JP4204757B2 - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp provided with a so-called H4 halogen bulb, and more particularly, to a vehicle headlamp configured to be able to perform beam switching between a fog lamp light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern. Is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the H4 halogen bulb, an inner shade for shielding light traveling downward from the front filament is disposed in the vicinity of the lower portion of the front filament. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp equipped with the H4 halogen bulb is suitable for low beam irradiation. In addition, a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line (bright / dark boundary line) can be easily formed. In addition, the H4 halogen bulb has a rear filament in addition to the front filament. By switching the lighting of both filaments, beam switching between a low beam distribution pattern and a high beam distribution pattern can be performed with a single light source bulb. It can be performed.
[0003]
It is also possible to employ a lamp configuration that performs beam switching between the fog lamp light distribution pattern and the high beam light distribution pattern by making use of such characteristics of the H4 halogen bulb. In this case, the fog lamp light distribution pattern is formed by lighting the front filament, and the high beam light distribution pattern is formed by lighting the rear filament. At that time, since the light directed from the inner shade toward the lower reflection surface of the reflector is shielded in forming the fog lamp light distribution pattern, only the reflected light from the upper reflection surface of the reflector is used, while the high beam distribution is used. The entire area of the reflecting surface is used for forming the light pattern.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the fog lamp light distribution pattern needs to be a substantially uniform light distribution pattern that greatly diffuses in the left-right direction, whereas the high beam light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern having a high central luminous intensity in order to improve far visibility. There is a need.
[0005]
However, if all the reflected light from the upper reflective surface is used to form a fog lamp light distribution pattern, only the lower reflective surface can be used to form a hot zone (high light intensity region) of the high beam light distribution pattern. There is a problem that it is difficult to sufficiently increase the central luminous intensity.
[0006]
On the other hand, it is conceivable to use a part of the upper reflection surface for forming a hot zone of a high beam light distribution pattern. In this case, however, the fog lamp light distribution pattern can be made into a substantially uniform light distribution pattern. There is a problem of disappearing.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a H4 halogen bulb, and is configured to be able to perform beam switching between a fog lamp light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp that can sufficiently increase the central luminous intensity of a high beam light distribution pattern while maintaining the fog lamp light distribution pattern in a substantially uniform light distribution pattern.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by providing a predetermined outer shade and devising the shape of the reflecting surface of the reflector.
[0009]
That is, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is
A light source in which a front filament and a rear filament are disposed along an optical axis extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an inner shade for shielding light traveling downward from the front filament is disposed near the lower portion of the front filament. A bulb and a reflector having a reflective surface for reflecting light from the light source bulb forward;
In a vehicle headlamp configured to perform beam irradiation with a fog lamp light distribution pattern by lighting the front filament, while performing beam irradiation with a high beam light distribution pattern by lighting the rear filament,
Around the light source bulb, an outer shade is provided that shields light from the front filament that is not shielded by the inner shade and that is directed to the reflective surface, and that is directed to the peripheral portion of the reflective surface,
The light non-incident peripheral area where the light from the front filament is not incident by the light shielding action of the outer shade on the reflection surface reflects the light from the rear filament toward the center of the high beam light distribution pattern. It is characterized by being comprised.
[0010]
The “reflecting surface” may be composed of a plurality of reflecting elements, or may be composed of a smooth curved surface.
[0011]
The above-mentioned “outer shade” is not specifically shielded from the front filament by the inner shade, but is capable of shielding the light traveling toward the peripheral portion of the reflective surface among the light traveling toward the reflective surface. Not particularly limited.
[0012]
The “light non-incident peripheral region” is not particularly limited as long as it is a peripheral portion of the reflecting surface.
[0013]
[Effects of the invention]
As shown in the above configuration, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention includes an H4 halogen bulb as a light source bulb, and irradiates the beam with a fog lamp light distribution pattern by lighting the front filament, while the rear filament It is configured to irradiate the beam with a high beam distribution pattern by turning on the light source, but around the light source bulb, the peripheral part of the reflecting surface out of the light traveling from the front filament to the reflecting surface without being shielded by the inner shade The outer shade that shields the light going to the outside is provided, and the light non-incident peripheral area where the light from the front filament does not enter due to the light shielding action of the outer shade on the reflection surface is the high beam light distribution pattern. Because it is configured to reflect toward the center of the That.
[0014]
That is, as a reflection region for forming the hot zone of the high beam light distribution pattern, not only the lower reflection surface where the light from the front filament does not enter due to the light shielding effect of the inner shade but also the light shielding effect of the outer shade from the front filament. By using the light non-incident peripheral region of the upper reflecting surface where no light is incident, the central luminous intensity of the high beam light distribution pattern can be sufficiently increased. At that time, the light non-incident peripheral region located at the peripheral portion of the reflective surface can project the image of the rear filament forward as the smallest image of each part of the reflective surface, so that the center of the high beam light distribution pattern The luminous intensity can be increased efficiently.
[0015]
Further, since the light non-incident peripheral region is not used for forming a fog lamp light distribution pattern, the fog light distribution pattern is not uniform even if the light non-incident peripheral region is used for forming a hot zone of a high beam light distribution pattern. Can be prevented.
[0016]
As described above, according to the present invention, the fog lamp light distribution pattern is substantially uniform in the vehicle headlamp that includes the H4 halogen bulb and is configured to be able to perform beam switching between the fog lamp light distribution pattern and the high beam light distribution pattern. It is possible to sufficiently increase the central luminous intensity of the high beam light distribution pattern while maintaining a simple light distribution pattern.
[0017]
In the above configuration, when the reflecting surface is composed of a plurality of reflecting elements, if the position of the boundary line of the light non-incident peripheral region is set so as to substantially match the dividing line between these reflecting elements, It is possible to form a dedicated reflection region for forming a high beam light distribution pattern without impairing the design.
[0018]
Of course, the “reflector” may have a configuration having only a reflective surface that reflects light from the light source bulb, but may have another reflective surface adjacent to the reflective surface. Also good.
[0019]
In the latter case, a reflector having a reflective surface that reflects light from the H4 halogen bulb and another reflective surface is housed in one lamp, and thus a reflective surface that reflects light from the H4 halogen bulb. Will occupy a small area. Along with this, the dedicated reflection area for forming the high beam light distribution pattern is also reduced, so that it is particularly effective to adopt the configuration of the present invention.
[0020]
At that time, when the reflection surface and the other reflection surface are arranged one above the other, the dedicated reflection region for forming the high beam light distribution pattern tends to be further reduced. Adopting is more effective.
[0021]
The “other reflective surface” may be a reflective surface configured to reflect light from a light source bulb other than the H4 halogen bulb, or may be a decorative dummy reflective surface. .
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof.
[0024]
As shown in these drawings, in the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the embodiment, the reflector unit 16 can be tilted vertically and horizontally in a lamp chamber formed by a transparent transparent cover 12 and a lamp body 14. Is provided.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the reflector unit 16 as a single product, and FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view thereof.
[0026]
As shown in these drawings, the reflector unit 16 includes an H4 halogen bulb 18 (light source bulb), a reflector 20, and a shade 22, and has an optical axis Ax extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. .
[0027]
The H4 halogen bulb 18 includes a front filament 18a and a rear filament 18b arranged along the optical axis Ax, and an inner shade 18c that shields light traveling downward from the front filament 18a in the vicinity of the lower portion of the front filament 18a. Is arranged, and is inserted into the rear top portion of the reflector 20.
[0028]
The front filament 18a extends in the front-rear direction coaxially with the optical axis Ax, and the rear filament 18b extends in the front-rear direction at a position slightly offset downward with respect to the optical axis Ax in the vicinity of the rear of the front filament 18a. ing. The inner shade 18c is formed so as to surround the front filament 18a from the lower side over a predetermined angle range (specifically, a range of a central angle of 165 ° equally on the left and right with respect to the optical axis Ax).
[0029]
As will be described later, the vehicular headlamp 10 according to the embodiment performs beam irradiation with a fog lamp light distribution pattern when the front filament 18a is turned on, and emits beam with a high beam light distribution pattern when the rear filament 18b is turned on. To do.
[0030]
The reflector 20 has a reflecting surface 20a in which a plurality of reflecting elements 20s are formed on a rotating paraboloid with the optical axis Ax as the central axis, and the light from the H4 halogen bulb 18 is reflected by the reflecting surface 20a. The light is diffusely deflected and reflected forward.
[0031]
Since light traveling downward from the front filament 18a is shielded by the inner shade 18c, a pair of light and dark boundary lines Bo extending downward by 7.5 ° from the optical axis Ax in both the left and right directions is formed on the reflecting surface 20a. Is done.
[0032]
The plurality of reflecting elements 20s vertically divide the reflecting surface 20a into vertical stripes when viewed from the front of the lamp, and in the vicinity of the lower side of the both bright and dark boundary lines Bo, a pair of oblique boundary lines B1 extending substantially parallel to the bright and dark boundary lines Bo. It is divided into.
[0033]
Then, the 10 reflecting elements 20s (L1 to L5, R1 to R5) closer to the center among the 12 reflecting elements 20s constituting the upper reflecting surface 20aU above the oblique boundary line B1 are fog lamp light distribution patterns. It is used as a reflective element 20s for formation.
[0034]
On the other hand, a total reflection element 20s is used for the high beam light distribution pattern. At that time, twelve reflecting elements 20s constituting the lower reflecting surface 20aL below the oblique boundary line B1, and two reflecting elements 20s (L6, R6) located at the left and right ends of the upper reflecting surface 20aU. Are set as a reflection region for forming a hot zone of a high beam light distribution pattern.
[0035]
The outer shade 22 includes a shade main body 22a formed in a cap shape, and an attachment stay 22b that extends rearward from the lower end portion of the shade main body 22a and is screwed to the reflector 20 at the rear end portion.
[0036]
The shade body 22a is positioned at the peripheral edge of the reflection surface 20a (specifically, two left and right end portions of the upper reflection surface 20aU) of the light traveling from the front filament 18a to the reflection surface 20a without being shielded by the inner shade 18c. The contour shape of the rear edge 22a1 is set so as to shield the light traveling toward the reflective elements 20s (L6, R6).
[0037]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear end edge 22a1 of the shade main body 22a includes the rear end position of the front filament 18a, the reflective element 20s (L6, R6), and the reflective element 20s (L5, R5) adjacent to the inside thereof. The contour shape is set as a line of intersection with the curved surface formed by connecting the dividing line B2 to the curved line.
[0038]
As a result, all the light traveling from the front filament 18a toward the reflecting element 20s (L6, R6) is shielded by the outer shade 22, and does not enter the reflecting element 20s (L6, R6). The light from the front filament 18a toward the reflecting element 20s (L5, R5) is partially shielded by the outer shade 22 from the portion near the front end of the front filament 18a, but all other light is reflected. The light enters the element 20s (L5, R5). All of the light traveling from the front filament 18a toward the reflecting element 20s (L1 to L4, R1 to R4) is incident on the reflecting element 20s (L1 to L4, R1 to R4) without being shielded by the outer shade 22.
[0039]
On the other hand, the light traveling from the rear filament 18b to the reflecting element 20s (L6, R6) is partially shielded by the outer shade 22 from the portion near the front end of the rear filament 18b, but all other light is reflected. The light enters the element 20s (L6, R6). All of the light traveling from the rear filament 18b toward the reflecting element 20s (L1 to L5, R1 to R5) is incident on the reflecting element 20s (L1 to L5, R1 to R5) without being shielded by the outer shade 22.
[0040]
In FIG. 3, a region indicated by diagonal lines (that is, a region surrounded by a pair of bright / dark boundary lines Bo and a pair of segment lines B2 on the reflecting surface 20a) is a region where light from the front filament 18a is incident. A fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) as shown in FIG. 5 is formed by the reflected light from the front filament light incident area 20aF.
[0041]
This fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) is a substantially uniform light distribution pattern that diffuses greatly in the left-right direction. In order to realize this, the reflecting elements 20s (L1 to L5, R1 to R5) corresponding to the front filament light incident region 20aF are formed as cylindrical elements having a convex horizontal section. However, the lower region 20s (L3a, R3a) of the reflective element 20s (L3, R3) is formed as a cylindrical element having a small convex curvature in the horizontal section. As a result, a small diffusion light distribution pattern Pa (FOG) is formed at the center upper portion of the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG), and the light / dark boundary line at the upper center edge of the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) is made somewhat clear. Like to do.
[0042]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the high beam distribution pattern P (HIGH) formed by lighting the rear filament 18b is formed by the reflected light from the entire area of the reflection surface 20a. (HIGH) is formed by reflected light from a region (region slightly wider than the front filament light incident region 20aF) surrounded by the pair of oblique boundary lines B1 and the pair of dividing lines B2 on the reflection surface 20a. A large diffused light distribution pattern P1 (including a small diffused light distribution pattern P1a formed by reflected light from the lower region 20s (L3a, R3a) of the reflective element 20s (L3, R3)) and a lower reflective surface 20aL The light collection light distribution pattern P2 formed by the reflected light from the twelve reflecting elements 20s that are configured, and 2 positioned at the left and right end portions of the upper reflecting surface 20aU. It is the formed as a synthetic light distribution pattern of the reflecting element 20s (L6, R6) condensing the light distribution pattern P3 formed by the light reflected from.
[0043]
At this time, the reflecting element 20s (L6, R6) projects the image of the rear filament 18b forward as the smallest image among the portions of the reflecting surface 20a. A light distribution pattern smaller than the pattern P2 is formed. These condensing light distribution patterns P2 and P3 are formed so as to be superimposed on the central portion of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH), and thereby the hot zone HZ is formed in the central portion of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH). Is supposed to form.
[0044]
As described above in detail, the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the present embodiment performs beam irradiation with the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) by turning on the front filament 18a of the H4 halogen bulb 18, while the rear filament 18b. However, the H4 halogen bulb 18 is not shielded by the inner shade 18c from the front filament 18a to the reflecting surface 20a around the H4 halogen bulb 18. An outer shade 22 is provided to shield the light traveling toward the peripheral edge of the reflecting surface 20a, and the light from the front filament 18a is not incident by the light shielding action of the outer shade 22 on the reflecting surface 20a. The peripheral region (20s (L6, R6)) is a high beam of light from the rear filament 18b. Is configured so as to reflect toward the center of the light pattern P (HIGH), it is possible to obtain the following effects.
[0045]
That is, as a reflection region for forming a hot zone of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH), not only the lower reflection surface 20aL where the light from the front filament 18a does not enter due to the shading action of the inner shade, but also the outer shade 22 By using the light non-incident peripheral area (20s (L6, R6)) of the upper reflecting surface 20aU where the light from the front filament 18a does not enter due to the light shielding action, the central luminous intensity of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH) is sufficiently high Can be increased. At that time, the light non-incident peripheral region (20s (L6, R6)) located at the peripheral portion of the reflecting surface 20a projects the image of the rear filament 18b forward as the smallest image among the portions of the reflecting surface 20a. Therefore, the central luminous intensity of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH) can be increased efficiently.
[0046]
Further, since the light non-incident peripheral region (20s (L6, R6)) is not used for forming the fog lamp light distribution pattern, the light non-incident peripheral region is used for forming a hot zone of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH). Even if it is used, the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) can be prevented from becoming non-uniform.
[0047]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle headlamp is provided with the H4 halogen bulb 18 and configured to perform beam switching between the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH) and the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG). In the lamp, the fog lamp light distribution pattern P (FOG) is maintained in a substantially uniform light distribution pattern, and the central luminous intensity of the high beam light distribution pattern P (HIGH) can be sufficiently increased.
[0048]
In addition, in the present embodiment, the reflecting surface 20a is composed of a plurality of reflecting elements 20s, and the position of the boundary line B2 of the light non-incident peripheral region is two reflecting elements 20s located at the left and right ends of the upper reflecting surface 20aU. (L6, R6) and the two reflecting elements 20s (L5, R5) adjacent to the inner side thereof are set so as to substantially coincide with the dividing lines, so that the high beam distribution is not impaired without impairing the design of the reflector 16 A dedicated reflection region for pattern formation can be formed.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, the so-called reflector movable type headlamp in which the reflector unit 16 is tiltably provided in the lamp chamber formed by the transparent cover 12 and the lamp body 14 has been described. The so-called unit movable type headlamp, in which the reflector unit 16 and the reflector unit 16 are tilted as a unit, can obtain the same effects as the present embodiment by adopting the same configuration as the present embodiment. it can.
[0050]
Incidentally, the vehicle headlamp 10 according to the above-described embodiment has a configuration in which the reflector 16 has only the reflection surface 20a for reflecting the light from the H4 halogen bulb 18, but in addition to the reflection surface 20a, A configuration having another reflecting surface adjacent to the reflecting surface 20a is also possible.
[0051]
For example, the vehicle headlamp 110 shown in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which the reflector 120 includes a reflective surface 20a similar to that in the above embodiment and a reflective surface 120a adjacent to the upper side. An H1 halogen bulb 118 is inserted on the rear top of the reflecting surface 120a. The reflecting surface 120a is formed by forming a plurality of reflecting elements 120s on a paraboloid of revolution having an optical axis Ax ′ extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a central axis. A low beam light distribution pattern is formed by diffusely deflecting and reflecting forward. At that time, light traveling from the H1 halogen bulb 118 in a direction other than the reflecting surface 120 a is shielded by a shade 122 provided in the vicinity of the H1 halogen bulb 118.
[0052]
In the vehicular headlamp 110, the reflector 120 having the reflecting surfaces 20a and 120a and having a large vertical width is accommodated in the lamp chamber formed by the transparent transparent cover 12 and the lamp body 14. It is difficult to ensure a sufficient area occupied by the reflecting surface 20a. For this reason, the vertical width of the reflecting surface 20a shown in FIG. 7 is narrower than that of the reflecting surface 20a shown in FIG.
[0053]
Accordingly, in the reflection surface 20a shown in FIG. 7, the lower reflection surface 20aL, which is a dedicated reflection region for forming the high beam light distribution pattern, is also considerably reduced, and thus the same configuration as that of the above embodiment is adopted. Is particularly effective.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicular headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the vehicular headlamp. FIG. 3 shows a reflector unit of the vehicular headlamp. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing the reflector unit as a single item. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fog lamp light distribution pattern formed by beam irradiation from the vehicle headlamp from the rear of the reflector unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a high beam distribution pattern formed by beam irradiation from the vehicle headlamp as seen from the rear of the reflector unit. FIG. The same figure as FIG. 1 which shows the modification of [Description of numerals]
10, 110 Vehicle headlamp 12 Transparent cover 14 Lamp body 16 Reflector unit 18 H4 halogen bulb (light source bulb)
18a Front filament 18b Rear filament 18c Inner shade 20, 120 Reflector 20a, 120a Reflective surface 20aF Front filament light incident area 20aL Lower reflective surface 20aU Upper reflective surface 20s, 120s Reflective element 20s (L1-L5, R1-R5) Reflection Element 20s (L6, R6) Reflective element (light non-incident peripheral area)
22, 122 Shade 22a Shade body 22a1 Rear end edge 22b Mounting stay 118 H1 Halogen bulb Ax, Ax ′ Optical axis Bo Light / dark boundary line B1 Diagonal boundary line B2 Division line HZ Hot zone P (FOG) Fog lamp light distribution pattern Pa (FOG) Small diffusion light distribution pattern P (HIGH) High beam light distribution pattern P1 Large diffusion light distribution pattern P1a Small diffusion light distribution pattern P2, P3 Condensing light distribution pattern

Claims (4)

A light source in which a front filament and a rear filament are disposed along an optical axis extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an inner shade for shielding light traveling downward from the front filament is disposed near the lower portion of the front filament. A bulb and a reflector having a reflective surface for reflecting light from the light source bulb forward;
In a vehicle headlamp configured to perform beam irradiation with a fog lamp light distribution pattern by lighting the front filament, while performing beam irradiation with a high beam light distribution pattern by lighting the rear filament,
Around the light source bulb, an outer shade is provided that shields light from the front filament that is not shielded by the inner shade and that is directed to the reflective surface, and that is directed to the peripheral portion of the reflective surface,
The light non-incident peripheral area where the light from the front filament is not incident by the light shielding action of the outer shade on the reflection surface reflects the light from the rear filament toward the center of the high beam light distribution pattern. A vehicle headlamp, characterized in that it is configured. The reflective surface comprises a plurality of reflective elements,
2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a position of a boundary line of the light non-incident peripheral region is set so as to substantially coincide with a dividing line between the plurality of reflecting elements.   The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the reflector has another reflective surface adjacent to the reflective surface.   The vehicular headlamp according to claim 3, wherein the reflecting surface and the other reflecting surface are arranged vertically.

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