JP2016018752A - Vehicular lighting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently ensure brightness of a high-luminance region in a light distribution pattern formed by irradiation light from a projector type vehicular lighting tool.SOLUTION: In a first light source unit 20A and second light source units 20BL, 20BR arranged on a rear side with respect to a projection lens 12, the luminance of the first light source unit is made higher than those of the second light source units, and irradiation is performed forward from the projection lens. In the irradiation, the vicinities of the central parts of a light distribution pattern PL for low beam and a light distribution pattern PH for high beam are irradiated with high-luminance light HZL, HZH, and the high-luminance light is contained in the light distribution pattern for low beam and the light distribution pattern for high beam.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicular lamp, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp that includes a plurality of light source units.

  In general, in a projector-type vehicular lamp, a light distribution pattern is formed by reversely projecting a light source image formed on a rear focal plane of a projection lens toward the front.

  Patent Document 1 describes a configuration including a plurality of light source units arranged behind a projection lens rear focal point as a projector-type vehicular lamp.

  Each light source unit described in Patent Document 1 is configured to reflect light from a light source toward a projection lens by a reflector.

JP 2010-086969 A

  If the lamp structure described in the said patent document 1 is employ | adopted, the whole light distribution pattern can be formed as a synthetic | combination light distribution pattern of the several light distribution pattern formed with the irradiation light from a several light source unit.

  At that time, Patent Document 1 describes that a light distribution pattern that is small and bright is formed by increasing the light collection degree of some reflectors.

  However, when such a configuration is used to increase the light collecting degree of the reflector, the light collecting degree is naturally limited. Therefore, the high luminance region of the entire light distribution pattern is brightened to a certain level or more by the light distribution pattern with the increased light collecting degree. It is difficult to form.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high luminous intensity among the synthetic light distribution patterns in a light distribution pattern formed by irradiation light from a projector-type vehicle lamp. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp that can sufficiently ensure the brightness of the area.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle lamp according to the present invention (Claim 1) includes a projection lens and a plurality of light source units arranged on the rear side of the projection lens. Each of the light source units includes a light source and a light control member that controls light from the light source, and the luminance of the light source of the first light source unit among the plurality of light source units is the second light source unit. The illumination light from the light source of the first light source unit (hereinafter referred to as “high brightness illumination light”) is transmitted through the projection lens and is emitted forward to be high. A luminance light distribution pattern is formed, and irradiation light from the light source of the second light source unit (hereinafter referred to as “low luminance irradiation light”) is transmitted through the projection lens and emitted forward to be emitted from the low luminance light distribution pattern. Forming the high brightness So that the light pattern is included in the low-luminance light distribution pattern.

(Operation) With this configuration, the low-luminance illumination light is widely diffused to irradiate a wide area including the road surface among the combined light distribution pattern of the low-luminance light distribution pattern and the high-luminance light distribution pattern. In addition, it is possible to irradiate the central area with sufficient brightness by irradiating the central area on the road surface, which is called a hot zone, which requires high luminance for the driver, with the high-intensity irradiation light. become.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light control member is a reflector, a movable shade is installed between the reflector and the projection lens, and a portion of the low-intensity irradiation light is shielded to generate a high beam. It was configured to switch between light distribution and low beam light distribution.

  (Operation) In the vehicular lamp having such a configuration, by controlling the movable shade, it is possible to block a part of the low-intensity irradiation light and to irradiate the road surface or the like with the irradiation light according to the traveling mode. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp according to the first or second aspect, the amount of the high-intensity irradiation light is increased at the time of high beam light distribution.

  (Operation) At the time of high beam light distribution, it is often preferable to increase the light amount to increase the brightness particularly in the hot zone. In the vehicular lamp having the configuration according to claim 3, by increasing the amount of the high-intensity irradiation light, the road surface or the like irradiated with the high-intensity irradiation light becomes brighter and the visibility is improved, thereby further improving safety. Enable driving.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light source of the first light source unit and the second light source unit are installed on the optical axis of the projection lens.

  (Operation) In the vehicular lamp having such a configuration, a plurality of light sources can be installed in a narrow space in the width direction of the vehicle.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the light source of the first light source unit is an LD, and the light source of the second light source unit is an LED.

  (Function) The vehicular lamp having such a configuration can maximize the functions of the LD, which has sufficient luminance but has insufficient light quantity, and the LED, which has sufficient light quantity but has insufficient luminance, for driving. In a person's field of view, a portion near the center where the luminance is most necessary is irradiated with LD, and the entire range including this central portion is irradiated with an LED capable of taking a sufficient amount of light, so that the whole can be brightened.

  According to a sixth aspect, in the vehicular lamp according to the fifth aspect, the LD and the LED are fixed to separate bases.

  (Operation) In the vehicular lamp having such a configuration, the LD having poor heat resistance is fixed to a base separate from the LED that easily generates heat, and the two are separated from each other, so that the heat of the LED hardly reaches the LD. It is possible to prevent thermal degradation of the LD.

  In the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, the high-intensity irradiation light among the combined light distribution patterns formed by transmitting both the high-intensity irradiation light and the low-intensity irradiation light through the projection lens and emitting it forward. The high luminance light distribution pattern formed by the above is included in the low luminance light distribution pattern formed by the low luminance irradiation light. In other words, the entire high luminance light distribution pattern is overlapped with a part of the low luminance light distribution pattern. Preferably, the center in the left-right direction of the light distribution pattern area of the high-intensity irradiation light and the center in the left-right direction of the light distribution pattern area of the low-intensity irradiation light are substantially matched.

  As a result, the low-intensity illumination light is dispersed to form a low-intensity illumination light distribution pattern that irradiates many parts of the field of view visible from the driver's seat. A high-brightness illumination light distribution pattern with a smaller area than the low-brightness illumination light distribution pattern is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the region where high brightness is desired, usually the low-brightness illumination light distribution pattern . In general, an LD is used as a light source for high-intensity irradiation light, and an LED is used as a light source for low-intensity irradiation light. By irradiating a hot zone with a relatively small area to be irradiated with a high-brightness and low-light LD, and irradiating a wide area including the hot zone with an LED that can emit abundant light with low brightness, both light sources By taking advantage of these characteristics, a suitable light distribution pattern can be provided.

It is a top view of the vehicular lamp which is the 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a vertical side view of the vehicle lamp which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern irradiated forward from the vehicle lamp in FIG. 3, (a) showing a low beam light distribution pattern, and (b) showing a high beam light distribution pattern. It is.

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

  In the vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projection lens 12, the first light source unit 20 </ b> A disposed on the rear side of the rear focus F of the projection lens 12, and the two The second light source units 20BL and 20BR and a mirror member 14 having an upward reflecting surface 14a are provided.

  The first light source unit 20A and the two second light source units 20BL and 20BR are both supported by the mirror member 14, and the projection lens 12 is supported by the mirror member 14 via the lens holder 16.

  The vehicular lamp 10 is a lamp unit that is used in a state of being incorporated as a part of a headlamp. In the state of being incorporated in a headlamp, the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 12 is relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction. It arrange | positions in the state extended about 0.5-0.6 degree downward.

  The projection lens 12 is a planoconvex aspherical lens having a convex surface on the front side and a flat surface on the rear side, and a light source image formed on the rear focal plane, which is a focal plane including the rear focal point F, as an inverted image. Project onto a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp.

  The first light source unit 20A includes a light emitting element 22A and a reflector 24A that is disposed so as to cover the light emitting element 22A from above and reflects light from the light emitting element 22A toward the projection lens 12.

  The light emitting element 22A is a light emitting chip of a white laser diode (LD) and has a small light emitting surface that is circular or elliptical. This light emitting surface is configured as a high luminance light emitting surface. The light emitting element 22A is arranged with its light emitting surface facing upward slightly below the optical axis Ax.

  The reflection surface 24Aa of the reflector 24A has a long axis that is coaxial with the optical axis Ax, and is formed of a substantially elliptical curved surface having the light emission center of the light emitting element 22A as the first focal point. In this case, the reflecting surface 24Aa is set to have an elliptical shape in which the vertical cross-sectional shape along the major axis has a second focal point located slightly in front of the rear focal point F, and the eccentricity is the vertical cross-section. It is set so that it gradually becomes larger toward the horizontal section. As a result, the reflector 24A converges the light from the light emitting element 22A to a point located slightly forward of the rear focal point F in the vertical section, and moves the convergence position slightly forward in the horizontal section. It is designed to move.

  The two second light source units 20BL and 20BR are arranged in a symmetrical relationship with respect to the optical axis Ax on both the left and right sides of the first light source unit 20A.

  Each of the second light source units 20BL and 20BR includes a light emitting element 22B and a reflector 24B that covers the light emitting element 22 from above and reflects light from the light emitting element 22B toward the projection lens 12. Yes.

  The light emitting element 22B is a light emitting chip of a white light emitting diode (LED), and has a horizontally long light emitting surface. Unlike the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 22A, this light emitting surface has a rectangular outer shape, and is formed with a size (specifically, a light emitting surface area twice or more) that is considerably larger than the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 22A. Has been. The light emitting element 22B is an LED as described above, and its light emitting surface is configured as a light emitting surface having a lower luminance than the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 22A which is an LD. The light emitting element 22B is arranged with its light emitting surface facing upward slightly below the horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax.

  The reflecting surface 24Ba of the reflector 24B in the second light source unit 20BL located on the left side has a long axis extending in a direction inclined rightward toward the front, and a substantially elliptical surface having the light emission center of the light emitting element 22B as the first focal point. It is composed of a curved surface. On the other hand, the reflecting surface 24Ba of the reflector 24B in the second light source unit 20BR located on the right side has a long axis extending in a direction inclined leftward toward the front, and has an emission center of the light emitting element 22B as a first focal point. It is composed of an elliptical curved surface.

  The reflecting surface 24Ba of the reflector 24B in each of the second light source units 20BL and 20BR is set to have an elliptical shape in which the vertical cross-sectional shape along the major axis is located slightly forward of the rear focal point F as the second focal point. The eccentricity is set to gradually increase from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section. At that time, the degree of increase in the eccentricity is set to be larger than that in the case of the reflector 24A. Accordingly, the reflectors 24B of the second optical axes 20BL and 20BR converge the light from the light emitting elements 22B to a point located slightly forward of the rear focal point F in the vertical cross section, and also in the horizontal cross section. Inside, the convergence position is moved considerably forward.

  The upward reflecting surface 14a of the mirror member 14 is formed by subjecting the upper surface of the mirror member 14 to a mirror surface treatment such as aluminum vapor deposition. The upward reflecting surface 14a is arranged so that the front end edge 14a1 passes through the rear focal point F. The front edge 14a1 extends so as to curve forward along the meridional image plane of the projection lens 12 from the rear focal point F toward the left and right sides in plan view.

 The mirror member 14 reflects a part of the reflected light from the reflectors 24A and 24B toward the projection lens 12 upward on the upward reflecting surface 14a so as to be incident on the projection lens 12, and uses these as downward light as the projection lens. 12 is emitted. The light emitted from the projection lens 12 forms a left beam low beam distribution pattern.

  The upward reflecting surface 14a is formed so as to extend along the horizontal plane slightly below the optical axis Ax, but on the left side (right side in the lamp front view) of the rear focal point F of the front end position, A standing wall portion 14a2 protruding to the side is formed.

  The standing wall portion 14a2 is formed so as to extend narrowly along the front end edge 14a1 in a plan view. At this time, the standing wall portion 14a2 extends at a certain height from the position on the optical axis Ax toward the left side, and extends obliquely downward from the position on the optical axis Ax toward the right side to the upward reflecting surface 14a. Yes.

  A vehicle lamp 110 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a projection lens 112, a first light source unit 120 </ b> A disposed behind the rear focal point F of the projection lens 12, and the first light source unit. A second light source unit 120B located behind 120A and a base member 114 having a downward stepped portion 114a for supporting them are provided, and the projection lens 112 is also supported by the base member 114 via a lens holder 116.

  This vehicular lamp 110 is a lamp unit that is used in a state of being incorporated as a part of a headlamp. Similar to the case of the first embodiment, the projection lens 112 in the state of being incorporated in a headlamp. Is arranged with the optical axis Ax extending downward by about 0.5 to 0.6 ° with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

  As in the case of the first embodiment, the projection lens 112 is a planoconvex aspherical lens having a convex surface on the front side and a flat rear surface on the rear focal plane, which is a focal plane including the rear focal point F. Is projected onto a virtual vertical screen in front of the lamp as a reverse image.

  The first light source unit 120A includes a light emitting element 122A and a reflector 124A that is disposed so as to cover the light emitting element 122A from above and reflects light from the light emitting element 122A toward the projection lens 112.

  A transmission hole 125, which is normally circular, is formed at a location where the optical axis Ax of the reflector 124A passes, and the reflection surface 124Aa of the reflector 124A is configured by a substantially elliptical curved surface.

  The light emitting element 122A is a light emitting chip of a white light emitting diode (LED) having a horizontally long rectangular light emitting surface, and is substantially in the middle between the downward stepped portion 114a of the base member 114 and the rear end portion of the base member 114. On the first base 115 </ b> A installed on the upper surface, the light emitting surface is disposed upward.

  The second light source unit 120B is installed on the base member 114 behind the first light source unit 120A, and is disposed so as to cover the light emitting element 122B and the light emitting element 122B from above, and from the light emitting element 122B. And a reflector 124B that reflects light forward. The light emitting element 122B of the second light source unit 120B is a light emitting chip of a high-intensity white laser diode (LD), and emits light on the second base 115B of the base member 114 behind the first base 115A. It is arranged with the surface facing up.

  The light from the light emitting element 122B of the second light source unit 120B is reflected by the reflecting surface 124Ba of the reflector 124B and travels in the direction of the first light source unit 120A, and only the light that has passed through the transmission hole 125 is included. The light travels forward along the optical axis Ax, passes through the projection lens 112, and is projected onto a virtual vertical screen in front of the vehicle.

  A shade holder 128 is supported slightly behind the stepped portion 114a of the base member 114, and the movable shade 118 is rotatable to the shade holder 128 via a rotation pin 126 extending in the left-right direction below the optical axis Ax. It is supported by. The pivot pin 126 is located at the front end of the movable shade 118. The movable shade 118 is formed so as to extend obliquely upward from the front end portion thereof toward the rear (in the shielding position), and the upper end edge 118a thereof is formed in a step difference (not shown).

  The movable shade 118 is rotated at a predetermined angle from the light shielding position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 and the light shielding position downward by driving an actuator (not shown) supported by the base member 114. A light shielding release position indicated by a chain line can be taken. The actuator is driven when a beam changeover switch (not shown) is operated.

  When the movable shade 118 is in the light shielding position, the upper edge 118a of the movable shade 118 is disposed so as to extend in the horizontal direction so as to pass through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 112, and thereby the light emitting element reflected by the reflector 124A. A part of the light from 122A is shielded. Further, when the movable shade 118 is moved to the light shielding release position, the upper end edge 118a thereof is displaced to some extent below the rear focal point F of the projection lens 112, whereby the light from the light emitting element 14 reflected by the reflector 124A. The shading is canceled.

  In the second embodiment having such a configuration, since both light emitting surfaces of the first light source unit 120A and the second light source unit 120B exist on the optical axis Ax, a plurality of light sources are provided in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction. Can be installed. In addition, a reflector for a conventional light source unit having only a single LED as a light source is formed with a transmission hole, and another light source unit having an LD as a light source is installed behind the light source unit, so that a vehicular lamp is provided. It can be configured and can be easily configured by using a conventional instrument as it is.

  In the present embodiment, the LED having poor heat resistance is not only fixed to a base different from the exothermic LD, but also has a reflector 24A of the first light source unit 120A between them. There is no direct heat transfer and the thermal protection of the LED is more reliably performed.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m ahead of the lamp by light irradiated forward from the vehicular lamp 110 of FIG. 4 (a) shows the low beam distribution pattern PL, and FIG. 4 (b) shows the high beam distribution pattern PH.

  The low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed when the movable shade 118 is in the light shielding position (solid line in FIG. 3), while the high beam light distribution pattern PH is formed in the movable shade 118 at the light shielding release position (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). It is designed to be formed when

  The low beam light distribution pattern PL shown in FIG. 4A is a left light distribution low beam light distribution pattern, and has cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at different upper ends. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed so as to extend in the horizontal direction with a difference in left and right steps with a VV line passing through the HV as a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp in the vertical direction. At that time, the opposite lane side cut-off line CL1 on the right side of the VV line is formed so as to extend in the horizontal direction over substantially the entire length thereof, while the own lane side cut-off line CL2 on the left side of the VV line. Is formed so as to extend in the horizontal direction after rising from the left end position of the oncoming lane side cut-off line CL1 via an inclined portion.

  The light from the light emitting element 122A is reflected by almost the entire reflecting surface 124Aa of the reflector 124A and travels forward, but the light irradiated on the upper side of the reflecting surface 124Aa of the reflector 124A has no shielding in the optical path. Therefore, after traveling straight ahead and reaching the projection lens 112, the projection lens 112 projects it as a reverse projection image on the virtual vertical screen. This low beam formation is not affected whether the movable shade 118 is in the light shielding position or the light shielding release position.

  On the other hand, the light irradiated to the lower side of the reflecting surface 124Aa of the reflector 124A travels slightly forward, and when the movable shade 118 is in the shielding position, it cannot travel forward and reaches the projection lens 112. If the movable shade 118 is in the shielding position, the low beam PL is formed. The cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as a reverse projection image of the upper end edge 18a of the movable shade 18 as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the movable shade 118 is in the shielding release position, the light irradiated to the lower side of the reflecting surface 124Aa travels forward slightly upward to reach the projection lens 112 and is reversely projected onto the virtual vertical screen. Projected as an image. In this way, when the movable shade 118 is in the shielding release position, the light from the light emitting element 122A of the first light source unit 120A reflected on the upper side and the lower side of the reflecting surface 124Aa of the reflector 124A, that is, almost the entire surface. The high beam PH shown in FIG. 4B is obtained by the light.

  The high-intensity light from the light emitting element 122B of the second light source unit 120B is reflected by the reflecting surface 124Ba of the reflector 124B and travels forward, passes through the transmission hole 125 of the reflector 124A of the first light source unit 120A, and moves to the movable shade. When 118 is in the shielding position, the light corresponding to the circular or elliptical lower portion of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 122B of the second light source unit 120B is shielded and reaches the projection lens 112, and is inverted by the projection lens 112. Then, an elliptical high-intensity projection image HZL having an upper portion missing is formed on the virtual vertical screen. This high-intensity projection image HZL is combined with the low beam PL, and the projection image of FIG. 4A whose upper edge coincides with the low beam PL is obtained.

  On the other hand, when the movable shade 118 is in the shielding release position, it passes through the transmission hole 125 of the reflector 124A, reaches the projection lens 112 without being shielded, and has an oval shape with no omission on the virtual vertical screen. High-intensity inverted projection image HZH is formed. This high-intensity projection image HZH is combined with the high beam PH to obtain the projection image in FIG. 4B in which the high-intensity projection image HZH is completely surrounded by the high beam PH.

  4A and 4B, the high-intensity inverted projection images HZL and HZH are included in the low-beam light distribution pattern PL and the high-beam light distribution pattern PH, respectively, and the high-intensity reverse projection The images HZL and HZH are not formed outside the low beam light distribution pattern PL and the high beam light distribution pattern PH, respectively. In both the light distribution patterns PL and PH, the hot zones HZL and HZH near the center of the field of view are irradiated with the high-intensity LD light, so that it becomes brighter and the visibility is improved. When the entire field of view is irradiated with high-intensity light, the entire field of view is easily visible. However, as in the present embodiment, the hot zones HZL and HZH are brightened and the surroundings are made darker than the hot zones HZL and HZH. The visibility of the zones HZL and HZH is further improved.

10, 110 Vehicle lamps 12, 112 Projection lens 14 Mirror member 14a Upward reflecting surface 14a1 Front edge 114a Downward stepped portion 14a2 Standing wall 114 Base member 115A, 115B Base 16, 116 Lens holder 20A, 120A First light source unit 20BL, 20BR, 120B Second light source unit 22A, 22B Light emitting element 24A, 24B Reflector 24Aa, 24Ba Reflecting surface 118 Movable shade 118a Upper end 122A, 122B Light emitting element 124A, 124B Reflector 124Aa, 124Ba Reflecting surface
125 Transmission hole 126 Rotating pin 128 Shade holder F Rear focus PL Low beam light distribution pattern PH High beam light distribution pattern L1, CL2 Cut-off line Ax Optical axis

Claims (6)

In a vehicle lamp comprising a projection lens and a plurality of light source units arranged on the rear side of the projection lens,
Each of the light source units includes a light source and a light control member that controls light from the light source,
Among the plurality of light source units, the luminance of the light source of the first light source unit is set to a value higher than the luminance of the light source of the second light source unit,
Irradiation light from the light source of the first light source unit is transmitted through the projection lens and emitted forward to form a high luminance light distribution pattern,
Irradiation light from the light source of the second light source unit is transmitted through the projection lens and emitted forward to form a low luminance light distribution pattern,
The high-luminance light distribution pattern is included in the low-luminance light distribution pattern.   The light control member is a reflector, a movable shade is installed between the reflector and the projection lens, and a part of the irradiation light from the light source of the second light source unit is shielded to switch between high beam distribution and low beam distribution. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1.   3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the amount of irradiation light from the light source of the first light source unit is increased at the time of high beam light distribution.   The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light source of the first light source unit and the light source of the second light source unit are installed on the optical axis of the projection lens.   5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light source of the first light source unit is a laser diode (LD), and the light source of the second light source unit is a light emitting diode (LED). Light fixture.   The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, wherein the LD and the LED are fixed to separate bases.

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