JP2014223873A - Rear fog lamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology that improves a sign function of a rear fog lamp device.SOLUTION: A rear fog lamp device 1 of one aspect of the present invention includes a first laser irradiation part 110 that applies a first laser beam L1 in a backward direction of a driver's own vehicle and that is visually recognized as a bright spot by a driver of a following vehicle, and a second laser irradiation part 130 that applies a second laser beam L2 for forming a light curtain M visually recognized by the driver of the following vehicle, downward with respect to the irradiation direction of the first laser beam L1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a rear fog lamp device, and more particularly to a rear fog lamp device used for a vehicle such as an automobile.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a rear fog lamp that functions as a marker lamp for irradiating light behind a vehicle and causing a subsequent vehicle or the like to visually recognize the presence of the host vehicle. For example, in Patent Document 1, the amount of light from a rear fog lamp is reduced when there is almost no fog, so that the driver of the following vehicle avoids being dazzled, and the amount of light is increased when fog is dark. Thus, there is disclosed a fog lamp control device intended to enable a driver of a following vehicle to visually recognize a vehicle ahead even in dense fog. This fog lamp device has a rear fog lamp that illuminates the rear of the vehicle, a radio wave radar that detects the inter-vehicle distance from the following vehicle, and a laser for the following vehicle a predetermined number of times when the inter-vehicle distance from the subsequent vehicle is detected by the radio wave radar. Transmits light and receives reflected laser to detect the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle, and the surrounding light transmittance is detected from the number of times the reflected laser is received from the laser transmitted from the laser radar. And a control circuit that changes the amount of light of the rear fog lamp in accordance with the detected light transmittance.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a fog lamp device intended to reduce discomfort to the following vehicle. In this fog lamp device, a rear fog lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle, a subsequent vehicle detecting means for detecting a succeeding vehicle, and a succeeding vehicle detected by the subsequent vehicle detecting means are traveling within a predetermined distance from the own vehicle. On this condition, there is provided lighting mode change control means for turning off the rear fog lamp in the lighting state or lowering the optical axis of the rear fog lamp.

JP-A-5-278519 JP 2008-213618 A

  As a result of earnest research on the rear fog lamp control device, the present inventors have come to recognize that the conventional rear fog lamp device has room for improvement in enhancing its marking function.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for improving the marking function of the rear fog lamp device.

  In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention is a rear fog lamp device. The rear fog lamp device irradiates a first laser beam to the rear of the host vehicle, a first laser beam irradiation unit visually recognized as a bright spot by a driver of a succeeding vehicle, and a light curtain visually recognized by a driver of the succeeding vehicle. And a second laser beam irradiation unit that irradiates the second laser beam for forming the laser beam downward with respect to the irradiation direction of the first laser beam. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the marking function of the rear fog lamp device.

  In the above aspect, the first laser light irradiation unit may include a condensing degree adjusting unit that reduces the condensing degree of the first laser light. According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the driver of the following vehicle receives glare due to the first laser light. In any one of the above aspects, the fog information acquisition unit that acquires information related to the fog density around the host vehicle, and the brightness of the first laser beam when the fog density is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, And a brightness adjusting unit that increases the brightness as compared with the case where the value is less than the threshold value. According to this aspect, the driver of the following vehicle can easily make the first laser light irradiation unit visible.

  In any one of the above aspects, the first laser light irradiation unit and the second laser light irradiation unit include a common laser light source, and the first laser light irradiation unit emits the first laser light. And a first optical path that guides a part of the laser light emitted from the laser light source to the first emission part as the first laser light, and the second laser light irradiation part outputs the second laser light. You may have a 2 emission part and the 2nd optical path which guides at least another one part of the laser beam irradiated from a laser light source to a 2nd emission part as a 2nd laser beam.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which aims at the improvement of the marking function of a rear fog lamp apparatus can be provided.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a rear fog lamp device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the schematic of the rear fog lamp apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 seen from the vehicle back. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a rear fog lamp device according to a second embodiment.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The embodiments do not limit the invention but are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a rear fog lamp device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the rear fog lamp device according to the first embodiment as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The control unit 300 is realized by elements and circuits such as a CPU and a memory of a computer as a hardware configuration, and realized by a computer program or the like as a software configuration, but in FIG. It is drawn as a functional block. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The rear fog lamp device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rear fog lamp unit 100, a fog information acquisition device 200, and a control unit 300. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described in detail.

(Rear fog lamp unit)
The rear fog lamp unit 100 is turned on when fog is generated around the host vehicle, and functions as a marker lamp that makes it easier for the following vehicle to visually recognize the presence of the host vehicle. The rear fog lamp unit 100 is a lamp unit that irradiates light behind the host vehicle, and is provided at a predetermined position at the rear of the vehicle.

  The rear fog lamp unit 100 is preferably arranged at a predetermined distance from a rear lamp including a stop lamp and a tail lamp. For example, the rear fog lamp unit 100 is disposed between the rear lamps disposed on the left and right (for example, both ends in the vehicle width direction), and is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the vehicle. As a result, the driver of the following vehicle can easily distinguish a bright spot K and a light curtain M, which will be described later, of the rear fog lamp unit 100 from a bright spot and a light curtain due to lighting of the rear lamp. Therefore, the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 (that is, the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 in the driver of the following vehicle) is improved. Further, the rear fog lamp unit 100 may be disposed in the vehicle interior. Thereby, the temperature change of the environment where the rear fog lamp unit 100 is placed can be reduced as compared with the case where the rear fog lamp unit 100 is placed outside the passenger compartment. Thus, by placing the rear fog lamp unit 100 in a stable temperature environment, more stable light irradiation control can be performed, and the cost of the light source and the power source can be reduced.

  The rear fog lamp unit 100 is disposed in a lamp chamber composed of a lamp body (not shown) and a translucent cover (not shown) attached to the lamp body. The rear fog lamp unit 100 includes a laser light source 102, a beam splitter 104, a first laser light irradiation unit 110, and a second laser light irradiation unit 130.

  The laser light source 102 is a light source common to the first laser light irradiation unit 110 and the second laser light irradiation unit 130. The laser light source 102 of the present embodiment is a laser light source that emits red laser light L, and is composed of, for example, a laser diode (semiconductor laser). The laser light source 102 may be configured by a laser device other than a laser diode, such as a solid laser or a gas laser. By sharing the laser light source 102 between the first laser light irradiation unit 110 and the second laser light irradiation unit 130, the number of parts can be reduced and the rear fog lamp device 1 can be reduced in size.

  The beam splitter 104 is configured by a half mirror or the like, and is disposed on the path of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102. The beam splitter 104 transmits a part of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102 and incident on the beam splitter 104 and supplies it to the first laser light irradiation unit 110, and the other part or all of the remaining laser light L. Is reflected and supplied to the second laser beam irradiation unit 130.

(First laser beam irradiation unit)
The first laser beam irradiation unit 110 includes a first emission unit 112, a first optical path 114, a condensing degree adjustment unit 116, and a lens 118. The first optical path 114 is an optical path that guides a part of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102 to the first emission unit 112 as the first laser light L1. The first laser light L1 is laser light that has passed through the beam splitter 104 in the laser light L. The first laser light L1 that has reached the first emission part 112 is emitted from the first emission part 112 to the outside of the rear fog lamp unit 100. In the present embodiment, the first emitting portion 112 is a plano-convex lens whose surface on the incident side (vehicle front side) of the first laser beam L1 is flat and whose surface on the emitting side (vehicle rear side) of the first laser beam L1 is convex. Composed. In addition, the 1st light emission part 112 may be comprised with another lens, and may be comprised with the light projection cover etc. which do not have an optical function.

  The condensing degree adjusting unit 116 and the lens 118 are disposed on the first optical path 114 between the beam splitter 104 and the first emitting unit 112. The lens 118 is disposed on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the first laser light L1 with respect to the condensing degree adjusting unit 116. The lens 118 is configured by a plano-convex lens, and is arranged so that the first laser light L1 is incident from the convex surface side and is emitted from the flat surface side. The first laser light L1 that has passed through the lens 118 passes through the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 and reaches the first emitting unit 112.

  The condensing degree adjusting unit 116 is a member for reducing the condensing degree of the first laser light L1. The condensing degree adjustment part 116 is comprised with a transmissive | pervious diffuser plate, for example. More specifically, the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 can be made of alumina ceramics having a light transmittance of 50% or more in the visible light region, frosted glass, or the like. The first laser light L1 is diffused by passing through the condensing degree adjusting unit 116, and the condensing degree is lowered. And it is radiate | emitted from the 1st output part 112 in the state which the condensing degree fell. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the driver or the like of the following vehicle receives glare due to the first laser light L1.

  The first laser beam irradiation unit 110 irradiates the first laser beam L1 behind the host vehicle and is visually recognized as a bright spot K (see FIG. 2) by the driver of the following vehicle. For example, the first laser light irradiation unit 110 irradiates the first laser light L1 in a substantially horizontal direction. As a result, the first laser beam L1 is directly irradiated onto the following vehicle, and as a result, the driver of the following vehicle can visually recognize the first laser beam irradiation unit 110 as a bright spot.

(Second laser beam irradiation unit)
The second laser light irradiation unit 130 includes a second emission unit 132 and a second optical path 134. The second optical path 134 is an optical path that guides at least another part of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102 to the second emitting unit 132 as the second laser light L2. The second laser beam L2 is a laser beam reflected by the beam splitter 104 in the laser beam L. The second laser beam L2 may be all or part of the laser beam excluding the first laser beam L1 in the laser beam L. The second laser light L2 that has reached the second emission part 132 is emitted from the second emission part 132 to the outside of the rear fog lamp unit 100.

  In the present embodiment, the second emission unit 132 is configured by a plano-convex lens in which the incident side surface of the second laser light L2 is a convex surface and the emission side surface of the second laser light L2 is a plane. In addition, the 1st output part 112 may be comprised with other lenses, such as a cylindrical lens and a toric lens, and may be comprised with the light projection cover etc. which do not have an optical function. For example, when the second emission unit 132 is configured by a cylindrical lens or a toric lens, the second emission unit 132 diffuses the second laser light L2 more widely in the vehicle width direction than in the vehicle front-rear direction or the vertical direction. The posture is determined. Moreover, it is preferable that the beam shape of the cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction of the second laser light L2 is an ellipse whose major axis is parallel to the vehicle width direction. Thereby, the light distribution pattern of the shape which diffused in the major axis direction (namely, vehicle width direction) of an ellipse and condensed in the minor axis direction of the ellipse can be formed.

  The second laser light L2 is irradiated downward with respect to the irradiation direction of the first laser light L1. The second laser beam L2 is emitted, for example, downward from the horizontal direction, more specifically, toward a point of 1 to 40 m behind the host vehicle. When the second laser beam L2 is irradiated from the second laser beam irradiation unit 130 of the rear fog lamp unit 100 to the rear of the host vehicle in a state where fog is generated around the host vehicle, the second laser beam L2 is fogged. Is diffused to form a light curtain M. For example, the light curtain M is inclined so as to approach the road surface as the distance from the vehicle increases, and has a planar shape having a predetermined width in the vehicle width direction. The rear fog lamp device 1 according to the present embodiment forms a light curtain M by irradiating the fog with the second laser beam L2 having high brightness and high directivity, and this light curtain M (particularly the main surface of the light curtain M). ) To the driver of the following car.

  As described above, in the rear fog lamp device 1 according to the present embodiment, the bright spot K is formed by the first laser light irradiation unit 110 and the light curtain M is formed by the second laser light irradiation unit 130. Therefore, compared with the case where the rear fog lamp device forms only one of the bright spot K and the light curtain M, it becomes easier for the driver of the succeeding vehicle to recognize the presence of the own vehicle. That is, the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 is improved.

  In addition, the first laser light irradiation unit 110 that is visually recognized as the bright spot K includes a condensing degree adjustment unit 116. Thereby, since the condensing degree of the 1st laser beam L1 is reduced, the possibility that the driver of the succeeding vehicle may receive glare by looking directly at the first laser beam L1 can be reduced. Further, by allowing the driver of the following vehicle to visually recognize the light curtain M formed by diffusing the second laser beam L2 with the mist, the driver of the following vehicle is less likely to receive glare due to the second laser beam L2. Can be made.

  Note that the second laser light irradiation unit 130 may form the light curtain M with the following configuration. That is, for example, the second emission part 132 is configured by a light projecting cover that does not have an optical function, and a transmission type diffusion plate having a predetermined light transmittance is blocked in the second optical path 134 so as to block the path of the second laser light L2. Placed in. In such a configuration, the second laser light L2 is diffused by the transmission type diffusion plate, and is irradiated to the outside of the rear fog lamp unit 100 with a predetermined spread. Thereby, the light curtain M can be formed. Further, the light curtain M extending in the vehicle width direction can also be formed by continuously displacing the traveling direction of the second laser light L2 by high-speed vibration or high-speed rotation of a MEMS mirror, a galvano mirror, a polygon mirror, or the like. .

(Fog information acquisition device)
The fog information acquisition device 200 is a device that acquires information related to the concentration of fog generated around the host vehicle. Here, the fog density and the brightness of the light curtain M have a correlation. Specifically, the higher the fog density, the more easily the second laser light L2 diffuses, so the brightness of the light curtain M increases. Therefore, the information on the fog density includes information on the brightness of the light curtain M. In the present embodiment, the fog information acquisition device 200 is configured by an imaging device such as a camera, for example, and has an attitude determined so that the light curtain M can be imaged and is mounted on the vehicle. The fog information acquisition device 200 is disposed below the rear fog lamp unit 100, for example. The image data acquired by the fog information acquisition device 200 is sent to the control unit 300. This image data includes information related to the brightness of the light curtain M, that is, information related to the fog density around the host vehicle. The fog information acquisition device 200 may be incorporated in the rear fog lamp unit 100.

(Control part)
The control unit 300 is an ECU that controls the laser light irradiation of the rear fog lamp unit 100. The controller 300 is provided at a predetermined position of the vehicle. Note that the controller 300 may be incorporated in the rear fog lamp unit 100. For example, when a rear fog lamp switch (not shown) provided in the vehicle is turned on by a driver, the control unit 300 performs laser light irradiation control. The control unit 300 includes a fog information acquisition unit 310, a brightness adjustment unit 320, and a lighting control module 330.

(Fog information acquisition unit)
The fog information acquisition unit 310 acquires image data captured by the fog information acquisition device 200. Then, the fog information acquisition unit 310 performs image processing such as BG correction (color correction for blue and green) on the image data, detects the light curtain M from the image data, and calculates data on the brightness of the light curtain M. To do. The calculated light curtain luminance data is sent to the luminance adjustment unit 320.

(Lighting control module)
The lighting control module 330 is configured by a power supply circuit or the like, and supplies power necessary for lighting the laser light source 102. Further, when the lighting control module 330 receives the luminance increase signal transmitted from the luminance adjusting unit 320 as will be described later, the lighting control module 330 increases the power supplied to the laser light source 102. Thereby, the brightness | luminance of the 1st laser beam L1 radiate | emitted from the 1st laser beam irradiation part 110 can be increased. The degree to which the luminance is increased can be appropriately set according to the results of experiments and simulations by the designer based on the viewpoint of improving visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 and the like.

(Brightness adjuster)
The brightness adjusting unit 320 increases the brightness of the first laser beam L1 when the fog density is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value than when the fog density is less than the threshold value. Specifically, the brightness adjustment unit 320 includes a fog density determination unit 322 and a signal output unit 324.

(Fog density determination part)
As described above, the brightness of the light curtain M and the fog density have a correlation. Accordingly, when a predetermined threshold value for the fog density and the reference brightness of the light curtain M corresponding to the threshold value are set, the brightness of the light curtain M is the reference if the fog density is equal to or higher than the threshold value. On the other hand, if the fog density is less than the threshold, the brightness of the light curtain M is less than the reference brightness. Therefore, based on whether or not the brightness of the light curtain M is equal to or higher than the reference brightness, it is possible to determine whether or not the fog density is equal to or higher than a threshold value.

  Therefore, the fog density determination unit 322 determines the fog density around the host vehicle using the light curtain luminance data calculated by the fog information acquisition unit 310. The fog density determination unit 322 has information indicating the reference brightness of the light curtain M in a memory (not shown) in advance, and when the brightness of the light curtain M is higher than the reference brightness, the fog density is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. Is output to the signal output unit 324. The signal output unit 324 outputs a luminance increase signal to the lighting control module 330 when a high density signal is acquired. As a result, the luminance of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102 increases, and as a result, the luminance of the first laser light L1 emitted from the first laser light irradiation unit 110 increases.

  When the fog concentration is high, it is difficult for the driver of the following vehicle to visually recognize the first laser light irradiation unit 110 as the bright spot K. On the other hand, when the brightness of the light curtain M is equal to or higher than the reference brightness as described above, that is, when the fog density is a high density equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the brightness of the first laser light L1 is increased. Thus, the driver of the following vehicle can easily make the first laser light irradiation unit 110 visible.

  Here, the “predetermined threshold value” is appropriately set according to the results of experiments and simulations by the designer based on the viewpoint of the visibility of the first laser light irradiation unit 110 being lowered due to fog. Is possible. The “reference luminance” is the luminance of the light curtain M formed in a situation where the fog density is at the threshold value.

  As described above, the rear fog lamp device 1 according to the present embodiment irradiates the first laser beam L1 behind the host vehicle and irradiates the driver of the following vehicle with the first laser beam that is visually recognized as the bright spot K. Unit 110 and a second laser beam irradiation unit 130 that irradiates a second laser beam L2 for forming a light curtain M visually recognized by the driver of the following vehicle. Thereby, the visibility of the rear fog lamp apparatus 1 can be improved. Therefore, the marker function of the rear fog lamp device 1 can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
The rear fog lamp device according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the rear fog lamp device according to the first embodiment, except that the structure of the rear fog lamp unit is different from that of the rear fog lamp device according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the rear fog lamp device according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on the configuration different from the first embodiment. The same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description and illustration thereof are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of a rear fog lamp unit included in the rear fog lamp device according to the second embodiment. The rear fog lamp device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a fog information acquisition device 200 and a control unit 300 similar to those of the first embodiment. The rear fog lamp unit 100 of the present embodiment includes a laser light source 102, a beam splitter 104, a first laser light irradiation unit 110, and a second laser light irradiation unit 130.

  The laser light source 102 is a light source common to the first laser light irradiation unit 110 and the second laser light irradiation unit 130. The beam splitter 104 is disposed on the path of the laser light L, transmits a part of the laser light L, supplies the laser light L to the first laser light irradiation unit 110, and reflects the other part or all the remaining laser light L. To the second laser light irradiation unit 130.

(First laser beam irradiation unit)
The first laser beam irradiation unit 110 includes a first emission unit 112, a first optical path 114, a condensing degree adjustment unit 116, and a reflector 120. The first optical path 114 is an optical path that guides a part of the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 102 to the first emission unit 112 as the first laser light L1. The first laser beam L1 is emitted from the first emission unit 112 to the outside of the rear fog lamp unit 100.

  The condensing degree adjusting unit 116 and the reflector 120 are disposed on the first optical path 114 between the beam splitter 104 and the first emitting unit 112. The reflector 120 is disposed on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the first laser light L1 with respect to the condensing degree adjusting unit 116. The reflector 120 has a reflecting surface that reflects the first laser light L1, and the laser light source 102 and the beam splitter 104 reflect the first laser light L1 that has passed through the beam splitter 104 toward the condensing degree adjusting unit 116. And the positional relationship with the condensing degree adjustment part 116 is defined.

  The condensing degree adjusting unit 116 is a member for reducing the condensing degree of the first laser light L1. The condensing degree adjustment part 116 is comprised with a reflection type diffuser plate, for example. More specifically, the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 can be made of alumina ceramic or the like having a light transmittance in the visible light range of 50% to 85%. The first laser light L1 is diffused when reflected by the light concentration adjusting unit 116, and the light concentration is lowered. The positional relationship between the reflector 120 and the first emission unit 112 is determined so that the condensing degree adjustment unit 116 reflects the first laser light L1 toward the first emission unit 112. The first laser beam irradiation unit 110 irradiates the first laser beam L1 behind the host vehicle from the first emission unit 112 and is visually recognized as a bright spot K by the driver of the following vehicle.

(Second laser beam irradiation unit)
The second laser light irradiation unit 130 includes a second emission unit 132 and a second optical path 134. The second optical path 134 is an optical path that guides the second laser light L <b> 2 reflected by the beam splitter 104 to the second emitting unit 132. The second laser light L2 that has reached the second emission part 132 is emitted from the second emission part 132 to the outside of the rear fog lamp unit 100. The second laser light L2 is irradiated downward with respect to the irradiation direction of the first laser light L1. When the second laser beam L2 is irradiated while fog is generated around the host vehicle, the second laser beam L2 is diffused by the fog to form a light curtain M.

  As described above, the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 can also be improved by the configuration having the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 made of a reflective diffuser plate, and the marker function of the rear fog lamp device 1 can be improved. it can. Note that, according to the first embodiment in which the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 is configured by a transmissive reflecting plate, the first optical path 114 is compared with the second embodiment in which the condensing degree adjusting unit 116 is configured by a reflecting type diffusing plate. Since it is easy to shorten the optical path length, it is possible to easily simplify the structure and downsize the apparatus. On the other hand, according to the second embodiment, there is no loss of laser light due to transmission through the condensing degree adjusting unit 116, so that the light utilization rate can be improved as compared with the first embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications such as design changes can be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Forms are also included within the scope of the present invention. A new embodiment in which a modification is added to each of the above-described embodiments has the effects of the combined embodiment and the modification.

  In order to further improve the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1, the rear fog lamp device 1 may include a third laser light irradiation unit that irradiates the third laser light for forming the light curtain upward from the horizontal direction. Good. In this case, a 3rd laser beam irradiation part irradiates the 3rd laser beam which has a peak wavelength different from the peak wavelength of the red light which a signal apparatus irradiates. For example, the third laser light irradiation unit irradiates the third laser light having a peak wavelength shorter than the peak wavelength of the red light of the traffic light. As a result, the driver or the like of the following vehicle can more reliably identify the red light of the traffic light and the light curtain M formed by the third laser light. Therefore, the visibility of the rear fog lamp device 1 can be improved, and a decrease in the visibility of the traffic light can be suppressed.

  For example, the fog information acquisition apparatus 200 may be a photodetector configured with a photodiode or the like having sensitivity only to the wavelength region of the second laser light L2. Moreover, the fog information acquisition apparatus 200 may be configured with a humidity sensor or the like, and may acquire information on the fog density regardless of the brightness of the light curtain M. In addition, the condensing degree adjustment unit 116 of the first laser light irradiation unit 110 in the first embodiment may be provided in the first emission unit 112. In other words, the lens constituting the first emitting unit 112 may be subjected to surface treatment, and this lens may function as the condensing degree adjusting unit 116.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rear fog lamp apparatus, 100 Rear fog lamp unit, 102 Laser light source, 110 1st laser beam irradiation part, 112 1st light emission part, 114 1st optical path, 116 Condensation degree adjustment part, 130 2nd laser beam irradiation part, 132 2nd Emitting unit, 134 second optical path, 310 fog information obtaining unit, 320 brightness adjusting unit, K bright spot, L laser beam, L1 first laser beam, L2 second laser beam, M light curtain.

Claims (4)

A first laser beam irradiating unit that irradiates the first laser beam behind the host vehicle and is visually recognized as a bright spot by the driver of the following vehicle;
A second laser beam irradiating unit that irradiates a second laser beam for forming a light curtain visually recognized by the driver of the following vehicle downward with respect to the irradiation direction of the first laser beam;
A rear fog lamp device comprising:   2. The rear fog lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the first laser light irradiation unit includes a condensing degree adjusting unit that reduces a condensing degree of the first laser light. A fog information acquisition unit that acquires information on the fog density around the vehicle;
A brightness adjusting unit that increases the brightness of the first laser light when the fog density is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value than when the fog density is less than the threshold value;
A rear fog lamp device according to claim 1 or 2. A common laser light source for the first laser light irradiation unit and the second laser light irradiation unit;
The first laser beam irradiation unit guides a first emission unit from which the first laser beam is emitted and a part of the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to the first emission unit as the first laser beam. A first optical path,
The second laser beam irradiating unit uses the second emitting unit from which the second laser beam is emitted and at least another part of the laser beam emitted from the laser light source as the second laser beam as the second laser beam. The rear fog lamp device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second optical path that guides the light to the emitting portion.

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