Headlamp device with swivel control for a vehicle

Abstract

Front viewability during turning may be enhanced by a headlamp device for a vehicle arranged to perform swivel control. The headlamp device is arranged so that when a vehicleis turning around a right curve with low beam, the vehicle velocity V and the estimated horizontal G value are used to calculate the curve turning radius R, which is then used together with the vehicle velocity R to calculate the driver viewing point angle θ to which the leftward deviation β of the highest light intensity position in the light distribution pattern PL for low beam is added to calculate the target swivel angle α on the basis of which the lighting fixture unit of the headlampR is swung over the target swivel angle α so that light beam is emitted toward a region surrounding the driver viewing point EP on the road ahead of the vehicle in the forward direction. In this arrangement, the driver viewing point angle θ can be calculated using only from the vehicle velocity data as a parameter without using steering angle data, making it possible to simplify the operation for swivel control and to eliminate the need to use a steering angle sensor.