JP2019121534A - Vehicular lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of expanding a projection region of light reflected by an MEMS mirror, without increasing the size of a lighting fixture itself.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture 10 includes: a light source 20 for emitting light; an MEMS mirror 22 in which a plurality of micro-mirrors whose angle is changeable are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner, and which reflects the light emitted from the light source 20; a rotation mirror 30 which is constituted by a plurality of inclined mirrors 32 inclined with respect to an axial direction of a shaft part 28 being arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft part 28, which is rotatable around the shaft part 28, and which reflects the light reflected by the MEMS mirror 22; and a projection lens 26 for transmitting the light reflected by the rotation mirror 30 and projecting it to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

  A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror that reflects light emitted from a light source by a light source that emits light and a collective reflection surface formed by a plurality of mirror elements arranged in a matrix, and reflection by the MEMS mirror BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A vehicle headlamp provided with a projection lens for irradiating the front side of the vehicle with the above-mentioned light has been conventionally proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2017-107691, A

  By the way, if it is the structure which reflects and projects the light irradiated from the light source with a MEMS mirror, the projection area | region (irradiation range) of the light will become comparatively narrow. As measures against this, it is conceivable to provide a swivel actuator for moving the projection area of light in the vehicle width direction or to enlarge the size of the MEMS mirror. However, when the swivel actuator is provided or the size of the MEMS mirror is enlarged, the headlamp itself becomes large.

  Then, this invention aims at obtaining the vehicle lamp which can expand the projection area | region of the light reflected by the MEMS mirror, without enlarging lamp itself.

  In order to achieve the above object, the vehicular lamp according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured by arranging a light source for emitting light and a plurality of micromirrors whose angle can be changed in a two-dimensional manner. A MEMS mirror for reflecting light emitted from the light source, and a plurality of inclined mirrors inclined with respect to the axial direction of the shaft are arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft, and around the shaft It comprises a rotatable mirror which is configured to be rotatable and reflects the light reflected by the MEMS mirror, and a projection lens which transmits the light reflected by the rotary mirror and projects the light to the outside.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light reflected by the MEMS mirror configured by arranging a plurality of micromirrors whose angles can be changed in a two-dimensional manner is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion. A plurality of tilting mirrors are arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft, and are reflected by a rotating mirror that rotates around the shaft.

  Here, the rotation mirror can move the projection area of light in the vehicle width direction by changing the rotation angles of the plurality of tilt mirrors (for example, by rotating by 90 degrees). Therefore, when the rotating mirror (plurality of inclined mirrors) is rotated at a predetermined speed or more, the projected area of light continuously reciprocates in the vehicle width direction, and therefore, it is enlarged in the vehicle width direction to human eyes looks like. That is, according to the present invention, the projection area of the light reflected by the MEMS mirror is expanded without increasing the size of the lamp itself.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the projection area of the light reflected by the MEMS mirror can be expanded without increasing the size of the lamp itself.

It is a front view showing a vehicle provided with a lamp for a vehicle concerning this embodiment. It is a perspective view showing a vehicular lamp concerning this embodiment. It is a top view showing composition of a vehicular lamp concerning this embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing composition of a vehicular lamp concerning this embodiment, a high beam light distribution area, and a shade area typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the high beam light distribution area when the rotation mirror which concerns on this embodiment has stopped. (A) It is explanatory drawing which shows the high beam light distribution area at the time of drive | working a curve in the state which the rotation mirror which concerns on this embodiment stopped. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the high beam light distribution area when driving | running | working a curve in the state which the rotation mirror which concerns on this embodiment rotated 90 degree | times. It is explanatory drawing which shows the high beam light distribution area when the rotation mirror which concerns on this embodiment is rotating continuously.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that, for convenience of the description, an arrow UP appropriately shown in each drawing is a vehicle upward direction, an arrow FR is a vehicle forward direction, and an arrow LH is a vehicle left direction. Therefore, in the following description, when vertical and reverse, front and rear, and left and right directions are described without special mention, it indicates the vertical direction of the vehicle, front and rear, vehicle left and right (left and right) Do.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 is provided with a pair of left and right headlamp units 14 for securing a view on the front side of the vehicle 12. That is, the headlamp unit 14R is disposed at the front end on the right side of the vehicle 12, and the headlamp unit 14L is disposed at the front end on the left side of the vehicle 12. The headlamp units 14R and 14L are configured to be laterally symmetrical in the vehicle width direction.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the left headlamp unit 14L will be described as an example. The headlamp unit 14L includes a low beam unit 16 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and a high beam unit 18 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is applied to the high beam unit 18.

  The low beam unit 16 irradiates the low beam light distribution area La (see FIG. 6) on the roadway (road surface) on the front side of the vehicle 12 with visible light transmitted through a projection lens (not shown). The high beam unit 18 is located above the low beam light distribution area La irradiated by the low beam unit 16 and in the high beam light distribution area Ha (see FIG. 6) as a projection area (irradiation area) which is on the front side. The visible light transmitted through the projection lens 26 described later is irradiated.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the high beam unit 18 includes a light source 20 for emitting visible light, a MEMS mirror 22 for reflecting visible light emitted from the light source 20, and visible light reflected by the MEMS mirror 22. It has a rotating mirror 30 that reflects, and a projection lens 26 that transmits visible light reflected by the rotating mirror 30 and irradiates (projects) to the front side (outside) of the vehicle.

  The light source 20 is, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), a halogen lamp or a discharge lamp, and is a high brightness light source. In addition, although the light source 20 in this embodiment is arrange | positioned under the MEMS mirror 22 (refer FIG. 2), the position of the light source 20 is not limited to the position of illustration.

  The MEMS mirror 22 is constituted by a plurality of micro mirrors 24 arranged in a two-dimensional form (matrix form), and each micro mirror 24 is provided on the semiconductor substrate (not shown) so as to be changeable in angle by a semiconductor process. ing. That is, the MEMS mirror 22 appropriately adjusts the angle of each micro mirror 24 and reflects it, so that the reduction of the contrast is suppressed at the peripheral portion of the reflected light, and the high definition reflected light is Irradiation is possible.

  The MEMS mirror 22 is electrically connected to a control device (not shown), and is configured such that each micro mirror 24 is driven (the angle of each micro mirror 24 is changed) under the control of the control device. ing. The light source 20 is also electrically connected to the control device, and is configured to be turned on and off not only by the driver's switch operation but also by control of the control device.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle of each micro mirror 24 in the state of not being driven by the control of the control device (not turned off and the angle is not changed) It is considered as a reflection angle that reflects visible light. That is, when the micro mirror 24 takes its reflection angle, the visible light reflected by the micro mirror 24 is reflected toward the rotating mirror 30.

  Then, the angle of a part of the micro mirrors 24 driven (energized and the angle is changed) by the control of the control device is taken as the shielding angle. That is, when the micro mirror 24 takes its shielding angle, visible light reflected by the micro mirror 24 is reflected in a direction not to be irradiated to the rotating mirror 30. As a result, a light shielding area Sa (see FIG. 6) is formed so as not to give glare to an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle.

  The projection lens 26 has a hemispherical shape on the front side of the vehicle and a flat surface on the rear side of the vehicle. The visible light reflected by the rotating mirror 30 and incident from the rear surface of the projection lens 26 is transmitted through the projection lens 26 and emitted (irradiated) from the front surface of the projection lens 26 toward the vehicle front side. There is.

  The rotating mirror 30 has a plurality of (e.g., two) inclined mirrors 32 inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g., 45 degrees) with respect to the axial direction of the shaft 28 (see FIG. 2). 28 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The rotating mirror 30 is configured to be rotatable in one direction about the shaft 28. That is, the rotating mirror 30 is structured like a fan.

  Further, the rotating mirror 30 is configured such that the high beam light distribution area Ha when it is reflected by the tilting mirror 32 stopped at a predetermined position is located at the center in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 5). The rotating mirror 30 is configured such that the high beam light distribution area Ha when it is reflected by the inclined mirror 32 rotated 90 degrees, for example, from its stop position is located (moved) at one end in the vehicle width direction. (See FIG. 6 (B)).

  In addition, the high beam distribution area Ha when this rotary mirror 30 is reflected by the inclined mirror 32 in a state rotated 90 degrees (180 degrees from the above stop position) from there is located at the center in the vehicle width direction (return) Is configured. The high beam light distribution area Ha is located on the other end side in the vehicle width direction when the rotary mirror 30 is reflected by the inclined mirror 32 in a state rotated 90 degrees (270 degrees from the stop position) from there ( Is configured to move).

  Needless to say, the high beam light distribution area Ha is located at the center in the vehicle width direction when the rotary mirror 30 is reflected by the tilt mirror 32 in a state rotated 90 degrees (360 degrees from the stop position) from there ( It is configured to go back). That is, the optical axis of the reflected light reflected by the inclined mirror 32 can be changed in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction) during one rotation of the rotating mirror 30, whereby the high beam light distribution area Ha can be moved in the vehicle width direction.

  Therefore, when the rotating mirror 30 is continuously rotated at a predetermined speed or more, the high beam light distribution area Ha continuously reciprocates (sways) in the vehicle width direction (horizontal direction). To the eyes, the high beam distribution area Ha appears to be expanded in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 7). That is, the continuous rotation of the rotating mirror 30 allows the high beam distribution area Ha to be expanded outward in the vehicle width direction.

  A motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the shaft portion 28 of the rotating mirror 30 is electrically connected to the control device. That is, the rotating mirror 30 is configured to rotate, for example, every 90 degrees or continuously under the control of the control device, and the high beam distribution area Ha by the reflected light (visible light) reflected by the rotating mirror 30 is the vehicle width It is moved or enlarged in the direction (left and right direction).

  Next, the operation of the vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  When the vehicle 12 travels at night, the high beam is turned on as needed. That is, the driver turns on the light source 20 or turns on the light source 20 based on the information detected by a surrounding condition detection device (not shown) such as a sensor provided in the vehicle 12 by switch operation of the driver. Then, the visible light emitted from the light source 20 is emitted to the MEMS mirror 22.

  In the MEMS mirror 22, the angle of some of the micro mirrors 24 is changed by control of the control device. That is, by energizing the MEMS mirror 22, the angles of some of the micro mirrors 24 are changed, and the micro mirrors 24 create an area in which the visible light is not irradiated to the front side of the vehicle. Thereby, the reduction in contrast is suppressed at the peripheral portion of the reflected light forming the high beam light distribution area Ha.

  The reflected visible light irradiated to the MEMS mirror 22 (each micro mirror 24 except a part of the micro mirrors 24) is irradiated to and reflected by the rotating mirror 30, transmitted through the projection lens 26 and irradiated to the vehicle front side Be done. That is, a high-definition high-beam light distribution area Ha is formed on the upper side and the front side of the low-beam light distribution area La.

  Here, when the vehicle 12 travels in a straight line, the rotation of the rotating mirror 30 is stopped so that the high beam light distribution area Ha is positioned at the center in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIG. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when traveling along the right curve, the situation is detected by the surrounding situation detection device, and the control of the control device based on the detection result causes the tilt of the rotating mirror 30 The mirror 32 rotates 90 degrees about the shaft 28.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the reflected light reflected by the rotating mirror 30 moves to the right, and the high beam light distribution area Ha can be positioned ahead of the right curve. That is, the visibility of the point on the right curve can be improved. At this time, when there is a preceding vehicle as shown in the figure, the light shielding area Sa for preventing the driver of the preceding vehicle from giving glare is controlled by the control of the MEMS mirror 22 by the control device. It is preferable to form in the high beam light distribution area Ha.

  In addition, when traveling along the left curve from the straight traveling state of the vehicle 12, the situation is detected by the surrounding state detection device, and the tilt mirror 32 of the rotating mirror 30 is the shaft portion under the control of the control device based on the detection result. Rotate 270 degrees around 28. Thereby, the reflected light reflected by the rotating mirror 30 moves to the left side, and the high beam light distribution area Ha can be positioned at the tip of the left curve. That is, the visibility of the point on the left curve can be improved.

  When the control unit determines that the high beam distribution area Ha needs to be expanded in the vehicle width direction (horizontal direction) based on the detection result of the surrounding condition detection unit, the control unit controls the rotating mirror 30. The tilt mirror 32 continuously rotates around the shaft 28 at a predetermined speed or more.

  As a result, the high beam light distribution area Ha continuously reciprocates (rocks) in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction). Therefore, as shown in FIG. It looks like Ha has expanded in the width direction. That is, by the continuous rotation of the rotary mirror 30, the high beam light distribution area Ha is expanded outward in the vehicle width direction.

  Thus, under the control of the control device, the high-definition high-beam distribution area Ha can be moved to one side in the vehicle width direction by rotating the tilt mirror 32 of the rotating mirror 30 every 90 degrees or continuously as needed. Alternatively, it can be moved to the other side or extended outward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle 12 can improve the visibility of the situation on the front side of the vehicle.

  In addition, moving the high-definition high-beam light distribution area Ha to one side or the other side in the vehicle width direction or expanding it to the outside in the vehicle width direction does not increase the size of the high beam unit 18 itself (swivel actuator And without increasing the size of the MEMS mirror 22). Therefore, space saving of the high beam unit 18 can be achieved.

  The rotational drive of the rotary mirror 30 may be interlocked with the steering angle of the steering wheel (not shown). That is, the steering angle of the steering wheel may be detected by the control device, and the control device may control the rotation of the rotating mirror 30 based on the detection result. According to this, similarly to the above, it becomes possible to automatically move the high-definition high beam light distribution area Ha to the area ahead of the curve to be visually recognized.

  In addition, the rotational drive of the rotating mirror 30 may be linked to the navigation system (not shown). That is, the navigation system may detect the road condition, and the control device may control the rotation of the rotating mirror 30 based on the detection result. According to this, similarly to the above, it becomes possible to automatically move the high-definition high-beam light distribution area Ha to an area ahead of the curve or the like to be visually recognized.

  In addition, the rotational drive of the rotary mirror 30 may be interlocked with a camera (not shown) that detects the peripheral situation of the vehicle 12. That is, the white line on the road may be detected by the camera, and the control device may control the rotation of the rotating mirror 30 based on the detection result. According to this, it becomes possible to automatically move the high-definition high beam light distribution area Ha in the middle of the center line and the road shoulder on the road.

  In addition, the rotational drive of the rotary mirror 30 may be linked to the eyes of a person. That is, the line of sight of a person may be detected by a detection means (not shown) such as an in-vehicle camera, and the control device may control the rotation of the rotating mirror 30 based on the detection result. According to this, it is possible to automatically move the high-definition high beam light distribution area Ha to the center of the field of view always.

  In addition, a high-definition high-beam distribution area Ha (a driver of a leading vehicle, etc. is combined with a camera that detects the steering angle of the steering wheel, the navigation system, or the peripheral condition of the vehicle 12 and detection means that (Including the shaded area Sa) may be automatically moved to a desired position.

  As mentioned above, although the vehicle lamp 10 which concerns on this embodiment was demonstrated based on drawing, the vehicle lamp 10 which concerns on this embodiment is not limited to the thing of illustration, It does not deviate from the summary of this invention Within the range, design change is possible suitably. For example, the number of inclined mirrors 32 is not limited to two as illustrated.

  In addition, the movement of the high beam light distribution area Ha is not limited to the rotation by the rotation mirror 30 every 90 degrees. That is, the rotation angle of the rotating mirror 30 for moving the high beam light distribution area Ha is appropriately set in accordance with the number of the inclined mirrors 32 and the inclination angle with respect to the shaft 28. Further, instead of the control of the control device, the rotary mirror 30 may be configured to rotate at predetermined angles or continuously by a switch operation of an occupant (driver).

  Furthermore, the vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration applied to the high beam unit 18. The vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment may be provided to the headlamp unit 14 separately from the high beam unit 18 and the low beam unit 16, for example.

Reference Signs List 10 vehicle lamp 20 light source 22 MEMS mirror 24 micro mirror 26 projection lens 28 axis portion 30 rotating mirror 32 tilting mirror

Claims (1)

A light source for emitting light,
A plurality of micromirrors whose angles can be changed are arranged in a two-dimensional form, and a MEMS mirror that reflects light emitted from the light source;
A plurality of inclined mirrors inclined with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion are arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft portion and configured to be rotatable about the shaft portion, and light reflected by the MEMS mirror is A rotating mirror that reflects
A projection lens for transmitting the light reflected by the rotating mirror and projecting the light to the outside;
Vehicle lamp equipped with