JP2007012478A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety in night-time drive by providing a vehicular lamp capable of improving distant visibility in right and left diffusion directions. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular lamp 100 includes: a projection lens 33; a light source 27a; a reflector 29 having a reflecting surface 29a for reflecting light from the light source 27a toward the projection lens 33 by using the light source 27a generally as a focal point; and a shade 35 having an end in the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens 33 for shading a part of the reflected light. In the vehicular lamp, the rear end face 33b of the projection lens 33 is inclined with respect to the optical axis such that the lower end of the projection lens 33 projects to the front side as compared with the upper end of the projection lens 33; the front surface 33a of the projection lens 33 is so formed as to emit light entered into the projection lens 33 through the reflector 29 nearly in parallel with the optical axis; and the shade 35 has a component for correcting a light distribution pattern projected to the front side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp including a projector-type lamp unit.

  Generally, a vehicular lamp has a configuration in which a lamp unit having an optical axis extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is accommodated in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a through hole cover attached to a front end opening of the lamp body. It has become. As a lamp unit, for example, a projector-type lamp unit as described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  In this projector-type lamp unit, a projection lens is arranged on the optical axis, and a light source is arranged behind the rear focal point, and light from the light source is reflected near the optical axis by a reflector. It is configured as follows. In this case, a plano-convex lens having a convex curved surface on the front surface and a flat surface on the rear side is generally used as the projection lens. In the projection lens, a line connecting the upper end and the lower end of the rear end surface, which is a plane facing the reflector, is arranged in parallel to the vertical.

  However, the conventional projector-type headlamp shields almost half of the light with a shade when passing light, so the efficiency is low, and only the projection lens can be seen in the mounted state, making it obsolete in design. The problem which has been done has arisen.

  Therefore, for example, in the projector-type lamp unit as described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the front surface of the projection lens is a convex surface, and the line connecting the upper end and the lower end of the rear end surface is inclined with respect to the vertical. Therefore, the whole light is directed downward by the prism action of the projection lens, the amount of shielding by the shade is reduced, the brightness is improved, and the appearance is also innovative in terms of design.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-314701 JP 2003-123519 A Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-31921

However, the vehicular lamp having the projection lens tilted as described above cannot produce a horizontal cut line that conforms to the light distribution standard even if a conventional shade or reflector is attached. That is, as shown in FIG. 15A, the conventional shade 1 is composed of a combination of straight lines 1a and 1b whose upper edges are horizontal when viewed from the optical axis direction of the projection lens. This is because a linear cut-off line is formed in accordance with the imaging characteristics of the projection lens. However, when this shade 1 is used for an inclined projection lens, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the cut-off line 3 is curved downward as it diffuses in the left-right direction, and the far visibility in the left-right direction is improved. There is a problem that the lowered regions 5R and 5L are formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 16A, the conventional reflector 7 emits light from the light source 13 in a substantially horizontal direction (in the direction of the arrow 15) in a minute region on the horizontal section 11 passing through the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 9. It consists of a curved surface that reflects. This is because the light is diffused in the horizontal direction in accordance with the imaging characteristics of the projection lens 9. However, when the conventional reflector 7 is used for the tilted projection lens 9, the horizontal diffused light is curved downward as it diffuses, and this also makes it possible to see far away in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. There is a problem that the regions 17R and 17L having reduced properties are formed.
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a vehicular lamp that can improve the far visibility in the left-right diffusion direction even when the projection lens is tilted. The purpose is to improve safety.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.
(1) A projection lens, a light source, a reflector having a reflection surface for reflecting the light from the light source toward the projection lens and having an end near the rear focal point of the projection lens. In a vehicular lamp having a shade that blocks a part of reflected light,
The projection lens is configured so that the surface of the projection lens passes through the back focal point and emits light incident on the projection lens in parallel, and the rear end surface of the projection lens is lower than the upper end of the projection lens. Inclined with respect to the optical axis so as to protrude forward,
The vehicular lamp, wherein the shade includes a component that corrects a light distribution pattern projected forward.
(2) The shade is configured to irradiate light to the left and right sides to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line substantially parallel to the horizontal direction. Vehicle lamps.
(3) The vehicular lamp according to (1) or (2), wherein the shade has a convex shape at the center portion compared to the left and right side portions.
(4) The vehicular lamp according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the reflector has a correction step of correcting a light distribution pattern projected forward.
(5) The vehicular lamp according to (4), wherein the correction step is provided at an edge near a region where a reflecting surface of the reflector intersects a horizontal plane passing through the optical axis.
(6) The correction step is configured such that the normal line of the reflecting surface of the edge portion is directed downward as the distance from the optical axis increases. Vehicle lamp.
(7) The vehicular lamp according to any one of (4) to (6), wherein the shade is partially cut away at the left and right side portions.

  According to the present invention, in the vehicular lamp having a projection lens, a light source, a reflector, and a shade, the projection lens has a surface that passes through the rear focal point and collimates light incident on the projection lens. A component in which the rear end face is inclined with respect to the optical axis so that the lower end of the projection lens protrudes forward relative to the upper end of the projection lens, and the shade corrects the light distribution pattern while being configured to emit light. Since the rear end surface of the projection lens is inclined, the distortion of the light distribution pattern, which is caused by the fact that light is not irradiated on the portion that should be originally formed by the light emitted from the projection lens, is corrected by the components. be able to. That is, the shade is deformed corresponding to the characteristics of the tilted projection lens. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cut-off line from being bent as the cut-off line is diffused by irradiating light to the distorted portion of the light distribution pattern that is not irradiated with light, and it is possible to improve the far visibility in the left-right diffusion direction. As a result, nighttime safety can be improved.

  And according to this invention, since a shade is comprised so that light may be irradiated to the left and right sides, and the light distribution pattern provided with the cut-off line substantially parallel to the horizontal direction may be formed, a cut-off line spreads Accordingly, the light is diffused in the horizontal direction to form a horizontal cut-off line light distribution pattern, and the far visibility in the right and left diffusion direction can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the central portion of the shade is more convex than the left and right side portions, the rear end surface of the projection lens is inclined, so that light is not irradiated to the portion that is originally not irradiated with the light emitted from the projection lens. The distortion of the light distribution pattern caused by the irradiation can be corrected by the convex shape. Thereby, the distortion of the light distribution pattern which the center part of a cut-off line rises can be prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the reflector has a correction step for correcting the light distribution pattern projected forward, the reflector is formed by light originally emitted from the projection lens by tilting the rear end surface of the projection lens. Distortion of the light distribution pattern that occurs when light is not irradiated on the power portion can be corrected by the correction step. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cut-off line from being bent as it is diffused, and it is possible to irradiate light to a distorted portion of the light distribution pattern that is not irradiated with light, thereby enhancing the far visibility in the left-right diffusion direction. As a result, nighttime safety can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the correction step is provided at the edge near the reflector reflecting surface area that intersects the horizontal plane, the left and right sides of the cut-off line are not curved and the light is leveled. It diffuses in the direction, and it is possible to improve the far visibility in the right and left diffusion direction.

  Further, according to the present invention, the correction step is configured such that the normal line of the edge reflection surface faces downward as the distance from the optical axis increases, so that the correction step curves downward as the cutoff line diffuses. There is no end to it. That is, the reflected light from the light source is directed downward as it goes from the optical axis of the projection lens to the outside of the reflector. Thereby, the light that has passed through the tilted projection lens is diffused in the horizontal direction, the cut-off line is not curved downward, and the distance visibility in the horizontal direction can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the left and right side portions of the shade are partly cut away, light is irradiated from above the cut off portion to the curved cut-off line so that a cut-off line substantially parallel to the horizontal direction is formed. The provided light distribution pattern can be formed. Thereby, it does not curve downward as the cutoff line diffuses, and light can be easily diffused in the horizontal direction only by changing the shape of the shade.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing a vehicular lamp 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a sectional view taken along line II-II and a sectional view taken along line III-III, respectively.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicular lamp 100 is a lamp that is disposed at the right front end of a vehicle, and includes a lamp body 21 and a transparent translucent cover 23 attached to the front end opening. The two lamp units 20 and 40 are accommodated in the lamp chamber formed so as to be adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. In the vehicular lamp 100, a low beam light distribution pattern is formed by lighting the lamp unit 20, and a high beam light distribution pattern is formed by simultaneously lighting the lamp units 20 and 40.

  Both of these two lamp units 20 and 40 have an optical axis Ax extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and are supported by the lamp body 21 via an aiming mechanism 50 so as to be tiltable in the vertical and horizontal directions. When the aiming adjustment by the aiming mechanism 50 is completed, the optical axis Ax of the lamp unit 20 extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6 ° with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the optical axis Ax of the lamp unit 40 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The translucent cover 23 wraps backward from the vehicle width direction inner side to the vehicle width direction outer side along the vehicle body shape of the right corner portion of the vehicle front end portion, and wraps backward from the lower end edge toward the upper end edge. It is formed as follows. For this reason, the two lamp units 20 and 40 are arranged such that the lamp unit 20 positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is shifted to the rear side to some extent with respect to the lamp unit 40 positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. .

  An extension panel 25 is provided in the lamp chamber along the translucent cover 23. The extension panel 25 is formed with openings 25a and 25b surrounding the lamp units 20 and 40 in the vicinity of the front end thereof.

  Next, the structure of each lamp unit 20 and 40 is demonstrated.

  First, the configuration of the lamp unit 20 will be described.

4 and 5 are a side sectional view and a plan sectional view showing the lamp unit 20 as a single product.
As shown in these drawings, the lamp unit 20 is a projector-type lamp unit, and includes a light source bulb 27, a reflector 29, a lens holder 31, a projection lens 33, and a shade 35.

  The projection lens 33 is configured as a plano-convex lens in which the front surface 33a is a convex curved surface and the rear end surface (rear surface) 33b is a flat surface, and is disposed on the optical axis Ax. The projection lens 33 projects the image on the focal plane including the rear focal point F forward as a reverse image.

  The rear surface 33b of the projection lens 33 is inclined with respect to a straight line connecting the light source 27a and the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33 so that the lower end 33c of the projection lens 33 projects forward relative to the upper end 33d of the projection lens 33. ing. In the present embodiment, this straight line is configured to substantially coincide with the straight line parallel to the emission direction of the outgoing light that passes through the rear focal point F and exits from the projection lens 33, that is, the optical axis Ax. That is, the plane constituting the rear surface 33b of the projection lens 33 is inclined upward with respect to the plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax, and the upward angle α is a value of 15 ° or more (this embodiment) Is set to α = 20 °.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a vertical sectional shape of the projection lens shown in FIG.
The convex curved surface constituting the front surface 33a of the projection lens 33 is an aspheric surface formed so that the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33 is positioned on the optical axis Ax. As a result, the front surface 33a of the projection lens 33 emits light incident on the projection lens 33 from the rear focal point F substantially parallel to the optical axis Ax.

  The lens holder 31 is formed so as to extend in a substantially cylindrical shape with a stepped taper from the front end opening of the reflector 29 toward the front, and is fixedly supported by the reflector 29 at the rear end and projected at the front end. The lens 33 is fixedly supported.

  The light source bulb 27 is a discharge bulb such as a metal halide bulb having a discharge light emitting portion as a light source 27a, and the light source 27a is configured as a line light source extending in the central axis direction of the bulb. The light source bulb 27 is inserted and fixed from the rear side to the rear end opening of the reflector 29 so that the light source 27a is disposed on the optical axis Ax on the rear side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33. ing.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the reflector.
The reflector 29 has a reflecting surface 29a that reflects light from the light source 27a forward and toward the optical axis Ax. The reflecting surface 29a has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, and its eccentricity is set so as to gradually increase from a vertical cross section (XZ cross section) to a horizontal cross section (XY cross section). ing. As a result, the light from the light source 27a reflected by the reflecting surface 29a is substantially converged to the vicinity of the rear focal point F in the vertical section, and the convergence position is moved considerably forward in the horizontal section. ing.

  The reflector 29 is supported by the lamp body 21 via an aiming mechanism 50 in an aiming bracket 29d. In the figure, 37 is a stud bolt fixing hole of the aiming mechanism 50, and 39 is a rear end opening for inserting and fixing the light source bulb 27.

  The reflector 29 has a correction step 41 for correcting the light distribution pattern projected forward. The correction step 41 is provided at the left and right edge portions 43 in the vicinity of the region where the reflecting surface 29a of the reflector 29 intersects the horizontal plane (XY plane) passing through the optical axis Ax. The correction step 41 is formed such that the normal line Di (i = 1, 2, 3,...) Of the reflecting surface 29a of the edge 43 is directed downward as the distance from the optical axis Ax increases. That is, the normal line D3 is inclined downward (in the direction of arrow a) at a larger angle than the normal line D1. Therefore, the reflected light at the edge 43 is directed downward as it goes from the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 33 toward the outside of the reflector 29.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the reflector, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the shade as viewed from the light source side.
The shade 35 is fixedly supported by the lens holder 31 so as to be positioned in a substantially lower half of the internal space of the lens holder 31 (see FIG. 2). The shade 35 is formed so that its upper edge 35 a passes through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33, thereby blocking a part of the reflected light from the reflection surface 29 a of the reflector 29, and from the projection lens 33. Most of the upward light emitted forward is removed. The upper end edge 35a of the shade 35 extends in a substantially arc shape in the left-right direction along the rear focal plane of the projection lens 33, and is formed in a step difference at the elbow point E.

  The shade 35 has a component 45 for correcting the light distribution pattern projected forward. The component 45 includes convex portions 49 and 49 and notches 51 and 51. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the shade 35 is formed with a convex portion 49 in the central portion, and the central portion is formed in a convex shape as compared with the left and right side portions. Further, the shade 35 is notched at the left and right side portions by notches 51 and 51. Even if the shade 35 is the projection lens 33 whose rear side surface 33b is inclined by the action of the component 45 including the convex portions 49 and 49 and the notches 51 and 51, the shade 35 is irradiated with light horizontally and horizontally. A light distribution pattern having a cut-off line substantially parallel to the direction is formed. In the present embodiment, the convex portions 49, 49 and the notches 51, 51 are formed by curved edges that curve downward. In addition, the convex portions 49 and 49 and the notches 51 and 51 may be formed by inclining straight lines. In addition, the broken line in FIG. 9 shows the conventional shade shape.

  Next, the configuration of the lamp unit 40 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lamp unit 40 is also a projector-type lamp unit, like the lamp unit 20, and includes a light source bulb 55, a reflector 57, a lens holder 59, and a projection lens 61. ing.

  The lamp unit 40 does not include the shade 35 like the lamp unit 20, but the other configuration is substantially the same as that of the lamp unit 20. However, the reflector 57 of the lamp unit 40 has a reflecting surface 57 a that is slightly closer to the rear focal point F of the projection lens 59 than the reflector 29 of the lamp unit 20. Is set.

  The lamp unit 40 is also supported by the lamp body 21 via an aiming mechanism 50 in an aiming bracket 57d formed on the reflector 57.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by the light irradiated forward from the vehicle lamp. Is a low beam light distribution pattern formed by lighting a conventional lamp unit, and FIG. 5B is a low beam light distribution pattern formed by lighting the lamp unit of the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution light beam distribution pattern, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 extend in the horizontal direction at the left and right steps with the VV line passing through the HV, which is a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, in the vertical direction, and are located on the right side of the VV line. The opposite lane side portion is formed as a lower cut-off line CL1, and the own lane side portion on the left side of the VV line is formed as an upper cut-off line CL2 that rises from the lower cut-off line CL1 through an inclined portion. Is formed. In this low beam light distribution pattern PL, the position of the elbow point E which is the intersection of the lower cut-off line CL1 and the VV line is set to a position about 0.5 to 0.6 ° below HV. A hot zone HZL, which is a high luminous intensity region, is formed so as to surround the elbow point E.

  Here, in the conventional lamp unit, the rear side surface 33b of the projection lens 33 is flat and parallel to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax, so that a vertically long image of the light source 27a is irradiated in the vehicle front direction. Will be. For this reason, the area 63 on the near side of the light distribution pattern becomes bright, and there is a problem that it is difficult to see far away. On the other hand, the lamp units 20 and 40 have substantially the same effect as the extension of the focal length below the projection lens 33 by inclining the rear surfaces 33b and 61b of the projection lenses 33 and 61. It is done.

  In a projector optical system for a vehicle, since the amount of light emitted from the lower side is generally larger than the upper side of the projection lens 33, the projection lens 33, 61 has an inclined structure according to the present embodiment. Light emitted from the lower side of 61 can be collected, and the degree of light collection in the vertical direction of the light distribution pattern can be increased. That is, as shown in FIG. 10B, since the vertical width of the light distribution pattern can be narrowed, the light in the foreground is reduced and the distance visibility is increased.

  Note that the inclination angle α of the rear-side surfaces 33b and 61b of the projection lenses 33 and 61 with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax can be in the range of 10 ° to 50 °. Here, the inclination angle α = 10 ° is an angle at which the effect of inclination is substantially obtained. On the other hand, when the inclination angle α exceeds 50 °, total reflection inside the projection lenses 33 and 61 increases, and the light flux loss increases. Therefore, the inclination angle α is optimally in the range of 10 ° to 50 °.

  The low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by light irradiation from the lamp unit 20, and at this time, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is reflected from the reflection surface 29 a of the reflector 29 by the back focal point of the projection lens 33. The image of the light source 27a formed on the surface is formed as a reverse projection image on the virtual vertical screen by the projection lens 33, and the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are reverse projections of the upper edge 35a of the shade 35. It is formed as an image.

  On the other hand, the high beam light distribution pattern (not shown) by the lamp unit 40 is configured as a combined light distribution pattern of the low beam light distribution pattern PL and the additional light distribution pattern formed by light irradiation from the lamp unit 40. ing.

  The additional light distribution pattern by the lamp unit 40 is a horizontally long light distribution pattern that extends to the left and right sides around HV, and the overall diffusion angle is slightly smaller than that of the low beam light distribution pattern PL. The hot zone is formed so as to be much brighter than the hot zone HZL of the low beam light distribution pattern PL on HV. This is because the convergence position of the reflected light from the reflector 57 of the lamp unit 40 is set closer to the rear focal point F of the projection lens 61 than in the case of the lamp unit 20.

  In this high beam light distribution pattern, light is irradiated to the upper region of the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 by combining the low beam light distribution pattern PL and the additional light distribution pattern, and the hot zone HZL is located in the vicinity of HV. A bright hot zone is formed by the superposition of.

  As described above in detail, in the vehicular lamp 100 according to the present embodiment, the rear surfaces 33b and 61b of the projection lenses 33 and 61 are configured as flat plano-convex lenses, and the rear surfaces 33b and 61b are configured. Since the flat surface is inclined upward with respect to the plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the translucent cover 23 has a surface shape inclined upward along the vehicle body shape. Regardless, the projection lenses 33 and 61 can be arranged along the translucent cover 23 in a space-saving manner.

  At that time, one lamp unit 20 includes a shade 35 that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector 29, and an upper end edge 35 a thereof is positioned on the optical axis Ax at the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33. Therefore, a low-beam light distribution pattern PL having cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at the upper end portion can be formed by light irradiation from the lamp unit 20, but the front surface 33a of the projection lens 33 is provided. Is formed of the aspheric surface, the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 can be formed as clear cut-off lines.

  Moreover, since the emitted light from the lower side of the projection lenses 33 and 61 can be condensed and the degree of light collection in the vertical direction can be increased, the vertical width of the light distribution pattern can be narrowed. As a result, the near-side light can be reduced and the distance visibility can be enhanced.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the upward angle α of the rear surface 33b, 61b of each projection lens 33, 61 is set to a fairly large value of α = 20 °, so the novelty of the lamp design Can be secured sufficiently.

  Further, the component 45 causes distortion of the light distribution pattern, which is caused by the fact that the rear surface 33b, 61b of the projection lens 33, 61 is inclined so that light is not irradiated to the portion where the emitted light from the projection lens should be irradiated. It can be corrected. That is, since the shade 35 is deformed in accordance with the characteristics of the tilted projection lens 33, light is irradiated to the distorted portion of the light distribution pattern that is not irradiated with light, and the shade 35 is bent as the cutoff line diffuses. It is possible to prevent distant visibility in the right and left diffusion direction. As a result, nighttime safety can be improved.

  Since the shade 35 is configured to irradiate light on the left and right sides to form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, the shade 35 curves downward as the cutoff line diffuses. (See the broken line in FIG. 11), the light diffuses in the horizontal direction, and the light distribution pattern PL of the horizontal cut-off line CL is formed. Thereby, the far visibility of the regions 71R and 71L in the right and left diffusion direction can be enhanced.

  Further, since the convex portion 49 is provided in the central portion of the shade 35, the light distribution pattern generated by irradiating light to the portion that is not originally irradiated with the light emitted from the projection lens due to the inclination of the rear surface 33b of the projection lens 33. Can be corrected by the convex shape. Thereby, distortion of the light distribution pattern in which the central portion of the cut-off line rises (see FIG. 15B) can be prevented.

  Further, since the reflector 29 has a correction step 41 for correcting the light distribution pattern projected forward, a portion to which the emitted light from the projection lens should be originally irradiated when the rear surface 33b of the projection lens 33 is inclined. The correction step 41 can correct the distortion of the light distribution pattern that occurs when the light is no longer irradiated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cut-off line from being bent as it is diffused, and as shown in FIG. 12, light is applied to the distorted portion of the conventional light distribution pattern that is not irradiated with light, so that a region 73R in the left-right diffusion direction is obtained. , 73L can be improved. As a result, nighttime safety can be improved.

  In addition, since the correction step 41 is provided at the edge 43 in the vicinity of the reflector reflection surface area that intersects the horizontal plane, the left and right sides of the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 are not curved and the light is horizontal. The distance visibility in the right and left diffusion direction can be improved.

  Further, in the correction step 41, the normal line Di of the edge reflection surface 29a is directed downward as the distance from the straight line (that is, the optical axis Ax) connecting the light source 27a and the rear focal point F of the projection lens 33 increases. Since it is configured, the cut-off line does not curve downward as it spreads as shown in FIG. That is, the reflected light from the light source 27 a is directed downward as it goes from the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 33 toward the outside of the reflector 29. Thereby, the light that has passed through the tilted projection lens 33 is diffused in the horizontal direction, so that the far visibility in the horizontal direction can be improved.

  Further, since the left and right side portions of the shade 35 are partially cut away, the light distribution is provided with cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 that are substantially parallel to the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. A pattern PL can be formed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the light can be easily diffused in the horizontal direction only by changing the shape of the shade 35 without being curved downward as the cutoff line diffuses. .

Next, using the projection lens, shade, and reflector manufactured in the same configuration as the projection lens 33, shade 35, and reflector 29 of the above-described embodiment, various lens tilt angles and lamps that are configured by selectively combining each component member The result of comparing the light distribution pattern according to the above and the light distribution pattern according to the conventional lamp will be described.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the correlation between various lens tilt angles and light distribution patterns.
(A)-(f) represents the light distribution pattern PL formed when the inclination angle α of the projection lens is α = 0 °, 10 °, 20 °, 30 °, 40 °, 50 °. Compared with the light distribution pattern PL with the inclination angle α = 0 ° shown in FIG. 13A, the inclination angle α is set to α = 10 °, 20 °, 30 °, 40 °, 50 ° (b) to (f). This light distribution pattern PL has a narrow vertical width and a high degree of light collection in the vertical direction.

FIG. 14A shows a light distribution pattern formed by a conventional lamp unit.
In the conventional lamp unit, the horizontal cut-off line CL is formed in the light distribution pattern PL, but it has been found that the vertical width of the light distribution pattern PL is wide and the light collection degree in the vertical direction is low.

FIG. 14B is a diagram of a light distribution pattern formed by a projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 ° in a conventional lamp unit.
It was found that the cut-off line CL hangs down in the regions 81R and 81L in the left / right diffusion direction in the light distribution pattern PL in the projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °. Further, it was found that the cut-off line CL swells upward in the central regions 83R and 83L.

FIG. 14C is a diagram of a light distribution pattern formed by using a shade having the same configuration as that of the embodiment for a projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °.
In a lamp unit using a shade having the same configuration as that of the embodiment with respect to a projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °, the cut-off line CL of the regions 85R and 85L near the center is corrected substantially horizontally in the light distribution pattern PL. all right.

FIG. 14D is a diagram of a light distribution pattern formed by using a reflector having the same configuration as that of the embodiment for a projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °.
It can be seen that the cut-off line CL of the left and right diffusion regions 87R and 87L is corrected substantially horizontally in the light distribution pattern PL in the lamp unit using the reflector having the same configuration as the embodiment with respect to the projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °. It was.

FIG. 14E is a diagram of a light distribution pattern formed by using a shade and a reflector having the same configuration as that of the embodiment for a projection lens having an inclination angle of 20 °.
In the lamp unit using the shade and the reflector having the same configuration as the embodiment with respect to the projection lens having the inclination angle of 20 °, it has been found that the cut-off line CL is almost horizontal in the light distribution pattern PL.

  The vehicular lamp 100 according to the above embodiment has a configuration in which the two lamp units 20 and 40 are accommodated in the lamp chamber, but only one of the two lamp units 20 and 40 is included. Even in the case where the structure is accommodated, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the above-described embodiment.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the upward angle (alpha) of the plane which comprises the back side surfaces 33b and 61b of each projection lens 33 and 61 is set to the mutually same value, you may set both to a different value. Of course it is possible. At that time, in the above embodiment, the upward angle α is set to 20 °, but if it is set to an inclination in the range of 10 ° to 50 °, even if it is a value other than 20 °, The effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the vehicle lamp 100 arrange | positioned at the right front end part of a vehicle was demonstrated, the structure similar to the said embodiment is employ | adopted also about the vehicle lamp arrange | positioned at the left front end part of a vehicle. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-described embodiment.

It is a plane sectional view showing vehicular lamp 100 concerning one embodiment of the invention in this application. II-II sectional view of FIG. III-III sectional view of FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the lamp unit shown in FIG. Flat sectional view showing the lamp unit shown in FIG. Front perspective view of reflector The figure for demonstrating the vertical cross-sectional shape of the projection lens shown in FIG. Front view of reflector Front view of the shade as seen from the light source side The figure which shows in perspective the light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen arrange | positioned in the position ahead of a lamp | ramp by the light irradiated ahead from a vehicle lamp | ramp The figure which shows in perspective the light distribution pattern formed using the shade shown in FIG. The figure which shows in perspective the light distribution pattern formed using the reflector shown in FIG. Diagram showing the correlation between various lens tilt angles and light distribution patterns Diagram of light distribution pattern showing comparison between conventional lamp unit and configuration of the present invention The figure which shows perspectively the light distribution pattern formed using the conventional shade The figure which shows perspectively the light distribution pattern formed using the conventional reflector

Explanation of symbols

27a Light source 29 Reflector 29a Reflective surface 33, 61 Projection lens 33a Projection lens surface 33b Rear surface (rear end surface of projection lens)
33c Lower end of projection lens 33d Upper end of projection lens 35 Shade 41 Correction step 43 Edge 45 Component for correcting light distribution pattern 100 Vehicle lamp CL Cut-off line Di Normal of reflection surface at edge F Focus

Claims (7)

A projection lens, a light source, a reflector having a substantially focal point of the light source and a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source toward the projection lens, and an end near the rear focal point of the projection lens; In a vehicle lamp having a shade that partially shields,
The projection lens is configured so that the surface of the projection lens passes through the back focal point and emits light incident on the projection lens in parallel, and the rear end surface of the projection lens is lower than the upper end of the projection lens. Inclined with respect to the optical axis so as to protrude forward,
The vehicular lamp, wherein the shade includes a component that corrects a light distribution pattern projected forward.   2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the shade is configured to irradiate light to the left and right sides to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line substantially parallel to the horizontal direction. .   3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the shade has a convex shape at a center portion thereof as compared with left and right side portions.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the reflector includes a correction step of correcting a light distribution pattern projected forward.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 4, wherein the correcting step is provided at an edge in the vicinity of a region where a reflecting surface of the reflector intersects a horizontal plane passing through an optical axis.   6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 5, wherein the correcting step is configured such that the normal line of the reflection surface of the edge portion is directed downward as the distance from the optical axis increases.   The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the shade is partially cut away at the left and right side portions.

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