JP2013232390A - Light emitting device, projector, and vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light emitting device having a high color rendering property and moreover capable of realizing an arbitrary light projection pattern.SOLUTION: A light emitting device 1 includes a light emitting part 4, a lens 10, and an operation control part 11, and the operation control part 11 changes a relative position of the lens 10 against the light emitting part 4 so that an irradiation position of laser beams in the light emitting part 4 and a spot size may be changed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device, a projector, and a vehicle headlamp that have high color rendering properties and can realize an arbitrary projection pattern.

  In recent years, semiconductor light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor lasers (LDs) are used as excitation light sources, and excitation light generated from these excitation light sources is emitted to light emitting units including phosphors. Research on light-emitting devices that use fluorescence generated by the above as illumination light has become active.

  Examples of techniques relating to such a light emitting device include light emitting devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

  In Patent Document 1, a vehicle headlamp having variable illumination characteristics can be mechanically easily configured, and at the same time, fault tolerance and response speed are increased. Patent Document 2 discloses a headlamp that can reduce power consumption while suppressing an increase in size and can form a desired shading in a light distribution pattern. Patent Document 3 discloses a vehicular lamp that can electrically switch between a light distribution pattern that is wide in the horizontal direction and a light distribution pattern that is suitable for an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) that irradiates the left and right sides. ing. Patent Document 4 discloses a light source device that prevents an increase in size and weight of the device and prevents an increase in manufacturing cost even when a function for changing the light distribution is provided.

JP 2003-45210 A (published February 14, 2003) JP2011-157022 (released on August 18, 2011) JP 2011-113668 A (released on June 9, 2011) JP 2011-134619 A (published July 7, 2011)

  However, the techniques described in the above patent documents have the following problems.

  That is, since the vehicle headlamp of Patent Document 1 does not include a light emitting unit that emits laser light and does not have a color rendering property that can be used for a vehicle headlamp, and also has a light distribution pattern. Is difficult to change.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an object of providing a light-emitting device, a projector, and a color rendering property that can be used for a vehicle headlamp and has a variable light distribution pattern. And it is providing a vehicle headlamp.

  In order to solve the above problems, a light emitting device according to the present invention receives a laser beam emitted from a laser light source and emits light, and guides the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit. A light control unit for controlling, and an operation control unit for operating the light control unit, wherein the operation control unit changes the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit, thereby changing the laser in the light emitting unit. It is characterized by changing the light irradiation position and the spot size.

  According to said structure, the light control part which controls light guide of the laser beam to a light emission part from a laser light source operate | moves under control by an operation control part. Thereby, the light guide of the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit is controlled, and the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit can be changed. As a result, the light emitting device according to the present invention can irradiate light to an arbitrary place and freely change the light distribution pattern.

  At this time, the light emitting device according to the present invention secures sufficient luminance by using a laser light source, and further includes a light emitting unit that emits light upon receiving laser light, thereby providing color rendering properties of light other than the wavelength of the laser light. And the contrast can be increased.

  In addition, the light emitting device according to the present invention may further include a light amount control unit capable of controlling the light amount of the laser light source.

  According to said structure, the intensity | strength of the laser beam irradiated to the said light emission part is controlled by the said light quantity control part controlling the light quantity of a laser light source, and, thereby, also controls the intensity | strength of the light which the said light emission part emits. can do. Therefore, the light-emitting device according to the present invention not only can freely change the light distribution pattern, but also can freely control the intensity of the light, so that it is possible to realize a free light distribution pattern with a change in shading. .

  In the light emitting device according to the present invention, the light emitting unit may include at least a phosphor that emits fluorescence upon receiving the laser light.

  The type of phosphor is not particularly limited, and various phosphors can be used. Moreover, it may be comprised only with single kind of fluorescent substance, and may be comprised with multiple types of fluorescent substance. Thereby, for example, a light emitting device with good color rendering can be realized by appropriately combining blue, green, red, and yellow phosphors as the light emitting portion.

  As another phosphor, a semiconductor nanoparticle phosphor using nanometer-sized particles of a III-V compound semiconductor can also be used, which makes it possible to quickly emit laser light as fluorescence. It is possible to increase resistance to the laser beam and extend the life of the apparatus.

  As described above, the light-emitting device according to the present invention can increase advantages in terms of color rendering properties and lifetime by including at least a phosphor that emits fluorescence when the light-emitting unit receives laser light.

In the light emitting device according to the present invention, when the light distribution characteristic of the light emitting unit is a light distribution characteristic of emitting light on the side opposite to the side on which the laser light is incident,
The spot size of the laser light in the light emitting part may be substantially the same as the light emitting area in the light emitting part or larger than the light emitting area.

  If the light emitting area is larger than the spot size, it is necessary to increase the excitation density of the laser light in order to obtain the luminance of the light emitted from the light emitting portion. If it does so, the light emission part will deteriorate (discoloration and deformation | transformation) with the heat | fever of a laser beam, and the problem that lifetime becomes short will arise.

  Therefore, with the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the light emitting unit and extend its life.

  In the light emitting device according to the present invention, the light control unit is at least one of a polygon mirror and a galvanometer mirror, and the operation control unit is an actuator that operates at least one of the polygon mirror and the galvanometer mirror. There may be a certain configuration.

  By using a polygon mirror and / or a galvanometer mirror as the light control unit, the light guide of the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit can be easily controlled. Further, since the polygon mirror and the galvanometer mirror are easily available, they can be easily incorporated into the light emitting device.

  Furthermore, the light-emitting device according to the present invention can irradiate light over a very wide range by having the above-described configuration, that is, it is easy to increase the solid angle at which light can be projected. Therefore, it is possible to project light over a wide area while the projection angle itself is narrow.

  In addition, the light emitting device according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, so that it is possible to perform a laser show or the like that is conventionally performed with a laser with chromaticity that does not include a laser such as white light. When such a high output light is required, the above configuration is advantageous in order to prevent the laser element from deteriorating.

In the light emitting device according to the present invention, the light control unit is a convex lens or a concave mirror,
The operation controller may be an actuator that operates the convex lens or the concave mirror.

  By using a convex lens or a concave mirror, light guide of the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit can be easily controlled. Further, since the convex lens and the concave mirror are easy to obtain, they can be easily incorporated into the light emitting device.

  Further, according to the above configuration, since a necessary space is small, it is more advantageous than other light emitting devices when the light emitting device is incorporated in a vehicle or the like that requires a strict space design (layout).

  In addition, the light emitting device according to the present invention further includes a detection unit that detects an object in a light projection region that is a region where the device itself projects, and the operation control unit detects the object by the detection unit. In some cases, the light control unit may be operated.

  According to the above configuration, since the operation control unit operates the light control unit to control the light distribution pattern with respect to the object, for example, the light is applied to the whole or a part of the detected object. It is possible to control the light distribution pattern such as irradiation

  The light-emitting device according to the present invention further includes an identification unit that identifies the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition, and the operation control unit is configured to recognize the object identified by the identification unit. The light control unit may be configured to operate according to the type.

  The above configuration further includes an identification unit that identifies the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition. Therefore, the light distribution pattern for the object can be controlled by the operation control unit operating the light control unit in accordance with the type of the object identified by the identification unit. Thereby, for example, it is possible to control the light distribution pattern such as irradiating light to the whole or part of the detected object.

  In addition, the light emitting device according to the present invention further includes a detection unit that detects an object in a light projection region that is a region where the device itself projects light, and the light amount control unit detects the object by the detection unit. In this case, the light amount of the laser light source that projects light onto the light projection area where the object is detected may be controlled.

  According to said structure, the said light quantity control part can change a light distribution pattern freely by controlling the light quantity of the said laser light source projected on the said light projection area | region where the said object was detected, and Since the intensity of the light can be freely controlled, various light distribution patterns can be realized.

  In addition, the light emitting device according to the present invention further includes an identification unit that identifies the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition, and the light amount control unit is configured to identify the type of the object identified by the identification unit. Depending on the type, the light quantity of the laser light source that projects light onto the light projection area where the object is detected may be controlled.

  The above configuration further includes an identification unit that identifies the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition. Therefore, according to the type of the object identified by the identifying unit, the light amount control unit can control the light amount of the laser light source that projects the light projecting area where the object is detected. As a result, the light emitting device according to the present invention can freely change the light distribution pattern and can also freely control the intensity of the light, so that various light distribution patterns can be realized.

  Further, a projector according to the present invention is a projector including any one of the above light emitting devices, and includes a light projecting unit that projects light emitted from the light emitting unit, and the light projecting unit includes the operation control unit. However, the light projection range may be changed by operating the light control unit.

  According to said structure, the said light control part receives the operation | movement by the said operation control part, changes the relative position with respect to the said light emission part, and, thereby, changes the irradiation position and spot size of the said laser beam in the said light emission part. be able to. Therefore, the light projector according to the present invention can irradiate light to an arbitrary place and can realize various light distribution patterns.

  At this time, the projector according to the present invention secures sufficient luminance by using a laser light source, and further includes a light emitting unit that emits light upon receiving the laser light, so that the color rendering properties of light other than the wavelength of the laser light are provided. And the contrast can be increased.

  In the projector according to the present invention, when the light distribution characteristic of the light emitting part is a light distribution characteristic that emits light strongly on the same side as the side on which the laser light is incident, the laser light of the light emitting part is incident. The light emitting unit may be provided on the side.

  According to said structure, the light projector based on this invention is applied suitably also to the light-emitting device of the type which the said light emission part light-emits on the same side as the side into which the said laser beam enters. That is, the projector according to the present invention can be used not only for the type of light emitting device in which the light emitting unit emits light on the side opposite to the side on which the laser light is incident, thus increasing the flexibility of layout and design of the projector. Can do.

  In addition, as compared with a type of projector that emits light on the side opposite to the laser beam incident side, the projector according to the present invention has a heat dissipating mechanism on the side opposite to the light incident side (that is, the light emitting side). Thus, more efficient heat dissipation from the light emitting portion can be achieved.

  Further, a projector in which the light emitting unit emits light on the side opposite to the laser light incident side is difficult to control the light beam emitted to the light incident side, whereas the projector according to the present invention includes the light emitting unit. It is easy to control the light distribution at a solid angle of 2π steradians or less. Therefore, the projector according to the present invention can use the light beam more effectively, and thus can save power.

  In addition, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention may be configured to include any one of the above light emitting devices.

  According to the above configuration, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention can irradiate light to an arbitrary place, so that the light distribution pattern can be freely changed.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light amount control unit detects the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle when the identification unit identifies that the object is an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle. The light quantity of the laser light source projected to the light projecting area may be reduced.

  According to said structure, since the light quantity of the said laser light source projected on the said light projection area | region where the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle was detected is reduced by the said light quantity control part, the driver of an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle is The degree of feeling dazzling can be reduced. In particular, since the light from the oncoming vehicle makes it difficult to see the front, the above configuration has the effect that the occurrence of an accident can be suppressed.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light amount control unit detects the road sign or the obstacle when the object is identified as the road sign or the obstacle by the identification unit. Further, the light quantity of the laser light source that projects light to the light projecting area may be increased.

  According to said structure, since the light quantity of the said laser light source which projects the said road sign or the said light projection area | region where the obstacle was detected is increased by the said light quantity control part, a driver is a road sign or an obstruction Visual confirmation of an object becomes easy. Thereby, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the occurrence of an accident can be suppressed.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the operation control unit includes any one of the illumination light distribution pattern defined in the right-hand passing country and the illumination light distribution pattern defined in the left-hand passing country. It may be configured to change the irradiation position of the laser beam on the light emitting unit so as to satisfy the above.

  The light distribution patterns of illumination light defined in the right-hand side country and the left-hand side country are different. In this regard, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the operation control unit changes the irradiation position of the laser light on the light emitting unit, so that the distribution of the illumination light defined in the right-hand side country or the left-hand side country is achieved. The light pattern can be filled. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is suitably used in both the right-hand and right-hand countries.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light amount control unit is configured to display either the illumination light distribution pattern defined in the right-hand traffic country or the illumination intensity of the illumination light defined in the left-hand traffic country. It may be configured to control the amount of light of the laser light source so as to satisfy.

  In the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the light amount control unit controls the light amount of the laser light source, whereby the illuminance of the illumination light defined in the right side country or the left side country can be satisfied. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention can be suitably used in both the right-hand traffic country and the left-hand traffic country.

  Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, the operation control unit changes the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit when the identification unit identifies an uphill. When the identification unit identifies a downhill, the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit is changed. By changing the position of the laser beam, the irradiation position of the laser beam may be changed to change the irradiation range of the irradiation light irradiated forward from the vehicle in a direction opposite to the ground.

  According to the above configuration, when the identification unit identifies an uphill or a downhill, the operation control unit changes the irradiation position of the laser light by changing the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit. Let And the said operation control part changes the irradiation range of the irradiated light irradiated toward a front from a vehicle to the direction opposite to the ground direction or the ground.

  As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention can appropriately illuminate the road even when the uphill and the downhill appear forward, so that a safe driving environment can be provided to the driver. .

  As described above, the light emitting device according to the present invention receives a laser beam emitted from a laser light source and emits light, and light control for controlling light guide of the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit. And an operation control unit for operating the light control unit, wherein the operation control unit changes the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit, thereby irradiating the laser light at the light emitting unit. In addition, the spot size is changed.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide a light emitting device, a projector, and a vehicle headlamp that have high color rendering properties and can realize an arbitrary projection pattern.

It is the schematic of the projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating operation | movement of the light-emitting device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the mode of light projection by a light projector provided with the light-emitting device concerning this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the light projection by the light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the light projection by the light projector which concerns on this embodiment. Conceptual diagram showing parabolic mirror paraboloid (A) is a top view of the parabolic mirror 5, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a side view. It is the schematic of the projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the illuminating device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the other illuminating device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the other illuminating device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram at the time of applying the projector which concerns on this embodiment to the vehicle headlamp. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating the light quantity adjustment part which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which adjusts the light quantity of a laser element. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect acquired by the light quantity adjustment part. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect acquired by the light quantity adjustment part. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect acquired by the light quantity adjustment part. It is a figure for demonstrating the other illuminating device which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic explaining a MEMS mirror. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the other light projector which concerns on this embodiment. (A)-(c) is the schematic explaining a piezomirror element.

  Hereinafter, the light-emitting device 1 and the like according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[Outline of operation of light-emitting device 1]
First, the outline of the operation of the light emitting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and the like, and then the specific configuration of the light emitting device 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the light emitting device 1. As illustrated, the light emitting device 1 includes a laser element (laser light source) 2, a light emitting unit 4, a lens (light control unit) 10, and an operation control unit 11 (not shown).

  In the light emitting device 1, the laser element 2 emits laser light, and the light emitting unit 4 emits light upon receiving the laser light. The light guide of laser light from the laser element 2 to the light emitting unit 4 is controlled by the lens 10. The operation of the lens 10 is controlled by the operation control unit 11. The operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the laser element 2.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the above-described operation. The lens 10 operates under the control of the operation control unit 11, whereby the laser beam is applied to an arbitrary region of the irradiation surface irradiated with the laser beam of the light emitting unit 4. Are scanned. The operation control unit 11 can also change the spot size of the laser beam in the light emitting unit 4 by operating the lens 10.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining how light is projected by the projector 100. The projector 100 includes the light emitting device 1 and the parabolic mirror 5. The light emitting unit 4 is disposed at a substantially focal position of the parabolic mirror 5. The parabolic mirror 5 reflects (projects) the light emitted by the light emitting unit 4 toward the outside.

  In the projector 100, the operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4. Thereby, the light projection region of the light reflected by the parabolic mirror 5 changes according to the irradiation position of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4, and the light projection region L shown in FIG. 3 is formed. At this time, the scanning amount of the laser beam can be suppressed by increasing the spot size of the laser beam in the light emitting unit 4. This is the same in the example of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of light projection by the light projector 100. In this example, the light projector 100 operates the operation control unit 11 to irradiate only a partial region of the light emitting unit 4 with the laser beam, thereby limiting the light projection region to only the region L1.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another example of light projection by the light projector 100. In this example, the projector 100 projects the light projecting region L excluding the region L1 by operating the operation control unit 11. This is realized by turning off the laser element 2 at the timing when the region L1 is irradiated when irradiating the projection region L (FIG. 2).

  As described above, the light emitting device 1 can freely change the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4, and thereby can freely change the light distribution pattern. In addition, the light emitting device 1 secures sufficient luminance by using the laser element 2, and further includes a light emitting unit 4 that emits light upon receiving laser light, so that color rendering properties of light other than the wavelength of the laser light and The contrast can be increased.

  Furthermore, the projector 100 also realizes the following effects. In other words, in the conventional projector, since it is necessary to change the light distribution pattern by operating the projector as a unit, there is a problem in the response speed, and the power consumption of the driving device is large, which is introduced into an electric vehicle or the like. It was difficult. In addition, since the drive device is enlarged, there is a problem that the control direction is limited. On the other hand, the projector 100 can freely change the irradiation position and spot size of the laser beam in the light emitting unit 4 by the operation of the operation control unit 11, so that the response speed is fast and the power consumption can be greatly reduced. is there.

  Hereinafter, the structure of each part of the light emitting device 1 and the projector 100 will be described.

(Laser element 2)
The laser element 2 is a light emitting element that functions as a laser light source that emits laser light. The laser element 2 may be either one having one light emitting point on one chip or one having a plurality of light emitting points on one chip. The wavelength of the laser light of the laser element 2 is, for example, 395 nm (blue-violet), but a laser having a wavelength in the blue-violet region of 380 nm to 415 nm can be selected (in this application, the wavelength range of 380 nm to 415 nm is “ Defined as "blue-purple"). Alternatively, the wavelength of the laser beam of the laser element 2 may be appropriately selected according to the type of phosphor included in the light emitting unit 4, and therefore may be a wavelength different from the wavelength of the blue-violet laser beam, for example, 470 nm. A blue laser that oscillates is considered as a candidate. (In this embodiment, the wavelength range of 420 nm to 490 nm is defined as “blue”)
(Lens 10)
The lens 10 is a lens for adjusting (for example, enlarging or reducing) the irradiation range of the laser beam so that the laser beam emitted from the laser element 2 is appropriately irradiated to the light emitting unit 4. Near the laser emitting portion. The operation of the lens 10 is controlled by the operation control unit 11, and the irradiation position of the laser beam and the spot size in the light emitting unit 4 are changed by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the laser element 2.

  The lens 10 can be a convex lens, a parabolic mirror, a concave mirror, or the like. By using a convex lens, a parabolic mirror, or a concave mirror, the light guide of the laser light from the laser element 2 to the light emitting unit 4 can be easily controlled. Further, the convex lens, the parabolic mirror, and the concave mirror have an advantage that they are easily available.

(Light emitting part 4)
The light emitting unit 4 emits fluorescence upon receiving the laser light emitted from the laser element 2, and includes a phosphor that emits light upon receiving the laser light. Specifically, the light emitting unit 4 is formed on a substrate made of a material in which a phosphor is dispersed inside a sealing material (sealing type), a material in which a phosphor is solidified, or a material having high thermal conductivity. It is a light-emitting body containing a phosphor such as one coated with (deposited with) phosphor particles (thin film type). The light emitting unit 4 can be said to be a wavelength conversion element because it converts laser light into fluorescence.

The light emitting unit 4 is disposed almost at the focal position of the parabolic mirror 5. Therefore, the fluorescence emitted from the light emitting unit 4 is reflected on the reflection curved surface of the parabolic mirror 5 so that the optical path is controlled.
(Fluorescent material)
In the present embodiment, BAM (BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ : Eu), BSON (Ba) is used as the phosphor of the light emitting unit 4 so as to emit white fluorescence upon receiving laser light having a wavelength of 395 nm oscillated by the laser element 2. ₃ Si ₆ O ₁₂ N ₂ : Eu), Eu-α (Ca-α-SiAlON: Eu). However, the fluorescent material is not limited to these, and may be appropriately selected so that the light projected from the projector 100 is white. For example, other oxynitride phosphors (for example, sialon phosphors such as JEM (LaAl (SiAl) ₆ N ₉ O: Ce) and β-SiAlON), nitride phosphors (for example, CASN (CaAlSiN ₃ : Eu)) Phosphors: SCASN ((Sr, Ca) AlSiN ₃ : Eu), Apatite ((Ca, Sr) ₅ (PO ₄ ) ₃ Cl: Eu) -based or III-V group compound semiconductor nanoparticle phosphors (eg, Inju (Murin: InP) can be used.
(Sealed type)
The sealing material when the light emitting unit 4 is a sealing type is, for example, a resin material such as a glass material (inorganic glass or organic-inorganic hybrid glass) or a silicone resin. Low melting glass may be used as the glass material. The sealing material is preferably highly transparent, and when the laser beam has a high output, a material having high heat resistance is preferable. The structure may be sealed with silicon oxide or titanium oxide by a sol-gel method.

An antireflection structure for preventing the reflection of laser light may be formed on the upper surface of the light emitting unit 4, but in the case of a sealed type, the shape of the upper surface of the light emitting unit is easy to control, so an antireflection film is particularly formed. It is desirable.
(Thin film type)
When the light emitting unit 4 is a thin film type, Al, Cu, AlN ceramic, SiC ceramic, aluminum oxide, Si, or the like is used as a substrate. After the phosphor particles are applied or deposited on the substrate, each substrate is divided into a desired size. Then, it fixes to a light-emitting body support part using a high heat conductive adhesive agent.

  When Al or Cu is used, it is desirable to coat TiN, Ti, TaN, Ta or the like as a barrier metal on the side of the substrate where the phosphor particles are not deposited (the side facing the light emitter support portion). Further, Pt or Au may be coated on the barrier metal.

Although it is desirable to use eutectic solder such as SnAgCu and AuSn as the high thermal conductive adhesive, it is not particularly limited.
(In the case of blue LD)
When white light is obtained by exciting a phosphor with a semiconductor laser or the like, combinations of various excitation wavelengths and various phosphor materials are assumed. However, white light can also be obtained as follows. That is, the phosphor is excited using blue laser light, and the fluorescence from the phosphor is used as the light component of the illumination light. Then, the blue light component that has not contributed to the excitation of the phosphor is also scattered as a light component of the illumination light, and white light is obtained by mixing the scattered blue light and the fluorescence from the phosphor. . By using the white light thus obtained as white illumination light, white illumination can be realized with high efficiency.

For example, white light can also be obtained by including a yellow phosphor (or green and red phosphor) in the light emitting section 4 and irradiating a laser beam in the vicinity of 450 nm (blue) (in this application, a wavelength range of 420 nm to 490 nm). .
(Transmission type)
The projector 100 can be of a type in which the light emitting unit 4 emits light on the side opposite to the laser light incident side. The same applies to a projector 200 and the like which will be described later.

  When the projector is a transmissive type, that is, the light distribution characteristic of the light emitting unit 4 is a light distribution characteristic that emits light more strongly than the side on which laser light is incident on the side opposite to the side on which laser light is incident. In some cases, the spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 is preferably substantially the same as the light emitting area in the light emitting unit 4 or larger than the light emitting area.

  If the light emitting area is larger than the spot size, it is necessary to increase the excitation density of the laser light in order to obtain the luminance of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 4. If it does so, the light emission part 4 will deteriorate (discoloration and deformation | transformation) with the heat | fever of a laser beam, and the problem that lifetime becomes short will arise. Therefore, by adopting a transmission type, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the light emitting unit 4 and extend its life.

(Parabolic mirror 5)
The parabolic mirror 5 reflects the fluorescence generated by the light emitting unit 4 and projects the light toward the light distribution area, and forms a light bundle (illumination light) that travels within a predetermined solid angle. The parabolic mirror 5 may be, for example, a member having a metal thin film formed on the surface thereof or a metal member.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the parabolic mirror 5 is obtained by cutting a curved surface (parabolic curved surface) formed by rotating the parabola around the axis of symmetry of the parabola by a plane including the rotational axis. The partial curved surface is at least partially included in the reflecting surface.

  Part of the parabolic mirror 5 having such a shape is disposed so as to face the upper surface of the light emitting unit 4 having a larger area than the side surface. That is, the parabolic mirror 5 is disposed at a position covering the upper surface of the light emitting unit 4 (irradiation surface (light receiving surface) side that is a surface of the light emitting unit 4 irradiated with laser light). If it demonstrates from another viewpoint, seeing from the light emission part 4, at least one part of the parabolic mirror 5 will be arrange | positioned in the radiation angle where the luminous intensity of the light emitted from the light emission part 4 is the highest.

  By making the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 4 and the parabolic mirror 5 as described above, the fluorescence of the light emitting unit 4 can be efficiently projected within a predetermined solid angle. Can be increased.

(Half parabola)
The parabola mirror only needs to include a parabola shape such as a half parabola as described below, and may be an off-axis parabola mirror or a multifaceted parabola mirror.

  6 is a conceptual diagram showing the paraboloid of the parabolic mirror 5, FIG. 7 (a) is a top view of the parabolic mirror 5, FIG. 7 (b) is a front view, and FIG. 7 (c) is a side view. It is. FIGS. 7A to 7C show an example in which the parabolic mirror 5 is formed by hollowing out the inside of a rectangular parallelepiped member so as to easily illustrate the explanatory drawings.

In Fig.7 (a) and FIG.7 (c), the curve shown with the code | symbol 20a shows a parabolic curved surface. Moreover, as shown in FIG.7 (b), when the parabolic mirror 5 is seen from the front, the opening part 20b (exit of illumination light) is a semicircle.
(Other configurations)
The mirror is not necessarily a parabola, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose of the projector. For example, the mirror may be an elliptical mirror. The mirror can also be a multi-faceted mirror or a free-form surface mirror that can create an arbitrary light distribution.

A part that is not a parabola may be included in a part of the parabola mirror 5. Moreover, the reflecting mirror included in the projector according to the present invention may include a parabolic mirror having a closed circular opening or a part thereof. The reflecting mirror is not limited to a parabolic mirror, but is an optical element or an optical element group (a combination of optical elements, for example, an elliptical mirror and a convex lens) that converts light emitted from the light emitting unit 4 into substantially parallel light. If it is.
(What is almost parallel light)
The substantially parallel light does not need to be completely parallel, and the projection angle (vertical angle at which the luminous intensity becomes half value) may be 20 ° or less. In the present embodiment, the light projection angle is set for each element constituting the laser element 2, and the light projection angle of each element constituting the laser element 2 is 0.5 ° to 20 ° from the viewpoint of light distribution control. However, the average value of each element constituting the laser element 2 is 3 ° or less.

[Configuration of Light Emitting Device 1 and Projector 200]
Next, a more specific configuration of the light emitting device and the projector will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a projector 200 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated, the projector 200 includes a laser element 2, a lens 10, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5, a heat radiating base 7, fins 8, and a light emitter support unit 9. Furthermore, the projector 200 includes an operation control unit 11 that functions as an actuator.

(Heat dissipation base 7)
The heat dissipation base 7 is a support member that supports the laser element 2 and is made of metal (for example, aluminum or copper). For this reason, the heat dissipation base 7 has high thermal conductivity, and heat generated in the laser element 2 disposed on the heat dissipation base 7 can be efficiently dissipated.

  The member that supports the laser element 2 may be a member containing a substance having high thermal conductivity other than metal (such as silicon carbide or aluminum nitride), but is preferably a metal having high thermal conductivity.

(Fin 8)
The fins 8 are provided on the heat radiating base 7 and function as cooling units (heat radiating mechanisms) that cool the heat transferred from the laser element 2 to the heat radiating base 7. The fin 8 has a plurality of heat radiating plates, and increases the heat radiation efficiency by increasing the contact area with the atmosphere. Note that the fins 8 are not necessarily in contact with the heat radiating base 7 and may be interposed between the heat radiating base 7 and the fins 8 with a heat pipe, a water-cooled pipe, a Peltier element, or the like.

  The cooling unit that cools the heat dissipation base 7 may have a cooling (heat dissipation) function. In the case of a water cooling method, a radiator method may be used. Moreover, the structure which forcedly cools with a fan etc. may be sufficient.

(Luminescent support 9)
The light emitter support portion 9 made of a metal having high thermal conductivity supports the light emitting portion 4 at one end, and the light emitting portion 4 is disposed at a substantially focal position of the parabolic mirror 5. The other end of the light emitter support 9 passes through the parabolic mirror 5 and is connected to a heat radiating member (not shown) having high thermal conductivity. For this reason, the heat of the light emitting part 4 that generates heat by the laser light propagates to the light emitter support part 9 and the heat radiating member, and is efficiently radiated.

(Operation control unit 11)
The operation control unit 11 that functions as an actuator includes a lens frame 40, a coil 41, a magnet 42, a suspension wire 43, and a wire support housing 44.

  The lens 10 is embedded in the lens frame 40. The lens frame 40 has a rectangular shape, and two (a total of four) coils 41 are arranged on opposite side surfaces. In FIG. 1, two coils 41 are disposed on two opposing surfaces of the lens frame 40 in the vertical direction of the drawing (the two lower coils 41 are not shown).

  In addition, the shape of the lens frame 40 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be various shapes. The type of the coil 41 is not particularly limited, and may be a pattern coil, for example. Further, the number of the coils 41 is not limited to four, and may be a single number or a plurality other than four.

  The magnet 42 is disposed at a position facing the coil 41 and in the vicinity of the coil 41. The magnet 42 is a neodymium magnet (Nd magnet) magnetized with multiple poles. However, the type of the magnet 42 is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected depending on the type of actuator. Further, the magnet 42 has a rectangular shape in FIG. 1, but the shape is not particularly limited.

  The wire support housing 44 is connected to the lens frame body 40 via the suspension wire 43 to support the lens frame body 40. The material and shape of the wire support housing 44 are not particularly limited. However, the laser light emitted from the laser element 2 is formed in a shape that does not hinder the light emitting unit 4 from being irradiated.

  In the above configuration, a magnetic field is generated by passing a current through the coil 41, and a rotational force (rotational torque) is applied to the magnet 42 by the magnetic field. Therefore, the rotational torque can be freely changed by changing the magnitude of the current. Thereby, the operation of the lens frame 40, that is, the lens 10 can be controlled. Further, the direction of the rotational force acting on the magnet 42 can be changed in the opposite direction by changing the direction of the current flowing through the coil.

  Thereby, since the lens 10 can operate freely in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4 can be changed, and the irradiation position of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 can be changed. At this time, the spot size of the laser beam in the light emitting unit 4 needs to be larger than the NFP (Near Field Pattern) size of the laser element 2.

  It is necessary to make the spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 larger than the NFP size and lower the excitation density of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4. This is because the light emitting section 4 generates heat due to the laser light, and the light emitting section 4 is deteriorated (discolored or deformed) by the heat, resulting in a short life.

  Note that the operation control unit 11 that functions as an actuator does not have to be the two-axis type illustrated in FIG. 1, and may be one axis or any number of axes other than two axes.

  The actuator may be of another type as long as it has a mechanism for moving the lens in the direction of the arrow in the figure, for example, “rack and pinion type”, helicoid type, or solenoid type.

[About the projector 300]
A projector 300 according to still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the projector 300. As shown in the figure, the projector 300 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, and a light emitter support unit 9 (not shown). Further, the projector 300 includes a rising mirror (light control unit) 30, a cylindrical lens 32, a polygon mirror (light control unit) 34, a polygon mirror driving unit (operation control unit) 35, a scanning lens 36, a galvano mirror (light control unit). ) 38 and a galvanometer mirror drive unit (operation control unit) 39.

  The rising mirror 30 converts the laser light emitted from the laser light emitting end of the laser element 2 into collimated light and reflects it toward the cylindrical lens 32.

  The operation of the upright mirror may be controlled by an actuator or the like (not shown).

  The cylindrical lens 32 changes the magnification of the laser beam reflected by the rising mirror 30 only in a single direction and irradiates the laser beam toward the polygon mirror 34.

  The polygon mirror 34 is a rotating polygon mirror mounted on a high-precision digital copying machine, a laser printer, or the like. The polygon mirror 34 rotates at a high speed of several tens of thousands of times per minute by driving of the polygon mirror driving unit 35 connected to the polygon mirror 34, and irradiates the scanning lens 36 with the laser beam reflected at the high speed rotation.

  The scanning lens 36 is a lens used for scanning laser light. When the laser light is incident at an angle θ, the scanning lens 36 is multiplied by the focal length f of the scanning lens 36 (Y = f · θ). Tie the statue of. The scanning lens 36 has a function of scanning the laser beam scanned at the same angle by the polygon mirror 34 on the imaging surface at a constant speed, and irradiates the scanned laser beam toward the galvanometer mirror 38.

  The galvanometer mirror 38 is rotated by driving the galvanometer mirror driving unit 39 by an amount corresponding to the level of the input driving voltage to change the reflection angle, and irradiates the reflected laser beam toward the light emitting unit 4. . Thereby, the galvanometer mirror 38 can irradiate the light emitting unit 4 with laser light at an arbitrary angle.

  As described above, the projector 300 operates the polygon mirror 34 and the galvano mirror 38 by the polygon mirror driving unit 35 and the galvano mirror driving unit 39, thereby arbitrarily changing the irradiation position and spot size of the laser beam in the light emitting unit 4. Let

  The rising mirror 30, the polygon mirror 34, and the galvanometer mirror 38 are provided with an HR coat made of a dielectric multilayer film. The cylindrical lens 32 and the scanning lens 36 are provided with an AR (Anti Reflect) coat made of a dielectric multilayer coat. The AR and HR coats are tuned with respect to the emission wavelength of the laser element 2.

  By applying AR coating and HR coating, optical loss can be reduced. In this embodiment, since a high-power laser is used, if AR coating and HR coating are not applied, the optical loss becomes heat and the optical element is distorted. Further, in the case of a vehicle projector, the laser light irradiation position and spot size are arbitrarily changed. However, the light distribution of the laser light formed on the light emitting unit 4 according to the light projection pattern of the headlamp determined by law and regulation ( The light distribution at the time average) is often the same light distribution for forming a pattern according to the regulations. That is, each optical element is not uniformly exposed to the laser beam, and only a specific region is always exposed to a region with a high laser output. Therefore, if AR coating and HR coating are not applied, there arises a problem that the region is deteriorated.

[About the projector 400]
A projector 400 according to still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the projector 400.

  The projector 400 is different from the projector 200 in that the lens 12 is provided between the laser element 2 and the lens frame 40.

  Here, the lens 12 is a collimating lens whose aberration has been corrected to make the laser light incident from the laser element 2 parallel light. The lens 10 is an objective lens for forming an image of laser light.

  As described above, the projector according to the present embodiment can also be realized by separately providing the collimating lens and the objective lens.

  Since the actuator of the projector 200 is driven in the direction of the arrow, the spot size in the light emitting unit 4 cannot be changed at an arbitrary place. That is, the spot size changes due to coma, but cannot be changed intentionally. In that respect, in the projector 400, by operating the collimating lens 12, a spot of any size can be formed at any location.

[About the projector 500]
A projector 500 according to still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the projector 500.

  The projector 500 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, a light emitter support unit 9, and a lens 10. Further, the projector 500 includes an actuator (operation control unit 11, not shown) and a concave mirror 50 driven by the actuator.

  In the projector 500, the laser beam emitted from the laser element 2 is applied to the concave mirror 50 through the lens 10. The concave mirror 50 reflects the incident laser light toward the light emitting unit 4. At this time, the operation of the concave mirror 50 is controlled by the operation control unit 11. That is, the operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation position of the laser beam and the spot size in the light emitting unit 4 by changing the relative position of the concave mirror 50 with respect to the light emitting unit 4.

  As described above, the projector according to the present embodiment can be realized by a configuration different from that of the projector 300 and the like.

  Moreover, in the projector for vehicles, since the back surface of the projector is often an engine room, and various devices and pipes are installed in the engine room, it is desirable that the depth of the projector is narrow. From the viewpoint of heat dissipation, it is desirable that the heat dissipating fins 8 be installed not on the engine room side but on the outermost shell of the vehicle. In the projector 500, the above two problems are solved by using the concave mirror 50.

  Further, the position of the light emission spot in the light emitting unit 4 is changed by operating the concave mirror 50 by the operation control unit in a direction parallel to the main plane of the mirror.

  The concave mirror 50 may be a convex mirror depending on the size of the light emission spot in the light emitting unit 4.

  The concave mirror 50 can be a plane mirror. However, in that case, a mechanism that moves the mirror in parallel to the mirror surface cannot realize the same function as described above. Then, the following structures are mentioned as an example of the mechanism in the case of a plane mirror. In other words, when an orthogonal coordinate system defined by the z-axis as the normal direction of the mirror surface with respect to the mirror surface, the x-axis within the mirror surface, and the y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and z-axis is set, x By providing a mechanism for tilting the mirror surface in the axial and y-axis directions and operating the mirror in this way, the light emission spot position in the light emitting section 4 can be changed.

[Example 1]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a projector 600 that is a modification of the projector 400.

  The operation of the projector 600 is controlled by the laser element 2, the light emitting unit 4, the elliptical mirror 6, the heat dissipation base 7, the fin 8, the light emitter support unit 9, an operation control unit 11 (not shown) that functions as an actuator, and the operation control unit 11. The lens 10, the wavelength cut coat 20, and the lens 21 are provided.

  The number of laser elements 2 is one, and the excitation spot size is 20 μmΦ to 500 μmΦ. The laser element 2 is provided on the heat dissipation base 7. The heat dissipation base 7 and the fins 8 are made of Al having high thermal conductivity.

  The light guide of laser light from the laser element 2 to the light emitting unit 4 is controlled by the lens 10. The operation of the lens 10 is controlled by the operation control unit 11.

  In the projector 600, an elliptical mirror 6 having a diameter of 38 mm is used instead of the parabolic mirror 5. The light emitting unit 4 is provided at a substantially first focal position of the elliptical mirror 6. The light emitting section 4 has a size of 4 mm × 2 mm, and is supported by the light emitter support section 9 with an inclination of 15 ° with respect to the laser beam.

  The wavelength cut coat 20 blocks light in a specific wavelength range. The wavelength cut coat 20 blocks a laser beam having a wavelength of 400 nm or less, for example, and provides a user with a device that is friendly to human eyes. The wavelength to be blocked can be adjusted as appropriate according to the type of the wavelength cut coat 20. A wavelength cut filter may be used instead of the wavelength cut coat 20.

  The lens 21 converts the light reflected by the parabolic mirror 5 and transmitted through the wavelength cut coat 20 into substantially parallel light, and emits the substantially parallel light to the outside of the projector 600. The lens 21 is connected to the elliptical mirror while in contact with the wavelength cut coat 20.

  According to the above configuration, the operation control unit 11 controls the operation of the lens 10 to move the lens 10 in any direction of the three axis (X, Y, Z) directions (arrows in the drawing). The irradiation position of the laser beam on the light emitting unit 4 can be scanned (scanned), and the spot size of the laser beam can be arbitrarily changed. In the projector 600, the scan rate of the laser element 2 is set to 60 Hz.

  Here, the above-mentioned various conditions of the projector 600 are not limited to the described numerical values. For example, the size of the light emitting unit 4 does not have to be 4 mm × 2 mm, and may be another size (for example, 1.2 mm × 0.6 mm).

  The scan rate may be 30 Hz or higher. When set to less than 30 Hz, flicker becomes conspicuous. The higher the frequency, the less the flicker becomes conspicuous. However, if the scan rate is 120 Hz, it is sufficient because the light distribution can be switched before traveling 1 m even when traveling at a speed of 400 km / h.

[Example 2]
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a projector 700 which is a modification of the projector 600.

  The operation of the projector 700 is controlled by the laser element 2, the light emitting unit 4, the elliptical mirror 6, the heat dissipation base 7, the fins 8, the light emitter support unit 9, an operation control unit 11 (not shown) that functions as an actuator, and the operation control unit 11. The upright mirror 30, the wavelength cut coat 20, and the lens 21 are provided.

  This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the rising mirror 30 is used instead of the lens 10 used in the projector 600. In the present embodiment, the light emitted from the laser element 2 is used as collimated light, and the optical path is controlled, so that the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4 can be arbitrarily changed.

  In this embodiment, the rising mirror 30 is an off-axis parabolic mirror having the light emitting point of the laser element 2 as a substantially focal position.

Example 3
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a projector 800 which is a modification of the projector 700.

  The projector 800 is different from the projector 700 in that a parabolic mirror having a diameter of 38 mm is used instead of the elliptical mirror 6 and the convex lens 21, but is the same as the projector 700 in other points. Therefore, similarly to the projector 700, the projector 800 can arbitrarily change the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4.

Example 4
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a projector 900 which is a modification of the projector 700.

  The projector 900 is the same as the projector 700 except that the laser light of the laser element 2 is coupled to the fiber 15 and the laser light is guided to the substantially focal position of the rising mirror 30 by the fiber 15. Therefore, similarly to the projector 700, the projector 900 can arbitrarily change the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit 4.

  The projector 900 can reduce a space behind the projector by using the fiber 15.

  Moreover, since the light projector 900 can use the fiber 15 to install the fins 8 at a place where it is easy to radiate heat, the long-term reliability of the system can be improved.

  In the projector 900, the laser light is coupled to the fiber 15 by a butt joint. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the laser beam may be appropriately coupled to the fiber 15 using a lens or a mirror.

  Further, the numerical aperture (NA) of the fiber 15 in the laser light is 0.18 at the incident end and the outgoing end. However, the NA of the light emitting part and the incident end part may be changed in order to reduce the excitation area in the light source part while maintaining the coupling efficiency of the laser light. In that case, the light emitting portion NA> the incident portion NA.

  In addition, a lens may be used in place of the upright mirror 30, but in this case, since the fiber 15 needs to be extended to the rear of the projector, a space behind the projector is used.

[Application example of the projector]
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram when the projector described above is applied to a vehicle headlamp (headlamp). In FIG. 14, the headlamp is disposed on the head of the vehicle 55 so that the parabolic mirror 5 is positioned vertically downward. However, the arrangement position and orientation of the parabolic mirror 5 can be changed as appropriate according to the design guidelines for the head lamp in the vehicle.

  The headlamp may be applied to a traveling headlamp (high beam) for a vehicle, or may be applied to a passing headlamp (low beam). In addition, while the vehicle 55 is traveling, the light distribution pattern can be changed according to the traveling state. Thereby, it can project with an arbitrary projection pattern while the vehicle 55 is traveling, and the convenience of the user can be improved. Details thereof will be described later.

  The projector described above may be applied not only to a vehicle headlamp but also to other lighting devices. The projector described above may be realized as a headlamp of a moving object other than a vehicle (for example, a human, a ship, an aircraft, a submersible, a rocket). Two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles, in particular, have the characteristic that the vehicle body is greatly inclined at a curve, so the conventional system has problems such as an increase in the size of the device and slow operation speed. I didn't do it. However, it is possible to always illuminate the traveling direction by applying the projector according to the present embodiment to a motorcycle. Moreover, you may implement | achieve as interior lighting fixtures (a stand lamp etc.) other than a searchlight, a projector, and a downlight.

[Light intensity adjustment section]
Next, a light amount adjustment unit provided in the projector according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the following description applies not only to the projector 200 but also to the projector 300 and the like. In the following description, a case where the light amount adjustment unit (or the light amount control unit) is applied to a headlamp that is a high beam headlamp of a vehicle is taken as an example. However, the light quantity adjustment unit (light quantity control unit) can be applied to other than the vehicle.
(Light intensity adjustment unit)
FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the light amount adjustment unit 60. The projector 200 includes a light amount adjustment unit 60. The light amount adjustment unit 60 receives an input from a camera 70 mounted on the vehicle. A light amount control unit 63 (described later) of the light amount adjustment unit 60 is connected to the laser element 2 via a wiring 65.

  The camera 70 continuously captures a peripheral image in front of the vehicle including an illumination area, and is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of a room mirror in front of the room. For the camera 70, for example, an imaging device that captures a moving image at a television frame rate can be used. However, in the case of a moving body that moves at a speed of 400 km / h, it is desirable that the frame rate be 120 Hz or higher. Good. The frame rate needs to be equal to or higher than the frame rate of the projector.

  The camera 70 starts photographing at the time when the laser is emitted from the laser element 2 at the latest, and outputs the photographed moving image to the light amount adjusting unit 60. The light amount adjustment unit 60 controls the light amount of the laser element 2 in accordance with the type of object photographed by the camera 70. The light amount adjustment unit 60 includes a detection unit 61, an identification unit 62, and a light amount control unit 63.

  The detection unit 61 analyzes a moving image photographed by the camera 70 and detects an object in the projection area. Specifically, when the detection unit 61 acquires a moving image from the camera 70, the detection unit 61 detects an object for each detection region that is a region in the moving image corresponding to each light projection region for which coordinate information is set in advance. .

  Then, when an object is detected in the detection area, the detection unit 61 outputs a detection signal indicating the detection area where the object is detected to the identification unit 62.

  The identification unit 62 identifies the type of object in the detection area indicated by the detection signal output from the detection unit 61. Specifically, when the identification unit 62 acquires a detection signal from the detection unit 61, the identification unit 62 extracts feature points such as the moving speed, shape, and position of the object in the detection region indicated by the detection signal, and numerically sets the feature points The converted feature value is calculated.

  Then, the identification unit 62 refers to a reference value table stored in a memory (not shown) and manages a reference value in which the feature points for each object type are digitized, and calculates the calculated feature value in the reference value table. A reference value that is within a predetermined threshold is retrieved. For example, the reference value table manages reference values corresponding to oncoming vehicles, preceding vehicles, road signs, or assumed obstacles. When a reference value whose error from the calculated feature value is within a predetermined threshold is specified, the identification unit 62 determines that the object indicated by the reference value is an object detected by the detection unit 61.

  Based on the determination result, the identification unit 62 outputs to the light amount control unit 63 an identification signal indicating the type of the object indicated by the reference value and the detection area where the object is detected.

  The light amount control unit 63 controls the amount of light that is projected onto the light projection region corresponding to the detection region, according to the type of object indicated by the identification signal output from the identification unit 62. Specifically, when the type of the object indicated by the identification signal output from the detection unit 61 is an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle, the light amount control unit 63 detects that the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle is detected. The output of the laser element 2 to the region of the light emitting unit 4 that forms the light projection corresponding to the region is reduced to such an extent that the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle do not feel glare.

On the other hand, when the type of the object indicated by the identification signal output from the identification unit 62 is a road sign or an obstacle, the light amount control unit 63 corresponds to the detection area where the road sign or the obstacle is detected. The output of the laser element 2 that projects light toward the light projecting area is increased. This action can alert the driver.
(Process to adjust the amount of light)
Next, processing for adjusting the light amount of the laser element 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation of adjusting the light amount of the laser element 2.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the camera 70 starts photographing at the latest when the laser element 2 is turned on (S1). At this time, the camera 70 captures the front of the vehicle at an angle of view capable of capturing the entire illumination area projected by the laser element 2, and outputs the captured moving image to the light amount adjustment unit 60.

  Next, the detection unit 61 analyzes the moving image photographed by the camera 70 and detects an object in the light projection area (S2). Specifically, when the detection unit 61 acquires a moving image from the camera 70, the detection unit 61 detects an object for each detection area corresponding to each light projection area. Then, when an object is detected in the detection area, the detection unit 61 outputs a detection signal indicating the detection area where the object is detected to the identification unit 62.

  Next, the identification unit 62 identifies the type of the object in the detection area indicated by the detection signal output from the detection unit 61 (S3). Specifically, when the identification unit 62 acquires the detection signal from the detection unit 61, the identification unit 62 extracts and quantifies the feature points such as the moving speed, shape, and position of the object in the detection area indicated by the detection signal. Calculate the value.

  Then, the identification unit 62 refers to the reference value table and searches for a reference value whose error from the calculated feature value is within a predetermined threshold. When a reference value whose error from the calculated feature value is within a predetermined threshold is specified, the identification unit 62 determines that the object indicated by the reference value is an object detected by the detection unit 61.

  Based on the determination result, the identification unit 62 outputs to the light amount control unit 63 an identification signal indicating the type of the object indicated by the reference value and the detection area where the object is detected. For example, when the identifying unit 62 recognizes that the type of the object is an oncoming vehicle, the identifying unit 62 outputs a detection signal indicating a detection region corresponding to the light projection region in which the oncoming vehicle is detected to the light amount control unit 63.

  Next, the light quantity control unit 63 controls the amount of light emitted for each light projection area corresponding to the detection area according to the type of object indicated by the identification signal output from the identification unit 62 (S4). Specifically, when the type of the object indicated by the identification signal output from the identification unit 62 is an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle, the light amount control unit 63 detects the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle. The output of the laser element 2 that projects toward the projection area corresponding to is reduced. As a result, unpleasant glare and dazzling given to the driver of the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle can be reduced, and a safe and comfortable traffic environment can be realized.

  On the other hand, when the type of the object indicated by the identification signal output from the detection unit 61 is a road sign or an obstacle, the light quantity control unit 63 corresponds to a detection area where the road sign or the obstacle is detected. The output of the laser element 2 that projects light toward the light projecting area is increased. As a result, road signs and obstacles are illuminated brightly, so it is possible to accurately read the road signs by visual inspection and accurately recognize obstacles and realize a safe traffic environment. .

  Note that the method for identifying the type of object in the moving image is not limited to the above, and a known method may be applied.

  In addition to the reference values corresponding to oncoming vehicles, preceding vehicles, road signs, and obstacles, for example, reference values corresponding to pedestrians and bicycles may be managed in the reference value table. Thereby, optimal light quantity control according to the kind of the object identified by the identification part 62 is attained.

  Note that the reference value table of the identification unit 62 may be set as appropriate by the user, and is particularly effective for searchlights, ships, and the like.

  For example, when applied to a searchlight, the ad balloon ad part and the part to be emphasized of the ad are registered in the reference value table, and even if the ad balloon ad moves by the wind, the search light can be followed. It is also possible to illuminate only the part to be emphasized particularly brightly.

  The camera 70 may be for visible light, may be for infrared light, and may be both infrared and visible. The provision of infrared light facilitates detection of a thermostat animal including a human.

  Note that the method for identifying the type of object in the moving image photographed by the camera 70 is not limited to the above-described method, and a known method may be applied.

  Further, instead of the camera 70, an infrared radar that detects an reflected wave by irradiating an object existing in the light distribution area with infrared rays may be used, or the camera 70 and the infrared radar may be used in combination. Even when the infrared radar is used, as with the camera 70, it is possible to detect an object existing in the light distribution area using a highly versatile technique.

[Another configuration of the light intensity adjusting unit 60]
The light amount adjustment unit 60 may be configured to include only the light amount control unit 63 without being connected to the camera 70. In this case, the laser intensity can be set by the driver or the passenger, and the set value is input to the light amount control unit 63. As a result, the light amount control unit 63 can control the light amount of the laser element 2 even if it is not connected to the camera 70.

[Effects of the light intensity adjusting unit 60]
Next, the effect obtained by the light amount adjusting unit 60 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the effect obtained by the light amount adjustment unit 60. A region L <b> 2 indicated by an ellipse in the drawing indicates a light projection range illuminated by a vehicle having a projector equipped with the light amount adjustment unit 60. Moreover, the vehicle in a figure shows an oncoming vehicle. At this time, although the high beam is used by the method described with reference to FIG. 15 and the like, the light projection area is not projected to the area (area L3) that is to be irradiated to the oncoming vehicle in the area L2. Can be controlled. Furthermore, it is possible to control the light projection area not only for the oncoming vehicle but also for the preceding vehicle. Thereby, since unpleasant glare and dazzling given to the driver of an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle can be reduced, a safe and comfortable traffic environment can be realized.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an effect obtained by the light amount adjustment unit 60. A region L <b> 2 indicated by an ellipse in the drawing indicates a light projection range illuminated by a vehicle having a projector equipped with the light amount adjustment unit 60. The deer in the figure is described as an example of an accident factor. At this time, by the method described with reference to FIG. 15 and the like, the output of the laser element 2 that projects light toward the light projecting region corresponding to the detection region in which the deer is detected is increased. Thereby, since a deer is brightly illuminated, a deer can be recognized correctly visually and a safe traffic environment can be implement | achieved.

  In addition, although the effect of the light quantity adjustment part 60 is demonstrated using a deer in FIG. 18, a road sign, an obstacle, etc. may be sufficient instead of a deer.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an effect obtained by the light amount adjustment unit 60. For example, it is necessary to change the light distribution pattern between France, which is a right-handed country, and England, which is a left-handed country. Therefore, the light amount adjustment unit 60 changes the light distribution pattern according to the laws and regulations of the country in which the vehicle passes. FIG. 19 shows a state in which the light distribution pattern has been changed. The upper diagram shows the situation in the right-hand traffic country, and the lower diagram shows the situation in the left-hand traffic country. As shown in the figure, for example, when going back and forth between the United Kingdom and France, the light distribution pattern can be automatically changed as shown in FIG. A safe driving environment can be provided to the driver.

  As described above, various effects can be realized by the light amount adjusting unit 60. Although not shown, the light amount adjustment unit 60 can also realize the following operation.

  Specifically, when the identifying unit 62 identifies an uphill, the operation control unit 11 receives a signal indicating that the uphill has been recognized from the identifying unit 62. And the operation control part 11 changes the irradiation position of the laser beam by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emission part 4, and changes the irradiation range of the irradiation light irradiated ahead from a vehicle to a ground direction. .

  Further, when the identifying unit 62 identifies a downhill, the operation control unit 11 receives a signal indicating that the downhill has been recognized from the identifying unit 62. Then, the operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation position of the laser beam by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4, and the irradiation range of the irradiation light irradiated from the vehicle forward is opposite to the ground. Change the direction.

  According to the above configuration, when the identification unit 62 identifies an uphill or a downhill, the operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation position of the laser light by changing the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4. Then, the operation control unit 11 changes the irradiation range of the irradiation light irradiated forward from the vehicle to the ground direction or the direction opposite to the ground.

  Thereby, even when the uphill and the downhill appear ahead, the vehicle 55 can appropriately illuminate the road, and can provide a safe driving environment to the driver.

  The light amount adjusting unit 60 can also realize the following operation in cooperation with the operation control unit 11.

  Specifically, the operation control unit 11 receives a signal indicating that an object has been detected from the detection unit 61 when the detection unit 61 detects an object such as a road sign or an obstacle. Then, the operation control unit 11 operates the lens 10 to change the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4.

  When the identification unit 62 identifies the type of the object detected by the detection unit 61 by image recognition, the operation control unit 11 receives a signal indicating the identified image from the identification unit 62. Then, the operation control unit 11 operates the lens 10 according to the type of the object identified by the identification unit 62, and changes the relative position of the lens 10 with respect to the light emitting unit 4.

  Further, when the detection unit 61 detects an object such as a road sign or an obstacle, the light amount control unit 63 receives a signal indicating the object from the detection unit 61. Then, the light quantity control unit 63 controls the light quantity of the laser element 2 that projects light to the light projection area where the object is detected.

  The light quantity control unit 63 is either one of the illumination light distribution pattern (or illuminance) defined in the right-hand traffic country and the illumination light distribution pattern (or illuminance) defined in the left-hand traffic country. The light quantity of the laser element 2 is controlled so as to satisfy the above.

[About the projector 1000]
A projector 1000 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of the projector 1000. As illustrated, the projector 1000 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5 having a wavelength cut coat 20, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, and a lens 10. Further, the projector 1000 includes a fiber 15, a rising mirror 30, and a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror 1001.

  In the following description, the same parts and components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. The same applies to the description regarding the projector 1010 and the like which will be described later.

  The fiber 15 may be a single mode fiber or a multimode fiber having a thick core portion through which light passes. The fiber 15 can use not only quartz but also plastic as a material. In this case, the fiber 15 is inexpensive and can realize high bending strength. The fiber 15 may be connected to the lens 10 by a butt connection (butt joint).

  Laser light emitted from the laser element 2 enters the MEMS mirror 1001 through the lens 10, the fiber 15, and the rising mirror 30. The MEMS mirror 1001 is a microelectronic mirror in which a mechanical component and an electronic circuit are fused to form a microcomponent. The MEMS mirror 1001 is provided between the laser element 2 and an external region of the parabolic mirror 5 on the side opposite to the opening of the parabolic mirror 5. Be placed. Here, the MEMS mirror 1001 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating the MEMS mirror 1001.

  The MEMS mirror 1001 includes a mirror unit 1001a and a mirror driving unit 1001b. The mirror unit 1001a is formed in the mirror driving unit 1001b. For example, but not limited to this, the mirror unit 1001a is a biaxial mirror and has a circular shape with a diameter of 1 mmφ. The mirror surface may be coated with an Al coat or the like.

  The mirror driving unit 1001b is, for example, not limited to this, and is a 5 mm square substantially square, and the mirror unit 1001a is formed therein. The mirror driving unit 1001b changes the angle in the D1 direction (X-axis direction perpendicular to the gravity direction) and / or the D2 direction (Y-axis direction defined as the gravity direction) by voltage change. The mirror part 1001a formed in 1001b is operated. Then, by operating the mirror unit 1001a, the irradiation position and spot size of the laser light irradiated on the light emitting unit 4 after being reflected by the mirror unit 1001a are changed. Thereby, the light projector 1000 enables irradiation of light to an arbitrary place and change of the light distribution pattern.

  Note that the MEMS mirror 1001 is preferably set so that its driving range is wider in the Y-axis direction than in the X-axis direction. This is particularly effective when the light projecting range of the projector 1000 is horizontally long. On the other hand, when the light projecting range of the light projector 1000 is vertically long, the MEMS mirror 1001 is appropriately set according to the light projecting range such that the driving range is set wider in the X axis direction than in the Y axis direction. It may be changed.

  In addition, when a light projection pattern is formed by continuously scanning the laser beam and synchronizing the intensity of the laser beam with the scanning speed, it is necessary to use a resonant MEMS mirror that can increase the scanning speed. desirable.

  For example, when scanning at a vertical scanning speed of 60 Hz and synchronizing the intensity of the laser light with the scanning speed to form a light emission pattern that is a light projection pattern of a passing lamp on the light emitting unit 4, It is desirable to use a resonance type.

  On the other hand, when this system is used in a usage such as changing the light projection position of a spotlight, if you continue to illuminate an object (for example, a deer that is a risk factor), it is better to illuminate the object continuously. It is desirable to use non-resonant MEMS (if the laser output is the same) because the illuminance at the object is high.

[About the projector 1010]
A projector 1010, which is a modification of the projector 1000, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the projector 1010. As illustrated, the projector 1010 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5 having a wavelength cut coat 20, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, a lens 10, and a MEMS mirror 1001.

  The projector 1010 is different from the projector 1000 shown in FIG. 21 in the following points. That is, the projector 1010 does not include the fiber 15 and the rising mirror 30 that are included in the projector 1000. Therefore, the laser light emitted from the laser element 2 is incident on the MEMS mirror 1001 via the lens 10, and the light emitting unit 4 is irradiated with the laser light reflected by the MEMS mirror 1001. At this time, the projector 1010 can irradiate light to an arbitrary place and change the light distribution pattern by the operation of the MEMS mirror 1001 described above.

  As described above, the projector 1010 can achieve the same effect as the projector 1000 without using the fiber 15 and the rising mirror 30. Therefore, the projector 1010 can increase the degree of freedom in designing the layout inside the projector by reducing the number of components compared to the projector 1000 and reducing the number of components.

[About the projector 1020]
Next, a projector 1020 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the projector 1020. As illustrated, the projector 1020 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5 having a wavelength cut coat 20, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, and a lens 10. Further, the projector 1020 includes a fiber 15 and a piezo mirror element 1021.

  In the projector 1020, the laser light emitted from the laser element 2 enters the piezo mirror element 1021 via the lens 10 and the fiber 15. Then, the laser beam reflected by the piezo mirror element 1021 is applied to the light emitting unit 4.

  The piezo mirror element 1021 is an element formed by a piezo element and a mirror and capable of operating the mirror surface of the mirror in a two-dimensional direction (biaxial direction). By operating the mirror with the piezo element, the reflected light path of the laser light is increased. It is possible to change the direction to a biaxial direction. Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the piezo mirror element 1021 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating the piezo mirror element 1021, (a) is a perspective view showing an overall schematic configuration of the piezo mirror element 1021, and (b) is a schematic configuration of a portion excluding the mirror 1022. (C) is a top view of (b) showing an arrangement example of the piezo elements 1023a, 1023b and the fulcrum member 1024.

  As shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, the piezo mirror element 1021 includes a piezo element 1023a for driving in the θ-axis direction, a piezo element 1023b for driving in the ψ-axis direction, and a fulcrum member on a base 1025. 1024 and a mirror 1022 is arranged on these members.

  The piezo elements 1023a and 1023b are made of piezoelectric ceramics, and are piezoelectric devices that generate displacement in the direction perpendicular to the θ axis and the ψ axis (perpendicular to the surface of the base 1025) by applying a voltage to the element due to the piezoelectric effect. . As the piezoelectric elements 1023a and 1023b, for example, a laminated piezoelectric actuator manufactured by NEC TOKIN Corporation is used.

  The piezo elements 1023a, 1023b and the fulcrum member 1024 are arranged on a base 1025 as shown in FIG. 27C, for example. That is, the piezo element 1023a and the fulcrum 1024 are arranged in the vicinity of both ends of the base 1025 on the θ axis, and the piezo element 1023b is arranged in the vicinity of the end of the base 1025 on the ψ axis. A mirror 1022 is formed on the piezoelectric elements 1023a and 1023b installed on the two axes (θ axis and ψ axis). That is, in FIG. 27, the mirror 1022 is installed so as to straddle the piezo elements 1023a and 1023b and the fulcrum member 1024 installed on each of the two axes.

  Thus, each member of the piezo mirror element 1021 is arranged, and voltage is applied to each of the piezo elements 1023a and 1023b, whereby each of the piezo elements 1023a and 1023b is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base 1025, and the mirror 1022 The mirror surface can be moved in the vertical direction. Actually, the mirror 1022 moves with the fulcrum member 1024 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the tilt of the mirror 1022 can be displaced in the biaxial direction by the displacement of the piezo elements 1023a and 1023b.

  The projector 1020 controls the optical path of the laser beam emitted from the fiber 15 by displacing the tilt of the mirror 1022 included in the piezo mirror element 1021, and controls the irradiation position in the light emitting unit 4, thereby controlling the projection. Is done. Note that each of the piezo elements 1023a and 1023b is controlled by a piezo mirror driving unit (operation control unit, not shown).

  The piezo mirror element 1021 configured as described above is suitable for a case where the optical path is long or a plurality of laser beam turns (reflections) exist because the angle adjustment with high accuracy is possible. Although not limited to this, the piezo mirror element 1021 is realized, for example, with a size of 20 mm in diameter and 40 mm in diameter.

  As described above, the light projector 1020 can irradiate light to an arbitrary place and freely change the light distribution pattern even by using the piezo mirror element 1021.

  Note that the piezo elements 1023a, 1023b, and the fulcrum member 1024 are not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 27C, and for example, these members are not necessarily arranged near the end of the base 1025. The arrangement of these members can be appropriately changed in accordance with the tilting range of the mirror 1022 and the like.

  As described above, the light projector 1020 can irradiate light to an arbitrary place and freely change the light distribution pattern even by using the piezo mirror element 1021.

[About the projector 1030]
Next, a projector 1030 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of the projector 1030. As illustrated, the projector 1030 includes a laser element 2, a light emitting unit 4, a parabolic mirror 5, a heat dissipation base 7, fins 8, and a lens 10. Further, the projector 1030 includes an X-axis galvano mirror 38a and a galvano mirror drive unit 39a, and a Y-axis galvano mirror 38b and a galvano mirror drive unit 39b.

  The galvano mirror 38a is rotated by the drive of the galvano mirror drive unit 39a by an amount corresponding to the level of the input drive voltage to change the reflection angle in the X-axis direction (direction perpendicular to the gravity direction) and reflect it. The emitted laser light is irradiated toward the light emitting unit 4. Thereby, the galvanometer mirror 38a can irradiate the light emission part 4 with a laser beam at an arbitrary angle in the X-axis direction.

  Similarly, the galvanometer mirror 38b is rotated by driving the galvanometer mirror drive unit 39b by an amount corresponding to the level of the input drive voltage, and the reflection angle in the Y-axis direction (gravity direction) is changed and reflected. Laser light is emitted toward the light emitting unit 4. Thereby, the galvanometer mirror 38b can irradiate the light emission part 4 with a laser beam at an arbitrary angle in the Y-axis direction.

  The projector 1030 irradiates light to an arbitrary place by the cooperation of the galvano mirror 38a for the X axis, the galvano mirror driving unit 39a, and the galvano mirror 38b for the Y axis, and the galvano mirror driving unit 39b. And free change of the light distribution pattern is realized.

  Here, the galvanometer mirrors 38a and 38b are preferably provided with an HR coat made of a dielectric multilayer film. The HR coat is tuned with respect to the emission wavelength of the laser element 2.

  By applying HR coating, optical loss can be reduced. In this embodiment, since a high-power laser is used, unless HR coating is applied, the optical loss becomes heat and the optical element is distorted. Further, in the case of a vehicle projector, the laser light irradiation position and spot size are arbitrarily changed. However, the light distribution of the laser light formed on the light emitting unit 4 according to the light projection pattern of the headlamp determined by law and regulation ( The light distribution at the time average) is often the same light distribution for forming a pattern according to the regulations. That is, each optical element is not uniformly exposed to the laser beam, and only a specific region is always exposed to a region with a high laser output. Therefore, if the HR coating is not applied, there arises a problem that the region deteriorates.

[About the projector 1040]
Next, a projector 1040 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of the projector 1040. The projector 1040 has the same configuration as the projector 200 shown in FIG. 1 except for the following points. To explain only the difference in configuration, in the projector 1040, the laser light emitted from the laser element 2 is guided from the laser element 2 to the lens 10 embedded in the lens frame 40 through the fiber 15. Is done. The fiber 15 may be connected to the laser element 2 by a butt connection (butt joint). In the projector 1040, the parabolic mirror 5 is provided with the wavelength cut coat 20. Thereby, the projector 1040 can block light in a specific wavelength range and provide a user with a device that is easy on the human eye.

  The difference between the projector 1040 and the projector 200 shown in FIG. 1 has been described above. The projector 1040 can achieve the same effect as the projector 200 by having the above-described configuration. Therefore, the projector 1040 can appropriately change the light guide route from the laser element 2 to the lens 10, and the design considering the entire layout of the projector 1040 is possible. In this respect, the projector 1040 has an effect different from that of the projector 200.

  Heretofore, various embodiments of the light emitting device and the projector according to the present embodiment have been described. These forms show an example of the present embodiment, and it is naturally possible to combine the forms described here.

[Prior art issues]
Finally, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems, and these problems are solved by the light emitting device according to the present embodiment having the above-described various configurations.

  The vehicle headlamp of Patent Document 1 directly irradiates laser light to the outside, and does not include a light emitting unit that emits light upon receiving the laser light. Therefore, there is a problem that the color rendering properties of light other than the wavelength of the laser light are extremely low.

  Similarly to the vehicle headlamp of Patent Document 1, the headlight of Patent Document 2 does not include a light emitting unit that emits laser light and emits light other than the wavelength of the laser light. Have

  The vehicular lamp of Patent Document 3 uses an LED as a light source. Since the LED has a lower luminance than the laser light source, it is necessary to increase the light emitting area in order to obtain the necessary light flux. Therefore, when the size of a lamp such as an automobile or motorcycle is limited, the irradiation area becomes wider than that of a laser light source, and the size of a lamp that requires narrow-angle projection, such as a traveling lamp, can be reduced. There was a problem that I could not.

  Moreover, the vehicular lamp of Patent Document 3 illuminates only an object (for example, a person) existing at an irradiation destination (for example, 40 m ahead) or does not illuminate only an object (for example, an oncoming lane). As described above, it is difficult to install a lamp that requires narrow-angle light projection due to the problem of the front space of the vehicle, and it is difficult to freely change the light distribution pattern by combining a plurality of narrow-angle light projectors.

  Moreover, since the vehicle lamp of patent document 3 has a non-light-emitting part between LED, it was necessary to blur and use it at an irradiation position, and the contrast (a light-dark part was clarified) was not able to be performed. In addition, when used without blurring at the irradiation position, the contrast is high, but the non-light-emitting portion between the LEDs is projected. For example, when two LEDs are falling, the light is bright and dark. End up.

  The light source device of Patent Document 4 is a device that simply irradiates light, that is, a device that simply illuminates light. Patent Document 4 discloses a method of moving a solid light source and a method of moving a mirror as light control means for changing the irradiation range and / or intensity distribution of excitation light.

  However, when the solid-state light source is used in the light source device of Patent Document 4, the beam diffusion angle is as wide as 40 ° even if a highly directional semiconductor laser is used, and the irradiation range and / or intensity distribution can be changed. However, it is not possible to excite only an arbitrary place in the phosphor layer.

  Furthermore, the light source device of Patent Document 4 is not configured to control the irradiation position and irradiation area (spot size) in the phosphor part for each of the light emitted from the plurality of solid light sources. Therefore, the light source device of Patent Document 4 cannot uniformly irradiate the entire surface of the phosphor layer (the entire phosphor layer cannot emit light uniformly). In addition, the light source device of Patent Document 4 excites the phosphor layer with a complicated shape for the same reason (for example, the central portion of the phosphor layer is not lighted but the periphery is lightened in a square shape). Has the problem of not being able to.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, a phosphor layer is installed at the focal position of a lens system, a configuration in which fluorescence is projected, a reflective layer is provided on the side surface of the phosphor layer, and a light emitting component emitted in the front direction is provided. An increasing configuration is also disclosed. However, in the light source device of Patent Document 4, since the light distribution characteristic of the fluorescence is almost Lambertian, all the fluorescence cannot be incident on the aperture of the lens, and the optical system has a very large loss. End up.

  Furthermore, in the light source device of Patent Document 4, it is necessary to increase the lens NA (which is determined by the lens aperture and the lens focal length) in order to increase the use efficiency of fluorescence. However, according to Patent Document 4, since the phosphor is excited by passing excitation light between the phosphor layer and the lens, if a lens having a large NA is used, the divergence angle of the excitation light is large. Is absorbed by the lens, and the phosphor layer cannot be excited effectively. On the other hand, if it is intended to irradiate the excitation light effectively, it is necessary to lower the NA of the lens, and therefore it becomes impossible to project the fluorescence effectively. That is, the light source device of Patent Document 4 is a very inefficient system.

  Furthermore, in the light source device of Patent Document 4, the phosphor layer is cooled to reduce the size and weight in order to move the solid light source, but the solid light source is not cooled. Therefore, the brightness required for narrow-angle light projection cannot be obtained with the vehicular lamp.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a configuration using a digital micromirror device (DMD). This method is excellent in terms of controlling (patterning) the excitation range of the phosphor layer, but illuminates the digital micromirror device as a whole, and only a portion of the light is used. For this reason, the light source device of Patent Document 4 has a problem that energy is lost by the amount of light that is not used and the efficiency is low, that is, the power consumption increases.

  In the light source device of Patent Document 4, excitation light having a light intensity distribution that changes the irradiation range and / or intensity distribution by moving the excitation light source is used. For this reason, there is also a light intensity distribution on the DMD surface, and there is a problem that sufficient contrast cannot be obtained even if the micromirror is turned on and off in a place where the light intensity is weak.

  In this respect, the light-emitting device and the like according to the present embodiment are made to solve the above-described problem, and have high color rendering properties and can realize an arbitrary light distribution pattern. An apparatus and a vehicle headlamp are provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 Light Emitting Device 2 Laser Element (Laser Light Source)
4 Light emitting unit 5 Parabolic mirror (projecting unit)
6 Elliptical mirror (projecting part)
7 Radiation base 8 Fin 9 Luminescent body support part 10, 12, 21 Lens (light control part)
11 Operation Control Unit 15 Fiber 20 Wavelength Cut Coat 30 Standing Mirror (Light Control Unit)
32 Cylindrical lens (light controller)
34 Polygon mirror (light controller)
35 Polygon mirror drive unit (motion control unit)
36 Scanning lens (light control unit)
38 Galvano mirror (light controller)
39 Galvano mirror drive unit (operation control unit)
40 Lens frame (operation control unit)
41 Coil (Operation control unit)
42 Magnet (operation control unit)
43 Suspension wire (Operation control unit)
44 Wire support housing 50 Concave mirror (light controller)
55 Vehicle 60 Light quantity adjustment part 61 Detection part 62 Identification part 63 Light quantity control part 65 Wiring 70 Camera 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040 Projector 1001 MEMS Mirror 1001
1021 Piezo mirror element 1021

Claims (18)

A light-emitting unit that receives and emits laser light emitted from a laser light source;
A light control unit that controls light guide of the laser light from the laser light source to the light emitting unit;
An operation control unit for operating the light control unit,
The light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit changes an irradiation position and a spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit by changing a relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit.   The light emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising a light amount control unit capable of controlling a light amount of the laser light source.   The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit includes at least a phosphor that emits fluorescence upon receiving the laser light. When the light distribution characteristic of the light emitting unit is a light distribution characteristic that emits light on the side opposite to the side on which the laser light is incident,
4. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a spot size of the laser light in the light emitting unit is substantially the same as a light emitting area in the light emitting unit or larger than the light emitting area. 5. . The light control unit is at least one of a polygon mirror and a galvano mirror,
5. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit is an actuator that operates at least one of the polygon mirror and the galvanometer mirror. The light control unit is a convex lens or a concave mirror,
The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit is an actuator that operates the convex lens or the concave mirror. It further includes a detection unit that detects an object in a light projection area, which is an area where the own device projects light,
The light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the operation control unit operates the light control unit when the object is detected by the detection unit. An identification unit for identifying the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition;
The light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the operation control unit operates the light control unit in accordance with a type of the object identified by the identification unit. It further includes a detection unit that detects an object in a light projection area, which is an area where the own device projects light,
The light amount control unit controls a light amount of the laser light source that projects light to the light projection region where the object is detected when the object is detected by the detection unit. Light-emitting device. An identification unit for identifying the type of the object detected by the detection unit by image recognition;
The light amount control unit controls a light amount of the laser light source that projects light to the light projecting area where the object is detected according to a type of the object identified by the identifying unit. 9. The light emitting device according to 9. A projector comprising the light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A light projecting unit for projecting light emitted from the light emitting unit,
The light projecting unit, wherein the operation control unit operates the light control unit to change a light projecting range. When the light distribution characteristic of the light emitting part is a light distribution characteristic that strongly emits light on the same side as the side on which the laser light is incident,
The light projector according to claim 11, further comprising the light projecting unit on a side where the laser light is incident on the light emitting unit.   A vehicle headlamp comprising the light-emitting device according to claim 1. A light emitting device according to claim 10,
The light amount control unit is configured to detect the laser light source that projects light to the light projecting area where the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle is detected when the object is identified as the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle by the identifying unit. A vehicle headlamp characterized by reducing the amount of light.   The light amount control unit, when the identification unit identifies that the object is a road sign or an obstacle, the laser light source of the laser light source that projects the light projection area where the road sign or the obstacle is detected The vehicle headlamp according to claim 14, wherein the amount of light is increased.   The operation control unit includes the laser beam for the light-emitting unit so as to satisfy one of a light distribution pattern of illumination light defined in the right-hand traffic country and a light distribution pattern of illumination light defined in the left-hand traffic country. The vehicle headlamp according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the irradiation position is changed.   The light amount control unit controls the light amount of the laser light source so as to satisfy one of the illumination light distribution pattern defined in the right-hand traffic country and the illumination light illuminance defined in the left-hand traffic country. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 14 or 15, wherein The operation control unit is
When the identification unit identifies an uphill, by changing the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit, the irradiation position of the laser light is changed, and the irradiation light irradiated forward from the vehicle is changed. Change the irradiation range toward the ground,
When the identification unit identifies a downhill, the irradiation position of the laser light is changed by changing the relative position of the light control unit with respect to the light emitting unit, and the irradiation light irradiated forward from the vehicle is changed. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the irradiation range is changed in a direction opposite to the ground.

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