Lighting for light vehicles

Abstract

Even on sloped roads, ensure that lighting fixtures are properly installed on light vehicles. [Solution] The lamp 100 can be attached to a light vehicle 200. The light source unit 102 illuminates the area in front of the vehicle. The angle sensor 140 detects the mounting angle of the lamp relative to the light vehicle. The indicator 150 changes its display according to the output of the angle sensor 140. The angle sensor 140 includes an aiming light source 142 that emits a light beam BM toward the road surface 2, and a photodetector 144 that receives reflected light BMr from the light beam of the road surface 2.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a light vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, in general vehicles, an automatic high beam function (AH) and an adaptive driving beam (ADB) function have been spreading, and it has become possible to visually recognize far away without giving glare to the surroundings.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, not only automobiles and motorcycles but also various types of vehicles classified as small mobility such as electric kick scooters and electric bicycles (hereinafter collectively referred to as light vehicles) have come to run.

[0005] Although it is stipulated by regulations to attach a headlamp (headlight) to small mobility, it can only visually recognize an obstacle 15 m ahead, and there is a problem that it is impossible to visually recognize far away at night.

[0006] 0] The present disclosure has been made in such a situation, and one of its exemplary purposes is to provide a lamp that can improve the long-distance visibility of a light vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A particular aspect of this disclosure relates to a light fixture that can be mounted on a light vehicle. The light fixture comprises a light source unit that illuminates the area in front of the vehicle, an angle sensor capable of detecting the mounting angle of the light fixture relative to the light vehicle, and an indicator whose display changes according to the output of the angle sensor. The angle sensor includes an aiming light source that emits a light beam toward the road surface, and a photodetector that receives reflected light from the light beam from the road surface.

[0008] Furthermore, any combination of the above components, or any substitution of components or expressions between methods, apparatus, systems, etc., are also valid as embodiments of the present invention or this disclosure. Moreover, the description in this section (means for solving the problem) does not describe all the indispensable features of the present invention, and therefore, subcombinations of these described features may also constitute the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of this disclosure, lighting fixtures can be properly mounted on light vehicles even on inclined roads. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a light vehicle equipped with a lighting fixture according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of a lighting fixture according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates an example of the high-beam light distribution formed by a light fixture. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the dynamic control of high beam light distribution using a lighting fixture. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the high beam light distribution according to Modification 1. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the high beam light distribution according to modified example 2. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the dynamic control of high beam light distribution using a lighting fixture. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a light fixture that can be attached to the handlebars. [Figure 9]It is a block diagram of a lamp device in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining the operating principle of the angle sensor in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the angle sensor in FIG. 9 on an inclined road surface. [Figure 12] It is a block diagram of a lamp device that can be attached to a light vehicle without a headlamp.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] (Outline of Embodiment) The outline of some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. This outline is for the purpose of providing a basic understanding of the embodiments as a prelude to the detailed description that follows, and simplifies and explains some concepts of one or more embodiments. It does not limit the scope of the invention or the disclosure. Also, this outline is not an all-inclusive outline of all possible embodiments and does not limit essential components of the embodiments. For convenience, "one embodiment" may be used to refer to one embodiment (example or variation) or a plurality of embodiments (examples or variations) disclosed in this specification.

[0012] A lamp device according to one embodiment is attachable to a light vehicle. The lamp device includes a light source unit that irradiates the front of the vehicle, an angle sensor that can detect the attachment angle of the lamp device to the light vehicle, and an indicator whose display changes according to the output of the angle sensor. The angle sensor includes an aiming light source that emits a light beam with respect to the road surface and a light detector that receives the reflected light of the light beam from the road surface.

[0013] According to this configuration, the user of the lamp device can attach the lamp device in the correct orientation relying on the indicator. Since the angle sensor can detect the attachment angle with reference to the road surface without using gravity, the lamp device can be attached at the correct angle even on an inclined road surface.

[0014] In this specification, "light vehicle" may include a specific small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter), an electric bicycle, an electric assist bicycle, a bicycle, an electric senior cart, a wheelchair, a walking assist vehicle, and the like.

[0015] In one embodiment, the light source unit may include a high beam light source capable of irradiating a high beam region above the horizontal line. The lamp may further include an object sensor that senses the front of the vehicle, and a controller that detects a front object according to the output of the object sensor and controls the lighting state of the high beam light source according to the detected object.

[0016] According to this configuration, the light vehicle can be provided with a function of irradiating the distance, and the visibility at a distance can be improved. And when there is an object that should not give glare in the distance, glare can be suppressed by changing the state of the high beam light source.

[0017] In one embodiment, the high beam light source may include a plurality of individually controllable light sources. Each light source can irradiate a corresponding one of a plurality of regions adjacent in the horizontal direction, and the controller may control the lighting state of each of the plurality of light sources according to the position of the object.

[0018] In one embodiment, the plurality of light sources may include a first light source capable of irradiating a sidewalk, a second light source capable of irradiating the own lane, and a third light source capable of irradiating an oncoming lane. The controller may use pedestrians, oncoming vehicles, and preceding vehicles as objects to be detected. Thereby, the light distribution can be adaptively changed according to the driving situation.

[0019] In one embodiment, the controller may control the on / off of the high beam light source according to the presence or absence of an object. Thereby, the on / off of the high beam light source can be switched according to the driving situation.

[0020] In one embodiment, the light source unit may further include a low-beam light source capable of illuminating a low-beam region below the horizontal line. This luminaire is suitable for use in light vehicles that do not have headlights, such as bicycles.

[0021] (Embodiment) Preferred embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted where appropriate. Furthermore, the embodiments are illustrative and not limiting, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a light vehicle 200 equipped with a lighting device 100 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the light vehicle 200 is an electric kick scooter. The light vehicle 200 is equipped with a headlight 210 that illuminates the area in front of the vehicle. The headlight 210 is required to be able to see traffic obstacles at a distance of 15m ahead at night. The headlight 210 is also required to illuminate in the direction of travel of the light vehicle, and its main light axis is required to be downward. In other words, the headlight 210 mainly illuminates the area below the horizontal line on a virtual vertical screen (referred to as the low beam area).

[0023] The lighting fixture 100 according to this embodiment can be additionally attached to such a light vehicle 200. The mounting position of the lighting fixture 100 is not particularly limited, but for example, the lighting fixture 100 can be attached to the handle 220 of the light vehicle 200.

[0024] The luminaire 100 is a light source intended to illuminate areas further away than the headlights 210. The main optical axis of the luminaire 100 is horizontal or upward, and it illuminates primarily the area above the horizontal line (referred to as the high beam area) on a virtual vertical screen.

[0025] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the lighting fixture 100 according to the embodiment. The lighting fixture 100 comprises a light source unit 102, a target sensor 110, and a controller 130.

[0026] The light source unit 102 illuminates the area in front of the vehicle. The light source unit 102 includes a high-beam light source 120. The high-beam light source 120 primarily illuminates the high-beam region above the horizontal line, forming a high-beam light distribution. The high-beam light source 120 includes one or more light sources 122 and an optical system (not shown). The light sources 122 are, for example, LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

[0027] The target sensor 110 senses targets located in front of the light vehicle 200. Examples of targets include preceding vehicles, oncoming vehicles, and pedestrians. The target sensor 110 can utilize an FIR (far-infrared) sensor, a camera (image sensor), a thermopile array, a pyroelectric sensor (pyroelectric infrared sensor), a millimeter-wave radar, or the like.

[0028] The controller 130 detects an object in front of it according to the output of the object sensor 110, and controls the lighting state (on, off, or brightness) of the high beam light source 120 so as not to cause glare to the detected object, thereby dynamically changing the state of the high beam light distribution.

[0029] In this embodiment, the high-beam light source 120 includes a plurality of N (N≧2) individually controllable light sources 122_1 to 122_N. In Figure 1, N=3. The high-beam region is divided into a plurality of N horizontally adjacent parts (called sub-regions). The N light sources 122 correspond to the N sub-regions, and the i-th (1≦i≦N) light source 122_i illuminates one of the N sub-regions. The controller 130 controls the lighting state of each of the plurality of light sources 122_1 to 122_N according to the position of the target.

[0030] The above describes the configuration of the lighting fixture 100.

[0031] Figure 3 illustrates an example of the high-beam light distribution 900 formed by the luminaire 100. In addition to the high-beam light distribution 900, Figure 3 also shows the low-beam light distribution 920. The low-beam light distribution 920 is formed by the headlight 210 and is mainly formed below the horizontal line (H line). The high-beam light distribution 900 is formed by the luminaire 100 and is mainly formed above the horizontal line (H line).

[0032] As described above, the high beam distribution 900 is divided into multiple N horizontally adjacent sub-regions 902_1 to 902_N. In this embodiment, N=3, and there are three sub-regions 902_1 to 902_3. Sub-region 902_2 is located in the portion corresponding to the own lane 800. Sub-region 902_3 is located in the portion corresponding to the oncoming lane 802. Sub-region 902_1 is located in the portion corresponding to the sidewalk 804.

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates the dynamic control of the high beam distribution 900 by the lighting fixture 100. In the driving scene shown in Figure 4, a pedestrian 810 is on the sidewalk 804 and an oncoming vehicle 812 is on the oncoming lane 802. When the pedestrian 810 and the oncoming vehicle 812 are detected by the target sensor 110, the controller 130 turns off the light source 122_1 corresponding to the sub-region 902_1 where the pedestrian 810 is located and the light source 122_3 corresponding to the sub-region 902_3 where the oncoming vehicle 812 is located, thereby forming a light-shielding area. This ensures visibility of distant objects while suppressing glare for the pedestrian 810 and the oncoming vehicle 812. Alternatively, instead of turning off the light source 122 when forming the light-shielding area, its brightness may be reduced to a level that does not cause glare.

[0034] In this way, the lighting fixture 100 can add an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) function to light vehicles, improve visibility at a distance, and suppress glare.

[0035] (Variation 1) Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the high beam light distribution 900A according to Modification 1. The high beam light distribution 900A is divided into N=8 sub-regions 902_1 to 902_8. In the driving scene in Figure 5, there is a preceding vehicle 814 in the current lane 800. When the preceding vehicle 814 is detected by the target sensor 110, the controller 130 turns off the lights in sub-regions 902_4 and 902_5 where the preceding vehicle 814 is located.

[0036] (Modification 2) Figure 6 illustrates the high beam distribution 900B according to Modification 2. The high beam distribution 900B is not divided into multiple N sub-regions 902_1 to 902_N, and the entire distribution is switchable between illumination and non-illumination. When a target is detected within the illumination range of the high beam distribution 900B, the controller 130 turns off the high beam distribution 900B.

[0037] Figure 7 illustrates the dynamic control of the high beam light distribution 900B by the lighting fixture 100. In the driving scene shown in Figure 7, a pedestrian 810 is present on the sidewalk 804. When the pedestrian 810 is detected by the object sensor 110, the controller 130 turns off the high beam light source 120.

[0038] In this way, the lighting fixture 100 can add an automatic high beam function to light vehicles, improving visibility at a distance and suppressing glare.

[0039] Next, we will explain how to attach the lighting fixture 100 to the light vehicle 200.

[0040] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a light fixture 100C that can be attached to a handle 220. A mount 300 is attached to the handle 220. The housing of the light fixture 100 is provided with a mounting portion 160 that can be attached to and detached from the mount 300. The mount 300 and the mounting portion 160 may be mechanically fitted or fastened together, or they may be attracted together by magnetic force.

[0041] The mount 300 is secured by wrapping around the handle 220, but if the mounting position is misaligned, the optical axis of the luminaire 100C will be misaligned, and the correct light distribution cannot be formed. Therefore, the luminaire 100C has a function to assist in accurate mounting.

[0042] The luminaire 100C is equipped with an indicator 150 in a position easily visible to the user. The indicator 150 distinguishes between when the luminaire 100C is installed in the correct orientation and when it is not. The luminaire 100C has a built-in angle sensor capable of detecting the mounting angle of the housing, and the state of the indicator 150 is controlled according to the output of the angle sensor.

[0043] For example, the indicator 150 may emit light in a first color when the mounting angle of the luminaire 100C relative to the ground is within a predetermined range, and in a second color otherwise. Alternatively, the indicator may turn off when the mounting angle of the luminaire 100C relative to the ground deviates from a target range, start flashing as it approaches the target range, increase the flashing frequency as it approaches the target range, and then light up continuously once it is within the target range.

[0044] By adjusting the mounting angle of the Mount 300 around the handlebars while looking at the Indicator 150, users can achieve precise optical axis alignment, or aiming.

[0045] Figure 9 is a block diagram of the luminaire 100C shown in Figure 8. The luminaire 100C comprises a target sensor 110, a high-beam light source 120, a controller 130, an angle sensor 140, and an indicator 150. The angle sensor 140 detects the mounting angle θ of the housing of the luminaire 100C.

[0046] The angle sensor 140 includes an aiming light source 142 and a photodetector 144. The aiming light source 142 emits a light beam BM toward the road surface 2. The light beam BM is preferably a collimated beam with a small divergence angle, and the aiming light source 142 is preferably a semiconductor laser or an LED (light-emitting diode).

[0047] The photodetector 144 is located adjacent to the aiming light source 142 and receives reflected light BMr from the light beam BM of the road surface 2. The photodetector 144 can be a photodiode or the like.

[0048] When the angle sensor 140, or in other words the light fixture 100, is mounted at the correct angle with respect to the road surface 2, the light beam BMr reflected from the road surface 2 enters the photodetector 144. Conversely, when the angle sensor 140 is not mounted at the correct angle with respect to the road surface 2, the light beam BMr reflected from the road surface 2 does not enter the photodetector 144. In short, the output of the photodetector 144 indicates whether or not the light fixture 100 is mounted at the correct angle.

[0049] The controller 130 controls the light emission state of the indicator 150 according to the output of the photodetector 144.

[0050] Alternatively, the output of the photodetector 144 may be configured to be input directly to the indicator 150 instead of the controller 130. In this case, the indicator 150 may switch between being lit and unlit depending on the output of the photodetector 144.

[0051] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operating principle of the angle sensor 140 shown in Figure 9. The dashed line 4 indicates a line parallel to the road surface 2. The arrow 6 indicates the optical axis of the light source unit 102. In this example, the ideal mounting state is assumed to be when the optical axis 6 is parallel to the road surface 2.

[0052] Figure 10 shows the luminaire 100C installed at different angles. The center of Figure 10 shows the luminaire 100C installed at the correct angle. The left side of Figure 10 shows the luminaire 100C installed facing downwards, and the right side of Figure 10 shows the luminaire 100C installed facing upwards.

[0053] As shown in the center of Figure 10, when the light fixture 100C is mounted at the appropriate angle, the angle of incidence of the light beam BM emitted from the aiming light source 142 to the road surface 2 is approximately 0°. Therefore, the reflected light BMr can be incident on the photodetector 144.

[0054] As shown on the left or right of Figure 10, if the mounting angle of the luminaire 100C is inappropriate, the angle of incidence of the light beam BM emitted from the aiming light source 142 to the road surface 2 will increase, and the reflected light BMr will no longer be incident on the photodetector 144.

[0055] As described above, the angle sensor 140 according to this embodiment can detect the mounting angle of the lamp 100C by utilizing the reflected light from the road surface 2.

[0056] The advantages of the luminaire 100C become clear when compared to gravity-based tilt sensors and acceleration sensors. Gravity-based tilt sensors detect the mounting angle based on gravity, and therefore cannot detect the correct mounting angle on an inclined road surface. In contrast, the angle sensor 140 according to this embodiment can correctly detect the mounting angle even on an inclined road surface.

[0057] Figure 11 illustrates the operation of the angle sensor 140 shown in Figure 9 on an inclined road surface 2.

[0058] The center of Figure 11 shows the luminaire 100C installed at the appropriate angle, the left side of Figure 11 shows the luminaire 100C installed facing downwards, and the right side of Figure 11 shows the luminaire 100C installed facing upwards.

[0059] As shown in the center of Figure 11, when the light fixture 100C is mounted at the appropriate angle, the angle of incidence of the light beam BM emitted from the aiming light source 142 to the road surface 2 is approximately 0°. Therefore, the reflected light BMr can be incident on the photodetector 144.

[0060] As shown on the left or right of Figure 11, if the mounting angle of the light fixture 100C is inappropriate, the angle of incidence of the light beam BM emitted from the aiming light source 142 with respect to the road surface 2 will increase, and the reflected light BMr will no longer enter the photodetector 144.

[0061] As described above, the angle sensor 140 according to this embodiment can detect the mounting angle of the lighting fixture 100C even on an inclined road surface 2.

[0062] In this embodiment, a light fixture 100 that can be attached to an electric kick scooter has been described, but the light fixture 100 can also be attached to light vehicles other than electric kick scooters by modifying the shape of the mount 300.

[0063] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a light fixture 100E that can be installed on light vehicles that do not have headlights. In addition to the light fixture 100C in Figure 9, the light fixture 100E includes a low-beam light source 170. The low-beam light source 170 can illuminate the low-beam area. The low-beam light source 170 remains lit regardless of the presence or absence of a target. The light fixture 100E in Figure 12 can be suitably installed on light vehicles that do not have headlights 210, such as bicycles.

[0064] While the embodiments described herein have been explained using specific terminology, this explanation is merely illustrative to aid understanding and does not limit the scope of this disclosure or the claims. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and therefore embodiments, examples, and modifications not described herein are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 100 lamps 102 Light source unit 110 Target Sensor 120 High-beam light sources 122 Light source 130 Controllers 140 Angle Sensor 142 Aiming Light Source 144 Photodetectors 150 Indicators 200 Light vehicles 210 Headlights 220 Handle 900 High Beam Beam Distribution 902 Sub-region 920 Low beam light distribution 800 own lane 802 Opposite lane 804 Sidewalk

Claims

1. A light fixture that can be attached to a light vehicle, A light source unit that illuminates the front of the vehicle, An angle sensor capable of detecting the mounting angle of the light fixture on the light vehicle, An indicator whose display changes according to the output of the angle sensor, Equipped with, The angle sensor mentioned above is An aiming light source that emits a light beam onto the road surface, A photodetector that receives reflected light from the light beam from the road surface, A lighting fixture characterized by including [this].

2. The light source unit includes a high-beam light source capable of illuminating a high-beam region above the horizontal line. A target sensor that senses the area in front of the vehicle, A controller that detects an object in front of it according to the output of the object sensor and controls the illumination state of the high beam light source according to the detected object, The luminaire according to claim 1, further comprising the features described above.

3. The high-beam light source includes a plurality of individually controllable light sources, each light source capable of illuminating one of a plurality of horizontally adjacent regions. The lighting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller controls the lighting state of each of the plurality of light sources according to the position of the target.

4. The aforementioned multiple light sources are A first light source capable of illuminating the sidewalk, A second light source capable of illuminating the own lane, A third light source capable of illuminating the oncoming lane, Includes, The lighting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the controller detects pedestrians, oncoming vehicles, and preceding vehicles as targets.

5. The lighting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller controls the on / off state of the high beam light source depending on the presence or absence of the target.

6. The luminaire according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a low-beam light source capable of illuminating a low-beam region below the horizontal line.

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