CN210128316U - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle headlamp which is easy to drive. The headlamp (1) includes three light-emitting optical systems (51R, 51G, 51B) having light sources and phase modulation elements, the light sources (52R, 52G, 52B) emit laser beams having different wavelengths, and the phase modulation elements (54R, 54G, 54B) diffract the laser beams emitted from the light sources (52R, 52G, 52B) in a changeable phase modulation pattern. A light distribution Pattern (PH) of high beam is formed by light synthesized by the light emitted from the light emitting optical systems (51R, 51G, 51B). The phase modulation elements (54R, 54G, 54B) are phase modulation patterns of light distribution patterns (P1, P2) in which, in a light distribution Pattern (PH) for forming high beam, light synthesized by light emitted from the light emission optical systems (51R, 51G, 51B), the colors of specific regions (AR1, AR2) that overlap a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle are set to colors different from the colors other than the specific regions (AR1, AR 2).

Description

Vehicle headlamp

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a head-light for vehicle.

Background

As a vehicle headlamp represented by an automobile headlamp, a vehicle headlamp is known in which a light distribution pattern of emitted light is changed according to a situation in front of a vehicle. For example, patent document 1 listed below describes a vehicle headlamp including a plurality of high beam units, a detection means, and a control means for controlling the plurality of high beam units based on information from the detection means.

In the vehicle headlamp described in patent document 1, each of the plurality of high beam units irradiates light toward a corresponding high beam irradiation region among a plurality of high beam irradiation regions arranged in front of the vehicle. The detection means detects whether or not an irradiation prohibition object is present in any of the plurality of high beam irradiation areas. When the detection means detects the presence of the irradiation prohibition object, the control means turns off the high beam unit for the high beam irradiation region in which the irradiation prohibition object is present. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can suppress the irradiation of far light to other vehicles and pedestrians such as a preceding vehicle and a following vehicle, which are irradiation prohibition targets, and can suppress the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp from being dazzled by the passengers and pedestrians of the other vehicles and pedestrians.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-37240

However, as in the vehicle headlamp described in patent document 1, since the irradiation of light to other vehicles, pedestrians, and the like is suppressed, it is sometimes difficult for the driver to visually recognize these other vehicles and pedestrians, and there is a desire to make driving easier.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Problem to be solved by utility model

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp which is easy to drive.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle headlamp including a plurality of light-emitting optical systems each having a light source and a phase modulation element, wherein the light source in each of the light-emitting optical systems emits laser beams having different wavelengths, the phase modulation element in each of the light-emitting optical systems diffracts the laser beams emitted from the light source in each of the light-emitting optical systems with a changeable phase modulation pattern and emits light based on the light distribution pattern of the phase modulation pattern, and a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by light synthesized by the light emitted from each of the light-emitting optical systems, and the phase modulation element in each of the light-emitting optical systems is provided with the phase modulation pattern as follows: a light distribution pattern in which the color of a specific region of the predetermined light distribution pattern that overlaps at least a part of a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle is set to a color different from the color outside the specific region is formed by light synthesized by light emitted from each of the light emission optical systems.

In such a vehicle headlamp, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light changes according to the situation in front of the vehicle, and the color of the light irradiated to at least a part of the object is set to be different from the color of the light irradiated to another region. For example, when the object detected by the detection device is a pedestrian, the color of light irradiated to the pedestrian is set to a color different from the color of light irradiated to another region. The human eye senses the perception of light with wavelength dependence. As for the increase or decrease in the wavelength of light compared to the wavelength of yellowish green light, the sensation of light felt by the human eye tends to decrease. That is, human eyes feel the brightest yellow-green light, and tend to feel darker blue or red light than yellow-green light. Therefore, when the color of light emitted to a pedestrian is a color with a low sensation of light perceived by the human eye, for example, blue, the vehicle headlamp can suppress the pedestrian from perceiving light emitted from the vehicle headlamp to glare. In this vehicle headlamp, although the color of light irradiated to an object such as a pedestrian is different from the color of light irradiated to another region, the object is irradiated with light. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can suppress the object from becoming difficult to visually recognize, compared to a case where the object is not irradiated with light. For example, when the object detected by the detection device is a road sign, the color of light irradiated to the road sign is set to a color different from the color of light irradiated to another region. For example, when the color of light irradiated to the road sign is a color that is perceived by the human eye as highly perceivable, for example, a color in which yellow is enhanced, the vehicle headlamp can improve the visibility of the road sign. Therefore, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can be easily driven.

Each of the light emitting optical systems may adjust the total amount of emitted light beams based on information from a detection device that detects the object.

The vehicle headlamp can adjust the total luminous flux of light emitted from each light-emitting optical system according to the color of a specific region overlapping at least a part of an object in a light distribution pattern of the emitted light. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can suppress an unexpected change in the hue and the brightness of the region other than the specific region in the light distribution pattern in which the color of the specific region is set to the color of the region other than the specific region. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable even if the light distribution pattern of the emitted light changes according to the situation in front of the vehicle.

The total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region having a color different from a color other than the specific region may be smaller than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region in the predetermined light distribution pattern.

In this vehicle headlamp, for example, when the object detected by the detection device is a pedestrian, the total beam amount of light to be irradiated to the pedestrian can be reduced, and the pedestrian can be further inhibited from being dazzled by the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp.

Alternatively, the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region having a color different from a color other than the specific region may be larger than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region in the predetermined light distribution pattern.

In this vehicle headlamp, for example, when the object detected by the detection device is a road sign, the total beam amount of light to be irradiated to the road sign can be increased, and the visibility of the road sign can be further improved.

The detection device may detect a plurality of types of the object, and the color of the specific region may be a predetermined color corresponding to the type of the object.

With this configuration, even in a situation where the driver cannot clearly visually confirm the object, for example, a situation where the object is located far away, the driver can assume the type of the object based on the color of the specific region. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp can be driven more easily than when the color of the specific region is not set to a predetermined color corresponding to the type of the object.

The specific region may be formed in a ring shape along an outer edge of the object.

With this configuration, the presence of the object can be emphasized.

The object may be a road sign, the specific region may overlap with a region of a predetermined color in the road sign, and the color of the specific region may be a color of the same color system as the predetermined color in the road sign.

With this configuration, the visibility of the road sign as the object can be improved.

The phase modulation element may be shared by at least two of the light emission optical systems, the laser light may be alternately emitted from each of the light sources of the light emission optical systems in the light emission optical system sharing the phase modulation element, and the phase modulation element may change the phase modulation pattern in synchronization with switching of the emission of the laser light from each of the light sources of the light emission optical systems.

In this vehicle headlamp, as described above, since at least two light-emitting optical systems share the phase modulation element, the number of components can be reduced. In this vehicle headlamp, light of different wavelengths is sequentially emitted from a light-emitting optical system that shares a phase modulation element. However, when light of different wavelengths, in other words, different colors is repeatedly irradiated at a cycle shorter than the visual time resolution of a human, the human can recognize that light synthesized by the light of the different colors is being irradiated by the afterimage phenomenon. Therefore, when light beams having different wavelengths are emitted from the light emitting optical systems that share the phase modulation element at a cycle shorter than the time resolution in human vision, the light beams emitted from the light emitting optical systems can be visually combined with each other, and a predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed using the light beams emitted from the light emitting optical systems including the light emitting optical systems.

Effect of the utility model

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle headlamp which is easy to drive.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle headlamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the optical system unit shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the phase modulation element shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view schematically showing a cross section in the thickness direction of a part of the phase modulation element shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram including a part of the vehicle headlamp and the lamp control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a table according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 (a), (B), and (C) are diagrams showing examples of the light distribution pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a control flow chart of the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 (a) and (B) are views showing an example of the state of light emitted from the headlamp by the light distribution pattern in which the object detected by the detection device overlaps with the specific region.

Fig. 10 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a front view schematically showing an optical filter in the first light-emitting optical system shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2.

Fig. 14 (a) and (B) are diagrams for explaining information on the intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern in the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 15 (a) and (B) are diagrams showing tables according to modifications of the present invention.

Fig. 16 (a) and (B) are views showing examples of the light state of the light distribution pattern in another modification of the present invention emitted from the headlamp.

Description of the reference numerals

1 front shining lamp (front shining lamp for vehicle)

10 casing

20 luminaire unit

50 optical system unit

51R first light-emitting optical system

51G second light-emitting optical system

51B third light-emitting optical system

52R, 52G, 52B light source

53R, 53G, 53B collimating lens

54R, 54G, 54B, 54S phase modulation element

55 synthetic optical system

55f first optical element

55s second optical element

70 light control system

71 control part

72 detection device

74 storage unit

AR1 and AR2 specific regions

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a mode for implementing the vehicle headlamp of the present invention is exemplified together with attached drawings. The following embodiments are provided for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved according to the following embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a view showing a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment, and is a view schematically showing a cross section in a vertical direction of the vehicle headlamp. The vehicle headlamp of the present embodiment is an automotive headlamp 1. In general, headlamps for automobiles are arranged in left and right directions in front of a vehicle, and the left and right headlamps are configured to be substantially symmetrical in the left and right directions. Therefore, in the present embodiment, one headlamp will be described. As shown in fig. 1, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes a housing 10 and a lamp unit 20 as main components.

The housing 10 mainly includes a lamp housing 11, a front cover 12, and a rear cover 13. The front cover 12 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close a front opening of the lamp housing 11. 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 closing the opening in the front of the lamp housing 11, and the rear cover 13 closing the opening in the rear of the lamp housing 11 is a lamp chamber R in which the lamp unit 20 is housed.

The lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment includes a heat sink 30, a cooling fan 40, and an optical system unit 50 as main components, and is fixed to the housing 10 by a configuration not shown.

The heat sink 30 has a metal base plate 31 extending substantially in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of fins 32 are provided integrally with the base plate 31 on the lower surface side of the base plate 31. The cooling fan 40 is disposed with a gap from the heat sink 32 and fixed to the heat sink 30. The radiator 30 is cooled by an air flow generated by the rotation of the cooling fan 40.

An optical system unit 50 is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 31 in the heat sink 30. The optical system unit 50 includes a first light-emitting optical system 51R, a second light-emitting optical system 51G, a third light-emitting optical system 51B, a combining optical system 55, and a cover 59.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the optical system unit shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 2, the first light-emitting optical system 51R includes a light source 52R, a collimator lens 53R, and a phase modulation element 54R. The light source 52R is a laser element that emits laser light of a predetermined wavelength, and in the present embodiment, emits red laser light having a peak wavelength of power of 638nm, for example. The optical system unit 50 includes a circuit board, not shown, on which the light source 52R is mounted.

The collimator lens 53R is a lens for collimating the laser beam emitted from the light source 52R in the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction. Instead of the collimator lens 53R, a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam in the fast axis direction and a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam in the slow axis direction may be provided.

The phase modulation element 54R can diffract incident light to emit the light, and change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light and the region to which the emitted light is applied. The phase modulation element 54R of the present embodiment is a reflective phase modulation element that reflects and diffracts incident light to emit the light, and is, for example, lcos (liquid crystal on silicon) which is a reflective liquid crystal panel. The red laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53R enters the phase modulation element 54R, and the phase modulation element 54R diffracts and emits the red laser light. In this way, the first light DLR of red color is emitted from the phase modulation element 54R, and the light DLR is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R.

The second light emission optical system 51G includes a light source 52G, a collimator lens 53G, and a phase modulation element 54G, and the third light emission optical system 51B includes a light source 52B, a collimator lens 53B, and a phase modulation element 54B. The light sources 52G and 52B are laser elements that emit laser beams having predetermined wavelengths, respectively. In the present embodiment, the light source 52G emits a green laser beam having a peak wavelength of power of, for example, 515nm, and the light source 52B emits a blue laser beam having a peak wavelength of power of, for example, 445 nm. The light sources 52G and 52B are mounted on the circuit board, respectively, in the same manner as the light source 52R described above.

The collimator lens 53G is a lens for collimating the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52G, and the collimator lens 53B is a lens for collimating the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52B. Instead of the collimator lenses 53G and 53B, a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam in the fast axis direction and a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam in the slow axis direction may be separately provided.

Like the phase modulation element 54R, the phase modulation element 54G and the phase modulation element 54B can diffract incident light to emit light, and change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light and the region to which the emitted light is irradiated. These phase modulation elements 54G and 54B are, for example, LCOS as a reflective liquid crystal panel. The green laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53G enters the phase modulation element 54G, and the phase modulation element 54G diffracts and emits the green laser light. The blue laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53B enters the phase modulation element 54B, and the phase modulation element 54B diffracts and emits the blue laser light. In this way, the second light DLG is emitted as green light from the phase modulation element 54G, and the light DLG is emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 51G. The third light DLB of blue color is emitted from the phase modulation element 54B, and the light DLB is emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 51B. In the lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment, the light sources 52R and the phase modulation element 54R, the light sources 52G and the phase modulation element 54G, and the light sources 52B and the phase modulation element 54B correspond one-to-one.

The synthesizing optical system 55 has a first optical element 55f and a second optical element 55 s. The first optical element 55f is an optical element that combines the first light DLR emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R and the second light DLG emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 51G. In the present embodiment, the first optical element 55f combines the first light DLR and the second light DLG by transmitting the first light DLR and reflecting the second light DLG. The second optical element 55s is an optical element that combines the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and the third light DLB emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 51B. In the present embodiment, the second optical element 55s transmits the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and reflects the third light DLB, thereby combining the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB. As such a first optical element 55f and a second optical element 55s, a wavelength selective filter in which an oxide film is laminated on a glass substrate can be cited. By controlling the type and thickness of the oxide film, light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined wavelength can be transmitted, and light having a wavelength shorter than the predetermined wavelength can be reflected.

In this way, in the combining optical system 55, the light combined by the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB is emitted from the combining optical system 55. In fig. 1 and 2, the first light DLR is indicated by a solid line, the second light DLG is indicated by a broken line, and the third light DLB is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and these lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are shown as being shifted from each other.

The cover 59 is fixed to the base plate 31 of the heat sink 30. The cover 59 has a substantially rectangular shape and is made of metal such as aluminum, for example. The first light-emitting optical system 51R, the second light-emitting optical system 51G, the third light-emitting optical system 51B, and the combining optical system 55 are disposed in a space inside the cover 59. Further, an opening 59H through which light emitted from the combining optical system 55 can pass is formed in front of the cover 59. The inner wall of the cover 59 is preferably made light absorbing by black alumite processing or the like. By making the inner wall of the cover 59 light-absorbing, it is possible to suppress light irradiated to the inner wall of the cover 59 from being reflected by unwanted reflection, refraction, or the like and being emitted from the opening 59H in an unwanted direction.

Next, the configurations of the phase modulation element 54R, the phase modulation element 54G, and the phase modulation element 54B will be described in detail.

In the present embodiment, the phase modulation element 54R, the phase modulation element 54G, and the phase modulation element 54B have the same configuration. Therefore, the phase modulation element 54R will be described below, and the description of the phase modulation element 54G and the phase modulation element 54B will be omitted as appropriate.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the phase modulation element shown in fig. 2. In fig. 3, a region 53A into which the laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53R enters is indicated by a broken line. The phase modulation element 54R has a rectangular outer shape, and has a plurality of modulation cells arranged in a matrix in the rectangular shape, and each modulation cell diffracts and emits light incident on the modulation cell. Each modulation unit includes a plurality of dots arranged in a matrix. The modulation means is formed to be located at one or more positions in the region 53A on which the laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53R enters. As shown in fig. 3, a drive circuit 60R is electrically connected to the phase modulation element 54R, and the drive circuit 60R includes a scan line drive circuit connected to the lateral side of the phase modulation element 54R and a data line drive circuit connected to one side of the phase modulation element 54R in the vertical direction.

Fig. 4 is a view schematically showing a cross section in the thickness direction of a part of the phase modulation element shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig. 4, the phase modulation element 54R of the present embodiment mainly includes a silicon substrate 62, a driver circuit layer 63, a plurality of electrodes 64, a reflective film 65, a liquid crystal layer 66, a transparent electrode 67, and a light-transmissive substrate 68.

The plurality of electrodes 64 are arranged in a matrix on one surface side of the silicon substrate 62 so as to correspond to each of the dots of the modulation unit, and each of the dots includes an electrode 64. The driving circuit layer 63 is a layer in which circuits connected to the scanning line driving circuit and the data line driving circuit of the driving circuit 60R shown in fig. 3 are disposed, and is disposed between the silicon substrate 62 and the plurality of electrodes 64. The translucent substrate 68 is disposed on one side of the silicon substrate 62 so as to face the silicon substrate 62, and is, for example, a glass substrate. The transparent electrode 67 is disposed on the surface of the translucent substrate 68 on the silicon substrate 62 side. The liquid crystal layer 66 has liquid crystal molecules 66a, and is disposed between the plurality of electrodes 64 and the transparent electrode 67. The reflective film 65 is disposed between the plurality of electrodes 64 and the liquid crystal layer 66, and is, for example, a dielectric multilayer film. The laser light emitted from the collimator lens 53R enters the translucent substrate 68 through a surface on the side opposite to the silicon substrate 62.

As shown in fig. 4, light L incident from a surface of the translucent substrate 68 on the side opposite to the silicon substrate 62 transmits through the transparent electrode 67 and the liquid crystal layer 66, is reflected by the reflective film 65, transmits through the liquid crystal layer 66 and the transparent electrode 67, and is emitted from the translucent substrate 68. Here, when a voltage is applied between a specific electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a of the liquid crystal layer 66 located between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 changes, and the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 located between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 changes. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a changes according to the applied voltage, and thus the refractive index also changes according to the voltage. Since the optical path length of the light L transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 66 changes as described above due to the change in the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66, the phase of the light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 66 and emitted from the phase modulation element 54R can be changed. As described above, since the plurality of electrodes 64 are arranged in correspondence with the respective points of the modulation means, the amount of change in the phase of the light emitted from each point can be adjusted by controlling the voltage applied between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 corresponding to each point. The phase modulation element 54R diffracts the incident light to emit the light by adjusting the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 at each point in this manner, and can make the light distribution pattern of the emitted light a desired light distribution pattern. The phase modulation element 54R changes the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 at each point, thereby changing the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, or changes the direction of the emitted light, thereby changing the region irradiated with the light.

In the present embodiment, the phase modulation element 54R forms the same phase modulation pattern in each modulation unit in the phase modulation element 54R. In addition, the phase modulation element 54G forms the same phase modulation pattern in each modulation unit in the phase modulation element 54G, and the phase modulation element 54B forms the same phase modulation pattern in each modulation unit in the phase modulation element 54B. In the present specification, the phase modulation pattern means a pattern for modulating the phase of incident light. In the present embodiment, the phase modulation pattern is a pattern of the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 at each point. By adjusting the phase modulation pattern, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be made to be a desired light distribution pattern. That is, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B emit light in a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram including a part of the vehicle headlamp and the lamp control system according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 5, in the lamp control system 70 of the present embodiment, the drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B, the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B, the detection device 72, the lamp switch 73, the storage unit 74, and the like are electrically connected to the control unit 71. The control unit 71 may be provided in the lamp unit 20, or may be a part of an electronic control device of the vehicle.

The drive circuit 60G is electrically connected to the phase modulation element 54G, and the drive circuit 60B is electrically connected to the phase modulation element 54B. Like the drive circuit 60R, the drive circuits 60G and 60B include a scanning line drive circuit connected to the lateral sides of the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B and a data line drive circuit connected to one of the vertical sides of the phase modulation elements 54R and 54B. The drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B adjust voltages applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on signals input from the control unit 71. The phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B form phase modulation patterns corresponding to voltages applied by the drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B.

In the present embodiment, each of the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B is a phase modulation pattern in which a desired light distribution pattern is formed by light synthesized by the synthesis optical system 55 using the first light DLR emitted from the phase modulation element 54R, the second light DLG emitted from the phase modulation element 54G, and the third light DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54B. The desired light distribution pattern also includes an intensity distribution and a color distribution. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a specific light distribution pattern is formed by light synthesized from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are superimposed on the specific light distribution pattern, and the intensity distribution of the specific light distribution pattern and the intensity distribution of the color distribution are set as a basis. The phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B have wavelength dependency. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even when the color of the light distribution pattern formed by the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB is white, the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are different from each other. As a result of forming a light distribution pattern from the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B may be set to the same phase modulation pattern.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are combined by the combining optical system 55, and the combined light is emitted from the opening 59H of the cover 59 and is emitted from the headlamp 1 via the front cover 12. Since this light is light based on the light distribution pattern of the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the headlamp 1 can be made a desired light distribution pattern by adjusting the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.

The power supply circuit 61R is electrically connected to the light source 52R, the power supply circuit 61G is electrically connected to the light source 52G, and the power supply circuit 61B is electrically connected to the light source 52B. A power supply not shown is connected to the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B. The power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B supply power from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on signals input from the control unit 71, and the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B emit laser light. The power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B can adjust the intensity of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B by adjusting the power supplied from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B. The power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B may adjust the power supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B by pwm (pulse Width modulation) control. In this case, the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is adjusted by adjusting the duty ratio.

The detection device 72 detects a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle. Examples of the object detected by the detection device 72 include a vehicle such as a preceding vehicle or a following vehicle, a pedestrian, a sign, and the like. The detection device 72 may be configured to include a camera, an image processing unit, a detection unit, and the like, which are not shown. The camera captures an image of the front of the vehicle, and the image captured by the camera includes at least a part of a region irradiated with the light emitted from the headlamp 1. The image processing unit performs image processing on an image captured by the camera. The detection unit detects the presence and the presence position of the object based on the information subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit. When detecting a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle, the detection device 72 sends information on the presence and position of the object to the control unit 71. The position where the object is present is, for example, a relative position of the object with respect to the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the headlamp 1 on a vertical plane separated from the vehicle by a predetermined distance, and includes a region where the object is present on the vertical plane. The object to be detected by the detection device 72, the number of types of objects, and the configuration of the detection device 72 are not particularly limited. For example, the detection device 72 may detect the presence and the presence position of the object in a non-contact manner with the object using, for example, a millimeter wave radar, an infrared radar, or the like instead of the camera, or may detect the presence and the presence position of the object in a non-contact manner with the object by combining the camera with the millimeter wave radar or the infrared radar.

The lamp switch 73 is a switch for the driver to instruct the emission or non-emission of light from the headlamp 1. For example, when the lamp switch 73 is turned on, the lamp switch 73 outputs a signal indicating light emitted from the headlamp 1.

The storage unit 74 stores information relating to a light distribution pattern formed by light obtained by combining the light DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. The number of light distribution patterns is plural, and the storage unit 74 stores information on each light distribution pattern. Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, the storage unit 74 stores a table TB in which the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B when forming the light distribution patterns, the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B when forming the light distribution patterns, and the object detected by the detection device 72 are associated with each other for each light distribution pattern.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the light distribution pattern in the present embodiment. Specifically, (a) in fig. 7 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of high beam. Fig. 7 (B) is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern in which the color of a specific region in the light distribution pattern of high beam is set to a color different from the color other than the specific region. Fig. 7 (C) is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern in which the color of another specific region in the light distribution pattern of high beam is set to a color different from the color other than the color of the other specific region. In fig. 7, S denotes a horizontal line, and a light distribution pattern formed on a vertical plane 25m away from the vehicle is indicated by a thick line.

The color of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam shown in fig. 7 (a) is white. The area LA1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is the area with the highest intensity, and the intensity decreases in the order of the area LA2, the area LA3, and the area LA 4. That is, the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are set so that the synthesized light forms a phase modulation pattern including a light distribution pattern of the intensity distribution of the high beam.

The light distribution pattern P1 shown in fig. 7 (B) is a light distribution pattern in which the color of the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is different from the color other than the specific region AR1, that is, the color of white. In the present embodiment, the color of the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is blue. Further, the intensity of red light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is lower than the intensity of red light in the specific region AR1 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH, the intensity of green light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is lower than the intensity of green light in the specific region AR1 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH, and the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is substantially the same as the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR1 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH. Therefore, the intensity of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is lower than the intensity of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam, and the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is smaller than the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. The color and intensity distribution other than the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 are the same as the color and intensity distribution other than the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Here, if the color and intensity of light at the plurality of reference points are the same, it can be estimated that the color and intensity distribution are also the same. In fig. 7 (a), a specific area AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is indicated by a broken line. In the present embodiment, a specific area AR1 of the light distribution pattern P1 is located within an area LA 2.

The light distribution pattern P2 shown in fig. 7 (C) is a light distribution pattern in which another specific area AR2 different from the specific area AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is set to a color different from white, which is a color other than the specific area AR 2. In the present embodiment, the color of the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern P2 is set to a color enhanced by yellow compared with the color other than the specific region AR 2. The intensity of red light in the specific region AR2 of the light distribution pattern P2 is higher than the intensity of red light in the specific region AR1 of the high beam light distribution pattern PH, the intensity of green light in the specific region AR2 of the light distribution pattern P2 is higher than the intensity of green light in the specific region AR2 of the high beam light distribution pattern PH, and the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR1 of the light distribution pattern P1 is substantially the same as the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR1 of the high beam light distribution pattern PH. Therefore, the intensity of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern P2 is higher than the intensity of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam, and the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern P2 is larger than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. The intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern P2 other than the specific region AR2 is the same as the intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern PH of high beam other than the specific region AR 2. In fig. 7 (a), a specific area AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is indicated by a broken line. In the present embodiment, a specific area AR2 of the light distribution pattern P2 is located within an area LA 2.

As described above, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the headlamp 1 in the present embodiment is defined as the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam or the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam in which the specific regions AR1 and AR2 are the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 of the colors different from the colors other than the specific regions AR1 and AR 2.

The color, position, shape, number, and width of the specific regions AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 are not particularly limited. The number of light distribution patterns P1 and P2 in which the specific areas AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam are set to colors different from the colors other than the specific areas AR1 and AR2 is not limited. The intensity of light in the specific regions AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 is not particularly limited. For example, the intensity of red light and the intensity of green light in the specific region AR1 set to blue may be set to zero, and the intensity of blue light may be higher than the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. Note that the intensity of red light in the specific region AR2 where the yellow color is emphasized may be the same as the intensity of red light in the specific region AR2 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH, and the intensity of green light in the specific region AR2 may be the same as the intensity of green light in the specific region AR2 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH. In this case, the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR2 is lower than the intensity of blue light in the specific region AR2 in the high beam light distribution pattern PH. The intensity of light in the specific areas AR1, AR2 may be substantially constant in the entire specific areas AR1, AR2, or may vary depending on the position in the specific areas AR1, AR2 in the specific areas AR1, AR 2. The intensity distribution other than the specific regions AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 may be different from the intensity distribution other than the specific regions AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. The light distribution patterns P1 and P2 may have different outlines from the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam.

Next, the operation of the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment will be described. Specifically, an operation of changing the light distribution pattern of the emitted light from the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam to another light distribution pattern according to the situation in front of the vehicle will be described. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a control flowchart of the control unit 71.

First, in step SP1, when the lamp switch 73 is turned on and a signal indicating emission of light is input from the lamp switch 73 to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP 2. On the other hand, in step SP1, when the signal is not input to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP 8.

In step SP2, when the detection device 72 does not detect a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle and information on the presence and position of the object is not input from the detection device 72 to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP 3. On the other hand, when this information is input to the control unit 71 in step SP2, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP 5.

In step SP3, the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the information associated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam stored in the table TB of the storage unit 74. Specifically, the control unit 71 outputs signals based on the information to the drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B, and the drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B adjust the voltages applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the signals input from the control unit 71. This voltage is set as a voltage at which the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B form a phase modulation pattern in which a light distribution pattern formed by light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB becomes the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Therefore, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are each provided with a phase modulation pattern in which a light distribution pattern formed by light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB becomes the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. That is, it can be understood that in step SP3, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are each set as a phase modulation pattern in which the light distribution pattern formed by the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB becomes the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, based on the information associated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam in the table TB.

Next, in step SP4, the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the information associated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam in the table TB. Specifically, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the information to the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B, and the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B adjust the power supplied from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71. The power is set so that the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are the intensities associated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam in the table TB. Therefore, in step SP4, the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B emit laser light of the intensity correlated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam in the table TB. The laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B whose intensities have been adjusted in this way enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and the light DLR, DLG, DLB is emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. These lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are combined by the combining optical system 55, and the combined light is emitted from the headlamp 1. Since the light distribution pattern of the light combined by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB becomes the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, the light of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is emitted from the headlamp 1.

However, as described above, the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are set to intensities correlated with the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Therefore, the total luminous flux amount of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is the total luminous flux amount corresponding to the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. The first light DLR caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52R is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R, the second light DLG caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52G is emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 51G, and the third light DLB caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52B is emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 51B. Therefore, the total luminous flux amounts of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B are adjusted to the total luminous flux amount corresponding to the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam.

In step SP2, when the information on the presence and the position of the object is not input from the detection device 72 to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 may perform the control of step SP3 and the control of step SP4 at the same time. The control flow of the control unit 71 may be performed in the order of step SP4 and step SP3, and the process may return to step SP 1.

In step SP2, when the information on the presence and the position of the object is input from the detection device 72 to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP5 as described above. In step SP5, the control unit 71 selects one light distribution pattern from the light distribution patterns in the table TB based on the information input from the detection device 72. Specifically, the control unit 71 selects one light distribution pattern from the light distribution patterns in the table TB in which at least a part of the object detected by the detection device 72 overlaps with a specific region in the light distribution pattern and the color of the specific region is the color corresponding to the detected object.

Next, at step SP6, the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the information associated with the light distribution pattern selected at step SP5 in the table TB. In this case, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are configured to set the light distribution pattern formed by the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB to the phase modulation pattern of the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5, as in step SP 3. Here, as described above, the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5 is a light distribution pattern that is selected based on the information from the detection device 72, in which a specific region overlaps at least a part of the object, and the color of the specific region is set to the color corresponding to the object. Therefore, it can be understood that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are each provided with a phase modulation pattern in which the color of a specific region overlapping at least a part of the object in the light distribution pattern PH for forming high beam by the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB is a light distribution pattern of a color different from the white color which is a color other than the specific region, based on the information from the detection device 72. The color of the specific region is set to a color corresponding to the object.

Next, at step SP7, the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the information associated with the light distribution pattern selected at step SP5 in the table TB. In this case, the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B emit laser light having an intensity associated with the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5 in the table TB, similarly to step SP4 described above. The laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B whose intensities have been adjusted in this way enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and the light DLR, DLG, DLB is emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. These lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are combined by the combining optical system 55, and the combined light is emitted from the headlamp 1. Since the light distribution pattern of the light combined by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB becomes the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5, the light of the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5 is emitted from the headlamp 1.

However, as described above, the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are set to the intensities associated with the light distribution pattern selected in step SP5 in the table TB. Therefore, the total luminous flux amount of each of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is the total luminous flux amount corresponding to the light distribution pattern selected in step SP 5. The first light DLR caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52R is emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R, the second light DLG caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52G is emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 51G, and the third light DLB caused by the laser light emitted from the light source 52B is emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 51B. Therefore, the total luminous flux amounts of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B are adjusted to the total luminous flux amounts corresponding to the light distribution patterns selected in step SP5, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B associated with the light distribution patterns in the table TB are set to intensities that vary according to the color of a specific region in each light distribution pattern, with reference to the intensity at the time of emitting light of the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. When the color of the specific region in the light distribution pattern is blue, for example, the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52R and the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52G decrease, and the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52B does not change. In addition, when the color of the specific region in the light distribution pattern is a color that is yellow-enhanced over the colors other than the specific region, for example, the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52R and the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52G are increased, and the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52B is not changed. The intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are preferably set to intensities corresponding to the intensities of the red light, the green light, and the blue light in a specific region in the light distribution pattern. That is, it is preferable that the intensity of the laser light corresponding to the light with increased intensity in the specific region is increased, and the intensity of the laser light corresponding to the light with decreased intensity in the specific region is decreased. The amount of change in the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B may also vary depending on the width of a specific region in the associated light distribution pattern. Here, the width is defined as a width in a case where a light distribution pattern is formed on a vertical plane separated from the vehicle by a predetermined distance. The intensity of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B may be changed to a predetermined intensity.

Fig. 9 is a view showing an example of a state where light of a light distribution pattern in which an object detected by the detection device overlaps with a specific region is emitted from the headlamp. Specifically, (a) in fig. 9 is a view showing an example of a state in which light of the light distribution pattern is emitted from the headlamp 1 when the detection device 72 detects the pedestrian PE as the object. Fig. 9 (B) is a view showing an example of a state in which light of the light distribution pattern is emitted from the headlamp 1 when the detection device 72 detects the road sign RS as the object. The light distribution pattern shown in fig. 9 (a) is the light distribution pattern P1 shown in fig. 7 (B), and as described above, the color of the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is a blue light distribution pattern. The total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern P1 is smaller than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR1 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. This specific area AR1 overlaps with the entirety of the pedestrian PE. Therefore, the color of the light irradiated to the pedestrian PE is blue, and the total beam amount of the light irradiated to the pedestrian PE is reduced as compared with the case where the high beam is emitted from the headlamp 1.

The light distribution pattern shown in fig. 9 (B) is the light distribution pattern P2 shown in fig. 7 (C), and is a light distribution pattern in which the color of the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam is enhanced by yellow color in comparison with the color other than the specific region AR2, as described above. The total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern P2 is larger than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. Such a specific area AR2 overlaps the entire support unit SU that supports the road sign RS and the road sign RS. Therefore, the color of the light irradiated to the road sign RS is set to be a color in which yellow is intensified, and the total beam amount of the light irradiated to the road sign RS is increased as compared with the case where the high beam is emitted from the headlamp 1. The color of the specific area AR2 overlapping the road sign RS is different from the color of the specific area AR1 overlapping the pedestrian PE, and the colors of the specific areas AR1 and AR2 are set to predetermined colors corresponding to the types of the objects.

As described above, fig. 9 (a) shows a state in which light of the light distribution pattern P1 in which the entire pedestrian PE overlaps the specific area AR1 is emitted from the headlamp 1, and fig. 9 (B) shows a state in which light of the light distribution pattern P2 in which the entire road sign RS and the support portion SU overlap the specific area AR2 is emitted from the headlamp 1. However, the light emitted from the headlamp 1 may be light of a light distribution pattern in which the color of a specific region overlapping at least a part of the object detected by the detection device is set to a color different from the color other than the specific region. For example, the light emitted from the headlamp 1 may be light of a light distribution pattern in which a part of the pedestrian PE as an object overlaps with a specific region in which the color changes. That is, in step SP5, the control unit 71 may select such a light distribution pattern.

In step SP2, when the information on the presence and the position of the object is input from the detection device 72 to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 may perform the control of step SP6 and the control of step SP7 at the same time. The control flow of the control unit 71 may be performed in the order of step SP5, step SP7, and step SP6, and the process may return to step SP 1.

As described above, when the signal for instructing the emission of light is not input from the lamp switch 73 to the controller 71 in step SP1, and the control flow of the controller 71 proceeds to step SP8, the controller 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B so that the laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is not emitted. In this case, the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B stop the supply of electric power from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71. Therefore, the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B do not emit laser light, and the headlamp 1 does not emit light.

As described above, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment emits light of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam when the detection device 72 does not detect a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle. On the other hand, when the detection device 72 detects a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle, the headlamp 1 emits light of the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 in which the color of a specific region overlapping at least a part of the object is set to a color different from the color other than the specific region.

As described above, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes the first light-emitting optical system 51R including the light source 52R and the phase modulation element 54R, the second light-emitting optical system 51G including the light source 52G and the phase modulation element 54G, and the third light-emitting optical system 51B including the light source 52B and the phase modulation element 54B. The light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B emit laser beams having different wavelengths from each other. The phase modulation element 54R diffracts the laser light emitted from the light source 52R with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits light of a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern. The phase modulation element 54G diffracts the laser light emitted from the light source 52G with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits light of a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern. The phase modulation element 54B diffracts the laser light emitted from the light source 52B with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits light of a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern. In the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed by the light obtained by combining the first light DLR emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R, the second light DLG emitted from the second light-emitting optical system 51G, and the third light DLB emitted from the third light-emitting optical system 51B. The phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are phase modulation patterns of light distribution patterns P1 and P2 in which the color of specific regions AR1 and AR2 overlapping at least a part of the object in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam formed by light synthesized from light DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B is set to a color different from the color other than the specific regions AR1 and AR2, based on information from the detection device 72 that detects a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle.

In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light changes according to the situation in front of the vehicle, and the color of the light irradiated to at least a part of the object is set to a color different from the color of the light irradiated to the other region. For example, as shown in fig. 9 (a), when the object detected by the detection device 72 is a pedestrian PE, the color of light irradiated to the pedestrian PE is set to a color different from the color of light irradiated to the other region. Here, regarding an increase or decrease in the wavelength of light compared to the wavelength of yellowish green light, the sensation of light felt by the human eye tends to decrease. That is, human eyes feel the brightest yellow-green light, and tend to feel darker blue or red light than yellow-green light. In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the color of the specific region AR1 overlapping the pedestrian PE in the light distribution pattern P1 is blue, and therefore blue light is emitted to the pedestrian PE. Therefore, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can suppress the pedestrian PE from dazzling the light emitted from the headlamp 1. In the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, although the color of light irradiated to an object such as a pedestrian PE is different from the color of light irradiated to another region, the object is irradiated with light. Therefore, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can suppress the object from becoming difficult to visually recognize, compared to the case where the object is not irradiated with light.

For example, as shown in fig. 9 (B), when the object detected by the detection device 72 is the road marker RS, the color of the light irradiated to the road marker RS is different from the color of the light irradiated to the other region. In the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, since the color of the specific region AR2 overlapping the road marker RS in the light distribution pattern P2 is set to a color in which yellow is enhanced as compared with the color other than the specific region AR2, the road marker RS is irradiated with light of a color in which yellow is enhanced, which is a color that is highly perceived by human eyes. Therefore, the headlight 1 of the present embodiment can improve the visibility of the road sign RS. Therefore, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can be easily driven.

In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the respective light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB based on information from the detection device 72. Therefore, the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the respective light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B in accordance with the colors of the specific regions AR1 and AR2 that overlap at least a part of the object in the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 of the emitted lights. Therefore, the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment can suppress unexpected changes in the color tone and brightness of the regions other than the specific regions AR1 and AR2 in the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 in which the colors of the specific regions AR1 and AR2 change. Therefore, the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable even if the light distribution pattern of the emitted light changes according to the situation in front of the vehicle.

In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR1 of the light distribution pattern P1 is smaller than the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR1 of the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. Therefore, in the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, for example, when the object detected by the detection device 72 is the pedestrian PE, the total beam amount of the light irradiated to the pedestrian PE can be reduced, and the pedestrian PE can be further inhibited from feeling dazzling with respect to the light emitted from the headlamp 1.

In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern P2 is larger than the total luminous flux of light in the specific region AR2 in the light distribution pattern PH of high beam. Therefore, in the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, when the object detected by the detection device 72 is the road sign RS, the total beam amount of light emitted to the road sign RS can be increased, and the visibility of the road sign RS can be further improved.

In the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the detection device 72 detects a plurality of types of objects such as the pedestrian PE and the road sign RS, and the colors of the specific areas AR1 and AR2 are set to predetermined colors corresponding to the types of the objects. Therefore, even in a situation where the driver cannot clearly visually confirm the object, for example, a situation where the object is located far away, the driver can assume the type of the object based on the color of the specific area. Therefore, the headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment can be driven more easily than when the colors of the specific regions AR1 and AR2 are not set to predetermined colors corresponding to the types of objects.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 10. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted, except for the case where they are specifically described.

Fig. 10 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 10, the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment is different from the optical system unit 50 of the first embodiment in that it does not include the combining optical system 55, and emits light from the cover 59 in a state where the lights emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R, the second light-emitting optical system 51G, and the third light-emitting optical system 51B are not combined, and in that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are transmissive phase modulation elements. In the present embodiment, the light emission direction of the first light emission optical system 51R, the second light emission optical system 51G, and the third light emission optical system 51B is set to the opening 59H side of the cover 59.

Examples of the transmissive phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B include lcd (liquid Crystal display) as a liquid Crystal panel. In this LCD, as in the case of the LCOS which is the reflective liquid crystal panel described above, by controlling the voltage applied between the pair of electrodes to each dot, the amount of change in the phase of light emitted from each dot can be adjusted, and the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be made to be a desired light distribution pattern. In addition, the pair of electrodes are provided as transparent electrodes.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B diffract the laser light emitted from the collimator lenses 53R, 53G, and 53B so that the light distribution pattern formed by the light combined by the light DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B becomes any one of the light distribution patterns in the table TB. The first light DLR emitted from the phase modulation element 54R, the second light DLG emitted from the phase modulation element 54R, and the third light DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54B are emitted from the opening 59H of the cover 59, and are irradiated to the outside of the headlamp 1 through the front cover 12. At this time, the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are irradiated as follows: at the focal position away from the vehicle by a predetermined distance, the regions irradiated with the respective lights overlap with each other, and any one of the light distribution patterns in table TB is formed. The focal position is set to a position 25m away from the vehicle, for example. According to the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, since the synthetic optical system 55 of the above-described embodiment is not used, a simple configuration can be provided.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 11. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted, except for the case where they are specifically described.

Fig. 11 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2. In fig. 11, the radiator 30, the cover 59, and the like are not illustrated. As shown in fig. 11, the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment is different from the optical system unit 50 of the first embodiment in that the first light emission optical system 51R, the second light emission optical system 51G, and the third light emission optical system 51B further include optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B and motors 81R, 81G, and 81B, respectively.

The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B are filters that block a part of incident light and reduce the amount of light transmitted through the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B. In the present embodiment, the optical filter 80R is disposed on the optical path of the laser light emitted from the light source 52R and reaching the phase modulation element 54R. Specifically, the collimator lens 53R and the phase modulation element 54R are disposed in the optical path. Therefore, the laser light emitted from the light source 52R passes through the optical filter 80R and the collimator lens 53R and enters the phase modulation element 54R. In the present embodiment, the outer shape of the optical filter 80R in the front view is substantially circular, and one end portion of the output shaft 82R of the motor 81R is fixed to the center of the optical filter 80R. Therefore, the optical filter 80R rotates about the output shaft 82R of the motor 81R. The motor 81R is electrically connected to the control unit 71, and the motor 81R is controlled by the control unit 71.

The optical filters 80G and 80B are disposed on the optical path of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52G and 52B and reaching the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B, similarly to the optical filter 80R. Specifically, the collimator lenses 53G and 53B and the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B are disposed in the optical path. Therefore, the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52G and 52B pass through the optical filters 80G and 80B and the collimator lenses 53G and 53B, and enter the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B. Like the optical filter 80R, the optical filters 80G and 80B have a substantially circular outer shape in the front view. The optical filters 80G and 80B are rotated about the output shafts 82G and 82B by motors 81G and 81B controlled by the control unit 71. As the motors 81R, 81G, and 81B for rotating the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B, for example, a stepping motor, an ac (alternating current) servo motor, or the like can be used.

Next, the configurations of the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the optical filter 80R, the optical filter 80G, and the optical filter 80B have the same configuration. Therefore, the optical filter 80R will be described below, and the description of the optical filter 80G and the optical filter 80B will be appropriately omitted.

Fig. 12 is a front view schematically showing an optical filter in the first light-emitting optical system shown in fig. 11. In fig. 12, a region 83R into which laser light emitted from the light source 52G enters is indicated by a broken line. The optical filter 80R of the present embodiment has a plurality of dimming regions 84R having different amounts of transmitted light, and the plurality of dimming regions 84R are arranged on the circumference of a circle C centered on the output shaft 82R of the motor 81R in the front view of the optical filter 80R. The arrangement order of the light reduction regions 84R in the circumferential direction of the circle C is not particularly limited. The circumference of the circle C passes through the region 83R on which the laser light emitted from the light source 52G enters. Therefore, since the optical filter 80R is rotated by the motor 81R at a predetermined angle, the plurality of dimming regions 84R and the regions 83R can be overlapped, respectively. Therefore, by rotating the optical filter 80R by a predetermined angle by the motor 81R, the dimming region 84R into which the laser light emitted from the light source 52G is incident can be switched.

Examples of such optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B include a light-reducing filter in which an optical film such as a metal film is laminated on a glass substrate. By controlling the type and thickness of the optical film according to each light-reduction region, the amounts of light transmitted through the light-reduction regions can be made different from each other.

The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B having a plurality of dimming regions may be any filters as long as the dimming regions into which light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B enters can be switched. The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B may be configured such that, for example, a plurality of dimming regions are arranged in a straight line and are slidable in the arrangement direction. Even with this configuration, the dimming region into which the light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B enters can be switched.

In table TB of the present embodiment, information is associated with each of the light distribution patterns formed by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB synthesized from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B. Examples of the information related to each light distribution pattern include the phase modulation pattern in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B when forming the light distribution pattern, the dimming region in the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B through which the light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B passes, and the object detected by the detection device 72. That is, in the present embodiment, instead of the intensity of the laser light of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B, the dimming regions in the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B are associated with the respective light distribution patterns. In the present embodiment, although the intensity of the laser light of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is not changed in accordance with the light distribution pattern in the light emission optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B, respectively, the dimming regions in the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B through which the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is transmitted are changed. Specifically, the control unit 71 controls the motors 81R, 81G, and 81B to rotate the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B to predetermined angles, respectively, and changes the dimming regions through which the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B pass. The laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are attenuated according to the transmitted attenuation regions, and the attenuated beams enter the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. The light DLR, DLG, and DLB generated by the attenuated light are emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, and the light DLR, DLG, and DLB are emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the total luminous flux amounts of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B respectively become the total luminous flux amounts corresponding to the dimming areas in the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B. That is, it can be understood that the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted light DLR, DLG, and DLB according to the light distribution pattern, and the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can be adjusted based on the information from the detection device 72. Therefore, even in the optical system unit 50 having such a configuration, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. With this configuration, the total luminous flux amount of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can be stably adjusted without adjusting the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B.

The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B may be configured to adjust the total luminous flux amount of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B. For example, the optical filter 80R may be disposed on the optical path of the light DLR emitted from the phase modulation element 54R in the first light-emitting optical system 51R. The optical filter 80G may be disposed on the optical path of the light DLG emitted from the phase modulation element 54G in the second light-emitting optical system 51G. The optical filter 80B may be disposed on the optical path of the light DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54B in the third light-emitting optical system 51B.

The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B may be polarization filters. In this case, the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B rotate the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B, which are polarization filters, to a predetermined angle according to the light distribution pattern, and change the polarization directions of the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B. The light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is laser light, and the laser light is substantially linearly polarized light. Therefore, the dimming amounts of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B can be adjusted according to the changes in the polarization directions of the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B, respectively. That is, the total luminous flux amount of the light transmitted through the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B can be adjusted. Therefore, even in the optical system unit 50 having such a configuration, the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB. The optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B serving as polarization filters may be disposed on the optical paths of the light DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B in the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B. The phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B have wavelength dependency. Therefore, the optical filter 80R serving as a polarization filter is preferably disposed on the optical path of the laser beam emitted from the light source 52R and reaching the phase modulation element 54R and emitted from the light source 52R. The optical filters 80G and 80B serving as polarization filters are preferably disposed on the optical path of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52G and 52B and emitted from the light sources 52G and 52B to reach the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the phase shift of each of the light beams incident on the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Therefore, it is possible to suppress unnecessary light different from the light DLR, DLG, and DLB for forming the predetermined light distribution pattern from being emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.

Although the illustration is omitted, the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B may be light control sheets in which the degree of diffusion of transmitted light is changed by applying a voltage or a current. The configuration of the light control sheet to which a voltage is applied includes, for example, a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules, a pair of transparent electrodes having optical transparency and disposed so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer, and a pair of protective layers having optical transparency and disposed so as to sandwich the pair of transparent electrodes. In such a light control sheet, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is changed by applying a voltage to a pair of transparent electrodes. By changing the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, the degree of diffusion when light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer is transmitted is changed, and the amount of transmitted light can be changed. On the other hand, as the configuration of the light control sheet to which a current is applied, for example, a configuration including a thin film layer such as tungsten oxide and an electrolyte layer can be cited instead of the liquid crystal layer in the light control sheet to which a voltage is applied. In such a light control sheet, the thin film layer transmits an electrooxidation reaction or a reduction reaction by applying a current to the pair of transparent electrodes, so that the degree of diffusion of light transmitted through the thin film layer when transmitted is changed, and the amount of light transmitted can be changed. Therefore, even if the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B are light control sheets in which the degree of diffusion of transmitted light is changed by applying a voltage or a current, the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted light DLR, DLG, and DLB according to the light distribution pattern. Further, the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB according to the light distribution pattern without using the motors 81R, 81G, and 81B.

(fourth embodiment)

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 13. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted, except for the case where they are specifically described.

Fig. 13 is a view showing an optical system unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, similarly to fig. 2. In fig. 13, the radiator 30, the cover 59, and the like are not illustrated. As shown in fig. 13, the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment is different from the optical system unit 50 of the first embodiment mainly in that one phase modulation element 54S is provided instead of the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.

In the present embodiment, the phase modulation element 54S has the same configuration as the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B of the first embodiment. The phase modulation element 54S is shared by the first light emission optical system 51R, the second light emission optical system 51G, and the third light emission optical system 51B, and light emitted from the combining optical system 55 enters the phase modulation element 54S. Specifically, the laser light emitted from the light source 52R of the first light-emitting optical system 51R is collimated by the collimator lens 53R, passes through the first optical element 55f and the second optical element 55S of the combining optical system 55, and enters the phase modulation element 54S. The laser light emitted from the light source 52G of the second light emission optical system 51G is collimated by the collimator lens 53G, reflected by the first optical element 55f of the combining optical system 55, transmitted through the second optical element 55S, and incident on the phase modulation element 54S. The laser light emitted from the light source 52B of the third light emission optical system 51B is collimated by the collimator lens 53B, reflected by the second optical element 55S of the combining optical system 55, and enters the phase modulation element 54S. The laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B may be incident on the phase modulation element 54S, and the configuration of the combining optical system 55 is not limited. For example, the laser light may be incident on the phase modulation element 54S without passing through the combining optical system 55. That is, the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B, the collimator lenses 53R, 53G, and 53B, and the phase modulation element 54S may be arranged so that the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are incident on the phase modulation element 54S without passing through the combining optical system 55.

In the present embodiment, the power supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is adjusted, and the laser light is emitted alternately for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B. That is, when the light source 52R emits the laser beam, the light sources 52G and 52B do not emit the laser beam, when the light source 52G emits the laser beam, the light source 52R and 52B do not emit the laser beam, and when the light source 52B emits the laser beam, the light source 52R and 52G do not emit the laser beam. Then, the emission of the laser light from each of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is sequentially switched. Therefore, the laser beams of different wavelengths emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are sequentially incident on the phase modulation element 54S.

Next, the operation of the phase modulation element 54S of the present embodiment will be described. Specifically, a case where the headlamp 1 emits light having a specific light distribution pattern in the table TB of the first embodiment will be described as an example.

In the present embodiment, the phase modulation element 54S changes the phase modulation pattern in synchronization with the switching of the emission of the laser light by each of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B as described above. Specifically, when the laser light emitted from the light source 52R enters, the phase modulation element 54S is set to the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light source 52R and is the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54R associated with the specific light distribution pattern in the table TB of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the laser light emitted from the light source 52R is incident, the phase modulation element 54S emits the first light DLR emitted from the phase modulation element 54R when the headlamp 1 emits light having a specific light distribution pattern in the first embodiment. When the laser light emitted from the light source 52G is incident, the phase modulation element 54S is a phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54G corresponding to the light source 52G and associated with a specific light distribution pattern in the table TB of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the laser light emitted from the light source 52G is incident, the phase modulation element 54S emits the second light DLG emitted from the phase modulation element 54G when the headlamp 1 emits light having a specific light distribution pattern in the first embodiment. When the laser light emitted from the light source 52B is incident, the phase modulation element 54S is a phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54B corresponding to the light source 52B and associated with a specific light distribution pattern in the table TB of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the laser light emitted from the light source 52B is incident, the phase modulation element 54S emits the third light DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54B when the headlamp 1 emits light having a specific light distribution pattern in the first embodiment.

The phase modulation element 54S changes the phase modulation pattern in synchronization with the switching of the laser emission of each of the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B in this way, thereby sequentially emitting the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB. That is, the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are sequentially emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R, the second light emitting optical system 51G, and the third light emitting optical system 51B that share the phase modulation element 54S. These lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are emitted from the opening 59H of the cover 59, and are sequentially irradiated to the outside of the headlamp 1 through the front cover 12. At this time, the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are irradiated so that areas irradiated with the respective lights overlap each other at a focal position separated from the vehicle by a predetermined distance. The focal position is set to a position 25m away from the vehicle, for example. It is preferable that the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are irradiated so that the outlines of the regions irradiated with the respective lights DLR, DLG, and DLB substantially coincide with each other at the focal position. In the present embodiment, since the emission time lengths of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are substantially the same, the emission time lengths of the light beams DLR, DLG, and DLB are also substantially the same. The intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are set to intensities correlated with the specific light distribution pattern in the table TB.

However, when light of different colors is repeatedly irradiated at a cycle shorter than the time resolution of human vision, a human can recognize that light synthesized by the light of different colors is being irradiated by the afterimage phenomenon. In the present embodiment, when the time from when the light source 52R emits the laser light to when the light source 52R emits the laser light again is shorter than the time resolution of human vision, the light DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54S is repeatedly irradiated with light at a cycle shorter than the time resolution of human vision, and the red light DLR, the green light DLG, and the blue light DLB are combined by the ghost phenomenon. As described above, the emission time lengths of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are substantially the same, and the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are set to the intensities correlated with the specific light distribution patterns in the table TB. Therefore, the color of the light synthesized by the afterimage phenomenon becomes the same white as the light synthesized by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB in the first embodiment. Further, since the light distribution pattern of the light combined by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB is a specific light distribution pattern in the table TB, the light distribution pattern of the light combined by the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB due to the afterimage phenomenon is also a specific light distribution pattern. In this way, the light of the specific light distribution pattern is emitted from the headlamp 1.

From the viewpoint of suppressing the flicker of the light synthesized by the afterimage phenomenon, the cycle of repeatedly emitting the laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is preferably 1/15s or less. The temporal resolution of human vision is approximately 1/30 s. In the case of a vehicle lamp, if the light emission cycle is about 2 times, the flicker of light can be suppressed. If the period is below 1/30s, the time resolution of human vision is substantially exceeded. Therefore, the flicker of the light can be further suppressed. From the viewpoint of further suppressing the flicker of light, the period is preferably 1/60s or less.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are set to the intensities correlated with the specific light distribution patterns in the table TB. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the respective light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B can adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB based on the information from the detection device 72. As in the third embodiment, the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B may adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB by using the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B. According to the headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the phase modulation element 54S is shared by the first light emission optical system 51R, the second light emission optical system 51G, and the third light emission optical system 51B, and therefore the number of components can be reduced.

The present invention has been described above by taking the above embodiments as examples, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the headlamp 1 emits light of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam when the object is not detected by the detection device 72, and the headlamp 1 emits light of the light distribution patterns P1 and P2 in which the colors of the specific regions AR1 and AR2 overlapping at least a part of the object in the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam are set to be different colors from the colors other than the specific regions AR1 and AR2 when the object is detected by the detection device 72. However, the headlamp 1 may emit light of a light distribution pattern in which the color of a specific region overlapping at least a part of the object is set to a color different from the color other than the specific region when the object is detected by the detection device 72. For example, the headlamp 1 may emit light of a light distribution pattern of low beam when the object is not detected by the detection device 72, and may emit light of a light distribution pattern of a color different from colors other than the specific region in a specific region overlapping at least a part of the object in the light distribution pattern of low beam when the object is detected by the detection device 72.

In the first, third, and fourth embodiments, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and 54S are LCOS as reflective phase modulation elements, and in the second embodiment, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are LCDs as transmissive phase modulation elements. However, the phase modulation element may be any element that can diffract incident light with a changeable phase modulation pattern and emit light of a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern. For example, the phase modulation element may be formed of a good glv (gray light valve) in which a plurality of reflectors are formed on a silicon substrate. GLV is a reflective phase modulation element. The GLV can diffract and emit incident light by electrically controlling the deflection of the reflector, and can make the light distribution pattern of the emitted light a desired light distribution pattern.

In the first and third embodiments, the first optical element 55f transmits the first light DLR and reflects the second light DLG to combine the first light DLR and the second light DLG, and the second optical element 55s transmits the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and reflects the third light DLB to combine the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB. However, for example, the following configuration may be adopted: the first optical element 55f combines the third light DLB and the second light DLG, and the second optical element 55s combines the third light DLB and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and the first light DLR. In this case, in the first embodiment, the positions of the first light-emitting optical system 51R including the light source 52R, the collimator lens 53R, and the phase modulation element 54R and the third light-emitting optical system 51B including the light source 52B, the collimator lens 53B, and the phase modulation element 54B are switched. In the above embodiment, a band-pass filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength band and reflects light in another wavelength band may be used for the first optical element 55f and the second optical element 55 s. In the first and third embodiments, the combining optical system 55 is only required to combine the lights emitted from the respective light emitting optical systems, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment and the configuration described above.

In the above-described embodiment, the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and 54S having a plurality of modulation units have been described as an example. However, the number, size, shape, and the like of the modulation units are not particularly limited. For example, the phase modulation element may have one modulation unit, and the incident light may be diffracted by the one modulation unit.

In the first to third embodiments, the optical system unit 50 including the three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B that emit light having different wavelengths from each other and the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B corresponding to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B in a one-to-one manner has been described as an example. However, the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B may be integrally formed. As the configuration of the phase modulation element, a configuration in which the phase modulation element is divided into a region corresponding to the light source 52R, a region corresponding to the light source 52G, and a region corresponding to the light source 52B can be cited. In the case of such a configuration, the laser light emitted from the light source 52R enters the region corresponding to the light source 52R, the laser light emitted from the light source 52G enters the region corresponding to the light source 52G, and the laser light emitted from the light source 52B enters the region corresponding to the light source 52B. The phase modulation pattern of the region corresponding to the light source 52R is set to the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the laser light emitted from the light source 52R, the phase modulation pattern of the region corresponding to the light source 52G is set to the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the laser light emitted from the light source 52G, and the phase modulation pattern of the region corresponding to the light source 52B is set to the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the laser light emitted from the light source 52B. According to such a headlamp 1, the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are integrally formed, and therefore the number of components can be reduced.

In the fourth embodiment, the optical system unit 50 in which all the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B share the phase modulation element 54S is described as an example. However, at least two light emitting optical systems may share the phase modulation element 54S. In this case, the light emitted from the common phase modulation element light emitting optical system is synthesized by the afterimage phenomenon, and the light synthesized by the afterimage phenomenon is synthesized with the light emitted from the other light emitting optical system to form a predetermined light distribution pattern.

In the above embodiment, the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted lights DLR, DLG, and DLB based on the information from the detection device 72. However, the total luminous flux amount of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the respective light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B may be constant. That is, the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B may not adjust the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B, and may not include the optical filters 80R, 80G, and 80B in the third embodiment. With such a configuration, the headlamp 1 can be operated by simple control as compared with a case where the total luminous flux amount of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the respective light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B is adjusted.

In the above-described embodiment, the headlamp 1 that emits light of any one of the light distribution patterns in the table TB is described as an example. However, the headlamp 1 may emit light having a light distribution pattern different from the light distribution pattern in the table TB. For example, the control unit 71 according to the first embodiment may calculate the phase modulation pattern in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B for forming the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the headlamp 1. Specifically, the control unit 71 may calculate the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B for forming a light distribution pattern in which the color of a region overlapping a part of the object is set to a color different from the region other than the region, based on the information stored in the storage unit 74, the information of the presence of the object and the presence position of the object input from the detection device 72, and the like. In this case, the storage unit 74 stores, for example, a table relating information of the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B when forming the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, information of a predetermined color corresponding to the type of the object detected by the detection device 72, and the intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining information on the intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern in such a modification. Specifically, (a) in fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a part of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam, and is an enlarged view of a part of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam overlapping the pedestrian PE. In fig. 14 (a), the pedestrian PE is represented by a thick line, and a plurality of dividing lines CL are described. The same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted, except for the case where they are specifically described.

As shown in fig. 14 (a), the high beam light distribution pattern PH of the present modification is formed of an aggregate of the division regions CA divided by the division lines CL at substantially equal intervals in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. An address and an intensity of light are preset in each divided region. The address is represented by, for example, the number of a row and the number of a column in which the division area CA is located. The width of the divided area CA in the up-down direction is represented by the width corresponding to the angle in the up-down direction with respect to the headlamp 1, and the width of the divided area CA in the left-right direction is represented by the width corresponding to the angle in the left-right direction with respect to the headlamp 1. These widths are set to widths corresponding to 0.1 degrees, respectively, for example.

Fig. 15 is a table showing this modification. Specifically, (a) in fig. 15 is a diagram showing table TB1 relating to the phase modulation pattern and the intensity of the laser beam. Fig. 15 (B) is a diagram showing another table TB2 relating to the intensity distribution of the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. In table TB1 of the present modification, the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B when the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed are correlated with the intensities of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B when the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam is formed, with respect to the light distribution pattern PH of the high beam. In another table TB2 of the present modification, the address of the division area CA is associated with the total beam amount as the intensity of light in the division area CA.

The control unit 71 according to the present modification extracts the division area CA overlapping at least a part of the object based on the information on the presence and the presence position of the object input from the detection device 72. Fig. 14 (B) is a diagram showing the extracted divided regions. As shown in (B) in fig. 14, for example, all the divided areas CA overlapping with the pedestrian PE may be extracted. In fig. 14 (B), the pedestrian PE is indicated by a broken line, and the extracted segment area CA is set as an extraction area ARE hatched obliquely.

The control unit 71 calculates the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B in which the light distribution pattern formed by the light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B is a light distribution pattern in which the color of the extraction area ARE is different from the color other than the color of the extraction area ARE. The color of the extracted extraction region ARE in the formed light distribution pattern is set to a predetermined color corresponding to the object detected by the detection device 72. The control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the calculation result. That is, it can be understood that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B ARE each provided with a phase modulation pattern in which a light distribution pattern formed by light combined from the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB is a light distribution pattern in which the color of the extraction region ARE different from the color other than the color of the extraction region ARE. Since the extraction area ARE overlaps with at least a part of the object, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the lamp unit 20 is a light distribution pattern in which the color of the area overlapping with at least a part of the object is different from the colors other than the area.

Further, the control unit 71 calculates a total luminous flux amount obtained by adding the total luminous flux amounts of the extraction areas ARE based on the other table TB2 described above. The control unit 71 adjusts the intensity of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the calculation result and the color of the extraction area ARE. For example, the adjustment is made to increase or decrease the intensity of the high beam emitted from table TB1 with respect to the light intensity of light distribution pattern PH. Specifically, the control unit 71 determines the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B that change the intensity of the emitted laser light based on the color of the extraction area ARE. Further, when the total beam amount is large, the control unit 71 increases the amount of intensity change in the laser beam whose intensity is to be changed. On the other hand, when the total beam amount is small, the control unit 71 decreases the amount of intensity change in the laser beam for changing the intensity. That is, the light-emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B in the present modification adjust the total luminous flux amount of the emitted light according to the light distribution pattern in which the color of the extraction region ARE is different from the color other than the extraction region ARE. Thus, it can be understood that these light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B can be adjusted based on information from the detection device 72. Therefore, the headlamp 1 can suppress an unexpected change in the color tone and the brightness of a region other than the specific region in the light distribution pattern in which the color of the specific region changes. Therefore, the headlamp 1 can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable even if the light distribution pattern of the emitted light changes according to the situation in front of the vehicle.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the lamp unit 20 does not include an imaging lens system including an imaging lens. However, the lamp unit 20 may include an imaging lens system, and the light emitted from the optical system unit 50 may be emitted through the imaging lens system. With this configuration, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be easily made wider. Here, the width indicates a wider light distribution pattern when compared with a light distribution pattern formed on a vertical plane separated from the vehicle by a predetermined distance.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given taking as an example the case where, when the road sign RS as the object is detected by the detection device 72, the light of the light distribution pattern in which the road sign RS and the entire support portion SU overlap the specific region AR2 in which the color changes is emitted from the headlamp 1. However, the light emitted from the headlamp 1 may be light of a light distribution pattern in which a part of the road sign RS as the object overlaps the specific region AR2 in which the color changes. Fig. 16 is a view showing an example of a state where light of the light distribution pattern is emitted from the headlamp in the modification, and is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the road sign. In fig. 16, a specific area AR2 in which the color changes is indicated by a broken line.

As shown in fig. 16 (a), for example, the specific area AR2 may be formed in a ring shape along the outer edge RSE of the road sign RS. With this configuration, the presence of the road sign RS as the target object can be emphasized. In this case, the object detected by the detection device 72 is not limited to the road sign RS. For example, the object may be a pedestrian, and in this case, the specific region may be formed in a ring shape along an outer edge of the pedestrian. With this arrangement, the presence of a pedestrian as an object can be emphasized, similarly to the road sign RS. In addition, from the viewpoint of emphasizing the presence of the object detected by the detection device 72, the color of the specific area AR2 is preferably a color in which yellow, which is a color highly perceived by the human eye as light, is enhanced. In the present modification, the specific area AR2 overlaps the entire circumference of the outer edge RSE of the road sign RS, but may not overlap the entire circumference of the outer edge RSE.

When the detection device 72 is configured to recognize the color distribution of the road sign when the type of the road sign is recognized, the specific region may overlap with a region of a predetermined color in the detected road sign, and the color of the specific region may be set to a color of the same color system as the predetermined color. For example, as shown in (B) of fig. 16, when the road marker RS detected by the detection device 72 is a marker indicating that entry of a vehicle is prohibited, the specific region AR2 may overlap with the red region RSAR1 of the road marker RS, and the color of the specific region AR2 may be the same color system color as the region RSAR1 of the road marker RS, for example, the same red color. That is, the specific area AR2 may overlap the area of the road sign RS having the predetermined color, and the specific area AR2 may have the same color system as the predetermined color of the road sign RS. With this configuration, the visibility of the road sign as the object can be improved. In addition, from the viewpoint of improving the visibility of the road marker RS, it is preferable that the specific region AR2 overlap only with the red region RSAR1 which is a predetermined color in the road marker RS, and not overlap with the white region RSAR2 which is a color different from the predetermined color. It is more preferable that the specific area AR2 overlaps with the entire red area RSAR1, which is a predetermined color in the road sign RS.

In the above embodiment, the first light-emitting optical system 51R that emits the first red light DLR, the second light-emitting optical system 51G that emits the second green light DLG, and the third light-emitting optical system 51B that emits the third blue light DLB are provided. However, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as at least two light-emitting optical systems each have a light source that emits laser beams having different wavelengths from each other and a phase modulation element that diffracts the laser beams emitted from the light source, and a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by light obtained by combining the light emitted from the respective light-emitting optical systems. For example, in the case where there are two light emitting optical systems, one light emitting optical system may emit green light, and the other light emitting optical system may emit red light, and a predetermined light distribution pattern may be formed by the combined light. Alternatively, one of the light emitting optical systems may emit blue light, the other light emitting optical system may emit yellow light, and the combined light may form a predetermined light distribution pattern.

The number of the light-emitting optical systems may be three or more. In this case, for example, a fourth light-emitting optical system that emits yellow light may be provided. For example, a fourth light-emitting optical system that emits yellow light is provided in addition to the red, green, and blue light-emitting optical systems, and a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by combining the lights emitted from the four light-emitting optical systems. In addition, when the intensity of a part of the light emitted from the red, green, and blue light emitting optical systems is low, the fourth light emitting optical system may emit light of the same color as the low intensity light.

Industrial applicability of the invention

According to the utility model discloses, can provide the vehicle headlamp who easily drives, can utilize in the field of vehicle lamps and lanterns such as car etc..

Claims (8)

1. A vehicle headlamp is provided with a plurality of light-emitting optical systems having a light source and a phase modulation element,

the light sources in the respective light emitting optical systems emit laser lights different in wavelength from each other,

the phase modulation element in each of the light emission optical systems diffracts the laser light emitted from the light source in each of the light emission optical systems with a changeable phase modulation pattern and emits light of a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern,

a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by light synthesized by light emitted from the light emitting optical systems,

the phase modulation element in each of the light emitting optical systems is set to the phase modulation pattern as follows: a light distribution pattern in which the color of a specific region of the predetermined light distribution pattern that overlaps at least a part of a predetermined object located in front of the vehicle is set to a color different from the color outside the specific region is formed by light synthesized by light emitted from each of the light emission optical systems.

2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1,

each of the light emitting optical systems adjusts the total beam amount of the emitted light based on information from a detection device that detects the object.

3. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,

the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region having a color different from a color other than the specific region is smaller than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region in the predetermined light distribution pattern.

4. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,

the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region having a color different from the color other than the specific region is larger than the total luminous flux amount of light in the specific region in the predetermined light distribution pattern.

5. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 2,

the detection device detects a plurality of types of the object,

the color of the specific region is set to a predetermined color corresponding to the type of the object.

6. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,

the specific region is formed in a ring shape along an outer edge of the object.

7. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,

the object is set as a road sign,

the specific area overlaps with an area of a prescribed color in the road sign,

the color of the specific region is set to a color of the same color system as the predetermined color in the road sign.

8. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,

at least two of the light emitting optical systems share the phase modulation element,

in the light emitting optical system sharing the phase modulation element, the laser light is alternately emitted for each of the light sources of the light emitting optical systems, and the phase modulation element changes the phase modulation pattern in synchronization with switching of the emission of the laser light for each of the light sources of the light emitting optical systems.

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