CN112166284B

CN112166284B - Vehicle lamp

Info

Publication number: CN112166284B
Application number: CN201980034645.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 仲野裕次
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-30
Filing date: 2019-05-09
Publication date: 2022-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-09
Also published as: JPWO2019230319A1; JP7216875B2; CN112166284A; WO2019230319A1

Abstract

High visibility can be ensured regardless of the visibility direction. The disclosed device is provided with: a light source that emits light; and a light guide body having an incident surface on which light emitted from the light source enters and a plurality of emission surfaces that emit the light entering from the incident surface, wherein a region where the plurality of emission surfaces exist is formed as an emission region, the plurality of emission surfaces are formed as at least one of a 1 st emission surface, a 2 nd emission surface, and a 3 rd emission surface, an emission angle of the 1 st emission surface is set to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined axis, emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface are set to be larger than the predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined axis, an emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface and an emission direction of the 3 rd emission surface are set to be different directions, and the 2 nd emission surface, the 1 st emission surface, and the 3 rd emission surface exist in order adjacent to each other in at least a half region of the emission region.

Description

Vehicle lamp

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp including a light guide for controlling light emitted from a light source.

Background

Some vehicle lamps include a light guide body that emits light emitted from a light source in a predetermined direction, and the light guide body has a structure having a plurality of emission surfaces (see, for example, patent document 1).

In such a vehicle lamp, light emitted from the light source is guided by the light guide, and is emitted from each emission surface in a predetermined direction to be irradiated to the outside.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-153619

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the vehicle lamp described in patent document 1 having the light guide, the plurality of emission surfaces of the light guide are formed in the same direction, and when the lit state of the vehicle lamp is visually recognized by a pedestrian, a passenger of another vehicle, or the like, it is recognized that the position where light emission appears on each emission surface moves uniformly according to the angle of visual recognition.

For example, when the vehicle lamp is viewed from the front, the position where the light emission appears on each emission surface is identified as the center portion of each emission surface, and when the vehicle lamp is viewed from the oblique side (left and right sides), the position where the light emission appears on each emission surface is identified as the position located on the left or right side of the center portion of each emission surface.

Therefore, when the vehicle lamp is visually recognized, only the illumination state of the light is recognized to be monotonously changed according to the angle of visual recognition, and visibility is poor.

Further, when the vehicle lamp is viewed obliquely with respect to the front, the amount of light emitted obliquely from the vehicle lamp is small, and depending on the viewing direction, the light is difficult to be viewed and visibility may be degraded.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to ensure high visibility regardless of the direction of visibility.

Means for solving the problems

A vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes: a light source that emits light; and a light guide body having an incident surface on which light emitted from the light source enters and a plurality of emission surfaces from which light incident from the incident surface is emitted, wherein an area in which the plurality of emission surfaces exist is formed as an emission area, the plurality of emission surfaces are formed as at least one of a 1 st emission surface, a 2 nd emission surface, and a 3 rd emission surface, an emission angle of the 1 st emission surface is set to a predetermined angle or less with respect to a predetermined axis, emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface are set to be larger than the predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined axis, an emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface and an emission direction of the 3 rd emission surface are set to be different directions, and the 2 nd emission surface, the 1 st emission surface, and the 3 rd emission surface are sequentially present adjacent to each other in at least a half area of the emission area.

Thus, in at least half of the emission region, there are a 1 st emission surface for emitting light at an angle smaller than the emission angles of the 2 nd and 3 rd emission surfaces, a 2 nd emission surface for emitting light at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface, and a 3 rd emission surface for emitting light in a direction different from the emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface.

In the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, it is preferable that the emission angle of at least one of the plurality of emission surfaces is set to be different from the emission angles of all adjacent emission surfaces.

Thus, since the emission angle of at least one emission surface is different from the emission angles of all the emission surfaces adjacent to the emission surface, the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle when the region where the one emission surface and the emission surface around the emission surface exist is viewed.

In the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, it is preferable that an emission angle or an emission direction of any one of the plurality of emission surfaces is set to be different from an emission angle or an emission direction of all adjacent emission surfaces.

Thus, in any emission surface of the light guide, the emission angle or the emission direction is different from the emission angles or the emission directions of all the adjacent emission surfaces, and therefore, when the emission area is viewed, the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle.

4, in the vehicle lamp of the present invention as described above, it is preferable that the emission region is formed by a plurality of divided regions in which at least the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface are present, respectively, and the emission angles with respect to the predetermined axis of the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface in the divided region closest to the light source among the plurality of divided regions are set to be the largest among the emission angles with respect to the predetermined axis of all the emission surfaces.

This allows light to exit at a large exit angle in the divided region closest to the light source.

A vehicle lamp according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a light source that emits light; and a light guide body having an incident surface on which light emitted from the light source enters, a plurality of reflection surfaces that internally reflect the light entering from the incident surface, and an emission surface that emits light internally reflected by each of the plurality of reflection surfaces, wherein a region in which the plurality of reflection surfaces exist is formed as a reflection region, the plurality of reflection surfaces are formed as at least one of a 1 st reflection surface, a 2 nd reflection surface, and a 3 rd reflection surface, a reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface is equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined axis, reflection angles of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface are respectively set to be larger than the predetermined angle with respect to the predetermined axis, a reflection direction of the 2 nd reflection surface and a reflection direction of the 3 rd reflection surface are set to be different directions, and the 2 nd reflection surface, the 1 st reflection surface, and the 3 rd reflection surface are sequentially present adjacent to each other in at least one half of the reflection regions.

Thus, in at least half of the reflection region, there are a 1 st reflection surface that reflects light at an angle smaller than the reflection angles of the 2 nd and 3 rd reflection surfaces, a 2 nd reflection surface that reflects light at an angle larger than the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface, and a 3 rd reflection surface that reflects light at an angle larger than the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface in a direction different from the reflection direction of the 2 nd reflection surface.

In the aforementioned another vehicle lamp according to the present invention, it is preferable that a reflection angle of at least one of the plurality of reflection surfaces is set to be different from a reflection angle of all adjacent reflection surfaces.

Thus, since the reflection angle of at least one reflection surface is different from the reflection angles of all the reflection surfaces adjacent to the reflection surface, the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle when the region where the one reflection surface and the reflection surfaces around the one reflection surface exist is viewed.

In the vehicle lamp according to the other aspect of the invention, it is preferable that a reflection angle or a reflection direction of any one of the plurality of reflection surfaces is different from a reflection angle or a reflection direction of all adjacent reflection surfaces.

Accordingly, since the reflection angle or the reflection direction is different from the reflection angle or the reflection direction of all the adjacent reflection surfaces on any of the reflection surfaces of the light guide, the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle when the reflection area is viewed.

In the above-described other vehicle lamp according to the present invention, it is preferable that the reflection region is formed by a plurality of divided regions in which at least the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface are present, respectively, and reflection angles with respect to the predetermined axis of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface in the divided region closest to the light source among the plurality of divided regions are set to be the largest among reflection angles with respect to the predetermined axis of all the reflection surfaces.

Thereby, light is reflected at a large reflection angle in a divided area closest to the light source.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, since the emission surface or the reflection surface which emits or reflects light at different angles or in different directions is present in at least half of the emission region or the reflection region, high visibility can be ensured regardless of the viewing direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with fig. 2 to 18.

Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a light guide shown together with a light source.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light guide shown together with a light source.

Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the emission region.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the ratio of the emission angle of the emission surface.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the emission angle of the emission surface.

Fig. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example in which the emission in the left-right direction and the emission in the up-down direction are considered.

Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a structure in a case where the emission surface is formed in a triangular shape.

Fig. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a structure in a case where the emission surface is formed in a hexagonal shape.

Fig. 10 shows an example of a structure for recognizing characters, patterns, and the like by light together with fig. 11 to 14, and this figure is a conceptual diagram showing a traveling direction of light.

Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which characters are recognized by light emitted from the 1 st emission surface.

Fig. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which a pattern is recognized by light emitted from the 2 nd emission surface.

Fig. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example in which a pattern is recognized by light emitted from the 3 rd emission surface.

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of light distribution.

Fig. 15 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another light guide shown together with a light source.

Fig. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another light guide shown together with a light source.

Fig. 17 is a schematic plan view showing an example in which a light control member is disposed on the rear side of a light guide.

Fig. 18 is a side view showing an example of a bent light guide.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a mode for implementing the vehicular lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, an axis as a reference of the light emission direction is an axis extending in the front-rear direction and indicates the front-rear, up-down, left-right direction. However, the front-back, up-down, left-right directions shown below are for convenience of explanation, and the practice of the present invention is not limited to these directions.

The vehicle lamp 1 is mounted and arranged at, for example, both left and right end portions of a vehicle body. The vehicle lamp 1 includes: a lamp housing (lamp housing) 2 having a recess opening forward and a cover (cover) 3 (see fig. 1) closing the opening of the lamp housing 2. The lamp housing 4 is formed by the lamp housing 2 and the cover 3. The inner space of the lamp housing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5. Fig. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the configuration of the vehicle lamp 1, and does not show the specific shape and size of each part constituting the vehicle lamp 1.

A light source 6 for emitting light and a light guide 7 for emitting light emitted from the light source 6 are disposed in the lamp chamber 5. As the Light source 6, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is used. The light guide 7 is disposed in a state inclined so as to be low in height, for example, and has a rear surface formed as an incident surface 8, and the incident surface 8 is formed in a curved surface shape protruding rearward (see fig. 1 and 2). The upper surface of the light guide 7 is formed as an emission area 10. The light source 6 is disposed opposite to the incident surface 8.

The plurality of light sources 6 may be disposed so as to face the incident surface 8, and may be disposed so as to be separated from each other, for example, in the left-right direction or in the up-down direction. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity of description, an example will be described in which one light source 6 is positioned to face the center portion of the incidence surface 8 in the left-right direction.

A predetermined axis that becomes a reference of the light emission direction of the vehicle lamp 1 is, for example, an axis J (see fig. 2) extending in the front-rear direction. In addition, although the scattering angle, emission direction, emission angle, and the like of light are shown below with reference to the axis J, the predetermined axis to be used as a reference in the present invention is not limited to the axis J, and may be, for example, an optical axis of light emitted from the light source 6 or another axis other than the optical axis.

The emission region 10 has a plurality of emission surfaces 20, 20 (see fig. 2 and 3). The exit surfaces 20, 20 are formed, for example, as planes. However, a scattering step may be formed on the emission surfaces 20 and 20 so that the scattering angle with respect to the axis J is, for example, within 5 degrees. Further, FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams conceptually showing the structure of the light guide 7, the actual orientation, size, and arrangement state of the emission surfaces 20, and the light guide 7 are not shown.

The emission surfaces 20, the front and rear emission surfaces are located at positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and planar non-emission surfaces 21, and the front and rear emission surfaces are formed between the emission surfaces 20, and the front and rear emission surfaces, respectively (see fig. 2). The emission surfaces 20, are formed at positions spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, for example (see fig. 3). However, the emission surfaces 20, 20 and the exit.

In the vehicle lamp 1 configured as described above, when light is emitted from the light source 6, the emitted light enters the light guide body 7 from the incident surface 8 and becomes parallel light through the incident surface 8. The light incident from the incident surface 8 is guided by the light guide 7, and a part of the light reaches the emission surfaces 20, and 20.

A specific configuration of the emission region 10 in the light guide 7 will be described below (see fig. 4 to 6). Note that the symbols shown in the drawings referred to in the following description of the emission region 10 have the following meanings.

"·" indicates that the emission direction is 10 degrees or less with respect to the axis J, "→" indicates that the emission direction is the left direction and is greater than 10 degrees with respect to the axis J, and "←" indicates that the emission direction is the right direction and is greater than 10 degrees with respect to the axis J.

The emission region 10 is constituted of, for example, four base regions 11, and an emission right. In fig. 4, the

basic areas

11, 11. The direction of division of the base region 11 provided in the emission region 10 and the number of base regions 11 are arbitrary.

The base region 11 is constituted by nine divisional regions 12, which are equally divided up, down, left, and right, for example. In fig. 4, the divided

regions

12, 12 are shown as being divided by thin solid lines. The direction of division of the divided regions 12 provided in the base region 11 and the number of the divided regions 12 are arbitrary.

The divided region 12 is formed of, for example, nine

emission surfaces

20, 20 equally divided in the vertical direction and the left-right direction. In fig. 4, the exit surfaces 20, 20. The direction of division of the emission surfaces 20 provided in the divided regions 12 and the number of emission surfaces 20 are arbitrary.

In fig. 4, the example in which the emission region 10, the basic region 11, the divided regions 12, and the emission surface 20 are all square is shown, but the shapes of the emission region 10, the basic region 11, the divided regions 12, and the emission surface 20 are arbitrary, and may be polygons other than squares such as rectangles, parallelograms, rhomboids, and triangles. Note that, in fig. 4, the emission surfaces 20, 20 and the.

In the light guide 7, when the emission directions of the light emitted from the emission surfaces 20 are divided into predetermined ranges, the ratio of the area of the emission surface 20 included in each range to the area of the emission region 10 is as follows (see fig. 5).

If the range is divided into six ranges, for example, range 1 to range 6, the range (angle 0 degree) in which the emission direction is parallel to the axis J is range 1, and each range in which the emission direction is divided every 10 degrees is range 2 to range 6. In fig. 5, the range 2 to the range 6 includes "left" and "right", which respectively indicate that the emission direction is left or right.

The proportion of the range 1 is set to about 10%, for example, 11%. The ratio of each range from range 2 to range 6 is set to a value within 10 with respect to the ratio of range 1. For example, in the case where the proportion of range 1 is 11%, the proportions of "left" and "right" of ranges 2 to 6 are set to be 1% or more and 21% or less, respectively.

The emission surfaces 20 and 20 are formed as 1 of the 3 emission surfaces, respectively (see fig. 4 and 5). These 3 kinds of emission surfaces are referred to as a 1 st emission surface 20A, a 2 nd emission surface 20B, and a 3 rd emission surface 20C, and the 1 st emission surface 20A, the 2 nd emission surface 20B, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are emission surfaces that emit light in different directions.

The emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A is set to a predetermined angle, for example, 10 degrees or less with respect to the axis J (see fig. 5). The 2 nd emission surface 20B is an emission surface having an emission angle larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emitting light to the left. The 3 rd emission surface 20C is an emission surface having an emission angle larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emitting light to the right.

Further, the predetermined angle described above is not limited to 10 degrees, and may be other angles. However, the predetermined angle is preferably an angle close to 10 degrees, and for example, any angle of 5 to 15 degrees can be used.

In the light guide 7, a 2 nd emission surface 20B, a 1 st emission surface 20A, and a 3 rd emission surface 20C are adjacently present in this order in at least half of the emission region 10 (see fig. 4). The half of the emission region 10 is a region occupied by the two

base regions

11 and 11.

Specifically, the light guide 7 is configured such that the 2 nd emission surface 20B, the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are adjacent to each other in this order in each divided region 12.

For example, in the divided region 12A shown by being extracted in fig. 4, the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are located adjacent to the 1 st emission surface 20A at the left and right sides across the 1 st emission surface 20A at the middle stage, and the 2 nd emission surface 20B, the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are located adjacent in this order.

For example, in the divided region 12A, the 3 rd emission surface 20C and the 2 nd emission surface 20B are located adjacent to the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 2 nd emission surface 20B, the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are located adjacent to each other in this order, on both upper and lower sides across the 1 st emission surface 20A.

Each of the divided regions 12 is composed of, for example, three 1

st emission surfaces

20A, and 20A, three 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, and three 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, and 20C.

In the light guide 7, the emission angle of at least one emission surface 20 is set to be different from the emission angles of all the adjacent emission surfaces 20, 20.

For example, in the divided region 12A shown by being extracted in fig. 4, the 1 st emission surface 20A is located at the center, and the adjacent four emission surfaces 20, the emission.. Are located at the upper, lower, left, and right sides, and the four emission surfaces 20, the emission.. Are located adjacent to each other at the upper, lower, left, and right sides and are set as the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, 20B and the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C. Therefore, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A located at the center is set to be different from the emission angles of the four

emission surfaces

20, 20 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

In addition, for example, in a region B spanning four adjacent divided regions 12, and the right-angle section, which is extracted and shown in fig. 4, the 1 st emission surface 20A is located at the center, and the adjacent four emission surfaces 20, and the right-angle section are located in the upper, lower, left, and right directions, and the adjacent four emission surfaces 20, and the right-angle section are set as the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, 20B and the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C. Therefore, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A located at the center is set to be different from the emission angles of the four

emission surfaces

20, 20 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

In the light guide 7, when any of the emission surfaces 20 is set as a reference, the emission angle or the emission direction of the emission surface 20 set as the reference is different from all the adjacent emission surfaces 20, 20.

For example, in a divided region 12C shown by being extracted in fig. 4, a 2 nd emission surface 20B is located at the center, and four adjacent emission surfaces 20, the emission surface is located at the upper, lower, left, and right sides, and the four adjacent emission surfaces 20, the emission surface is set as a 1 st emission surface 20A, and a 3

rd emission surface

20C, 20C. Therefore, the emission angle or the emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface 20B located at the center is set to be different from the emission angles or the emission directions of the four

emission surfaces

20, 20 adjacent to each other in the up-down, left-right direction.

In addition, for example, in the region B shown by being extracted in fig. 4, the 1 st emission surface 20A is located at the center, and the adjacent four emission surfaces 20, the emission.. Are located at the upper, lower, left, and right sides, and the four emission surfaces 20, the emission.. Are located adjacent to each other at the upper, lower, left, and right sides, and are set as the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, 20B and the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C. Therefore, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A located at the center is different from the emission angles of the four

emission surfaces

20, 20 adjacent to each other in the up-down, left-right direction.

Next, the respective emission angles of the emission surfaces 20, and the emission right angle will be described (see fig. 6).

In fig. 6, the upper right diagram shows the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the lower right diagram shows the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C. In each figure, the parts showing the numerical values are the

divisional areas

12, 12. In the upper drawing, "left" or "right" indicates that the emission direction is left or right, respectively.

For example, in the divided region 12C, the emission angles of the emission surfaces 20, and 20 are set to 0 degree (parallel to the axis J) or 20 degrees, the emission angle of the 1

st emission surface

20A, and 20A is set to 0 degree, the emission angle of the 2

nd emission surface

20B, and 20B is set to 20 degrees to the left, and the emission angle of the 3

rd emission surface

20C, and 20C is set to 20 degrees to the right.

The exit angles of the 2 nd exit surface 20B, the.look.. And the 3 rd exit surface 20C, the.look.. In the divided

region

12B, 12B closest to the light source 6 in the divided region 12, the.look.. Are set to be the largest in all the exit angles of the exit surfaces 20, the.look.. In. Specifically, the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B, and the 3

rd emission surface

20C, 20C in the divided

regions

12B, 12B are set to 40 degrees, for example.

The minimum value of the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C is set to 11 degrees, but the minimum value of the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C may be set to 10 degrees, for example.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1, the emission angles with respect to the axis J of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C in the divided

regions

12B, 12B closest to the light source 6 are set to be the largest among the emission angles with respect to the axis J of all the emission surfaces 20.

Therefore, since light is emitted at a large emission angle in the divided

regions

12B and 12B closest to the light source 6, the occurrence of a phenomenon called dot emission in which luminance is particularly high in the vicinity of the light source 6 and is visually recognized with respect to other regions is suppressed, and a uniform emission state is recognized when the emission region 10 is visually recognized, whereby visibility can be improved.

The "left direction" of the emission direction described above may be a direction including an obliquely upper left direction and an obliquely lower left direction, and the "right direction" of the emission direction may be a direction including an obliquely upper right direction and an obliquely lower right direction.

Next, an example in which the upper and lower emission directions are also considered will be described (see fig. 7). In fig. 7, only one basic area is shown for the sake of simplifying the description. In fig. 7, "↓" indicates an emission direction upward larger than 10 degrees with respect to the axis J, and "↓" indicates an emission direction downward larger than 10 degrees with respect to the axis J.

In fig. 7, the base region 11 in the case where the left and right emission directions are taken into consideration is shown on the left side of the upper stage, and the base region 11P in the case where the up and down emission directions are taken into consideration is shown on the right side of the upper stage.

By forming each emission surface 20 in a concept in which the base region 11P is superimposed on the base region 11 in consideration of the upper and lower emission directions in addition to the left and right emission directions, the base region 11Q (see the lower stage of fig. 7) having a structure in which light is emitted in an oblique direction with respect to the upper, lower, left and right directions can be formed.

For example, the emission surface 20 that emits light obliquely to the left and downward is formed by superimposing the emission to the left and the emission to the downward on the same emission surface 20.

By forming such emission regions in consideration of the overlapping, the degree of freedom of light distribution control can be improved. In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1, the emission region may be formed in consideration of only the left-right direction, or the emission region may be formed in consideration of only the up-down direction.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A is set to be equal to or smaller than the predetermined angle with respect to the axis J, the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are set to be larger than the predetermined angle with respect to the axis J, the emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the emission direction of the 3 rd emission surface 20C are set to be different directions, and the 2 nd emission surface 20B, the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C are adjacent to each other in this order in at least half of the emission region 10.

Therefore, in at least half of the emission region 10, there are the 1 st emission surface 20A that emits light at an angle smaller than the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C, the 2 nd emission surface 20B that emits light at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C that emits light at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A in a direction different from the emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface 20B, and therefore, high visibility can be ensured regardless of the visual recognition direction.

In particular, a so-called flickering sensation in which the position of the emission surfaces 20, · that appear to emit light varies in various ways depending on the viewing angle and the viewing direction is generated, and high visibility can be ensured regardless of the viewing direction.

Further, since the amount of light emitted from the vehicle lamp 1 in the oblique direction with respect to the axis J increases and the visible range of light becomes wider, visibility can be improved.

Furthermore, second emission surface 20B is an emission surface that emits light to the left, and third emission surface 20C is an emission surface that emits light to the right.

Therefore, in at least half of the emission region 10, there are the 1 st emission surface 20A that emits light at an angle smaller than the emission angle of the 2 nd emission surface 20B and the 3 rd emission surface 20C, the 2 nd emission surface 20B that emits light to the left at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A, and the 3 rd emission surface 20C that emits light to the right at an angle larger than the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20A, and therefore, high visibility can be ensured in the left-right direction regardless of the visual recognition direction.

Further, since the predetermined angle is set to 10 degrees, the light emitted from the 1 st emission surface 20A is irradiated in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction or in a direction not greatly deviated from the optical axis direction, and therefore, it is possible to further improve the irradiation amount to a necessary illumination range and to secure high visibility regardless of the visibility direction.

Since the plurality of emission surfaces 20, 20.

Moreover, the exit angle of at least one exit surface 20 of the plurality of exit surfaces 20, ·.

Therefore, since the emission angle of at least one emission surface 20 is different from the emission angles of all the emission surfaces 20, the emission angles of the emission surfaces 20 adjacent to the emission surface 20, when the region where the one emission surface 20 and the emission surfaces 20, the emission angles around the one emission surface 20 exist is visually recognized, the appearance changes according to the visual recognition angle, and the visibility can be improved.

In addition, the emission angle or the emission direction of any of the plurality of emission surfaces 20, the.

Therefore, since the emission angle or the emission direction is different in any of the emission surfaces 20 of the light guide 7 from the emission angles or the emission directions of all the adjacent emission surfaces 20, the appearance changes depending on the viewing angle when the emission region 10 is viewed, and the visibility can be further improved.

While the above description shows an example in which the shape of the emission surface is a rectangular shape, an example in which the emission surface is formed in a triangular shape and an example in which the emission surface is formed in a hexagonal shape will be described below (see fig. 8 and 9). The example of the triangular shape and the example of the hexagonal shape are examples in which the respective light emission surfaces are formed in a superimposed concept as in the above description. However, in the following example, the emission surface may be formed in consideration of only the left and right emission directions or the upper and lower emission directions. In fig. 8 and 9, only one basic region is shown for simplicity of explanation.

First, an example in which the emission surface is formed in a triangular shape will be described (see fig. 8).

The base region 11X is constituted by, for example, nine divisional regions 12X, which are divided up, down, left, and right. The direction of division of the divided regions 12X provided in the base region 11X and the number of the divided regions 12X are arbitrary.

The divided region 12X is constituted by, for example, nine

emission surfaces

20X, 20X in a regular triangle shape divided into six. The direction of division of the emission surfaces 20X provided in the divided region 12X and the number of emission surfaces 20X are arbitrary. In fig. 8, an example is shown in which the emission surface 20X is formed in a regular triangular shape, but the shape of the emission surface 20X may be formed in another triangular shape. Note that, in fig. 8, the emission surfaces 20X, and the emission surface 20X, and the emission surface.

In the light guide having the triangular emission surfaces 20X and the right-angle light guide, the 2 nd emission surface 20XB, the 1 st emission surface 20XA, and the 3 rd emission surface 20XC are also present adjacent to each other in this order in at least half of the emission region. The emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20XA is set to a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) or less with respect to the axis J. The 2 nd emission surface 20XB is an emission surface which has an emission angle larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emits light to the left (including the directions obliquely above and obliquely below the left). The 3 rd emission surface 20XC is an emission surface that has an emission angle larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emits light to the right (including directions obliquely upward and downward to the right). Further, the predetermined angle described above is not limited to 10 degrees, and may be other angles.

In the light guide configured by the emission surfaces 20X, and.

For example, in a region D extending over adjacent divided

regions

12X and 12X shown by extraction in fig. 8, the 1 st emission surface 20XA is located at the center, the adjacent three

emission surfaces

20X, and 20X are located vertically and horizontally, and the adjacent three

emission surfaces

20X, and 20X are set as the 2 nd emission surfaces 20XB and the 3 rd emission surface 20XC. Therefore, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20XA located at the center is set to be different from the emission angles of the adjacent three

emission surfaces

20X, and 20X.

In the emission region including the emission surfaces 20X, and the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20XB and the 3 rd emission surface 20XC in the divided region 12X closest to the light source 6 can be made the largest among all the emission angles of the emission surfaces 20X, and the emission angles of the emission surfaces 20X.

Next, an example in which the emission surface is formed in a hexagonal shape will be described (see fig. 9).

The base region 11Y is constituted by nine divisional regions 12Y, and right-left. The direction of division of the divided regions 12Y provided in the base region 11Y and the number of the divided regions 12Y are arbitrary.

The divided region 12Y is formed of, for example, nine

emission surfaces

20Y, 20Y of a regular hexagonal shape. The direction of division of the emission surfaces 20Y provided in the divided region 12Y and the number of emission surfaces 20Y are arbitrary. In fig. 9, an example is shown in which the emission surface 20Y has a regular hexagonal shape, but the shape of the emission surface 20Y may have another hexagonal shape. Note that, in fig. 9, the emission surfaces 20Y, 20Y and the emission surface.

In the light guide having the hexagonal emission surfaces 20Y, and the 1 st emission surface 20YA and the 3 rd emission surface 20YC are also present adjacent to each other in this order in at least half of the emission area. The emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20YA is set to a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) or less with respect to the axis J. The 2 nd emission surface 20YB is an emission surface having an emission angle larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emitting light to the left (including directions obliquely above and obliquely below the left). The 3 rd emission surface 20YC is an emission surface having an emission angle set larger than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees) with respect to the axis J and emitting light to the right (a direction including obliquely upper right and obliquely lower right). Further, the predetermined angle described above is not limited to 10 degrees, and may be other angles.

In the light guide configured by the emission surfaces 20Y, and.

For example, in an area E shown by being extracted in fig. 9 and spanning three adjacent divided areas 12Y, the 1 st emission surface 20YA is located at the center, six

adjacent emission surfaces

20Y, and 20. Therefore, the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface 20YA located at the center is set to be different from the emission angles of the adjacent six

emission surfaces

20Y, 20Y.

In the emission region including the emission surfaces 20Y, and the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface 20YB and the 3 rd emission surface 20YC in the divided region 12Y closest to the light source 6 can be made the largest among the emission angles of all the emission surfaces 20Y, and the emission angles of the emission surfaces 20.

In the above description, examples in which light is emitted from the emission surfaces 20, the right-eye.

For example, the light can be emitted from the emission surfaces 20 and 20 in three different directions (see fig. 10). For example, light is emitted from the 1 st emission surfaces 20A, the 1.... To the front direction, light is emitted from the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, the 2 nd.. To the left with respect to the front direction at a predetermined angle, and light is emitted from the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, the 3 rd.. To the right with respect to the front direction at a predetermined angle.

The range of the emission surfaces 20, 20. The black portions in fig. 11 to 13 show portions that appear to emit light.

With such a configuration, when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from the front direction, only the light emitted from the 1

st emission surfaces

20A and 20A in the front direction is viewed, for example, characters expressed by light emitted from the 1

st emission surfaces

20A and 20A.

On the other hand, when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from one of the left and right sides with respect to the front direction, only the light emitted from the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, the right-angle light emitted at a predetermined angle with respect to the left side of the front direction is viewed, and for example, a pattern expressed by the light emitted from the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, the right-angle light is recognized (see fig. 12).

In addition, when the vehicle lamp 1 is viewed from the other one of the left and right sides with respect to the front direction, only the light emitted from the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C at the predetermined angle to the right side with respect to the front direction is viewed, and for example, a pattern expressed by the light emitted from the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C at the predetermined angle is recognized (see fig. 13).

By controlling the emission direction of the light emitted from the emission surfaces 20, the light emitted from the vehicle lighting device 1, characters, figures, patterns, and the like can be recognized by the viewer when the vehicle lighting device 1 is viewed from a specific direction, and visibility can be improved. In particular, when the vehicle lamp 1 is used as a marker lamp, it is possible to recognize a marker, a call for attention, and the like by characters, figures, patterns, and the like, and it is possible to improve the functionality of the vehicle lamp 1.

In the above, the example in which characters are expressed by light emitted from 1

st emission surfaces

20A, 20A and the 1.... To the front direction and patterns are expressed by light emitted from 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, 20B and the 2 nd emission surfaces 20C, 20C and the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, 20C and the like. For example, a pattern may be expressed by light emitted from the 1 st emission surface 20A, and characters and figures may be expressed by light emitted from the 2 nd emission surface 20B, the 1 st emission surface 20C, the light emitted from the 1 st emission surfaces 20A, the right.

Further, the respective emission directions of light emitted from the 1 st emission surfaces 20A, the right-angle, the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, and the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, and the right-angle are arbitrary.

In the above description, an example in which light is emitted in three different directions to express characters, figures, patterns, and the like has been described, but the direction in which light is emitted is not limited to three directions, and a configuration in which light is emitted in two or more different directions to express characters, figures, patterns, and the like may be adopted.

In the above-described structure for expressing characters, figures, patterns, and the like, in order to express the characters, figures, patterns, and the like when they are viewed from specific directions, the light emitted from the 1

st emission surfaces

20A, 20B, 20A, and 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, and 20A is preferably scattered at a small angle, for example, preferably within 5 °. In this case, in order to secure the emission state of light in which a plurality of characters, figures, patterns, and the like are respectively expressed in a desired range, the scattering angle of light emitted from the 1

st emission surfaces

20A, 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, and 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, and the like may be set to be larger than 5 °.

However, if the scattering angle is small, it is difficult to ensure a required light distribution, but in the vehicle lamp 1, predetermined light distributions are ensured by complementing the lights emitted from the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd emission surfaces 20A, 20B, 20A, 20C, and 20C (see fig. 14). For example, in fig. 14, the light distribution obtained by only the light emitted from the 1 st emission surfaces 20A, and the right angle is the light distribution P, the light distribution obtained by only the light emitted from the 2 nd emission surfaces 20B, and the right angle is the light distribution Q, the light distribution obtained by only the light emitted from the 3 rd emission surfaces 20C, and the right angle is the light distribution R, and the light distribution obtained by summing up these light distributions P, Q, and R is set as the light distribution T required for the vehicle lamp 1.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the scattering angle, to express characters, figures, patterns, and the like, and to improve visibility, and to ensure a light distribution T required in the vehicle lamp 1, thereby ensuring an appropriate irradiation state.

Next, a light guide 7A different from the light guide 7 will be described (see fig. 15 and 16).

Note that although the light is controlled by the emission surface in the light guide 7 described above and the light is controlled by the reflection surface in the light guide 7A, the light control method in the light guide 7A is the same as that in the light guide 7 except for a part thereof, and therefore, in the following description, the same contents as those in the light guide 7 will not be described in detail.

The light guide 7A is disposed in the lamp chamber 5 instead of the light guide 7. The light guide 7A is disposed in a state of being inclined, for example, in a lower-back upper direction, and has a rear surface formed as an incident surface 8A having a curved surface shape which is convex in a rear direction. The upper surface of the light guide 7A forms an emission surface 9. The lower surface of the light guide 7A is formed as a reflection area 30.

The reflection region 30 has, for example, a plurality of reflection surfaces 40, 40 arranged vertically and horizontally. The reflective surfaces 40, 40 are formed, for example, as flat surfaces. However, the reflecting

surfaces

40, 40 may be formed with a scattering step having a scattering angle of, for example, 5 degrees or less with respect to the axis J. Fig. 15 and 16 are diagrams conceptually illustrating the configuration of the light guide body 7A, and do not show the actual orientation, size, and arrangement state of the reflection surfaces 40, 40.

The reflecting surfaces 40, and the front-rear direction are located at separate positions, and planar non-reflecting surfaces 41, and the front-rear direction are formed between the reflecting surfaces 40, and the front-rear direction (see fig. 15). The reflection surfaces 40, 40 are formed at positions separated from each other in the left-right direction, for example (see fig. 16). However, the reflecting

surfaces

40, 40 may be formed at continuous positions in the left-right direction.

In the vehicle lamp 1 including the light guide body 7A, when light is emitted from the light source 6, the emitted light enters the light guide body 7A from the incident surface 8A and becomes parallel light through the incident surface 8A. The light incident from the incident surface 8A is guided by the light guide 7A, and a part of the light reaches the reflection surfaces 40, and is totally reflected (inner surface reflection) by the reflection surfaces 40, and then emitted from the emission surface 9 in predetermined directions, and passes through the cover 3 to be emitted to the outside. When light is emitted from the emission surface 9, the light is refracted in a predetermined direction.

The specific configuration of the reflection region 30 in the light guide 7A is the same as the specific configuration of the emission region 10 in the light guide 7 (see fig. 4 to 6). That is, the reflection surfaces 40, 40 and the light guide 7A are the same as the emission surfaces 20, 20 and the light guide 7 shown in fig. 4 to 6, and are formed of, for example, the 1 st reflection surface, the 2 nd reflection surface, and the 3 rd reflection surface. Therefore, the reflection surfaces 40, and the emission surface of the light guide 7A are respectively replaced with the reflection surfaces 40, and the emission angle of the light guide 7 shown in fig. 4 to 6, and the "emission direction" and the "emission angle" are respectively replaced with the "reflection direction" and the "reflection angle". However, in the light guide 7A, the light reflected by the inner surface of the reflection surfaces 40, the.

As described above, since the reflection region 30 of the light guide 7A has the same configuration as the emission region 10 of the light guide 7, the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide 7A has the same operational effects as those of the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide 7.

In particular, the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface is set to a predetermined angle or less with respect to the axis J, the reflection angles of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface are set to be larger than the predetermined angle with respect to the axis J, the reflection direction of the 2 nd reflection surface and the reflection direction of the 3 rd reflection surface are set to be different directions, and the 2 nd reflection surface, the 1 st reflection surface, and the 3 rd reflection surface are present adjacent to each other in this order in at least half of the reflection area 30.

Therefore, in at least half of the reflection region 30, there are a 1 st reflection surface that reflects light at an angle smaller than the reflection angles of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface, a 2 nd reflection surface that reflects light at an angle larger than the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface, and a 3 rd reflection surface that reflects light at an angle larger than the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface in a direction different from the reflection direction of the 2 nd reflection surface, and therefore, a high visibility can be ensured regardless of the visibility direction.

In particular, a so-called flickering feeling occurs in which the position of the reflecting surfaces 40, that is, the reflecting surfaces appear to emit light is varied in various ways depending on the visual recognition angle and the visual recognition direction, and a high visibility can be ensured regardless of the visual recognition direction.

Further, the amount of light emitted from the vehicle lamp 1 in an oblique direction with respect to the axis J increases, and the visibility of light is improved because the visibility range is widened.

In the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide 7A, the reflective region 30 is formed on the lower surface of the light guide 7A, and the light reflected by the inner surface of the reflective region 30 is emitted from the emission surface 9, so that the light is reflected in various directions on the back side of the emission surface 9, and the viewer can recognize the emission state with a sense of depth.

In the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide 7A, the shape of the reflection surface 40 may be formed in a shape other than a rectangular shape, for example, a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape, or the like (see fig. 8 and 9), as in the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide 7.

In the vehicle lamp 1, since the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A as the transparent member is used, another light control member 50 (see fig. 17) for controlling light may be disposed on the rear side of the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A.

The light control member 50 has a function of reflecting the incident light 2 times on the inner surface and emitting the light to the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A side, for example. In this case, in the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A, the emission area 10 or the reflection area 30 may not be formed in the portions (blank portions shown in fig. 17) 45 and 45 where the light emitted from the light control member 50 is transmitted. At this time, the light controlled by the light control means 50 is not controlled by the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A, and the light emitted from the

light sources

6, 6 located at the positions facing the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A is controlled in the emission area 10 of the light guide 7 or the reflection area 30 of the light guide 7A.

However, the emission area 10 or the reflection area 30 may be formed also in the

portions

45 and 45 of the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A, and the light controlled by the light control member 50 may be controlled also by the emission area 10 of the light guide 7 or the reflection area 30 of the light guide 7A.

In the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide body 7A, similarly to the vehicle lamp 1 provided with the light guide body 7, the direction of reflection of light reflected by the reflection surfaces 40, 40 can be controlled so that characters, graphics, patterns, and the like can be recognized by the viewer (see fig. 10 to 14).

In the vehicle lamp 1, a light guide body having the emission region 10 formed on the upper surface and the reflection region 30 formed on the lower surface may be used, and the light controlled by the reflection region 30 may be controlled by the emission region 10 and irradiated to the outside.

In the above, the light guide 7 and the light guide 7A having a substantially flat plate shape are shown as an example, but the light guide 7 and the light guide 7A may be formed in a curved shape, for example, a shape curved so as to protrude obliquely downward (see fig. 18). By using the light guide 7 or the light guide 7A having such a shape, even when the guided light is not parallel light, the light can be easily guided to the respective emission surfaces 20, or the respective reflection surfaces 40, 40 of the emission region 10 or the reflection region 30, and the light control can be facilitated.

Further, by forming the light guides 7 and 7A in a curved shape, the overall length in at least one of the front-back direction, the up-down direction, and the left-right direction can be reduced as compared with the flat-plate-shaped light guides 7 and 7A, and the vehicle lamp 1 can be downsized by downsizing the light guides 7 and 7A.

Description of the reference symbols

A vehicular lamp, 6.. Light source, 7.. Light guide, 8.. Incident surface, 10.. Exit area, 12.. Once-divided area, 12A.. Once-divided area, 12B.. Once-divided area, 20.. Exit surface, 20A.. 1. Exit surface, 20B.. 2 nd exit surface, 20℃. 3 rd exit surface, 12X.. Division area, a 20XA.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp is characterized by comprising:

a light source (6) that emits light; and

a light guide having an incident surface on which light emitted from the light source (6) is incident and a plurality of emission surfaces from which light incident from the incident surface is emitted,

the region where the plurality of emission surfaces exist is formed as an emission region (10),

the plurality of emission surfaces are formed into at least one 1 st emission surface, 2 nd emission surface and 3 rd emission surface,

the emission angle of the 1 st emission surface is set to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined axis,

the emission angles of the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface are set to be larger than the predetermined angle with reference to the predetermined axis,

the emission direction of the 2 nd emission surface and the emission direction of the 3 rd emission surface are set to different directions,

in at least half of the emission region (10), the 2 nd emission surface, the 1 st emission surface, and the 3 rd emission surface are adjacent to each other in this order.

2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1,

the exit angle of at least one of the exit surfaces is set to be different from the exit angles of all the adjacent exit surfaces.

3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2,

the emission angle or the emission direction of any of the plurality of emission surfaces is set to be different from the emission angles or the emission directions of all the adjacent emission surfaces.

4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

the exit region (10) is formed by a plurality of divided regions,

at least the 2 nd emission surface and the 3 rd emission surface exist in the plurality of divided regions respectively,

the exit angles with respect to the predetermined axis of the 2 nd exit surface and the 3 rd exit surface in the divided region closest to the light source (6) among the plurality of divided regions are set to be the largest among the exit angles with respect to the predetermined axis of all the exit surfaces.

5. A vehicle lamp is characterized by comprising:

a light source (6) that emits light; and

a light guide having an incident surface on which light emitted from the light source (6) is incident, a plurality of reflecting surfaces that internally reflect the light incident from the incident surface, and an emitting surface that emits light internally reflected by each of the reflecting surfaces,

the region where the plurality of reflection surfaces exist is formed as a reflection region (30),

the plurality of reflection surfaces are formed as at least one of a 1 st reflection surface, a 2 nd reflection surface and a 3 rd reflection surface,

the reflection angle of the 1 st reflection surface is set to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle with respect to a predetermined axis,

the reflection angles of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface are respectively set to be larger than the predetermined angle with reference to the predetermined axis,

the reflection direction of the 2 nd reflection surface and the reflection direction of the 3 rd reflection surface are set to different directions,

in at least half of the reflection region (30), the 2 nd reflection surface, the 1 st reflection surface, and the 3 rd reflection surface are adjacent to each other in this order.

6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 5,

the reflection angle of at least one of the plurality of reflection surfaces is set to be different from the reflection angles of all the adjacent reflection surfaces.

7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 6,

the reflection angle or the reflection direction of any of the plurality of reflection surfaces is set to be different from the reflection angle or the reflection direction of all the adjacent reflection surfaces.

8. The vehicular lamp according to claim 5, 6 or 7,

the reflection region (30) is formed of a plurality of divided regions,

at least the 2 nd reflecting surface and the 3 rd reflecting surface exist in the plurality of divided regions respectively,

reflection angles with respect to the predetermined axis of the 2 nd reflection surface and the 3 rd reflection surface in the divided region closest to the light source (6) among the plurality of divided regions are set to be maximum among reflection angles with respect to the predetermined axis of all the reflection surfaces.