JP2014141198A - Aiming adjusting method of vehicle lamp fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aiming adjusting method of a vehicle lamp fitting which can suppress inclination of a light distribution pattern in a vehicle light fitting having plural areas of different vertical positions of a light distribution pattern to each other as destinations.SOLUTION: A vehicle lamp fitting comprises four LEDs aligned in an inclination direction inclined to the back and forth direction, a reflector unit in which plural reflectors aligned in the inclination direction corresponding to the four LEDs are integrated, and an aiming axis almost in the inclination direction. After a light distribution pattern P is set in advance so that the cut-off line CL of the upper edge of the light distribution pattern P is horizontal at the averaged vertical position of vertical positions of cut-off lines CL in plural areas, the reflector unit 5 is rotated around the aiming axis to adjust the vertical position of the light distribution pattern P so that the cut-off line CL of the upper edge of the light distribution pattern P is at the vertical position of a cut-off line in any of either of plural areas.

Description

  The present invention relates to an aiming adjustment method for a vehicular lamp.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a vehicular lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern by a plurality of light sources (for example, light emitting diodes) and a plurality of optical components (for example, reflectors) corresponding thereto. In such a vehicular lamp, for example, a plurality of reflectors arranged in parallel in the left-right direction are integrated as a reflector unit, and when the optical axis direction is adjusted (aiming adjustment), the reflector unit is rotated. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in a vehicular lamp such as a front fog lamp (front fog lamp) mounted on the front surface of the vehicle, the lamp is illuminated with respect to the light irradiation direction of the lamp (that is, the front-rear direction of the vehicle) following the front shape of the vehicle body. There is a case where the body is arranged in an inclined state. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the reflector unit is provided in a state inclined obliquely along the lamp body, with each reflector facing substantially forward.

  In such a vehicular lamp, when the aiming adjustment in the vertical direction is performed, the light distribution pattern is changed to a desired vertical direction by rotating the reflector unit about the aiming axis inclined obliquely along the reflector unit. Move to position.

Japanese Patent No. 4115921

  However, if the reflector unit is rotated around the aiming axis that is inclined obliquely with respect to the light irradiation direction, the light distribution pattern is inclined obliquely at the same time as moving in the vertical direction. Note that if another aiming axis orthogonal to the light irradiation direction is used, it is possible to suppress such inclination of the light distribution pattern. However, if the lamp configuration includes the other aiming axis, the lamp body becomes enormous. This measure is not desirable.

As a specific example of the phenomenon in which the light distribution pattern is inclined due to the aiming adjustment, there is an example of a front fog lamp having a plurality of areas whose vertical direction positions of the light distribution pattern are different from each other.
In the front fog lamp, the vertical position of the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is, for example, 1.0 ° D in Europe (1.0 ° lower than the horizontal line) and 0.75 ° D or 0 in the United States. It is stipulated to be 5 ° D and different values according to local regulations. For this reason, in front fog lamps that have two destinations in Europe and the United States, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the initial setting is made so that the cut-off line is horizontal at 1.0 ° D for Europe. As shown in FIG. 11 (b), when the aiming adjustment is performed so that the cut-off line is 0.5 ° D so as to be for the United States, the light distribution pattern is greatly inclined.

  Since the slope of such a light distribution pattern (cut-off line) is also regulated by laws and regulations so as to be within a predetermined range, it may not satisfy the laws and regulations due to manufacturing errors and the like. It is desirable that it can be suppressed as small as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and suppresses the inclination of the light distribution pattern as compared with the prior art in a vehicular lamp having a plurality of areas whose vertical positions of the light distribution pattern are different from each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide an aiming adjustment method for a vehicular lamp.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
Aiming adjustment of the vehicular lamp that adjusts the vertical position of the light distribution pattern with respect to the vehicular lamp having a plurality of areas in which the vertical position of the light distribution pattern formed in front is different from each other. A method,
The vehicular lamp is
A plurality of light sources arranged in parallel along an inclined direction inclined obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction while facing the left-right direction;
An optical unit integrated with a plurality of optical components (for example, a reflector and a projection lens) that are arranged side by side along the tilt direction corresponding to the plurality of light sources and irradiate light from the plurality of light sources forward ,
An aiming axis substantially along the tilt direction;
With
After setting the light distribution pattern in advance so that the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is horizontal in the vertical position obtained by averaging the vertical positions of the plurality of cut-off lines defined in the plurality of regions,
By rotating the optical unit around the aiming axis, the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is positioned in the vertical direction of the cut-off line defined in any of the plurality of regions. The vertical position is adjusted.

The invention according to claim 2 is an aiming adjustment method for a vehicular lamp according to claim 1,
The aiming axis is inclined by 20 ° or more with respect to the front-rear direction.

The invention according to claim 3 is the aiming adjustment method for a vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2,
The vertical direction positions of the plurality of cutoff lines defined in the plurality of regions are separated from each other by 0.25 ° or more.

Invention of Claim 4 is the aiming adjustment method of the vehicle lamp as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The vehicle lamp is a front fog lamp.

  According to the present invention, before performing aiming adjustment for any one of a plurality of regions that are destinations, the vertical positions of the plurality of cutoff lines in which the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is defined in the plurality of regions. Since the light distribution pattern is set in advance so that it is horizontal at the vertical position averaged, the light distribution pattern that was initially set for one destination should be used for the other destinations. The amount of rotation of the optical unit in the aiming adjustment can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the aiming adjustment is performed. Therefore, the inclination of the light distribution pattern accompanying the rotation of the optical unit can be suppressed as compared with the conventional case.

It is a front view of the vehicular lamp in an embodiment. It is a top view of the vehicular lamp in the embodiment. It is a front view of the important section of the vehicular lamp in an embodiment. It is a top view of the important section of the vehicular lamp in an embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the VV line | wire of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the reflector unit and aiming screw in an embodiment from back. It is a figure for demonstrating the light distribution pattern which the vehicle lamp in embodiment forms on the front virtual screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of the light distribution pattern accompanying the aiming adjustment with the vehicle lamp in embodiment. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the modification of the vehicle lamp in embodiment. It is a top view of the principal part of the conventional vehicle lamp. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of the light distribution pattern accompanying the aiming adjustment in the conventional vehicle lamp.

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

First, the configuration of the vehicular lamp 1 in the present embodiment will be described.
1 and 2 are a front view and a top view of the vehicular lamp 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 are a front view and a top view of a main part of the vehicular lamp 1, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reflector unit 5 and the aiming screw 6 included in the vehicular lamp 1 as seen from the rear.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicular lamp 1 is a front fog lamp (front fog lamp) mounted on the front surface of a vehicle (not shown). The vehicular lamp 1 is disposed in a state of being inclined obliquely rearward from the right side (vehicle center side) to the left side (vehicle side side) following the front surface of the vehicle (not shown).
In the following description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” refer to the direction viewed from the vehicular lamp 1, that is, the vehicular lamp, unless otherwise specified. It shall mean the direction seen from the vehicle which is not shown in which 1 is mounted. The vehicle lamp 1 is mounted on each of the left and right sides of the vehicle. Since the two left and right vehicle lamps 1 and 1 have a bilaterally symmetric structure, in the following, on the left side of the front of the vehicle. Only the mounted vehicle lamp 1 will be described, and a description of what is mounted on the front right side of the vehicle will be omitted.

Specifically, the vehicular lamp 1 includes a housing 2 whose front surface is open, and a transparent outer lens 3 that covers the front opening of the housing 2. Inside the lamp chamber defined by the housing 2 and the outer lens 3, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, four LEDs (light emitting diodes) 4... Correspond to the four LEDs 4. A reflector unit 5 formed by integrating four reflectors 51,... Is accommodated.
Among these, the four LEDs 4,... Are arranged side by side along a direction inclined obliquely rearward toward the left, and are mounted on the substrate 41 with their light emitting surfaces directed obliquely downward rearward.

The reflector unit 5 is formed by arranging the four reflectors 51,... In a state where the four reflectors 51,. These are integrally connected by a flat connecting portion 52.
Each reflector 51 has a curved reflecting surface 53 facing the light emitting surface of the LED 4 while being positioned diagonally below the corresponding LED 4, and the light emitted from the LED 4 is reflected by the reflecting surface 53. Reflect forward. More specifically, the four reflectors 51,... Have slightly different directions (that is, light reflection directions) from each other. Of the four reflectors 51,..., The rightmost first reflector 51a is provided so as to be substantially straight forward, and from the second reflector 51b adjacent to the left to the leftmost fourth reflector 51d. The first reflector 51a is provided so as to face the direction inclined gradually to the left from the direction of the first reflector 51a.

  Moreover, the reflector unit 5 has the gear part 54 for rotating the said reflector unit 5 in the back of the four reflectors 51 ... as shown in FIG. The gear portion 54 is formed in a shape extending substantially along the vertical direction while curving convexly rearward, and a rack gear 541 along the vertical direction is formed on the rear surface. A rack gear 541 formed on the gear portion 54 meshes with a worm gear 61 on the upper part of the aiming screw 6 that is provided upright along the vertical direction behind the rack gear 541. With such a configuration, the reflector unit 5 is obliquely rearward from the right to the left so as to pass through the four reflectors 51,... By rotating the aiming screw 6 about the central axis along the vertical direction. It rotates about a virtual aiming axis Ax along the direction inclined to the right.

Then, the light distribution pattern formed ahead by the vehicle lamp 1 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a light distribution pattern that the vehicular lamp 1 forms on the front virtual screen.

  The vehicular lamp 1 reflects light emitted from the four LEDs 4,... By the four reflectors 51,... Of the reflector unit 5, and irradiates the light forward, thereby providing a predetermined light distribution pattern on the front virtual screen. Form. Specifically, among the four reflectors 51,..., The first light distribution pattern Pa shown in FIG. 7A is formed by the reflected light from the first reflector 51a, and similarly, the second reflectors 51b to 51b. The second light distribution pattern Pb to the fourth light distribution pattern Pd shown in FIGS. 7B to 7D are formed by the reflected light from the fourth reflector 51d. Then, by superimposing these first light distribution pattern Pa to fourth light distribution pattern Pd, as shown in FIG. 7E, a light distribution pattern P having a cut-off line (bright / dark boundary line) CL at the upper end is formed. Is done.

Next, an aiming adjustment method for adjusting the vertical position of the light distribution pattern P for a predetermined destination will be described.
Here, it is assumed that the vehicular lamp 1 is directed to two regions of Europe and the United States, and the aiming is such that the vertical position of the light distribution pattern P (cut-off line CL) conforms to the laws and regulations of either of these two regions. The adjustment will be described. Note that the vertical position of the cut-off line CL is set to 1.0 ° D for Europe and 1.0 ° D below the horizontal line H, and 0.5 ° D for the US. It is assumed that the setting is 0.75 ° D in the US law, but it may be set to 0.5 ° D.

  First, after the vehicular lamp 1 is assembled, for example, when it is not yet determined whether the vehicular lamp 1 is intended for Europe or the United States, the light distribution pattern P is set in a predetermined state in advance. Set. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A by rotating the reflector unit 5 about the aiming axis Ax, the vertical positions of the two cut-off lines defined in the two regions of Europe and the United States. The light distribution pattern P is set so that the cut-off line CL is horizontal at the vertical position obtained by averaging the values, i.e., 0.75 ° D, which is the average of 1.0 ° D and 0.5 ° D.

And after the destination of the said vehicle lamp 1 is determined, aiming adjustment is performed so that the regulation of the destination may be met.
For example, when the vehicular lamp 1 is intended for Europe, the reflector unit 5 is rotated around the aiming axis Ax, and as shown in FIG. Aiming adjustment is performed so that 0 ° D is obtained. Alternatively, when the vehicular lamp 1 is intended for the United States, the reflector unit 5 is rotated about the aiming axis Ax, and as shown in FIG. Aiming adjustment is performed so as to be 5 ° D.

  At this time, by rotating the reflector unit 5 about the aiming axis Ax inclined obliquely with respect to the light irradiation direction (that is, the front-rear direction), the light distribution pattern P is inclined obliquely simultaneously with the vertical movement. . However, since the light distribution pattern P is preset so that the cut-off line CL is horizontal at 0.75 ° D, which is the average of 1.0 ° D and 0.5 ° D, for example, for Europe The amount of rotation of the reflector unit 5 in the aiming adjustment can be reduced by half compared to the conventional case where the aiming adjustment is performed so that the light distribution pattern is initially set for the United States. Therefore, the inclination of the light distribution pattern P accompanying the rotation of the reflector unit 5 can be suppressed to substantially half.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cut-off line CL at the upper end of the light distribution pattern P has two cuts defined in Europe and the United States before the final aiming adjustment is made for the destination Europe or the United States. Since the light distribution pattern P is set in advance so as to be horizontal at the vertical position obtained by averaging the offline vertical positions, for example, the light distribution pattern initially set for Europe is set for the United States. The amount of rotation of the reflector unit 5 in the aiming adjustment can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the aiming adjustment is performed as much as possible. Therefore, the inclination of the light distribution pattern P accompanying the rotation of the reflector unit 5 can be suppressed as compared with the conventional case.

  As described above, since the inclination of the light distribution pattern P accompanying the aiming adjustment can be suppressed, the inclination of the aiming axis Ax that is a factor thereof is made larger than before (for example, 20 ° or more with respect to the front-rear direction). Can do. Thereby, the vehicular lamp 1 itself can be inclined more largely than in the past.

  The embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the reflector 51 is described as an optical component that irradiates light from the LED 4 forward. However, the optical component is provided corresponding to the LED 4 and irradiates light from the LED 4 forward. However, the projector may be a projection lens as shown in FIG. 9. That is, the vehicular lamp 1 may include a projection lens unit 5A in which four projection lenses 51A,... Are integrated in place of the reflector unit 5 in the above embodiment. In this case, the four LEDs 4,... Are arranged forward, and the four projection lenses 51A,... Are arranged in front of the four LEDs 4,. Needless to say, they are arranged along the inclined direction. Further, the aiming axis at this time is along a direction inclined obliquely backward so as to penetrate the four projection lenses 51A,.

  Further, the vehicle lamp 1 may be other than the front fog lamp as long as it forms a predetermined light distribution pattern in the front, and may be a headlamp, for example.

  In addition, the destination of the vehicular lamp 1 is not limited to Europe and the United States, but it is three if the vertical positions of the light distribution pattern (cut-off line) are different from each other. The above area may be sufficient.

  Further, the number of the LEDs 4 and the reflectors 51 (or the projection lenses 51A) may be plural, and may not be four.

1 Vehicle lamp 4 LED (light source)
5 Reflector unit (optical unit)
51 Reflector (optical component)
5A Projection lens unit (optical unit)
51A Projection lens (optical component)
Ax Aiming axis P Light distribution pattern CL Cut-off line

Claims (4)

Aiming adjustment of the vehicular lamp that adjusts the vertical position of the light distribution pattern with respect to the vehicular lamp having a plurality of areas in which the vertical position of the light distribution pattern formed in front is different from each other. A method,
The vehicular lamp is
A plurality of light sources arranged in parallel along an inclined direction inclined obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction while facing the left-right direction;
An optical unit integrated with a plurality of optical components arranged in parallel along the tilt direction corresponding to the plurality of light sources and irradiating light from the plurality of light sources forward;
An aiming axis substantially along the tilt direction;
With
After setting the light distribution pattern in advance so that the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is horizontal in the vertical position obtained by averaging the vertical positions of the plurality of cut-off lines defined in the plurality of regions,
By rotating the optical unit around the aiming axis, the cut-off line at the upper end of the light distribution pattern is positioned in the vertical direction of the cut-off line defined in any of the plurality of regions. A method for adjusting aiming of a vehicular lamp, characterized by adjusting a vertical position.   2. The aiming adjusting method for a vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the aiming axis is inclined at least 20 [deg.] With respect to the front-rear direction.   The aiming adjustment method of the vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vertical positions of the plurality of cutoff lines defined in the plurality of regions are separated from each other by 0.25 ° or more.   The aiming adjusting method of the vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicular lamp is a front fog lamp.

Images