JP2008021516A - Vehicular headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlamp exhibiting new appearance and beauty, and a new beam light distribution, and having a high-class feeling. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular headlamp 1 is composed of a light source 2, and a reflecting plate 5 forming a beam light distribution 4 radiating light 3 emitted from the light source 2 to the front side in a condensed state. The vehicular headlamp 1 is characterized by including an arbitrary pattern in the beam light distribution 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp, and in particular, a new appearance and aesthetics as well as a new beam distribution over the entire headlamp that is turned on when the vehicle headlamp is viewed from the front. This is related to the high-grade vehicle headlamps.

  Conventionally, as a vehicle headlamp, for example, as seen in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-29001 (Patent Document 1) or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-133920 (Patent Document 2), In general, a vehicle headlamp composed of a reflector that forms a beam distribution for irradiating emitted light in a focused state is used, and such a vehicle headlamp is In order to switch between the low beam and the high beam, a configuration in which at least two kinds of reflectors having different reflection paraboloid shapes are used in combination, the position of the light source is changed, or a combination thereof is adopted. Yes.

  However, the beam distribution emitted from the vehicle headlamp toward the front of the vehicle has a cross-sectional shape of a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a deformed shape thereof. The amount of light was substantially uniform within the cross section of the beam distribution and scarcely changed, producing only a monotonous appearance.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency to produce a high-class feeling of accessories, especially in automobiles, and changes in the manner of lighting of vehicle headlamps have been demanded. .

JP-A-5-2901 JP 2002-1339204 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate these problems, and when a vehicle headlamp that is lit is viewed from the front, it has a novel appearance and aesthetics, and a novel beam distribution. The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp having a high-class feeling.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention employs a basic technical configuration as shown below.
That is, the first aspect according to the present invention includes a light source and a reflector that forms a beam distribution that irradiates the front of the vehicle in a condensed state with light emitted from the light source directed forward. The vehicle headlamp is characterized in that an arbitrary pattern is included in the beam light distribution.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the reflector is at least one of a space around the central axis centered on the central axis including the light source in the headlamp. The vehicle headlamp is characterized in that it is configured to surround a portion, and the reflector is constituted by a non-continuous reflecting surface along the central axis direction. As a third aspect, in the first aspect, the reflector is configured to surround at least a part of a space around the axis centering on a central axis including the light source in the headlamp. And the reflecting plate forms a parabolic reflecting surface continuous along the axial direction, and predetermined letters, numbers, pictures, and patterns that shield at least a part of the light flux of the beam distribution. , Mark, specific shape Mask member including a is vehicle headlamp, characterized in that provided in the front portion of the light source.

  Since the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention employs the above-described technical configuration, it effectively utilizes the light reflection optics using the reflector, and the conventional monotonous and unchanged beam arrangement. In a suitable region in the cross section of the beam distribution, the light is provided with a region having a light amount smaller than the light amount of the main beam light distribution, and a desired pattern, character, By expressing numbers, appropriate patterns, symbols, marks, etc. in a silhouette or silhouette, it is possible to give an external change to the beam distribution output from the vehicle headlamp. The beam distribution has an aesthetic or high-class feeling, and has the effect of significantly improving the quality value of the vehicle using the vehicle headlamp.

The configuration of a specific example of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
That is, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a specific example of a vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention. In the drawing, a light source 2 and light 3 emitted from the light source 2 are collected forward. A vehicle headlamp 1 including a reflector 5 that forms a beam distribution 4 that is irradiated in a light state, and is included in the beam distribution 4 output from the vehicle headlamp 1 that is lit. A vehicle headlamp 1 characterized by including an arbitrary pattern 30 as shown in FIG. 2 is shown.

  As the light source 2 used in the present invention, it is preferable to use an LED, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various light sources generally used in the past can be used. .

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape of the beam light distribution 4 as viewed from the arrow X in FIG. 1 in the direction of the vehicle headlamp 1 being lit.
In the specific example of FIG. 2A, the cross-sectional shape of the reflector 5 in the vehicle headlamp 1 is circular, but the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is shown. The cross-sectional shape of the reflector 5 is not limited to a circular shape, and may have a cross-sectional shape such as a rectangle, an ellipse, or a polygon, or a cross-sectional shape obtained by modifying or combining them. You may have.

  In the present invention, the reflection plate 5 may completely surround the central axis O of the reflection plate 5 including the light source 2, but a part of the periphery of the central axis O is included. It may be one that surrounds only.

  As is clear from the specific example of FIG. 2 (A), in the conventional vehicle headlamp 1, the cross section of the beam distribution 4 is all occupied by only the portion having a uniform amount of light. In this specific example, a region 6 having a small amount of light or no light is disposed between the portions 7, 23, and 24 (a portion corresponding to the light source unit 2) having a large amount of light as indicated by diagonal lines. In this specific example, a pattern 30 showing an annular or partial annular shape is formed by the region 6 having a small amount of light or no light, and the partial or complete annular pattern. When the shape is visually observed by a user or the like, the vehicle headlamp 1 is fresh and aesthetic, and produces a high-class feeling.

  The pattern portion 30 according to the present invention is not limited to revealing the annular ring shape 6, and any shape can be revealed within the beam light distribution 4. The pattern portion 30 is formed in the beam light distribution 4 when the beam light distribution 4 output from the vehicle headlamp 1 being lit is viewed from the front of the vehicle. Any structure or shape may be used as long as it can be recognized as the region 30 having a smaller amount of light than other regions.

  The vehicle in which the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention is used preferably includes at least an automobile, a motorcycle, and a bicycle, and may further include all vehicles other than the vehicle.

  In addition, the type of the pattern in the present invention is not particularly limited, and various marks, character marks, symbol marks, patterns including appropriate letters, numbers, appropriate pictures, patterns, trade names, trademarks, etc. Or a specific shape including a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a polygon including a triangle, or a modification thereof, or a continuous or intermittent closed shape based on them, and the above A specific shape may be a single shape or a plurality of shapes may be regularly or irregularly distributed in the beam light distribution 4.

  That is, as a specific example of the specific shape in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), a continuous belt-like body 6 having an annular shape, an elliptical shape or a deformed shape thereof is formed. As shown in FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C, multiple annular bodies 6, 6 ′, or a part or all of them are in a circular ring state or elliptical shape, and there is a change in the width direction thereof. It is also possible to show a configuration example of a deformed continuous strip 6 ″, or an intermittent strip, or a part or all of a dispersive 6 ″ ′ intermittent or dotted.

  Furthermore, it is possible to arbitrarily select a pattern portion 30 made up of appropriate characters and patterns in the above-described specific example of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 2D or FIG. Such a pattern portion 30 made of an arbitrary picture including a car or the like, or a pattern portion 30 made of any single character or a combination of a plurality of characters can be used.

  Of course, in the present invention, the specific example shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and the specific example shown in FIG. 2D or FIG. 2E are combined. Is also possible.

Next, a specific example of forming the beam light distribution 4 as shown in FIG. 2A according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, the basic configuration of the vehicular headlamp 1 according to the present invention is such that at least a part of the vehicular headlamp 1 is irradiated with at least a part of the light flux in the beam light distribution 4 in the vicinity thereof. The light quantity control means 50 is provided to reduce or eliminate the light quantity of the area. The light quantity control means 50 is provided, for example, on at least a part of the reflector 5 or for the vehicle. It is desirable that it is arranged at least in part in the beam path 51 of the beam distribution 4 in the headlamp 1.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 1 in the present invention, the light amount control means 50 is provided, for example, in at least a part of the reflecting plate 5.
If the configuration of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention in FIG. 1 is described in more detail, the reflector 5 is centered on a central axis O including the light source 2 in the headlamp 1. The reflector 5 is configured to surround at least a part of the space around the axis, and the reflector 5 uses the reflector 5 having the parabolic shapes 10 and 11 that are discontinuous along the direction of the central axis O. However, the light quantity control means 50 is formed on one parabolic surface 11 of the joint portion of the discontinuous parabolic surfaces 10 and 11.

  The above specific example of the present invention will be described in more detail. In this specific example, as shown in FIG. 1, a first reflector 12 having at least two types of reflection paraboloids and a second reflector are provided. The reflective parabolic surface 10 of the first reflective plate 12 and the reflective parabolic surface 11 of the second reflective plate 13 are designed to be different from each other. is necessary.

As a result, the reflection paraboloid becomes discontinuous at the joint surface between the first and second reflectors 12 and 13.
In the specific example of the present invention, the reflecting plate 5 is disposed along the axis O direction at a position close to the light source 2 and the first reflecting plate 12. The second reflecting plate 13 is connected to the end far from the light source 2, and the first reflecting plate 12 uniformly forwards the light emitted from the light source 2. The second reflection plate 13 basically cooperates with the first reflection plate 12 to irradiate the light emitted from the light source 2. Thus, a uniform beam distribution 4 is formed so as to irradiate in the forward direction, but at least a part of the non-reflective region 15 configured so that the emitted light from the light source 2 is not incident is provided. It is desirable that it is provided.

  That is, in the specific example of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention in FIG. 1, the reflection paraboloid 15 constituted by the specific parabola in the second reflector 13 is provided. Is up to the portion indicated by 15-2 due to the influence of the protruding portion 15-1 due to the discontinuous portion formed between the first reflecting plate 12 and the reflective parabolic surface 10. The light emitted from the light source 2 is blocked in the area between them, and the light is not directly applied.

Such a region 15 corresponds to the light amount control means 50 in the present invention.
On the other hand, the light radiated from the light source 2 is incident on the reflective parabolic surface 16 existing outside the non-reflective region 15 of the second reflecting plate 13, and in front of the vehicle headlamp 1. It is desirable that the beam distribution unit 4 is configured to constitute a part of the beam light distribution 4 that is output toward.

  That is, the reflection parabolic surface 16 of the second reflecting plate 13 is formed by reflecting the light emitted from the light source 2 by the reflecting parabolic surface 10 constituting the first reflecting plate 12. It is desirable to form a reflection paraboloid which generates a light beam parallel to the beam distribution 4 which is a bundle of light rays parallel to each other along the central axis O of the vehicle headlamp 1.

  That is, the reflecting plate 5 is disposed at a position close to the light source at least along the axial direction, and the end of the first reflecting plate 12 far from the light source 2. The first reflector 12 is configured to form a beam distribution that irradiates light emitted from the light source 2 in the forward direction. The second reflector 13 is configured such that the first region 15 and the light source form a non-reflective region configured so that the emitted light 3 from the light source 2 is not incident on at least a part thereof. And a second region 151 that forms a beam distribution parallel to the beam distribution 4 formed by the first reflector 12.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the non-reflective region 15 forming the non-reflective region surface in the second reflecting plate 13 does not need to be made of a reflective material, and is non-reflective. It may be made of a material or an arbitrary material.

  And as shown in FIG. 1, the reflected light (a) of the light from the said light source 2 reflected in one edge part 15-1 of the said area | region 15 currently formed in the said 2nd reflecting plate 13, and the said area | region Since there is no reflected light of the light emitted from the light source 2 between the reflected light (b) of the light from the light source 2 reflected by the other end 15-2 of 15, When the headlamp for a vehicle is viewed from the front, the portion is less than the surrounding light amount or no light amount at all, so it becomes darker than the surrounding bright state, for example, the annular ring shape is recognized. Will be.

  In the specific example of the present invention, the non-reflective region 15 of the second reflecting plate 13 extends along the inner surface of the second reflecting plate 13. By forming a continuous annular band around the central axis O of 1 and surrounding the central axis in a state substantially perpendicular to the central axis, a closed annular body shape 6 is formed as shown in FIG. Is formed.

  Due to such a structure, as shown in FIG. 2A, the annular ring shape 6 has a different color tone or a different color characteristic from the peripheral portion with a large amount of light in the beam light distribution 4. Is recognized.

For example, when a blue LED is used for the light source 2, the pattern portion 30 shows a color different from the color of the light source.
In the present invention, the amount of light is changed by appropriately combining the length, shape, etc. of the reflective parabolic surface 10 of the first reflective plate 12 and the reflective parabolic surface 11 of the second reflective plate 13. A ring-shaped strip 6 having an arbitrary shape or an arbitrary width can be formed in the beam distribution 4.

  The reflecting plate 5 in the present invention is integrally formed by joining different reflecting paraboloids of the first reflecting plate 12 and the second reflecting plate 13 along the direction of the axis O. It is also possible that the reflectors 12 and 13 having different parabolic surfaces are joined to each other.

  In the above specific example, the case where the cross-sectional shape of the reflecting plate 5 is circular has been described. However, the present invention may be such that the cross-sectional shape of the reflecting plate 5 is elliptical or rectangular or has a deformed cross section thereof. good.

  Further, in the above specific example, the structure in which the non-reflective region 15 is formed as a continuous band in the direction perpendicular to the central axis O along the inner wall surface of the reflector 5 is shown. The portion 15 can also be formed intermittently. In this case, as shown in a part of FIG. 2C, a completely sealed annular ring 6 is not formed and an intermittent ring shape 6 is formed. "" Is formed.

By appropriately changing the width, arrangement position, depth, etc. of the region 15, an annular pattern composed of a ring shape 6 ″ in which the width of the belt-like body is appropriately changed as shown in part of FIG. It is also possible to form.
Further, by forming at least two non-reflective region portions 15 along the inner wall surface of the reflecting plate 5 in a direction orthogonal to the central axis O, as shown in FIG. An annular ring 6, 6 'is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, protrusions 19 having an arbitrary shape including a rod-like body are provided at predetermined intervals on the inner wall peripheral edge portion 18 of the distal end portion 17 of the second reflection plate 13 in the reflection plate 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a pattern portion 30 having a desired pattern 20 is imparted to a part of the beam distribution 4 having a large amount of light outside the annular ring portion 6. Things are also possible.

Such a specific example has the same configuration as the usage mode of the mask unit 21 described later.
In the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention, instead of the method of forming the paraboloid of the reflector 4 in a discontinuous state as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, a continuous or intermittent concave portion 40 that does not reflect incident light having an arbitrary width and shape constituting the non-reflective region 15 is provided or has an arbitrary width. It is also possible to realize by providing a continuous or intermittent belt-like portion 41 made of a non-reflective material on a part of the reflection parabolic surface at the inner wall portion of the reflection plate 5.

At this time, the concave portion 40 or the band-like portion 41 made of the non-reflective material is not limited to one, and a plurality of the belt-like portions 41 may be arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the central axis.
It is also possible to change the width of the belt-like body 41 as appropriate.
Next, another specific example of the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  That is, as another specific example of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2D or FIG. 2E, a desired character in the beam distribution 4 radiated from the vehicle headlamp 1, This shows another configuration of the vehicle headlamp 1 that is preferable when a pattern composed of numbers, pictures, pattern shapes, and the like is included.

  Such a configuration is similar to the specific example described above, in which a portion with a small amount or no amount of light is formed in the emitted beam light distribution 4, and the portion shows a different color with respect to the portion with a large amount of light. By showing the light emission characteristics, the letters, numbers, designs, etc. can be recognized.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the reflector 5 is configured to surround at least a part of the space around the axis O around the center axis O including the light source 2 in the headlamp 1. The reflecting plate 5 forms a parabolic reflecting surface continuous along the direction of the axis O, and a predetermined character for shielding at least a part of the light flux of the beam light distribution 4. A vehicle in which a mask member 21 including a pattern having a specific shape such as a figure, a pattern, a mark, a symbol mark, a character mark, a registered trademark, or the like indicating a numeral, an animal or a vehicle is provided in front of the light source 2 This is realized by the headlamp 1 for use.

  The mask portion 21 may be one in which an appropriate pattern portion 22 formed of an appropriate opaque material on a transparent substrate is disposed and formed in a coated or embedded state, or may be appropriately formed on a transparent substrate. The appropriate design portion 22 made of a non-transparent material is embedded, and the design portion 22 shields a part of the beam light distribution 4 from the light flux, thereby the portion of the design portion 22 However, compared to the portion where the light amount of the beam light distribution 4 is large, a state of a color different from the peripheral portion or a different light amount state is formed. It will be recognized as a shape or shadow shape.

The opaque portion in the mask portion 21 may be formed with a hole portion 25 by embedding, for example, a hollow cylindrical portion or a frame portion.
The specific examples according to the present invention described above can be used in combination with the specific examples described above.

  The mask portion 21 in this specific example can be easily manufactured by a conventionally known method, and the mask portion 21 covers the entire cross-sectional area of the inner wall portion in the reflector 5. You may arrange | position orthogonally to a center axis | shaft or may be arrange | positioned in the part.

  Furthermore, the method for attaching the mask portion 21 to a part of the inner wall portion in the reflector 5 is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known attachment method can be used.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the outline of the configuration of a specific example of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the beam light distribution obtained by the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the cross-sectional configuration of the beam distribution obtained by the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing still another example of the sectional configuration of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the outline of the configuration of another specific example of the cross-sectional configuration of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. 1. Vehicle headlamp Light source 3. Light emitted from the light source 4. Beam light distribution Reflector 6. 6. Annular ring part, part with little light quantity 10. A portion with a large amount of light Non-continuous reflective paraboloid 12. First reflector 13. Second reflector 15. Non-reflective region 16. Reflective parabolic surface 17. Reflector end 18. Reflecting plate inner wall peripheral edge 19. Projection 20. Pattern 21. Mask part 22. Design part 23. High light quantity 24. Parts with a large amount of light 25. Hole 30. Pattern part 40. Recessed part 41. 50. Band-shaped part made of non-reflective material Light control means

Claims (12)

  A vehicle headlamp that includes a light source and a reflector that forms a beam distribution that irradiates light emitted from the light source forward and in a condensed state. The vehicle headlamp is characterized by including the pattern.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes at least an automobile, a motorcycle, and a bicycle.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the pattern includes at least letters, numbers, pictures, patterns, marks, specific shapes, and the like.   4. The vehicle head according to claim 3, wherein the specific shape includes a continuous or intermittent belt-like body having a ring shape, an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, or a triangular shape including a triangle, or a deformed body thereof. lamp.   The pattern is characterized in that, when the headlamp for the beam distribution is viewed from the front, the pattern is recognized as an area having a smaller light amount than other areas in the beam distribution. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   At least a part of the vehicle headlamp is provided with a light amount control means for reducing or eliminating the light amount of at least a part of the light flux in the beam distribution from the light amount in the surrounding area. A vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The light amount control means is provided in at least a part of the reflector or is disposed in at least a part of a beam path of the beam distribution in the vehicle headlamp. 6. A vehicle headlamp according to 6.   The reflector is configured to surround at least a part of a space around the axis around a central axis including a light source in the headlamp, and the reflector is discontinuous along the axial direction. 8. A vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a reflector having a typical parabolic shape is formed.   The reflector is configured to surround at least a part of a space around the axis around a central axis including a light source in the headlamp, and a part of a continuous reflecting surface of the reflector And a non-reflective region comprising a surface configured such that the emitted light from the light source is not incident or a surface configured of a member that does not reflect the emitted light from the light source. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The non-reflective region includes a continuous or intermittent belt-like form or a modified form thereof along the reflection paraboloid of the reflector, and is formed so as to surround at least a part of the axis. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that.   The reflector is configured to surround at least a part of a space around the axis around the central axis including the light source in the headlamp, and the reflector is continuous along the axial direction. A parabolic reflecting surface is formed, and at least letters, numbers, pictures, and shields at least a part of the light flux in the beam distribution in the light path of the beam distribution and in the front part of the light source. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a mask member including a handle, a mark, a specific shape and the like is provided.   12. A light-shielding mask portion comprising a plurality of characters, symbols, pictures, marks, or a specific shape or including a plurality of characters, symbols, pictures, marks, or a specific shape is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the reflector. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of the above.