JP2011040168A - Headlight for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector type headlight for a vehicle structured so as to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, with a structure of shade standardized, and capable of forming a light distribution pattern for OHS (Overhead Sign) irradiation without generating large light distribution unevenness on the low-beam light distribution pattern. <P>SOLUTION: Lens elements 16sL, 16sR for deflecting and emitting reflected light upward from a reflector 14 reaching side edge parts are formed at the side edge parts in a right and left direction in a projection lens 16. Reflecting elements 14sR, 14sL for making light from a light source 12a incident into each side edge part of the projection lens 16 for passing through the vicinity of a back-side focus F of the projection lens 16 are formed on a reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14. With this, the light from the light source 12a reflected at each reflecting element 14sR, 14sL and incident into each side edge part of the projection lens 16 is deflected and emitted upward from each lens element 16sL, 16sR to be efficiently utilized as OHS irradiation light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a so-called projector-type vehicle headlamp configured to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, and in particular, a light distribution pattern for irradiating an overhead sign in front of a vehicle traveling path. The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp configured to be additionally formed.

  In general, a projector-type vehicle headlamp has a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a light source disposed behind the rear focal point. It is comprised so that it may reflect toward a projection lens with a reflector. When a light distribution pattern for low beam is formed by the projector-type vehicle headlamp, the reflected light from the reflector is reflected by a shade arranged so that the upper edge passes near the rear focal point of the projection lens. A predetermined cut-off line is formed at the upper edge of the low-beam light distribution pattern by partially shielding it.

  In “Patent Document 1”, in such a projector-type vehicle headlamp, a projection piece is attached to the shade so as to be positioned above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern in front of the vehicle traveling path. A configuration is described in which a light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation for irradiating an overhead marker (hereinafter also referred to as “OHS”) is formed.

  On the other hand, “Patent Document 2” describes a configuration in which a light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation is formed using such a projection lens in such a projector-type vehicle headlamp.

  That is, the vehicular headlamp described in “Patent Document 2” has a ring-shaped convex portion that deflects light emitted from the projection lens toward the optical axis at the outer peripheral edge of the front surface of the projection lens. The light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation is formed by deflecting the light reflected on the upper reflection surface of the reflector and incident on the lower end of the projection lens upward at the ring-shaped convex portion. Irradiation light (hereinafter referred to as “OHS irradiation light”).

JP 2003-297117 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3805

  By adopting the configuration described in “Patent Document 2”, it is possible to obtain the OHS irradiation light after standardizing the configuration of the shade.

  However, in the vehicle headlamp described in “Patent Document 2”, in order to obtain OHS irradiation light, a ring-shaped convex portion is formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the front surface of the projection lens. There are the following problems.

  That is, of the light emitted from the ring-shaped convex portion, the light emitted at the lower end portion of the projection lens is effectively used as the OHS irradiation light. At this time, the light emitted from the portion other than the lower end portion is also used. The light distribution pattern for the low beam has a light distribution that is significantly different from the intended light distribution because the light is deflected closer to the optical axis with respect to the original emission direction. There is a problem that uneven light distribution may occur.

  The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and in a projector-type vehicle headlamp configured to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, after standardizing the configuration of the shade, It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular headlamp that can form a light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation without causing large light distribution unevenness in the low beam light distribution pattern.

  The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by devising the configuration of the projection lens and the reflector.

That is, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is
A projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a light source disposed behind the rear focal point of the projection lens; and a reflector for reflecting light from the light source toward the projection lens; A low-end beam having a predetermined cut-off line at the upper end edge, the upper end edge being disposed so as to pass near the rear focal point of the projection lens and shielding a part of the reflected light from the reflector. In a vehicle headlamp configured to form a light distribution pattern,
A lens element that deflects and emits upward the reflected light from the reflector incident on the side edge is formed on the front surface of the side edge in the left-right direction of the projection lens,
A reflection element is formed on the reflection surface of the reflector so that light from the light source passes through the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens and is incident on the side edge of the projection lens. Is.

  The type of the “light source” is not particularly limited, and for example, a light emitting part of a discharge bulb, a filament of a halogen bulb, or the like can be employed.

  The “lens element” may be formed only on the front surface of one of the side edges in the left-right direction of the projection lens, or may be formed on the front surface of both side edges. . At this time, if the “lens element” has a function of deflecting and emitting the reflected light from the reflecting element incident on the lateral side edge portion of the projection lens in an upward direction, it is deflected or diffused only upward. May be formed, or may be formed so as to be deflected or diffused in both the upper and lower directions.

  If the “reflecting element” is formed so that the light from the light source passes through the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens and is incident on the side edge thereof, the specific formation position on the reflecting surface of the reflector is It is not particularly limited.

  As shown in the above configuration, the vehicular headlamp according to the present invention is configured as a projector-type vehicular headlamp that forms a low-beam light distribution pattern. The lens is formed with a lens element that deflects and emits the reflected light from the reflector that has reached the side edge, and the reflection surface of the reflector transmits the light from the light source to the rear side of the projection lens. Since the reflecting element is formed so as to pass through the vicinity of the focal point and enter the side edge in the left-right direction of the projection lens, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, of the reflected light from the reflector, the reflected light from the reflecting element passes through the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens and enters the lateral side edge of the projection lens, and the front surface of this side edge. Therefore, the emitted light can be effectively used as the OHS irradiation light.

  At this time, since the reflected light from the portion other than the reflecting element on the reflecting surface of the reflector does not enter the lateral edge of the projection lens in the left-right direction, the lens element is formed, so that the low beam light distribution pattern The luminous intensity distribution does not change greatly, and therefore there is no possibility that large uneven light distribution will occur.

  Of the reflected light from the reflector, the light incident on the portion other than the side edge in the left-right direction of the projection lens can be effectively used as usual for forming a light distribution pattern for low beam. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the projector-type vehicle headlamp configured to form the low-beam light distribution pattern, the shade structure is standardized and the light distribution pattern for the low-beam light distribution has a large light distribution. A light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation can be formed without causing unevenness.

  Moreover, in the present invention, since the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern is formed by the combination of the reflection element and the lens element, depending on the arrangement of the reflection element or its size and shape, etc. The formation position of the light distribution pattern, its brightness, and the like can be adjusted as appropriate. Therefore, the configuration of the projection lens can be standardized as a projector-type vehicle headlamp capable of forming a light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation.

  In the present invention, since the configuration of the shade can be standardized, it is possible to simplify the shape, eliminate the need for surface treatment, simplify the package appearance, and the like.

  In the above-described configuration, a part of the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern can be used to reduce the cut-off light / dark ratio of the low beam light distribution pattern.

  In the above configuration, if the lens element is formed on the front surface of the side edge portion on the opposite lane side in the projection lens, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, the reflecting element for causing the light from the light source to enter the side edge on the opposite lane side of the projection lens so as to pass through the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens is less than the optical axis on the reflecting surface of the reflector. Will be located on the own lane. At that time, the reflection area located on the reflection surface of the reflector on the own lane side with respect to the optical axis is a reflection area that forms a region near the lower side of the cutoff line on the opposite lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern. By using the light from this reflection region as the OHS irradiation light, the brightness of the region near the lower side of the cutoff line on the opposite lane side in the low beam distribution pattern can be reduced. As a result, the risk of glare on the oncoming vehicle driver can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the above configuration, the lens element is formed on the front surface of the left and right side edge portions of the projection lens, and a pair of left and right reflecting elements corresponding to these are formed on the reflecting surface of the reflector. If comprised, the brightness of the light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation can fully be ensured.

  In this case, if the pair of left and right lens elements are configured to have a symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis in both the vertical and horizontal directions, the directionality when the projection lens is incorporated as a part of the lamp is improved. Thus, the above-described effects can be obtained without impairing the assembling workability of the lamp.

The front view which shows the vehicle headlamp which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention II-II sectional view of FIG. III-III sectional view of FIG. The figure which shows transparently the light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen arrange | positioned in the position of the lamp front 25m with the light irradiated ahead from the said vehicle headlamp The figure similar to FIG. 1 which shows the vehicle headlamp which concerns on the modification of the said embodiment. The same figure as FIG. 4 which shows the effect | action of the said modification.

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

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle headlamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along lines II-II and III-III, respectively.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as a projector-type lamp unit, and is used in a state of being incorporated in a lamp body or the like (not shown). . The vehicular headlamp 10 irradiates light for forming a left light distribution low beam light distribution pattern.

  The vehicle headlamp 10 includes a light source bulb 12, a reflector 14, a projection lens 16, a shade 18, and a holder 20, and has an optical axis Ax that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. However, the vehicle headlamp 10 is arranged in a state in which the optical axis Ax extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6 ° with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction when the aiming adjustment is completed. It is like that.

  The projection lens 16 is a plano-convex aspheric lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface, and is disposed on the optical axis Ax. The projection lens 16 projects an image on the focal plane including the rear focal point F as a reverse image on a vertical virtual screen arranged in front of the lamp.

  The projection lens 16 is formed with a pair of lens elements 16sL and 16sR on the front surface of both side edges in the left-right direction (this will be described later).

  The light source bulb 12 is a discharge bulb such as a metal halide bulb having a discharge light emitting portion as the light source 12a, and is inserted into the rear top opening portion 14b of the reflector 14, and the light source 12a has the light on the optical axis Ax. The line segment light source extends along the axis Ax.

  The reflector 14 has a reflecting surface 14a that reflects light from the light source 12a toward the projection lens. At this time, the reflecting surface 14a is configured to reflect the light from the light source 12a forward and toward the optical axis Ax.

  Specifically, the reflecting surface 14a is set to have a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape along the plane including the optical axis Ax, and its eccentricity gradually increases from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section. Is set. As a result, the light from the light source 12a reflected by the reflecting surface 14a is substantially converged to the vicinity of the rear focal point F in the vertical section, and the convergence position is set to the front side of the rear focal point F in the horizontal section. It is supposed to be displaced. At that time, the lower region 14aL located below the optical axis Ax on the reflecting surface 14a causes the light from the light source 12a to be slightly larger toward the optical axis Ax than the upper region 14aU located above the optical axis Ax. It is configured to deflect and reflect. As a result, the reflected light from the lower region 14aL of the reflecting surface 14a is also effectively used as the forward irradiation light without being shielded by the shade 18 as much as possible.

  A pair of reflective elements 14sL and 14sR are formed in regions located on the left and right sides of the light source bulb 12 on the reflective surface 14a of the reflector 14 (this will also be described later).

  The holder 20 is a cylindrical member disposed between the projection lens 16 and the reflector 14. The holder 20 fixes and supports the projection lens 16 at the front end portion thereof, and is fixedly supported by the reflector 14 at the rear end portion thereof. .

  The shade 18 is formed integrally with the holder 20 so as to extend rearward from the front end portion in a substantially lower half portion inside the holder 20. The shade 18 is formed such that an upper end edge 18a thereof passes through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 16, thereby blocking part of the reflected light from the reflection surface 14a of the reflector 14 and thereby projecting the projection lens 16. Most of the upward light emitted forward from is removed.

  At this time, the upper end edge 18a of the shade 18 extends in a substantially arc shape in the horizontal direction along the rear focal plane of the projection lens 16, and is formed in a step difference. That is, the area on the own lane side in the upper end edge 18a (that is, the area on the left side of the optical axis Ax) extends horizontally from the optical axis Ax, and the area on the opposite lane side in the upper end edge 18a is the optical axis Ax. After extending diagonally downward from, it extends horizontally.

  In FIG. 1, a region A indicated by a dotted mesh line indicates a range in which light from the light source 12 a reflected by the reflector 14 is emitted from the front surface of the projection lens 16. In this region A, the upper half A1 is a substantially semicircular region along the outer shape of the front surface of the projection lens 16, and the lower half A2 is the front surface of the projection lens 16. It is a vertically long, semi-elliptical region with both left and right sides cut off from the outer shape. At that time, the boundary between the upper half A and the lower half A2 in the region A is located slightly above the optical axis Ax.

  The reason why this region A is a region having such a shape is as follows. That is, if the lower region 14aL on the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 has a shape obtained by inverting the upper region 14aU up and down, the lower half A2 of the upper half A1 of the region A is The shape is inverted up and down. However, as described above, the reflection surface 14a effectively uses the reflected light from the lower region 14aL as the front irradiation light without being shielded by the shade 18 as much as possible. The upper half A1 is a wider area than the lower half A2.

  Each of the pair of left and right lens elements 16sL and 16sR formed on the front surface at both lateral edges of the projection lens 16 in the left and right direction is formed as an upward prism having a shape as if a part of the front surface is cut and raised. ing. As a result, the lens elements 16sL and 16sR deflect the emitted light upward by a predetermined angle as compared with the case where the lens elements 16sL and 16sR are not formed.

  At this time, each of the lens elements 16sL and 16sR is formed at a position substantially the same height as the optical axis Ax. That is, these lens elements 16sL and 16sR are formed at positions deviating from the region A (specifically, positions on both the left and right sides at the upper end of the lower half A2 of the region A).

  Further, each of the pair of left and right reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR formed on the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 is formed in a shape in which a part of the reflecting surface 14a is cut and raised toward the optical axis Ax. Thus, the reflecting element 14sL located on the left side (that is, the own lane side) causes the light from the light source 12a to enter the side edge portion on the right side (that is, the opposite lane side) of the projection lens 16 to reach the lens element 16sR. At the same time, the reflection element 14sR located on the right side makes the light from the light source 12a incident on the left side edge of the projection lens 16 to reach the lens element 16sL.

  At this time, the formation positions of the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR are set so that the light from the light source 12a reflected by the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR passes near the rear focal point F of the projection lens 16. Each of the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR is slightly more than the horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax so that the light from the light source 12a reflected by the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR is not blocked by the shade 18 as much as possible. It is formed so as to be positioned above.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by light irradiated forward from the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment. is there.

  As shown in the figure, a low beam light distribution pattern PL and an OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA are formed on the virtual vertical screen.

  The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution light beam distribution pattern, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at the upper end edge thereof. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 extend in the horizontal direction at the left and right steps with the VV line passing through the HV, which is a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, in the vertical direction, and are on the right side of the VV line. The opposite lane side portion is formed as a lower cut-off line CL1, and the own lane side portion on the left side of the VV line is formed as an upper cut-off line CL2 that rises from the lower cut-off line CL1 through an inclined portion. Is formed.

  In this low beam distribution pattern PL, the elbow point E, which is the intersection of the lower cut-off line CL1 and the VV line, is located about 0.5 to 0.6 ° below HV. This is because the optical axis Ax extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6 ° with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, a hot zone HZ which is a high luminous intensity region is formed so as to surround the elbow point E.

  This low beam light distribution pattern PL is a reverse projection image of the light source image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 16 (that is, the focal plane including the rear focal point F) by the light from the light source 12a reflected by the reflector 14. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as a reverse projection image of the upper edge 18a of the shade 18.

  The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is a light distribution pattern for irradiating an overhead sign (that is, an overhead sign) OHS in front of the vehicle traveling path, and is separated upward from the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 in the low beam distribution pattern PL. In this position, the light distribution pattern is formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern that extends to the left and right sides around the VV line.

  The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is reflected from each of the pair of left and right reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR in the reflector 14 and emitted from the light source 12a emitted from each of the pair of left and right lens elements 16sR and 16sL in the projection lens 16. It is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of two light distribution patterns formed by the light.

  The reason why the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is formed around the VV line is that the reflected light from the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR passes through the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 16. is there.

  In the figure, a pair of left and right horizontal virtual light distribution patterns Pa and Pb indicated by a two-dot chain line is assumed to be that of the reflector 14 when the pair of left and right reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR is not formed. This is a light distribution pattern formed by the reflected light from the positions of the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR on the reflecting surface 14a. At that time, the left virtual light distribution pattern Pa is formed by reflected light from the position of the right reflective element 14sR, and the right virtual light distribution pattern Pb is formed by reflected light from the position of the left reflective element 14sL. The Rukoto.

  Actually, the pair of left and right virtual light distribution patterns Pa and Pb are not formed, but the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is formed. Note that the pair of left and right virtual light distribution patterns Pa and Pb are located on the left and right sides of the hot zone HZ and are not so important in irradiating the road surface in front of the vehicle. Even if it is used to form the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA, the forward visibility is hardly lowered. Rather, the right virtual light distribution pattern Pb extending along the lower cutoff line CL1 on the oncoming lane side is not formed, thereby reducing glare for the oncoming vehicle driver.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The vehicular headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as a projector-type vehicular headlamp that forms a low-beam light distribution pattern PL with a left light distribution. Lens elements 16sL and 16sR that deflect and emit the reflected light from the reflector 14 that has reached the side edge part are formed on the edge, and the reflection surface 14a of the reflector 14 is provided with a light source 12a. Since the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR are formed so as to pass the light at the rear side focal point F of the projection lens 16 and incident on the side edges of the projection lens 16 in the left-right direction, the following operational effects are obtained. be able to.

  That is, of the reflected light from the reflector 14, the reflected light from the reflecting elements 14 sL and 14 sR is incident on the lateral edge of the projection lens 16 through the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 16. Since the lens elements 16sR and 16sL formed on the front surface of the side edge are deflected and emitted upward, the emitted light can be effectively used as the OHS irradiation light.

  At this time, since the reflected light from the portions other than the reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR on the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 does not enter the left and right side edges of the projection lens 16, the lens elements 16sR and 16sL are formed. Therefore, the light intensity distribution of the low beam light distribution pattern PL does not change greatly, and therefore, there is no possibility that large light distribution unevenness will occur.

  Further, the light incident on the projection lens 16 other than the side edges in the left-right direction can be effectively used as usual for forming the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the projector-type vehicle headlamp 10 configured to form the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, the configuration of the shade 18 is standardized, and then the low-beam light distribution pattern. The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA can be formed without causing large uneven light distribution in the PL.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is formed by the combination of the reflective elements 14sL and 14sR and the lens elements 16sR and 16sL, the arrangement of the reflective elements 14sL and 14sR or the size thereof are arranged. The formation position of the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA, the brightness thereof, and the like can be appropriately adjusted depending on the sheath shape and the like. Therefore, the configuration of the projection lens 16 can be standardized as the projector-type vehicle headlamp 10 capable of forming the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the structure of the shade 18 can be standardized, it is possible to simplify the shape, eliminate the need for surface treatment, simplify the packaging, and the like.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment, the lens elements 16sL and 16sR are formed on the front surface of the left and right side edge portions of the projection lens 16, and a pair of left and right corresponding thereto. Since the reflecting elements 14sR and 14sL are formed on the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14, the brightness of the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA can be sufficiently secured.

  At this time, in the present embodiment, since the lens element 16sR is formed on the front surface of the side edge on the opposite lane side in the projection lens 16, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, the reflection for causing the light from the light source 12a to enter the vicinity of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 16 on the side edge on the opposite lane side in the projection lens in which the lens element 16sR is formed. The element 14sL is located on the own lane side with respect to the optical axis Ax on the reflection surface 14a of the reflector 14. At this time, the reflection area located on the reflection surface 14a of the reflector 14 on the own lane side with respect to the optical axis Ax is a reflection area forming a lower vicinity area of the cut-off line CL1 on the opposite lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Therefore, by using the light from the reflection area as the OHS irradiation light, the brightness of the area near the lower side of the cutoff line CL1 on the opposite lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern PL can be reduced. As a result, the risk of glare on the oncoming vehicle driver can be reduced.

  In addition, although the reflector 14 in the said embodiment is formed so that the boundary position of upper side area | region 14aU and lower side area | region 14aL in the reflective surface 14a may connect smoothly, the boundary of upper side area | region 14aU and lower side area | region 14aL A configuration in which a stepped portion is formed at a position is also possible. In such a case, it is also possible to form each reflective element 14sL, 14sR using this stepped portion.

  In the above embodiment, the left and right pair of lens elements 16sL and 16sR and the corresponding pair of left and right reflecting elements 14sR and 14sL are provided. However, the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA is provided. As long as the required brightness can be ensured, it is possible to adopt a configuration including only one of them. At this time, as described above, from the viewpoint of reducing glare with respect to the oncoming vehicle driver, it is preferable that the right lens element 16sR and the left reflecting element 14sL are provided.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each lens element 16sL, 16sR is formed as an upward prism that deflects the reflected light from each reflecting element 14sR, 14sL upward, but the left-right direction of the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA When it is necessary to further increase the diffusion angle, the lens elements 16sL and 16sR are configured to diffuse the reflected light from the reflecting elements 14sR and 14sL in the left-right direction. It is also possible.

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

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing a vehicle headlamp 110 according to this modification.

  As shown in the figure, the vehicular headlamp 110 has the same basic configuration as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of a pair of left and right lens elements 116sL and 116sR in the projection lens 116 is the same. This is different from the above embodiment.

  That is, the pair of left and right lens elements 116sL and 116sR in the present modification is formed on the front surface of the both side edges of the projection lens 116, like the pair of left and right lens elements 16sL and 16sR in the above embodiment. Further, it is formed so as to be positioned at substantially the same height as the optical axis Ax.

  At this time, each of the lens elements 116sL and 116sR is formed as a vertical diffusing lens element that deflects and diffuses light emitted from the lens elements 116sL and 116sR in both the upper and lower directions. The pair of left and right lens elements 116sL and 116sR are formed in a symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis Ax in any of the vertical and horizontal directions.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen by light emitted forward from the vehicle headlamp 110 according to the present modification.

  As shown in the figure, a low beam light distribution pattern PL and an OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB are formed on the virtual vertical screen.

  The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB is formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern that extends to the left and right sides around the VV line, similar to the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA in the above embodiment. The light distribution pattern PB is formed so as to straddle the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL. In this case, the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB is formed as a light distribution pattern whose upper and lower ends are relatively bright and whose upper and lower intermediate portions are relatively dark.

  The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB is reflected by each of the pair of left and right reflecting elements 14sL and 14sR, like the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PA in the above embodiment, and a pair of left and right lens elements in the projection lens 116. It is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of two light distribution patterns formed by light from the light source 12a emitted from each of 116sR and 116sL.

  Also in this modification, in the projector-type vehicle headlamp 110 configured to form the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, the configuration of the shade 18 is standardized, and a large distribution is provided in the low-beam light distribution pattern PL. The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB can be formed without causing light unevenness.

  At this time, the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PB of the present modification is formed so as to straddle the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL in the relatively dark upper and lower intermediate portions. By forming the light distribution pattern PB, it is possible to reduce the light / dark ratio of the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 within a range in which glare is not given to the oncoming vehicle driver, thereby improving the forward visibility of the vehicle driver.

  Further, the projection lens 116 of this modification has a pair of left and right lens elements 116sL, 116sR formed in a symmetrical shape with respect to the optical axis Ax in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The directionality of the up-down direction at the time of attaching to 20 can be eliminated. And thereby, the said effect can be acquired, without impairing the assembly | attachment workability | operativity of a lamp.

  In the above embodiment and the modification, the case where the left light distribution pattern for low beam light distribution PL is formed has been described. By adopting the same configuration as the above, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the above-described embodiment and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 110 Vehicle headlamp 12 Light source bulb 12a Light source 14 Reflector 14a Reflective surface 14aL Lower side area 14aU Upper side area 14b Rear apex 14sL, 14sR Reflective element 16, 116 Projection lens 16sL, 16sR, 116sL, 116sR Lens element 18 Shade 18a Upper edge 20 Holder A area A1 Upper half A2 Lower half Ax Optical axis CL1 Lower cut-off line CL2 Upper cut-off line E Elbow point F Rear focus HZ Hot zone OHS Overhead sign (overhead sign)
PA, PB Light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation PL Light distribution pattern for low beam Pa, Pb Virtual light distribution pattern

Claims (1)

A projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a light source disposed behind the rear focal point of the projection lens; and a reflector for reflecting light from the light source toward the projection lens; A low-end beam having a predetermined cut-off line at the upper end edge, the upper end edge being disposed so as to pass near the rear focal point of the projection lens and shielding a part of the reflected light from the reflector. In a vehicle headlamp configured to form a light distribution pattern,
A lens element that deflects and emits upward the reflected light from the reflector incident on the side edge is formed on the front surface of the side edge in the left-right direction of the projection lens,
A reflection element is formed on the reflection surface of the reflector so that light from the light source passes through the vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens and is incident on the side edge of the projection lens. Vehicle headlamp.

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