Lighting fixture device for vehicle

Abstract

To make traffic participants around a vehicle recognize a behavior of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A control part controls a lighting fixture of a vehicle so that an irradiation range of light emitted from the lighting fixture of the vehicle on a road surface is changed into a travelling direction of the vehicle at a prescribed speed at the time of forward movement of the vehicle except for the time of speed reduction of the vehicle (refer to (A)), controls the lighting fixture of the vehicle so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the lighting fixture of the vehicle is changed into the travelling direction of the vehicle at a speed lower than the prescribed speed at the time of speed reduction of the vehicle (refer to (B)), and controls the lighting fixture of the vehicle so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the lighting fixture of the vehicle on the road surface is changed into a retreat direction of the vehicle at the time of retreat of the vehicle (refer to (C)).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technique for controlling a road surface drawing lamp that irradiates a beam onto a road surface, drawing a first pattern with a regular pattern in front of the vehicle, and drawing a second pattern different from the first pattern when a predetermined event such as an approach to a pedestrian starts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The technique described in Patent Document 1 does not describe switching the pattern of the light irradiated onto the road surface when the behavior of the vehicle changes, for example, when the vehicle decelerates or reverses. For this reason, it is difficult for the technique described in Patent Document 1 to make traffic participants existing around the vehicle recognize the behavior (change) of the vehicle.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a vehicle lighting device capable of making traffic participants existing around the vehicle recognize the behavior of the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle lighting device according to the first aspect controls the lamp such that, when the vehicle is moving forward except when decelerating, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp on the road surface changes at a predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is decelerating, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lamp on the road surface changes at a speed lower than the predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is moving backward, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lamp on the road surface changes in the backward direction of the vehicle, and includes a control unit for controlling the lamp.

[0007] In the first aspect, when the vehicle is decelerating, the lamp is controlled such that the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lamp on the road surface changes at a speed lower than a predetermined speed (the speed when the vehicle is moving forward except when decelerating) in the traveling direction of the vehicle. Thereby, traffic participants existing around the vehicle can recognize that the vehicle is decelerating from the change speed of the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is decelerating. Further, in the first aspect, when the vehicle is moving backward, the vehicle lamp is controlled such that the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp on the road surface changes in the backward direction of the vehicle. Thereby, traffic participants around the vehicle can recognize that the vehicle is moving backward from the change direction of the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light on the road surface when the vehicle is moving backward. Therefore, according to the first aspect, traffic participants existing around the vehicle can be made to recognize the behavior of the vehicle.

[0008] The second aspect is the first aspect, wherein the control unit changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle by lighting in order the irradiation patterns in which a plurality of partial irradiation regions are arranged on the front side of the vehicle, starting from the partial irradiation region closer to the vehicle in terms of irradiation position, and changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the backward direction of the vehicle by lighting in order the irradiation patterns, starting from the partial irradiation region farther from the vehicle in terms of irradiation position.

[0009] In a second aspect, an irradiation pattern in which a plurality of partial irradiation regions are arranged on the front side of the vehicle is used. By sequentially lighting the partial irradiation regions starting from the partial irradiation region closer to the vehicle or farther from the vehicle in terms of the irradiation position, the irradiation range of light on the road surface is changed in the traveling direction or the reverse direction of the vehicle. As a result, the direction of change in the irradiation range of light on the road surface can be intuitively recognized by traffic participants existing around the vehicle. Also, changing the irradiation range of light on the road surface in the traveling direction or the reverse direction of the vehicle can be achieved by simple processing.

[0010] In a third aspect, in the first aspect, the control unit changes the irradiation position on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle by sequentially switching the partial irradiation regions to be lit among the irradiation patterns in which a plurality of partial irradiation regions are arranged on the front side of the vehicle, starting from the partial irradiation region closer to the vehicle in terms of the irradiation position. The control unit changes the irradiation position on the road surface in the reverse direction of the vehicle by sequentially switching the partial irradiation regions to be lit among the irradiation patterns, starting from the partial irradiation region farther from the vehicle in terms of the irradiation position.

[0011] In a third aspect, among the irradiation patterns in which a plurality of partial irradiation regions are arranged on the front side of the vehicle, the partial irradiation regions to be lit are sequentially switched starting from the partial irradiation region closer to the vehicle or farther from the vehicle in terms of the irradiation position, thereby changing the irradiation position on the road surface in the traveling direction or the reverse direction of the vehicle. As a result, the direction of change in the irradiation position of light on the road surface can be intuitively recognized by traffic participants existing around the vehicle. Also, changing the irradiation position of light on the road surface in the traveling direction or the reverse direction of the vehicle can be achieved by simple processing.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, in the first aspect, the control unit controls the irradiation region of the light emitted from the lamp on the road surface to have a convex shape in the traveling direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving forward including when the vehicle is decelerating, and controls the irradiation region of the light emitted from the lamp on the road surface to have a convex shape in the reverse direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving backward.

[0013] In the fourth aspect, the irradiation area of the light emitted from the vehicle lamp on the road surface is controlled to have a shape convex in the traveling direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving forward including when the vehicle is decelerating, and to have a shape convex in the reverse direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving backward. Thereby, traffic participants existing around the vehicle can intuitively recognize the traveling direction of the vehicle.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] The present disclosure has an effect of enabling traffic participants existing around the vehicle to recognize the behavior of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The vehicle lighting device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle (own vehicle), and includes a lighting control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 22, a pair of left and right headlamps 30L and 30R, and a pair of left and right auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R. Further, the lighting control ECU 22 is connected to a light switch 12, a turn signal switch 14, a steering angle sensor 16, a brake switch 18, a shift position sensor 20, and a vehicle speed sensor 21 via a communication line such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus, respectively.

[0017] The light switch 12 is provided with a plurality of contacts including a first contact for instructing the lighting of the headlamps 30L and 30R of the own vehicle and a second contact for instructing the extinguishing of the headlamps 30L and 30R of the own vehicle. By being operated by an occupant of the own vehicle, the light switch 12 turns on one of the plurality of contacts and outputs a signal indicating which contact is on to the lighting control ECU 22.

[0018] The turn signal switch 14 is provided with a first contact for instructing the blinking of the left turn signal lamp, a second contact for instructing the blinking of the right turn signal lamp, and a third contact for instructing the extinguishing of the turn signal lamp. By being operated by an occupant of the own vehicle, the turn signal switch 14 turns on one of the contacts and outputs a signal indicating which contact is on to the lighting control ECU 22.

[0019] The steering angle sensor 16 detects the steering angle of the own vehicle and outputs a signal indicating the detected steering angle of the own vehicle to the lighting control ECU 22. The brake switch 18 is turned on when the brake pedal of the own vehicle is depressed by an occupant of the own vehicle, and outputs a signal indicating the on / off state of the self-switch to the lighting control ECU 22. The shift position sensor 20 detects the shift position of the transmission of the own vehicle and outputs a signal indicating the detected shift position to the lighting control ECU 22. The vehicle speed sensor 21 detects the vehicle speed of the own vehicle and outputs a signal indicating the detected vehicle speed to the lighting control ECU 22.

[0020] The headlamps 30L and 30R are headlamps that have a constant light distribution pattern and illuminate a certain range on the front side of the vehicle. The light sources of the headlamps 30L and 30R may be any of LED (Light Emitting Diode), HID (High Intensity Discharge), and halogen bulbs.

[0021] On the other hand, the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are auxiliary lamps that emit light toward the road surface on the front side of the vehicle and can change the irradiation pattern of the light on the road surface. The auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R adopt a configuration including, for example, an LED array 34 in which a plurality of LED chips 36 are arranged in a matrix, as shown in FIG. 2(A) and denoted as the micro-LED method, and a lens 38 arranged on the light emission side of the LED array 34. In this configuration (micro-LED method), the light emitted from each LED chip 36 is arranged in a matrix on the road surface, and by controlling the lighting and extinguishing of each LED chip 36, the irradiation pattern on the road surface can be changed to an arbitrary pattern.

[0022] The lamp control ECU 22 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), a non-volatile storage unit 26 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive), and a communication I / F (Inter Face). In the storage unit 26, a program (not shown) for causing the CPU of the lamp control ECU 22 to function as a control unit 24 and irradiation pattern control information 28S, 28L, and 28R are stored.

[0023] In this embodiment, there are three types of light irradiation patterns on the road surface by the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R as shown in FIG. 3. The first irradiation pattern is a pattern in which three partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C are arranged along the direction toward the front of the vehicle corresponding to the state where the host vehicle is going straight (see the "irradiation pattern during straight travel" in FIG. 3). The second irradiation pattern is a pattern in which three partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C are arranged along the direction toward the left front of the vehicle corresponding to the state where the host vehicle is turning left (see the "irradiation pattern during left turn" in FIG. 3). Here, the left turn includes a left turn at an intersection, a lane change to the left lane adjacent to the left side of the driving lane, and the like. The third irradiation pattern is a pattern in which three partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C are arranged along the direction toward the right front of the vehicle corresponding to the state where the host vehicle is turning right (see the "irradiation pattern during right turn" in FIG. 3). Here, the right turn includes a right turn at an intersection, a lane change to the right lane adjacent to the right side of the driving lane, and the like.

[0024] Further, the partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C included in each of the above patterns are shaped convex in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and are arranged in the order of the partial irradiation region 60A, the partial irradiation region 60B, and the partial irradiation region 60C from the side closer to the vehicle. Note that the number of partial irradiation regions constituting the irradiation pattern may be other than three.

[0025] The irradiation pattern control information 28S is information for controlling the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the light irradiation pattern on the road surface by the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R becomes the irradiation pattern for straight travel shown in FIG. 3. The irradiation pattern control information 28L is information for controlling the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the light irradiation pattern on the road surface by the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R becomes the irradiation pattern during left turn shown in FIG. 3. The irradiation pattern control information 28R is information for controlling the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the light irradiation pattern on the road surface by the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R becomes the irradiation pattern during right turn shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] Also, in the present embodiment, the control unit 24 controls the lighting and extinguishing of each LED chip 36 in time series so that the light irradiation pattern on the road surface by the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R changes in time series like an animation (the partial irradiation areas to be lit are switched in time series) according to the behavior of the host vehicle. And the irradiation pattern control information 28S, 28L, and 28R each include information (video data in this embodiment) for controlling the lighting and extinguishing of each LED chip 36 in time series corresponding to each behavior of the vehicle, that is, when the vehicle is moving forward except when decelerating, when the vehicle is decelerating, and when the vehicle is reversing.

[0027] More specifically, when the vehicle is moving forward except when decelerating, as shown in FIG. 4(A), it switches in the order of the first state of lighting only the partial irradiation area 60A → the second state of lighting the partial irradiation areas 60A and 60B → the third state of lighting all of the partial irradiation areas 60A, 60B, and 60C every first predetermined time t1. Hereinafter, this is referred to as the "change pattern during forward movement". Also, when the vehicle is decelerating, as shown in FIG. 4(B), it switches in the order of the first state → the second state → the third state every second predetermined time t2. Hereinafter, this is referred to as the "change pattern during deceleration". In the change pattern during forward movement and the change pattern during deceleration, the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes in the traveling direction of the host vehicle. Note that the first predetermined time t1 < the second predetermined time t2, and an example of the first predetermined time t1 is 0.1 second, and an example of the second predetermined time t2 is 0.3 second.

[0028] Also, when the vehicle is reversing, it switches in the order of the fourth state of lighting only the partial irradiation area 60C → the fifth state of lighting the partial irradiation areas 60B and 60C → the sixth state of lighting all of the partial irradiation areas 60A, 60B, and 60C. Hereinafter, this is referred to as the "change pattern during reverse movement". In the change pattern during reverse movement, the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes in the reverse direction of the host vehicle. The irradiation pattern control information 28R includes three types of video data corresponding to any one of the above change pattern during forward movement, change pattern during deceleration, and change pattern during reverse movement.

[0029] Note that although FIG. 4 shows each change pattern during a right turn, the irradiation pattern control information 28S for straight-ahead travel and the irradiation pattern control information 28L for left turns also each include three types of video data corresponding to any of the three types of change patterns.

[0030] Based on the switch contact information input from the light switch 12, the control unit 24 turns on the headlamps 30L and 30R when the first contact of the light switch 12 is on. Also, the control unit 24 turns off the headlamps 30L and 30R when the second contact of the light switch 12 is on. Note that the control unit 24 may turn on the headlamps 30L and 30R when the illuminance around the host vehicle becomes less than the threshold value.

[0031] In addition, the control unit 24 turns on the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R while the lighting conditions of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R (details will be described later) are satisfied. Specifically, when the host vehicle is moving forward except during deceleration, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R based on the corresponding video data so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a predetermined speed (time interval of the first predetermined time t1) in the traveling direction of the host vehicle. Also, when the host vehicle is decelerating, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R based on the corresponding video data so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a speed lower than the predetermined speed (time interval of the second predetermined time t2) in the traveling direction of the host vehicle. Further, when the host vehicle is reversing, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R based on the corresponding video data so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes in the reverse direction of the host vehicle.

[0032] Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, the auxiliary lamp control process executed by the control unit 24 (CPU of the lamp control ECU 22) while the ignition switch of the host vehicle is on will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0033] In step 100 of the auxiliary lamp control process, the control unit 24 determines whether the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied. The determination in step 100 can, for example, be made such that when the headlamps 30L and 30R are lit, it is determined that the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied. Also, for example, when the illuminance around the host vehicle becomes less than the threshold value, it may be determined that the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied. Further, for example, if a switch for instructing the turning on and off of the auxiliary lamp 32 is provided and a predetermined contact for instructing the lighting of the auxiliary lamp 32 is on in the switch, it may be determined that the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied. Also, for example, it may be determined that the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied while the ignition switch of the host vehicle is on.

[0034] If the determination in step 100 is negative, the process proceeds to step 102. In step 102, the control unit 24 turns off the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R. When the process of step 102 is performed, the process returns to step 100, and steps 100 and 102 are repeated until the determination in step 100 is affirmative. Also, when the lighting conditions for the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are satisfied, the determination in step 100 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 104.

[0035] In step 104, the control unit 24 acquires signals from sensors such as the turn signal switch 14, the steering angle sensor 16, the brake switch 18, the shift position sensor 20, and the vehicle speed sensor 21, respectively. Then, in step 106, the control unit 24 determines whether the host vehicle is going straight, turning left, or turning right based on the signals acquired in step 104, and selects the corresponding irradiation pattern control information 28S, irradiation pattern control information 28L, or irradiation pattern control information 28R according to the determination result.

[0036] Incidentally, as an example of determining whether the host vehicle is going straight, turning left, or turning right, when the turn signal lamp of the host vehicle is off, it can be determined that the vehicle is going straight; when the left turn signal lamp of the host vehicle is blinking, it can be determined that the vehicle is turning left; when the right turn signal lamp of the host vehicle is blinking, it can be determined that the vehicle is turning right. Also, when the steering angle of the host vehicle = 0, it can be determined that the vehicle is going straight; when the steering angle of the host vehicle ≠ 0 and the direction of the steering angle is left, it can be determined that the vehicle is turning left; when the steering angle of the host vehicle ≠ 0 and the direction of the steering angle is right, it can be determined that the vehicle is turning right.

[0037] In step 108, based on the signal acquired in step 104, the control unit 24 determines whether the behavior of the vehicle is "forward movement excluding deceleration", "deceleration", or "reverse movement", and branches the processing according to the determination result. For example, when the vehicle speed > 0, the brake switch 18 is off, and the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the D range, the behavior of the vehicle is determined to be "forward movement excluding deceleration". Also, for example, when the vehicle speed > 0, the brake switch 18 is on, and the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the D range, the behavior of the vehicle is determined to be "deceleration". Also, for example, when the vehicle speed > 0, the brake switch 18 is off, and the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the R range, the behavior of the vehicle is determined to be "reverse movement".

[0038] When it is determined that the behavior of the vehicle is "forward movement excluding deceleration", the process proceeds from step 108 to step 110. In step 110, the control unit 24 extracts the video data corresponding to the "change pattern during forward movement" from the irradiation pattern control information 28 selected in step 106, and controls the lighting and extinguishing of the individual LED chips 36 of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R in time series based on the extracted video data. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4(A) as an example, the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are controlled so that an irradiation pattern including a plurality of partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C lights up at time intervals of a first predetermined time t1 in order from the partial irradiation region 60A closer to the host vehicle in the irradiation position.

[0039] Also, when it is determined that the behavior of the vehicle is "decelerating", the process proceeds from step 108 to step 112. In step 112, the control unit 24 extracts video data corresponding to the "change pattern during deceleration" from the irradiation pattern control information 28 selected in step 106, and controls the lighting and extinguishing of the individual LED chips 36 of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R in time series based on the extracted video data. As a result, as also shown in FIG. 4(B) for example, the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are controlled such that an irradiation pattern including a plurality of partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C lights up at time intervals of a second predetermined time t2 that is longer than a first predetermined time t1, in order from the partial irradiation region 60A closer to the vehicle in the irradiation position.

[0040] Also, when it is determined that the behavior of the vehicle is "reversing", the process proceeds from step 108 to step 114. In step 114, the control unit 24 extracts video data corresponding to the "change pattern during reverse" from the irradiation pattern control information 28 selected in step 106, and controls the lighting and extinguishing of the individual LED chips 36 of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R in time series based on the extracted video data. As a result, as also shown in FIG. 4(C) for example, the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R are controlled such that an irradiation pattern including a plurality of partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C lights up in order from the partial irradiation region 60C farther from the vehicle in the irradiation position. Note that the time interval for lighting of the partial irradiation regions when the behavior of the vehicle is "reversing" may be the first predetermined time t1, the second predetermined time t2, or any other time.

[0041] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle is moving forward except during deceleration, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle. When the vehicle is decelerating, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a speed lower than the predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle. When the vehicle is moving backward, the control unit 24 controls the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R on the road surface changes in the backward direction of the vehicle. Thereby, traffic participants existing around the vehicle can recognize the behavior of the vehicle.

[0042] Also, in the present embodiment, the control unit 24 changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle by lighting the irradiation patterns in which the plurality of partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C are arranged on the front side of the vehicle in order from the partial irradiation region 60A on the side closer to the vehicle in the irradiation position, and changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the backward direction of the vehicle by lighting the irradiation patterns in order from the partial irradiation region 60C on the side farther from the vehicle in the irradiation position. Thereby, the direction of change of the irradiation range of the light on the road surface can be intuitively recognized by traffic participants existing around the vehicle, and changing the irradiation range of the light on the road surface in the traveling direction or the backward direction of the vehicle can be realized by simple processing.

[0043] Note that, in the above embodiment, the mode of changing the irradiation range of the irradiation pattern on the road surface in the traveling direction or the backward direction of the vehicle (see FIGS. 4(A) to 4(C)) has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, when the vehicle is moving forward except during deceleration, the control unit 24 may control the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R so that the irradiation position of the light emitted from the auxiliary lights 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 6(A)). This can be realized by switching the partial irradiation regions to be lit in order from the partial irradiation region 60A on the side closer to the vehicle in the irradiation position at time intervals of a first predetermined time t1 among the irradiation patterns in which the plurality of partial irradiation regions 60A, 60B, and 60C are arranged on the front side of the vehicle.

[0044] Further, when the vehicle decelerates, the control unit 24 may control the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R so that the irradiation position of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes at a speed lower than a predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 6(B)). This can be realized by switching the illuminated partial irradiation area among the plurality of partial irradiation areas 60A, 60B, and 60C arranged on the front side of the vehicle in order at time intervals of a second predetermined time t2 from the partial irradiation area 60A on the side closer to the vehicle.

[0045] Further, when the vehicle reverses, the control unit 24 may control the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R so that the irradiation position of the light emitted from the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R on the road surface changes in the reverse direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 6(C)). This can be realized by switching the illuminated partial irradiation area among the plurality of partial irradiation areas 62A, 62B, and 62C arranged on the front side of the vehicle in order from the partial irradiation area 62C on the side farther from the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 6(C), the irradiation pattern when the vehicle reverses may be composed of the partial irradiation areas 62A, 62B, and 62C having a shape convex in the reverse direction of the vehicle. Thereby, traffic participants existing around the vehicle can be made to more intuitively recognize that the vehicle is reversing.

[0046] Also, in the above embodiment, a mode in which separate video data is provided for the forward movement of the vehicle except when the vehicle decelerates and the deceleration of the vehicle has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the video data for the forward movement of the vehicle except when the vehicle decelerates and the deceleration of the vehicle is made common, and the frame rate (on / off control cycle) of the LED array 34 of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R is switched between the forward movement of the vehicle except when the vehicle decelerates and the deceleration of the vehicle, so that the change speed of the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light on the road surface may be switched.

[0047] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an aspect in which the irradiation pattern control information is configured by video data has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, control information for controlling the irradiation pattern of light on the road surface to the first state or the second state or the third state shown in FIG. 4(A) may be held in the form of two-dimensional image data, respectively. In this case, by switching at time intervals of the first predetermined time t1 or the second predetermined time t2 the control of the irradiation pattern of light on the road surface to the first state or the second state or the third state according to each control information, the irradiation pattern can be changed in the same manner as in the case of using video data when the vehicle is moving forward including when the vehicle is decelerating. Further, for example, control information for controlling the irradiation pattern of light on the road surface to the fourth state or the fifth state or the sixth state shown in FIG. 4(C) may be held in the form of two-dimensional image data, respectively. In this case, by switching at a predetermined time interval the control of the irradiation pattern of light on the road surface to the fourth state or the fifth state or the sixth state according to each control information, the irradiation pattern can be changed in the same manner as in the case of using video data when the vehicle is moving backward.

[0048] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as the configuration of the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R capable of changing the irradiation pattern on the road surface, the micro-LED method shown in FIG. 2(A) has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the micro-LED method.

[0049] For example, in the DMD (Digital Mirror Device) method shown in FIG. 2(B), a DMD 42 and a lens 38 are arranged in order on the light emission side of the LED light source 40. The DMD 42 has a plurality of micro-mirrors 44 whose angles are changeable arranged in a matrix, and each micro-mirror 44 is controlled to a first angle that reflects incident light into the lens 38 or a second angle that reflects incident light outside the lens 38. When the DMD method is adopted as the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R, in a state where each micro-mirror 44 of the DMD 42 is controlled to the first angle, the light reflected by each micro-mirror 44 will be arranged in a matrix on the road surface. Therefore, by controlling the angle of each micro-mirror 44 to the first angle or the second angle, the irradiation pattern on the road surface can be changed to an arbitrary pattern.

[0050] Also, for example, in the laser scanning method shown in FIG. 2(C), an MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror 48, a phosphor 50, and a lens 38 are arranged in order on the light emission side of the blue laser light source 46. The angle of the MEMS mirror 48 is controlled so as to two-dimensionally scan the laser light incident on the mirror. The phosphor 50 performs wavelength conversion of the incident scanned laser light. When the laser scanning method is adopted as the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R, the laser light reflected by the MEMS mirror 48 and passing through the phosphor 50 and the lens 38 in order will scan the road surface two-dimensionally. Therefore, by controlling the turning on and off of the blue laser light source 46 at the timing when the laser light scans each position on the road surface, the irradiation pattern on the road surface can be changed to an arbitrary pattern.

[0051] Also, for example, in the liquid crystal method shown in FIG. 2(D), a liquid crystal panel 56 having a configuration in which the front and back surfaces of a liquid crystal layer 52 are sandwiched between a pair of polarizing plates 54 and a lens 38 are arranged in order on the light emission side of an LED array 34 in which a plurality of LED chips 36 are arranged in a matrix. When the liquid crystal method is adopted as the auxiliary lamps 32L and 32R, the light transmitted through the individual liquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal panel 56 will be arranged in a matrix on the road surface, and by controlling the light transmittance of the individual liquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal panel 56, the irradiation pattern on the road surface can be changed to an arbitrary pattern.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 10 Vehicle lighting device 22 Lighting control ECU 24 Control unit 32L, 32R Auxiliary lamps 60A, 60B, 60C Partial irradiation areas 62A, 62B, 62C Partial irradiation areas

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device including a control unit that controls the lighting device such that, when the vehicle is moving forward except during deceleration of the vehicle, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lighting device of the vehicle on the road surface changes at a predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is decelerating, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lighting device on the road surface changes at a speed lower than the predetermined speed in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is moving backward, the irradiation range or irradiation position of the light emitted from the lighting device on the road surface changes in the backward direction of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle by sequentially lighting the irradiation patterns in which a plurality of partial irradiation areas are arranged on the front side of the vehicle, starting from the partial irradiation area closer to the vehicle in terms of irradiation position, and changes the irradiation range on the road surface in the backward direction of the vehicle by sequentially lighting the irradiation patterns starting from the partial irradiation area farther from the vehicle in terms of irradiation position.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the irradiation position on the road surface in the traveling direction of the vehicle by sequentially switching the partial irradiation areas to be lit among the irradiation patterns in which a plurality of partial irradiation areas are arranged on the front side of the vehicle, starting from the partial irradiation area closer to the vehicle in terms of irradiation position, and changes the irradiation position on the road surface in the backward direction of the vehicle by sequentially switching the partial irradiation areas to be lit among the irradiation patterns starting from the partial irradiation area farther from the vehicle in terms of irradiation position.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the irradiation area of the light emitted from the lighting device on the road surface to be convex in the traveling direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving forward including during deceleration of the vehicle, and controls the irradiation area of the light emitted from the lighting device on the road surface to be convex in the backward direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving backward.

Images