JP5582379B2 - Optical module and vehicle signal lamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical module and a vehicular signal lamp, and more particularly to an optical module used for a vehicular signal lamp such as a tail lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle and the vehicular signal lamp.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a lamp composed of a plurality of LED light sources and a lens portion provided with a plurality of lens cut portions corresponding to the plurality of LED light sources. This lamp is formed so that the center of the lens cut portion is positioned on the vertical line at the center of the LED light source. The lens cut portion is composed of a convex surface and a concave surface formed at the peripheral edge of the convex surface, and extracts light reaching the convex surface as primary refracted light and extracts light reaching the concave surface as secondary refracted light. Further, as the LED light source, a lumbar-shan light distribution having no directivity is used.

  In addition, in the lamp of patent document 1, the optical module is comprised by the lens cut part corresponding to this LED light source and this LED light source. According to this optical module, since the surface shape of the lens cut portion is circular, the light emitting surface is circular.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a lamp composed of a plurality of LED light sources and a lens portion provided with a plurality of lens cut portions corresponding to the plurality of LED light sources. The lens cut portion of this lamp has a spherical convex surface on the outer side and a spherical concave surface on the inner side, and these convex surface and concave surface are formed in concentric spherical surfaces centering on the junction portion of the LED light source. . Also, as the LED light source, a lumbar-shan light distribution having no directivity is used.

  In the lamp of Patent Document 2, an optical module is configured by one LED light source and a lens cut portion corresponding to the LED light source. According to this optical module, as in Patent Document 1, the surface shape of the lens cut portion is circular, and thus the light emitting surface is circular.

  Patent Document 3 has a light emitting surface in which a directional LED light source and two reflecting mirrors arranged above and below the LED light source are combined, and the light emitting surface of the LED light source is reduced to 1/3. A vehicular signal lamp that narrows and emits horizontally long light is disclosed. The reflection mirror is configured as a reflection surface by subjecting the surface of the thin film to vapor deposition or sputtering of a glossy metal such as aluminum or silver.

  In the lamp of Patent Document 3, an optical module is configured by one LED light source and two reflecting mirrors arranged above and below the LED light source.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-130001 JP 61-39803 A JP 2007-287490 A

  By the way, since many conventional vehicle signal lamps (especially rear lamps) using LED light sources have a circular light emitting surface, a new appearance such as horizontally long light emission for differentiation is required.

  However, the shape of the light emitting surface of the optical module disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is a circular shape with an emphasis on the light utilization rate. There is a drawback that the light utilization rate is reduced due to the cut form.

  In addition, in the optical module of Patent Document 3, even when a horizontally oriented light source can be achieved using a directional LED light source, a horizontally elongated light emission in the front direction is achieved when a non-directional Lambertian LED light source is used. Since only the light of the range of the part can be used, there exists a fault that a light utilization factor falls. Further, the light loss caused by the reflection twice by the two reflecting mirrors is as large as 30% of the total, and the light utilization rate is further deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an optical module that achieves a new-looking light emission such as a horizontally long light emission using an LED light source having no directivity and increases the light utilization rate of the LED light source. And it aims at providing the signal lamp for vehicles.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an LED light source having no directivity, and a lens body that is disposed in front of the LED light source in the emission direction and is formed in a horizontally long front view. A first lens that is disposed in front of the LED light source in the emission direction and that condenses and emits light emitted from the LED light source in the front direction in the front direction, and is disposed outside the first lens. The light irradiated from the light source to the outside of the incident range of the first lens is reflected in the front direction using the standing wall-shaped incident surface and inner surface reflection, and is positioned on the front side of the first lens. A second lens having a light emitting surface that is disposed on a part of the light emitting surface side of the second lens and extending to a side of the second lens, and is internally reflected by the second lens. Using the multiple inclined surfaces for light in the front direction A light guide that emits light in the front direction from the light guide light emitting surface on the lateral side of the second lens is integrally formed by reflecting the light in the right direction, the front-rear direction, the vertical direction, and the front. The incident surface of the second lens is located on the LED light source side of the first lens and is a standing wall parallel to the optical axis of the LED light source, and the incident surface of the second lens and It said inner surface is a straight line or curve has a rotated shape about the optical axis of the LED light source, a plurality of inclined surfaces of the light guide body, top or bottom of the exit surface of said first lens A first reflection comprising an inclined surface formed so as to totally reflect the light emitted from the emission surface of the second lens in the lateral direction of the second lens. Formed in a position opposite to the first reflecting surface in the lateral direction. A second reflecting surface formed of an inclined surface that forms the front portion of the light guide body in a V shape together with the first reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface is opposed to the second reflecting surface. A third reflecting surface comprising an inclined surface for reflecting the reflected light in the vertical direction; and a fourth reflecting surface comprising an inclined surface formed at a position facing the third reflecting surface in the vertical direction. Light emission from the light exit surface of the light guide reflected by the fourth reflection surface, light emission from the light exit surface of the first lens, light emission from the light exit surface of the second lens, and Thus, an optical module characterized by forming a light emitting surface that is horizontally long when viewed from the front is provided.

  According to the optical module of the present invention, light diffused and emitted from a non-directional LED light source in the front direction (predetermined range centered on the optical axis) is emitted from the first lens in the front direction (direction toward the optical axis center). ). Further, the light emitted from the LED light source is diffused and emitted in the lateral direction of the LED light source (light irradiated outside the light incident on the first lens in the irradiation range of the LED light source). Concentrate in the front direction using surface and internal reflection. The light emitting surface made of the first lens and the second lens is circular.

  Therefore, in order to change the light emitting surface into a new appearance such as horizontally long light emission, a light guide is provided in the present invention. This light guide has a shape in which one end is disposed on a part of the emission surface side of the second lens and the other end extends to the side (outside) of the second lens. The light guide includes a first total reflection surface that reflects the light in the front direction internally reflected by the second lens in the left-right direction (outward direction of the second lens), and the first total reflection. A second total reflection surface that reflects light from the surface in a backward direction (a direction opposite to the lamp irradiation direction), and light from the second total reflection surface upward or downward (in front view of the first lens). A third total reflection surface that reflects in the direction corresponding to the position where the lens surface is translated outward), and a fourth total reflection surface that reflects light from the third total reflection surface forward (in the lamp illumination direction). A plurality of inclined surfaces with the total reflection surface are provided, and the light in the front direction is emitted from the side (outside) of the second lens in the front direction by the fourth total reflection surface.

  Thus, according to the optical module of the present invention, the light guide body covers a part of the circular light emitting surface composed of the first lens and the second lens to form a horizontally long light emitting surface. Since the light emitting surface is added with the shape of the body, the light emitting surface is not a simple circular shape but a substantially horizontally long light emitting surface. In addition, since the light from the non-directional LED light source is emitted by the internal reflection of the second lens and the light guide, it is compared with the conventional example in which a horizontally long light emitting surface is used by using a reflecting plate or a reflecting mirror. This improves the light utilization rate.

  According to the optical module of the present invention, a pair of the light guides are provided across the emission surface of the first lens, and the emission surfaces of the pair of light guides combined with the pair of light guides. It is preferable that the length in the short direction is set to be substantially the same as the length of the exit surface of the first lens. As a result, the light emitting surface of the optical module is obtained by combining the horizontally elongated light emitting surface obtained by the second lens in the portion where the first lens and the light guide are not installed with the two light emitting surfaces of the light guide. It becomes a horizontally long light emitting surface. In this case, it is preferable that the shape of the light guide is substantially rectangular in front view.

  Furthermore, according to the optical module of the present invention, it is preferable that the first lens, the second lens, and the light guide are integrally provided. Thereby, since the lens body of the optical module is handled as an integrated product, the assembly work of the optical module and the vehicle signal lamp is facilitated.

  On the other hand, according to the vehicular signal lamp of the present invention, a plurality of optical modules of the present invention are arranged in parallel and housed in a lamp casing.

  According to the vehicular signal lamp of the present invention, the light emitter is horizontally long when viewed from the front, and the light distribution is a predetermined light distribution pattern required for the vehicular signal lamp.

  As described above, according to the optical module and the vehicular signal lamp of the present invention, it is possible to realize light emission having a new appearance such as horizontally long light emission using a non-directional LED light source, and use of light from the LED light source. The rate can be increased.

The perspective view which looked at the optical module of an embodiment from the front side The perspective view which looked at the optical module shown in FIG. 1 from the back side Front view of the optical module shown in FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the AA line of the optical module shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the optical module shown in FIG. Optical path diagram in an optical module cut in the longitudinal direction Optical path diagram in an optical module cut in the transverse direction Explanatory drawing which showed the light distribution pattern of the optical module shown in FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicular signal lamp constituted by the optical module shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an optical module and a vehicle signal lamp according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of the optical module 10 according to the embodiment as viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the optical module 10 as viewed from the back side, FIG. 3 is a front view of the optical module 10, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AA of the optical module 10 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line BB of the optical module 10 shown in FIG. 6 shows an optical path diagram in the optical module 10 cut in the vertical direction, and FIG. 7 shows an optical path diagram in the optical module 10 cut in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the optical module 10 according to the embodiment is formed into a chip-type LED light source 12 having a non-directional Lambertian light distribution and a substantially rectangular shape that is horizontally long as viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 3. And a lens body 14. The lens body 14 includes a first lens 16, a second lens 18, and a pair of light guides 20 and 20. Although details will be described later, since the light guides 20 and 20 are provided above and below the first lens 16 and have the same configuration, the configuration of the light guide 20 disposed on the upper side will be described here. The light guide 20 disposed on the lower side is denoted by the same reference numeral as that of the upper light guide 20, and the description of the configuration and function thereof is omitted. Moreover, although the optical module 10 of embodiment has a pair of light guides 20 and 20, the subject of this application can be achieved by providing at least one light guide 20.

  The LED light source 12 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on a circuit board 22 and is turned on when a driving voltage is applied from the power supply unit (not shown) via the circuit board 22.

  A first lens 16 is disposed in front of the LED light source 12 in the emission direction, and a second lens 18 having a substantially circular shape in front view is disposed around the first lens 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first lens 16 has an incident surface 16 </ b> A facing the LED light source 12 formed in a spherical convex shape, and an output surface 16 </ b> B formed in a toroidal surface shape. According to the first lens 16, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, light is first-order refracted on the incident surface 16A side to collect light, and further second-order refracted on the output surface 16B side, and the upper and lower sides are condensed. The desired light distribution for signal lights can be made by diffusing left and right at the required angles.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second lens 18 is formed in a donut shape when viewed from the front, and is disposed outside the first lens 16. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second lens 18 emits light that is diffused and emitted in the side surface direction of the LED light source 12, that is, light that is irradiated outside the incident range of the first lens 16. The light is condensed in the front direction from the exit surface 18C using the total reflection of the entrance surface 18A and the inner surface 18B. That is, the second lens 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape centering on the optical axis Ax of the LED light source 12 with the incident surface 18A having a lens draft angle. Further, the inner surface 18B of the second lens 18 is formed in a straight line or a curved shape that reflects light refracted by the incident surface 18A in the front direction by total reflection, and the optical axis of the LED light source 12 is the same as the incident surface 18A. The shape is rotated around Ax. Thus, the second lens 18 is a prism lens in which the incident surface 18A and the inner surface 18B are combined. The exit surface 18C of the second lens 18 is formed as a flat surface or a curved surface having a large curvature. Therefore, according to the second lens 18, the light that has been refracted by the incident surface 18A, reflected by the total reflection of the inner surface 18B, and collected is emitted from the emission surface 18C, so that it is not greatly diffused and collected. Can make light.

  By the way, the light guides 20 and 20 described above are provided on the emission surface 18C side of the second lens 18 and above and below the emission surface 16B of the first lens 16, as shown in FIGS. It has been. The light guide 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and has one end disposed on a part of the second lens 18 on the emission surface 18C side and the other end extending to the side of the second lens 18. It has a shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light guide 20 first reflects the light in the front direction internally reflected by the second lens 18 in the left-right direction, then in the front-rear direction, and further in the up-down direction, and There are four reflecting surfaces, the first reflecting surface 20A, the second reflecting surface 20B, the third reflecting surface 20C, and the fourth reflecting surface 20D, which are internally reflected in the forward direction, and the light is reflected in the fourth way. The light is emitted from the side of the second lens 18 in the front direction by the surface 20D. FIG. 6 schematically shows the first reflecting surface 20A, the second reflecting surface 20B, the third reflecting surface 20C, and the fourth reflecting surface 20D.

  The first to fourth reflecting surfaces 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D will be described. First, the first reflecting surface 20A of the light guide 20 disposed on the upper surface is emitted from the second lens 18, as shown in FIG. The light guide 20 is formed on an inclined surface of 45 degrees when the light guide 20 is viewed from above and below so that the light emitted from the upper part of the surface 18C is totally reflected to the left outside the second lens 18 in FIG.

  Further, a second reflecting surface 20B is formed at a position facing the first reflecting surface 20A in the left-right direction. The front portion of the light guide 20 is formed in a V shape by the second reflective surface 20B and the first reflective surface 20A, and the second reflective surface 20B is guided in the same manner as the first reflective surface 20A. The body 20 is formed on an inclined surface of 45 degrees when viewed from the vertical direction. The light totally reflected by the first reflecting surface 20A is totally reflected backward by the second reflecting surface 20B. That is, the light emitted from the emission surface 18C is folded back 180 ° by the first reflection surface 20A and the second reflection surface 20B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a third reflecting surface 20C is formed at a position facing the second reflecting surface 20B in the front-rear direction. The third reflecting surface 20C is formed on an inclined surface of 45 degrees when the light guide 20 is viewed from the left-right direction so as to reflect the light reflected by the second reflecting surface 20B downward.

  Further, a fourth reflecting surface 20D is formed at a position facing the third reflecting surface 20C in the vertical direction. The rear part of the light guide 20 is formed in a V shape by the fourth reflection surface 20D and the third reflection surface 20C, and the fourth reflection surface 20D is similar to the third reflection surface 20C. Is formed on an inclined surface of 45 degrees when viewed from the left-right direction. The light totally reflected by the third reflecting surface 20C is totally reflected forward by the fourth reflecting surface 20D, and from the side of the second lens 18 through the light guide 20 to the second lens 18 side. It irradiates ahead of the optical module 10 from the direction. That is, the light emitted from the emission surface 18C is further turned 180 ° by the third reflection surface 20C and the fourth reflection surface 20D.

  Thus, according to the optical module 10 of the embodiment, the light emitting surface is obtained by adding the shape of the light guides 20 and 20 to the circular light emitting surface formed of the first lens 16 and the second lens 18. The light emitting surface has a substantially horizontally long shape rather than a simple circular shape. In addition, since the light from the LED light source 12 having no directivity is emitted by the internal reflection (total reflection) of the second lens 18 and the light guides 20 and 20, a horizontally long light using a reflecting plate or a reflecting mirror is used. The light utilization rate is significantly improved as compared with the conventional example in which the light emitting surface is used.

  Further, the fourth reflection surfaces (outgoing surfaces) 20D and 20D are moved to the side of the second lens 18 by total reflection in the light guides 20 and 20 from the two upper and lower directions. The height (length) of the fourth reflecting surfaces 20D and 20D is set to the same height (length) as the height (length) of the exit surface 16B of the first lens 16 by combining the upper and lower surfaces. Yes.

  Thereby, the light emitting surface of the optical module 10 includes a circular light emitting surface obtained by the first lens 16 and the second lens 18, and the two fourth reflecting surfaces 20D and 20D of the light guides 20 and 20. Therefore, the light emitting surface can be differentiated from the circular light emitting surface.

  In addition, the 1st lens 16, the 2nd lens 18, and the light guides 20 and 20 of the optical module 10 of embodiment are integrally formed. Thereby, since the lens body 14 of the optical module 10 is handled as an integral product, the assembling work of the optical module 10 and the vehicle signal lamp is facilitated.

  FIG. 8 shows a light distribution pattern by the optical module 10. The substantially elliptical pattern P1 is a light distribution pattern created by the light emitted from the first lens 16, and the substantially circular pattern P2 at the center thereof includes the second lens 18, the light guide 20, 20 is a light distribution pattern created by the light irradiated from 20.

  Even if the light guides 20 and 20 are added as in the embodiment, the direction of the light is changed by total reflection in the light guide 20 as a light guide lens, so about 15% by one reflection. Compared with a general reflective surface having a loss (reflectance of the reflective surface of aluminum vapor deposition≈85%), the light loss is small and the light utilization rate is improved.

  The positions of the emission surfaces 16B and 18C of the first lens 16 and the second lens 18 are substantially the same as the front and rear positions of the reflection surface 20D of the light guide 20, and only the 45 ° inclined surface of the light guide 20 is present. The thickness of the entire optical module 10 does not increase only by the shape protruding in a U shape when viewed from the side, and thus the cost for molding the optical module is suppressed.

  Next, the light distribution pattern of the optical module having the conventional structure and the light distribution pattern of the optical module 10 of the embodiment will be compared.

  When the light guide is not added, the first lens 16 has a horizontally long light distribution design with respect to the lamp efficiency of 70% obtained by the first lens 16 and the second lens 18 which are circular light emission. The lamp efficiency when the second lens 18 is cut into a horizontally long optical module at the height of the light exit surface 16B is reduced to 50%, but the light guides 20 and 20 are added to make it horizontally long. The lamp efficiency is improved to 60%, and the light emitting surface can be made to emit horizontally long compared to the case where only the second lens 18 is cut.

  Circular light emission by only the first lens 16 and the second lens 18 of the embodiment is φ18 mm, and the height of the emission surface 16B of the first lens 16 is cut to make the second lens 18 cut into a horizontally long shape. The size in the case of the module is 8 × 18 mm, and the size of the optical module 10 that is horizontally extended by adding the light guides 20 and 20 is 8 × 36 mm. In the optical module 10, when the dimension of the light emitting part is changed, the short dimension of the light emitting part is approximately ½ that of circular light emission, and the longitudinal direction is approximately twice as long.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a vertically and thinly and horizontally shaped lamp with little reduction in lamp efficiency, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

  In addition, the optical module 10 of the embodiment is lighter than the conventional usage in which a circular lens is cut into a horizontally long shape in order to make a horizontally long light emitting design with respect to the optical modules of Patent Documents 1 and 2. A decrease in the utilization rate is small, the number of LED light sources can be reduced, and a low-cost vehicle signal lamp can be provided. In addition, since the light emitting surface can be made horizontally long, the design as a design is improved.

  Furthermore, the optical module 10 according to the embodiment can realize a horizontally long light emission even with a Lambertian LED light source having no directivity as compared with the optical module of Patent Document 3. In addition, since the emission position is changed by total reflection in the light guide without using a reflective surface such as aluminum vapor deposition, the light utilization rate is improved by the amount of no reflection loss.

When Patent Document 3 is combined with Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the light path in the light guide intersects with the exit surface, the exit surface position is the foremost end, and it cannot be established unless it is a high-cost thick lens.
In the optical module 10 of the embodiment, since the light paths in the light guides 20 and 20 do not intersect with the exit surface, the exit surface position may be in the back, so that it is not thick and the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a vehicle signal lamp, in particular, a stop lamp 32, in which a plurality of optical modules 10 are arranged in parallel and housed in a lamp casing 30. According to this stop lamp 32, it becomes a horizontally long light emitter in front view, and the light distribution is a predetermined light distribution pattern required for the stop lamp.

  Although the optical module 10 having a pair of light guides 20 and 20 is illustrated in the figure, the optical module provided with only one of the pair of light guides 20 and 20 is used for a vehicle. You may comprise a signal lamp. The arrangement of the optical module 10 may be such that the light emitting surface is arranged vertically or obliquely according to the required design. Further, the optical module 10 may be discontinuously arranged according to a required design.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tail lamp stop lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle is exemplified as the vehicle signal lamp. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle position lamp, turn signal lamp, daytime running lamp, etc. The optical module of the present invention can be applied to other vehicle signal lamps.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical module, 12 ... LED light source, 14 ... Lens body, 16 ... 1st lens, 16A ... Incident surface, 16B ... Output surface, 18 ... Second lens, 18A ... Incident surface, 18B ... Inner surface, 18C ... Outgoing surface, 20 ... light guide, 20A ... first reflecting surface, 20B ... second reflecting surface, 20C ... third reflecting surface, 20D ... fourth reflecting surface, 22 ... circuit board, 30 ... lamp casing 32 Stop lamp

Claims (4)

An LED light source having no directivity, and a lens body that is disposed in front of the LED light source in the emission direction and formed in a front view horizontally long,
The lens body is
A first lens that is arranged in front of the emission direction of the LED light source and that condenses and emits light emitted from the LED light source in the front direction; and
An inner surface that is disposed outside the first lens and reflects light emitted from the LED light source to the outside of the incident range of the first lens in a front direction using a standing wall-shaped incident surface and internal reflection. And a second lens having an exit surface located on the front side of the first lens,
A plurality of inclined surfaces are used for the light in the front direction which is disposed on a part of the emission surface side of the second lens and extends to the side of the second lens and is internally reflected by the second lens. Then, a light guide that emits in the front direction from the light guide exit surface on the lateral side of the second lens is integrally formed by reflecting in the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the front. And
The incident surface of the second lens is located on the LED light source side of the first lens, and is an upright wall in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the LED light source,
The incident surface and the inner surface of the second lens has a shape in which the straight line or curve is rotated about the optical axis of the LED light source,
The plurality of inclined surfaces of the light guide are
The light that is formed on the light guide disposed above or below the exit surface of the first lens and is totally reflected in the lateral direction of the second lens is emitted from the exit surface of the second lens. A first reflecting surface comprising an inclined surface formed on
A second reflecting surface formed of an inclined surface that is formed at a position facing the first reflecting surface in the lateral direction and forms a front portion of the light guide in a V shape together with the first reflecting surface;
A third reflecting surface composed of an inclined surface facing the second reflecting surface and reflecting light reflected by the second reflecting surface in the vertical direction;
A fourth reflecting surface composed of an inclined surface formed at a position facing the third reflecting surface in the vertical direction,
By the light emission from the exit surface of the light guide reflected by the fourth reflection surface, the light emission from the exit surface of the first lens, and the light emission from the exit surface of the second lens, An optical module characterized by forming a light emitting surface that is horizontally long when viewed from the front.   A pair of the light guides are provided across the emission surface of the first lens, and the length of the emission surfaces of the pair of light guides combined with the pair of light guides in the short direction is the first. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical module is set to have substantially the same length as the length of the exit surface of the lens.   The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the first lens, the second lens, and the light guide are integrally provided.   A signal lamp for vehicles, wherein a plurality of the optical modules according to claim 1, 2 or 3 are arranged in parallel and housed in a lamp casing.

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