JP5521259B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp that uses a phosphor that emits light when excited by blue laser light.

  Conventionally, in the field of vehicular lamps, a high-luminance light source has been demanded in order to illuminate a distant place with light of sufficient intensity at night (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The inventors of the present application pay attention to the fact that the phosphor (for example, YAG phosphor) that emits light when excited by blue laser light has higher luminance than the HID lamp (and white LED) (see FIG. 12). A light source applied to a vehicular lamp was made using a body.

  FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a light source 200 actually manufactured by the inventors of the present application.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the light source 200 includes a light emitting unit 210, a laser optical system 220, and the like.

  The light emitting unit 210 includes a metal plate 211, a phosphor 212, and the like.

  The metal plate 211 is, for example, an aluminum plate (for example, size: length 1.5 [mm] × width 7.5 [mm] × thickness: 2 [mm]). The surface of the metal plate 211 is coated with a phosphor 212 (for example, YAG phosphor) that emits light when excited by blue laser light (for example, size: 0.5 [mm] × 2.5 [mm]). × Thickness 0.1 [mm]).

  The laser optical system 220 includes a laser light source 221 and a lens 222.

  The laser light source 221 emits blue laser light (radiant flux) incident on the phosphor 212. For example, the light emission size: 2 μm long × 10 μm wide, light output: 2 W, light emission color: blue (440 nm), light distribution direction Characteristics: A high-power semiconductor laser device having a Gaussian distribution (lateral direction 30 ° × vertical direction 60 °).

  The lens 222 is a lens (for example, a converging lens or a collimating lens) that condenses the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source 221 to the size of the phosphor 212, and is disposed in front of the laser light source 221.

  According to the light source 200 having the above configuration, the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source 221 is collected up to the size of the phosphor 12 (length 0.5 [mm] × width 2.5 [mm]) by the action of the lens 222. The phosphor 12 is irradiated with light (see FIG. 13). Thereby, the phosphor 12 is excited to emit light and generate white light (see FIG. 14). In FIG. 14, the elliptical area drawn with a dotted line represents the application range of the phosphor 212.

JP 2005-150041 A

  However, in the light source 200 having the above configuration, for some reason, when the size of the radiant flux from the laser optical system 220 is larger than the size of the phosphor 212 (or the blue laser light from the laser optical system 200 is phosphor. When the position is shifted from 212, the increased (or shifted) blue laser light is incident on the surface of the metal plate 211 around the phosphor 212 (see FIG. 15) and reflected (FIGS. 16 and 17A). , See FIG. 17B), which causes color unevenness and luminance unevenness of the emission color (for example, as shown in FIG. 18, the periphery of the light distribution pattern P including the vicinity of the light / dark boundary line CL is colored blue). ). FIG. 17A shows the light intensity distribution in the CC section of the phosphor 212 and the surrounding metal plate 211 shown in FIG. 14, and FIG. 17B shows the light intensity distribution in FIG. The intensity distribution of the light of the DD cross section of the fluorescent substance 212 and the surrounding metal plate 211 is represented.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the color unevenness and brightness unevenness of the emission color caused by the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source being reflected on the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor. The purpose is to prevent (or reduce).

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a metal plate, a phosphor as a light source disposed on the surface of the metal plate and excited by blue laser light to emit light, and incident on the phosphor. A laser light source that emits blue laser light, and a reflection suppressing member that is disposed so as to cover the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor and suppresses reflection of the blue laser light incident from the laser light source , The reflection suppressing member is a carbon plate in which an opening in which the phosphor is disposed is formed .

  According to the invention described in claim 1, since the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor is covered with the reflection suppressing member, the radiation flux size from the laser optical system is larger than the size of the phosphor for some reason. Even if (or even if the blue laser light from the laser optical system is misaligned from the phosphor), the larger (or misaligned) blue laser light is incident on the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor. Without being incident on the reflection suppressing member, the reflection is suppressed. For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent (or reduce) the uneven color of the emitted color and the uneven brightness due to the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source being reflected by the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 1, since the metal plate surface around the phosphor is covered with a carbon steel plate, if for some reason, radiant flux size from the laser optical system than the size of the phosphor (Or even if the blue laser light from the laser optical system is misaligned from the phosphor), the enlarged (or misaligned) blue laser light is applied to the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor. The light is incident on the carbon plate without being incident, and reflection is suppressed. For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent (or reduce) the uneven color of the emitted color and the uneven brightness due to the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source being reflected by the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a light source image of a phosphor as the light source is projected to form a passing beam light distribution pattern or a traveling beam light distribution pattern. The optical system is further provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle lamp that forms a light distribution pattern for a passing beam or a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam using a phosphor that emits white light when excited by blue laser light. It can be configured.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2 , wherein the phosphor includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the light distribution pattern for passing beam or the light distribution pattern for traveling beam, The optical system includes a projection lens disposed in front of the phosphor and having a focal point set in the vicinity of a side corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure a so-called direct projection type vehicular lamp using a phosphor that emits white light by being excited by blue laser light.

Invention of Claim 4 in the invention of Claim 2 WHEREIN: The said fluorescent substance contains the edge | side corresponding to the light-dark boundary line of the said light distribution pattern for passing beams or the light distribution pattern for traveling beams, The optical system includes a projection lens, a reflecting surface, and a shade disposed between the projecting lens and the reflecting surface, and the reflecting surface has a first focus on the light / dark boundary of the phosphor. A reflection surface of a spheroid system in which the second focal point is set in the vicinity of the upper edge of the shade, and the projection lens is set in the vicinity of the upper edge of the shade. It is characterized by being.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure a so-called projector-type vehicle lamp using a phosphor that emits white light by being excited by blue laser light.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2 , wherein the phosphor includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the light distribution pattern for passing beam or the light distribution pattern for traveling beam, The optical system includes a rotating paraboloidal reflecting surface whose focal point is set in the vicinity of a side corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure a so-called reflective (parabolic) vehicle lamp using a phosphor that emits white light by being excited by blue laser light.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a metal plate, a phosphor that is disposed on the surface of the metal plate and that emits light when excited by blue laser light, and blue laser light incident on the phosphor are emitted. A laser light source and a reflection suppressing member arranged to cover the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor, and suppressing reflection of blue laser light incident from the laser light source, the reflection suppressing member, An optical system in which an opening in which the phosphor is disposed is formed, and a light source image of the phosphor as the light source is projected to form a passing beam light distribution pattern or a traveling beam light distribution pattern. The opening of the reflection suppressing member is a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the passing beam light distribution pattern or the traveling beam light distribution pattern formed by the optical system. Including wherein the are at.

  As described above, according to the vehicular lamp of the present invention, the color unevenness and luminance unevenness of the emission color caused by the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source being reflected on the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor are eliminated. It is possible to prevent (or reduce).

It is a side view of the vehicle lamp 100 which is one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicular lamp 100 shown in FIG. 1 (laser optical system 20 is omitted). 3 is a cross-sectional view of the light emitting unit 10. FIG. 3 is a front view of a reflection suppressing member 13. FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the light emitting unit 10 and the laser optical system 20. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the intensity distribution of the fluorescent substance 12 after the reflection suppression member 13 arrangement | positioning. (A) A graph showing the intensity distribution of the AA cross section of the phosphor 12 shown in FIG. 6 and the reflection suppressing member 13 arranged around it, and (b) the phosphor 12 shown in FIG. 6 and arranged around it. It is a graph showing the intensity distribution of the BB cross section of the made reflection suppression member 13. FIG. (A)-(d) It is an example of the reflection suppression member 13. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the vehicle lamp 100 (modification 1). It is sectional drawing of the vehicle lamp 100 (modification 2). It is a figure for demonstrating the surface shape of the reflective surface 51 of the vehicle lamp 100 (modification 2). It is the table | surface which contrasted the brightness | luminance etc. of the fluorescent substance (for example, YAG fluorescent substance) excited by blue laser light, a HID lamp, and white LED. It is a side view of the light source 200 made as an experiment by the inventors of the present application. It is a figure for demonstrating the intensity distribution of the fluorescent substance. It is a side view of the light source 200 made as an experiment by the inventors of the present application. It is a side view of the light emission part 210 which the inventors of this application made as an experiment. (A) Graph showing intensity distribution of CC cross section of phosphor 212 and surrounding metal plate 211 shown in FIG. 14, (b) D of phosphor 212 and surrounding metal plate 211 shown in FIG. It is a graph showing intensity distribution of -D cross section. It is an example of the light distribution pattern formed with the light source 200 made as an experiment by the inventors of the present application.

  Hereinafter, a vehicular lamp that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A vehicular lamp 100 according to the present embodiment is applied to a headlamp or a fog lamp of a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light emitting unit 10, a laser optical system 20, a projection A lens 30 and the like are provided.

[Light Emitting Unit 10]
As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting unit 10 includes a metal plate 11, a phosphor 12, a reflection suppressing member 13, a heat sink 14, and the like.

  The metal plate 11 is, for example, an aluminum plate (for example, size: length 1.5 [mm] × width 7.5 [mm] × thickness: 2 [mm]).

  The surface of the metal plate 11 includes a region 11 a where the phosphor 12 is applied and a region 11 b where the reflection suppressing member 13 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 3, the region 11 a to which the phosphor 12 is applied is preferably disposed at a position one step higher than the region 11 b where the reflection suppressing member 13 is disposed. If it does in this way, since it becomes possible to prevent the white light which generate | occur | produces when the fluorescent substance 12 light-emits, light-shielding by the reflection suppression member 13, it becomes possible to improve luminous efficiency. A heat sink 14 for heat dissipation is fixed to the back surface of the metal plate 11. The metal plate 11 is formed with a guide groove (not shown) for ensuring positional accuracy when the reflection suppressing member 13 is mounted.

  The phosphor 12 is a phosphor that emits light when excited by blue laser light (for example, YAG phosphor) (for example, size: vertical 0.5 [mm] × horizontal 2.5 [mm] × thickness 0.1 [mm]. ]). The phosphor 12 is applied to the region 11 a of the surface of the metal plate 11.

  The reflection suppressing member 13 is a member for suppressing the reflection of blue laser light incident from the laser optical system 20 (laser light source 21). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the metal plate 11 around the phosphor 12 is provided. It arrange | positions so that the surface area | region 11b may be covered.

  The reflection suppressing member 13 is preferably a member having a very low reflectance. In this embodiment, a carbon plate (reflectance: 1.5%) in which a horizontally long elliptical opening 13a in which the phosphor 12 is disposed is formed. (For example, size: length 0.6 [mm] × width 2.7 [mm] × thickness 0.1 [mm]). In addition, as the reflection suppressing member 13, a carbon nanotube plate may be used.

[Laser optical system 20]
As shown in FIG. 5, the laser optical system 20 includes a laser light source 21 and a lens 22.

  The laser light source 21 is a light source that emits blue laser light (radiant flux) incident on the phosphor 12, for example, light emission size: 2 μm long × 10 μm wide, light output: 2 W, light emission color: blue (440 nm), light distribution direction Characteristics: A high-power semiconductor laser device having a Gaussian distribution (lateral direction 30 ° × vertical direction 60 °).

  The lens 22 is a lens (for example, a converging lens or a collimating lens) that condenses the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 to the size of the phosphor 12, and is disposed in front of the laser light source 21.

  The size of the laser irradiation bundle condensed by the lens 22 was defined as a size range up to 10% with respect to the peak value of the Gaussian distribution (see FIG. 5).

  According to the light emitting unit 10 and the laser optical system 20 configured as described above, the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 is converted into the size of the phosphor 12 (length 0.5 [mm] × width 2.5) by the action of the lens 22. [Mm]) is condensed and irradiated onto the phosphor 12. As a result, the phosphor 12 is excited and emits light to generate white light (optical characteristics: Lambertian distribution) (see FIG. 6). The loss ratio of the total incident laser light amount is about 8.2%.

  Further, according to the light emitting unit 10 and the laser optical system 20 configured as described above, the region 11b on the surface of the metal plate 11 around the phosphor 12 is covered with the reflection suppressing member 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Even if the radiant flux size from the laser optical system 20 is larger than the size of the phosphor 12 for some reason (or even if the blue laser light from the laser optical system 20 is displaced from the phosphor 12), The enlarged (or shifted) blue laser light is incident on the reflection suppressing member 13 without being incident on the region 11b on the surface of the metal plate 11 around the phosphor 12, and the reflection is suppressed (FIG. 7A). FIG. 7B). 7A shows the light intensity distribution of the AA cross section of the phosphor 12 shown in FIG. 6 and the reflection suppressing member 13 arranged around the phosphor 12, and FIG. The light intensity distribution of the BB cross section of the fluorescent substance 12 shown in FIG. 6 and the reflection suppression member 13 arrange | positioned around it is represented. The energy ratio of the blue laser light reflected by the reflection suppressing member 13 is only 1.2%. Therefore, it is possible to prevent (or reduce) color unevenness and luminance unevenness of the emitted color caused by the blue laser light emitted from the laser light source 21 being reflected by the region 11b on the surface of the metal plate 11 around the phosphor 12. Is possible.

[Projection lens 30]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projection lens 30 is arranged in front of the phosphor 12 and so that the focal point is located in the vicinity of the side 12 a corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor 12.

  According to the vehicular lamp 100 having the above-described configuration, the phosphor 12 that has been excited and emitted by the blue laser light is projected by the projection lens 30 and has no (or almost no) color unevenness or luminance unevenness. It is possible to configure a so-called direct projection type vehicular lamp.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8D, a carbon plate having an opening 13a in which the phosphor 12 including the Z-shaped step side 12b corresponding to the light / dark boundary line is formed is formed as the reflection suppressing member 13. By using it, it is possible to constitute a so-called direct projection type vehicular lamp that forms a light distribution pattern for a passing beam including a clear light / dark boundary line having no (or almost no) color unevenness and luminance unevenness.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

[Modification 1]
As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicular lamp 100 according to the first modification includes a light emitting unit 10, a laser optical system 20, a reflecting surface 40, and the like.

  The reflecting surface 40 is a rotating paraboloid reflecting surface whose focal point is set in the vicinity of the side 12 a corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor 12.

  According to the first modification, as the reflection suppressing member 13, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a carbon plate having a horizontally long elliptical opening 13a in which the phosphor 12 is disposed is used. Thus, it is possible to configure a so-called reflective (parabolic) vehicular lamp that forms a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam having no (or almost no) color unevenness and luminance unevenness.

  Further, according to the first modification, as the reflection suppressing member 13, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C, the phosphor 12 including the side 12a corresponding to the light / dark boundary line is disposed. A so-called reflection type (parabolic type) that forms a light distribution pattern for a passing beam including a clear light / dark boundary line that is free (or almost free) of color unevenness and brightness unevenness by using a carbon plate in which the opening 13a is formed. ) Can be configured.

[Modification 2]
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the vehicular lamp 100 according to the second modification includes a light emitting unit 10, a laser optical system 20, a projection lens 50, a reflection surface 51, and a shade disposed between the projection lens 50 and the reflection surface 51. 52 etc. are provided.

  The focus of the projection lens 50 is set near the upper edge of the shade 52.

  The reflection surface 51 is a spheroid reflection surface (for example, a longitudinal section) in which the first focus is set in the vicinity of the side 12 a corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor 12 and the second focus is set in the vicinity of the upper edge of the shade 52. A parabola and an elliptical arc appearing on the cross section).

  For example, the reflecting surface 52 is an image in which the image of the phosphor 12 at each point P1, P2, P3, etc. on the YZ coordinate system in FIG. 10 is shown at each point on the YZ coordinate in FIG. The surface shapes are set so as to be P1 ′, P2 ′, and P3 ′.

  According to the second modification, as the reflection suppressing member 13, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a carbon plate having a horizontally long elliptical opening 13a in which the phosphor 12 is disposed is used. Thus, it is possible to configure a so-called projector-type vehicular lamp that forms a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam having no (or almost no) color unevenness and brightness unevenness.

  Further, according to the second modification, as the reflection suppressing member 13, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C, the phosphor 12 including the side 12a corresponding to the light / dark boundary line is disposed. For a so-called projector-type vehicle that forms a light distribution pattern for a passing beam including a clear light / dark boundary line that has no (or almost no) color unevenness and brightness unevenness by using a carbon plate in which the opening 13a is formed. A lamp can be configured.

  The above embodiment is merely an example in all respects. The present invention is not construed as being limited to these descriptions. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Vehicle lamp, 10 ... Light emission part, 11 ... Metal plate, 12 ... Phosphor, 13 ... Antireflection member, 14 ... Heat sink, 20 ... Laser optical system, 21 ... Laser light source, 22 ... Lens, 30 ... Projection lens , 40 ... reflective surface, 50 ... projection lens, 51 ... reflective surface, 52 ... shade

Claims (6)

A metal plate,
A phosphor as a light source disposed on the surface of the metal plate and excited by blue laser light to emit light;
A laser light source that emits blue laser light incident on the phosphor;
A reflection suppressing member disposed so as to cover the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor, and suppressing reflection of blue laser light incident from the laser light source;
Equipped with a,
The vehicular lamp , wherein the reflection suppressing member is a carbon plate having an opening in which the phosphor is disposed . 2. The optical system according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical system configured to project a light source image of a phosphor as the light source to form a light distribution pattern for a passing beam or a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam. Vehicle lamp. The phosphor includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the light distribution pattern for the passing beam or the light distribution pattern for the traveling beam,
Wherein the optical system, the disposed in front of the phosphor, and to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a projection lens focus is set to the straight sides corresponding to the light-dark boundary of the phosphor The vehicle lamp as described. The phosphor includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the light distribution pattern for the passing beam or the light distribution pattern for the traveling beam,
The optical system includes a projection lens, a reflection surface, and a shade disposed between the projection lens and the reflection surface,
The reflecting surface is a spheroid reflecting surface in which a first focal point is set in the vicinity of the side corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor, and a second focal point is set in the vicinity of the upper end edge of the shade;
The vehicular lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the projection lens has a focal point set in the vicinity of an upper edge of the shade. The phosphor includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the light distribution pattern for the passing beam or the light distribution pattern for the traveling beam,
3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the optical system includes a reflecting surface of a paraboloidal system whose focal point is set in the vicinity of a side corresponding to the bright / dark boundary line of the phosphor. .   A metal plate,
  A phosphor as a light source disposed on the surface of the metal plate and excited by blue laser light to emit light;
  A laser light source that emits blue laser light incident on the phosphor;
  A reflection suppressing member disposed so as to cover the surface of the metal plate around the phosphor, and suppressing reflection of blue laser light incident from the laser light source;
With
  The reflection suppressing member has an opening in which the phosphor is disposed,
  Further comprising an optical system configured to project a light source image of a phosphor as the light source to form a light distribution pattern for a passing beam or a light distribution pattern for a traveling beam;
  An opening of the reflection suppressing member includes a side corresponding to a light / dark boundary line of the passing beam light distribution pattern or the traveling beam light distribution pattern formed by the optical system.