CN109630974B - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Vehicle headlamp Download PDF

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Publication number
CN109630974B
CN109630974B CN201811122320.9A CN201811122320A CN109630974B CN 109630974 B CN109630974 B CN 109630974B CN 201811122320 A CN201811122320 A CN 201811122320A CN 109630974 B CN109630974 B CN 109630974B
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
light
light emitting
emitting element
low beam
high beam
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Active
Application number
CN201811122320.9A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN109630974A (en
Inventor
大川浩嗣
山本有一
藤田阳平
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Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of CN109630974A publication Critical patent/CN109630974A/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/147—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
    • F21S41/148—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/65—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources
    • F21S41/663—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on light sources by switching light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
    • F21V15/01—Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V17/00—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages
    • F21V17/10—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening
    • F21V17/12—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening by screwing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/04—Optical design
    • F21V7/06—Optical design with parabolic curvature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2102/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
    • F21W2102/10—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light
    • F21W2102/13—Arrangement or contour of the emitted light for high-beam region or low-beam region
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention aims to provide a vehicle headlamp, which can form a desired light distribution pattern of a low beam lamp and a desired light distribution pattern of a high beam lamp by using a reflector. The vehicle headlamp of the invention is provided with a Lamp Unit (LU) which is provided with: at least one light-emitting element (42) for a high beam; at least one light-emitting element (41) for a low-beam light; and a reflector (20) that reflects light emitted from the light emitting element (42) for high beam and the light emitting element (41) for low beam. The light emitting element (42) for high beam and the light emitting element (41) for low beam are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the total area of the light exit surface (42f) of the light emitting element (42) for high beam and the total area of the light exit surface (41f) of the light emitting element (41) for low beam are different from each other.

Description

Vehicle headlamp
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp.
Background
As a vehicle headlamp represented by an automobile headlamp, there is known a headlamp to which a light source for a high beam that illuminates a front side of the headlamp at night and a light source for a low beam that illuminates a distance from the low beam are attached. The light from the light source for the high beam lamp includes light irradiated upward from the low beam lamp. In addition, some vehicle headlamps include these light sources in one lamp unit.
For example, patent document 1 discloses a vehicle lamp including at least two reflector units including 1 st and 2 nd light emitting elements arranged side by side in a front-rear direction, and a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the 1 st and 2 nd light emitting elements forward. In this vehicle lamp, the 1 st light emitting element is used as a light source for a low beam lamp, and the 2 nd light emitting element is used as a light source for a high beam lamp.
[ Prior art documents ]
[ patent document ]
Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-72017
Disclosure of Invention
[ problems to be solved by the invention ]
In the vehicle lamp of patent document 1, the 1 st light emitting elements of the reflector units are simultaneously turned on to form a light distribution pattern of a low beam lamp or a part thereof. Further, the 2 nd light emitting elements of the reflector units are simultaneously turned on, whereby a light distribution pattern of a high beam or a part thereof is formed. As described above, in the conventional vehicle headlamp, a plurality of units each including a light emitting element for a low beam, a light emitting element for a high beam, and a reflector are used to form a light distribution pattern of the low beam and a light distribution pattern of the high beam. In the case where light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam and light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam are to be reflected by one reflector, the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam and the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam can be substantially the same size. In this case, if the reflector is designed such that one of the light distribution pattern of the low beam lamp and the light distribution pattern of the high beam lamp is in a desired shape, it is difficult to make the other into the desired shape. As described above, in the conventional vehicle headlamp, it is difficult to form a desired light distribution pattern for low beam and a desired light distribution pattern for high beam with the light emitting element for low beam, the light emitting element for high beam, and one reflector.
In addition, the light source for the high beam generally irradiates a range which is farther and laterally narrower with light than the light from the light source for the low beam. Thus, when only the light source for the high beam is turned on and the light source for the low beam is turned off at the time of turning on the high beam, the illumination in the near front of the vehicle may not be sufficient from the driver. On the other hand, when the low beam light source and the high beam light source are all simultaneously turned on when the high beam is turned on, the light from the low beam light source may be too bright in the front of the vehicle as viewed by the driver, and the light irradiated at a far distance may be relatively weak.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern of a low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of a high beam with a single reflector. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of appropriately controlling the brightness and the irradiation range when a high beam is turned on.
[ means for solving the problems ]
In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention includes a lamp unit having at least one high beam light emitting element, at least one low beam light emitting element, and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the high beam light emitting element and the low beam light emitting element; the light emitting elements for high beam and the light emitting elements for low beam are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the total area of the light emitting surfaces of the light emitting elements for high beam and the light emitting surfaces of the light emitting elements for low beam are different from each other.
In the present specification, the light emitting surface of the light emitting element refers to a surface of the light emitting element that emits light. For example, when the light emitting element is an LED, the surface of the pn junction is used as a light emitting surface of the light emitting element. However, when the light emitting element is an LED that emits light from the surface of the pn junction via a phosphor, the light emitting surface of the phosphor is used as the light emitting surface of the light emitting element. The area of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element is an area of the light emitting surface when the light emitting surface is viewed along the optical axis direction of light emitted from the light emitting surface.
In the vehicle headlamp, the light emitting element for the high beam and the light emitting element for the low beam are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction, and thus the light emitted from the light emitting element for the high beam and the light emitted from the light emitting element for the low beam are reflected by the reflector in different directions in the up-down direction. Thereby, a light distribution pattern of the low beam and a light distribution pattern of the high beam are formed. However, when the size of the region irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam and the size of the region irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam are the same as described above, it is difficult to make the light distribution pattern of the high beam and the light distribution pattern of the low beam into a desired shape. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp, since the total area of the light exit surfaces of the high beam light emitting elements and the low beam light emitting elements are different from each other, the size of the light irradiated region emitted from the high beam light emitting elements and the size of the light irradiated region emitted from the low beam light emitting elements are different from each other. Thus, a desired light distribution pattern of the low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of the high beam can be formed by one reflector.
Preferably, the number of the light emitting elements for the high beam and the number of the light emitting elements for the low beam are different from each other.
Since the number of light-emitting elements for the high beam and the number of light-emitting elements for the low beam are different from each other, the total area of the light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements for the high beam and the light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements for the low beam are easily made different from each other as described above.
Preferably, the number of the light-emitting elements for high beam is the same as the number of the light-emitting elements for low beam, and the area of the light-emitting surface of one light-emitting element for high beam and the area of the light-emitting surface of one light-emitting element for low beam are different from each other.
The area of the light exit surface of one light emitting element for a high beam and the area of the light exit surface of one light emitting element for a low beam are different from each other, so that it is easy to make the total area of the light exit surfaces of the light emitting elements for a high beam and the total area of the light exit surfaces of the light emitting elements for a low beam different from each other as described above.
Preferably, one of the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element and the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element is laterally longer than the other.
The shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element is a shape obtained by combining the light exit surfaces of a plurality of low beam light emitting elements, that is, a shape surrounding the light exit surfaces of the plurality of low beam light emitting elements, when the plurality of low beam light emitting elements are provided. The shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a high beam is a shape obtained by combining the light exit surfaces of a plurality of light emitting elements for a high beam, that is, a shape surrounding the light exit surfaces of the plurality of light emitting elements for a high beam, when the plurality of light emitting elements for a high beam are provided.
When the shape of the region irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam is the same as the shape of the region irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam, the hot zone is likely to be displaced from a desired position when the high beam is turned on. By making the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element, the region irradiated with light emitted from the low beam light emitting element can be expanded in the left-right direction to a desired shape, and the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element can be irradiated in a narrow range. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting element for the high beam can be easily irradiated toward the hot zone when the high beam is turned on. Thus, a desired light distribution pattern of the low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of the high beam can be formed more easily by one reflector.
Further, by making the shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a high beam laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a low beam, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element for a high beam can be made larger than the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element for a low beam. By converging the light emitted from the light emitting element for a high beam toward a desired position with the mirror in this manner, a hot zone can be formed at a desired position when the high beam is turned on. The hot zone when the high beam is lit is preferably formed in the vicinity of the cutoff line of the light distribution pattern of the low beam. By making the shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a high beam laterally long, it is possible to suppress excessive vertical diffusion of light emitted from the light emitting element for a high beam, and a hot zone is easily formed in the vicinity of the cutoff line of the light distribution pattern of the low beam.
Preferably, one of the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element and the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element is longer than the other in the front-rear direction.
By making the shape of the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element longer in the front-rear direction, the light reflected by the reflector is easily diffused widely in the vertical direction. By making the shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a high beam longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface of the light emitting element for a low beam, the light distribution pattern of the high beam is easily expanded in the vertical direction. Thus, the high beam is easily irradiated to a remote place.
Further, by making the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element, the light distribution pattern of the low beam light is easily expanded in the vertical direction. Thus, for example, when the low beam is used for a vehicle having a high body such as a truck, the low beam is easily irradiated from a position close to the vehicle to a position far away from the vehicle.
Preferably, a plurality of the lamp units are provided, and in one of the lamp units, the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element, and in the other lamp unit, the shape of the light exit surface of the high beam light emitting element is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface of the low beam light emitting element.
It is sometimes difficult to form a bright low beam light distribution pattern and a bright high beam light distribution pattern with only light from one lamp unit. By providing a plurality of lamp units, the light distribution pattern of the low beam and the light distribution pattern of the high beam can be formed by the light from one lamp unit, and the light distribution pattern of the low beam and the light distribution pattern of the high beam can be reinforced by the light from the other lamp unit.
In order to solve the above problem, a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention includes: at least one light-emitting element for a high beam; at least one light-emitting element for a low beam; and a light emission control circuit that lights at least one of the low beam light emitting elements when the high beam is turned on, and controls a light emission intensity of light emitted from the at least one low beam light emitting element to be different from a light emission intensity of light emitted from the low beam light emitting element when the low beam light is turned on.
In the vehicle headlamp, at least one low beam light emitting element is turned on when the high beam is turned on, thereby suppressing the vehicle from becoming dark in the near front as viewed from the driver. Further, when the high beam is turned on, the light emission intensity of the light emitted from at least one low beam light emitting element is controlled so as to have a luminance different from that when the low beam is turned on, whereby the near front of the vehicle can be made to have an appropriate luminance as viewed by the driver. In this way, in the vehicle headlamp, the brightness and the irradiation range when the high beam is turned on can be appropriately controlled. When the high beam is turned on, the low beam light emitting element turned on by the light emission control circuit and the low beam light emitting element whose light emission intensity is controlled may be different from each other or may be the same as each other. That is, for example, when the high beam is turned on, one low beam light emitting element may be turned on, and the other low beam light emitting element may be turned off or dimmed, or one low beam light emitting element may be turned on at a different brightness from that when the low beam is turned on.
Preferably, the light emission control circuit reduces the light emission intensity of light emitted from at least one of the low beam light emitting elements when the high beam light is turned on, to be lower than that when the low beam light is turned on.
The reduction of the emission intensity of light emitted from the low beam light emitting element does not include the case where the low beam light emitting element is turned off. As described above, the low beam light emitting element is not turned off when the high beam is turned on, but the light emission intensity of the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element is reduced, whereby the near front of the vehicle is brightened to some extent as viewed by the driver, but excessive brightness can be suppressed.
Preferably, the lighting control circuit includes two or more low beam light emitting elements, and the light emission control circuit makes the light emission intensity of light emitted from at least one of the low beam light emitting elements the same as that of the low beam light when the high beam light is turned on.
Preferably, the vehicle further includes two or more low beam light emitting elements, and the light emission control circuit causes at least one of the low beam light emitting elements to have a higher light emission intensity than at least one of the other low beam light emitting elements when the high beam is turned on, and the low beam light emitting element having a relatively lower light emission intensity to illuminate the front of the vehicle more than the low beam light emitting element having a relatively higher light emission intensity.
By controlling the plurality of low beam light emitting elements in this manner, it is possible to easily brighten the far side from the driver when the high beam is lit, and to suppress excessive brightness in the near front of the vehicle.
Preferably, the lighting control circuit includes two or more low beam light emitting elements, and turns on at least one of the low beam light emitting elements and turns off at least one of the other low beam light emitting elements when a high beam is turned on. In this case, it is preferable that the low beam light emitting element that is turned off when the high beam is turned on is illuminated to illuminate the front side of the vehicle when the low beam is turned on than the low beam light emitting element that is turned on when the high beam is turned on.
By controlling the plurality of low beam light emitting elements in this manner, the near front of the vehicle as viewed from the driver when the low beam light is turned on is sufficiently bright, and the near front of the vehicle as viewed from the driver when the high beam light is turned on is suppressed from being excessively bright.
Further, it is preferable to provide a lamp unit including: a light emitting element for the high beam lamp; a light emitting element for the low beam lamp; and a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam and the light emitting element for low beam.
By providing one lamp unit with the light emitting element for high beam, the light emitting element for low beam, and the reflector, it is possible to form the light distribution pattern of the low beam and the light distribution pattern of the high beam with the light from one lamp unit. Thereby, the vehicle headlamp can be miniaturized.
Further, it is preferable to include: a lamp unit for a high beam lamp having the light emitting element for a high beam lamp and a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting element for a high beam lamp; and a lamp unit for low beam having the light emitting element for low beam and a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam.
It is sometimes difficult to form an appropriate light distribution pattern of the high beam only with light from the lamp unit for the high beam. By providing the lamp unit for high beam and the lamp unit for low beam, a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam can be formed by the light from the lamp unit for high beam, and the light distribution pattern of the high beam can be reinforced by the light from the lamp unit for low beam.
[ Effect of the invention ]
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern of a low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of a high beam with one reflector. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of appropriately controlling the brightness and the irradiation range when the high beam is turned on.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a vehicle including a vehicle headlamp according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of fig. 1.
Fig. 4 (a) shows a light distribution pattern of a low beam, fig. 4 (B) shows a light distribution pattern of a high beam, and fig. 4 (C) shows a light distribution pattern of daytime illumination.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing a vertical cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a vertical cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 5 of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to a modification of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a schematic front view showing a vehicle including a vehicle headlamp according to embodiment 6 of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a lamp taken along line II-II of FIG. 10 in a horizontal direction.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a lamp in the vertical direction taken along line III-III of fig. 10.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction of another lamp shown in the same perspective as fig. 12.
Fig. 14 (a) shows a light distribution pattern of a low beam, fig. 14 (B) shows a light distribution pattern of a high beam, and fig. 14 (C) shows a light distribution pattern of daytime illumination.
Fig. 15 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.
Fig. 16 is a schematic view showing a vertical cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, a mode of a vehicle headlamp for implementing the present invention is exemplified together with the drawings. The following illustrative embodiments are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. The present invention can be modified and improved based on the following embodiments without departing from the gist.
(embodiment 1)
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating a vehicle including a vehicle headlamp according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the vehicle 100 includes one vehicle headlamp 1 in each of the front left and right directions. The pair of vehicle headlamps 1 included in the vehicle 100 are formed in a shape symmetrical in the left-right direction. In the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps 1a, 1b, and 1c are arranged in a row, the lamp 1a is disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 100, the lamp 1c is disposed on the innermost side of the vehicle 100, and the lamp 1b is disposed between the lamp 1a and the lamp 1 c. The lamps 1a, 1b, and 1c may have the same configuration or different configurations.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the horizontal direction as viewed from above along the line II-II in fig. 1, and fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction along the line III-III in fig. 1. That is, fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the upper portion of the lamp 1a, and fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp 1a at a substantially center in the lateral direction. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, a lamp 1a as a part of the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a housing 10 and a lamp unit LU housed in the housing 10.
< housing 10 >
The housing 10 mainly includes a lamp housing 11, a front cover 12, and a rear cover 13. The lamp envelope 11 has a front opening, and the front cover 12 is fixed to the lamp envelope 11 so as to close the opening. An opening smaller than the front is formed in the rear of the lamp housing 11, and the rear cover 13 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close the opening.
A space formed by the lamp housing 11, the front cover 12 that closes the front opening of the lamp housing 11, and the rear cover 13 that closes the rear opening of the lamp housing 11 is a lamp room LR in which the lamp unit LU is housed.
< Lamp Unit LU >
The lamp unit LU includes, as main components, a support member 30, a reflector 20, two low beam light emitting elements 41, and one high beam light emitting element 42.
The support member 30 is a metal member, and includes a top plate 31, a rear plate 32, and an engagement portion 33. The top plate 31 is a plate-shaped metal member extending substantially horizontally, and the rear plate 32 is a plate-shaped metal member extending substantially vertically. The rear end of the top plate 31 and the upper end of the rear plate 32 are connected to each other. The locking portion 33 is connected near the upper end of the rear plate 32. The locking portion 33 extends rearward from the rear plate 32, and a screw hole opened rearward is formed in the locking portion 33. The screw 35 is screwed into this screw hole from the outside of the lamp housing 11, and the engagement portion 33 is fixed to the lamp housing 11. Screw holes are also formed in the lower side of the rear plate 32, and screws 34 are screwed into the screw holes from the outside of the lamp housing 11, whereby the rear plate 32 is fixed to the lamp housing 11. Thus, the rear plate 32 is fixed in the lamp room LR in a substantially vertical state, and the top plate 31 connected to the rear plate 32 is also fixed in the lamp room LR. Further, by adjusting these screws 34, 35, the angle of the rear plate 32, and consequently the angle of the top plate 31, can be finely adjusted.
The reflector 20 is fixed to the lower surface of the top plate 31. The reflector 20 has a reflector body portion 24 and a plated portion 23. The reflector main body portion 24 is made of resin. The plated portion 23 is a thin film made of a metal such as aluminum or a metal oxide on the front surface of the reflector body 24. The surface of this plated portion 23 serves as a light reflecting surface 23 r. The reflecting surface 23r has a concave shape formed by a free curved surface based on a parabola whose opening direction is the front side, for example. More specifically, the shape of the vertical cross section of the reflecting surface 23r is a shape below the apex when the central axis of the substantially parabolic curve is horizontal, and the shape of the horizontal cross section of the reflecting surface 23r is a shape including the apex of the substantially parabolic curve. However, the parabola of the vertical cross section of the reflecting surface 23r and the parabola of the horizontal cross section may be parabolas different from each other. The shape of the reflecting surface 23r in the horizontal cross section may be not based on a parabola, and may be based on a part of an ellipse or another concave shape, for example.
Further, a low beam light emitting element 41 and a high beam light emitting element 42 are disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 31. The low beam light emitting element 41 emits light that becomes at least a part of a low beam, and the high beam light emitting element 42 emits light that becomes at least a part of a high beam. In the present embodiment, two low beam light emitting elements 41 and one high beam light emitting element 42 are arranged. When the vehicle headlamp 1 is viewed from the front, the two low beam light emitting elements 41 are arranged in the lateral direction, and the high beam light emitting element 42 is arranged between the two low beam light emitting elements 41. That is, the two low beam light emitting elements 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 are arranged at positions overlapping with the respective vertexes of the triangle when the lower surface of the top panel 31 is viewed in plan. The light exit surface 41f of each of the two low beam light emitting elements 41 and the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 have substantially the same shape. Thus, the total area of the light exit surfaces 41f of the two low beam light emitting elements 41 is larger than the total area of the light exit surfaces 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42. As described above, the two low beam light emitting elements 41 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the shape obtained by combining the light exit surfaces 41f of the two low beam light emitting elements 41 is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42. The low beam light emitting elements 41 are disposed in the vicinity of the focal point of the base parabola of the vertical cross-sectional shape of the reflecting surface 23r, and the high beam light emitting element 42 is disposed forward of the low beam light emitting element 41.
The low beam light emitting element 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 are each an LED (light emitting diode), for example. The low beam light emitting element 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 are connected to a circuit board, not shown, and can emit light by power supply from the circuit board. The low beam light emitting element 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 may be connected to different circuit boards, or may be connected to one circuit board. However, by connecting the low beam light emitting element 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 to one circuit board, the relative positions of the light emitting elements can be easily determined while suppressing the increase in the number of components.
Next, the operation and operational effects of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 (a) shows a light distribution pattern of a low beam, fig. 4 (B) shows a light distribution pattern of a high beam, and fig. 4 (C) shows a light distribution pattern of daytime illumination.
< time of low beam lighting >
In the present embodiment, two low beam lamps are irradiated with light from the low beam light emitting element 41.
As shown in fig. 2 and 3, most of the light L41 emitted from the two low beam light emitting elements 41 is reflected by the reflecting surface 23 r. In the light L41, the low beam cut-off line shown in fig. 4 (a) is formed by the light emitted from the region on the most forward side of the emission portion of the low beam light emitting element 41. The low beam light emitting element 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the focal point of the base parabola having the cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction of the reflecting surface 23r as described above, and the light emitted from the same region in the emission portion of the low beam light emitting element 41 is reflected by any portion of the reflecting surface 23r, and becomes substantially parallel to each other after the reflection.
< time of lighting high beam >
In the present embodiment, the high beam is irradiated with light from the high beam light emitting element 42 in addition to the light L41 from the two low beam light emitting elements 41. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, most of the light L42 emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 is reflected by the reflecting surface 23 r. The high beam light emitting element 42 is disposed forward of the low beam light emitting element 41 as described above, and at least a part of the light L42 reflected by the reflecting surface 23r is irradiated above the cutoff line of the low beam light. By causing the low beam light emitting element 41 to emit light also when the high beam is turned on in this manner, a light distribution pattern that is wide in the vertical direction can be formed. That is, the driver can form a light distribution pattern in a wide range from the near front to the far side of the vehicle 100.
< daytime lighting time >
When a part of the lamps 1a to 1C is used as a lamp for daytime illumination, a light distribution pattern for daytime illumination shown in fig. 4 (C) is formed when light for daytime illumination is irradiated.
As described above, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes the lamp unit LU including: two low beam light emitting elements 41 and one high beam light emitting element 42; and a reflector 20 that reflects light emitted from the light emitting element 42 for high beam and the light emitting element 41 for low beam. The high beam light emitting element 42 and the low beam light emitting element 41 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction, and the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 and the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 41 are reflected in different directions in the vertical direction by the reflector 20. Thereby, the light distribution pattern of the low beam and the light distribution pattern of the high beam are formed as described above.
However, if one of the light distribution pattern of the high beam and the light distribution pattern of the low beam is desired to be formed in a desired shape, it is difficult to form the other in a desired shape when the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the high beam light-emitting element 42 and the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the low beam light-emitting element 41 are the same. In the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the total area of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 and the total area of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 are different from each other. Therefore, the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 and the size of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 41 are different from each other. Thus, a desired low beam light distribution pattern and a desired high beam light distribution pattern can be formed by one reflector 20.
In the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, the number of the high beam light-emitting elements 42 and the number of the low beam light-emitting elements 41 are different from each other. Thus, the total area of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 and the total area of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 are easily made different from each other as described above.
In addition, when the shape of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 is the same as the shape of the region irradiated with the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 41, the hot zone (hotzone) is likely to be displaced from a desired position when the high beam is turned on. In the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42, and thus the region irradiated with the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 41 can be expanded in the left-right direction to have a desired shape, and the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 can be irradiated in a narrow range. Therefore, the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 can be easily aimed at the hot zone when the high beam is turned on. Thus, a desired light distribution pattern of the low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of the high beam can be easily formed by one reflector 20.
(embodiment 2)
Next, embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components as those in embodiment 1, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a horizontal cross section of a lamp in embodiment 2 of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the lamp 1a according to the present embodiment, as in fig. 2.
The lamp 1a of the present embodiment includes one high beam light-emitting element 42 and one low beam light-emitting element 41, respectively, and differs from the above-described embodiment 1 in that the area of the light exit surface 42f of the one high beam light-emitting element 42 and the area of the light exit surface 41f of the one low beam light-emitting element 41 are different. The light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 of the present embodiment is formed to be laterally longer than the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42.
By thus making the area of the light exit surface 42f of one high beam light emitting element 42 and the area of the light exit surface 41f of one low beam light emitting element 41 different from each other, the total area of the light exit surfaces 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 and the total area of the light exit surfaces 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 can be easily made different from each other. Thus, as in embodiment 1, a desired light distribution pattern of the low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of the high beam can be formed by one reflector 20.
(embodiment 3)
Next, embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 6. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components as those in embodiment 1, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a horizontal cross section of a lamp in embodiment 3 of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the lamp 1a according to the present embodiment, as in fig. 2.
The lamp 1a of the present embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment 1 in the number of light-emitting elements 42 for high beam and the number of light-emitting elements 41 for low beam. The lamp 1a of the present embodiment includes two light-emitting elements 42 for high beam and one light-emitting element 41 for low beam. When viewed from the front of the vehicle headlamp 1, the two high beam light emitting elements 42 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the low beam light emitting element 41 is arranged between the two high beam light emitting elements 42. Therefore, the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41.
By making the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41, the amount of light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 is larger than the amount of light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 41. By thus condensing the light emitted from the high beam light emitting element 42 toward a desired position by the reflector 20, a hot zone can be formed at a desired position when the high beam is turned on. Preferably, the hot zone when the high beam is lit is formed in the vicinity of a cutoff line of the light distribution pattern of the low beam. By making the shape of the light output surface 42f of the high beam light-emitting element 42 laterally long, excessive diffusion of light emitted from the high beam light-emitting element 42 in the vertical direction can be suppressed, and a hot zone is easily formed in the vicinity of the cutoff line of the light distribution pattern of the low beam light.
(embodiment 4)
Next, embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 7. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components as those in embodiment 1, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a vertical cross section of a lamp in embodiment 4 of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction at a substantially center in the lateral direction of the lamp 1a according to the present embodiment, as in fig. 3.
The lamp 1a of the present embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment 1 in that two light-emitting elements 42 for high beam and one light-emitting element 41 for low beam are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, respectively. In the lamp fitting 1a of the present embodiment, as described above, the two light emitting elements 42 for the high beam are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the shape of the light exit surfaces 42f of the two light emitting elements 42 for the high beam is longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the light emitting element 41 for the low beam.
By lengthening the shape of the light output surface of the light emitting element in the front-rear direction, the light reflected by the reflector is easily spread widely in the up-down direction. By making the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41, the light distribution pattern of the high beam light is easily expanded in the vertical direction. Thus, the high beam easily irradiates a distant place.
(embodiment 5)
Next, embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 8. The same or equivalent components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted unless otherwise specified.
Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a vertical cross section of a lamp in embodiment 5 of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction at a substantially center in the lateral direction of the lamp 1a according to the present embodiment, as in fig. 3.
The lamp 1a of the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment 1 in that two low beam light emitting elements 41 and one high beam light emitting element 42 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. In the lamp fitting 1a of the present embodiment, the two low beam light emitting elements 41 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction as described above, and the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the two low beam light emitting elements 41 taken together is longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42.
By making the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 longer in the front-rear direction than the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42, the light distribution pattern of the low beam light is easily expanded in the vertical direction. Thus, for example, when the vehicle is used for a vehicle with a high body such as a truck, the low beam can be easily irradiated from a position close to the vehicle to a distant position.
The present invention has been described above by taking the above embodiments as examples, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, the number and shape of the light emitting elements 42 for high beam and the number and shape of the light emitting elements 41 for low beam are not particularly limited, and the total area of the light exit surfaces 42f of the light emitting elements 42 for high beam and the total area of the light exit surfaces 41f of the light emitting elements 41 for low beam may be different from each other.
In embodiment 1, an example in which two low beam light emitting elements 41 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to a modification of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 9, the two low beam light emitting elements 41 may be arranged in parallel in the left-right direction and at positions shifted in the front-rear direction. In addition, when a plurality of light emitting elements 42 for a high beam are provided as in embodiment 3, two light emitting elements 42 for a high beam may be arranged in parallel in the left-right direction and at positions shifted in the front-rear direction as in the present modification.
In the above embodiment, the number of lamps is not particularly limited. When a plurality of lamps are provided, the position of each lamp is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, in the above embodiment, the lamp 1a may be disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 100, and the lamp 1a may be disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 100.
In addition, when a plurality of lamp units are provided, it is preferable that the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 in one lamp unit, and the shape of the light exit surface 42f of the high beam light emitting element 42 is laterally longer than the shape of the light exit surface 41f of the low beam light emitting element 41 in the other lamp unit. That is, the lamp 1a according to embodiment 1 and the lamp 1a according to embodiment 3 are preferably used in combination. It is difficult to form a light distribution pattern of a bright low beam and a light distribution pattern of a high beam only by light from one lamp unit. By providing a plurality of lamp units, it is possible to form a light distribution pattern of a low beam and a light distribution pattern of a high beam with light from one lamp unit, and reinforce the light distribution pattern of the low beam and the light distribution pattern of the high beam with light from the other lamp unit.
In the above-described embodiment, the reflector 20 is disposed below the low beam light-emitting element 41 and the high beam light-emitting element 42, but the reflector 20 may be disposed above the low beam light-emitting element 41 and the high beam light-emitting element 42. In this case, the positional relationship in the front-rear direction of the low beam light emitting element 41 and the high beam light emitting element 42 is opposite to the above-described embodiment.
(embodiment 6)
Fig. 10 is a schematic front view illustrating a vehicle including a vehicle headlamp according to embodiment 6 of the present invention. As shown in fig. 10, the vehicle 200 includes one vehicle headlamp 21 in each of the front left and right directions. The pair of vehicle headlamps 21 of the vehicle 200 are formed in a laterally symmetrical shape. In the vehicle headlamp 21 of the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps 21a, 21b, and 21c are arranged in a row, the lamp 21a is disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 200, the lamp 21c is disposed on the innermost side of the vehicle 200, and the lamp 21b is disposed between the lamps 21a and 21 c. In the present embodiment, as described below, the lamp 21a is used as a low beam lamp and the lamp 21b is used as a high beam lamp. The lamp 21c may have the same configuration as that of either of the lamps 21a and 21b, or may have a different configuration.
< Lamp 21a >
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view in the horizontal direction as viewed from above along the line II-II of fig. 10, and fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction along the line III-III of fig. 11. That is, fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of the upper portion of the lamp 21a, and fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp 21a at a substantially center in the lateral direction. As shown in fig. 11 and 12, a lamp 21a as a part of the vehicle headlamp 21 includes a housing 210 and a lamp unit 2LUa housed in the housing 210. In the present embodiment, the lamp unit 2LUa is used as a lamp unit for low beam.
The housing 210 includes a lamp housing 211, a front cover 212, and a rear cover 213 as main components. The lamp housing 211 has a front opening, and the front cover 212 is fixed to the lamp housing 211 so as to close the opening. An opening smaller than the front is formed in the rear of the lamp housing 211, and the rear cover 213 is fixed to the lamp housing 211 so as to close the opening.
A space formed by the lamp housing 211, the front cover 212 that closes the opening in the front of the lamp housing 211, and the rear cover 213 that closes the opening in the rear of the lamp housing 211 is a lamp chamber 2LR, and the lamp unit 2LUa is housed in this lamp chamber 2 LR.
The lamp unit 2LUa mainly includes a support member 230, a reflector 220, two low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242, and a light emission control circuit 240.
The support member 230 is a metal member, and includes a top plate 231, a rear plate 232, and a locking portion 233. The top plate 231 is a plate-shaped metal member extending substantially horizontally, and the rear plate 232 is a plate-shaped metal member extending substantially vertically. The rear end of the top plate 231 and the upper end of the rear plate 232 are connected to each other. The locking portion 233 is connected to the vicinity of the upper end of the rear plate 232. The locking portion 233 extends rearward from the rear plate 232, and a screw hole opened rearward is formed in the locking portion 233. The screw 235 is screwed into this screw hole from the outside of the lamp housing 211, and the engagement portion 233 is fixed to the lamp housing 211. Screw holes are also formed in the lower side of the rear plate 232, and screws 234 are screwed into the screw holes from the outside of the lamp housing 211, whereby the rear plate 232 is fixed to the lamp housing 211. Thus, the rear plate 232 is fixed substantially vertically in the lamp chamber 2LR, and the top plate 231 connected to the rear plate 232 is also fixed in the lamp chamber 2 LR. Further, by adjusting these screws 234, 235, the angle of the rear plate 232, and consequently the angle of the top plate 231, can be finely adjusted.
The reflector 220 is fixed to the lower surface of the top plate 231. The reflector 220 has a reflector body portion 224 and a plated portion 223. The reflector main body portion 224 is made of resin. The plated portion 223 is a thin film made of metal such as aluminum or metal oxide on the front surface of the reflector main body portion 224. The surface of this plated part 223 is referred to as a light reflecting surface 223 r. The reflecting surface 223r has a concave shape formed by a free curved surface based on a parabola whose opening direction is the front side, for example. More specifically, the shape of the vertical cross section of the reflection surface 223r is a shape below the apex when the central axis of the substantially parabolic curve is horizontal, and the shape of the horizontal cross section of the reflection surface 223r is a shape including the apex of the substantially parabolic curve. However, the parabola of the vertical cross section of the reflecting surface 223r and the parabola of the horizontal cross section may be parabolas different from each other. The shape of the reflecting surface 223r in the horizontal cross section may not be based on a parabola, but may be based on a part of an ellipse or another concave shape, for example.
Two low beam light emitting elements 241, 242 are disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 231. The low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242 emit light that becomes at least a part of the low beam light. The low beam light emitting elements 241, 242 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction. The low beam light emitting element 242 is disposed in the vicinity of the focus of the base parabola of the vertical cross-sectional shape of the reflecting surface 223r, and the low beam light emitting element 241 is disposed behind the low beam light emitting element 242.
The low beam Light Emitting elements 241 and 242 are, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting diodes), respectively. The low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242 are connected to the light emission control circuit 240, respectively, and can emit light in response to power supply from the light emission control circuit 240. Further, as described below, the light emission control circuit 240 controls the intensity of light emitted from the low beam light emitting elements 241, 242 when the high beam is turned on.
< lamps 21b >
Fig. 13 is a view showing a vertical cross section of the lamp 21b, as in fig. 12. That is, fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction at the substantially center in the left-right direction of the lamp 21 b. In the description of the lamp 21b, the same or equivalent constituent elements as those of the lamp 21a are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted unless otherwise specified. As shown in fig. 13, a lamp 21b, which is a part of the vehicle headlamp 21, includes a housing 210 and a lamp unit 2LUb housed in the housing 210. The lamp unit 2LUb in the present embodiment is used as a lamp unit for a high beam lamp.
The lamp unit 2LUb is housed in the lamp chamber 2 LR. In the lamp unit 2LUb, one high beam light emitting element 251 is disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 231. The high beam light emitting element 251 emits light that becomes at least a part of the high beam. The light emitting element 251 for a high beam is disposed in front of the focal point of the base parabola having the cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction of the reflecting surface 223 r. The light emitting element 251 for a high beam lamp is, for example, an LED. The high beam light emitting element 251 is connected to the light emission control circuit 250, and can emit light in response to power supply from the light emission control circuit 250.
Next, the operation and operational effects of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 14 (a) shows a light distribution pattern of a low beam, fig. 14 (B) shows a light distribution pattern of a high beam, and fig. 14 (C) shows a light distribution pattern of daytime illumination.
< time of low beam lighting >
In the present embodiment, the low beam is irradiated with light from the two low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242.
In fig. 14 (a), the range indicated by the solid line is a range to which light from the low beam light emitting element 242 is irradiated, and the range indicated by the broken line is a range to which light from the low beam light emitting element 241 is irradiated. As shown in fig. 11 and 12, most of the two lights 2L41 and 2L42 emitted from the low beam light emitting element 241 are reflected by the reflecting surface 223 r. Among the lights 2L41 and 2L42, the light emitted from the front-most region of the emission portion of the low beam light emitting element 242 forms a cut-off line of the low beam light shown in fig. 14 (a). The low beam light emitting element 242 is disposed in the vicinity of the focal point of the basic parabola of the vertical cross-sectional shape of the reflecting surface 223r, and the light emitted from the same region in the emission portion of the low beam light emitting element 242 is substantially parallel to each other after being reflected at any portion of the reflecting surface 223 r. On the other hand, the low beam light emitting element 241 is disposed behind the low beam light emitting element 242 as described above, and at least a part of the light 2L42 reflected by the reflecting surface 223r is irradiated below the cutoff line of the low beam light. In this way, the light distribution pattern of the low beam lamp shown in fig. 14 (a) is formed.
< time of lighting high beam >
In the present embodiment, the high beam is irradiated with light from the high beam light emitting element 251 in addition to the light 2L42 from the low beam light emitting element 242. As shown in fig. 13, most of the light 2L51 emitted from the high beam light emitting element 251 is reflected by the reflecting surface 223 r. As described above, the high beam light emitting element 251 is disposed in front of the focal point of the base parabola having the cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction of the reflecting surface 223 r. Therefore, at least a part of the light 2L51 reflected by the reflecting surface 223r is irradiated above the cutoff line of the low beam lamp. When the high beam is turned on, the emission control circuit 240 controls the emission intensity of the light 2L41, 2L42 emitted from the low beam light emitting elements 241, 242. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the low beam light emitting element 242 is turned on as in the case of turning on the low beam light, and the low beam light emitting element 241 is turned off. In this way, a light distribution pattern that is wide in the vertical direction can be formed by the light 2L42 from the low beam light emitting element 242 and the light 2L51 from the high beam light emitting element 251. That is, the driver can form a light distribution pattern in a wide range from the near front to the far side of the vehicle.
< daytime lighting time >
When a part of the lamps 21a to 21C is used as a lamp for daytime illumination, a light distribution pattern for daytime illumination shown in fig. 14 (C) is formed when light for daytime illumination is irradiated.
As described above, in the vehicle headlamp 21 according to the present embodiment, when the high beam is turned on, the light emission control circuit 240 turns on one low beam light emitting element 242, and the light emission intensity of light emitted from the one low beam light emitting element 242 is controlled to be different from that when the low beam is turned on. Specifically, as described above, the low beam light emitting element 242 is turned on similarly to when the low beam light is turned on, and the low beam light emitting element 241 is turned off. By turning on at least one low beam light emitting element 242 when the high beam is turned on in this way, it is possible to suppress the vehicle 200 from becoming dark in the front as viewed from the driver. Further, when the high beam is turned on, at least one low beam light emitting element 241 is turned off, and thus, it is possible to suppress the situation in which the front side of the vehicle 200 is excessively bright as viewed from the driver. In this way, in the vehicle headlamp 21 of the present embodiment, the brightness and the irradiation range at the time of high beam lighting can be appropriately controlled.
In the vehicle headlamp 21 of the present embodiment, the low beam light emitting element 241 that is turned off when the high beam is turned on illuminates the front side of the vehicle 200 as viewed from the driver when the low beam is turned on, compared to the low beam light emitting element 242 that is turned on when the high beam is turned on. By thus irradiating the light with the low beam light emitting elements 241, 242, it is possible to suppress the near front of the vehicle 200 from being excessively bright as viewed from the driver when the high beam is turned on, and it is possible to suppress the far light from appearing relatively dark compared to the near front light.
Further, the vehicle headlamp 21 of the present embodiment includes: a lamp unit 2LUb for high beam lamp having a light emitting element 251 for high beam lamp and a reflector 220 for reflecting light 2L51 emitted from the light emitting element 251 for high beam lamp; and a lamp unit 2LUa for low beam including low beam light-emitting elements 241 and 242 and a reflector 220 that reflects light 2L41 and 2L42 emitted from the low beam light-emitting elements 241 and 242. When it is difficult to form an appropriate light distribution pattern of the high beam only by the light from the lamp unit 2LUb for the high beam, by providing the lamp unit 2LUb for the high beam and the lamp unit 2LUa for the low beam as described above, it is possible to form a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam by the light from the lamp unit 2LUb for the high beam and reinforce the light distribution pattern of the high beam by the light from the lamp unit 2LUa for the low beam.
(7 th embodiment)
Next, embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 15 and 16. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the same or equivalent constituent elements as those in embodiment 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 15 is a schematic view showing a horizontal cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 7 of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a lamp 21a according to the present embodiment, as in fig. 11. Fig. 16 is a schematic view showing a vertical cross section of a lamp according to embodiment 7 of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction at a substantially center in the lateral direction of the lamp 21a of the present embodiment, as in fig. 12.
The lamp 21a of the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes one low beam light-emitting element 242 and one high beam light-emitting element 251. In the lamp 21a of the present embodiment, the low beam light emitting element 242 is turned on and the high beam light emitting element 251 is turned off when the low beam light is turned on. The light emission control circuit 240 turns on the high beam light emitting element 251 when the high beam is turned on, and turns off the low beam light emitting element 242 with a lower light emission intensity than when the low beam is turned on. The reduction of the emission intensity of the low beam light emitting element 242 does not include the turning off of the low beam light emitting element 242.
As described above, by reducing the emission intensity of light emitted from the low beam light emitting element 242 without turning off the low beam light emitting element 242 when the high beam is turned on, the front side of the vehicle 200 is brightened to some extent from the driver, but excessive brightness can be suppressed.
Further, the lamp unit 2LUa of the present embodiment includes: a light emitting element 251 for a high beam lamp; a light emitting element 242 for low beam; and a reflector 220 that reflects the lights 2L42, 2L51 emitted from the high beam light emitting element 251 and the low beam light emitting element 242. The single lamp unit 2LUa includes the high beam light emitting element 251, the low beam light emitting element 242, and the reflector 220, and thus can form a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern from light from the single lamp unit 2 LUa. Thereby, the vehicle headlamp can be miniaturized.
The present invention has been described above by taking the above embodiments as examples, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, the number of the low beam light-emitting elements and the high beam light-emitting elements is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, the lamp unit 2LUa according to embodiment 7 may include a plurality of low beam light emitting elements. The lamp unit 2LUa according to embodiment 6 may include three or more low beam light emitting elements. When two or more low beam light emitting elements are provided, the light emission control circuit 240 preferably controls the plurality of low beam light emitting elements as follows when the high beam is turned on. That is, it is preferable that at least one of the low beam light emitting elements is turned on, and at least one of the other low beam light emitting elements is turned off or has a lower light emission intensity than that when the low beam light is turned on. In this case, the low beam light emitting element that is turned off or has a reduced illuminance illuminates the near front of the vehicle as seen from the driver when the low beam light is turned on, as compared with the low beam light emitting element that is turned on when the high beam light is turned on.
In the case where two or more low beam light emitting elements are provided, the light emission control circuit 240 preferably makes the light emission intensity of light emitted from at least one low beam light emitting element the same as that in the case where the low beam light is turned on and makes the light emission intensity of light emitted from at least one other low beam light emitting element lower than that in the case where the low beam light is turned on when the high beam light is turned on. By controlling the low beam light emitting element in this manner, the near front of the vehicle 200 as viewed from the driver when the low beam light is turned on is sufficiently bright, and the near front of the vehicle 200 as viewed from the driver when the high beam light is turned on can be suppressed from becoming excessively bright.
In addition, in the case where two or more low beam light emitting elements are provided, the light emission intensity of light emitted from all the low beam light emitting elements may be lower when the high beam is turned on than when the low beam is turned on.
In the above embodiment, the number of the lamp units is not particularly limited. When a plurality of lamps are provided, the position of each lamp is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, in the above embodiment, the lamp 21a may be disposed on the outermost side of the vehicle 200, and the lamp 21a may be disposed on the outermost center side of the vehicle 200.
In the above-described embodiment, the reflector 220 is disposed below the low beam light-emitting elements 241 and 242 or the high beam light-emitting element 251, but the reflector 220 may be disposed above the low beam light-emitting elements 241 and 242 or the high beam light-emitting element 251. In this case, the positional relationship of the light emitting elements in the front-rear direction is opposite to that of the above embodiment.
In the above embodiment, the case where LEDs are used as the low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242 and the high beam light emitting element 251 has been described as an example, but the low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242 and the high beam light emitting element 251 may be a laser light source or another light source.
In the above-described embodiment, the so-called parabolic lamp in which the reflector 220 reflects the light emitted from the low beam light emitting elements 241 and 242 and the high beam light emitting element 251 has been described as an example, but the lamp used in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The lamp used in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention may be a projection type lamp that emits light emitted from the light emitting element through a convex lens, or a direct lens type lamp that emits light from the light emitting element directly through a lens.
In addition, when a plurality of low beam light emitting elements are provided, the light emission control circuit may increase the light emission intensity of at least one low beam light emitting element to be higher than the light emission intensity of at least one other low beam light emitting element when the high beam is turned on. In this case, it is preferable that the low beam light emitting element having a relatively low emission intensity irradiates the front side of the vehicle more than the low beam light emitting element having a relatively high emission intensity. Thus, by controlling the plurality of low beam light emitting elements, it is possible to easily brighten the distance from the driver when the high beam is lit, and to suppress excessive brightness in the near front of the vehicle.
In the above description, the example in which the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element is made darker when the high beam is turned on than when the low beam is turned on has been described, but the light emitted from the low beam light emitting element may be made brighter when the high beam is turned on than when the low beam is turned on. When the high beam is turned on, the light emission intensity of the light emitted from at least one low beam light emitting element is controlled to be different from the light emission intensity of the light emitted when the low beam is turned on, whereby the near front of the vehicle as viewed from the driver can be made to have an appropriate light intensity.
[ Industrial availability ]
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern of a low beam and a desired light distribution pattern of a high beam with one reflector. The present invention can also provide a vehicle headlamp capable of appropriately controlling the brightness and the irradiation range when the high beam is turned on. The vehicle headlamp can be used in the field of vehicle headlamps for automobiles and the like.

Claims (7)

1. A vehicular headlamp characterized by comprising:
at least one light-emitting element for a high beam lamp,
at least one light-emitting element for the low-beam light,
a lamp chamber for receiving a lamp unit, and
a light emission control circuit for lighting at least one of the low beam light emitting elements when a high beam is turned on and controlling a light emission intensity of light emitted from the at least one of the low beam light emitting elements to a luminance different from that when a low beam is turned on,
wherein the low beam lamp further comprises two or more light emitting elements,
when the high beam is turned on, the light emission control circuit causes at least one of the low beam light emitting elements to emit light having a higher emission intensity than at least one of the other low beam light emitting elements, and the low beam light emitting element having a relatively lower emission intensity irradiates the front side of the vehicle more than the low beam light emitting element having a relatively higher emission intensity.
2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1,
the light emission control circuit reduces the light emission intensity of light emitted from at least one of the low beam light emitting elements when the high beam light is turned on, to be lower than that when the low beam light is turned on.
3. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1,
comprises two or more light emitting elements for low beam,
the light emission control circuit makes the light emission intensity of the light emitted from at least one of the low beam light emitting elements the same as that when the low beam light is turned on when the high beam light is turned on.
4. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1,
comprises two or more light emitting elements for low beam,
the light emission control circuit turns on at least one of the low beam light emitting elements and turns off at least one of the other low beam light emitting elements when a high beam is turned on.
5. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 4,
the low beam light emitting element that is turned off when the high beam is turned on illuminates the near side of the vehicle more than the low beam light emitting element that is turned on when the high beam is turned on.
6. The vehicular headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:
and a lamp unit including the light emitting element for high beam, the light emitting element for low beam, and a single reflector that reflects light emitted from the light emitting element for high beam and the light emitting element for low beam.
7. The vehicular headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:
a lamp unit for a high beam lamp, which comprises the light emitting element for a high beam lamp, a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting element for a high beam lamp, and
a lamp unit for low beam comprises the light emitting element for low beam and a reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting element for low beam.
CN201811122320.9A 2017-10-06 2018-09-26 Vehicle headlamp Active CN109630974B (en)

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