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JP-2026074766-A - Vehicle lighting fixtures and control methods for vehicle lighting fixtures

JP2026074766AJP 2026074766 AJP2026074766 AJP 2026074766AJP-2026074766-A

Abstract

[Challenge] To clearly indicate to the user when the welcome lighting effect has ended. [Solution] The vehicle lighting device comprises a light source and a control unit that supplies a pulsed current to the light source to control lighting and modulates the duty cycle of the pulsed current during lighting control. The control unit controls the lighting of the light source for a predetermined period from the time the vehicle is unlocked remotely. During this lighting control, the duty cycle is gradually increased from an initial value (a first value) to a third value that exceeds a target value (a second value which is greater than the first value), and then reduced to a target value (a second value). [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • 浜田 稔之
  • 加藤 誠樹

Assignees

  • 市光工業株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241021

Claims (11)

  1. Light source and The system includes a control unit that supplies a pulsed current to the light source to perform lighting control and modulates the duty cycle of the pulsed current during the lighting control, The control unit performs the illumination control of the light source during a predetermined period from the time the vehicle's lock is opened remotely, and in this illumination control, A vehicle lighting device that gradually increases the duty cycle from an initial value (a first value) to a third value that exceeds a target value (a second value) which is greater than the first value, and then decreases it to the target value (a second value).
  2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the duty cycle at intervals of a certain amount of time elapsed during the predetermined period.
  3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets the duty cycle such that the amount of increase in the duty cycle gradually increases from the first timing for setting the duty cycle to the timing for setting the duty cycle to the third value during the predetermined period.
  4. The control unit is set such that the duty cycle is less than or equal to a threshold value during the predetermined period until half of the predetermined period has elapsed, and the threshold value is 10% or more and 40% or less of the second value, as described in claim 3.
  5. The control unit, during the predetermined period, At the second to last timing in which the duty cycle is set, the duty cycle is set to the third value. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the duty cycle is set to the second value at the last timing for setting the duty cycle.
  6. The control unit, during the predetermined period, The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the duty cycle is set to the third value at the timing prior to the third to last timing for setting the duty cycle.
  7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the duty cycle is set such that the amount of decrease in the duty cycle gradually decreases from the timing in which the duty cycle is set to the third value to the timing in which the duty cycle is set to the second value.
  8. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets the duty cycle to the third value at the timing in which the duty cycle is set to the third value and at the timing following that timing.
  9. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets the duty cycle such that the amount of decrease in the duty cycle gradually increases from the timing in which the duty cycle is set to the third value to the timing in which the duty cycle is set to the second value.
  10. The aforementioned light source is used as a light source for daytime running lamps and clearance lamps. The control unit controls the duty cycle of the light source to change when it is lit as a daytime running lamp and when it is lit as a clearance lamp. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the target value is the duty cycle value when the light source is lit as the clearance lamp.
  11. A method for controlling a vehicle lighting device having a light source, A pulsed current is supplied to the light source to control its operation, and the duty cycle of the pulsed current can be modulated during this operation. When controlling the illumination of the light source during a predetermined period from the time the vehicle is unlocked remotely, in said illumination control, The steps include gradually increasing the duty cycle from an initial value (a first value) to a third value that exceeds a target value (a second value) which is greater than the first value, The steps include: reducing the duty cycle to the third value, and then reducing it to the second value, which is the target value; A method for controlling vehicle lighting fixtures, including [specific components/features].

Description

This invention relates to a vehicle lighting device and a control method for a vehicle lighting device. As a vehicle lighting device, combination lamps that integrate multiple functional lamps such as taillights, stop lamps, and turn signals are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-215995 Figure 1 is a schematic functional block diagram showing an example of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment.Figure 2 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between time and duty cycle in the control of the illumination of a welcome lamp.Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for a vehicle lighting device according to the embodiment.Figure 4 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between time and duty cycle in the control of welcome lamp illumination.Figure 5 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between time and duty cycle in the control of the illumination of welcome lamps.Figure 6 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between time and duty cycle in the control of welcome lamp illumination. The following describes embodiments of the vehicle lighting device and control method for the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, based on the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments are easily replaceable or substantially identical to those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art. Figure 1 is a schematic functional block diagram showing an example of a vehicle lighting fixture 100 according to this embodiment. The vehicle lighting fixture 100 according to this embodiment is, for example, positioned at the front of a vehicle 30 and used as a daytime running lamp, clearance lamp, and welcome lamp. The vehicle lighting fixture 100 may also include a turn signal lamp. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle lighting fixture 100 comprises a light source 10 and a control unit 20. The light source 10 and the control unit 20 are housed in a lamp chamber formed, for example, by a lamp housing and lamp lens (not shown). The light source 10 can be, for example, an LED or other light-emitting element. One or more light sources 10 are provided. The light sources 10 are provided mounted on, for example, a substrate (not shown). The light sources 10 are used commonly as light sources for daytime running lamps, clearance lamps, and welcome lamps. If the vehicle lighting fixture 100 includes turn signals, a separate light source for the turn signals may be provided in addition to the light sources 10. The control unit 20 can be arranged or formed on a substrate (not shown) on which the light source 10 is mounted, for example. The control unit 20 controls the illumination of the light source 10 by supplying a pulse current of a predetermined period to the light source 10. In controlling the illumination of the light source 10, the control unit 20 can modulate the duty cycle of the pulse current. In this embodiment, the larger the duty cycle of the pulse current, the brighter the light source 10 becomes when illuminated. Conversely, the smaller the duty cycle of the pulse current, the dimmer the light source 10 becomes when illuminated. The control unit 20 controls the duty cycle of the pulse current to be set differently depending on whether the light source is illuminated as a daytime running lamp, a clearance lamp, or a welcome lamp. Next, the operation of the vehicle lighting device 100 configured as described above will be explained. When a driver in vehicle 30 performs a predetermined operation to illuminate the daytime running lamps, the control unit 20 receives a signal indicating that the predetermined operation to illuminate the daytime running lamps has been performed. Upon receiving this signal, the control unit 20 sets the duty cycle of the pulse current for controlling the illumination of the daytime running lamps and performs illumination control. Similarly, when a driver in vehicle 30 performs a predetermined operation to illuminate the clearance lamps, the control unit 20 receives a signal indicating that the predetermined operation to illuminate the clearance lamps has been performed. Upon receiving this signal, the control unit 20 sets the duty cycle of the pulse current for controlling the illumination of the clearance lamps and performs illumination control. For example, when the control unit 20 illuminates the light source 10 as a daytime running lamp, it can generate a control signal that sets the duty cycle of the pulse current to 100%. Furthermore, when the control unit 20 illuminates the light source 10 as a clearance lamp, it can generate a control signal that sets the duty cycle of the pulse current to 5%. Note that the above duty cycle values are examples, and other values may be used for control. Furthermore, if the vehicle 30's doors are remotel