JP4444792B2 - Lighting fixtures for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that is used for lighting such as a headlight and a fog light and is called a projector type and adopts an elliptical reflector, and more specifically, it is said to be approximately 25% or less. The present invention relates to the development of a configuration that can improve the luminous flux utilization factor of this type of vehicle lamp.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional projector-type lamp (10). The projector-type lamp (10) is a reflector (14a) having a spheroid having a light source (12) as a first focal point F1. And the light from the light source (12) is focused on the second focal point F2.

  In the vicinity of the second focal point F2, for example, a light-shielding plate (22) covering the lower half is provided, so that the light converged on the second focal point F2 is substantially a semicircular shape of the lower chord. Since the projection lens (18) having a focal point on the light shielding plate (22) is provided in front of the light shielding plate (22), it converges to the second focal point F2 which is a semicircular shape of the lower chord. The light that has been turned upside down and left and right is projected in front of the vehicle as a semicircular shape of the upper string.

Therefore, the irradiation light from the projector-type lamp (10) does not include any upward light, and an ideal light distribution characteristic that does not give a dazzle to the driver of the oncoming vehicle can be obtained. It becomes. However, in fact, if you do not emit any light above the horizon, you will not be able to check road signs. If the traffic law is left-hand traffic, light that is 15 degrees upward to the left is emitted. Radiation (see FIG. 8) is performed so that pedestrians can be confirmed and road signs can be read.
JP 2001-76510 A

  However, as described above, in the vehicular lamp, in order to irradiate far away, the light from the light source must be converged in the form of a beam. For this purpose, a reflector such as a paraboloidal system or an elliptical system is used. As a result, the light is converged in the form of a beam, which causes problems such as illusion to the driver of the oncoming vehicle, and the shape of the light distribution characteristic is regulated such as not generating upward light rays. ing.

  Due to this regulation, light from the lower half of filaments and discharge arcs is almost completely shielded by hoods, light-shielding plates, etc., even in vehicle lighting fixtures that employ either parabolic or elliptical reflectors. At this point, the luminous flux utilization factor for the light source is reduced to 50%. Furthermore, it is impossible to surround the entire circumference of the light source with the reflector, and naturally the light beam capture rate is reduced, and the light beam utilization rate is substantially about ¼, and further improvement in utilization efficiency is desired. It was.

  As a specific means for solving the above-described conventional problems, the present invention includes a first light source, a light source, a first elliptical reflector, a first light shielding plate, and a first projection lens. A light fixture is configured, and an ellipsoid for light recovery having the light source as a first focal point and a second focal point at an appropriate upper position and in front of the light source is assumed, and the first projector lamp is separated from the light source. The position below the light source that is not sufficiently used as the irradiation light and the position that is in front of the light source and obliquely above the position that does not interfere with the reflected light from the first elliptical reflector Arranges a reflector for light collection along the ellipsoid for light collection and converges the light to the second focal point, and the second projector has the same irradiation direction as the first projector lamp corresponding to the second focal point. Elliptic reflector and second Providing a vehicular illumination lamp characterized by being provided with a light-shielding plate and a second projection lens, and provided with a second projector lamp, thereby improving luminous flux utilization efficiency for the light source and solving the problem To do.

  According to the present invention, apart from the elliptical reflector that is actually used for a vehicle lamp, a light source is the first focal point, and an elliptical surface for light recovery having a second focal point obliquely upward and forward is assumed, and The elliptical reflecting surface actually used, for example, below the light source, for example, below the light source, the light collecting elliptical surface is materialized and collected in a direction that is difficult to use as illumination light for vehicle lamps. Form a reflector.

  By doing so, the light converges on the second focal point of the light-collecting ellipsoid, so the second elliptical reflector, the second projection lens, etc. This makes it possible to collect light source light that has not been used in the past, to realize a brighter vehicle lamp with a light source of the same brightness, and to improve visibility during night driving. This has an extremely excellent effect on improving the performance of the vehicle lamp.

  Below, this invention is demonstrated in detail based on embodiment shown in a figure. What is indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is a vehicular lamp according to the present invention. The vehicular lamp 1 includes one light source 2 such as a halogen light bulb or a metal halide discharge lamp, and the light source 2 as a first focal point F1. And an elliptical reflector 3 having a reflective surface 3a such as a spheroidal surface provided with the major axis Z substantially horizontal, and a first light shielding plate provided in the vicinity of the second focal point F2 of the reflective surface 3a of the elliptical reflector 3 4 and the first projection lens 5 having a focal point in the vicinity of the first light shielding plate 4 constitute a first projector lamp 1A.

  Here, when the utilization state of the light from the light source 2 by the first projector lamp 1A is examined, as described in the section of “Background Art”, the light source 2 of the first elliptical reflector 3 is used. The light radiated toward the reflecting surface 3a provided on the upper side becomes downward light to converge after being reflected by the reflecting surface 3a. On the other hand, assuming that the reflection surface 3b having the same focal points F1 and F2 as the reflection surface 3a is provided on the lower side of the light source 2 of the first elliptical reflector 3, the light emitted downward is reflected by the reflection. After being reflected on the surface 3a, the light is directed upward to converge on the second focal point. Since the upward light is a cause of dazzling, it is shielded by the first light shielding plate 4 and hardly reaches the first projection lens 5. Therefore, when the reflecting surface 3b is provided, the light utilization rate at this portion is very low.

  Further, the luminous flux capture rate of the first elliptical reflector 3 that is reflected by the reflecting surface 3a of the first elliptical reflector 3 and converges to the second focal point F2 at an angle that can be incident on the first projection lens 5 is also large. Direct light from the light source 2 that passes between the first elliptical reflector 3 and the first projection lens 5 and direct light from the light source 2 that is directly incident on the first projection lens 5. Becomes light that diffuses after passing through the first projection lens 5 and cannot be used as illumination light.

  Therefore, the light from the light source 2 that can be used as the illumination light by the first projector lamp 1 </ b> A is only an amount of light in a range that is reflected by the substantially upper half of the first elliptical reflector 3. In view of this point, in the present invention, the light source 2 is the first focal point F1, the second focal point F21 is located in front of and appropriately above the first focal point F1, that is, the long axis Z2 is the traveling direction of the vehicle. For example, a light recovery ellipsoid 6 that is a spheroid is assumed.

  As is clear from the above description, the light recovery ellipsoid 6 is virtually set, and therefore the light recovery ellipsoid 6 can be seen as a whole. Although not provided, as will be described later, when a part is materialized as the collection reflector 7, the part of the materialized collection reflector 7 (a, b) can be seen as a part. .

  Here, if the place where the said reflector 7 (a, b) for collection | recovery is demonstrated, the light from the light source 2 will be used as the irradiation light of the said 1st ellipsoidal reflector 1 for the illumination lamp 1 for vehicles. More specifically, it is a place where the light cannot be efficiently reflected. Specifically, even if the light is reflected by the first elliptical reflector 3, the light is mostly blocked by the first light shielding plate 4 and does not reach the first projection lens 5. A direction from the light source 2 to the lower side and a direction from the light source 2 to the front and the upper side are representative.

  Therefore, if the reflectors 7a and 7b for recovery are provided in the above-mentioned two locations along the light recovery ellipsoid 6, they are emitted as invalid light downward from the light source by one of the reflectors 7a for recovery. The light of the light source 2 that has been ineffective in forming the light distribution characteristic is obtained by the other light reflecting reflector 7b that directly reaches the first projection lens 5 and diffuses. The light converges on the second focal point F21 of the light recovery ellipsoid 6.

  The two locations provided with the recovery reflectors 7a and 7b described above are examples of typical positions. The positions are limited to the above two locations as long as the positions are along the light recovery ellipsoid 6. is not. In addition to the collection reflectors 7a and 7b, a second elliptical reflector 8 having the second focal point F21 as the first focal point is provided, and the second elliptical reflector 8 has a second focal point F22 in the vicinity of the second focal point F22. The second light-shielding plate 4A is provided, and a second projection lens 5A having a focal point is disposed in the vicinity of the second light-shielding plate 4A, and the second axis having the long axis Z3 substantially horizontal as in the first projector lamp 1A. The projector lamp 1B is configured.

  By doing so, the reflected light from the recovery reflectors 7a and 7b is reflected from the second elliptical reflector 8 having the second focal point F21 of the light recovery elliptical surface 6 as a light source. The light unnecessary for the light distribution characteristic is shielded by the plate 4A, and is projected as the irradiation light of the vehicular illumination lamp 1 from the second projection lens 5A, and is thus captured by the collection reflectors 7a and 7b. The amount of light is increased by the amount that is performed.

  At this time, in installing the collection reflectors 7 a and 7 b, in particular, positional interference with the first elliptical reflector 3 is prevented and the collection reflector 7 b is connected to the first projection lens 5. Care is taken not to block the optical path of the reflected light from the first elliptical reflector 3 that reaches. The first elliptical reflector 3, the collection reflector 7a, and the second elliptical reflector 8 are preferably integrated.

  Here, the shape of the light source 2 and the installation direction in the present invention will be considered. The longitudinal direction of the light emitting portion of the light source 2 with respect to the main irradiation direction of the vehicle lamp (the HV crossing direction in FIG. 8), for example, the filament 2a in the case of an incandescent bulb, An arrangement provided so as to be parallel to the vertical direction is defined as a vertical arrangement, and an arrangement provided so as to be orthogonal to the main irradiation direction is defined as a horizontal arrangement. 2 and 3 are schematic views showing the situation of the reflector and the light source in the case of the vertical arrangement, and FIG. 2 shows a vertical section with the lamp mounted on the vehicle, and the left direction in the drawing Is the main irradiation direction. FIG. 3 conceptually shows the state in which the filament is projected when the reflector is viewed from the front.

  4 and 5 are schematic views showing the situation of the reflecting mirror and the light source when the filament 2a is placed horizontally, and FIG. 4 is a vertical view with the lamp mounted on the vehicle in the same manner as described above. A direction cross section is shown, and the left direction in the drawing is the main irradiation direction. FIG. 5 conceptually shows the state in which the filament is projected when the reflector is viewed from the front, as in the case of the vertical arrangement. 2 and 4, the reference numeral 41 indicates a light shielding plate, and the reference numeral 51 indicates a projection lens. In addition, as a light bulb that can be easily placed vertically, a light bulb that is connected in the shape shown as C-8 type in JIS standard C7711 may be adopted. What is necessary is just to employ | adopt the light bulb in which the connection was made in the shape shown as C-6 type in the same standard.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows a state of light directly projected from a reflector having the filament arranged vertically, that is, before the light distribution shape is adjusted by the light shielding plate 41 and the projection lens 51. State. As is clear from the front view of FIG. 3, in the case of the vertical arrangement, the filament image is reflected radially to the reflecting mirror, so that the projection projected by the projection lens 51 has a longitudinal direction in each direction. The inclined filament images G1 are overlapped, and as a result, there is a tendency to form a wide beam shape in the vertical direction.

  Therefore, there is a lot of upward light that is cut by the light shielding plate 41, and there is also more light that goes downward, in other words, light that irradiates immediately in front of the vehicle. As a result, the immediately preceding road surface becomes brighter than necessary. Because the driver's pupil is narrowed and the visibility is lowered, it becomes difficult to check far away, so it becomes necessary to cut the light amount not only for upward light but also for the short distance side, The loss of light intensity further increases.

  However, as is apparent from FIG. 2, most of the light emitted from the filament is reflected by the reflecting mirror and once converges on the second focal point and then travels toward the lens 51. Therefore, the light flux capturing rate with respect to the light source is excellent. It can be said that

  FIG. 7 schematically shows the state of the light projected from the reflecting mirror in which the filament is placed horizontally. As is apparent from the front view of FIG. Is reflected on the reflecting mirror as a horizontal line or a circular arc (shown as being linear) in the reflecting mirror, so that the shape of the image G2 of the light source is also a substantially horizontal line. It becomes a shape, and it becomes a narrow beam shape up and down.

  Accordingly, the amount of upward light to be cut by the light shielding plate 41 may be small, and there is no bright light that irradiates the front of the vehicle. Therefore, it is not necessary to take special measures for that, and the amount of light to be cut is small. It will be a thing. However, as is apparent from FIG. 4, direct light reaching the lens from the filament without passing through the reflecting mirror is generated, so that the light beam capture rate with respect to the light source is inferior to that of the vertically arranged filament.

  What improves this point is the configuration of the present invention. As described above, the light emitted from the light source and incident on the projection lens 5 without being reflected by the reflecting surface 3a of the reflector 3 is as follows. The light is recovered by the recovery reflector 7b provided according to the present invention, and is emitted as illumination light from the second projection lens 5A via the second elliptical reflector 8. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present invention, even when the filament is arranged horizontally, no light loss caused by the filament can occur.

  FIG. 8 shows a state of formation of a passing light distribution characteristic by the vehicular illumination lamp 1 according to the configuration of the present invention. For example, in a passing light distribution for left-hand traffic, a road sign on the road side is confirmed. However, in the present invention, the light distribution shape D1 including the elbow portion includes the light source 2 that emits light in almost all directions. The first elliptical reflector 3, the first light shielding plate 4, and the first projection lens 5 are formed on the first focal point.

  The second ellipsoidal reflector 8, the second light shielding plate 4A, and the second projection lens 5A side having the second focal point of the ellipsoid 6 for light recovery as the position of the first focal point are, for example, below the horizontal line. A portion having no strict definition in terms of shape, such as the elbow portion described above, such as the light distribution shape D2 spreading in the left-right direction is formed.

  According to the present invention, since the vehicular illumination lamp 1 has the above-described configuration, light that has not been conventionally used among light emitted from the light source is captured by the collecting reflectors 7a and 7b, and the captured light is captured. Assume that the second elliptical reflector 8, the second light shielding plate 4A, and the second projection lens 5A project in the irradiation direction and can be used as irradiation light.

  Therefore, the luminous flux utilization factor with respect to the light source 2 is improved, and even when the same light source is used, a brighter vehicle illumination lamp 1 can be realized. For example, a light source with less power consumption can be replaced. For example, energy savings can be improved.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a vehicular illumination lamp according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing shown in the cross section along a long axis which shows the relationship between the filament (or arc) of a vertical arrangement | positioning (C-8), and a reflector. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the filament (or arc) of a vertical arrangement | positioning, and a reflector from the front. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the filament (or arc) of a horizontal type | mold arrangement | positioning (C-6), and a reflector in the cross section along a long axis. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the filament (or arc) of a horizontal type | mold, and a reflector from the front. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic light distribution condition by the filament and reflector of a vertical arrangement | positioning. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic light distribution situation by the filament and reflector of a horizontal type | mold arrangement | positioning. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the state of formation of the light distribution characteristic by the vehicle lighting device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle illumination lamp 1A ... 1st projector lamp 1B ... 2nd projector lamp 2 ... Light source 2a ... Filament 3 ... 1st elliptical reflector 4 ... 1st light-shielding plate 4A ... 2nd light-shielding plate 5 ... 1st projection lens 5A ... 2nd projection lens 6 ... Ellipsoid for light recovery 7a, 7b ... Reflector for recovery 8 ... Second elliptical reflector

Claims (3)

  A first light source, a light source, a first elliptical reflector, a first light-shielding plate, and a first projection lens, the first projector lamp, and the first projector lamp. A second projector lamp comprising a second elliptical reflector having a second focal point, a second light shielding plate, and a second projection lens, and the second ellipse with the light source as the first focal point. Assuming an ellipsoid for light recovery having the first focal point of the system reflector as the second focus, a position lower than the light source of the ellipsoid for light recovery and the first ellipsoidal reflector A vehicular illumination lamp comprising a collection reflector along the elliptical surface at a position where interference with reflected light does not occur. Before SL source vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein, characterized in that there is a C-6 arrangement (horizontal placement) to the long axis of the first elliptical reflector.   The second projector lamp composed of the second focal point, the second elliptical reflector, the second light shielding plate, and the second projection lens rotates in the horizontal direction around the second focal point. 3. The vehicular illumination lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular illumination lamp is movable.

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