JP2008091349A - Light source unit and vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source unit capable of drastically reducing the size of a vehicular lighting fixture. <P>SOLUTION: An LED 12 is arranged, facing upward in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis Ax that extends to the vehicle back-and-forth direction, and a reflector 14 including a first reflecting face 14a for condensing and reflecting light from the LED 12 forward approaching the optical axis is provided on the upper side. The first reflecting face 14a is formed so that the distance L in a direction perpendicular from the LED 12 up to the first reflecting face 14a is set to be about 10 mm, with which the reflector 14 is significantly downsized than before. At this time, since the LED 12 is used as a light source, influence due to heat generation is restrained, and it can also be used substantially as a point light source, and an appropriate reflecting control can be carried out, even when the reflector 14 is downsized. Furthermore, since the LED 12 is arranged to be substantially orthogonalized to the optical axis Ax, most of the light emitted from the LED 12 can be used as a reflected light from the first reflecting face 14a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light source unit used for a vehicular lamp and a vehicular lamp.

  Conventionally, as a vehicle lamp such as a headlamp, a so-called projector type is known as one of the lamp types.

  This projector-type vehicular lamp is configured to project and reflect light from a light source arranged on an optical axis toward the front by a reflector toward the optical axis, and this reflected light is provided in front of the reflector. It is comprised so that it may irradiate to a lamp front via.

  By adopting such a projector-type vehicular lamp, it is possible to reduce the size of the lamp as compared with a so-called parabolic vehicular lamp.

  In addition, in “Patent Document 1”, “Patent Document 2”, and “Patent Document 3”, a vehicle lamp using an LED that is a small light source is described, and “Patent Document 4”, “ Patent Document 5 ”describes a light emitting device in which a reflecting surface is disposed near an LED.

JP 2002-50214 A JP 2001-332104 A JP-A-9-330604 JP 2002-42520 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-76889

  However, the conventional projector-type vehicular lamp has the following problems because the discharge light emitting part of the discharge bulb, the filament of the halogen bulb, and the like are used as the light source.

  That is, since the light source has a certain size as a line light source, it is necessary to secure a certain size for the reflector in order to appropriately reflect and control the light from the light source. In addition, since it is necessary to secure a space for mounting a discharge bulb, a halogen bulb, etc., it is necessary to set the reflector size to a certain extent also in this respect. Furthermore, since the light source generates heat, it is necessary to secure a reflector size that takes into account the influence of the heat.

  For this reason, the conventional projector-type vehicle lamp has a problem that the lamp cannot be significantly reduced in size.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, Comprising: It aims at providing the light source unit and vehicle lamp which can achieve size reduction of a vehicle lamp significantly.

  The present invention employs a semiconductor light emitting element as a light source, and devise the arrangement and the configuration of the reflector to achieve the above object.

That is, the light source unit according to the present invention is
A light source unit used in a vehicle lamp,
A semiconductor light emitting element disposed on a light axis of the light source unit in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and provided in front of the semiconductor light emitting element in the predetermined direction, A reflector having a first reflecting surface that condenses and reflects light toward the front of the optical axis toward the front in the optical axis direction;
The first reflective surface is formed such that the distance in the predetermined direction from the semiconductor light emitting element to the first reflective surface is a value of 20 mm or less,
A shade for shielding a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface is provided at a predetermined position on the front side in the optical axis direction with respect to the semiconductor light emitting element,
A light-shielding end surface of the shade is formed to extend rearward in the optical axis direction, and the third light-reflecting surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface to the predetermined direction side by the extended light-shielding end surface. Is formed,
A projection lens is provided at a predetermined position on the front side in the optical axis direction with respect to the reflector.

  The “vehicle lamp” is not limited to a specific type of vehicle lamp, and for example, a headlamp, a fog lamp, a bending lamp, or the like can be employed.

  The “optical axis of the light source unit” may be set to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, or may be set to extend in other directions.

  The “predetermined direction” is not limited to a specific direction as long as it is a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light source unit. For example, it can be set upward, laterally, downward, or the like.

  The type of the “semiconductor light emitting element” is not particularly limited, and for example, an LED (light emitting diode) or an LD (semiconductor laser) can be employed.

The vehicular lamp according to the present invention is
A vehicle lamp configured as a headlamp for low beam irradiation,
A plurality of light source units according to claim 1 are provided,
A low-beam light distribution pattern as the headlamp is formed as a combined light distribution pattern in which light distribution patterns formed by irradiation beams from the light source units are superimposed. is there.

  As shown in the above configuration, in the light source unit according to the present invention, the semiconductor light emitting element is arranged on the optical axis in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and the predetermined direction with respect to the semiconductor light emitting element. A reflector having a first reflecting surface that condenses and reflects light from the semiconductor light emitting element toward the front in the optical axis direction and near the optical axis is provided on the front side. The first reflecting surface of the reflector is a semiconductor. Since the distance in the predetermined direction from the light emitting element to the first reflecting surface is set to a value of 20 mm or less, the reflector is compared with the reflector used in a conventional projector-type vehicle lamp. The size can be greatly reduced.

  At this time, since the semiconductor light emitting element is used as the light source, it becomes possible to handle the light source as a substantially point light source. Therefore, even when the reflector is miniaturized, the light from the semiconductor light emitting element is appropriately transmitted by the reflector. It is possible to control reflection. In addition, since the semiconductor light emitting element is arranged in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light source unit, most of the light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element is used as reflected light from the first reflecting surface. be able to.

  In addition, since a semiconductor light emitting element is used as a light source, it is not necessary to secure a large space for mounting a discharge bulb, a halogen bulb or the like as in the prior art, and the reflector can be downsized in this respect as well. In addition, the adoption of the semiconductor light-emitting element eliminates the need to consider the effect of heat generation, so that the reflector can be downsized in this respect as well.

  Therefore, by using the light source unit according to the present invention for a vehicular lamp, the vehicular lamp can be significantly reduced in size.

  When the light source unit according to the present invention is used for a vehicle lamp, only one light source unit or a plurality of light source units may be used. In the latter case, the brightness of the vehicular lamp can be increased by the number of light source units. At that time, it is possible to easily set the arrangement of the respective light source units, so that the degree of freedom of shape as a vehicular lamp can be increased.

  In the above configuration, if the second reflection surface extending so as to be inclined toward the optical axis toward the front in the optical axis direction is formed at the front end portion in the optical axis direction of the first reflection surface in the reflector, only that much. Furthermore, the solid angle of use of the reflector can be increased, whereby the light flux used as the light source unit can be further increased.

  Further, in the above configuration, if a shade for shielding a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface is provided at a predetermined position on the front side in the optical axis direction with respect to the semiconductor light emitting element, the beam irradiation from the light source unit can be performed. For example, it is possible to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line such as a low beam light distribution pattern of a headlamp.

  At this time, the light shielding end surface of the shade is formed to extend rearward in the optical axis direction, and the third light reflecting surface that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface to the predetermined direction side is formed by the extended light shielding end surface. By doing so, it is possible to effectively use the light that should be shielded by the shade for beam irradiation, and to further increase the luminous flux used as the light source unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicular lamp 100 including a light source unit 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The vehicular lamp 100 is a headlamp for low beam irradiation, and ten light source units 10 are accommodated in a substantially horizontal row in a lamp chamber formed by a transparent transparent cover 102 and a lamp body 104. It has become.

  Each of these light source units 10 has the same configuration, and its optical axis Ax is in the vehicle front-rear direction (more accurately, the downward direction is about 0.5 to 0.6 ° with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction)) It is accommodated in the lamp chamber in a state of extending in the direction of.

  2 is a front view showing one light source unit 10, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side sectional view and a plan sectional view thereof.

  As shown in these drawings, the light source unit 10 includes an LED 12 (semiconductor light emitting element) as a light source, a reflector 14, a light control member 16, and a projection lens 18.

  The LED 12 is a white LED having a light-emitting portion with a size of about 1 mm square, and is arranged upward in the vertical direction on the optical axis Ax while being supported by the substrate 20.

  The reflector 14 is a substantially dome-shaped member provided on the upper side with respect to the LED 12, and has a first reflecting surface 14a that condenses and reflects light from the LED 12 toward the optical axis Ax toward the front. ing. The first reflective surface 14a is formed such that the vertical distance L from the LED 12 to the first reflective surface 14a is a value of 20 mm or less (specifically, about 10 mm).

  The first reflecting surface 14a is formed in a substantially elliptical spherical shape having the optical axis Ax as a central axis. Specifically, the first reflecting surface 14a is set so that the cross-sectional shape including the optical axis Ax is substantially elliptical, and the eccentricity gradually increases from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section. ing. However, the rear apex of the ellipse forming each of these cross sections is set at the same position. The LED 12 is disposed at an elliptical first focal point F1 that forms a vertical section of the first reflecting surface 14a. Thereby, the first reflecting surface 14a condenses and reflects the light from the LED 12 toward the optical axis Ax toward the front, and in this case, the second focal point F2 of the ellipse is included in the vertical section including the optical axis Ax. It is designed to be converged to.

  At the front end portion of the first reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14, a second reflecting surface 14b extending from the first reflecting surface 14a so as to incline downward (close to the optical axis Ax) is formed at the upper portion thereof. ing.

  The projection lens 18 is disposed on the optical axis Ax in front of the reflector 14 so that its rear focal position coincides with the second focal point F2 of the first reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14. An image on the focal plane including the focal point F2 is projected forward as an inverted image. This projection lens 18 is a plano-convex lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface, and is chamfered at four locations on the top, bottom, left and right.

  The light control member 16 is provided between the LED 12 and the projection lens 18. The light control member 16 has a light shielding end face 16a formed in a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and the light shielding end face 16a shields a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a and projects the light. Control is performed to convert most of the light that should be emitted upward from the lens 18 into light that is emitted downward from the projection lens 18.

  Specifically, the light-shielding end surface 16a includes a horizontal cut-off forming surface 16a1 that extends horizontally from the optical axis Ax to the left and an oblique cut-off forming surface 16a2 that extends obliquely downward by 15 ° from the optical axis Ax to the right. The light shielding end surface 16a is formed, and the front end edge of the light shielding end surface 16a (the ridge line between the light shielding end surface 16a and the front end surface 16b of the light control member 16) is formed so as to pass through the second focal point F2. The light shielding end face 16a is formed to extend rearward, and the surface thereof is subjected to a reflection surface treatment. The extended light shielding end face 16a forms a third reflecting surface 16c that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a upward.

  The front end surface 16b of the light control member 16 is formed so that both the left and right sides are curved forward in plan view in order to correspond to the curvature of field of the projection lens 18.

  A substrate support portion 16 d is formed at the rear end portion of the light control member 16, and the substrate 20 is fixed to the light control member 16 in the substrate support portion 16 d.

  In addition, the reflector 14 is fixed to the light control member 16 at the lower peripheral edge portion thereof. Further, the projection lens 18 is also fixed to the light control member 16 via a bracket (not shown).

  FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing in detail the optical path of the beam emitted from the light source unit 10.

  As shown in the drawing, of the light emitted from the LED 12, a part of the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 14 a of the reflector 14 is shielded by the light control member 16, and the rest enters the projection lens 18 as it is. At this time, the light shielded by the light control member 16 is also reflected upward by the third reflecting surface 16 c formed on the light shielding end surface 16 a and enters the projection lens 18. The light incident on and transmitted through the projection lens 18 in this manner is emitted forward from the projection lens 18 as low beam irradiation light Bo.

  On the other hand, the light from the LED 12 reflected by the second reflecting surface 14b of the reflector 14 enters the projection lens 18 so as to pass above the second focal point F2, and exits forward as the additional irradiation light Ba from the projection lens 18. To do. The additional irradiation light Ba is irradiated as light downward than the low beam irradiation light Bo.

  FIG. 6 shows a low beam distribution pattern P (L) formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by a beam irradiated forward from the light source unit 10 together with the light source unit 10 from the back side. It is a figure shown transparently.

  As illustrated, the low beam light distribution pattern P (L) is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of the basic light distribution pattern Po and the additional light distribution pattern Pa.

  The basic light distribution pattern Po is a left light distribution pattern formed by reflected light (low beam irradiation light Bo) from the first reflecting surface 14a, and has horizontal and oblique cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge. Yes. The horizontal cut-off line CL1 is formed on the right side (opposite lane side) of HV (directly in front of the lamp) as an inverted image of the horizontal cut-off forming surface 16a1 of the light control member 16, and the oblique cut-off line CL2 is formed on the light control member 16. Is formed on the left side (own lane side) of HV as a reverse image of the oblique cut-off forming surface 16a2. The position of the intersection (elbow point) E between the horizontal cut-off line CL1 and the oblique cut-off line CL2 is set at a position slightly below HV (downward position of about 0.5 to 0.6 °). And this basic light distribution pattern Po ensures the visibility of the distant area | region in the vehicle front road surface.

  On the other hand, the additional light distribution pattern Pa is a light distribution pattern formed by the reflected light (additional irradiation light Ba) from the second reflecting surface 14b, and overlaps with the lower half of the basic light distribution pattern Po in the left-right direction. It is formed to diffuse widely. And this additional light distribution pattern Pa ensures the visibility of the short distance area | region in the vehicle front road surface.

  Since the vehicular lamp 100 according to the present embodiment includes ten light source units 10, the entire vehicular lamp 100 has a low beam light distribution pattern P (L formed by the irradiation beam from each light source unit 10. ) Is irradiated with a combined light distribution pattern in which ten times are superimposed. As a result, the brightness necessary for low beam irradiation of the headlamp is sufficiently ensured.

  As described above in detail, in the light source unit 10 according to the present embodiment, the LED 12 is arranged on the optical axis Ax extending in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to be directed upward in the vertical direction, and the LED 12 is disposed above the LED 12. A reflector 14 having a first reflecting surface 14a that condenses and reflects light from the front toward the optical axis Ax is provided, and the first reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 extends from the LED 12 to the first reflecting surface 14a. Since the distance in the vertical direction is about 10 mm, it is possible to significantly reduce the size of the reflector 14 as compared with the reflector used in a conventional projector-type vehicle lamp. it can.

  At this time, since the LED 12 is used as the light source, it is possible to handle the light source as a substantially point light source. For this reason, even when the reflector 14 is downsized, the reflector 14 appropriately reflects and controls the light from the LED 12. It becomes possible. In addition, since the LED 12 is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Ax of the light source unit 10, most of the light emitted from the LED 12 can be used as reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a. it can.

  Further, since the LED 12 is used as a light source, it is not necessary to secure a large space for mounting a discharge bulb, a halogen bulb or the like as in the prior art, and the reflector 14 can be downsized in this respect as well. In addition, since the use of the LED 12 eliminates the need to consider the influence of heat generation, the reflector 14 can be downsized in this respect as well.

  Therefore, by using the light source unit 10 according to the present embodiment for a vehicle lamp, the vehicle lamp can be significantly reduced in size.

  The vehicular lamp 100 according to the present embodiment is a headlamp for low beam irradiation, and is configured to include ten light source units 10 so as to ensure sufficient brightness necessary for the low beam irradiation. In this case, since the arrangement of the light source units 10 can be easily set arbitrarily, the degree of freedom in shape as a vehicular lamp can be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the first reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 has been described as being formed such that the vertical distance L from the LED 12 to the first reflecting surface 14a is about 10 mm. Even when the distance L is set to a value slightly larger than 10 mm (that is, 20 mm or less, preferably 16 mm or less, more preferably 12 mm or less), the reflector used in the projector-type vehicle lamp in the past is used. In contrast, the reflector 14 can be significantly reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, since the second reflecting surface 14b extending so as to incline toward the optical axis Ax toward the front is formed at the front end portion of the first reflecting surface 14a in the reflector 14, further by that amount. The use solid angle of the reflector 14 can be increased, and thus the use light flux as the light source unit 10 can be further increased.

  In the present embodiment, since the light control member 16 that shields a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a is provided at a predetermined position on the front side of the LED 12, the beam from the light source unit 10 is provided. By irradiation, a low beam light distribution pattern P (L) having horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 can be formed.

  At this time, the light control member 16 has a light shielding end face 16a extending rearward, and the extended light shielding end face 16a reflects light reflected from the first reflecting surface 14a upward. Since the third reflecting surface 16c is formed, the light that is originally shielded by the light control member 16 and should be wasted can be effectively used for beam irradiation, and thus the light flux used as the light source unit 10 can be reduced. It can be further increased. Instead of providing the light control member 16 as in the present embodiment, a shade having only a function of shielding part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a may be provided.

  Furthermore, since the light source unit 10 according to the present embodiment includes the projection lens 18, the projection lens 18, the reflector 14, and the light control member 16 are in a stage before the vehicle lamp 100 is assembled. The positional relationship can be set with high accuracy, whereby the vehicle lamp 100 can be easily assembled.

  The light source unit 10 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the LEDs 12 are arranged upward in the vertical direction. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to arrange it in a direction rotated by 15 ° in the direction. In such a case, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, in general, the light distribution curve of light emitted from an LED has a luminous intensity distribution in which the luminous intensity decreases as the front direction of the LED is maximum luminous intensity and the angle from the front direction increases. Therefore, by arranging the LED 12 to be rotated by 15 ° as described above, it is possible to brightly illuminate the area A (area indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7) A of the oblique cut-off line CL2 in the basic light distribution pattern Po. . As a result, the low-beam light distribution pattern P (L) can be further improved in far-field visibility.

  In this embodiment, in order to form the low beam light distribution pattern P (L) having the horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1 and CL2, the light shielding end face 16a of the light control member 16 has the horizontal cutoff formation surface 16a1 and the oblique cutoff. Although described as comprising the formation surface 16a2, in order to form a low beam light distribution pattern having other cut-off lines (for example, comprising a horizontal cut-off line with different steps on the left and right sides), the light shielding end surface 16a of the light control member 16 is formed. Even when the shape is set differently from that of the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained by adopting the same configuration as that of the present embodiment.

  Next, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a light source unit 10A according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the light source unit 10A according to the present modification is different from the light control member 16 and the projection lens 18 of the above-described embodiment in the configuration of the light control member 16A and the projection lens 18A. Is the same as in the above embodiment.

  The shape of the front end surface 16b of the light control member 16A is the same as that of the light control member 16 (shown by a two-dot chain line in the drawing) of the above embodiment, but the light shielding end surface 16Aa faces rearward from the front end surface 16b. It extends so as to be inclined slightly upward. This upward inclination angle α is set to an appropriate value within a range of about 1 to 10 °, for example.

  Since the light shielding end surface 16Aa is formed in this way, the third reflecting surface 16Ac that reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 14a upward is also formed at the upward inclination angle α. The upward angle of the reflected light from the reflecting surface 16Ac is smaller by the angle 2α than in the case of the above embodiment (the optical path of the reflected light is indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure). Therefore, the position where the reflected light from the third reflecting surface 16Ac enters the projection lens 18A is lower than that in the above embodiment.

  For this reason, the projection lens 18A in the present modification has an upper end portion that is a portion where the reflected light from the third reflecting surface 16Ac does not enter in the projection lens 18 of the above embodiment (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure). It has a shape.

  By adopting the configuration of this modification, the vertical width of the projection lens 18A can be reduced, and the light source unit 10A can be further reduced in size.

  Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a front view showing a vehicular lamp 100A according to this modification.

  The vehicle lamp 100A is also a low-beam irradiation headlamp, similar to the vehicle lamp 100 of the above-described embodiment, and has a configuration in which ten light source units are provided in substantially horizontal rows. The unit is different from the above embodiment in that the unit is composed of a combination of a plurality of types of light source units.

  That is, four of the ten light source units are the same light source units 10 as in the above embodiment, but the remaining six are light source units for forming a hot zone (high luminous intensity region), of which three are light source units. A light source unit 10B for forming a horizontal cutoff, and the remaining three light source units 10C for forming an oblique cutoff.

  The light source unit 10B for forming the horizontal cut-off has the same basic configuration as the light source unit 10, but differs in the following points. That is, in the light source unit 10B, the entire light shielding end surface 16Ba of the light control member 16B is formed as a horizontal cut-off forming surface extending horizontally from the optical axis Ax in both the left and right directions. In the light source unit 10B, a lens having a longer back focal length than the projection lens 18 of the light source unit 10 is used as the projection lens 18B.

  On the other hand, the light source unit 10C for forming an oblique cut-off has the same basic configuration as the light source unit 10, but differs in the following points. That is, in this light source unit 10C, the entire light shielding end face 16Ca of the light control member 16C is formed as an oblique cut-off forming surface that extends obliquely upward 15 ° to the left from the optical axis Ax and obliquely downward 15 ° to the right. In the light source unit 10C, a lens having a longer back focal length than the projection lens 18B of the light source unit 10B is used as the projection lens 18C. The LED 12 of the light source unit 10C is arranged in a direction rotated by 15 ° to the right around the optical axis Ax with respect to the upper side in the vertical direction (see FIG. 11).

  FIG. 10 shows a light distribution pattern P1 for forming a horizontal cut-off formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by a beam irradiated forward from the light source unit 10B, together with the light source unit 10B, on the back side thereof. FIG.

  As illustrated, the horizontal cut-off formation light distribution pattern P1 is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of the basic light distribution pattern P1o and the additional light distribution pattern P1a.

  The basic light distribution pattern P1o is a light distribution pattern formed by reflected light (hot zone forming irradiation light B1o) from the first reflecting surface 14a, and has a horizontal cutoff line CL1 at the upper edge. The horizontal cutoff line CL1 is formed at the same height as the horizontal cutoff line CL1 formed by the light source unit 10.

  Since the projection lens 18B of the light source unit 10B has a longer back focal length than the projection lens 18 of the light source unit 10, the basic light distribution pattern P1o is smaller than the basic light distribution pattern Po formed by the light source unit 10. And bright light distribution pattern. As a result, the basic light distribution pattern P1o forms a hot zone along the horizontal cut-off line CL1, and sufficiently improves the visibility of the distant area on the road surface in front of the vehicle.

  On the other hand, the additional light distribution pattern P1a is a light distribution pattern formed by the reflected light (additional irradiation light B1a) from the second reflecting surface 14b, and overlaps with the lower half of the basic light distribution pattern P1o in the left-right direction. It is formed to diffuse widely. The additional light distribution pattern P1a is also a light distribution pattern that is smaller than the additional light distribution pattern Pa formed by the light source unit 10 due to the longer back focal length of the projection lens 18B. And by this additional light distribution pattern P1a, the visibility of the near side area | region of the basic light distribution pattern P1o in a vehicle front road surface is ensured.

  FIG. 11 shows a light distribution pattern P2 for forming an oblique cut-off formed on a virtual vertical screen disposed at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by a beam irradiated forward from the light source unit 10C, together with the light source unit 10C, on the back side thereof. FIG.

  As illustrated, the oblique cut-off formation light distribution pattern P2 is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of the basic light distribution pattern P2o and the additional light distribution pattern P2a.

  The basic light distribution pattern P2o is a light distribution pattern formed by reflected light (hot zone forming irradiation light B2o) from the first reflecting surface 14a, and has an oblique cut-off line CL2 at the upper edge thereof. The oblique cutoff line CL2 is formed at the same height as the oblique cutoff line CL2 formed by the light source unit 10.

  Since the projection lens 18C of the light source unit 10C has a longer back focal length than the projection lens 18B of the light source unit 10B, the basic light distribution pattern P2o is compared with the basic light distribution pattern P1o formed by the light source unit 10B. The light distribution pattern is smaller and brighter. As a result, the basic light distribution pattern P2o forms a hot zone along the oblique cut-off line CL2, and sufficiently improves the visibility of the distant area on the road surface in front of the vehicle.

  On the other hand, the additional light distribution pattern P2a is a light distribution pattern formed by the reflected light (additional irradiation light B2a) from the second reflecting surface 14b, and overlaps with the lower half of the basic light distribution pattern P2o in the left-right direction. It is formed to diffuse widely. Note that this additional light distribution pattern P2a is also a light distribution pattern that is smaller than the additional light distribution pattern P1a formed by the light source unit 10B due to the longer back focal length of the projection lens 18C. And by this additional light distribution pattern P2a, the visibility of the near side area | region of the basic light distribution pattern P2o in a vehicle front road surface is ensured.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a synthetic low beam light distribution pattern PΣ (L) formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by a beam irradiated forward from the vehicle lamp 100A according to this modification. FIG.

  As shown in the figure, this combined low beam light distribution pattern PΣ (L) is formed by superposing four low beam light distribution patterns P (L) formed by irradiation beams from each of the four light source units 10 in a three-layer manner. The horizontal cut-off forming light distribution pattern P1 formed by the irradiation beam from the light source unit 10B is superposed in three layers, and the oblique cut-off forming light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation beams from the three light source units 10C. It is a light distribution pattern in which P2 is superimposed on three.

  By adopting the vehicular lamp 100A according to this modification, it is possible to obtain a synthetic low beam light distribution pattern PΣ (L) in which a hot zone is formed in the vicinity of the elbow point E, thereby comparing with the above embodiment. In addition, low beam irradiation can be performed with a light distribution pattern that is more excellent in far-field visibility.

  In addition, in this modification, although the vehicle lamp 100A comprised by the combination of three types of light source units 10, 10B, and 10C was demonstrated, a vehicle lamp may be comprised by the combination of still more types of light source units. In this way, the light distribution control can be performed more finely.

  Next, a third modification of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing the light source unit 30 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the light source unit 30 according to this modification is configured as a light source unit for performing beam irradiation with a high beam light distribution pattern.

  That is, in the light source unit 30 according to this modification, the light control member 16 as in the above embodiment is not provided, and instead, the fourth reflection surface 36a extending so as to incline downward toward the front is provided. The 2nd reflector 36 which has is provided.

  In addition, the reflector 34 of the present modification has the same configuration as the first reflecting surface 14a of the above embodiment with respect to the configuration of the first reflecting surface 34a, but the first reflecting surface 34a is formed on the upper portion of the front end portion of the first reflecting surface 34a. About 2 reflective surface 34b, the downward inclination angle is set to the larger value compared with the 2nd reflective surface 14b of the said embodiment.

  In the present modification, since the light control member 16 is not provided, all of the light from the LED 12 reflected by the first reflecting surface 34a is incident on the projection lens 18 as it is, and the upward light and forward light from the projection lens 18 are reflected. The light is emitted as high beam irradiation light Bo ′ including downward light.

  In this modification, the light from the LED 12 reflected by the second reflecting surface 34 b is incident on the fourth reflecting surface 36 a of the second reflector 36. The light reflected by the fourth reflecting surface 36a is incident on the projection lens 18, and is emitted from the projection lens 18 forward as additional irradiation light Ba 'including upward light and downward light. The irradiation direction of the additional irradiation light Ba ′ differs depending on the reflection position on the fourth reflecting surface 36a, but as a whole, it is irradiated broadly in the left-right direction as upward light with respect to the high beam irradiation light Bo ′.

  FIG. 14 shows a high beam light distribution pattern P (H) formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by a beam irradiated forward from the light source unit 30 together with the light source unit 30 from the back side. It is a figure shown transparently.

  As illustrated, the high beam light distribution pattern P (H) is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of the basic light distribution pattern Po ′ and the additional light distribution pattern Pa ′.

  The basic light distribution pattern Po ′ is a light distribution pattern formed by reflected light (high beam irradiation light Bo ′) from the first reflecting surface 34a, and seems to be formed by extending the basic light distribution pattern Po of the above embodiment upward. It has a different shape. The basic light distribution pattern Po ′ irradiates the front of the vehicle widely with the HV approximately at the center.

  On the other hand, the additional light distribution pattern Pa ′ is a light distribution pattern formed by the reflected light (additional irradiation light Ba ′) from the fourth reflecting surface 36a, and overlaps with the upper half of the basic light distribution pattern Po ′. Thus, it is formed to diffuse widely in the left-right direction. Further, the additional light distribution pattern Pa ′ irradiates the front of the vehicle more widely.

  Ten light source units 30 according to this modification may be provided instead of the ten light source units 10 constituting the vehicle lamp 100 in the vehicle lamp 100 according to the above embodiment. The light source unit 30 according to the example and the light source unit 10 according to the above embodiment may be used in appropriate combination. When the former configuration is adopted, the headlamp for high beam irradiation can sufficiently secure the brightness required for the high beam irradiation, and when the latter configuration is adopted, the low beam irradiation function can be secured. And a high-beam irradiation function can be configured.

  In the above-described embodiment and each modified example, the case where the light source units 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 30 are used for a headlamp has been described. However, the light source units 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 30 It can also be used for a lamp or the like, and even in such a case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment and each modification can be obtained.

The front view which shows the vehicle lamp provided with the light source unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention Front view showing the light source unit Side sectional view showing the light source unit Plan sectional view showing the light source unit Side sectional view showing in detail the optical path of the beam emitted from the light source unit The figure which shows the light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen arrange | positioned in the position of the lamp front 25m with the beam irradiated from the said light source unit forward with a light source unit from the back side. The figure similar to FIG. 6 which shows the modification of LED arrangement | positioning in the said embodiment. The same figure as FIG. 5 which shows the 1st modification of the said embodiment. The same figure as FIG. 1 which shows the 2nd modification of the said embodiment. The light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen by the beam irradiated forward from the light source unit for forming the horizontal cut-off constituting the second modified example is shown transparently from the back side together with the light source unit. Figure The light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen by the beam irradiated forward from the light source unit for forming the oblique cut-off constituting the second modified example is shown transparently together with the light source unit from the back side. Figure The figure which shows perspectively the synthetic | combination low beam light distribution pattern formed on the said virtual vertical screen by the beam irradiated ahead from the vehicle lamp which concerns on the said 2nd modification. The same figure as FIG. 5 which shows the 3rd modification of the said embodiment. The same figure as FIG. 6 which shows the said 3rd modification.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30 Light source unit 12 LED (semiconductor light emitting element)
14, 34 Reflectors 14a, 34a First reflecting surface 14b, 34b Second reflecting surface 16, 16A, 16B, 16C Light control member (shade)
16a, 16Aa, 16Ba, 16Ca Light-shielding end face 16a1 Horizontal cut-off forming face 16a2 Oblique cut-off forming face 16b Front end face 16c, 16Ac Third reflecting face 16d Substrate support parts 18, 18A, 18B Projection lens 20 Substrate 36 Second reflector 36a First 4 Reflecting surface 100, 100A Vehicle lamp 102 Transparent cover 104 Lamp body Ax Optical axis Bo Low beam irradiation light Bo 'High beam irradiation light B1o, B2o Hot zone forming irradiation light Ba, Ba', B1a, B2a Additional irradiation light CL1 Horizontal cut Offline CL2 Oblique cut-off line E Elbow point F1 First focus F2 Second focus L Vertical distance from LED to first reflecting surface P (H) High beam light distribution pattern P (L) Low beam light distribution pattern Po, Po ′, P1o, P2o basic Light pattern Pa, Pa', P1a, P2a additional light distribution pattern P1 horizontal cutoff forming light distribution pattern P2 oblique cutoff forming light distribution pattern PΣ (L) Synthesis low-beam light distribution pattern

Claims (8)

A light source unit used in a vehicle lamp,
A semiconductor light emitting element disposed on a light axis of the light source unit in a predetermined direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis; and provided on the front side in the predetermined direction with respect to the semiconductor light emitting element; A reflector having a first reflecting surface that condenses and reflects light toward the front of the optical axis toward the front in the optical axis direction;
The first reflective surface is formed such that the distance in the predetermined direction from the semiconductor light emitting element to the first reflective surface is a value of 20 mm or less,
A shade for shielding a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface is provided at a predetermined position on the front side in the optical axis direction with respect to the semiconductor light emitting element,
A light-shielding end surface of the shade is formed to extend rearward in the optical axis direction, and the third light-reflecting surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface to the predetermined direction side by the extended light-shielding end surface. Is formed,
A light source unit, wherein a projection lens is provided at a predetermined position on the front side in the optical axis direction with respect to the reflector.   A second reflecting surface is formed at the front end portion of the first reflecting surface of the reflector in the optical axis direction so as to be inclined toward the optical axis toward the front in the optical axis direction. The light source unit according to claim 1.   The light source according to claim 1, wherein the front end surface of the light shielding end surface is formed so that the left and right sides are curved forward in a plan view corresponding to the curvature of field of the projection lens. unit.   The light source unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined direction is set in a direction inclined about the optical axis with respect to an upper vertical direction.   The said light-shielding end surface is extended so that it may incline at an angle in the range of 1-10 degrees upward toward the back from the front end surface of this light-shielding end surface. Light source unit. A vehicle lamp configured as a headlamp for low beam irradiation,
A plurality of light source units according to claim 1 are provided,
The vehicle is characterized in that a low beam light distribution pattern as the headlamp is formed as a combined light distribution pattern in which light distribution patterns formed by irradiation beams from the respective light source units are superimposed. Light fixture.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of light source units includes a plurality of types of light source units having different back focal lengths of the projection lens.   As the plurality of light source units, a light source unit for forming a horizontal cut-off configured to form a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cut-off line at the upper end edge and a light distribution pattern having an oblique cut-off line at the upper end edge are formed. The vehicular lamp according to claim 6, further comprising: a light source unit for forming an oblique cut-off configured as described above.

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