Headlight control device

Abstract

The present invention provides a headlight control device that allows the vehicle's headlights to be temporarily switched to high beam mode without changing the state of any control other than the first control related to the headlights, even when an occupant operates the headlight control unit to signal to the front of the vehicle. [Solution] The headlight control device 100 includes a headlight operation unit 2 to which a first control is assigned to temporarily set the vehicle's headlight unit 3 to high beam, and a second control is assigned to which the state of controls other than the first control relating to the headlight unit 3 is changed; an operation recognition unit 12 that estimates the intention of the vehicle occupant to signal to the front of the vehicle using the first control based on the operation state of the headlight operation unit 2 for the first control; and a headlight control unit 13 that controls the headlight unit 3 based on the surrounding environment and the estimated result of the signal intention. The headlight control unit 13 performs the second control if it determines that there is no intention to signal, and performs the first control and does not perform the second control if it determines that there is an intention to signal.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] As a headlamp control device that performs automatic irradiation control of a headlamp such as AHB [Auto High Beam] or ADB [Adaptive Driving Beam], for example, during the execution of automatic irradiation control, when a driver performs a predetermined lever operation, there is known a device that interrupts the automatic irradiation control so as to switch the irradiation state of the headlamp from the high beam state to the low beam state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the device as described above, a predetermined lever operation may be assigned not only to interrupt the automatic irradiation control but also to a function of temporarily setting the headlamp to the high beam. In such a configuration, for example, when a passenger performs a predetermined lever operation to temporarily set the headlamp to the high beam for a signal toward the front of the vehicle, the automatic irradiation control may be interrupted although the passenger does not intend to interrupt it.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A headlight control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a headlight operating unit to which a first control is assigned to temporarily set the vehicle's headlights to high beam and a second control is assigned to which the state of controls other than the first control relating to the headlights is assigned; an operation recognition unit that estimates the intention of a vehicle occupant to signal to the front of the vehicle using the first control based on the operation state of the first control of the headlight operating unit; and a headlight control unit that controls the headlights based on the surrounding environment detected by the vehicle's external sensors and the estimated result of the signaling intention. The headlight control unit performs the second control when it determines that there is no intention to signal, and performs the first control and does not perform the second control when it determines that there is an intention to signal.

[0006] In a headlight control device according to one aspect of this disclosure, the operation recognition unit estimates the intention of the vehicle occupant to signal to the front of the vehicle using a first control, based on the operation state of the headlight operation unit. If it is determined that there is no intention to signal, the headlight control unit performs a second control, and the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlights is changed. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an intention to signal, the headlight control unit performs the first control without performing the second control. Therefore, according to a headlight control device according to one aspect of this disclosure, even if an occupant operates the headlight operation unit to signal to the front of the vehicle, it is possible to temporarily set the vehicle's headlights to high beam without changing the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlights.

[0007] In one embodiment, when the operation recognition unit recognizes an operation for the first control, if a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle is recognized as part of the surrounding environment, it may presume that there is an intention to signal.

[0008] In one embodiment, when the operation recognition unit recognizes an operation for the first control, it may presume that there is an intention to signal if it recognizes multiple operations for the first control within a predetermined determination time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to various aspects of this disclosure, even when an occupant operates the headlight control unit to signal to the front of the vehicle, it is possible to temporarily switch the vehicle's headlights to high beam without changing the state of any control other than the first control related to the headlights. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a headlight control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the processing of the ECU. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process for estimating the intent behind a signal. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows another example of the process for estimating the intent of the signal in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the headlight control device 100 according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle may be a passenger car or a cargo vehicle. The vehicle can accommodate one or more occupants. The vehicle may be an autonomous driving vehicle capable of automatic driving. The vehicle may also be capable of manual driving by a driver. The vehicle of this embodiment is equipped with a headlight distribution control function (hereinafter also simply referred to as "distribution control").

[0013] Light distribution control refers to the control of the high beam of the vehicle's headlights. Light distribution control may be, for example, at least one of AHB (Auto High Beam) or ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam). AHB is a function that automatically switches the high beam on and off depending on whether or not there is another vehicle in front of the vehicle at night. ADB is a function that automatically blocks a portion of the high beam only in the range where there is another vehicle in front of the vehicle at night. Light distribution control is not limited to these examples and may be other controls related to the high beam. In this embodiment, as an example, the light distribution control function is AHB. The area in front of the vehicle corresponds to the direction of illumination of the vehicle's headlights.

[0014] The headlight control device 100 comprises an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10, an external sensor 1, a headlight operating unit 2, and a headlight unit 3 (headlight). The external sensor 1, the headlight operating unit 2, and the headlight unit 3 are connected to the ECU 10.

[0015] The ECU10 is an electronic control unit having an interface with the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory unit. The memory unit consists of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), etc. The ECU10 realizes various functions by, for example, executing a program stored in the memory unit with the CPU. The ECU10 may be composed of multiple electronic units.

[0016] External sensor 1 is a detection device that detects the conditions around the vehicle. External sensor 1 includes a camera. External sensor 1 may also include a radar sensor. The camera is an imaging device that captures images of the conditions in front of the vehicle. The camera is installed, for example, on the back of the rearview mirror behind the vehicle's windshield and captures images of the area in front of the vehicle. The camera transmits the forward-facing images of the conditions in front of the vehicle to the ECU 10.

[0017] A radar sensor is a detection device that uses radio waves (e.g., millimeter waves) or light to detect objects around a vehicle. Objects around the vehicle include other vehicles traveling in front of the vehicle. The radar sensor may include, for example, millimeter-wave radar or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). The radar sensor transmits information about the detected object to the ECU 10.

[0018] The headlight control unit 2 is an interface for operating the headlight unit 3. The headlight control unit 2 is a switch used, for example, to switch between the high beam and low beam of the headlight unit 3. In the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the headlight control unit 2 includes a lever-shaped member that protrudes to the right from the right side of the steering column as viewed from the driver, and a plurality of switches that can be operated by the occupant on the lever-shaped member. In the case of a left-hand drive vehicle, the lever-shaped member may be positioned to protrude to the left from the left side of the steering column as viewed from the driver.

[0019] The headlight control unit 2 is assigned a first control that temporarily sets the vehicle's headlight unit 3 to high beam, and a second control that changes the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlight unit 3. As a specific example, the headlight control unit 2 includes a high beam switch, a dimmer switch, and an AHB switch.

[0020] The dimmer switch is, for example, a strip-shaped switch arranged on the tip side of the lever-shaped member of the headlamp operation unit 2. The dimmer switch is operated so as to rotate relative to the lever-shaped member by the driver. The dimmer switch has, for example, operating states of "auto state", "headlamp off state", "width lamp on state", and "headlamp on state" according to a predetermined rotational position with respect to the lever-shaped member.

[0021] The AHB switch is, for example, a push-button switch arranged on the tip side of the dimmer switch in the lever-shaped member of the headlamp operation unit 2. The AHB switch is operated so as to be pushed by the passenger and the pushed state and the protruding state are repeated. The AHB switch has, for example, operating states of "AHB on state" when in the pushed state and "AHB off state" when in the protruding state.

[0022] The high beam switch is a switch that is switched by swinging along the vehicle front-rear direction with the base of the lever-shaped member as a fulcrum. When the high beam switch is operated by the passenger to push forward in the vehicle front-rear direction, it moves to the "high beam on position". The high beam on position is an operating state corresponding to the control to set the headlamp unit 3 to high beam. The high beam on position may be an operating state in which the high beam is automatically switched between off and on in the AHB on state. The high beam switch, for example, does not move from the high beam on position even if the passenger's hand is released in the high beam on position.

[0023] When the high beam switch is operated by the passenger to pull backward in the vehicle front-rear direction, it moves to the flash position. The flash position is an operating state corresponding to the first control to temporarily set the headlamp unit 3 to high beam. The first control is the control of the headlamp unit 3 for so-called passing.

[0024] The flash position is also an operating state corresponding to a second control that changes the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlight unit 3. Controls other than the first control related to the headlight unit 3 include, for example, a control that changes the AHB from the ON state to the OFF state. The AHB OFF state is a state in which the ON state AHB is temporarily turned OFF.

[0025] When the occupant releases the high beam switch from the flash position, it moves to the neutral position. The neutral position is the operating state where the high beams are off and the low beams are on. The neutral position corresponds to an approximately intermediate position within the range in which the high beam switch can swing between the on position and the flash position. When the high beam switch is in the high beam on position, it moves to the neutral position when operated by the occupant by pulling it towards the rear in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0026] The headlight unit 3 includes, for example, a left headlight located at the left front end of the vehicle and a right headlight located at the right front end of the vehicle. The left and right headlights are driving headlights with high beam functionality. The left and right headlights may also have low beam functionality. The headlight unit 3 can use known headlights, such as lights with an LED matrix as the light source.

[0027] The ECU 10 has a functional configuration that includes a surrounding environment recognition unit 11, an operation recognition unit 12, and a headlight control unit 13.

[0028] The surrounding environment recognition unit 11 recognizes the surrounding environment, including the conditions in front of the vehicle, based on the detection results of the external sensor 1. The surrounding environment recognition unit 11 may also recognize the presence or absence of a vehicle located in front of the vehicle based on the detection results of light sources in the image captured by the camera. The recognition result of the presence or absence of a vehicle in front may be used for AHB.

[0029] The operation recognition unit 12 has the function of estimating the intention of the vehicle occupant to signal to the front of the vehicle using the first control (hereinafter simply referred to as "intention to signal") based on the operation state of the first control of the headlight operation unit 2. The intention to signal here means whether or not the driver intends to signal to an object in front of the vehicle by temporarily setting the headlight unit 3 to high beam. Examples of objects in question include pedestrians crossing the road, cyclists crossing the road, and vehicles ahead. Pedestrians crossing the road are not limited to pedestrians currently crossing the roadway in front of the vehicle, but may also be pedestrians who are about to cross, such as those facing the roadway on the sidewalk in front of the vehicle. Cyclists crossing the road are not limited to cyclists currently crossing the roadway in front of the vehicle, but may also be cyclists who are about to cross, such as those facing the roadway on the sidewalk in front of the vehicle. Vehicles ahead may be four-wheeled vehicles such as passenger cars and commercial vehicles, or two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles. In addition, in a specific road environment such as a T-junction, vehicles on intersecting roads may be considered objects.

[0030] When the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation by an occupant to pull the high beam switch to the rear of the vehicle (an operation related to the first control), and recognizes a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle as part of the surrounding environment, it may presume that there was an intention to signal. Furthermore, when the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation by an occupant to pull the high beam switch to the rear of the vehicle (an operation related to the first control), and recognizes a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle, as well as a pedestrian crossing sign or marking present in front of the vehicle as part of the surrounding environment, it may presume that there was an intention to signal. Pedestrian crossing signs may be posted above on the shoulder of the road via a pole. Pedestrian crossing markings may be diamond-shaped marks inscribed on the road surface.

[0031] The operation recognition unit 12 recognizes the operation state of the high beam switch of the headlight operation unit 2 when the high beam is off. The state when the high beam is off means that the high beam has been automatically switched off when the light distribution control is AHB. The state when the high beam is off may also include the state when the light distribution control is ADB and a portion of the high beam is automatically blocked only in the range where other vehicles are present in front of the vehicle.

[0032] The operation recognition unit 12 recognizes the timing or number of times the high beam switch has been operated as the operating state of the headlight operation unit 2. For example, if the high beam switch is operated by an occupant in a way that pulls it towards the rear of the vehicle, resulting in a "flash state," the operation recognition unit 12 remembers that the headlight operation unit 2 has been operated once. The number of times the headlight operation unit 2 has been operated may be reset to 0, for example, after a predetermined reset time has elapsed (predetermined reset).

[0033] The operation recognition unit 12 may assume that there is an intention to signal if the high beam switch is operated multiple times within a predetermined judgment time. The predetermined judgment time is a time threshold for determining whether the operation of pulling the high beam switch towards the rear of the vehicle corresponds to so-called passing. The predetermined judgment time can be, for example, 1 second to several seconds. For example, the operation recognition unit 12 may assume that there is an intention to signal if the high beam switch is operated multiple times after a predetermined judgment time has elapsed since the first operation of the high beam switch after a predetermined reset.

[0034] The headlight control unit 13 controls the headlight unit 3 based on the surrounding environment detected by the vehicle's external sensors and the estimation result of the signal intent by the operation recognition unit 12. The headlight control unit 13 performs a second control if it determines that there is no signal intent, and performs the second control or does not perform the second control if it determines that there is a signal intent. For example, the headlight control unit 13 controls the headlight unit 3 so as to perform orientation control of the AHB according to the surrounding environment detected by the external sensor 1, and perform the first and second controls according to the estimation result by the operation recognition unit 12.

[0035] Next, the processing of the ECU 10 in the headlight control device 100 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts in Figures 2 to 4. The processing in the flowcharts in Figures 2 to 4 is repeatedly executed at predetermined calculation cycles, for example, when the AHB is ON and the high beam is OFF.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, in step S11, the ECU 10 of the headlight control device 100 recognizes the operation using the operation recognition unit 12. The operation recognition unit 12 recognizes the operation status of the headlight operation unit 2, for example, the number of times the occupant pulls the high beam switch towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0037] In step S12, the ECU 10 uses the operation recognition unit 12 to estimate the intent of the signal. Based on the operation state of the headlight operation unit 2, the operation recognition unit 12 estimates the intent of the vehicle occupant to signal forward using the first control. As part of the signal intent estimation process in step S12, the ECU 10 performs, for example, the processes shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, in step S21, the ECU 10 recognizes the surrounding environment using the surrounding environment recognition unit 11. The surrounding environment recognition unit 11 recognizes the surrounding environment around the vehicle based on the detection results of the external sensor 1.

[0039] In step S22, the ECU 10 determines whether or not it has recognized a pedestrian or cyclist crossing the road using the operation recognition unit 12. If it is determined that a pedestrian or cyclist has been recognized (step S22: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S23, where the operation recognition unit 12 determines whether or not there is a pedestrian crossing sign or marking in front of the vehicle.

[0040] If it is determined that a pedestrian crossing sign or marking exists in front of the vehicle (step S23: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S24, and the operation recognition unit 12 determines that there is an intention to signal. After that, the ECU 10 finishes the process shown in Figure 3 and returns to step S13 in Figure 2.

[0041] On the other hand, if it is determined that no pedestrian or cyclist has been recognized (step S22: NO), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S25, and the operation recognition unit 12 determines that there was no intention to signal. If it is determined that no pedestrian crossing sign or marking exists in front of the vehicle (step S23: NO), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S25, and the operation recognition unit 12 determines that there was no intention to signal. After that, the ECU 10 finishes the process shown in Figure 3 and returns to step S13 in Figure 2.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, in step S31, the ECU 10 stores the recognized operation by the operation recognition unit 12. The operation recognition unit 12 stores, for example, the number of times the high beam switch was pulled backward by an occupant, resulting in the "flash state".

[0043] In step S32, the ECU 10 determines whether the operation recognition unit 12 has recognized multiple operations within a predetermined judgment time. If it is determined that multiple operations have been recognized within the predetermined judgment time (step S32: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S33, where the operation recognition unit 12 determines that there was intent to signal. After that, the ECU 10 completes the process shown in Figure 4 and returns to step S13 in Figure 2.

[0044] On the other hand, if it is determined that multiple operations have not been recognized within the predetermined judgment time (step S32: NO), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S34, and the operation recognition unit 12 determines that there was no intention to signal. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the process shown in Figure 4 and returns to step S13 in Figure 2.

[0045] Returning to Figure 2, in step S13, the ECU 10 determines whether or not there is intent to give a signal using the operation recognition unit 12.

[0046] If it is determined that there is no intention to signal (step S13: NO), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S14, and the headlight control unit 13 performs a second control to change the control state of the headlight unit 3. As a result, if the occupant operates the high beam switch to pull it towards the rear in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle while the AHB is in the ON state, and it is determined that there is no intention to signal, the ON state of the AHB is changed to the OFF state. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the process shown in Figure 2.

[0047] On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an intention to signal (step S13: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S15 and does not perform the second control by the headlight control unit 13 to change the control state of the headlight unit 3. The ECU 10 proceeds to step S16 and the headlight control unit 13 performs the first control to temporarily set the headlight unit 3 to high beam. As a result, if the occupant operates the high beam switch to the rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle while the AHB is ON and it is determined that there is an intention to signal, the headlight unit 3 is temporarily set to high beam without changing the ON state of the AHB to an interrupted state. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the process shown in Figure 2.

[0048] In the headlight control device 100 described above, the operation recognition unit 12 estimates the intention of the vehicle occupant to signal to the front of the vehicle using the first control, based on the operation state of the headlight operation unit 2. If it is determined that there is no intention to signal, the headlight control unit 13 performs the second control, and the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlight unit 3 is changed. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an intention to signal, the headlight control unit 13 performs the first control without performing the second control. Therefore, with the headlight control device 100, even if the occupant operates the headlight operation unit 2 to signal to the front of the vehicle, it is possible to temporarily switch the vehicle's headlight unit 3 to high beam without changing the ON state of AHB to an interrupted state (without changing the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlights).

[0049] In the headlight control device 100, when the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation for the first control, it estimates that there is an intention to signal if a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle is recognized as part of the surrounding environment. As a result, the occupant can signal to a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle by temporarily switching the vehicle's headlight unit 3 to high beam without changing the ON state of the AHB to an interrupted state.

[0050] In the headlight control device 100, when the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation for the first control, it estimates that there is an intention to signal if it recognizes multiple operations for the first control within a predetermined determination time. This makes it possible to more reliably estimate the intention of the occupant to signal.

[0051] Although embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. This disclosure can be implemented in various forms, starting with the embodiments described above, with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0052] In the above embodiment, when the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation for the first control, it is assumed that there is an intention to signal when a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle is recognized as part of the surrounding environment. However, this example is not essential. The surrounding environment may also include objects other than pedestrians and cyclists crossing in front of the vehicle. Alternatively, the recognition of pedestrians or cyclists crossing in front of the vehicle may not be included as a condition.

[0053] In the above embodiment, when the operation recognition unit 12 recognizes an operation for the first control, it presumes that there is an intention to signal if it recognizes multiple operations for the first control within a predetermined determination time. However, this example is not essential. For example, the operation recognition unit 12 may presum that there is an intention to signal without waiting for the predetermined determination time to elapse if the high beam switch is operated more than a predetermined threshold number of times. The predetermined threshold number may be three or more. Alternatively, the condition does not need to include the recognition of multiple first controls.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the high beam switch did not move from the high beam on position even when the occupant's hand was released from the high beam on position, but the example is not limited to this. The high beam switch may move to the neutral position when the occupant's hand is released from the high beam on position. In this case, the high beam may switch between on and off each time the occupant pushes the high beam switch forward to bring it to the high beam on position. Furthermore, the first control may be performed by the headlight control unit 13 without performing the second control if the high beam is off instead of on, and it is determined that there is an intention to signal.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the light distribution control function was AHB, but it may also be ADB. In this case, the above disclosure can be read as "AHB" being replaced with "ADB". In this case, the high beam on position may be an operating state in which, when ADB is on, a portion of the high beam is automatically blocked only in the range where other vehicles are present in front of the vehicle.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the headlight operating unit 2 included a lever-shaped member protruding from the side of the steering column and a plurality of switches (high beam switch, dimmer switch, and AHB switch) that the occupant can operate on the lever-shaped member, but is not limited to this example. Essentially, the headlight operating unit only needs to be assigned a first control and a second control, and may be, for example, a switch provided on the steering wheel, or a software switch on a touch panel provided on the dashboard. Furthermore, although the second control was exemplified as a control that temporarily suspends AHB and ADB, is not limited to these examples. Essentially, the second control only needs to be a control that changes the state of a control other than the first control related to the headlights, and may be, for example, a control that turns off AHB and ADB that were on. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1...External sensor, 2...Headlight control unit, 3...Headlight unit (headlight), 10...ECU, 12...Operation recognition unit, 13...Headlight control unit, 100...Headlight control device.

Claims

1. A headlight operating unit is assigned a first control to temporarily set the vehicle's headlights to high beam, and a second control to change the state of controls other than the first control related to the headlights, An operation recognition unit that estimates the intention of the vehicle occupant to signal forward using the first control based on the operating state of the headlight control unit, The vehicle comprises a headlight control unit that controls the headlights based on the surrounding environment detected by the vehicle's external sensors and the estimated intent of the signal, The headlight control unit performs the second control when it determines that there is no intention to give a signal, and performs the first control and does not perform the second control when it determines that there is an intention to give a signal.

2. The headlight control device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation recognition unit recognizes the operation for the first control, and when a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle is recognized as part of the surrounding environment, the unit presumes that there is an intention to give the signal.

3. The headlight control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation recognition unit, upon recognizing the operation for the first control, estimates that there is intent to give the signal when it recognizes multiple operations for the first control within a predetermined determination time.

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