JP2007141761A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular head-light in which snow deposition on a front lens can be removed surely with a simple structure and at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular head-light 10 is composed of a cabinet 11 with an open front, at least one LED lamp unit 12 having each at least one LED element arranged so as to irradiate light toward the front in this cabinet, and a front lens 13 in which the open front of the cabinet is closed and which is composed of a light material. An auxiliary light source 20 constituted of a halogen lamp 21 is provided in the cabinet. By means that the light L2 from this auxiliary light source is incident against the front lens, the vehicle head-light is so constituted that the snow deposition to the outer face of the front lens is molten and furthermore the light is irradiated toward the side direction with respect to the forward of the car. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp that is used, for example, as a headlamp or an auxiliary headlamp provided at the front of an automobile, and in particular, a light-emitting element including an LED that emits light with a small component of infrared light The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp used as a light source.

Conventionally, such a vehicle headlamp is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.
That is, in FIG. 6, the vehicle headlamp 1 is configured as an LED headlamp, and includes a resin-made casing 2 having an open front surface and a plurality of (in the illustrated case, Three LED lamp units 3 and a front lens 4 made of a translucent resin material attached to the housing 2 so as to cover the front surface of the housing 2.

Each of the LED lamp units 3 includes at least one LED element 3a, a reflector 3b and a projection lens 3c corresponding to the LED element 3a. The light emitted from the LED element 3a is converged by the reflector 3b, and is projected. Irradiates forward.
Further, in the illustrated case, the LED lamp units 3 are integrally formed with each other and supported on the back surface of the housing 2.
At that time, each LED lamp unit 3 is configured such that a portion exposed from the back surface of the housing 2 to the outside constitutes a heat sink 3d.

  The front lens 4 is made of a translucent material, and transmits the light from the LED lamp unit 3 toward the front and protects the LED lamp unit 3.

  According to the vehicle headlamp 1 having such a configuration, the LED elements of each LED lamp unit 3 are driven to emit light by supplying power to each LED lamp unit 3 from the outside. Then, the light emitted from each LED lamp unit 3 is irradiated forward through the front lens 4.

  Here, in the vehicle lamp 1 described above, since the LED is used as the light source, the individual LED elements 3a themselves of the LED lamp unit 3 generate heat when turned on, but the light emitted from the LED elements 3a Since the infrared light component is hardly included, the front lens 4 is not heated by the light L from the LED lamp unit 3 so much.

Therefore, for example, when snow falls on the outer surface of the front lens 4 during snowfall, it is difficult to melt the snow adhering to the front lens 4 with the heat of the front lens 4.
For this reason, since a part of the light irradiated forward from the front lens 4 is shielded by snow landing on the outer surface of the front lens 4, the amount of the forward irradiated light is reduced and the visibility is improved. It will fall.

Here, in order to melt snow on the outer surface of the front lens 4, it is known that a heater 6 made of, for example, an ITO film or a heat ray print is provided on the inner surface of the front lens 4 as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 6. ing.
However, such installation of the heater 6 decreases the light transmittance of the front lens 4, reduces the amount of light irradiated forward, and adheres (attaches) the heater 6 to the front lens 4. Furthermore, due to the heat insulating action of the front lens 4 made of resin, the outer surface of the front lens 4 may not be sufficiently heated, and temperature unevenness may occur.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle lamp having a carbon-based heating element therein.
According to this configuration, the carbon-based heating element generates heat by feeding and heats the front lens. Therefore, since the temperature of the front lens becomes relatively high, if snow adheres to the outer surface of the front lens, for example during snowfall, it will melt due to the heat of the front lens, and snow will accumulate on the front lens. Absent.

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses an automotive lamp having a heating body inside or outside or near the light transmission cover.
According to this automotive lamp, the heating element generates heat by power feeding, and the temperature of the light transmission cover becomes relatively high. As a result, ice and snow adhering to the front surface of the light transmission cover is melted, and snow does not accumulate on the light transmission cover.
JP 2004-127574 A JP 2002-166778 A

  By the way, in the vehicular lamp according to Patent Document 1, the front lens can be heated by the carbon-based heating element provided therein, and snow or the like adhering to the outer surface of the front lens can be melted. In addition to providing a heating element, it is necessary to provide a power supply line for the carbon-based heating element, which complicates the structure.

  In addition, in the automotive lamp according to Patent Document 2, the light transmitting cover is similarly heated by a heating body provided inside or near the light transmitting cover to melt ice and snow adhering to the front surface of the light transmitting cover. However, it is necessary to install a heating body inside or outside the light transmission cover or in the vicinity thereof, and to provide a power supply line for the heating body, which complicates the structure.

  Furthermore, since the heater 6 in the vehicle headlamp 1 described above and the heating element or heating element in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are provided exclusively for snow melting, they cannot be used for applications other than snow melting, and the usage frequency is reduced. Considering it, it will be quite expensive.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp capable of reliably eliminating snow on a front lens at a low cost with a simple configuration.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the above object is achieved by at least one LED lamp having a housing open at the front and at least one LED element arranged to irradiate light forward in the housing. In a vehicle headlamp including a unit and a front lens made of a light-transmitting material that closes an open front surface of the casing, an infrared light component including a halogen bulb is further irradiated in the casing. An auxiliary light source composed of a light source is provided, and light from the auxiliary light source is incident on the front lens to melt snow on the outer surface of the front lens and further to the front of the automobile. This is achieved by a vehicle headlamp characterized by irradiating light laterally.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is preferably provided with a sensor for detecting snow on the outer surface of the front lens in an internal space defined by the casing and the front lens. When the snow is detected, the auxiliary light source is driven.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the auxiliary light source functions as an auxiliary light including a fog lamp or an additional light source side irradiation lamp.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the auxiliary light source includes a visible light cutting means.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the visible light cutting means can be retracted from the optical path from the auxiliary light source to the front lens.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light from the auxiliary light source preferably enters at least a light incident region from the LED lamp unit in the surface of the front lens.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light from the auxiliary light source preferably enters a region below the light incident region from the LED lamp unit of the front lens.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, preferably, the auxiliary light source is thermally shielded from the LED lamp unit.

  According to the above configuration, each LED element is driven to emit light by supplying power to the LED element of the LED lamp unit from the outside. And the light radiate | emitted from the LED lamp unit is irradiated toward the front through the said front lens.

Here, for example, during snowfall, the auxiliary light source is driven when an object that blocks the lens such as snow, ice, or water droplets adheres to the outer surface of the front lens. As a result, the halogen light bulb as the auxiliary light source is turned on, and light including infrared light emitted from the halogen light bulb is reflected directly or by the reflecting surface and enters the front lens. Thereby, the front lens is heated by the infrared light included in the light from the auxiliary light source, and the temperature of the front lens rises.
Therefore, the snow adhering to the front lens is melted by the temperature rise of the front lens, so that the snow does not accumulate on the front lens.

  In addition, when the snow on the front lens starts to melt due to the light from the auxiliary light source, the light from the LED lamp unit is irradiated forward through the location where the snow has started to melt, Since the decrease in the amount of light is quickly recovered, visibility in the forward field of view can be ensured.

  Further, when the auxiliary light source is driven when there is no snow on the front lens, the light from the auxiliary light source passes through the front lens and is irradiated laterally with respect to the traveling direction of the automobile. Thereby, an auxiliary light source acts as an auxiliary lamp, and can irradiate light toward the side of the light irradiation range from the LED lamp unit.

  In this way, even when an LED that contains almost no infrared light component is used as the light source, snow on the outer surface of the front lens can be melted by the light containing the infrared light from the auxiliary light source. Therefore, snow does not accumulate on the outer surface of the front lens, light with sufficient illuminance is irradiated forward, and a field of view can be secured, and it is not necessary to melt snow. The light source can be effectively used as an auxiliary light.

  A sensor for detecting snow on the outer surface of the front lens is provided in an internal space defined by the casing and the front lens. When this sensor detects snow, the auxiliary light source is driven. In such a case, the snow is automatically detected by the sensor, whereby the auxiliary light source is driven, and the light shielding from the LED lamp unit due to the snow can be eliminated more quickly.

  When the auxiliary light source acts as an auxiliary light such as a fog lamp or an additional light source side illumination lamp in an adaptive front lighting system (AFS), the auxiliary light source is used as a drive fog lamp or an additional light source side illumination lamp in an AFS. It can be made to act as an auxiliary light.

  When the auxiliary light source is provided with visible light cutting means, when melting snow on the outer surface of the front lens, the front lens is irradiated with only infrared light from the halogen bulb through the visible light cutting means. As a result, irradiation of visible light to areas other than the forward light irradiation area by the LED lamp unit can be prevented. That is, in this way, operations such as melting of snowfall can be realized as a headlamp without affecting the function.

  When the visible light cut means is retractable from the optical path from the auxiliary light source to the front lens, the visible light cut means is inserted into the optical path when melting snow on the outer surface of the front lens. In addition, since the front lens is irradiated with only infrared light from the halogen bulb through the visible light cutting means, it is possible to prevent the irradiation of visible light to areas other than the forward light irradiation area by the LED lamp unit. At the same time, when the auxiliary light source is used as an auxiliary light, the visible light cut means is retracted from the optical path, so that the visible light from the halogen bulb is irradiated sideways through the front lens with respect to the traveling direction of the car. And act as an auxiliary light.

  When the light from the auxiliary light source enters at least the light incident area from the LED lamp unit of the front lens, the light from the auxiliary light source enters the light incident area from the LED lamp unit of the front lens. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate a decrease in the amount of light due to snowing of light irradiated forward from the LED lamp unit through the front lens, and the auxiliary light source can be made relatively small.

  When the light from the auxiliary light source is incident on the lower area of the light incident area from the LED lamp unit of the front lens, the auxiliary light source is applied to the lower area of the light incident area from the LED lamp unit of the front lens. Is incident, the lower region of the front lens is heated, and heat is transferred to the light incident region of the front lens. Accordingly, since the temperature near the light incident area from the LED lamp unit of the front lens also rises, when the snow attached to the outer surface of the front lens near the light incident area starts to melt, along the surface of the front lens. Since it moves downward, the light quantity reduction of the light from the LED lamp unit can be eliminated more rapidly, and the snowfall that has moved downward can be melted by the incidence of light from the auxiliary light source.

  When the auxiliary light source is thermally shielded with respect to the LED lamp unit, when the auxiliary light source is driven for melting snow or as an auxiliary light, the halogen light bulb of the auxiliary light source is turned on. Since heat generation is not transmitted to the LED lamp unit, the LED lamp unit does not rise in temperature due to heat from the auxiliary light source, and the luminous efficiency of the LED element does not decrease.

Thus, according to the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, an infrared light component including a halogen bulb is irradiated even when a light-emitting element including an LED that hardly includes an infrared light component is used as a light source. Since the front lens is heated by irradiating the front lens with infrared light by the light source and auxiliary light source, the front lens is heated by infrared light with a simple configuration, so that it can be used during snowfall, etc. It is possible to reliably melt and remove the snow adhering to the outer surface of the front lens.
In addition, the auxiliary light source not only melts snow on the front lens, but also acts as an auxiliary light source such as a fog lamp or an additional light source side illumination lamp in AFS. be able to.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a vehicle headlamp 10 is configured as an LED headlamp, and includes a resin casing 11 having an open front surface and a plurality of (three in the illustrated case) provided in the casing 11. LED lamp unit 12, front lens 13 made of a translucent resin material attached to housing 11 so as to cover the front surface of housing 11, fog lamp 20 as an auxiliary light source, and snow accretion sensor 30. , Is composed of.

Each of the LED lamp units 12 includes at least one LED element 12a, a reflector 12b and a projection lens 12c corresponding to the LED element 12a, and focuses the light L1 emitted from the LED element 12a by the reflector 12b. Irradiate forward by 12c.
Further, in the illustrated case, the LED lamp units 12 are configured integrally with each other and supported on the back surface of the housing 11.
At this time, each LED lamp unit 12 is configured such that a portion exposed from the back surface of the housing 11 to the outside constitutes a heat sink 12d.

  The front lens 13 is made of a translucent material and transmits the light L1 from the LED lamp unit 12 forward and protects the LED lamp unit 12.

The above configuration is substantially the same as that of the conventional vehicle headlamp 1 shown in FIG. 6, but the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is different in the following points.
That is, the fog lamp 20 and the snow accretion sensor 30 are incorporated in the casing 11.
In that case, the housing | casing 11 is equipped with the heat insulation part 11a in the area | region between the LED lamp unit 12 and the fog lamp 20 at least. Thereby, the fog lamp 20 is thermally shielded from the LED lamp unit 12.

The fog lamp 20 is composed of a halogen bulb 21 as an example of a light source that irradiates an infrared light component, and a reflector 22. The light L2 emitted from the halogen bulb 21 is reflected by the reflector 22 and forwards. In contrast, the light is emitted obliquely to the side.
At that time, the light L2 from the fog lamp 20 enters the entire light incident area 13a of the front lens 13 where the light L1 from each LED lamp unit 12 described above is incident.

Further, the snow accretion sensor 21 is provided in the housing 11 as shown in FIG. 2, for example, and receives and detects light from a light emitting / receiving element using, for example, an infrared LED or internal reflection of the front lens 13. It consists of optical sensors such as elements.
And the said snow accumulating sensor 21 detects the presence or absence of the snow accumulating on the outer surface of the front lens 13 based on the detection signal of an optical sensor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection signal from the snow accumulating sensor 21 is determined by the determination circuit 31 to determine whether or not snow has occurred. When it is determined that there is snow, the drive circuit 32 turns on the fog lamp 20. It is like that.
The fog lamp 20 can be turned on by the drive circuit 32 even when the switch 33 is turned on regardless of whether or not the front lens 13 is snowed.

Here, since the reflectance differs between the dirt attached to the front lens 12 and the snow, the judgment circuit 31 determines whether the one attached to the front lens 12 is snow or dirt based on the detection signal of the snow sensor 21. Can be determined.
Therefore, the determination circuit 31 can reliably detect snowfall based on the detection signal of the snowfall sensor 21.

  The vehicle headlamp 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. By supplying power to the LED lamp unit 12, light L <b> 1 is emitted from the LED lamp unit 12 and forwards through the front lens 13. For example, a light distribution pattern range of a so-called passing beam or traveling beam is illuminated.

Here, for example, when snow falls, as shown in FIG. 2, when snow S adheres to the outer surface of the front lens 13, the determination circuit 31 detects the snow accumulation based on the detection signal of the snow accumulating sensor 30. As a result, the drive circuit 32 lights the fog lamp 20.
Then, the light L2 emitted from the fog lamp 20 enters the light incident area 13a of the front lens 13. In this case, since the light L2 is light from the halogen bulb 21, the light L2 contains a lot of infrared light and heats the light incident region 13a.

  Therefore, the snow S adhering to the light incident area 13a can be easily melted by heat. As a result, the snow S does not accumulate on the outer surface of the front lens 13, so that the light L1 from the LED lamp unit 12 is irradiated forward with sufficient illuminance without being blocked by snowfall. As a result, the field of view of the front view can be secured.

  On the other hand, regardless of snowfall or the like, when the driver turns on the switch 33, the drive circuit 32 applies a drive voltage to the fog lamp 20, and the fog lamp 20 is turned on. Thereby, the light L2 from the fog lamp 20 passes through the light incident area 13a of the front lens 13 and is emitted obliquely to the front side. Thereby, a wider field of view can be secured by irradiating light to the outside of the light irradiation range of the LED lamp unit 12.

  Further, since the fog lamp 20 is thermally shielded from the LED lamp unit 12 by the heat insulating portion 11 a of the housing 11, the heat generated from the halogen bulb 21 when the fog lamp 20 is turned on is transmitted to the LED lamp unit 12. There is nothing. Therefore, the LED lamp unit 12 does not increase in temperature due to heat from the fog lamp 20 and the luminous efficiency does not decrease.

[Example 2]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a second embodiment of a vehicle headlamp to which the present invention is applied. 4, the vehicle headlamp 40 has substantially the same configuration as that of the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
The vehicle headlamp 40 is different from the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that the light L2 of the fog lamp 20 is incident on the lower region 13b below the light incident region 13a of the front lens 13. It has a different configuration only in the configuration.

According to the vehicle headlamp 40 configured as described above, the vehicle headlamp 10 operates in the same manner as the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIG. 1, and if snow S adheres to the outer surface of the front lens 13 during snowfall, for example, Based on the detection signal of the snow sensor 30, the determination circuit 31 detects snowfall, and thereby the drive circuit 32 lights the fog lamp 20.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the light L2 emitted from the fog lamp 20 enters the lower region 13b of the front lens 13, and heats the lower region 13b. As a result, this heat is also transmitted to the light incident area 13a of the front lens 13, and the temperature of the light incident area 13a also rises, so that the snow adhering to the outer surface of the front lens 13 near the light incident area 13a. The vicinity of the contact surface of S melts.

Accordingly, the snow S moves downward along the surface of the front lens 13 based on its own weight, and reaches the vicinity of the lower region 13b of the front lens 13. Therefore, the snow S can be quickly removed from the light incident region 13a of the front lens 13.
And since the lower region 13b of the front lens 13 is heated to a higher temperature by the light L2 from the fog lamp 20, the snow S can be reliably melted in the lower region 13b.

  Thereby, snow does not accumulate over a wide range of the outer surface of the front lens 13, light L1 having sufficient illuminance from the LED lamp unit 12 is irradiated forward, and a field of view is secured. Will get.

[Example 3]
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a third embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
In FIG. 5, a vehicle headlamp 50 is configured as a so-called four-lamp headlamp including an LED lamp unit for a low beam and a halogen lamp unit for a traveling beam, and is made of a resin housing having a front surface opened. 51, a plurality (three in the illustrated case) of LED lamp units 52 and halogen lamp units 53 provided in the casing 51, and the casing 51 so as to cover the front surface of the casing 51. The front lens 54 made of a transparent resin material, a fog lamp 55 as an auxiliary light source, and a snow accumulating sensor 56 are included.

  The casing 51, the LED lamp unit 52, the front lens 54, the fog lamp 55, and the snow accumulating sensor 56 are the casing 11, the LED lamp unit 12, the front lens 13, the fog lamp 20, and the snow accumulating sensor 56 in the vehicle headlamp 10 shown in FIG. Since it is configured in the same manner as the snow accretion sensor 30, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The halogen lamp unit 53 includes a halogen light bulb 53a and a reflector 53b. The light L3 emitted from the halogen light bulb 53a is reflected by the reflector 53b and irradiated to the front to distribute the traveling beam. A pattern is formed.
On the other hand, the LED lamp unit 52 forms a cut-off line with a shutter or the like (not shown) to form a so-called passing beam light distribution pattern.

The fog lamp 55 is provided with a visible light cut filter 55a disposed in the optical path in this case. Thereby, when the fog lamp 55 is turned on, the visible light component is blocked by the visible light cut filter 55a out of the emitted light including the infrared light and the visible light from the fog lamp 55, and only the infrared light L2 ′ is the front lens. 54 is irradiated.
The infrared light L2 ′ is incident on the entire light incident area 52a of the front lens 54 where the light L1 from the LED lamp unit 52 is incident.

According to the vehicle headlamp 50 having such a configuration, by supplying power to the LED lamp unit 52, the light L1 is emitted from the LED lamp unit 52 and is irradiated forward through the front lens 54. It is designed to illuminate the range of the light distribution pattern of the passing beam.
Further, by supplying power to the halogen lamp unit 53, the light L3 is emitted from the halogen lamp unit 53, and is irradiated forward through the front lens 54, for example, so as to illuminate the range of the light distribution pattern of the traveling beam. It has become.

Here, for example, when snow falls on the outer surface of the front lens 54 during snowfall or the like, the fog lamp 55 is turned on based on the detection signal of the snow accretion sensor 56.
Then, the light L2 emitted from the fog lamp 55 enters the light incident area 54a of the front lens 54. In this case, since the light L2 is the infrared light L2 ′ that has passed through the visible light cut filter 55a, the light incident region 54a is heated.

Therefore, the snow adhering to the light incident area 54a can be easily melted by heat, so that the snow does not accumulate on the outer surface of the front lens 54. Thereby, the light L1 from the LED lamp unit 52 is irradiated forward with sufficient illuminance without being blocked by snowfall, and the field of view of the front field of view can be secured.
In this case, the light L2 ′ (infrared light) transmitted through the front lens 54 is irradiated obliquely to the front of the automobile, but since it is infrared light, it does not become illusion light.

  Further, when the visible light cut filter 55a is configured to be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the fog lamp 55, when the driver operates the switch to light the fog lamp 55 regardless of snowfall or the like, this switch When the visible light cut filter 55a is retracted from the optical path in conjunction with the operation or manually, the light L2 from the fog lamp 55 does not pass through the visible light cut filter 55a, but the light incident region 13a of the front lens 13 The light is emitted obliquely laterally with respect to the front. Thereby, a wider field of view can be secured by irradiating light to the outside of the light irradiation range of the LED lamp unit 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fog lamps 20 and 55 are provided as auxiliary light sources. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be configured as other types of auxiliary lights such as an additional light source side illumination lamp in AFS, for example. It is clear that it is good.

  In the above-described embodiment, an optical sensor is used as the snow accumulating sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device that can detect snow accumulating on the outer surface of the front lens can be used. It is also possible to use other types of sensors together or to use them alone.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the snow accretion sensors 30 and 56 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the snow accretion sensor may be omitted. In this case, the fog lights 20 and 55 are manually turned on by the driver.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the fog lamps 20 and 55 as auxiliary light sources are configured to cause light to enter the light incident area 13a or the lower area 13b of the front lens 13, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The light may be incident on the entire surface of the front lens 13.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle headlamps 10, 40 and 50 apply the present invention to vehicle headlamps such as auxiliary headlamps such as automobile fog lights and motorcycle headlamps. It is also possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent vehicle headlamp that can reliably eliminate snow attached to the front lens at a low cost with a simple configuration.

1 is a schematic horizontal sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp to which the present invention is applied. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which passes along the snow accretion sensor in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure for lighting of the fog lamp in the vehicle headlamp of FIG. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of 2nd embodiment of the vehicle headlamp to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic horizontal sectional view which shows the structure of 3rd embodiment of the vehicle headlamp to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of an example of the conventional vehicle headlamp.

Explanation of symbols

10, 40, 50 Vehicle headlamp 11, 51 Housing 11a Heat insulation portion 12, 52 LED lamp unit 12a, 52a LED element 12b, 52b Reflector 12c, 52c Projection lens 12d, 52d Heat sink 13, 54 Front lens 13a, 54a Light Irradiation area 20, 55 Fog lamp (auxiliary light source)
21 Halogen bulb 22 Reflector 30,56 Snow accumulating sensor 31 Judgment circuit 32 Drive circuit 33 Switch 52 Halogen lamp unit 52a Halogen bulb 52b Reflector

Claims (8)

Close the front face of the housing that is open at the front, at least one LED lamp unit that has at least one LED element arranged to irradiate light forward in the housing, and the housing. In a vehicle headlamp including a front lens made of a translucent material,
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned housing, an auxiliary light source comprising a light source that irradiates an infrared light component including a halogen bulb is provided,
The light from the auxiliary light source is incident on the front lens, thereby melting snow on the outer surface of the front lens and irradiating the front side of the vehicle with light sideways. And a vehicle headlamp. In the internal space defined by the housing and the front lens, a sensor for detecting snow on the outer surface of the front lens is provided,
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light source is driven when the sensor detects snowfall.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light source acts as an auxiliary lamp including a fog lamp or an additional light source-type side illumination lamp.   The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the auxiliary light source includes a visible light cutting means.   5. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 4, wherein the visible light cutting means is retractable from an optical path from the auxiliary light source to the front lens.   The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein light from the auxiliary light source is incident on at least a light incident area from the LED lamp unit in the surface of the front lens.   6. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein light from the auxiliary light source is incident on a region below a light incident region from the LED lamp unit of the front lens.   8. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light source is thermally shielded with respect to the LED lamp unit.

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