JP3241309B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp.
In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that prevents fogging on a lens surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a lamp such as a headlight of an automobile, a lens for defining a lamp chamber is attached to a front opening of a lamp body in a sealed state, so that the lamp chamber is almost airtight. Therefore, when the temperature in the lamp room is lowered after the lamp is turned off, the inside of the lens is condensed by saturated water vapor and fogging occurs in the lens, impairing the light distribution characteristics of the lamp and improving the appearance of the lamp. Not preferred. In order to prevent such fogging, a technique has been proposed in which a ventilation hole is provided in a lamp body, and outside air is circulated into the lamp room through the ventilation hole. When the outside air humidity is high, it is difficult to effectively eliminate dew condensation even if outside air flows into the lamp room.

[0003]

Further, in order to prevent such fogging, it is necessary to use a heat generated by a light source when the lamp is turned on to heat the lens surface to eliminate dew condensation. Although the air in the lamp room heated by the generated heat is easily convected upward, it is effective to eliminate the fogging in the central area and the upper area of the lens surface. It takes time to raise the temperature of the region, and it is difficult to eliminate fogging in a short time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular lamp capable of eliminating fogging of a lens in a lower region or both lower corner regions of the lens in a short time.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a lamp body, a lens attached to a front opening of the lamp body to define a lamp chamber, and a reflector and a light source formed in the lamp chamber. In the vehicle lighting device, the reflector is an effective reflection surface portion for illuminating light emitted from the light source through the lens with required light distribution characteristics, and a part of the light emitted from the light source to the lens. An auxiliary reflection surface that reflects toward the lower side area, and the auxiliary reflection surface is
Direct light toward at least one corner of the lower side of the lens
It is configured as a reflecting surface. Here, it is preferable that the auxiliary reflection surface is configured as follows. That is, Ru is configured as a combination as one geometric surface continuous or discontinuous plurality of geometric surface plane. Is Raniwa, the reflected light of the plane including the optical axis as a surface for reflecting light in a substantially parallel light beam on at least one surface, or out of the plane including the optical axis of the reflected light at least one It is configured as a surface that reflects light while being condensed in the plane direction.

[0006] By providing this means, emitted from the light source, the light reflected by the auxiliary reflecting surface portion, by irradiating at least one corner portion of the lower side of the lens, the temperature of these areas effectively And it raises quickly and effectively prevents fogging in these areas.

[0007]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are a front view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a headlight of an automobile and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA. A sealing groove 12 is formed in a front opening 11 of the resin lamp body 1, and a sealing leg 21 provided on a peripheral portion of the lens 2 attached to cover the front opening 11 in the sealing groove 12. Are attached by a sealant 22 to define a headlight lamp chamber 3. A reflector 4 whose vertical and horizontal optical axis positions can be adjusted by an aiming mechanism (not shown) is provided in the lamp room 3. A light bulb socket 5 is attached to a socket mounting hole 41 opened on the back surface of the reflecting mirror 4, and the light bulb 6 as a light source is held at a position inside the reflector 4 by the light bulb socket 5. The light bulb 6
The bulb socket 5 is detachable through a bulb insertion hole 13 opened on the back of the lamp body 1.
A shade 7 for preventing the light emitted from the bulb 6 from being directly radiated forward is provided at the front position of the bulb.
Are arranged.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the reflector 4
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of FIG. 1 and a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a light reflection state. The reflector 4 reflects the light from the light bulb 6 and obtains a required light distribution characteristic through the lens 2. An effective reflecting surface portion 42, and the lamp body 1 continuously extends from the upper and lower edges of the effective reflecting surface portion 42. And upper and lower non-effective surface portions 43 and 44 extending toward the lens 2 along respective upper and lower inner surfaces. The effective reflection surface portion 42 is formed of a paraboloid extending from the rear surface region of the reflector 4 to both side regions, and a light source point (filament) of the light bulb 6 is disposed at a focal position F thereof. For this reason, of the light emitted from the light bulb 6, the light projected on the effective reflection surface portion 42 is applied to the lens 2 as a parallel light beam, and is formed on the inner surface or the outer surface of the lens 2 (not shown). Illumination is performed with required light distribution characteristics by the lens step. The upper and lower non-effective reflecting surface portions 43 and 44 are provided within the range of the height dimension when the upper and lower dimensions of the lamp body 1 are limited due to a lamp design requirement. Are extended along the upper and lower inner surfaces of the lamp body 1 to enhance the strength of the reflector and to prevent the inner surface of the lamp body 1 from being exposed when the lamp is viewed from the outside. It is provided for

In the present invention, part or all of the light emitted from the light bulb 6 and projected on the upper ineffective reflection surface 43 is reflected toward the lower side area of the lens 2, and the reflected light is reflected. In order to increase the temperature of the lower side area of the lens 2, a part or all (in the following example, a part) of the ineffective reflection surface portion 43 is illuminated by the light from the bulb 6. It is configured as an auxiliary reflection surface portion 45 for reflecting light to the lower side area of the lens 2. In particular, the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45 reflects light toward the entire lower side of the lens 2 in order to eliminate fogging that occurs over the entire lower side of the lens 2 as a reference example .
In order to eliminate fogging occurring on both sides or one side of the lower region of the lens 2 according to the embodiment, the lens 2 is formed so as to reflect light toward at least one corner of the lower region of the lens 2. You. In this case, the lens 2
The light reflected toward the entire lower side area and the corners of the lower side is reflected in a state of being parallel light in at least one direction of a surface including the optical axis of the reflected light, or as condensing light, respectively. It is constituted as a form.

As an embodiment of the auxiliary reflection surface portion of the reflector of the present invention, the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is applicable. Here, FIG. 3 is a configuration example in which light is reflected toward the entire lower side area of the lens 2 as a reference example of the present invention , and FIG. 4 is a lower side area of the lens 2 according to the present invention . Is a configuration example in the case where light is reflected toward a corner portion of the light emitting device. In these embodiments, the surface configuration of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45 is as follows: (S1) A case where the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45 is configured as one continuous geometric surface. (S2) A case where the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45 is configured as a discontinuous surface combining a plurality of geometric surfaces. . Further, the shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion is as follows: (T1) a case where it is composed of a paraboloid, (T2) a case where it is composed of a combination surface of an ellipsoid and a paraboloid, (T3) a case where it is composed of an ellipsoid, and (T4) ) When a converging line such as a plane, a parabola, an ellipse or a straight line is constituted by a surface (free-form surface) formed as a bone, (T5) When constituted by a combination of the above surfaces (T6) In the case of a plane, there is.

[0011] Various combinations of these surface configurations and surface shapes constitute various types of holding and reflecting surfaces. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the symbols ○ in the respective columns are applicable, and the symbols X are difficult to apply. In addition, a triangle indicates that some applications are possible.
The numerical values of EX () in each column indicate the embodiments described below, and the configuration of the auxiliary reflection surface portion indicated by the EX () numbers will be individually described below. In the drawings showing the following embodiments, (a) is a schematic overhead view of each reflector in the front direction, and (b) is a cross-sectional view along the optical axis of the reflector. The reflected light path of the reflected light is indicated by an arrow line, and an irradiation area when the reflected light is irradiated on the lens surface is indicated by an oblique line.

(Embodiment for irradiating light to the entire lower side of the lens)
(Reference Example) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of EX (1-1). The surface configuration and surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45A is a configuration example of “continuous surface, paraboloid + elliptical surface”, and the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45A of the reflector 4 is a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the reflector 4. The shape is a paraboloid convex upward, and a vertical cross-sectional shape parallel to the optical axis is configured as an elliptical surface with the light source position F and the lower side area of the lens 2 as first and second focal points F1 and F2, respectively. Have been. For this reason, the light from the bulb 6 is reflected so as to be condensed on the lower side area of the lens 2 which is the second focal point in a plane parallel to the optical axis, and in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The light is emitted to the lower side area of the lens 2 as a parallel light flux. In addition, since the filament of the light source F has a physical width, the irradiation area is an area slightly wider than the focal point F2. As a result, the light reflected by the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45A is irradiated in a state where it is converged in the optical axis direction over the entire lower region of the lens 2 and the temperature of the entire lower region of the lens 2 is increased. Clouding can be prevented.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of EX (1-2). The surface configuration and the surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45B are a configuration example of “a continuous surface, a surface having a light-condensing line as a bone”, and the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45B of the reflector 4 is perpendicular to the optical axis direction or the optical axis. Direction, or intermittently along any direction oblique to them, and at each central position of each section, when light emitted from the light source position is reflected by the auxiliary reflection surface A line segment is set such that the reflected light is converged on an arbitrary point in the lower side area of the lens 2. In this case, the focal points in each section are set so as to be distributed substantially evenly in the entire lower side area of the lens 2. Then, the line segments of each section are made continuous with a smooth curve. For this reason, the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected as light having a light-collecting property in any direction on the lower side area of the lens 2 in each surface area corresponding to each section,
In addition, since the reflected light in each section is distributed at different positions in the entire lower region of the lens, the reflected light from the auxiliary reflecting surface portion 45B is radiated in a state of being condensed over the entire lower region of the lens 2 as a whole. As a result, it is possible to raise the temperature of the entire area below the lens and prevent fogging.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of EX (1-3). The surface configuration and surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45C is an example of a “discontinuous surface, parabolic surface” configuration. The auxiliary reflection surface portion 45C of the reflector 4 is subdivided into arbitrary fine regions. Constructed as a paraboloid with the light source position as the focal point, with the center line of the paraboloid in each of these subdivision areas oriented in a direction almost parallel, and then arrange the subdivision areas on a plane and integrate them This is the configuration. In this case, each of the sub-regions can be configured as a fine surface close to a point or a surface partitioned in a line shape. In this embodiment, each sub-region is arranged in a concentric circle. Therefore, when the light from the light bulb is reflected by each of the sub-regions, the light is directed in parallel, and the center line of the paraboloid of each of the sub-regions is set in a direction toward the lower side region of the lens. By doing so, the auxiliary reflection surface 45
The light reflected by C is directed toward the lower area of the lens 2 as a light flux almost parallel to any direction, and is irradiated, thereby raising the temperature of the entire lower area of the lens 2 and preventing fogging. Becomes possible.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of EX (1-4). The surface configuration and the surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45D are a configuration example of “discontinuous surface, elliptical surface”.
Is divided into a plurality of regions, and each of the divided regions is configured as a spheroid having the light source position F as a first focal point F1 and an arbitrary part of the lower side region of the lens 2 as a second focal point F2. This is a configuration in which the surfaces of the respective divided regions having a spheroidal surface are arranged on a plane and integrated. In this case, the second focal point F2 of each partitioned area is set so as to be uniformly distributed in the lower side area of the lens 2. For this reason, the light from the light bulb 6 passes through the second focal point F2 in each surface area corresponding to each section.
Is reflected so as to converge on the
Is condensed on the lower side area. As a result, the light reflected by the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45D as a whole is irradiated in a state where the light is condensed over the entire area on the lower side of the lens 2, and the temperature of the entire area on the lower side of the lens 2 is increased, and fogging is reduced. This can be prevented.

Although the individual description is omitted, the configuration of the circle shown in FIG.
Thus, the auxiliary reflecting surface portion can be configured in the same manner as in the configuration of FIG. 8, and the entire area under the lens can be illuminated with the reflected light to effectively prevent fogging in the area under the lens. In addition, when the auxiliary reflection surface portion is a plane, when the surface configuration is discontinuous, that is, by dividing the auxiliary reflection surface portion into a plurality of regions and configuring each region as a plane having a different inclination angle, the lens lower side region The configuration of the present invention in which only the irradiation is performed can be realized. In particular, when the fine planes are overlapped with each other, a function and effect close to a paraboloid or an ellipsoid can be obtained.

(Embodiment for irradiating light toward at least one corner of the lower side of the lens) FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of EX (2-1). The surface configuration and the surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45E are a configuration example of “discontinuous surface, elliptical surface”. The auxiliary reflection surface portion 45E is partitioned into two regions on the left and right along the optical axis, and each partitioned region is divided. The light source position F is set as the first focal point F1, and the left and right corners of the lower side area of the lens 2 are set as the second focal points F2 as spheroidal surfaces. For this reason, the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected so as to converge toward the second focal point F2 in each surface region corresponding to both sections, and consequently condensed on both corners of the lower side region of the lens 2. . This makes it possible to raise the temperature at both corners of the lower side region of the lens 2 and prevent fogging at each corner. In this embodiment, the corners on both sides of the lower area of the lens are irradiated with the reflected light. However, in the case of irradiating light on only one corner, the auxiliary reflection surface 45E is used. May be configured as a continuous spheroid with the light source position as the first focal point and the target corner as the second focal point.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of EX (2-2). The fact that the surface configuration and the surface shape of the auxiliary reflecting surface portion 45F is a configuration example of “discontinuous surface, elliptical surface”
This is the same as (2-1), but here, the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45
F is divided into a large number of small areas or fine areas arranged in a grid pattern or other arrangement, and each of the divided areas is defined as the light source position F as the first focal point F1, and any one of the lower side areas of the lens 2 is selected. Are formed as spheroids having the second focal point F2, and the surfaces of the respective divided regions having the spheroids are arranged on a plane and integrated. In this case, the second focal point F2 of each partitioned area is set so as to be equally distributed to the corners on both sides of the lower side of the lens 2. Therefore, the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected so as to be converged toward the second focal point F2 in each surface area corresponding to each section, and consequently condensed on both corners of the lower side area of the lens 2. . Thereby, the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45F
The reflected light from the lens 2 is radiated in a state of being condensed on both corners of the lower side area of the lens 2, thereby increasing the temperature of both corners of the lower side area of the lens 2 and preventing fogging at each corner. It is possible to do. Even in this case, it is needless to say that the reflected light can be focused only on one corner of the lower side area of the lens 2.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of EX (2-3). The surface configuration and the surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45G are a configuration example of “a continuous surface, a surface having a condensing line as a bone”.
The auxiliary reflecting surface portion 45G is partitioned at a required interval along the optical axis direction, a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, or any direction oblique to the optical axis direction, and a light source is provided at a central position of each partition. When the light emitted from the position F is reflected by the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45F, a line segment is set such that the reflected light is condensed on one or both corners of the lower side region of the lens 2. Then, the line segments of each section are made continuous with a smooth curve. For this reason, the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected so as to be condensed on one or both corners of the lower side area of the lens 2 in each surface area corresponding to each section, and is reflected on the auxiliary reflection surface part 45G. The whole light is radiated in a state where it is focused on the corners of the lower side area of the lens 2, and the temperature of the corners of the lower side area of the lens 2 can be raised to prevent fogging. .

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of EX (2-4). The surface configuration and surface shape of the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45H are examples of “discontinuous surfaces, paraboloids”, and the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45H is divided into arbitrary fine regions, and each fine region is defined by the light source position. Each of the regions is divided into right and left groups with respect to the light source position F, and the center line of the parabola of each of the grouped fine regions is defined as the lower side of the lens 2. The configuration is such that the corners on both sides of the region are evenly distributed, and the surfaces of the divided regions are arranged and integrated on a plane.
In this case, each fine region can be configured as a fine surface close to a point or a surface partitioned in a line shape.
This is the same as in 3). For this reason, when the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected by each of the divided areas, each of the light is directed to the set corner of the lower side area of the lens 2, and the light is emitted from both corners of the lower side area of the lens 2. By raising the temperature, it is possible to prevent fogging at both corners of the lower area of the lens. In addition, when irradiating only one corner with the reflected light, the center line of the paraboloid of all the divided regions may be directed to the corner.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of EX (2-5). The fact that the surface configuration and surface shape of this auxiliary reflection surface portion 45I are "discontinuous surfaces, paraboloids"
Same as (2-4), but here, the auxiliary reflection surface portion 45I of the reflector 4 is divided into two regions on the left and right along the optical axis, and each divided region is subdivided into an arbitrary fine region. Each fine region is configured as a paraboloid having the light source position F as a focal point, and the center line of the paraboloid of each fine region is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to each other. It is a configuration that is arranged above and integrated. In this case, each of the sub-regions can be configured as a fine surface close to a point or a surface partitioned in a line shape. In this embodiment, each sub-region is arranged in a concentric circle. Therefore, when the light from the light bulb 6 is reflected by each of the sub-regions, the light is directed in parallel, and the center line of the paraboloid of each of the sub-regions is directed to both corners of the lower side region of the lens 2. In this case, the light reflected by the auxiliary reflecting surface portion 45I is irradiated as a parallel light beam to both corners of the lower side region of the lens 2, and the two corners of the lower side region of the lens 2 are irradiated. Is raised, and fogging in both regions can be prevented.

Although the individual description is omitted, in FIG. 4, the auxiliary reflection surface portion may be configured in the same manner as the configurations of EX (2-1) to EX (2-5) described above for the circle. Thus, it is possible to irradiate both corners of the lower area of the lens with reflected light and effectively prevent fogging at both corners of the lower area of the lens. In addition, in FIG. 4, with respect to the configuration of Δ, it is possible to irradiate only one corner of the lower region of the lens with reflected light to prevent fogging at the lower corner of the lens. Also in this case, regarding the plane, when the surface configuration is discontinuous, that is, by dividing the auxiliary reflection surface portion into a plurality of regions, and configuring each region as a plane having a different inclination angle, the lens lower side region is formed. The configuration of the present invention that irradiates only both corners can be realized. In particular, if the lamp has a wraparound shape or is slanted, fogging may occur at one of the corners.In this case, light can be concentrated on one of the corners. It is valid.

The above description of each embodiment shows an example of the present invention. Particularly, in the case of the surface shape, the above-mentioned surface shapes (T1) to (T6) are combined with each other. Depending on the case, various surface shapes such as a combination of each surface shape with a flat surface can be applied. In addition, the auxiliary reflection surface portion in the present invention is not formed only on the upper surface of the reflector, and may be similarly applied to the side surface or the rear surface of the reflector as long as it is a region of the reflection surface that does not affect required light distribution characteristics. Is possible.

[0024]

The present invention described above, according to the present invention constitutes a non-effective reflecting surface of the reflector as an auxiliary reflecting surface portion, at least one corner portion of the lower edge region of the lens the light source light reflected by the auxiliary reflecting surface portion since a configuration for irradiating against, while satisfying the light distribution characteristics required for lamp, a corner portion of the lower side of the lens in a short time cloudy effectively yet short time at the lens inner surface elevated temperature Can be eliminated. The auxiliary reflecting surface portion of the surface structure and the surface shape by appropriately setting, the light reflected by the auxiliary reflecting surface can be irradiated onto the corners of the lower side of the lens as a light collecting or parallel beam, condensed In the case of light, fogging in a narrow area can be removed in a shorter time, and in the case of a parallel light flux, fogging in a relatively wide area can be efficiently removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and an AA cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a headlight.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a reflector and a diagram for explaining an effective reflection surface portion and a non-effective reflection surface portion.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a combination of a surface configuration and a surface shape of an auxiliary reflection surface portion for irradiating the entire lower region of the lens;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a combination of a surface configuration and a surface shape of an auxiliary reflection surface for irradiating a corner of a lower side region of a lens;

FIG. 5 is a schematic overhead view and a longitudinal sectional view of a reflector of an EX (1-1) example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic overhead view and a longitudinal sectional view of a reflector of EX (1-2) example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of an EX (1-3) example.

FIG. 8 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of EX (1-4) example.

FIG. 9 is a schematic bird's-eye view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the reflector of the EX (2-1) example.

FIG. 10 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of an EX (2-2) example.

FIG. 11 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of an EX (2-3) example.

FIG. 12 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of an EX (2-4) example.

FIG. 13 is a schematic overhead view and a vertical cross-sectional view of a reflector of an EX (2-5) example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lamp body 2 Lens 3 Light room 4 Reflector 5 Light bulb socket 6 Light bulb 42 Effective reflection surface part 43,44 Non-effective reflection surface part 45A-45I Auxiliary reflection surface part F Light source position

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicular lamp comprising a lamp body, a lens attached to a front opening of the lamp body to define a lamp room, and a reflector and a light source formed in the lamp room. An effective reflection surface portion for illuminating the light emitted from the light source through the lens with required light distribution characteristics, and an assist for reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light source toward a lower side region of the lens A reflecting surface portion , wherein the auxiliary reflecting surface portion is a corner of a lower side of the lens.
Vehicle lamp, wherein Rukoto is configured as a surface which reflects light toward the. 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary reflection surface portion is constituted by one continuous geometric surface. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary reflection surface portion is configured by a surface obtained by combining a plurality of discontinuous geometric surfaces. Wherein said auxiliary reflecting surface portion in any one of claims 1 configured as a surface for reflecting the light 3 in substantially parallel light beam on at least one surface direction of the plane including the optical axis of the reflected light The vehicle lighting device as described in the above. 5. The auxiliary reflection surface portion is configured as a surface that reflects light in a state where light is collected in at least one surface direction of a surface including an optical axis of reflected light.
4. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of 3 .