Vehicle switch lighting device

Abstract

To provide a switch lighting device for vehicle capable of suppressing a passenger from feeling a flicker when moving his or her face position.SOLUTION: A switch lighting device 10 for vehicle comprises: a switch part 13 that a passenger operates to perform input operation to on-vehicle equipment 11; a switch lighting part 14 which lights up the switch part 13; a face position detection part 15 which detects the position of the face 12 of the passenger; and an arithmetic control part 16 which detects the position of the face 12 of the passenger based upon information input from the face position detection part 15 and adjusts the illuminance of the switch lighting part 14. The arithmetic control part 16 adjusts the brightness of the switch lighting part 14 according to the position of the face 12 of the passenger so that visibility of the switch part 13 lit up by the switch lighting part 14 is substantially constant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle switch illumination device disposed in a vehicle compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a large number of switches are arranged inside a vehicle, and the switches are illuminated from the inside by a lighting device so that occupants can easily see the switches at night.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an invention for illuminating such switches. Specifically, when the direction in which the driver is gazing, as determined by an infrared camera, is within the illumination range of a lighting device, the corresponding lighting device is turned on. Also, when the lighting device has directionality, the illumination angle of the lighting is controlled according to the direction in which the driver is gazing and turned on. In this way, the desired lighting means can be controlled by a simple non-contact operation.

[0004] In Patent Document 2, the instrument panel is illuminated in accordance with the adaptation characteristics of the driver's eyes, thereby making it possible to ensure that letters and numbers displayed on the instrument panel are always clearly visible.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes a lighting device that turns on when a user approaches. Specifically, the operation area of ​​the covering material is designed not to be visually recognized from the surface when the light source is turned off. On the other hand, when a user approaches the switch to operate it, the user can visually recognize the operation area of ​​the covering material, and can reliably operate the switch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-81053 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-193738 [Patent Document 3] JP 2007-149580 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the inventions described in the above-mentioned patent documents leave room for improvement in terms of visibility of the switch device.

[0008] Specifically, in the case of a switch device having a lighting mechanism that illuminates from within, the brightness varies depending on whether the switch device is viewed from a position directly opposite the switch device or from a position away from the position directly opposite the switch device, which causes a problem that the lighting mechanism of the switch device flickers to the passengers.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch lighting device for a vehicle that can suppress flickering that an occupant feels when the position of their face changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a switch section operated by an occupant to perform an input operation to an in-vehicle device, a switch illumination section that illuminates the switch section, a face position detection section that detects the position of the face of the occupant, and a switch illumination section that detects the position of the face of the occupant based on information input from the face position detection section and illuminates the switch illumination section. brightness and a calculation and control unit that adjusts the luminance of the switch illumination unit according to the position of the face of the occupant so that the visibility of the switch unit illuminated by the switch illumination unit is approximately constant. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the vehicle switch illumination device of the present invention, even if the position of the occupant's face moves away from a position directly facing the switch unit, the occupant can be prevented from feeling flickering when the position of the occupant's face moves. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1A] 1 is a diagram showing a front portion of a vehicle interior of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a switch portion constituting an embodiment of a vehicle switch illumination device according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of a vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle switch illumination device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 1 is a diagram showing a front part of a vehicle interior of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the face of an occupant is within a guaranteed operation range. [Figure 4B] 4 is a graph showing the luminance of a switch portion in the vehicle switch illumination device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where a face is within a guaranteed operation range. [Figure 5A] 1 is a diagram showing a front portion of a vehicle interior of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a case where an occupant's face is out of an operational guaranteed range to the left. [Figure 5B] 4 is a graph showing the luminance of a switch portion in the vehicle switch illumination device according to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a case where the face of an occupant is positioned to the left outside the guaranteed operation range. [Figure 6A] 1 is a diagram showing a front portion of a vehicle interior of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle switch illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a case where an occupant's face is out of the guaranteed operation range to the right. [Figure 6B] 4 is a graph showing the luminance of a switch portion in the vehicle switch illumination device according to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a case where an occupant's face is positioned to the right outside the guaranteed operation range. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A vehicle switch illumination device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions are used, and the left and right directions refer to the left and right directions when the vehicle 20 is viewed from the rear. Furthermore, in the following description, the same members are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0014] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the front part of a vehicle interior of a vehicle 20 equipped with a vehicle switch illumination device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0015] A steering wheel 18 is disposed at the front of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 20, and the switch unit 13 is disposed on spokes 22 of the steering wheel 18.

[0016] The switch unit 13 is configured to be operated, for example, pressed, by a passenger to perform an input operation for an ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) function. Here, the input operation is, for example, an ACC on / off operation, an adjustment of the distance from the vehicle ahead when executing ACC, an adjustment of the vehicle speed when executing ACC, etc.

[0017] In this embodiment, the directly facing position 23 of the switch unit 13 is indicated by a dotted line. The directly facing position 23 is, for example, a position corresponding to the upper rear side of the switch unit 13. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the brightness of the light illuminating the switch unit 13 is adjusted based on the directly facing position 23.

[0018] The face position detection unit 15 is disposed in approximately the center of the dashboard 24 in the left-right direction. Here, the face position detection unit 15 is disposed on the upper left side of the center display 21. As described later, the face position detection unit 15 is, for example, an imaging unit such as a CCD or CMOS that captures an image of the face 12 of the occupant driving the vehicle 20.

[0019] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a switch portion 13 constituting the vehicle switch illumination device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0020] The switch unit 13 has a switch illumination unit 14, a cover unit 19, and a dimming unit 17. Although not shown here, the switch unit 13 also has a biasing unit such as a spring that biases the switch unit 13 upward, a push switch, etc.

[0021] The switch illumination unit 14 is a light source for illuminating the switch unit 13, and includes, for example, an LED that emits a light beam having an upward directivity. The switch illumination unit 14 is not shown in the figure. brightness It is linked to the sensor, brightness The surroundings of the vehicle switch illumination device 10 detected by the sensor brightness becomes equal to or smaller than a certain level, the switch illumination unit 14 illuminates the switch unit 13. Alternatively, the switch illumination unit 14 is linked to the headlights that illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle, and the switch illumination unit 14 is also turned on while the headlights are turned on.

[0022] The cover section 19 is a plate-like member that covers the switch illumination section 14 from above. The cover section 19 has a transparent section (not shown) that transmits light emitted from the switch illumination section 14. This transparent section has a pattern that indicates the function of the switch illumination section 14. Therefore, when the switch illumination section 14 is in the on-state, light passes through the transparent section of the switch illumination section 14, causing a predetermined pattern to appear.

[0023] The dimming section 17 is configured to dim the light emitted from the switch illumination section 14 according to the length of deviation from the facing position 23. The dimming section 17 is a plate-shaped member arranged above the cover section 19. The dimming section 17 may employ, for example, a dimming structure or a deflection structure. As the dimming structure, for example, a louver film may be employed which transmits light rays traveling straight upward while partially blocking light rays traveling at an angle toward the left or right.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of the vehicle switch illumination device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0025] The vehicle switch illumination device 10 includes a calculation control unit 16, a face position detection unit 15, an in-vehicle device 11, and a switch unit 13.

[0026] The arithmetic control unit 16 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and controls the operations of the in-vehicle device 11 and the switch illumination unit 14, etc., based on the input signals input from the face position detection unit 15, etc. In this embodiment, the arithmetic control unit 16 detects the position of the occupant's face 12 based on the information input from the face position detection unit 15, as will be described later, and controls the operation of the switch illumination unit 14, etc. brightness Furthermore, the calculation and control unit 16 adjusts the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 in accordance with the position of the occupant's face 12 so that the visibility of the switch unit 13 illuminated by the switch illumination unit 14 is approximately constant. Specifically, the calculation and control unit 16 increases the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 in accordance with the distance that the occupant's face 12 deviates from the directly facing position 23.

[0027] The face position detection unit 15 may employ, for example, an imaging means such as a CCD or CMOS for capturing an image of the occupant's face 12. The face position detection unit 15 may employ a driver monitoring system (DMS) for monitoring the state of the occupant. The image data captured by the face position detection unit 15 is transmitted to the calculation control unit 16. Here, other devices may also be employed as the face position detection unit 15. For example, the face position detection unit 15 may employ sonar, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), or the like.

[0028] The in-vehicle device 11 is a device that is mounted on the vehicle 20 and has a switch unit 13 arranged therein, and is, for example, a device that configures the above-mentioned ACC function. As the in-vehicle device 11, other devices may also be used, for example, a drive device that opens and closes windows, an audio device, etc.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle switch illumination device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0030] In step S10, the calculation control unit 16 detects the line of sight of the passenger. Specifically, the calculation control unit 16 photographs the passenger's face 12 with the face position detection unit 15 and performs image processing on the image to detect the line of sight of the passenger viewing the switch unit 13. The control of the vehicle switch illumination device 10 is initiated by detecting the line of sight of the passenger.

[0031] In step S11, the arithmetic and control unit 16 judges whether or not the center of the passenger's face 12 faces the switch illumination unit 14. For example, the arithmetic and control unit 16 performs image processing on the image captured by the face position detection unit 15 to calculate the center position of the face 12, and judges whether or not this center position faces the switch illumination unit 14.

[0032] If the result of step S11 is YES, the switch illumination unit 14 brightness Since there is no need to adjust, the calculation control unit 16 returns to step S10.

[0033] If NO in step S11, the calculation control unit 16 brightness In order to adjust the above, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0034] In step S12, the arithmetic control unit 16 detects the amount of deviation between the facing position of the switch unit 13 and the center position of the face 12. This step will be described with reference to Fig. 4A.

[0035] 4A is a diagram showing the front part of the passenger compartment of vehicle 20, and shows a case where occupant's face 12 is within the guaranteed operation range. Here, the range in which face position detection unit 15 can detect the position of face 12 is shown by hatching.

[0036] The occupant's face 12 is located behind the steering wheel 18. When the vehicle 20 is normally running, the face 12 is located in this position. Since the switch unit 13 is disposed on the spoke portion 22, the center of the face 12 is not located at the facing position 23. Here, the center of the face 12 is located to the left of the facing position 23 and is separated from the facing position 23 by a distance L1. In this step, the calculation control unit 16 calculates the distance L1 from the image obtained by the face position detection unit 15.

[0037] In step S13, the calculation control unit 16 increases or decreases the value of the current supplied to the switch illumination unit 14 according to the amount of deviation (distance L), thereby controlling the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14. This step will be described with reference to FIG. 4B.

[0038] FIG. 4B shows the switch unit 13. brightness 1 is a graph showing the case where face 12 is within the guaranteed operating range. Here, the horizontal axis indicates the distance (amount of deviation) from the facing position 23, and the vertical axis indicates the luminance of switch illumination unit 14 built into switch unit 13.

[0039] In this embodiment, when the length of deviation from the frontal position is less than a predetermined value, that is, within the guaranteed operation range, the brightness of the switch illumination unit 14 is increased as the distance from the frontal position 23 increases. Since the switch illumination unit 14 is, for example, an LED, if the brightness of the switch illumination unit 14 is constant, the illumination of the switch unit 13 may appear darker as the face moves away from the frontal position 23, and the visibility of the switch unit 13 may deteriorate. Therefore, in this embodiment, the brightness of the switch illumination unit 14 is increased according to the distance from the frontal position 23. That is, if the brightness when the face 12 is at the frontal position 23 is D0, when the face 12 deviates from the frontal position 23, the brightness D1 is increased according to the deviation length (L1). In this way, the deterioration of the visibility of the switch unit 13 when the position of the face 12 changes is suppressed.

[0040] In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, the position of face 12 is detected by photographing face 12 with face position detection unit 15, and therefore the guaranteed operation range is limited. Therefore, when face 12 is present inside the guaranteed operation range, the luminance of switch illumination unit 14 is increased according to the distance from facing position 23. On the other hand, when face 12 is present outside the guaranteed operation range, that is, when the position of face 12 cannot be detected, the luminance value is fixed at the maximum.

[0041] This step will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B. Figures 5A and 5B show a case where the occupant's face 12 is out of the guaranteed operation range to the left, and Figures 6A and 6B show a case where the occupant's face 12 is out of the guaranteed operation range to the right.

[0042] 5A is a diagram showing the front interior of the vehicle 20, and shows a case where the occupant's face 12 has moved to the left outside the guaranteed range of motion while the vehicle 20 is traveling. Here, for some reason, the occupant's face 12 has moved to the left inside the vehicle interior and is now outside the guaranteed range of motion.

[0043] FIG. 5B shows the switch unit 13. brightness 13 is a graph showing a case where the face 12 of the occupant is moved to the left outside the guaranteed operation range. As described above, as the distance L2 by which the face 12 is moved away from the facing position 23 increases, the illumination of the switch illuminator 14 brightness D2 is the maximum value. In other words, when the length deviating from the facing position 23 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 is kept constant at the maximum value. brightness Since the light intensity is larger than necessary, there is a risk that the passenger may perceive the switch illumination unit 14 as flickering.

[0044] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1B, the light is dimmed by blocking a part of the light beam traveling leftward from the switch illumination unit 14 using the dimming unit 17. In this way, in the situation shown in Fig. 5A, irradiation of excessive light beams toward the face 12 is suppressed, and as a result, the flickering of the switch unit 13 felt by the occupant can be suppressed.

[0045] 6A is a diagram showing the front interior of the vehicle 20, and shows a case where the occupant's face 12 has moved to the right outside the guaranteed operation range of the face position detection unit 15 while the vehicle 20 is traveling.

[0046] FIG. 6B shows the switch unit 13. brightness 1B is a graph showing a case where the occupant's face 12 is out of the guaranteed operation range to the right. Here, the distance L3 from the facing position 23 to the face 12 is outside the guaranteed operation range to the right of the facing position 23, so the luminance D3 of the switch illumination unit 14 shows the maximum value. There is a concern that the occupant may perceive flickering in the switch unit 13 due to the increased luminance of the switch illumination unit 14. In the present invention, the dimming unit 17 shown in FIG. 1B partially blocks the light traveling to the right, thereby dimming the light. Therefore, even if the occupant's face 12 is out of the guaranteed operation range on the right side, the occupant can be prevented from perceiving flickering.

[0047] In step S14, the calculation control unit 16 judges whether or not it has detected the line of sight of the passenger viewing the switch unit 13. Specifically, the face position detection unit 15 photographs the face 12 of the passenger, and performs image processing on the image to detect the line of sight of the passenger.

[0048] If the result of step S14 is YES, the switch illumination unit 14 brightness In order to adjust the above, the calculation control unit 16 returns to step S11.

[0049] If NO in step S14, the switch illumination unit 14 brightness Since there is no need to adjust the value, the calculation control unit 16 ends the processing by the vehicle switch illumination device 10.

[0050] The above is a description of the operation of the vehicle switch illumination device 10 according to this embodiment. The above-described embodiment can provide the following main effects.

[0051] In this embodiment, the calculation control unit 16 increases the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 according to the distance that the occupant's face 12 is displaced from the directly facing position 23. In this manner, even if the position of the occupant's face 12 is displaced from the directly facing position 23 of the switch unit 13, the visibility of the switch unit 13 can be ensured.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the dimming unit 17 dims the light beam emitted from the switch illumination unit 14 in accordance with the length of deviation from the facing position 23. Therefore, by dimming the light beam emitted from the switch illumination unit 14 with the dimming unit 17, it is possible to prevent the occupant from feeling glare even when the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 is high.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the face position detection unit 15 is an imaging means for capturing an image of the occupant's face 12. In this manner, the position of the occupant's face 12 can be easily detected based on the image captured by the imaging means for capturing an image of the occupant's face 12.

[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23 is less than a predetermined value, the calculation control unit 16 increases the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 according to the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23, and when the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 is constant. In this manner, when the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23 is within a guaranteed operating range, the visibility of the switch illumination unit 14 can be ensured even if the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23 becomes large. Also, when the length of deviation from the direct facing position 23 is outside the guaranteed operating range, the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14 can be prevented from becoming excessively high.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the switch illumination unit 14 includes an LED. The LED serving as the switch illumination unit 14 emits light with a high degree of linearity. Even in such a case, the present invention ensures the visibility of the switch unit 13 for the occupant by adjusting the luminance of the switch illumination unit 14.

[0056] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 Vehicle switch lighting device 11 In-vehicle equipment 12 Face 13 Switch section 14 Switch lighting section 15 Face position detection section 16 Calculation control unit 17 Dimming section 18 Steering Wheel 19 Cover part 20 Vehicles 21 Center display 22 Spoke section 23 Directly facing position 24 Dashboard

Claims

1. A switch unit operated by a passenger to perform an input operation to an in-vehicle device; A switch illumination unit that illuminates the switch unit; a face position detection unit for detecting a position of the face of the occupant; a calculation control unit that detects the position of the face of the occupant based on information input from the face position detection unit and adjusts the luminance of the switch illumination unit, The vehicle switch lighting device is characterized in that the calculation and control unit adjusts the brightness of the switch lighting unit depending on the position of the occupant's face so that the visibility of the switch unit illuminated by the switch lighting unit is approximately constant.

2. 2. The vehicle switch illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic and control unit increases the luminance of the switch illumination unit in accordance with a distance by which the face of the occupant deviates from a position directly facing the vehicle.

3. 3. The vehicle switch illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising a dimming section that dims the light emitted from the switch illumination section in accordance with a distance that is deviated from a direct facing position.

4. 4. The switch illumination device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the face position detection unit is an image pickup means for picking up an image of the face of the occupant.

5. The arithmetic and control unit is When the distance from the facing position is less than a predetermined distance, the brightness of the switch illumination unit is increased according to the distance from the facing position.

3. The vehicle switch illumination device according to claim 2, wherein when the length deviating from the directly facing position is equal to or greater than a predetermined length, the luminance of the switch illumination portion is kept constant.

Images