JP2001076513A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce electric power consumption, and to improve design performance by providing a first reflecting surface arranged on a surface opposed to a light source of a front lens and plural second reflecting surfaces for reflecting the light from the first reflecting surface in the direction parallel to the irradiating axis by being arranged in a radial shape so as not to interfere with each other. SOLUTION: A first reflecting surface 4 is arranged on a surface opposed to a light source 2 of a front lens 3 composed of a transparent material arranged in front of this vehicular lighting fixture. The light from the light source 2 is reflected by a parabolic surface 4a, and then, is reflected in the direction parallel to the axis Y of a parabola. Since the parabolic reflecting surface 4a rotates with the optical axis X as the center, the reflected light is generated in a radial shape with the optical axis X as the center. Second reflecting surfaces 5 are arranged in an optical path of the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 4 to reflect the light in the direction parallel to the irradiating axis Z of the vehicular lighting fixture. A light emitting unit is composed of the light source 2, the first reflecting surface 4 and the second reflecting surfaces 5, and the vehicular lighting fixture is composed of at least one or more assemblies of light emitting units.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp such as a tail lamp and a stop lamp, and more particularly, to an increase in a light emitting area of the vehicular lamp and a further improvement in efficiency. It concerns the configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of a conventional vehicle lamp 90 of this type in which an LED lamp is used as a light source 91. The LED lamp has a main irradiation angle of 40 to 60. Because it is relatively narrow, such as about °, a plurality of lenses are employed to shine the entire surface of the lens 92.

The light source 91 is arranged on a printed circuit board 93 in a matrix or the like.
Corresponding to each position provided with a lens cut 92a, a surface of the lens 92 is provided with a lens cut 92a for giving a desired light distribution characteristic as a tail lamp or the like to the light from the light source 91.

[0004]

However, in the vehicular lamp 90 having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the number of the light sources 91 is set in consideration of the required brightness as a tail lamp or the like as is apparent from the above description. Also, the number is set with priority given to illuminating the entire surface of the lens 92, and an excessive number is employed in terms of illuminance, and excessive power is consumed, that is, the efficiency is reduced. Has occurred.

[0005] The lens cut 92a is
1 corresponds to the position where the light source 1 is disposed, and the light source 91 is disposed on the printed circuit board 93.
For example, the arrangement is restricted in a matrix or the like. Therefore, the arrangement of the lens cut 92a is also restricted,
Variations are poor, and the design of the surface of the lens 92 becomes monotonous, resulting in a problem of poor design.

[0006]

According to the present invention, as a specific means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, there is provided a light source provided with a main light emitting direction substantially coincident with an irradiation axis of a vehicle lamp, and a light source provided with the light source. The light source of the front lens faces the light source of a parabola provided with a central axis having a center axis as a direction perpendicular to the irradiation axis of the vehicle lamp and a parabolic reflection surface obtained by rotating the irradiation axis. The first reflection surface provided on the surface to be provided, each of which has an appropriate distance from the irradiation axis in the reflection direction of the first reflection surface, is provided radially so as not to interfere with each other, and the light from the first reflection surface is provided. A light emitting unit comprising a plurality of second reflecting surfaces provided on a surface of the front lens facing the light source of the front lens that reflects light in a direction parallel to the irradiation axis. Do In is intended to solve the problem.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 is a vehicle lamp according to the present invention, and also in this first embodiment, the light source 2 has a relatively narrow irradiation angle L.
An example will be described in which an ED lamp is employed and the conventional configuration requires more light sources 2 than necessary to ensure brightness.

In the present invention as well, the light source 2 is installed such that the optical axis X, which is the main light emitting direction, coincides with the irradiation axis Z of the vehicular lamp 1. ) Is covered with the first reflection surface 4, and the light from the light source 2 is not directly emitted in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp 1.

In the section of the first reflecting surface 4 which coincides with the optical axis X, a paraboloid having the light source 2 as a focal point appears. At this time, the central axis Y of the parabola corresponds to the light source. 2 is orthogonal to the optical axis X. That is, it is also orthogonal to the irradiation axis Z of the vehicular lamp 1.

The parabola is the optical axis X of the light source 2.
Is rotated around the axis of rotation as a rotation axis to form a parabolic reflection surface 4a. At this time, in the vicinity of the optical axis X, the portion near the vertex of the parabola forms a closed space surrounding the light source 2. Therefore, this portion is eliminated, and only the portion facing the light source 2 is left, and the light source 2 is removed. Light is radiated to the outside.

Further, the first reflecting surface 4 is used for the vehicle lamp 1.
Is provided on a surface of the front lens 3 made of a transparent material provided on the front surface of the front lens 3 and facing the light source 2. The shape of the first reflection surface 4 is formed on the front lens 3 by a mold or the like, and aluminum By applying a well-known reflection process,
This is the parabolic reflection surface 4a.

By setting the first reflecting surface 4 as described above, light from the light source 2 is reflected on the parabolic reflecting surface 4a and then reflected in a direction parallel to the central axis Y of the parabola. Become. At this time, since the parabolic reflection surface 4a is rotated around the optical axis X, the reflected light is generated radially around the optical axis X.

In the present invention, in addition to the first reflecting surface 4,
A second reflecting surface 5 is prepared, and the second reflecting surface 5 is provided.
Is provided in the optical path of the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 4 and reflects this light in a direction parallel to the irradiation axis Z of the vehicle lamp 1. At this time, the second reflection surface 5 may be provided as a ring at a position equidistant from the optical axis X.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the range of 360.degree. Where light is reflected from the first reflecting surface 4 is divided into appropriate radial sections, and each section is defined by a distance from the optical axis X. The small reflecting surface 5a is arranged by changing the distance, and the small reflecting surface 5a
Is good as the second reflection surface 5. When the small reflecting surface 5a is adopted, a design change can be given to the light-emitting shape such as a star shape by devising the arrangement of the small reflecting surface 5a.

Next, the small reflecting surface 5a used in the first embodiment will be described. The small reflecting surface 5a is integrally provided on a surface of the front lens 3 facing the light source 2. The light incident surface 5b is orthogonal to the central axis Y of the parabolic reflection surface 4a, and the reflection surface 5c is inclined at about 45 ° so as to reflect light in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp 1. Is a total reflection prism.

Further, the small reflection surface 5a is a total reflection prism formed by utilizing total internal reflection caused by a difference in refractive index between the member on which the front lens 3 is formed and the atmosphere at the boundary surface with the atmosphere. Therefore, the light from the light source 2 reflected by the first reflection surface 4 is reflected by the reflection surface 5c, which is a position where the light is shifted from the high refractive index side to the low refractive index side.
In this embodiment, the example in which the total reflection prism is used for the small reflection surface 5a, which is the second reflection surface 5, has been described. However, the reflection surface 5c is formed by performing a known reflection process such as aluminum vapor deposition. Of course, it is also possible to form the second reflection surface 5 as a small reflection surface 5a.

The light source 2 described above and the first reflecting surface 4
And the second reflecting surface 5 constitute a light-emitting unit 6.
As shown in FIG. 4, at least one or more of the light emitting units 6 are assembled (shown in the example when six light emitting units 6 are mounted on the light emitting unit mounting portion 6a to constitute the vehicle lamp 1). The vehicle lamp 1 of the present invention is configured.

Therefore, when the mounting direction of the light emitting unit 6 with respect to the vehicle lamp 1 is known in advance, the reflected light is diffused at a wide angle in the horizontal direction on the small reflecting surface 5a,
If the shape of the reflecting surface 5c for diffusing the reflected light at a not so wide angle in the vertical direction is provided, the light reflected from the small reflecting surface 5a as it is will satisfy the light distribution characteristics as a tail lamp or the like of the vehicle lamp 1. It will be.

Next, the operation and effects of the vehicular lamp 1 of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. According to the present invention, light from the light source 2 is once transmitted through the first reflection surface 4 to the optical axis X.
Is extended in the vertical direction with respect to the light emitting unit 6 by causing the second reflecting surface 5 to direct the light in the irradiation direction.
Can set the light emitting area freely.

This means that the number of light sources 2 arranged in the vehicle lamp 1 can be freely set, that is, by optimizing the light emitting area of the light emitting unit 6, the brightness of the vehicle lamp 1 can be improved. This also makes it possible to prevent the power consumption of the vehicular lamp 1 from becoming excessively bright and consuming more power than necessary to cause the entire light emitting surface of the vehicular lamp 1 to emit light, which has occurred in the conventional example. In addition, since the light emitting unit 6 can freely set the shape of light emission depending on the combination of the small reflecting surfaces 5a, the degree of freedom for the design of the light emitting surface of the vehicle lamp 1 is increased.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the vehicular lamp 1 of the present invention. In the previous embodiment, the light source has a main irradiation angle of 4 mm.
In contrast to the LED lamp which is relatively narrow, about 0 ° to 60 °, the second embodiment uses an LED lamp having a relatively wide irradiation range such as an incandescent lamp.

The light source 2 has a shielding portion 2a in the irradiation direction when attached to the vehicle lamp 1, and does not emit light directly from the light source 2 in the irradiation direction. The light source 2 is connected to the irradiation axis R of the vehicular lamp 1.
The light emission center axis P of the light source 2 and the irradiation axis R substantially coincide with each other. Around the light source 2, there is provided a paraboloid of revolution 8 having the light source 2 as a focal point, whereby substantially parallel light is emitted in the irradiation direction of the vehicular lamp 1. .

Next, the first reflecting surface 4 will be described. In this embodiment, since the light from the light source is irradiated as parallel light by the rotating parabolic reflecting surface 8 as described above, It has a conical shape protruding toward the light source 2 with the irradiation axis R as the center. That is, it reflects parallel light from the rotating parabolic reflecting surface 8 in a direction Q orthogonal to the irradiation axis R of the vehicular lamp 1. A straight line extending from R to the front lens 3 at an angle of 45 ° appears, and this straight line is rotated about the light emission center axis P of the light source 2 as a rotation axis to be a plane reflection surface 4b. is there.

The first reflecting surface 4 is integrally provided on the surface of the front lens 3 facing the light source 2 as in the first embodiment, and is subjected to reflection processing by a known method such as aluminum evaporation. Is used as the plane reflecting surface 4b.

As described above, by setting the light source 2, the rotating parabolic reflecting surface 8, and the first reflecting surface 4, the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 4 can be reflected in the direction Q orthogonal to the irradiation axis R.
Since the plane reflecting surface 4b is rotated about the emission center axis P, the reflected light is generated radially about the emission center axis P.

The second reflecting surface 5 has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted for use.

The light source 2 in the second embodiment is an incandescent light bulb having a light shielding portion 2a formed by applying an opaque material to the front surface of a glass bulb, but is not limited thereto. It is also possible to use a light shielding hood provided in front of the filament in the bulb made and formed as the light shielding portion 2a.

According to the second embodiment having the above configuration, even when a light source that irradiates light in all directions, such as an incandescent lamp, is used as the light source 2, the light flux can be effectively used. As in the embodiment, the light emitting unit 6 can freely set the light emitting area.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a light source provided with a main light emitting direction substantially coincident with an irradiation axis of a vehicle lamp, and a central axis having the light source as a focal point and illuminating the vehicle lamp. A parabolic line provided as a direction orthogonal to the axis, a first reflecting surface provided on a surface facing the light source of the front lens and the irradiation direction side of a parabolic reflecting surface obtained by rotating the irradiation axis, The front surface which is provided at an appropriate distance from the irradiation axis in the reflection direction of the first reflection surface and is provided radially so as not to interfere with each other and reflects light from the first reflection surface in a direction parallel to the irradiation axis. By providing a vehicle lamp including at least one light emitting unit including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces provided on a surface of the lens facing the light source, the light emitting unit can freely set a light emitting area, and thereby, car By optimizing the number of light sources to be installed in use lamp, in which exhibits the excellent effect in reducing the cost and power consumption.

Second, the second reflecting surface makes it possible to give the vehicle lamp an unprecedented novel appearance, and also has an excellent effect of improving the design of this type of vehicle lamp. is there. Further, since the light emitting area is mainly enlarged by the first reflecting surface, the thickness of the vehicle lamp 1 in the irradiation axis Z direction can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention with a light emitting unit as a main part.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a light emitting unit of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the vehicular lamp according to the present invention in a light emitting unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle lamp 2 ... Light source 2a ... Shading part 3 ... Front lens 4 ... First reflecting surface 4a ... Parabolic reflecting surface 4b ... Planar reflecting surface 5 ... Second reflecting surface 5a ... Small reflecting surface 5b Light entering surface 5c Reflecting surface 6 Light emitting unit 6a Light emitting unit mounting part 7 Housing 8 Rotating parabolic reflecting surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light source provided with a main light emitting direction substantially coincident with an irradiation axis of a vehicle lamp, and a parabola provided with the light source as a focal point and having a central axis perpendicular to the irradiation axis of the vehicle lamp. The first reflection surface provided on the surface facing the light source of the front lens which is the irradiation direction side of the parabolic reflection surface obtained by rotating the irradiation axis, respectively, the reflection direction of the first reflection surface, respectively Provided on the surface facing the light source of the front lens that is provided at an appropriate distance from the irradiation axis and is radially provided so as not to interfere with each other and reflects light from the first reflection surface in a direction parallel to the irradiation axis. A vehicle lighting device comprising at least one light emitting unit including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces. 2. A light source having a light emission center substantially coincident with an irradiation axis of a vehicle lamp, a light source having a shielding part for shielding light emission in the irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp, and the light source having a focus. A rotating parabolic reflecting surface having a central axis coaxial with the irradiation axis, and a front lens that reflects light emitted from the light source and reflected by the rotating parabolic surface in a direction orthogonal to the irradiation axis of the vehicle lamp. A conical first reflecting surface that is convex on the light source side provided on a surface facing the light source, each having an appropriate distance from the irradiation axis in a reflection direction of the first reflecting surface so that they do not interfere with each other. At least one of a light-emitting unit comprising a plurality of second reflecting surfaces provided on a surface of the front lens facing the light source of the front lens which is radially provided and reflects light from the first reflecting surface in a direction parallel to the irradiation axis.
A vehicle lighting device comprising: 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the second reflecting surface is formed of a reflecting prism provided on a surface of the front lens facing the light source.