JP4654928B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicular lamp such as a headlamp, a fog lamp, or a swivel lamp that irradiates light on the front or side of a vehicle to illuminate the road surface on the front or side of the vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that can effectively use light that is normally invalid light.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a vehicular lamp that is a projector-type vehicular lamp that can effectively use light that is normally invalid light (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle lamp will be described. A conventional vehicular lamp includes a reflection surface, a light source, a shade, and a projection lens, and an opening is provided in the shade, and a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface are provided at an edge of the opening. Are provided.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional vehicle lamp will be described. When the light source is turned on, light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting surface, a part of the reflected light is cut off by the shade, and the remaining reflected light is projected from the projection lens in a predetermined main light distribution pattern. On the other hand, a part of the reflected light cut off by the shade is transmitted from the opening of the shade, reflected by the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, and projected from the projection lens with a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern. Thus, the conventional vehicular lamp is a reflected light that is cut off by the shade, and can effectively use a part of the light that is normally invalid light.

  However, in the conventional vehicle lamp, light distribution control is performed so that a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern is obtained by using the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface, and the projection lens for a part of the reflected light cut off by the shade. To do. Therefore, in order to obtain a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern, the conventional vehicular lamp has a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface for reflecting reflected light transmitted from the opening of the shade in a predetermined direction. It is necessary to manufacture the surface with high accuracy, and it is also necessary to manufacture a projection lens for projecting both the predetermined main light distribution pattern and the predetermined sub light distribution pattern with high accuracy. Thus, it is difficult for the conventional vehicular lamp to control the light distribution of a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern using the first and second reflection surfaces and the projection lens having a simple structure.

Utility Model Registration No. 2588658

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that in a conventional vehicle lamp, light distribution control of a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern is performed by the first and second reflection surfaces and the projection lens having a simple structure. It is difficult.

According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), the main light distribution is obtained by allowing the reflected light from the unshielded reflecting surface to pass through the shade that shields part of the direct light from the light source and the reflected light from the reflecting surface. A main opening for forming a light pattern is provided , and a light transmitting part for transmitting part of the direct light from the light source to the outside through the periphery of the projection lens is provided in the shade and the frame member, respectively. A sub-lens for emitting a part of direct light from the light source transmitted from the portion to the outside in a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern is disposed around the projection lens.

Further, the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) is a lens in which the sub lens has a substantially L-shaped cross section and emits the sub light distribution pattern to substantially the end of the main light distribution pattern. To do.

  Furthermore, the present invention (the invention according to claim 3) is characterized in that the lens is a lens that emits the sub light distribution pattern to substantially the center of the main light distribution pattern.

  The vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) controls the light distribution so that a predetermined sub light distribution pattern is obtained by using a sub lens for a part of the direct light from the light source. For this reason, in order to obtain a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern, the vehicle lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) provides a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern with a part of the direct light from the light source outside. A sub-lens for emitting light is required. As described above, the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) uses a sub lens having a simple structure as compared with the first reflecting surface, the second reflecting surface and the projection lens of the conventional vehicular lamp. The light distribution control of a predetermined sub light distribution pattern can be performed.

Further, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) can emit the sub light distribution pattern to substantially the end of the main light distribution pattern by the sub lens having a simple structure. Further, in the vehicular lamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), the sub lens has a substantially L-shaped cross section and is arranged around the projection lens. Even if the sub-lens is provided, it does not have a great influence on the compactness that is a characteristic effect of the projector-type lamp.

  Furthermore, the vehicular lamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 3) can emit the sub light distribution pattern to substantially the center of the main light distribution pattern by the sub lens having a simple structure.

  Below, two examples of the Example of the vehicle lamp concerning this invention are demonstrated in detail based on an accompanying drawing. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  1 to 3 show Embodiment 1 of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment will be described. In the drawings, the symbol “F” indicates the front side of the vehicle (the forward direction side of the vehicle). The symbol “B” indicates the rear side of the vehicle. The symbol “U” indicates the upper side when the front side is viewed from the driver side. The symbol “D” indicates the lower side when the front side is viewed from the driver side. The symbol “L” indicates the left side when the front side is viewed from the driver side. The symbol “R” indicates the right side when the front side is viewed from the driver side. The symbol “VU-VD” indicates vertical lines on the top and bottom of the screen. The symbol “HL-HR” indicates the left and right horizontal lines and the left and right horizontal lines of the screen.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicular lamp according to the first embodiment. The vehicle lamp 1 is, for example, a projector-type four-lamp type headlamp for low-pass. The vehicular lamp 1 includes a reflecting surface 2 and a reflector 3, a light source 4, a projection lens (condensing lens, convex lens) 5, a frame member 6, a shade 7, and a sub lens 8. . The vehicular lamp 1 is a lamp that is mounted on the right side of the front part of an automobile (not shown), and the vehicular lamp that is mounted on the left side of the front part of the automobile is substantially left and right with the vehicular lamp 1. Symmetric.

  The reflector 3 has a shape in which a front side is opened and a rear side, an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side are closed. A through hole 9 through which the light source 4 is inserted is provided at the center of the rear part of the reflector 3. The reflector 3 is fixedly held on the frame member 6. On the inner concave surface of the reflector 3, aluminum deposition or silver coating is applied, and the free-form reflecting surface 2 based on an elliptical surface is provided. The reflective surface 2 has a first focal point F1 and a second focal point (not shown). The free curved surface (NURBS curved surface) of the reflective surface 2 is a NURBS free curved surface (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline Surface) described in “Mathematical Elemennts for Computer Graphics” (Devid F. Rogers, J Alan Adams). ).

  The light source 4 is, for example, a halogen bulb, a discharge lamp (a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID)), or an incandescent bulb. The light source 4 is detachably attached to the reflector 3 via a socket mechanism 10. The light emitting unit 11 of the light source 4 (filament in the case of a halogen bulb or incandescent bulb, discharge arc in the case of a discharge lamp) is located at or near the first focal point F1 of the reflecting surface 2 of the reflector 3. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11 of the light source 4 is reflected by the reflecting surface 2 toward the second focal point.

  The shade 7 shields direct light from the light source 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), a main opening 12 is provided at a substantially central portion of the shade 7. The lower edge of the main opening 12 is located at or near the second focal point of the reflecting surface 2. An edge (lower horizontal edge, oblique edge, upper horizontal edge) 13 is provided at the lower edge of the main opening 12. The shade 7 cuts off part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11 of the light source 4 and reflected by the reflecting surface 2. On the other hand, the main opening 12 forms the main light distribution pattern, for example, the light distribution pattern LP for passing shown in FIG. 3 by allowing the remaining reflected light of the reflected light cut off by the shade 7 to pass therethrough. It is. A cut-off line (upper horizontal cut-off line, oblique cut-off line, lower horizontal cut-off line) CL is formed on the upper edge of the light distribution pattern LP for passing by the edge 13 of the main opening 12 (see FIG. 3). ). The shade 7 is fixedly held on the frame member 6.

  The projection lens 5 is an aspheric lens, and the front side is a convex aspheric surface and the rear side is a flat aspheric surface. Although not shown, the projection lens 5 has a focal plane (meridional image plane) on the object space side in the vicinity of the second focal point of the reflecting surface 2. Further, the optical axis of the projection lens 5 substantially coincides with the optical axis of the reflecting surface 2. Further, the projection lens 5 is fixedly held by the frame member 6 on the front side of the second focal point of the reflecting surface 2 and the shade 7. The projection lens 5 is reflected light from the reflecting surface 2 and is reflected light other than the reflected light cut off by the shade 7, and the reflected light that has passed through the main opening 12 is passed by the passing lens 5. Is projected to the front outside as a light distribution pattern LP.

  On the right side of the shade 7 and below the main opening 12, a sub-opening 14 as a light transmission part is provided. The sub-opening 14 may have a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 2 (A), or may have a circular shape as shown in FIG. 2 (B), or a triangle. Or a square shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape of pentagon or more. Further, a sub cutout 15 as a light transmission portion is provided on the right side of the frame member 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the sub-opening 14 and the sub-cutout 15 are configured so that a part of the direct light SL from the light source 4 shielded by the shade 7 passes through the periphery (right side) of the projection lens 5 to the outside. It is made to pass through.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sub lens 8 has a substantially L-shaped cross section (horizontal section). The sub lens 8 is disposed around the right side of the projection lens 5. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sub-lens 8 has a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern in which a part SL of the direct light from the light source 4 transmitted from the sub-opening 14 and the sub-notch 15 is externally transmitted. It is a sub-lens (optical lens) that emits SPR to substantially the right end of the main light distribution pattern LP. The sub-lens 8 is provided with a light diffusing portion that diffuses a part of the direct light SL from the light source 4 to the left and right, for example, a prism element group (not shown) of a light diffusing system. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub lens in the vehicular lamp mounted on the left side of the front portion of the automobile emits a predetermined sub light distribution pattern SPL to the substantially left end portion of the main light distribution pattern LP.

  The vehicular lamp 1 (projector type lamp unit) configured as described above has a lamp chamber (not shown) defined by a lamp housing (not shown) and a lamp lens (not shown) such as a transparent outer lens. (Not shown) is arranged so that the optical axis can be adjusted via an optical axis adjusting device (not shown).

  The vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  First, the light source 4 is turned on. Then, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 11 of the light source 4 is reflected by the reflecting surface 2. The reflected light is collected at the second focal point of the reflecting surface 2. A part of the collected reflected light is cut off by the shade 7. The remaining reflected light that has not been cut off passes through the main opening 12 of the shade 7, is diffused, and is irradiated to the outside front through the projection lens 5. As a result, the light distribution pattern LP for passing shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. A cut-off line CL is formed at the upper edge of the light distribution pattern LP for passing by the edge 13 of the main opening 12 of the shade 7.

  At the same time, the direct light from the light source 4 that is normally invalid light is shielded by the shade 7, but a part SL of the direct light passes through the sub-opening 14 of the shade 7 and the frame member 6. And reaches the right sub lens 8 around the projection lens 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub lens 8 has a main light distribution pattern as a predetermined sub light distribution pattern SPR with a part SL of the direct light from the light source 4 transmitted through the sub opening 14 and the sub cutout 15. The light is emitted to the almost right end of the LP. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub-lens in the vehicular lamp mounted on the left side of the front part of the automobile has a part of the direct light from the light source transmitted through the sub-opening and the sub-cutout part. The sub light distribution pattern SPL is emitted to the substantially left end portion of the main light distribution pattern LP.

  The vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment is configured and operated as described above, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  The vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment can effectively use a portion SL of direct light from the light source 4 that is normally disabled. Further, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment performs light distribution control so that predetermined sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL can be obtained by a sub lens 8 using a portion SL of direct light from the light source 4. is there. For this reason, in order to obtain predetermined sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment uses a part of direct light from the light source 4 to the outside as a predetermined sub light distribution. A sub-lens 8 for emitting light with the patterns SPR and SPL is necessary. As described above, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment has a predetermined structure by the sub lens 8 having a simple structure as compared with the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface, and the projection lens of the conventional vehicular lamp. The light distribution control of the sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL can be performed.

  Further, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment emits the sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL to the substantially right end and the substantially left end of the main light distribution pattern LP by the sub lens 8 having a simple structure. be able to. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment has the right road shoulder and the left side by the sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL emitted to the substantially right end and the substantially left end of the main light distribution pattern LP, respectively. The road shoulder visibility is improved, which can contribute to road safety.

  Further, in the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment, the sub lens 8 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is disposed around the projection lens 5 (on the right side). For this reason, even if the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment is provided with the sub-lens 8 separate from the projection lens 5, it has a great influence on compactness, which is a unique effect of the projector-type lamp. There is no such thing.

  4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same components. Hereinafter, the vehicular lamp 100 according to the second embodiment will be described.

  The vehicular lamp 100 according to the second embodiment uses a sub lens 80 different from the sub lens 8 of the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sub lens 80 has a predetermined sub light distribution pattern SPC outside a part SL of direct light from the light source 4 transmitted through the sub opening 14 and the sub cutout 15. This is a sub lens (optical lens) that emits light to substantially the center of the main light distribution pattern LP. The sub-lens 80 is provided with a light diffusing portion that diffuses a portion of direct light SL from the light source 4 to the left and right, for example, a prism element group (not shown) of a light diffusing system. As shown in FIG. 5, the sub-lens in the vehicular lamp mounted on the left side of the front part of the automobile emits a predetermined sub-light distribution pattern SPC to substantially the center of the main light distribution pattern LP.

  Since the vehicular lamp 100 according to the second embodiment is configured as described above, it is possible to achieve substantially the same operational effects as the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first embodiment. In particular, the vehicular lamp 100 according to the second embodiment can emit the sub light distribution pattern SPC to the substantially central portion of the main light distribution pattern LP by the sub lens 80 having a simple structure. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 100 according to the second embodiment has the visibility on the near side or the far side in the traveling direction of the vehicle by the sub light distribution pattern SPC emitted almost at the center of the main light distribution pattern LP. It can improve and contribute to road safety.

  In the first and second embodiments, a vehicle lamp such as a headlamp from which a light distribution pattern LP for passing is obtained will be described. However, in the present invention, as a predetermined main light distribution pattern, a headlamp or a light distribution pattern for a highway, a light distribution pattern for elementary driving, a light distribution pattern for fog, a light distribution pattern for a curved road, or the like can be obtained. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicular lamp such as a fog lamp or a swivel lamp.

  In the first and second embodiments, the shade 7 is provided with the sub-opening 14 as the light transmitting portion. However, in the present invention, as the light transmission part of the shade, a part other than the opening part of the first and second embodiments, for example, a notch or a transparent part may be provided.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the frame member 6 is provided with the sub cutout portion 15 as a light transmission portion. However, in the present invention, as the light transmission part of the frame member, other than the notch part of the first and second embodiments, for example, an opening or a transparent part may be provided.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the vehicular lamps 1 and 100 of the first and second embodiments can be swivel lamps that can be rotated to the left and right about a substantially vertical axis.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the vehicular lamp 1 according to the first and second embodiments is so obtained that the sub light distribution patterns SPR and SPL shown in FIG. 3 to the sub light distribution pattern SPC shown in FIG. , 100 sub lenses 8, 80 may be configured to be movable.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the sub lenses 8, 80 are provided on the right and left sides around the projection lens 5, so that the sub light distribution patterns SPR, SPL shown in FIG. 3 and the sub light distribution shown in FIG. A pattern SPC is obtained. However, in the present invention, a sub lens is provided at an arbitrary position around the projection lens 5 to obtain an arbitrary sub light distribution pattern (for example, a sub light distribution pattern for illuminating an overhead sign (overhead road sign)). You may be allowed to. In this case, the positions where the light transmission part (sub-opening part) of the shade and the light transmission part (sub-notch part) of the frame member are provided are appropriately set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a cross-sectional view (horizontal cross-sectional view) which shows Example 1 of the vehicle lamp concerning this invention. Similarly, it is a front view of a shade showing a sub-opening of the shade. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the light distribution pattern for passing of the main light distribution pattern, the left side sub light distribution pattern, and the right side sub light distribution pattern. It is a cross-sectional view (horizontal cross-sectional view) showing Example 2 of the vehicular lamp according to the present invention. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the light distribution pattern for passing of the main light distribution pattern, the left side sub light distribution pattern, and the right side sub light distribution pattern.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Vehicle lamp 2 Reflecting surface 3 Reflector 4 Light source 5 Projection lens 6 Frame member 7 Shade 8, 80 Sub lens 9 Through-hole 10 Socket mechanism 11 Light emission part 12 Main opening part 13 Edge 14 Sub opening part 15 Sub notch part LP Light distribution pattern for passing (predetermined main light distribution pattern)
CL Cut-off line SPL Left side sub-light distribution pattern SPR Right side sub-light distribution pattern SPC Center sub-light distribution pattern F1 First focal point of the reflective surface SL Part of direct light from the light source F Front side B Rear side U Upper side D Lower side L Left side R Right VU-VD Vertical vertical lines on the screen HL-HR Horizontal horizontal lines on the screen

Claims (3)

In projector-type vehicle lamps,
A reflective surface based on an ellipsoid;
A light source having a light emitting portion disposed at or near the first focal point of the reflecting surface;
A projection lens that projects the reflected light from the reflecting surface to the outside in a predetermined main light distribution pattern;
A frame member for holding and fixing the projection lens;
A main opening that shields part of the direct light from the light source and the reflected light from the reflecting surface, and forms the main light distribution pattern by allowing the reflected light from the reflecting surface that is not shielded to pass through. A shade provided with a section ,
A light transmissive part that is provided on each of the shade and the frame member, and transmits a part of the direct light from the light source to the outside through the periphery of the projection lens;
A sub lens that is disposed around the projection lens, and emits a part of the direct light from the light source transmitted from the light transmitting portion to the outside in a predetermined sub light distribution pattern;
A vehicular lamp characterized by comprising: 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sub lens has a substantially L-shaped cross section and is a lens that emits the sub light distribution pattern to a substantially end portion of the main light distribution pattern. Light fixture.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the sub lens is a lens that emits the sub light distribution pattern to a substantially central portion of the main light distribution pattern.

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