JP3148575B2 - Headlight device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp capable of changing the light distribution to the left and right.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of such a vehicle headlight device is that a movable reflector is provided in addition to the conventional main reflector, and the movable reflector is moved to change the light distribution to the left and right (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-6163). Has been proposed. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the headlight disclosed in the example. lens
A light bulb 03 is inserted vertically from above into a lamp body formed by 01 and a fixed reflector 02.

A reflecting portion 04a having a vertically long rectangular shape along the concave reflecting surface 02a of the fixed reflector 02 and having an inner surface formed in a paraboloid of revolution is formed from the upper and lower ends of the reflecting portion 04a toward the front. The projecting mounting pieces 04b and 04c are integrally formed to form a movable reflector 04, and the movable reflector 04
Reference numeral 04 denotes a reflecting portion 04 in which the upper and lower mounting pieces 04b and 04c are vertically pivotally supported.
a is rotatably supported.

The lower mounting piece 04c of the movable reflector 04 has a support hole formed in the center thereof,
Are inserted and supported via the bulb mounting ring 05. A support shaft 06 that penetrates the upper wall of the fixed reflector 02 is fixed to the upper mounting piece 04b of the movable reflector 04, and a rotating arm is provided above the support shaft 06.
07 is fixed, while the drive shaft 09 of the drive mechanism 08 is fixed.
The base of the drive arm 010 is fixed to the
0 and the tip of the rotating arm 07 are linked lever 011
Are connected by

Accordingly, the rotation of the drive shaft 09 of the drive mechanism 08 rotates the rotation arm 07 via the link lever 011, and the rotation of the rotation arm 07 rotates the movable reflector 04 via the support shaft 06. The movable reflector 04 is fixed to the fixed reflector 02 with its reflecting part 04 having a paraboloid of revolution as a vertical axis of rotation.
Can be rotated along the reflection surface 02a. In addition, a neutral position regulating means 012 is provided for urging the movable reflector 04 so as to always face the front.

The movable reflector 04 is driven by the driving mechanism 08.
Rotating to the right gives a continuous cornering light distribution to the left of the light distribution of the fixed reflector 02. Light is obtained.

[0007]

As described above, in the example described in the above-mentioned conventional publication, the movable reflector 04 is rotatably incorporated in the lamp unit, and the conventional lamp unit cannot be used as it is, which is complicated. Has a simple structure.

In addition to the above-mentioned reflector type headlamp, a projector type headlamp, that is, a reflector disposed in front by reflecting a light beam emitted from a light source focused at the focal point by a reflector having an elliptical cross section. It is difficult to apply the present invention to a device that obtains a required light projection with an optical lens. Even if it is a projector type, the projector type headlamp has a large front and rear length, and the degree of freedom in layout tends to be limited.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of such a point,
The aim is to provide a vehicle headlamp that has a simple structure that uses the lamp unit as it is, but that can change the light distribution to the left and right, and has a small front-back length and a large degree of freedom in layout. On the point.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a light source, a reflector for reflecting a light beam emitted from the light source in a vertical direction, and a circular opening of the reflector. Turn around the vertical optical axis around the periphery
The rotary member which emits toward the front of the moving and rotating annular member which is provided freely, changing the direction of light beam oriented vertically is reflected by the light beam and the reflector facing directly vertically from the light source vehicle an optical member supported on said pivot
A drive unit for rotating the optical member about a vertical axis including a light source together with a member to change the light distribution to the left and right, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit based on a traveling state of the vehicle or an operation instruction of an occupant. Vehicle headlight device.

From the beginning, a lamp unit can be constituted by a light source and a reflector, and can be combined with a rotatable optical member with its optical axis vertical, so that a commonly used lamp unit can be used substantially as it is. And the structure can be simplified. A projector-type lamp unit can be used almost as it is, and the lamp unit can be used vertically to reduce the front-rear length, thereby improving the degree of freedom in layout.

[0012] A traveling direction signal output means for detecting a traveling direction of the vehicle and outputting a traveling direction signal is provided . The control means receives and processes the traveling direction signal of the traveling direction signal output means, and processes the driving means. By controlling the optical member to a predetermined rotation position to obtain a required headlight distribution for the vehicle headlight device, it is possible to perform appropriate light distribution adjustment according to running conditions.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described below. Vehicle headlight device 1 of the present embodiment
It utilizes the projector-type lamp unit 2, the lamp unit 2, a reflector 3 which forms a semi-elliptical shape when taken along a plane including the optical axis L _1, the first focal point of the rear side of the reflector 3 Bulb 4, which is a light source disposed in
And a condensing lens 5 disposed opposite the bulb 4 so that the optical axis L ₁ is aligned with the condensing lens 5 and a cylindrical body 6 supporting the condensing lens 5.

[0014] the lamp unit 2 uses the condenser lens 5 as a vertical so that the optical axis L ₁ in the above is vertical. An annular rotating member 10 is provided at the peripheral edge of the cylindrical opening of the cylindrical body 6 at which the condensing lens 5 is fitted, via a sliding member 11, and an optical axis L.
It is provided to be rotatable around ₁ . On the rotating member 10, a reflecting mirror 12 inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees by a frame 13 is supported. The reflecting mirror 12 has a lower surface facing the condenser lens 5 as a reflecting surface.

A gear 14 is formed in the rear half of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 11, and a gear 15 meshing with the gear 14 is
Is fitted to the drive shaft of the motor. Therefore, in forward and reverse driving of the motor 16, the rotating member 10 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise around the optical axis L ₁ together with the reflecting mirror 12. A lens 17 is provided in front of the reflecting mirror 12.

The headlight device 1 according to the present embodiment has a simple structure as described above. The light emitted when the bulb 4 is turned on is directly reflected upward by the light beam and reflected by the reflector 3 to be reflected upward. There is a light flux going to
It becomes generally parallel light through the is reflected by the reflecting mirror 12 inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees, the optical axis reflected light rays that match the optical axis L ₁ in the light beam (Figure 1 oriented in a substantially horizontal direction L ₂
It passes through the lens 17 as a substantially parallel light flux) in the optical axis L ₂ when the irradiation forward.

FIG. 2 shows the state of light distribution when the reflecting mirror 12 is facing straight ahead. A light distribution 19 is formed on a light distribution screen 18 in front of the headlight device 1. The light distribution 19 is such that the optical axis L ₂ coincides with the center C in front of the light distribution screen 18,
While unfolding left and right long, the left side spreads up and down,
The right side spreads only downward and restricts upward light emission so as not to dazzle oncoming vehicles.

When the reflecting mirror 12 is rotated clockwise as viewed from above by the driving of the motor 16, the light distribution 19 moves rightward without changing the light distribution shape as shown in FIG. The visibility of the front can be improved. Similarly, when the motor 16 is driven in the reverse direction, the reflecting mirror 12 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above, and
19 can be moved to the left to improve the visibility of the front left of the vehicle.

As described above, the driving of the motor 16 causes the reflection mirror 12
The light distribution position in the left-right direction can be changed by rotating the motor. The driving of the motor 16 is controlled by the light distribution control ECU 20, and a schematic block diagram of this control system will be described with reference to FIG.

The vehicle is equipped with a navigation system 30, and the light distribution control ECU 20 obtains map information and vehicle position information from the navigation system 30, and detects a direction instruction signal of the turn switch 22 and a direction of a steered wheel. A steering angle signal of the steering angle sensor 23 and a vehicle speed signal of a vehicle speed sensor 24 for detecting a vehicle speed are input and processed to determine a required rotation position of the reflector 12 and to issue an instruction signal to set the same to the same position. 25, and the same motor driver
The motor 16 is driven by 25.

Briefly describing the navigation system 30, the navigation system E, which is the control center, is described.
In the CU 31, the current position detecting unit 32 receives the detection signals of the gyro sensor 33 and the vehicle speed sensor 24, calculates the moving position, finds the own vehicle position, performs map matching, and performs G
Correction is performed based on the own vehicle position obtained from the satellite radio wave received by the PS receiver 34, and the accurate own vehicle position is detected. The vehicle position thus obtained is displayed on the display 36 together with the road data output by the map information output device 35.

In the navigation system 30, a number of predetermined points (nodes) that can be sequentially traced along the road are set. In other words, the nodes set along the road on the map have different intervals between the nodes depending on the location. Usually, the intervals are set to be large on straight roads, and the intervals are set narrow on curved roads, and at intersections. Is always set to a node.

Various road information on the map is stored in association with each node. In addition, the navigation system 30 has a route guidance function and the like that derives the shortest route to the destination and guides the user along the shortest route.

An example of the light distribution control controlled by the above-described control system will be described. First, when the vehicle is traveling straight, the reflecting mirror 12 faces directly in front to form a light distribution 19 as shown in FIG. In this state, the turn switch 22 instructs a right turn or a steering angle sensor.
In the case where 23 outputs a right turn steering detection signal, as shown in FIG. 3, the reflecting mirror 12 is rotated clockwise, and the light distribution to the right going forward from now on is increased.

Conversely, when the turn switch 22 indicates a left turn or the rudder angle sensor 23 outputs a left turn steering detection signal, the reflecting mirror 12 is rotated counterclockwise to move rightward. Increase the light distribution to Further, when the navigation system 30 detects that there is a curve ahead of the road on which the vehicle is traveling based on the map information and the current position of the vehicle, the light distribution is increased in the direction of the curve before entering the curve. The reflecting mirror 12 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to make the mirror 12 rotate.

As described above, the visibility can be improved by directing the light distribution in the traveling direction early before entering the curve. As described above, appropriate light distribution control according to running conditions can be easily performed.

This embodiment has a simple structure in which only the reflecting mirror 12 is rotated using the projector-type lamp unit 2 as it is, and has few failures, high reliability, easy maintenance, and Low cost. Further, since the projector-type lamp unit 2 that is long in the optical axis direction is used vertically as in the present embodiment, the front-back length of the entire headlamp 1 can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in layout increases.

In the above embodiment, the projector-type lamp unit 2 is used. However, a general reflector-type lamp unit can be used as a matter of course. A reflector-type lamp unit of the vehicular headlamp apparatus 50 51 has a reflector 52 taken along a plane including the optical axis L ₁ cross section is a parabolic shape, the valve 53 at the focal point of the reflector 52 is positioned ing.

The same lamp unit 51, the optical axis L ₁ and the top opening of the reflector 52 is used as a vertical so that the vertical. The circular opening peripheral edge portion of the reflector 52 annular pivot member 60 is provided rotatably about the optical axis L ₁ via the sliding member 61. On the rotating member 60, a reflecting mirror 62 inclined at about 45 degrees by a frame is supported. The reflecting mirror 62 has a lower surface facing the reflector 52 as a reflecting surface.

A gear 64 is formed at the rear half of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 60, and a gear 65 meshing with the gear 64 is connected to a motor 66.
Is fitted to the drive shaft of the motor. Therefore, in forward and reverse driving of the motor 66, the rotating member 60 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise around the optical axis L ₁ together with the reflecting mirror 62. A lens 67 is provided in front of the reflecting mirror 55.

The headlight device 50 of this embodiment has a simple structure as described above. The light emitted when the bulb 4 is turned on is directly reflected upward by the light flux and reflected by the reflector 52 to be reflected upward. There is a luminous flux heading toward, and both are reflected by the reflecting mirror 62 inclined at an oblique angle of about 45 degrees, pass through the lens 67 as a luminous flux directed in a substantially horizontal direction, and irradiate the front, and distribute the same light distribution as in the previous embodiment. Form.

The driving of the motor 66 rotates the reflecting mirror 62 to move the light distribution to the left and right. The driving control of the motor 66 is performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment. As described above, also in this embodiment, the reflector type lamp unit 51 can be used,
The structure is simplified, there are few failures, the reliability is high, and the maintenance is easy.

In the above embodiment, the lamp unit is used vertically and installed on the lower side to direct the light reflected by the reflector vertically upward. However, the lamp unit is installed on the upper side and the reflected light is emitted vertically downward. You may make it point to. Further, although the light beam directed in the vertical direction is reflected by the reflecting mirror and emitted toward the front of the vehicle, the direction of the light beam may be changed by an optical member other than the reflecting mirror.

[0034]

According to the present invention, a lamp unit is constituted by a light source, a reflector and the like, and can be combined with a rotatable optical member with its optical axis being vertical. , The structure can be simplified, the number of failures is small, the reliability is high, the maintenance is easy, and the cost is low. A projector-type lamp unit can be easily used as it is, and the lamp unit can be vertically used to reduce the front-rear length, thereby improving the degree of freedom in layout.

The control means inputs and processes the traveling direction signal of the traveling direction signal output means, controls the driving means, sets the optical member to a predetermined rotation position, and obtains a required light distribution. By using the device, it is possible to perform appropriate light distribution adjustment according to running conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vehicle headlight device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a light distribution state of the vehicle headlight device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of light distribution in another state.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the vehicle headlight device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a vehicle headlight device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional headlight device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Headlight device for vehicles, 2 ... Lamp unit, 3 ... Reflector, 4 ... Bulb, 5 ... Condensing lens, 6 ... Cylindrical body,
10: rotating member, 11: sliding member, 12: reflecting mirror, 13: frame,
14, 15 ... gear, 16 ... motor, 17 ... lens, 18 ... light distribution screen, 19 ... light distribution, 20 ... light distribution control ECU, 22 ... turn switch, 23 ... steering angle sensor, 24 ... vehicle speed sensor, 25 ... Motor driver, 30 navigation system, 31 navigation system ECU, 32 current position detector, 33 gyro sensor, 34 GPS receiver, 35 map information output device, 36 display, 50 headlight device for vehicle ,
51… Lamp unit, 52… Reflector, 53… Bulb, 60
... Rotating member, 61 ... Sliding member, 62 ... Reflecting mirror, 64, 65 ... Gear, 66 ... Motor, 67 ... Lens.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI F21Y 101: 00 (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F21S 8/10 B60Q 1/08 F21V 7/16 F21V 14/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light source, a reflector that reflects a light beam emitted from the light source in a vertical direction, and a reflector that pivots around a vertical optical axis around a circular opening of the reflector.
A rotating annular member provided in the standing, the rotating member for emitting toward the front of the vehicle changes the direction of light beam oriented vertically is reflected by the light beam and the reflector facing directly vertically from the light source A supported optical member, driving means for rotating the optical member together with the rotating member about a vertical axis including a light source to change the light distribution to the left and right, and based on a running state of the vehicle or an operation instruction of an occupant, A headlight device for a vehicle, comprising: control means for controlling a driving means. Wherein by detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle equipped with the traveling direction signal outputting means for outputting a traveling direction signal, the control means, the drive type and processing the traveling direction signal of the traveling direction signal outputting means 2. A headlight device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said optical member is set at a predetermined rotation position by controlling means to obtain a required light distribution.