob 2b, so that the convex portion rides over the detent pin.

[0022] The illuminance sensor 4 is a sensor capable of measuring the illuminance around the vehicle C. As shown in Fig. 2, the illuminance sensor 4 is attached to, for example, a dashboard D of the vehicle C. As shown in Fig. 1, the illuminance sensor 4 is electrically connected to the control device 10 and transmits the measured illuminance to the control device 10.

[0023] The speed sensor 6 is a sensor that measures the speed of the vehicle C by measuring the number of rotations of wheels (not shown) of the vehicle C. The speed sensor 6 is electrically connected to the control device 10 and transmits the speed to the control device 10.

[0024] The display 8 displays a screen capable of displaying various information about the vehicle C. The display 8 is configured, for example, from a liquid crystal, an organic electroluminescence (EL), or the like, and is electrically connected to the control device 10. The display 8 acquires information to be displayed from the control device 10, and generates and displays a screen based on the acquired information. In this embodiment, the display 8 is provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle C. However, the display 8 may be provided in any position as long as it is provided in a position visible to the user of the vehicle C.

[0025] The control device 10 is a device for acquiring signals from various sensors such as the illuminance sensor 4 and the speed sensor 6, and controlling the lighting device H. When the knob 2b of the switch device 2 is in the auto headlight position, the control device 10 executes control of the auto light mode. In the auto light mode, the control device 10 acquires the illuminance around the vehicle C from the illuminance sensor 4, and when the illuminance is equal to or less than a first illuminance, the control device 10 lights (turns on) the sidelights Hp. When the illuminance acquired from the illuminance sensor 4 becomes equal to or less than a second illuminance (an example of a predetermined illuminance) that is darker than the first illuminance, the control device 10 lights (turns on) the headlights Hh in addition to the sidelights Hp. Conversely, when the illuminance acquired from the illuminance sensor 4 becomes brighter than the second illuminance, the control device 10 turns off (turns off) the headlights Hh. When the illuminance acquired from the illuminance sensor 4 becomes brighter than the first illuminance, the control device 10 turns off (turns off) the sidelights Hp. In the following description, a state darker than the second illuminance is referred to as "con light on."

[0026] When the knob 2b of the switch device 2 is in the headlight off position, the control device 10 turns off both the headlights Hh and the sidelights Hp. When the knob 2b of the switch device 2 is in the headlight on position, the control device 10 keeps the headlights Hh constantly on. When the knob 2b of the switch device 2 is in the sidelight on position, the control device 10 keeps the sidelights Hp constantly on.

[0027] The control device 10 is actually an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and is configured by a microcomputer including an arithmetic unit, a memory, an input / output buffer, etc. The control device 10 controls the headlights Hh and the width lights Hp so that the lighting device H is in a desired lighting state based on signals from each sensor and various devices, and maps and programs stored in the memory. Note that the various controls are not limited to processing by software, and can also be processed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuits).

[0028] Next, a control procedure executed by the control device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0029] In step S1, the control device 10 determines whether or not the knob 2b of the switch device 2 has been rotated in the OFF direction. If the control device 10 determines that the knob 2b has been rotated in the OFF direction (YES in step S1), the control device 10 advances the process to step S2.

[0030] In step S2, the control device 10 judges whether the knob 2b is at the intermediate position. If the control device 10 judges that the knob 2b is at the intermediate position (YES in step S2), the process proceeds to step S3.

[0031] In step S3, the control device 10 determines whether the headlights Hh are lit (ON). If the control device 10 determines that the headlights Hh are ON (YES in step S3), the process proceeds to step S4.

[0032] In step S4, the control device 10 generates information to the effect that the amount of rotation of the knob 2b is insufficient, and transmits the information to the display 8. The display 8 generates and displays a screen warning of the insufficient amount of operation. After completing the process of step S4, the control device 10 advances the process to step S1.

[0033] When the control device 10 determines in step S1 that the knob 2b of the switch device 2 has not been rotated in the OFF direction (NO in step S1), the control device 10 repeats the process of step S1.

[0034] When the control device 10 determines in step S2 that the knob 2b of the switch device 2 is not in the intermediate position (NO in step S2), the control device 10 proceeds to the process of step S5.

[0035] In step S5, the control device 10 determines whether the knob 2b is in the headlight off position. If the control device 10 determines that the knob 2b is not in the headlight off position (NO in step S5), the process proceeds to step S3. In other words, if the control device 10 determines that the knob 2b has not been rotated to the intermediate position, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0036] In other words, when the headlights Hh are in the ON state and the knob 2b is rotated in the OFF direction, the user may be indicating an intention to turn off the headlights Hh. However, if the rotation of the knob 2b stops at or just before the intermediate position, the control device 10 notifies the user that the amount of operation is insufficient.

[0037] When the control device 10 determines in step S3 that the headlights Hh are turned off (OFF state) (NO in step S3), the control device 10 advances the process to step S6.

[0038] In step S6, the control device 10 judges whether the condition light is on. If the condition light is on (YES in step S6), the control device 10 advances the process to step S7. If the condition light is off (NO in step S6), the control device 10 advances the process to step S1.

[0039] In step S7, the control device 10 turns on the headlights Hh. After turning on the headlights Hh, the control device 10 advances the process to step S1.

[0040] That is, when the headlights Hh are in an off state and the knob 2b is rotated in the OFF direction, the user may intend to turn on the headlights Hh, or may have mistakenly operated the knob 2b. It is preferable that the lighting device H be kept in a lit (on) state in principle when the condition light is on. For this reason, the control device 10 turns on the headlights Hh when the condition light is on.

[0041] If the control device 10 determines in step S5 that the knob 2b is in the headlight off position, the control device 10 advances the process to step S8.

[0042] In step S8, the control device 10 turns off the headlights Hh. After turning off the headlights Hh, the control device 10 advances the process to step S1.

[0043] That is, the user rotates the knob 2b beyond the intermediate position to the headlight off position. When the knob 2b is rotated to the headlight off position, the user feels two clicks. Therefore, when the knob 2b is rotated to the headlight off position, it is considered that the user intends to turn off the headlights Hh. Therefore, the control device 10 turns off the headlights Hh. After executing the process of step S8, the control device 10 proceeds to step S9.

[0044] In step S10, the control device 10 acquires a signal from the speed sensor 6 and determines whether the speed of the vehicle C is in a certain state, i.e., whether the vehicle C is in a traveling state. If the control device 10 determines that the vehicle C is in a traveling state (step S9 YES), the process proceeds to step S7 and turns on the headlights. On the other hand, if the control device 10 determines that the vehicle C is not in a traveling state (step S9 NO), the process proceeds to step S8 and the headlights Hh are maintained in the off state.

[0045] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the lighting device control system 1 that can more reliably detect the user's intention to turn off the headlights Hh.

[0046] <Other embodiments> Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0047] (a) In the above embodiment, the lever-type switch device 2 has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the lighting device control system 1 of the present disclosure may be used in a dial-type switch device.

[0048] (b) In the above embodiment, the first position is the auto headlight position and the second position is the headlight off position, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the lighting device control system 1 of the present disclosure may be used with the first position being the headlight on position and the second position being the auto headlight position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1: Lighting device control system 2: Switch device 2a: Lever body 2b: Knob 4: Illuminance sensor 10: Control device C: Vehicle H:Lighting device

Claims

1. A lighting device control system for controlling lighting devices of a vehicle, a switch device that is operated by a user of the vehicle from a first position to a second position; a control device that controls the lighting device in accordance with a position of the switch device; Equipped with The switch device includes: a momentary mechanism that returns to the first position when an operating force is removed while the lever is being operated from the first position to the second position; a detent mechanism that gives the user a detent feeling at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; having Lighting control system.

2. The detent mechanism provides the user with a sense of detent at the second position in addition to the intermediate position. The lighting device control system according to claim 1 .

3. the switch device includes a knob that rotates between the first position and the second position; the detent mechanism gives the user the sense of detent by changing a load applied to the knob in accordance with an amount of operation of the knob; At the intermediate position, the knob has a first click feeling; In the second position, the knob has a second click feeling. The second click feeling is a larger load than the first click feeling. The lighting device control system according to claim 1 .

4. The control device turns on the lighting device at the first position, turning off the lighting device in the second position; The lighting device control system according to claim 1 .

5. The control device notifies the user of a lack of an operation amount when the switch device is operated from the first position to the intermediate position and is not operated to the second position and when the lighting device is turned on. The lighting device control system according to claim 1 .

6. Further comprising an illuminance sensor; The control device turns on the lighting device when the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor at the first position is equal to or lower than a predetermined illuminance, When the switch device is operated from the first position to the intermediate position and is not operated to the second position, when the lighting device is not lit, and when the illuminance is equal to or lower than the predetermined illuminance, the light passes through the lighting device. A lighting device control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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