JP3988393B2 - Infrared projector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an obstacle that is difficult for a driver to find at night, such as a vehicle parked on the roadside without lighting a light or a pedestrian crossing a road without night lighting. The present invention relates to an infrared night-vision device for detecting in advance by infrared rays, and specifically relates to an infrared projector for making the infrared night-vision device an active type.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional infrared projector 90 of this type. A reflection mirror 92 having a rotating paraboloid or the like focusing on the incandescent bulb 91 is combined with the incandescent bulb 91 for reflection. The light is made into a substantially parallel light beam and the detection distance is extended, and the front of the incandescent bulb 91 and the reflecting mirror 92 is covered with a visible light cut filter 93 to block the visible light portion.
[0003]
By doing so, since only infrared rays are emitted from the infrared projector 90, even if the direct light from the incandescent bulb 91 includes an upward component, for example, the driver of the oncoming vehicle, or The pedestrian or the like will not be dazzled, that is, it will not cause interference with other lamps that project visible light.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the infrared projector 90 having the above-described conventional configuration, the visible light energy is accumulated in the infrared projector 90 because the front is covered with the visible light cut filter 93. The rise in temperature is remarkable, causing a problem that the visible light cut filter 93 formed of, for example, a glass member or a resin member is damaged.
[0005]
Further, since the incandescent bulb 91 has a slow response when blinking, it must be lit continuously in order to detect the object. For example, the power consumption is achieved by intermittently blinking. It is impossible to take measures such as reducing heat generation and suppressing heat generation. Furthermore, the fact that high-speed blinking cannot be performed makes it difficult to distinguish from infrared rays existing in the natural world, resulting in a problem that detection accuracy is lowered.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides, as a specific means for solving the above-described conventional problems, an infrared projector for an active type infrared night vision apparatus, wherein the infrared projector focuses an infrared LED lamp and a virtual focus of the LED lamp. And at least one light projecting unit that includes a reflecting surface that is substantially half along the basic axis direction of the paraboloidal system with the basic axis horizontal, and the LED lamp has substantially all projection angles. The infrared projector is mounted with an optical axis inclined so as to reach the reflecting surface, and the reflecting surface of the projecting unit is a free-form surface of a paraboloidal system including a parabolic column surface. An infrared projector having a narrow projection angle in the vertical direction and a wide projection angle in the horizontal direction, a projection unit having a reflecting surface as the rotary paraboloid system, and Pillar surface Solves the problem by providing an infrared emitter, characterized in that the appropriate number of light projecting unit is configured by combining with a reflecting surface that is parabolic free curved in including.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, this invention is demonstrated in detail based on embodiment shown in a figure. 1 to 3 is a first embodiment of a light projecting unit 2 for constituting the infrared projector 1 of the present invention, and the present invention is a light quantity capable of obtaining a required detection distance, for example. The number of light projecting units 2 that can satisfy the above conditions or the number of light distribution characteristics that provide the required light distribution characteristics of the detection range is assembled to constitute the infrared light projector 1.
[0008]
The light projecting unit 2 includes an infrared light emitting LED lamp 3 and a rotating parabolic reflecting surface 4 that is basically a rotating parabolic surface in the first embodiment. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view along a vertical line, and FIG. 3 is a top view. The rotary parabolic reflecting surface 4 has its focal point substantially coincident with the virtual focal point fi of the LED lamp 3.
[0009]
Here, the virtual focus fi of the LED lamp 3 will be described. In this type of LED lamp 3 supplied to the market, the LED chip is sealed in a mold case having a lens provided on the top of the head. There are many shapes, and the position of the LED chip does not necessarily coincide with the virtual focus fi. Therefore, in the present invention, the virtual focal point fi is obtained from the radiation angle when the LED lamp 3 radiates light to the outside, and the focal point of the rotary parabolic reflection surface 4 is made to substantially coincide with this position.
[0010]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the rotary parabolic reflecting surface 4 is substantially half of the basic axis X which is the rotation axis of the parabola when forming the rotary paraboloid, that is, in FIG. In the front view shown, it is configured as a state in which a substantially semicircle appears. When the combination with the LED lamp 3 is performed, the optical axis Y of the LED lamp 3 is tilted in the direction of the paraboloidal reflecting surface 4 and almost all of the light emitted from the LED lamp 3 with a projection angle of 40 °, for example. Reaches the range P in the parabolic reflecting surface 4 (see FIG. 3).
[0011]
In actual implementation, the rotary parabolic reflecting surface 4 may be formed as a range in which the light from the LED lamp 3 can be captured, and does not need to be a complete half. In addition, in order to prepare for a combination of a plurality of light projecting units 2 described later, it is also possible to provide an appropriate standing wall 4b as shown in FIG.
[0012]
By doing in this way, the said reflective surface 4 of one light projection unit 2 will radiate | emit the light from LED lamp 3 as a parallel ray from the opening part 4a, and it is in the direction installed in vehicles, such as the front front of a vehicle. The light distribution characteristic D11 for irradiating the substantially spot-shaped detection light as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the infrared light projector 1 of the present invention can be obtained by combining a sufficient number of the light projecting units 2 to satisfy the required detection distance.
[0013]
In the actual implementation, when the infrared projector 1 is configured by combining the light projecting unit 2, it is not limited to only one row in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. For example, a plurality of stages may be stacked, and furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the reflecting surfaces 4 may face each other when stacked, and further, the shape can be freely combined such as a circular shape. is there.
[0014]
In addition, in the present invention, the LED lamp 3 is tilted with the virtual focal point fi as the center of rotation, so that the rotary parabolic reflecting surface 4 may be substantially half, that is, the installation area when mounted on the vehicle is approximately half. It will be good. Moreover, since all of the light from the LED lamp 3 is incident on the rotating parabolic reflecting surface 4 due to the tilting, the light quantity loss due to the miniaturization of the rotating parabolic reflecting surface 4 is reduced. It does not occur.
[0015]
6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the light projecting unit 12 according to the present invention. In this second embodiment, the reflecting surface moves a parabola parallel to the reference axis X in the horizontal direction. It is formed as a parabolic reflecting surface 14 such as a parabolic column surface obtained. Therefore, a straight line appears in the opening 14a in the front view shown in FIG.
[0016]
The LED lamp 3 is tilted toward the parabolic reflecting surface 14 side with respect to the parabolic reflecting surface 14 configured as described above, and all of the light from the LED lamp 3 reaches. All of the light emitted from the opening 14a to the outside is reflected light.
[0017]
With this configuration, the light projected from the light projecting unit 12 in the second embodiment is converged into parallel rays in the vertical direction, and from the LED lamp 3 in the horizontal direction, for example, 20 ° on the left and right. The projection angle is projected to the outside as it is, and a light distribution characteristic D12 that is narrow in the vertical direction and wide in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. In the second embodiment, the shape of the parabolic reflecting surface 14 is not limited to a parabolic column surface, and may be a parabolic free curved surface in which the focal point gradually becomes longer in the left-right direction, for example. The light distribution characteristic D12 may be selected according to the irradiation angle required in the horizontal direction.
[0018]
FIG. 9 shows an infrared projector 11 configured by combining the light projecting unit 2 of the first embodiment described above and the light projecting unit 12 of the second embodiment, and is configured in this way. As shown in FIG. 10, the light distribution characteristic DM of the infrared projector 11 is converged in the form of a spot from the light projecting unit 2 in the front direction of the vehicle, and relatively bright light is projected. In the range of °, light having a relatively wide brightness in the horizontal direction is projected.
[0019]
Therefore, the infrared projector 11 having the above configuration ensures a long detection distance by the detection light from the light projecting unit 2 with respect to the front of the front of the vehicle, which is the most necessary, and relatively travels when the vehicle turns. However, in a state where a wide detection range is required, the detection light from the light projecting unit 12 corresponds.
[0020]
In practice, in order to prevent the internal structure from being visible or to prevent dust or the like from entering the light projecting units 2, 12, the front of these light projecting units 2, 12 is used. Is provided with an outer lens 5 (see FIG. 3). However, it is possible to further adjust the light distribution characteristics by applying a lens cut 5a to the outer lens 5.
[0021]
The LED lamp 3 includes, for example, a rhombus-shaped horn and an ellipsoidal lens as shown in Japanese Patent No. 3076966 filed by the same applicant as the present invention. Needless to say, an LED lamp that irradiates light in a rectangular shape may be adopted.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the infrared projector includes an infrared LED lamp and a substantially half portion along the basic axis direction of the rotary paraboloid system in which the virtual axis of the LED lamp is a focal point and the basic axis is horizontal. Infrared projector and projector unit including at least one light projecting unit having a pair of reflecting surfaces, the LED lamp being mounted with an optical axis inclined so that almost all projection angles reach the reflecting surface The reflecting surface of the infrared projector is a free-form surface of a paraboloid system including a parabolic column surface, the projection angle in the vertical direction is narrow, and the projection angle in the horizontal direction is set wide, and a combination thereof. In the first place, it is possible to reduce the area of the reflecting surface by half without causing a loss of light amount by arranging the LED lamps at an angle, and in addition, an infrared light emitting LED. With the lamp as the light source And reduction of heat generation is also possible by, in which exhibits extremely excellent effects such as greatly reducing the footprint of the vehicle.
[0023]
Second, since the present invention has a high degree of freedom for setting the projection angle to the light projecting unit, the light projecting unit having two characteristics as described above can be formed and combined. It is possible to form an infrared projector having characteristics, and it is excellent in improving the performance of a night-vision device that employs this type of infrared projector, as it well matches the current situation in which a vehicle travels.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a light projecting unit which is a main part of an infrared projector according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical (V) line in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the same light projecting unit.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing light distribution characteristics of the light projecting unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of an infrared projector using the light projecting unit of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a second embodiment of a light projecting unit which is a main part of the infrared projector according to the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vertical (V) line in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing light distribution characteristics of the light projecting unit according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing an infrared projector according to a combination of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of light distribution characteristics of an infrared projector according to a combination of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 ... Infrared projector 2, 12 ... Projection unit 3 ... LED lamp 4 ... Rotary parabolic reflection surface 4a ... Opening part 5 ... Outer lens 5a ... Lens cut 14 ... Parabolic system Reflective surface 14a ...... Opening

Claims (4)

In an infrared projector for an active type infrared night vision apparatus, the infrared projector is aligned with the direction of the basic axis of a rotating paraboloidal system in which an infrared light emitting LED lamp and a virtual focal point of the LED lamp are focused and the basic axis is horizontal. It is provided with at least one light projecting unit having a pair of substantially half reflection surfaces, and the LED lamp is mounted with an optical axis inclined so that almost all projection angles reach the reflection surface. Infrared floodlight characterized. The reflecting surface of the light projecting unit is a free-form surface of a paraboloid system including a parabolic column surface, and the projection angle in the vertical direction is narrow and the projection angle in the horizontal direction is set wide. The infrared projector according to claim 1. A light projecting unit having a reflecting surface as a rotating paraboloid system according to claim 1 and a light projecting unit having a reflecting surface as a free-form surface of a paraboloid system including a parabolic column surface according to claim 2. An infrared projector characterized in that a suitable number is combined. 4. The infrared rays according to claim 2 , wherein the light projected in the vertical direction of the light projecting unit is converged into parallel rays, and the projection angles in the horizontal direction are approximately 20 ° on the left and right sides, respectively. Floodlight.

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