JP2010192334A - Vehicular headlight device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain leakage of light from gaps among a plurality of members forming a shade. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicular headlight device 10 includes a light source 18a; a first shade 28 and a second shade 30 arranged in parallel in a vehicle-width direction so as to shade a part of light emitted from the light source 18a at a shading position in front of the light source 18a; a projection lens 20 for forming a light-distributing pattern with a cutoff line, corresponding to a pointed head shape of the shade by projecting the shade located at the shading position by light emitted from the light source 18a; and an actuator 32 for shunting the second shade 30 from the shading position. A part of the second shade 30 is constituted so as to overlap an end in the vehicle-width direction of the first shade 28 at the shading position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device used in an automobile or the like.

  In general, a vehicle headlamp apparatus can switch between a low beam and a high beam. The low beam illuminates the neighborhood with a predetermined illuminance, and the light distribution regulation is determined so as not to give glare to the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and is mainly used when traveling in an urban area. On the other hand, the high beam illuminates a wide area in front and a distant area with a relatively high illuminance, and is mainly used when traveling on a road with few oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles. Therefore, although the high beam is more visible to the driver than the low beam, there is a problem that glare is given to the driver and pedestrian of the preceding vehicle existing in front of the vehicle. For this reason, when a forward vehicle or a pedestrian is present in front of the vehicle, the high beam cannot be used even if the existing region is a part.

  Therefore, in order to make effective use of the high beam as much as possible, a part of the shade is made of a separate member that can be moved, and the separate member is slid by sliding it from the light-shielding position that forms the cut-off line during low beam irradiation. Thus, a headlamp device has been proposed that can irradiate only one side region in front of the vehicle with a high beam (Patent Document 1).

European Patent Application No. 0294589

  However, the above-described headlamp device has a problem in that light leaks from a gap between the shade main body and another member that slides during irradiation with the low beam.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, The place made into the objective exists in provision of the technique which suppresses that light leaks from the clearance gap between the some members which comprise a shade.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a vehicle headlamp device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a light source and a vehicle width so as to shield a part of light emitted from the light source at a shielding position in front of the light source. The first and second shades juxtaposed in the direction, and the light distribution pattern having a cut-off line corresponding to the tip shape of the shade by projecting the shade at the shielding position with the light emitted from the light source A projection lens to be formed; and a drive unit that retracts the second shade from the shielding position. The second shade is configured such that a part of the second shade overlaps the end portion of the first shade in the vehicle width direction at the shielding position.

  According to this aspect, when the first shade and the second shade are in the shielding position to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line, a part of the second shade is the vehicle width of the first shade. Since it is configured to overlap the end portion in the direction, light leakage from the gap between the first shade and the second shade is suppressed.

  The second shade may be configured such that the thickness of the portion overlapping the first shade in the optical axis direction is thinner than the thickness of the first shade in the optical axis direction. Thereby, when the light distribution pattern is formed by the first shade and the second shade, and when the second shade is retracted from the shielding position and the light distribution pattern is formed by the first shade, the entire shade is formed. The change in thickness can be reduced.

  The second shade may be configured such that the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion that does not overlap with the first shade is thicker than the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion that overlaps with the first shade. Thereby, the difference between the thickness of the entire portion where the second shade overlaps with the first shade and the thickness of the portion where the second shade does not overlap with the first shade can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can suppress that light leaks from the clearance gap between the some members which comprise a shade.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the vehicle headlamp apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which the first shade and the second shade are both in the shielding position. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state in which the second shade is retracted downward from the shielding position. It is the schematic which looked at the 1st shade and the 2nd shade from the upper part. Fig.4 (a) is the figure which looked at the shielding part from the lamp back in the state which has a 1st shade and a 2nd shade in a shielding position. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern that the vehicle headlamp device forms on the virtual vertical screen in the state of FIG. Fig.5 (a) is the figure which looked at the shielding part from the lamp back in the state in which only the 1st shade exists in a shielding position. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern that the vehicle headlamp device forms on the virtual vertical screen in the state of FIG. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams showing modifications of the shapes of the first shade and the second shade. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the vehicle headlamp apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
The vehicle headlamp device according to the present embodiment can realize the formation of a plurality of light distribution patterns having different shapes with a single lamp unit. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicular headlamp apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment.

  The vehicular headlamp device 10 includes a lamp body 12, a translucent cover 14, and a lamp unit 16. Hereinafter, the left side in FIG. 1 will be described as the front of the lamp, and the right side will be described as the rear of the lamp. Further, the right side when viewed in front of the lamp is called the right side of the lamp, and the left side is called the left side of the lamp. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the vehicle headlamp device 10 cut by a vertical plane including the optical axis X of the lamp unit 16 as viewed from the left side of the lamp.

  The lamp body 12 is formed in a box shape having an opening. The translucent cover 14 is formed in a bowl shape with translucent resin or glass. The translucent cover 14 is fixed to the lamp body 12 with an edge attached to the opening of the lamp body 12. As a result, a lamp chamber is formed in an area covered by the lamp body 12 and the translucent cover 14. The lamp unit 16 is accommodated in the lamp chamber, is attached to the lamp body 12 by an unillustrated mounting mechanism having bolts and nuts, and is fixed in the lamp chamber.

  The lamp unit 16 includes a light source bulb 18, a holder (not shown), a projection lens 20, and a light source image forming mechanism 22. The light source bulb 18 employs a discharge bulb such as a metal halide bulb, and has a light source 18a that is a discharge light-emitting portion inside. Note that a light bulb having a filament such as a halogen lamp may be adopted as the light source bulb 18. The projection lens 20 is a plano-convex aspheric lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface. The projection lens 20 has a light source image formed on the rear focal plane as a reverse image in front of the vehicle headlamp device 10. Project.

  In the first embodiment, a description will be given with reference to a projection image formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 meters ahead of the vehicle, for example. The virtual plane on which the projected image is formed is not limited to such a vertical plane, and may be a horizontal plane assuming a road surface, for example.

  The light source image forming mechanism 22 includes a reflector 24 and a shade unit 26. The reflector 24 is formed in a cup shape, and an insertion hole 24b is formed at the bottom. Further, the light source bulb 18 is inserted and fixed in the insertion hole 24b. On the inner surface of the reflector 24, a reflecting surface 24a subjected to mirror treatment is formed. The opening of the reflector 24 is connected to the opening of the holder (not shown) to which the projection lens 20 is not attached. Thereby, the reflector 24 and the holder are fixed to each other so that the light source 18a is positioned on the optical axis X.

  Further, at least a part of the reflector 24 has an elliptical spherical shape formed by, for example, a composite elliptical surface. The elliptical spherical surface is set so that the cross-sectional shape including the optical axis X of the lamp unit 16 is at least a part of the elliptical shape. The elliptical spherical portion of the reflector 24 has a first focal point F1 in the approximate center of the light source 18a, and a second focal point F2 in the vicinity of the shielding surface when the shade unit 26 is in the shielding position.

  The reflecting surface 24 a of the reflector 24 reflects the light from the light source bulb 18 to form a light source image on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 20. Note that the rear focal point of the projection lens 20 is adjusted to be substantially the same position as the second focal point F2. Thereby, the projection lens 20 projects the first shade 28 and the second shade 30 at the shielding position with the light emitted from the light source 18a, and thereby has a light distribution having a cut-off line corresponding to the tip shape of each shade. Form a pattern.

  The shade unit 26 shields a part of the light directed to the projection lens 20 by being emitted from the light source 18a and reflected by the reflector 24 at a shielding position in front of the light source 18a (state shown in FIG. 1). The shade unit 26 includes a first shade 28, a shade support portion 29, a second shade 30, and an actuator 32. The lower end portion of the second shade 30 is attached to the actuator 32, and the second shade 30 can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure by the operation of a solenoid, for example. The lower part of the actuator 32 is fixed to the lower part of the inner surface of the lamp body 12. That is, the actuator 32 can retract the second shade 30 from the shielding position.

  Next, the configuration of the first shade 28 and the second shade 30 will be described in detail. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state where both the first shade and the second shade 30 are in the shielding position. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state in which the second shade 30 is retracted downward from the shielding position. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first shade 28 and the second shade 30 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first shade 28 and the second shade 30 are juxtaposed in the vehicle width direction. The first shade 28 is formed in an L shape when viewed from the left side of the lamp, and includes a shielding portion 28 a that shields light from the light source 18 a and a flange portion 28 b that is attached to the shade support portion 29. The second shade 30 is formed in an inverted L shape when viewed from the left side of the lamp, and includes a shielding portion 30a that shields light from the light source 18a and an overlap portion 30b that overlaps the first shade 28. And a flange 30c to which the tip of the actuator 32 is attached.

  As described above, the second shade 30 is configured such that the overlap portion 30b provided continuously with the shielding portion 30a without a gap overlaps the end portion 28c of the first shade 28 in the vehicle width direction at the shielding position. It is configured. Therefore, when the first shade and the second shade are at the shielding position in order to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line, light leaks from the gap between the first shade 28 and the second shade 30. It is suppressed.

  FIG. 4A is a view of the shielding portion viewed from the rear of the lamp with the first shade 28 and the second shade 30 in the shielding position. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern that the vehicle headlamp device 10 forms on the virtual vertical screen in the state of FIG.

  The vehicle headlamp device 10 forms the low beam light distribution pattern PL when each shade is in the state shown in FIG. The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution pattern for low beam, and has a first cut-off line CL1 to a third cut-off line CL3 at its upper edge. The first cut-off line CL1 to the third cut-off line CL3 extend in the horizontal direction with a difference in left and right steps with respect to a VV line that is a vertical line passing through a HV point that is a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp. The first cut-off line CL1 extends in the horizontal direction on the right side from the VV line and below the HH line. For this reason, the first cutoff line CL1 is used as an oncoming lane cutoff line. The third cutoff line CL3 extends obliquely at an inclination angle of 15 ° from the left end portion of the first cutoff line CL1 toward the upper left. The second cutoff line CL2 extends on the HH line on the left side from the intersection of the third cutoff line CL3 and the HH line. For this reason, the second cutoff line CL2 is used as the own lane side cutoff line.

  Next, the state where the second shade 30 is retracted downward from the shielding position as shown in FIG. The low beam light distribution pattern PL described above is effective in that glare is not given to the oncoming vehicle. However, in traveling using the low beam light distribution pattern PL, the visibility of the own lane and the left side road band is sacrificed to some extent. Therefore, there is a demand for a so-called one-side high beam light distribution pattern in which the opposite lane side irradiates below the HH line and the left region including the own lane irradiates up to the HH line.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the present embodiment, the second shade 30 is moved downward as shown in FIG. The light distribution pattern is formed.

  Fig.5 (a) is the figure which looked at the shielding part from the lamp back in the state where only the 1st shade 28 exists in a shielding position. FIG.5 (b) is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern which the vehicle headlamp apparatus 10 forms on a virtual vertical screen in the state of Fig.5 (a).

  The vehicle headlamp device 10 forms the one-side high-beam light distribution pattern PH ′ when the first shade 28 is in the state shown in FIG. The one-side high-beam light distribution pattern PH 'is a left-side one-side high-beam light distribution pattern, and has a first cut-off line CL1 at the upper right edge thereof. The first cut-off line CL1 extends in the horizontal direction on the right side from the VV line and below the HH line. For this reason, the first cutoff line CL1 is used as an oncoming lane cutoff line.

  By the way, when the light distribution pattern is changed by combining a plurality of shades as described above, the chromatic aberration (color unevenness) near the cut-off line of the light distribution pattern changes depending on the thickness of the shade that contributes to the formation of the cut-off line. There is.

  In particular, as a problem of a projector-type headlamp such as the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the present embodiment, the light deviated from the vicinity of the optical axis X due to the chromatic aberration of the projection lens 20 is dispersed. It is known that a rainbow pattern appears in the vicinity of the cut-off line, causing a drop in visibility. This occurs because the light incident on the periphery of the projection lens 20 causes a spectral phenomenon due to the chromatic aberration of the lens, and the blue light is refracted to the optical axis X side than the red light. Such a phenomenon is particularly likely to occur in light passing through the peripheral edge of the projection lens 20.

  Therefore, in order to suppress the influence of the rainbow pattern on the light distribution pattern as much as possible, the vehicular headlamp device 10 is configured to be thick so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the second focal point F2, as shown in FIG. Equipped with shades. Thereby, the light which goes to the periphery of the projection lens 20 among the lights reflected by the reflector 24 is cut, and chromatic aberration generated near the cut-off line is reduced.

  However, when the second shade 30 is configured to be retracted from the shielding position as in the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the present embodiment, the thickness of the entire shade changes before and after the retracting. Therefore, if the thickness of the overlap portion 30b of the second shade 30 in the vehicle front-rear direction is increased, the thickness including the shielding portion 28a of the first shade 28 is greatly changed when the second shade 30 is retracted. As a result, the chromatic aberration is greatly changed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the second shade 30 according to the present embodiment, the thickness t <b> 1 of the overlap portion 30 b overlapping the first shade 28 in the optical axis direction is the shielding portion 28 a of the first shade 28. It is comprised so that it may become thinner than thickness t2 of the optical axis direction. Accordingly, when the light distribution pattern is formed by the first shade 28 and the second shade 30, and when the second shade 30 is retracted from the shielding position and the light distribution pattern is formed only by the first shade 28. With this, the rate of change in the thickness of the entire shade can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress changes in chromatic aberration before and after changing the overall shape of the shade, reducing the uncomfortable feeling given to the driver and improving the visibility.

  Further, when there is a change in the thickness of the shade in the longitudinal direction when it is in the shielding position, the degree of chromatic aberration varies depending on the thickness. For this reason, the degree of chromatic aberration in the irradiation region near the cutoff line becomes uneven in the longitudinal direction, which may affect the visibility. Therefore, in the second shade 30 according to the present embodiment, the thickness t3 of the shielding portion 30a that does not overlap the first shade 28 in the optical axis direction is the optical axis direction of the overlap portion 30b that overlaps the first shade 28. It is comprised so that it may become thicker than thickness t1.

  Thereby, when the 1st shade 28 and the 2nd shade 30 exist in a shielding position, the thickness (t1 + t2) of the whole part where the 2nd shade 30 overlaps with the 1st shade 28, and the 2nd shade 30 However, the difference from the thickness (t3) of the portion that does not overlap the first shade 28 can be reduced. In the present embodiment, since t1 + t2 = t3 is set, the thickness is uniform throughout the longitudinal direction of the shade, and the degree of chromatic aberration is not uneven.

  Note that the shapes of the first shade and the second shade are not limited to the combinations described above. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams showing modifications of the shapes of the first shade and the second shade 30.

  The second shade 130 shown in FIG. 6A is configured such that the overlap portion 130 b that overlaps the first shade 128 is shorter than the length of the first shade 128 in the vehicle width direction. Such a configuration also prevents light from leaking from the gap between the first shade 128 and the second shade 130.

  In addition, the second shade 230 shown in FIG. 6B is formed in a wedge shape in which an overlap portion 230b that overlaps the first shade 228 becomes thinner toward the left in the drawing. On the other hand, the right end 228a of the first shade 228 is configured to increase as the thickness of the overlap portion 230b decreases (towards the left in the figure). The overlap portion 230b is configured to be shorter than the length of the first shade 228 in the vehicle width direction. Such a configuration also prevents light from leaking from the gap between the first shade 128 and the second shade 130. Further, the thickness of the entire shade is uniform in the longitudinal direction, including the region where the overlap portion 230b and the right end portion 228a face each other.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the second embodiment. The vehicular headlamp device 110 is greatly different from the vehicular headlamp device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes an actuator 34 so that the first shade can be retracted from the shield position. Different. In addition, about the structure similar to the vehicle headlamp apparatus 10, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The shade unit 126 includes a first shade 28, a second shade 30, an actuator 32, and an actuator 34. The lower end portion of the second shade 30 is attached to the actuator 32, and the second shade 30 can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure by the operation of a solenoid, for example. The lower part of the actuator 32 is fixed to the lower part of the inner surface of the lamp body 12. That is, the actuator 32 can retract the second shade 30 from the shielding position.

  The lower end of the first shade 28 is attached to the actuator 34, and the first shade 28 can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure by the operation of a solenoid, for example. The lower part of the actuator 34 is fixed to the lower part of the inner surface of the lamp body 12. That is, the actuator 34 can retract the first shade 28 from the shielding position.

  Therefore, the vehicular headlamp device 110 includes the first shade 28 and the first light beam distribution pattern PL ′ shown in FIG. 4B and the one-side high beam light distribution pattern PH ′ shown in FIG. By retracting the second shade 30 downward, a high beam light distribution pattern including the opposite lane side can be formed. The same effect as that of the first embodiment can also be obtained for the vehicle headlamp device 110 according to the present embodiment.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configurations of the embodiments are appropriately combined or replaced. Those are also included in the present invention. Further, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, it is possible to appropriately change the combination and processing order in each embodiment and to add various modifications such as various design changes to the embodiment. Added embodiments may be included in the scope of the present invention.

  In addition, as a light source of the above-mentioned vehicle headlamp device, not only the above-mentioned incandescent lamp and radiator lamp but also an LED may be used. For example, you may be comprised so that it may radiate | emit directly to a projection lens from LED.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle headlamp apparatus, 12 Lamp body, 14 Translucent cover, 16 Lamp unit, 18 Light source bulb, 18a Light source, 20 Projection lens, 22 Light source image formation mechanism, 24 Reflector, 24a Reflecting surface, 26 Shade unit, 28 1st shade, 28a shielding part, 28b flange part, 28c end part, 29 shade support part, 30 2nd shade, 30a shielding part, 30b overlap part, 30c flange part, 32, 34 actuator.

Claims (3)

A light source;
A first shade and a second shade juxtaposed in the vehicle width direction so as to shield part of the light emitted from the light source at a shielding position in front of the light source;
A projection lens that forms a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line according to the tip shape of the shade by projecting the shade at the shielding position with the light emitted from the light source;
A drive unit for retracting the second shade from the shielding position;
The vehicular headlamp device, wherein the second shade is configured to partially overlap an end portion of the first shade in the vehicle width direction at the shielding position.   The second shade is configured such that a thickness of a portion overlapping the first shade in an optical axis direction is thinner than a thickness of the first shade in an optical axis direction. The vehicle headlamp device according to 1.   The second shade is configured such that the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion that does not overlap with the first shade is thicker than the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion that overlaps with the first shade. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1 or 2.

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