JP2010182539A - Headlight device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headlight device for a vehicle, serving for a plurality of use applications, while saving a space. <P>SOLUTION: This headlight device for the vehicle includes a dimmable light source 20, a reflector 22 for reflecting frontwards a light emitted from the light source 20, a shade 24 for shielding a part of a reflected light reflected by the reflector 22 in a shielding position in front of the reflector 22, a projection lens 26 for forming a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line in response to an edge shape of the shade by projecting the shade 24 with the reflected light, a driving part 14 for evacuating the shade 24 from the shielding position P1, a regulation circuit for regulating luminous energy of the light source 20, and a control part for controlling the driving part 14 and the regulation circuit in response to the selected light distribution pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp device used in an automobile or the like.

  In recent years, with the advancement of functions and electrical components of automobiles, the electric power consumed by automobiles tends to increase. Therefore, power saving and efficiency improvement are demanded in various functional units. Therefore, a vehicular lamp using a light emitting diode (LED) that consumes less power than a halogen lamp or a discharge lamp as a light source is known (Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, in a lamp room composed of a lamp body and a cover, a traveling beam lamp as a headlamp, a fog lamp as an auxiliary headlamp, a clearance lamp as a marker lamp, a turn signal lamp, etc. A combination headlamp with a built-in is known. Further, in recent years, daytime running lamps that are turned on in the daytime to inform pedestrians and oncoming vehicles of the presence of vehicles have been mounted on combination headlamps.

JP 2003-317515 A

  However, when a plurality of lamps that irradiate different light distribution patterns are provided in the lamp chamber, the combination headlamp is increased in size. In order to suppress an increase in the size of the combination headlamp, it is required to reduce the size of the vehicular lamp provided in the lamp chamber and to reduce the number of vehicular lamps.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp device that achieves a plurality of uses while realizing space saving.

  In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle headlamp device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a dimmable light source, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source toward the front, and a front shield of the reflector. A shade that blocks a portion of the reflected light reflected by the reflector at a position, and a projection lens that forms a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line according to the tip shape of the shade by projecting the shade with the reflected light; A drive unit that retracts the shade from the shielding position, an adjustment circuit that adjusts the light amount of the light source, and a control unit that controls the drive unit and the adjustment circuit in accordance with the selected light distribution pattern.

  According to this aspect, the first light distribution pattern having the cut-off line can be formed by holding the shade at the shielding position in accordance with the selected light distribution pattern, and the shade is retracted to change the brightness of the light source. Thus, a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern can be formed. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp device according to this aspect can be used for a plurality of purposes corresponding to each light distribution pattern.

  The shade may have a shielding surface that shields reflected light at the shielding position. The shielding surface may be mirror-finished and configured to further reflect reflected light and enter the projection lens. Thereby, since the reflected light shielded by the shade is also effectively used for forming the light distribution pattern, the irradiation area by the vehicle headlamp device becomes brighter. In other words, compared with the case where the reflected light is not reflected by the shielding surface, it is possible to illuminate the irradiation area sufficiently brightly even if the light amount of the light source is reduced.

  When the selected light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern without a cut-off line, the control unit controls the drive unit to retract the shade and controls the current amount of the adjustment circuit to change the light distribution pattern having the cut-off line. You may reduce the light quantity of a light source rather than the case where it forms. Thereby, for example, it is possible to use as a lamp for a use in which it is not necessary to have a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line such as a day running lamp, and the amount of light that can be visually recognized from a wide range is sufficient.

  The projection lens is a cylindrical lens whose longitudinal direction extends in the vehicle width direction, and includes a transmissive member that transmits reflected light from the reflector or direct light from the light source between the cylindrical lens and the lamp body. Good. As a result, the reflected light from the reflector or the direct light from the light source is transmitted to the outside during lighting, and not only the projection lens but also the surrounding transmissive members become brighter. Will improve.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the vehicle headlamp apparatus that has a plurality of uses while realizing space saving.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the vehicle headlamp apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the lamp unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the lamp unit vicinity containing AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which retracted the shade in the vehicle headlamp apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the lamp unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the lamp unit vicinity containing the BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which retracted the shade shown in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the lamp unit vicinity containing CC sectional drawing of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
The vehicular headlamp apparatus according to the present embodiment can realize a plurality of light distribution patterns having different shapes and brightness with a single lamp unit. In the following, a lamp unit that uses both a fog lamp and a daytime running lamp (hereinafter referred to as “DRL” as appropriate) will be described as a preferred example of such a lamp unit.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle headlamp device 10 includes a lamp unit 12 that also serves as a fog lamp and a DRL, a drive unit 14 that moves a shade provided in the lamp unit 12, and an adjustment circuit that adjusts the light amount of a light source provided in the lamp unit 12. 16, and a control unit 18 that controls the drive unit 14 and the adjustment circuit 16 in accordance with a light distribution pattern selected based on signals from switches of the vehicle body and various devices. For example, a solenoid can be used as the drive unit 14.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of the lamp unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lamp unit including the AA cross-sectional view of FIG.

  The lamp unit 12 shields light that is dimmable, a reflector 22 that reflects light emitted from the light source 20 forward, and reflected light reflected by the reflector 22 at a shielding position P1 in front of the reflector 22. A projection lens 26 that forms a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line according to the shape of the tip of the shade 24 by projecting the shade 24 with reflected light, a lamp body 28 that houses these components, a lamp The cover 30 is attached to the front opening of the body 28, and the extension 32 is sandwiched between the lamp body 28 and the cover 30 and provided around the projection lens 26.

  The light source 20 is preferably a module in which light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) are modularized, and light adjustment is possible by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the elements by the adjustment circuit 16. In addition, the light source 20 is fixed to the support member 34 with the upper side of the figure in front. The reflector 22 is provided so as to surround the light source 20 at the rear, side, and upper side. The reflector 22 reflects the light generated by the light source 20 forward so that the reflected light is incident on the projection lens 26 and is irradiated in a predetermined irradiation direction. The projection lens 26 according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical lens waiting for a cylindrical refractive surface.

  At least a part of the reflector 22 has an elliptical spherical shape formed by, for example, a composite elliptical surface. The elliptic spherical surface is set so that the cross-sectional shape including the optical axis of the lamp unit 12 is at least part of the elliptical shape. The elliptical spherical portion of the reflector 22 has a first focal point substantially at the center of the light source 20, and has a second focal point on the shielding surface when the shade 24 is at the shielding position P1. In this case, since the light reflected by the reflector 22 is shielded by the shade 24, the light does not go below the shade 24 shown in FIG. As a result, the lamp unit 12 in this state can form a light distribution pattern having a cut line near the horizontal line in front of the vehicle. Therefore, the lamp unit 12 can be used as a fog lamp. In the present embodiment, the solenoid in the drive unit 14 is turned on (energized) to hold the shade 24 at the shielding position P1 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shade 24 is retracted in the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  For example, the control unit 18 of the vehicle headlamp device 10 acquires a signal indicating a light distribution pattern selected according to a driver's switch operation and detection results of various detection devices mounted on the vehicle from the vehicle body. Then, the drive unit 14 and the adjustment circuit 16 are controlled according to the selected light distribution pattern. When the selected light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern without a cut-off line, the control unit 18 according to the present embodiment controls the drive unit 14 to retract the shade 24 to the retracted position P2, and the adjustment circuit 16 The amount of light of the light source 20 is reduced as compared with the light distribution pattern described above having a cutoff line by controlling the amount of current.

  The shade 24 is retracted by the drive unit 14 and an interlocking mechanism that moves the shade 24 in conjunction with the movement of the drive unit 14, so that the reflected light reflected by the reflector 22 also enters the lower half region of the projection lens shown in FIG. 4. Incident. In the present embodiment, the solenoid in the drive unit 14 is turned off (non-energized) in order to hold the shade 24 at the retracted position P2 shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the reflected light that has passed without being shielded by the shade 24 is refracted by the projection lens 26 and then irradiated upward from the optical axis. As a result, the lamp unit 12 can also be used as a lamp that does not require a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line, such as DRL. Moreover, since it is sufficient for the DRL to be lit, the amount of light that can be visually recognized from the surroundings is sufficient. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced by reducing the light amount of the light source 20.

  As described above, the vehicle headlamp device 10 according to the present embodiment holds the shade 24 at the shielding position P <b> 1 based on the light distribution pattern selected according to the application such as a fog lamp or DRL. A first light distribution pattern having a cut-off line can be formed, and a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern is formed by retracting the shade 24 at the retracted position P2 and changing the brightness of the light source 20. can do. That is, the vehicle headlamp device 10 can also be used for a plurality of uses according to each light distribution pattern. Therefore, compared with the case where the fog lamp and DRL are provided separately as in the conventional case, a space-saving vehicle headlamp device can be realized.

  In the vehicle headlamp device 10, as shown in FIG. 3, the shade 24 has a shielding surface 24a that shields reflected light at the shielding position P1. The shield surface 24a is mirror-finished and is configured to further reflect reflected light and enter the projection lens 26. Thereby, since the reflected light shielded by the shade 24 is also effectively used for forming the light distribution pattern, the irradiation area by the vehicle headlamp device 10 becomes brighter. In other words, compared to the case where the reflected light is not reflected by the shielding surface 24a, it is possible to illuminate the irradiation area sufficiently brightly even if the light amount of the light source 20 is reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
Similarly to the first embodiment, the vehicular headlamp apparatus according to the present embodiment can also form a plurality of light distribution patterns having different shapes and brightness with a single lamp unit. The main difference from the first embodiment is that in order to improve the visibility from the surroundings when the lamp unit is used as the DRL, parts other than the projection lens also include the projection lens by transmitting light from the light source. This is the point that the light emitting area is increased. Here, the light emitting region includes not only a self light emitting region but also a region that appears to emit light when light is transmitted.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the main part of the lamp unit according to the second embodiment. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lamp unit including the cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the shade 24 shown in FIG. 6 is retracted.

  The lamp unit 112 is the same as the lamp unit 12 according to the first embodiment, except that a part of the extension 32 around the projection lens 26 is configured by a transmission member 32a that transmits light emitted from the light source. It is the same.

  When a cylindrical lens is used as the projection lens 26, there are a longitudinal direction and a short direction in the shape, and the light emitting area in the vertical direction is less spread than the light emitting area in the horizontal direction (vehicle width direction). Therefore, when the lamp unit 12 is used as a DRL, there is a possibility that further improvement in the visibility from the vertical direction may be required even if the visibility from the left and right directions of the vehicle can be satisfied. Although it is possible to provide a separate lens or add a light source in order to improve the visibility, this also increases the cost.

  Therefore, a transmissive member 32 a that transmits reflected light from the reflector 22 or direct light from the light source 20 is provided between the projection lens 26 that is a cylindrical lens and the lamp body 28. Accordingly, during lighting, the reflected light from the reflector 22 or the direct light from the light source 20 is transmitted to the outside, and it appears that not only the projection lens 26 but also the surrounding transmitting member 32a emits light. Visibility from around is improved. The extension 32 according to the present embodiment can be easily formed into a transmissive member 32a by forming a whole with a transparent resin and then coating a part thereof by vapor deposition.

  Further, since the lamp unit 112 according to the present embodiment can irradiate the front of the vehicle by reflecting the light transmitted through the transmission member 32a by the housing inner surface 32b of the extension 32, the light emitted from the light source 20 is more effective. It can be used for.

(Third embodiment)
The lamp unit 212 according to the present embodiment is different from the lamp unit 12 according to the first embodiment in that the shape of the side portion in the vehicle width direction of the extension 32 is devised. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lamp unit including the CC cross-sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 8, the description of the lamp body 28, the cover 30 and the like which are not directly related to the invention is omitted as appropriate.

  In the lamp unit 212 shown in FIG. 8, the light that has passed through the vicinity of the left and right ends of the projection lens out of the reflected light that has been emitted from the light source 20 and reflected by the reflector 22 does not irradiate directly on the front side of the extension 32. It is configured to reflect at 32c. With this configuration, when the lamp unit 212 is used as a fog lamp, the irradiation area can be expanded to the side of the vehicle, and when used as a DRL, the visibility from the side of the vehicle is improved. Can do.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configurations of the embodiments are appropriately combined or replaced. Those are also included in the present invention. Further, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, it is possible to appropriately change the combination and processing order in each embodiment and to add various modifications such as various design changes to the embodiment. Added embodiments may be included in the scope of the present invention.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the solenoid of the drive unit 14 is turned on to hold the shade at the shielding position P1, and the solenoid of the drive unit 14 is turned off to hold the shade at the retracted position P2. ON / OFF may be reversed by optimizing the interlocking mechanism between the unit 14 and the shade 24. In addition, when the light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements, the light may be adjusted by controlling the number of lighting of the light emitting elements.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle headlamp device, 12 Lamp unit, 14 Drive part, 16 Adjustment circuit, 18 Control part, 20 Light source, 22 Reflector, 24 Shade, 24a Shielding surface, 26 Projection lens, 28 Lamp body, 30 Cover, 32 Extension 32a transmission member, 32b housing inner surface, 32c side portion, 34 support member.

Claims (4)

A dimmable light source,
A reflector that reflects light emitted from the light source forward;
A shade that shields a part of the reflected light reflected by the reflector at a shielding position in front of the reflector;
A projection lens for projecting the shade by reflected light to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line according to the shape of the tip of the shade;
A drive unit for retracting the shade from the shielding position;
An adjustment circuit for adjusting the light quantity of the light source;
A control unit for controlling the drive unit and the adjustment circuit according to the selected light distribution pattern;
A vehicle headlamp device comprising: The shade has a shielding surface that shields the reflected light at the shielding position;
The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding surface is mirror-finished and is configured to further reflect the reflected light and enter the projection lens.   When the selected light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern without a cut-off line, the control unit controls the drive unit to retract the shade and controls the current amount of the adjustment circuit to have a cut-off line. The vehicle headlamp device according to claim 1, wherein the light amount of the light source is reduced as compared with a case where a light distribution pattern is formed. The projection lens is a cylindrical lens whose longitudinal direction extends in the vehicle width direction,
4. The vehicular front according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission member that transmits reflected light from the reflector or direct light from the light source between the cylindrical lens and the lamp body. 5. Lighting device.

Images