JP3223706B2 - 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 a vehicle headlamp in which a substantially desired light distribution pattern is formed by a reflected light beam of a reflector, and a front lens or a lens similar to the lens is sufficient for a front lens. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp improved so that a low-illumination illumination area can be formed above a cut line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A headlight for a vehicle is required to be able to illuminate a road ahead in a traveling direction and must not give a dazzle to an oncoming vehicle. . 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a light distribution pattern of a vehicle headlamp according to a conventional example, and FIG. 4A is a diagram of an equal illuminance curve when a front screen on a road is illuminated in a case of left-hand traffic. (B) is a vertical sectional view of a headlamp configured to form the above light distribution pattern.
(A) The axis H added to the figure is a horizontal axis, and the axis V is a vertical axis. Specifically, in this figure (A), the H axis corresponds to the horizon when traveling on a virtual horizontal plain, the left side of the V axis is on the self-traveling lane side, and the right side of the V axis is opposite. The lane side. On the opposite lane side, the light distribution is designed so that the light distribution area does not protrude above the horizontal axis H. On the self lane side, light is distributed only to the lower left of the line C shown in the figure. The illustrated line C is a diagonal cut line, and the illustrated line D is a horizontal cut line, both of which are collectively called a cut line. The conventional headlamp shown in FIG. 4B has a rotating parabolic reflector 6. Z is the optical axis and F is the focal point. The light source position 7 is set by being located slightly ahead of the focal point F, and a light source (not shown) having a shade 8 is arranged at the light source position 7. Light emitted from the light source position 7 as indicated by arrows a and a 'is reflected by the rotary parabolic reflector 6 substantially parallel to the optical axis Z (specifically, slightly converging) as indicated by arrows b and b'. Then, the light is modulated by the prism lens 9 to form a light distribution pattern as shown in FIG. In this case, the shade 8 shown in the figure (B) cuts a part of the light beam emitted from the light source to form the cut lines C and D described in (A). In order to make the prism lens 9 in the conventional example of FIG. 4 (B) a plain lens or a simple prism lens, a special reflector having an improved paraboloid of revolution is constructed. A technique has been studied in which a light beam reflected by the special reflector forms a light distribution pattern shown in FIG. 5A and 5B show an automotive headlamp according to a prototype created by the present inventors so that a desired light distribution pattern can be obtained using a transparent lens, FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. It is a side view.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the special reflector 10
Has its reflection surface divided into 14 blocks by dotted lines. In this case, the division is made on the drawing at the design stage, and does not mean that the actual members are divided. Each symbol of K1 to K5, L1 to L5, M1 to M5 represents each block. FIG. 5 (B)
Is an optical axis, and 11 is a light source position. Since the special reflector in the present proposal is a composite of the above-described blocks K1 to M5, a single focal point as the whole of the special reflector 10 cannot be specified, but is substantially near the light source position. A transparent lens 13 is arranged so as to cover the front opening of the special reflector 10. The shade 12 is provided so that the direct light from the light source position 11 does not reach the transparent lens 13. In the present invention, direct light is the opposite of reflected light and refers to light that is not reflected by a reflector.

[0003]

As a result of tests and research conducted by the present inventors, a light distribution pattern as shown in FIG. 4 (A) was obtained by creating a prototype headlight as shown in FIG. It was confirmed that the laws and regulations in Japan could be cleared, and that the laws of export destinations could be cleared. The fourteen blocks in the prototype of FIG. 5 cooperate with each other to form a desired light distribution pattern. The block M2 _u mainly shares the formation of the above-described oblique cut line C,
Block M2 _d is mainly share the formation of the horizontal cut line D. However, in the light distribution pattern shown in FIG. 4A, if the upper right part of the oblique cut line C and the upper part of the horizontal cut line D are clearly dark and the difference in contrast is remarkable, the forward visibility is good. Absent. Therefore, it is desirable to project a weak illumination that does not violate the regulations and does not dazzle oncoming vehicles above the cut line. FIG.
In the headlamp of the conventional example shown in FIG. 5B, the illumination area of low illuminance could be formed above the cut line by appropriately configuring the prism lens 9. However, the prototype shown in FIG. In the case of using a transparent lens like a headlight described above, it is desirable to partially improve the special reflector 10 to form a low-illumination illumination area above the cut line.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and further improves the headlight (FIG. 5) according to the above-described proposal to form a low-illumination illumination area above a cut line. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object (lightly illuminate the area above the cut line), the structure of the vehicle headlight according to the present invention is such that the reflecting surface of the reflector is divided into a plurality of blocks. A headlamp for a vehicle in which a substantially desired light distribution pattern is formed when light beams emitted from a light source and reflected on the reflection surface of each of the blocks are superimposed, and Among them, a reflection element is provided near the edge of the block that reflects the light beam forming the cut line of the light distribution pattern and that diffuses the light beam. As a mode of implementing the vehicle headlamp having the configuration described above, as well as including a lens having a transparent portion, a shade that blocks direct light incident on the lens from the light source is installed, An opening is provided in the shade, and the direct light emitted from the light source and incident on the opening passes through the transparent portion of the lens, above the cut line of the light distribution pattern, from the main illumination portion. It is also desirable to form a low illuminance illumination area. In the present invention, the diffuse reflection element refers to a component that receives a parallel light beam or a light beam close to the parallel light beam and reflects it in a scattering tendency. For example, a mirror surface having minute unevenness corresponds to this.

[0006]

According to the above-mentioned means, since the diffuse reflection element is provided near the edge of the block for reflecting the illumination light beam to form the cut line of the light distribution pattern, the light beam emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector is provided. Of the above, the light beam reflected by the diffuse reflection element is directed substantially in the direction of the cut line, and is a diffuse light beam. Therefore, the diffused light beam acts to blur the cut line, and forms an illumination area with low illuminance around the cut line. Of the low illuminance illumination area formed around the cut line, the portion below the cut line overlaps with the main illumination area and is not visually recognized. The upper part of the cut line is originally
Although this is an area where the illumination light does not reach, the above-described illumination area with low illuminance is formed, so that the visibility of the portion above the cut line is significantly improved when viewed from the driver. Here, the illumination with low illuminance refers to illumination with an illuminance within a range that is legally permitted without danger of dazzling an oncoming vehicle. As a result, the state of the road ahead of the own vehicle in the traveling direction can be visually recognized without dazzling the oncoming vehicle, and there are many places that contribute to traffic safety at night. Furthermore, by providing an opening in the shade and guiding a portion of the direct light from the light source to above the cut line, a low-illumination illumination area can be formed above the cut line, thereby improving traffic safety at night and improving driver traffic. In addition, since the front lens of the headlamp is a transparent or nearly transparent lens, the manufacturing cost of the headlamp can be reduced.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, referring to FIGS.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. 2A and 2B show one embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, wherein FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a special reflector without a shade, and FIG. 2C is a side cross-sectional view. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to the headlight according to the prototype shown in FIG. 5 and improved by applying the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. It is a component of. This figure 2
5 is different from FIG. 5, that is, the points of the items improved by applying the present invention are as follows. (A) Among the blocks K1 to M5 constituting the reflecting surface of the special reflector 10, the cut line described above is used. block M2 _m consisting of diffuse reflection surface between the block M2 _u same M2 _d for reflecting the light flux forming is provided a.
In this embodiment, the diffuse reflection surface is formed by so-called grain processing. In practicing the present invention, the diffuse reflection surface may be of an appropriate type, and may be, for example, a wavy surface or a sandblast surface. The operation and effect of the diffuse reflection surface will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. (B) As shown in FIG.
4b is provided. This figure 2 is small in scale,
(C) It is difficult to distinguish in the figure. With reference to FIG. 3 which is an enlarged view, the structure, operation and effect will be described in detail later. FIGS. 1A and 1B are views for explaining the operation and effect of a special reflector in a vehicle headlight according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. FIG. (A) Block M shown in the figure
The light beam reflected by the 2 _u, the revealing an illumination area forming a diagonal cut line as shown by dotted closed curve (B) Fig. Then, the light beam reflected in block M2 _d shown in (A) figure is revealing the illumination area to form a horizontal cut line as shown by a closed curve in a chain line in (B) Fig.
The luminous flux reflected by the block M2 _m composed of the diffuse reflection surface forms an illumination area around the cut line as shown by the spots in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the area of the block M2 _m composed of the diffuse reflection surface is:
A very small part (2%) of the total reflection surface of the special reflector 10
In addition, since the reflected light is a diffused light beam, the illuminance of the spot area formed by the reflected light (diffuse light beam) is much lower than that of the main illumination area. Accordingly, there is no danger of dazzling the oncoming vehicle, there is no danger of infringement of laws and regulations, and the driver's forward visibility is effectively improved. FIG. 3 shows a shade in the vehicle headlight of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, (A) is an enlarged front external view, and (B).
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view enlarged and drawn on the same scale. The shade 14 of this example has an opening 1 near the upper center of the main body 14a.
4b is provided. A part of the direct light emitted from the light source position 11 is projected upward as shown by an arrow Li as auxiliary illumination light. However, since the opening 14b is relatively small, the luminous flux density in the direction of the arrow Li directed upward and forward is relatively small. In other words, the light is relatively weak, and there is no danger of violating the regulations. Position of the illumination area of low light to form the light reflected by the block M2 _m described in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is limited to the vicinity of the cut line is formed by the auxiliary illumination light passing through the opening 14b in the embodiment of FIG. 3 The position of the auxiliary illumination area can be set relatively freely by arbitrarily selecting the position of the opening 14b. The projection direction (arrow) Li of the auxiliary illumination light in the embodiment of FIG. 3 has an elevation angle of about 20 degrees. Such auxiliary illumination light is effective for illuminating an overhead sign among road signs.

The filament of the light source bulb in this embodiment has a length in a direction parallel to the optical axis Z, as shown in FIGS. 2 (B) and 2 (C). Then, it can be considered that a light distribution pattern is obtained by forming a real image of the filament by a reflector (concave mirror). Specifically, many filament real images connected by each of the blocks K1 to M5 shown in FIG. 2A are superimposed to form a light distribution pattern. The blocks M2 _u , M2 _d , and M2 _m shown in FIG. 2A are located in a range indicated by reference numeral M2 in FIG. 2B, and the length direction of the filament (optical axis Z). It is in a diagonal direction.
As can be easily understood by comparing FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. 2 (B), the filament is a diffuse reflection surface block M2.
since they have the same direction of the length component to the direction of _m, it is easy to configure the desired auxiliary illumination area is diffused reflected by the diffusion reflection surface block M2 _m light emitted from the filament.

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the diffuse reflection element is provided near the edge of the block that reflects the illuminating light beam to form the cut line of the light distribution pattern, the light is emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector. Of the light fluxes, the light flux reflected by the diffuse reflection element is substantially directed to the cut line direction and is a diffused light flux. Therefore, the diffused light beam acts to blur the cut line, and forms an illumination area with low illuminance around the cut line. Of the low illuminance illumination area formed around the cut line, the portion below the cut line overlaps with the main illumination area and is not visually recognized. Although the area above the cut line is originally an area where the illumination light does not reach, the above-mentioned low-illumination illumination area is formed, so that the visibility of the portion above the cut line as seen from the driver is significantly improved. here,
Low-light illumination means that there is no danger of dazzling oncoming vehicles,
Illumination with an illuminance within the range permitted by law. As a result, the state of the road ahead of the own vehicle in the traveling direction can be visually recognized without dazzling the oncoming vehicle, and there are many places that contribute to traffic safety at night. Furthermore, rather than providing an opening in the shade and guiding a portion of the direct light from the light source to above the cut line, a low-illumination illumination area can be formed above the cut line, which allows traffic safety at night and the driver In addition, since the front lens of the headlamp is a transparent or nearly transparent lens, the manufacturing cost of the headlamp can be reduced. The above-described effects are combined to provide an excellent effect that contributes to the development of the entire vehicle industry and also contributes to traffic safety through technical progress of the vehicle headlight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the operation and effect of a special reflector in a vehicle headlight according to the present invention;
(A) is a front view, and (B) is a chart drawn by analyzing light distribution characteristics.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention,
(A) is a front external view, (B) is a cross-sectional plan view in which a shade is omitted and a special reflector is drawn, and (C) is a side cross-sectional view.

3A and 3B show a shade in the vehicle headlight of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, wherein FIG. 3A is an enlarged front view and FIG. 3B is an enlarged front view; It is the sectional side view drawn.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a light distribution pattern of a vehicle headlamp according to a conventional example, in which (A) is an equal illuminance curve when illuminating a screen ahead on the road in the case of left-hand traffic; FIG. 4B is a vertical sectional view of a headlamp configured to form the light distribution pattern described above.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an automotive headlamp according to a prototype created by the present inventors so that a desired light distribution pattern can be obtained by using a transparent lens; FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. It is sectional side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

6: rotating parabolic reflector, 7: light source position, 8: shade, 9: prism lens, 10: special reflector, 1
1: light source position, 12: shade, 13: transparent lens,
14: shade, 14a: shade body, 14b: opening, 14c: stay, 14d: reinforcing rib, 14d: mounting bracket, a, a, ', b, b': arrow indicating the optical path,
C: diagonal cut line, D: horizontal cut line, F: focal position of reflector, H: horizontal axis, K1 to K5: blocks formed by dividing the reflection surface, L1 to L5: same block, M1: same block , M2 _u ... a block forming an oblique cut line, M2 _d ... a block forming a horizontal cut line, M2 _m ... a block formed of a diffuse reflection surface, V ... a vertical axis, Z ... an optical axis of a reflector.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI // F21W 101: 10 F21M 3/14 F21Y 101: 00 (56) References Real open Flat 3-131008 (JP, U) Real open Hei 2-124602 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 6-41004 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 4-43805 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 3-27281 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int) .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60Q 1/24 F21S 8/10 F21S 8/12 F21V 7/09 F21V 11/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reflecting surface of a reflector is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a substantially desired light distribution pattern is formed when light beams emitted from a light source and reflected by the reflecting surfaces of the respective blocks are superimposed. A headlamp for a vehicle, comprising: a reflection element that diffuses a light beam, which is positioned near an edge of a block that reflects a light beam that forms a cut line of a light distribution pattern among the plurality of blocks. A headlight for a vehicle, wherein the headlight is used for a vehicle. 2. A light source comprising: a lens having a transparent portion; a shade for blocking direct light incident on the lens from the light source; and an opening provided in the shade to emit light from the light source. Then, the direct light incident on the opening passes through the transparent portion of the lens, and forms an illumination area with lower illuminance than the main illumination portion above the cut line of the light distribution pattern. The vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein: