JP2024043560A - Vehicle front indicator light unit - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front marker light unit that satisfies the regulations required for each marker light function and has an excellent appearance and is installed in a grille portion at the front of a vehicle.
[Solution] In a vehicle front marker light unit 1 that performs a plurality of marker light functions by emitting a required continuous light pattern when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle, the arrangement position of the right side headlight of the vehicle and the A first region 61 provided by the region between the left side headlamp arrangement position and a second region 62 located within a predetermined distance in the vehicle width direction from the center line in the vehicle width direction, and a plurality of A first marker light function among the marker light functions is arranged in at least a portion of the first region 61, and a second marker light function among the plurality of marker light functions is arranged in at least a portion of the first region 61. and is located in the second region 62.
[Selection diagram] Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle front marker light unit that is provided in a front grille portion of a vehicle and achieves a required light illumination function or marker light function.

In the past, technology has been developed to provide a vehicle optical device in the grille of a vehicle and display various messages and other information by illumination (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2020-59445A

However, a realistic vehicle lighting unit that uses an optical device mounted in the grille of such a vehicle to realize the various marker light functions that are essential for a vehicle has not yet been developed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a vehicle front marker light unit that satisfies the laws and regulations required for each marker light function and has an excellent appearance and is provided in the grille portion of the front of the vehicle. The purpose is to

The above problem is to provide a vehicle front marker light unit that performs multiple marker light functions by emitting a required continuous light pattern when the vehicle is viewed from the front. A first area is provided between the left side headlamp arrangement position of the vehicle and a second area is provided within a predetermined distance from the center line in the vehicle width direction, and has multiple marker light functions. A first marker light function of the plurality of marker light functions is disposed in at least a portion of the first region, and a second marker light function of the plurality of marker light functions is disposed in at least a portion of the first region. , the problem can be solved by a vehicle front indicator light unit that is not placed in the second area.

The first beacon function may be a position lamp and the second beacon function may be a daytime running light.

The first marker light function is provided by a first marker light unit equipped with a plurality of LED light sources and a light guide, and the second marker light function is provided by a second marker light unit equipped with a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and a reflector. May be performed by the unit.

The vehicle front marker light unit of the present invention further includes a housing member, a mask member, and an outer lens, and the mask member allows light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit to form a desired continuous light pattern. It may be formed by blocking light and emitting light that has passed through the mask and is emitted from the outer lens.

The light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit is blocked so that the required continuous light pattern is formed symmetrically as a right side pattern and a left side pattern with respect to the center line in the vehicle width direction. A mask member may be formed.

Each of the right side pattern and the left side pattern includes a plurality of substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns, and the sizes of the substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns are different, and the closer the pattern is to the center line in the vehicle width direction, the smaller the pattern is. A mask member may be formed to block light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit.

A mask that blocks light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit such that the size of each of the right pattern and the left pattern increases radially around a center point at the bottom of the center line. The member may be formed.

One of the multiple marker light functions may be a charging light with a third marker light function indicating the vehicle's charging status.

One of the plurality of marker light functions is a turn indicator as a fourth marker light function, and may be arranged at least in an area outside the first area in the vehicle width direction.

At least a portion of the front surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit is painted in the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and is provided with a light-transmitting part, so that the vehicle front surface has a marker light function. may be performed through a light-transmitting part.

A portion of the front surface may be provided at an interface between the vehicle front marker light unit and the vehicle.

The entire surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit may be painted in the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and a light transmitting portion may be provided over the entire surface.

The light-transmitting parts may be formed by laser etching.

The present invention provides a vehicle front marker light unit that can perform a suitable marker light function on the entire front of the vehicle and provides good-looking illumination.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle front indicator light unit 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a combination of one LED light source 21 and a reflector 22 in the marker light unit 12 which is a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and reflectors. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining how a marker light unit 12, which is a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and a reflector, is arranged. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating how the elongated light guide 13 and the pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b are housed in the housing 11. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the mask member 18 is attached to the housing 11 when viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of each marker light function. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the first marker lamp function, that is, the positioning lamp, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining how the second marker light function, that is, the daytime running light, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how the third indicator light function, that is, the charging light, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining still another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle front indicator light unit according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. The vehicle front marker light unit is an integrated unit that is mounted on the front of the vehicle and may be referred to as an e-Grille. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present vehicle front indicator light unit is applied to an electric vehicle, but it may be applicable not only to electric vehicles but also to other types of vehicles.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements in the embodiments described below include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same. In the following explanation, the front/rear, up/down, left/right directions are the directions when this vehicle front marker light unit is mounted on the vehicle, and are the directions when looking in the direction of travel of the vehicle from the driver's seat. show. In addition, in this embodiment, the up-down direction is parallel to the vertical direction, and the left-right direction is assumed to be the horizontal direction. Regarding the front direction and the back direction, the direction in which light is emitted from the vehicle lamp unit is defined as the front direction, and the direction opposite to the front direction is defined as the back direction.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle front indicator light unit 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the main components of the vehicle front marker light unit 1 are a housing 11 that accommodates the vehicle front marker light unit, and marker light units 12a and 12b (second (beacon light unit), a long light guide 13, a pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b, a pair of LED light sources 15a, 15b for the long light guide 13, and a pair of light guides. A pair of LED light sources 16a, 16b for the light assemblies 14a, 14b, a transparent inner lens 17 made of acrylic, a mask member 18, and a transparent outer lens 19 made of acrylic are shown.

The long light guide 13, the pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b, the pair of LED light sources 15a, 15b for the long light guide 13, and the pair of LED light sources 16a, 16b for the pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b constitute a first marker lamp unit. The pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b includes six light guides extending in the horizontal direction and support members 14c, 14d that support them near the center. The pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b may be integrally molded for each left and right assembly together with the support members 14c, 14d that support them near the center.

The mask member 18 is an extension made of black polycarbonate and has a light-shielding structure. A porous film 19a is formed on the back surface of the outer lens 19 by printing.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a combination of one LED light source 21 and a reflector 22 in the marker light unit 12 which is a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and reflectors. The LED light source 21 is provided on the substrate 23, and the light emitted from the LED light source 21 is reflected by the reflector 22 and emitted in the forward direction of the vehicle. The reflector 22 is made of polycarbonate deposited with aluminum.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining how the marker light unit 12 consisting of a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and reflectors is arranged. First, a first LED light source and reflector groups 31a and 31b are provided in the left and right upper portions of the housing 11, arranged in a matrix of 3×8=24 in total. A total of 5 second LED light sources and reflector groups 32a and 32b (1×5=5) are provided inside the vehicle from this first LED light source and reflector group 31a, 31b, and this second LED light source and reflector group 32a. , 32b, a total of 4 third LED light sources and reflector groups 33a, 33b, and 1 x 4 = total 4 third LED light sources and reflector groups 33a, 33b provided inside the vehicle. ×3=A total of three fourth LED light sources and reflector groups 34a and 34b are provided.

The first LED light source and reflector group 31a, 31b constitute a second marker light unit. Furthermore, this first LED light source and reflector group 31a, 31b perform the function of a daytime running light (DRL). Note that the first LED light source and the LED light sources of the reflector groups 31a and 31b are white.

The second to fourth LED light sources and reflector groups 32a to 34a, 32b to 34b function as part of a position lamp or a charging light. The light sources of the second to fourth LED light sources and reflector groups 32a to 34a, 32b to 34b are provided with two blue and white LEDs, and the second to fourth LED light sources and reflector groups 32a to 34a, 32b When ~34b functions as part of a position lamp, a white LED is driven, and when it functions as a charging light, a blue LED is driven.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating how the elongated light guide 13 and the pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b are housed in the housing 11. In the pair of light guide assemblies 14a and 14b, six light guides extending in the horizontal direction are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the vertical direction, and the length of the bottom four light guides is the same as the left and right sides of the housing 11. It is the length that ends at the sloped end of. The two light guides from the top are arranged at positions where they do not interfere with the light emission from the first LED light source and the reflector groups 31a and 31b.

Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the state in which the mask member 18 is attached to the housing 11 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. The mask member 18 has 7 x 4 x 2 = 56 openings in total, arranged symmetrically on the left and right. Each opening is approximately parallelogram shaped. The openings are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the vertical direction. The size of the openings is formed so that the closer the opening is to the center line of the vehicle in the width direction, the smaller the opening is. Also, as shown in the figure, the size of the openings of the mask member 18 is adjusted so that the openings appear to spread out radially from the lower part of the center line of the vehicle in the width direction as a whole. The light emitted in the forward direction of the vehicle through these openings emits a continuous light pattern, and performs multiple marker light functions when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle.

In FIG. 5, the openings (56 in total) surrounded by the frame 51 radiate light from a light source that passes through these openings in the forward direction of the vehicle to function as position lamps (PL).

The openings (six in total, including the left and right sides) surrounded by the frame 52 radiate light from a light source passing through these openings in the forward direction of the vehicle so as to function as daytime running lights (DRLs). Note that eight LED light sources and reflectors are assigned to each aperture. In addition, when the light passing through the opening surrounded by the frame 52 functions as a daytime running light, the power supplied to the first LED light source and the LED light sources of the reflector groups 31a and 31b is supplied to the position lamp (PL). Compared to when it functions as a power source, a large amount of power is supplied and the brightness it emits is also brighter.

The openings (six in total, including the left and right sides) surrounded by the frame 53 radiate light from a light source passing through these openings in the forward direction of the vehicle so as to function as charge lights. In the case of electric cars, the charging light is a blue light that indicates whether the battery is sufficiently charged.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of each marker light function. In FIG. 6, when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle, a first region 61 located inside in the direction of the vehicle center line from the location of the headlight 63 of the vehicle, and a predetermined region 61 in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle center line. A second region 62 within the distance is shown. In this embodiment, the predetermined distance is set to 300 mm on either side of the vehicle center line and 600 mm in total width. The light function (first marker light function) that functions as a position lamp (PL) provided from the frame 51 in FIG. 5 is arranged at least in the first region 61 and emits light. A light function (second marker light function) that functions as a detime running light (DRL) provided from the frame 52 in FIG. 5 is arranged at least in the first region 61 other than the second region 62, and emits light. Both the first optical function and the second optical function may be additionally provided outside the first region 61.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the first marker lamp function, that is, the positioning lamp, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle. Due to the above-described configuration of the mask member 18, the area of the light emitting portion becomes smaller as it approaches the center line in the width direction of the vehicle. Further, as shown in the figure, a continuous light pattern is emitted in which the area of the light pattern spreads radially around the lower part of the center line in the width direction of the vehicle. At this time, all the white LEDs mentioned above are lit.

As shown in the figure, the first marker light unit (performing the position lamp function A mask member 18 is formed to block light from ).

Each of the right-hand pattern 54 and the left-hand pattern 55 includes a plurality of substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns, and the sizes of the substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns are different, and the closer the pattern is to the center line in the vehicle width direction, the larger the pattern is. The mask member 18 is formed to be small.

The mask member 18 is formed so that the size of each of the right pattern 54 and the left pattern 55 increases radially around a center point 77 located below a center line 76 in the width direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining how the second marker light function, that is, the daytime running light, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle. At this time, only the first LED light source and the light sources of the reflector groups 31a and 31b (second marker light units) are supplied with power, and only these LEDs are lit, and only the corresponding portions 81 and 82 emit light. The supplied power is greater than the power supplied when the positioning lamp is turned on, and therefore the light emission intensity becomes stronger. Further, since the second marker light function is configured by an LED light source and a reflector, a stronger light intensity is provided compared to the case where it is configured by a light guide or the like. In this case, power is not supplied to the LED light sources 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, and the elongated light guide 13 and the pair of light guide assemblies 14a, 14b do not emit light. Further, power is not supplied to the second to fourth LED light sources and reflector groups 32a to 34a, 32b to 34b, and these parts do not emit light.

Figure 9 is a diagram to explain how the third marker light function, i.e., the charging light, looks when the vehicle is viewed from the front. At this time, power is supplied only to the second to fourth LED light sources and the blue LEDs of the reflector groups 32a to 34a and 32b to 34b, and only the parts (91, 92) corresponding to these LEDs emit blue light. The charging light may also be green or orange.

Although not shown, a turn indicator (fourth marker light function) may be provided in the vehicle front marker light unit of the present invention as one of the multiple marker light functions. In this case, the turn indicator is disposed in at least an area on the outer side of the first area in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The portion surrounded by frame 101 is the vehicle front marker light unit of the present invention. At first glance, the area surrounded by the frame 102 appears to be a location area of the vehicle body, but this area is also a part of the vehicle front marker light unit of the present invention. The surface of this frame 102 portion of the unit is painted or coated in the same color as the vehicle body, and light transmitting portions (103a to 103g) that transmit light are provided using a known laser etching technique. Note that light transmitting portions (104a to 104g) are similarly provided on the right side. Through these light-transmitting parts (openings for optical functions), the light is emitted in the forward direction of the laser etched unit provided in the vehicle front marker light unit, and is used to perform some of the multiple marker light functions, such as position lamps or It can be used as a daytime running light.

At least a portion of the surface of the front marker light unit on the vehicle's front side is painted in the same color as the paint on the vehicle's surface, and a light-transmitting portion is provided by laser etching, and the marker light function is performed through the light-transmitting portion. When a partial laser-etched light unit is painted (coated) in the same color as the paint on the vehicle's surface and has a light-transmitting portion provided by laser etching, and is provided at the boundary between the vehicle's body surface, it looks as if the light from the marker light unit is emitted from the vehicle body, and looks very attractive.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining still another embodiment. The entire front surface of the vehicle front marker light unit is coated in the same color as the vehicle body, and a light-transmitting part is provided using known etching technology, and multiple marker light functions are performed through the light-transmitting part. You can do it like this. The entire surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit is painted in the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and the light transmitting portion is provided over the entire surface, so that the optical function is improved. Unless this is carried out, the vehicle front indicator light unit will not be noticeable from the outside.

In other words, the paint is applied in the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and the part where the light transmission part is provided by laser etching is provided on the entire surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit. It will be done. FIG. 11(a) shows when the marker light is turned on, and FIG. 11(b) shows when the marker light is turned off. In FIG. 11(a), a state in which the daytime running light 111 is turned on is illustrated.

In this embodiment, a daytime running light, a position lamp, a turn indicator, etc. are exemplified as the marker light function, but the present invention can also be applied to other marker light functions, such as a high-intensity position lamp. Furthermore, the light guide used in the first marker light unit can be replaced by a dioptric optical element such as a surfacic light guide. It can also be realized with fresnel lenses, microfresnels, fresnel arrays, etc. Furthermore, the second marker light unit can also be realized by a combination of an LED light source, a reflector and a dioptric system. Furthermore, although the light-transmitting portion is formed by laser etching in the above example, it may also be formed by a masking technique applied before painting.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Vehicle front marker light unit 11 Housing 12 Marker light unit 13 Long light guide 14 Light guide assembly 15 LED light source 16 LED light source 17 Inner lens 18 Mask member 19 Outer lens 21 LED light source 22 Reflector 23 Substrate 31 Reflector group 32 Reflector group 33 Reflector group 34 Reflector group 51, 52, 53 Frame 54 Right side pattern 55 Left side pattern 61, 62 Area 76 Center line 77 Center point 81, 82 Corresponding portion 91, 92 Corresponding portion 101, 102 Frame 103, 104 Light transmitting portion 111 Daytime running light

Claims (13)

A vehicle front marker light unit that performs a plurality of marker light functions by emitting a desired continuous light pattern when the vehicle is viewed from the front of the vehicle,
A first region defined by a region between a position of a right headlight of the vehicle and a position of a left headlight of the vehicle;
a second region located within a predetermined distance in the vehicle width direction from a center line in the vehicle width direction;
a first marker light function of the plurality of marker light functions disposed in at least a portion of the first region;
a second marker light function of the plurality of marker light functions is disposed in at least a portion of the first region and is disposed in the second region;
Vehicle front marker light unit. 2. The vehicle front marker light unit according to claim 1, wherein said first marker light function is a position lamp, and said second marker light function is a daytime running light. The vehicle front marker light unit of claim 1, wherein the first marker light function is performed by a first marker light unit having a plurality of LED light sources and a light guide, and the second marker light function is performed by a second marker light unit having a combination of a plurality of LED light sources and a reflector. a housing member;
a mask member;
Further equipped with an outer lens,
The required continuous light pattern is formed by the mask member blocking light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit, and the light passing through the mask being emitted from the outer lens. 4. The vehicle front indicator light unit according to claim 3. The required continuous light pattern is formed by transmitting light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit so that it is formed symmetrically as a right side pattern and a left side pattern with respect to the center line in the vehicle width direction. 5. The vehicle front marker light unit according to claim 4, wherein said mask member is formed to block light. The vehicle front marker light unit of claim 5, wherein each of the right side pattern and the left side pattern includes a plurality of substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns, and the mask member that blocks light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit is formed so that the sizes of the substantially parallelogram-shaped patterns are different and are smaller for patterns closer to the center line in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle front marker light unit of claim 6, wherein the mask member that blocks light from the first marker light unit and the second marker light unit is formed so that the size of each of the right side pattern and the left side pattern increases radially from a center point below the center line. The vehicle front marker light unit of claim 1, wherein one of the multiple marker light functions is a charging light as a third marker light function that indicates the charging status of the vehicle. The vehicle front sign according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of sign light functions is a turn indicator as a fourth sign light function, and the vehicle front sign is disposed at least in an area outside the first area in the vehicle width direction. light unit. At least a portion of the front surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit is painted in the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and is provided with a light transmitting portion, 2. The vehicle front marker light unit according to claim 1, wherein the marker light function is performed through the light-transmitting portion. 11. The vehicle front marker light unit according to claim 10, wherein the portion of the front surface is provided at a boundary between the vehicle front marker light unit and the vehicle. 10. The entire surface of the vehicle front side of the vehicle front marker light unit is coated with the same color as the paint applied to the surface of the vehicle, and the light transmitting portion is provided over the entire surface. vehicle front indicator light unit. 13. The vehicle front marker light unit according to claim 10, wherein the light transmitting portion is formed by laser etching.