JP2006004641A - Vehicular headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlamp miniaturizable by reduction of longitudinal length of a lamp unit and capable of sufficiently ensuring brightness of a light distribution pattern. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular headlamp 1 is provided, in a lamp chamber, with: a projection lens 8 disposed on a center axis Ax of a lens extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a discharge bulb 10 inserted and fixed from the side of the center axis Ax of the lens on the rear side relative to the rear side focal point F of the projection lens 8; a reflector 13 for reflecting light from the discharge bulb 10 toward the front side of the vehicle; a shade 15 for shading a part of light reflected from the reflector 13 behind the projection lens 8; a first additional reflector 21 mounted between a light emission part 10a of the discharge bulb 10 and the shade 15; and a second additional reflector 23 mounted on the front side in the direction of an optical axis V of the discharge bulb 10 for reflecting the light reflected from the first additional reflector 21 toward the projection lens 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp, and more particularly to a vehicle headlamp provided with a projector-type lamp unit.

In general, a projector-type vehicle headlamp has a projection lens arranged on the central axis of a lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a light source bulb arranged behind the focal point on the rear side. The light from the bulb is reflected by the reflector toward the center axis of the lens.

In the case of conventional projector-type vehicle headlamps, there are many so-called rear-insertion-type lamp units in which a light source bulb is inserted and fixed to a reflector from the rear with the optical axis along the central axis of the lens.
However, the vehicular headlamp having such a configuration has a problem in that the lamp unit becomes longer in the front-rear direction, which causes an increase in size.

Therefore, a so-called side insertion type lamp unit has been proposed in which a light source bulb in a projector-type vehicle headlamp is inserted and fixed to a reflector from the side of the central axis of the lens (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In such a side-insertion type lamp unit, the longitudinal length can be shortened, and the vehicle headlamp can be made compact accordingly.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-47704

However, since the light source bulb is normally configured as a line light source whose light emitting portion extends in the optical axis direction (bulb axis direction), the following problems arise in the case of a side-insertion type lamp unit.
That is, the light distribution of the line segment light source has a light intensity distribution in which the light intensity in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis is highest and the light intensity in the optical axis direction is lowest. Therefore, when a side-insertion-type lamp unit is adopted, the amount of light incident on the region in front of the optical axis in the reflecting surface of the reflector is extremely reduced, so that it is formed by the irradiation light from the vehicle headlamp. There arises a problem that it is difficult to ensure sufficient brightness of the light distribution pattern.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a vehicle headlamp that can secure the brightness of a light distribution pattern with a compact size by shortening the front and rear length of the lamp unit. is there.

In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the projection lens disposed on the central axis of the lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction in the lamp chamber formed by the lamp body and the cover, and the rear side of the rear focus of the projection lens A light source bulb inserted and fixed from the side of the central axis of the lens on the side, a reflector that reflects light from the light source bulb toward the front of the vehicle, and one of reflected light from the reflector behind the projection lens A light source bulb, the light source bulb is disposed such that the light emitting portion is shifted to a side of the central axis of the lens, and the light emitting portion Between the shade, a first additional reflector having a substantially elliptical reflecting surface with the light emitting portion as a first focal point is provided, and in front of the light source bulb in the optical axis direction,
A second additional reflector is provided that reflects reflected light from the first additional reflector toward the projection lens.

Preferably, the light source bulb is disposed below the central axis of the lens.
As the light source bulb, a bulb having a line light source such as a discharge bulb or a halogen bulb can be adopted.

As described above, according to the vehicle headlamp of the present invention, the light source bulb is inserted and fixed to the reflector from the side of the central axis of the lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The vehicle headlamp can be made compact by shortening the front-rear length of the lamp unit in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Then, the light emitting portion of the light source bulb inserted and fixed from the side of the central axis of the lens is disposed at a position shifted to the side of the central axis of the lens, and the position of the light emitting unit is defined as the first focal point. The light reflected forward in the optical axis direction by the first additional reflector having a substantially elliptical reflecting surface is
Since it is reflected toward the projection lens by the second additional reflector, the second focal point of the first additional reflector can approach the central axis of the lens, and the efficiency of the double reflection by the first and second additional reflectors. Will improve.

The first additional reflector is provided between the light emitting portion of the light source bulb and the shade, and the second additional reflector that reflects the reflected light from the first additional reflector toward the projection lens is the light source. Since it is provided in front of the bulb in the optical axis direction, light from the light emitting portion to be shielded by the shade is incident on the projection lens using the first and second additional reflectors, and this is used as front irradiation light. It can be used effectively.

Therefore, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention can eliminate the insufficient brightness of the light distribution pattern due to the insufficient amount of incident light in the optical axis direction front on the reflecting surface of the reflector. The brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the irradiated light can be sufficiently secured.

Hereinafter, a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle headlamp 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is not shown in a lamp chamber formed by a transparent transparent cover (cover) 2 and a lamp body 4. The lamp unit 5 is accommodated via the aiming mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lamp unit 5 is a projector-type lamp unit, and includes a projection lens 8 disposed on a central axis Ax of a lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear side of the projection lens 8. A discharge bulb or halogen bulb (light source bulb) 10 inserted and fixed from the side of the central axis Ax of the lens behind the side focal point F, and a reflector that reflects light from the discharge bulb 10 toward the front of the vehicle 13, a shade 15 that shields part of the reflected light from the reflector 13 behind the projection lens 8, and a first additional reflector provided between the light emitting portion 10 a of the discharge bulb 10 and the shade 15. 21 is provided in front of the discharge bulb 10 in the optical axis V direction, and reflects the reflected light from the first additional reflector 21 toward the projection lens 8. It includes a second auxiliary reflector 23.

The projection lens 8 is disposed on the central axis Ax of the lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The projection lens 8 is a plano-convex lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface, and projects an image on the focal plane including the rear focus F forward as a reverse image. The center axis Ax of the lens extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees toward the front with respect to the horizontal direction. The projection lens 8 includes a reflector 13 and a second additional reflector 23.
It is fixedly supported by a holder 17 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending forward from the front end opening.

The discharge bulb 10 is a metal halide bulb having a light emitting portion 10a that emits light by discharge on an optical axis (bulb axis) V, and the optical axis V is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the lens, and the central axis of the lens. It is inserted and fixed to the first reflector 13 from the side of Ax.
In the case of the present embodiment, the discharge bulb 10 is disposed so that the position of the light emitting portion 10a is shifted by a distance L to the side of the central axis Ax of the lens as shown in FIG. As shown, it is installed at a position lower than the center axis Ax of the lens by a distance h.

The reflector 13 has a substantially elliptical reflecting surface 13a having a central axis that is a straight line P1 passing through the light emitting portion 10a and parallel to the central axis Ax of the lens.
The reflecting surface 13a has a cross-sectional shape including a straight line P1 with the first focus (
F1) and a substantially elliptical shape in which the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 8 is the second focal point, and as shown in FIG. 4, the light from the light emitting unit 10a is directed toward the front of the vehicle. Condensed and reflected near the central axis Ax. The eccentricity of the reflecting surface 13a is set so as to gradually increase from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shade 15 is provided integrally with the holder 17 so as to be positioned in a substantially lower half of the internal space of the holder 17. The upper edge 15a of the shade 15
Includes a bright and dark boundary forming part that passes through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 8 and forms a cut-off line of the passing light distribution pattern. Therefore, the shade 15 shields the reflected light that is reflected downward from the reflector 13 and directed toward the projection lens 8.

In the case of the present embodiment, a first additional reflector 21 having a substantially elliptical reflecting surface 21a between the light emitting portion 10a of the discharge bulb 10 and the shade 15 and having the center of the light emitting portion 10a as the first focal point F1. Is arranged.
A second additional reflector 23 that reflects the reflected light from the first additional reflector 21 toward the projection lens 8 is provided in front of the discharge bulb 10 in the optical axis V direction.

The reflecting surface 21a of the first additional reflector 21 has a substantially elliptical shape with the second focal point F2 at a position symmetrical to the center of the light emitting unit 10a across the center axis Ax of the lens on the optical axis V.
As shown in FIG. 1, the second additional reflector 23 has a second focal point F of the first additional reflector 21.
2 is a substantially elliptical reflecting surface 2 centered on a straight line P2 parallel to the central axis Ax of the lens.
3a.

The reflecting surface 23a has a cross-sectional shape including a straight line P2 in a substantially elliptical shape in which the second focal point F2 of the first additional reflector 21 is the first focal point and the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 8 is the second focal point. It is set, and the light reflected by the first additional reflector 21 and passing through the second focal point F2 is condensed and reflected toward the center axis Ax of the lens toward the front. Moreover, this reflective surface 2
The eccentricity of 3a is set so as to gradually increase from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section.

According to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment described above, the discharge bulb 10 is inserted and fixed to the reflector 13 from the side of the central axis Ax of the lens extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The vehicle headlamp 1 can be made compact by shortening the front-rear length of the lamp unit 5 so that the axis V is perpendicular to the center axis Ax of the lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, the vehicle body mounting space of the vehicle headlamp 1 can be reduced.

And the light emission part 1 of the discharge bulb 10 inserted and fixed from the side of the central axis Ax of the lens.
0a is disposed at a position shifted by a distance L to the side of the center axis Ax of the lens, and has a reflecting surface 21a having a substantially elliptical shape with the position of the light emitting portion 10a as the first focal point F1. The light reflected forward in the direction of the optical axis V by the first additional reflector 21 is reflected by the second additional reflector 23 toward the projection lens 8.
Therefore, the second focal point F2 of the first additional reflector 21 is the center axis Ax of the lens.
And the efficiency of twice reflection by the first and second additional reflectors 21 and 23 is improved.

In addition, the first additional reflector 21 includes the light emitting portion 10a of the discharge bulb 10 and the shade 15.
And a second additional reflector 23 that reflects the reflected light from the first additional reflector 21 toward the projection lens 8 is provided in front of the discharge bulb 10 in the optical axis V direction. Therefore, the light from the light emitting unit 10a to be shielded by the shade 15 is incident on the projection lens 8 using the first and second additional reflectors 21 and 23, and is effectively used as the front irradiation light. Can do.

In addition, in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment, the discharge bulb 10 in which the light emitting unit 10a is configured as a line segment light source extending in the optical axis V direction includes the reflector 13 from the side of the lens central axis Ax. Therefore, the first and second additional reflectors 21 and 23 can use the light bundle having the highest luminous intensity in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis V. Note that by providing the second additional reflector 23 in front of the discharge bulb 10 in the optical axis V direction, direct light incident forward from the discharge bulb 10 in the optical axis V direction cannot be used. Since the light bundle has the lowest luminous intensity in the direction of the optical axis V, the available light flux can be greatly increased as a whole.

Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the discharge bulb 10 is inserted and fixed to the reflector 13 at a position below the center axis Ax of the lens by a distance h, so the bulb insertion hole is reflected by the reflector 13. It can be avoided that the surface 13a is formed in the center axis side region of the lens, and the center axis side region of the lens can be effectively used for light distribution control. The brightness of the diffusion region of the light distribution pattern can be sufficiently secured by the reflected light from the central axis side region of the lens.

Therefore, the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment employs the side-insertion-type lamp unit 5, but is arranged due to a shortage of the amount of incident light in the front in the optical axis V direction on the reflecting surface 13 a of the reflector 13. Insufficient brightness of the light pattern can be resolved, and the brightness of the light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the vehicle headlamp 1 can be sufficiently secured.
Note that the configurations of the lamp body, the cover, the light source bulb, the reflector, the shade, the first and second additional reflectors, and the like according to the vehicle headlamp of the present invention are not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments. Of course, various forms can be taken based on the gist of the invention.

1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle headlamp shown in FIG. It is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the lamp unit shown in FIG. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lamp unit shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle headlamp 2 Transparent cover (cover)
4 Lamp body 8 Projection lens 10 Discharge bulb (light source bulb)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a Light emission part 13 Reflector 15 Shade 21 1st additional reflector 21a Reflective surface 23 2nd additional reflector 23a Reflective surface Ax Center axis of lens F Back side focus F1 1st focus F2 2nd focus V Optical axis

Claims (2)

A projection lens disposed on a central axis of a lens extending in the vehicle front-rear direction in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a cover, and a side of the central axis of the lens behind the focal point on the rear side of the projection lens A light source bulb inserted and fixed from a reflector, a reflector that reflects light from the light source bulb toward the front of the vehicle, and a shade that shields part of the reflected light from the reflector behind the projection lens. A vehicle headlamp,
The light source bulb is arranged so that the light emitting part is shifted to the side of the central axis of the lens,
Between the light emitting part and the shade, a first additional reflector having a substantially elliptical reflecting surface having the light emitting part as a first focal point is provided,
A vehicular headlamp characterized in that a second additional reflector for reflecting the reflected light from the first additional reflector toward the projection lens is provided in front of the light source bulb in the optical axis direction. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source bulb is disposed below a central axis of the lens.

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