EP4382801A1

EP4382801A1 - Vehicle lamp

Info

Publication number: EP4382801A1
Application number: EP23214616.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamamoto
Original assignee: Stanley Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Stanley Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-07
Filing date: 2023-12-06
Publication date: 2024-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2043-12-06
Also published as: JP2024082033A; EP4382801B1

Abstract

A light guide body (3A) has a first incidence portion configured to enter first light (L1) emitted from first light source into a light guide portion (5), a second incidence portion configured to enter second light (L2) emitted from second light source into light guide portion (5), a first reflection portion (7A) configured to reflect the first light (L1) entered from the first incidence portion in a first direction within a surface of the light guide portion (5), a second reflection portion (7B) configured to reflect the second light (L2) entered from the second incidence portion in a second direction, which intersects the first direction, within the surface of the light guide portion (5), and a third reflection portion (8) configured to reflect the second light (L2) reflected by the second reflection portion (7B) in the first direction. The first reflection portion (7A) is positioned on a side directed in the first direction from the second reflection portion (7B), and the third reflection portion (8) is positioned on a side directed in the second direction with respect to the first reflection portion (7A).

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

Description of Related Art

In the related art, regarding vehicle lamps mounted in vehicles, a constitution in which light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide body (light guide plate) having a plate shape or the like are combined is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2021-2449 ).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, in the vehicle lamp disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2021-2449 , in order for a light guide body to emit light using light from light sources of different color light, rays of light incident from different positions in the light guide body are emitted from the same position in the light guide body.
However, such vehicle lamps have a constitution which is unsuitable for uniformly emitting light in a width direction of a vehicle from an emission surface (light emitting surface) provided on a front surface side of a light guide body. For example, in vehicle lamps such as tail lamps, the emission surface may be inclined along a slant shape imparted to a corner portion on a side at a front end or a rear end of the vehicle in a direction in which an outward side of the vehicle in the width direction further recedes than an inward side.
In this case, it is not possible to secure a sufficient space for disposing light sources which are necessary for the emission surface in order to uniformly emit light and it is not possible to secure a sufficient length of the light guide body in a forward-rearward direction in corner portions. As a result, the amount of light emitted from the emission surface may be insufficient, resulting in poor appearance when turned on.
Particularly, since the angle of inclination of the emission surface with respect to a traveling direction of light emitted from the emission surface becomes larger on the outward side of the emission surface in the width direction than on the inward side, dark spots are likely to be generated at an end portion of this emission surface on the outward side.
Aspects of the present invention provide a vehicle lamp capable of more uniformly emitting light.
The aspects of the present invention provide the following means.

[1] A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of light sources configured to emit light in same direction with each other, and a light guide body that includes a flat plate-shaped light guide portion configured to guide light emitted from the plurality of light sources. The plurality of light sources include a first light source configured to emit first light and a second light source configured to emitting second light. The first light source and the second light source are configured to emit the first light and the second light, respectively, toward the light guide portion in a thickness direction of the light guide portion. The light guide body has a first incidence portion configured to enter the first light emitted from the first light source into the light guide portion, a second incidence portion configured to enter the second light emitted from the second light source into the light guide portion, a first reflection portion configured to reflect the first light entered from the first incidence portion in a first direction within a surface of the light guide portion, a second reflection portion configured to reflect the second light entered from the second incidence portion in a second direction, which intersects the first direction, within the surface of the light guide portion, and a third reflection portion configured to reflect the second light reflected by the second reflection portion in the first direction. The first reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the first direction from the second reflection portion, and the third reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the second direction with respect to the first reflection portion.
[2] In the vehicle lamp according to the [1], a plurality of the first light sources are provided next to each other in a first parallel direction intersecting the first direction. A plurality of the first incidence portions are provided next to each other in the first parallel direction correspondingly to the respective first light sources. A plurality of the first reflection portions are provided next to each other in the first parallel direction correspondingly to the respective first incidence portions.
[3] In the vehicle lamp according to the [1], a plurality of the second light sources are provided next to each other in a second parallel direction intersecting the second direction. A plurality of the second incidence portions are provided next to each other in the second parallel direction correspondingly to the respective second light sources. A plurality of the second reflection portions are provided next to each other in the second parallel direction correspondingly to the respective second incidence portions.
[4] In the vehicle lamp according to any one of the [1] to [3], the light guide body has an emission portion configured to emit the first light reflected by the first reflection portion and the second light reflected by the third reflection portion to an outside of the light guide portion.
[5] In the vehicle lamp according to the [1], the plurality of light sources include a third light source configured to emit third light. The third light source is configured to emit the third light toward the light guide portion in the thickness direction of the light guide portion. The light guide body has a third incidence portion configured to enter the third light emitted from the third light source into the light guide portion, and a fourth reflection portion configured to reflect the third light entered from the third incidence portion in the first direction within the surface of the light guide portion. The fourth reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the first direction from the first reflection portion and is positioned on a side opposite to the side directed in the second direction with respect to the first reflection portion.
[6] In the vehicle lamp according to the [5], a plurality of the third light sources are provided next to each other in a third parallel direction intersecting the second direction. A plurality of the third incidence portions are provided next to each other in the third parallel direction correspondingly to the respective third light sources. A plurality of the third reflection portions are provided next to each other in the third parallel direction correspondingly to the respective third incidence portions.
[7] In the vehicle lamp according to the [5] or [6], the light guide body has an emission portion configured to emit the first light reflected by the first reflection portion, the second light reflected by the third reflection portion, and the third light reflected by the fourth reflection portion to the outside of the light guide portion.
[8] In the vehicle lamp according to the [7], the emission portion has a shape inclined so that an outward side of the emission portion in a width direction of the vehicle locates further backward in a direction than an inward side of the emission portion, along a slant shape imparted to a corner portion on a side at a front end or a rear end of the vehicle, and a plurality of the third light sources are positioned on the inward side of the vehicle in the width direction than the first light source and the second light source and are provided next to each other in a direction in which the emission portion is inclined.
[9] In the vehicle lamp according to the [1], the plurality of light sources are provided on same surface of same board. The board is attached to the light guide body in a state facing one surface of the light guide portion.

As above, according to the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp capable of more uniformly emitting light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a constitution of a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the constitution of the vehicle lamp illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light guide body included in the vehicle lamp illustrated in FIG. 1 viewed from above.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light guide body included in the vehicle lamp illustrated in FIG. 1 viewed from below.
FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a constitution of the light guide body illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view illustrating the constitution of the light guide body illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the constitution of the light guide body illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body along line A-A indicated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body along line B-B indicated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body along line C-C indicated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body along line D-D indicated in FIG. 5.
FIG. 12 is a top view illustrating optical paths of first light to third light in the light guide body illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating a constitution of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings used in the following description, in order to make each of constituent elements easier to see, dimensions may be shown on a different scale depending on the constituent element, and the dimensional ratios and the like of each of the constituent elements are not necessarily the same as the actual values.
In addition, in the drawings described below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set. An X axis direction indicates a forward-rearward direction (length direction) of a vehicle, a Y axis direction indicates a lateral direction (width direction) of the vehicle, and a Z axis direction indicates an upward-downward direction (height direction) of the vehicle, respectively.

(First embodiment)

Regarding a first embodiment of the present invention, for example, a vehicle lamp 1A illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a constitution of the vehicle lamp 1A. FIG. 2 is a perspective top view illustrating the constitution of the vehicle lamp 1A. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light guide body 3A included in the vehicle lamp 1A viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light guide body 3A included in the vehicle lamp 1A viewed from below. FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a constitution of the light guide body 3A. FIG. 6 is a bottom view illustrating the constitution of the light guide body 3A. FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the constitution of the light guide body 3A. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body 3A along line A-A indicated in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body 3A along line B-B indicated in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body 3A along line C-C indicated in FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide body 3A along line D-D indicated in FIG. 5. FIG. 12 is a top view illustrating optical paths of first light L1 to third light L3 in the light guide body 3A.
For example, the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment is mounted in both corner portions on the rear end side (in the present embodiment, a corner portion on the rear left end side) of the vehicle (not illustrated), and the present invention is applied to tail lamps emitting red light to a side behind the vehicle (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a first direction") (positive X axis direction).
In the following description, unless otherwise stated, the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", and "down" denote respective directions when the vehicle lamp 1A is viewed from the front (from behind the vehicle). Therefore, when the vehicle is viewed from the front (a side in front of the vehicle), the respective directions become directions in which the front, the rear, the left, and the right are reversed.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, this vehicle lamp 1A includes a plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C and the light guide body 3A and is disposed in the corner portion on the rear left end side of the vehicle in a state in which the plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C and the light guide body 3A are accommodated on the inward side of a lamp body (not illustrated).
The lamp body is constituted of a housing with an open front surface, and a transparent outer lens covering the opening of this housing. The lamp body has a shape inclined along a slant shape imparted to the corner portion of the vehicle on the rear end side in a direction (negative X axis direction) in which the outward side (positive Y axis side) of the vehicle lamp 1A in the width direction (Y axis direction) further recedes than the inward side (negative Y axis side) with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction).
The plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C are constituted of LEDs emitting red light. The plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C are mounted on one surface (in the present embodiment, the lower surface) of a circuit board 4 on which a drive circuit for driving these LEDs, a connector for external connection, and the like are provided. Accordingly, the plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C radially emit the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 in a direction perpendicular to the one surface of the circuit board 4 (in the present embodiment, downward). That is, the plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C are provided on the same surface of the same circuit board 4 and each have a constitution of emitting the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 in the same direction.
The plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C include a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first light sources 2A emitting the first light L1, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) second light sources 2B emitting the second light L2, and a plurality of (in the present embodiment, six) third light sources 2C emitting the third light L3.
Among these, the plurality of first light sources 2A are provided next to each other in the width direction of the vehicle lamp 1A (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a first arrangement direction") (Y axis direction).
Meanwhile, the plurality of second light sources 2B are positioned on a side opposite (negative X axis side) to a side directed in the first direction (positive X axis side) from the first light sources 2A and are provided next to each other in a direction in which the plurality of second light sources 2B are inclined so that a second light source 2B located at the outward side (positive Y axis side) in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1A locates further backward in a direction (negative X axis direction) than a second light source 2B located at the inward side (negative Y axis side) (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a second arrangement direction").
Meanwhile, the plurality of third light sources 2C are positioned on the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first light sources 2A and are provided next to each other in a direction in which the plurality of third light sources 2C are inclined so that a third light source 2C located at the outward side (positive Y axis side) in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1A locates further backward in a direction (negative X axis direction) than a third light source 2C located at the inward side (negative Y axis side) (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a third arrangement direction").
Moreover, the plurality of second light sources 2B and the plurality of third light sources 2C are provided in a linear arrangement in a direction in which the second arrangement direction and the third arrangement direction matches with each other. The plurality of first light sources 2A are provided next to each other in a second direction (in the present embodiment, a positive Y axis direction), which intersects the first direction within a surface of a light guide portion 5, from between the second light sources 2B and the third light sources 2C adjacent to each other.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, for example, the light guide body 3A is constituted of a transparent resin such as polycarbonate or acryl, or a light transmission member such as glass. The light guide body 3A has the light guide portion 5 which serves as an inner lens and is formed to have a flat plate shape in its entirety, and a main surface of this light guide portion 5 is disposed in a direction parallel to the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle.
The circuit board 4 is attached to the light guide body 3A in a state of facing one surface (in the present embodiment, the upper surface) of the light guide portion 5. Specifically, in the present embodiment, in a state in which a pair of pins 3a protruding from one surface of the light guide body 3A penetrate a pair of hole portions 4a provided on both sides of the circuit board 4 in a longitudinal direction, the circuit board 4 is attached to the light guide body 3A by caulking tips of the pair of pins 3a. Accordingly, the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C respectively emit the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 toward the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 5 in a thickness direction of the light guide portion 5.
A method for attaching the circuit board 4 to the light guide body 3A is not particularly limited, and screwing and the like may be adopted, for example, other than the caulking described above. In addition, the light guide body 3A is attached by screwing or the like on the inward side of the housing via a bracket (not illustrated) in a state in which the circuit board 4 is integrally attached.
The light guide portion 5 has a first end surface 5a constituting the front surface side (positive X axis side) of the light guide body 3A, a second end surface 5b positioned on a side opposite to the first end surface 5a, a third end surface 5c that joins the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b to each other and that is positioned on the outward side (positive Y axis side) in the width direction (Y axis direction), and a fourth end surface 5d that joins the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b to each other and that is positioned on the inward side (negative Y axis side) in the width direction (Y axis direction).
Among these, the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b extend in directions (the second arrangement direction and the third arrangement direction) in which the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b are inclined with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) so that the outward side (positive Y axis side) of the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1A locate further backward in a direction (negative X axis direction) than the inward side (negative Y axis side) of the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b, along a slant shape imparted to the corner portion of the vehicle on the rear end side.
Meanwhile, the third end surface 5c extends in a direction which inclines opposite to the direction in which the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b are inclined. Meanwhile, the fourth end surface 5d extends in the forward-rearward direction (X axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1A. In addition, the third end surface 5c has a shorter joint distance between the first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b compared to the fourth end surface 5d.
The light guide body 3A has a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first incidence portions 6A provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of first light sources 2A on the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 5, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) second incidence portions 6B provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of second light sources 2B on the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 5, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, six) third incidence portions 6C provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of third light sources 2C on the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 5, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first reflection portions 7A provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of first incidence portions 6A on the other surface (in the present embodiment, the lower surface) of the light guide portion 5, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) second reflection portions 7B provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of second incidence portions 6B on the other surface (lower surface) of the light guide portion 5, a third reflection portion 8 provided on the third end surface 5c of the light guide portion 5, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, six) fourth reflection portions 7C provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of third incidence portions 6C on the other surface (lower surface) of the light guide portion 5, and an emission portion 9 provided on the first end surface 5a of the light guide portion 5.
The plurality of first incidence portions 6A are provided next to each other in the first arrangement direction (Y axis direction). The plurality of second incidence portions 6B are positioned on a side (negative X axis side) opposite to the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first incidence portions 6A and are provided next to each other in the second arrangement direction. The plurality of third incidence portions 6C are positioned on the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first incidence portions 6A and are provided next to each other in the third arrangement direction.
Moreover, the plurality of second incidence portions 6B and the plurality of third incidence portions 6C are provided in a linear arrangement at positions along the second end surface 5b of the light guide portion 5 in a direction in which the second arrangement direction and the third arrangement direction matches with each other. The plurality of first incidence portions 6A are provided next to each other in the second direction (positive Y axis direction), from between the second incidence portions 6B and the third incidence portions 6C adjacent to each other.
Each of the incidence portions 6A, 6B, and 6C has a convex surface-shaped first light condensing incidence surface 10a which is positioned at the center of a part facing each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C and on which a part of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C is incident, a second light condensing incidence surface 10b which is positioned on an inner circumferential side of a protrusion portion protruding toward the side of each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C from a position surrounding the first light condensing incidence surface 10a and on which a part of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C is incident, and a light condensing reflection surface 10c which is positioned on an outer circumferential side of the protrusion portion and reflects the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 incident from the second light condensing incidence surface 10b.
In each of the incidence portions 6A, 6B, and 6C, among the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C, the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 which have been incident inside the light guide portion 5 from the first light condensing incidence surface 10a are condensed closer to optical axes of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C. Meanwhile, the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 incident inside the light guide portion 5 from the second light condensing incidence surface 10b are condensed closer to the optical axes of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C by causing them to be reflected by the light condensing reflection surface 10c.
Accordingly, in each of the incidence portions 6A, 6B, and 6C, the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 radially emitted from each of the light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C are incident inside the light guide portion 5 while being parallelized or condensed. In addition, the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 incident from each of the incidence portions 6A, 6B, and 6C are guided toward the side of the other surface (lower surface) of the light guide portion 5.
The plurality of first reflection portions 7A are provided next to each other in the first arrangement direction (Y axis direction). The plurality of second reflection portions 7B are positioned on a side (negative X axis side) opposite to the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first reflection portions 7A and are provided next to each other in the second arrangement direction. The plurality of fourth reflection portions 7C are positioned on the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first reflection portions 7A and are provided next to each other in the third arrangement direction.
Moreover, the plurality of second reflection portions 7B and the plurality of fourth reflection portions 7C are provided in a linear arrangement at positions along the second end surface 5b of the light guide portion 5 in a direction in which the second arrangement direction and the third arrangement direction match with each other. The plurality of first reflection portions 7A are provided next to each other in the second direction (positive Y axis direction), from between the second reflection portions 7B and the fourth reflection portions 7C adjacent to each other.
Each of the first reflection portions 7A has a first reflection surface 7a which is inclined in the first direction (positive X axis direction) at a cross section along the vertical direction of the first reflection portions 7A (XZ axis direction). In each of the first reflection portions 7A, the first light L1 incident from the first incidence portions 6A is reflected by the first reflection surface 7a in the first direction (positive X axis direction) within the surface of the light guide portion 5. Accordingly, the first light L1 reflected by the first reflection surface 7a is guided toward the emission portion 9.
In addition, the first reflection surface 7a has a curved surface shape curved in a recessed shape in a cross section along the horizontal direction of the first reflection surface 7a (XY axis direction) and reflects the first light L1 incident on this first reflection surface 7a while diffusing it in the first direction (positive X axis direction).
Accordingly, at the plurality of first reflection portions 7A, the first light L1 diffused and reflected in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from each of the first reflection surfaces 7a can be made uniform while overlapping each other in the first arrangement direction.
Each of the second reflection portions 7B has a second reflection surface 7b which is inclined in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) at a cross section along the vertical direction of the second reflection portions 7B (YZ axis direction). In each of the second reflection portions 7B, the second light L2 incident from the second incidence portions 6B is reflected by the second reflection surface 7b in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) within the surface of the light guide portion 5. Accordingly, the second light L2 reflected by the second reflection surface 7b is guided toward the third reflection portion 8.
In addition, the second reflection surface 7b has a curved surface shape curved in a recessed shape at a cross section along the horizontal direction of the second reflection surface 7b (XY axis direction) and reflects the second light L2 incident on this second reflection surface 7b while diffusing it in the second direction (positive Y axis direction).
Accordingly, at the plurality of second reflection portions 7B, the second light L2 diffused and reflected in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) from each of the second reflection surfaces 7b can be made uniform while overlapping each other in the second arrangement direction.
The third reflection portion 8 has a third reflection surface 8a which is inclined in the first direction (positive X axis direction) at a cross section along the horizontal direction of the third reflection portion 8 (XY axis direction). In the third reflection portion 8, the second light L2 reflected by the second reflection surfaces 7b (second reflection portions 7B) is reflected by the third reflection surface 8a in the first direction (positive X axis direction). Accordingly, the second light L2 reflected by the third reflection surface 8a is guided toward the emission portion 9.
Each of the fourth reflection portions 7C has a fourth reflection surface 7c which is inclined in the first direction (positive X axis direction) at a cross section along the vertical direction of the fourth reflection portions 7C (XZ axis direction). In each of the fourth reflection portions 7C, the third light L3 incident on the third incidence portions 6C is reflected by the fourth reflection surface 7c in the first direction (positive X axis direction) within the surface of the light guide portion 5. Accordingly, the third light L3 reflected by the fourth reflection surface 7c is guided toward the emission portion 9.
In addition, the fourth reflection surface 7c has a curved surface shape curved in a recessed shape in a cross section in the horizontal direction of the fourth reflection surface 7c (XY axis direction) and reflects the third light L3 incident on this fourth reflection surface 7c while diffusing it in the first direction (positive X axis direction).
Accordingly, at the plurality of fourth reflection portions 7C, the third light L3 diffused and reflected in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from each of the fourth reflection surfaces 7c can be made uniform while overlapping each other in the first arrangement direction (Y axis direction).
The emission portion 9 has an emission surface 9a inclined with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) so that the outward side (positive Y axis side) of the emission surface 9a in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the light guide portion 5 locates further backward in a direction (negative X axis direction) than the inward side (negative Y axis side) of the emission surface 9a, along the slant shape of the lamp body described above.
In the emission portion 9, the first light L1 reflected by the first reflection surfaces 7a (first reflection portions 7A), the second light L2 reflected by the third reflection surface 8a (third reflection portion 8), and the third light L3 reflected by the fourth reflection surface 7c (fourth reflection portions 7C) are emitted from the emission surface 9a to the outside of the light guide portion 5.
In addition, the emission portion 9 has a plurality of diffusion cuts 11 for diffusing each of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from the emission surface 9a in the first direction (positive X axis direction). Examples of the diffusion cut 11 can include a lens cut referred to as a flute cut or a fisheye cut, and an uneven structure formed by performing knurling, emboss processing, or the like. In addition, the degree of diffusion of each of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from the emission surface 9a can be controlled by adjusting the shape or the like of this diffusion cut.
In the present embodiment, regarding the diffusion cuts 11, fisheye cuts for diffusing each of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from the emission surface 9a in the upward-downward direction and the lateral direction of the vehicle lamp 1A are provided. In addition, the plurality of diffusion cuts 11 are arranged in a stepped shape in the width direction of the light guide portion 5 and are disposed in a linear arrangement in the thickness direction of the light guide portion 5.
In the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment having the constitution described above, the light emitting surface, as a tail lamp, corresponding to the emission surface 9a (emission portion 9) of the light guide body 3A can emit red light in a substantially uniform manner.
Incidentally, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, the emission surface 9a has a shape inclined with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) so that the outward side (positive Y axis side) of the emission surface 9a in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the light guide portion 5 locates further backward in a direction (negative X axis direction) than the inward side of the emission surface 9a (negative Y axis side), along a slant shape imparted to the corner portion of the lamp body on the rear end side of the vehicle as described above.
In this case, since the angle of inclination of the emission surface 9a with respect to the traveling direction of each of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from the emission surface 9a, that is, the first direction (positive X axis direction) becomes larger on the outward side (positive Y axis side) of the emission surface 9a than on the inward side (negative Y axis side) of the emission surface 9a (in the Y axis direction), dark spots are more likely to be generated at an end portion on the outward side of this emission surface 9a.
In contrast, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the first reflection surfaces 7a (first reflection portions 7A) described above are positioned on a side (positive X axis side) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the second reflection surfaces 7b (second reflection portions 7B), and the third reflection surface 8a (third reflection portion 8) is positioned on a side (positive Y axis side) in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) with respect to the first reflection surfaces 7a (first reflection portions 7A).
In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, the fourth reflection portions 7C are positioned on a side (positive X axis side) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the first reflection portions 7A and are positioned on a side (negative Y axis side) opposite to a side in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) with respect to the first reflection portions 7A.
In the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, at a region which is positioned on the inward side than the end portion on the outward side of the emission surface 9a which has smaller influence due to the inclination angle of the emission surface 9a, the third light L3 reflected in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the plurality of fourth reflection surfaces 7c (fourth reflection portions 7C) arranged in the third arrangement direction is emitted from the emission surface 9a to the outside of the light guide portion 5.
Meanwhile, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, at a region which is positioned on the outward side than the region of the emission surface 9a where the third light L3 is emitted, the first light L1 reflected in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the plurality of first reflection surfaces 7a (first reflection portions 7A) arranged in the first arrangement direction is emitted from the emission surface 9a to the outside of the light guide portion 5.
Moreover, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, at a region which is positioned on the outward side than the region of the emission surface 9a where the first light L1 is emitted, the second light L2 is reflected in the second direction (positive Y axis direction) from the plurality of second reflection surfaces 7b (second reflection portions 7B) arranged in the second arrangement direction, and then this second light L2 is reflected by the third reflection surface 8a (third reflection portion 8) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) so that the second light L2 is emitted from the emission surface 9a to the outside of the light guide portion 5.
Accordingly, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, at the outward side than the inward side on the emission surface 9a in the width direction, even when the angle of inclination of the emission surface 9a becomes larger with respect to the traveling direction (first direction) of each of the light L1, the light L2, and the light L3 emitted from this emission surface 9a, the emission surface 9a can more uniformly emit light over the entire region in the width direction.
In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1A of the present embodiment, the plurality of light sources 2A, 2B, and 2C can be disposed in a manner of facing the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 5 without being restricted by a disposition space due to the slant shape of the lamp body described above.

(Second embodiment)

Next, regarding a second embodiment of the present invention, for example, a vehicle lamp 1B illustrated in FIG. 13 will be described.
FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating a constitution of the vehicle lamp 1B. In addition, in the following description, description of parts equivalent to those of the foregoing vehicle lamp 1A will be omitted, and the same reference signs will be applied thereto in the drawings.
For example, the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment is mounted in both corner portions on the front end side of the vehicle (not illustrated), and the present invention is applied to position lamps emitting white light to a side in front of the vehicle (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a first direction") (positive X axis direction).
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment includes a plurality of light sources 2D and 2E and a light guide body 3B.
The plurality of light sources 2D and 2E are constituted of LEDs emitting white light. The plurality of light sources 2D and 2E are mounted on one surface (in the present embodiment, the lower surface) of a circuit board (not illustrated). Accordingly, the plurality of light sources 2D and 2E radially emit light L4 and light L5 in a direction (in the present embodiment, downward) perpendicular to the one surface of the circuit board 4. That is, the plurality of light sources 2D and 2E are provided on the same surface of the same circuit board 4 and each have a constitution of emitting the light L4 and the light L5 in the same direction.
The plurality of light sources 2D and 2E include the plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first light sources 2D emitting the first light L4, and the plurality of (in the present embodiment, three) second light sources 2E emitting the second light L5.
Among these, the plurality of first light sources 2D are provided next to each other in the width direction of the vehicle lamp 1B (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a first arrangement direction") (Y axis direction).
Meanwhile, the plurality of second light sources 2E are positioned on a side (negative X axis side) opposite to a side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first light sources 2D and are provided next to each other in the forward-rearward direction (X axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1B (this direction will hereinafter be referred to as "a second arrangement direction").
Moreover, the plurality of first light sources 2D are symmetrically disposed in the width direction of the vehicle lamp 1B with respect to the arrangement positions of the plurality of second light sources 2E
The light guide body 3B is constituted of the same light transmission member as that described in the foregoing light guide body 3A as an example. The light guide body 3B has a light guide portion 30 formed to have a flat plate shape in its entirety, and a main surface of this light guide portion 30 is disposed in a direction parallel to the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle.
The light guide portion 30 has a first end surface 30a constituting the front surface side (positive X axis side) of the light guide body 3B, a second end surface 30b positioned on a side opposite to the first end surface 30a, a third end surface 30c positioned on one side (positive Y axis side) joining the first end surface 30a and the second end surface 30b to each other, and a fourth end surface 30d positioned on the other side (negative Y axis side) joining the first end surface 30a and the second end surface 30b to each other.
Among these, the first end surfaces 30a extend in directions in which the first end surfaces 30a are inclined opposite with each other with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) in a direction (negative X axis direction) in which both sides of the first end surfaces sandwiching the center portion of the vehicle lamp 1B in the width direction (Y axis direction) therebetween are located further backward. Meanwhile, the second end surface 30b extends in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the vehicle lamp 1B. Meanwhile, the third end surface 30c extends in a direction inclined opposite to a direction in which one side of the first end surface 30a is inclined. Meanwhile, the fourth end surface 30d extends in a direction inclined opposite to a direction in which the other side of the first end surface 30a is inclined.
The light guide body 3B has a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first incidence portions 6D provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of first light sources 2D on one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 30, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, three) second incidence portions 6E provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of second light sources 2E on the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 30, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, two) first reflection portions 7D provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of first incidence portions 6D on the other surface (in the present embodiment, the lower surface) of the light guide portion 30, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, three) second reflection portions 7E provided in a manner of respectively facing the plurality of second incidence portions 6E on the other surface (lower surface) of the light guide portion 30, a pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B respectively provided on the third end surface 30c and the fourth end surface 30d of the light guide portion 30, and an emission portion 90 provided on the first end surface 30a of the light guide portion 30.
Since the first incidence portions 6D and the second incidence portions 6E basically have the same constitutions as those of the first incidence portions 6A and the second incidence portions 6B described above, description thereof will be omitted and illustration will be simplified.
The plurality of first incidence portions 6D are provided next to each other in the first arrangement direction (Y axis direction). Meanwhile, the plurality of second incidence portions 6E are positioned on a side (negative X axis side) opposite to the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first incidence portions 6D and are provided next to each other in the second arrangement direction. Moreover, the plurality of first incidence portions 6D are symmetrically disposed in the width direction of the vehicle lamp 1B with respect to the arrangement positions of the plurality of second incidence portions 6E.
In each of the incidence portions 6D and 6E, the light L4 and the light L5 radially emitted from each of the light sources 2D and 2E are incident inside the light guide portion 30 while being parallelized or condensed. In addition, the light L4 and the light L5 incident from each of the incidence portions 6D and 6E are guided toward the other surface (lower surface) side of the light guide portion 30.
The first reflection portions 7D and the second reflection portions 7E basically have the same constitutions as those of the first reflection portions 7A and the second reflection portions 7B described above, description thereof will be omitted and illustration will be simplified.
The plurality of first reflection portions 7D are provided next to each other in the first arrangement direction (Y axis direction). Meanwhile, the plurality of second reflection portions 7E are positioned on a side (negative X axis side) opposite to the side (positive X axis side) directed in the first direction from the first reflection portions 7D and are provided next to each other in the second arrangement direction (X axis direction). Moreover, the plurality of first reflection portions 7D are symmetrically disposed in the width direction of the vehicle lamp 1B with respect to the arrangement positions of the plurality of second reflection portions 7E.
Each of the first reflection portions 7D has a first reflection surface 7d and reflects the first light L4 incident from each of the first incidence portions 6D in the first direction (positive X axis direction) within a surface of the light guide portion 30 using the first reflection surface 7d. Accordingly, the first light L4 reflected by the first reflection surface 7a is guided toward the emission portion 90.
Each of the second reflection portions 7E has a pair of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b inclined in a direction opposite to each other with respect to the second arrangement direction (X axis direction). In each of the second reflection portions 7E, the second light L5 incident from each of the second incidence portions 6E is reflected in a direction opposite to each other by the pair of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b in the second direction (the positive Y axis direction and the negative Y axis direction) within the surface of the light guide portion 30. Accordingly, the second light L2 reflected by the pair of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b is guided toward the pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B.
The pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B each have a third reflection surface 8b and reflect the second light L2 reflected by the pair of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b (second reflection portions 7E) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) using the third reflection surface 8b. Accordingly, the second light L2 reflected by the third reflection surface 8b is guided toward the emission portion 9.
The emission portion 90 has emission surfaces 90a that are inclined opposite with each other with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) in a direction (negative X axis direction) in which both sides of the emission surfaces 90a sandwiching the center portion of the vehicle lamp 1B in the width direction (Y axis direction) therebetween are located further backward.
In the emission portion 90, the first light L4 reflected by the first reflection surfaces 7d (first reflection portions 7D) and the second light L2 reflected by the third reflection surfaces 8b (pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B) are emitted from the emission surface 90a to the outside of the light guide portion 30.
In the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment having the constitution described above, the light emitting surface, as a position lamp, corresponding to the emission surface 90a (emission portion 90) of the light guide body 3B can emit white light in a substantially uniform manner.
In the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, the emission surfaces 90a has shapes that are inclined opposite with each other with respect to the first direction (positive X axis direction) in a direction (negative X axis direction) in which both sides of the emission surfaces 90a sandwiching the center portion of the vehicle lamp 1B in the width direction (Y axis direction) therebetween are located further backward.
In this case, since the angle of inclination of the emission surface 90a with respect to the traveling direction of each of the light L1 and the light L2 emitted from the emission surface 90a, that is, the first direction (positive X axis direction) becomes larger on the outward side (the positive Y axis side and the negative Y axis side) of the emission surface 90a than on the center portion of the emission surface 90a (in the Y axis direction), dark spots are more likely to be generated at an end portion on the outward side of this emission surface 90a.
In contrast, in the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, the first reflection surfaces 7d (first reflection portions 7D) described above are positioned on a side (positive X axis side) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the pair of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b (second reflection portions 7E), and the third reflection surfaces 8b (pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B) are positioned on a side (the positive Y axis side and the negative Y axis side) in the second direction (the positive Y axis direction and the negative Y axis direction) with respect to the first reflection surfaces 7d (first reflection portions 7D).
In the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, in the central region on the emission surface 90a in the width direction (Y axis direction), the first light L4 reflected in the first direction (positive X axis direction) from the plurality of first reflection surfaces 7d (first reflection portions 7D) arranged in the first arrangement direction is emitted from the emission surface 90a to the outside of the light guide portion 30.
In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, in a region on the outward side from the central region on the emission surface 90a where the first light L4 is emitted, the second light L5 is reflected in the second direction (positive Y axis direction and the negative Y axis direction) from the plurality of second reflection surfaces 70a and 70b (second reflection portions 7E) arranged in the second arrangement direction, and then this second light L5 is reflected by the third reflection surfaces 8b (pair of third reflection portions 8A and 8B) in the first direction (positive X axis direction) so that the second light L5 is emitted from the emission surface 9a to the outside of the light guide portion 30.
Accordingly, in the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, at the outward side from the center portion of the emission surface 90a in the width direction, even when the angle of inclination of the emission surface 90a becomes larger with respect to the traveling direction (first direction) of each of the light L4 and the light L5 emitted from this emission surface 90a, the emission surface 90a can more uniformly emit light over the entire region in the width direction.
In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1B of the present embodiment, the plurality of light sources 2D and 2E described above can be disposed on the same surface of the circuit board facing the one surface (upper surface) of the light guide portion 30.
The present invention is not necessarily limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various changes can be added within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the foregoing vehicle lamps 1A and 1B, the shapes and the like of the foregoing light guide bodies 3A and 3B can be suitably changed in accordance with actual design or the like of a vehicle. In addition, the foregoing light guide bodies 3A and 3B have constitutions respectively including the plate-shaped light guide portions 5 and 30 described above. However, in combination with another light guide portion connected to the light guide portions 5 and 30, this light guide portion may be constituted to emit light.
In addition, in the foregoing embodiments, cases in which the present invention is applied to vehicle lamps described above, such as tail lamps and position lamps, have been described as examples. However, when tail lamps or position lamps are constituted, in addition to the light sources described above and light guide bodies serving as inner lenses, for example, they can be combined with other members such as outer lenses, reflectors, and extensions.
In the foregoing embodiments, cases in which the present invention is applied to tail lamps and position lamps described above have been described as examples. However, vehicle lamps to which the present invention is applied are not limited to turn lamps and position lamps described above. For example, the present invention can be widely applied to vehicle lamps including light sources and light guide bodies, such as direction indicators (turn lamps), brake lamps (stop lamps), back lamps, and daytime running lamps (DRL).
In addition, regarding light sources, for example, light emitting elements such as laser diodes (LDs) can also be used in addition to LEDs described above. In addition, the color of light emitted by light sources can also be suitably changed in accordance with the purpose of the vehicle lamp, such as orange light in addition to red light and white light described above.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A vehicle lamp comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured to emit light in same direction with each other; and

a light guide body that includes a flat plate-shaped light guide portion configured to guide light emitted from the plurality of light sources,

wherein the plurality of light sources include a first light source configured to emit first light and a second light source configured to emit second light,

the first light source and the second light source are configured to emit the first light and the second light, respectively, toward the light guide portion in a thickness direction of the light guide portion,

the light guide body has
a first incidence portion configured to enter the first light emitted from the first light source into the light guide portion,

a second incidence portion configured to enter the second light emitted from the second light source into the light guide portion,

a first reflection portion configured to reflect the first light entered from the first incidence portion in a first direction within a surface of the light guide portion,

a second reflection portion configured to reflect the second light entered from the second incidence portion in a second direction, which intersects the first direction, within the surface of the light guide portion, and

a third reflection portion configured to reflect the second light reflected by the second reflection portion in the first direction, and

the first reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the first direction from the second reflection portion, and the third reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the second direction with respect to the first reflection portion.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
wherein a plurality of the first light sources are provided next to each other in a first parallel direction intersecting the first direction,

a plurality of the first incidence portions are provided next to each other in the first parallel direction correspondingly to the respective first light sources, and

a plurality of the first reflection portions are provided next to each other in the first parallel direction correspondingly to the respective first incidence portions.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
wherein a plurality of the second light sources are provided next to each other in a second parallel direction intersecting the second direction,

a plurality of the second incidence portions are provided next to each other in the second parallel direction correspondingly to the respective second light sources, and

a plurality of the second reflection portions are provided next to each other in the second parallel direction correspondingly to the respective second incidence portions.
The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the light guide body has an emission portion configured to emit the first light reflected by the first reflection portion and the second light reflected by the third reflection portion to an outside of the light guide portion.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of light sources include a third light source configured to emit third light,

the third light source is configured to emit the third light toward the light guide portion in the thickness direction of the light guide portion,

the light guide body has
a third incidence portion configured to enter the third light emitted from the third light source into the light guide portion, and

a fourth reflection portion configured to reflect the third light entered from the third incidence portion in the first direction within the surface of the light guide portion, and

the fourth reflection portion is positioned on a side directed in the first direction from the first reflection portion and is positioned on a side opposite to the side directed in the second direction with respect to the first reflection portion.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 5,
wherein a plurality of the third light sources are provided next to each other in a third parallel direction intersecting the second direction,

a plurality of the third incidence portions are provided next to each other in the third parallel direction correspondingly to the respective third light sources, and

a plurality of the third reflection portions are provided next to each other in the third parallel direction correspondingly to the respective third incidence portions.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein the light guide body has an emission portion configured to emit the first light reflected by the first reflection portion, the second light reflected by the third reflection portion, and the third light reflected by the fourth reflection portion to the outside of the light guide portion.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 7,
wherein the emission portion has a shape inclined so that an outward side of the emission portion in a width direction of the vehicle locates further backward in a direction than an inward side of the emission portion, along a slant shape imparted to a corner portion on a side at a front end or a rear end of the vehicle, and a plurality of the third light sources are positioned on the inward side of the vehicle in the width direction than the first light source and the second light source and are provided next to each other in a direction in which the emission portion is inclined.
The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of light sources are provided on same surface of same board, and

the board is attached to the light guide body in a state facing one surface of the light guide portion.