JP3007205B2 - Vehicle headlights - 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 of a vehicle headlamp using a discharge lamp as a light source, wherein an irradiation pattern is switched to a general traveling beam and a passing beam. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of a vehicle headlight (hereinafter, referred to as "headlight") using a discharge lamp such as a metal halide as a light source, a plurality of light sources cannot be formed in one bulb. When switching the irradiation light beam between the "general traveling beam" and the "passing traveling beam", the irradiation pattern is switched by driving and displacing the reflector, the valve or the shade.

[0003] In particular, in a reflector movable type in which the reflector is divided (generally divided into upper and lower parts) and the switching drive mechanism partially drives the reflector, it is easy to design an irradiation pattern. Attention has been focused on the development of lighting.

[0004]

However, since the reflector-movable irradiation pattern switching type headlight having the above-described structure is configured to simply displace the reflector back and forth in the optical axis direction, a desired light distribution can be obtained. Not something. In other words, the light distribution is formed using the entire surface of the fixed and movable side reflectors in any case even when the general traveling beam or the passing traveling beam, and the width of the reflecting mirror surface is constant, As a result, the maximum luminous intensity of the traveling beam passing by the general traveling beam is the same or slightly higher than that of the traveling beam. (In order to change the width of the irradiation pattern, the diffusion angle in the width direction is changed. Since the luminous flux density is affected.) Generally, the general running beam is used to improve the visibility of distant road surfaces,
It is desirable that the center luminous intensity be higher than the passing traveling beam. According to the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the position of the main optical axis at the time of the general traveling beam is unlikely to be higher than that at the time of the passing traveling beam, and it is impossible to make the aiming angle of the general traveling beam and the passing traveling beam independent. The headlight of the formula has a problem that the security standard of the Road Traffic Law may not be satisfied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it has become possible to obtain a more preferable irradiation pattern in a reflector movable irradiation pattern switching headlight, improve visibility, and improve operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle headlamp that ensures safety.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle headlamp having a single light source bulb provided substantially on an optical axis substantially in front of a reflector. And a fixed reflector having a parabolic reflecting mirror surface located substantially below the optical axis, and a pivotably mounted optical axis with respect to the fixed reflector so as to be freely displaceable with a predetermined stroke in the optical axis direction. A movable reflector having a parabolic reflecting mirror surface formed substantially above, and fixed to the movable reflector,
When the movable reflector is displaced rearward, the shade is configured to block direct light from the bulb directed to the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector, and a switching drive mechanism for displacing the movable reflector is driven. It is the gist.

Further, it is preferable that an upwardly directed light flux low-diffusion structure is formed in a light flux transmission region of the front lens which faces the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector.

Further, it is preferable that the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector is configured to be inclined upward, or the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector is cut off, and the reflecting mirror surface of the fixed reflector is extended to this portion.

[0009]

According to the above construction, the reflecting mirror surfaces of the movable reflector and the fixed reflector are formed so as to form a general traveling beam when the movable reflector is displaced forward and a passing traveling beam when the movable reflector is displaced backward. When the beam, that is, when the movable reflector is displaced backward, the shade blocks direct light from the bulb directed to the peripheral reflecting surface of the movable reflector, and cuts a light beam reflected forward from the portion, so that the movable The same irradiation pattern as when the width of the reflector is reduced can be formed. That is, due to the configuration of the shade, the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector forms a dedicated area for the general traveling beam, and both areas of the reflecting mirror surface change when the beam is switched.

Further, the light transmitting area of the front lens facing the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector may have an upward light-low diffusion structure, or the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector may be inclined. Or, by cutting off the peripheral reflecting mirror surface portion of the movable reflector and extending the reflecting mirror surface of the fixed reflector to the portion, at the time of a general traveling beam, that is, when the movable reflector is displaced forward,
By using the illuminating light beam from the peripheral reflecting mirror surface as a part of the illuminating pattern for the movable reflector, it is possible to form a more ideal illuminating pattern for ordinary traveling.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 1 and 2 denote a movable reflector and a fixed reflector which are divided into upper and lower headlights having a horizontally long rectangular front face. A horizontal dividing slit 3 extending in the direction of approximately 3 o'clock extending from the left and right edges of the reflectors 1 and 2 toward the central axis CL of the lamp, and an inclined dividing slit 4 extending in the direction of approximately 8:30,
It has a structure in which it is vertically divided by an arc-shaped division slit 5 formed on the movable reflector 1 and around the central axis CL.

An outer bulb 9 of a discharge lamp type bulb 8 such as a metal halide lamp is replaceably fixed to the bottom (portion intersecting the central axis CL) 7 of the fixed reflector 2 formed by the arc-shaped division slit 4. Yes, valve 8
The light-emitting portion G is located on the central axis CL, and a light-shielding film 10 is formed on the hemispherical top end (the front side in the mounted state) of the outer bulb 9. It is configured to cut off.

The movable reflector 1 and the fixed reflector 2
Is a parabolic reflector 1 having focal points F1 and F2, respectively.
1 and 12, the focal point F2 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 12 of the fixed reflector 2 is fixed at a position substantially overlapping with the light emitting section G, and the focal point F1 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector 1 is adjusted to the movable reflector 1 By the displacement in the direction of the arrow XY by a switching drive mechanism (not shown) such as a solenoid that drives the displacement,
The light emitting section G and the position of the light emitting section G are displaced by a predetermined stroke.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a cylindrical outer shade externally inserted into the outer valve 9 of the valve 8, and a center axis CL and an axis center via a stay 14 fixedly mounted on the upper wall of the movable reflector 1. And the rear end edge 13a of the outer shade 13 is designed and cut in relation to the curved surface of the parabolic reflector 11, and when the movable reflector 1 retreats (arrow Y), the light emitting portion G The light emitting portion G is configured to substantially coincide with the front end portion (the light emitting portion G has a length in the optical axis CL direction). When the movable reflector 1 is displaced to the position of the arrow Y, the outer shade 13 emits light beams directly emitted from the bulb 8 to the general traveling beam exclusive areas 15 and 16 which are the edges of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 11 of the movable reflector 1. , And the structure is such that when it is displaced in the direction of the arrow X, the light is eliminated.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a front lens which covers the front of the lamp. Numerals 18 and 19 are light flux deflecting low diffusion structure areas formed opposite to the general travel beam exclusive areas 15 and 16, respectively, and form upward prism steps 20, 20... In addition to suppressing the diffusion of the luminous flux more than the region, the transmitted luminous flux is deflected upward by a predetermined angle to secure the aiming angle.

In the vehicle headlamp having the above structure, the switching drive mechanism is driven "ON" and "OFF" to displace the movable reflector 1 as shown by the arrow XY, and the "normal traveling beam" and "passing traveling". A beam "irradiation pattern" is obtained, and will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) General traveling beam When the "general traveling beam" is selected, the movable reflector 1 is displaced to the position (arrow X) indicated by the solid line in FIG. Accordingly, the focal points F1, F2 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces 11, 12 of the movable reflector 1 and the fixed reflector 2
Is located at the light emitting portion G of the bulb 8, and the light flux from the light emitting portion G reflected by the parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces 11 and 12 is a light beam that does not diffuse. At this time, the outer shade 13 is located at the front end of the outer bulb 9 and does not block the light flux from the light emitting portion G of the bulb 8 toward the parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces 11 and 12. In addition, the luminous flux is
7, the light beams passing through the light beam deflection / low diffusion structure areas 18 and 19 are directed by the prism steps 20, 20... It will be deflected slightly upward, which will improve the visibility at a distance.

(2) Passing traveling beam When the "passing traveling beam" is selected, the movable reflector 1 is displaced to the position (arrow Y) indicated by the broken line in FIG. Therefore, the focal point F2 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 12 of the fixed reflector 2 is located at the light emitting portion G of the bulb 8,
The focal point F1 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 11 of the movable reflector 1 is located away from the light emitting portion G of the bulb 8, and the light flux from the light emitting portion G reflected by the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 12 forms a non-diffused light beam. The light flux from the light emitting portion G reflected by the parabolic reflection mirror surface 11 forms a diffused light flux. At this time,
The outer shade 13 is displaced in the direction of the arrow Y, and blocks a light beam from the light emitting portion G of the bulb 8 toward the general traveling beam dedicated areas 15 and 16 of the parabolic reflecting mirror surface 11. Accordingly, the light beam deflecting low diffusion structure areas 18 and 19 of the front lens 17 are provided.
There is no luminous flux passing through, and the visibility in the vicinity is improved.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Only structures different from those of the first embodiment will be described. Reference numerals 21 and 21 denote parabolic reflection mirror surfaces 1 of the movable reflector 1, in which a light beam from the bulb 8 is blocked by the outer shade 13 at the time of the backward displacement (arrow Y).
1 are parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces formed in the general traveling beam exclusive regions 15 and 16, and the parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces 21 and 21 each have an optical axis slightly inclined upward, and are incident on the relevant portion from the bulb 8 The reflected light beam is configured to be reflected upward from the light beam reflected by the other parabolic reflection mirror surface 11.

In the case of the second embodiment, it is assumed that the light beam deflecting low diffusion structure areas 18 and 19 of the front lens 17 described in the first embodiment are not formed.

According to the above configuration, when the "general traveling beam" is selected, the luminous flux reflected by the elevation angle parabolic reflecting mirror surfaces 21 and 21 is added to form an irradiation pattern during ordinary traveling. Therefore, the direction of the light beam is slightly deflected upward to improve the visibility in the distant place, and when the “passing traveling beam” is selected, the outer shade 1
By 3, the luminous flux of this part is cut off, and a preferable irradiation pattern at the time of traveling by passing is formed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. Only structures different from those of the first embodiment will be described. Reference numerals 22 and 23 denote parabolic reflection mirror surfaces 1 of the movable reflector 1, in which the light from the bulb 8 is blocked by the outer shade 13 at the time of the backward displacement (arrow Y).
1 is an extended portion of the fixed reflector 2 extending toward the notch portion for exclusive use of the general traveling beam, and includes elevation angle parabolic reflection mirror surfaces 21 and 21, respectively. It has a slightly upwardly inclined optical axis, and is configured so that a light beam incident on the portion from the bulb 8 is reflected more upward than a light beam reflected by another parabolic reflection mirror surface 12 of the fixed reflector 2. In addition, these general traveling beam dedicated area extension portions 22 and 23 may be formed continuously from the bottom surface 7 of the fixed reflector 2.

In this case, the light beam deflecting low-diffusion structure area 1 of the front lens 17 described in the first embodiment is used.
8 and 19 are not configured.

According to the above configuration, when "general traveling beam" is selected (arrow X), the elevation parabolic reflecting mirror surface 21,
The luminous flux reflected by 21 is added to form an irradiation pattern during ordinary traveling. Accordingly, the direction of the light beam is slightly deflected upward to improve the visibility in the distant place, and when the “passing traveling beam” is selected (arrow Y), the outer shade 13 is used for exclusive use of the general traveling beam. Elevation parabolic reflection mirror surface 2 of area extension parts 22 and 22
The luminous fluxes toward the light beams 21 and 21 are cut to form a preferable irradiation pattern at the time of passing the vehicle.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are explanatory views showing another embodiment of the embodiment of the present invention. In each of the above embodiments, the general traveling beam exclusive area 15, 16 or the general traveling beam exclusive area is extended. Although the structure in which the widths of the portions 22 and 23 are equal in the left and right directions has been described, the width of the portions is important in forming the irradiation pattern of the general traveling beam. That is, by making the rear end edges 13b, 13c of the outer shade 13 cut and designed asymmetrically in the left-right direction, the irradiation pattern when the general traveling beam is selected can be made more ideal.

[0027]

The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is constructed as described above. Therefore, in switching the reflector movable irradiation pattern, the shade from the bulb directed to the peripheral edge reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector during the passing traveling beam. In order to cut off the direct rays of light and cut the light flux reflected from the part forward, the peripheral reflector of the movable reflector forms a dedicated area for the general traveling beam, and the area of the reflector is It changes when the beam is switched.

Further, the front lens has a light flux low-diffusion structure facing upward in a light flux transmitting region facing the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector, or is formed to be extended to the peripheral edge of the movable reflector or the peripheral reflecting mirror surface of the movable reflector. In the reflector movable movable pattern switching headlamp, it is possible to form a more ideal illumination pattern at the time of general traveling by forming the reflecting surface of the fixed reflector on the reflecting mirror surface of the fixed reflector with an improved inclination. Irradiation pattern is obtained,
It has the feature that visibility can be improved and operational safety can be ensured, and the effect obtained by implementing the present invention is extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, with a front lens removed.

FIG. 2 is a front view seen through the front lens.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing an operation state of a movable reflector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle headlamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a front lens removed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle headlamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with a front lens removed.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view showing an operation state of a movable reflector.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle headlamp showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Movable reflector 2 Fixed reflector 8 Discharge lamp type bulb 9 Outer bulb 10 Light shielding film 11, 12 Parabolic reflection mirror surface 13 Outer shade 13a, 13b, 13c Rear end edge 15, 16 General traveling beam dedicated area 17 Front lens 18, 19 Light flux Deflection / low-diffusion structure area 20 Prism step 21, 21 Elevation angle parabolic reflection mirror surface 22, 23 General travel beam dedicated area extension part G Light emitting part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI F21V 13/00 14/02 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F21S 8/10 F21V 7/16 F21V 14/04 F21S 8/10 F21V 5/00 F21V 7/00 F21V 13/00 F21V 14/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicular headlamp provided with a single light source substantially on an optical axis substantially in front of a reflector, wherein the vehicular headlamp is disposed at a position fixed with respect to the bulb, and a parabolic reflecting mirror surface is provided. A fixed reflector formed substantially below the axis, and a pivotally installed pivotally mounted on the fixed reflector so as to be freely displaceable with a predetermined stroke in the optical axis direction with respect to the fixed reflector, and a parabolic reflecting mirror surface is formed substantially above the optical axis. A movable reflector fixed to the movable reflector, and when the movable reflector is displaced rearward, a shade that blocks direct light from a bulb directed to a peripheral reflecting surface of the movable reflector. And a switching drive mechanism for driving the movable reflector to be displaced. 2. A headlight for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an upward light flux low-diffusion structure is formed in a light flux transmission area of said front lens facing a peripheral reflecting mirror surface of said movable reflector. 3. The headlight for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting mirror surface at a peripheral portion of the movable reflector is configured to be inclined upward. 4. A headlight for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting mirror surface of a peripheral portion of said movable reflector is cut off, and a reflecting mirror surface of said fixed reflector is extended to said portion.