JP2018116801A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular lighting fixture that makes it possible to form a desired light distribution pattern while suppressing increase in size.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture has a reflector member 13 that reflects light emitted from a light source 11, a convex lens (24) that forms light reflected on the reflector member 13 into a first irradiation pattern 32, and a concave lens (25) that magnifies the first irradiation pattern 32 in vertical direction to form it into a second irradiation pattern 33 of a predetermined size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a vehicular lamp.

  As a vehicle lamp, for example, a combination of a lamp such as a clearance lamp and a daytime running lamp and a lamp that forms a passing light distribution pattern is known.

  Some of such vehicular lamps form a desired light distribution pattern by forming light from a light source with a lens (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The conventional vehicular lamp is configured to project light emitted from a light source at a predetermined solid angle forward through a lens.

JP 2008-177060 A

  However, the above-described conventional vehicular lamp needs to use a lens having a size that covers the solid angle of light from the light source, which leads to an increase in size of the whole. Here, if the solid angle of the light from the light source is reduced, the lens can be reduced. For example, the light distribution pattern and regulations that are diffused according to the expansion of the driver view accompanying the spread of one-box cars should be satisfied. It becomes difficult to form a light distribution pattern diffused in the region.

  The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicular lamp that can form a desired light distribution pattern while suppressing an increase in size.

  A vehicular lamp according to the present disclosure includes a reflector member that reflects light emitted from a light source, a convex lens that shapes the light reflected by the reflector member into a first irradiation pattern, and the first irradiation pattern is enlarged in the vertical direction. And a concave lens that is molded into a second irradiation pattern of a predetermined size.

  According to the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, a desired light distribution pattern can be formed while suppressing an increase in size.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the vehicle lamp as an example which concerns on one Embodiment of the vehicle lamp which concerns on this indication with a rough cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st irradiation pattern as an example which the 1st lens (convex lens) of a vehicle lamp forms. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd irradiation pattern as an example which the 2nd lens (concave lens) of a vehicle lamp forms. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the light from a light source advances the 1st lens and the 2nd lens in order to demonstrate the effect | action of a vehicle lamp. It is explanatory drawing which simplifies and shows a mode that the light from a light source advances a projection lens, in order to demonstrate the effect | action of the vehicle lamp as a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, Example 1 of a vehicle lamp 10 as an example of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, FIG. 1 has shown each structure simply in order to make an understanding of the structure of the vehicle lamp 10 easy.

  The vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of the vehicle lamp which concerns on this indication is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-5. The vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment is used as a headlamp that appropriately irradiates the front of a vehicle such as an automobile, and constitutes a projector-type headlamp unit. The vehicular lamp 10 is provided in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing on both the left and right sides of the front portion of the vehicle, and the opened front end is covered with an outer lens (second lens 25 described later).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp 10 includes a light source 11, a heat sink member 12, a reflector member 13, a shade unit 14, and a projection lens 15. The vehicular lamp 10 can change the light distribution pattern by using the shade unit 14. The vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment can be switched between a low beam light distribution pattern (passing light distribution pattern) and a high beam light distribution pattern (traveling light distribution pattern). In the following description, in the vehicular lamp 10, the direction along the optical axis L of the reflector member 13 and the projection lens 15 described later is the optical axis direction (the projection lens 15 side is the front side), and is mounted on the vehicle. The vertical direction is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the vertical direction is the vehicle width direction.

  The light source 11 is configured by mounting a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode on a substrate, and is fixed to the heat sink member 12 (the upper surface thereof). The light source 11 is appropriately lit when power is supplied from the lighting control circuit to the light emitting element.

  The heat sink member 12 is a heat radiating member that releases heat generated by the light source 11 provided on the upper surface to the outside, and is fixed to the lamp housing. The heat sink member 12 radiates heat from the plurality of heat radiation fins 21 provided on the lower surface. Below the radiating fins 21, a cooling fan for sending wind is appropriately provided.

  The reflector member 13 reflects the light emitted from the light source 11 toward the projection lens 15. The reflector member 13 has a bowl shape having a reflecting surface formed of a free curved surface based on an ellipse on the inside, and is positioned on the heat sink member 12 (the upper surface thereof).

  The shade unit 14 is fixed to the heat sink member 12 and switches the light distribution of the projection light projected by the projection lens 15 between a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern. The shade unit 14 includes a shade 22 and a drive unit 23. The shade 22 has a shape in which the upper edge has a horizontal edge and an inclined edge joined together, and a low beam light distribution pattern (described later) by the horizontal edge and the inclined edge by blocking a part of the light emitted from the light source 11. A cut-off line (bright / dark boundary line) 31 in the second irradiation pattern 33 (see FIG. 3) is formed. The shade 22 is supported by the drive unit 23 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 22a. The drive unit 23 displaces the shade 22 by rotation between the generated rotation posture shown in FIG. 1 and the rotation posture approaching the projection lens 15 therefrom. The shade 22 is arranged so that the upper edge (each edge) is positioned at or near the focal position of the reflector member 13 and the projection lens 15 when the shade 22 is in the raised rotation posture.

  The projection lens 15 projects the light reflected by the reflector member 13 to the front of the vehicle, and forms a predetermined light distribution pattern (low beam light distribution pattern or high beam light distribution pattern) in cooperation with the light source 11 and the reflector member 13. To do. The projection lens 15 includes a first lens 24 as an example of a convex lens and a second lens 25 as an example of a concave lens.

  The first lens 24 shapes the light reflected by the reflector member 13 to form a first irradiation pattern 32 (see FIG. 2). That is, the first lens 24 forms the first irradiation pattern 32 in cooperation with the light source 11 and the reflector member 13. In the first embodiment, the first lens 24 is a plano-convex lens made up of a free-form convex surface and a flat surface, and is provided with the flat surface facing the light source 11 side. The first lens 24 is provided in close proximity to the shade 22 (shade unit 14) in the raised rotational position. Specifically, the light reflected by the reflector member 13 travels toward the first lens 24 while spreading, and is in a positional relationship to enter the plane of the first lens 24 at a position where the light starts to spread. When the first lens 24 is in a rotational posture in which the shade 22 is raised, the first lens 24 shapes light that is reflected by the reflector member 13 and partially blocked by the shade 22.

  The first lens 24 is supported by a lens holder, and the lens holder is fixed to the heat sink member 12 together with the shade unit 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the first lens 24 is in a state in which the positional relationship among the light source 11, the reflector member 13, and the shade unit 14 is determined, and forms an internal unit 26 having an optical axis L. In the first embodiment, the internal unit 26 is provided in the lamp housing via an optical axis adjusting mechanism. For this reason, the internal unit 26 adjusts the direction of the optical axis L with respect to the lamp housing while maintaining the state in which the positional relationship among the light source 11, the reflector member 13, the shade unit 14, and the first lens 24 is determined. It is possible.

  The 1st irradiation pattern 32 is a shape which reduced the shape (it corresponds to the 2nd irradiation pattern 33 (refer FIG. 3) so that it may mention later) desired as a light distribution pattern projected ahead of a vehicle to an up-down direction. The first irradiation pattern 32 has the same scale as the desired light distribution pattern (second irradiation pattern 33) in the vehicle width direction, like a conventional projector-type headlamp unit. An example of the first irradiation pattern 32 is shown in FIG. The first irradiation pattern 32 in FIG. 2 is obtained by reducing a low beam light distribution pattern as a predetermined light distribution pattern in the vertical direction, and a reduced cutoff line 34 is formed at the upper end. The reduced cut-off line 34 is obtained by reducing the cut-off line 31 (see FIG. 3) of the low beam light distribution pattern in the vertical direction. The reduced cut-off line 34 is formed by a horizontal line portion 34a and an inclined line portion 34b. In the first embodiment, the reduced cut-off line 34 is set such that the rising angle θa, which is the angle formed by the inclined line part 34b with respect to the horizontal line part 34a, is in the range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees. The rising angle θa is preferably set to 5 degrees to 10 degrees.

  The second lens 25 enlarges light passing through the first lens 24 in the vertical direction (vertical direction) to form a second irradiation pattern 33 (see FIG. 3). The second lens 25 is a plano-concave lens made up of a concave surface and a flat surface that are free-form surfaces in Example 1, and is provided with the concave surface facing the first lens 24 side. The second lens 25 has a mounting portion 25a on the periphery, and is fixed to the lamp housing via the mounting portion 25a. For this reason, when the direction of the optical axis L of the internal unit 26 is adjusted with respect to the lamp housing by the optical axis adjusting mechanism, the second lens 25 itself does not change its positional relationship with respect to the lamp housing. The positional relationship changes. In the first embodiment, the second lens 25 constitutes an outer lens that forms a part of the outer shape of the vehicle.

  The 2nd irradiation pattern 33 is made into the shape which expanded the 1st irradiation pattern 32 to the up-down direction, and is a shape desired as a light distribution pattern projected on the front of a vehicle. In the first embodiment, the second irradiation pattern 33 is a low-beam light distribution pattern as an example, as shown in FIG. 3, and includes a cut-off line 31 in which a reduced cut-off line 34 is enlarged in the vertical direction. The cut-off line 31 is formed by a horizontal line portion 31a and an inclined line portion 31b. In the cut-off line 31, the rising angle θb, which is an angle formed by the inclined line portion 31b with respect to the horizontal line portion 31a, is set to a predetermined value, for example, a value satisfying the regulations.

  The second lens 25 is set to have a magnification that expands in the vertical direction in consideration of the size (degree of reduction) in the first irradiation pattern 32 so that the second irradiation pattern 33 has a desired shape as a light distribution pattern. The magnification is set in the range of 5% to 1000%. The magnification is preferably set to 5% to 300%.

  Next, the operation in the vehicular lamp 10 will be described. In this description, it is assumed that the shade unit 14 is in a rotational posture in which the shade 22 is raised without power being supplied to the drive unit 23. Note that the operation of the vehicular lamp 10 is the same as that except that a high beam light distribution pattern is irradiated when the shade 22 is in a rotating posture approaching the projection lens 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp 10 reflects the light emitted from the light source 11 forward by the reflector member 13, and partially shields the light by the shade 22 in the rotating posture that has occurred. Make it progress. The light passes through the first lens 24 of the projection lens 15 and travels to the second lens 25 as a first irradiation pattern 32 (see FIG. 2). The light passes through the second lens 25 to form a second irradiation pattern 33 (see FIG. 3) in which the first irradiation pattern 32 is enlarged in the vertical direction, and forward from the second lens 25 serving as an outer lens. Projected. Thereby, the vehicular lamp 10 can form a low beam light distribution pattern (second irradiation pattern 33) forward.

  The characteristics of the vehicular lamp 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing the vehicular lamp 10 of the present disclosure and FIG. 5 showing the vehicular lamp 1 as a comparative example. The vehicular lamp 1 has the same basic configuration as the vehicular lamp 10 except that the projection lens is composed of a single projection lens 5. 4 and 5, in order to easily understand the difference, the light source 11, the heat sink member 12, the reflector member 13, and the shade unit 14 that are configured to be equal to each other in the both vehicle lamps (10, 1) This is simply shown as the light source 11, and will be described below simply as light emitted from the light source 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicular lamp 10 converts the light emitted from the light source 11 into a first irradiation pattern 32 in which a desired light distribution pattern is reduced in the vertical direction by the first lens 24, and this is used as a second irradiation pattern 32. The lens 25 is enlarged in the vertical direction to form a second irradiation pattern 33 which is a desired light distribution pattern. The vehicular lamp 10 passes through a first lens 24 and emits light emitted from a light source 11 at a predetermined solid angle (a spatial spread in which light exceeding a predetermined intensity travels). The angle is advanced to the second lens 25, and by passing through the second lens 25, the solid angle in the vertical direction is projected forward as a size necessary for forming a light distribution pattern of a predetermined size. For this reason, the dimension in the up-down direction of the light when entering the second lens 25 can be set to the dimension M1.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicular lamp 1 projects the light emitted from the light source 11 forward through the projection lens 5, thereby producing a desired light distribution pattern (similar to the second irradiation pattern 33). ). The vehicular lamp 1 travels light emitted from a light source 11 at a predetermined solid angle directly to a projection lens 5 and a solid angle necessary for forming a light distribution pattern of a predetermined size by the projection lens 5. Project forward. For this reason, the dimension M2 in the vertical direction of light when entering the projection lens 5 is larger than the dimension M1 of the vehicular lamp 10 (see FIG. 4). Then, the vehicular lamp 1 needs to enlarge the projection lens 5 in the vertical direction, which leads to an increase in size of the entire configuration. In particular, when the direction of the optical axis L of the light source 11 is adjustable by the optical axis adjustment mechanism, the entire region of the light emitted from the light source 11 even when the optical axis L is adjusted to the maximum in the vertical direction. Since it is necessary to make the projection lens 5 (see the dimension M3) large enough to include the upper and lower ends Le of the adjusted solid angle indicated by the two-dot chain line, the size is further increased.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicular lamp 10 can make the light incident on the second lens 25 to have a dimension M1, so that the vehicle lamp 10 can be compared with the projection lens 5 to which the light having the dimension M2 is incident. The two lenses 25 can be made smaller, and the overall configuration can be made smaller than the vehicular lamp 1. In particular, in the vehicular lamp 10, the direction of the optical axis L of the light source 11 (internal unit 26) can be adjusted by the optical axis adjustment mechanism, and includes the entire light range (see the end Le) regardless of the adjustment. As the second lens 25 (see dimension M4), the second lens 25 can be made smaller than the projection lens 5 (see dimension M3) in the same case, and the overall configuration can be further downsized. This is because in the vehicular lamp 10, the light emitted from the light source 11 travels to the second lens 25 with the first lens 24 having a small solid angle in the vertical direction, so the adjustment amount in the vertical direction of the direction of the optical axis L This is because the amount of displacement in the vertical direction of the light when entering the second lens 25 can be reduced (see the end Le). Thus, the vehicular lamp 10 can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional projector type configuration that forms a desired light distribution pattern.

  The vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment of the vehicular lamp according to the present disclosure can obtain the following functions and effects.

  The vehicular lamp 10 converts the light emitted from the light source 11 and reflected by the reflector member 13 into a first irradiation pattern 32 that is reduced in the vertical direction by the first lens 24 (convex lens), and is formed by the second lens 25 (concave lens). A second irradiation pattern 33 that is a desired light distribution pattern is enlarged in the vertical direction. In other words, the vehicular lamp 10 forms a first irradiation pattern 32 having a shape obtained by reducing a desired light distribution pattern in the vertical direction with the light source 11, the reflector member 13, and the first lens 24. The first irradiation pattern 32 is enlarged in the vertical direction to form a second irradiation pattern 33 that is a desired light distribution pattern. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 10 can reduce the solid angle until the light emitted from the light source 11 is incident on the second lens 25 at a predetermined solid angle. The dimension M1 in the direction can be made small. Thereby, the vehicle lamp 10 can make the 2nd lens 25 small, and can reduce the whole structure.

  Further, the vehicular lamp 10 takes the size (reduction degree) of the first irradiation pattern 32 into consideration so that the second irradiation pattern 33 has a desired shape as a light distribution pattern. The magnification to enlarge in the direction is set. In other words, the vehicular lamp 10 considers the magnification of the second lens 25 that expands in the vertical direction, and the first illumination pattern 32 formed by the first lens 24 in cooperation with the light source 11 and the reflector member 13. Sets the degree of direction reduction. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 10 can appropriately form a desired light distribution pattern while suppressing an increase in size.

  Further, in the vehicular lamp 10, the second lens 25 increases the rising angle θa in the reduction cut-off line 34 of the first irradiation pattern 32 so that the rising angle θb in the second irradiation pattern 33 has a predetermined size. It is said. In other words, in the vehicular lamp 10, the magnification of the second lens 25 and the relative relationship between the light source 11, the reflector member 13, and the first lens 24 are set so that the rising angle θb has a predetermined size, for example, an angle that satisfies the regulations. Specific settings. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 10 can appropriately form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line that satisfies, for example, regulations while suppressing an increase in size.

  In the vehicular lamp 10, the light source 11, the reflector member 13, and the first lens 24 are integrated, and an operation for adjusting the optical axis is performed by an optical axis adjusting mechanism. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 10 can reduce the second lens 25 (M4 <M3) by reducing the solid angle in the vertical direction of the light from the first lens 24 to the second lens 25 (M1 <M2). ) Can be made more effective.

  The vehicular lamp 10 uses the second lens 25 as an outer lens that forms a part of the outer shape of the vehicle. For this reason, the area | region which the vehicle lamp 10 in the external appearance of a vehicle exposes can be made small, and the freedom degree of design of a vehicle can be improved.

  Therefore, in the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment as the vehicular lamp according to the present disclosure, it is possible to form a desired light distribution pattern (second irradiation pattern 33) while suppressing an increase in size.

  As mentioned above, although the vehicle lamp of this indication was demonstrated based on Example 1, it is not restricted to Example 1 about a concrete structure, It deviates from the summary of the invention which concerns on each claim of a claim Unless otherwise, design changes and additions are permitted.

  For example, in the first embodiment, switching between a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern is possible. However, the light source 11, the reflector member 13, and the first lens 24 form a first irradiation pattern 32, and the second lens 25 enlarges the first irradiation pattern 32 in the vertical direction, thereby a second irradiation pattern having a predetermined size. Any structure may be used as long as it forms 33, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

  In Example 1, the second lens 25 forms an outer lens. However, for example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, an outer lens 35 that forms a part of the outer shape of the vehicle may be provided outside the second lens 25. Even in this case, since the second lens 25 is smaller than the projection lens 5 of the vehicular lamp 1 shown in FIG. 5, the outer lens is compared with the outer lens 36 that is also provided outside the projection lens 5. 35 can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in Example 1, the internal unit 26 (the light source 11, the reflector member 13, the shade unit 14, and the first lens 24) is provided in the lamp housing via the optical axis adjustment mechanism. However, it may be provided directly on the lamp housing and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. Alternatively, the second lens 25 may be integrated with the internal unit 26 and provided in the lamp housing via an optical axis adjustment mechanism. In that case, for example, it is conceivable to provide the outer lens 35 (see FIG. 4) outside the second lens 25 as described above. Even in such a configuration, since the second lens 25 is made small, the entire area of the light emitted from the second lens 25 when the optical axis L of the outer lens 35 is adjusted to the maximum is adjusted. Even if it can be included, the outer lens 35 can be made smaller than the outer lens 36 provided outside the projection lens 5 of the vehicular lamp 1 shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the reduced cut-off line 34 that is a cut-off line of the first irradiation pattern 32 is formed by the horizontal line part 34 a and the inclined line part 34 b which are respectively straight lines. However, the cutoff line 31 of the second irradiation pattern 33 is formed by the horizontal line portion 31a and the inclined line portion 31b, which are straight lines, respectively, in accordance with the aberration of the second lens 25 (to cancel the influence of the aberration). (Ii) The reduction cut-off line 34 (the horizontal line portion 34a and the inclined line portion 34b) of the first irradiation pattern 32 may be appropriately curved. Such bending of the reduced cut-off line 34 can be realized, for example, by appropriately bending the shade 22 that shields a part of the light reflected by the reflector member 13. With such a configuration, the configuration (optical setting) of the second lens 25 can be facilitated, and the degree of freedom in shape can be increased. This is more effective because when the second lens 25 forms an outer lens as in the first embodiment, a flexible design that matches the design of the outer shape of the vehicle is possible.

  In Example 1, the first lens 24 which is a plano-convex lens is used as a convex lens, and the second lens 25 which is a plano-concave lens is used as a concave lens, and each is provided as described above. However, the convex lens (first lens 24) may be any lens that forms the first irradiation pattern 32 in cooperation with the light source 11 and the reflector member 13. For this reason, the convex lens (the first lens 24) may be a plano-convex lens and may have a different orientation, may be a biconvex lens or a convex meniscus lens, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. The concave lens (second lens 25) may be any lens that forms the second irradiation pattern 33 having a predetermined size by expanding the first irradiation pattern 32 in the vertical direction. For this reason, the concave lens (second lens 25) may be a plano-concave lens and may have a different direction, may be a biconcave lens or a concave meniscus lens, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the cut-off line 31 and the reduced cut-off line 34 are formed of horizontal line portions (31a, 34a) and inclined line portions (31b, 34b). However, if both the cut-off lines are set appropriately in terms of shape, rising angle, etc. from the viewpoint of not illuminating the oncoming vehicle or satisfying the regulations, for example, two horizontal lines with different positions (height positions) viewed in the vertical direction are used. The line portions may be formed by being connected by an inclined line portion, and may have other shapes, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle lamp 11 Light source 12 Heat sink member 13 Reflector member 24 1st lens 25 (as an example of a convex lens) 2nd lens 31 (as an example of a concave lens) Cut-off line 32 1st irradiation pattern 33 Second irradiation pattern 34 Reduced cutoff line 34a (as an example of the first irradiation pattern cut-off line) 34a Horizontal line portion 34b Inclined line portion θa Rising angle θb (in the first irradiation pattern) θb (in the second irradiation pattern) angle

Claims (7)

A reflector member that reflects light emitted from the light source;
A convex lens for shaping the light reflected by the reflector member into a first irradiation pattern;
A vehicular lamp comprising: a concave lens that expands the first irradiation pattern in a vertical direction to form a second irradiation pattern having a predetermined size.   The concave lens increases the rising angle formed by the inclined line portion with respect to the horizontal line portion in the cut-off line of the first irradiation pattern, thereby setting the rising angle in the second irradiation pattern to a predetermined size. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular lamp is provided.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source, the reflector member, and the convex lens are integrated to perform an operation for adjusting an optical axis.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light source, the reflector member, the convex lens, and the concave lens are integrated to perform an operation for adjusting an optical axis.   The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the concave lens is an outer lens that forms a part of an outer shape of the vehicle.   The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an outer lens that forms a part of an outer shape of the vehicle is provided outside the concave lens.   The cut-off line of the first irradiation pattern is curved in accordance with the aberration of the concave lens so that the cut-off line of the second irradiation pattern is configured by a combination of straight lines. Item 7. The vehicular lamp according to any one of item 6.