JP5406766B2 - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp. Specifically, the visible light other than red light emitted from the light emitting element for visible light, which makes red light emitted from the infrared light emitting element inconspicuous, is guided to a predetermined direction by the light guide body, thereby hindering light distribution control. The present invention relates to a technical field that aims to improve the degree of freedom in arrangement of visible light-emitting elements without coming.

  Some vehicle headlamps are used as an infrared projector in a detection system that detects the presence or absence of a pedestrian, an oncoming vehicle, a preceding vehicle, or the like by an infrared camera.

  For example, when the traveling speed of a vehicle becomes a certain speed or more, when infrared light is emitted from a vehicle headlamp used as an infrared projector and the front of the vehicle is irradiated, an image of an area irradiated by the infrared camera Alternatively, a video is shot, and the shot image or video is displayed on a display panel in a vehicle or a screen of a car navigation system. Therefore, information on the front side of the vehicle is transmitted to the driver to alert him / her.

  Such a vehicle headlamp has, for example, an infrared light emitting element that emits infrared light as a light source in order to detect the presence of an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle in front of the host vehicle. Yes. As the infrared light emitting element, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) is used, and infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element is reflected by a reflector and irradiated forward.

  In the vehicle headlamp having the infrared light emitting element described above, when infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting element, red visible light is reflected by the reflector and irradiated forward. In order to prevent the occurrence of misidentification due to visible light, it is necessary to make red light inconspicuous.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp as described above, a visible light emitting element that emits visible light other than red light, for example, white visible light, is disposed as a light source. When emitting external light, visible light other than red light is emitted simultaneously from the visible light emitting element, and red light is made inconspicuous by visible light other than red light (for example, Patent Document 1). As the visible light emitting element, for example, a light emitting diode is used as in the infrared light emitting element.

  In the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, an infrared light emitting element and a visible light emitting element are mounted side by side on a substrate, and the infrared light emitting element and the visible light emitting element are used. Visible light other than infrared light and red light is emitted at the same time, reflected by the reflector, and irradiated forward.

JP 2004-241138 A

  However, in the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, the infrared light emitting element and the visible light emitting element are mounted on the same substrate in a state where they are arranged in front and rear, There are problems that a light emitting element for visible light exists in the irradiation range, adversely affects the light distribution control of infrared light, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the light emitting element for visible light is low.

  Therefore, the vehicle headlamp of the present invention is intended to improve the degree of freedom in arrangement of the visible light emitting element while ensuring good light distribution control of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element. Let it be an issue.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle headlamp has a lamp unit disposed inside a lamp outer casing constituted by a cover and a lamp housing, and the lamp unit emits infrared light. A light emitting element for visible light, a light emitting element for visible light that emits visible light other than red light, a reflector that reflects forward the light emitted from the infrared light emitting element and the light emitting element for visible light, and A light guide that guides the light emitted from the visible light emitting element in a direction toward the reflector, and the visible light emitting element is irradiated with the infrared light from the infrared light emitting element to the reflector. It is disposed outside the range and outside the irradiation range toward the front of the infrared light reflected by the reflector.

  Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp, the presence of the visible light emitting element does not affect the light distribution control of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention is a vehicle headlamp in which a lamp unit is disposed inside a lamp outer casing constituted by a cover and a lamp housing, and the lamp unit emits infrared light. A light emitting element for external light, a light emitting element for visible light that emits visible light other than red light, a reflector that reflects the light emitted from the infrared light emitting element and the light emitting element for visible light forward, and A light guide that guides light emitted from the visible light emitting element in a direction toward the reflector, and the visible light emitting element is connected to the infrared light from the infrared light emitting element to the reflector. It is arranged outside the irradiation range toward the front of the infrared light reflected by the reflector and outside the irradiation range.

  Therefore, there is no visible light emitting element in the path irradiated with infrared light, so that it does not adversely affect infrared light distribution control.

  In addition, since the visible light emitting element can be disposed at a desired position using the light guide, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in arrangement regarding the visible light emitting element.

  In the invention described in claim 2, the light emitting element for visible light is disposed on the opposite side of the reflector in the vertical direction with the infrared light emitting element interposed therebetween.

  Therefore, the visible light emitting element does not exist in the path of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element, and good light distribution control of the infrared light can be performed.

  In the invention described in claim 3, the light-emitting element for visible light is disposed behind the reflector.

  Therefore, the visible light emitting element does not exist in the path of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element, and good light distribution control of the infrared light can be performed.

  In the invention described in claim 4, the light guide is arranged outside the infrared light irradiation range from the infrared light emitting element to the reflector and in front of the infrared light reflected by the reflector. It is placed outside the irradiation range toward

  Therefore, the influence on the light distribution control of the infrared light due to the presence of the light guide can be avoided.

  In the invention described in claim 5, a heat dissipating fin that releases heat generated when the infrared light emitting element is driven and is disposed above or below the infrared light emitting element, and toward the heat dissipating fin The cooling air is sent to provide a heat dissipating fan disposed above or below the heat dissipating fin, and the visible light emitting element is disposed in front of or behind the heat dissipating fin so that the cooling air is blown onto the heat dissipating fin. The cooling air blown together is sent to the visible light emitting element side along the radiation fins.

  Therefore, heat dissipation can be improved, and a sufficient arrangement space for arranging the visible light emitting elements before and after the infrared light emitting elements can be secured.

  The best mode for carrying out the vehicle headlamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, a first embodiment of a vehicle headlamp will be described (see FIG. 1).

  The vehicle headlamps 1 are respectively disposed at the left and right ends of the front end of the vehicle body.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 is used as an infrared projector of a detection system that detects the presence or absence of a pedestrian, an oncoming vehicle, a preceding vehicle, or the like with an infrared camera.

  The vehicle headlamp 1 includes a lamp housing 2 having a concave portion opened forward and a cover 3 that closes an opening surface of the lamp housing 2, and a lamp outer casing 4 is configured by the lamp housing 2 and the cover 3. ing. The interior of the lamp outer casing 4 is formed as a lamp chamber 5.

  A lamp unit 6 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The lamp unit 6 is supported on the lamp housing 2 so as to be tiltable by an optical axis adjusting mechanism (not shown).

  The lamp unit 6 is attached to the infrared light emitting element 7, the first substrate 8 on which the infrared light emitting element 7 is mounted, the arrangement base 9 on which the first board 8 is arranged, and the arrangement base 9. The reflector 10 is provided.

  The infrared light emitting element 7 is a light emitting diode that emits infrared light, and the infrared light is emitted to detect the presence of an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle in front of the host vehicle. When the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle is detected by infrared light, an image or video of the area irradiated by the infrared camera is captured, and the captured image or video is displayed on a display panel or car navigation system in the vehicle. Is displayed on the screen.

  The placement base 9 is formed of a metal material having high heat dissipation, and includes a base portion 9a, a board mounting portion 9b protruding forward from the upper end portion of the base portion 9a, and a protrusion 9c protruding rearward from the base portion 9a. And a reflector mounting portion 9d protruding upward from the rear end portion of the base portion 9a.

  The base portion 9a and the protrusion 9c are provided with heat radiation fins 9e, 9e,.

  A first substrate 8 is attached to the upper surface of the substrate attachment portion 9b.

  The reflector 10 is attached to the front surface of the reflector attachment portion 9d of the arrangement base 9, and is positioned above the base portion 9a and the substrate attachment portion 9b. The inner surface of the reflector 10 is formed as a reflecting surface 10a.

  A heat radiating fan 11 is attached to the lower surface of the arrangement base 9. The heat dissipating fan 11 has a case body 11a and a blade portion 11b that is rotated inside the case body 11a, and the rotation axis direction of the blade portion 11b is set in the vertical direction. When the heat dissipating fan 11 is rotated, a cooling air flow is generated from below to above, and the cooling air is blown from below to the heat dissipating fins 9e, 9e,. The cooling air blown from below flows forward and backward along the radiation fins 9e, 9e,.

  A second substrate 12 and a visible light emitting element 13 mounted on the second substrate 12 are arranged in front of the arrangement base 9.

  For example, the second substrate 12 is disposed in an inclined state.

  The visible light emitting element 13 is a light emitting diode that emits white visible light other than red light, for example, and is mounted on the second substrate 12 in a direction to emit visible light other than red light obliquely upward and backward. . The visible light emitting element 13 is disposed below the infrared light emitting element 7 in front of the infrared light emitting element 7.

  A light guide 14 is disposed behind the visible light emitting element 13. The light guide 14 is formed in a shape in which a substantially first half portion is inclined and a substantially second half portion extends in a horizontal direction. The light guide 14 has an entrance surface 14a at the front end and an exit surface 14b at the rear end. The incident surface 14a is formed in a spherical shape, for example, and is positioned in the vicinity of the visible light emitting element 13. Visible light other than red light emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 is incident on the incident surface 14a. The exit surface 14 b is located in the vicinity of the infrared light emitting element 7, and is a portion that emits the light incident from the entrance surface 14 a and guided inside the light guide 14 toward the reflector 10.

  The light guide 14 is formed with an optical path conversion unit 14c below the emission surface 14b, and the optical path conversion unit 14c is configured, for example, by a plurality of prism shapes continuous in the front-rear direction.

  The light emitted from the light emitting element 13 for visible light and incident from the incident surface 14a is subjected to repeated internal reflection inside the light guide 14, and the path is converted in the upward direction by the optical path conversion unit 14c. It is emitted from 14 b and travels toward the reflecting surface 10 a of the reflector 10.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1, the second substrate 12, the visible light emitting element 13 and the light guide 14 are out of the infrared light irradiation range A from the infrared light emitting element 7 to the reflector 10. The infrared light reflected by the reflector 10 is disposed outside the irradiation range B.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 configured as described above, when infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7, the emitted infrared light is reflected by the reflecting surface 10 a of the reflector 10 and passes through the lens 3. The light is transmitted and irradiated forward. At the same time, visible light other than red light is emitted from the visible light emitting element 13, and the emitted visible light other than red light travels inside the light guide 14 and is emitted toward the reflector 10. 10 is reflected by the reflecting surface 10a, is transmitted through the lens 3, and is irradiated forward.

  The visible light other than the red light emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 is irradiated forward together with the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7, so that the visible light other than the red light is infrared. The red light contained in the light can be made inconspicuous.

  When infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7 and visible light other than red light is emitted from the visible light emitting element 13, the first substrate 8 and the infrared light emitting element 7 generate heat. The second substrate 12 and the visible light emitting element 13 generate heat. At this time, the heat dissipating fan 11 is rotated, and cooling air is blown to the heat dissipating fins 9e, 9e,... Are sprayed onto the second substrate 12 and the light-emitting element 13 for visible light. Accordingly, the first substrate 8, the infrared light emitting element 7, the second substrate 12, and the visible light emitting element 13 are cooled by the heat radiation fins 9e, 9e,. It is suppressed.

  As described above, in the vehicle headlamp 1, the visible light emitting element 13 is opposite to the reflector 10 in the vertical direction across the infrared light emitting element 7, that is, the visible light emitting element 13 Since the visible light emitting element 13 is not present in the path of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7 because it is disposed below the infrared light emitting element 7, the infrared light is excellent. Light distribution control can be performed.

  Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle headlamp will be described (see FIG. 2).

  The vehicle headlamp 1A according to the second embodiment is different from the vehicle headlamp 1 described above in terms of the position of the second substrate, the visible light emitting element, the shape of the light guide, and the like. Since only the position and the shape of the arrangement base are different, only the parts different from the vehicle headlamp 1 will be described in detail, and the other parts will be attached to the same parts in the vehicle headlamp 1. The same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  A lamp unit 6A is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The lamp unit 6A is tiltably supported by the lamp housing 2 by an optical axis adjusting mechanism (not shown).

  The lamp unit 6A includes an infrared light emitting element 7, a first substrate 8, an arrangement base 9A on which the first substrate 8 is arranged, and a reflector 10 attached to the arrangement base 9A.

  The placement base 9A is made of a metal material having high heat dissipation and has a base portion 9f and a reflector mounting portion 9g protruding upward from the rear end portion of the base portion 9f. An arrangement hole 9h penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower end of the reflector mounting portion 9g.

  The base portion 9f is formed with a cooling recess 9i opened downward in the center in the front-rear direction. The cooling recess 9 i is located on the lower side of the first substrate 8.

  The base portion 9f is provided with heat radiation fins 9j, 9j,. A first substrate 8 is attached to the upper surface of the base portion 9f.

  The reflector 10 is attached to the front surface of the reflector attachment portion 9g of the placement base 9A.

  A heat dissipating fan 11 is attached to the lower surface of the placement base 9A. When the heat dissipating fan 11 is rotated, a cooling air flow is generated from below to above, and the cooling air is blown from below to the heat dissipating fins 9j, 9j,. The cooling air blown from below flows forward and backward along the heat radiation fins 9j, 9j,.

  A second substrate 12 and a visible light emitting element 13 mounted on the second substrate 12 are disposed behind the arrangement base 9A.

  For example, the second substrate 12 is arranged in a vertical state.

  The visible light emitting element 13 is mounted on the second substrate 12 in a direction in which visible light other than red light is emitted forward. The visible light emitting element 13 is disposed behind the infrared light emitting element 7.

  A light guide 14 </ b> A is disposed on the front side of the visible light emitting element 13. The light guide 14A is formed in a shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is inserted through the arrangement hole 9h formed in the reflector mounting portion 9g of the arrangement base 9A between the infrared light emitting element 7 and the visible light emitting element 13. Is arranged in. 14 A of light guides have the entrance surface 14d in the rear-end part, and have the output surface 14e in the front-end part. The incident surface 14d is formed, for example, in a spherical shape and is positioned in the vicinity of the visible light emitting element 13. Visible light other than red light emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 is incident on the incident surface 14d. The emission surface 14e is located in the vicinity of the infrared light emitting element 7, and is a portion that emits the light incident from the incident surface 14d and guided inside the light guide 14A toward the reflector 10.

  The light guide 14A is formed with an optical path conversion unit 14f below the exit surface 14e, and the optical path conversion unit 14f is configured, for example, by a plurality of prism shapes continuing in the front-rear direction.

  The light emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 and incident from the incident surface 14d is repeatedly reflected on the inner surface inside the light guide 14A, and the path is converted in the upward direction by the optical path conversion unit 14f. 14e is emitted toward the reflecting surface 10a of the reflector 10.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1, the second substrate 12, the visible light emitting element 13, and the light guide 14 </ b> A are outside the infrared light irradiation range A from the infrared light emitting element 7 to the reflector 10. The infrared light reflected by the reflector 10 is disposed outside the irradiation range B.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1A configured as described above, when infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7, the emitted infrared light is reflected by the reflecting surface 10a of the reflector 10 and passes through the lens 3. The light is transmitted and irradiated forward. At this time, visible light other than red light is emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 at the same time, and the emitted visible light other than red light travels inside the light guide 14A and is emitted toward the reflector 10, and the reflector. 10 is reflected by the reflecting surface 10a, is transmitted through the lens 3, and is irradiated forward.

  The visible light other than the red light emitted from the visible light emitting element 13 is irradiated forward together with the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7, so that the visible light other than the red light is infrared. The red light contained in the light can be made inconspicuous.

  When infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7 and visible light other than red light is emitted from the visible light emitting element 13, the first substrate 8 and the infrared light emitting element 7 generate heat. The second substrate 12 and the visible light emitting element 13 generate heat. At this time, the heat radiating fan 11 is rotated, and the cooling air is blown to the heat radiating fins 9j, 9j,... Are sprayed onto the second substrate 12.

  Accordingly, the first substrate 8, the infrared light emitting element 7, the second substrate 12, and the visible light emitting element 13 are cooled by the radiation fins 9 j, 9 j,. It is suppressed. In particular, the cooling air generated by the rotation of the heat dissipating fan 11 is sent to the cooling recess 9 i located below the first substrate 8, and the temperature rise of the first substrate 8 and the infrared light emitting element 7. Is effectively suppressed.

  As described above, in the vehicular headlamp 1A, the visible light emitting element 13 is disposed behind the reflector 10, and therefore the visible light emitting element 13 is emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7. Therefore, it is possible to perform good light distribution control of infrared light.

  As described above, in the vehicular headlamp 1, 1 </ b> A, the visible light emitting element 13 is outside the range of the infrared light irradiation range A from the infrared light emitting element 7 to the reflector 10 and the reflector. 10 is disposed outside the irradiation range B of the infrared light reflected at 10.

  Therefore, since the visible light emitting element 13 does not exist in the path irradiated with infrared light, the light distribution control of infrared light is not adversely affected.

  In addition, since the visible light emitting element 13 can be arranged at a desired position using the light guides 14 and 14A, the degree of freedom in arrangement with respect to the visible light emitting element 13 can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the infrared light emitting element 7 and the visible light emitting element 13 are mounted on the first substrate 8 and the second substrate 12, respectively, and are not mounted on the same substrate, the infrared light emitting element 7 and the visible light emitting element 13 are visible. The light emitting elements 13 for light are not easily affected by heat, and heat dissipation can be improved.

  Furthermore, the light guides 14 and 14A are arranged outside the range of the infrared light irradiation range A from the infrared light emitting element 7 to the reflector 10 and outside the range of the infrared light irradiation range B reflected by the reflector 10. Therefore, the influence on the light distribution control of the infrared light due to the presence of the light guides 14 and 14A can be avoided.

  In addition, the heat radiation fins 9e, 9e,... Or the heat radiation fins 9j, 9j,. In addition, a sufficient arrangement space for arranging the visible light emitting element 13 before and after the infrared light emitting element 7 can be secured.

  In the above description, the heat radiation fins 9e, 9e,... Or the heat radiation fins 9j, 9j,. Although an example in which the emitted infrared light is emitted upward and reflected by the reflector 10 is shown, the heat radiation fins 9e, 9e,... , 9j,... And the heat dissipating fan 11 can be arranged so that the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 7 is emitted downward and reflected by the reflector 10. .

  In the above, a light emitting element is shown as an example of a light source used in a vehicle headlamp. However, other light sources such as an incandescent bulb may be used as the light source.

  The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described best mode are merely examples of implementations in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limitedly interpreted by these. It should not be done.

FIG. 2 shows the best mode of the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention together with FIG. 2, and this diagram is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the vehicle headlamp according to the first embodiment. It is a general | schematic horizontal sectional view of the vehicle headlamp in 2nd Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle headlamp, 2 ... Lamp housing, 3 ... Cover, 4 ... Lamp outer casing, 6 ... Lamp unit, 7 ... Infrared light emitting element, 9e ... Radiation fin, 10 ... Reflector, 11 ... Radiation fan DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Light emitting element for visible light, 14 ... Light guide, 1A ... Vehicle headlamp, 6A ... Lamp unit, 9j ... Radiation fin, 14A ... Light guide

Claims (5)

A vehicle headlamp in which a lamp unit is arranged inside a lamp outer casing constituted by a cover and a lamp housing,
The lamp unit is
A light emitting element for infrared light that emits infrared light;
A visible light emitting element that emits visible light other than red light; and
A reflector for reflecting forward the light emitted from the infrared light emitting element and the visible light emitting element;
A light guide that guides light emitted from the visible light emitting element in a direction toward the reflector, and
The visible light emitting element is arranged outside the infrared light irradiation range from the infrared light emitting element to the reflector and outside the irradiation range toward the front of the infrared light reflected by the reflector. A vehicle headlamp characterized by that. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitting element is disposed on a side opposite to the reflector in a vertical direction with the infrared light emitting element interposed therebetween. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the visible light emitting element is disposed behind the reflector. The light guide is disposed outside the irradiation range of the infrared light from the infrared light emitting element to the reflector and outside the irradiation range toward the front of the infrared light reflected by the reflector. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3. A heat dissipating fin that releases heat generated when the infrared light emitting element is driven and is disposed above or below the infrared light emitting element;
A cooling fan is sent to the heat radiating fins to provide a heat radiating fan disposed above or below the heat radiating fins,
The visible light emitting element is disposed in front of or behind the radiating fin, and the cooling air is blown to the radiating fin and the blown cooling air is sent along the radiating fin to the visible light emitting element side. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the vehicle headlamp is configured as described above.

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