JP4062662B2 - Lighting fixtures for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and particularly relates to a vehicular lamp for illumination used mainly for illuminating the traveling direction of a vehicle, such as a headlamp and a fog lamp, and is referred to as a projector type. Thus, the present invention relates to a configuration of an illumination lamp that employs an elliptical reflecting surface such as a spheroid or composite ellipsoid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional vehicular illumination lamp 90 of this type of projector type. For example, a halogen light bulb 91 is used as a light source 91, and a spheroid or the like that places the light source 91 at the position of the first focal point. The ellipsoidal reflecting surface 92, the shielding plate 93 provided in the vicinity of the second focal point f2 of the ellipsoiding reflecting surface 92, and the spherical surface or the aspherical surface having the focal point in the vicinity of the shielding plate 93. And a projection lens 94.
[0003]
In the vehicular illumination lamp 90 configured as described above, the shielding plate 93 shields a portion that is not required at the time of passing light distribution from the light beam from the elliptical reflecting surface 92 that converges to the second focal point f2. The cross-sectional shape of the shielded light beam is projected in the irradiation direction by the projection lens 94. Therefore, when the vehicular illumination lamp 90 is for traveling light distribution, the shielding plate 93 may be omitted.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, the basic shape required for the light distribution characteristics (both traveling light distribution and low light distribution) of the vehicular lamp will be described. With a relatively narrow irradiation angle (eg, 10 °) in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a relatively wide irradiation angle (for example, 60 °) is required in the left-right direction.
[0005]
However, in the conventional vehicular illumination lamp 90 described above, the projection lens 94 that projects light in the irradiation direction is formed as a rotating body having the central axis X as a rotation axis, that is, a convex lens. Therefore, the diffusivity in the vertical and horizontal directions is the same, and therefore the projection lens 94 itself cannot form a light distribution characteristic that is narrow in the vertical direction and wide in the horizontal direction. Therefore, there is a problem that the design and configuration of the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 92 are complicated, for example, a shape that generates a wide light beam in the horizontal direction is required on the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 92 side.
[0006]
Second, the efficiency (brightness) of the vehicular illumination lamp 90 can be improved by deepening the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 92, but on the other hand, the angle from which the second focal point f2 diverges is increased. As a result, the projection lens 94 having a large diameter is required as indicated by a broken line in FIG. At this time, the projection lens 94 having a conventional convex lens shape has a thickness that increases with an increase in diameter and becomes excessively heavy. In the case of passing light distribution, there is a problem that the utilization efficiency of the luminous flux with respect to 91 is as low as about 25%.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides, as specific means for solving the above-described conventional problems, a light source, an elliptical reflection surface provided with the light source substantially aligned with the first focal point, and reflected light from the elliptical reflection surface. And a projection lens for providing an appropriate light distribution characteristic to the projection lamp. The projection lens has a half surface obtained by cutting an aspherical surface or a spherical lens in a vertical section passing through the vicinity of the optical axis. And a plurality of diffusing lens portions provided in the form of a cylindrical lens having a small diameter and a horizontal axis so as to connect the condensing lens portions. The part solves the problem by providing a vehicular illumination lamp characterized by having a function of condensing in the vertical direction and having a function of allowing the light to pass through at almost the same angle in the horizontal direction.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, this invention is demonstrated in detail based on embodiment shown in a figure. 1 and FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a vehicular illumination lamp 1 according to the present invention. The vehicular illumination lamp 1 includes a light source 2 such as a halogen bulb, a metal halide discharge lamp, and the like. It is the same as that of the conventional example in that it is composed of an ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3 such as a spheroidal surface and a projection lens 4. In addition, it is the same as that of the prior art in that the shielding plate 5 is provided if necessary, such as when passing light distribution.
[0009]
In the present invention, by optimizing the configuration of the projection lens 4 to the light distribution characteristics required for the vehicular illumination lamp 1, the projection lens 4 is devised to solve the conventional problems. In other words, the projection lens 4 has a configuration capable of forming a light distribution characteristic suitable for the vehicular illumination lamp 1 having a wide irradiation angle in the horizontal direction and a narrow irradiation angle in the vertical direction, and can be reduced in size and weight. It is to provide.
[0010]
Here, considering the characteristics required for the projection lens 4 to form the light distribution characteristics required for the vehicular illumination lamp 1, the reflected light from the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3 is the second focal point. After once converging to f2, it is diffused and emitted again, so that the projection lens 4 does not have to perform a conspicuous converging action in the horizontal direction.
[0011]
On the other hand, in the vertical direction, the reflected light from the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3 has an irradiation angle that is too wide and requires a considerable convergence effect. That is, there is no convergence effect in the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction. It is understood that a lens shape that has a converging effect is required. A cylindrical lens having a horizontal axis is assumed as the lens shape having characteristics close to such requirements.
[0012]
Therefore, the projection lens having a rotational shape with respect to the center line of the conventional example is divided into two equal parts in the vertical direction, and the divided parts are arranged in the horizontal direction at appropriate intervals, and the gaps are projected to the projection. The applicant has already applied for a projection lens connected by a cylindrical lens having the same cross-sectional shape as that of the lens (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-199306, etc.).
[0013]
The present invention is intended to further reduce the size and weight of the projection lens described above. Here, the configuration of the projection lens 4 according to the present invention will be described. The condensing lens portions 4S ( L) and 4S (R) are important for securing the central illuminance and the like in the light distribution characteristics. Therefore, the convex lens shape, which is the rotational shape of the conventional example, is cut vertically and cut into two equal parts. ing.
[0014]
The diffusing lens portion 4W of the projection lens 4 is only required to transmit the reflected light from the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3 in the horizontal direction as it is and to converge the vertical direction as appropriate. As shown in the figure, a plurality of small-diameter cylindrical lenses are stacked in the vertical direction with the axial direction horizontal. In this way, the diffusing lens portion 4W, which occupies most of the weight of the projection lens of the previous application, can be reduced in size and weight, and the projection lens 4 as a whole can be reduced in size and weight. Become.
[0015]
When the vehicular illumination lamp 1 is for passing light distribution, a shielding plate 5 is provided corresponding to each of the condenser lens portion 4S (L, R) and the diffusing lens portion 4W. Just do it. In addition, by doing so, an unprecedented shape can be obtained in terms of shape, and the vehicular illumination lamp 1 that has been said to have not changed for a long time has been added to the conventional vehicular illumination lamp 1. It is possible to give a novel design that is not possible.
[0016]
3 and 4 show the second embodiment of the vehicular illumination lamp 1 according to the present invention as a main part. In this second embodiment as well, the projection lens 14 is a condensing lens whose basic shape is a convex lens shape. The lens part 14S and the diffusing lens part 14W having a cylindrical lens shape as a basic form are the same as in the previous first embodiment, but in this second embodiment, the condensing lens part is As in the first embodiment, it is composed of condensing lens portions 14S (L) and 14S (R) provided at the left and right end portions, and a central condensing lens portion 14C provided at the center of the projection lens 14. Yes.
[0017]
At this time, since the central condenser lens portion 14C is provided with diffusion lens portions 14W on both sides as will be described below, both side surfaces are cut off at vertical positions at appropriate positions as shown in FIG. The diffusion lens unit 14W can be easily connected. Further, when design demands arise, the top and bottom surfaces may be cut out in addition to the both side surfaces as shown in the figure to make the front shape square.
[0018]
Along with the provision of the central condenser lens part 14C, the diffusing lens part 14W is provided as a diffusing lens part 14W (L) between the condenser lens part 14S (L) and the central condenser lens part 14C. Similarly, a diffusion lens portion 14W (R) is provided between the central condenser lens portion 14C and the condenser lens portion 14S (R). The means for providing each diffusing lens portion 14W (L, R) is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0019]
As described above, since the central condenser lens portion 14C is provided in front of the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3, the convex lens-shaped portion of the projection lens 14 exists in front of the ellipsoidal reflecting surface 3. The forming means for obtaining this light distribution characteristic is similar to this type of projector-type vehicle lamp of the conventional example, and produces advantages such as high central illuminance.
[0020]
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the vehicular illumination lamp 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment. The respective drawings show the diffusion lens portions 24W and 34W of the projection lenses 24 and 34, respectively. The vertical section of the corresponding part is shown. First, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in the diffusing lens portion 24W, as described in the previous first embodiment, a plurality of cylindrical lenses are not arranged in close contact with each other. A decorative portion 24D is provided.
[0021]
In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of diffusion lens portions 34 </ b> W are not tightly connected and a gap 34 </ b> E is provided. None of these effects have an extreme influence on the performance of the vehicular illumination lamp 1, and are performed exclusively for the purpose of design innovation. In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, the condensing lens portions 24S and 34S provided at both ends have the same configuration as in the first embodiment.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a light source, an elliptical reflecting surface provided so that the light source substantially coincides with the first focal point, and an appropriate light distribution characteristic for reflected light from the elliptical reflecting surface. In the vehicular illuminating lamp comprising the projection lens for providing the projection lens, the projection lens is an end surface lens in which half of the aspherical surface or the spherical lens cut along a vertical section passing through the vicinity of the optical axis are opposed to each other on the cut surface side. And an illuminating lamp for a vehicle comprising a plurality of diffusing lens portions provided in a horizontal direction and connected in a cylindrical lens shape so as to connect the end lens portions to each other. The appearance is given to this type of projector-type vehicle lighting lamp, and the effect of improving the aesthetics of the entire vehicle is extremely excellent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of a second embodiment of a vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the shape of a central condenser lens portion of the same second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of a vehicular illuminating lamp according to the present invention as a main part.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of a vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention in the same manner.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle lighting fixture 2 ... Light source 3 ... Ellipsoidal reflecting surface 4, 14 ... Projection lens 4S, 14S, 24S, 34S ... Condensing lens part 4W, 14W, 24W, 34W ... Diffuse lens Part 14C …… Central condenser lens part 24D …… Decoration part 34E …… Gap 5 …… Shielding plate

Claims (4)

Vehicle illumination comprising: a light source; an elliptical reflecting surface provided so that the light source substantially coincides with the first focal point; and a projection lens for imparting appropriate light distribution characteristics to the reflected light from the elliptical reflecting surface In the lamp, the projection lens is connected between the condensing lens unit and a condensing lens unit in which each half of the aspherical surface or spherical lens cut along a vertical cross section passing through the vicinity of the optical axis is opposed to the cut surface. The diffusing lens portion has a horizontal axis and a plurality of diffusing lens portions provided in the form of a small-diameter cylindrical lens. The diffusing lens portion has a condensing function in the vertical direction and is almost unchanged in the left and right direction. A vehicle illumination lamp characterized by having a function of passing at any angle . A vehicle comprising: a light source; an ellipsoidal reflecting surface provided so that the light source substantially coincides with the first focal point; and a projection lens for providing appropriate light distribution characteristics to the reflected light from the ellipsoidal reflecting surface In the illumination lamp for use, the projection lens includes an aspherical surface or a spherical lens, and a half lens portion obtained by cutting each half of the aspherical surface or the spherical lens along a vertical cross section passing through the vicinity of the optical axis. The central condenser lens part having a shape obtained by cutting away the right and left side surfaces at least in a vertical cross section, and the axis in the horizontal direction so as to connect between the cut surface of the right and left condenser lens parts and the cut surface of the central condenser lens part And a plurality of diffusing lens portions provided in the form of a cylindrical lens. The vehicular illumination lamp according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between each of the diffusion lens portions. The vehicular illumination lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a shielding plate is provided on at least one of the condenser lens part, the central condenser lens part, and the diffusing lens part.

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