Vehicle headlight device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle headlight device capable of reducing a possibility of a driver failing to notice a pedestrian.SOLUTION: A vehicle headlight device 1 includes: a low-beam lamp 5 and a high-beam lamp 6 for projecting light onto a first light distribution region A1 ahead of a vehicle; and a pattern-light projection part PP for projecting light onto a second light distribution region A2 outside the first light distribution region A1 in a vehicle width direction in such a light projection pattern that bright regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated. The pattern-light projection part PP projects light such that an interval between the bright regions a1 adjacent to each other is wider at a far side than at a near side in a vehicle traveling direction. According to one aspect, the pattern-light projection part PP projects light such that the light projection pattern is moved along the traveling direction of a vehicle 2 while maintaining a state in which the interval between the bright regions a1 adjacent to each other is wider at the far side than at the near side in the traveling direction of the vehicle 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device.

Background Art

[0002] As a vehicle headlamp device, a technique has been proposed to improve the visibility of pedestrians by a driver by irradiating light from a light source in an irradiation pattern in which bright areas and dark areas are alternately repeated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the vehicle headlamp device of Patent Document 1, light irradiation by a first irradiation pattern in which bright areas and dark areas are alternately repeated and light irradiation by a second irradiation pattern in which the entire area is a bright area are performed simultaneously so that the presence of a pedestrian in the distance can be instantly recognized by the driver.

Prior Art Documents

[0007] (2) The vehicle headlight device of (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the irradiation pattern moves along the direction of travel of the vehicle, while maintaining a state in which the distance between adjacent bright areas is wider on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel than on the near side.

[0008] (3) The vehicle headlight device of (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light in a grid-like pattern with a plurality of first stripes along a first direction and a plurality of second stripes along a second direction in which the bright area intersects the first direction, and the spacing between the first stripes and the second stripes is wider on the far side of the vehicle than on the near side in the direction of travel.

[0009] (4) The headlight device for a vehicle according to (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the width of the bright area becomes narrower towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front in the direction of travel.

[0010] (5) The headlight device for a vehicle according to (1), wherein the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light in which the light intensity of the bright area is stronger on the far side of the vehicle in the direction of travel than on the near side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the vehicle headlight device of (1), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the spacing between adjacent bright areas in the irradiation pattern, in which bright and dark areas alternate, is wider towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front. This allows the area towards the rear of the vehicle to be illuminated with an irradiation pattern in which the spacing between bright areas is not compressed. As a result, objects such as pedestrians can be clearly recognized.

[0012] In the vehicle headlight device of (2), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light in such a way that the irradiation pattern moves along the direction of travel of the vehicle, while maintaining a state in which the spacing between adjacent bright areas is wider on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel than on the near side. As a result, the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel can be illuminated with an irradiation pattern that does not compress the spacing between bright areas. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel are perceived as flickering and can be clearly recognized.

[0013] In the vehicle headlight device of (3), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light in a grid-like pattern with multiple first stripes along a first direction and multiple second stripes along a second direction intersecting the first direction, with the spacing between the first and second stripes being wider towards the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel than towards the front. This allows the illumination pattern to move and illuminate the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel without the spacing of the bright areas being compressed. As a result, objects such as pedestrians on the rear side of the vehicle in the direction of travel are perceived as flickering and can be clearly recognized.

[0014] In the vehicle headlight device of (4), the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the width of the bright area becomes narrower towards the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel than towards the front. As a result, the area towards the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel is illuminated with an irradiation pattern in which the width of the bright area is narrowed, maintaining the spacing between them, and the contours do not overlap and become distorted. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians can be clearly recognized.

[0015] In the vehicle headlamp device of (5), the pattern light irradiation unit has a brighter light in the bright region on the back side than on the front side in the traveling direction of the vehicle. As a result, an object such as a pedestrian on the back side in the traveling direction of the vehicle can be irradiated with an irradiation pattern in which the influence of the attenuation of the light intensity due to the distance is reduced. Therefore, an object such as a pedestrian can be recognized prominently.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle headlamp device as one form of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] It is a conceptual configuration diagram showing the control system of each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the irradiation area of each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a system related to the pattern irradiation lamp of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a driving vision irradiated with irradiation light according to one form from the pattern irradiation lamp of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing the definition of the concepts of "front" and "back" in the present disclosure. [Figure 7] It is a characteristic diagram showing the control form of the control system related to the pattern irradiation lamp of FIG. 2. [Figure 8] It is a diagram schematically showing the visual characteristics of a human related to the technical idea of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, one form of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the irradiation pattern light distribution area is a specific light irradiation area, and the irradiation pattern is a light irradiation form for the irradiation pattern light distribution area.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle headlamp device and detection means as one form of the present disclosure. The vehicle headlamp device 1 is provided on the left side and the right side in a form that is symmetric about the center position in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2. The vehicle headlamp device 1 includes, in order from the outside to the inside in the vehicle width direction, a turn signal lamp 3, a pattern irradiation lamp 4, a low beam lamp 5, and a high beam lamp 6. Note that the pattern irradiation lamp 4 is a general term for the left pattern irradiation lamp 41 and the right pattern irradiation lamp 42.

[0019] The turn signal lamp 3 is a normal lamp of this type. The pattern irradiation lamp 4, which is a component of the pattern light irradiation unit PP, irradiates light to a second light distribution region A2 (to be described later) in the vehicle 2 with an irradiation pattern (see FIG. 5) in which bright regions a1 and dark regions a2 are alternately repeated. The low beam lamp 5 irradiates light to the low beam light distribution region AL. The high beam lamp 6 irradiates light to the high beam light distribution region AH. Note that the vehicle 2 equipped with the vehicle headlamp device 1 is hereinafter appropriately referred to as the host vehicle 2. In the above description, the second light distribution region A2 in the right front of the traveling lane of the host vehicle 2 is the right second light distribution region A22. Also, the left second light distribution region A2 in the left front of the traveling lane of the host vehicle 2 is the left second light distribution region A21.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing a control system of each lamp in the vehicle headlamp device 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the irradiation regions of each lamp unit in the vehicle headlamp device 1. Under the control of the lamp control ECU 40, the high beam lamp 6, the low beam lamp 5, the left pattern irradiation lamp 41, and the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 operate. The lamp control ECU 40 switches the operation modes of the high beam lamp 6, the low beam lamp 5, the left pattern irradiation lamp 41, and the right pattern irradiation lamp 42 based on the output from the upper ECU 100 or the like mounted on the vehicle 2.

[0021] The high-beam lamp 6 includes a light-emitting element, a reflector, a light-shielding plate, and a lens that define the illumination area. Power is supplied from an unillustrated power supply in response to a control signal from the lamp control ECU 40, causing the light-emitting element to emit light. The light from the light-emitting element is reflected by the reflector. The reflected light from the reflector is illuminated from the lens towards the high-beam light distribution area AH defined by the light-shielding plate.

[0022] The low-beam lamp 5 includes a light-emitting element, a reflector, a light-shielding plate, and a lens that define the illumination area. Power is supplied from an unillustrated power supply in response to a control signal from the lamp control ECU 40, causing the light-emitting element to emit light. The light from the light-emitting element is reflected by the reflector. The reflected light from the reflector is illuminated from the lens towards the low-beam light distribution area AL defined by the light-shielding plate.

[0023] Referring to Figure 3, the illumination areas of the high-beam lamp 6, low-beam lamp 5, and pattern illumination lamp 4 when light is shone from the vehicle headlight device 1 in Figure 1 onto the test screen will be explained. Here, the illumination area of ​​the pattern illumination lamp 4 refers to the illumination area of ​​the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42.

[0024] The illumination area by the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 is symmetrical to the illumination area by the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42 with respect to the VV line as the axis of symmetry, but this is omitted from the illustration.

[0025] The configuration and operation of the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 are similar to those of the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42. Therefore, the following explanation of the configuration and operation of the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 will refer to the explanation of the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42.

[0026] The low beam light distribution area AL provided by the low beam lamp 5 has a cutoff line for the oncoming lane that extends parallel to the HH line (horizontal line) to the right of the VV line (vertical line) in the center of the test screen. It also has a cutoff line for the own lane that extends along the HH line to the left of the VV line, at a higher position than the oncoming lane cutoff line. Both the oncoming lane cutoff line and the own lane cutoff line are connected by an oblique cutoff line that is inclined relative to the HH line. The low beam light distribution area AL is the lower illumination area on the front lower side of the vehicle 2.

[0027] The high beam light distribution area AH provided by the high beam lamp 6 is a rectangle with a long side parallel to the HH line and a short side parallel to the VV line, and the intersection of its diagonals occupies a position that approximately coincides with the intersection of the HH line and the VV line. The high beam light distribution area AH overlaps with the low beam light distribution area AL in a lower partial area that includes the portions from the VV line of both the oncoming lane cutoff line and the in-lane cutoff line. The high beam light distribution area AH is the upper illumination area above the low beam light distribution area AL, which is the lower illumination area, and is located towards the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2. The low beam light distribution area AL and the high beam light distribution area AH together are collectively referred to as the first light distribution area A1.

[0028] The right-side second light distribution area A22, which is the illumination area of ​​the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42, has its illumination pattern changed in various ways, including the contour shape of the area and the form of the illumination pattern within that area, by a mode switching signal from the luminaire control ECU 40. The left-side second light distribution area A21, which is symmetrical to the right-side second light distribution area A22 with respect to the VV line as the axis of symmetry, is not shown in the illustration. The left-side second light distribution area A21 and the right-side second light distribution area A22 are collectively referred to as the second light distribution area A2.

[0029] Due to the capabilities of the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42, the right-side second light distribution area A22 can take on a wide shape that includes an overlapping area A24 that overlaps with the high-beam light distribution area AH. In this shape, the right-side second light distribution area A22 has a horizontal trapezoidal shape with its height parallel to the HH line and its upper and lower bases parallel to the VV line. In this trapezoid, the lower base, which is relatively far from the VV line, is longer than the upper base, which is relatively close to the VV line. That is, the right-side second light distribution area A22 has a shape in which the dimension along the VV line widens outward in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2.

[0030] Next, with reference to Figure 4, the pattern illumination lamps 4 (left pattern illumination lamp 41 and right pattern illumination lamp 42) will be further described. Figure 4 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing the system related to the pattern illumination lamps 4 in Figure 2. This system has a common configuration for the left pattern illumination lamp 41 and the right pattern illumination lamp 42, and is referred to here as the pattern illumination lamp system 400. Each pattern illumination lamp system 400 corresponding to the left pattern illumination lamp 41 and the right pattern illumination lamp 42 constitutes the pattern light illumination section PP in the vehicle headlight device 1 of this disclosure. The pattern illumination lamp system 400 includes a projection pattern generator 401, a modification section 402, a panel drive circuit 403, a light modulation section 404, and a projection optical system 405. In practice, the panel drive circuit 403 and the light modulation section 404 are arranged separately to provide heat shielding, and these two are connected by a harness. The projection pattern generator 401 generates an illumination pattern signal Pts that represents an illumination pattern in which bright and dark regions alternate in the form defined by the pattern selection signal Pss supplied from the lighting control ECU 40 in Figure 2. The modification unit 402 generates a flow velocity signal Fvs that defines the flow velocity when the illumination pattern flows from the far front of the vehicle to the near front, based on the vehicle speed signal Vss supplied from the lighting control ECU 40.

[0031] The panel drive circuit 403 is activated by a start command signal Scs supplied from the lighting control ECU and drives the light modulation unit 404 by emitting an element drive signal Eds to drive the illumination pattern, which consists of alternating bright and dark regions defined by the illumination pattern signal Pts emitted by the projection pattern generator 401, at a speed defined by the flow speed signal Fvs. As a result, the light modulation unit 404 illuminates the second light distribution area A2 through the projection optical system 405 so that the illumination pattern flows along the direction of travel of the vehicle 2. The modification unit 402 supplies the flow speed signal Fvs to the panel drive circuit 403 in accordance with the vehicle speed signal Vss representing the vehicle speed of the vehicle 2, and matches the speed at which the scenery viewed from the vehicle 2 flows with the speed at which the illumination pattern Pf flows.

[0032] Figure 5 shows the driver's field of view illuminated by light from one configuration of the pattern illumination lamp shown in Figure 2. Road 11 has lane markings 12, and one side of road 11 is a sidewalk. It is assumed that a pedestrian 15 is on the sidewalk. The area including the sidewalk on the right side as seen from the driver's perspective is the right-side second light distribution area A22 by the right-side pattern illumination lamp 42. In Figure 5, the right-side second light distribution area A22 is indicated by the symbol for the second light distribution area A2, which is a general term for the area together with the left-side second light distribution area A21. The right-side pattern illumination lamp 42 illuminates the right-side second light distribution area A22 with right-side illumination light PLR, which has an illumination pattern in which bright area a1 and dark area a2 alternately repeat.

[0033] As previously described, the right-side illumination light PLR is illuminated when the lighting control ECU 40 determines, based on information input from the higher-level ECU 100, that there is no problem in illuminating the right-side illumination light PLR. Also, when the lighting control ECU 40 determines that there is a situation in which the left-side illumination light PLL should be illuminated, it issues a start command signal Sc1, causing the left-side pattern illumination lamp 41 to illuminate the left-side illumination light PLL, illuminating the left-side second light distribution area A21 on the other sidewalk side, which is not visible in Figure 5.

[0034] Here, Figure 6 shows the definitions of the concepts of "near" and "far" in this disclosure. Lane markings 13 and 14 are drawn in the driving lane of the vehicle 2 on road 11. As indicated by the label "near" at the position of the dashed line drawn across road 11 directly in front of the vehicle 2 in Figure 6, the position relatively close to directly in front of the vehicle 2 is "near". As indicated by the label "far" at the position of the dashed line drawn across road 11 in front of the vehicle 2, the position relatively far ahead of directly in front of the vehicle 2 is "far".

[0035] In Figure 5, the pattern light illuminator PP emits light with an illumination pattern Pf such that the spacing between parallel adjacent bright areas a1 is wider on the far side of the direction of travel of the two vehicles than on the near side. This pattern light illumination by the pattern light illuminator PP in this manner will be referred to as the first mode of pattern light illumination below. Distant objects are perceived as relatively reduced in size by the driver. Therefore, if the spacing between parallel adjacent bright areas a1 is uniform regardless of the distance from the vehicle, the spacing between parallel adjacent bright areas a1 will appear narrower. However, with the first mode of pattern light illumination, the spacing between parallel adjacent bright areas a1 in the illumination pattern Pf is wider on the far side of the direction of travel of the two vehicles than on the near side. As a result, the degree to which the spacing between bright areas a1 narrows in proportion to the distance from the vehicle appears less to the driver. This allows the contours of parallel adjacent bright areas a1 in the illumination pattern Pf to be distinguished without overlapping and becoming distorted, even on the far side of the direction of travel of the vehicles. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0036] In another mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP, the irradiation pattern Pf is moved along the direction of travel of the vehicle while maintaining a state in which the spacing between adjacent bright areas a1 is wider on the far side of the vehicle 2's direction of travel than on the near side. This mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP will be referred to as the second mode of pattern light irradiation below. In the case of the second mode of pattern light irradiation, even on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel, the contours of parallel adjacent bright areas a1 in the irradiation pattern Pf are distinguishable without overlapping and becoming distorted. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians can be clearly recognized. Furthermore, with the second mode of pattern light irradiation, the far side of the vehicle 2's direction of travel can be irradiated by moving an irradiation pattern in a state in which the spacing between bright areas a1 is not distorted. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 on the far side of the vehicle 2's direction of travel are perceived as flickering and can be clearly recognized.

[0037] Furthermore, in another mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP, the bright area a1 is a grid-like irradiation pattern consisting of multiple first stripes along a first direction and multiple second stripes along a second direction intersecting this first direction, with the spacing between the first and second stripes being wider towards the rear of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel. This mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP will be referred to as the third mode of pattern light irradiation below. In both the third mode and the second mode of pattern light irradiation, the contours of parallel adjacent bright areas a1 in the irradiation pattern Pf are distinguishable without overlapping and becoming distorted, even towards the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians can be clearly recognized. In addition, with the second mode of pattern light irradiation, the irradiation pattern can be moved and irradiated so that the spacing between the bright areas a1 is not distorted, even towards the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 on the far side in the direction of travel of vehicle 2 are perceived as flickering and can be clearly recognized.

[0038] Furthermore, in another mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP, light is irradiated such that the width of the stripes in the bright area a1 becomes narrower towards the rear of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel than towards the front. This mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP will be referred to as the fourth mode of pattern light irradiation below. When the fourth mode of pattern light irradiation is used, the rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel is illuminated with an irradiation pattern in which the width of the stripes in the bright area a1 is narrowed, maintaining the spacing between them and preventing the contours from overlapping and becoming distorted. As a result, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0039] Furthermore, in another mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP, the light in the bright region a1 is stronger on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel than on the near side. This mode of pattern light irradiation by the pattern light irradiation unit PP will be referred to as the fifth mode of pattern light irradiation below. When using the fifth mode of pattern light irradiation, objects such as pedestrians 15 on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel can be illuminated with an irradiation pattern that reduces the effect of light intensity attenuation due to distance. As a result, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0040] The first mode of patterned light irradiation described above is a concept that encompasses all cases of the second through fifth modes of patterned light irradiation. Furthermore, the fourth and fifth modes of patterned light irradiation can be performed in conjunction with any of the other modes of patterned light irradiation.

[0041] Figure 7 is a characteristic diagram representing patterned light irradiation for the fourth and fifth modes. In Figure 7, the solid line represents the characteristics of patterned light irradiation for the fourth mode, and the dashed line represents the characteristics of patterned light irradiation for the fifth mode.

[0042] The pattern light irradiation of the first to fifth modes described above by the pattern light irradiation unit PP is all realized by selecting the operating mode of the pattern light irradiation lamp system 400 shown in Figure 4. As previously stated, the pattern light irradiation of the first mode is a higher-level concept that encompasses all cases of pattern light irradiation of the second to fifth modes. Therefore, specifically, the pattern light irradiation lamp system 400 operates in the operating mode corresponding to the pattern light irradiation of the second to fifth modes. Next, the operation of the pattern light irradiation lamp system 400 during pattern light irradiation of the second to fifth modes will be described.

[0043] During the second mode of pattern light illumination, the projection pattern generator 401 generates an illumination pattern signal Pts in response to the pattern selection signal Pss from the lighting control ECU 40, which generates an illumination pattern in which bright areas a1 and dark areas a2 alternately repeat and the spacing between adjacent bright areas a1 is wider towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front, and supplies this signal to the panel drive circuit 403. Meanwhile, the modification unit 402 generates a flow velocity signal Fvs in response to the vehicle speed signal Vss from the lighting control ECU 40 to obtain an appropriate moving speed for the illumination pattern according to the vehicle speed, and supplies this signal to the panel drive circuit 403. The panel drive circuit 403 generates an element drive signal Eds to obtain the illumination pattern and moving speed defined by the illumination pattern signal Pts and the flow velocity signal Fvs, and supplies this signal to the light modulation unit 404. As a result, illumination light with an illumination pattern and moving mode corresponding to the second mode of pattern light illumination formed through the light modulation unit 404 is emitted from the projection optical system 405.

[0044] The operation of the pattern illumination lamp system 400 during the third mode of pattern illumination is substantially the same as that during the second mode of pattern illumination described above. However, during the third mode of pattern illumination, the projection pattern generator 401 generates an illumination pattern signal Pts that produces an illumination pattern in which the bright area a1 is a grid-like illumination pattern consisting of multiple first stripes along a first direction and multiple second stripes along a second direction where the bright area a1 intersects with the first direction, and the spacing between the first and second stripes is wider towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front, and supplies this signal to the panel drive circuit 403.

[0045] The operation of the pattern illumination lamp system 400 during pattern illumination in the fourth mode is substantially the same as that during pattern illumination in the second mode described above. However, during pattern illumination in the fourth mode, the projection pattern generator 401 forms an illumination pattern signal Pts that generates an illumination pattern in which the width of the bright area becomes narrower towards the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel than towards the near side, and supplies it to the panel drive circuit 403.

[0046] The operation of the patterned light lamp system 400 during patterned light irradiation in the fifth mode is substantially the same as that during patterned light irradiation in the second mode described above. However, during patterned light irradiation in the fifth mode, the projection pattern generator 401, panel drive circuit 403, light modulation unit 404, and projection optical system 405 focus the beam toward the distance, resulting in irradiation light that tends to increase in light intensity per unit irradiation area.

[0047] Here, Figure 8 schematically shows the human visual characteristics that underlie the technical concept of the vehicle headlight device 1 of this disclosure. In Figure 8, the forward field of view 7 of a person H is divided, based on human visual characteristics, into a central field of view 8 that extends from the front to the left and right at a certain acute angle, and a left peripheral field of view 9 and a right peripheral field of view 10 adjacent to the left and right of the central field of view 8.

[0048] In general human vision, shapes appear clearly in the central field of vision (8), but the response to movement tends to be slow. Shapes appear blurry in the left peripheral field of vision (9) and the right peripheral field of vision (10), but the response to movement is fast, i.e., the sensitivity to movement tends to be high. The vehicle headlight device 1 of this disclosure is based on the idea of ​​actively utilizing the above-mentioned human vision characteristics. In the vehicle headlight device 1 of this disclosure, a light pattern in which bright areas a1 and dark areas a2 alternately repeat is projected onto the left peripheral field of vision (9) and the right peripheral field of vision (10), so that the driver can clearly recognize moving objects such as roadside pedestrians 15, and the possibility of overlooking them can be reduced even more effectively.

[0049] The vehicle headlight device 1 of this embodiment provides the following effects.

[0050] The vehicle headlight device 1 of (1) comprises a low-beam lamp 5 and a high-beam lamp 6 that irradiate light into a first light distribution area A1 in front of the vehicle, and a pattern light irradiating unit PP that irradiates light into a second light distribution area A2 located outside the first light distribution area A1 in the vehicle width direction with an illumination pattern in which bright areas a1 and dark areas a2 alternately repeat, wherein the pattern light irradiating unit PP irradiates light such that the spacing between adjacent bright areas a1 is wider on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel than on the near side. As a result, the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel can be illuminated with an illumination pattern in which the spacing between bright areas a1 is not compressed. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0051] In the vehicle headlight device 1 of (2), the pattern light irradiation unit PP irradiates light in such a way that the irradiation pattern moves along the direction of travel of the vehicle 2, while maintaining a state in which the spacing between adjacent bright areas a1 is wider on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel than on the near side. As a result, the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel can be illuminated with an irradiation pattern that moves while maintaining the spacing between bright areas a1. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel can be perceived as flickering and can be clearly recognized.

[0052] In the vehicle headlight device 1 of (3), the modification unit 402 matches the speed at which the scenery viewed from the vehicle 2 flows with the speed at which the illumination pattern Pf flows, according to the vehicle speed of the vehicle 2. As a result, the speed at which the scenery viewed from the vehicle 2 flows with the speed at which the illumination pattern Pf flows are synchronized, so that the flow of the scenery viewed from the vehicle 2 and the flow of the illumination pattern are synchronized, and the driver of the vehicle 2 can more easily recognize the presence of the pedestrian 15.

[0053] In the vehicle headlight device 1 of (4), the pattern light irradiation unit PP irradiates light such that the width of the bright area a1 becomes narrower towards the rear of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel than towards the front. As a result, the rear of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel is illuminated with an irradiation pattern in which the width of the bright area a1 is narrowed, maintaining the spacing between them and preventing the contours from overlapping and becoming distorted. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0054] In the vehicle headlight device 1 of (5), the pattern light irradiation unit PP emits light with a stronger light intensity in the bright region a1 on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel than on the near side. As a result, objects such as pedestrians 15 on the far side of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel can be illuminated with an irradiation pattern that reduces the effect of light intensity attenuation due to distance. Therefore, objects such as pedestrians 15 can be clearly recognized.

[0055] The above describes one embodiment of the vehicle headlight device of this disclosure, but the details of the configuration may be appropriately modified within the scope of the spirit of this disclosure. For example, in the example shown in Figure 4, the light modulation unit 404 is driven by the illumination pattern signal Pts from the projection pattern generator 401 of the pattern illumination lamp system 400 and the element drive signal Eds from the panel drive circuit 403 to obtain a predetermined illumination pattern, but this configuration can take other forms. That is, the pattern illumination lamp system 400 may be configured as a projector that drives a DMD (Digital Mirror Device) including a group of micromirrors with the illumination pattern signal Pts and the element drive signal Eds to obtain a predetermined illumination pattern and a predetermined illumination light intensity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] A1…First light distribution area A2…Second light distribution area A21...Left-side second light distribution area A22…Second light distribution area on the right side A24…overlapping area A26…Specific area AL...Low beam light distribution area AH... High beam light distribution area a1…light area a2…dark area H... Human PP... Pattern light irradiation area Pf, Ps... Irradiation patterns Pss... Pattern selection signal Pts... Irradiation pattern signal Vss…Vehicle speed signal Scs…Start command signal Fvs...Flow rate signal Eds... Element drive signal 1... Vehicle headlight device 2…Vehicles 3…Turn signal lamps 4…Pattern illumination lamp 5... Low beam lamp 6… High beam lamps 7…Forward field of vision 8…Central vision 9…Left peripheral vision 10…Right peripheral vision 11…road 12... Your vehicle's lane 13... Plot lines 14…Lane markings 15…Pedestrians 40…Lighting control ECU 41…Left-side pattern illumination lamp 42...Right-side pattern illumination lamp 400... Pattern illumination lamp system 401... Projection Pattern Generator 402... Changes 403... Panel drive circuit 404...Optical Modulation Section 405...Projection optical system

Claims

1. Low-beam lamps and high-beam lamps that illuminate the first light distribution area in front of the vehicle, A vehicle headlight device comprising: a pattern light irradiation unit that irradiates light to a second light distribution region located outside the vehicle width direction of the first light distribution region with an irradiation pattern in which bright and dark regions alternately repeat, The headlight device for a vehicle is characterized in that the pattern light irradiation unit has a grid-like irradiation pattern in which the bright area is aligned in a first direction and the bright area is aligned in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the spacing between the first and second stripes is wider towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front.

2. The headlight device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the irradiation pattern moves along the direction of travel of the vehicle, while maintaining a state in which the distance between adjacent bright areas is wider on the far side of the vehicle's direction of travel than on the near side.

3. The headlight device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light such that the width of the bright area becomes narrower towards the rear of the vehicle than towards the front in the direction of travel.

4. The headlight device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern light irradiation unit irradiates light in which the light intensity of the bright area is stronger on the far side of the vehicle in the direction of travel than on the near side.

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