JP5278208B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp used in a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp that can improve a design effect when the lamp is turned on.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vehicular lamp such as a headlamp or a marker lamp used for a vehicle such as an automobile, a semiconductor such as an LED as a light source is provided in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front lens in order to reduce the size. There has been proposed a lamp including a light source unit (hereinafter, referred to as an LED) and a light source unit having a reflector that guides light emitted from the LED to the front of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in order to enhance the design effect at the time of lighting, a light guide plate is provided in the lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the front lens, on the front side of the sub LED and the sub LED, and in the front-rear direction of the lamp. A vehicular lamp is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In the vehicular lamp known from Patent Document 2, the light emitted from the sub LED is taken into the light guide plate from the rear end surface side, and the light is guided to the front end surface side while repeatedly reflecting inside the light guide plate. The light is emitted from the front end face of the light guide plate. In addition, when light is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide plate, the light is diffused and viewed from the outside of the lamp as if the entire light guide plate emits light, thereby enhancing the design effect. Is.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-305575. JP 2006-236588 A.

  However, in the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 2 described above, all of the light emitted from the sub LED is taken into the light guide plate, and the light guide is repeatedly reflected and diffused in the light guide body many times. Since the light is guided to the front end face side, light attenuation occurs, clear light emission cannot be obtained, and the design effect cannot be sufficiently exhibited. Further, the sub LED and the light guide plate are not used as a daytime running lamp.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to be applied to a lamp such as an automotive headlamp or a sign to enhance the design effect when the lamp is turned on. Another object is to provide a vehicular lamp that also functions as a daytime running lamp.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicular lamp according to the present invention includes a semiconductor light-emitting element as a light source and light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element in the front of the vehicle in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front lens. A vehicular lamp including a light source unit having a reflector for guiding the light source, the light guide disposed on substantially the extension of the reflector, and a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element disposed on the rear side of the light guide. The light guide includes a convex lens portion that projects light emitted from the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element toward the front of the vehicle, and from one side of the convex lens portion toward the front of the lamp. A flat light guide is provided that extends to the vicinity of the rear surface of the front lens and that emits light emitted from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element from the front end surface to the front of the lamp.

  According to this configuration, the convex lens portion of the light guide in the sub-light source unit converges the emitted light incident on the convex lens portion from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element and projects it forward of the vehicle, and can be used as a daytime running lamp. Further, in the convex lens portion, even if the sub semiconductor light emitting element is disposed at a deep position in the vehicle lamp, a part of the light from the sub semiconductor light emitting element is projected forward of the vehicle to obtain a sufficient light distribution. Make it possible. On the other hand, the light guide part in the sub light source unit is a part of the light emitted from the sub semiconductor light emitting element and repeatedly reflected and diffused inside the light guide part. Then, the light is guided to the vicinity of the rear surface of the front lens, and the entire light guide portion appears to emit light. Thereby, in the sub light source unit, the light passing through the convex lens part can be used as daytime running lamp light, and the light from the light guide part can be used as decoration light by expanding the light emitting area. Further, due to the arrangement of the light guide, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element as the light source is hidden by the light guide so that it cannot be directly seen from the front.

  In the above-described configuration, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element and the light guide are divided into two upper and lower stages, and a plurality of upper-side light guides are arranged on the upper-side sub-semiconductor light-emitting element and the lower-stage side. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the lower light guide unit is disposed between the sub semiconductor light emitting elements and the lower light guide unit is disposed corresponding to the lower side of the lower sub light emitting elements.

  According to this configuration, from the front of the vehicle, the light that passes through the convex lens portion on the extension of the reflector and the light that is guided by the light guide portion can be visually recognized in two separate upper and lower stages.

  In the above configuration, a plurality of the upper-side sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements and the lower-side sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements are arranged in a horizontally long row, and the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element rows in each stage The convex lens portions of the light guides respectively installed on the front surface of the light guide are formed as horizontally long cylindrical lenses, and the flat light guide portions are formed in a horizontally long shape along one side of the cylindrical lenses. The configuration can be adopted.

  According to this configuration, the light column passing through the horizontally long cylindrical lens on the extension of the reflector and the light column guided by the light guide plate are divided into two upper and lower stages and can be visually recognized simultaneously.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The position of the front-end surface of the said lower side light guide part can employ | adopt the structure protruded ahead of the vehicle from the position of the front-end surface of the said upper side light guide part.

  According to this configuration, the position of the front end surface of the lower-stage light guide unit projects forward of the vehicle from the position of the front end surface of the upper-stage light guide unit. The side light guide section is not hidden by the upper stage light guide section, and visibility can be improved.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The said light guide can employ | adopt the structure formed integrally with the said reflector.

  According to this configuration, by forming the light guide integrally with the reflector, the vehicle lamp can be made compact and the number of parts can be reduced, and the vehicle lamp can be downsized and the number of work steps can be reduced.

  In the above-described configuration, the plurality of sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements can employ a configuration in which a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element having a white emission color and a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element having a blue emission color are appropriately arranged.

  According to this configuration, by appropriately arranging the sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements that emit white light and the sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements that emit blue light, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements can be visually recognized without distinction between day and night, and visibility can be improved.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The light guide part of the said light guide body can employ | adopt the structure formed by arrange | positioning in the position where the emitted light from the semiconductor light-emitting device in the said main light source unit injects.

  According to this configuration, even if the sub semiconductor light emitting element of the sub light source unit is not lit, if the semiconductor light emitting element in the main light source unit emits light, the light emitted from the main light source unit is guided to the light guide. The light guide portion enters a pseudo-light emission state and contributes to the expansion of the light emission area.

  According to the present invention, the daytime running lamp by the light that passes through the convex lens portion on the extension of the reflector and the light that is simulated and emitted by the light guide portion can be simultaneously viewed from the front of the vehicle. In addition, the light guide section emits pseudo light while showing a wide light emission area by reflecting and diffusing light inside the light guide section, so that the decorative effect at the time of lighting the lamp can be improved and the design effect can be enhanced. In addition, since the sub-semiconductor light emitting element, which is a light source, is hidden by the light guide so as not to be directly seen from the front by the arrangement of the light guide, the design effect can be further enhanced.

The front view of the vehicular lamp which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. The B section enlarged view of FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2, the vehicular lamp is exemplified by a fog lamp. In the following description, the left and right direction left side in FIG. 2 is assumed to be the front, the right side is the rear, the up and down direction is the top and bottom, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is the left and right.

  In the figure, a fog lamp 1 has a lamp chamber 4 defined by a lamp body 2 and a front lens 3 made of a transparent cover attached to the front opening of the lamp body 2. The main light source unit 5 and the decorative sub light source unit 6 are internally provided. In FIG. 1, the front lens 3 is shown in a virtual state in order to easily show the arrangement state of the components housed in the lamp chamber 4.

  The main light source unit 5 includes two semiconductor light emitting elements 7, a reflector 8, and the like. The semiconductor light emitting element 7 uses, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element (LED in this embodiment) such as LED and EL (organic EL). In this embodiment, a structure in which two semiconductor light emitting elements 7 are provided apart from each other on the left and right sides is disclosed. However, the number of semiconductor light emitting elements 7 may be one or more, and the number is appropriately selected. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the semiconductor light emitting element 7 includes a rectangular substrate 9, a minute rectangular semiconductor chip 10 fixed to one surface of the substrate 9, and a hemispherical light transmitting member that covers the semiconductor chip 10. 11. The semiconductor light emitting element 7 is fixed to the lamp body 2 via a bracket 17 so that the light transmission member 11 faces downward. That is, the other surface of the substrate 9 of the semiconductor chip 10 serving as a light emitting element is fixed to the lower surface of the bracket 17.

  The reflector 8 is composed of a light-transmitting resin member or the like, and has a shape in which a front portion and an upper portion are open and other portions are closed. The reflector 8 is provided with a reflecting surface 12 having an aluminum vapor deposition or silver coating on the concave inner surface, and the light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting elements 7 and 7 is reflected by the reflecting surface 12 so as to be of a diffusion type. The light is emitted to the outside (in front of the vehicle) as a light distribution pattern.

  The decorative sub light source unit 6 is divided into two upper and lower stages, and includes an upper sub light source unit 6U and a lower sub light source unit 6D disposed below the upper sub light source unit 6U. Provided on the lower side of the front opening portion of the reflector 8. The upper side light source unit 6U and the lower side light source unit 6D are arranged on the front side of the plurality of sub semiconductor light emitting elements 13 and the semiconductor light emitting elements 13 corresponding to the sub semiconductor light emitting elements 13. The upper light guide part 14A and the lower light guide part 14B are provided.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the sub-light source unit 6U on the upper stage side is provided with four sub-semiconductor light emitting elements 13 spaced apart from each other in rows, and the sub-light source unit part 6D on the lower stage side. The three sub-semiconductor light emitting elements 13 are arranged in a row apart from each other. Note that the number of the semiconductor light emitting elements 13 is appropriately selected. In this embodiment, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 of the upper side sub-light source unit 6U uses a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element that emits white light, and the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 of the lower side sub-light source unit 6D emits blue light. A sub-semiconductor light emitting device is used. If the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 is monochromatic light, depending on the color, the visibility of either daytime or nighttime is inferior. However, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 that emits white light and the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element that emits blue light. By using 13, it can be visually recognized without distinction between day and night.

  The sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13 is fixed to the lamp body 2 via the substrate 18 so that the light emitting surface faces the front of the vehicle. As the semiconductor light emitting element 13, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element (LED in this embodiment) such as an LED or an EL (organic EL) is used.

  The light guide body 14 is made of the same light-transmitting resin material as the reflector 8, and is arranged on the lower end side of the front opening portion of the reflector 8 in order from the reflector 8 to the upper-stage light guide body portion 14 </ b> A. The lower light guide portion 14B is extended and provided integrally with the reflector 8. Each of the light guide portions 14A and 14B includes a convex lens portion 15 that projects the emitted light from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13 toward the front of the vehicle, and the one side portion of the convex lens portion 15 toward the front of the lamp. It has a flat light guide 16 that extends to the vicinity of the rear surface of the front lens 3 and that emits light emitted from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13 from the front end surface to the front of the lamp.

  That is, the convex lens portion 15 of the upper light guide body portion 14A and the convex lens portion 15 of the lower light guide body portion 14B are respectively connected to the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 and the lower-stage sub-light source of the upper-side sub light source unit portion 6U. As shown in FIG. 1, the unit part 6 </ b> D is arranged as a horizontally long cylindrical lens extending in a row in the left-right direction on the front side of the sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13. And each convex lens part 15 converges and radiate | emits the emitted light from each sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13, and forwards a vehicle, and functions as a daytime running lamp.

  On the other hand, the light guide portion 16 of the upper light guide portion 14A and the light guide portion 16 of the lower light guide portion 14B are one of the horizontally long cylindrical lenses (convex lens portion 15) as shown in FIG. It is arrange | positioned as a plate-shaped light guide part made into the horizontally long shape extended in the left-right direction along the side. The light guide section 16 of the upper light guide section 14A is installed between the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the upper sub light source unit section 6U and the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the lower sub light source unit section 6D. The light guide 16 of the lower light guide body 14B is disposed below the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the lower sub light source unit 6D.

  In addition, when the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 emits light, the light guide portions 16 receive light emitted from the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 from the rear end face 16b and the side surfaces as shown in FIG. Is guided to the front end surface 16a, that is, the vicinity of the rear surface of the front lens 3 while being reflected and diffused inside. And the whole light guide part 16 light-emits pseudo | simulated light, and it can visually recognize as if the whole light guide part 16 is light-emitting.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each light guide 16 is provided corresponding to a position in the main light source unit 5 that allows light from the semiconductor light emitting element 7 to be incident. The position of the front end face 16a of the lower light guide section 16 is provided so as to protrude forward from the position of the front end face 16a of the light guide section 16 on the upper stage side. The protruding amount is such that the lower light guide unit 16 is not hidden by the upper light guide unit 16 when the vehicular lamp is viewed obliquely from the upper front side.

  Next, the operation of the fog lamp which is a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described. First, the semiconductor light emitting element 7 of the main light source unit 5 and the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the sub light source unit 6 are each turned on. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the light L1 emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element 7 of the main light source unit 5 is reflected by the reflecting surface 12 of the reflector 8 toward the front lens 3, and further passes through the front lens 3. It is irradiated outside (in front of the vehicle) and functions as a fog lamp or the like.

  On the other hand, the light L2 emitted from the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the sub light source unit 6 is incident on the convex lens portion 15 and the light guide portion 16 of the light guide 14 as shown in FIG. The convex lens unit 15 converges the incident light and projects it forward of the vehicle to function as a daytime running lamp. On the other hand, in the light guide unit 16, a part of the light incident from the rear end surface 16b and the side surface is repeatedly reflected and diffused in the light guide unit 16, and the front end surface 16a (front lens) is enlarged while repeating this to enlarge the light emitting area. 3 in the vicinity of the rear surface of the light guide 3 and the entire light guide 16 is shown in a light-emitting state. Thereby, the light irradiated through the convex lens part 15 can be used as a daytime running lamp, and the light from the light guide part 16 can be used for enlargement of the light emitting area and for decoration.

  As described above, in the Foglan 1 of this embodiment, the light that can be used as a daytime running lamp passing through the convex lens portion 15 on the extension of the reflector 8 and the pseudo light emission of the light guide portion 16 in the light guide plate 14 are reflected. Can be obtained on an extension of. In addition, since the light guide section 16 emits pseudo light while showing a wide light emitting area by reflection / diffusion of light inside the light guide section 16, the decorativeness at the time of lighting the lamp is improved, and the design effect can be enhanced. At the same time, the light guide 14 is disposed on the front side of the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 and the convex lens portion 15 is disposed behind the light-guide unit 16 so that the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 cannot be directly seen from the front. Since it is hidden, the design effect is further enhanced.

  The sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 and the light guide 14 are each divided into two upper and lower stages and arranged in a horizontally long row, and the upper-side light guide 16 is connected to the upper-side sub-semiconductor light emission. Since it is installed between the element 13 and the sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13 on the lower stage side, the light projected from the convex lens portion 15 on the extension of the reflector 8 and the light guide portion 16 are guided from the front of the vehicle. The light is divided into two upper and lower stages and can be seen simultaneously, further enhancing the design effect.

  Further, since the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 having a white emission color and the blue sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 13 are used as the sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements, the sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements can be viewed without distinction between day and night, and visibility is improved.

  Further, since the light guide portion 16 of the light guide 14 is provided at the position where the light of the semiconductor light emitting element 7 in the main light source unit 5 is incident, the sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 of the sub light source unit 6 is lit. Even if there is no light, if the semiconductor light emitting element 7 in the main light source unit 5 emits light, the light from the main light source unit 5 enters the light guide part 16 of the light guide 14 and the light guide part 16 emits pseudo light. This contributes to the expansion of the light emitting area.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sub-semiconductor light emitting element 13 having a white emission color is used for the upper light guide part 14A, and the blue sub semiconductor light emitting element 13 is used for the lower light guide part 14B. Although the above structure has been disclosed, white and blue may be alternately arranged in each of the upper and lower stages.

  Although this invention demonstrated the case where it applied to a fog lamp, it is applicable also as a vehicle lamp of a headlamp or a marker lamp.

1 Fog lamp (vehicle lamp)
2 Lamp body 3 Front lens 4 Lamp chamber 5 Main light source unit 6 Sub light source unit 6U Upper sub light source unit 6D Lower sub light source unit 7 Semiconductor light emitting element 8 Reflector 9 Substrate 10 Semiconductor chip 11 Light transmitting member 12 Reflection Surface 13 Sub-semiconductor light-emitting element 14 Light guide 14A Upper light guide part 14B Lower light guide part 15 Convex lens part 16 Light guide part 16a Front end face 16b Rear end face 17 Bracket 18 Substrate

Claims (7)

A vehicular lamp having a light source unit having a semiconductor light emitting element as a light source and a reflector for guiding emitted light from the semiconductor light emitting element to the front of the vehicle in a lamp room defined by a lamp body and a front lens. And
A sub-light source unit having a light guide disposed substantially over the reflector and a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element disposed on the rear side of the light guide;
The light guide is a convex lens part for projecting light emitted from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element toward the front of the vehicle, and from one side of the convex lens part to the front of the lamp to the vicinity of the rear surface of the front lens. A vehicular lamp characterized by having a flat light guide portion that is extended and emits light emitted from the sub-semiconductor light emitting element from the front end face to the front of the lamp.   The sub-semiconductor light-emitting element and the light guide are divided into two upper and lower stages, and a plurality of upper-side light guides are arranged on the upper-side sub-semiconductor light-emitting element and the lower-side sub-semiconductor light-emitting element. 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lower light guide portion is disposed corresponding to a lower side of the lower sub-semiconductor light emitting element.   The upper-stage sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements and the lower-stage sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements are respectively installed in a horizontally long row, and are respectively disposed in front of the sub-semiconductor light-emitting element rows in the respective stages. The convex lens portion of the light guide to be installed is formed as a horizontally long cylindrical lens, and the flat light guide portion is formed in a horizontally long shape along one side of the cylindrical lens. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2. 4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a position of a front end surface of the lower light guide portion is provided so as to protrude forward of the vehicle from a position of a front end surface of the upper light guide portion. Lamps.   The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the light guide is formed integrally with the reflector.   6. The plurality of sub-semiconductor light-emitting elements are formed by appropriately arranging a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element having a white emission color and a sub-semiconductor light-emitting element having a blue emission color. The vehicle lamp according to any one of the above.   The light guide section of the light guide is provided at a position where light emitted from a semiconductor light emitting element is incident on the main light source unit. A vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 and 6.

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