CN109595526B

CN109595526B - Vehicle lamp

Info

Publication number: CN109595526B
Application number: CN201811115282.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金森昭贵; 中林政昭; 伏见美昭
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-03
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2021-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-25
Also published as: CN109595526A; JP7002275B2; JP2019067660A; CN209084662U

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle lamp, in a structure provided with a light storage body, the light storage body is difficult to be observed from the outside, and the design effect is improved. A vehicle lamp is provided with a light source (6) and a light guide body (light transmitting body) (3) for emitting light emitted from the light source (6) from a front surface (first surface) (3a) facing the front of the lamp, wherein the light guide body (3) has an outer side surface (second surface) (3b) intersecting the front surface (3a), and a light storage body (5) is provided on the outer side surface (3 b). The light guide body (3) is in a state of pseudo lighting by the light emitted from the light storage body (5), and the design effect is improved. The light storage body (5) on the outer side surface (3b) is difficult to be observed outside the lamp through the front surface (3a), and the aesthetic property of the light guide body (3) can be prevented from being reduced.

Description

Vehicle lamp

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lamp for a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a lamp for a vehicle that improves a design effect of the lamp by storing light.

Background

In lamps for vehicles such as automobiles, there has been proposed a technique for improving the design effect of lamps by using a light-storing material. Patent document 1 proposes a technique of providing a decorative ring so as to surround a lamp, thereby improving the appearance of the lamp and enhancing the design effect. The decorative ring is provided with a substrate portion formed of a transparent member, and a light-storing paint is applied to the surface of the substrate portion. By the light emission of the light-storing paint, the decorative ring is in a light-emitting state, thereby improving the design effect of the lamp.

Patent document 2 proposes a technique in which a light guide portion for guiding light is provided in a part of a lamp, and a light storage material is coated on a rear end surface of the light guide portion. By emitting light accumulated in the light storage material to illuminate the surroundings of the lamp, the replacement work of the light source when the lamp is off can be facilitated.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese Utility model No. 3124538

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 4616795

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The technique of patent document 1 relates to coating a surface of a substrate portion, that is, a front surface viewed from the front of a lamp, with a light accumulating paint. In general, since the light-storing paint is made of a colored paint such as white, yellow-white, or green-white, the substrate portion of the decorative ring is observed as a member having these colors. Therefore, even if the substrate portion is formed of a transparent member, the transparent feeling is lost, and the design effect is reduced.

The technique of patent document 2 aims to illuminate the surroundings of the lamp when the light source is replaced, and therefore it is difficult to improve the design effect of the lamp. In addition, even in the case of the configuration for the purpose of improving the design effect, since the light storage material is applied to the rear end surface of the light guide portion, the light storage material can be observed through the light guide portion from the front of the lamp. Therefore, as in the case of patent document 1, the light guide portion is observed as a member having the color of the light storage material, and the design effect is reduced.

The invention aims to provide a vehicle lamp, which improves design effect by preventing a light storage body from being observed from the outside in a structure provided with the light storage body.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp including a light source and a light transmitting body for emitting light emitted from the light source from a first surface facing the front of the lamp, wherein the light transmitting body has a second surface intersecting the first surface, and a light storage body is provided so as to face the second surface. For example, the second surface is configured as a surface orthogonal to the first surface. The light accumulator may be in contact with the second surface or may be disposed to face the second surface with a gap therebetween.

In a first aspect of the present invention, the light-transmitting body is a light-guiding body having a rectangular cross-sectional shape for guiding light emitted from the light source, and a surface corresponding to one side of the rectangle faces the front of the lamp, and is configured as the first surface, and a surface adjacent to the first surface is configured as the second surface.

In a second aspect of the present invention, at least one lamp unit is disposed in a lamp housing, the light-transmitting body is a projection lens constituting the lamp unit, a front surface of the projection lens is configured as a first surface, and a peripheral surface of the projection lens is configured as the second surface.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, since the light storage body is provided so as to face the second surface of the light transmitting body, that is, the surface intersecting the front surface, the light transmitting body is caused to emit light by the light storage body, thereby improving the design effect of the lamp, and on the other hand, the light storage body can be prevented from being observed in front of the lamp, thereby preventing the design effect from being lowered.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment 1 in which the present invention is applied to a headlamp of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line II-II of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line III-III of fig. 1 of the lamp unit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the lamp unit of embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 (a) and (b) are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a part of the light guide showing a light transmission state of light in the light guide.

Fig. 6 is a front view of embodiment 2.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line VII-VII of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a projection lens according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a projection lens according to a modification of embodiment 2.

Description of the reference numerals

HL headlight (vehicle lamp)

1 lampshade

2 Lamp unit

3 light conductor (light transmission body)

3a front surface (first surface)

3b outer side (second side)

4 extension part (Shielding component)

5 light accumulating body

6 auxiliary light source

21 unit base

22 LED (light source)

23 Reflector

24 projection lens (light transmission body)

24a front surface (first surface)

24b circumferential surface (second surface)

31 light reflection element

32 light diffusion element

Detailed Description

(embodiment mode 1)

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view of a left headlamp HL of an automobile to which the present invention is applied. As shown in fig. 1, a projection-type lamp unit 2 is incorporated in a lamp housing 1 of a left headlamp HL mounted on a left front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile. The lamp unit 2 can switch between high beam light distribution and low beam light distribution. The right headlamp, not shown, is formed to be bilaterally symmetrical to the left headlamp HL, and has substantially the same basic structure.

In the globe 1, a substantially U-shaped light guide 3 is disposed so as to extend from regions on both left and right sides of the lamp unit 2 (hereinafter, front and rear, left and right, and up and down with respect to the automobile and the headlamp in fig. 1) to a lower region. The light guide 3 may function as a width indicator lamp or a daytime running lamp that lights up during daytime.

In order to prevent the regions other than the lamp unit 2 and the light guide 3 from being exposed, an extending portion 4 is disposed in the globe 1, and the extending portion 4 shields these regions to constitute a pseudo reflector for improving the design effect of the headlamp HL in terms of appearance.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head lamp HL taken along the line II-II of fig. 1, and fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head lamp unit 2 taken along the line III-III of fig. 1. The globe 1 includes a lamp body 11 and a front cover 12 made of a light-transmitting member. The lamp unit 2 and the light guide 3 are supported by the lamp body 11 by a support member, not shown.

The lamp unit 2 includes a unit base 21 that is fixedly supported by the lamp body 11 and also serves as a heat sink, and an LED22 serving as a light source is mounted on an upper surface of the unit base 21. A dome-shaped reflector 23 is attached to the unit base 21 so as to cover the LED 22. Further, a projection lens 24 is disposed in front of the reflector 23, and the projection lens 24 is attached to the unit base 21 in a state where a circumferential portion 241 thereof is held by a lens holder 25.

Further, a variable light blocking member 26 is disposed on the unit base 21 at a position rearward of the projection lens 24. Although details of the variable light-shielding member 26 are omitted, the movement of the light-shielding member can be controlled by an integrally provided actuator, and the light incident on the projection lens 24 is restricted by a change in the movement position of the light-shielding member, thereby switching the high beam light distribution and the low beam light distribution.

When the headlamp HL is turned on, the LED22 of the lamp unit 2 emits light. The light emitted from the LED22 is reflected by the reflector 23, and part of the light is blocked by the variable light blocking member 26, and the remaining light enters the projection lens 24, passes through the projection lens 24, and is irradiated to the front of the automobile. At this time, the low beam light distribution and the high beam light distribution are controlled by switching the light-shielding region by the variable light-shielding member 26.

The light guide 3 is made of a light-transmitting resin or glass, and is formed in a substantially U-shape extending from both the left and right sides of the lamp unit 2 to the lower side region thereof as described above. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one end portion of the light guide 3, and (a) and (b) in fig. 5 are a front view and a transverse cross-sectional view (horizontal cross-sectional view) of the light guide 3, respectively. The light guide 3 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and is formed into a horizontally long rectangle when viewed from the front surface side of the lamp, and a first surface facing the front of the lamp, that is, a front surface 3a of the light guide 3 faces the front of the headlamp HL.

The light reflection element 31 for reflecting light is formed on the rear surface 3c of the light guide 3 facing the lamp rear side, and for example, a plurality of reflection steps formed by fine concave portions called stippling, or fine steps formed by corrugation processing or roughening processing are formed.

A film-like light storage body 5 formed by applying a light storage material is formed on a second surface of the light guide body 3, that is, on an outer surface 3b orthogonal to the front surface 3a in this case, in a direction intersecting the front surface 3 a. The light storage body 5 stores light when irradiated with light, and emits the stored light from the surface to emit light, and is generally white, yellowish white, or greenish white. The light storage body 5 may be formed by attaching a light storage tape formed in a band shape to the outer side surface 3b of the light guide body.

Alternatively, although not shown, the light accumulation body 5 may be formed on the inner side surface 3d of the light guide body 3 facing the inside of the headlamp HL, or may be formed on both the outer side surface 3b and the inner side surface 3 d. The inner side surface 3d also intersects the front surface 3a as the first surface. In any of the configurations, the light accumulation body 5 faces the side of the headlamp HL, and therefore is not easily exposed to the front of the headlamp HL. In embodiment 1, the extension portion 4 shields the light beam from the front, thereby preventing the light beam from being exposed to the front.

On each of the end surfaces 3i at both ends of the light guide 3 in the extending direction of the curve, an auxiliary light source 6 is disposed so as to face each of the end surfaces 3 i. The auxiliary light source 6 has a substrate 61 built in and supported by the globe 1, and the auxiliary LED62 is mounted on the substrate 61. Light emitted when the auxiliary LED62 emits light is incident on each end face 3i of the light guide body 3. The light reflection element 31 is not formed on the end face 3i into which the light of the auxiliary LED62 enters.

According to the headlamp HL of embodiment 1, when the auxiliary LED62 is caused to emit light, the light emitted from the auxiliary LED62 enters the inside of the light guide 3 from both end surfaces 3i of the light guide 3 as shown in fig. 5 (a). The incident light is reflected forward by the light reflecting element 31 provided on the rear surface 3c while repeating internal surface reflection in the light guide 3, and is emitted forward from the front surface 3a of the light guide 3. This allows the front surface 3a of the light guide 3 to emit light, and can function as a wide light or a daytime running light having a substantially U-shaped light emitting surface.

When the auxiliary LED62 emits light and the light guide body 3 is in a light-emitting state, as shown by the solid arrow in fig. 5, light incident on the light guide body 3 from the auxiliary LED62 and guided inside the light guide body is projected onto the outer side surface 3b of the light guide body 3, and is irradiated onto the light storage body 5 formed on the outer side surface 3b, and is stored in the light storage body 5.

When the auxiliary LED62 is turned off, the light accumulated in the light accumulator 5 is emitted from the light accumulator 5 and enters the inside of the light guide 3 from the outer surface 3b thereof, as indicated by the broken-line arrow in fig. 5. A part of the incident light passes through the light guide 3 and exits from the front surface 3 a. Further, the other part of the light is reflected by the light reflecting element 31 on the rear surface 3c of the light guide 3 and then emitted from the front surface 3 a. Thus, the light guide 3 is in a pseudo lighting state as if it is lit by emitting light, and the design effect of the headlamp HL can be improved.

Here, when the auxiliary LED62 is turned off or the light guide body 3 is not lit in a pseudo manner, when the headlamp HL is viewed from the front, the light storage body 5 is colored in white, yellowish white, or greenish white as described above, but since the light storage body 5 is formed on the outer side surface 3b in the direction perpendicular to the front surface 3a of the light guide body 3, it is not easy to directly view the headlamp HL from the front. Further, since the light storage body 5 is shielded by the extension portion 4, the light storage body cannot be directly observed from the front of the headlamp HL. This improves the design effect of the light guide 3 by providing a transparent appearance.

Further, although the light storage body 5 may be observed through the front surface 3a of the light guide body 3 by internal reflection of the light guide body 3, the outer side surface 3b on which the light storage body 5 is formed crosses the front surface 3a at right angles, so that total reflection is likely to occur at the front surface 3a inside the light guide body 3, and the light storage body 5 observed through the front surface 3a is a very small part. Therefore, when the light guide 3 is observed, the light storage body 5 as a colored object is not observed, and the design effect of the headlamp HL is hardly affected.

As shown in fig. 5, when light diffusing element 32 formed by corrugation or roughening is formed on outer surface 3b of light guide body 3, that is, on the surface coated with light storage body 5, light emitted from light storage body 5 is incident on light guide body 3 in a diffused state. Therefore, the light emitted from the front surface 3a of the light guide 3 is also in a diffused state, and the light is emitted with uniform brightness over the entire front surface 3 a. In addition, in this way, it is difficult to observe light storage body 5 through front surface 3a of light guide body 3.

Here, if the light guide body 3 is formed such that the angle formed by the outer side surface 3b of the light guide body 3 forming the light storage body 5 and the front surface 3a of the light guide body 3 (θ of (b) in fig. 5) is an angle of not less than a right angle (90 degrees), for example, an angle of not less than (right angle) + (critical angle of the light guide body 3), total reflection is more likely to occur at the front surface 3a inside the light guide body 3, and it is more difficult to observe the light storage body 5 through the front surface 3 a. In addition, even in this case, since the light incident from light storage body 5 into light guide body 3 is diffused by light diffusing element 32, total reflection rarely occurs at front surface 3a of light guide body 3, and it is possible to perform pseudo lighting at an ideal light guide body.

In addition, when the light storage body is formed on the inner surface 3d of the light guide body 3, that is, the surface 3d on the side along the circumferential surface of the lamp unit 2 as described above, the light storage body is in a state of being shielded by the back of the lamp unit 2, and cannot be directly observed from the front of the headlamp HL.

In embodiment 1, the light guide 3 can be lit or pseudo-lit regardless of whether the lamp unit 2 is lit or unlit. Further, when the lamp unit 2 is turned on, a part of the light emitted from the LED22 may be incident on the light guide 3. In this way, when the lamp unit 2 is turned on, the light storage body 5 can store light by passing through the light guide body 3, and the luminance of the light guide body 3 at the time of pseudo lighting can be improved by increasing the amount of stored light.

(embodiment mode 2)

Fig. 6 is a front view of the headlamp HL of embodiment 2. A low beam unit 2L and a high beam unit 2H are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides in the globe 1. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the low beam lamp unit 2L taken along line VII-VII in fig. 6, and basically has the same configuration as the lamp unit 2 of embodiment 1, and the same reference numerals are attached to equivalent parts. The low beam light unit 2L does not include a variable shade, but obtains low beam light distribution by the fixed shade 26A. Although the configurations of the reflector and the projection lens are partially different, the high beam unit 2H has substantially the same structure as the low beam unit 2L, and can obtain high beam light distribution.

The low beam light unit 2L emits light emitted from the LED22 and reflected by the reflector 23 from a front surface 24a formed as a desired curved surface such as a spherical surface or an aspherical surface, which is a first surface of the projection lens 24 facing forward. The projection lens 24 has a larger size of the circumferential portion 241 in the lens optical axis direction than the projection lens 24 of embodiment 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the vicinity of the circumferential portion 241 of the projection lens 24, and by increasing the size of the circumferential portion 241 in the optical axis direction, the second surface of the projection lens 24, that is, the circumferential surface (outer circumferential surface) 24b intersecting the front surface 24a is formed to have a larger size in the lens optical axis direction than the projection lens 24 of embodiment 1.

In addition, a light storage material is applied to the circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24, on the surface intersecting the front surface 24a of the projection lens 24 as described above, to form a thin film-like light storage body 5. The projection lens 24 is supported by the unit base 21 at the circumferential portion 241 by an annular lens holder 25. The lens holder 25 includes an annular cylindrical portion 25a, a front surface flange portion 25b extending over the entire circumference at the front end of the cylindrical portion 25a, and rear surface claw portions 25c protruding in the inner diameter direction at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 25a, and holds the circumferential portion 241 of the projection lens 24 by these members.

The front surface side and the peripheral surface side of the light storage body 5 are shielded by the cylindrical portion 25a and the front surface flange portion 25b, so that at least the light storage body 5 is not exposed to the front of the headlamp HL. Further, an extension portion may be provided as in embodiment 1, and the light storage body 5 may be shielded by the extension portion.

The configuration of the high beam unit 2H, particularly the configuration in which the light accumulation body 5 is formed on the circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24, is the same as that of the low beam unit 2L. Here, as a modification of embodiment 2, light-storing body 5 may be formed only in high beam unit 2H, and light-storing body 5 may not be formed in low beam unit 2L.

When the low beam lamp unit 2L in the headlamp HL of embodiment 2 is turned on, illumination by the low beam light distribution system is performed. In addition, when the high beam unit 2H is turned on, the light distributions of the two

lamp units

2L and 2H are superimposed to perform illumination by the high beam light distribution system. When at least one of the two

lamp units

2L and 2H is turned on, most of the light emitted from the LED22 and incident on the projection lens 24 is emitted from the front surface 24a, but a part of the light is guided to the circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24 and accumulated in the light accumulator 5. Alternatively, since the rear surface side of the light accumulating body 5 is shielded by the rear surface claw portions 25c of the lens holder 25 only at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction, light from the LEDs 22 may be directly accumulated even at a position not shielded by light, thereby ensuring efficient light accumulation.

When the headlamp HL is turned off, that is, when both

lamp units

2L and 2H are turned off, the light accumulated in the light accumulator 5 is emitted from each of the

lamp units

2L and 2H, and enters the projection lens 24 from the circumferential surface 24 b. The incident light passes through the inside of the projection lens 24 and exits from the front surface 24a of the projection lens 24. Thus, the

lamp units

2L and 2H are in a pseudo-lit state in which the projection lens 24 emits light brightly, and the design effect of the headlamp HL can be improved.

Here, even when the

lamp units

2L and 2H are not lit or when the pseudo lighting is not performed, since the circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24 and the light storage body 5 formed on the circumferential surface 24b face sideways when viewed from the front of the

lamp units

2L and 2H, it is difficult to directly view the light storage body 5 from the front of the headlamp HL even when the

lamp units

2L and 2H are viewed from the front of the headlamp HL. Further, since light storage body 5 is shielded by lens holder 25, light storage body 5 cannot be directly viewed from the front of headlamp HL.

Further, since light accumulator 5 is formed on a surface of projection lens 24 perpendicular to front surface 24a, in other words, on circumferential surface 24b in the direction along the lens optical axis, even if light accumulator 5 is observed through front surface 24a of projection lens 24, the observed region is a very small portion, and the transparency of projection lens 24 is not impaired, and the design effect of headlamp HL is hardly affected.

Although not shown in the drawing, in embodiment 2, light entering the projection lens 24 from the light storage body 5 is diffused by forming a light diffusion element such as the light diffusion element 32 of embodiment 1 on the circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24, and the front surface 24a of the projection lens 24 is pseudo-lighted with uniform brightness. Further, by forming the angle formed by front surface 24a and circumferential surface 24b to be an angle based on the critical angle of projection lens 24, it is possible to more effectively prevent light accumulation body 5 from being observed through front surface 24a of projection lens 24.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to fig. 8 in a modification of embodiment 2, and portions equivalent to fig. 8 are given the same reference numerals. In this modification, a light storage body 5 having a desired thickness is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 25a of the lens holder 25, and the inner circumferential surface of the light storage body 5 is disposed so as to face the outer circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24 with a desired gap (clearance) d in the radial direction with respect to the outer circumferential surface 24b of the projection lens 24.

In this modification, as in embodiment 2, light is accumulated in the light accumulator 5 when the headlamp HL is turned on. When the headlamp HL is off, the light accumulated in the light accumulator 5 is emitted and enters the projection lens 24 to be in a state of pseudo-lighting, and the design effect of the headlamp HL can be improved. Other actions and effects are also the same as those of embodiment 2.

In this modification, since gap d is provided between light accumulator 5 and circumferential surface 24b of projection lens 24, light accumulator 5 is hard to be observed through front surface 24a of projection lens 24 due to total reflection at the inner surface of circumferential surface 24 b. Further, since it is sufficient to form light storage body 5 on the inner circumferential surface of cylindrical portion 25a of lens holder 25, manufacturing is facilitated compared to the configuration of embodiment 2 in which light storage body 5 is formed in contact with circumferential surface 24b of projection lens 24.

In embodiment 1 of the present invention, a case has been described in which the cross-sectional shape of the light guide is a rectangle, but a light guide having a polygonal cross-sectional shape of a triangle, a pentagon, or more may be used. In this case, by appropriately setting the angle between the front surface (first surface) of the light guide and the surface (second surface) intersecting the front surface, the luminance of the light guide at the time of the pseudo lighting can be improved, and the light storage body can be prevented from being observed from the outside through the light guide.

In embodiment 2 of the present invention, the projection lens is formed in a circular shape in a front view, but may be formed of a non-circular projection lens, and in this case, the light storage body is formed on an outer surface (second surface) along the peripheral edge intersecting with the front surface (first surface) of the projection lens.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp including a light source and a light transmitting body for emitting light emitted from the light source from a first surface facing the front of the lamp,

the light transmitting body has a second surface intersecting the first surface, a film-shaped light storage body coated with a light storage material is provided so as to face the second surface, and a light diffusing element is formed on the second surface of the light transmitting body to diffuse light incident from the light storage body into the light transmitting body so that the light transmitting body emits light with uniform brightness on the first surface.

2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1,

the second surface is a surface orthogonal to the first surface.

3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1,

the light accumulator is connected with the second surface.

4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2,

the light accumulator is connected with the second surface.

5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1,

the light accumulator is disposed opposite the second face with a gap therebetween.

6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2,

7. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the light transmitting body is a light guide body having a rectangular cross-sectional shape for transmitting light emitted from the light source, and a surface corresponding to one side of the rectangle faces the front of the lamp, and is configured as the first surface, and a surface adjacent to the first surface is configured as the second surface.

8. The vehicular lamp according to claim 7,

a light storage body is also provided on a third surface of the light transmitting body, the third surface being adjacent to the first surface and facing the second surface.

9. A lamp for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4,

the light-transmitting body is formed in a U-shape extending from both left and right sides of the light source to a lower side region, and an auxiliary light source is disposed on each end surface at both ends of the light-transmitting body in a curved extending direction so as to face each end surface.

10. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

at least one lamp unit is disposed in the lamp housing, the light-transmitting body is a projection lens constituting the lamp unit, a front surface of the projection lens is the first surface, and a peripheral surface of the projection lens is the second surface.