JP5533357B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention condenses, with a projection lens, direct light from a light source bulb configured as a line light source and reflected light from a reflector, such as a headlamp of an automobile, a rear combination lamp, a fog lamp, and the like. The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicular lamp that irradiates the front of the vehicle.

  As a projector lamp using a light source bulb configured as a line light source as described above, the projector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  In order to make the lamp compact in the front-rear direction, the light source bulb is inserted through the side of the first reflector in the direction perpendicular to the lens central axis extending in the lamp front-rear direction of the projection lens. This is a fixed so-called valve lateral insertion type.

  It is well known that the light distribution of the line light source in which the light emitting section extends in the bulb axis direction has a light source distribution in which the luminous intensity in the direction orthogonal to the bulb axis is the highest and the luminous intensity in the bulb axis direction is the lowest.

  Therefore, in the disclosed technique of Patent Document 1, light emitted obliquely upward from the light emitting portion in front of the lamp is reflected by the second reflector to the front area in the bulb insertion direction of the light source bulb to compensate for the insufficient light quantity in the area. Yes. Then, the reflected light from the second reflector is reflected toward the projection lens by the third reflector provided in the front region in the bulb insertion direction, thereby effectively utilizing the reflected light as the front irradiation light.

JP 2006-59609 A

  In a projector lamp of a bulb side-by-side type, it is difficult to secure a reflecting surface that guides light to the projection lens because the light source bulb occupies the side portion of the first reflector on which the light source bulb is attached.

  Therefore, particularly in the case of a projector lamp for generating a low-pass beam, the side of the light distribution pattern, that is, the side of the light distribution pattern corresponding to the light source bulb mounting portion of the first reflector is insufficient in light quantity, and the illumination effect is improved. It cannot be denied that it decreases.

  However, even if the disclosed technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be used effectively as the front irradiation light of the direct light directly obliquely upward of the light source bulb, the side reflector on the light source bulb mounting side of the first reflector is insufficient. Since no countermeasure is taken, the problem of insufficient light quantity on the side of the light distribution pattern cannot be solved.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicular lamp that can avoid a shortage of light on the side of a light distribution pattern in a bulb-side projector lamp and can enhance the lighting effect.

The vehicular lamp of the present invention includes a light source bulb configured as a line light source, a first reflector that reflects part of light emitted from the light source bulb toward the front of the lamp, direct light from the light source bulb, and the first light source. A projection lens that collects the reflected light from one reflector and irradiates the front of the lamp; and a shade that is disposed between the first reflector and the projection lens to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. The bulb is configured as a projector-type lamp in which the bulb axis is inserted and fixed through the side of the first reflector in a direction perpendicular to a lens center axis extending in the lamp front-rear direction of the projection lens. A second reflector that reflects obliquely upward direct light incident from the light source bulb toward the rear side of the shade is provided above the shade, and in the vicinity of the rear side of the shade. A third reflector for reflecting the reflected light from the second reflector toward the projection lens is provided, and the reflecting surface of the third reflector is formed as a laterally parabolic columnar surface convex toward the front of the lamp. The third feature is that the third reflector is formed sideways substantially along the curved shape of the shade along the meridional image plane of the projection lens .

  According to the present invention, the direct light emitted from the light source bulb and directed obliquely upward in front of the lamp enters the second reflector and is reflected toward the rear side of the shade by the second reflector. The reflected light from the second reflector is reflected toward the projection lens by the third reflector and contributes to the illumination in front of the lamp. At this time, since the reflecting surface of the third reflector is formed in a horizontal parabolic columnar surface convex toward the front of the lamp, the reflected light toward the projection lens is prevented from diffusing in the vertical direction, It is condensed as broadly parallel light. Moreover, since the third reflector is in the vicinity of the rear side of the side of the shade, the reflected light from the third reflector is distributed near the cutoff line on the side of the light distribution pattern.

  As a result, it is possible to avoid an overall light quantity shortage of the light distribution pattern due to a shortage of the amount of light emitted in the bulb insertion direction in a bulb-side projector lamp. Therefore, it is possible to form a light distribution pattern having a lateral spread.

The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the lamp unit in one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan sectional view of the lamp unit shown in FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the light distribution pattern obtained by the lamp unit shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking a vehicle headlamp as an example.

  The lamp unit 1 of the headlamp shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a light source bulb 2, a first reflector 3 that reflects part of light emitted from the light source bulb 2 toward the front of the lamp, direct light from the light source bulb 2, 1 is configured as a projector type including a projection lens 4 that condenses the reflected light from the reflector 3 and irradiates it in front of the lamp, and a shade 5 that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern.

  The lamp unit 1 is disposed in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing (not shown) and a transparent outer lens to constitute a headlamp.

  In the present embodiment, a plano-convex lens having a convex front surface and a flat rear surface is used as the projection lens 4. The projection lens 4 inverts the image on the meridional image plane including the rear focal point F and projects it in front of the lamp.

  The first reflector 3 has a concave reflecting surface 3a. The reflecting surface 3a is formed as a spheroid having a lens center axis Z1 as a central axis or a free-form surface based on an ellipse, and is on the lens center axis Z1. The first focal point F1 is provided behind the rear focal point F, and the second focal point F2 is provided in the vicinity of the rear focal point F. In the illustrated example, the rear focal point F and the second focal point F2 are located at the same position for convenience. The eccentricity of the reflecting surface 3a is set to gradually increase from the vertical cross section toward the horizontal cross section.

  The projection lens 4 is mounted on a substantially cylindrical lens holder 6, and the lens holder 6 is coupled and fixed to the front opening edge of the first reflector 3.

  The light source bulb 2 uses, for example, a halogen lamp or an HID lamp (high-intensity discharge lamp) in which the light emitting portion 2a is configured as a line light source extending in the bulb axis Z2 direction. The center position of the light emitting part 2a of the light source bulb 2 is set to the position of the first focal point F1 of the first reflector 3 or the vicinity thereof.

  Thereby, of the light emitted from the light source bulb 2, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 3 a of the first reflector 3 is focused on the second focal point F 2 of the first reflector 3 or in the vicinity thereof, and the projection lens 4 is moved. When passing, it is condensed into a light beam that is parallel or substantially parallel to the lens optical axis Z1, and is irradiated forward of the lamp.

  The shade 5 is erected on the substantially lower half of the lens holder 6 and is disposed between the first reflector 3 and the projection lens 4. The upper edge 5a of the shade 5 is formed along the meridional image plane passing through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 4 and constitutes a light / dark boundary forming portion that forms a cut-off line of the light distribution pattern for passing.

  Thereby, a part of the direct light of the light source bulb 2 and a part of the reflected light from the reflecting surface 3a of the first reflector 3 are shielded by the shade 5, and the upward light irradiated from the projection lens 4 to the front of the lamp is removed. Then, a passing light distribution pattern P having a cut-off line C on the upper side shown in FIG. 3 is formed.

  Here, the light source bulb 2 is inserted and fixed through one side of the first reflector 3 in a direction in which the bulb axis Z2 is perpendicular to the lens center axis Z1 of the projection lens 4, so-called bulb transverse insertion type. It is configured as a projector lamp. Thereby, the front-rear direction dimension of the headlamp is shortened, and the in-vehicle layout to the front part of the vehicle body in which the mounting space is restricted is facilitated.

  A second reflector 7 that reflects direct light directed obliquely upward of the light source bulb 2 toward one rear side of the shade 5 is provided above the shade 5.

  The second reflector 7 is formed, for example, on the inner surface of the upper wall of the lens holder 6 and reflects the obliquely upward direct light that is normally blocked by the upper wall of the lens holder 6 and does not contribute to the passing light distribution. It has a concave reflecting surface 7a.

  The reflecting surface 7a has a substantially elliptical shape in which the center of the light emitting portion 2a of the light source bulb 2 is set as one focal point F3, and the vicinity of the rear side of one side of the shade 5 is set as the other focal point F4.

  In the present embodiment, the focal point F4 of the reflecting surface 7a of the second reflector 7 is set in the vicinity of the rear side of the shade 5 on the side where the light source bulb 2 is inserted and fixed with respect to the first reflector 3.

  A third reflector 8 that reflects the reflected light from the second reflector 7 toward the projection lens 4 is provided in the vicinity of the rear side of one side of the shade 5.

  The reflecting surface 8a of the third reflector 8 is a laterally parabolic column surface convex toward the front of the lamp, and the other focal point F4 of the second reflector 7 is on the focal line of the third reflector 8. is there. In the present embodiment, the third reflector 8 is formed sideways along the curved shape of the side of the upper edge 5a of the shade 5 along the meridional image plane of the projection lens 4.

  Moreover, although the 3rd reflector 8 is shown as a structure extended from the front edge part of the 1st reflector 3 in this embodiment, of course, it is also possible to provide in the lens holder 6. FIG.

  In the headlamp of the present embodiment configured as described above, a part of the direct light emitted from the light source bulb 2 and a part of the reflected light from the reflecting surface 3 a of the first reflector 3 are blocked by the shade 5. Then, the light passes through the projection lens 4 and is irradiated forward of the vehicle.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the light distribution pattern P on the virtual screen in front of the vehicle projected by the projection lens 4. This light distribution pattern P is obtained as a passing light distribution pattern having a stepped cut-off line C with a substantially horizontal step on the upper edge, for example, corresponding to the shape of the upper edge 5a of the shade 5.

  As described above, the light distribution of the line light source in which the light emitting portion 2a of the light source bulb 2 extends in the bulb axis Z2 direction has the highest luminous intensity in the direction orthogonal to the bulb axis Z2, and the luminous intensity in which the luminous intensity in the bulb axis Z2 direction becomes the lowest. Have a distribution. This light source bulb 2 is inserted and fixed through one side of the first reflector 3 in a direction perpendicular to the lens center axis Z1 in which the bulb axis Z2 extends in the front-rear direction of the lamp of the projection lens 4, and is a so-called bulb transverse type. It is configured as. For this reason, the luminous intensity of the reflected light from the left and right side portions of the first reflector 3 is low.

  Accordingly, the left and right side portions PL and PR of the light distribution pattern P tend to have a light intensity lower than that of the central portion PO. In particular, in one side portion of the first reflector 3 through which the light source bulb 2 penetrates in a transverse manner, the area of the reflection surface 3a is narrowed by the penetrating arrangement of the light source bulb 2, so that the reflection surface 3a on this one side portion. The degree of light intensity deficiency of one side PR of the light distribution pattern P corresponding to is increased.

  On the other hand, the direct light emitted from the light source bulb 2 obliquely upward in front of the lamp enters the second reflector 7. The direct light directed obliquely upward in front of the lamp is originally incompatible with the passing light distribution and is blocked by the upper wall of the lens holder 6, but one of the shades 5 is reflected by the reflecting surface 7a of the second reflector 7. The light is reflected and condensed toward the focal point F4 close to the rear side.

  And the reflected light from the 2nd reflector 7 is reflected toward the projection lens 4 by the 3rd reflector 8, and contributes to the illumination ahead of a vehicle.

  At this time, the reflecting surface 8a of the third reflector 8 is a laterally parabolic column surface convex toward the front of the lamp, and the focal point F4 of the second reflector 7 is on the focal line of the third reflector 8. Reflected light traveling toward the lens 4 is constrained in the vertical direction to be condensed as substantially parallel light having a lateral spread.

  In addition, since the third reflector 8 is in the vicinity of the rear side of one side of the shade 5, the reflected light from the third reflector 8 can be distributed near the cutoff line C on the side of the light distribution pattern P. .

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the position of the focal point F4 of the second reflector 7 and the arrangement position of the third reflector 8 are in front of the side portion of the first reflector 3 on the side where the light source bulb 2 is inserted and fixed, and on the side of the shade 5. Since it is set in the vicinity of the rear part, the additional light distribution Pa by the third reflector 8 is superimposed on one side part PR of the light distribution pattern P as shown in FIG.

  As a result, it is possible to avoid a shortage of light on the side corresponding to the reflecting surface 3a on one side of the first reflector 3 whose reflection area is narrowed by the penetrating arrangement of the light source bulb 2, and of course one side of the light distribution pattern P. It is possible to form a light distribution pattern that spreads to the side of the part PR, and the illumination effect can be enhanced.

  In particular, since the third reflector 8 is formed sideways along the curved shape of the side of the shade 5 along the meridional image plane of the projection lens 4, the additional light distribution Pa is applied to the side of the light distribution pattern P. The light can be diffused and distributed more widely in the left-right direction of PR, and the illumination effect can be further enhanced.

  Further, since the reflecting surface 8a of the third reflector 8 is a parabolic columnar convex surface, it is possible to improve the sharpness of the light distribution pattern P by improving the accuracy of the reflecting surface with good moldability.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light path reflected by the second reflector 7 and the third reflector 8 is set on the side portion of the shade 5 on the light source bulb penetrating side, but this light path is provided on the other side portion of the shade 5. Can also be set. In this case, it is possible to avoid an overall light quantity shortage of the light distribution pattern P caused by a shortage of the amount of light emitted in the bulb insertion direction in a bulb-side projector lamp, and to avoid both sides PL and PR of the light distribution pattern P. It is possible to avoid the shortage of light quantity and to expand the light distribution in both directions.

1. Lamp unit (projector lamp)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Light source bulb 2a ... Light emission part 3 ... 1st reflector 3a ... Reflective surface 4 ... Projection lens 5 ... Shade 7 ... 2nd reflector 7a ... Reflective surface 8 ... 3rd reflector 8a ... Reflective surface Z1 ... Lens center axis Z2 ... Bulb Axis

Claims (2)

A light source bulb configured as a line light source, a first reflector that reflects part of light emitted from the light source bulb toward the front of the lamp, and direct light from the light source bulb and light reflected by the first reflector are collected. A projection lens that irradiates the front of the lamp, and a shade that is disposed between the first reflector and the projection lens to form a predetermined light distribution pattern, and the light source bulb has a bulb axis that is A projector-type lamp configuration that is inserted and fixed through the side of the first reflector in a direction orthogonal to the lens central axis extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp of the projection lens;
Above the shade, a second reflector is provided that reflects obliquely upward direct light incident from the light source bulb toward the rear side of the shade,
In the vicinity of the rear side of the shade, a third reflector that reflects the reflected light from the second reflector toward the projection lens is provided,
The reflective surface of the third reflector is formed as a laterally parabolic columnar surface convex toward the front of the lamp , and the third reflector has a curved shape of the shade along the meridional image plane of the projection lens. A vehicular lamp characterized by being formed sideways along .   2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the third reflector is disposed adjacent to a rear side of the shade on the insertion and fixing side of the light source bulb in the first reflector.

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