JP2024038740A - Vehicle lights - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp that can improve the appearance when emitting light by emitting more uniform light between a plurality of branched light guide parts. SOLUTION: The light guide 3 includes a light source 2 and a light guide 3 that guides light L emitted from the light source 2, and the light guide 3 has a first light guide part extending from a position facing the light source 2. 4, a plurality of second light guide parts 5 branched and extended from the middle part of the first light guide part 4, and arranged on the side of the first light guide part 4 facing the light source 2, The plurality of second light guide parts 5 each have an entrance part 7 that makes the light L emitted from the light source 2 enter the inside of the first light guide part 4 . It has a cross-sectional shape in which the cross-sectional area at the boundary with the first light guide section 4 gradually increases toward the distal end side of the first light guide section 4. [Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle lamp mounted on a vehicle, a combination of a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a rod-shaped or plate-shaped light guide has been known.

In such a vehicle lamp, the light emitted from the light source enters the base end of the light guide, and while repeating reflection inside the light guide, the light is guided toward the tip of the light guide. let Further, the light reflected by the plurality of reflection cuts provided on the back side of the light guide is emitted from the front side of the light guide. Thereby, it is possible to cause the light emitting section provided on the front side of the light guide to emit light in a line shape or a planar shape.

Furthermore, some vehicle lamps emit light from a plurality of light guide parts that are branched and extended from a plurality of branch parts provided in the light guide (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). .

Patent No. 6368992

By the way, when each of the light guide parts branched through the plurality of branch parts mentioned above is caused to emit light, there may be a difference in brightness between the plurality of light guide parts due to the difference in the optical path length of the light guided from the light source to the branch part. (brightness unevenness) may occur.

In other words, the light becomes relatively weaker due to light attenuation in a light guide part having a longer optical path length (longer distance) from the light source than in a light guide part having a shorter optical path length (nearer distance) from the light source. Furthermore, since the light is distributed each time it is branched at the branching section, the longer the optical path length from the light source (the farther the distance) the branching section, the smaller the amount of light is by repeating the branching of the light. Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, uniform light emission is not achieved between the plurality of branched light guide portions, and as a result, the appearance during light emission becomes poor.

The present invention was proposed in view of such conventional circumstances, and it is possible to improve the appearance when emitting light by emitting more uniform light between a plurality of branched light guiding parts. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting device that provides the following characteristics.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
[1] Light source and
and a light guide that guides the light emitted from the light source,
The light guide includes a first light guide portion extending from a position facing the light source;
a plurality of second light guide parts branched and extended from a midway part of the first light guide part;
an entrance part that is disposed on a side of the first light guide part facing the light source and makes light emitted from the light source enter the inside of the first light guide part;
Each of the plurality of second light guide parts has a cross-sectional shape in which the cross-sectional area at the boundary with each of the first light guide parts gradually increases toward the tip side of the first light guide part. Lighting equipment for vehicles.
[2] The first light guide has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of one circle,
The plurality of second light guide parts have a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at two points, and each of the second light guide parts has an outline of two circles that intersect at the two points in the cross section of each of the boundaries. As described in [1] above, the cross-sectional shape has a cross-sectional shape in which the external dimensions on the extended line connecting the two points gradually increase toward the distal end side of the first light guide part. vehicle lighting equipment.
[3] Among the plurality of second light guide parts, the second light guide part located at the most distal side of the first light guide part is an extension connecting the two points in the cross section of the boundary. The vehicle according to item [2] above, wherein the vehicle has a cross-sectional shape in which an external dimension on a line is the same as or smaller than an external dimension connecting the two circles with two circumscribing lines. Lighting equipment.
[4] The light guide is arranged on the back side of each of the plurality of second light guides, and directs the light guided inside the second light guide to the second light guide. a reflective part that reflects toward the front side of the
an emitting section that is disposed on the front side of each of the plurality of second light guiding sections and emits the light reflected by the reflecting section to the outside of the second light guiding section;
The plurality of second light guide parts have an extension part provided with the reflection part and the emission part, and an intermediate part provided between the extension part and the boundary,
The extension part has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles intersecting at the two points in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction,
The intermediate part has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part, or the intermediate part has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part, or from the boundary toward the extension part at the same two points as the extension part. The vehicle lamp according to item [2] above, characterized in that the cross-sectional shape is gradually changed to have a cross-sectional shape based on the outer shape of two intersecting circles.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp that can improve the appearance when emitting light by emitting light more uniformly between a plurality of branched light guide parts. It is possible.

1 is a front view showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line AA shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line B1-B1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line B2-B2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line C1-C1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line C2-C2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line D1-D1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line D2-D2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line E1-E1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line E2-E2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line F1-F1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line F2-F2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line GG shown in FIG. 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the intermediate part when the outline on the boundary side is made larger than the outline on the extension part side.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in the drawings used in the following explanation, dimensions may be shown at different scales depending on the component in order to make each component easier to see, and the dimensional ratio of each component may not be the same as in reality. do not have.

As an embodiment of the present invention, for example, a vehicle lamp 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 will be described.
Note that FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the vehicle lamp 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 along line segment B1-B1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line B2-B2 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line C1-C1 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line C2-C2 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line D1-D1 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line D2-D2 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line E1-E1 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line E2-E2 shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line F1-F1 shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide taken along line F2-F2 shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the light guide 3 taken along line GG shown in FIG.

In addition, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, with the The axial direction is shown as the vertical direction (height direction) of the vehicle lamp 1, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment includes a light source 2 and a light guide 3 that guides the light emitted from the light source 2, and these are connected to a lamp (not shown). It has a structure located inside.

Note that the lamp body includes a housing with an open front surface and a transparent outer lens (cover lens) that covers the opening of the housing. Further, the shape of the lamp body can be changed as appropriate to match the design of the vehicle.

The light source 2 includes at least one or more LEDs, is mounted on the surface of a circuit board (not shown) provided with a drive circuit for driving the LEDs, and is directed forward (in this embodiment, upward). The light L is emitted radially toward the target.

The light guide 3 is made of a light-transmitting member such as a transparent resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic, or glass, and is arranged in front of (above) the light source 2 .

The light guide 3 includes a first light guide 4 that extends from the base end (lower end) facing the light source 2 toward the tip (upper end), and a first light guide 4 that branches from the middle of the first light guide 4. It has a plurality of (four in this embodiment) second light guide parts 5 extending as shown in FIG. are doing.

In the light guide body 3 in this embodiment, the first light guide part 4 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and third light guide parts 6 extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The plurality of second light guide parts 5 and third light guide parts 6 are branched from the side of the first light guide part 4 and are arranged in the same direction (in this embodiment, the width of the vehicle). direction).

As shown in FIG. 2, the first light guide section 4 has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of one circle in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to its extension direction (hereinafter referred to as a "vertical cross section"). have.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and third light guide parts 6 are composed of extension parts 5a and 6a provided with a reflection part 8 and an emission part 9, and a first light guide part. 4 and intermediate portions 5b, 6b provided between the boundary and extension portions 5a, 6a.

The extension portions 5a, 6a are provided extending in the width direction of the vehicle from each boundary with the intermediate portions 5b, 6b. The intermediate portions 5b, 6b are provided in a curved manner between each boundary with the first light guide portion 4 and the extension portions 5a, 6a.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, the extensions 5a of the plurality of second light guides 5 and the extensions 6a of the third light guides 6 are , has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at two points. Further, the extension parts 5a of the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and the extension parts 6a of the third light guide parts 6 are arranged in a direction in which two circles aligned in the vertical direction intersect at two points on the front side and the back side. has been done.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, the light guide 3 includes an incident part 7 located on the base end (lower end) side of the first light guide part 4, and a plurality of second light guide parts 5 and a third light guide part 4. It has a reflection part 8 located on the back side of the light guide part 6, and a light emitting part 9 located on the front side of the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and the third light guide part 6. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the entrance section 7 has a flat (plane) entrance surface 7a that is located on the base end (lower end) side of the first light guide section 4 and faces the light source 2. The entrance section 7 allows the light L emitted from the light source 2 to enter the inside of the first light guide section 4 (light guide body 3) from the entrance surface 7a. The light L entering from the incident part 7 is guided inside the first light guide part 4 toward the tip (upper end) side of the first light guide part.

Note that the entrance part 7 is not limited to the above-described configuration having the flat (plane) entrance surface 7a, and the first light guide part 7 collimates or condenses the light L emitted radially from the light source 2. The structure may have a lens shape that allows the light to enter into the interior of 4.

As shown in FIG. 13, the reflective portion 8 has a plurality of reflective cuts 8a located on the rear side of the extended portions 5a, 6a and lined up in the extending direction (width direction of the vehicle) of the extended portions 5a, 6a. ing. In this embodiment, reflective cuts 8a are provided at the center portions of the two circles constituting each of the second light guide section 5 and the third light guide section 6 on the back side.

The plurality of reflection cuts 8a may reflect the light L incident on the back side of the extension parts 5a, 6a at an angle that emits (transmits) the light L from the front side of the extension parts 5a, 6a to the outside, and the shape of the plurality of reflection cuts 8a There are no particular limitations on the size, number, etc.

The plurality of reflective cuts 8a in this embodiment are formed, for example, by vertically cutting out the extensions 5a, 6a and having substantially triangular cross-sectional grooves lined up in the extending direction (vehicle width direction) of the extensions 5a, 6a. It is configured.

Further, the plurality of reflective cuts 8a are provided in the extension parts 5a, 6a in order to make the light L emitted from the output part 9, which will be described later, uniform over the extending direction of the extension parts 5a, 6a (the width direction of the vehicle). The groove is provided so that the depth thereof gradually increases from the proximal end toward the distal end.

The emission part 9 has an emission surface 9a that is located on the front side of the extension parts 5a, 6a and continuous in the extension direction of the extension parts 5a, 6a (the width direction of the vehicle). In this embodiment, output surfaces 9a are provided on the front sides of the two circles that constitute each of the second light guide section 5 and the third light guide section 6, respectively.

The output section 9 outputs the light L reflected by the plurality of reflection cuts 8a (reflection sections 8) to the outside from the front side of the extension sections 5a and 6a. Thereby, it is possible to cause each extension part 5a, 6a of the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and third light guide part 6 to emit light in a line shape as a light emitting part of the vehicle lamp 1.

By the way, in the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment, the plurality of second light guide parts 5 are connected to each of the first light guide parts 4, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 10. It has a cross-sectional shape in which the cross-sectional area at the boundary gradually increases toward the tip side of the first light guide section 4 .

4, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 10, the cross-sectional shape of each second light guide section 5 at the boundary with the first light guide section 4 is shown by a solid line, and The cross-sectional shape of the extension portion 5a of 5 is shown by a broken line.

That is, among the four second light guide parts 5 arranged in the vertical direction, the upper second light guide part 5, which has a longer optical path length from the light source 2, has a shorter cutoff at the boundary with the first light guide part 4. The area is larger. Conversely, the lower the second light guide section 5, where the optical path length from the light source 2 is shorter, the smaller the cross-sectional area at the boundary with the first light guide section 4.

Specifically, in the cross section of each boundary, the plurality of second light guide portions 5 in this embodiment have an outer shape on an extended line connecting the two points, while keeping the outer shape of two circles intersecting at two points as the basic tone. It has a cross-sectional shape in which the dimension S of the first light guide section 4 gradually increases toward the distal end side of the first light guide section 4 .

That is, among the four second light guide parts 5 arranged in the vertical direction, the second light guide located closest to the base end side (first from the bottom) of the first light guide part 4 closest to the light source 2 As shown in Figure 4, the cross section at the boundary of part 5 is based on the outline of two circles that intersect at two points, and the dimension S of the outside on the extension line connecting the two points of the two circles is the most It's getting smaller. Thereby, the cross-sectional area at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located first from the bottom is the smallest among the four second light guide sections 5. Moreover, the intermediate part 5b of the second light guide part 5 located first from the bottom is based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part 5a between the boundary and the extension part 5a. It has a cross-sectional shape.

Conversely, as shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape is based on the outer shape connecting two circles with two circumscribing lines, and the outer shape dimension S on the extended line connecting two points of the two circles is the largest. Thereby, the cross-sectional area at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located fourth from the bottom is the largest among the four second light guide sections 5. Moreover, the intermediate part 5b of the second light guide part 5 located fourth from the bottom is based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part 5a from the boundary toward the extension part 5a. The cross-sectional shape is gradually changed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the cross section at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located second from the bottom has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles intersecting at two points; The outer dimension S on the extended line connecting two points of the two circles is larger than that of the first one from the side. Thereby, the cross-sectional area at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located second from the bottom is larger than that of the second light guide section 5 located first from the bottom. Moreover, the intermediate part 5b of the second light guide part 5 located second from the bottom is based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part 5a from the boundary toward the extension part 5a. The cross-sectional shape is gradually changed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross section at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located third from the bottom has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles intersecting at two points; The external dimension S on the extended line connecting two points of the two circles is larger than that of the second light guide section 5 located second from the side. Thereby, the cross-sectional area at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located third from the bottom is larger than that of the second light guide section 5 located second from the bottom. Moreover, the intermediate part 5b of the second light guide part 5 located third from the bottom is based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part 5a from the boundary toward the extension part 5a. The cross-sectional shape is gradually changed.

Note that the cross section at the boundary of the second light guide section 5 located at the most distal side of the first light guide section 4 is such that the external dimension S on the extended line connecting the two points is two lines between the two circles. The cross-sectional shape is not limited to the same dimension as the external dimension connected by the circumscribed line, but may be smaller than that.

In the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the longer the optical path length from the light source 2 is, the longer the first light guide becomes. The cross-sectional area at the boundary with section 4 is large.

As a result, the light L is relatively larger in the upper second light guide part 5, which has a longer optical path length from the light source 2, than in the lower second light guide part 5, which has a shorter optical path length from the light source 2. In addition, by repeating the branching of the light L, the light amount of the light L decreases, but by increasing the cross-sectional area at the boundary with the first light guide 4, the first light guide becomes weaker. It is possible to increase the amount of light L taken in from the boundary with the light section 4 toward the second light guide section 5.

Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to cause the extension part 5a to emit light with more uniform brightness (brightness) among the plurality of second light guide parts 5 branched from the first light guide part 4. This makes it possible to improve the appearance of these lights when they are emitted.

In addition, in the vehicle lamp 1 of this embodiment, the light L from the light source 2 is not branched from the first light guide part 4, but is transmitted from the tip side of the first light guide part 4 to the third light guide part 6. However, along with the plurality of second light guide parts 5 mentioned above, the light amount adjustment for the third light guide part 6 is performed so that the extension part 6a emits light with more uniform brightness (brightness). .

Further, the intermediate section 6b of the third light guide section 6 has a cross-sectional shape based on the outer shape of one circle shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape is gradually changed to a shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at two points shown in the figure.

Note that the cross-sectional shape of each second light guide section 5 at the boundary with the first light guide section 4 (the shape shown by the solid line in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 10) and each second light guide section 5 are The cross-sectional shape of the extension parts 5a and 6a of the light part 5 (the shape shown by the broken line in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 10) corresponds to the outer shape (outer diameter) of the two circles described above. It is preferable.

On the other hand, in order to increase the amount of light L taken in from the boundary with the first light guide part 4 toward the second light guide part 5, the outer shape on the boundary side is made larger than the outer shape on the extension parts 5a and 6a side. As shown in FIG. 14, the outer shapes (outer diameters) of the two circles described above gradually become smaller from the boundary side of the intermediate portions 5b, 6b toward the extension portions 5a, 6a side.

In this case, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 14, more light L guided inside the intermediate parts 5b, 6b leaks outside without being reflected inside the intermediate parts 5b, 6b, and the light source The utilization efficiency of the light L emitted from the light source 2 becomes poor.

On the other hand, if the outer shapes (outer diameters) of the two circles mentioned above match from the boundary side of the intermediate parts 5b, 6b toward the extension parts 5a, 6a side, the broken line in FIG. As shown, since the light L guided inside the intermediate parts 5b, 6b is reflected inside the intermediate parts 5b, 6b, it is possible to reduce the light L leaking to the outside.

Therefore, the cross-sectional area of each second light guide section 5 at the boundary with the first light guide section 4 is not the outer shape (outer diameter) of the two circles, but the extension connecting the two points of the two circles described above. It is preferable to adjust by the external dimension S on the line.

Note that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the vehicle lamp 1, the shape of the light guide 3 can be changed as appropriate to match the design of the actual vehicle. For example, the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and third light guide parts 6 are not limited to the shapes in which the plurality of second light guide parts 5 and the third light guide parts 6 are branched from the first light guide part 4 and extended in the same direction, but are mutually The shape may be extended in different directions.

The vehicle lights to which the present invention is applied are not particularly limited, and include, for example, tail lights, position lights, daytime running lights (DRL), back lights, and direction indicators. The present invention can be widely applied to a turn signal lamp, a side marker lamp, etc.

Further, for the light source 2, in addition to the above-mentioned LED, a light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD) can be used. Further, the color of the light emitted by the light source 2 can be changed as appropriate, such as red light, white light, or orange light, depending on the use of the vehicle lamp.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Vehicle lamp 2... Light source 3... Light guide 4... First light guide part 5... Second light guide part 5a... Extension part 5b... Intermediate part 6... Third light guide part 6a... Extension part 6b ...Intermediate part 7...Incidence part 8...Reflection part 9...Emission part L...Light

Claims (4)

a light source and
and a light guide that guides the light emitted from the light source,
The light guide includes a first light guide portion extending from a position facing the light source;
a plurality of second light guide parts branched and extended from a midway part of the first light guide part;
an entrance section that is disposed on a side of the first light guide section facing the light source and allows the light emitted from the light source to enter the inside of the first light guide section;
Each of the plurality of second light guide parts has a cross-sectional shape in which a cross-sectional area at the boundary with each of the first light guide parts gradually increases toward the tip side of the first light guide part. Lighting equipment for vehicles. The first light guide has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of one circle,
The plurality of second light guide parts have a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at two points, and each of the second light guide parts has an outline of two circles that intersect at the two points in the cross section of each of the boundaries. 2. The first light guiding section has a cross-sectional shape in which the external dimensions on an extended line connecting the two points gradually increase toward the distal end side of the first light guiding section. Vehicle lighting. Among the plurality of second light guide parts, the second light guide part located closest to the tip side of the first light guide part has an outer shape on an extension line connecting the two points in the cross section of the boundary. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape is the same as or smaller than the dimension of the outer shape connecting the two circles with two circumscribing lines. The light guide is arranged on the back side of each of the plurality of second light guide parts, and the light guided inside the second light guide part is directed to the front side of the second light guide part. a reflective part that reflects toward the
an emitting section that is disposed on the front side of each of the plurality of second light guiding sections and emits the light reflected by the reflecting section to the outside of the second light guiding section;
The plurality of second light guide parts have an extension part provided with the reflection part and the emission part, and an intermediate part provided between the extension part and the boundary,
The extension part has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles intersecting at the two points in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction,
The intermediate part has a cross-sectional shape based on the outline of two circles that intersect at the same two points as the extension part from the boundary toward the extension part, or 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape is gradually changed based on the outer shapes of two intersecting circles.

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