JP2753943B2 - Vehicle headlight reflector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel vehicle capable of performing more detailed light distribution control with respect to a reflection region contributing to formation of a portion near an inclined cut line in a light distribution pattern of a passing beam. An object of the present invention is to provide a headlight reflector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As streamlining of a vehicle body is required in response to aerodynamic characteristics and design requirements relating to styling of a vehicle, the front portion of the vehicle body is formed into a narrowed shape. It is necessary to design a headlight that can handle slant nose.

However, in a conventional reflector for a vehicle headlamp, the role of the lens step of the outer lens is important for the light distribution control function in forming a light distribution pattern having a cut line peculiar to the passing beam. There is a limit in increasing the inclination angle of the outer lens with respect to the vertical axis, and there is a problem in adapting to a slant type lamp.

Therefore, there is a demand for a reflector which can use a transparent lens or a lens which is almost transparent without forming a lens step on a front lens disposed in front of the reflector.

[0005] As an example of such a reflecting mirror, the reflecting surface is constituted by a number of small reflecting areas, and a light distribution pattern of a passing beam or a pattern very similar to this can be formed by the light distribution control function of the reflecting surface. Such a configuration (a so-called multi-reflector) is known.

FIG. 12 shows an example a of such a reflecting mirror.

As shown in FIG. 12A, a reflecting mirror a is formed as a group of small reflecting areas b, b... By assigning a number of small reflecting surfaces to a paraboloid of revolution as a reference plane. A reflection surface is configured, and each of the small reflection areas b, b,
Are used as a basic shape such as a hyperbolic paraboloid, an elliptic paraboloid, or a two-lobed hyperboloid.

The reflection surface is divided into several reflection regions in terms of the light distribution control function, and the shape of the small reflection regions b, b,... A defined light distribution pattern or a pattern very similar to this can be created by combining the defined and projected patterns of each reflection area, thereby reducing the degree of dependence on the lens step of the outer lens for light distribution control. Can be.

FIG. 12 (b) shows an area for obtaining light directed to the vicinity of an inclined cut line inclined at a predetermined angle (cut line angle) with respect to a horizontal line in a light distribution pattern relating to a passing beam (FIG. 12). (A part shown in the circle of (a)) is shown in an enlarged manner.

The fan-shaped reflection area c is a part involved in forming an inclined cut line, and the small reflection areas b_c, b_c,...
The leaf has a hyperboloid shape.

The reflection area d located immediately above the reflection area c is a part which is located below the inclined cut line and is involved in the formation of a pattern diffused in the horizontal direction. Small reflection areas b_d, b_d,.
・ Has an elliptical parabolic shape.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the passing beam filament f is arranged so that its central axis extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The shade g provided blocks light from the filament f toward a region below the reflection region c on the reflection surface.

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned reflecting mirror a, the degree of freedom in arrangement with respect to the small reflecting areas b, b,... Is low, and as shown in FIG. Since the small reflection region is divided into a lattice shape when viewed from the front except for the region c, and the small reflection region is divided concentrically with respect to the optical axis with respect to the reflection region c. Horizontal line ("H-H"
It is written. ), There is a problem that it is difficult to control the luminous intensity of a portion near the inclined cut line inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the light distribution standard.

That is, the projection pattern h by the reflection area c
Contributes to the formation of an inclined cut line located on the right side of a vertical line (referred to as “VV”) as shown in FIG. 13A, but the small reflection area b_c, b
__________________________________________________________________________________________ Therefore, there is an inconvenience that one end of the projection pattern h near the intersection j becomes tapered as approaching the intersection j, and it is not possible to obtain sufficient light to secure the central luminous intensity of the light distribution pattern.

The projection pattern k by the reflection area d
13B is located below the inclined cut line and on the right side of the vertical line V-V and immediately below it along the horizontal line H-H as shown in FIG. There is an inconvenience that a gap l (that is, a dark portion) is generated between the gap h. For example, in European light distribution, there is a detection point P (so-called 75R) defined by the standard on an extension of the horizontal cut line indicated by a broken line m, but since the projection pattern k is not arranged so as to overlap the detection point P, the detection is not performed. It is difficult to obtain a specified light quantity at point P.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-described problems, a first embodiment of a reflector for a vehicle headlight according to the present invention is a vehicle capable of forming a light distribution pattern of a low beam. In a reflector of a headlamp for use, a plurality of small reflection areas in which a reflection area contributing to formation of a portion near an inclined cut line inclined at a predetermined cut line angle with respect to a horizontal line has an elliptical parabolic shape And the small reflection region is formed as a surface obtained by rotating the elliptical paraboloid around the main optical axis of the reflector with a cut line angle.

Further, the second embodiment of the reflector of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a reflector of a vehicle headlamp capable of forming a light distribution pattern of a passing beam, an inclined cut inclined at a predetermined cut line angle with respect to a horizontal line. The reflection area which is below the line and which contributes to the formation of the portion located in the vicinity of the horizontal line is constituted by a plurality of small reflection areas having an elliptical parabolic shape, and the small reflection area is an elliptical parabolic. The surface is formed as a surface which is rotated around the main optical axis of the reflecting mirror at an arbitrary rotation angle equal to or smaller than the cut line angle.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the reflector for a vehicle headlamp of the present invention, the elliptic parabolic small reflection area constituting the reflection area contributing to the formation of the portion near the inclined cut line is: Since the elliptical paraboloid is formed as a surface rotated at a predetermined angle around the main optical axis of the reflecting mirror, the projection pattern by the reflection area is inclined with respect to the horizontal line, and the spreading direction is The direction is parallel to the tilt direction of the projection pattern.

Therefore, as one end of the projection pattern approaches the intersection of the horizontal cut line and the inclined cut line, it does not taper, and this portion is used as light contributing to the formation of the central luminous intensity of the light distribution pattern. be able to.

Also, the second embodiment of the reflector of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
According to the above, an elliptical paraboloid small reflection area constituting a reflection area contributing to the formation of a portion located below the inclined cut line and near the horizontal line reflects the elliptical paraboloid Since it is formed as a surface that is individually rotated around the mirror's main optical axis at an arbitrary angle equal to or less than the cut line angle, the projection pattern by the reflection area is inclined with respect to the horizontal line, and the vicinity of the inclined cut line is It is arranged adjacent to and in parallel with and directly below the portion.

Therefore, the projection pattern can be arranged such that there is no gap between the projection pattern and a portion near the inclined cut line.

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reflector for a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. The illustrated embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a reflector having a substantially circular front shape.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the light distribution control section of the reflecting mirror 1, and the reflecting surface 2 has a total of six reflecting areas (these are represented by 2 (i), where "i" is each of them). This is an identification code for distinguishing an area, and takes an integer value from 1 to 6.)

In the coordinate system relating to the reflecting mirror 1, the axis extending in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing through the center of the reflecting surface 2 in FIG. 1 is defined as the x-axis, and is orthogonal to the horizontal direction and extends in the horizontal direction. The axis is the y-axis, the axis extending in the up-down direction is the z-axis, and a circular bulb mounting hole 2a is formed at the center of the reflecting surface 2 with the origin O of the orthogonal coordinate system as the center.

The passing beam filament 3 has its central axis arranged along the x-axis, and its lower half is covered by a shade 4.

The reflection area 2 (1) is located above and below the bulb mounting hole 2a, occupies most of the first quadrant and the second quadrant on the yz plane, and has a z-axis in the third and fourth quadrants. It occupies the closer part.

Then, as shown in FIG.
(1) a large number of small reflection areas SEG having a hyperbolic paraboloid shape
(1), SEG (1),..., And these small reflection areas are divided into a grid when viewed from the front of the reflecting mirror 1.

In the second and third quadrants of the yz plane, the reflection area 2 (2), y-
A reflection area 2 (3) adjacent to the right of the reflection area 2 (1) in the first quadrant of the z plane, and a small area adjacent to the bulb mounting hole 2a immediately below the xy plane in the fourth quadrant of the yz plane. 2 (4), the reflection area 2 in the fourth quadrant of the yz plane
The reflection areas 2 (5) adjacent to the right side of (1) are all small reflection areas SEG (i) (i = 2, 3,
4, 5) have an elliptical parabolic shape.

In the fourth quadrant of the yz plane, the fan-shaped area 2 (6) located immediately below the xy plane has small reflection areas SEG (6) and SEG (6) as shown in FIG. ...
It is composed of

The reflection area 2 (6) contributes to the formation of a portion near the inclined cut line in the light distribution pattern of the low beam, and the reflection area 2 (3) of the reflection area 2 (3).
The portion adjacent to (6) contributes to the formation of the portion located below the inclined cut line.

FIG. 3 shows the small reflection areas SEG (3), SEG (3),... Constituting the reflection area 2 (3), and the small reflection areas SEG forming the reflection area 2 (6) connected thereto.
(6), only SEG (6),... Are extracted and shown in an enlarged manner.

The small reflection areas SEG (3), SEG (3),
... and small reflection area SEG (6), SEG (6),
Has a shape obtained by rotating an elliptical paraboloid around the optical axis (x-axis) with a predetermined rotation angle.

FIG. 4 shows the characteristics of the shape of the elliptical paraboloid. Both the horizontal and vertical cross sections have a parabolic shape. That is, the axis extending in the normal direction at the origin is X
When a coordinate system is selected in which the axis, the axis extending in the horizontal direction is selected as the Y-axis, and the axis extending in the vertical direction is selected as the Z-axis, the parabolas in the horizontal and vertical sections each have a concave shape in the positive direction of the X axis. ing.

Small reflection areas SEG (6), SEG (6),
..., when allocating these to the reference paraboloid of revolution, do not attach an elliptical paraboloid to the reference plane so that the Y and Z axes extend parallel to the y and z axes, respectively. As conceptually shown in FIG. 5, the elliptical paraboloid is rotated around the x-axis at an angle corresponding to the cut line angle (this is referred to as “θcl”), and then pasted to the reference plane. It is configured.

FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically show the relationship between the rotation operation about the x-axis of the elliptic paraboloid and the arrangement of the projection patterns in the small reflection area SEG (6), and FIG. Shows the relationship between an elliptic parabolic small reflection area when no rotation is performed and a projection pattern projected on a screen SCN disposed in front of the small reflection area, and FIG. It shows a relationship between an elliptic paraboloid small reflection area and a projection pattern projected on a screen SCN disposed in front of the small reflection area.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the front surface of the small reflection area 5 is rectangular, and the coordinate axes Y and Z set as shown in FIG. The projection pattern 6 is a pattern that extends in the horizontal direction because it is attached to the reference plane so that it is parallel to the coordinate axes y and z when viewed from the front.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the basic elliptical paraboloid is rotated clockwise with respect to the optical axis (x-axis) of the reflecting mirror 1 by the cut line angle θcl. According to the obtained small reflection area 7, the projection pattern 8 in which the central axis extending in the longitudinal direction is inclined at an angle of the cut line angle θcl with respect to the horizontal direction is obtained.

That is, the rotation operation about the x-axis with respect to the elliptical paraboloid is performed by the rotation operation at the center point of the small reflection area 7 and the y-
Since the translation operation in the z plane is included, the behavior of the corresponding pattern is reflected in the arrangement state of the projection pattern 8.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a projection pattern 9 by the reflection area 2 (6).

The lower left portion of the projection pattern 9 extends to the left beyond the vertical line V-V, and this portion becomes light that contributes to the formation of the central luminous intensity in the light distribution pattern of the passing beam. Note that the horizontal line on the screen SCN in FIG. 6B does not coincide with the horizontal line HH in FIG. 7, but both eventually coincide with the aiming adjustment of the headlight.

As can be seen from the manner in which the small reflection areas SEG (6), SEG (6),... The boundary of the reflection area is inclined with respect to the y-axis or the z-axis (see FIG. 3), and this point corresponds to the reflection area 2 (2), 2
(3) Shape characteristics different from those in which the boundary line of the small reflection region constituting 2 (4) and 2 (5) extends parallel to the y-axis or the z-axis when viewed from the front of the reflecting mirror 1 It is.

Next, the shapes of the small reflection areas SEG (3), SEG (3),... Constituting the reflection area 2 (3) will be described.

The small reflection areas SEG (3), SEG (3),
.. Have an elliptical paraboloidal shape, and when allocating this to the reference paraboloid of revolution, as shown conceptually in FIG. Is written as “θ”, where 0 <θ ≦ θcl.), And then is rotated around the optical axis (x-axis) and then attached to a reference plane.

FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically show the relationship between the rotation operation about the x-axis of the elliptic paraboloid and the arrangement of the projection pattern in the small reflection area SEG (3), and FIG. Shows the relationship between an elliptic parabolic small reflection area when no rotation is performed and a projection pattern projected on a screen SCN disposed in front of the small reflection area, and FIG. It shows a relationship between an elliptic paraboloid small reflection area and a projection pattern projected on a screen SCN disposed in front of the small reflection area.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the small reflection area 10
Has a rectangular shape in front, and as shown in FIG. 4, the coordinate axes Y and Z set are parallel to the coordinate axes y and z set in the reflecting mirror 1 when viewed from the front, respectively. Thus, the projection pattern 11 is a pattern that spreads in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
According to the small reflection region 12 obtained by rotating the elliptical paraboloid in the clockwise direction by the rotation angle θ with respect to the optical axis (x-axis) of the reflecting mirror 1, the central axis extending in the longitudinal direction is horizontal with respect to the horizontal direction. Thus, the projection pattern 13 inclined by the rotation angle θ is obtained.

The rotation angle θ with respect to each small reflection area tends to increase as the reflection area moves away from the x-axis.

That is, as shown in FIG.
Of the EG (3), SEG (3),..., The one closest to the x-axis is defined as SEG (3a), and as the distance from the x-axis increases, it is specified as SEG (3b), SEG (3c),. When the rotation angles with respect to these small reflection areas are respectively θa, θb, θc,.
The relationship a <θb <θb <... holds (the arrow I in FIG. 10 indicates the direction in which the rotation angle θ increases).

FIG. 11 schematically shows a projection pattern 14 based on the small reflection area SEG (3).

The projection pattern 14 inclined upward to the right is located on the right side of the vertical line V-V and substantially parallel to the projection pattern 9 immediately below the projection pattern 9 of the reflection area 2 (6). , The projection pattern 9 and the projection pattern 14
A gap (dark portion) related to the light quantity distribution can be prevented from being generated between the small reflection area and the small reflection area so that the projection pattern 14 covers the detection point P (so-called 75R) related to the European light distribution. It can be controlled freely by setting the rotation angle θ.

The reflection area 2 (3) is viewed from the front of the reflecting mirror 1, as can be seen from the manner in which the small reflection areas SEG (3), SEG (3),. (See FIG. 3). The boundary line of the small reflection area adjacent to is inclined with respect to the y-axis or the z-axis.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the light distribution pattern of the passing beam, the light beam is positioned near the inclined cut line or below the inclined cut line and near the horizontal line. In forming the part, we refined the state of the projection pattern of the small reflection area by finding a new degree of freedom to rotate the elliptic parabolic small reflection area around the main optical axis of the reflector. Can be controlled.

That is, the first embodiment of the reflector of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
According to the above, the reflection area contributing to the formation of the portion near the inclined cut line is configured as a set of elliptic paraboloid small reflection areas, and the small reflection area forms the elliptic paraboloid of the reflecting mirror. It is formed as a surface rotated at a predetermined angle around the main optical axis, and the projection pattern by the reflection area is inclined with respect to the horizontal line, and the spreading direction is parallel to the inclination direction of the projection pattern. As one end of the projection pattern approaches the intersection of the horizontal cut line and the inclined cut line, the taper does not taper, and this portion can be used as light contributing to the formation of the luminous intensity central portion of the light distribution pattern.

The second embodiment of the reflector for a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention.
According to the present invention, the reflection region contributing to the formation of the portion located below the inclined cut line and near the horizontal line is configured as a set of elliptic paraboloid small reflection regions, and the small reflection region Is formed as an elliptical paraboloid as a surface that is individually rotated around the main optical axis of the reflector with an arbitrary angle equal to or less than the cut line angle, and the projection pattern by the reflection area is inclined with respect to the horizontal line, Since the projection pattern is arranged adjacent to and substantially parallel to the portion near the inclined cut line, it is possible to adopt an arrangement in which no gap is formed between the projection pattern and the portion near the inclined cut line.

It should be noted that the manner, number, shape, etc., of the areas of the reflecting mirrors shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present invention, and the techniques of the present invention will be described below. The scope should not be construed as limiting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view for explaining a light distribution control section of a reflector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a reflecting mirror according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part for describing a configuration of reflection areas 2 (3) and 2 (6).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shape of an elliptical paraboloid.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a rotation operation about an optical axis with respect to a small reflection area SEG (6).

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the formation of a curved surface of a small reflection area constituting the reflection area 2 (6), and FIG. 6A illustrates a small reflection area when a rotation operation about the x-axis is not performed on the small reflection area; Schematic diagram showing the relationship between and the projection pattern,
(B) is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between the small reflection region and its projection pattern when a rotation operation about the x-axis is performed on the small reflection region.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a projection pattern by a reflection area 2 (6).

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a rotation operation about the optical axis with respect to the small reflection area SEG (3).

9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining the formation of a curved surface of a small reflection area constituting the reflection area 2 (3), where FIG. 9A illustrates a small reflection when a rotation operation about the x-axis is not performed on the small reflection area; Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the region and its projection pattern,
(B) is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between the small reflection region and its projection pattern when a rotation operation about the x-axis is performed on the small reflection region.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a magnitude of a rotation angle θ according to a small reflection area SEG (3).

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a projection pattern by a reflection area 2 (3).

FIG. 12 shows an example of a conventional reflecting mirror;
(A) is a front view, (b) is an enlarged front view of a main part.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem;
(A) is a figure which shows schematically the projection pattern by the reflection area | region c, (b) is a figure which shows schematically the projection pattern by the reflection area | region d.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reflector of headlight for vehicle 2 (3), 2 (6) Reflection area SEG (6) Small reflection area SEG (3) Small reflection area x Main optical axis θcl Cut line angle θ, θa, θb, θc Rotation Corner

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reflector for a vehicle headlamp capable of forming a light distribution pattern of a passing beam, which contributes to formation of a portion near an inclined cut line inclined at a predetermined cut line angle with respect to a horizontal line. The reflection region is composed of a plurality of small reflection regions having an elliptic paraboloid shape, and the small reflection region rotates the elliptical paraboloid around the main optical axis of the reflector with a cut line angle. A reflector for a vehicle headlamp, wherein the reflector is formed as a curved surface. 2. A reflector for a vehicular headlamp capable of forming a light distribution pattern of a passing beam, wherein the reflector is provided below a slant cut line inclined at a predetermined cut line angle with respect to a horizon. The reflection region contributing to the formation of the portion located in the vicinity is composed of a plurality of small reflection regions having an elliptic paraboloidal shape, and the small reflection region defines the elliptic paraboloid with the main optical axis of the reflecting mirror. Characterized in that the reflector is formed as a surface rotated at an arbitrary rotation angle equal to or smaller than a cut line angle around the headlight.