JP2020061231A - Vehicular lighting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

To sufficiently ensure the brightness of a light distribution pattern even in a structure in which a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line is formed, in a vehicular lighting tool equipped with a micro lens array.SOLUTION: Light shielding plates 50 are disposed between rear side lens arrays 42A, 42B, and 42C and front side lens arrays 44A, 44B, and 44C configuring a micro lens array, and thereby, a low beam light distribution pattern having a cut-off line in an upper part can be formed. Then, as the rear side lens arrays 42A to 42C, optical axes Axa2, Axb2, and Axc2 of condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs are offset upward with respect to optical axes Axa4, Axb4, and Axc4 of projection lens portions 44As, 44Bs, and 44Cs corresponding thereto. Therefore, a ratio of light shielded by the light shielding plate 50 of emission light from a light source unit 30 which is incident to the rear side lens arrays 42A to 42C is decreased.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp including a microlens array.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a projection type display device configured to emit light emitted from a light source unit toward the front of the device via a microlens array.

  In "Patent Document 1", as a microlens array of such a projection type display device, a rear lens array having a plurality of condensing lens portions for condensing light emitted from a light source unit is formed on a rear surface. , A front lens array in which a plurality of projection lens portions for projecting each of a plurality of light source images formed by the plurality of condenser lens portions are formed on the front surface.

  In the projection type display device described in "Patent Document 1," a light source image whose shape is defined by a plurality of imaging structures arranged between a rear lens array and a front lens array is arranged in front of the device. Configured to be displayed on the screen.

  On the other hand, "Patent Document 2" describes a vehicle lamp configured to form a desired light distribution pattern by irradiating light emitted from a light source unit toward the front of the lamp via a microlens array. Has been done.

  In the vehicular lamp described in this "Patent Document 2," the shape of each of the plurality of light source images formed by the plurality of condenser lens portions is defined between the rear lens array and the front lens array. A light-shielding plate is arranged for forming a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line on the upper part thereof as the required light distribution pattern.

Japanese Patent No. 5327658 Japanese Patent No. 62299054

  In the vehicular lamp described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 2," the microlens array has a plurality of optical axes formed on the front lens array and optical axes of the plurality of condenser lens portions formed on the rear lens array. The optical axes of the projection lens unit are aligned with each other.

  Therefore, when the light distribution pattern having the cut-off line is formed on the upper portion, the ratio of the light that is blocked by the light blocking plate in the light emitted from the light source unit that enters the rear lens array increases. However, the luminous flux of the light source cannot be effectively used, and therefore the brightness of the light distribution pattern cannot be sufficiently secured.

  Such a problem is a problem that can similarly occur when forming a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line in addition to the upper part.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a vehicle lamp including a microlens array, a light distribution pattern is formed even when a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line is formed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular lamp that can sufficiently secure the brightness of the vehicle.

  The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by devising the structure of the microlens array.

That is, the vehicle lamp according to the present invention is
By irradiating the light emitted from the light source unit toward the front of the lamp through the microlens array, in a vehicle lamp configured to form a required light distribution pattern,
The microlens array includes a rear lens array having a plurality of condenser lenses for condensing light emitted from the light source unit on a rear surface thereof, and a plurality of condenser lenses formed by the condenser lenses. A front lens array having a plurality of projection lens units for projecting each of the light source images formed on the front surface;
Between the rear lens array and the front lens array, a light shielding plate for defining the shape of each of the plurality of light source images is disposed,
The rear lens array is characterized in that it has a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens unit corresponding to the condenser lens unit. .

  If the “light-shielding plate” is configured so as to form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line as the required light distribution pattern by defining the shape of each of a plurality of light source images, The specific shape and arrangement are not particularly limited.

  The "rear lens array" has a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset with respect to the optical axis of the corresponding projection lens unit, but the specific position and size of the region, etc. Is not particularly limited, and the directivity of the offset and the specific value of the offset amount are also not particularly limited.

  The vehicular lamp according to the present invention is configured to form a required light distribution pattern by irradiating the light emitted from the light source unit toward the front of the lamp through the microlens array. Since a light shielding plate for defining the shape of each of the plurality of light source images formed by the plurality of condensing lens units is arranged between the rear lens array and the front lens array that are configured, It is possible to form a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line as the light distribution pattern.

  In addition, the rear lens array has a region in which the optical axis of the condensing lens unit is offset with respect to the optical axis of the corresponding projection lens unit, so that in this region the light is incident on the rear lens array. It is possible to reduce the proportion of the light emitted from the light source unit that is blocked by the light shielding plate, and the light source luminous flux can be effectively used accordingly. Therefore, a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line can be formed as a light distribution pattern with increased brightness while maintaining the position and shape of the cutoff line.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently secure the brightness of the light distribution pattern in the vehicle lamp including the microlens array even when the light distribution pattern having the cutoff line is formed. You can

  At that time, if the rear lens array is provided with a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset upward with respect to the optical axis of the corresponding projection lens unit, it has a cut-off line in the upper portion. Even when the light distribution pattern (for example, a low beam light distribution pattern) is formed, the brightness thereof can be sufficiently ensured.

  At that time, if the rear lens array is further provided with a plurality of regions having different offset amounts to the upper side of the optical axis of the condensing lens unit, a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line in the upper portion is formed. , Can be formed as a combined light distribution pattern of a plurality of light distribution patterns having different lower edge positions. As a result, the light distribution pattern having a cutoff line on the upper portion can be formed as a light distribution pattern with less uneven light distribution.

  In the above configuration, if the rear lens array further includes a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is laterally offset with respect to the optical axis of the corresponding projection lens unit, the cutoff line is formed. Can be formed as a light distribution pattern having an increased lateral spread while maintaining the position and shape of the cut-off line.

  At that time, if the rear lens array is provided with a plurality of regions in which the offset amounts of the optical axis of the condenser lens unit in the left-right direction are different from each other, a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line is formed in It can be formed as a combined light distribution pattern of a plurality of light distribution patterns whose positions are displaced from each other. Thus, the light distribution pattern having the cut-off line can be formed as a light distribution pattern with less uneven light distribution.

  In the above configuration, further, as the rear lens array, if the front focus of the condenser lens unit is provided with a region offset toward the front side of the lamp with respect to the rear focus of the corresponding projection lens unit, In this area, a relatively large light source image is formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens portion by the light emitted from the light source unit that has entered the rear lens array, and thus the light distribution pattern having a cutoff line is formed. Can be increased in size.

Front view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention II-II line sectional view of FIG. III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. (A) is a detailed view of IVa portion of FIG. 2, (b) is a detailed view of IVb portion of FIG. 2, (c) is a detailed view of IVc portion of FIG. (A) is a detailed view of Va portion in FIG. 3, (b) and (c) are the same views as (a) showing other parts. VI direction arrow view of FIG. The figure which shows perspectively the light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the said vehicle lamp. A diagram similar to FIG. 3, showing a modification of the above embodiment. The figure which shows perspectively the light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the vehicle lamp which concerns on the said modified example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicular lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which some of the constituent elements are broken.

  In these figures, the direction indicated by X is the “front” as the lamp (also “front” for the vehicle), and the direction indicated by Y is the “left direction” orthogonal to the “front” (the “left direction” for the vehicle). However, when viewed from the front of the lamp, it is "rightward"), and the direction indicated by Z is "upward". The same applies to the other figures.

  As shown in these drawings, a vehicle lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is a headlamp provided at a right front end portion of a vehicle, and is provided in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body 12 and a translucent cover 14. The two lamp units 20A, 20B, 20C are assembled in a state of being aligned in the vehicle width direction.

  Each of the three lamp units 20A to 20C is configured to irradiate light emitted from the light source unit 30 having the same configuration, toward the front of the lamp via the microlens arrays 40A, 40B, and 40C.

  Each light source unit 30 is configured to include a light source 32 and a translucent member 34 arranged on the front side of the lamp.

  Each of the light sources 32 is a white light emitting diode, has a rectangular (for example, square) light emitting surface, and is mounted on the substrate 36 and is arranged toward the front of the lamp. Each substrate 36 is supported by the lamp body 12.

  Each translucent member 34 includes an incident surface 34a on which the light from the light source 32 is incident, and an emission surface 34b on which the light incident from the incident surface 34a is emitted toward the front of the lamp.

  The incident surface 34a is formed by a curved surface of rotation about the optical axis Ax extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp so as to pass through the light emission center of the light source 32.

  Specifically, the incident surface 34a receives the light from the light emission center of the light source 32 and the light emitted from the light emission center of the light source 32 around the central region 34a1 that is incident as light parallel to the optical axis Ax. There is provided a peripheral region 34a2 which is internally reflected by total reflection as light parallel to the optical axis Ax after being incident in a direction away from the optical axis Ax.

  On the other hand, the emission surface 34b is a flat surface extending along a vertical plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax. Then, on the emission surface 34b, the light from the light emission center of the light source 32 that is incident from the central area 32a1 of the incident surface 34a and the light from the light emission center of the light source 32 that is internally reflected at the peripheral area 34a2 are directly used as the optical axis Ax. The parallel light is emitted toward the front of the lamp.

  The three translucent members 34 are integrally formed as a transparent resin molded product.

  Specifically, the three light-transmissive members 34 are connected to each other at their outer peripheral edges via flat plate portions 34c extending along the emission surface 34b, and the resin molded product as a whole has a horizontally long rectangular shape when viewed from the front of the lamp. It has an outer shape of. The resin molded product is supported by the lamp body 12 at the outer peripheral flange portion 34d.

  Each of the microlens arrays 40A to 40C includes rear lens arrays 42A, 42B, 42C and front lens arrays 44A, 44B, 44C located on the front side of the lamp.

  The front surface of each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C is configured by a plane extending along a vertical plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax, and the rear surface for concentrating the light emitted from each light source unit 30. A plurality of condenser lens portions 42As, 42Bs, 40Cs are formed. The plurality of condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs are all fish-eye lenses having a convex curved surface, and each of the plurality of segments (for example, a segment having a size of about 0.5 to 3 mm square) divided into vertical and horizontal lattices. It is assigned.

  On the other hand, the rear surface of each of the front lens arrays 44A to 44C is composed of a plane extending along a vertical plane orthogonal to the optical axis Ax, and the front surface thereof is formed by a plurality of condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs. A plurality of projection lens portions 44As, 44Bs, 44Cs for projecting each of the plurality of light source images are formed. Each of the plurality of projection lens units 44As to 44Cs is a fish-eye lens having a convex curved surface and is assigned to each of a plurality of segments having the same size as the condenser lens units 42As to 42Cs and divided into a vertical and horizontal lattice pattern. .

  The three rear lens arrays 42A to 42C are connected to each other at their side end portions, and are configured as a rear light transmissive plate 42 having a laterally elongated rectangular outer shape as a whole. The rear light-transmitting plate 42 has a horizontally long rectangular outer peripheral edge region 42a formed in a flat plate shape that surrounds a portion of the three rear lens arrays 42A to 42C in which a plurality of condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs are formed. And is supported by the lamp body 12 in the outer peripheral edge region 42a.

  On the other hand, the three front lens arrays 44A to 44C are also connected to each other at their side end portions, and are configured as the front light transmissive plate 44 having the same outer shape as the rear light transmissive plate 42 as a whole. The front light-transmitting plate 44 also has a horizontally long rectangular outer peripheral edge region 44a that surrounds a portion of the three front lens arrays 44A to 44C in which the plurality of projection lens units 44As to 44Cs are formed.

  Between the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C and the front lens arrays 44A to 44C, a light shielding plate 50 for defining the shape of each of the plurality of light source images formed by the plurality of condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs. It is arranged.

  The light shielding plate 50 is composed of a thin plate (for example, a metal plate having a plate thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm) having substantially the same outer shape as the rear light transmitting plate 42 and the front light transmitting plate 44. A plurality of openings 50a are regularly formed in the light shielding plate 50. Specifically, the plurality of openings 50a are arranged in a vertical and horizontal lattice pattern so as to correspond to the plurality of projection lens portions 44As to 44Cs in the front lens arrays 44A to 44C, respectively.

  4A is a detailed view of the IVa portion of FIG. 2, FIG. 4B is a detailed view of the IVb portion of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4C is a detailed view of the IVc portion of FIG. . Further, FIG. 5A is a detailed view of a Va part in FIG. 3 showing a main part of the lamp unit 20A, and FIGS. 5B and 5C are views showing main parts of the lamp units 20B and 20C. It is a figure similar to 5 (a). Further, FIG. 6 is a view on arrow VI in FIG.

  As shown in these figures, each of the plurality of projection lens units 44As to 44Cs formed on the front surface of each of the three front lens arrays 44A to 44C has a spherical surface shape having the same curvature. ing. Specifically, each of the projection lens units 44As to 44Cs has optical axes Axa4, Axb4, and Axc4 extending in the lamp front-rear direction, and the rear focus F thereof is the optical axes Axa4 to A of the projection lens units 44As to 44Cs. It is located near the intersection of Axc4 and the rear surface of each front lens array 44A to 44C.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of openings 50a formed in the light shielding plate 50 have the same shape. Specifically, each opening 50a is formed in a substantially horizontally long rectangular shape, and a lower end edge 50a1 thereof is located on the left side (right side in front view of the lamp) of the optical axis Axa of the projection lens section 44As. It extends in the horizontal direction slightly above the Axa4, and the portion on the right side of the optical axis Axa4 extends obliquely downward to the right from the intersection of the left side portion and the vertical plane including the optical axis Axa4. Further, the upper edge of each opening 50a is located slightly below the upper edge of each projection lens section 44As, and both side edges of each opening 50a are both side edges of each projection lens section 44As. It is located slightly inside.

  Then, the light shielding plate 50 shields a part of the light from the light source unit 30 that reaches the light shielding plate 50 through the condenser lens portion 42As at the lower end edge 50a1 of the opening 50a, thereby lowering the lower end portion. A light source image having a bright / dark boundary is formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens unit 44As.

  The plurality of condenser lens portions 42As to 40Cs formed on the rear surface of each of the three rear lens arrays 42A to 42C also have optical axes Axa2, Axb2, and Axc2 extending in the lamp front-rear direction. Axa2 to Axc2 are offset in the upward and leftward and rightward directions with respect to the optical axes Axa4 to Axc4 of the projection lens units 44As to 44Cs corresponding to the respective Axa2 to Axc2 (that is, located in the front direction of the lamp).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 5A, the optical axis Axa2 of the condenser lens part 42As of the rear lens array 42A is offset upward with respect to the optical axis Axa4 of the projection lens part 44As. There is.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 4A, the condensing lens portion 42As of the rear lens array 42A has a left side region located on the left side of the optical axis Ax of the light source unit 30 in the rear lens array 42A. In 42AL, the optical axis Axa2 is offset rightward with respect to the optical axis Axa4 of the projection lens unit 44As, and in the right region 42AR located on the right side of the optical axis Ax, the optical axis Axa2 is located in the projection lens unit 44As. Is offset to the left with respect to the optical axis Axa4. At this time, the offset amount DHaL to the right in the left region 42AL and the offset amount DHaR to the left in the right region 42AR are set to the same value.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the optical axis Axb2 of the condenser lens unit 42Bs of the rear lens array 42B is offset upward with respect to the optical axis Axb4 of the projection lens unit 44Bs. At that time, the offset amount DVb of the condenser lens portion 42Bs toward the upper side of the optical axis Axb2 is set to a value larger than the offset amount DVa in the case of the condenser lens portion 42As.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the condensing lens portion 42Bs of the rear lens array 42B has a left side region 42BL located on the left side of the optical axis Ax of the light source unit 30 in the rear lens array 42B. The optical axis Axb2 is offset rightward with respect to the optical axis Axb4 of the projection lens unit 44Bs, and in the right region 42BR located on the right side of the optical axis Ax, the optical axis Axb2 is the optical axis of the projection lens unit 44Bs. It is offset to the left with respect to Axb4. At this time, the rightward offset amount DHbL in the left side region 42BL and the leftward offset amount DHbR in the right side region 42BR are set to the same value.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the optical axis Axc2 of the condenser lens unit 42Cs of the rear lens array 42C is offset upward with respect to the optical axis Axc4 of the projection lens unit 44Cs. At that time, the offset amount DVc of the condenser lens portion 42Cs toward the upper side of the optical axis Axc2 is set to a value larger than the offset amount DVb in the case of the condenser lens portion 42Bs.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the condensing lens portion 42Cs of the rear lens array 42C has a left side region 42CL located on the left side of the optical axis Ax of the light source unit 30 in the rear lens array 42C. The optical axis Axc2 is offset rightward with respect to the optical axis Axc4 of the projection lens unit 44Cs, and in the right region 42CR located on the right side of the optical axis Ax, the optical axis Axc2 is the optical axis of the projection lens unit 44Cs. It is offset to the left with respect to Axc4. At this time, the rightward offset amount DHcL in the left region 42CL and the leftward offset amount DHcR in the right region 42CR are set to the same value.

  Although the left and right widths of the condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs are constant as described above, the condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs that are adjacent to the left and right of the optical axes Axa2 to Axc2 have The left and right widths thereof are slightly narrower than those of the other condenser lens units 42As to 42Cs.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the condenser lens portion 42As of the rear lens array 42A is a circle whose surface has a curvature smaller than (or about the same as) the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44As. It has an arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape, and the front focal point in the vertical plane is located on the front side of the lamp (or in the vicinity of the rear focal point F) with respect to the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44As.

  Accordingly, the condenser lens unit 42As forms a small light source image on the rear focal plane of the projection lens unit 44As. This light source image has a light-dark boundary line at its lower end, but since the optical axis Axa2 of the condenser lens unit 42As is offset upward with respect to the optical axis Axa4 of the projection lens unit 44As, The amount of light shielded by the light shield plate 50 is reduced as compared with the case where the upper side is not offset, and a brighter light source image is formed accordingly.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the condenser lens portion 42Bs of the rear lens array 42B has an arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape whose surface has a smaller curvature than the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44Bs. The front focal point in the vertical plane is located on the front side of the lamp with respect to the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44Bs. The amount of front displacement at that time is larger than that in the case of the condenser lens portion 42As of the rear lens array 42A.

  As a result, the condenser lens unit 42Bs forms a medium-sized light source image on the rear focal plane of the projection lens unit 44Bs. This light source image has a light-dark boundary line at its lower end, but the offset amount DVb of the condenser lens portion 42Bs to the upper side of the optical axis Axb2 is larger than the offset amount DVa of the condenser lens portion 42As. Therefore, the amount of light shielded by the light shield plate 50 is reduced compared to the case where the front focus is not offset even though the amount of forward displacement of the front focus is large. Only a bright light source image is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the condenser lens portion 42Cs of the rear lens array 42C has an arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape whose surface has a curvature smaller than that of the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44Cs. The front focal point in the vertical plane is located on the front side of the lamp with respect to the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44Cs. The amount of forward displacement at that time is larger than that in the case of the condenser lens portion 42Bs of the rear lens array 42B.

  As a result, the condenser lens unit 42Cs forms a relatively large light source image on the rear focal plane of the projection lens unit 44Cs. This light source image has a light-dark boundary line at its lower end, but the offset amount DVc of the condenser lens portion 42Cs to the upper side of the optical axis Axc2 is larger than the offset amount DVb of the condenser lens portion 42Bs. Since the value is set to a value, the light blocking amount by the light blocking plate 50 is reduced as compared with the case where the front focus is not offset even though the front displacement amount of the front focus is further increased. A brighter light source image is formed accordingly.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the condenser lens portion 42As of the rear lens array 42A has a slightly smaller curvature (or a similar degree) than the spherical surface of which the surface constitutes the surface of the projection lens portion 44As. ) It has an arcuate horizontal cross-sectional shape, and its front focus in the horizontal plane is located slightly ahead of the rear focus F of the projection lens unit 44As (or in the vicinity of the rear focus F).

  As a result, in the left side region 42AL of the rear lens array 42A, the light emitted from each projection lens unit 44As is slightly diffused in the horizontal direction toward the left with respect to the optical axis Ax, and In the right side region 42AR of the side lens array 42A, the light emitted from each projection lens unit 44As is made to be a light slightly diffused in the horizontal direction toward the right side with respect to the optical axis Ax.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the condenser lens portion 42Bs of the rear lens array 42B has an arc-shaped horizontal cross-sectional shape whose curvature is somewhat smaller than that of the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44Bs. The front focal point in the horizontal plane is located to the front of the lamp to some extent with respect to the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44Bs.

  As a result, in the left side region 42BL of the rear lens array 42B, the light emitted from each projection lens unit 44Bs is made a light that is diffused to the left of the optical axis Ax in the horizontal direction to some extent, and the rear side In the right side region 42BR of the lens array 42B, the light emitted from each projection lens portion 44Bs is made to be light which is diffused in the horizontal direction to some extent toward the right direction with respect to the optical axis Ax.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the condenser lens portion 42Cs of the rear lens array 42C has an arc-shaped horizontal cross-sectional shape whose curvature is considerably smaller than that of the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44Cs. And the front focal point in the horizontal plane is located farther to the front side of the lamp than the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44Cs.

  As a result, in the left side region 42CL of the rear lens array 42C, the light emitted from each projection lens unit 44Cs is made a light largely diffused in the horizontal direction toward the left side with respect to the optical axis Ax. In the right side region 42CR of the lens array 42C, the light emitted from each projection lens unit 44Cs is set to be light that is largely diffused in the horizontal direction toward the right side with respect to the optical axis Ax.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram perspectively showing a low beam light distribution pattern PL formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m in front of the vehicle by the irradiation light from the vehicle lamp 10.

  This low-beam light distribution pattern PL is a left-beam low-beam light distribution pattern and has cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 at its upper edge.

  These cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as a horizontal cut-off line CL1 on the opposite lane side on the right side of the V-V line passing vertically through the H-V which is the vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, and the V-V line. The left lane side portion is formed as an oblique cutoff line CL2, and the elbow point E, which is the intersection of the two, is located below H-V by about 0.5 to 0.6 °.

  The cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as reverse projection images of the lower edges 50a1 of the plurality of openings 50a formed in the light shielding plate 50.

  The low-beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a combined light distribution pattern in which six light distribution patterns PA1, PA2, PB1, PB2, PC1, PC2 are superimposed.

  The two light distribution patterns PA1 and PA2 are light distribution patterns formed by the irradiation light from the lamp unit 20A, and are formed so as to surround the elbow point E as a small and bright horizontally long light distribution pattern. At this time, these two light distribution patterns PA1 and PA2 are formed so as to partially overlap with each other around the V-V line, so that the high light intensity region of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed. It has become.

  The light distribution pattern PA1 is a small and bright light distribution pattern formed by light transmitted through the left side region 42AL of the rear lens array 42A, and the center thereof is displaced leftward with respect to the line VV. There is. This is because the light transmitted through the left region 42AL is emitted from the front lens array 44A as light slightly diffused in the horizontal direction toward the left with respect to the optical axis Ax.

  The light distribution pattern PA2 is a small and bright light distribution pattern formed by the light transmitted through the right side region 42AR of the rear lens array 42A, and the center thereof is displaced rightward with respect to the line VV. There is. This is because the light transmitted through the right side region 42AR is emitted from the front lens array 44A as light that is slightly diffused in the horizontal direction toward the optical axis Ax.

  The two light distribution patterns PB1 and PB2 are light distribution patterns formed by the irradiation light from the lamp unit 20B, and are formed as horizontally long light distribution patterns that are slightly larger than the two light distribution patterns PA1 and PA2. . At this time, these two light distribution patterns PB1 and PB2 are formed in a state of partially overlapping with each other around the line V-V, thereby forming a medium diffusion region of the low beam light distribution pattern PL. It has become.

  The light distribution pattern PB1 is a light distribution pattern of a medium size formed by the light transmitted through the left side region 42BL of the rear lens array 42B, and its center is in the left direction with respect to the line VV. It is displaced. This is because the light that has passed through the left region 42BL is emitted from the front lens array 44B as light that is diffused to the left to the optical axis Ax to some extent in the horizontal direction.

  The light distribution pattern PB2 is a medium-sized light distribution pattern formed by light that has passed through the right side region 42BR of the rear lens array 42B, and the center thereof is to the right of the line V-V. It is displaced. This is because the light transmitted through the right side region 42BR is emitted from the front lens array 44B as light that is diffused slightly to the right with respect to the optical axis Ax in the horizontal direction to some extent.

  The two light distribution patterns PC1 and PC2 are light distribution patterns formed by the irradiation light from the lamp unit 20C, and are formed as horizontally long light distribution patterns that are slightly larger than the two light distribution patterns PB1 and PB2. There is. At this time, these two light distribution patterns PC1 and PC2 are formed in a partially overlapping state with the V-V line as the center, so that a high diffusion region of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed. It has become.

  The light distribution pattern PC1 is a large light distribution pattern formed by the light transmitted through the left region 42CL of the rear lens array 42C, and the center thereof is displaced leftward with respect to the line VV. This is because the light that has passed through the left region 42CL is emitted from the front lens array 44C as light that largely diffuses horizontally toward the left with respect to the optical axis Ax.

  The light distribution pattern PC2 is a large light distribution pattern formed by the light transmitted through the right side region 42CR of the rear lens array 42C, and its center is displaced rightward with respect to the line VV. This is because the light transmitted through the right side region 42CR is emitted from the front lens array 44C as light that is largely diffused in the horizontal direction toward the optical axis Ax.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  The vehicle lamp 10 according to the present embodiment includes three lamp units 20A, 20B, 20C, and each of the lamp units 20A to 20C outputs light emitted from the light source unit 30 to the microlens arrays 40A, 40B, 40C. It is configured to form a desired light distribution pattern by irradiating the front of the lamp through the rear lens array 42A, 42B, 42C and the front lens array 44A, which form the microlens arrays 40A to 40C. A light-shielding plate 50 for defining the shape of each of the plurality of light source images formed by the plurality of condenser lens units 42As, 42Bs, and 42Cs is arranged between 44B and 44C. Low-beam light distribution pattern PL having horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 at the top as a light distribution pattern It can be formed.

  Then, in each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C, the optical axes Axa2, Axb2, and Axc2 of the condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs correspond to the optical axes Axa4, Axb4, and Axb4 of the projection lens portions 44As, 44Bs, and 44Cs. Since it is offset with respect to Axc4, it is possible to reduce the proportion of the light that is blocked by the light blocking plate 50 from the light emitted from the light source unit 30 that enters the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C. The luminous flux of the light source can be effectively used by the amount. Therefore, the low-beam light distribution pattern PL can be formed as a light distribution pattern with increased brightness while maintaining the positions and shapes of the horizontal and diagonal cutoff lines CL1, CL2.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the vehicular lamp 10 including the microlens arrays 40A to 40C, even when the light distribution pattern having the cut-off line is formed, the brightness of the light distribution pattern is reduced. You can secure enough.

  At that time, in each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C, the optical axes Axa2 to Axc2 of the condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs are upward with respect to the optical axes Axa4 to Axc4 of the projection lens portions 44As to 44Cs corresponding thereto. Because of the offset, the brightness can be sufficiently ensured even though the low beam light distribution pattern PL having the horizontal and oblique cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 is formed on the upper portion.

  Moreover, since the three rear lens arrays 42A to 42C are set to have different offset amounts of the condenser lens portions 42As to 42Cs to the upper side of the optical axes Axa2 to Axc2, the low beam light distribution pattern is set. PL can be formed as a combined light distribution pattern of three sets of light distribution patterns PA1, PA2, PB1, PB2, PC1, and PC2 having different bottom edge positions. As a result, the low-beam light distribution pattern PL can be formed as a light distribution pattern with less uneven light distribution.

  Further, in each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C, the optical axes Axa2 to Axc2 of the condenser lens units 42As to 42Cs are offset in the left-right direction with respect to the optical axes Axa4 to Axc4 of the corresponding projection lens units 44As to 44Cs. Therefore, the low-beam light distribution pattern PL can be formed as a light distribution pattern with an increased lateral spread while maintaining the positions and shapes of the horizontal and diagonal cutoff lines CL1, CL2. .

  At that time, each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C includes a plurality of regions having different amounts of offset in the left-right direction of the optical axes Axa2 to Axc2 of the condenser lens units 42As to 42Cs (specifically, Since the left-side regions 42AL, 42BL, 42CL and the right-side regions 42AR, 42BR, 42CR of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C have the opposite lateral offsets, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is It can be formed as a combined light distribution pattern of three sets of light distribution patterns PA1, PA2, PB1, PB2, PC1, PC2 whose positions in the directions are displaced from each other. As a result, the low beam light distribution pattern PL can be formed as a light distribution pattern with less uneven light distribution.

  Further, in each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C, the front focus of the condenser lens parts 42As to 42Cs is offset to the front side of the lamp with respect to the rear focus F of the corresponding projection lens parts 44As to 44Cs. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source unit 30 incident on the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C forms a light source image having a certain size on the rear focal planes of the projection lens units 44As to 44Cs. The size of the light distribution pattern PL for use can be increased.

  Moreover, in the present embodiment, the amount of offset to the front side of the lamp with respect to the projection lens units 44As, 44Bs, and 44Cs increases in the order of the condenser lens units 42As, 42Bs, and 42Cs, so that the transmitted light of the rear lens array 42A is increased. The light distribution patterns PA1 and PA2 formed by the light distribution patterns P1 and PA2 are formed as small and bright light distribution patterns, and the light distribution patterns PB1 and PB2 formed by the transmitted light of the rear lens array 42B have slightly reduced brightness but are slightly larger. The light distribution patterns PC1 and PC2 that are formed as a pattern and are formed by the transmitted light of the rear lens array 42C can be formed as a larger light distribution pattern although the brightness is further reduced. PL can be made to have excellent visibility on the road ahead of the vehicle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical axes Axa2-Axc2 of the condenser lens units 42As-42Cs in the entire regions of the rear lens arrays 42A-42C are different from the optical axes Axa4-Axc4 of the corresponding projection lens units 44As-44Cs. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only part of the region is offset to the upper side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the left-side regions 42AL to 42CL and the right-side regions 42AR to 42CR in each of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C have been described as being offset in the left-right direction in the opposite directions, but the offsets in the same direction are performed. It is also possible to adopt a different configuration. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each of the left side regions 42AL to 42CL and / or each of the right side regions 42AR to 42CR is provided with a region having a different offset amount in the left-right direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the three lamp units 20A to 20C is described, and the light distribution patterns having different sizes are formed for each of the lamp units 20A to 20C. It is also possible to adopt a configuration other than this (for example, a configuration in which a plurality of light distribution patterns having different sizes are formed in a single lamp unit).

  In the above-described embodiment, the condensing lens units 42As to 42Cs of the rear lens arrays 42A to 42C and the projection lens units 44As to 44Cs of the front lens arrays 44A to 44C are provided in each of a plurality of segments divided in a vertical and horizontal lattice pattern. Although it is described as being assigned, divisions other than the vertical and horizontal lattice shapes (for example, diagonal lattice divisions) can be adopted.

  In the above embodiment, each light source 32 is described as being composed of a white light emitting diode, but a light source other than this (for example, a laser diode or an organic EL) may be used.

  Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a vehicle lamp 110 according to the present modification.

  As shown in the figure, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but the configuration is provided with a single lamp unit 120D, and the irradiation light from this lamp unit 120D is used. Partly different from the above embodiment in that the additional light distribution pattern in the high beam light distribution pattern (that is, the light distribution pattern additionally formed with respect to the low beam light distribution pattern) is formed by ing.

  In order to realize this, the lamp unit 120D of the present modification has the same basic configuration as the lamp unit 20A of the above-described embodiment, but the configuration of the rear lens array 142D of the microlens array 140D and the light shielding plate. The configuration of 150 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

  That is, the rear lens array 142D of this modification also has a configuration in which a plurality of condenser lens portions 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 for condensing the light emitted from the light source unit 30 are formed on the rear surface thereof. The optical axes Axd2 of the condenser lens units 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 are offset downward with respect to the optical axes Axa4 of the corresponding projection lens units 44As.

  Further, each of the condenser lens portions 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 is formed in an arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape whose surface has a smaller curvature than the spherical surface forming the surface of the projection lens portion 44As, and the front side in the vertical plane. The focal point is located on the front side of the lamp with respect to the rear focal point F of the projection lens unit 44As.

  At this time, in the rear lens array 142D, each condenser lens portion 142Ds2 formed in the lower region 142D2 located below the optical axis Ax of the light source unit 30 has an upper region located above the optical axis Ax. Each condensing lens portion 142Ds1 formed on 142D1 is formed in an arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape with a small curvature. As a result, the transmitted light of the lower region 142D2 has a larger vertical spread when emitted from the projection lens unit 44As than the transmitted light of the upper region 142D1.

  The horizontal cross-sectional shape of each of the condenser lens portions 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 is formed with a curvature smaller than that of the vertical cross-sectional shape. As a result, the spread of the transmitted light in both the upper region 142D1 and the lower region 142D2 in the horizontal direction when emitted from the projection lens unit 44As is larger than the spread in the vertical direction.

  The light-shielding plate 150 of this modification is also made of a thin plate in which a plurality of openings 150a are regularly formed, and the plurality of openings 150a correspond to the plurality of projection lens portions 44As in the front lens array 44A. Thus, they are arranged in a vertical and horizontal lattice pattern. However, the light blocking plate 150 blocks a part of the light from the light source unit 30 reaching the light blocking plate 150 via the condenser lens portions 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 at the upper edge 150a2 of the opening 150a, A light source image having a bright / dark boundary line at the upper end is formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens unit 44As.

  At that time, since the optical axes Axd2 of the condenser lens units 142Ds1 and 142Ds2 are offset downward with respect to the optical axis Axa4 of the projection lens unit 44As, compared with the case where they are not offset downward. The amount of light shielded by the light shield plate 150 is reduced, and a brighter light source image is formed accordingly.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram perspectively showing an additional light distribution pattern PD formed on a virtual vertical screen arranged at a position 25 m in front of the vehicle by the irradiation light from the vehicular lamp 110.

  The additional light distribution pattern PD is a light distribution pattern additionally formed to the low beam light distribution pattern PL (see FIG. 7) indicated by the broken line in the figure, and is a high beam light distribution as a combined light distribution pattern. The pattern PH is formed.

  The additional light distribution pattern PD is formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern centered on the line VV, and has a horizontal cutoff line CL3 in the lower part thereof.

  The horizontal cutoff line CL3 is formed as a reverse projection image of the upper edge 150a2 of the plurality of openings 150a formed in the light shielding plate 150, and its position is set by the formation position of the upper edge 150a2. In the present modification, the horizontal cutoff line CL3 is located slightly below the horizontal cutoff line CL1 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL (specifically, about 1 to 2 ° below the H-H line). .

  The additional light distribution pattern PD is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of the two light distribution patterns PD1 and PD2.

  The light distribution pattern PD1 is a light distribution pattern formed by light transmitted through the plurality of condenser lens portions 142Ds1 located in the upper region 142D1 of the rear lens array 142D, and is formed as a small and bright light distribution pattern. There is.

  The light distribution pattern PD2 is a light distribution pattern formed by light that has passed through the plurality of condenser lens portions 142Ds2 located in the lower region 142D2 of the rear lens array 142D, and is darker than the light distribution pattern PD1 but relatively relatively. It is formed as a large light distribution pattern.

  In this modification, the additional light distribution pattern PD is additionally formed so as to partially overlap the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, so that the high-beam light distribution pattern PH in the vicinity of HV is a high light intensity region. Can be formed.

  At this time, since the additional light distribution pattern PD has the horizontal cut-off line CL3 in the lower portion thereof, it is possible to illuminate only the distant region brightly without illuminating the near-distance region of the vehicle front traveling path. The high-beam light distribution pattern PH can be made excellent in distance visibility.

  It is needless to say that the numerical values shown as the specifications in the above-described embodiment and its modifications are merely examples, and these may be appropriately set to different values.

  Further, the invention of the present application is not limited to the configurations described in the above-described embodiment and its modified examples, and configurations with various modifications other than this can be adopted.

10, 110 Vehicle lamp 12 Lamp body 14 Translucent cover 20A, 20B, 20C, 120D Lamp unit 30 Light source unit 32 Light source 34 Translucent member 34a Incident surface 34a1 Central area 34a2 Peripheral area 34b Emission surface 34c Flat plate part 34d Peripheral flange part 36 Substrate 40A, 40B, 40C, 140D Microlens array 42 Rear translucent plate 42A, 42B, 42C, 142D Rear lens array 42AL, 42BL, 42CL Left side area 42AR, 42BR, 42CR Right side area 42As, 42Bs, 42Cs, 142Ds1 , 142Ds2 Condensing lens parts 42a, 44a Outer peripheral edge region 44 Front translucent plate 44A, 44B, 44C Front lens array 44As, 44Bs, 44Cs Projection lens part 50, 150 Shading plate 50a, 150a Mouth 50a1 Lower edge 142D1 Upper area 142D2 Lower area 150a2 Upper edge Ax, Axa2, Axa4, Axb2, Axb4, Axc2, Axc4, Axd2 Optical axis CL1, CL3 Horizontal cutoff line CL2 Diagonal cutoff line DHL, DHaL, DHb, DHb, left side Offset amount DHaR, DHbR, DHcR Offset amount to the right DVa, DVb, DVc Offset amount to the upper side E Elbow point F Rear focus PA1, PA2, PB1, PB2, PC1, PC2, PD1, PD2 Light distribution pattern PD Additional light distribution pattern PH High beam light distribution pattern PL Low beam light distribution pattern

Claims (6)

By irradiating the light emitted from the light source unit toward the front of the lamp through the microlens array, in a vehicle lamp configured to form a required light distribution pattern,
The microlens array includes a rear lens array having a plurality of condenser lenses for condensing light emitted from the light source unit on a rear surface thereof, and a plurality of condenser lenses formed by the condenser lenses. A front lens array having a plurality of projection lens units for projecting each of the light source images formed on the front surface;
Between the rear lens array and the front lens array, a light shielding plate for defining the shape of each of the plurality of light source images is disposed,
The rear lens array includes a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset from the optical axis of the projection lens unit corresponding to the condenser lens unit. .   The rear lens array is provided with a region where the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset upward with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens unit corresponding to the condenser lens unit. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.   3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the rear lens array is provided with a plurality of regions in which offset amounts of the condenser lens unit to the upper side of the optical axis are set to different values. Light fixture.   The rear lens array has a region in which the optical axis of the condenser lens unit is offset in the left-right direction with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens unit corresponding to the condenser lens unit. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1.   5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the rear lens array is provided with a plurality of regions in which offset amounts in the left-right direction of the optical axis of the condenser lens unit are set to different values. Light fixture.   The rear lens array includes a region in which a front focus of the condenser lens unit is offset toward a front side of the lamp with respect to a rear focus of the projection lens unit corresponding to the condenser lens unit. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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