US 12,434,624 B2
Vehicle lighting device for lane change indication and vehicle lighting device with image projection on road surface
Fumihiko Mouri, Owariasahi (JP); and Kento Nakazato, Tama (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aichi-ken (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aichi-ken (JP)
Filed on Feb. 6, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/433,406.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-023540 (JP), filed on Feb. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278716 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/50 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/547 (2022.05) [B60Q 2300/338 (2013.01); B60Q 2300/43 (2013.01); B60Q 2400/50 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle lighting device comprising:
an illumination unit that draws an image on a road surface around a vehicle by illuminating the road surface with light;
a turn signal unit that causes a turn signal lamp to flash; and
a controller configured to control the illumination unit, wherein
when the vehicle changes a lane from a first lane to a second lane adjacent to the first lane, the controller causes the turn signal lamp to flash on a lane change side, and causes the illumination unit to draw a lane change image for notifying surroundings of a behavior of the vehicle, and
the controller changes a configuration of the lane change image according to at least one of a presence and a position of a subsequent vehicle traveling rearward of the vehicle and along the second lane, wherein the controller causes the lane change image to be drawn in a standard size and causes the lane change image to brink in a same cycle as the turn signal lamp when the subsequent vehicle does not exist, and causes the lane change image to be drawn in a size larger than the standard size and causes the lane change image to brink in a cycle shorter than the turn signal lamp when the subsequent vehicle exists.