Light distribution control device and light distribution control system

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a light distribution control device and a light distribution control system with which an irradiation range can be appropriately controlled even when an optical system of a headlight has deviated in a front-rear direction. A light distribution control device according to the present disclosure comprises: an imaging signal reception unit that receives an imaging signal obtained by imaging the surroundings of a vehicle; a light-blocking control unit that, on the basis of the imaging signal, dims some of a plurality of light-emitting elements serving as a light source of a headlight of the vehicle and blocks light in a region including a transportation participant present in the surroundings of the vehicle; a deviation detection unit that detects at least front-rear directional deviation of an optical system that irradiates the area in front of the vehicle with the light of the light-emitting elements; and a dimming control unit that, when deviation is detected, dims the light-emitting element corresponding to a region that is adjacent to the region where light is blocked in the irradiation region irradiated with the light by the optical system.

Description

Light distribution control device and light distribution control system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light distribution control device and a light distribution control system that control the illumination range of a headlight.

[0002] Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) technology has been developed to detect people and other vehicles ahead of a vehicle using a camera mounted on the vehicle and block only the detected area. However, the cameras and headlights used in ADBs are subject to mounting and manufacturing variations, resulting in deviations in the illumination range of the light emitted from the headlights. If the illumination range is shifted, the light may be irradiated onto areas that should be blocked, potentially dazzling traffic participants around the vehicle. Traffic participants include preceding vehicles, oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.

[0003] As a countermeasure against the above, for example, a technology has been disclosed that reduces dazzle for traffic participants by detecting and correcting the deviation of the illumination range in the left-right direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] JP 2019-64348 A

[0005] If the lens that constitutes the headlight (hereinafter referred to as the "optical system") is misaligned in the longitudinal direction, the illumination range becomes blurred, and this blurred area may dazzle traffic participants. However, Patent Document 1 does not mention correcting the illumination range when the optical system that constitutes the headlight is misaligned in the longitudinal direction, so there is room for improvement.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a light distribution control device and a light distribution control system that can appropriately control the illumination range even if the optical system of the headlight is shifted in the forward / backward direction.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the light distribution control device according to the present disclosure includes an imaging signal receiving unit that receives an imaging signal of the area around the vehicle, a shading control unit that dims some of the multiple light-emitting elements that serve as light sources for the vehicle's headlights based on the imaging signal to shade an area including traffic participants around the vehicle, a deviation detection unit that detects a deviation in at least the longitudinal direction of an optical system that irradiates light from the light-emitting elements ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control unit that, when a deviation is detected, dims the light-emitting elements that correspond to an area of ​​the illumination area irradiated by the optical system that is adjacent to the shading area.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately control the illumination range even when the optical system of the headlight is shifted in the front-to-rear direction.

[0009] The objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a deviation of an irradiation range according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the deviation amount and the light attenuation rate according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light distribution control system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the deviation amount and the received light intensity characteristic according to embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to embodiment 3. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a light distribution control device according to embodiments 1 to 3. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a light distribution control device according to embodiments 1 to 3.

[0011] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to a first embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 , the light distribution control system includes a light distribution control device 1 , an imaging device 6 , a headlamp 7 , and a headlamp 10 .

[0013] The light distribution control device 1 includes an imaging signal receiving unit 2, a light blocking control unit 3, a light dimming control unit 4, and a displacement detection unit 5.

[0014] The image signal receiving unit 2 receives a video signal of an image of the surroundings of the vehicle from the image capturing device 6. The image capturing device 6 is provided in the vehicle and captures an image of at least the area in front of the vehicle.

[0015] The shading control unit 3 dims some of the light-emitting elements 81 to 8m and 111 to 11n based on the imaging signal received by the imaging signal receiving unit 2, shading the area including traffic participants around the vehicle.

[0016] The deviation detection unit 5 detects deviation at least in the front-to-rear direction for each of the optical system 9 of the headlamp 7 and the optical system 12 of the headlamp 10 .

[0017] When the misalignment detection unit 5 detects a misalignment, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light from the light emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the light-blocked area among the irradiation areas irradiated with light by the optical systems 9 and 12 .

[0018] The headlamp 7 is provided on the left side of the vehicle and includes light-emitting elements 81 to 8m and an optical system 9. The light-emitting elements 81 to 8m are light sources for the headlamp 7 and are, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The optical system 9 irradiates the light from the light-emitting elements 81 to 8m ahead of the vehicle.

[0019] The headlamp 10 is provided on the right side of the vehicle and includes light-emitting elements 111 to 11n and an optical system 12. The light-emitting elements 111 to 11n are light sources for the headlamp 10, and may be, for example, LEDs. The optical system 12 irradiates the light from the light-emitting elements 111 to 11n ahead of the vehicle.

[0020] Here, the deviation of the irradiation range will be explained with reference to FIG.

[0021] In Fig. 2, the area consisting of multiple squares surrounded by dashed lines indicates the designed irradiation area. In the example of Fig. 2, the area consisting of multiple squares surrounded by dashed lines is divided into left and right halves in the middle, with the eight squares on the left corresponding to light-emitting elements 81 to 8m (m = 8), and the eight squares on the right corresponding to light-emitting elements 111 to 11n (n = 8).

[0022] In addition, in Fig. 2, the areas surrounded by solid lines (four hatched squares) indicate the actual illumination range. In the example of Fig. 2, because there is another vehicle in front of the vehicle, the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area where the other vehicle is present are turned off. Note that, although the example of Fig. 2 shows the area adjacent to the other vehicle being illuminated, in reality, the areas on the left and right corresponding to the designed illumination ranges (each of the squares surrounded by dashed lines) are also illuminated.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2 , the actual illumination range is wider than the designed illumination range. While the example in FIG. 2 shows only a portion of the actual illumination range, the entire actual illumination range is wider than the designed illumination range. This is due to the optical systems 9 and 12 being misaligned in the longitudinal direction, blurring the actual illumination range. Blurring the actual illumination range also irradiates a portion of the area where other vehicles are present (the shaded area), ultimately dazzling traffic participants. To address this issue, the light distribution control device 1 according to the first embodiment dims the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the shaded area (the hatched area surrounded by a solid line in FIG. 2 ). This reduces dazzlement to traffic participants.

[0024] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to embodiment 1, and shows the operation of detecting misalignment between the optical systems 9 and 12. Note that the detection of misalignment is performed at any timing, such as before shipping the vehicle, at the time of vehicle inspection, or when replacing the headlights.

[0025] In step S11, the light distribution control device 1 turns on predetermined light-emitting elements (one or more light-emitting elements) among the light-emitting elements 81 to 8m of the headlamp 7.

[0026] In step S12, the optical system 9 irradiates light onto a wall or screen installed in front of the vehicle.

[0027] In step S13, the imaging device 6 captures an image of the light irradiated onto the wall or screen.

[0028] In step S14, the imaging signal receiving unit 2 detects the position (irradiation position) of the light irradiated onto the wall or screen based on the imaging signal received from the imaging device 6. Specifically, the imaging signal receiving unit 2 detects the irradiation position by performing image processing.

[0029] In step S15, the deviation detection unit 5 compares the actual irradiation position detected by the imaging signal receiving unit 2 with the reference design irradiation position, and calculates the amount of deviation of the irradiation position (detects the deviation of the irradiation position). For example, the deviation detection unit 5 compares one square (actual irradiation position) surrounded by a solid line in FIG. 2 with a corresponding square (design irradiation position) surrounded by a dashed line, and calculates the amount of deviation of the actual irradiation position from the design irradiation position. When multiple light-emitting elements are lit, the deviation detection unit 5 calculates the amount of deviation for the multiple irradiation positions. The deviation detection unit 5 stores the calculated amount of deviation.

[0030] The deviation detection unit 5 may detect a deviation when an initialization request is input from outside. The initialization request is a request to delete the deviation amount stored in the deviation detection unit 5 and to calculate and store a new deviation amount.

[0031] The deviation detection unit 5 may store the light attenuation rate corresponding to the calculated deviation amount based on the relationship between the deviation amount and the light attenuation rate as shown in FIG.

[0032] Although the above description has been given of a case where a predetermined light-emitting element (one or more light-emitting elements) is turned on and the deviation amount of the irradiation position thereof is calculated, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined light-emitting element (one or more light-emitting elements) may be turned off and the other light-emitting elements may be turned on, and the deviation amount may be calculated by comparing the turned-off position with the corresponding designed irradiation position.

[0033] Although the above description has been given of the case where the amount of deviation of the optical system 9 of the headlamp 7 is calculated, the same applies to the case where the amount of deviation of the optical system 12 of the headlamp 10 is calculated.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to the first embodiment, and shows the operation of light distribution control when the vehicle is traveling.

[0035] In step S21, the imaging signal receiving unit 2 determines whether or not there are traffic participants around the vehicle based on the imaging signal received from the imaging device 6. Specifically, the imaging signal receiving unit 2 detects traffic participants by performing image processing. If there are traffic participants, the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if there are no traffic participants, the operation of FIG. 5 ends.

[0036] In step S22, the shading control unit 3 shades the area including the traffic participant detected by the imaging signal receiving unit 2. In the example of Fig. 2, the shading control unit 3 shades the area including the traffic participant, i.e., the area does not emit light from the light-emitting element corresponding to the area where the other vehicle, which is a traffic participant, is present.

[0037] In step S23, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light of the light emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded, based on the result of the detection of the misalignment by the misalignment detection unit 5.

[0038] For example, when the misalignment detection unit 5 stores the amount of misalignment, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded so as to achieve a predetermined light intensity. Also, when the misalignment detection unit 5 stores a dimming rate according to the amount of misalignment, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded in accordance with the dimming rate. In other words, when the misalignment is large, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded more when the misalignment is small.

[0039] The dimming control unit 4 may store the relationship between the amount of misalignment and the dimming rate as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the dimming control unit 4 dims the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded, based on the amount of misalignment stored in the misalignment detection unit 5 and the relationship (relationship between the amount of misalignment and the dimming rate) stored by the dimming control unit 4 itself.

[0040] <Effects> According to the first embodiment, if the headlight optical system is misaligned in the longitudinal direction and the illumination range becomes blurred, the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the shaded area (the area where traffic participants are present) are dimmed. This reduces the dazzle for traffic participants. In other words, it is possible to appropriately control the illumination range even if the headlight optical system is misaligned in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the misalignment can be detected without adding any additional components.

[0041] Although the above description has been made regarding the case where the misalignment of the optical systems 9 and 12 in the front-to-rear direction is detected, it is also possible to detect the misalignment of the optical systems 9 and 12 in the left-to-right direction. In this case, it is sufficient to dim the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the area to be shielded based on the amount of misalignment in the left-to-right direction.

[0042] Second Embodiment <Configuration> FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to a second embodiment.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 6, the light distribution control system according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the headlight 7 includes a light receiving element 13, and the headlight 10 includes a light receiving element 14. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0044] The headlamp 7 includes light-emitting elements 81 to 8m, an optical system 9, and a light-receiving element 13. The light-receiving element 13 receives light that is irradiated onto the optical system 9 from the outside.

[0045] The headlamp 10 includes light-emitting elements 111 to 11n, an optical system 12, and a light-receiving element 14. The light-receiving element 14 receives light that is irradiated onto the optical system 12 from the outside.

[0046] The deviation detection unit 5 of the light distribution control device 1 detects deviation of the optical system 9 based on the light receiving intensity characteristics of the light received by the light receiving element 13. The deviation detection unit 5 also detects deviation of the optical system 12 based on the light receiving intensity characteristics of the light received by the light receiving element 14.

[0047] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the light distribution control system according to the second embodiment, and shows the operation of detecting misalignment between the optical systems 9 and 12. Note that the detection of misalignment is performed at any timing, similar to the first embodiment.

[0048] In step S31, light is emitted from the front of the vehicle toward the vehicle while changing its position in the width direction of the vehicle. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8 , light is emitted toward the outer lens 15 while moving from position 16 to position 17. The outer lens 15 is a component provided at the forefront of the headlamp 7. The light emitted toward the outer lens 15 is received by the light-receiving element 13 via the optical system 9. Note that while Fig. 8 shows the configuration of the headlamp 7, the headlamp 10 has a similar configuration.

[0049] In step S32, the light receiving element 13 receives the light irradiated toward the vehicle.

[0050] In step S33 , the deviation detection unit 5 acquires the light receiving intensity characteristic of the light received by the light receiving element 13 .

[0051] In step S34, the deviation detection unit 5 compares the light receiving intensity characteristics (actual light receiving intensity characteristics) of the light received by the light receiving element 13 with the reference design light receiving intensity characteristics, and calculates the amount of deviation of the irradiation position (detects the deviation of the irradiation position).

[0052] 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of deviation and the light-receiving intensity characteristics according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the solid line represents the actual light-receiving intensity characteristics based on the measured value (the light-receiving intensity of light received by the light-receiving element 13). The dashed line represents the designed light-receiving intensity characteristics based on the design value (the designed light-receiving intensity). The deviation detection unit 5 calculates and stores the difference between the actual light-receiving intensity characteristics and the designed light-receiving intensity characteristics as the amount of deviation.

[0053] Although the above description has been given of the case where the amount of deviation of the optical system 9 of the headlamp 7 is calculated, the same applies to the case where the amount of deviation of the optical system 12 of the headlamp 10 is calculated.

[0054] The operation of the light distribution control while the vehicle is running is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5), and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0055] <Effects> According to the second embodiment, it is possible to detect misalignment with greater accuracy than in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately control the illumination range even when the optical system of the headlight is misaligned in the front-to-rear direction.

[0056] Third Embodiment FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a light distribution control system according to a third embodiment.

[0057] 10, the light distribution control system according to the third embodiment is characterized in that the headlamp 7 is equipped with light receiving and emitting elements 181 to 18m, and the headlamp 10 is equipped with light receiving and emitting elements 191 to 19n. The other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0058] The light receiving and light emitting elements 181 to 18m are each formed by integrating the light emitting element 81 to 8m and the light receiving element 13 in the headlamp 7 (see FIG. 6) according to the second embodiment.

[0059] The light receiving and light emitting elements 191 to 19n are each formed by integrating the light emitting elements 111 to 11n and the light receiving element 14 in the headlamp 10 according to the second embodiment.

[0060] <Effects> According to the third embodiment, it is possible to use an element that has both light emitting and light receiving functions.

[0061] <Hardware Configuration> The functions of the imaging signal receiving unit 2, the shading control unit 3, the deviation detection unit 5, and the dimming control unit 4 in the light distribution control device 1 described in the first embodiment are realized by processing circuits. That is, the light distribution control device 1 includes a processing circuit for receiving an imaging signal, shading an area including traffic participants present around the vehicle, detecting a deviation in at least the longitudinal direction of the optical systems 9 and 12 of the headlights 7 and 10, and, upon detecting a deviation, dimming light-emitting elements corresponding to an area adjacent to the shaded area within the illumination area illuminated by the optical systems 9 and 12. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware, or may be a processor (also referred to as a CPU, central processing unit, processing device, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) that executes a program stored in a memory.

[0062] 11 , the processing circuit 20 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The functions of the image capture signal receiving unit 2, the shading control unit 3, the deviation detection unit 5, and the dimming control unit 4 may be realized individually by the processing circuit 20, or all of these functions may be realized together by a single processing circuit 20.

[0063] When the processing circuit 20 is the processor 30 shown in FIG. 12 , the functions of the imaging signal receiving unit 2, the shading control unit 3, the deviation detection unit 5, and the dimming control unit 4 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program and stored in the memory 31. The processor 30 realizes each function by reading and executing the program recorded in the memory 31. That is, the light distribution control device 1 includes the memory 31 for storing a program that ultimately executes the steps of receiving an imaging signal, shading an area including traffic participants around the vehicle, detecting a deviation of the optical systems 9 and 12 of the headlights 7 and 10 in at least the longitudinal direction, and, upon detecting the deviation, dimming the light-emitting elements corresponding to an area of ​​the illumination area illuminated by the optical systems 9 and 12 adjacent to the shaded area. Furthermore, these programs can also be said to cause a computer to execute the procedures or methods of the imaging signal receiving unit 2, the shading control unit 3, the deviation detection unit 5, and the dimming control unit 4. Here, the memory may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or any storage medium that will be used in the future.

[0064] It is also possible to realize some of the functions of the imaging signal receiving unit 2, the shading control unit 3, the deviation detection unit 5, and the dimming control unit 4 by using dedicated hardware, and other functions by using software or firmware.

[0065] Thus, the processing circuitry can implement each of the above-described functions through hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0066] Although the hardware configuration of the light distribution control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has been described above, the same applies to the hardware configuration of the light distribution control device 1 shown in FIGS.

[0067] Within the scope of the present disclosure, the embodiments can be freely combined, modified, or omitted as appropriate.

[0068] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned.

[0069] 1 Light distribution control device, 2 Imaging signal receiving unit, 3 Light blocking control unit, 4 Dimming control unit, 5 Misalignment detection unit, 6 Imaging device, 7 Headlight, 81 to 8m Light-emitting element, 9 Optical system, 10 Headlight, 111 to 11n Light-emitting element, 12 Optical system, 13 Light-receiving element, 14 Light-receiving element, 15 Outer lens, 16 Position, 17 Position, 181 to 18m Light-receiving and light-emitting element, 191 to 19n Light-receiving and light-emitting element, 20 Processing circuit, 30 Processor, 31 Memory.

Claims

1. A light distribution control device comprising: an imaging signal receiving unit that receives an imaging signal capturing an image of the surroundings of a vehicle; a shading control unit that, based on the imaging signal, dims some of a plurality of light-emitting elements that serve as light sources for the vehicle's headlights to shade an area including traffic participants present around the vehicle; a deviation detection unit that detects deviation in at least the longitudinal direction of an optical system that irradiates light from the light-emitting elements forward of the vehicle; and a dimming control unit that, when the deviation is detected, dims the light-emitting elements that correspond to an area adjacent to the shading area within the illumination area into which the optical system irradiates light.

2. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the deviation detection unit detects the deviation of the optical system based on the imaging signal captured when a predetermined light-emitting element among the plurality of light-emitting elements is turned on or off.

3. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the dimming control unit dims the light of the light-emitting elements corresponding to the area adjacent to the light-blocking area when the deviation is large compared to when the deviation is small.

4. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the deviation detection unit detects and stores the deviation when an initialization request is input from the outside.

5. The light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the deviation detection unit stores a light dimming rate according to the amount of deviation.

6. A light distribution control system comprising: an imaging signal receiving unit that receives an imaging signal capturing an image of the surroundings of a vehicle; a plurality of light-emitting elements that serve as light sources for the vehicle's headlights; an optical system that irradiates light from the light-emitting elements to the front of the vehicle; a shading control unit that dims some of the plurality of light-emitting elements to shade an area including traffic participants present around the vehicle based on the imaging signal; a deviation detection unit that detects a deviation of the optical system at least in the longitudinal direction; a shading control unit that, when the deviation is detected, dims the light-emitting elements that correspond to an area adjacent to the shaded area among the illumination areas to which the optical system irradiates light; and a light-receiving element that receives light that is irradiated from the front of the vehicle toward the vehicle and at a different position in the width direction of the vehicle, wherein the deviation detection unit detects the deviation of the optical system based on the light receiving intensity characteristics of the light received by the light-receiving element.

7. The light distribution control system according to claim 6, wherein the light emitting element and the light receiving element are integrally configured.