JP2008027857A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem, wherein with a former vehicular lighting fixture in wnich the increase in the number of components causes increase in the manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: A lamp chamber 11 is formed by a lamp housing 2 and a lamp lens 3. A bulb 5, an inner lens 4 and an inner housing 6 are arranged inside the lamp chamber 11. The lens 4 is positioned on the side of bulb 5 with respect to the inner housing 6, and the inner housing 6 is partitioned into areas 14 and 15. The first area 14 has an aperture part 16 allowing the light passing through the inner lens 4 as the light L1 from the bulb 5, to pass to the side of the lamp lens 3, the second area 15 has eight small reflecting surfaces 17 and eight small through-holes 18 as pairs, and the inner lens 4 has a small projection parts 19 inserted into the eight small through-holes 18. Thus, the vehicular lighting fixture appears as though it has ten light sources, with a single bulb, and the number of components is reduced and reduces the manufacturing cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp such as a tail stop lamp, a turn signal lamp, or a backup lamp. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that appears as if a large number of light sources are used with one or a small number of light sources. The present invention also relates to a vehicular lamp that shows a plurality of areas in the lamp chamber as if they have independent functions when not lit, and shows a function in which the plurality of areas in the lamp chamber are integrated when lit. Is.

  This type of vehicular lamp has been conventionally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle lamp will be described. The former conventional vehicular lamp (Patent Document 1) includes a lamp body and a lens that form a lamp chamber, and a plurality of LEDs arranged in the lamp chamber. The latter conventional vehicular lamp (Patent Document 2) includes a lamp body and an outer lens that form a lamp chamber, a partition member that divides the lamp chamber into a plurality of areas, and one of the plurality of areas. A tail lamp bulb disposed in the area; a plurality of small reflectors disposed in another area of the plurality of areas; and a plurality of LEDs as light sources.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional vehicle lamp will be described. In the former conventional vehicular lamp, when a plurality of LEDs are turned on, light from the plurality of LEDs passes through the lens and is irradiated to the outside. In the latter conventional vehicular lamp, when the tail lamp bulb is turned on, light (red light) from the tail lamp bulb passes through the outer lens and is irradiated to the outside. On the other hand, when a plurality of LEDs are turned on, light from the plurality of LEDs is reflected by the plurality of small reflectors, passes through the outer lens, and is irradiated to the outside. In the latter conventional vehicular lamp, since the tail lamp bulb and the plurality of LEDs are lit, a novel design and appearance can be obtained.

  However, since the former conventional vehicular lamp requires a plurality of LEDs, the number of parts increases correspondingly, and the manufacturing cost increases. The latter conventional vehicular lamp requires a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of small reflectors with respect to the tail lamp bulb, and accordingly, the number of parts increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-288011 JP 2006-12508 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that in the conventional vehicular lamp, the number of parts increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), a lamp chamber is formed by a lamp housing and a lamp lens, a light source, an inner lens and an inner housing are disposed in the lamp chamber, and the inner lens is disposed on the light source side with respect to the inner housing. The inner housing is divided into a plurality of areas, and an opening is provided in one of the plurality of areas to allow light from the light source and transmitted through the inner lens to pass to the lamp lens side. A plurality of small reflective surfaces and a plurality of small through holes are provided in pairs in other areas, and a small convex portion to be inserted into the plurality of small through holes is provided in the inner lens. .
To do.

  Further, the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) is characterized in that the inner lens is a colored lens.

  Further, according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 3), a light refracting portion that refracts the direct light from the light source into the small convex portion is provided on a surface corresponding to another area among the surfaces facing the light source of the inner lens. In addition, a light reflection part that reflects light from the light refraction part to the small reflection surface is provided on the small convex part of the inner lens.

  In the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), when the light source is turned on by the means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a part of the light from the light source passes through the inner lens and Since the light is transmitted through the lamp lens through the opening of the one area and irradiated to the outside, the one area appears to shine. On the other hand, another part of the light from the light source passes through the small convex portion of the inner lens and is reflected by the plurality of small reflecting surfaces in the other areas of the inner housing toward the lamp lens so as to pass through the lamp lens. Since it is irradiated outside, a plurality of small reflective surfaces in other areas appear to shine. As a result, the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) appears as if a large number of light sources are used with one or a small number of light sources. As a result, the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) can be seen with a plurality of light sources turned on, so that a novel design and appearance can be obtained, while a single or a small number of light sources can be used. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced correspondingly, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) is provided with a plurality of small reflective surfaces and a plurality of small through holes in pairs in the other area of the inner housing, Since the inner lens has a small convex portion to be inserted into the small through hole, the small convex portion of the inner lens in the other area looks like a semiconductor light source such as an LED, and a plurality of inner housings in the other area. This small reflective surface looks like a small reflective surface for semiconductor light sources such as LEDs. In addition, by turning on the light source, another part of the light from the light source passes through the small convex portion of the inner lens and is reflected to the lamp lens side by a plurality of small reflective surfaces in other areas of the inner housing. Since each of the plurality of small reflective surfaces in the other area emits light, it seems that semiconductor type light sources such as LEDs are respectively disposed on the plurality of small reflective surfaces in the other areas. As a result, in the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), a plurality of small reflection surfaces in other areas look like small reflection surfaces on which semiconductor light sources such as LEDs are arranged. A novel design and appearance can be obtained, and the design and appearance can be improved.

  In addition, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) uses a colored lens as an inner lens, so that one area and the other area can be seen when not lit and when they are lit. Is different. That is, when not lit, an inner housing having an opening in one area and the inner lens can be seen through the opening of the inner housing, and the small convex portion of the inner lens in the other area is like a semiconductor light source such as an LED. And the multiple small reflective surfaces of the inner housing look like small reflective surfaces for semiconductor-type light sources such as LEDs, so that one area and the other area function as independent lamps. Looks like. On the other hand, at the time of lighting, a part of the light from the light source passes through the inner lens in one area and is irradiated to the outside through the opening of the inner housing, so that the color of the inner lens can be seen. Another part of the light passes through the small convex part of the inner lens and is reflected to the outside by the multiple small reflective surfaces of the inner housing, so that the color of the inner lens can be seen, so that one area and the other area are integrated It looks like a function lamp. As described above, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) is provided with respect to a user or another person, and how the one area and the other area can be seen when not lit and how they can be seen when lit. It is possible to produce an unprecedented appearance and further improve the appearance.

  Furthermore, since the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 3) is provided with the light refracting portion and the light reflecting portion on the inner lens, direct light from the light source is passed through the light refracting portion and the light reflecting portion. The plurality of small reflection surfaces can be surely guided to the plurality of small reflection surfaces of the inner housing, and the plurality of small reflection surfaces can surely shine in other areas. As a result, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 3) can surely provide a visual effect as if a semiconductor-type light source such as an LED is shining in another area. The light distribution as the vehicular lamp can be satisfied by the reflected light from the small reflecting surfaces and the irradiation light from the opening of the inner housing.

  Embodiments of a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment will be described. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicular lamp according to this embodiment. The vehicle lamp 1 is, for example, a tail stop lamp. The vehicular lamp 1 is mounted on the left and right of the rear part of the automobile (vehicle). Hereinafter, the vehicle lamp 1 mounted on the right side of the rear part of the automobile will be described. Note that the configuration of the vehicular lamp mounted on the left side of the rear part of the automobile is almost symmetrical.

  As shown in the drawing, the vehicular lamp 1 includes a lamp housing 2, a lamp lens (for example, a transparent outer lens and an outer cover) 3, an inner lens 4, a single bulb 5 as a light source, And an inner housing 6. The vehicular lamp 1 has a shape that wraps around from the front surface (the rear side of the vehicle) to the side surface (the right side of the vehicle and the outside of the vehicle).

  In this example, the lamp housing 2 is made of a light-impermeable synthetic resin. The lamp housing 2 is opened from the front surface to the side surface, and is closed from the rear portion (the front side of the automobile) to the side portion (the left side of the automobile and the inside of the automobile). The inner surface of the closed portion of the lamp housing 2 is subjected to aluminum vapor deposition or silver coating, and is provided with a first reflecting surface 7 and a second reflecting surface 8, respectively. The first reflecting surface 7 and the second reflecting surface 8 reflect light L1 from the bulb 5 (broken arrow in FIG. 2). In this example, the first reflecting surface 7 forms a paraboloid of revolution. On the other hand, the second reflecting surface 8 forms a reflecting surface of a Fresnel type paraboloid having the same focal point and different focal lengths. An attachment hole 9 for attaching the bulb 5 is provided at substantially the center of the boundary between the first reflection surface 7 and the second reflection surface 8.

  The bulb 5 is a bulb type power source such as a halogen bulb or an incandescent bulb, and generates heat when it is lit. The bulb 5 is detachably attached to the attachment hole 9 of the lamp housing 2 by a socket 10. In addition to the bulb 5, the light source may be, for example, a high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, or a discharge lamp such as a high intensity discharge lamp (HID).

  In this example, the lamp lens 3 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin. The lamp lens 3 has a shape that wraps around from the front to the side. The peripheral edge of the lamp lens 3 is fixed to the peripheral edge of the opening of the lamp housing 2. As a result, a lamp chamber 11 is formed by the lamp housing 2 and the lamp lens 3.

  The bulb 5, the inner lens 4, and the inner housing 6 are disposed in the lamp chamber 11. The inner lens 4 is positioned on the valve 5 side with respect to the inner housing 6.

  In this example, the inner lens 4 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin. The inner lens 4 is red. The inner lens 4 has a shape that wraps around from the front surface to the side surface in substantially the same manner as the lamp lens 3. A concave portion 12 that is recessed toward the bulb 5 is formed at a substantially central portion of the inner lens 4 and substantially corresponding to the bulb 5 in a front view.

  In this example, the inner housing 6 is made of a light-impermeable synthetic resin. Further, at least the surface of the inner housing 6 visible from the lamp lens 3 is subjected to aluminum vapor deposition or silver coating. The inner housing 6 has a shape that extends from the front surface to the side surface in substantially the same manner as the shape of the inner lens 4 and the shape of the lamp lens 3. A concave portion 13 that is recessed toward the bulb 5 is formed in a substantially central portion of the inner housing 6 and substantially corresponding to the bulb 5 in a front view.

  The recess 13 of the inner housing 6 is fitted in the recess 12 of the inner lens 4. The inner housing 6 is divided into a plurality of, in this example, two areas 14 and 15. That is, it is partitioned into a first area 14 in one area of the peripheral portion excluding the recess 13 and a second area 15 in the other area of the recess 13.

  In the first area 14 of the inner housing 6, the light L1 reflected from the bulb 5 by the first reflecting surface 7 and the second reflecting surface 8 and transmitted through the inner lens 4 is transmitted to the first area 14. An opening 16 is provided through the lamp lens 3 side. The opening 16 forms a mesh eye pattern. The opening 16 may be a front opening having no stripe pattern or pattern other than the mesh pattern.

  In the second area 15 of the inner housing 6, a plurality, in this example, eight small reflective surfaces 17 and eight small through holes 18 are provided in pairs. The small reflective surface 17 is provided on the side of the concave portion 13 of the inner housing 6 facing the lamp lens 3. The small reflecting surface 17 is, for example, a rotating paraboloid and, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of small convex spherical surfaces for diffusing the light L2 (solid arrow in FIGS. 2 and 4). Make. The small reflection surface 17 has a rotating paraboloid and a plurality of small convex spherical surfaces. When viewed through the lamp lens 3, the small reflection surface 17 looks like a small reflection surface for a semiconductor light source such as an LED. The small through hole 18 has a small circular shape and is positioned on the optical axis at the center of the small reflective surface 17.

  Small convex portions 19 to be inserted into the eight small through holes 18 are provided on the side of the inner lens 4 facing the lamp lens 3 of the concave portion 12. The small convex portion 19 has a substantially small cylindrical shape, and when viewed through the lamp lens 3, it looks like a semiconductor light source such as an LED.

  The concave portion 12 of the inner lens 4 is provided with a light control section that reliably guides the direct light L2 from the bulb 5 to the small reflection surface 17. The light control unit includes a light refraction unit 20 and a light reflection unit 21. The light refracting portion 20 is a Fresnel prism provided on the surface of the concave portion 12 of the inner lens 4 facing the bulb 5, and direct light L2 from the bulb 5 is directed to the small convex portion 19 side. Refracted. On the other hand, the light reflecting portion 21 is provided on the end surface of the small convex portion 19 and has a concave spherical shape, and the light from the light refracting portion 20 is transferred to the small reflecting surface 17. Is reflected over almost the entire surface.

  A convex spherical surface 22 is formed on the surface of the inner lens 4 other than the concave portion 12, that is, on the surface of the inner housing 6 corresponding to the second area 15 on the side facing the lamp lens 3. It is provided corresponding to the opening 16 of the housing 6. The convex spherical surface 22 diffuses the reflected light L1 reflected from the bulb 5 by the first reflecting surface 7 and the second reflecting surface 8. The convex spherical surface 22 is inserted into the opening 16.

  The vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  First, when the bulb 5 is not lit, the silver (metal gloss) mesh pattern of the inner housing 6 and the red mesh pattern of the inner lens 4 pass through the lamp lens 3 in the first area 14 as shown in FIG. appear. On the other hand, in the second area 15, the eight red small convex portions 19 of the inner lens 4 and the eight silver small reflective surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6 can be seen. As a result, when the bulb 5 is not lit, the first area 14 that looks like a mesh pattern and the second area 12 that looks like a semiconductor-type light source such as an LED and its small reflecting surface are independent of each other. looks like. In FIG. 3, the hatched portion indicates the red color of the inner lens 4, and the white portion indicates the silver color of the inner housing 6.

  Next, when the bulb 5 is turned on, a part of the light L1 from the bulb 5 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 7 and the second reflecting surface 8 and passes through the inner lens 4 to become red light. Since the red light passes through the opening 16 of the first area 14 of the inner housing 6 and passes through the lamp lens 3 and is irradiated to the outside, the first area 14 looks red. The red light transmitted through the convex spherical surface 22 of the inner lens 4 is diffused, passes through the opening 16 of the first area 14 of the inner housing 6 and passes through the lamp lens 3 and is irradiated to the outside.

  On the other hand, the direct light L2 from the bulb 5 enters from the light refracting portion 20 of the inner lens 4 and is refracted to the eight small convex portions 19 side. The refracted light is reflected by the light reflecting portions 21 of the eight small convex portions 19 toward the eight small reflective surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6 over almost the entire surface of the small reflective surfaces 17 and the small convex portions 19. Is emitted as red light. The red emitted light is reflected to the lamp lens 3 side by the eight small reflecting surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6, is transmitted through the lamp lens 3, and is irradiated to the outside, so that the second area 15 shines red. Looks. As a result, it looks like a lamp having a function in which the red first area 14 and the red second area 15 are integrated.

  The vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment is configured and operated as described above, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  In the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment, when the bulb 5 is turned on, a part L1 of the light from the bulb 5 is transmitted through the inner lens 4 and the convex spherical surface 22 of the inner lens 4 and the first area of the inner housing 6 is reached. The first area 14 appears to shine because it passes through the lamp lens 3 through the opening 16 of the lens 14 and is irradiated to the outside. On the other hand, the direct light L2 which is another part of the light from the bulb 5 is transmitted through the small convex portion 19 via the light refracting portion 20 and the light reflecting portion 21 of the inner lens 4 and the second area of the inner housing 6. The eight small reflective surfaces 17 of 15 are reflected to the lamp lens 3 side and transmitted through the lamp lens 3 so that the eight small reflective surfaces 17 in the second area 15 appear to shine. . As a result, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment looks as if a single bulb 5 is using a large number (9) of light sources. As a result, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment can be seen with a plurality of light sources turned on, so that a novel design and appearance can be obtained. The number of points can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment is provided with eight small reflecting surfaces 17 and eight small through holes 18 in pairs in the second area 15 of the inner housing 6, and eight small small holes. A small convex portion 19 to be inserted into the through hole 18 is provided on the inner lens 4. Thereby, in the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment, the small convex portion 19 of the inner lens 4 in the second area 15 looks like a semiconductor light source such as an LED, and the inner housing 6 in the second area 15. These eight small reflective surfaces 17 appear to be small reflective surfaces for semiconductor light sources such as LEDs. In addition, when the bulb 5 is turned on, the other part of the light from the bulb 5, which is the direct light L <b> 2, passes through the small convex portion 19 of the inner lens 4, so Since the eight small reflective surfaces 17 in the second area 15 are respectively reflected by the small reflective surfaces 17 and reflected on the lamp lens 3 side, the eight small reflective surfaces 17 in the second area 15 have a semiconductor such as an LED. It seems that the mold light sources are arranged respectively. As a result, in the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment, the eight small reflective surfaces 17 in the second area 15 look like small reflective surfaces on which semiconductor light sources such as LEDs are arranged, and are novel. The design and appearance can be obtained, and the design and appearance can be improved.

  In addition, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment uses a colored lens for the inner lens 4 so that the first area 14 and the second area 15 are seen when not lit and when they are lit. . That is, when not lit, in the first area 14, the inner housing 6 having the opening 16 and the inner lens 4 can be seen through the opening 16 of the inner housing 6. In the second area 15, the small convex portion 19 of the inner lens 4 looks like a semiconductor light source such as an LED, and the eight small reflecting surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6 are also semiconductor light sources such as an LED. It looks like a small reflective surface. Thereby, the first area 14 and the second area 15 look like lamps having independent functions. On the other hand, at the time of lighting, a part L1 of the light from the bulb 5 is transmitted through the inner lens 4 and irradiated to the outside through the opening 16 of the inner housing 6 in the first area 14, and the red color of the inner lens 4 is seen. . Further, in the second area 15, the direct light L 2, which is another part of the light from the bulb 5, passes through the small convex portions 19 of the inner lens 4 and is externally reflected by the eight small reflecting surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6. Since the red color of the inner lens 4 is seen, the first area 14 and the second area 15 look like a functioning integrated lamp. As described above, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment provides the user and other people with a space between the first area 14 and the second area 15 that are visible when not lit and when they are lit. It is possible to produce an appearance that does not have a gap until now, and to further improve the appearance.

  Furthermore, since the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment is provided with the light refracting unit 20 and the light reflecting unit 21 of the light control unit on the inner lens 4, the direct light L2 from the bulb 5 is refracted by the light control unit. The eight small reflecting surfaces 17 can be reliably guided to the eight small reflecting surfaces 17 of the inner housing 6 through the portion 20 and the light reflecting portion 21, and the eight small reflecting surfaces 17 can surely shine in the second area 15. As a result, the vehicular lamp 1 according to this embodiment can surely provide a visual effect as if a semiconductor-type light source such as an LED is shining in the second area 15, and the eight small reflections. The light distribution as the vehicular lamp can be satisfied by the reflected light from the surface 17 and the irradiation light from the opening 16 of the inner housing 6.

  Hereinafter, examples other than the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the tail stop lamp will be described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other vehicle lamps such as a turn signal lamp and a backup lamp. In the case of a turn signal lamp, the inner lens has an amber color, and when it is not lit, the first area of the amber and silver mesh pattern, the semiconductor light source such as an amber LED, and the small silver reflective surface Two areas can be seen, and the first and second areas of amber color can be seen when lit. In the case of a backup lamp, the inner lens is blue (or pink) and the lamp lens is pink (or blue). When not lit, white and pink (or blue) The first area of the mesh pattern, the semiconductor light source such as a white LED, and the second area of the pink (or blue) small reflective surface can be seen, and when lit, the white first area and the second area are visible. appear.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the example which partitioned off the inner housing 6 into the two areas 11 and 12 is demonstrated. However, in the present invention, the inner housing 6 may be partitioned by three or more areas. For example, the second area with respect to the first area may be arranged on the left, right, left, right, up, down, arc, or fan shape. Conversely, the first area may be arranged on the left, right, left, right, up, down, arc shape, or fan shape with respect to the second area.

  Furthermore, in the said Example, the one bulb | ball 5 is used as a light source. However, in the present invention, a plurality of light sources may be used. However, it is necessary to determine the number of light sources used in consideration of the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the component which shows the Example of the vehicle lamp concerning this invention. Similarly, it is a horizontal sectional view (transverse sectional view) showing the internal structure. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the appearance of a 1st area and a 2nd area. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the light control effect | action of the light control part of an inner lens, and the reflective effect | action of the small reflective surface of an inner housing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle lamp 2 Lamp housing 3 Lamp lens 4 Inner lens (partition member)
5 Bulb (light source)
6 Inner housing 7 First reflecting surface 8 Second reflecting surface 9 Mounting hole 10 Socket 11 Lamp chamber 12 Inner lens recess 13 Inner housing recess 14 First area 15 Second area 16 Opening 17 Small reflecting surface 18 Small through hole 19 Small convex portion 20 Light refracting portion 21 Light reflecting portion 22 Convex spherical surface

Claims (3)

A lamp housing and a lamp lens forming a lamp chamber;
A light source, an inner lens and an inner housing arranged in the lamp chamber;
With
The inner lens is located on the light source side with respect to the inner housing;
The inner housing is partitioned into a plurality of areas,
One area of the plurality of areas is provided with an opening through which light from the light source and transmitted through the inner lens passes to the lamp lens side.
In other areas of the plurality of areas, a plurality of small reflective surfaces and a plurality of small through holes are provided in pairs, respectively.
The inner lens is provided with small convex portions to be inserted into the plurality of small through holes,
A vehicular lamp characterized by the above.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the inner lens is a colored lens.   Of the surface facing the light source of the inner lens, a surface corresponding to the other area is provided with a light refracting portion that refracts direct light from the light source into the small convex portion. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a light reflection part that reflects light from the light refraction part to the small reflection surface is provided in the part.

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