WO2025158513A1 - Light control device, light control system, and light control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for transmitting information by using a light of a vehicle without generating flickering. A light control device (101) comprises: an information acquisition unit (11) that acquires notification information pertaining to a target vehicle or a driver of the target vehicle; a pattern conversion unit (12) that converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern; and a light control unit (13) that causes a light device (23) of the target vehicle to irradiate the display pattern. The continuous irradiation time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of a camera (22) mounted on a non-target vehicle that is irradiated with the display pattern, and less than the temporal resolution of the human eye.

Description

Light control device, light control system, and light control method

This disclosure relates to technology for controlling vehicle lights.

Conventionally, there is technology for using vehicle lights to communicate information to other vehicles. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a vehicle's lighting device emits a flashing pattern specific to the vehicle type, thereby notifying other vehicles of the vehicle's type.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-269447

In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the lighting device outputs a light that flashes at 1/15 second intervals. Therefore, it takes (1/15) x 6 = 0.4 seconds to transmit 6 bits of information. Furthermore, in the example of a flashing pattern corresponding to the type of emergency vehicle, it takes 3 bits, or 0.2 seconds, for the light to be off. As such, because it takes time to transmit information, there is the problem of flickering for drivers of other vehicles.

This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide technology that uses vehicle lights to transmit information without causing flickering.

The lighting control device disclosed herein comprises an information acquisition unit that acquires notification information related to the target vehicle or the driver of the target vehicle, a pattern conversion unit that converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern, and a lighting control unit that causes the lighting device of the target vehicle to emit the display pattern, and the continuous illumination time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of the camera mounted on the non-target vehicle that receives the illumination of the display pattern, but less than the time resolution of the human eye.

The lighting control device of the present disclosure causes the lighting device to continuously project a two-dimensional display pattern within a time period that is equal to or greater than the temporal resolution of a camera but less than the temporal resolution of the human eye, thereby enabling information to be transmitted without flickering. The objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a light control system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a light control device. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the light control device. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the illumination range of a headlight and the illumination range of a display pattern. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a positive mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a positive mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a positive mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative+positive mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative+positive mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display pattern in a negative+positive mode. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image of the area ahead of the target vehicle captured by a camera. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a radiation intensity reduction process for a right-hand drive vehicle. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a radiation intensity reduction process for a left-hand drive vehicle. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a luminance compensation process for increasing the luminance of a portion adjacent to a display pattern. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a luminance compensation process for increasing the luminance of a portion adjacent to a display pattern. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a luminance compensation process for increasing the luminance of a portion adjacent to a display pattern. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a luminance compensation process using duty control. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a light control device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a light control device.

<A. First Embodiment>
<A-1. Configuration>
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a light control system 1001 according to embodiment 1 and other components. The light control system 1001 is made up of a light control device 101 mounted on each of a plurality of vehicles V1 and V2. The light control device 101 mounted on each of the vehicles V1 and V2 has the same configuration. Although Fig. 1 shows two vehicles V1 and V2, the light control device 101 may be provided on each of three or more vehicles.

For the light control device 101 installed in vehicle V1, the vehicle V1 on which it is installed is referred to as the target vehicle, and the other vehicle V2 is referred to as the non-target vehicle. Similarly, for the light control device 101 installed in vehicle V2, vehicle V2 is referred to as the target vehicle, and vehicle V1 is referred to as the non-target vehicle.

Because the configurations of vehicles V1 and V2 are similar, the following describes the configuration of vehicle V1. In addition to a light control device 101, vehicle V1 is equipped with an information device 21, a camera 22, and a lighting device 23. The light control device 101 is connected to the information device 21, the camera 22, and the lighting device 23, and is configured to enable these to be used. The light control device 101 controls the lighting device 23.

The information device 21 detects information that the vehicle V1 wishes to notify to an outside of the vehicle V1 (hereinafter referred to as "notification information") and transmits it to the light control device 101. The notification information includes notification information about the vehicle V1 (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle information") and notification information about the driver (hereinafter referred to as "driver information").

The vehicle information may include information regarding the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle V1. That is, the vehicle information may include information regarding whether the vehicle V1 is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle. The vehicle information may also include information regarding the class of the vehicle V1, such as a passenger car, truck, or bus. Furthermore, the vehicle information may include information regarding the position, speed, or direction of travel of the vehicle V1.

The driver information may include information about the seating position of the driver of vehicle V1. The information about the driver's seating position is represented, for example, by information about the driver's height from the ground. The driver information may also include information that the driver is experiencing dazzle. The information device 21 can detect the driver information using, for example, a DMS (Driver Monitoring System).

Camera 22 captures the display pattern of the lighting device 23 of vehicle V2, which is a non-target vehicle. Camera 22 is also used to confirm the position of vehicle V2.

The lighting devices 23 include, for example, at least one of the headlights, auxiliary lights, and taillights of the vehicle V1. The lighting devices 23 receive instructions from the lighting control device 101 and emit display patterns generated by the lighting control device 101. The lighting devices 23 have an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) function that allows them to independently emit light in multiple ranges.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light control device 101. The configuration of the light control device 101 installed in vehicle V1 will be described below with reference to Figure 2. The light control device 101 is configured to include an information acquisition unit 11, a pattern conversion unit 12, a light control unit 13, a notification information conversion unit 14, and a non-target vehicle determination unit 15.

The information acquisition unit 11 acquires notification information from the information device 21.

The pattern conversion unit 12 acquires notification information from the information acquisition unit 11 and converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern. The correspondence between the notification information and the display pattern is predetermined. The display pattern may be any of letters, numbers, or symbols, or a combination of these. The display pattern may also be an icon or a two-dimensional barcode. When a two-dimensional barcode is used as the display pattern, detailed information such as the driver's height above the ground can also be displayed.

The notification information conversion unit 14 analyzes the image captured by the camera 22 and interprets the meaning of the display pattern contained in the captured image. When a display pattern is projected from the lighting device 23 of vehicle V2 toward vehicle V1, that display pattern is included in the image captured by the camera 22 of vehicle V1. The notification information conversion unit 14 interprets the meaning of the display pattern projected from vehicle V2 and obtains the notification information represented by that display pattern.

The non-target vehicle determination unit 15 determines the direction of the non-target vehicle to which the notification information is to be transmitted, i.e., vehicle V2. In the example of Figure 2, the non-target vehicle determination unit 15 determines the direction of vehicle V2 contained in the captured image by analyzing the image captured by camera 22. However, the non-target vehicle determination unit 15 is not limited to camera 22; it is sufficient if it can obtain detection information regarding the direction of the non-target vehicle from some kind of detection device mounted on the target vehicle, and project a display pattern toward the non-target vehicle based on that detection information.

The lighting control unit 13 controls the lighting device 23 to irradiate the display pattern converted by the pattern conversion unit 12 toward the vehicle V2. The lighting device 23 does not steadily irradiate the display pattern, but instead repeatedly irradiates and does not irradiate the display pattern. In other words, the lighting device 23 transitions between a first state in which it does not irradiate the display pattern, and a second state in which it irradiates the display pattern. However, the lighting device 23 may irradiate the display pattern only once.

The duration of the second state per lighting device 23, i.e., the continuous illumination period of the display pattern per lighting device 23, is equal to or greater than the time resolution of the camera mounted on the non-target vehicle, but less than the time resolution of the human eye. For example, if the time resolution of the camera mounted on the non-target vehicle is 33 ms, the continuous illumination period of the display pattern is equal to or greater than 33 ms and less than 50 ms. Therefore, when a display pattern is illuminated from the lighting device 23 of vehicle V1 toward vehicle V2, the driver of vehicle V2 will not be able to see the display pattern, but the camera 22 mounted on vehicle V2 will be able to capture it. Because the display pattern in this embodiment is a two-dimensional pattern rather than a flashing pattern, it is possible to transmit information in a short period of time.

In addition to processing the illumination of the display pattern, the lighting control unit 13 also controls the illumination range of the lighting device 23 based on notification information from non-target vehicles (see Figures 15 and 16).

<A-2. Operation>
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the light control device 101. The operation of the light control device 101 will be described below in accordance with the flow of FIG.

First, in step S101, the pattern conversion unit 12 converts the notification information acquired by the information acquisition unit 11 into a display pattern corresponding to that notification information.

Next, in step S102, the non-target vehicle determination unit 15 analyzes the image captured by the camera 22 to determine the position of the non-target vehicle, and determines the direction in which the display pattern will be projected so that the display pattern is projected onto the non-target vehicle.

Figure 4 shows how a display pattern is projected from the headlight 24, which is a lighting device 23 of vehicle V1, toward vehicle V2. A portion of the total illumination range R1 of the headlight 24 is the illumination range R2 of the display pattern.

Then, in step S103, the light control unit 13 determines whether the current state of the headlights 24 of the target vehicle is a fully lit state. The current state of the headlights 24, in which no display pattern is emitted, corresponds to the first state of the headlights 24. Then, the light control unit 13 determines the illumination mode in the second state in which the display pattern is emitted, depending on the first state of the headlights 24. In other words, the display pattern changes depending on the first state of the lighting device 23.

The fully lit state means that the headlights 24 are lit across their entire illumination range. If the headlights 24 are fully lit in step S103, then in step S105 the light control unit 13 causes the headlights 24 to illuminate the display pattern in negative mode.

Figures 5 to 7 show examples of display patterns P in negative mode. The lighting device 23 has multiple illumination areas shown in a grid pattern in Figures 5 to 7, and it is possible to control whether each illumination area is turned on or off. In negative mode, some illumination areas of the lighting device 23 are turned off, and the display pattern P is drawn by these turned-off illumination areas. Figure 5 shows a display pattern P of "L", which represents a left-hand drive vehicle. Figure 6 shows a display pattern P of "R", which represents a right-hand drive vehicle. Figure 7 shows a display pattern P of "G", which represents the driver being dazzled.

If the headlights 24 are not in a fully lit state in step S103, the light control unit 13 determines whether the headlights 24 are currently in an off state. An off state means that the headlights 24 are not lit in their entire illumination range. If the headlights 24 are in an off state in step S104, the light control unit 13 causes the headlights 24 to emit a display pattern in positive mode in step S106.

Figures 8 to 10 show examples of display patterns P in positive mode. In positive mode, a portion of the illumination range of the lighting device 23 is lit, and the display pattern P is drawn by this lit illumination range. Figure 8 shows the display pattern P for "L". Figure 9 shows the display pattern P for "R". Figure 10 shows the display pattern P for "G".

If the headlights 24 are not in an off state in step S104, the headlights 24 are currently in a partially lit state. A partially lit state means that the headlights 24 are lit in part of their illumination range and not lit in the remaining illumination range. In this case, the light control unit 13 causes the headlights 24 to emit a display pattern in negative + positive mode in step S107.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show examples of display patterns P in negative + positive mode. In negative + positive mode, part of the illuminated area that was unlit in the first state is switched to illuminated, and the display pattern P is drawn using this switched illuminated area. FIG. 11 shows the display pattern P for "L." FIG. 12 shows the display pattern P for "R." FIG. 13 shows the display pattern P for "G."

In any of steps S105 to S107, the display pattern P is projected from the target vehicle toward the non-target vehicle. However, the continuous projection time of the display pattern P is 33 ms or more and less than 50 ms, and the headlamp 24 alternates between the first state and the second state.

Next, in step S108, the notification information conversion unit 14 determines whether the driver of the non-target vehicle is experiencing dazzling light. Specifically, the notification information conversion unit 14 analyzes the video captured by the camera 22 and interprets the meaning of the display pattern contained in the captured video, i.e., converts the display pattern into corresponding notification information. The display pattern contained in the video captured by the camera 22 is the display pattern projected from the non-target vehicle toward the target vehicle.

If the display pattern projected onto the target vehicle indicates that the driver is dazzled, the notification information conversion unit 14 determines that the driver of the non-target vehicle is experiencing dazzle. If it is not determined in step S108 that the driver of the non-target vehicle is experiencing dazzle, the lighting control device 101 terminates processing.

If it is determined in step S108 that the driver of the non-target vehicle is experiencing glare, then in step S109 the notification information conversion unit 14 determines whether the non-target vehicle has a right-hand drive. Specifically, the notification information conversion unit 14 analyzes the video captured by the camera 22, interprets the meaning of the display pattern contained in the captured video, and if the display pattern projected onto the target vehicle means "right-hand drive," it determines that the non-target vehicle has a right-hand drive.

Note that the display pattern determined by the notification information conversion unit 14 in step S108 and the display pattern determined by the notification information conversion unit 14 in step S109 may be illuminated simultaneously from a single non-target vehicle, or may be illuminated at different times. That is, for example, a display pattern of "RG" may be illuminated from a non-target vehicle to a target vehicle, or the "R" display pattern and the "G" display pattern may be displayed alternately.

Figure 14 shows the image captured by the camera 22 used for the determinations in steps S108 and S109. In the example of Figure 14, three non-target vehicles, vehicles V3, V4, and V5, are captured in the image. Vehicles V3 and V4 are traveling in the oncoming lane of the target vehicle, approaching the target vehicle, while vehicle V5 is traveling ahead in the same lane as the target vehicle. The headlights 24 of vehicle V3 emit an "R" display pattern P, indicating a right-hand drive vehicle, and the headlights 24 of vehicle V4 emit an "L" display pattern P, indicating a left-hand drive vehicle. In addition, the taillights 25 of vehicle V5 emit a "G" display pattern P, indicating that the driver is feeling dazzled.

If the non-target vehicle is found to have a right-hand drive in step S109, the lighting control unit 13 performs a radiance reduction process in step S110 to reduce the radiance of the portion of the illumination range of the lighting device 23 that corresponds to the right-hand driver's seat of the non-target vehicle.

Figure 15 shows an example of radiance reduction processing for vehicle V3. The radiance reduction processing is performed to reduce the radiance of a portion S3 of right-hand drive vehicle V3 corresponding to driver D3. This makes it possible to reduce glare for driver D3 while illuminating vehicle V3.

If the non-target vehicle is not a right-hand drive vehicle in step S110, the lighting control unit 13 performs a radiance reduction process in step S111 to reduce the radiance of the portion of the illumination range of the lighting device 23 that corresponds to the left-hand driver's seat of the non-target vehicle.

Figure 16 shows an example of radiance reduction processing for vehicle V4. The radiance reduction processing is performed to reduce the radiance of a portion S4 of left-hand drive vehicle V4 corresponding to driver D4. This makes it possible to reduce glare for driver D4 while illuminating vehicle V4.

<A-3. Effects>
As described above, the light control device 101 according to the first embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 11, a pattern conversion unit 12, and a light control unit 13. The information acquisition unit 11 acquires notification information related to a target vehicle or a driver of the target vehicle. The pattern conversion unit 12 converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern. The light control unit 13 causes the lighting device 23 of the target vehicle to emit the display pattern. The continuous illumination time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of a camera mounted on a non-target vehicle that receives the illumination of the display pattern and less than the time resolution of the human eye. Because the light control device 101 emits the two-dimensional display pattern within the extremely short time period described above, the display pattern is not visible to the driver of the non-target vehicle and can be detected by the camera of the non-target vehicle. Therefore, information can be transmitted using the vehicle's lights without flickering.

<B. Second Embodiment>
<B-1. Configuration>
The configurations of the light control system 1002 and the light control device 102 according to the second embodiment are the same as the configurations of the light control system 1001 and the light control device 101 according to the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 .

The light control device 102 differs from the light control device 101 according to embodiment 1 in that the light control unit 13 also functions as a brightness compensation unit that compensates for the brightness of the light device 23 that decreases due to the illumination of the display pattern.

<B-2. Operation＞
When the first state of the lighting device 23 is the fully lit state, the display pattern is illuminated in the negative mode in the second state of the lighting device 23, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. In this case, if the brightness of the illuminated area that is lit in the second state does not change from the first state, the brightness of the entire illuminated area in the second state will be lower than in the first state.

The lighting control unit 13 therefore performs processing to compensate for this decrease in brightness. One method for compensating for the decrease in brightness is to increase the brightness of a portion Q of the illumination range adjacent to the display pattern P in the second state of the lighting device 23 to be higher than the brightness of portion Q in the first state. Figures 17 to 19 show portion Q adjacent to the display pattern P.

The second method for compensating for reduced brightness is to control the lighting duty of the lighting device 23. In this example, the lighting control unit 13 controls the lighting device 23 using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). Figure 20 shows the pulses in PWM control of the lighting device 23. Pulses P21-P27 are arranged in chronological order, and pulses P23-P25 are pulses when the headlight 24 is in the second state, i.e., when the display pattern is illuminated. Pulses P21, P22, P26, and P27 are pulses when the headlight 24 is in the first state, i.e., when the display pattern is not illuminated.

In the second state, the display pattern is illuminated in negative mode, so the amplitude of pulses P23-P25 is smaller than the amplitude of pulses P21, P22, P26, and P27 in the first state. Accordingly, the light control unit 13 sets the width of pulses P23-P25, i.e., the lighting duty, to t2 = t1 + Δt, which is larger than the lighting duty t1 of pulses P21 and P27 in the first state. This prevents a decrease in brightness of the headlamp 24 in the second state.

Furthermore, if adjusting the lighting duty of pulses P23-P25 in the second state alone is not sufficient to compensate for brightness, the light control unit 13 may adjust the lighting duty of at least one pulse in the first state that is adjacent to or before or after pulses P23-P25 in the second state. In the example of FIG. 20, the lighting duty of one pulse P22 that is adjacent to and before pulses P23-P25 and one pulse P26 that is adjacent to and after pulses P23-P25 is t2, which is greater than t1. The light control unit 13 may increase the lighting duty of the pulse in the first state to t2 only either before or after pulses P23-P25. This makes it possible to make the reduction in brightness of the headlamp 24 in the second state less noticeable.

<B-3. Effects>
The light control device 102 according to the second embodiment includes a brightness compensation unit that compensates for the brightness of the light 23 that is reduced by the illumination of the display pattern when the first state of the light 23 of the target vehicle is the fully lit state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the reduction in brightness of the light 23 that is caused by the illumination of the display pattern.

<C. Hardware Configuration>
The information acquisition unit 11, pattern conversion unit 12, light control unit 13, notification information conversion unit 14, and non-target vehicle determination unit 15 (hereinafter referred to as "information acquisition unit 11, etc.") in the above-mentioned light control devices 101, 102 are realized by a processing circuit 81 shown in FIG. 21 . That is, the processing circuit 81 includes the information acquisition unit 11, etc. The processing circuit 81 may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or may be implemented by a processor that executes a program stored in memory. The processor may be, for example, a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc.

When the processing circuit 81 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 81 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 of these. Each function of the information acquisition unit 11 and other units may be realized by multiple processing circuits 81, or the functions of each unit may be combined and realized by a single processing circuit.

When the processing circuit 81 is a processor, the functions of the information acquisition unit 11, etc. are realized by a combination of software, etc. (software, firmware, or software and firmware). Software, etc. is written as a program and stored in memory. As shown in Figure 22, the processor 82 applied to the processing circuit 81 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing programs stored in memory 83. In other words, the lighting control devices 101, 102 are equipped with memory 83 for storing programs that, when executed by the processing circuit 81, result in the functions of the information acquisition unit 11, etc. being executed. In other words, this program can be said to cause a computer to execute the procedures or methods of the information acquisition unit 11, etc. Here, memory 83 may be, for example, 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), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, mini disk, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and its drive device, or any storage medium that will be used in the future.

The above describes a configuration in which each function of the information acquisition unit 11, etc. is realized either by hardware or software, etc. However, this is not limited to this, and a configuration in which part of the information acquisition unit 11, etc. is realized by dedicated hardware and another part is realized by software, etc. For example, the function of the light control unit 13 can be realized by a processing circuit as dedicated hardware, and the other functions can be realized by the processing circuit 81 as processor 82 reading and executing programs stored in memory 83.

As described above, the processing circuit can realize each of the above-mentioned functions using hardware, software, or a combination of these. Note that while the storage unit is composed of memory 83, they may be composed of a single memory 83, or each may be composed of a separate memory.

In addition, while the above description has been given of the light control devices 101 and 102 as in-vehicle devices, they can also be applied to a system constructed by appropriately combining a PND (Portable Navigation Device), a communications terminal (for example, a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device), the functions of applications installed on these, and a server. In this case, the functions or components of the light control devices 101 and 102 described above may be distributed among the devices that make up the system, or may be concentrated in one of the devices.

It is possible to freely combine, modify, or omit each embodiment as appropriate. The above description is illustrative in all respects. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned.

11 Information acquisition unit, 12 Pattern conversion unit, 13 Light control unit, 14 Notification information conversion unit, 15 Non-target vehicle determination unit, 21 Information device, 22 Camera, 23 Lighting device, 24 Headlight, 25 Taillight, 81 Processing circuit, 82 Processor, 83 Memory, 101, 102 Lighting control device, 1001, 1002 Lighting control system.

Claims (17)

an information acquisition unit that acquires notification information related to a target vehicle or a driver of the target vehicle;
a pattern conversion unit that converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern;
a lighting control unit that causes a lighting device of the target vehicle to emit the display pattern,
The continuous irradiation time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of a camera mounted on a non-target vehicle that is irradiated with the display pattern and is less than the time resolution of the human eye.
Light control device. The lighting control unit irradiates the display pattern toward the non-target vehicle based on detection information of the non-target vehicle by a detection device mounted on the target vehicle.
The light control device according to claim 1 . the lighting device of the target vehicle transitions between a first state in which the display pattern is not emitted and a second state in which the display pattern is emitted;
the first state of the lighting device includes a fully lit state in which the entire illumination range of the lighting device is lit, and an unlit state in which the entire illumination range of the lighting device is unlit,
The display pattern changes depending on the first state of the lighting device.
The light control device according to claim 1 or 2. When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the full lighting state, the display pattern is a negative mode pattern drawn by a part of the illumination range of the lighting device that is turned off.
The light control device according to claim 3 . When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the extinguished state, the display pattern is a positive mode pattern drawn by a part of the illumination range of the lighting device that is turned on.
The light control device according to claim 3 . the lighting device of the target vehicle includes a headlamp of the target vehicle,
The first state of the headlights includes, in addition to the full lighting state and the off state, a partial lighting state in which only a part of the illumination range of the headlights is lit.
The light control device according to claim 3 . When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the partial lighting state, the display pattern is a negative + positive mode pattern drawn by a part of the illumination range that has switched from being turned off in the first state to being turned on in the second state.
The light control device according to claim 6. a brightness compensation unit that compensates for a reduction in brightness of the lighting device due to irradiation of the display pattern when the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the full lighting state;
The light control device according to claim 4. The lighting control unit controls the lighting device using PWM,
When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the full lighting state, the luminance compensator increases the lighting duty in the second state of the lighting device to be greater than the lighting duty in the first state.
The light control device according to claim 8. The lighting control unit controls the lighting device using PWM,
When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the full lighting state, the luminance compensator increases the lighting duty of at least one pulse in the first state to be greater than the lighting duty of another pulse in the first state, for at least one of before and after the second state of the lighting device.
The light control device according to claim 9. When the first state of the lighting device of the target vehicle is the lighting state, the luminance compensating unit increases the luminance of a portion of the illumination range adjacent to the display pattern in the second state to be higher than the luminance in the first state.
The light control device according to claim 8. a notification information conversion unit that converts the display pattern illuminated from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle into the corresponding notification information based on a captured image of the display pattern illuminated from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle captured by the camera mounted on the target vehicle;
The lighting control unit controls the lighting device of the target vehicle based on the notification information corresponding to the display pattern emitted from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle.
The light control device according to claim 1 . When the notification information converted from the display pattern includes information on the steering wheel position of the non-target vehicle, the lighting control unit performs a radiation intensity reduction process to reduce the radiation intensity of a range of the illumination range of the lighting device that illuminates the non-target vehicle, the range being narrower than the entire non-target vehicle and corresponding to an area including the steering wheel position of the non-target vehicle, compared to other ranges.
The light control device according to claim 12. the light control unit performs the radiation intensity reduction process when the notification information converted from the display pattern includes information that the driver of the non-target vehicle feels dazzled.
The light control device according to claim 13. Obtain notification information about the subject vehicle or the driver of the subject vehicle;
converting the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern;
causing a lighting device of the target vehicle to emit the display pattern;
The continuous illumination time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of a camera mounted on the non-target vehicle receiving the illumination and is less than the time resolution of the human eye.
Light control method. converting the display pattern emitted from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle into the corresponding notification information based on a captured image of the display pattern emitted from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle by the camera mounted on the target vehicle;
controlling the lighting devices of the target vehicle based on the notification information corresponding to the display pattern emitted from the lighting devices of the non-target vehicle;
16. A light control method according to claim 15. A light control system including a plurality of light control devices mounted on a plurality of vehicles each equipped with a camera,
Each of the light control devices is
an information acquisition unit that acquires notification information related to a target vehicle or a driver of the target vehicle;
a pattern conversion unit that converts the notification information into a corresponding two-dimensional display pattern;
a lighting control unit that causes a lighting device of the target vehicle to emit the display pattern;
a notification information conversion unit that converts the display pattern illuminated from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle into the corresponding notification information based on a captured image of the display pattern illuminated from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle captured by the camera mounted on the target vehicle;
Equipped with
the continuous illumination time of the display pattern is equal to or greater than the time resolution of a camera mounted on the non-target vehicle receiving the illumination and less than the time resolution of the human eye;
The lighting control unit controls the lighting device of the target vehicle based on the notification information corresponding to the display pattern emitted from the lighting device of the non-target vehicle.
Light control system.