JP2025034143A - Vehicle lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture which forms a light distribution pattern for passing each other and a light distribution pattern for travelling by projecting from an emission surface of a common lens member, and which can secure brightness of the light distribution pattern for travelling.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture 10 includes: a first lens member 12 for forming a light distribution pattern HP for travelling by allowing light L1 from a first light source 11 to enter from a first incident surface 23 and to emit from a first emission surface 28; and a second lens member 14 for forming a light distribution pattern LP for passing each other by allowing light L2 from a second light source 13 to enter from second incident surfaces (32, 33) and to emit from a second emission surface 36, and then allowing it to enter an additional incident surface 29 and to emit from the first emission surface 28. The first lens member 12 has an upper end edge part for forming a lower side brightness/darkness boundary line le in the light distribution pattern HP for travelling, and at least part of the light L1 from the first light source 11 gathers below the upper end edge part 27.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

This disclosure relates to vehicle lighting.

Some vehicle lamps have a low-beam lens member that receives light from a low-beam light source and projects it ahead of the vehicle, and a high-beam lens member that receives light from a high-beam light source and emits it toward the low-beam lens member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This vehicle lamp forms a low-beam light distribution pattern (light distribution pattern for passing) by having light from the low-beam light source enter the low-beam lens member and emit it from the emission surface. This vehicle lamp also forms a high-beam light distribution pattern (light distribution pattern for driving) by having light from the high-beam light source enter the high-beam lens member and then emit it toward the low-beam lens member, and then emit it from the emission surface through the low-beam lens member. In this way, the vehicle lamp can form both a light distribution pattern for passing and a light distribution pattern for driving by projecting from the emission surface of a common low-beam lens member.

Patent No. 6364701

However, the above-mentioned vehicle lamp forms a light distribution pattern for driving by passing light from a high beam light source through a high beam lens member and then through a low beam lens member. For this reason, the above-mentioned vehicle lamp leads to a reduction in the light that forms the light distribution pattern for driving, and it is not easy to ensure the brightness required for the light distribution pattern for driving.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp that forms a light distribution pattern for passing and a light distribution pattern for driving by projecting from the emission surface of a common lens member, and that can ensure the brightness of the light distribution pattern for driving.

The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure includes a first lens member that allows light emitted from a first light source to enter through a first entrance surface and then exit through a first exit surface to form a light distribution pattern for driving that illuminates an upper area in front of the vehicle, and a second lens member that allows light emitted from a second light source to enter through a second entrance surface and then exit through a second exit surface to enter an additional entrance surface of the first lens member and exit through the first exit surface to form a light distribution pattern for passing other vehicles that illuminates a lower area in front of the vehicle, the first lens member having an upper edge that forms a lower light-dark boundary line in the light distribution pattern for driving, and at least a portion of the light from the first light source is concentrated below the upper edge.

The vehicle lamp disclosed herein forms a light distribution pattern for passing and a light distribution pattern for driving by projecting from the emission surface of a common lens member, and ensures the brightness of the light distribution pattern for driving.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the vehicle lamp is viewed from the rear side. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the vehicle lamp is viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first lens member is viewed from the rear side. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II shown in FIG. 3. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how light from a first light source and light from a second light source travel in a cross section similar to that of FIG. 5 . 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the second lens member is viewed from the front side. FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a light distribution pattern for passing and a light distribution pattern for driving are formed on a screen where a horizontal line and a vertical line intersect at the center position on the projection optical axis.

Below, a first embodiment of a vehicle lamp 10 as an example of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in FIG. 6, hatching (diagonal lines) showing cross sections has been omitted to make it easier to understand how the light travels.

A vehicle lamp 10 according to a first embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The vehicle lamp 10 according to the first embodiment is used as a headlamp device for a vehicle such as an automobile. The headlamp device is mounted on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle, and is configured by providing the vehicle lamp 10 in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing whose open front end is covered with an outer lens. The vehicle lamp 10 is provided in the lamp chamber via a vertical light axis adjustment mechanism and a horizontal light axis adjustment mechanism, and appropriately illuminates the front of the vehicle. In the following description, in the vehicle lamp 10, the direction in which the vehicle travels is the front-rear direction (referred to as Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the front-rear direction is in a state along a horizontal plane is the up-down direction (referred to as Y in the drawings), and the direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction is the width direction (referred to as X in the drawings). In the front-rear direction, the side that projects each light described later is the front side, and in the up-down direction, the side on which the second lens member 14 described later is provided is the upper side. Here, the vehicle lamp 10 installed on the right side of the vehicle and the one installed on the left side are basically the same configuration, but are inverted or shifted parallel in the width direction (left and right), so the following explanation will be given using the vehicle lamp 10 installed on the right side.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment includes a plurality of first light sources 11, a first lens member 12, two second light sources 13, and a second lens member 14. The first light sources 11 and the first lens member 12 form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see Fig. 8) that illuminates an upper area in front of the vehicle, and the second light sources 13 and the second lens member 14 form a passing light distribution pattern LP (see Fig. 8) that illuminates a lower area in front of the vehicle. In the following, the light emitted by each first light source 11 is referred to as light L1, and the light emitted by the second light source 13 is referred to as light L2 (see Fig. 6).

The first light source 11 is composed of a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). As shown in FIG. 4, the multiple first light sources 11 are aligned in the width direction. In the first embodiment, eleven first light sources 11 are provided, and correspond individually to the eleven first lens light guide sections 21 of the first lens member 12 described later. Each first light source 11 is provided facing the first entrance surface 23 of the corresponding first lens light guide section 21, and each emission optical axis L is positioned so as to pass through a focusing position 24 described later (see FIG. 6).

Each of the first light sources 11 is mounted on a board (not shown), and power is supplied appropriately under the control of a lighting control circuit, turning on each of the first light sources 11 or turning on multiple first light sources 11 at the same time. This board may be common to the eleven first light sources 11, or may correspond to each of the first light sources 11 or multiple first light sources 11. The board may be attached to a heat sink made of an aluminum plate, aluminum die-casting, or resin having appropriate thermal conductivity, allowing heat generated by each of the first light sources 11 to escape to the outside.

The first lens member 12 is an optical lens that guides the light L1 emitted from each first light source 11 inward to form a light distribution pattern. The first lens member 12 is made of transparent resin and is long in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the first lens member 12 has eleven first lens light guides 21 on the rear side in the front-rear direction. Each first lens light guide 21 corresponds individually to each first light source 11. Each first lens light guide 21 is a columnar shape extending in the front-rear direction from the corresponding first light source 11 side, and is arranged in parallel in the width direction at equal intervals in the vertical direction. The front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide 21 is connected to the rear end surface 22a of the first lens junction 22 (see FIG. 5, etc.). The first lens junction 22 is approximately rectangular in shape extending in the width direction and the vertical direction. The first lens member 12 is configured with eleven first lens light guides 21 integrated with a first lens junction 22. In this specification, since each first lens light guide 21 and the first lens junction 22 are integrated, there is no surface where they are connected, but the connected portion is treated as a virtual surface and is referred to as the front end surface 21a.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, each of the first lens light guides 21 has a first entrance surface 23 at a location facing the first light source 11, i.e., at the rear end in the front-rear direction. Each of the first lens light guides 21 has a substantially equal shape, and a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction is rectangular. Each of the first lens light guides 21 has a gradually increasing size in the vertical direction so that the area (size) of the cross section increases from the first entrance surface 23 toward the front end surface 21a, i.e., the rear end surface 22a of the first lens junction 22. As described below, the rear end surface 22a of the first lens junction 22 is curved convexly to the rear so that the center in the width direction is located at the rearmost side in the front-rear direction and displaces forward as it moves toward the outside in the width direction. And, each of the first lens light guides 21 has a rear first entrance surface 23 at a substantially equal position in the front-rear direction. For this reason, the front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide section 21 is positioned forward and its area (size) increases as it moves outward in the width direction. Each first lens light guide section 21 has the same optical design. For this reason, the optical settings of each first lens light guide section 21 will be described below using Figures 5 and 6, which show one first lens light guide section 21.

The first incident surface 23 causes the light L1 from the corresponding first light source 11 to proceed toward the first lens junction 22. The first incident surface 23 of the first embodiment is optically set in accordance with the orientation of the first light source 11 so that the emission optical axis L (see FIG. 5) of the corresponding first light source 11 faces the light collection position 24. The light collection position 24 is linear and extends in the width direction through the focal point f (or its vicinity) of the first exit surface 28 described later, and is curved so as to be located on the front side in the front-rear direction as it moves from the center in the width direction toward the outside. For this reason, the light collection position 24 is located on the focal plane (or its vicinity) of the first exit surface 28, and is in a positional relationship equal to the focal point f (or its vicinity) in the vertical direction. This light collection position 24 is located below the upper end edge portion 27 of each first lens light guide portion 21 of the first lens member 12. Therefore, the light passing through the light collection position 24 is projected onto (or near) the horizontal line H that passes through the center position O of the illumination by the vehicle lamp 10 on the screen described below.

The first lens light guide 21 has a first upper reflecting surface 25 and a first lower reflecting surface 26 in addition to the first incident surface 23. The first upper reflecting surface 25 is provided on the upper surface (top surface) in the vertical direction near the first incident surface 23 in the first lens light guide 21. The first upper reflecting surface 25 is optically a free-form surface based on an ellipse with the position (vicinity) of the first light source 11 (its light emission center) through the first incident surface 23 as a first focus and the above-mentioned light collection position 24 (vicinity) as a second focus. The first upper reflecting surface 25 reflects the light L1 incident from the first incident surface 23 to advance to the light collection position 24, and then advances it to the first lens junction 22 side, i.e., the front side in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the first lower reflecting surface 26 reflects the light L1 incident from the first incident surface 23, thereby causing the light to travel toward the first lens junction 22. Although not shown, the first lens light guide 21 also has a surface located on the side (a surface facing the adjacent first lens light guide 21) which, like the first lower reflecting surface 26, also reflects the light L1 incident from the first incident surface 23, causing the light to travel toward the first lens junction 22.

The first upper reflecting surface 25 and the first lower reflecting surface 26 may be configured to use total reflection, to be subjected to a reflection treatment, or to have other configurations, so long as they reflect as described above. The first lower reflecting surface 26 may also be configured to reflect the light L1 toward the focusing position 24, similar to the first upper reflecting surface 25. In other words, the first lens light guide 21 is not limited to the configuration of Example 1 as long as the reflection mode of the first upper reflecting surface 25 and the first lower reflecting surface 26 is set so as to adjust the amount of light (brightness) focused at the focusing position 24 according to the brightness required at the focusing position 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first lens light guides 21 has an upper edge 27. The upper edge 27 is formed by forming a predetermined shape on the upper side of the front end surface 21a (see FIG. 6) connected to the first lens junction 22 in each of the first lens light guides 21, and defines the shape of the upper side in the vertical direction of the light L1 incident from each of the first lens light guides 21 to the first lens junction 22. This upper edge 27 is projected on the first emission surface 28 described later, and defines the lower edge hpe (see FIG. 8) of the partial light distribution area hp formed by the corresponding first lens light guide 21. Each of the partial light distribution areas hp is individually formed by 11 first lens light guides 21, and is arranged in the width direction to form a driving light distribution pattern HP (see FIG. 8). As a result, the upper edge 27 of the eleven first lens light guides 21 cooperate to form the lower light-dark boundary line le in the driving light distribution pattern HP formed by each of the first light sources 11 and the first lens member 12.

The upper edge 27 of the first embodiment is formed at the boundary between the upper surface 21b and the front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide 21, that is, the upper side at the connection position between each first lens light guide 21 and the rear end surface 22a of the first lens merging portion 22. Each upper edge 27 is formed by arranging 11 first lens light guides 21 in the width direction and forming a substantially straight line. The upper edge 27 is relatively high near the projection optical axis Lp of the vehicle lamp 10, and relatively low on the outside away from the projection optical axis Lp. The upper edge 27 located between them is inclined, and forms a convex shape by connecting the high position and the low position. Note that each upper edge 27 may be formed at a position other than the boundary between the upper surface 21b and the front end surface 21a as long as it forms the lower light-dark boundary line le of the driving light distribution pattern HP, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

Each of the first lens light guides 21 collects the brightest light near the emission optical axis L and the light that has traveled to the first upper reflecting surface 25, among the light L1 emitted from the first light source 11 and incident on the first incident surface 23, at the light collection position 24 and then advances the light to the first lens junction 22 (see FIG. 6). In addition, the first lens light guide 21 advances the light that has traveled to the first lower reflecting surface 26, among the light L1 incident on the first incident surface 23, to the first lens junction 22. Therefore, each of the first lens light guides 21 can illuminate the entire front end surface 21a connected to the first lens junction 22 while making the vicinity of the light collection position 24 the brightest with the light L1 from the corresponding first light source 11. In the first embodiment, the front end surface portions 21a are rectangular and aligned in the width direction, so that rectangular bright areas are aligned in the width direction on the rear end surface 22a of the first lens junction portion 22. Since the front end surface portions 21a are provided with the upper edge portion 27 of each first lens light guide portion 21, the upper edge of the rectangular shape is shaped as three horizontal lines of different heights, with the area near the projection optical axis Lp being elevated, connected by two inclined lines.

The first lens junction 22 has a first exit surface 28 at its front end in the front-to-rear direction. The first exit surface 28 is a surface that causes light incident on the first lens junction 22 to exit from the first lens member 12, and is a convex surface that protrudes forward in the front-to-rear direction (optical axis direction). This first exit surface 28 has a focal plane (meridional image plane) on the object space side inside the first lens junction 22 and near the upper edge 27. This focal plane is curved so that the position of the focus f of the first exit surface 28 is located at the rearmost side in the front-to-rear direction, and gradually displaces forward in the front-to-rear direction as it moves away from the lens optical axis.

The first lens junction 22 has a rear end surface 22a on the rear side in the front-rear direction. This rear end surface 22a is provided near the focal plane of the first emission surface 28, and in Example 1, it is provided slightly rearward of the focal plane. In Example 1, the rear end surface 22a is curved so that the center in the width direction is located at the rearmost side and displaces forward as it moves toward the outside in the width direction, and is brought closer to the shape of the focal plane of the curved first emission surface 28 as described above. The front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide 21 is connected to this rear end surface 22a in a positional relationship including the lens optical axis of the first emission surface 28 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the rear end surface 22a causes the light L1 guided by each first lens light guide 21 to proceed into the first lens junction 22 through the connection point of each front end surface 21a. In addition, the rear end surface 22a faces a second exit surface 36 of the second lens member 14, which will be described later, above each first lens light guide section 21. Therefore, the rear end surface 22a allows the light L2 from each second light source 13 guided by the second lens member 14 to proceed into the first lens junction section 22 from a portion above the portion where each first lens light guide section 21 is connected. Therefore, in the first lens junction section 22 (first lens member 12), a portion of the rear end surface 22a above the portion where each first lens light guide section 21 is connected functions as an additional entrance surface 29 that allows the light L2 to enter.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 5 to 7, the two second light sources 13 are each composed of a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The second light sources 13 in the first embodiment are arranged in two in the width direction and are individually opposed to the two second entrance portions 31 of the second lens member 14. Each of the second light sources 13 is mounted on a board (not shown), and is appropriately supplied with power under the control of a lighting control circuit to light up individually or simultaneously. This board may be common to the two second light sources 13, or may be individually corresponding to each of the two second light sources 13. The board may be attached to a heat sink formed of an aluminum plate, aluminum die casting, or resin having appropriate thermal conductivity to release heat generated by each of the second light sources 13 to the outside.

The second lens member 14 is an optical lens that guides the light L2 emitted from each second light source 13 inward and cooperates with the first lens member 12 to form a light distribution pattern. The second lens member 14 is made of transparent resin. Two second entrance portions 31 are provided on the rear side in the front-to-rear direction and on the upper side in the up-down direction of this second lens member 14. Both second entrance portions 31 correspond individually to each second light source 13 and are configured identically to each other.

The second incident portion 31 is formed such that the portion facing the corresponding second light source 13 protrudes toward the second light source 13 and the center is recessed toward the opposite side to the second light source 13, and has an opposing incident surface 32, an inclined incident surface 33, and an annular reflecting surface 34, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The opposing incident surface 32 is curved convexly toward the second light source 13, and the second light source 13 is positioned near the focal point (rear focal point) on the rear side (second light source 13 side). The opposing incident surface 32 causes the light emitted from the second light source 13 to enter the second lens member 14 as parallel light traveling approximately parallel to the axis of the second incident portion 31, and to travel toward the internal reflecting surface 35 described later (see Fig. 6). Note that this parallel light (parallel light) refers to light in a collimated state by passing through the opposing incident surface 32.

The inclined incident surface 33 is provided so as to surround the opposing incident surface 32 in a truncated cone shape while protruding from the opposing incident surface 32 toward the second light source 13. This inclined incident surface 33 allows light from the second light source 13 that does not proceed to the opposing incident surface 32 to enter the second lens member 14. The annular reflecting surface 34 is provided so as to surround the inclined incident surface 33 in a truncated cone shape, and is a position where light that has entered the second lens member 14 from the inclined incident surface 33 proceeds. The annular reflecting surface 34 reflects the light that has entered from the inclined incident surface 33, and causes it to proceed toward the internal reflecting surface 35 described later as parallel light proceeding approximately parallel to the axis of the second incident portion 31 (see FIG. 6). The annular reflecting surface 34 may reflect light by using total reflection, or may reflect light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like.

The internal reflection surface 35 reflects the light L2 emitted from the second light source 13 and incident from the second entrance 31 toward the second exit surface 36 of the second lens member 14. The internal reflection surface 35 has an axis parallel or approximately parallel to the axis of the second entrance 31, and is a free-form surface based on a paraboloid having a focus near the focus f of the first exit surface 28 of the first lens member 12. The internal reflection surface 35 reflects the light L2 incident from the second entrance 31, causing the light L2 to travel near the lower side 36a and exit from the second exit surface 36. Note that the internal reflection surface 35 may be configured to utilize total reflection, to be subjected to reflection processing, or to have other configurations, as long as it reflects as described above.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, the second lens member 14 is disposed on the upper side of each first lens light guide section 21 in the vertical direction and on the rear side of the first lens junction section 22 in the front-rear direction with respect to the first lens member 12. The second lens member 14 has a second exit surface 36 that faces the additional entrance surface 29 of the first lens junction section 22 with a small gap in the front-rear direction. The second exit surface 36 is curved so that the center in the width direction is positioned at the rearmost side and displaces forward as it moves toward the outside in the width direction, and faces the curved rear end surface 22a in a state where it is approximately parallel to the curved rear end surface 22a and is very close to it. The second lens member 14 has a lower side 36a of the second exit surface 36 close to the upper end edge 27 (see Figs. 5, 6, etc.). The second exit surface 36 causes the emitted light L2 to enter the first lens junction section 22 of the first lens member 12 from the opposing additional entrance surface 29.

Next, the lighting of the vehicle lamp 10 will be described. The vehicle lamp 10 is installed in a lamp chamber in the positional relationship described above, and a lighting control circuit is connected to the board via a connector or the like. This vehicle lamp 10 supplies power from the lighting control circuit to each of the first light sources 11 and each of the second light sources 13 mounted on the respective boards, thereby turning each of the first light sources 11 and each of the second light sources 13 on and off as appropriate.

6, when each first light source 11 is turned on, the light L1 from each first light source 11 enters the first lens light guide 21 from the corresponding first incident surface 23 in the first lens member 12. The light L1 is reflected by the first upper reflecting surface 25, the first lower reflecting surface 26, etc., and travels to the front end surface 21a, and travels through each front end surface 21a (rear end surface 22a) into the first lens junction 22. The front end surfaces 21a are brightest near the light collection position 24, and each is rectangular and arranged in the width direction. In the first lens junction 22, the focal plane of the first emission surface 28 is set near the rear end surface 22a, and the light collection position 24 is located on (or near) the focal plane and near the upper edge 27. The first lens junction 22 emits the light L1 guided by each first lens light guide 21 from the first emission surface 28. The first emission surface 28 projects the front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide 21, which has been brightened as described above, to the front side in the front-to-rear direction.

As a result, the first lens member 12 forms a driving light distribution pattern HP on a screen where a horizontal line H and a vertical line V intersect with the central position O of the illumination by the vehicle lamp 10 as the origin, as shown in Figure 8. This driving light distribution pattern HP has eleven partial light distribution areas hp arranged horizontally above the horizontal line H while partially overlapping the horizontal line H on the screen. The eleven partial light distribution areas hp are formed by projecting eleven front end surface portions 21a arranged in the width direction, and are arranged in the width direction while partially overlapping adjacent portions. Each partial light distribution area hp has a shape in which the upper end edge 27 of the front end surface portion 21a corresponding to the lower end edge hpe is inverted up and down, and when viewed as a whole, it has a shape in which three horizontal lines of different heights, with the periphery of the vertical line V lowered, are connected by two inclined lines. For this reason, in the driving light distribution pattern HP, the 11 partial light distribution areas hp form a lower light-dark boundary line le at the lower edge, in which three horizontal lines of different heights are connected by two inclined lines, with the periphery of the vertical line V lowered.

In this driving light distribution pattern HP, the vicinity of the horizontal line H in each partial light distribution area hp is brightened. This is because each front end face portion 21a is brightest near the light collection position 24 in the first lens member 12, and the light collection position 24 is linear and extends in the width direction through the focal point f (or its vicinity) of the first emission surface 28. For this reason, in the driving light distribution pattern HP, light is collected above the lower light-dark boundary line le, making the vicinity of the horizontal line H on the screen the brightest.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the second light sources 13 of the vehicle lamp 10 are turned on, the light L2 from each of the second light sources 13 enters the second lens member 14 from the corresponding second entrance portion 31. A portion of each light L2 enters the second lens member 14 from the opposing entrance surface 32, and the remainder enters the second lens member 14 from the inclined entrance surface 33 and is appropriately reflected by the annular reflection surface 34, and then appropriately reflected by the internal reflection surface 35 and proceeds toward the second exit surface 36 (mainly near the lower side 36a). As a result, the second exit surface 36 is brightened overall, with the vicinity of the lower side 36a being the brightest. Each of these light L2 exits from the second exit surface 36 and enters the first lens junction 22 of the first lens member 12 from the additional entrance surface 29 facing thereto. The first lens junction 22 then emits the light L2 incident on the additional incident surface 29 from the first exit surface 28, projecting the brightened second exit surface 36 as described above forward in the front-to-rear direction.

As a result, the second lens member 14 and the first lens member 12 form a passing light distribution pattern LP on the screen as shown in FIG. 8. This passing light distribution pattern LP has a cutoff line CL at the upper edge. This cutoff line CL is formed by inverting the shape of the upper edge portions 27 connected to each other on the lower side of the second exit surface 36, since the second exit surface 36 is brought very close to the additional entrance surface 29 and the lower side 36a is brought close to the upper edge portions 27 of each front end surface portion 21a. Therefore, the cutoff line CL is formed in a shape in which three horizontal lines of different heights, with the periphery of the vertical line V lowered, are connected by two inclined lines. In this passing light distribution pattern LP, the vicinity of the cutoff line CL is brightened. This is because the second lens member 14 is brightest near the bottom edge 36a of the second exit surface 36, and the bottom edge 36a is close to the light collection position 24 of the first lens member 12. Therefore, the low-beam light distribution pattern LP has a light-dark boundary at the cutoff line CL, and is a pattern in which the vicinity of the cutoff line CL is bright.

Here, the focal plane of the first exit surface 28 is provided slightly forward of the rear end surface 22a of the first lens junction 22. In the first lens junction 22, the front end surface 21a of each first lens light guide 21 is connected to the rear end surface 22a, and the second exit surface 36 of the second lens member 14 faces the additional entrance surface 29 (rear end surface 22a). For this reason, the first exit surface 28 projects forward the state in which each front end surface 21a is lined up in the width direction and the state in which the additional entrance surface 29 is illuminated, while slightly blurring it. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a driving light distribution pattern HP by overlapping a part of the adjacent partial light distribution areas hp, and can form the driving light distribution pattern HP (each partial light distribution area hp) by overlapping the lower end of the driving light distribution pattern HP, the upper end of the passing light distribution pattern LP, and the lower end of the driving light distribution pattern HP (each partial light distribution area hp). Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle without creating an unnatural feeling. The vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment is an ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam (variable light distribution headlamp)), and by individually turning on and off each first light source 11, it is possible to turn on and off a partial light distribution area hp in a specific direction among the 11 partial light distribution areas hp. This allows the vehicle lamp 10 to perform partial light distribution control in any direction in the driving light distribution pattern HP.

Here, the driving light distribution pattern HP and the passing light distribution pattern LP of the first embodiment have a shape in which the lower light-dark boundary line le and the cutoff line CL are formed by connecting three horizontal lines of different heights, with the periphery of the vertical line V lowered, with two inclined lines. This is because the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment is configured to be used in combination with other vehicle lamps of similar configuration. That is, the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment forms a part of the light distribution when passing (so-called low beam) with the passing light distribution pattern LP, and forms a part of the light distribution when driving (so-called high beam) with the running light distribution pattern HP. The other vehicle lamps may be single or multiple, but include those that form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line composed of a horizontal line and an inclined line with a lowered oncoming vehicle side.

For these reasons, the vehicle lamp 10, together with the other vehicle lamps, can provide light distribution when passing by forming a light distribution pattern LP for passing with a cutoff line CL by turning on each of the second light sources 13. The vehicle lamp 10, together with the other vehicle lamps, can provide light distribution when driving by forming a light distribution pattern HP for driving superimposed on the light distribution pattern LP for passing by turning on each of the second light sources 13 and each of the first light sources 11. The vehicle lamp 10, together with the other vehicle lamps, can provide light distribution when driving by individually controlling any partial light distribution area hp in the light distribution pattern HP for driving by individually turning on and off each of the first light sources 11. This realizes the function of ADB.

Here, the technical problems of conventional vehicle lamps will be described. Conventional vehicle lamps form a high beam light distribution pattern (light distribution pattern for driving) by passing light from a high beam light source through a high beam lens member and then through a low beam lens member. Conventional vehicle lamps also form a low beam light distribution pattern (light distribution pattern for passing other vehicles) by passing light from a low beam light source through a low beam lens member. In this way, conventional vehicle lamps cause light from a high beam light source to enter a high beam lens member, emit light from the high beam light source, and then pass the light through a low beam lens member. For this reason, conventional vehicle lamps result in a reduction in the light that forms the light distribution pattern for driving, and it is not easy to ensure the brightness required for the light distribution pattern for driving.

In contrast, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present disclosure forms a driving light distribution pattern HP using light from each first light source 11 that passes only through the first lens member 12. In addition, the vehicle lamp 10 forms a passing light distribution pattern LP using light from each second light source 13 that passes through the second lens member 14 and then through the first lens member 12. Since the passing light distribution pattern LP illuminates a position closer to the vehicle than the driving light distribution pattern HP, brightness can be ensured even if the light from each second light source 13 is made to enter and exit the second lens member 14 and then passes through the first lens member 12.

Here, since the driving light distribution pattern HP illuminates a position farther from the vehicle than the passing light distribution pattern LP, it is not easy to ensure the required brightness even if the light from each first light source 11 is simply passed through only the first lens member 12. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present disclosure is configured to collect the light L1 from each first light source 11 incident from the first entrance surface 23 in the first lens member 12 at a collection position 24 set below the upper edge portion 27 that forms the lower light-dark boundary line le in the driving light distribution pattern HP. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a driving light distribution pattern HP that brightens the vicinity of the lower light-dark boundary line le, and can ensure the required brightness for the driving light distribution pattern HP. In other words, compared to conventional vehicle lamps, the vehicle lamp 10 does not simply swap the configuration for forming the driving light distribution pattern HP and the passing light distribution pattern LP, but by setting the optical design of the first lens member 12 as described above, it is possible to appropriately form both light distribution patterns.

In addition, the vehicle lamp 10 has the second exit surface 36 of the second lens member 14 facing the additional entrance surface 29 of the first lens member 12 with a small gap between them while being parallel to each other. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can make the light L2 emitted from the second exit surface 36 enter the additional entrance surface 29 simply by translating the traveling direction of the light L2, making it easy to set up the formation of the low-passing light distribution pattern LP using the light L2. In particular, the vehicle lamp 10 has the second exit surface 36 facing the additional entrance surface 29 with a small gap between them, making it possible to reduce the translation of the light L2, and to make it easy to set up the formation of the low-passing light distribution pattern LP. In addition, the vehicle lamp 10 does not have contact between the second exit surface 36 and the additional entrance surface 29, so even if vibration or the like occurs, damage to the second exit surface 36 or the additional entrance surface 29 due to contact can be prevented, and the passing light distribution pattern LP can be formed as designed.

The vehicle lamp 10, which is an example of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure, can achieve the following effects.

The vehicle lamp 10 includes a first lens member 12 that allows light L1 from the first light source 11 to enter through the first entrance surface 23 and then exit through the first exit surface 28 to form a light distribution pattern HP for driving. The vehicle lamp 10 also includes a second lens member 14 that allows light L2 from the second light source 13 to enter through the second entrance surface (opposing entrance surface 32 and inclined entrance surface 33 of the second entrance portion 31) and then exit through the second exit surface 36, enter the additional entrance surface 29 of the first lens member 12, and exit through the first exit surface 28 to form a light distribution pattern LP for passing. In this vehicle lamp 10, the first lens member 12 has an upper edge portion 27 that forms a lower light-dark boundary line le in the light distribution pattern HP for driving, and at least a portion of the light L1 from the first light source 11 is concentrated below the upper edge portion 27. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a driving light distribution pattern HP that brightens the area near the lower light-dark boundary line le, ensuring the brightness required for the driving light distribution pattern HP.

In addition, the vehicle lamp 10 has a light collection position 24 that is a curved line extending in the width direction near the focal point f of the first emission surface 28. Therefore, the driving light distribution pattern HP can brighten the area near the lower light-dark boundary line le regardless of the position in the width direction, ensuring the required brightness.

Furthermore, the upper edge 27 of the vehicle lamp 10 is curved along the light collecting position 24. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can clearly distinguish the brightness of the lower light-dark boundary line le of the driving light distribution pattern HP.

The vehicle lamp 10 has the second lens member 14 disposed above the first lens member 12 with the lower edge 36a of the second emission surface 36 in close proximity to the upper edge 27. This allows the vehicle lamp 10 to clearly distinguish the brightness of the cutoff line CL of the low-vehicle light distribution pattern LP formed by the light L2 from the second light source 13 that passes through the second lens member 14.

In the vehicle lamp 10, the second exit surface 36 and the additional entrance surface 29 are arranged to face each other in a parallel state with a gap therebetween. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can make the light L2 emitted from the second exit surface 36 enter the additional entrance surface 29 simply by translating the traveling direction of the light L2, making it easy to set up the formation of the low-passing light distribution pattern LP using the light L2. In addition, since the vehicle lamp 10 does not have the second exit surface 36 and the additional entrance surface 29 in contact with each other, even if vibration or the like occurs, it is possible to prevent the second exit surface 36 and the additional entrance surface 29 from being damaged due to contact, and the low-passing light distribution pattern LP can be formed as set.

The vehicle lamp 10 directs the emission optical axis L of the first light source 11 toward the light collection position 24. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can direct the brightest light L1 emitted from the first light source 11 near the emission optical axis L to the light collection position 24, and can efficiently brighten the area near the light collection position 24, i.e., the lower light-dark boundary line le.

In the vehicle lamp 10, the second lens member 14 collects the light L2 incident from the second entrance surface (opposing entrance surface 32, inclined entrance surface 33) near the lower side 36a of the second exit surface 36. In the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment, the light L2 incident from the second entrance portion 31 that is reflected by the internal reflection surface 35 is collected near the focal point f of the first exit surface 28, which is near the lower side 36a. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can clearly distinguish the brightness of the cutoff line CL of the passing light distribution pattern LP formed by the light L2 from the second light source 13.

In the vehicle lamp 10, the driving light distribution pattern HP forms at least a part of the light distribution when driving, and the passing light distribution pattern LP forms at least a part of the light distribution when passing. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can form a light distribution when driving and a light distribution when passing with appropriate brightness.

Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 as a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure forms a passing light distribution pattern LP and a driving light distribution pattern HP by projecting from the first emission surface 28 of the common first lens member 12, and can ensure the brightness of the driving light distribution pattern HP.

The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described above based on Example 1, but the specific configuration is not limited to Example 1, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the first lens member 12 is configured by connecting eleven first lens light guide sections 21 and a first lens junction section 22. However, the configuration is not limited to that of the first embodiment as long as the light L1 from the first light source 11 incident on the first entrance surface 23 is emitted from the first exit surface 28, and the light L2 from the second light source 13 incident on the additional entrance surface 29 and passing through the second lens member 14 is emitted from the first exit surface 28.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the driving light distribution pattern HP and the passing light distribution pattern LP, the lower light-dark boundary line le, and the cutoff line CL are formed in a shape in which three horizontal lines of different heights, which are lowered near the projection optical axis Lp, are connected by two inclined lines. The vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment is intended to be used in combination with other vehicle lamps of similar configuration. However, the vehicle lamp 10 may be formed as a single light distribution pattern having a cutoff line composed of a horizontal line and an inclined line that are lowered on the oncoming vehicle side, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. In this case, the vehicle lamp 10 can be realized by forming a horizontal line and an inclined line with the shape of the upper end edge portion 27 of each first lens light guide portion 21 higher on the oncoming vehicle side.

10 Vehicle lamp 11 First light source 12 First lens member 13 Second light source 14 Second lens member 23 First entrance surface 24 Light collection position 27 Upper edge 28 First exit surface 29 Additional entrance surface 32 Opposed entrance surface (as an example of the second entrance surface) 33 Inclined entrance surface (as an example of the second entrance surface) 36 Second exit surface 36a Lower edge HP Light distribution pattern for driving LP Light distribution pattern for passing le Lower light-dark boundary line

Claims (8)

a first lens member that causes light emitted from a first light source to enter through a first entrance surface and then exit through a first exit surface to form a driving light distribution pattern that illuminates an upper area in front of the vehicle;
a second lens member that causes light emitted from a second light source to enter through a second entrance surface, and then to exit through a second exit surface, and causes the light to enter an additional entrance surface of the first lens member, and then to exit through the first exit surface, thereby forming a light distribution pattern for passing a vehicle that illuminates a lower area in front of the vehicle;
The first lens member has an upper edge portion that forms a lower light-dark boundary line in the driving light distribution pattern,
A vehicle lamp, comprising: at least a portion of the light from the first light source being focused below the upper edge portion. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the light from the first light source is focused at a focal point on the first light exit surface, and the light is focused at a linear position that curves and extends in the width direction near the focal point on the first light exit surface. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper edge is curved along the light collecting position. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second lens member is disposed above the first lens member with the lower edge of the second light exit surface being close to the upper edge. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, characterized in that the second exit surface and the additional entrance surface are parallel and face each other with a gap between them. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the first light source has an emission optical axis directed toward the light collecting position. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the second lens member focuses the light incident from the second entrance surface near the lower edge of the second exit surface. The light distribution pattern for driving forms at least a part of a light distribution pattern for illuminating an upper area in front of the vehicle while the vehicle is driving,
2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution pattern for passing forms at least a part of a light distribution pattern for passing that illuminates a lower area in front of the vehicle.