JP2013058321A - Vehicular headlight - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlight capable of securing suitable visibility at the irradiation of a high beam while reducing its cost by simplifying structure.SOLUTION: The vehicular headlight 1 includes a light source 7 for emitting light, a projection lens 8 for projecting the light emitted from the light source, a reflector 6 for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to the projection lens, and a rotary shade 11 for changing a shaded state of the light emitted from the light source in response to rotating positions. A reflecting surface 16a is formed on the rotary shade, and a light-distribution pattern H of the high beam for irradiating on a distant extent during a designated rotary range of the rotary shade is formed. When the light-distribution pattern of the high beam is formed, an additional light-distribution pattern C is formed, at least part of which is overlapped with the light-distribution pattern H of the high beam by reflecting part of the light emitted from the light source with the reflecting surface, and a position of the additional light-distribution pattern C is changed in response to changes of positions of the reflecting surface caused by rotation of the rotary shade.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp. Specifically, a reflective surface is formed on the rotary shade, and the position of the light distribution pattern formed by the reflective surface is changed to reduce the cost by simplifying the structure and ensure good visibility during high beam irradiation. Related to the technical field.

  In a vehicle headlamp, for example, a light source, a projection lens that projects light emitted from the light source, and a light emitted from the light source are directed to the projection lens inside a lamp housing constituted by a cover and a lamp housing. Some lamp units have reflectors that reflect light.

  Some vehicle headlamps are provided with a rotary shade that is rotatable between a projection lens and a light source that is disposed between a projection lens and a light source and that extends in the horizontal direction (for example, see Patent Document 1). . The light shielding state is changed by the rotation of the rotary shade, and various light distribution patterns such as a high beam light distribution pattern and a low beam light distribution pattern are formed.

  The vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a swivel mechanism that changes the direction of the optical axis by rotating the lamp unit in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) following the traveling direction of the vehicle. It has been. The swivel mechanism changes the direction of the optical axis according to the condition of the curved road when forming a high beam light distribution pattern, thereby ensuring good visibility in the left-right direction.

  As described above, in the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of light distribution patterns are formed by the rotary shade, and the direction of the optical axis is changed in the horizontal direction by the swivel mechanism. Is secured.

JP 2011-1043 A

  However, in the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, in order to improve the functionality of forming various light distribution patterns and ensuring good visibility during high beam irradiation, And a swivel mechanism is required, and there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems and to secure good visibility at the time of high-beam irradiation after reducing the cost by simplifying the structure.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle headlamp includes a light source that emits light, a projection lens that projects light emitted from the light source, and directs the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens. And a reflecting shade that changes the shielding state of the light emitted from the light source according to the rotational position, a reflecting surface is formed on the rotating shade, and the reflecting surface is far away in a predetermined rotation range of the rotating shade. A high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a distance region is formed, and when the high beam light distribution pattern is formed, a part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflecting surface, and the high beam light distribution pattern is formed. An additional light distribution pattern at least partially overlapping the pattern is formed, and the position of the additional light distribution pattern is changed with a change in the position of the reflecting surface due to the rotation of the rotary shade. There is intended to be changed.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp, the position of the additional light distribution pattern is changed according to the rotational position of the rotary shade during high beam irradiation.

  The vehicle headlamp of the present invention includes a light source that emits light, a projection lens that projects the light emitted from the light source, a reflector that reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a rotation A rotary shade that changes a shielding state of light emitted from the light source according to a position, a reflective surface is formed on the rotary shade, and a high beam that irradiates a long-distance region within a predetermined rotation range of the rotary shade When the high beam light distribution pattern is formed, a part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflecting surface and at least partly overlaps the high beam light distribution pattern. An additional light distribution pattern is formed, and the position of the additional light distribution pattern is changed in accordance with a change in the position of the reflecting surface due to the rotation of the rotary shade. To.

  Therefore, the position of the additional light distribution pattern can be changed according to the rotational position of the rotary shade during high beam irradiation, so that the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Sex can be secured.

  The best mode for carrying out the vehicle headlamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 is mounted and arranged at both left and right end portions of the front end portion of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a lamp housing 2 formed in a concave shape that opens forward, and a cover 3 that closes an opening surface of the lamp housing 2. A lamp outer casing 4 is configured. An internal space of the lamp outer casing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5.

  The lamp chamber 5 includes a reflector 6, a light source 7 held at the rear end of the reflector 6, a projection lens 8 positioned in front of the light source 7, and a shade positioned between the projection lens 8 and the light source 7. A mechanism 9 is arranged.

  The reflector 6 is formed in the shape of a bowl opened forward, and the inner surface is formed as a light reflecting surface 6a. The reflector 6 has a function of reflecting light emitted from the light source 7 toward the projection lens 8.

  As the light source 7, for example, a discharge lamp is used. As the light source, for example, other types such as a light emitting diode (LED) may be used.

  The projection lens 8 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape convex forward, and has a function of projecting light emitted from the light source 7 forward.

  The shade mechanism 9 has a fixed shade 10 and a rotatable rotary shade 11 positioned in the vicinity of the fixed shade 10.

The fixed shade 10 is supported by the support portion 12 facing in the front-rear direction, the base portion 13 facing in the up-down direction, and protrudes upward from the rear end portion of the base portion 13 so as to shield a part of the light emitted from the light source 7. And the shielding part 14 to be made.

  The rotary shade 11 has a rotating shaft 15 extending in the left-right direction and a main body portion 16 rotated about the rotating shaft 15 as a fulcrum. The rotating shaft 15 is connected to a driving mechanism (not shown) and is rotated by the driving mechanism. The main body 16 has a function of changing the shielding state of the light emitted from the light source 7 according to the rotational position. A reflection surface 16 a is formed on a part of the outer surface of the main body portion 16. The main body portion 16 is formed, for example, in a shape such as a substantially arc shape or a substantially semicircular columnar shape on the left and right side surfaces, but the shape of the main body portion is not limited to these shapes, and a desired light distribution pattern. What is necessary is just to be formed in the shape in which is formed.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 configured as described above, when the rotary shade 11 is rotated within a predetermined rotation range, for example, within a range where the main body portion 16 is positioned substantially below the rotation shaft 15. A part of the light emitted from the light source 7 is shielded by the shielding part 14 and the rotary shade 11 of the fixed shade 10 to form a high beam light distribution pattern H that irradiates a long-distance region (FIGS. 2 and 3). reference).

  Further, when the rotary shade 11 is rotated within a predetermined rotation range different from the above, for example, a range in which the main body portion 16 is positioned substantially on the upper side, the front side, the rear side, etc. with respect to the rotary shaft 15, Various light distribution patterns other than the high beam light distribution pattern, such as a low beam light distribution pattern for irradiating light, are formed. The shapes of the various light distribution patterns differ depending on the rotational position of the rotary shade 11.

  When the above-described high beam light distribution pattern H is formed, a part of the light emitted from the light source 7 is reflected by the reflecting surface 16a of the rotary shade 11 and at least partly overlaps the high beam light distribution pattern H. A light pattern C is formed. The additional light distribution pattern C is formed in, for example, a substantially elliptical shape whose major axis is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In a state where the additional light distribution pattern C is formed, when the rotary shade 11 is rotated, the position of the reflection surface 16a is changed, and the direction of light reflected by the reflection surface 16a is changed to change the position of the additional light distribution pattern C. Changes according to the change in the position of the reflecting surface 16a.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the rotary shade 11 is rotated and is positioned at the first position where the reflecting surface 16a faces substantially upward, most of the additional light distribution pattern C is, for example, a high beam light distribution. In the range diagonally right above the center portion of the pattern H, the overlapping portion is made brighter than the other portions of the high beam light distribution pattern H. Accordingly, since the distant area of the straight road at the position where the high beam light distribution pattern H and the additional light distribution pattern C overlap is brightened, good visibility of the straight road during high beam irradiation can be ensured.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the rotary shade 11 is rotated from the first position to the second position where the reflecting surface 16a has a steep inclination with respect to the horizontal direction from the first position, the reflecting surface 16a. The light reflected by the light beam travels downward as compared with the first position, and the position of the additional light distribution pattern C is changed substantially downward. The additional light distribution pattern C overlaps in a range from the center at the lower end of the high beam light distribution pattern H to the right side of the center in the vertical direction, and the overlapping portion is brighter than other portions of the high beam light distribution pattern H. Accordingly, since the curved road portion at the position where the high beam light distribution pattern H and the additional light distribution pattern C overlap is brightened, good visibility of the right curved road during high beam irradiation can be ensured.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1, as described above, a part of the light emitted from the light source 7 when the high beam light distribution pattern H is formed is reflected by the reflecting surface 16 a of the rotary shade 11. An additional light distribution pattern C that at least partially overlaps the high beam light distribution pattern H is formed, and the position of the additional light distribution pattern C is changed in accordance with the change in the position of the reflecting surface 16 a due to the rotation of the rotary shade 11.

  Accordingly, the overlapping portion of the high beam light distribution pattern H and the additional light distribution pattern C becomes brighter than the other portions of the high beam light distribution pattern H, and the additional light distribution pattern C is obtained by the rotation of the rotary shade 11 according to the traveling state of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to ensure good visibility during high beam irradiation while reducing the cost by simplifying the structure. In particular, good visibility on a curved road can be ensured.

  The position of the additional light distribution pattern C is controlled, for example, by rotating the rotary shade 11 in accordance with the information obtained by the in-vehicle camera, the left / right traveling direction based on the steering operation, and the like.

  Further, in the above, an example in which the long axis is formed in a substantially elliptical shape inclined obliquely upward to the right with respect to the horizontal direction so that the additional light distribution pattern C can illuminate the right curved road brightly is shown. The headlamp 1 is configured so that the left curved road can be illuminated brightly. The additional light distribution pattern that brightly illuminates the left curved path is formed in, for example, a substantially elliptical shape in which the major axis is inclined obliquely upward to the left with respect to the horizontal direction.

  In order to brightly illuminate the left and right curved roads, for example, there are an additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the left curved road and an additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the right curved road with the vehicle headlamps 1 and 1 arranged on the left and right, respectively. It is formed separately, and switching between an additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the left curved road and an additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the right curved road is performed according to the traveling state.

  In order to brightly illuminate the left and right curved roads, a reflecting surface for forming an additional light distribution pattern for illuminating the left curved path and an additional light distribution pattern for illuminating the right curved path is formed on the rotary shade, respectively. Switching between the additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the left curved path and the additional light distribution pattern that illuminates the right curved path may be performed according to the rotational position of the shade.

  Moreover, although the example in which the additional light distribution pattern C is formed in a substantially elliptical shape is shown above, the additional light distribution pattern is not limited to a substantially elliptical shape, and may be favorable depending on the situation of the road curve. Any shape may be used as long as the shape can ensure the visibility.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle headlamp according to another embodiment will be described (see FIG. 4).

  The vehicle headlamp 30 according to another embodiment described below differs from the vehicle headlamp 1 described above only in the shape of the fixed shade and the structure of the rotary shade. Only the parts that are different from the lamp 1 will be described in detail, and the other parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the vehicle headlamp 1 and description thereof will be omitted.

  A shade mechanism 9A located between the projection lens 8 and the light source 7 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5 of the vehicle headlamp 30 according to another embodiment.

  The shade mechanism 9A has a fixed shade 10A and a rotatable rotary shade 11A positioned in the vicinity of the fixed shade 10A.

  The fixed shade 10 </ b> A includes a support portion 12, a base portion 13, a shielding portion 14, and a reflecting portion 31 that is inclined so as to be displaced downward from the front end portion of the base portion 13.

  The rotary shade 11A has a rotary shaft 15 and a main body portion 16A that is rotated about the rotary shaft 15 as a fulcrum. A reflecting surface is not formed on the main body portion 16A. However, even in the vehicle headlamp 30, the rotary shade 11 may be used instead of the rotary shade 11A.

  In the vehicle headlamp 30 configured as described above, when the rotary shade 11A is rotated to a state in which the main body portion 16A is positioned substantially on the front side with respect to the rotary shaft 15, a short-distance region is irradiated. A low beam light distribution pattern L is formed.

  When the low beam light distribution pattern L is formed, a part of the light emitted from the light source 7 and reflected by the light reflecting surface 6a of the reflector 6 is reflected and projected obliquely upward and forward by the reflecting portion 31 of the fixed shade 10A. Projected by the lens 8. A so-called overhead sign light distribution pattern S, which mainly improves the visibility of road signs, is formed above the low beam light distribution pattern L by the light reflected by the reflecting portion 31 of the fixed shade 10A.

  Therefore, by providing the reflecting portion 31 on the rotary shade 11A, the light distribution pattern S of the overhead sign light can be formed without performing special processing such as a step on the projection lens 8, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced. it can.

  In the above-described other forms, the example in which the reflecting portion 31 is formed in a flat plate shape is shown, but the reflecting portion is not limited to a flat plate shape. The light distribution pattern S of the overhead sign light may be formed by the light reflected by the reflecting portion, and the reflecting portion may be formed in another shape such as a curved shape or a step shape extending in the left-right direction, for example. .

  The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described best mode are merely examples of implementations in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limitedly interpreted by these. It should not be done.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the best mode of the present invention, and this figure is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp. FIG. 2A shows a state when the rotary shade is rotated to the first position. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing an optical path of light reflected by the reflecting surface of the rotary shade, and FIG. It is a figure which shows a light pattern and an additional light distribution pattern. FIG. 6A shows a state when the rotary shade is rotated to the second position. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing an optical path of light reflected by the reflecting surface of the rotary shade, and FIG. It is a figure which shows a light pattern and an additional light distribution pattern. FIG. 2 shows a vehicle headlamp according to another embodiment, (A) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle headlamp according to another embodiment, and (B) is an arrangement formed in another embodiment. It is a figure which shows a light pattern.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle headlamp, 6 ... Reflector, 7 ... Light source, 8 ... Projection lens, 11 ... Rotation shade, 16a ... Reflecting surface, H ... High beam light distribution pattern, C ... Additional light distribution pattern

Claims (1)

A light source that emits light;
A projection lens for projecting light emitted from the light source;
A reflector that reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens;
A rotating shade that changes the shielding state of the light emitted from the light source according to the rotational position;
A reflective surface is formed on the rotary shade;
A high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates a long-distance region in a predetermined rotation range of the rotary shade is formed,
When the high beam light distribution pattern is formed, a part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflecting surface to form an additional light distribution pattern that at least partially overlaps the high beam light distribution pattern,
The vehicle headlamp, wherein the position of the additional light distribution pattern is changed in accordance with the change of the position of the reflecting surface due to the rotation of the rotary shade.

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