Method and apparatus for adjusting visibility of vehicle

• US 20050162856A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Uenuma, Kenya, Iwao, Keijiro, Ito, Mitsuhito
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means

Abstract

An illumination property of headlights 4 is controlled so that light quantity or color in a belt-like region B including a virtual line segment A may be different from those in other regions, and thereby the virtual line segment A which uniformly inclines downward from an apex T deviated from a driver toward opposite sides in a vehicle-width direction is indicated on a road surface. The virtual line segment A thus indicated can suppress inclinations of forward visibility and also suppress the sway of ahead inclination angle when a vehicle turns, thereby stabilizing a driving posture of a driver and suppressing steering disturbance.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting visibility for vehicle by which forward visibility of a driver is adjusted, comprising the process of:

controlling an illumination property of headlights of a vehicle so that a contrast between light and shade or a difference in color temperature forms a convex-shaped illumination configuration in a vehicle forward direction within an illuminated region ranging from a front end of the vehicle to a front end of the illuminated region.

2. A method of adjusting visibility for vehicle by which forward visibility of a driver is adjusted, comprising the processes of:

disposing a virtual parting line at a lower end of a windshield, the parting line having an apex and left and right ridgelines, the apex being located between a position opposed to a driver and a vehicle center position and being deviated from the opposed position, the left and right ridgelines uniformly inclining downward from the apex toward opposite sides in a vehicle-width direction; and

controlling an illumination property of headlights of the vehicle so that light quantity or color temperature in a belt-like region on a road surface is different from those in other illuminated regions, the belt-like region including a virtual line segment on the road surface that is composed of a set of points at which a line connecting a driver'"'"'s viewpoint with a point on the parting line intersects with the road surface in front of the vehicle.

3. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

controlling the illumination property of the headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto the belt-like region.

4. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

controlling the illumination property of the headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto two or more illuminated regions lying in front of and behind the belt-like region.

5. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

controlling an illumination property of at least one of three or more headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto the belt-like region.

6. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

controlling an illumination property of at least one of three or more headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto two or more illuminated regions lying in front of and behind the belt-like region.

7. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

making color temperature of illumination light from the headlight whose illumination property is controlled, different from color temperature of illumination light from other headlights.

8. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the entire or part of area on a reflecting mirror which composes the headlight for illuminating the belt-like region has a continuously curved surface or a polyhedral surface formed as the continuously curved surface by combining a plurality of similar plates together, which the curved surface is orthogonal to a straight line that equally divides an angle formed between a line segment connecting a point on the virtual line segment with an arbitrary point within the curved surface and a line segment connecting the arbitrary point with a position of a light source.

9. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

a first area in a reflecting mirror which composes the headlight for illuminating the belt-like region has a continuously curved surface or a polyhedral surface formed as the continuously curved surface by combining a plurality of similar plates together, which the curved surface is orthogonal to a straight line that equally divides an angle formed between a first line segment connecting an arbitrary point within the curved surface with a point on a line segment which is similar to the virtual line segment and is deviated therefrom on the far side of the vehicle and a second line segment connecting the arbitrary point with a position of a light source, and

a second area in the reflecting mirror which composes the headlight for illuminating the belt-like region has a continuously curved surface or a polyhedral surface formed as the continuously curved surface by combining a plurality of similar plates together, which the curved surface is orthogonal to a straight line which equally devices an angle formed between a third line segment connecting an arbitrary point within the curved surface with a point on a line segment which is similar to the virtual line segment and is deviated therefrom on the near side of the vehicle and a fourth line segment connecting the arbitrary point with the position of the light source.

10. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

illuminating left side and right side of the belt-like region by lights passing through a right portion and a left portion, respectively, of a lens or a reflecting mirror which composes the headlight, as viewed from the inside of the vehicle, when the light quantity or color temperature in the belt-like region is made different by use of at least one of the headlights.

11. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

illuminating left side and right side of the belt-like region by headlights on the right side and the left side, respectively, of the vehicle, as viewed from the inside of the vehicle, when the light quantity or color temperature in the belt-like region is made different by use of at least two of the headlights.

12. The method of adjusting visibility for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising the process of:

varying a position and angle of at least one of the entire or part of a reflecting mirror which composes the headlight, a light source, and the entire headlight, in accordance with changes in at least one of a roll angle, a pitch angle, and upward and downward displacement, of the vehicle.

13. A visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle for adjusting forward visibility of a driver, comprising:

a control unit that controls an illumination property of headlights of a vehicle so that a contrast between light and shade or a difference in color temperature forms a convex-shaped illumination configuration in a vehicle forward direction within an illuminated region ranging from a front end of the vehicle to a front end of the illuminated region.

14. A visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle for adjusting forward visibility of a driver, comprising:

a control unit that disposes a virtual parting line at a lower end of a windshield, and controls an illumination property of headlights of a vehicle so that light quantity or color temperature in a belt-like region on a road surface is different from those in other illuminated regions, wherein

the parting line has an apex and left and right ridgelines, the apex being located between a position opposed to the driver and a vehicle center position and being deviated from the opposed position, the left and right ridgelines uniformly inclining downward from the apex toward opposite sides in a vehicle-width direction, and

the belt-like region includes a virtual line segment on the road surface that is composed of a set of points at which a line connecting a driver'"'"'s viewpoint with a point on the parting line intersects with the road surface in front of the vehicle.

15. The visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the illumination property of the headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto the belt-like region.

16. The visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the illumination property of the headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto two or more illuminated regions lying in front of and behind the belt-like region.

17. The visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control unit controls an illumination property of at least one of three or more headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto the belt-like region.

18. The visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the control unit controls an illumination property of at least one of three or more headlights so that all or part of light emitted from the headlights is concentrated onto two or more illuminated regions lying in front of and behind the belt-like region.

19. A visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle for adjusting forward visibility of a driver, comprising:

a control means for controlling an illumination property of headlights of a vehicle so that a contrast between light and shade or a difference in color temperature forms a convex-shaped illumination configuration in a vehicle forward direction within an illuminated region ranging from a front end of the vehicle to a front end of the illuminated region.

20. A visibility adjusting apparatus for vehicle for adjusting forward visibility of a driver, comprising:

control means for disposing a virtual parting line at a lower end of a windshield, and controlling an illumination property of headlights of a vehicle so that light quantity or color temperature in a belt-like region on a road surface is different from those in other illuminated regions, wherein

the parting line has an apex and left and right ridgelines, the apex being located between a position opposed to the driver and a vehicle center position and being deviated from the opposed position, the left and right ridgelines uniformly inclining downward from the apex toward opposite sides in a vehicle-width direction, and

the belt-like region includes a virtual line segment on the road surface that is composed of a set of points at which a line connecting a driver'"'"'s viewpoint with a point on the parting line intersects with the road surface in front of the vehicle.