JP2791968B2 - Reflector drive mechanism of variable light distribution type projector lamp - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a projector lamp, and more particularly, to a variable light distribution type in which a light distribution is changed by displacing a reflector provided with a light source bulb in the left-right or up-down direction with respect to an optical axis. The present invention relates to a reflector driving mechanism for a projector lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are a steering interlocking type headlamp and a fog lamp in which a light distribution of an irradiation light beam is changed in accordance with a rotation angle of a steering. Generally, this type of lamp has a reflector having an elliptical reflecting mirror surface. A collimator lens is provided so as to share the second focal point on the front optical axis, and a shade is pivotally provided between the valve and the collimator lens provided at the first focal position of the reflector, and the shade is moved to the optical axis by a displacement drive mechanism. The structure was such that the light distribution pattern of the irradiation light beam was changed by moving forward and backward.

That is, in this type of variable light distribution type projector lamp, the illuminance distribution of the illuminating light beam is determined by the projection of the illuminance distribution on the focal plane of the collimator lens. It is affected by the distribution of light on the focal plane formed by the displacement plane of the position. Therefore, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional variable light distribution type projector lamp, when the optical arrangement of the collimator lens and the shade is fixed, the shape of the cutoff line can be maintained in the pattern of the irradiation light beam.

Further, the applicant of the present application arranges a front lens such as a collimator lens on the optical axis in front of a reflector having an elliptical reflecting mirror surface, and fixes a valve substantially at a first focal position of the reflector. In a reflector driving mechanism of a projector-type variable light distribution type projector lamp comprising a shade that blocks a part of a light beam between the front lens and the front lens, a shade is fixed to the collimator lens side and integrated with a bulb. A reflector is pivotally mounted so as to be displaceable in the left-right or up-down direction with respect to the optical axis, and the reflector is displaced in the horizontal or vertical direction by a reflector displacement driving device formed in the lamp body, and the shade is collimated. A variable light distribution type projector lamp configured along the focal plane of a lens has been proposed.

[0005]

That is, the variable light distribution type projector lamp requires a mechanism for driving the reflector to be displaced right and left or up and down, so that there is no backlash in a poor use environment of an automobile or the like. There has been a demand for a reflector drive mechanism that operates in a timely manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a light distribution pattern capable of forming a pattern of an irradiation light beam with a clear cutoff line and obtaining a light distribution pattern adapted to a traveling environment of a vehicle. An object of the variable projector lamp is to provide a reflector drive mechanism of the variable light distribution projector lamp that can realize reliable displacement driving of the reflector.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, a reflector driving mechanism for a variable light distribution type projector lamp according to the present invention comprises a front surface of a collimator lens or the like on a front optical axis of a reflector having an elliptical reflecting mirror surface. A projector-type lamp including a lens and a shade fixed between the bulb and the front lens, wherein a bulb is fixedly provided at a substantially first focal position of the reflector. The integrated reflector is pivotally mounted on a lamp body via a watt-type link mechanism in which a pair of swing arms are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis as a point of symmetry, and the support angle of the watt-type link mechanism is corrected. It is configured to be changed by a displacement drive mechanism that uses a motor that can control reverse rotation as a drive source, and displaces the optical axis of the reflector parallel to the optical axis of the front lens It is an gist and.

[0008]

According to the above construction, when the motor of the displacement drive mechanism rotates, the swing arm of the watt-type link mechanism tilts. Since the watt-type link mechanism has a point-symmetric structure in which a pair of swing arms have a point of symmetry with respect to the optical axis, a structure in which the point-symmetric position of the watt-type link mechanism and the optical axis of the reflector are shared. As a result, the optical axis of the reflector translates in the same plane. Therefore, when the reflector is displaced left or right or up and down with respect to the optical axis, the optical relative position of the reflector with respect to the collimator lens and the shade in the optical axis direction does not change, and the pattern of the irradiation light beam maintains the initial light beam. Then, the cutoff line by the shade becomes clear, and the position of the cutoff line formed by the shade does not move from the optical axis even if the irradiation light beam is inclined from the optical axis of the lens.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a reflector driving mechanism for a variable light distribution type projector lamp according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a lamp body 2 which is fixed to a front opening end of a lamp body 2 so that a central axis and an optical axis L1 coincide with each other. The collimator lens is a collimator lens composed of a spherical lens. The reflector 3 is located behind the collimator lens 1, and the optical axis L 2 is freely displaced parallel to the optical axis L 1 of the collimator lens 1 via the watt-type link mechanism 4. The lamp body 2 is pivotally mounted so as to be able to perform the operation.

The reflector 3 is constituted by an elliptical reflecting mirror surface 5, and a lighting bulb 6 is fixed to the bottom of the reflector 3 so as to be located at a first focal point F1, and a second focal point F2 is a focal point of the collimator lens 1. Arrange so that it is at the same level as the F position. Reference numeral 7 denotes a shade positioned between the collimator lens 1 and the bulb 6 and fixed to the lamp body 2 and has a curved surface shape along a focal plane formed by a focal displacement surface of the collimator lens 1. The upper half of the light distribution is cut off from the horizontal line that illuminates the front of the lamp by blocking the passing light beam on the lower half side.

In addition, the watt-type link mechanism 4 is connected to the right and left of the lumen of the lamp body 2 via swinging arms 9R and 9L having equal lengths and projecting from upper and lower right and lower left ends of the front end of the reflector 3, respectively. Bearing projections 10, 10 projecting downward and upper left
The two arms 9R and 9L are pivotally mounted on the support shafts 11 and 11 with one ends of the arms 9R and 9L axially mounted on the bearing projections 10, respectively. It has a structure in which it swings in a plane orthogonal to the axis L1 and the other end is pivotally connected to the flanges 8, 8 via the pin shafts 12, 12.

The watt-type link mechanism 4 is configured to control and maintain the tilt angles of the two swinging arms 9R and 9L by a displacement drive mechanism 14 driven by a motor 13 capable of controlling forward and reverse rotation. A screw shaft 17 rotatably connected to the motor 13 via a reduction gear 16 is provided on a drive mechanism accommodating portion 15 bulged at the lower bottom of the body 2. The moving nut 18 is screwed, and the sliding nut 18 and the protrusion 2 protruding from the lower end of the reflector 3 are connected via the connecting rod 19.
It has a structure where 0 is connected.

Then, the sliding nut 18 screwed by the right or left rotation of the screw shaft 17 accompanying the rotation of the motor 13 is moved and displaced in the direction of arrow A, and the two swing arms 9 R, 9 R, The reflector 3 supported by 9L is displaced parallel to the right or left. Reference numeral 21 denotes a slide potentiometer arranged in parallel with the screw shaft 17, which engages a slide nut 18 which is displaced by screwing with the screw shaft 17 and a position detector, and detects the position of the collimator lens 1 from the position signal. It has a structure in which the amount of displacement of the optical axis L2 of the reflector 3 with respect to the optical axis L1 is measured and used as a control value of a central control device (not shown) for controlling the motor 13.

The reflector driving mechanism of the variable light distribution type projector lamp configured as described above uses the position signal fed back from the potentiometer 21 in response to a control signal from the central control unit to move the reflector 3 with respect to the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1. The position of the optical axis L2 is driven for displacement control to the left and right, and is controlled so as to correspond to, for example, a turning angle of a steering of an automobile.

When the motor 13 rotates, the screw shaft 17 rotates right or left via the reduction gear 16, so that the sliding nut 1 screwed to the screw shaft 17 is rotated.
No. 8 moves and displaces in the direction of arrow A on the axis.
For this reason, the reflector 3 connected via the connecting rod 19
Is moved right or left while being supported by the two swing arms 9R and 9L.
Since the R and 9L constitute a watt-type link mechanism 4 having a point symmetrical structure with the optical axis L2 as a point of symmetry, the optical axis L2 of the elliptical reflecting mirror surface 5 of the reflector 3 corresponds to the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1. It operates so as to be horizontally displaced in parallel.

Therefore, by associating the rotation angle of the steering wheel of the automobile with the displacement amounts and directions of the two optical axes L1 and L2, it is possible to obtain a light distribution pattern of the irradiation light beam as shown in FIG. (A) shows a light distribution pattern when the automobile is traveling straight, and the irradiation light beam is emitted straight ahead from the lamp, and can illuminate the road ahead with high illuminance. (B) shows a light distribution pattern when the vehicle makes a left turn, in which the irradiation light beam is emitted while being tilted to the left, and the corner on the turning side is brightly illuminated to improve the visibility of obstacles. can do.

In the first embodiment, the slide potentiometer 21a is provided as a means for detecting the amount of displacement of the reflector 3. The means for detecting the amount of displacement is as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. And one swing arm 9
The present invention can also be implemented by attaching a rotary potentiometer 21b to the end of the support shaft 11 which is attached to R (or 9L).

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a variable light distribution type projector lamp having a second embodiment of the reflector driving mechanism. In this embodiment, the watt-type link mechanism 4 is used.
Is driven by a displacement drive mechanism 14 using a pair of solenoids 22R and 22L as drive sources, and different portions from the first embodiment will be described.

A pair of solenoids 22R and 22L sharing an operating rod 23 are provided in an engagement groove 24 formed in a central portion of the operating rod 23 in a drive mechanism accommodating section 15 formed to bulge at the lower bottom of the lamp body 2. The engaging projection 25 is rotatably fitted into the engaging projection 25. Then, the engaging protrusion 25 fitted in the engaging groove 24 is moved and displaced in the direction of arrow B by the suction of the operating rod 23 accompanying the excitation of the solenoid 22R (or 22L). Moving arm 9R, 9L
The reflector 3 is supported so as to be displaced parallel to the right or left.

The reflector driving mechanism of the variable light distribution type projector lamp configured as described above moves the optical axis position of the reflector 3 to the center or left and right with respect to the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1 by a control signal from the central controller. , And operates so as to correspond to the turning direction of the steering wheel of the automobile as in the first embodiment. In the displacement operation of the reflector 3, in a state where the reflector 3 is supported by the swing arms 9R and 9L,
The arm 9R is moved to the right or left.
Since L constitutes a watt-type link mechanism 4 having a point symmetrical structure with the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1 as a symmetrical point, the height of the point symmetrical position changes even when the two swing arms 9R and 9L are tilted. Instead, the optical axis L2 of the reflector 3 can be displaced parallel to the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1 in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a reflector driving mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
One swing arm 9R (or 9W) of the watt-type link mechanism 4
L) is configured to be rotatably displaced by a displacement drive mechanism using a motor 13 as a drive source. The structure of a portion different from that of the first embodiment will be described.

The reflector 3 has a pair of swing arms 9R, 9
Lamp body 2 via a watt-type link mechanism 4 made of L
The fan-shaped worm gear 26 is pivotally mounted on one end of the support shaft 11 on which the right swing arm 9R is pivotally mounted.
The worm gear 26 meshes with a worm 28 mounted on an intermediate shaft 27 that is rotatably connected via the motor 13 and the reduction gear 16, and rotates the intermediate shaft 27 and the rotary potentiometer 21 b through a helical gear 30. It has a dynamic connection structure.

Also according to the third embodiment, the optical axis L2 of the reflector 3 can be displaced in parallel with the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1 in the horizontal direction. That is, the motor 1
3 rotates, the intermediate shaft 27 through the reduction gear 16.
Is rotated, the support shaft 11 is rotationally displaced via the worm gear 26 meshing with the worm 28 axially attached to the intermediate shaft 27, and operates to change the support angle of the right swing arm 9R. (Direction of arrow C). Accordingly, the watt-type link mechanism 4 translates the reflector 3 in the left or right direction, and displaces the optical axis L2 in the horizontal direction with respect to the optical axis L1 of the collimator lens 1.

In each of the above embodiments, the structure in which the optical axis of the reflector is displaced in parallel in the horizontal direction has been described. However, the reflector drive mechanism is turned 90 degrees about the optical axis to be vertically displaced. Needless to say, the structure can be made to be displaced.

[0025]

The reflector driving mechanism of the variable light distribution type projector lamp according to the present invention is configured such that the reflector is supported by the watt-type link mechanism driven by the motor as described above, and the reflector is displaced in the left-right or up-down direction. Thereby, the structure is simplified and the displacement position can be controlled accurately. Further, the configuration of the reflector driving mechanism has a feature that even if the reflector is displaced, the optical relative position of the reflector with respect to the collimator lens and the shade in the optical axis direction does not change, so that the cutoff line by the shade becomes clear. The present invention is useful for forming a control type headlamp of various automobiles such as a steering interlocking headlamp, a weather-sensitive headlamp, or a driving environment-sensitive headlamp.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a lamp showing a first embodiment of a reflector driving mechanism of a variable light distribution type projector lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the lamp.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the reflector driving mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the reflector drive mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a light distribution pattern of a light beam when traveling straight (a) and turning left (b).

FIG. 6 is a side view, partially cut away, of a lamp showing a second embodiment of the reflector drive mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of the lamp.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the reflector drive mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an essential part showing another embodiment of the reflector drive mechanism according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collimator lens 3 Reflector 4 Watt-type link mechanism 6 Lighting valve 7 Shade 9R, 9L Swing arm 11 Support shaft 12 Pin shaft 13 Motor 14 Displacement drive mechanism 17 Screw shaft 18 Sliding nut 21a Slide potentiometer 21b Rotary potentiometer 22R, 22L solenoid 23 operating rod 24 engaging groove 25 engaging projection 26 worm gear 27 intermediate shaft 28 worm

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-184801 (JP, A) JP-A-2-119001 (JP, A) JP-A-62-222505 (JP, A) JP-A-60-1985 1049 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model 3-112808 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-106803 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-106804 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 2-113204 (JP, U) Fukuoka Sho 59-124707 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F21M 3/20 F21M 3/05

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A front lens, such as a collimator lens, is disposed on an optical axis in front of a reflector having an elliptical reflecting mirror surface, and a bulb is fixed to a substantially first focal position of the reflector. In a projector-type lamp having a shade intercepting a part of a light beam, a watt-type link in which the reflector integrated with a bulb is arranged point-symmetrically with a pair of swing arms having an optical axis as a symmetric axis. The wedge-type link mechanism is pivotally mounted to the lamp body via a mechanism, and the support angle of the watt-type link mechanism is changed by a displacement drive mechanism using a motor capable of controlling forward and reverse rotation as a drive source, and the optical axis of the reflector is changed. A reflector driving mechanism for a variable light distribution type projector lamp, which is displaced parallel to an optical axis of a front lens.