JP2005183192A - Vehicular lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular lighting device having an improved observation property enabled to observe the same observation range as that observed by visual light and visual observation by expanding the width of irradiation when irradiating infrared rays. <P>SOLUTION: An infrared-ray filter 5 having an infrared-ray transmitting property is detachment freely mounted on a light source 2 of the vehicular lighting device 1 which is used as a visible light lighting device when the infrared-ray filter is dismounted, and used as an infrared-ray projection device when the infrared-ray filter is mounted. The visual field when the infrared-ray filter is mounted is made to coincide with that when the filter is dismounted, by applying such a treatment to the infrared-ray filter that makes a light diffusion width in a horizontal direction wider than that when the filter is dismounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp for illumination such as a headlamp, and more specifically, in a vehicular lamp using a halogen light bulb, an incandescent light bulb or the like as a light source, an infrared filter that transmits infrared rays and blocks visible light is used as the light source. It is provided as detachable so that it can be used as an infrared projector by attaching an infrared filter when it is not possible to see far away by visible light, such as when traffic is complicated, and to ensure visibility with an infrared night vision device (night vision). The present invention relates to a configuration of a vehicular lamp.

  In recent years, the light distribution has been turned on at night, except when driving on highways, such as where there is a median or where there are few opportunities to encounter oncoming vehicles such as in the suburbs. It is normal to drive at. In this case, compared to running light distribution, the visibility to obstacles and pedestrians that are in the distance is reduced, so an infrared night vision device (night vision) that does not cause illusion to oncoming vehicles ) Has been proposed and put into practical use.

  As described above, when adopting an infrared night vision device, an infrared projector is naturally required, but as the configuration of the infrared projector at that time, for example, a light source that emits only infrared light such as an infrared light emitting diode is adopted. And a method of cutting unnecessary visible light by combining a filter that transmits infrared light with a light source that emits infrared light and visible light such as a halogen light bulb and an incandescent light bulb.

  Here, when a light source that emits both visible light and infrared light, such as an incandescent light bulb and a halogen light bulb, is employed, visible light illumination can be performed without an infrared filter attached. In the attached state, illumination with infrared light, that is, illumination with invisible light can be performed, and an alternative is possible.

Furthermore, for example, the distance from the front of the vehicle is irradiated with a light beam that is horizontal or slightly upward, and at the same time, the light distribution that irradiates the vicinity of the vehicle with a downward light beam is also obtained so that visible light can be obtained. An infrared filter is installed in the optical path of visible light. In this way, it is possible to secure a sufficient field of view by illuminating far distances that may cause illusion in an oncoming vehicle with infrared rays and illuminating near distances without fear with visible light.
JP 2002-135629 A

  In addition, as described above, as another method for obtaining a sufficient field of view with visible light and infrared light, in recent years, when traveling normally at night, in most situations, Actually, the lamp with the light distribution set is used and the lamp on the side with the light distribution for running is not lit.

  Therefore, an infrared filter is detachably formed on the light source of the lamp set with the light distribution for traveling, and when the passing lamp is lit, the infrared filter is attached to the light source of the traveling lamp. There is also an idea to secure a far field of view with an infrared night vision device (night vision) as a device that is turned on in a state of being illuminated and irradiated with infrared rays in the distance.

  In this case, the running lamp is lit with visible light, that is, lit with the infrared filter removed, and when visually observing an obstacle, it is lit with infrared light, that is, an infrared filter is attached. It turned out that the sensitivity characteristics differ considerably when it is turned on in a dark state and viewed with a night vision device (night vision) monitor, which greatly affects the visibility.

  For example, when visually recognizing, even with a light distribution characteristic in which the peripheral light amount is considerably reduced with respect to the central light amount, it is possible to clearly recognize even obstacles in the periphery visually, In the case of recognizing via a light source, in the peripheral part where the amount of light decreases, the image is no longer formed on the monitor due to insufficient sensitivity, and therefore the obstacle cannot be clearly recognized.

  In other words, when visually monitoring with visible light, the illuminance distribution of illumination does not matter so much, but when monitoring with infrared rays and a night vision device, light distribution with a uniform illuminance distribution over a wide range is achieved. The problem arises that the purpose cannot be achieved simply by attaching and detaching the infrared filter, and the solution of this point has been a problem.

  As a specific means for solving the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides an infrared filter having infrared transmission characteristics as a detachable light source. When the infrared filter is removed, a visible light lamp is provided. In the vehicular lamp used as an infrared projector, the infrared filter is processed so that light is diffused more widely in the horizontal direction than when the filter is removed, or an accessory is added. The problem is solved by providing a vehicular lamp characterized by the above.

  According to the present invention, an infrared filter is detachably provided in the light source, and is used as a visible light lamp when the infrared filter is detached. In the lamp used for switching as an infrared projector for a night vision device when the infrared filter is attached, Recognition when observing with visible light and visual observation by expanding the irradiation width when irradiating with infrared light by performing processing that diffuses light widely in the horizontal direction or adding accessories to the infrared filter The viewing range is improved by monitoring the same range as the possible range.

  Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in the drawings. What is shown by the code | symbol 1 in FIG. 1 is the vehicle lamp which concerns on this invention, and this vehicle lamp 1 irradiates light spotwise in the front direction of a vehicle in visible light, and the traveling light distribution is set. Although not shown, the vehicle is also provided with a vehicular lamp in which a passing light distribution is set.

  The vehicle lamp 1 is provided with a light source 2 that is, for example, a halogen bulb, and in addition, is provided with a reflecting mirror 3 such as a rotating paraboloid with the light source 2 as a focal point. Reflected in the front direction of the vehicle as a substantially parallel light beam. And the lens 4 is provided in the advancing direction of the reflected light from the reflecting mirror 3, and the above-mentioned traveling light distribution is formed by providing an appropriate lens cut.

  The light source 2 is provided with an infrared filter 5 that transmits infrared light and blocks visible light. The infrared filter 5 is connected to a drive arm 7 driven by a solenoid (not shown), for example. It is attached and is detachable with respect to the light source 2, and when it is detached, direct light from the light source 2, that is, visible light reaches the reflecting mirror 3, and when it is worn, infrared light reaches the reflecting mirror 3. Become.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the infrared filter 5. The infrared filter 5 is roughly divided into a carrier 5a formed in a cylindrical shape (pipe shape) with a transparent member such as heat-resistant glass, and the carrier. Interference filter layer in which a thin film formed with a high refractive index member with a predetermined film thickness (for example, ½ wavelength) and a thin film formed with a low film thickness with a similar film thickness are alternately stacked on the cylindrical surface of 5a 5b. When there is no particular thermal problem such as cooling is possible, the infrared filter 6 may be formed of a colored member such as infrared transmissive black glass (see FIG. 5).

  At this time, the carrier 5a or the interference filter layer 5b has a constant thickness and has a concentric shape centered on the point where the light is emitted. There is no effect such as refraction. Therefore, the shape of the light distribution characteristic when it reaches the reflecting mirror 3, further passes through the lens 4, and is projected forward is related to the presence or absence of the infrared filter 5 as indicated by the light distribution characteristic D1 in FIG. The shape is exactly the same.

  However, despite the fact that both have light distribution characteristics D1 of exactly the same shape, when the front situation is monitored with the naked eye and the infrared night-vision device, there is a clear difference in visual field between both visible light and infrared light. As a general trend, when the same object is monitored under the same light distribution between the naked eye and the infrared night vision device, the infrared night vision device has a viewing angle with respect to the naked eye. Will feel narrow.

  In addition, when visual monitoring is performed, for example, if an abnormality is felt even a little, it is easy to perform careful monitoring such as moving the line of sight in that direction and gazing, so the probability of finding an abnormality is improved. In addition, it is possible to feel an abnormality due to color in the line of sight compared to a night vision device or the like, and it can be said that the detection accuracy for the abnormality is higher than that of a monochromatic image such as a monitor.

  Considering this cause, infrared night vision devices tend to have a more pronounced decrease in sensitivity to illuminance, that is, the front of the vehicle is brightest, and the illuminance decreases for a while when the vehicle is off the front. In the basis of illumination with a light distribution characteristic D1 (see FIG. 3), when comparing the visual perception with the infrared night-vision device, the sensitivity is excellent even for an object whose visual is darker, and a darker position. As a result, obstacles can be recognized in a wide range.

  This means that the sensitivity characteristic is extended to low illuminance in the visual sense. Therefore, in order to enable the obstacle to be visually recognized to the same range by the infrared night vision device, the light distribution characteristic D2 is shown in FIG. If the shape of the light distribution characteristic that widens the range that maintains the same illuminance as in the front direction is not set, it is impossible to secure the visible range that is the same as the visual sense.

  Since the visible light lamp and the infrared light projector are switched by attaching the infrared filter 5 to the light source 2 as described above, the infrared filter is used in the present invention. No. 5 is used, and a configuration capable of giving optimum light distribution characteristics to each of visible light and infrared light.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the infrared filter 5 is an interference filter in which a high refractive film and a low refractive film are alternately laminated on the outer surface of the carrier 5a formed in a cylindrical shape with glass. Since the layer 5b is formed, if there are irregularities on the outer surface, there is a possibility that the formation of the interference filter layer 5b may be hindered.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, on the inner surface side of the carrier 5 a, for example, a cylindrical lens portion 5 c that extends along the axis in the axial direction of the carrier 5 a is formed. When light enters the carrier 5a, it is appropriately diffused to widen the irradiation width that can maintain a constant brightness. The cylindrical lens portion 5c is not necessarily provided on the entire inner periphery of the carrier 5a. For example, if the irradiation width is to be increased in the left-right direction, the cylindrical lens portion 5c may be provided only in the corresponding portion. Become

  In this way, when traveling by illuminating with visible light, that is, when traveling with light distribution (light distribution characteristic D1 in FIG. 3), the distance from the front of the vehicle is light distribution. Monitoring can be performed based on visible light from the vehicular lamp 1 and visual visibility, and obstacles can be found in a relatively wide range by moving the line of sight.

  Further, when the vehicle is traveling with the passing light distribution, the vehicular lamp 1 of the present invention in which the traveling light distribution is set is turned on with the infrared filter 5 attached to the light source 2. Therefore, the infrared night vision apparatus projects an image on a monitor or the like by infrared rays irradiating far from the vehicular lamp 1, and supplements the field of view of the passing light distribution irradiating only a short distance.

  At this time, the infrared filter 5 is provided with a cylindrical lens portion 5c to appropriately diffuse the light from the light source 2 and to monitor the obstacle with visible light and visual observation, and not to move the line of sight However, since the field of view is widened to such an extent that there is no such difference, the field of view when switching between visual observation and the infrared night-vision device does not change so much, and the occurrence of a sense of incongruity can be reduced.

  FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the vehicular lamp 1 according to the present invention. In the previous embodiment, the infrared filter 5 having the carrier 5a has been described as an example. However, this type of infrared filter 6 is formed. As a means for doing this, there is an infrared transmission type black glass which is colored on the glass itself and transmits infrared rays but blocks visible light.

  In this case, when the infrared filter 6 is formed, a means such as pressing with a mold can be used. For example, it is free to form irregularities on the surface, and such processing is performed. Applying does not significantly affect the characteristics as a filter. Therefore, it is also possible to provide the required diffusion by providing the prism cut portion 6a or embossing at a free position on the cylindrical inner diameter side and outer diameter side.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the infrared filters 5 and 6 are provided with the cylindrical lens portion 5c, the prism cut portion 6a, etc., and the light from the light source 2 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 3 and projected as a running light distribution of visible light. Compared to when it is done, the irradiation width is appropriately widened so that almost the same range can be monitored when monitoring with an infrared night vision device, when monitoring with visible light and when monitoring with infrared light It is assumed that there is no change in the field of view and the safety can be improved.

It is sectional drawing which shows embodiment of the vehicle lamp which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the infrared filter which is the principal part of the vehicular lamp similarly similarly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the light distribution characteristic at the time of irradiating visible light and the infrared light in the vehicle lamp which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows another embodiment of the vehicle lamp similarly based on this invention in the principal part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle lamp 2 ... Light source 3 ... Reflector 4 ... Lens 5, 6 ... Infrared filter 5a ... Carrier 5b ... Interference filter layer 5c ... Cylindrical lens part 6a ... Prism cut part 7 ... Drive arm

Claims (1)

  An infrared filter having infrared transmission characteristics as a light source is detachably provided, and when the infrared filter is removed, a visible light lamp is used, and when worn, the vehicle lamp is used as an infrared projector. A vehicular lamp characterized in that processing is performed so that light is diffused more widely in the horizontal direction than when the filter is removed, or attachments are added.

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