JP5594216B2 - Vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector-type vehicle headlamp that irradiates a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line and a light distribution pattern for an overhead sign in front of the vehicle.

  This type of vehicle headlamp has been conventionally used (for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle headlamp will be described. A conventional vehicle headlamp forms a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line by a shade that blocks a part of the reflected light from a reflector. A light distribution pattern for an overhead sign is formed by the opening provided in the shade. The light shielding plate provided on the rear surface of the shade allows only reflected light from the lower reflection area of the reflector to enter the opening, thereby preventing the light flux of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign from becoming excessive.

  However, in the projector type vehicle headlamp, the cutoff line is clear, so that there is a problem that the difference in brightness between the bright part at the lower part of the cutoff line and the dark part at the upper part of the cutoff line is clear.

JP 2003-297117 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that since the cutoff line is clear, the difference in brightness between the bright part at the lower part of the cutoff line and the dark part at the upper part of the cutoff line is clear.

  According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), a light source, a reflector having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface that reflect light from the light source, and reflected light from the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface are reflected. A projection lens that projects forward, a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface and the reflected light from the second reflecting surface are shielded and the remaining reflected light is allowed to pass therethrough to form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line. A first shade having a window, an opening for forming a light distribution pattern for an overhead sign through a part of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface, and reflection from the first reflecting surface toward the opening; A second shade that shields light, and a gap between the first shade and the second shade that allows a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface toward the opening to pass through and enter the projection lens. Of the projection lens And the point where the reflected light that passes between emits incident, the optical control unit which forms a light distribution pattern for blur to be superimposed on the cut-off line is provided, characterized in that.

  According to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), the second shade reflects a part of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface and passes through the opening so that a part of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign is reflected. A third reflecting surface to be formed is provided.

  The vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) forms a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line by the first shade, and forms a light distribution pattern for an overhead sign by the opening of the first shade. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the light flux of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign from becoming excessive by the second shade.

  In particular, in the vehicle headlamp of the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface toward the opening is passed through the gap between the first shade and the second shade. Thus, the incident reflected light can be emitted from the projection lens as a light distribution pattern for tanning that is superimposed on the cut-off line by the optical control unit. As a result, the vehicular headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) can make a cut-off line, so that the difference in brightness between the bright part at the bottom of the cut-off line and the dark part at the top of the cut-off line Can be tricked. As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1) can put light of a light distribution pattern for glazing above the cut-off line, so that the visibility above the cut-off line is visible. (For example, the visibility of pedestrians) can be improved and can contribute to traffic safety.

  In the vehicle headlamp of this invention (the invention according to claim 2), a part of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface is reflected again by the third reflecting surface of the second shade, so that it is attenuated by two reflections. A part of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign is formed by the light thus produced. As a result, the vehicle headlamp according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) can moderate the brightness of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign, and adjusts the amount of reflected light twice. Thus, the brightness of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign can be adjusted appropriately.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view (vertical sectional view) showing an embodiment of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the first shade and the second shade, similarly. 3 is also a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is also a rear view of the first shade (viewed from the light source side to the projection lens side). FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second shade, similarly. FIG. 6 is also a front view of the projection lens (viewed along arrow VI in FIG. 1). FIG. 7 is also an explanatory diagram showing a light distribution pattern on the screen. FIG. 8 is also an explanatory diagram showing a light distribution pattern on the road surface.

  Embodiments of a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In FIG. 7, “VU-VD” indicates vertical lines on the upper and lower sides of the screen. Reference sign “HL-HR” indicates horizontal lines on the left and right of the screen. Further, in this specification or claims, “up, down, front, back, left, right” means “up, down, front, back, when the vehicle lamp according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. "Left, right".

(Description of configuration)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicle headlamp according to this embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a projector-type vehicle headlamp (for example, a headlamp or a fog lamp) according to this embodiment. The vehicle headlamps 1 are respectively provided on the left and right of the front part of an automobile (vehicle). The vehicle headlamp 1 is a vehicle headlamp for left-hand traffic.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp 1 includes a discharge lamp 2 as a light source, a reflector 3, a projection lens (condensing lens, convex lens) 4, a first shade 5, and a second shade 6. And a mounting bracket 7 (frame), a lamp housing (not shown), and a lamp lens (not shown) (for example, a transparent outer lens).

  The discharge lamp 2, the reflector 3, the projection lens 4, the first shade 5, the second shade 6, and the mounting bracket 7 constitute a projector lamp unit. The projector lamp unit is disposed, for example, via an optical axis adjustment mechanism (not shown) in a lamp chamber (not shown) defined by the lamp housing and the lamp lens.

  The discharge lamp 2 is a discharge lamp such as a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp or a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID). The discharge lamp 2 is detachably attached to the reflector 3 via a socket 8. In addition to the discharge lamp 2, a halogen bulb or an incandescent bulb may be used.

  The reflector 3 has a hollow concave shape that is open on the front side (light irradiation direction side of the vehicle headlamp 1) and closed on the rear side. The first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 are formed on the concave inner surface of the reflector 3 by aluminum deposition or silver coating. The first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 reflect light emitted from the discharge lamp 2 toward the first shade 5, the second shade 6, and the projection lens 4. The first reflective surface 9 and the second reflective surface 10 are elliptical reflective surfaces. That is, the first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 are free-form curved surfaces (NURBS curved surfaces) that have an ellipse as a basis (reference, basic tone).

  The first reflecting surface 9 is formed from a part of the upper and left and right side portions and the lower portion of the concave inner surface of the reflector 3. The second reflecting surface 10 is formed from the remaining portion of the lower portion of the concave inner surface of the reflector 3.

  A through hole 11 is provided at a location where the optical axis ZZ of the first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 intersects in the closed portion on the rear side of the reflector 3. In a state where the discharge lamp 2 is inserted into the reflector 3 from the through hole 11, the socket 8 is detachably attached to the edge of the through hole 11. As a result, the discharge lamp 2 is detachably attached to the reflector 3 via the socket 8.

  The projection lens 4 is an aspherical convex lens. The front side of the projection lens 4 forms a convex aspheric surface, while the rear side of the projection lens 4 forms a flat aspheric surface (plane). The lens axis of the projection lens 4 coincides with (including substantially coincides with) the optical axis ZZ of the first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10. The projection lens 4 projects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 forward.

  The first shade 5 and the second shade 6 are made of a plate member (for example, a thin steel plate) that is inexpensive to manufacture. The first shade 5 and the second shade 6 are fixed by appropriate fixing means (bolts and nuts, screws, caulking, welding, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the first shade 5 has a plate shape that covers the entire opening on the front side of the reflector 3. The first shade 5 is disposed between the reflector 3 and the projection lens 4. A horizontally long rectangular window portion 12 is provided at the central portion (from the central portion to the upper portion) of the first shade 5. The first shade 5 shields a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 9 and the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 10, and passes through the window portion 12 and remains unshielded. A light distribution pattern (hereinafter, referred to as “low beam light distribution pattern”) LP having a cut-off line CL is formed by the light L1.

  The lower edge (edge) of the window 12 forms the cut-off line CL of the low beam light distribution pattern LP. The window 12 forms the low beam light distribution pattern LP.

  A horizontally-long rectangular opening 13 is provided in the vicinity of the window 12 at a central portion below the window 12 of the first shade 5. The opening 13 forms a light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign by allowing a part L2 of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 10 to pass through.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the second shade 6 is disposed between the reflector 3 and the first shade 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the second shade 6 includes one shielding portion 14 obtained by bending a thin steel plate and the other fixing portion 15. The fixing portion 15 has a bifurcated shape at both right and left ends excluding the central portion. The fixing portion 15 of the second shade 6 is located below the window portion 12 on the back surface (rear surface) of the first shade 5 (that is, the upper edge and the lower edge of the opening 13). It is fixed to the lower part from between.

  The shielding portion 14 of the second shade 6 is rearward from a position below the window portion 12 on the back surface of the first shade 5 (that is, between the upper edge and the lower edge of the opening 13). It extends diagonally downward toward the side. The shielding portion 14 of the second shade 6 shields the reflected light L5 that travels from the first reflecting surface 9 toward the opening portion 13.

  Between the back surface of the first shade 5 and the second shade 6, a part of reflected light (reflected light indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1) L4 from the first reflecting surface 9 toward the opening 13 is provided. A gap 16 is provided for passing through and entering the lower part of the projection lens 4. The gap 16 is a bent portion between the shielding portion 14 and the fixing portion 15 of the second shade 6, and includes a gap at an intermediate portion of the bifurcated fixing portion 15.

  A part L3 of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 10 is reflected on the lower surface (the surface facing the second reflecting surface 10) of the shielding portion 14 of the second shade 6 so that the opening 13 is formed. A third reflecting surface 17 is provided which passes through and forms part of the light distribution pattern OSP for the overhead sign.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a light distribution pattern GP for tanning superimposed on the cut-off line CL (see FIG. 5) at a portion of the lower part of the projection lens 4 where the reflected light passing through the gap 16 is incident and emitted. 7 and 8, an optical control unit 18 for forming a light distribution pattern indicated by a broken line) is provided. The optical control unit 18 is composed of, for example, a cylindrical prism, a triangular prism, or the like, and diffuses (scatters) a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 9 that has entered through the gap 16 and distorts the light. The light distribution pattern GP for use is formed.

  The mounting bracket 7 has a cylindrical shape. The reflector 3 and the first shade 5 are attached to the rear end side of the mounting bracket 7 by screws (not shown) or the like. On the other hand, the projection lens 4 is attached to the front end side of the mounting bracket 7 by crimping or the like. As a result, the reflector 3, the projection lens 4, and the first shade 5 are fixedly held by the mounting bracket 7. The mounting bracket 7 is attached to the lamp housing via the optical axis adjusting mechanism. As a result, the projector lamp unit is attached to the lamp housing so that the optical axis can be adjusted.

(Description of action)
The vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  The discharge lamp 2 of the projector lamp unit is turned on. Then, the light emitted from the discharge lamp 2 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 9 and the second reflecting surface 10 of the reflector 3 toward the first shade 5 and the second shade 6 and the projection lens 4.

  Then, a part (not shown) of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 9 is shielded by the first shade 5. On the other hand, the reflected light L1 from the first reflecting surface 9 that has passed through the window portion 12 of the first shade 5 and was not shielded by the first shade 5 is transmitted through the projection lens 4 and has a cut-off line CL. A light distribution pattern LP is formed and irradiated to the front of the vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the road surface is illuminated.

  A part L2 of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 10 passes through the opening 13 of the first shade 5 and passes through the projection lens 4 to form a light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign. Irradiate in front of the vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the overhead sign OS is illuminated.

  The other part L3 of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 10 is reflected again by the third reflecting surface 17 of the second shade 6, passes through the opening 13 of the first shade 5, and is projected. The light is transmitted through the lens 4 to form a part of the light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign, and is irradiated to the front of the vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the overhead sign OS is illuminated.

  Part of the reflected light L4 from the first reflecting surface 9 toward the opening 13 passes through the gap 16 between the first shade 5 and the second shade 6 and enters the optical control unit 18 below the projection lens 4. To do. The light L4 incident on the optical control unit 18 below the projection lens 4 is diffused (scattered) from the optical control unit 18 below the projection lens 4 to form a light distribution pattern GP for tanning that is superimposed on the cut-off line CL. Then, it is irradiated in front of the vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a pedestrian or the like P is illuminated.

  The remaining reflected light L <b> 5 from the first reflecting surface 9 toward the opening portion 13 is shielded by the shielding portion 14 of the second shade 6.

(Explanation of effect)
The vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment has the above-described configuration and operation, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment, a low beam light distribution pattern LP having a cut-off line CL is formed by the first shade 5, and a light distribution pattern for an overhead sign is formed by the opening 13 of the first shade 5. The OSP is formed, and the second shade 6 can prevent the light flux of the light distribution pattern OSP for the overhead sign from becoming excessive.

  In particular, the vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment allows a part L4 of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 9 toward the opening 13 to pass through the gap 16 between the first shade 5 and the second shade 6. The incident reflected light L4 can be emitted from the projection lens 4 as a light distribution pattern GP for fringing that is superimposed on the cut-off line CL by the optical control unit 18 of the projection lens 4. . As a result, the vehicular headlamp 1 in this embodiment can depress the cut-off line CL, and therefore detracts from the brightness difference between the bright part at the lower part of the cut-off line CL and the dark part at the upper part of the cut-off line CL. Can do. Thereby, since the vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment can put the light of the light distribution pattern GP for tanning above the cut-off line CL, the visibility above the cut-off line CL (for example, Visibility of P such as pedestrians) can be improved and can contribute to traffic safety.

  In the vehicle headlamp 1 in this embodiment, a part of the reflected light L3 from the second reflecting surface 10 is reflected again by the third reflecting surface 17 of the second shade 6, so that the light attenuated by two reflections. Thus, a part of the light distribution pattern OSP for overhead sign is formed. As a result, the vehicular headlamp 1 in this embodiment can moderate the brightness of the light distribution pattern OSP for the overhead sign, and can adjust the light quantity of the reflected light twice to thereby reduce the overhead sign. The brightness of the light distribution pattern OSP for use can be adjusted appropriately.

1 Vehicle headlamp 2 Discharge lamp (light source)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Reflector 4 Projection lens 5 1st shade 6 2nd shade 7 Mounting bracket 8 Socket 9 1st reflective surface 10 2nd reflective surface 11 Through-hole 12 Window part 13 Opening part 14 Shielding part 15 Fixing part 16 Crevice 17 3rd reflective surface 18 Optical control unit ZZ Optical axis LP Low beam light distribution pattern CL Cut-off line OSP Overhead sign light distribution pattern GP Light distribution pattern L1 to L5 Reflected light OS Overhead sign P Pedestrian, etc.

Claims (2)

In a projector-type vehicle headlamp that irradiates the front of the vehicle with a light distribution pattern having a cut-off line and a light distribution pattern for an overhead sign,
A light source;
A reflector having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source;
A projection lens that projects the reflected light from the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface forward;
A window for shielding a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface and the reflected light from the second reflecting surface and allowing the remaining reflected light to pass therethrough to form a light distribution pattern having the cut-off line; A first shade having an opening for passing a part of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface to form the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign;
A second shade that shields reflected light from the first reflecting surface toward the opening;
With
A gap is provided between the first shade and the second shade so as to allow a part of the reflected light from the first reflecting surface toward the opening to enter the projection lens,
An optical control unit that forms a light distribution pattern for tanning that is superimposed on the cut-off line is provided at a position where the reflected light passing through the gap enters and exits the projection lens.
A vehicle headlamp characterized by that. The second shade is provided with a third reflecting surface that reflects a part of the reflected light from the second reflecting surface and passes through the opening to form a part of the light distribution pattern for the overhead sign. Being
The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1.

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