JPH0620507A - Vehicle warning lamp controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Construction] A vehicle speed pulse from a speedometer 32 is applied to an electronic siren amplifier 60 for controlling the operation of the diffused warning light 10. Electronic siren amplifier 60
Applies a control signal corresponding to the normal operation mode to the diffused warning light 10 from the line 64 when the vehicle speed exceeds 5 km / h, and corresponds to the blinking operation mode when the vehicle speed is 5 km / h or less. The control signal is routed to line 64. In the normal operation mode, all revolving lights 15R, 16
R; 15L and 16L are in a continuous lighting state and are in a rotating state. Further, in the blinking operation mode, the pair of inner rotating lights 15R15L are stopped in a state of emitting warning light in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and are in a blinking state. [Effect] When the vehicle runs at a low speed or is stopped, the blinking operation mode is automatically entered. Therefore, the blinking light can be emitted toward the rear of the vehicle to effectively prevent the risk of a rear-end collision.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for controlling a vehicle warning light such as a diffused warning light mounted on an emergency vehicle such as a patrol car, and flashes at least during low-speed running or when stopped. The present invention relates to a control device for controlling a vehicle warning light having a warning light to be activated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an emergency vehicle such as a patrol car, a plurality of rotating lights are arranged on an elongated base, and the rotating lights are made of a colored transparent material such as red. A diffusing type warning light is used which covers and emits a warning light, which is emitted from a rotating light and is colored with a globe, to the surroundings.

As shown in a simplified form in FIG. 10, such a diffusing type warning light has, for example, a speaker 1 for generating an alarm sound and a voice in the central portion, and two speakers 1 on each side thereof. Revolving lights 2R, 3R, 2L, 3L are attached. Control of lighting and rotation of each of the revolving lights 2R, 3R, 2L, 3L is performed by an electronic siren amplifier 4 provided near the instrument panel between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the passenger compartment. The battery 5 supplies power for turning on and rotating the rotating lights 2R, 3R, 2L, 3L and operating power for the electronic siren amplifier 4.

The electronic siren amplifier 4 is mainly for producing a siren sound and for amplifying a sound input from a microphone (not shown), and the inside thereof has rotating lights 2R, 3R, 2L. , 3L for controlling lighting and rotation. A switch 6 for changing the operating state of the diffuser type warning light 7 is provided on the operation unit on the front surface of the electronic siren amplifier 4.
This switch 6 is, for example, a two-stage switch, and when this switch 6 is operated once, the rotating lights 2R, 3
All of R, 2L, 3L are in continuous lighting state,
All the rotating lights 2R, 3R, 2L, 3L are in a rotating state, and warning light is scattered around (hereinafter, such an operation mode is referred to as a "normal operation mode"). When the switch 6 is operated once more, the pair of inner rotating lights 3R, 3L are stopped in a state of being oriented in the front-rear direction 8 of the vehicle, and the pair of inner rotating lights 3R, 3L blink. At this time, the operation state of the pair of outer rotating lights 2R and 2L does not change (hereinafter, such an operation mode is referred to as a "blinking operation mode").

For example, when the vehicle is in a normal running state including a high speed running state, the above-mentioned normal operation mode is selected. This is to notify the driver of the surrounding vehicles of the presence of the emergency vehicle by scattering the warning light over 360 degrees around the emergency vehicle particularly when approaching an intersection or the like. In addition, it is better to rotate the rotating light to scatter the light around, rather than blinking the warning light, and for this reason, especially at high speed (for example, 80 km / h or more), Preferably, the normal operating mode is selected.

On the other hand, for example, when the patrol car is stopped on the road for traffic control, the above blinking operation mode is selected. This is because the vehicle does not stop at the intersection, so it is not always important to scatter the light in the left-right direction of the vehicle, but in order to prevent the rear-end collision of the vehicle from the rear, pay attention to the front-back direction of the vehicle. Because it is necessary to strongly evoke. Also, for example, 5
It is preferable to select the blinking operation because there is a risk of a rear-end collision even during low-speed traveling of about km / h or less.

In this way, by selecting an appropriate operation mode, it is possible to effectively call attention to the surroundings and avoid danger when the vehicle is stopped or running at a low speed.

[0008]

However, the crew member of the emergency vehicle must select the operation mode by selecting the operation mode.
The operation mode is selected when the crew member is not skilled in operating the electronic siren amplifier 4 or does not have proper knowledge of the normal operation mode and the blinking operation mode. Is not always done properly.

In general, the blinking operation mode is not often selected, and it is the current situation that the warning light is scattered around in the normal operation mode even when the vehicle is stopped due to traffic control or when traveling at a low speed. There is a problem in that the danger of a rear-end collision in the inside cannot be effectively avoided. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, to make the blinking operation automatically and appropriately performed, and to improve the operability and, in turn, the safety of the vehicle warning light control. It is to provide a device.

[0010]

A vehicle warning light control device according to claim 1 for achieving the above object has a light source capable of generating a warning light at least toward the rear of the vehicle. A device for controlling a vehicular warning light, which comprises blinking control means for blinking the light source, detection means for detecting that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value, and this detection means for controlling the speed of the vehicle. In response to detecting that the value becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value.

According to this structure, when the speed of the vehicle becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the blinking control means is operated, and the blinking light is generated from the light source of the vehicle warning light toward the rear of the vehicle. Become. That is, without any operation,
By blinking the light source when driving at low speed or when the vehicle is stopped, it is possible to effectively call the attention of the driver of the vehicle behind.

A vehicle warning light control device according to claim 2 is
A device for controlling a vehicle warning light having a rotating light capable of diffusing the warning light around the vehicle, wherein the rotating light is rotated in a state where the warning light can be generated toward the rear of the vehicle. The rotation control means for stopping, the blinking control means for blinking the rotating lamp, the detection means for detecting that the speed of the vehicle has become less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the detection means for making the speed of the vehicle less than or equal to the predetermined value. In response to the detection of the change, the rotation control means and the blinking control means are operated.

According to this structure, when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed or stopped, the rotation control means and the blinking control means operate so that the rotation of the rotary lamp is stopped and the blinking state is maintained. At this time, the rotation of the rotating lamp is stopped in a state where the warning light can be generated toward the rear of the vehicle. Therefore,
When traveling at low speed or when the vehicle is stopped, the flashing light can be reliably generated backward.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a diffused warning light to which a vehicle warning light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a simplified internal configuration. The diffused warning light 10 is used by being mounted on a roof 11 of an emergency vehicle such as a patrol car, and a long flat plate-shaped base 12 is provided at the center of the front and rear of the vehicle. Towards the pair of speakers 1
3 and 14 are arranged, and a pair of rotating lights 1 are provided on both sides of the rotating light 1.
5R, 16R; 15L, 16L are arranged. Reflecting plate 1 for efficiently diffusing light from the rotating lamps 15R, 16R; 15L, 16L.
7 is provided.

The rotating lights 15R, 16R; 15L, 16L and the reflector 17 are housed in a globe 18 made of a colored translucent material such as red. Revolving light 15R, 16
The light emitted from R; 15L and 16L is colored red when passing through the globe 18, and this red light is the warning light L.
As a result, it will be scattered around. Reference numeral 19 is a sound-passing plate formed with a plurality of lights in order to pass an alarm sound or the like from the speakers 13 and 14.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle warning light control device of this embodiment. The diffused warning light 10 is controlled by an electronic siren amplifier 60 provided inside the vehicle. The electronic siren amplifier 60 creates an audio signal corresponding to a siren sound and amplifies an audio signal from a microphone (not shown), but has a configuration for controlling the diffused warning light 10. Is also built-in.

A switch 61 for generating a warning light from the diffused warning light 10 is provided on the operation section on the front surface of the electronic siren amplifier 60. When this switch 61 is operated, the power line 63 from the battery 62 is supplied to the diffuser type warning light 10 to perform the diffuser operation. On the other hand, the electronic siren amplifier 60 has a speedometer 5
2, a vehicle speed pulse corresponding to the vehicle speed is given, and the electronic siren amplifier 60 indicates that the vehicle speed is a predetermined value Vth.
A control signal for switching the operation of the diffuser type warning light 10 to two types depending on whether it is equal to or less than (for example, 5 km / h) or exceeds a predetermined value Vth is derived to the line 64. That is, if the vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined value Vth, the normal operation mode is set, and if the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined value Vth, the blinking operation mode is set.

Here, the normal operation mode, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), keeps all of the rotating lights 15R, 16R; 15L, 16L in a continuous lighting state and rotates all of them to rotate them to the surroundings. This is an operation mode for diffusing light. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the blinking operation mode causes the pair of outer rotating lamps 16R and 16L to scatter light, while the pair of inner rotating lamps 15R and 15L moves in the front-rear direction 20 of the vehicle. In this operation mode, the rotation is stopped and the blinking operation is performed in the oriented state. The switch 61 for operating the diffusing type warning light 10 has a configuration which also serves as a display for displaying the operating state of the diffusing type warning light 10. That is, for example, a light source such as a generation diode is arranged behind the translucent operation unit, and the light emitting diode or the like is continuously turned on in the normal operation mode,
In the blinking operation mode, the light emitting diode etc. are made to blink.

The details of the configuration for switching between the normal operation mode and the blinking operation mode will be described later. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the rotary lamp 15R. This revolving light 15
R supports a socket 22 holding a light source 21 and a boss 23
The rotor 26 is fixed to the sub-chassis 24 by means of, and the rotor 26 having the reflecting mirror 25 fixed thereto is rotatably attached to the support boss 23. A rotor rubber 27 is fitted to the edge of the rotor 26, and a pulley 29 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 28 is brought into pressure contact with the rotor rubber 27 to transmit the rotational force from the motor 28 to the rotor 27. Has become. The reflecting mirror 25 is formed by cutting off the tops of a pair of rotary parabolic reflectors to form an opening and connecting the openings by abutting.

Below the rotor 26, a pair of permanent magnet plates 30N, 30S (collectively referred to as "permanent magnet plate 30").
Say. ) Holding magnet yoke 32 is fixed. At a position facing the permanent magnet plate 30, a pair of Hall elements 31A, 31 for detecting the magnetic field formed by the permanent magnet plate 30 to detect the rotational position of the reflecting mirror 25.
B (collectively referred to as “hall element 31”) is provided. The hall element 31 is provided on the wiring board 33 attached to the sub chassis 24. The revolving light 15L has the same structure.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views for explaining the principle of detecting the rotational position of the reflecting mirror 25.
(a) is a simplified plan view of the revolving light 15R.
(b) is an AA sectional view of the vicinity of the permanent magnet plate 30. Each of the permanent magnet plates 30N and 30S is a semi-circular shape that forms a circle with each other, and the boundary line 34 between the two permanent magnet plates 30N and 30S is the constricted portion 2 of the reflecting mirror 25.
It is arranged so as to be located in the same plane as 5a. Then, the permanent magnet piece 30N includes the hall elements 31A and 31B.
Is arranged so that the side opposite to S becomes the N pole, and the permanent magnet piece 30S has a side facing the Hall elements 31A and 31B.
It is arranged so that it may become a pole. On the other hand, the Hall element 31A,
31B detects magnetic fields φ perpendicular to the permanent magnet plate 30 in mutually opposite directions, and the Hall element 31A detects magnetic field φ formed by the permanent magnet piece 30N, and Hall element 31
B detects the magnetic field φ formed by the permanent magnet piece 30S.

In the state of FIG. 8 in which the boundary line 33 between the permanent magnet plates 30N and 30S is located near the Hall element 31,
The direction of the magnetic field φ near the Hall element 31 is determined by the permanent magnet plate 3
The direction is parallel to 0. Therefore, the Hall element 31A,
Both 31B are in a non-detection state. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the reflecting mirror 25 is located at a fixed rotation position based on the fact that both the Hall elements 31A and 31B are in the non-detection state.

In this embodiment, the Hall element 31 is the light source 2
It is positioned on a line passing through the position 1 and extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle, so that the rotation position of the reflecting mirror 25 when the warning light from the rotating lamp 15R is emitted in the front-back direction of the vehicle can be detected. It has become. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicle warning light control device of the present embodiment, and shows a configuration for controlling a rotating light 15R. The same applies to the configuration of the rotating lamp 15L. The outputs of the Hall elements 31A and 31B are input to the sensor circuit 41 and converted into signals corresponding to the rotational position of the reflecting mirror 25. The output of the sensor circuit 41 is given to the motor drive circuit 42 that drives the motor 28. The motor drive circuit 42 changes the control mode of the motor 28 into two types according to a control signal supplied from the control circuit 43 via the line 44.

That is, the control circuit 43 derives a control signal on the line 44 which differs between the normal operation mode and the blinking operation mode. When the motor drive circuit 42 receives the control signal corresponding to the normal operation mode, the motor drive circuit 42 rotates the motor 28 at a constant speed regardless of the signal from the sensor circuit 41. When a control signal corresponding to the blinking operation mode is given, based on the output of the sensor circuit 41,
The motor 24 is normally or reversely rotated so that the rotating position of the reflecting mirror 25 is such that both the Hall elements 31A and 31B are in the non-detection state. As a result, in the blinking operation mode, the reflecting mirror 25 stops at the position shown in FIG. 8, and the light from the light source 21 is emitted toward the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Thus, in this embodiment, the Hall element 31,
The sensor circuit 41, the motor drive circuit 42, and the like constitute rotation control means.

The control circuit 43 is also in charge of controlling the operation of the lighting control circuit 45 for lighting the light source 24. The lighting control circuit 45 continuously lights the light source 24 when the control signal supplied from the control circuit 43 through the line 46 corresponds to the normal operation mode.
On the other hand, when the control signal indicating the blinking operation mode is derived on the line 46, the light source 21 is brought into a blinking state. In this way, the lighting control circuit 45 functions as blinking control means.

Thus, in the normal operation mode,
Since the light source 21 is continuously turned on and the reflecting mirror 25 rotates at a constant speed, an operation of scattering the warning light L toward the surroundings is performed as shown in FIG. 4 (a). On the other hand, in the blinking operation mode, the light source 21 is in the blinking state and the reflecting mirror 25 is in the stopped state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the blinking light is emitted from the rotating lights 15R and 15L toward the front and rear of the vehicle. It will be emitted.

A switching signal for switching the operation mode is applied to the control circuit 43 from the electronic siren amplifier 60 via the line 64. In this line 64,
The power supply voltage Vcc is applied through the relay 51. That is, when the voltage Vcc is derived on the line 64, the control circuit 43 sets the operation mode to the blinking operation mode,
When is released, the normal operation mode is set.

The relay 51 is a speedometer 52 of the vehicle.
It is controlled by a conversion circuit 53 for converting a vehicle speed pulse output from the vehicle speed into a vehicle speed. That is, the conversion circuit 53 is configured so that the speed of the vehicle is a predetermined value Vth (for example, 5 km).
/ h) or less, the relay 51 is closed, and when the vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined value Vth, the relay 5
Open 1.

The vehicle speed pulse is, for example, a pulse signal whose pulse width changes according to the speed of the vehicle. Such a vehicle speed pulse is provided, for example, by providing an impeller to which the rotation of the speedometer cable is decelerated and transmitted, and by arranging a photocoupler in association with this impeller and taking out the output of this photocoupler. Created. That is, since the photocoupler turns on / off at a period proportional to the rotation speed of the impeller, the pulse width of this photocoupler is
It will be proportional to the speed of the vehicle.

In the conversion circuit 53, for example, the number of input pulses within a predetermined time is counted, the pulse width of the vehicle speed pulse is calculated from this count value, and the vehicle speed is calculated. Creates changing voltage signals.
Then, the level of the voltage signal is discriminated at a constant voltage level corresponding to the predetermined value Vth, and the relay 51 is controlled according to the discrimination result.

With this configuration, the conversion circuit 53 opens the relay 51 during normal driving when the speed of the vehicle exceeds 5 km / h.
Is released and the normal operation mode is set. On the other hand, the vehicle may be stopped due to traffic control, or 5 km, for example.
When the vehicle is traveling at a low speed of / h or less, the conversion circuit 53
Closes the relay 51, and the voltage Vcc is led to the line 64, so that the flashing operation mode is set. As described above, in the present embodiment, the speedometer 52 and a part of the conversion circuit 53 constitute the detection means, and the part of the conversion circuit 53 and the control circuit 93 constitute a control means.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operation modes are automatically switched according to the speed of the vehicle. As a result, when the vehicle is stopped or traveling at a low speed, the blinking operation mode can be promptly and reliably performed without waiting for the operation of the crew member. Therefore, it is possible to effectively call attention to the driver of the vehicle behind and to effectively prevent the occurrence of a rear-end collision.

Further, when the vehicle transits from the stopped state or the low speed traveling state to the normal traveling state in which the speed exceeds 5 km / h, the normal operation mode is swiftly and surely transitioned to the pair of inner rotating lights 15R. , 15L warning light can be scattered around. As a result, it is possible to favorably scatter the vehicle in the left-right direction when entering the intersection, and it is possible to secure good visibility from a distance when traveling at high speed.

Further, since the operation mode switching operation is not required, the work of the crew member is reduced, and the operability of the electronic siren amplifier 60 can be remarkably improved. Figure 9
It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the diffused type warning light to which the other Example of this invention is applied. The diffusing type warning light 70 includes one rotating light 71R and one rotating light 71R on the left and right, and a rear flashing lamp 7 for emitting flashing light to the rear.
2R and 72L are provided one each on the left and right. 73
R and 73L are reflectors, and 74 is a speaker.

The rotary lights 71R and 71L do not have a rotational position control mechanism, and are continuously lit while the diffused warning light 70 is in operation, and constantly rotate regardless of the speed of the vehicle. To do. On the other hand, the rear flashing lights 72R, 7R
2L is controlled by an electronic siren amplifier (not shown) in the vehicle compartment, and is made to blink in response to the vehicle speed becoming equal to or lower than a predetermined value. In this way, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described first embodiment can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the rotational position of the reflecting mirror is detected by the combination of the permanent magnet plate and the Hall element to control the rotational position during the blinking operation.
The rotation position of the reflecting mirror may be controlled by another rotation control mechanism. That is, for example, by using a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the light from the light emitting element is received (or not received) by the light receiving element at a specific rotation position of the reflecting mirror, and the above specific The rotation position may be detected, and the rotation of the reflecting mirror may be controlled based on the detection result. In addition, without directly detecting the rotational position of the reflecting mirror,
The rotational position of the reflecting mirror can also be controlled by applying a configuration in which a linear pulse motor and a drive driver are combined.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, when the speed of the vehicle becomes, for example, 5 km or less, the flashing light is emitted to the rear of the vehicle. Needless to say, the threshold value of the speed may be appropriately set according to the type of vehicle. That is, in a vehicle such as a road cleaning vehicle that performs work while traveling at low speed, the work is performed (speed is, for example, 20 to 30 km / h).
Becomes ), The flashing light is emitted backward, and the flashing operation may be stopped when the vehicle is simply moved without performing work. At this time, the threshold value of the vehicle speed at which the blinking operation should be started may be set to 30 km / h, for example.

Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the diffused type warning light provided with the revolving light is taken as an example, but the revolving light does not necessarily have to be provided, and it is not necessary to provide the revolving light at the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle is running at low speed or stopped. The present invention can be easily applied to a vehicle warning lamp having only a blinking light source that should generate a warning light toward the vehicle. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating lamp in which the reflecting mirror rotates around the fixed light source is taken as an example, but a rotating lamp in which the light source itself is rotated may be applied.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0040]

As described above, according to the vehicle warning light control device of the present invention, when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed or stopped, the flashing light is automatically emitted rearward without any operation. In this state, the driver of the vehicle behind can be effectively called. As a result, the blinking light can be reliably emitted to the rear of the vehicle when traveling at low speed or when the vehicle is stopped, so that the danger of a rear-end collision can be effectively prevented. Further, since the operation is not required for the blinking operation, it is possible to obtain an effect that the work of the crew can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicle warning light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle warning light control device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the diffused warning light.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the diffused type warning light and two types of operation modes.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rotating lamp.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle of detecting the rotational position of a reflecting mirror.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle of detecting the rotational position of a reflecting mirror.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the principle of detecting the rotational position of a reflecting mirror.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a simplified internal configuration of a diffusing type warning light to which a vehicle warning light control device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Diffuse warning light 15R, 15L, 16R, 16L Revolving light 17 Reflector 21 Light source 25 Reflector 26 Rotor 28 Motor 30N, 30S Permanent magnet plate 31A, 31B Hall element 41 Sensor circuit 42 Motor drive circuit 43 Control circuit 45 Lighting Control circuit 51 Relay 52 Speedometer 53 Conversion circuit 60 Electronic siren amplifier 70 Diffuse warning light 71R, 71L Revolving light 72R, 72L Back flashing light

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for controlling a vehicle warning light having a light source capable of generating a warning light at least toward the rear of a vehicle, the blinking control means for blinking the light source, and the speed of the vehicle. A detection means for detecting that the vehicle speed has fallen below a predetermined value, and a control means for operating the blinking control means in response to the detection that the vehicle speed has fallen below a predetermined value. A vehicle warning light control device comprising: 2. A device for controlling a vehicle warning light having a rotating light capable of diffusing the warning light around the vehicle, wherein the warning light can be emitted toward the rear of the vehicle. Rotation control means for stopping the rotation of the revolving light, blinking control means for blinking the revolving light, detection means for detecting that the speed of the vehicle has fallen below a predetermined value, and this detection means And a control means for operating the rotation control means and the blinking control means in response to detecting that the value is less than or equal to a predetermined value.