Sub headlight unit and sub headlight system for use in vehicle that leans into turns, and vehicle that leans into turns

摘要

A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.

主权项

1. A sub headlight system for use in a vehicle that leans into turns, the sub headlight system comprising:
a sub headlight unit including a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle; a control unit arranged and programmed to control light emission of the sub headlight light source; and a detection unit that detects a variable used to obtain a lean angle of the vehicle; wherein the sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane extending horizontally from the sub headlight light source; the control unit is arranged and programmed to calculate the lean angle of the vehicle while the vehicle is running and to turn on the sub headlight light source in accordance with the calculated lean angle of the vehicle to emit an amount of light per unit of time; and the control unit is arranged and programmed to, at a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running in the upright state, cause the sub headlight light source to be turned on or to flash to emit an amount of light per unit of time that is reduced compared to the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle while the vehicle is running.