JP2007059075A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the whole vehicular lighting fixture while avoiding becoming darkly visible when a cover arranged on the front side of light sources becomes a shadow by making the light sources invisible from the front side of the vehicular lighting fixture. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular lighting fixture has LED light sources 1a and 1b and the cover 5 arranged on the front side of the LED light sources 1a and 1b, and uses the cover 5 as a reflector reflecting the light front the LED light sources 1a and 1b to the front side, and is provided with the reflectors 6a and 6b reflecting the light radiated from the LED light sources 1a and 1b to the cover 5 arranged on the front side of the LED light sources 1a and 1b. The reflectors 6a and 6b are desirably provided with reflecting surfaces 6a1 and 6b1 reflecting the light radiated from the LED light sources 1a and 1b to the cover 5 and reflecting surfaces 6a2 and 6b2 reflecting the light radiated from the LED light sources 1a and 1b to the front side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp in which a cover disposed on the front side of a light source is used as a reflector for reflecting light from the light source to the front side, and in particular, prevents the light source from being seen from the front side of the vehicular lamp. In addition, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that can reduce the size of the entire vehicular lamp while avoiding the cover disposed on the front side of the light source from appearing dark as a shadow.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a vehicular lamp that includes an LED light source and a cover disposed on the front side in the irradiation direction of the LED light source, and the cover is used as a reflector for reflecting light from the LED light source to the front side. . As an example of this kind of vehicle lamp, there exists what was described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-257220, for example.

  In the vehicular lamp described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-257220, since the reflector is disposed on the front side of the LED light source, the LED light source can be prevented from being seen from the front side of the vehicular lamp. Moreover, in the vehicle lamp described in JP2003-257220A, the light from the LED light source is reflected to the front side of the vehicle lamp by the reflector disposed on the front side of the LED light source. Therefore, it can avoid that the reflector arrange | positioned at the front side of a LED light source becomes dark and looks dark.

  However, in the vehicular lamp described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-257220, the light emitted from the LED light source is not reflected to the front side of the vehicular lamp by the reflector disposed on the front side of the LED light source. Then, the light is reflected to the front side of the vehicular lamp by a reflector disposed on the front side of the LED light source next to the LED light source. That is, in the vehicular lamp described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-257220, the light emitted from the LED light source is moved away from the reflector disposed on the front side of the LED light source next to the LED light source, and the reflector is used for the vehicle. Reflected to the front of the lamp. Therefore, in the vehicular lamp described in JP-A-2003-257220, the entire vehicular lamp is increased in size. In detail, the dimension of the direction (vehicle surface direction) orthogonal to the front-back direction of a vehicle lamp will enlarge.

JP 2003-257220 A

  In view of the above problems, the present invention prevents the light source from being seen from the front side of the vehicular lamp, and prevents the cover disposed on the front side of the light source from appearing dark as a shadow. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp that can reduce the size of the entire lamp.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a vehicular lamp including a light source and a cover disposed on the front side of the light source, and using the cover as a reflector for reflecting light from the light source to the front side. The vehicle lamp is provided with another reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover disposed on the front side of the light source.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reflection surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover and the other reflection surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the front side. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular lamp is provided in the other reflector.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the reflection surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover is formed in a convex shape. Provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, of the light radiated from the light source, light having low luminous intensity is reflected by the reflecting surface by the reflecting surface, and light having high luminous intensity is reflected by the other reflecting surface to the front side. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3 is provided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the light having a luminous intensity of about 50% or less out of the light emitted from the light source is reflected on the cover by the reflecting surface. A vehicular lamp is provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, light emitted from the light source at an angle of about 15 ° or more with the main optical axis of the light source is reflected on the cover by the reflecting surface. A vehicle lamp according to claim 4 is provided.

  In the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, the cover is disposed on the front side of the light source. Therefore, the light source can be prevented from being seen from the front side of the vehicle lamp. Specifically, for example, a support portion that supports the light source, a substrate connected to the light source, and the like can be prevented from being seen from the front side of the vehicular lamp.

  In the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, the cover disposed on the front side of the light source is used as a reflector for reflecting light from the light source to the front side of the vehicular lamp. That is, the light from the light source is reflected to the front side of the vehicular lamp by the cover disposed on the front side of the light source. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the cover disposed on the front side of the light source from appearing dark as a shadow.

  Furthermore, the vehicle lamp according to claim 1 is provided with another reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light source back to the cover disposed on the front side of the light source. In other words, in the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, the light emitted from the light source is reflected back by the other reflectors up to the cover disposed on the front side of the light source, and then the front side of the vehicular lamp by the cover. Reflected. Therefore, like the vehicular lamp described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-257220, the light emitted from the light source moves away to the cover disposed on the front side of the light source next to the light source, and the vehicular lamp is moved by the cover. The vehicle lamp as a whole can be made smaller than the case where it is reflected to the front side. In detail, the dimension of the direction orthogonal to the front-back direction of a vehicle lamp can be reduced in size.

  In other words, according to the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, the light source is made invisible from the front side of the vehicular lamp, and the cover disposed on the front side of the light source looks dark as a shadow. Thus, the entire vehicle lamp can be reduced in size.

  In the vehicular lamp according to claim 2, the reflection surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover and the other reflection surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the front side are the other It is provided in the reflector. Specifically, a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source to the cover and another reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source to the front side are formed by a single member, for example. Therefore, the reflective surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover and the other reflective surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the front side are formed by separate members. Thus, the number of man-hours for assembling the vehicle lamp can be reduced.

  In the vehicular lamp according to the third aspect, the reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover is formed in a convex shape. In other words, the light emitted from the light source is diverged by the convex reflecting surface and reflected by the cover. Therefore, a wide area on the surface of the cover can be illuminated. Specifically, a wider area on the surface of the cover can be illuminated than when the reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the cover is formed in a flat shape or a concave shape.

  In the vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 4 to 6, light having a high luminous intensity out of light emitted from the light source is reflected by the other reflecting surface without being reflected by the convex reflecting surface. Is done. Preferably, light having a high luminous intensity among the light emitted from the light source is irradiated to the front side through only one reflection by another reflecting surface. Specifically, among the light emitted from the light source, for example, light having a luminous intensity of about 50% or less is reflected on the cover by the convex reflecting surface. Alternatively, of the light emitted from the light source, for example, light emitted at an angle of about 15 ° or more with the main optical axis of the light source is reflected by the convex reflecting surface to the cover. Therefore, it is possible to reflect light having high luminous intensity to the front side with high reflection efficiency while shining the cover with light having low luminous intensity among the light emitted from the light source.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicular lamp of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1a and 1b indicate LED light sources, 2a indicates a substrate for supporting the LED light source 1a, and 2b indicates a substrate for supporting the LED light source 1b. Reference numeral 3 denotes an inner bracket for sandwiching the substrates 2a and 2b, and reference numeral 4 denotes an outer bracket for sandwiching the substrates 2a and 2b. Reference numeral 5 denotes the LED light sources 1a, 1b and the outer bracket 4 so as to cover the LED light sources 1a, 1b and the outer bracket 4 so that the LED light sources 1a, 1b and the outer bracket 4 cannot be seen from the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the vehicle lamp. The cover arrange | positioned at the front side (left side of FIG. 1) is shown. 6a shows a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the LED light source 1a, and 6b shows a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the LED light source 1b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, a reflecting surface 6a1 for reflecting the light emitted from the LED light source 1a to the cover 5 and the light emitted from the LED light source 1a are used for the vehicle. A reflector 6a2 is formed on the reflector 6a for reflection to the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the lamp. Further, a reflecting surface 6b1 for reflecting the light emitted from the LED light source 1b to the cover 5, and a reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted from the LED light source 1b to the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the vehicle lamp. 6b2 is formed on the reflector 6b.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp of the first embodiment, the reflection surface 5a for reflecting light from the reflection surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a to the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the vehicle lamp, and the reflection surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b. The cover 5 is formed with a reflection surface 5b for reflecting light from the front side of the vehicle lamp to the front side (left side in FIG. 1). That is, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the cover 5 for covering the LED light sources 1a and 1b and the outer bracket 4 is provided with a reflector function.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a housing for a vehicle lamp, 8 denotes a lens, and 9 denotes screws for fixing the substrates 2 a and 2 b, the inner bracket 3 and the outer bracket 4 to the housing 9. Show.

  The vehicular lamp of the first embodiment is used as a part of a rear combination lamp such as a tail lamp or a stop lamp of a vehicle, for example. When the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment is used as a tail lamp of a vehicle, the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the vehicular lamp corresponds to the rear side of the vehicle.

  FIG. 2 shows the light path of the light reflected from the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a out of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a and the light reflected from the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b out of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b. It is the figure which showed the optical path of the light.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, a predetermined angle such as about 15 ° with the main optical axis La of the LED light source 1a. The light emitted at an angle of θa or more is first reflected by the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a. Specifically, this light is not reflected on the front side of the vehicle lamp (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) but on the cover 5 side (lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Next, the light from the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a is reflected by the reflecting surface 5a of the cover 5 to the front side of the vehicle lamp (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the reflection surface 5a of the cover 5 can be seen from the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicular lamp by two reflections. it can.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a is formed in a convex shape. In other words, the light emitted from the LED light source 1a is diverged by the convex reflecting surface 6a1 and reflected to the cover 5 side (the lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, a wide area on the surface of the cover 5 can be seen from the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicular lamp.

  Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment, of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b, the main optical axis Lb of the LED light source 1b is approximately 15 °, for example. The light emitted at an angle equal to or larger than the predetermined angle θb is first reflected by the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b. Specifically, this light is not reflected on the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicle lamp, but is reflected on the cover 5 side (the upper left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Next, the light from the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b is reflected by the reflecting surface 5b of the cover 5 to the front side of the vehicle lamp (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the reflection surface 5b of the cover 5 can be seen from the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicular lamp by two reflections. it can.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b is formed in a convex shape. In other words, the light emitted from the LED light source 1b is diverged by the convex reflection surface 6b1 and reflected to the cover 5 side (the upper left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, a wide area on the surface of the cover 5 can be seen from the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicular lamp.

  FIG. 3 shows the light path of the light reflected from the reflecting surface 6a2 of the reflector 6a out of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, and the light reflected from the reflecting surface 6b2 of the reflector 6b out of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b. It is the figure which showed the optical path of the light.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, a predetermined angle such as about 15 ° with the main optical axis La of the LED light source 1a. The light emitted at an angle of less than θa is reflected to the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the vehicle lamp by the single reflection of the reflecting surface 6a2 of the reflector 6a. Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, it is possible to make the reflecting surface 6a2 of the reflector 6a appear to shine from the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the vehicular lamp.

  Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, of the light radiated from the LED light source 1b, the main optical axis Lb of the LED light source 1b is, for example, about 15 °. The light emitted at an angle less than the predetermined angle θb is reflected to the front side of the vehicle lamp (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) by the single reflection of the reflecting surface 6b2 of the reflector 6b. Therefore, according to the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, it is possible to make the reflecting surface 6b2 of the reflector 6b appear to shine from the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the vehicular lamp.

  FIG. 4 shows the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1a. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle formed with the main optical axis La of the LED light source 1a and the luminous intensity of the light emitted at that angle. As shown in FIG. 4, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the luminous intensity of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a at an angle of about 15 ° with the main optical axis La of the LED light source 1a is the LED light source 1a. The optical characteristics of the LED light source 1a are set so as to be approximately 50% of the luminous intensity of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a along the main optical axis La.

  That is, in the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the light having a luminous intensity of about 50% or less among the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, that is, the LED light source. Light having a low luminous intensity emitted at an angle of about 15 ° or more with the main optical axis La of 1a is reflected to the cover 5 side (lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) by the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a. .

  In the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, light having a luminous intensity higher than about 50% of light emitted from the LED light source 1a, that is, an LED light source. Light having a high luminous intensity emitted at an angle of less than about 15 ° with the main optical axis La of 1a is reflected to the front side of the vehicle lamp (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) by the reflecting surface 6a2 of the reflector 6a. .

  Furthermore, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1b are set similarly to the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1a shown in FIG. That is, in the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the luminous intensity of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b at an angle of about 15 ° with the main optical axis Lb of the LED light source 1b is the main optical axis Lb of the LED light source 1b. The optical characteristics of the LED light source 1b are set so as to be approximately 50% of the luminous intensity of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b (see FIG. 4).

  That is, in the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the light having a luminous intensity of about 50% or less among the light emitted from the LED light source 1b, that is, the LED light source. Light having a low luminous intensity emitted at an angle of about 15 ° or more with the main optical axis Lb of 1b is reflected to the cover 5 side (upper left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) by the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b. .

  In the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, light having a luminous intensity higher than about 50% of light emitted from the LED light source 1b, that is, an LED light source. Light having a high luminous intensity emitted at an angle of less than about 15 ° with the main optical axis Lb of 1b is reflected to the front side of the vehicle lamp (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) by the reflecting surface 6b2 of the reflector 6b. .

  In the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, an LED light source is used as the light source as described above. However, in the vehicular lamp of the second embodiment, for example, an incandescent bulb, a laser diode (LD), or the like is used. It is also possible to use a light source other than the LED light source.

  In the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, as described above, the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1a and the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1b are set similarly, but in the vehicular lamp of the third embodiment, It is also possible to make the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1a different from the optical characteristics of the LED light source 1b.

  In the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment, the reflecting surfaces 6a1 and 6a2 of the reflector 6a and the reflecting surface 5a of the cover 5, the reflecting surfaces 6b1 and 6b2 of the reflector 6b, and the reflecting surface 5b of the cover 5 are configured to be vertically symmetrical. However, in the vehicular lamp of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to configure them vertically asymmetrically. In the vehicular lamp of the fifth embodiment, for example, a plurality of LED light sources can be arranged in an annular shape so as to be point-symmetric about a predetermined axis. Or in the vehicle lamp of 6th Embodiment, it is also possible to arrange a some LED light source so that it may become not the cyclic | annular form but the arc shape which a part lacked.

It is a cross-sectional view of the vehicular lamp of the first embodiment. Of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, the optical path of the light reflected by the reflecting surface 6a1 of the reflector 6a, and of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 6b1 of the reflector 6b. It is the figure which showed the optical path. Of the light emitted from the LED light source 1a, the optical path of the light reflected by the reflecting surface 6a2 of the reflector 6a, and of the light emitted from the LED light source 1b, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 6b2 of the reflector 6b. It is the figure which showed the optical path. It is the figure which showed the optical characteristic of the LED light source 1a.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b LED light sources 2a, 2b Substrate 3 Inner bracket 4 Outer bracket 5 Cover 5a, 5b Reflective surface 6a, 6b Reflector 6a1, 6a2 Reflective surface 6b1, 6b2 Reflective surface 7 Housing 8 Lens 9 Screw

Claims (6)

  In a vehicle lamp comprising a light source and a cover arranged on the front side of the light source, and using the cover as a reflector for reflecting light from the light source to the front side, the light emitted from the light source, A vehicular lamp characterized in that another reflector for reflecting on the cover arranged on the front side of the light source is provided.   The other reflector is provided with a reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source to the cover and another reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source to the front side. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the reflection surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source to the cover is formed in a convex shape.   The light emitted from the light source is reflected at the cover by the reflecting surface, and light having a higher intensity is reflected by the other reflecting surface to the front side. Vehicle lamps.   5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 4, wherein light having a luminous intensity of about 50% or less out of light emitted from the light source is reflected to the cover by the reflecting surface.   The light emitted from the light source at an angle of about 15 ° or more with the main optical axis of the light source is reflected on the cover by the reflecting surface. Vehicle lamps.

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