JP2014056754A - Vehicular lighting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To overcome disadvantages found in the conventional vehicular lighting unit that a direct light from a light-emitting element is not effectively utilized or even if it is effectively utilized, the number of component parts is increased to cause its manufacture cost to become high.SOLUTION: This invention comprises a semiconductor-type light source 2 and a lens 3. The lens 3 is constituted by a main lens portion 30 and an auxiliary lens portion 31. The auxiliary lens portion 31 is arranged at an outer and upper side of a vehicle C of the periphery of the main lens portion 30 to cause light L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2 to radiate as a pedestrian visible light distribution pattern SP to a location outside the vehicle C and upper side above a cut-off line CL of the low-beam light distribution pattern LP. As a result, this invention can utilize effectively the direct light (peripheral light) L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2. Additionally, since no reflector is used, it is possible to reduce the number of component parts and cause its cost of manufacture to be inexpensive.

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens direct-type vehicle lamp including a semiconductor light source and a lens.

  Conventionally, a vehicular lamp including a semiconductor-type light source and a lens is known (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle lamp will be described. The conventional vehicular lamp of Patent Document 1 includes a light emitting element and a convex lens, and direct light from the light emitting element is transmitted through the convex lens to be irradiated to the outside as a low beam light distribution pattern. A conventional vehicular lamp of Patent Document 2 includes a light emitting element, a lens, and a reflector, irradiates the direct light from the light emitting element to the outside as downward light that passes through the lens and diffuses in the horizontal direction, and emits light. The direct light from the element is radiated to the outside as upward and downward light diffused in the vertical and horizontal directions by a reflector below the lens.

JP 2007-335301 A JP 2008-300154 A

  However, the conventional vehicle lamp of Patent Document 1 uses direct light from a light emitting element only with a convex lens. For this reason, the direct light from the light emitting element reaching the periphery of the convex lens is not effectively used. On the other hand, the above-mentioned conventional vehicle lamp of Patent Document 2 effectively uses the direct light from the light emitting element that reaches below the lens by the reflector. However, since the above-described conventional vehicle lamp of Patent Document 2 uses a reflector, the number of parts tends to increase and the manufacturing cost tends to increase.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in the conventional vehicle lamp, even if the direct light from the light emitting element is not used effectively or is used effectively, the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is expensive. The point is that

  The present invention (invention according to claim 1) includes a semiconductor light source and a lens, and the lens irradiates light from the semiconductor light source as a main light distribution pattern, and the periphery of the main lens portion. Auxiliary lens that is provided outside the vehicle and above the vehicle, and irradiates light from the semiconductor light source as an auxiliary light distribution pattern outside the vehicle and above the main light distribution pattern among the main light distribution patterns It is comprised from the part.

  This invention (the invention according to claim 2) is characterized in that the auxiliary lens part is provided with a light distribution control part for controlling at least the vertical light distribution of the auxiliary light distribution pattern.

  According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 3), in the periphery of the main lens portion, the outer side and the lower side of the vehicle, the inner side and the upper side of the vehicle, the inner side and the lower side of the vehicle The dummy lens portions are provided respectively.

  In the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, the auxiliary lens portion of the lens can effectively use the light (direct light) from the semiconductor light source that reaches the outside of the vehicle and the upper portion of the periphery of the main lens portion of the lens. it can. Moreover, since the vehicular lamp according to the present invention is provided with the auxiliary lens portion outside the vehicle and on the upper side of the periphery of the main lens portion, the vehicular lamp of the above-described conventional patent document 2 using the reflector is used. Compared with a lamp, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention, and is a plan view of a vehicle equipped with left and right vehicular lamps. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the left lamp unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view (a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) showing the left lamp unit. FIG. 4 is a front (front) side perspective view showing the left lamp unit. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a rear (rear) side perspective view showing the left lamp unit. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a low beam light distribution pattern of the main light distribution pattern and a pedestrian visual distribution light pattern of the auxiliary light distribution pattern. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the auxiliary lens portion and the dummy lens portion of the lens.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments (examples) of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In this specification and claims, front, rear, upper, lower, left and right are front, rear, upper, lower, left and right when the vehicular lamp according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. . In FIG. 7, reference sign “VU-VD” indicates vertical lines on the upper and lower sides of the screen. Reference sign “HL-HR” indicates horizontal lines on the left and right of the screen.

(Description of Configuration of Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicular lamp in this embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1L and 1R denote vehicle lamps (for example, vehicle headlamps such as headlamps) in this embodiment. The vehicle lamps 1L and 1R are mounted on the left and right ends of the front portion of the vehicle C. Hereinafter, the left vehicle lamp 1L mounted on the left side of the vehicle C will be described. Note that the right vehicle lamp 1R mounted on the right side of the vehicle C has substantially the same configuration as the left vehicle lamp 1L, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(Description of vehicle lamp 1L)
The vehicle lamp 1L includes a lamp housing (not shown), a lamp lens (not shown), a semiconductor light source 2, a lens 3, a heat sink member 4, as shown in FIGS. Is provided.

  The semiconductor-type light source 2, the lens 3, and the heat sink member 4 constitute a lamp unit. The lamp housing and the lamp lens define a lamp chamber (not shown). The lamp units 2, 3, and 4 are disposed in the lamp chamber, and are disposed via an up / down direction optical axis adjustment mechanism (not shown) and a left / right direction optical axis adjustment mechanism (not shown). Attached to the lamp housing.

(Description of the semiconductor-type light source 2)
In this example, the semiconductor-type light source 2 uses a self-luminous semiconductor-type light source such as an LED and an EL (organic EL), that is, a semiconductor-type light source (LED in this embodiment). The semiconductor light source 2 includes a light emitting chip 20. The semiconductor light source 2 is attached to the heat sink member 4 by an attachment member 21. The light emitting chip 20 of the semiconductor light source 2 emits light when supplied with current through the mounting member 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the light emitting chip 20 has a planar rectangular shape (planar rectangular shape). For example, four square chips are arranged in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). Note that one rectangular chip or one square chip may be used. The center O of the light emitting chip 20 is located at or near the reference focal point F of the lens 3 and on or near the reference optical axis (reference axis) Z of the lens 3. The light emitting surface of the light emitting chip 20 faces the front side of the reference optical axis Z of the lens 3.

(Explanation of XYZ Cartesian coordinate system)
2 to 6, X, Y, and Z constitute an orthogonal coordinate (XYZ orthogonal coordinate system). The X axis is a horizontal axis in the left-right direction passing through the center O of the light emitting chip 20, and in this embodiment, the inside of the vehicle C is the + direction and the outside of the vehicle C is the-direction. That is, in the case of the left vehicle lamp 1L, the right side is the + direction and the left side is the-direction. On the other hand, in the case of the right vehicle lamp 1R, the left side is the + direction and the right side is the-direction. The Y axis is a vertical axis in the vertical direction passing through the center O of the light emitting chip 20. In this embodiment, the upper side is the + direction and the lower side is the − direction. Further, the Z axis is a normal line (perpendicular) passing through the center O of the light emitting chip 20, that is, an axis in the front-rear direction orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis, and in this embodiment, the front side is the + direction. And the rear side is the-direction. The + direction and the − direction of the Y axis and the Z axis are unchanged regardless of the case of the left vehicle lamp 1L and the case of the right vehicle lamp 1R.

  In FIG. 2, the region where both the X coordinate and the Y coordinate take a positive value is the first quadrant I, and the region where the X coordinate is negative and the Y coordinate takes a positive value is the second quadrant II. The region where both the X coordinate and the Y coordinate take negative values is the third quadrant III, and the region where the X coordinate is positive and the Y coordinate takes a negative value is the fourth quadrant IV.

(Description of lens 3)
As shown in FIG. 2, the lens 3 has a rectangular (rectangular) shape when viewed from the front. The upper and lower sides of the lens 3 are slanted (inclined) from the lower side to the upper side from the inner side to the outer side of the vehicle C. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the lens 3 includes a main lens portion 30, an auxiliary lens portion 31, and a dummy lens portion 32.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main lens 30 has a substantially oval shape in a front view that is housed in a rectangular shape in a front view of the lens 3. In the vicinity of the main lens portion 30 on the outside (left side) and upper side of the vehicle C, that is, in the corners of the second quadrant II among the four corners of the lens 3, the auxiliary lens is provided. The part 31 is provided integrally. Further, in the periphery of the main lens portion 30, on the outside (left side) and lower side of the vehicle C, that is, the corner portion of the third quadrant III among the four corner portions of the lens 3, Inside (right side) and upper part, that is, the corner part of the first quadrant I among the four corners of the lens 3, inside (right side) and lower part of the vehicle C, that is, 4 of the lens 3 Of the two corners, the dummy lens portions 32 are integrally provided at the corners of the fourth quadrant IV.

  The main lens unit 30 has the reference optical axis Z and the reference focal point F. The main lens unit 30 uses central light (not shown) of the semiconductor-type light source 2 among light (direct light) emitted from the semiconductor-type light source 2. The main lens unit 30 irradiates the light from the semiconductor light source 2 in front of the vehicle C as a main light distribution pattern LP in this embodiment (low beam light distribution pattern) LP shown in FIG. .

  The main lens unit 30 includes an incident surface 33 on which light (not shown) from the semiconductor-type light source 2 is incident on the main lens unit 30 and an output surface on which the light incident on the main lens unit 30 is emitted. 34. The entrance surface 33 of the main lens unit 30 is composed of a free-form surface or a composite quadric surface. The exit surface 34 of the main lens portion 30 has a convex shape protruding to the opposite side of the semiconductor light source 2 and is formed of a free curved surface or a composite quadratic curved surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary lens unit 31 has a latitude (θ2 ° −θ1 °) of the hemispherical emission range of the semiconductor light source 2 out of the light emitted from the semiconductor light source 2 (direct light) ( The angle θ2 ° from the Z-axis is about 80 ° in this example, and the angle θ1 ° from the Z-axis is a range obtained by subtracting about 25 ° in this example), so-called ambient light L1 of the semiconductor-type light source 2 is effectively used. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the auxiliary lens unit 31 has a longitude of about 20 ° to about a hemispherical emission range of the semiconductor light source 2 out of the light (direct light) emitted from the semiconductor light source 2. The so-called ambient light L1 of the semiconductor light source 2 is effectively used together with the range of 50 ° and the latitude range.

  The auxiliary lens unit 31 uses the light L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2 as an auxiliary light distribution pattern. In this embodiment, the auxiliary lens unit 31 serves as a pedestrian viewing light distribution pattern SP shown in FIG. And on the upper side from the cut-off line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP.

  The auxiliary lens unit 31 includes an incident surface on which the light L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2 is incident on the auxiliary lens unit 31, and light incident on the auxiliary lens unit 31 from the incident surface as the emitted light L2. And an exit surface that exits from the auxiliary lens unit 31 to the outside.

  The auxiliary lens unit 31 is provided with a light distribution control unit 35 that controls light distribution in at least the vertical direction of the light distribution pattern SP for pedestrian viewing. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the light distribution control unit 35 is a total reflection type prism group, and is composed of a horizontally long prism group. In this example, the light distribution control unit 35 is provided on the exit surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31, but the incident surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31 or the entrance surface and the exit surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31. It may be provided on both sides.

  The light distribution control unit 35 uses the light L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2 (the light L1 having a longitude of about 20 ° to about 50 ° in the hemispherical emission range of the semiconductor-type light source 2) as the low-beam light distribution pattern. The light distribution is controlled to the outgoing light L2 that irradiates a range of about 10 ° upward from the cut-off line CL of the LP (a range that coincides with the viewing range of the pedestrian P at an intersection or the like).

  The light distribution control unit 35 uses the light L1 from the semiconductor-type light source 2 (light L1 in the latitude range of about 80 ° to about 25 ° of the hemispherical emission range of the semiconductor-type light source 2) as the low-beam light distribution pattern. Light distribution control is performed on the emitted light L2 that irradiates a range of about 25 ° to about 70 ° outside LP (left side) of LP (a range that matches the viewing range of pedestrian P at an intersection or the like).

(Description of heat sink member 4)
As shown in FIG. 3, the heat sink member 4 includes a vertical plate portion 40 and a plurality of vertical plate-shaped fin portions (not shown) integrally provided on one surface (rear surface) of the vertical plate portion 40. ) And. The semiconductor light source 2 is attached to the other surface (front surface) of the vertical plate portion 40 of the heat sink member 4 via the attachment member 21. The lens 3 is attached to the left and right sides of the vertical plate portion 40 of the heat sink member 4 via attachment portions 36 (see FIG. 8). The attachment portion 36 may be integrated with the lens 3 or may be a separate type.

(Description of the operation of the embodiment)
The vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment are configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  The light emitting chip 20 of the semiconductor type light source 2 is turned on. Then, of the light (direct light) emitted from the light emitting chip 20, the central light of the semiconductor light source 2 enters the main lens unit 30 from the incident surface 33 of the main lens unit 30 of the lens 3 and enters the main lens unit. The light is emitted from 30 emission surfaces 34. As shown in FIG. 7, the emitted light is irradiated in front of the vehicle C as a low-beam light distribution pattern LP having a cut-off line CL.

  4 to 6, among the light (direct light) emitted from the light emitting chip 20, the ambient lights L <b> 1 and L <b> 3 of the semiconductor light source 2 are the auxiliary lens unit 31 of the lens 3. The light enters the auxiliary lens unit 31 and the dummy lens unit 32 from the incident surface of the dummy lens unit 32 and exits from the output surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31 and the dummy lens unit 32. For this reason, the lens 3 shines in a rectangular shape by the main lens unit 30, the auxiliary lens unit 31, and the dummy lens unit 32.

  In particular, the ambient light L1 of the semiconductor-type light source 2 enters the auxiliary lens unit 31 from the incident surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31, and is emitted as the emitted light L2 from the light distribution control unit 35 on the output surface of the auxiliary lens unit 31. As shown in FIG. 7, the emitted light L2 is outside the vehicle C (left side) of the low beam light distribution pattern LP as the pedestrian visual distribution light pattern SP and from the cut-off line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP. Irradiate the upper side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pedestrian-viewing light distribution pattern SP has a range of about 10 ° upward from the cut-off line CL of the low-beam light distribution pattern LP, and the vehicle C in the low-beam light distribution pattern LP. Illuminate the outside (left side) range of about 25 ° to about 70 °, which coincides with the viewing range of the pedestrian P at an intersection or the like.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a low beam light distribution pattern LP and a pedestrian visual light distribution pattern SP irradiated from the left vehicle lamp 1L. The low beam light distribution pattern and the pedestrian viewing light distribution pattern emitted from the right vehicle lamp 1R are the low beam light distribution pattern LP and the pedestrian viewing light distribution shown in FIG. 7 emitted from the vehicle lamp 1L. The pattern SP is opposite to the left and right. The arrangement of the upper horizontal cut-off line, the oblique cut-off line, and the lower horizontal cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern irradiated from the right vehicle lamp 1R is for the low beam irradiated from the left vehicle lamp 1L. It is the same as the light distribution pattern LP.

(Explanation of effect of embodiment)
The vehicle lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment are configured and operated as described above, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  In this embodiment, the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R receive light from the semiconductor light source 2 that reaches the outer side of the vehicle C and the upper side of the main lens portion 30 of the lens 3 by the auxiliary lens portion 31 of the lens 3. (Ambient light) L1 can be used effectively. In addition, since the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment are provided with the auxiliary lens portion 31 outside the vehicle C in the periphery of the main lens portion 30, the conventional lens using the reflector is used. Compared with the vehicular lamp of Patent Document 2, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Since the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment are provided with the auxiliary lens portion 31 outside the vehicle C and on the upper side of the periphery of the main lens portion 30, the light distribution pattern SP for pedestrian viewing is provided. The light distribution pattern LP for the low beam is suitable for irradiation outside the vehicle C (on the left side) and upward from the cut-off line CL of the light distribution pattern LP for the low beam. In other words, the light distribution pattern SP for pedestrian visual recognition can be easily and reliably controlled. With this pedestrian viewing light distribution pattern SP, the pedestrian P such as an intersection can be reliably viewed, which can contribute to traffic safety.

  In the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment, the auxiliary lens unit 31 is provided with a light distribution control unit 35 that controls light distribution in at least the vertical direction of the light distribution pattern SP for pedestrian viewing. As a result, the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment have a pedestrian-viewing light distribution pattern SP in a range of about 10 ° on the upper side from the cut-off line CL of the low-beam light distribution pattern LP. Light distribution control can be easily and reliably performed in a range that matches the viewing range of the pedestrian P.

  Since the vehicular lamps 1L and 1R in this embodiment are provided with the auxiliary lens portion 31 and the dummy lens portion 32 at the four corners of the main lens portion 30 of the lens 3, the lens 3 has the main lens portion 30, The auxiliary lens unit 31 and the dummy lens unit 32 shine in a rectangle. This improves the appearance.

(Description of Modified Example of Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the auxiliary lens portion 31 and the dummy lens portion 32 of the lens of the vehicular lamp according to the present invention. Hereinafter, modifications of this embodiment will be described. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 denote the same components.

  In a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, a horizontally long diffusing prism group 37 is provided in the auxiliary lens portion 31 and the dummy lens portion 32. In a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, a vertically long diffusing prism group 38 is provided on the auxiliary lens portion 31 and the dummy lens portion 32. In a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8C, a honeycomb (lattice-like) diffusion prism group 39 is provided on the auxiliary lens portion 31 and the dummy lens portion 32. The modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can achieve substantially the same operational effects as the vehicle lamps 1L and 1R in the above-described embodiment.

(Description of example other than embodiment)
In this embodiment, the vehicle lamps 1L and 1R when the vehicle C is on the left side will be described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a vehicular lamp when the vehicle C is right-hand traffic.

  Moreover, in embodiment, the example used for vehicle headlamps, such as a headlamp, is demonstrated. However, in this invention, it can be used as, for example, a vehicle side lamp (cornering lamp) as a vehicle lamp other than a vehicle headlamp such as a headlamp. In this case, the main light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern diffused in the left-right direction having a simple horizontal cut-off line, and the auxiliary light distribution pattern is outside the vehicle and the main light distribution among the main light distribution patterns. Light is distributed above the pattern.

  Further, in the embodiment, dummy lens portions 32 are provided at three corners other than the auxiliary lens portion 31 among the four corners of the main lens portion 30 of the lens 3. However, in the present invention, the dummy lens portion 32 may not be provided. Further, it may be provided at one corner or two corners of the main lens portion 30 of the lens 3.

1L Left side vehicle lamp 1R Right side vehicle lamp 2 Semiconductor type light source 20 Light emitting chip 21 Mounting member 3 Lens 30 Main lens part 31 Auxiliary lens part 32 Dummy lens part 33 Incident surface of main lens part 34 Exit surface of main lens part 35 Light distribution control unit 36 Mounting portion 37 Horizontally long diffusion prism group 38 Vertically long diffusion prism group 39 Honeycomb (lattice) diffusion prism group 4 Heat sink member 40 Vertical plate portion C Vehicle CL Cut-off line F Lens reference focus HL-HR Horizontal lines on the left and right of the screen L1, L3 Light from semiconductor light source (ambient light)
L2 Outgoing light LP Light distribution pattern for low beam O Center of light emitting chip P Pedestrian SP Light distribution pattern for visual recognition of pedestrian VU-VD Vertical line of screen X X axis Y Y axis Z Lens reference optical axis (Z axis)

Claims (3)

A semiconductor light source and a lens;
The lens is provided at a location outside the vehicle and above the main lens portion that irradiates light from the semiconductor-type light source as a main light distribution pattern, and around the main lens portion. An auxiliary lens unit that irradiates light from the main light distribution pattern outside the vehicle and above the main light distribution pattern as an auxiliary light distribution pattern,
A vehicular lamp characterized by the above. The auxiliary lens unit is provided with a light distribution control unit that controls light distribution in at least the vertical direction of the auxiliary light distribution pattern.
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1. Of the periphery of the main lens portion, a dummy lens portion is provided at a location outside the vehicle and below, a location inside and above the vehicle, and a location inside and below the vehicle, respectively.
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2.

Images