JP2004311160A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein, in a vehicular lamp with an ornamental stripe formed on a lens surface, the stripe is inconspicuous and ineffective after extinguishing the lamp, it is formed only by irregularity of a lens surface, and cost are remarkably increased in the case of hot stamp. <P>SOLUTION: In this vehicular lamp 1, the ornamental stripe 4 (A or B) is so formed that a pair of tilting surfaces 4a each set at an angle for executing total inner surface reflection with respect to light entering from the irradiation direction side of the vehicular lamp 1 are formed on the back side of the lens 4 surface by facing them to each other so as to execute the total inner surface reflection with respect to the light from the other side as well. Thereby, the ornamental stripe having a metallic color viewable in extinguishing the vehicular lamp can be realized without executing hot stamp of metal foil. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly, to a tail / stop lamp, a turn signal lamp, and the like, for a signal provided for notifying another vehicle, a pedestrian, or the like of the behavior or intention of the own vehicle to another vehicle or a pedestrian. The present invention relates to a configuration of a vehicular lamp, and more particularly, to a vehicular lamp for a signal in which decoration such as a stripe shape is provided on a lens surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a configuration of a conventional vehicular lamp in which decoration is provided on a lens surface, a convex lens having a relatively small diameter and a relatively short focal length is arranged on the back side of the outer lens in design, and Because the reflective surface that can be seen through is seen differently between the part where the convex lens is provided and the part where it is not provided, the design with the convex lens arranged on the outer lens surface appears to rise, improving the aesthetic appearance There is something to try. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-266608 A (pages 2-3, FIGS. 1 to 7)
[0004]
Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a convex portion 90a is provided on the surface side of the lens 90 surface of the outer or inner lens (illustration is shown as an example of the inner lens), and aluminum is deposited on the convex portion 90a, or There is also a well-known configuration in which a hot stamping of an aluminum foil or the like is performed to form a mirror-like opaque coating 91 having a metallic luster and decorate the coating.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the decoration of the lens surface by the method described in Patent Document 1, both the lens surface and the convex lens portion are in a transparent state, so that the transmitted light, that is, unless the vehicle lamp is turned on, The decoration applied is something that is desired to be clearly recognized by the viewer, and there is a problem in that the decoration effect is poor when not lit, that is, in the daytime.
[0006]
In addition, the decoration of the lens surface by the method shown in FIG. 4 can certainly make the decoration effect the same regardless of whether it is lit or not, but it requires a time-consuming process such as hot stamping and vapor deposition. There is a problem that the cost of the entire vehicle lamp increases, or that it is difficult to decorate itself due to the shape of the lens.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a specific means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a vehicular lamp in which a decorative stripe having a mirror-like shape is provided on a lens surface of an outer or inner lens, wherein the decorative stripe is provided on the lens surface. On the back side, a pair of inclined surfaces set at an angle that performs total internal reflection on the incident light from the irradiation direction side of this vehicle lamp face each other so that light from the other party also performs total internal reflection An object of the present invention is to solve the problem by providing a vehicular lamp characterized by being provided.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicular lamp, and the vehicular lamp 1 controls the behavior and will of the own vehicle with respect to other vehicles, pedestrians, and the like, such as a stop / tail lamp and a turn signal lamp. The vehicle lamp 1 for signals used for transmission is the same as that of the conventional example.
[0009]
The vehicular lamp 1 includes a light source 2, for example, an incandescent light bulb, a reflecting mirror 3 having a paraboloid of revolution having the light source 2 as a focus, and a lens 4 covering the front surface of the reflecting mirror 3. ing. In actual implementation, a Fresnel lens may be provided between the light source 2 and the lens 4 in place of the reflecting mirror 3 so that light from the light source 2 is incident on the lens 4 as substantially parallel rays.
[0010]
When the reflecting mirror 3 is used, the reflecting mirror 3 is provided with a reflecting surface cut having, for example, an uneven surface, so that the light distribution characteristic required for the vehicle lamp 1 is formed on the reflecting mirror 3 side. Is also good. Further, a lens cut may be provided on the side of the lens 4, and more specifically, the lens 4 may have a two-piece structure of an outer lens 41 and an inner lens 42 as shown in FIG. The point is that it only needs to correspond to the design of the vehicle and the like.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a lens 4 which is a main part of the present invention. An inclined surface 4a is provided on the rear side of the lens 4, that is, on the surface on the light source 2 side according to the present invention. Have been. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, when the lens 4 of the vehicular lamp 1 is composed of two lenses, an outer lens 41 and an inner lens 42, the inclined surface 4a is 41, or may be provided on the inner lens 42 side.
[0012]
Here, the configuration of the inclined surface 4a will be described. The inclined surface 4a is formed in a direction in which the lens 4 (or the outer lens 41 or the inner lens 42) attached to the vehicle is viewed from the viewing direction. An interface between the member forming the lens 4 and the air is provided as an angle at which total reflection occurs with respect to the light ray X incident on the light 4, and this interface is defined as an inclined surface 4 a.
[0013]
The inclined surface 4a is provided so that the pair of inclined surfaces 4a face each other. At this time, a member on which the lens 4 is formed, for example, an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, or the like. Since the refractive index is about 1.5, if one of the inclined surfaces 4a is provided so as to intersect the light ray X incident on the lens 4 at 45 °, the light reaching the inclined surface 4a is , And the direction is changed by 90 ° from the original ray X.
[0014]
Since the inclined surfaces 4a are opposed to each other in a symmetrical state, the light whose direction has been changed by 90 ° on one inclined surface 4a is again reflected on the other inclined surface 4a. A direction change of 90 ° is performed, and the light is parallel to the original light and the light travels in the opposite direction. Finally, the light is radiated outside from the surface of the lens 4 on the viewing direction side, that is, the surface 4 b of the lens 4. Will be. Similarly, external light incident on the other inclined surface 4a is radiated to the outside via the one inclined surface 4a.
[0015]
When the lens 4 is viewed from substantially the front in this state, both the one inclined surface 4a and the other inclined surface 4a that perform total reflection on the inner surface of the lens 4 are mirror-like surfaces of metallic luster (silver). Will be visible. Therefore, when the portion of the inclined surface 4a is viewed from the irradiation direction side of the lens 4, the appearance which looks almost the same as a mirror surface formed by aluminum evaporation or a hot stamp of aluminum foil, etc., is seen with respect to the inclined surface 4a. It can be obtained by.
[0016]
That is, according to the present invention, a hot plate for heating the aluminum foil at the time of bonding is required, or a vacuum tank for holding the lens 4 in a vacuum when depositing aluminum is required. A decorative stripe 4A having an inclined surface 4a having a decorative effect only by a process for forming the lens 4 without requiring a large-scale facility such as a fray or a process therefor, or will be described later. The decorative stripe 4B is obtained.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the lens 4. In the above-described first embodiment, the decorative stripe 4A has a pair of inclined surfaces 4a which are in close contact with each other. Although the cross section of the stripe 4A has been described as having a substantially triangular shape, the present invention is not limited to this, and an appropriate interval is provided between the inclined surfaces 4a, and the cross section of the decorative stripe 4B is formed. May have a substantially trapezoidal shape.
[0018]
Here, since the decorative stripe 4A or the decorative stripe 4B is intended only for decoration, the decorative stripe 4A or the decorative stripe 4B is not provided over the entire surface of the lens 4, and the other parts function as the original lens 4. Therefore, the light source 2 and the reflecting mirror 3 are configured to have excellent transmittance. Therefore, the back surface of the so-called lens 4 other than the decorative stripes 4A is, in principle, a plane parallel to the front surface 4b and serves as a first light transmitting portion 4c (see FIG. 2).
[0019]
In the lens 4 provided with the decorative stripes 4B, the shape of the space provided between the pair of inclined surfaces 4a of the decorative stripes 4B is also made to be a plane substantially parallel to the surface 4b. Since the light from the light source 2 or the reflecting mirror 3 can be transmitted efficiently similarly to the first light transmitting portion 4c, the second light transmitting portion 4d ( (See FIG. 3).
[0020]
Although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in actual implementation as the vehicle lamp 1, the light distribution required as the vehicle lamp 1 in the first light transmitting portion 4 c is described. It is possible to provide a lens cut for obtaining the characteristics, and particularly in the case of FIG. 3, it is also possible to provide a lens cut for the second light transmitting part 4d in addition to the first light transmitting part 4c. It is.
[0021]
Here, when considering the light source 2 reaching the inclined surface 4a or the light ray Y from the reflecting mirror 3, an angle set on the inclined surface 4a (for example, a refraction angle corresponding to 45 is generated in the lens 4). When the light is introduced, and propagates through the lens 4 and reaches the surface 4b, a refraction angle corresponding to the difference between the member on which the lens 4 is formed and the refractive index of the atmosphere is generated, and the light is radiated to the outside.
[0022]
At this time, if there is any inconvenience in the formation of the light distribution characteristic in the direction in which the light incident on the inclined surface 4a is emitted from the surface 4b, the inclined surface 4a on the surface 4b It is possible to freely form the light shielding film 5 on a portion from which the incident light is emitted by appropriate means such as painting.
[0023]
According to the results of the trial production and examination by the inventor for realizing the present invention, the height h of the decorative stripe 4 (A, B) that can be integrally formed by protruding from the back surface of the lens 4 is about 6 mm at the maximum. It has been found that when the height h is further increased, sinks are generated on the surface 4b side, and the aesthetic appearance is impaired.
[0024]
In this case, if the so-called compression molding method of injecting a pre-melted resin into the mold cavity and then performing mold clamping to mold the lens is performed, the decorative stripe 4 (A, B) can be used. It has been confirmed that production is possible up to a height h of about 8 mm without causing sink marks and without significantly impairing productivity.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle lamp in which a mirror-shaped decorative stripe is provided on the lens surface of the outer or inner lens, the decorative stripe is provided on the rear side of the lens surface. A vehicle in which a pair of inclined surfaces set at an angle of performing total internal reflection with respect to incident light from the irradiation direction side are provided so as to face each other so that light from the other party also performs total internal reflection. By using a lighting device, even when it is required to provide a metal-colored decorative stripe on the lens surface, for example, a heat bonding process using a hot plate for attaching an aluminum foil to the lens surface, Large-scale equipment and complicated work, such as a vacuum chamber evacuation process and a vapor deposition process including a masking process for vapor deposition at a predetermined position It performed it shall metallic color decoration stripes can be obtained without, in which exhibits an extremely excellent effect on the improvement and cost reduction of the productivity of this kind of vehicle lamp.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment of the vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle lamp 2 ... Light source 3 ... Reflective mirror 4 ... Lens 41 ... Outer lens 42 ... Inner lenses 4A and 4B ... Decorative stripe 4a ... Slope surface 4b ... Surface 4c ... First The light-transmitting portion 4d of the second light-transmitting portion 5 is a light-shielding film.

Claims (3)

In a vehicle lighting device in which a decorative stripe having a mirror-like shape is provided on a lens surface of an outer or inner lens, the decorative stripe is provided on a rear side of the lens surface with respect to incident light from an irradiation direction side of the vehicle lighting device. A vehicular lamp characterized in that a pair of inclined surfaces set at an angle for performing total internal reflection are provided so as to face each other so that light from the other party also performs total internal reflection. On the back side of the lens surface between the decorative stripes formed by the pair of inclined surfaces, a first light transmitting portion substantially parallel to the front surface side is provided. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light is transmitted from the vehicular lamp. On the back side of the lens surface, a second light-transmitting portion that is substantially parallel to the surface side is provided between the pair of inclined surfaces, and by transmitting light from the light source to the second light-transmitting portion. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the illumination light is used as the irradiation light of the vehicular lamp.

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