JP2018122654A - Lamp fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alleviate or eliminate the problem of a discrimination visual field of an occupant getting dark suddenly when switching between turn-on and turn-off of a head lamp for travelling using a light source having high-speed responsiveness such as a light-emitting diode.SOLUTION: The lamp fitting comprises: a first light source as a light source of a head lamp for travelling; a second light source as a light source of illuminating light oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of the first light source; and a reflector that reflects light fluxes radiated from the first light source and the second light source respectively forward. When switching a state where one of the first light source and the second light source is turned on and the other is turned off into a state where the other is turned on and the one is turned off, amounts of electric currents to be applied to the other are increased from zero before cutting off electric currents to be applied to the one.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a lamp that can be used for a headlamp or the like installed in a vehicle.

  As is well known, a headlamp for illuminating the front of the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle. In the case of an automobile, a headlight for driving (high beam) that directs light in front of a distant side and emits light in parallel with the road surface, and a headlight for passing light (low beam) that directs light on a road surface about 40 m ahead and emits light obliquely downward Both can be selectively switched and used (for example, refer to the following patent document).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-136468

  Conventionally, a halogen lamp is often used as a light source for a vehicle headlamp. Recently, however, a light-emitting diode, which is advantageous in terms of power saving and long life, is increasingly used as a light source.

  One of the characteristics of a light emitting diode is high-speed response. In other words, the luminous flux rise time of a halogen lamp (the time required for the amount of luminous flux to increase from 10% to 90% of the rated value when a lamp that has been extinguished is turned on) and the luminous flux fall time (the lamp that has been turned on) When the light is turned off, the time required for the amount of luminous flux to decrease from 90% to 10% of the rated value) is 100 milliseconds to several hundred milliseconds, whereas that of a light emitting diode is less than tens of microseconds. Switching between turning on and off is significantly faster than halogen lamps.

  Therefore, when switching from a traveling headlamp to a passing headlamp, or when switching from a passing headlamp to a traveling headlamp, the same control as that using a conventional halogen lamp is performed. That is, when the current supply to one light source is immediately cut off (the amount of applied current is decreased stepwise) and the other light source is immediately supplied (the amount of applied current is increased stepwise), The illumination range by the headlamp will be greatly displaced instantaneously, which may give a sense of discomfort and a burden to the vehicle occupant. For example, when the traveling headlamp is turned off and the passing headlamp is turned on, the gazing point of the occupant moves from far away to the front of the vehicle accordingly. Due to the dimming, the passenger's discrimination field suddenly becomes dark.

  The present invention, which was made by paying attention to the above-mentioned points for the first time, has a rapid visual field for discriminating passengers when switching on / off of a headlight for traveling using a light source having high-speed response such as a light-emitting diode. It tries to alleviate or eliminate the darkening problem.

  In the present invention, a first light source that is a light source of a traveling headlamp, a second light source that is a light source of illumination light that is directed in a direction different from the first light source, the first light source and the second light source And a reflector that reflects the light flux emitted from each of the light sources forward, and one of the first light source and the second light source is turned on and the other is turned off. When switching to a state in which one is turned off and one is turned off, a lamp is configured to increase the amount of current applied to the other from zero before interrupting the current applied to one. In other words, the other light source is turned on or the amount of light emitted from the other light source is increased before one light source is completely turned off or while the afterglow from one light source remains. .

  In particular, in the present invention, a first light source serving as a light source for a traveling headlamp, a second light source serving as a light source for a passing headlamp, and radiation from each of the first light source and the second light source. And a reflector that reflects the light flux to be directed forward, and from the state in which one of the first light source and the second light source is turned on and the other is turned off, the other is turned on and the other is turned off. When switching to a state where the current is applied, the amount of current applied to one side is gradually or gradually decreased from the rated value over a predetermined time while the amount of current applied to the other is gradually reduced to the rated value over a predetermined time. Or the lamp | ramp which increases in steps or maintains the state which applies the electric current of a rated value to the other for the predetermined time, without interrupting the electric current applied to one side was comprised.

  Here, “decrease / increase the amount of current gradually or step by step” starts to decrease or increase the amount of current applied to the light source (applied current amount becomes less than the rated value or 0 A predetermined time is required until the applied current amount reaches zero or a rated value. That is, decreasing the applied current amount from the rated value to 0 in a stepwise manner or increasing from 0 to the rated value in a stepwise manner is included in “decreasing / increasing the amount of current gradually or stepwise”. I can't.

  In the present invention, the first light source that is a light source of the traveling headlamp and is also an element of the variable light distribution type headlamp, and a light source of illumination light that is directed in a direction different from the first light source. A second light source, and a reflector for reflecting forward the light beams emitted from each of the first light source and the second light source, and a plurality of steps of the amount of current applied to the first light source And a lamp capable of switching the amount of current applied to the second light source in a plurality of stages.

  Here, “the amount of current can be switched to a plurality of levels” means that at least the amount of current applied to the light source is an amount of two or more levels of a rated value and a value smaller than the rated value but not 0 It can be controlled. That is, it means that the amount of applied current can be stabilized to an intermediate value between the rated value and zero.

  According to the present invention, the problem of a passenger's discrimination field suddenly becoming dark when switching on / off of a traveling headlamp using a light source having high-speed response such as a light emitting diode is alleviated or eliminated. be able to.

The side view which shows the headlamp of the vehicle in 1st embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the lamp of the same embodiment. The sectional side view which shows the principal part of the lamp of the embodiment. The figure which shows the state which projected the light beam emitted from the lamp of the embodiment on the screen. The timing diagram which shows the pattern of control of the quantity of the light beam radiate | emitted from each of the 1st light source and the 2nd light source in the lamp of the embodiment. The timing diagram which shows the pattern of control of the quantity of the light beam radiate | emitted from each of the 1st light source and the 2nd light source in the lamp of the modification of the embodiment. The timing diagram which shows the pattern of control of the quantity of the light beam radiate | emitted from each of the 1st light source and the 2nd light source in the lamp of the modification of the embodiment. The top view which shows typically the example of the light distribution pattern of the several light source segment installed in the site | part on the anti-opposite lane side (left side) of a vehicle in 2nd embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows typically the state which projected the light distribution pattern of the several light source segment installed in the site | part on the anti-opposite lane side of the vehicle of the embodiment on the screen facing a vehicle. The side view which shows typically the irradiation range of the illumination light of the specific light source segment installed in the site | part on the anti-opposite lane side of the vehicle of the embodiment. The top view which shows typically the example of the light distribution pattern of the several light source segment installed in the site | part on the opposite lane side (right side) of the vehicle in the embodiment. The figure which shows typically the state which projected the light distribution pattern of the several light source segment installed in the site | part on the opposite lane side of the vehicle of the embodiment on the screen facing a vehicle.

  <First Embodiment> An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The lamp of this embodiment is used as a headlamp for the vehicle C, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, a general automobile C is directed to a headlight for traveling H that emits light in parallel with the road surface CL, and to a road surface CL about 40 m ahead, and emits light obliquely downward. Both the headlight for passing L are provided, the headlight for driving H is turned on and the headlight for passing L is turned off, and the headlight for passing is turned on. It is possible to switch between the state where H is turned off.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lamp of the present embodiment includes a first light source 3 and a first light source 3 that are spaced apart along the front-rear direction on a downward surface of a substrate (which may also serve as a heat sink) 1. The main components are the second light source 4 and the reflector 2 that reflects the light beams H and L emitted downward from each of the first light source 3 and the second light source 4 forward.

  In this embodiment, the 1st light source 3 outputs the 1st illumination light H used as the headlamp for driving | running | working. And the 2nd light source 4 outputs the 2nd illumination light L used as a headlight for passing. Each of the first light source 3 and the second light source 4 is a light emitting diode. The first light source 3 and the second light source 4 can be turned on / off independently of each other. The amount of light emitted from each of the light sources 3 and 4 is controlled by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) that increases or decreases the average amount of current applied to the light sources 3 and 4 via an FET (Field Effect Transistor) or other semiconductor switching element. It can be realized by control. As shown in FIG. 2, in the lamp of the present embodiment, a plurality of sets of the first light source 3 and the second light source 4 are intermittently provided along the left-right direction on the downward surface of the substrate 1 (see FIG. 2). In the example shown, three sets) are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first illumination light H emitted downward from the first light source 3 and the second illumination light L emitted downward from the second light source 4 each have a concave shape. It hits the reflective surface on the front side of the reflector 2 and is reflected by the same reflector 2 and heads forward.

  The optical axis (represented by a solid line) of the first illumination light H is reflected by the reflector 2 and then becomes parallel to the road surface CL, that is, substantially horizontal. On the other hand, the optical axis (represented by a chain line) of the second illumination light L hits the vicinity of the location where the optical axis of the first illumination light H hits on the reflecting surface of the reflector 2. Then, after being reflected by the reflector 2, it faces a direction inclined downward relative to the optical axis of the substantially horizontal first illumination light H. As shown in FIG. 4, when the illumination lights H and L emitted from the lamp of the present embodiment are projected onto a screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle C, the second illumination light L The illumination range is biased downward from the illumination range of the first illumination light H.

  When switching from the state where the traveling headlight H is turned on and the passing headlight L is turned off to the state where the passing headlight L is turned on and the traveling headlight H is turned off, FIG. As shown, the amount of current applied to the first light source 3 (duty ratio of the applied current by PWM control) is gradually decreased to gradually reduce the amount of light flux output from the first light source 3, while the second The amount of current applied to the light source 4 is gradually increased to gradually increase the amount of light flux output by the second light source 4. The period of decrease in the amount of applied current for the first light source 3 and the period of increase in the amount of applied current for the second light source 4 overlap at least partially.

  The length of time required to reduce the applied current amount of the first light source 3 from the rated value at the time of lighting to 0, and the applied current amount of the second light source 4 from 0 to the rated value at the time of lighting. The length of time required for each is set to a value within the range of 100 milliseconds to 700 milliseconds. By such a control, the passenger is given a feeling of switching equivalent to a headlamp using a conventional halogen lamp, and the traveling headlamp H is immediately turned off and the passing headlamp L is turned on immediately. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem that the passenger's discrimination field of view suddenly becomes dark during the process of moving the gazing point of the vehicle C from the distance to the front of the hand. In other words, the influence of the high-speed response characteristic of the light emitting diode can be mitigated.

  Further, when switching from the state where the passing headlight L is turned on and the traveling headlight H is turned off to the state where the traveling headlight H is turned on and the passing headlight L is turned off, The amount of current applied to the first light source 3 is gradually increased while the amount of current applied to the second light source 4 is gradually decreased to gradually decrease the amount of light flux output from the second light source 4. The amount of light flux output from the first light source 3 may be gradually increased. Also at this time, the period of decrease in the amount of current applied to the second light source 4 and the period of increase in the amount of current applied to the first light source 3 overlap at least partially.

  Accordingly, the length of time required to reduce the applied current amount of the second light source 4 from the rated value at the time of lighting to 0, and the applied current amount of the first light source 3 from 0 to the rated value at the time of lighting. The length of time required for the increase is set to a value in the range of 100 milliseconds to 700 milliseconds, respectively. With such control, the burden placed on the passenger of the vehicle C when the passing headlight L is immediately turned off and the traveling headlight H is turned on immediately, specifically, the gazing point of the passenger is in the foreground. It is possible to avoid the problem that the discrimination visual field of the passenger suddenly becomes dark in the process of moving from one side to the far side.

  The sum of the amount of current applied to the first light source 3 and the amount of current applied to the second light source 4 is the amount of current applied to the light sources 3 and 4 when only one of the light sources 3 and 4 is turned on. It is desirable not to exceed 100% of the rated value. For example, when the applied current amount of the first light source 3 is 30% of the rated value, the applied current amount of the second light source 4 is set to 70% of the rated value or a smaller value. If the total amount of current applied to both light sources 3 and 4 is controlled so that it does not always exceed 100% of the rated value, the total heat generation by both light sources 3 and 4 can be suppressed, and the total heat generation will improve the heat dissipation performance of the lamp. It is possible to prevent the light emitting diodes 3 and 4 that are light sources from being damaged. The lamp has heat dissipation performance required when either one of the light sources 3 and 4 continues to be lit (that is, less heat dissipation than that required when both the light sources 3 and 4 continue to be lit simultaneously). Performance), which contributes to simplification of the structure and cost reduction. However, if the time is short, the sum of the amount of current applied to the first light source 3 and the amount of current applied to the second light source 4 is not prevented from exceeding 100% of the rated value.

  In the present embodiment, the first light-emitting diode 3 serving as the light source of the traveling headlamp H, the second light-emitting diode 4 serving as the light source of the passing headlamp L, the first light-emitting diode 3 and the first light-emitting diode 3 And a reflector 2 that reflects the light flux emitted from each of the two light emitting diodes 4 forward, and turns on one of the first light emitting diode 3 and the second light emitting diode 4 while When switching from a state where the light is turned off to a state where the other is turned on and the other is turned off, the amount of current applied to the other is gradually decreased from the rated value over a predetermined time. The lamp was configured to gradually increase to the rated value over a predetermined time.

  According to the present embodiment, the discrimination visual field of the occupant suddenly becomes dark when the traveling headlight H and the passing headlight L using the light emitting diodes 3 and 4 as light sources are switched on / off. Can be relaxed or eliminated.

  In the above embodiment, when switching from the state where one of the first light emitting diode 3 and the second light emitting diode 4 is turned on and the other is turned off to the state where the other is turned on and the other is turned off, While the amount of current applied to one side was gradually decreased from the rated value over a predetermined time, the amount of current applied to the other was gradually increased to the rated value over a predetermined time, as shown in FIG. In addition, while reducing the amount of current applied to one side in a stepwise manner from the rated value over a predetermined time (for example, in steps of 10% of the rated value), the amount of current applied to the other over a predetermined time You may make it increase in steps to a rated value. Also at this time, the decrease period of one applied current amount and the increase period of the other applied current amount overlap at least partially. Also, the length of time required to reduce one applied current amount from the rated value at lighting to 0, and the length of time required to increase the other applied current amount from 0 to the rated value at lighting. Are set to values in the range of 100 milliseconds to 700 milliseconds, respectively.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the state is switched from the state where one of the first light emitting diode 3 and the second light emitting diode 4 is turned on and the other is turned off to the state where the other is turned on and the other is turned off. At this time, it is also conceivable to maintain a state in which a current having a rated value is applied to the other while the current applied to one is not interrupted for a predetermined time, for example, 100 milliseconds to 700 milliseconds. In short, the other is turned on before one is turned off, and a period in which both the light sources 3 and 4 are turned on is created in a short time. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the moment when the discrimination visual field becomes very dark. In this case, the amount of current applied to one side is allowed to decrease stepwise from the rated value to 0, and the amount of current applied to the other is allowed to stepwise increase from 0 to the rated value. It is.

  <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment described below, the traveling headlamp is a variable light distribution headlamp H1, H2, H31, H32, H51, H52, H6, H7, H8. belongs to. Hereinafter, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Description of elements common to the first embodiment is omitted.

  The traveling headlamp for the vehicle C according to the present embodiment is formed by installing a plurality of light source segments on the left and right sides of the front end portion of the vehicle C, respectively. Each segment includes a light emitting diode 3 that is a light source that emits illumination light and a reflector 2 that directs the illumination light emitted from the light source 3 toward the front of the vehicle C. The light sources 3 of each segment can be turned on / off independently of each other. Control of the amount of light emitted from the light source 3 can be realized by, for example, PWM control that increases or decreases the average amount of current applied to the light source via an FET or other semiconductor switching element.

  8 to 12 show an example of the light distribution pattern of each segment of the traveling headlamp. In addition, the light distribution pattern in the illustrated example assumes a country or region that adopts left-hand traffic, and when applied to a country or region that employs right-hand traffic, it is necessary to invert it horizontally.

  In a conventional vehicle headlamp, a segment installed on the left side as viewed from the passenger of the vehicle C mainly illuminates an area on the left side of the vehicle center line, and a segment installed on the right side is mainly more than the vehicle center line. Illuminated the area on the right. On the other hand, in the traveling headlamp of the present embodiment, the segment installed on the left side as viewed from the passenger of the vehicle C illuminates the area on the right side of the vehicle center line, and the segment installed on the right side is the vehicle center line. The light is distributed so as to illuminate the area on the left.

  Specifically, among the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment installed on the left side when viewed from the passenger, the first segment illuminates the front along the own lane CL. Referring to the example shown in FIG. 9, the illumination light H1 emitted from the first segment is projected onto the screen (established at a distance of 10 m ahead of the vehicle C) from the driver's seat (vehicle) When viewed from the front of C) to the left from an angle slightly deviated to the right from the intersection of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C and the front end of the vehicle C A region up to the biased angle is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light H1.

  The second segment illuminates the oncoming lane OL rather than the own lane CL. When the illumination light H2 emitted from the second segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it deviates rightward from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The region is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light H2.

  The third segment illuminates a region further to the right than the region illuminated by the second segment when viewed from the driver's seat. The optical axis is directed around the shoulder of the opposite lane OL at a point more than 100 m ahead of the vehicle C. When the illumination lights H31 and H32 emitted from the third segment are projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, the right side from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C The deviated region is included in the irradiation range of the illumination lights H31 and H32. The optical axes of the second segment and the third segment are directed to the right of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. The second segment and the third segment illuminate an obstacle present on the right side (particularly on the opposite lane OL) from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line, and more than the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. There is no attempt to actively illuminate obstacles existing on the left side (in particular, the own lane CL and its shoulder). As shown in FIG. 8, the second segment and the third segment do not irradiate the illumination lights H2, H31, and H32 to the left of the left end of the vehicle C as viewed from the passenger. The third segment has two light sources 3, and the illumination light H31 emitted from one light source 3 is from a horizontal plane (surface parallel to the road surface CL) HL located at the same height as the segment. The illumination light H32 emitted from the other light source 3 illuminates a region below the horizontal plane HL located at the same height as the segment. That is, the illumination range by the third segment is divided into two parts up and down with the horizontal plane HL as a boundary.

  Of the fifth segment, the sixth segment, the seventh segment, and the eighth segment installed on the right side when viewed from the passenger, the fifth segment illuminates a region that is largely leftward when viewed from the driver's seat. The optical axis is directed around the shoulder of the own lane CL at a point more than 100 m ahead of the vehicle C. Describing in accordance with the example shown in FIG. 12, when the illumination lights H51 and H52 emitted from the fifth segment are projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat (facing the front of the vehicle C). A region deviated to the left from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C is included in the irradiation range of the illumination lights H51 and H52. The fifth segment has two light sources 3, and the illumination light H51 emitted from one light source L1 illuminates a region above the horizontal plane HL located at the same height as the segment, The illumination light H52 emitted from the other light source L2 illuminates a region below the horizontal plane HL located at the same height as the segment. That is, the illumination range by the third segment is divided into two parts up and down with the horizontal plane HL as a boundary.

  The sixth segment includes the left half of the own lane CL up to a point about 100 m ahead of the vehicle C, a region slightly to the right of the region illuminated by the fifth segment as viewed from the driver's seat, that is, a region closer to the vehicle center line. Illuminate the area. When the illumination light H6 emitted from the sixth segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it is biased to the left from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The region is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light H6.

  The seventh segment illuminates the area including the most part of the own lane CL, slightly to the right of the area illuminated by the sixth segment as viewed from the driver's seat. When the illumination light H7 emitted from the seventh segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, it is biased to the left from the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The region is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light H7. The optical axes of the fifth segment, the sixth segment, and the seventh segment are directed to the left of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line. These fifth segment, sixth segment, and seventh segment illuminate obstacles existing on the left side of the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line (in particular, the own lane CL and its shoulder), and the vehicle center line The obstacle which exists in the right side (especially oncoming lane OL and its shoulder) from the vertical plane A containing is not trying to illuminate positively. As shown in FIG. 11, the fifth segment, the sixth segment, and the seventh segment do not irradiate the illumination lights H51, H52, H6, and H7 to the right of the right end of the vehicle C as viewed from the passenger.

  In addition, the eighth segment illuminates the front along the own lane CL. When the illumination light H8 emitted from the eighth segment is projected onto the screen facing the vehicle C and viewed from the driver's seat, the vertical plane A including the vehicle center line and parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle C and the front end of the vehicle C A region from an angle slightly deviated to the left with respect to the intersection with the angle from the angle deviated to the right is included in the irradiation range of the illumination light H8.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the optical axes of the first segment, the second segment, the sixth segment, the seventh segment, and the eighth segment are set in the horizontal direction, that is, the direction parallel to the road surface CL. The illumination lights H1, H2, H6, H7, and H8 emitted by the light sources 3 of these segments are incident on the front and infinite distance of the vehicle C in the same manner as existing driving headlamps. On the other hand, the optical axis of the fourth segment constituting the passing headlamp is directed obliquely downward, and the illumination light L4 emitted by the light source 4 of the segment is the front distance as in the existing passing headlamp. Illuminate the road surface CL around 40 m.

  The segment that illuminates the left and right outer sides as viewed from the passenger of the vehicle C, that is, the third segment that illuminates the illumination light H31 and H32 toward the road shoulder of the opposite lane OL, and the road shoulder of the own lane CL. As already described, the fifth segment that is directed to irradiate the illumination lights H51 and H52 includes a plurality of light sources 3, respectively. The illumination lights H31 and H51 emitted from one of the light sources 3 illuminate a region above the horizontal plane HL located at the same height as the segment, and the illumination lights H32 and H52 emitted from the other light source 3 are The area below the horizontal plane HL located at the same height as the segment is illuminated.

  The electronic control unit (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the variable light distribution headlamp system of the vehicle C in the present embodiment is a moving image captured by an in-vehicle camera (image sensor) that can capture the front of the vehicle C. (Detecting the headlight of the oncoming vehicle, the taillight of the preceding vehicle, the pedestrian, etc. appearing in the image) and detecting the oncoming vehicle traveling on the oncoming lane OL, the preceding vehicle traveling on the own lane CL, etc. Recognize existence. Then, the illumination lights H1, H2, H6, H7, and H8 to be irradiated to the oncoming vehicle and the preceding vehicle are turned off in a timely manner, or the luminous fluxes of the illumination lights H1, H2, H6, H7, and H8 The other illumination lights H1, H2, H6, H7, and H8 are kept lit while the amount of light is dimmed from normal.

  In addition, when there is a pedestrian or a road sign passing on the sidewalk adjacent to the shoulder of the own lane CL, the illumination light H31 is maintained while maintaining the illumination on the shoulder side of the own lane CL by the illumination light H32 of the third segment. By extinguishing or dimming the light, the pedestrian on the sidewalk on the own lane CL side is prevented from being dazzled, or the illumination light H31 hits the road sign on the side of the own lane CL and is reflected to the eyes of the passenger .

  Furthermore, when there is an oncoming vehicle O traveling on the oncoming lane OL or a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk adjacent to the shoulder of the oncoming lane OL, the road on the shoulder side of the oncoming lane OL by the illumination light H52 of the fifth segment is present. While maintaining the illumination, the illumination light H51 is extinguished or dimmed to prevent dazzling passengers in the oncoming vehicle O and pedestrians on the sidewalk on the opposite lane OL side.

  The passing headlamp for the vehicle C of the present embodiment illuminates the front along the own lane CL. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the illumination light L4 emitted from the light source 4 of the fourth light source segment serving as a passing headlamp is projected onto a screen directly facing the vehicle C, and then from the driver's seat of the vehicle C. When viewed, the illumination range of the passing headlamp L4 deviates downward from the illumination ranges of the traveling headlamps H1, H2, H31, H32, H51, H52, H6, H7, and H8.

  In the present embodiment, a part of the plurality of segments included in the traveling headlamps H1, H2, H31, H32, H51, H52, H6, H7, H8, for example, the light source of the illumination light H1 and / or the illumination light H8 3 and the light source 4 of the passing lamp L4 are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the amount of current applied to the light emitting diode 3 that is the light source of the illumination light H1 and / or the illumination light H8 can be switched in a plurality of stages, and the light source of the passing headlamp L4. The amount of current applied to the light emitting diode 4 can be switched in a plurality of stages.

  As a result, the former illumination lights H1 and H8 and the latter illumination light L4 are simultaneously turned on, and any region on the road surface CL is illuminated by the illumination light obtained by combining the former illumination lights H1 and H8 and the latter illumination light L4. It is possible to adjust in stages the lighting. For example, the amount of current applied to the light source 3 of the former illumination lights H1 and H8 is set to 80% of the rated value at the time of lighting, and the amount of current applied to the light source 4 of the latter illumination light L4 is 20% of the rated value at the time of lighting. By setting to%, it is possible to implement a distant light distribution emphasis mode in which light distribution to an area farther from the vehicle C is emphasized. Further, the amount of current applied to the light source 3 of the former illumination lights H1 and H8 is set to 30% of the rated value at the time of lighting, and the amount of current applied to the light source 4 of the latter illumination light L4 is set to a rated value of 70 at the time of lighting. By setting to%, it is possible to implement a near light distribution emphasis mode in which light distribution to an area closer to the vehicle C is emphasized. After all, it is possible to realize a state between a high beam and a low beam, that is, a “middle beam”.

  In the present embodiment, the first light emitting diode 3 which is a light source of the traveling headlamps H1 and H8 and is also an element of the variable light distribution type headlamp, and a second light source which is a light source of the passing headlamp L4. A light emitting diode 4 and a reflector 2 that reflects the light beams emitted from each of the first light emitting diode 3 and the second light emitting diode 4 forward are applied to the first light emitting diode 3. The lamp is configured such that the amount of current can be switched in a plurality of stages and the amount of current applied to the second light emitting diode 4 can be switched in a plurality of stages.

  According to the present embodiment, the amount of light flux output from the first light emitting diode 3 (in principle, the traveling headlamps H1 and H8 directed in the horizontal direction and infinite distance parallel to the road surface CL) is large. A state in which the amount of light flux output from the second light emitting diode 4 (becomes a passing headlamp L4 directed downward toward the road surface CL) is small, or the amount of light flux output from the first light emitting diode 3 is small. It is possible to create an intermediate state between the high beam and the low beam, such as a state in which the amount of light flux output from the second light emitting diode 4 is large. As a result, it is possible to alleviate the problem that the passenger's discrimination field suddenly becomes dark when switching on / off of the driving headlamps H1, H8 and the passing headlamp L4 using the light emitting diodes 3, 4 as a light source. Can be resolved.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above. For example, it is natural that the features of the first embodiment may be combined with the second embodiment.

  The second illumination light L supplied by the second light source 4 is not necessarily a passing headlamp. For example, it is conceivable that illumination light for illuminating an upper area with a horizontal plane parallel to the road surface as a boundary is realized by a first light source, and illumination light for illuminating a lower area is realized by a second light source. In this case, both the first light source (by the first illumination light) and the second light source (by the second illumination light) can be elements of the traveling headlamp.

  Furthermore, the first light source 3 and / or the second light source 4 are not limited to light emitting diodes. Of course, a light source having a high-speed response other than the light emitting diode may be employed for the first light source 3 and / or the second light source 4.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to a headlamp or the like installed in a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Board | substrate 2 ... Reflector 3 ... 1st light source 4 ... 2nd light source H, H1, H8 ... 1st illumination light (travel headlamp (high beam))
L, L4 ... Second illumination light (passing headlight (low beam))

Claims (3)

A first light source that is a light source of a traveling headlamp, a second light source that is a light source of illumination light that is directed in a direction different from the first light source, and each of the first light source and the second light source And a reflector that reflects the light flux emitted from the forward direction,
When switching from a state in which one of the first light source and the second light source is turned on and the other is turned off to a state in which the other is turned on and the other is turned off, before the current applied to one is cut off A lamp that increases the amount of current applied to the other from zero to zero. A first light source that is a light source for a traveling headlamp, a second light source that is a light source for a passing headlamp, and a light beam emitted from each of the first light source and the second light source forward And a reflector that reflects toward the
When switching from a state in which one of the first light source and the second light source is turned on and the other is turned off to a state in which the other is turned on and the other is turned off, a predetermined amount of current is applied to one. Increase the amount of current applied to the other side gradually or stepwise from the rated value over time, gradually or stepwise up to the rated value over a given time, or do not cut off the current applied to one side A lamp that maintains a state of applying a rated current to the other for a predetermined time. A first light source that is a light source of a traveling headlamp and is also an element of a variable light distribution headlamp; a second light source that is a light source of illumination light that is directed in a direction different from the first light source; A reflector for reflecting the light flux emitted from each of the first light source and the second light source toward the front;
A lamp capable of switching the amount of current applied to the first light source in a plurality of steps and switching the amount of current applied to the second light source in a plurality of steps.