JP2013045681A - Vehicle lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle lighting fixture of a projector type in which the design of a projection lens is given a novelty without giving glare to an oncoming driver or the like.SOLUTION: The vehicle lighting fixture is provided with a mirror member 18 which has an upward oriented reflecting surface 18a for reflecting a part of reflection light from a reflector 16, and of which the front end edge 18a1 is arranged so as to pass the rear focal point F of a projection lens 12. Then, as a structure of the projection lens 12, almost upper half portion 12aB in the front side 12a is divided into five front regions 12a1-12a5 through ridgelines R. Thereby, for a pedestrian or the like observing the vehicle lighting fixture 10, the design of the projection lens 12 gives an impression having novelty, while the amount of light going toward the upper part of the cut-off line becomes less in forming a low-beam light distribution pattern.

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp provided with a mirror member, and more particularly to the configuration of the projection lens.

  In general, a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp is configured such that light from a light source disposed behind the rear focus of the projection lens is reflected toward the projection lens by a reflector.

  And when forming a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line at the upper end, such as a low beam light distribution pattern, with such a vehicle lighting device, a part of the reflected light from the reflector is shielded. Many configurations are employed in which the shade is arranged so that its upper edge passes through the rear focal point of the projection lens or in the vicinity thereof.

  At that time, as described in, for example, “Patent Document 1”, a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp using a light emitting element or the like as a light source has a configuration in which a reflector is disposed so as to cover the light source from above. In addition, instead of the shade, a mirror member having an upward reflecting surface for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward, the front edge of the upward reflecting surface is at or near the rear focal point of the projection lens. In many cases, the light source from the light source is effectively used.

  The projection lens described in “Patent Document 1” has a configuration in which the front surface has an uneven vertical cross-sectional shape in order to make the spectral color appearing near the upper part of the cutoff line inconspicuous.

  On the other hand, in “Patent Document 2”, as a projection lens of a vehicular illumination lamp, an elliptic lens having a front surface composed of a convex ellipsoid and a rear surface composed of a concave ellipse is used. A configuration in which four lens pieces of the same shape cut out in a fan shape are connected in the circumferential direction is described. This “Patent Document 2” describes that the projection lens configured as described above can be applied to a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp provided with a reflector.

JP 2007-265864 A JP 2009-43543 A

  In recent years, from the viewpoint of improving the design of a vehicle, there has been an increasing need for a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp to have a novel design for its projection lens.

  However, the projection lens described in the above-mentioned “Patent Document 1” has only a fine concavo-convex vertical cross-sectional shape on the front surface, so that it is not sufficient to give the design a novelty. is there.

  On the other hand, since the front surface of the projection lens described in “Patent Document 2” is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridge lines, a lens design different from the case where the projection lens is formed by a single curved surface is used. It is possible to produce.

  However, the projection lens described in “Patent Document 2” is a direct-type vehicle illumination lamp, and when the light source is incorporated in a lamp close to a point light source, it is handled in the same manner as a normal projection lens. However, when it is incorporated in a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp equipped with a reflector, there are the following problems.

  That is, since the reflected light from the reflector includes a component that passes through the focal plane at a position away from the rear focal point of the projection lens, one of the four lens pieces constituting the projection lens is included. Reflected light from the reflector that is incident on the rear surface of the lens piece does not necessarily reach the front surface of the same lens piece, and some of the light that reaches the front surface of the different lens piece is from the front surface of this lens piece. The light is emitted in a direction different from the intended emission direction.

  Therefore, when such a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp is used to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line at the upper end, light directed upward above the cut-off line is generated. As a result, there is a problem that glare may be given to an oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a projector-type vehicular illumination lamp, the design of the projection lens is made novel without giving glare to an oncoming vehicle driver or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular illumination lamp.

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

That is, the vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention is:
A projection lens, a light source disposed behind the rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector disposed so as to cover the light source from above, and reflecting light from the light source toward the projection lens; A mirror member which has an upward reflecting surface for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward, and is arranged so that the front edge of the upward reflecting surface passes through the rear focal point or the vicinity thereof. In the vehicular illumination lamp comprising:
A substantially upper half portion on the front surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridge lines.

  The type of the “light source” is not particularly limited, and if the “light source” is arranged on the rear side of the rear focal point of the projection lens, the specific position, orientation, and the like thereof are not particularly limited. It is not limited.

  The “mirror member” is arranged so that the front edge of the upward reflecting surface thereof passes through the rear focal point of the projection lens or the vicinity thereof, and a part of the reflected light from the reflector is directed upward on the upward reflecting surface. The specific shape and the like of the upward reflecting surface is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to reflect the light.

  As long as the “substantially upper half of the front surface of the projection lens” is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridge lines, the specific number of divisions, division shapes, and the like are not particularly limited. The specific surface shape of each “front region” is not particularly limited.

  As shown in the above configuration, the vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention includes a reflector arranged to cover light from a light source arranged behind the projection lens rear focal point from above. Is configured as a projector-type lamp that reflects toward the projection lens, and further has an upward reflecting surface for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward, and its front edge is the projection lens The projection lens has a configuration including a mirror member arranged so as to pass through the rear focal point or the vicinity thereof. At this time, the projection lens has a plurality of front regions through a ridge line in a substantially upper half portion on the front surface. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, since the substantially upper half of the front surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridges, when the vehicular illumination lamp is observed, the projection lens is a single curved surface. It can be made to look with the design different from the normal projection lens currently formed. At that time, in general, since the vehicular illumination lamp such as a headlamp is attached to the vehicle body at a position considerably lower than the position of the eyes of a pedestrian or the like, a substantially upper half portion on the front surface of the projection lens has a plurality of ridge lines. If it is the structure divided | segmented into the front area | region, it can fully give the impression that the design of a projection lens has novelty with respect to observers, such as a pedestrian.

  On the other hand, if the surface shape of the front surface of the projection lens is different from that of a normal projection lens, the direction of the light emitted from the projection lens will deviate from the intended direction. When the light pattern is formed, light traveling upward above the cut-off line is generated, which may cause glare to an oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  However, in the present invention, on the premise of the projector-type lamp configuration provided with the mirror member, not the entire area of the front surface of the projection lens but the substantially upper half thereof is divided into a plurality of front surface areas via ridge lines. Therefore, even when a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line is formed at the upper end, the amount of light traveling upward of the cut-off line can be reduced for the following reason. This prevents glare from being given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle.

  That is, the light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the projector-type vehicle lighting device including the mirror member is the first light distribution pattern formed by the light that directly reflects on the projection lens after being reflected by the reflector. And a second light distribution pattern formed by light that reaches the projection lens after being reflected by the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member, most of which is the first light distribution pattern. Is to be formed. At that time, the first light distribution pattern is formed by light emitted from a substantially lower half portion on the front surface of the projection lens, and the second light distribution pattern is formed by light emitted from a substantially upper half portion on the front surface of the projection lens. It is supposed to be formed.

  Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the substantially upper half portion on the front surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridge lines, a part of the emitted light from the substantially upper half portion is directed upward of the cutoff line. Even if this occurs, the amount of light does not increase so much that it is possible to prevent glare from being imparted to the driver of the oncoming vehicle.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the projector-type vehicle illumination lamp, the design of the projection lens can be provided with novelty without giving glare to the oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  In the above configuration, a substantially upper half portion on the rear surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of rear surface regions equal in number to the plurality of front surface regions via valley lines, and each of these rear surface regions is arranged behind the projection lens. If the configuration is formed with a surface shape set so as to emit light from the position of the side focal point from each front region in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens, the following effects can be obtained. it can.

  That is, the light that reaches the projection lens after being reflected by the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member can be deflected and controlled in the same manner as in the case of a normal projection lens by the combination of each rear surface region and each front region. . As a result, glare prevention for the oncoming vehicle driver and the like can be achieved more reliably.

  At this time, since each rear surface area is divided through a valley line, the light emitted from the position of the rear focal point of the projection lens and incident on the projection lens from each rear surface area is surrounded by the surroundings with respect to each front area. It is possible to make it reach a region near the center that is slightly away from the ridgeline. Therefore, the light incident on the projection lens from each rear surface region reaches the front surface region and the general portion that are adjacent to the front surface region that should correspond to the rear surface region through the ridge line, and the emitted light becomes stray light. It can be prevented in advance. Actually, the reflected light from the upward reflection surface of the mirror member reaches the projection lens as light from the position of the rear focal point of the projection lens and each of its surrounding positions. If the difference between the incident angle of the reflected light from each position of the lens and the incident angle of the light from the position of the rear focal point of the projection lens is equal to or smaller than the angle corresponding to the distance between the ridge line and the region closer to the center, each rear surface Light incident from a region can reach each front region to be corresponding to this.

  In addition, the projection lens has a crystal feeling by having a configuration in which the substantially upper half of the rear surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of rear surface regions of the same number as the plurality of front surface regions via valley lines. This can improve the novelty of the lens design.

  In the above configuration, if the front end region having a predetermined width from the front end edge of the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member is formed as a non-reflecting surface, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, of the light emitted from the substantially upper half of the front surface of the projection lens, the light traveling upward as the stray light is mainly due to the reflected light from the region near the front edge of the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member. . Therefore, if the front end region having a predetermined width from the front end edge of the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member is formed as a non-reflecting surface, the brightness of the second light distribution pattern is not reduced so much, and the cut-off line is reduced. The upward light can be effectively reduced.

Front view showing a vehicular illumination lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention II-II sectional view of FIG. The perspective view which shows the main components of the said illumination lamp for vehicles The figure which shows the projection lens of the said vehicle lighting device seen from the back Side sectional view showing optical action of the projection lens FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a low beam light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen disposed at a position 25 m ahead of the vehicle by light irradiated forward from the vehicle lighting device; ) And (c) are diagrams showing two light distribution patterns constituting the low beam light distribution pattern. The same figure as FIG. 3 which shows the modification of the said embodiment. Side sectional view showing the optical action of the projection lens in the above modification The same figure as FIG.6 (c) for demonstrating 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 vehicular illumination lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing main components of the vehicular illumination lamp 10.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicular illumination lamp 10 covers a projection lens 12, a light source 14 disposed behind the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12, and the light source 14 from above. And a reflector 16 that reflects the light from the light source 14 toward the projection lens 12, and an upward reflecting surface 18a for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector 16 upward, A mirror member 18 is arranged so that the front edge 18a1 of the upward reflecting surface 18a passes through the rear focal point F.

  At that time, the light source 14 and the reflector 16 are supported by the mirror member 18, and the projection lens 12 is supported by the mirror member 18 via the lens holder 20.

  The vehicular illumination lamp 10 is a lamp unit used in a state of being incorporated as a part of a headlamp, and in the state of being incorporated in a headlamp, the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 12 is in the vehicle front-rear direction. Thus, it is arranged in a state extending in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6 °.

  The light source 14 is a light-emitting chip of a white light-emitting diode, and has a horizontally long light-emitting surface. The light source 14 is arranged with its light emitting surface facing upward on the optical axis Ax.

  The reflecting surface 16a of the reflector 16 has a long axis that is coaxial with the optical axis Ax and a substantially elliptical curved surface that has the light emission center of the light source 14 as a first focal point. At this time, the reflecting surface 16a is set to have an elliptical shape in which the vertical cross-sectional shape along the optical axis Ax is a point located slightly in front of the rear focal point F, and the eccentricity is vertical. It is set to gradually increase from the cross section toward the horizontal cross section. Thus, the reflector 16 converges the light from the light source 14 to a point located slightly forward of the rear focal point F in the vertical section, and moves the convergence position considerably forward in the horizontal section. It is like that.

  The upward reflecting surface 18a of the mirror member 18 is formed by subjecting the upper surface of the mirror member 18 to a mirror surface treatment such as aluminum vapor deposition. The upward reflecting surface 18a is configured such that the left region located on the left side (right side in the front view of the lamp) from the optical axis Ax is a horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax, and the right region located on the right side from the optical axis Ax. It is composed of a horizontal plane that is one step lower than the left region through a short slope. The front end edge 18a1 of the upward reflecting surface 18a is formed so as to extend along the focal plane including the rear focal point F. As a result, the mirror member 18 reflects part of the reflected light from the reflecting surface 16a of the reflector 16 toward the projection lens 12 upward on the upward reflecting surface 18a and makes it enter the projection lens 12, and these are reflected as downward light. The light is emitted from the projection lens 12.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the projection lens 12 as viewed from the rear. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the optical action of the projection lens 12.

  As shown in these figures, the projection lens 12 has a lens shape that approximates a plano-convex aspheric lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface, and is supported by the lens holder 20 at an outer peripheral flange portion 12c. ing.

  The front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 has a substantially upper half portion 12aB having a surface shape different from that of the other general portions 12aA. That is, the general portion 12aA of the front surface 12a is configured as a part of a normal plano-convex aspherical lens, but the substantially upper half portion 12aB has five front regions 12a1, 12a2, 12a3 via the ridgeline R. , 12a4 and 12a5.

  Further, the rear surface 12b of the projection lens 12 has a substantially upper half portion 12bB having a surface shape different from that of the other general portions 12bA. That is, the general portion 12bA of the rear surface 12b is configured as a part of a normal plano-convex aspheric lens, but the substantially upper half portion 12bB has five rear surface regions 12b1, 12b2, It is divided into 12b3, 12b4, and 12b5.

  In the projection lens 12 shown in FIG. 2, the curved line and the straight line indicated by a two-dot chain line are formed by a curved surface having a shape in which the substantially upper half 12aB of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 is extended from the general portion 12aA. The substantially upper half portion 12bB of the rear surface 12b is a curve and a straight line showing the respective cross-sectional shapes when the flat surface is formed by extending the general portion 12bA.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each ridgeline R formed in the substantially upper half 12aB of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 extends in a substantially arc shape in the lateral direction, and the five front regions 12a1 to 12a5 are vertically It is formed in five steps. At that time, in the front view of the lamp, the three front regions 12a2, 12a3, 12a4 located in the middle are formed as a horizontally long medium strip-like region in which the left and right sides are curved upward, and the uppermost front region 12a1 is The upper front edge 12a5 is formed as a horizontally long medium-thick belt-shaped region having an upper convex edge with an upward convex curve and a lower convex edge with a downward convex curve. The lowermost front region 12a5 has an upward concave curve at the upper edge and a downward concave curve at the lower edge. And both upper and lower edges are formed as a horizontally long medium strip-like region in contact with each other on the optical axis Ax.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the five front regions 12a1 to 12a5 are all set to have a linear shape in cross-sectional shape along a vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax. Thereby, the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 has a polygonal vertical cross-sectional shape with each ridgeline R as a corner.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the five rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 formed in the substantially upper half 12bB of the rear surface 12b of the projection lens 12 are respectively positioned substantially behind the five front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5. Although formed, each valley line T is formed at a position slightly closer to the optical axis Ax with a curved shape having a larger curvature than each ridge line R in the front view of the lamp.

  Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, each of these rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 is formed in a convex curve shape in a vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax.

  As a result, each of these rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 transmits light from the position of the rear focal point F incident on the projection lens 12 from the rear surface region to each of the front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5 that should correspond to them in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the light from the position of the rear focal point F reaching the front region and reaching the center-side region away from the ridge line R located on both the upper and lower sides is parallel light along the optical axis Ax. As shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a low beam light distribution pattern PL formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the vehicle by light emitted forward from the vehicular illumination lamp 10. It is.

  This low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left light distribution pattern for low beam, and has upper and lower cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge. 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.

  This low beam light distribution pattern PL is obtained by inverting the image of the light source 14 formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 12 by the light from the light source 14 reflected by the reflector 16 onto the virtual vertical screen. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as projection images, and the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as inverted projection images of the front end edge 18a1 of the upward reflecting surface 18a of the mirror member 18.

  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.

  The low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a combined light distribution pattern in which the first light distribution pattern PA shown in FIG. 6B and the second light distribution pattern PB shown in FIG. ing.

  The first light distribution pattern PA is a light distribution pattern formed by light that directly reflects on the projection lens 12 after being reflected by the reflector 16. On the other hand, the second light distribution pattern PB is a light distribution pattern formed by light reaching the projection lens 12 after being reflected upward by the upward reflection surface 18a of the mirror member 18. Most of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed by the first light distribution pattern PA, and the second light distribution pattern PB increases the brightness of the area near the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 around the elbow point E. It is supposed to let you.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The vehicular illumination lamp 10 according to the present embodiment includes a reflector 16 disposed so as to cover the light from the light source 14 disposed behind the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12 from above. Is configured as a projector-type lamp unit that reflects toward the projection lens 12, and further includes an upward reflecting surface 18a for reflecting part of the reflected light from the reflector 16 upward, and its front edge 18a1. Is provided with a mirror member 18 arranged so as to pass through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12. At this time, the projection lens 12 has a substantially upper half portion 12aB on the front surface 12a thereof having a ridgeline. Since it is divided into five front regions 12a1 to 12a5 via R, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, when the vehicular illumination lamp 10 is observed when the substantially upper half portion of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 is divided into the five front regions 12a1 to 12a5 via the ridgeline R in this way, the projection lens 12 12 can be seen with a design different from that of a normal projection lens formed of a single curved surface. At that time, generally, since the vehicular illumination lamp such as a headlamp is attached to the vehicle body at a position considerably lower than the position of the eyes of a pedestrian or the like, the substantially upper half portion 12aB on the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 has the ridge line R If the structure is divided into five front regions 12a1 to 12a5, it is sufficient to give an impression that the design of the projection lens 12 has novelty to an observer such as a pedestrian. Is possible.

  On the other hand, if the surface shape of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 is different from that of a normal projection lens, the direction of the emitted light from the projection lens 12 is deviated from the intended direction. When the PL is formed, light traveling upward above the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 is generated, which may cause glare to an oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  However, in the present embodiment, on the premise of the projector-type lamp configuration including the mirror member 18, not the entire area of the front surface 12 a of the projection lens 12 but its substantially upper half portion 12 a B is 5 through the ridge line R. Since the structure is divided into the two front regions 12a1 to 12a5, even when the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed, the amount of light directed upward of the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 for the following reason As a result, glare can be prevented from being applied to oncoming drivers and the like.

  That is, the low beam light distribution pattern PL formed by the irradiation light from the projector-type vehicle illumination lamp 10 having the mirror member 18 is formed by the light that directly reflects on the projection lens 12 after being reflected by the reflector 16. The first light distribution pattern PA and the second light distribution pattern PB formed by the light reaching the projection lens 12 after being reflected by the upward reflecting surface 18a of the mirror member 18 are formed as a combined light distribution pattern. However, most of them are formed by the first light distribution pattern PA. At that time, the first light distribution pattern PA is formed by light emitted from a substantially lower half portion of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12, and the second light distribution pattern PB is a substantially upper half portion of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12. It is formed by the light emitted from the part.

  Therefore, by setting the substantially upper half 12aB on the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 to be divided into five front regions 12a1 to 12a5 via the ridge line R, a part of the emitted light from the substantially upper half 12aB. Even if the light travels upward from the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, the amount of light does not increase so much that it is possible to prevent glare from being given to the oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the projector-type vehicle lighting device 10, the design of the projection lens 12 can be provided with novelty without giving glare to the oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the substantially upper half portion 12bB on the rear surface 12b of the projection lens 12 is divided into five rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 via the valley line T, and each of these rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5. However, since the light from the position of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12 is formed in a surface shape set so as to be emitted from each of the front regions 12a1 to 12a5 in a direction parallel to the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 12. The following effects can be obtained.

  That is, light reflected by the upward reflecting surface 18a of the mirror member 18 and then reaching the projection lens 12 is substantially the same as in the case of a normal projection lens depending on the combination of the rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 and the front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5. Similarly, deflection control can be performed. As a result, glare prevention for the oncoming vehicle driver and the like can be achieved more reliably.

  At this time, since each of the rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 is divided through the valley line T, the light emitted from the position of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12 and incident on the projection lens 12 from each of the rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 Can reach each of the front regions 12a1 to 12a5 to a region closer to the center that is slightly away from the surrounding ridgeline R to the inside. Therefore, the light incident on the projection lens 12 from each of the rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 reaches the front surface region adjacent to the front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5 and the general portion 12aA that should correspond to the rear surface region beyond the ridge line R, It is possible to prevent the incident light from becoming stray light. Actually, the reflected light from the upward reflection surface 18a of the mirror member 18 reaches the projection lens 12 as light from the position of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12 and each of its surrounding positions. The difference between the incident angle of the reflected light from each position of the upward reflecting surface 18a of the member 18 and the incident angle of the light from the position of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12 is the distance between the ridgeline R and the region near the center. If the angle is equal to or less than the corresponding angle, the light incident from each of the rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 can reach each of the front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5 that should correspond thereto.

  In addition, since the substantially upper half 12bB of the rear surface 12b of the projection lens 12 is divided into five rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 via the valley line T in this way, the projection lens 12 has a crystal feeling. As a result, the novelty of the lens design can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the substantially upper half portion 12aB of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 has been described as being divided into five front surface regions 12a1 to 12a5 in the vertical direction via the ridgeline R. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that is divided into six or more front regions, a configuration that is divided in the left-right direction, and a configuration that is divided in both the upper, lower, left, and right directions. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a step is formed on part or all of each ridgeline R.

  In the above embodiment, the mirror member 18 has been described as having the front end edge 18a1 of the upward reflecting surface 18a passing through the rear focal point F. However, the front end edge 18a1 is the rear focal point. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is arranged so as to pass through a position slightly deviated from F. In this case, the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL are somewhat unclear, but it is possible to obtain substantially the same operational effects as in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the substantially upper half portion 12aB of the front surface 12a of the projection lens 12 is set as a region that protrudes slightly below the horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax, but the lower end edge of the substantially upper half portion 12aB. As for the position of, it is also possible to set it to the position of the horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax or a position slightly shifted upward. At that time, it is preferable to set the position where the reflected light from the reflector 16 does not reach reliably.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicular illumination lamp 10 is configured to form the left light distribution low beam light distribution pattern PL, but is configured to form the right light distribution low beam light distribution pattern. Even when it is configured to form a light distribution pattern having only a horizontal cut-off line at the upper end portion, it is possible to obtain the same operation effect by adopting the same configuration as the above embodiment. it can.

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

  FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a vehicular lamp 110 according to a modification of the above embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing an optical action of the projection lens 112.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicular lamp 110 according to the present modification has the same basic configuration as that of the above embodiment, but the substantially upper half portion 112bB on the rear surface 112b of the projection lens 112. And the configuration of the upward reflecting surface 118a of the mirror member 118 are different from those in the above embodiment.

  That is, in the projection lens 112 of this modification, the substantially upper half portion 112bB on the rear surface 112b is not divided into the five rear surface regions 12b1 to 12b5 as in the above embodiment, and the general portion 112bA on the rear surface 112b is extended. It is formed with a flat surface. Further, the upward reflecting surface 118a of the mirror member 118 of this modification has a front end region 118b having a predetermined width from the front end edge 118a1 as a non-reflecting surface.

  By adopting the configuration of this modification, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  Since the projection lens 112 of this modification has a substantially upper half portion 112bB on the rear surface 112b formed as a flat surface, the shape thereof can be simplified. However, the light from the position of the rear focal point F incident on the projection lens 112 from the substantially upper half portion 112b of the rear surface 112b is five front regions 12a1 constituting the substantially upper half portion 12aB of the front surface 12a. -12a5 is not emitted forward as parallel light along the optical axis Ax, but is emitted as light slightly diffused in the vertical direction as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 6C for explaining the operation of the present modification, and FIG. 9A is a view showing the operation of the comparative example of the present modification. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the operation of this modification.

  In the mirror member 118 of this modification example, if the front end region 118b of the upward reflecting surface 118a is not formed as a non-reflecting surface, a part of the light emitted from the projection lens 112 becomes upward light, As shown in FIG. 9A, the upper end edge PBa ′ of the second light distribution pattern PB ′ may protrude upward from the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, which may cause glare to the oncoming vehicle driver or the like. is there.

  In that respect, in the present modification, the front end region 118b of the upward reflecting surface 118a of the mirror member 118 is formed as a non-reflecting surface, so that light traveling upward from the projection lenses 112 above the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 is removed. Thus, the position of the upper end edge PBa of the second light distribution pattern PB can be lowered to near the lower side of the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, thereby eliminating the possibility of giving glare to the oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  It should be noted that the mirror member 118 of this modification may be combined with the projection lens 12 of the above embodiment. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to more reliably eliminate the possibility of giving glare to an oncoming vehicle driver or the like.

  In addition, the numerical value shown as a specification in the said embodiment and its modification is only an example, and of course, you may set these to a different value suitably.

10, 110 Vehicle illumination lamp 12, 112 Projection lens 12a Front face 12aA, 12bA, 112bA General part 12aB, 12bB, 112bB Substantially upper half part 12a1, 12a2, 12a3, 12a4, 12a5 Front area 12b, 112b Rear face 12b1, 12b2, 12b3 , 12b4, 12b5 Rear surface region 12c Outer peripheral flange portion 14 Light source 16 Reflector 16a Reflective surface 18, 118 Mirror member 18a, 118a Upward reflective surface 18a1, 118a1 Front edge 20 Lens holder 118b Front end region Ax Optical axis CL1 Lower cut-off line CL2 Upper cut-off line E Elbow point F Rear focus PA, PB Light distribution pattern PBa Upper edge PL Low beam light distribution pattern R Ridge line T Valley line

Claims (3)

A projection lens, a light source disposed behind the rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector disposed so as to cover the light source from above, and reflecting light from the light source toward the projection lens; A mirror member which has an upward reflecting surface for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward, and is arranged so that the front edge of the upward reflecting surface passes through the rear focal point or the vicinity thereof. In the vehicular illumination lamp comprising:
A vehicular illumination lamp, wherein a substantially upper half portion of the front surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of front surface regions via ridge lines. A substantially upper half portion on the rear surface of the projection lens is divided into a plurality of rear surface regions of the same number as the plurality of front surface regions via valley lines,
Each of these rear surface regions is formed with a surface shape set so as to emit light from the position of the rear focal point from each of the front surface regions in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens. The vehicular illumination lamp according to claim 1.   The vehicular illumination lamp according to claim 1, wherein a front end region having a predetermined width from a front end edge of the upward reflecting surface of the mirror member is formed as a non-reflecting surface.

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