Patent Description:
In general, a vehicle includes various types of lighting apparatuses which allow a driver to easily check a target located around the vehicle during driving, and serve to inform a surrounding vehicle or pedestrian of the state of the vehicle or to transfer a signal to the surrounding vehicle or pedestrian.

However, the conventional lighting apparatuses transfer signals only by turning on/off LEDs, and thus have a limit to the types of signals that the lighting apparatuses can transfer. Furthermore, since the conventional lighting apparatuses can transfer only two-dimensional images, it is difficult for the lighting apparatuses to clearly transfer signals. Furthermore, when the lighting apparatuses transfer signals only by turning on/off LEDs in the daytime during which the illuminance outside the vehicle is high, the visibility is reduced.

The related art of the present invention is disclosed in <CIT> and entitled "LED Lamp of a Vehicle.

<CIT> discloses a light arrangement with a plurality of flaps. <CIT> discloses a vehicle which includes an obstacle detector detecting presence of a pedestrian in a forward path of the vehicle and transmitting a first signal indicative of the presence. <CIT> discloses a communication system for an autonomous driving vehicle which comprises at least one object detection.

The present invention is defined by the appended independent claim, and preferred aspects of the present invention are defined by the appended dependent claims. Various embodiments are directed to a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle, which can transfer a motion signal generated by a motion as well as a light emission signal generated by light.

A lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include a housing installed at the front surface of a vehicle, and having an opening formed on one side thereof; a plurality of light emitting units installed in the housing, and configured to emit light toward the opening; and a plurality of flap units rotatably installed in the housing so as to open or close the opening, and disposed so as to face the light emitting units.

The plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of flap units may be arranged in two or more rows in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.

The plurality of light emitting units may be each configured to individually adjust the turn-on state thereof, and the plurality of flap units may be each configured to individually adjust the rotation state thereof.

The flap units may each include a flap member rotated on a rotating shaft extended across the housing in a top-to-bottom direction; and a driver connected to the rotating shaft, and configured to generate a driving force to adjust the rotation angle and the rotation direction of the flap member.

As the flap member is rotated at a preset angle to the inside of the housing while the front surface of the flap member is disposed in parallel to the widthwise direction of the vehicle, the opening may be opened.

The preset angle at which the flap member is rotated to the inside of the housing may be equal to or less than <NUM> degrees.

The front surface of the flap member may have a different color from the inside color of the housing or the surface color of the light emitting unit, such that color inversion occurs when the flap member is rotated.

The light emitting unit may be installed in the housing so as to move to the front or read of the vehicle.

The light emitting unit may include a light source turned on or off; a heat sink configured to support the light source, and discharge heat generated from the light source; a reflector configured to reflect light, emitted from the light source, to one side; and a lens configured to form a light distribution pattern by transmitting the light, reflected from the reflector, toward the opening.

The lighting apparatus may further include a display unit installed on the housing, and configured to display a preset color to the outside of the vehicle as the flap unit opens the opening.

The display unit may be formed by coating the inner surface of the housing with the preset color of paint.

The display unit may include a luminous or fluorescent material.

The lighting apparatus may further include a reflecting unit installed on the flap unit and configured to reflect the color displayed on the display unit to the outside of the vehicle, when the flap unit opens the opening.

The lighting apparatus may further include: a sensing unit configured to sense the distance between the vehicle and a pedestrian or driver; and a control unit configured to receive the sensed information from the sensing unit, and transmit a light emitting unit turn-on signal for turning on the light emitting unit and a flap unit control signal for rotating the flap unit.

When the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian falls within a first distance, the control unit may transmit the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit and the flap unit, respectively, such that the light emitting unit and the flap unit indicate a walking direction to the pedestrian.

When the distance between the vehicle and the driver falls within a second distance, the control unit may transmit the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit and the flap unit, respectively, such that the light emitting unit and the flap unit generate a welcome signal.

When the distance between the vehicle and the driver exceeds the second distance, the control unit may transmit the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit and the flap unit, respectively, such that the light emitting unit and the flap unit generate a goodbye signal.

In an embodiment, a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes: sensing, by a sensing unit, a distance between the vehicle and a pedestrian; determining, by a control unit, whether the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian falls within a first distance; determining, by the control unit, a walking direction of the pedestrian when the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian falls within the first distance; and indicating, by the control unit, the walking direction to the pedestrian by operating a plurality of flap units.

In the indicating of the walking direction, the plurality of flap units may open or close an opening while sequentially rotated in a direction parallel to the walking direction of the pedestrian.

As the flap units open or close the opening, color inversion may occur.

When the flap units open the opening, a display unit may display a preset color to an outside of the vehicle, and a reflecting unit may reflect the preset color, displayed by the display unit, toward the outside of the vehicle.

The control method may further include determining, by the control unit, whether the vehicle is traveling.

The control method may further include turning on/off, by the control unit, a light emitting unit on the basis of a preset illuminance value outside the vehicle.

In an embodiment, a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes: sensing, by a sensing unit, a distance between the vehicle and a driver; determining, by a control unit, whether the distance between the vehicle and the driver falls within a second distance; generating, by the control unit, a welcome signal by operating a plurality of flap units and a plurality of light emitting units, when the distance between the vehicle and the driver falls within the second distance; and generating, by the control unit, a goodbye signal by operating the flap units and the light emitting units, when the distance between the vehicle and the driver exceeds the second distance.

The control method may further include determining, by the control unit, whether an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on/off.

The generating of the welcome signal may include: a first welcome step in which the plurality of flap units open an opening while sequentially rotated from a center of the opening toward both ends of the opening, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on; a second welcome step in which the plurality of light emitting units are turned on and off while the opening is opened; a third welcome step in which the plurality of flap units close the opening while sequentially rotated from both ends of the opening toward the center of the opening; and a fourth welcome step in which the plurality of flap units open the opening while rotated at the same time, and the plurality of light emitting units are turned on at the same time.

The second welcome step may include: turning on the plurality of light emitting units with a preset light intensity at the same time; sequentially turning on the plurality of light emitting units from the center of the opening toward both ends of the opening with a light intensity higher than the preset light intensity; sequentially turning off the plurality of light emitting units from both ends of the opening toward the center of the opening; and randomly flickering the plurality of light emitting units.

The generating of the welcome signal may further include turning off, by the control unit, the plurality of light emitting units at the same time when an illuminance value outside the vehicle exceeds a preset illuminance value after the fourth welcome step.

The generating of the welcome signal may further include flicking, by the control unit, a turn indicator a preset number of times before operating the flap units and the light emitting unit.

The generating of the goodbye signal may include: a first goodbye step of sequentially turning off the plurality of light emitting units from both ends of an opening toward the center of the opening, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off; and a second goodbye step of closing, by the plurality of flap units, the opening while the plurality of flap units are sequentially rotated from both ends of the opening toward the center of the opening.

The generating of the goodbye signal may further include flicking, by the control unit, a turn indicator a preset number of times before operating the flap units and the light emitting unit.

As the flap units open or close an opening, color inversion may occur.

When the flap units open an opening, a display unit may display a preset color to an outside of the vehicle, and a reflecting unit may reflect the preset color, displayed by the display unit, to the outside of the vehicle.

In accordance with the embodiment not falling into the scope of the appended independent claims, the lighting apparatus for a vehicle may transmit various types of signals to a surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian by combining a light emission signal generate by the light emitting units and a motion signal generated by the flap units, and strengthen the visibility in a daytime situation.

Furthermore, the lighting apparatus may implement a dynamic image by individually adjusting the turn-on states of the plurality of light emitting units and the rotation states of the plurality of flap units, thereby transmitting a more efficient and intuitive signal.

Furthermore, in the lighting apparatus, the flap units may be disposed so as to interfere with light emitted from the light emitting units. Therefore, the flap units may apply a shadow effect to a light emission signal, thereby improving the aesthetic sensibility of the light emission signal.

Furthermore, when the opening is opened, the display unit may display a preset color to the outside of the vehicle, which makes it possible to transfer a clearer signal to a surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian.

Furthermore, the reflecting unit may reflect the preset color displayed on the display unit, which makes it possible to secure the visibility while displaying a high quality image.

The control method of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention indicates a walking direction by operating the flap units and the lighting units on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and a pedestrian and the walking direction of the pedestrian, thereby transferring a clearer signal, and preventing a safety accident caused by a disagreement in communication with the pedestrian.

The control method of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention generates a welcome signal and a goodbye signal by operating the flap units and the light emitting units on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and a driver, which makes it possible for the driver to more easily recognize the location of the vehicle, and to check the state of the vehicle such as a start-up of the vehicle from a remote location.

Hereinafter, a lighting apparatus for a vehicle and a control method thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings through various exemplary embodiments.

It should be noted that the drawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thickness of lines or sizes of components for descriptive convenience and clarity only. Furthermore, the terms as used herein are defined by taking functions of the invention into account and can be changed according to the custom or intention of users or operators. Therefore, definition of the terms should be made according to the overall disclosures set forth herein.

Throughout the specification, when one element is referred to as being "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it may indicate that the one element is "directly connected or coupled to" the another element or the one element is "indirectly connected or coupled to" with still another element interposed therebetween. In this specification, when an element "includes or has" a component, it may indicate that the element does not exclude another component, but can further include or have another component, unless referred to the contrary.

Through this specification, like reference numerals may represent the same components. Although like or similar reference numbers are not mentioned or described in a specific drawing, the reference numerals may be described with reference to other drawings. Furthermore, although a component is not represented by a reference numeral in a specific drawing, the component may be described with reference to other drawings. Furthermore, the number, shape and size of sub components included in the drawings of this specification and the relative difference between sizes are set for convenience of description, and may not limit embodiments but may be set to various values.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams schematically illustrating that a lighting apparatus for a vehicle is installed, <FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle, <FIG> are plan views schematically illustrating the configuration of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle, and <FIG> is an expanded perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle.

Referring to <FIG>, a lighting apparatus <NUM> for a vehicle includes a housing <NUM>, a light emitting unit <NUM>, a flap unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a reflecting unit <NUM>, a sensing unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> is installed inside the front surface of a vehicle <NUM>, and serves to support the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM> which will be described below. The housing <NUM> is formed in a hollow box shape, and installed inside a bumper installed at the front surface of the vehicle <NUM>. The specific shape of the housing <NUM> is not limited to that illustrated in <FIG>, and may be variously changed in design as long as the housing <NUM> can be installed inside the front surface of the vehicle <NUM>, and support the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM> which will be described below.

The housing <NUM> has an opening <NUM> formed on one side thereof. The opening <NUM> is formed in the shape of a through-hole disposed at the front of the housing <NUM>, and communicates the inside of the housing <NUM> with the outside of the front surface of the vehicle <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a cross-section corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the front surface of the housing <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is extended across the housing <NUM> in the widthwise direction of the housing <NUM>, i.e. the side-to-side direction of the vehicle <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> may have a blocking part <NUM> installed at the front thereof, the blocking part <NUM> serving to prevent foreign matters such as dust and water from flowing into the housing <NUM>. The blocking part <NUM> is formed in the shape of a plate, and disposed so as to face the opening <NUM>. The blocking part <NUM> may include a transparent material such as polycarbonate (PC) such that light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> to be described below can be transmitted to the outside of the vehicle.

A pair of turn indicators <NUM> are installed on both sides of the top of the housing <NUM>, and serve to inform a surrounding vehicle or pedestrian of the turning direction of the vehicle, while flickering in a preset period according to a driver's manipulation.

Between the pair of turn indicators <NUM>, a daytime running light <NUM> is installed, which is turned on separately from the light emitting unit <NUM> to be described below such that a surrounding vehicle or pedestrian can easily recognize the vehicle <NUM> during daytime operation.

The light emitting unit <NUM> is installed inside the rear of the housing <NUM>, and emits light toward the opening <NUM>. The light emitting unit <NUM> may be installed in the housing <NUM> so as to be movable to the front or rear of the vehicle <NUM>. Thus, the light emitting unit <NUM> may adjust a light distribution angle of the light emitted to the outside of the vehicle <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. The light emitting unit <NUM> may be provided as a plurality of light emitting units which are arranged in two or more rows in the widthwise direction of the vehicle <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. The plurality of light emitting units <NUM> may be each configured to individually adjust the turn-on state thereof. Thus, the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> may be sequentially or randomly turned on to transfer light emission signals to a surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian.

The light emitting unit <NUM> includes a light source <NUM>, a heat sink <NUM>, a reflector <NUM>, and a lens <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> is installed on the heat sink <NUM> which will be described below, and can be turned on/off by power received from the outside. The light source <NUM> may include one or more LEDs which are turned on/off by power received from the outside.

The heat sink <NUM> supports the light source <NUM>, and discharges heat, generated from the light source <NUM>, to the outside of the housing <NUM>. The heat sink <NUM> is installed on the opposite side of the opening <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>, i.e. at the rear of the housing <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may be installed on the top surface of the heat sink <NUM>. The heat sink <NUM> includes a plurality of heat radiation pins (not illustrated), and receives heat, generated by the turned-on light source <NUM>, through thermal conduction. The heat sink <NUM> discharges heat, transferred to the plurality of heat radiation pins, to the outside of the housing <NUM> through the convective process with the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The reflector <NUM> is disposed so as to face the light source <NUM>, and serves to reflect light, emitted from the light source <NUM>, to one side. The reflector <NUM> is formed in a spherical shape with a predetermined curvature, and has an inner surface facing the light source <NUM>. The inner surface of the reflector <NUM> may include a high reflective material so as to reflect light emitted from the light source <NUM>. The reflector <NUM> has an open front side, and reflects light, emitted from the light source <NUM>, to the front of the housing <NUM>.

The lens <NUM> forms a light distribution pattern by transmitting the light, reflected from the reflector <NUM>, toward the opening <NUM>. The lens <NUM> is disposed on a reflection path of light reflected from the reflector <NUM>. The lens <NUM> is disposed between the opening <NUM> and the reflector <NUM>, and spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the reflector <NUM> toward the front of the housing <NUM>. The lens <NUM> may include a transparent material such as glass or plastic to transmit light reflected from the reflector <NUM>. The lens <NUM> forms a light distribution pattern such as a low beam or high beam to the front of the vehicle <NUM> by transmitting light reflected from the reflector <NUM> to the opening <NUM>. The specific shape of the lens <NUM> may be changed in design to the shapes of various types of lenses such as an aspherical lens, depending on a light emitting range, the light distribution pattern or the like.

The flap unit <NUM> is rotatably installed in the housing <NUM> so as to open or close the opening <NUM>. The flap unit <NUM> transfers a signal, formed by a motion thereof, to a surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian, while opening or closing the opening <NUM>. Thus, the flap unit <NUM> can secure visibility even in a daytime situation in which light emitted through the light emitting unit <NUM> is hardly recognized. When opening or closing the opening <NUM>, the flap unit <NUM> is disposed so as to face the light emitting unit <NUM>, and thus interferes with light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>. Therefore, the flap unit <NUM> may transfer more various types of signals with the light emitting unit <NUM>, and vary the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, thereby further strengthening the visibility of the surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian. The flap unit <NUM> may be provided as a plurality of flap units which are arranged in two or more rows in the widthwise direction of the vehicle <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. The plurality of flap units <NUM> may be each configured to individually adjust the rotation state thereof. Thus, the plurality of flap units <NUM> may transfer a predetermined direction signal to a pedestrian while being sequentially rotated. Furthermore, the flap units <NUM> may apply a shadow effect to light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM> while being maintained at different rotation angles, thereby improving the visibility and aesthetic sensibility of the light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>.

The flap unit <NUM> includes a rotating shaft <NUM>, a flap member <NUM>, and a driver <NUM>.

The rotating shaft <NUM> is rotatably installed in the housing <NUM>, and serves to rotate the flap member <NUM> which will be described below. The rotating shaft <NUM> is formed in the shape of a rotating shaft which is vertically extended across the housing <NUM> in the top-to-bottom direction. The rotating shaft <NUM> is disposed at the front of the housing <NUM> or more specifically between the opening <NUM> and the lens <NUM>. The rotating shaft <NUM> is disposed at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from one end (left end in <FIG>) of the lens <NUM>. The rotating shaft <NUM> has a lower end connected to the driver <NUM>, which will be described below, through the bottom surface of the housing <NUM>.

The flap member <NUM> is rotated on the rotating shaft <NUM> when the rotating shaft <NUM> is rotated. The flap member <NUM> is formed in the shape of a plate having a rectangular cross-section, and has one end (left end in <FIG>) connected to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft <NUM>. When the opening <NUM> is closed, the front surface of the flap member <NUM> is disposed in parallel to the widthwise direction of the vehicle <NUM>. The flap member <NUM> has a larger width than the lens <NUM>, and thus can completely block light emitted from the lens <NUM> when the opening <NUM> is closed. The flap member <NUM> is rotated at a preset angle toward the inside of the housing <NUM>, and thus opens the opening <NUM>. The preset angle at which the flap member <NUM> is rotated to the inside of the housing <NUM> may be equal to or less than <NUM> degrees. The front surface of the flap member <NUM> may have a different color from the inside color of the housing <NUM>, the surface color of the light emitting unit <NUM>, or the color of light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>, such that color inversion occurs when the flap member <NUM> is rotated. Thus, the flap member <NUM> may more effectively inform a surrounding vehicle, driver or pedestrian that the opening <NUM> is being opened/closed. When the opening <NUM> is closed, a plurality of flap members <NUM> abut on the rotating shaft <NUM> to which the neighboring flap member <NUM> is connected. Therefore, when the opening <NUM> is closed, the flap member <NUM> may block lights, emitted from the plurality of light emitting units <NUM>, from leaking to the outside.

The driver <NUM> is connected to the rotating shaft <NUM>, and generates a driving force to adjust the rotation angle and the rotation direction of the flap member <NUM>. The driver <NUM> may be configured as an electric motor which receives power from the outside and generates a rotational force. The driver <NUM> is fixed to the outer bottom surface of the housing <NUM>, and has an output shaft connected to the bottom of the rotating shaft <NUM>. Between the driver <NUM> and the rotating shaft <NUM>, a reduction gear may be installed.

The display unit <NUM> is installed in the housing <NUM> so as to display a preset color to the outside of the vehicle <NUM> as the flap unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the housing <NUM>, facing the rotation path of the lower end portion of the flap member <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is formed by coating the bottom surface of the housing <NUM> with a preset color. More specifically, the display unit <NUM> may be formed by applying a preset color of paint onto a bezel recessed into the bottom surface of the housing <NUM> or attaching a preset color of film onto the bezel. The display unit <NUM> may be formed by applying a preset color of paint onto the bottom surface of the housing <NUM> through a high glossy method, such that the preset color of paint exhibits a gloss. The display unit <NUM> may include a luminous or fluorescent material which absorbs light from the outside and discharges a longer wavelength of light than the wavelength of the absorbed light, such that the preset color can be displayed even in the nighttime. The preset color may be changed in design to various colors, as long as the color can be recognized from the outside of the vehicle <NUM> by a surrounding vehicle or pedestrian. The shape of the display unit <NUM> is not limited to that illustrated in <FIG>, but can be variously changed in design as long as the display unit <NUM> can display the preset color.

The reflecting unit <NUM> is installed on the flap unit <NUM> so as to reflect the color displayed on the display unit <NUM> to the outside of the vehicle <NUM>, when the flap unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the reflecting unit in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the reflecting unit <NUM> is disposed on the front surface of the flap member <NUM> which vertically faces the display unit <NUM> when the opening <NUM> is opened. The reflecting unit <NUM> may be made of a high reflective material and formed as one body with the front surface of the flap member <NUM>, or formed by coating the front surface of the flap member <NUM> with a high reflective material.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating the configurations of the sensing unit and the control unit.

The sensing unit <NUM> is configured to sense the state around the vehicle, and sense the distance between the vehicle and a pedestrian or between the vehicle and a driver. The sensing unit <NUM> may include a camera module <NUM>, a distance sensor <NUM>, and an illuminance sensor <NUM>.

The camera module <NUM> is installed on the front surface of the vehicle <NUM> or either side of the housing <NUM>, and serves to acquire image data on a pedestrian or driver ahead of the vehicle <NUM> by capturing an image of the forward area of the vehicle <NUM>.

The distance sensor <NUM> senses the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a pedestrian or driver. The distance sensor <NUM> may include one or more of various types of sensors such as a lidar sensor, a laser sensor and an ultrasonic wave sensor, which can measure a distance, and sense the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a pedestrian or driver.

The distance sensor <NUM> may sense the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the driver through a portable terminal carried by the driver. The portable terminal may be exemplified as a smart key for a vehicle. More specifically, the distance sensor <NUM> may include a GPS (Global Positioning System), and sense the relative bearing and relative distance of the driver's portable terminal with respect to the vehicle <NUM>. Furthermore, when an RKE (Remote Keyless Entry) or PKE (Passive Keyless Entry) signal for wirelessly opening or closing the door of the vehicle from a remote location is received from the portable terminal of the driver, the distance sensor <NUM> may sense that the driver has approached the vehicle <NUM> within a predetermined distance.

The illuminance sensor <NUM> is installed in the vehicle <NUM>, and serves to sense the brightness (illuminance) value around the vehicle <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> receives the sensed information from the sensing unit <NUM>, and transmits a light emitting unit turn-on signal for turning on the light emitting unit <NUM> and a flap unit control signal for rotating the flap unit <NUM>. More specifically, when the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a pedestrian falls within a first distance, the control unit <NUM> transmits the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM>, respectively, such that the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM> indicate a walking direction to the pedestrian. When the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a driver falls within a second distance, the control unit <NUM> transmits the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM>, respectively, such that the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM> generate a welcome signal. When the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the driver exceeds the second distance, the control unit <NUM> transmits the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM>, respectively, such that the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM> generate a goodbye signal. The first distance and the second distance may be changed in design to various values within the range of separation distances from the vehicle <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may be exemplified as a microprocessor or ECU (Electronic Control Unit) which is connected to the light emitting unit <NUM> and the driver <NUM>, and receives the sensed information from the sensing unit <NUM>, and transmits the light emitting unit turn-on signal and the flap unit control signal to the light emitting unit <NUM> and the flap unit <NUM>, respectively.

Hereafter, a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> shows that the control method is divided into a plurality of steps. However, the order of at least some steps may be changed, at least some steps may be each combined with another step, or omitted or divided into sub steps, or one or more steps (not illustrated) may be added.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and.

<FIG>, <FIG> are operation diagrams schematically illustrating an operation process of the control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the sensing unit <NUM> senses the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a pedestrian in step S110. More specifically, the sensing unit <NUM> recognizes a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle <NUM> through the camera module <NUM>, and measures the distance from the vehicle <NUM> to the pedestrian through the distance sensor <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> determines whether the vehicle <NUM> is traveling, in step S120. More specifically, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the vehicle <NUM> is traveling, on the basis of whether the ignition switch of the vehicle <NUM> is turned on/off, a gear operating state of the vehicle <NUM>, and whether an autonomous driving mode is turned on/off.

The control unit <NUM> turns on or off the light emitting unit <NUM> on the basis of a preset illuminance value outside the vehicle <NUM>, in step S130. More specifically, when the illuminance value outside the vehicle, measured by the illuminance sensor <NUM>, is equal to or less than the preset illuminance value, the control unit <NUM> transmits the light emitting unit turn-on signal to the light emitting unit <NUM> in order to turn on the light emitting unit <NUM>, in step S131. Simultaneously, the control unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM> by rotating the flap unit <NUM>. When the illuminance value outside the vehicle, measured by the illuminance sensor <NUM>, exceeds the preset illuminance value, the control unit <NUM> stops transmitting the light emitting unit turn-on signal to the light emitting unit <NUM>, and thus turns off the light emitting unit <NUM>, in step S132. In this case, the operation of turning off the light emitting unit <NUM> may indicate an operation of not only turning off the turned-on light emitting unit <NUM>, but also maintaining the turned-off light emitting unit <NUM>. The preset illuminance value may be changed in design to various values in consideration of a driver's visibility.

As illustrated in <FIG>, steps S120 and S130 may be sequentially performed after step S110. On the other hand, steps S120 and <NUM> may be performed at the same time as step S110, or in a different order from step S110.

When it is determined in step S120 that the vehicle <NUM> is traveling, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the pedestrian, sensed in step S110, falls within the first distance, in step S140.

When it is determined in step S140 that the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the pedestrian falls within the first distance, the control unit <NUM> determines the walking direction of the pedestrian in step S150.

After determining the walking direction of the pedestrian in step S150, the control unit <NUM> operates the flap unit <NUM> to indicate the walking direction to the pedestrian, in step S160. More specifically, the control unit <NUM> transmits the flap unit control signal to the flap unit <NUM> to sequentially rotate the flap units <NUM> in a direction parallel to the walking direction of the pedestrian. The plurality of flap units <NUM> indicate the walking direction to the pedestrian while opening or closing the opening <NUM> in the direction parallel to the walking direction of the pedestrian.

For example, when determining that the pedestrian walks from left to right, the control unit <NUM> sequentially operates a plurality of drivers <NUM> from the driver <NUM> disposed at the leftmost position to the driver <NUM> disposed at the rightmost position, as illustrated in <FIG>. In connection with this operation, the plurality of flap members <NUM> are sequentially rotated from the flap member <NUM> disposed at the leftmost position to the flap member <NUM> disposed at the rightmost position. When the plurality of flap members <NUM> are rotated while the opening <NUM> is opened, the flap members <NUM> transfer a walking signal for instructing the pedestrian to walk from left to right, while sequentially closing the opening <NUM> from left to right.

When the flap unit <NUM> opens or closes the opening <NUM>, color inversion occurs because the front surface of the flap member <NUM> has a different color from the inside color of the housing <NUM>, the surface color of the light emitting unit <NUM>, or the color of light emitted from the light emitting unit <NUM>.

Furthermore, when the flap unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM>, the display unit <NUM> displays a preset color to the outside of the vehicle <NUM>, and the reflecting unit <NUM> reflects the preset color, displayed by the display unit <NUM>, toward the outside of the vehicle <NUM>.

Hereafter, a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the sensing unit <NUM> senses the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a driver in step S210. More specifically, the sensing unit <NUM> senses the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and a portable terminal carried by the driver through the distance sensor <NUM>. The distance sensor <NUM> may include a GPS to sense the relative bearing and relative distance of the driver's portable terminal with respect to the vehicle <NUM>. When an RKE (Remote Keyless Entry) or PKE (Passive Keyless Entry) signal for wirelessly opening or closing the door of the vehicle from a remote location is received from the portable terminal of the driver, the distance sensor <NUM> may sense that the driver has approached the vehicle <NUM> within a predetermined distance.

The control unit <NUM> determines whether the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the driver, sensed in step S210, falls within the second distance, in step S220.

When determining in step S220 that the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the driver falls within the second distance, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the ignition switch of the vehicle <NUM> is turned on/off, in step S230.

When determining in step S230 that the ignition switch of the vehicle <NUM> is turned on, the control unit <NUM> operate the flap unit <NUM> and the light emitting unit <NUM> to generate a welcome signal in step S240. The control unit <NUM> may flicker the turn indicator <NUM> a preset number of times before operating the flap unit <NUM> and the light emitting unit <NUM>. The present number of times may be exemplified as two.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process in which the flap unit and the light emitting unit generate a welcome signal, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, step S240 of generating the welcome signal includes a first welcome step S241, a second welcome step S242, a third welcome step S243, and a fourth welcome step S244.

<FIG> is an operation diagram schematically illustrating an operation process of the first welcome step.

In the first welcome step S241, the control unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM> by sequentially rotating the plurality of flap units <NUM> from the center of the opening <NUM> toward both ends of the opening <NUM>. More specifically, the control unit <NUM> first rotates the flap unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>. Then, the control unit <NUM> sequentially rotates the flap units <NUM> disposed on the left and right sides of the flap unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>, with a predetermined time difference provided therebetween. Thus, the opening <NUM> is opened in such a shape that spreads from the center thereof toward both ends thereof.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating the second welcome step, and <FIG> are an operation diagram schematically illustrating the operation process of the second welcome step.

In the second welcome step S242, the control unit <NUM> turns on and off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> with the opening <NUM> opened by the flap units <NUM>.

More specifically, the control unit <NUM> turns on the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> with a preset light intensity at the same time in step S242a. The preset light intensity may be exemplified as <NUM>% of the maximum light intensity of the light emitting unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> sequentially turns on the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> from the center of the opening <NUM> toward both ends thereof with a light intensity higher than the preset light intensity, in step S242b. That is, the control unit <NUM> sequentially turns on the light emitting units <NUM> disposed on the left and right sides of the light emitting unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM> with a light intensity higher than the preset light intensity, with predetermined time differences provided therebetween. Therefore, the light emitting units <NUM> are turned on in such a shape that spreads from the center toward both ends of the opening <NUM>. In this case, the light intensity higher than the preset light intensity may be exemplified as the maximum light intensity of the light emitting unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> sequentially turns off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM> in step S242c. That is, the control unit <NUM> sequentially turns off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> from the light emitting units <NUM> disposed at both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the light emitting unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>, with predetermined timed differences provided therebetween. Thus, the light emitting units <NUM> are turned off in such a shape that converges from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> randomly flickers the plurality of light emitting units <NUM>. That is, the control unit <NUM> turns on some light emitting units <NUM>, which are randomly selected while the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> are all turned off, and then turns off the some light emitting units <NUM>.

<FIG> is an operation diagram schematically illustrating an operation process of the third welcome step.

In the third welcome step S243, the control unit <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> by sequentially rotating the plurality of flap units <NUM> from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM>. More specifically, while the opening <NUM> is opened, the control unit <NUM> rotates the plurality of flap units <NUM> from the flap units <NUM> disposed at both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the flap unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>, with predetermined time differences provided therebetween. Therefore, the opening <NUM> is closed in such a shape that converges from both ends thereof toward the center thereof.

<FIG> is an operation diagram schematically illustrating an operation process of the fourth welcome step.

In the fourth welcome step S244, the control unit <NUM> opens the opening <NUM> by rotating the plurality of flap units <NUM> at the same time, and turns on the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> at the same time. That is, the control unit <NUM> rotates the plurality of flap units <NUM> such that the opening <NUM> closed by the plurality of flap units <NUM> is opened at once in the widthwise direction of the housing <NUM>, and turns on the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> such that lights are simultaneously emitted to the outside of the vehicle through the opening <NUM>. In this case, the light intensities of the light emitting units <NUM> may gradually rise to the maximum light intensity with a predetermined time difference.

After the fourth welcome step S244, when the control unit <NUM> determines that the illuminance value outside the vehicle, sensed by the illuminance sensor <NUM> of the sensing unit <NUM>, exceeds the preset illuminance value, the control unit <NUM> may additionally perform a step of closing the opening <NUM> by rotating the plurality of flap units <NUM> at the same time, and turning off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> at the same time.

When determining in step S220 that the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the driver exceeds the second distance, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the ignition switch of the vehicle <NUM> is turned on/off, in step S250.

When determining in step S250 that the ignition switch of the vehicle <NUM> is turned off, the control unit <NUM> operate the flap unit <NUM> and the light emitting unit <NUM> to generate a goodbye signal in step S260. The control unit <NUM> may flicker the turn indicator <NUM> a preset number of times before operating the flap unit <NUM> and the light emitting unit <NUM>. The present number of times may be exemplified as two.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process in which the flap unit and the light emitting unit generate a goodbye signal, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Step S260 of generating the goodbye signal includes a first goodbye step S261 and a second goodbye step S262.

<FIG> is an operation diagram schematically illustrating the operation process of the first goodbye step.

In the first goodbye step S261, the control unit <NUM> sequentially turns off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM>. That is, the control unit <NUM> sequentially turns off the plurality of light emitting units <NUM> from the light emitting units <NUM> disposed at both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the light emitting unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>, with predetermined time differences provided therebetween. Thus, the light emitting units <NUM> are turned off in such a shape that converges from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is an operation diagram schematically illustrating an operation process of the second goodbye step.

In the second goodbye step S262, the control unit <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> by sequentially rotating the plurality of flap units <NUM> from both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the center of the opening <NUM>. More specifically, while the opening <NUM> is opened, the control unit <NUM> rotates the plurality of flap units <NUM> from the flap units <NUM> disposed at both ends of the opening <NUM> toward the flap unit <NUM> disposed in the center of the opening <NUM>, with predetermined time differences provided therebetween. Therefore, the opening <NUM> is closed in such a shape that converges from both ends thereof toward the center thereof.

Claim 1:
A control method of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle, said lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of flap units (<NUM>), the method comprising
sensing (S110, S210), by a sensing unit (<NUM>), a distance between the vehicle and a pedestrian under a first scene, or a distance between the vehicle and a driver under a second scene;
determining (S140, S220), by a control unit (<NUM>), whether the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian falls within a first distance under the first scene, or whether the distance between the vehicle and the driver falls within a second distance under the second scene; and
under the first scene: when the distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian falls within the first distance, characterized by determining (S150), by the control unit (<NUM>), a walking direction of the pedestrian and indicating (S160) the walking direction to the pedestrian by operating the plurality of flap units (<NUM>), or
under the second scene: characterized by, when the distance between the vehicle and the driver falls within the second distance, generating (S240), by the control unit (<NUM>), a welcome signal by operating the plurality of flap units (<NUM>) and a plurality of light emitting units (<NUM>); and characterized by, when the distance between the vehicle and the driver exceeds the second distance, generating (S260), by the control unit (<NUM>), a goodbye signal by operating the flap units (<NUM>) and the light emitting units (<NUM>).