Vehicle lighting system, vehicle, street light, and program

Abstract

To provide a lamp fitting unit which enables pedestrians on a crosswalk crossed by a right-turning vehicle to realize existence of the right-turning vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicular lamp fitting system detects a position of a crosswalk crossed by a vehicle when turning right and existence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk or pedestrians trying to enter the crosswalk, before the vehicle enters an intersection to turn right. When the pedestrian exists, the vehicular lamp fitting system emits spot light from a light source to a position of the crosswalk crossed by the vehicle when turning light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting system that guides the line of sight of pedestrians at an intersection. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, techniques have been proposed that assist driving of a vehicle by controlling the light of lamps mounted on the vehicle.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which an auxiliary light source attached to the side of a vehicle is used to emit light to the side of the vehicle when turning right or left, thereby directing the light beam from the auxiliary light source onto the crosswalk the vehicle is crossing, thereby improving visibility.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which a pedestrian walking on the left side of the vehicle is detected using camera images or millimeter wave radar, and if the distance from the vehicle is less than a specified distance, a light beam pot is projected onto the road surface and gradually moved closer to the pedestrian, thereby notifying the pedestrian that the vehicle has recognized the pedestrian. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-38300 A (particularly, FIG. 44) [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 5696701 (particularly, Figure 6) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a vehicle makes a right turn at a large intersection, the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrians on the crosswalk that the vehicle crosses as it makes the right turn is large at the time the vehicle starts to turn right, making it difficult for the pedestrians to notice the presence of the right-turning vehicle. In particular, when the pedestrian and the vehicle enter the intersection facing the same direction and the pedestrian is walking on the crosswalk that the right-turning vehicle is crossing, it is difficult for the pedestrian to notice the right-turning vehicle until just before the right-turning vehicle crosses the crosswalk.

[0007] The technology in Patent Document 1 does not detect the presence of crosswalks or pedestrians, and although there are times when the light emitted from the side of a right-turning vehicle is in a position to reach the crosswalk, as the vehicle turns the steering wheel and changes its trajectory, there are also times when the light does not reach the crosswalk. Also, if the crosswalk is illuminated with light emitted from the side of the vehicle, it is difficult for pedestrians to know that a right-turning vehicle is present.

[0008] With the technology of Patent Document 2, when a pedestrian is walking towards a vehicle, the light beam spot emitted by the vehicle guides the pedestrian's gaze, and it is believed that the pedestrian can recognize the vehicle. However, if the pedestrian's direction of travel is the same as the vehicle's direction of travel, the pedestrian cannot see the light beam spot, and therefore cannot recognize the presence of the vehicle. Therefore, when the technology of Patent Document 2 is applied to the relationship between a pedestrian walking on a crosswalk at an intersection and a vehicle turning right, if the pedestrian and the vehicle are facing the same direction when they start to enter the intersection, the pedestrian cannot recognize the presence of the vehicle.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that can make pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing where a right-turning vehicle is crossing aware of the presence of the right-turning vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle lighting system having a light source unit mounted on a vehicle and a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information. Here, the light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of a crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right before entering an intersection to turn right, and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk, and if a pedestrian is present, causes the light source to irradiate a spot light onto the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting unit that allows pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing where a right-turning vehicle is crossing to be aware of the presence of the right-turning vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a vehicle 100 equipped with a vehicle lamp unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A is a top view showing a mounting position of the vehicle lighting system 1 on a vehicle 100, and FIG. 1B is a top view showing the arrangement of auxiliary light source units in the vehicle lighting system 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1(a) to 1(c) are a top view, a front view, and a rear view, respectively, showing the configuration of an auxiliary light source unit 10 of a vehicle lighting system 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a light source control unit 20 in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1(a) to 1(e) are explanatory diagrams showing positions of spot lights that the vehicle lighting system 1 of the first embodiment irradiates on a pedestrian crossing. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a table showing switching timings stored in a storage unit 21 of a light source control unit 20 of the second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of a light source control unit 20 of the second embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a vehicle 100 equipped with a vehicle lighting unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and a street lamp. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of a street light 300 including a light source control unit 20 and an auxiliary light source unit 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] <<Embodiment 1>> <Summary> A vehicle equipped with the vehicle lighting system of embodiment 1, when the vehicle enters an intersection to make a right turn, detects the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, and the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or pedestrians about to enter the crosswalk, and if there are pedestrians, a spot light is emitted from a light source to the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0015] This allows pedestrians on the crosswalk where the right-turning vehicle is crossing to be aware of the presence of the right-turning vehicle.

[0016] In this case, the vehicle can guide the line of sight of pedestrians by moving the spot light on the crosswalk as the vehicle moves through the intersection. In particular, as the vehicle approaches the crosswalk in the intersection, the spot light can be moved in the width direction of the crosswalk in a direction approaching the vehicle, which is even more effective in guiding the line of sight of pedestrians toward the vehicle turning right.

[0017] <Structure> First, the structure of the vehicle lighting system 1 of the first embodiment and the vehicle 100 equipped with the same will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the vehicle 100. Fig. 2(a) shows the mounting position of the vehicle lighting system 1 on the vehicle 100, and Fig. 2(b) is a diagram showing the arrangement of auxiliary light source units in the vehicle lighting system 1. Figs. 3(a) to (c) are top, front, and back views showing a configuration example of the auxiliary light source unit 10.

[0018] The vehicle 100 includes a vehicle lighting system 1, a vehicle driving section 90 such as an engine or a motor, a camera 50 that captures an image at least at a predetermined angle in front of the vehicle, a vehicle position detection section (e.g., GPS) 70, a navigation system 60 that provides route guidance using the detected vehicle position and map data, a vehicle speed detection section 80, a turn signal unit 110, and an in-vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 40. The vehicle 100 also includes a transmission, power steering, etc., which are not shown.

[0019] The in-vehicle ECU 40 controls the running of the vehicle by controlling the vehicle drive unit 90, the transmission, the power steering, etc., using the detection results of the camera 50, the vehicle position detection unit 70, the vehicle speed detection unit 80, etc. When the driver operates the winker lever 111 of the winker unit 110, the in-vehicle ECU 40 turns on the winker light source 112 and makes it blink.

[0020] The vehicle lighting system 1 includes a headlamp unit 30 that emits headlights (high beam, low beam) ahead of the vehicle, an auxiliary light source unit 10, and a light source control unit 20 that controls the headlamp unit 30 and the auxiliary light source unit 10.

[0021] The headlamp unit 30 includes a low beam light source 31 and a high beam light source 32 .

[0022] The light source control unit 20 receives information from a detection unit (camera 50, etc.) mounted on the vehicle 100, and controls the auxiliary light source unit 10 based on the received information. As a result, as will be described in detail later, when the vehicle 100 enters an intersection to make a right turn, the light source control unit 20 detects the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle 100 will cross when turning right, and the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or pedestrians about to enter the crosswalk, and if there are pedestrians, irradiates spot light from the auxiliary light source unit 10 to the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle 100 will cross when turning right.

[0023] The auxiliary light source unit 10 includes an aiming mechanism 11 that adjusts the optical axis of the auxiliary light source unit 10 , and irradiates a spot light onto a position designated by a light source control unit 20 .

[0024] Here, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the auxiliary light source unit 10 is disposed within the headlamp unit 30 and closer to the side of the vehicle 100 than the low beam light source 31 and the high beam light source 32.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary light source unit 10 includes a plurality of light sources (LEDs) 301, 302, and 303 mounted on a mounting board 308, a mask 307 for generating a desired light distribution pattern is mounted on the light emitting surface side of the light sources 301-303, and projection lenses 304, 305, and 306 for collecting the light from the light sources 301-303 that has passed through the mask are disposed on the mask 307. The directions and positions in which the projection lenses 304, 305, and 306 collect the light from the light sources 301, 302, and 303 are designed to be different from each other in advance, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0026] A heat sink 309 for heat dissipation is fixed to the back surface of the mounting board 308, and the back surface of the heat sink 309 for heat dissipation is mounted on a bracket 310 in the form of a rectangular plate.

[0027] Bracket 310 is provided with aiming mechanism 11, which adjusts the optical axes of light sources 301-303 in the left-right and up-down directions. For example, here, one corner of rectangular plate-like bracket 310 is provided with pivot 311 serving as a fulcrum, and the tip of columnar rib 312 is fixed thereto. The base of rib 312 is fixed to plate-like support 313.

[0028] In order to tilt the bracket 310 in the left-right direction relative to the support part 313 with the pivot 311 as a fulcrum, a left-right direction adjustment pivot 314 is provided at the corner of the bracket 310 opposite the left-right direction to the corner where the pivot 311 is provided, and the tip of a screw 315 is screwed into it. The base of the screw 315 penetrates the support part 313 and is inserted into a left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 arranged on the back side of the support part 313. The left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 rotates the screw 315 to move the corner of the bracket 310 where the left-right direction adjustment pivot 314 is provided closer to or farther away from the support part 313, thereby tilting the orientation of the bracket 310 in the left-right direction.

[0029] Furthermore, a vertical direction adjustment pivot 318 is provided at a corner diagonally opposite to the corner where pivot 311 of bracket 310 is provided, and the tip of a screw (not shown) is screwed into the pivot. The base of this screw penetrates support portion 313 and is inserted into vertical direction adjustment actuator 317 arranged on the back side of support portion 313. Vertical direction adjustment actuator 317 rotates the screw to move the corner of bracket 310 where vertical direction adjustment pivot 318 is provided closer to or farther away from support portion 313, thereby tilting the orientation of bracket 310 in the vertical direction.

[0030] The light source control unit 20 switches between the light sources 301, 302, and 303 that emit light in order to change the position of the spot light emitted from the auxiliary light source unit 10 toward the crosswalk.

[0031] Here, among the light sources 301 to 303, the first light source 301 is closer to the pivot (fulcrum) 311, and therefore has a smaller vertical and horizontal adjustment range than the third light source 303. Therefore, the first light source 301 is used when illuminating a distant object. The second and third light sources 302 and 303 are disposed at positions farther away from the pivot (fulcrum) 311 than the first light source 301, and therefore have a larger vertical and horizontal adjustment range, and are used when illuminating a close object.

[0032] The auxiliary light source unit 10 emits Spot light It is preferable that the color of the headlight be different from the color of the headlight emitted by the headlight unit 30, since this is more likely to attract the attention of pedestrians.

[0033] For example, the auxiliary light source unit 10 Spot light The colours are preferred if they are amber or green as these tend to attract the attention of pedestrians.

[0034] <Operation> The operation of the vehicle lighting system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the light source control unit 20, and Fig. 5(a) to (e) show the positions of spot lights that the vehicle lighting system 1 irradiates onto the crosswalk.

[0035] The light source control unit 20 controls each unit according to the flow of FIG. 4, so that when there is a pedestrian, the auxiliary light source unit 10 irradiates a spot light onto the pedestrian crossing that the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0036] The light source control unit 20 is configured by a computer or the like equipped with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and a memory, and an example will be described in which the processor reads and executes a program stored in the memory to realize the operation of FIG. 4 by software. However, the light source control unit 20 is not limited to one that realizes its functions by software, and a part or all of it can be configured by hardware. For example, a circuit design can be performed to realize the functions of the light source control unit 20 as shown in FIG. 4 using a custom IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a programmable IC such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0037] (Step 401) First, the light source control unit 20 receives information from the in-vehicle ECU 40 as to whether the right-turn turn signal light source 112 of the turn signal unit 110 is turned on.

[0038] (Step 402) Next, the light source control unit 20 receives an image from the camera 50 from the in-vehicle ECU 40, and detects from this image the position of the crosswalk 501 that the vehicle 100 will cross when turning right, and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk 501 or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk.

[0039] Specifically, the image from camera 50 is subjected to image processing such as binarization to extract the crosswalk in the image, and crosswalk 501 on the right side of the vehicle is selected (see FIG. 5(a)). This identifies the crosswalk 501 that vehicle 100 will cross when turning right. Also, an area 504 is set in the image over approximately 3 / 4 of the range from the near side (the side closer to vehicle 100) in the longitudinal direction of crosswalk 501, and image processing is used to detect whether or not there is a pedestrian 503 within area 504. This makes it possible to detect whether or not there is a pedestrian on the crosswalk in an area closer to the position of the vehicle when entering the intersection than the position where the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0040] Incidentally, the crosswalk 501 may be identified not from the image from the camera 50, but by receiving map data of the intersection where the vehicle 100 is about to enter from the navigation system 60, and having the light source control unit 20 extract the crosswalk that will be crossed when turning right.

[0041] If there is a pedestrian in the area 504 of the crosswalk 501 , the light source control unit 20 proceeds to step 403 .

[0042] (Step 403) The light source control unit 20 determines whether the vehicle 100 has reached a predetermined position A-1. The position A-1 is set to the approach line 506 through which the vehicle 100 passes when entering an intersection, or a predetermined position of a pedestrian crossing that the vehicle 100 crosses first when entering the intersection (for example, the position at which the vehicle 100 finishes crossing the pedestrian crossing).

[0043] Specifically, the light source control unit 20 detects the position of the vehicle 100 by performing image processing on the image of the camera 50, and determines whether the vehicle 100 has reached position A-1. The light source control unit 20 may also determine whether the vehicle 100 has reached position A-1 by receiving the position of the vehicle 100 from a vehicle position detection unit (hereinafter referred to as GPS) 70 of the navigation system 60.

[0044] When the vehicle 100 reaches the predetermined position A-1, the light source control unit 20 proceeds to step S404.

[0045] (Step 404) The light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 of the vehicle 100 that has reached position A-1 to flash a spotlight onto an area R-1 on the crosswalk 501 that is the farthest from the vehicle 100 (the farthest in the width direction) within an area 505 that the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0046] Specifically, the light source control unit 20 uses the image of the camera 50 or the map data of the navigation system 60 to set an area 505 in a predetermined range (for example, about 1 / 4 range) from the inner side (the side farther from the vehicle 100) in the longitudinal direction of the crosswalk 501 in the crosswalk 501 identified in step 402. Furthermore, the light source control unit 20 sets the area farthest from the vehicle 100 in the width direction of the crosswalk 501 as an area R-1.

[0047] The light source control unit 20 calculates the drive amounts of the left / right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up / down direction adjustment actuator 317 of the aiming mechanism 11 of the auxiliary light source unit 10 in order to irradiate the area R-1 with spotlight from the position A-1 of the vehicle 100. At this time, the light source control unit 20 selects the first light source 301 from the light sources 301 to 303, and calculates the drive amounts of the left / right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up / down direction adjustment actuator 317, assuming that the first light source 301 is to irradiate the area R-1 with spotlight.

[0048] The light source control unit 20 blinks the first light source 301 and sets the calculated drive amount to the left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up-down direction adjustment actuator 317 of the aiming mechanism 11. As a result, the spot light emitted from the first light source 301 is irradiated onto the region R-1.

[0049] Pedestrian 503, who has started to walk on crosswalk 501, sees a flashing spotlight of a different color than the headlights being illuminated in area R-1 ahead of him on the right side of the width of crosswalk 501, and his gaze is guided to area R-1 (Figure 5(a)).

[0050] (Step 405) The vehicle 100 enters an intersection and proceeds to turn right. The light source control unit 20 determines whether the vehicle 100 has reached a predetermined position A-2. The position A-2 is a midpoint between the approach line 506 of the intersection or the first pedestrian crossing 502, and the center position 507 of the intersection.

[0051] Specifically, the light source control unit 20 detects the position of the vehicle 100 by performing image processing on the image of the camera 50, and determines whether the vehicle 100 has reached position A-2. The light source control unit 20 may also determine whether the vehicle 100 has reached position A-2 by receiving the position of the vehicle 100 from the GPS 70 of the navigation system 60.

[0052] Furthermore, the light source control unit 20 may determine that the vehicle 100 has reached position A-2 if the center of the vehicle body of the vehicle 100 reaches a vertical approach line 508 that passes through a central position 507 of the intersection.

[0053] When the vehicle 100 reaches the predetermined position A-2, the light source control unit 20 proceeds to step S406.

[0054] (Step 406) The light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 of the vehicle 100 that has reached position A-2 to flash a spotlight onto an area R-2 on the crosswalk 501, in the center of the width of the crosswalk 501, within an area 505 where the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0055] Specifically, the light source control unit 20 sets an area in the center of the crosswalk 501 in the width direction within the area 505 set in step 404 as an area R-2.

[0056] The light source control unit 20 calculates the drive amount of the aiming mechanism 11 of the auxiliary light source unit 10 in order to irradiate the area R-2 with a spotlight from the position A-2 of the vehicle 100. At this time, the light source control unit 20 selects the second light source 302 from the light sources 301 to 303, and calculates the drive amounts of the left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up-down direction adjustment actuator 317, assuming that the spotlight is to be irradiated from the second light source 302 to the area R-2.

[0057] The light source control unit 20 turns off the first light source 301, turns on and blinks the second light source 302, and sets the calculated drive amount to the left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up-down direction adjustment actuator 317 of the aiming mechanism 11. As a result, the blinking spot light emitted from the second light source 302 is irradiated onto the region R-2.

[0058] A pedestrian 503 walking along a crosswalk 501 has his or her gaze guided to area R-2 because the flashing spotlight that was illuminated in area R-1 in step 404 shifts in the width direction of the crosswalk and moves to area R-2 in the center (Figure 5(b)).

[0059] (Step 407) The vehicle 100 advances further into the intersection to make a right turn. The light source control unit 20 determines whether the vehicle 100 has reached a predetermined position A-3. The position A-3 is the center position 507 of the intersection.

[0060] Specifically, the image of the camera 50 is processed, and if the vehicle 100 reaches a lateral approach line 509 passing through a center position 507 of the intersection, it is determined that the vehicle 100 has reached position A-2. The light source control unit 20 may receive the position of the vehicle 100 from the GPS 70 of the navigation system 60 to determine whether the vehicle 100 has reached position A-3.

[0061] When the vehicle 100 reaches the predetermined position A-3, the light source control unit 20 proceeds to step S408.

[0062] (Step 408) The light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 of the vehicle 100 that has reached position A-3 to flash a spotlight onto an area R-3 on the crosswalk 501 that is closest to the vehicle 100 in the width direction of the crosswalk 501 and within an area 505 that the vehicle will cross when turning right.

[0063] Specifically, the light source control unit 20 sets the area closest to the vehicle 100 in the width direction of the crosswalk 501 within the area 505 set in step 404 as an area R-3.

[0064] The light source control unit 20 calculates the drive amount of the aiming mechanism 11 of the auxiliary light source unit 10 in order to irradiate a spotlight from the position A-2 of the vehicle 100 to the area R-3. At this time, the light source control unit 20 selects the third light source 303 from the light sources 301 to 303, and calculates the drive amounts of the left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up-down direction adjustment actuator 317, assuming that the spotlight is to be irradiated from the third light source 303 to the area R-3.

[0065] The light source control unit 20 turns off the second light source 302, turns on and blinks the third light source 302, and sets the calculated drive amounts to the left-right direction adjustment actuator 316 and the up-down direction adjustment actuator 317 of the aiming mechanism 11. As a result, the blinking spot light emitted from the third light source 303 is irradiated onto the region R-3.

[0066] Pedestrian 503 walking along crosswalk 501 has his / her gaze guided to area R-3 because the blinking spotlight that was irradiated to area R-2 in step 406 moves to area R-3 on the left side of the width direction of the crosswalk (FIG. 5(c)). At this time, vehicle 100 is present immediately to the left of area R-3 to which pedestrian 503's gaze is guided, and pedestrian 503 recognizes vehicle 100.

[0067] (Step 409) The vehicle 100 continues to travel through the intersection to make a right turn, approaching the crosswalk 501 (FIG. 5(d)). During this time, the light source control unit 20 continues to irradiate the blinking spotlight emitted from the third light source 303 onto the area R-3.

[0068] This allows the pedestrian 503 to cross the crosswalk 501 while being aware of the vehicle 100.

[0069] (Steps 410 and 411) The light source control unit 20 receives the image from the camera 50 and detects from this image whether or not there is a pedestrian on the crosswalk 501 (step 409).

[0070] If there is no pedestrian, the light source control section 20 proceeds to step 410 and turns off the auxiliary light source unit 10 (FIG. 5(e)).

[0071] Vehicle 100 completes the right turn across crosswalk 501 since there are no pedestrians present.

[0072] As described above, the light source control unit 20 moves the spot light on the crosswalk 501 in the width direction of the crosswalk 501 as the vehicle 100 moves through the intersection, gradually approaching the vehicle 100, thereby guiding the line of sight of the pedestrian 503 from right to left in the width direction of the crosswalk 501, and ultimately guiding the line of sight to the approaching vehicle 100 to turn right. This allows the pedestrian to recognize the right-turning vehicle 100.

[0073] In this embodiment, the spot light is moved in the width direction of the crosswalk 501, but the moving direction is not limited to the width direction. It is also possible to move the spot light along the longitudinal direction of the crosswalk, or in a desired pattern such as a zigzag.

[0074] In addition, the positions A-1, A-2, and A-3 of the vehicle 100, which are the timings for moving the spotlight, are not limited to the positions described above. For example, the position where the driver of the vehicle 100 turns the steering wheel by 30 degrees (steering angle 30 degrees) may be the position A-2, and the position where the driver turns the steering wheel by 45 degrees (steering angle 45 degrees) may be the position A-3.

[0075] Also, the diameter of the spotlight may be changed for each of the regions R-1, R-2, and R-3. For example, as shown in Fig. 5(a) to (c), the diameter of the spotlight in the longitudinal direction of the crosswalk 501 may be increased in the order of the regions R-1, R-2, and R-3.

[0076] Furthermore, if it is detected in step 402 that a large number of people are walking on the crosswalk 501, the spotlight irradiated onto the crosswalk 501 becomes invisible, and so the light source control unit 20 may end the control.

[0077] Even if there is a vehicle in front of the vehicle 100, the light source control unit 20 may be configured to end the control.

[0078] <<Embodiment 2>> A vehicle 100 equipped with a vehicle lighting system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0079] In the first embodiment, it is detected whether the vehicle 100 has reached positions A-1, A-2, A-3 in the intersection, and if the vehicle 100 has reached these positions, the spotlight irradiation area is switched to areas R-1, R-2, R-3. In the second embodiment, the position of the vehicle 100 is not detected, and the spotlight irradiation area is switched to areas R-1, R-2, R-3 in sequence at a switching timing according to the speed of the vehicle 100 when entering the intersection. This makes it possible to omit the calculation for detecting the vehicle position, and therefore it is possible to achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment while reducing the amount of calculation.

[0080] The configuration of the vehicle lighting system 1 of embodiment 2 is similar to that of embodiment 1, but differs from embodiment 1 in that the light source control unit is equipped with a memory unit 21 that stores switching timings that are determined in advance for multiple speeds.

[0081] An example of the switching timing stored in the storage unit 21 is shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6, here, the timing for switching the spotlight irradiation area to areas R-1, R-2, and R-3 in sequence according to the speed of the vehicle 100 when entering the intersection as well as the length and width of the crosswalk 501 that the vehicle 100 crosses when turning right is determined in advance in a table format and stored in the storage unit 21.

[0082] Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle lighting system 1 will be described with reference to the flow of Fig. 7. Note that the same steps in the flow of Fig. 7 as those in the flow of Fig. 4 are given the same step numbers and will not be described.

[0083] (Steps 401 and 402) Similar to steps 401 and 402 of the flow in FIG. 6, when the right-turn turn signal light source 112 is turned on, the light source control unit 20 detects the position of the crosswalk 501 that the vehicle 100 will cross when turning right, and a pedestrian 503 on the crosswalk 501 or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk 501.

[0084] When the light source control unit 20 detects the pedestrian 503 , the process proceeds to step 601 .

[0085] (Step 601) The light source control unit 20 receives the current vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection unit 80 via the in-vehicle ECU 40. The light source control unit 20 also obtains the length and width of the crosswalk 501 from the image of the camera 50 or the map data of the navigation system 60. Spot light The switching timing is read out from the storage unit 21.

[0086] (Step 602) The light source control unit 20 judges whether the read-out lighting timing 1 has occurred since the time when the switching timing was read out from the storage unit 21 in step 601 , and if the lighting timing 1 has occurred, the process proceeds to step 404 .

[0087] Since the vehicle 100 is traveling through the intersection until the lighting timing 1, the vehicle 100 has reached the vicinity of the position A-1 in the first embodiment at the time of the lighting timing 1.

[0088] (Step 404) The light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 to flash a spotlight at the lighting timing 1 to an area R-1 on the crosswalk 501 that is the farthest from the vehicle 100 (the farthest side in the width direction) within an area 505 that the vehicle crosses when turning right. Step 404 is performed in the same manner as step 404 in the first embodiment.

[0089] (Step 603) The light source control unit 20 judges whether or not it is lighting timing 2, and if it is lighting timing 2, the process proceeds to step 406.

[0090] At the time of lighting timing 2, the vehicle 100 has reached the vicinity of position A-2 in the first embodiment.

[0091] (Step 406) At the lighting timing 2, the light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 of the vehicle 100 to flash a spotlight onto an area R-2 on the crosswalk 501, which is in an area 505 where the vehicle crosses when turning right, and is at the center of the crosswalk 501 in the width direction. The process of step 406 is performed in the same manner as step 406 in the first embodiment.

[0092] (Step 604) The light source control unit 20 judges whether or not it is lighting timing 3, and if it is lighting timing 3, the process proceeds to step 408.

[0093] At the time of lighting timing 3, the vehicle 100 has reached the vicinity of the position A-3 in the first embodiment.

[0094] (Step 408) The light source control unit 20 causes the auxiliary light source unit 10 of the vehicle 100 that has reached the position A-3 to flash a spotlight onto an area R-3 on the crosswalk 501 that is closest to the vehicle 100 in the width direction of the crosswalk 501 and within an area 505 that the vehicle will cross when turning right. The process of step 408 is performed in the same manner as step 408 in the first embodiment.

[0095] (Step 409) The vehicle 100 continues to travel through the intersection to make a right turn, approaching the crosswalk 501 (see FIG. 5(d)). During this time, the light source control unit 20 continues to irradiate the blinking spotlight emitted from the third light source 303 onto the area R-3 (step 409).

[0096] This allows the pedestrian 503 to cross the crosswalk 501 while being aware of the vehicle 100.

[0097] (Steps 410 and 411) The light source control unit 20 detects the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk 501 from the image of the camera 50, and if there is no pedestrian, the light source control unit 20 turns off the auxiliary light source unit 10 (FIG. 5(e)).

[0098] As described above, according to the second embodiment, by reading out from the storage unit 21 the switching timings 1, 2, and 3 that are determined in advance according to the vehicle speed and the like, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment while reducing the amount of calculation.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the switching timings 1, 2, and 3 are determined in advance for each speed and the like and stored in the storage unit 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the light source control unit 20 may calculate the switching timing each time from the speed received from the vehicle 100 in step 601.

[0100] <<Embodiment 3>> A street light 200 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0101] In the first and second embodiments, a spot light is emitted from an auxiliary light source unit 10 mounted on a vehicle to areas R-1, R-2, and R-3, whereas in the third embodiment, a spot light is emitted from a street light 200 installed at an intersection to areas R-1, R-2, and R-3.

[0102] 8, the street light 200 includes an auxiliary light source unit 210 and a communication section 130. The vehicle lighting system of the vehicle 100 does not include the auxiliary light source unit 10, but includes a communication section 120.

[0103] The light source control unit 20 of the vehicle 100 performs the same processing as in the flow of Figure 4, but in steps 404, 406, and 408, it instructs the auxiliary light source unit 210 of the street light 200 via the communication units 120 and 130 to irradiate light to areas R-1, R-2, and R-3, respectively.

[0104] The street light 200 irradiates spotlight from the auxiliary light source unit 210 to the areas R-1, R-2, and R-3 specified by the light source control unit 20.

[0105] As a result, according to the third embodiment, even if the vehicle 100 is not equipped with the auxiliary light source unit 210, it is possible to irradiate a spot light that guides the line of sight of a pedestrian when turning right at an intersection equipped with a street lamp 300. This allows pedestrians to recognize the presence of the vehicle 100 that is turning right.

[0106] This simplifies and reduces the weight of the structure of the vehicle 100. In addition, by installing the street lamps 300 only at intersections where the vehicle 100 making a right turn is difficult to notice, it is possible to select intersections where spotlights are irradiated to guide the line of sight of pedestrians.

[0107] The auxiliary light source unit 210 of the street light 200 may include an aiming mechanism 211, but since the street light 200 does not move and the positional relationship between the street light 200 and the crosswalk 501 is fixed, the aiming mechanism 211 may not be included. In other words, when the structure of the auxiliary light source unit 210 is the structure of Fig. 3 without the aiming mechanism 211, it is sufficient to adjust in advance so that the spot lights emitted from the first light source 301, the second light source 302, and the third light source 303 reach the regions R-1, R-2, and R-3, respectively. This allows the auxiliary light source unit 210 of the street light 200 to irradiate the spot lights to the regions R-1, R-2, and R-3 even without the aiming mechanism 211.

[0108] In addition, the light source control unit 20 of the vehicle 100 may perform processing similar to the flow of Figure 7 in embodiment 2, and instruct the auxiliary light source unit 210 of the street light 200 to irradiate light to areas R-1, R-2, and R-3 via the communication units 120 and 130 in steps 602, 603, and 604, respectively.

[0109] <<Embodiment 4>> As a fourth embodiment, a street lamp 300 including a light source control unit 20 and an auxiliary light source unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0110] The street light 300 of the fourth embodiment is configured to include a camera 350, a vehicle speed detection unit 380, a light source control unit 20, and an auxiliary light source unit 10. The camera 350 captures an image from above the intersection that allows the positional relationship between the vehicle 100 and the crosswalk to be understood. The vehicle speed detection unit 380 detects the speed of the vehicle 100 by a radar or the like.

[0111] The operation of the light source control unit 20 is similar to the flow of FIG. 4 in embodiment 1, but in step 401, if it is detected from the image of the camera 50 that the vehicle 100 is entering the intersection, rather than that the turn signal is on, the process proceeds to step 402.

[0112] From step 402 onwards, the light source control unit 20 of the street light 300, in the same manner as in embodiment 1, irradiates spot light onto areas R-1, R-2, and R-3 in sequence when it detects from the image of the camera 350 that the vehicle 100 has reached positions A-1, A-2, and A-3 at the intersection, respectively.

[0113] The auxiliary light source unit 210 of the street light 300 may be provided with an aiming mechanism 211, but since the positional relationship between the street light 200 and the crosswalk 501 is fixed, it is not necessary to provide the aiming mechanism 211, as in embodiment 3.

[0114] As a result, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to emit spot light that guides the line of sight of pedestrians using only the street lamp 300, and to make pedestrians aware of the presence of the vehicle 100 that is turning right.

[0115] Furthermore, the light source control unit 20 of the street light 300 may perform the same processing as in the flow of Fig. 7 of the second embodiment from step 402 onwards. In this case, in step 601, the vehicle speed of the vehicle 100 detected by the vehicle speed detection unit 380 and the switching timing of the regions R1, R-2, R-3 corresponding to the length and width of the crosswalk are read from the table in the storage unit 21. Since the length and width of the crosswalk at the intersection under the street light 300 are fixed, the table is simpler than that in Fig. 6.

[0116] In the present embodiment, the auxiliary light source unit 10 changes the position of the spot light focused by changing the curvature of the front and back surfaces of each projection lens corresponding to the three light sources. However, a projection lens that can control the position of the spot light focused by mechanically moving one of the lenses back and forth, such as an autofocus lens for a camera composed of multiple lenses, may be used. In that case, the light source and mask are one, and the auxiliary light source unit can be made smaller. The mask may be a liquid crystal type, and the size and shape of the spot light can be freely changed by controlling the transmission area of ​​the light from the light source by switching the liquid crystal on and off. In addition, the mask may be a MEMS type, and the light source is a MEMS type that combines a MEMS mirror that can scan the laser light in the left and right and up and down directions using a laser light on and off and the MEMS mirror swinging up and down and left and right, and the size and shape of the spot light can be freely changed. The auxiliary light source unit 10, which switches between three light sources, and the auxiliary light source unit that controls the focusing position with one light source can freely change the size and shape (figures, letters) of the spot light by changing the mask to an LCD type or MEMS type, making it possible to create a spot light that easily attracts pedestrians' attention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1 Vehicle lighting system 10 Auxiliary light source unit 11 Aiming mechanism 20 Light source control unit 21 Memory section 30 Headlamp unit 31 Low beam light source 32 High beam light source 50 Camera 40 Automotive ECU 60 Navigation System 70 Vehicle position detection unit 80 Vehicle speed detection unit 90 Vehicle Drive Unit 100 vehicles 110 Turn signal unit 111 Turn signal lever 112 Turn signal light source 120 Communications Department 130 Communications Department 200 Street Lights 210 Auxiliary light source unit 211 Aiming mechanism 300 Street Lights 301 Light source 302 Light source 303 Light source 304 Projection Lens 307 Mask 308 Mounting Board 309 Heat sink for heat dissipation 310 Bracket 311 Pivot 312 Rib 313 Support part 314 Pivot for left and right adjustment 315 Screw 316 Left / Right Direction Adjustment Actuator 317 Actuator for adjusting vertical direction 318 Vertical adjustment pivot 350 Camera 380 Vehicle speed detection unit 501 Crosswalk 502 Crosswalk 503 Pedestrians 504 area 505 area 506 Approach Line 507 center position 508 Vertical Approach Line 509 Side Approach Line

Claims

1. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; The light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of a crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk, before the vehicle enters an intersection to make a right turn, and if a pedestrian is present, irradiates a spot light from the light source unit onto a predetermined position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, and as the vehicle moves within the intersection and approaches the crosswalk within the intersection, the spot light irradiated from the light source unit is moved in the width direction of the crosswalk in a direction approaching the direction in which the vehicle is present on the crosswalk. A vehicle lighting system comprising:

2. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; A headlamp unit for illuminating a headlamp, the light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, a position of a crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, and whether or not there is a pedestrian on the crosswalk or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk, before the vehicle enters an intersection to turn right, and if there is a pedestrian, irradiates a spot light from the light source unit to a predetermined position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right; A vehicle lighting system, characterized in that the color of the spot light emitted by the light source unit is different from the color of the headlight emitted by the headlamp unit.

3. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; The light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right before entering an intersection to make a right turn, the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or about to enter the crosswalk, and the position of the vehicle within the intersection, and if there are pedestrians, illuminates a spot light from the light source unit to a predetermined position on the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when making the right turn, and if it detects that the position of the vehicle has reached a number of predetermined positions within the intersection, moves the spot light illuminated from the light source unit sequentially to a number of locations on the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when making the right turn.

4. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; The light source control unit receives information about a crosswalk from the vehicle and detects a length of the crosswalk; The light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right before entering an intersection to make a right turn, and the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or about to enter the crosswalk, and if there are pedestrians, illuminates a spot light from the light source unit to a predetermined position on the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, selects a switching timing that corresponds to the detected length of the crosswalk from switching timings predetermined for each length of a plurality of crosswalks, and moves the spot light illuminated from the light source unit at the selected timing sequentially to multiple locations on the crosswalk.

5. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; a storage unit that stores a switching timing that is determined in advance for each of a plurality of speeds; The light source control unit receives, from the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle when entering an intersection, The light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right before entering an intersection to make a right turn, and the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or about to enter the crosswalk, and if pedestrians are present, illuminates a spot light from the light source unit at a predetermined position on the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, reads from the memory unit a switching timing corresponding to the speed received from the vehicle, and sequentially moves the spot light illuminated from the light source unit to multiple locations on the crosswalk at the read switching timing.

6. A light source unit mounted on a vehicle; a light source control unit that receives information from a detection unit mounted on the vehicle and controls the light source unit based on the information; The light source unit includes a plurality of light sources that are set to irradiate light in different directions, and an aiming mechanism that adjusts the optical axes of the plurality of light sources, The light source control unit, from the information received from the detection unit, detects the position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right and the presence or absence of pedestrians on the crosswalk or about to enter the crosswalk before the vehicle enters an intersection to make a right turn, and if pedestrians are present, illuminates a spot light from the light source unit at a predetermined position on the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, switches the light source that emits light in order to change the position of the spot light illuminated from the light source unit, and after the switching, adjusts the light axes of the multiple light sources by the aiming mechanism.

7. 7. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light source control unit detects, from information from the detection unit before the vehicle enters the intersection, whether or not there is a pedestrian on a crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right, the crosswalk being closer to the position of the vehicle when entering the intersection than the position where the vehicle will cross when turning right.

8. 7. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein before the vehicle enters an intersection to make a right turn is before the vehicle turns on a right turn indicator or before the vehicle reaches a crosswalk that the vehicle will first cross when entering the intersection.

9. 7. The vehicular lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light source control unit further detects a position of the vehicle within the intersection from the information of the detection unit, The light source control unit is configured to move the spot light sequentially to multiple locations on the crosswalk when it detects that the vehicle's position has reached multiple predetermined positions within the intersection.

10. 7. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light source control unit receives, from the vehicle, a speed at which the vehicle enters an intersection, and The light source control unit sequentially moves the spot light to a plurality of locations on the crosswalk at a switching timing according to the speed.

11. 11. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 10, further comprising a storage unit that stores the switching timings determined in advance for each of a plurality of speeds, The light source control unit reads from the memory unit the switching timing corresponding to the speed received from the vehicle, and sequentially moves the spot light to multiple locations on the crosswalk at the read switching timing.

12. 11. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the light source control unit calculates the switching timing from the speed received from the vehicle.

13. 7. A vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit that detects a length of the crosswalk by receiving information on the crosswalk from the vehicle; The light source control unit selects a switching timing that corresponds to the detected length of the crosswalk from switching timings that are predetermined for each of a plurality of crosswalk lengths, and moves the spot light sequentially to a plurality of locations on the crosswalk at the selected timing.

14. 6. The vehicle lamp system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit includes an aiming mechanism that adjusts an optical axis of the light source unit, The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light source control unit controls the aiming mechanism to change a position of the spot light.

15. 15. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the light source unit has a plurality of light sources that are set to irradiate light in different directions, The light source control unit switches the light source that emits light in order to change the position of the spot light, and adjusts the optical axes of the multiple light sources using the aiming mechanism after switching.

16. 7. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a headlamp unit for emitting headlights, A vehicle lighting system, characterized in that the color of the light spot emitted by the light source unit is different from the color of the headlight emitted by the headlamp unit.

17. A light source unit; a detection unit that detects the position of a pedestrian crossing that a vehicle will cross when turning right before the vehicle enters an intersection to turn right and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing or a pedestrian about to enter the pedestrian crossing; A light source control unit, When the detection unit detects the pedestrian, the light source control unit emits a spot light from the light source unit to a predetermined position on the crosswalk detected by the detection unit, and as the vehicle moves within the intersection and approaches the crosswalk within the intersection, the light source control unit moves the spot light emitted from the light source unit in the width direction of the crosswalk, in a direction approaching the direction in which the vehicle is located on the crosswalk.

18. A light source control unit receives information from a detection unit mounted on a vehicle and controls a light source unit mounted on the vehicle based on the information, and a communication unit; The light source control unit detects, from the information received from the detection unit, the position of a crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right before entering an intersection to make a right turn, and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk or a pedestrian about to enter the crosswalk, and if a pedestrian is present, instructs the street light via the communication unit to irradiate a spotlight onto a predetermined position of the crosswalk that the vehicle will cross when turning right. A vehicle lighting system comprising:

19. A light source; a detection unit that detects the position of a pedestrian crossing that a vehicle will cross when turning right before the vehicle enters an intersection to turn right and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing or a pedestrian about to enter the pedestrian crossing; a light source control unit that, when the detection unit detects the pedestrian, causes the light source to irradiate a spot light to a predetermined position of the pedestrian crossing detected by the detection unit; A street light comprising:

20. On the computer, receiving information from a detector mounted on the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is entering an intersection to make a right turn; When the vehicle is about to enter an intersection to make a right turn, detecting from the information a position of a pedestrian crossing that the vehicle will cross when turning right and the presence or absence of a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing or a pedestrian about to enter the pedestrian crossing; When the pedestrian is present, a light source unit mounted on the vehicle emits a spot light at a predetermined position on the crosswalk that the vehicle crosses when turning right, and as the vehicle moves through the intersection and approaches the crosswalk within the intersection, the spot light emitted from the light source unit is moved in a width direction of the crosswalk toward the location of the vehicle on the crosswalk. A program that executes the following.

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