Irradiation control device and irradiation method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10919445-B2
Application number	US-201716463227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

An irradiation control device is a device configured to control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to a surrounding person, and includes an irradiation control unit configured to perform control to irradiate a first irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention of the irradiation. As a result, light can be irradiated such that the attention of a target person is easily attracted and a delay in understanding by the target person is easily avoided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An irradiation control device, which is configured to control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to a surrounding person,
the irradiation control device comprising:
an irradiation controller configured to perform control to irradiate a first irradiation element and a second irradiation element, the second irradiation element indicating the predetermined intention of the irradiation and the first irradiation element indicating information related to the predetermined intention,
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to perform control of the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element such that the predetermined intention is always displayed to the surrounding person.

2. An irradiation control device, which is configured to control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to a surrounding person,
the irradiation control device comprising:
an irradiation controller configured to perform control to irradiate a first irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention of the irradiation,
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to perform control such that the first irradiation element is again irradiated when the second irradiation element is extinguished,
the irradiation control device further comprising:
an acquirer configured to acquire discrimination information for performing irradiation control; and
a discriminator configured to discriminate irradiation content based on the discrimination information acquired by the acquirer,
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation of light by specifying the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element in accordance with the irradiation content discriminated by the discriminator.

3. The irradiation control device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the irradiation control device is mounted to a vehicle,
wherein the irradiation control device further comprises a database storing information on irradiation content,
wherein the acquirer is configured to acquire information on an operation or a state of the vehicle as the discrimination information, and
wherein the discriminator is configured to discriminate the irradiation content by referring to the information on the irradiation content stored in the database based on the discrimination information acquired by the acquirer.

4. The irradiation control device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the irradiation control device is mounted to a facility to be used by a user,
wherein the irradiation control device further comprises a database storing information on irradiation content,
wherein the acquirer is configured to acquire, as the discrimination information, peripheral information on movement of a user from a state detection sensor arranged in the facility, and
wherein the discriminator is configured to discriminate the irradiation content by referring to the information on the irradiation content stored in the database based on the discrimination information acquired by the acquirer.

5. The irradiation control device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the discriminator is configured to determine, based on the discrimination information, a peripheral environmental state under which light indicating the predetermined intention to a surrounding person is to be irradiated, and an attribute of a user who views the irradiated light, and
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation by adjusting at least one of a display timing, a display brightness, a display color, a display position, and a display size, which are adjustable elements of the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element, based on the peripheral environmental state and the attribute determined by the discriminator.

6. The irradiation control device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the discriminator is configured to determine, based on the discrimination information, a peripheral environmental state under which light indicating the predetermined intention to a surrounding person is to be irradiated, and an attribute of a user who views the irradiated light, and
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation by adjusting at least one of a display timing, a display brightness, a display color, a display position, and a display size, which are adjustable elements of the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element, based on the peripheral environmental state and the attribute determined by the discriminator.

7. The irradiation control device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the discriminator is configured to determine, based on the discrimination information, a peripheral environmental state under which light indicating the predetermined intention to a surrounding person is to be irradiated, and an attribute of a user who views the irradiated light, and
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation by adjusting at least one of a display timing, a display brightness, a display color, a display position, and a display size, which are adjustable elements of the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element, based on the peripheral environmental state and the attribute determined by the discriminator.

8. The irradiation control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an irradiator configured to irradiate light based on control of the irradiation controller.

9. The irradiation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation such that the second irradiation element is constantly irradiated.

10. The irradiation control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first irradiation element includes a plurality of elements, and
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation such that the plurality of irradiation elements increase by one, and to control irradiation such that the first irradiation element is extinguished after all of the plurality of irradiation elements are irradiated.

11. The irradiation control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first irradiation element includes an irradiation element indicating a direction, and
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to slide the first irradiation element in a direction indicating the direction.

12. An irradiation control device, which is configured to control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to a surrounding person,
the irradiation control device comprising an irradiation controller configured to perform control to irradiate a first irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention of the irradiation,
the irradiation control device further comprising:
an acquirer configured to acquire discrimination information for performing irradiation control;
a discriminator configured to discriminate irradiation content based on the discrimination information acquired by the acquirer; and
a database storing information on irradiation content,
wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiation of light by specifying the first irradiation element and the second irradiation element in accordance with the irradiation content discriminated by the discriminator,
wherein the irradiation control device is mounted to a facility to be used by a user,
wherein the acquirer is configured to acquire, as the discrimination information, peripheral information o

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Sakata Reiko
• Nishihira Munetaka
• Aikawa Masami

Classifications

• B60Q1/381

  with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect · CPC title

• B60Q1/50 Primary

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title

• B60Q2900/40

  Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation · CPC title

• B60Q1/324

  for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened · CPC title

• H05B47/10 Primary

  Controlling the light source · CPC title