JP5910096B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp that includes a light guide plate and a light emitting element, and is used as, for example, a clearance lamp or a detime running lamp.

  In such a vehicular lamp, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a light emitting element is arranged to face a side wall surface on one end side of the light guide plate, and the side wall surface of the inner curved side of the light guide plate is made light. The side surface of the outer curved side of the light guide plate is configured as a light exit surface as a reflection surface.

  Here, the light reflecting surface is constituted by, for example, a prism surface having a large number of prisms arranged in parallel along the side wall surface of the inner curved side of the light guide plate.

  In the lamp configured as described above, an optical path (referred to as a first optical path) in which light of a light emitting element that enters the light guide plate is guided to the other end side of the light guide plate while being reflected by the light reflecting surface and the light emitting surface. And a light path (sometimes referred to as a second light path) through which the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is emitted to the outside of the light guide plate through the light emitting surface. As a result, the light emitting surface functions as a light emitting surface in which the amount of light emission is substantially uniform from one end to the other end of the light guide plate.

  In addition, as such a vehicle lamp, what is disclosed by patent document 2, for example is also known. In Patent Document 2, light from a light emitting element is guided from one side wall surface of a light guide plate having a flat plate shape, and the other surface is formed by forming a light reflecting surface made of a prism on one surface of the light guide plate. It is configured as a light exit surface.

JP 2009-032564 JP 2011-198536

  However, the above-described vehicle lamp has a side wall surface of the inner curved side of the light guide plate having a substantially uniform plate shape as a light reflecting surface and a side surface of the outer curved side as a light emitting surface. The light reflection surface is configured to face the light irradiation surface. For this reason, when the vehicular lamp is viewed from the light emitting surface side, a large number of irregularities formed on the prism surface constituting the light emitting surface are directly viewed through the light guide plate. Therefore, when the lamp is turned on / off, a large number of irregularities formed on the prism surface of the light guide plate are visually observed, and the appearance of the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) is insufficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the prism surface from being visually observed through the light irradiation surface and to improve the appearance of the light irradiation surface. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve such an object, according to the present invention, first, a surface facing a prism surface of a light guide plate is configured as a light reflecting surface, and a light emitting surface formed adjacent to the light reflecting surface is formed as a light guide plate. In addition to guiding light from the light reflecting surface to the light emitting surface, the light reflecting surface formed on the other surface of the projecting portion is formed on one surface of the light guide plate. The light emitting element provided at one end is configured to contribute to guide the light to the other end of the light guide plate.

  In the lamp configured as described above, the light emitting surface of the light guide plate is formed adjacent to the light reflecting surface formed to face the prism surface, and the light from the light reflecting surface is guided to the light emitting surface. Thus, the prism surface is not directly visible from the light irradiation surface (light emission surface). In this case, the light emitting surface has no function of reflecting light from the light emitting element incident on the light emitting surface to the prism surface side and guiding the light to the other end side of the light guide plate. The same function is provided by a light reflecting surface formed on a surface other than the light emitting surface of the protrusion.

The present invention is grasped by the following composition.
(1) In the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, a prism surface is formed on one of the opposing side wall surfaces in the longitudinal side, an arc-shaped light guide plate with the prism surface on the inside, and an end of the light guide plate A light emitting surface disposed on a side wall surface, the light emitting surface formed adjacent to the first reflecting surface, the light emitting surface formed adjacent to the first reflecting surface, the surface of the light guide plate facing the prism surface, and the light A second light reflecting surface adjacent to the emitting surface, and a third light reflecting surface positioned opposite to the light emitting surface and the second light reflecting surface are configured by a protrusion provided on the light guide plate, When the light path from which the light from the light emitting element is guided to the other end of the light guide plate is the first optical path, and the optical path from which the light from the light emitting element is guided to the light emitting surface is the second optical path, The optical path includes at least the first light reflecting surface, the second light reflecting surface, An optical path that is emitted to the prism surface through a three-light reflecting surface and the first reflecting surface is configured, and the second optical path passes through at least the prism surface, the first light reflecting surface, and the third reflecting surface. An optical path emitted to the light emitting surface is configured.
(2) The vehicular lamp of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of (1), the third light reflecting surface is formed with a metal vapor deposition film.

  According to the vehicular lamp configured as described above, it is possible to avoid viewing the prism surface through the light irradiation surface, and it is possible to improve the appearance of the light irradiation surface.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of the vehicle lamp of this invention. It is a front view of the headlamp to which the vehicular lamp of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the optical path in the vehicle lamp of this invention. It is the figure which showed the beam pattern of the light irradiated from the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) of the vehicle lamp of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 2 of the vehicle lamp of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same number is assigned to the same element throughout the description of the embodiment.
(Embodiment 1)
<Schematic configuration of headlamp>
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an outline of a headlamp (headlight) of, for example, an automobile in which the vehicular lamp of the present invention is provided. The headlamp is a so-called combination-type lamp provided with a plurality of vehicle lamps. The headlamp 10 shown in FIG. 2 shows what was attached to the right side, for example, when a motor vehicle is seen from the front.

  In FIG. 2, there is a lamp body 11, and the lamp body 11 includes a lamp chamber 12 having an opening at the front. In the lamp chamber 12, for example, a passing beam lamp 13, a traveling beam lamp 14, and a clearance lamp 30 are arranged.

  The low beam lamp 13 is configured, for example, by arranging a light source (not shown) in a reflector (not shown) having a spheroid surface and attaching a lens 13A to the front surface of the reflector. In the Klang-type head, for example, it is arranged at the upper position. The traveling beam lamp 14 is configured, for example, by arranging a light source 14B in a reflector 14A that extends to the left and right in the figure and whose cross section in the vertical direction and the like is formed as a paraboloid. Placed in position. The clearance lamp 30 includes a light guide plate 33 that extends to the left and right in the drawing, and a light emitting element 35 that is formed of a light emitting diode, for example, disposed on one end A of the light guide plate 33 (the other end is indicated by a symbol B in the drawing). The lamp chamber 12 is arranged, for example, at the lower position. The light guide plate 33 is arranged with its thickness direction aligned with the vertical direction in the figure, and functions as a light irradiation surface 31 with a side wall surface directed forward of the automobile. After the light from the light emitting element 35 is guided to the inside of the light guide plate 33, the clearance lamp 30 is provided on the side wall surface that is the light irradiation surface 31 and another side wall surface that faces the side wall surface (see FIG. 1A). The light irradiation surface 31 emits light while repeating reflection between the light irradiation surface 31 and the other end B so that substantially uniform luminance can be achieved. It is configured. The clearance lamp 30 will be described in detail later.

A front lens 18 is attached to the opening of the lamp body 11, and light from the low beam lamp 13, the traveling beam lamp 14, and the clearance lamp 30 is emitted to the front of the automobile through the front lens 18. It is like that. The opening of the lamp body 11 shown in FIG. 2 is positioned with the left end and the lower end in the figure in front of the automobile in accordance with the streamlined design of the automobile, and the right end and the upper end in the figure. Slanted to be positioned behind the car. And then. The front lens 18 also has a curved shape that matches the shape of the opening of the lamp body 11.
<Clearance lamp>
FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the clearance lamp 30. As described above, the clearance lamp 30 includes the arc-shaped light guide plate 33 and the light emitting element 35 disposed at one end of the light guide plate 33. The side wall surface on the outer longitudinal side of the arcuate light guide plate 33 has a light irradiation surface (light emitting surface) 31 and the side wall surface on the inner longitudinal side has a prism surface 36.

  FIG.1 (b) is sectional drawing in the bb line of Fig.1 (a). In FIG. 1 (b), the light guide plate 33 is formed with a surface facing the prism surface 36 as a first light reflection surface 41 on the side where the light irradiation surface 31 is formed. The light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31 adjacent to the light irradiation surface, the second reflection surface 42 adjacent to the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31, the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31 and the second light. The third reflection surface positioned opposite to the reflection surface 42 is configured by each surface of the protrusion 37 provided integrally with the light guide plate 33. Here, the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31 is configured to be substantially parallel to the prism surface 36, and the first light reflection surface 41 and the second reflection that are adjacent to the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31. Each of the surfaces 42 is formed so as to incline at an angle of about 45 ° toward the prism surface 36. Further, the boundary between the second light reflecting surface 42 and the third light reflecting surface 43 forms the apex angle of the protrusion 37, and the third light reflecting surface 43 is substantially the same as the first light reflecting surface 41. It is formed to be parallel.

  FIG. 1C is a view of the clearance lamp 30 shown in FIG. 1A viewed from the back side, and light from the light emitting element 35 disposed on one end side of the light guide plate 33 is transmitted in the light guide plate 33. 1 shows one optical path A that is guided to the other end side of the light guide plate 33 while being repeatedly reflected at, and that the light from the prism surface 36 is emitted to the outside of the light guide plate 33 through the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31. ing. 1D is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a solid line circle in FIG. 1C, and the prism surface 36 has a large number of uneven portions 36A along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 33. FIG. It is comprised by forming.

  FIGS. 3A, 3 </ b> B, and 3 </ b> C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a light path from the light emitting element 35 in the light guide plate 33 in the clearance lamp 30.

  3A is the same as the diagram shown in FIG. 1C, but the light from the light emitting element 35 passes through the other end of the light guide plate 33 (light emitting element) along the optical path A shown in FIG. And an optical path (second optical path) in which light from the light emitting element 35 is guided to the light emitting surface (light emitting surface) 31. A ").

  FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram in which the first optical path A ′ including the one in the depth direction is drawn in the figure drawn in association with FIG. In FIG. 3B, the light from the light emitting element 35 or the prism surface 36 is reflected by the first light reflecting surface 41, then reflected by the second light reflecting surface 42 and the third light reflecting surface 43, and The light is reflected by the first light reflecting surface 41 and returns to the prism surface 36. Such a process is repeated over the end of the light guide plate 33 opposite to the light emitting element 35.

  FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second optical path A ″ including the one in the depth direction in the diagram drawn in association with FIG. 1B. In FIG. Part of the light reflected from the surface 36 is reflected by the first light reflecting surface 41, then reflected by the third light reflecting surface 43, and passes through the light irradiation surface (light emitting surface) 31 to the outside of the light guide plate 33. Such a process is performed at a portion of the prism surface 36 formed from one end of the light guide plate 33 to the other end.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a beam pattern of light emitted from the light irradiation surface (light emitting surface) 31 in the clearance lamp 30 and is formed from one end of the light guide plate 33 to the other end. In the light irradiation surface (light emitting surface) 31, the center portion intersecting the horizontal line (H line) and vertical line (V line) is brightest, but it has been found that substantially uniform light irradiation can be obtained. .

  The light guide plate 33 of the clearance lamp 30 configured as described above has an arrangement in which the light irradiation surface (light emission surface) 31 does not face the prism surface 36 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the prism surface 36 cannot be directly visually observed through the light irradiation surface (light emitting surface) 31. In addition, even if the prism surface 36 is viewed through the first light reflecting surface 41 facing the prism surface 36, as shown by an arrow α in the figure, total reflection occurs on the first light reflecting surface 41, and the prism surface 36 cannot be visually observed.

Thereby, it is possible to prevent the prism surface 36 from being visually observed through the light irradiation surface 31, to create an appearance such as surface emission, and to improve the appearance of the light irradiation surface 31. become able to.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the vehicular lamp of the present invention, and is a configuration diagram corresponding to FIG. 1B. A configuration different from the case of FIG. 1B is that a metal vapor deposition film 50 is formed on the third light reflecting surface 43 of the light guide plate 33.

In such a case, even when the light emitting element 35 is not lit, the third light reflecting surface 43 causes the outside light such as sunlight, which is incident from the first light reflecting surface 41, to the outside light such as sunlight. The light is easily reflected, and this light is emitted to the outside of the light guide plate 33 through the light irradiation surface 31. Therefore, the light appears to be relatively bright, and the appearance of the light irradiation surface 31 can be improved. Needless to say, the metal deposition film 50 may be colored. This is because the appearance of the light irradiation surface 31 can be further improved.
(Embodiment 2)
In the embodiment described above, the light emitting element 35 is disposed only at one end of the light guide plate 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and needless to say, the light guide plate 33 may be arranged at the other end. This is because the same effect can be obtained.
(Embodiment 3)
In Embodiment 1, the vehicular lamp of the present invention is configured as a clearance lamp 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other vehicle lamps such as a detime running lamp or a front turn lamp.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. Further, it is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Head lamp, 11 ... Lamp body, 12 ... Lamp chamber, 13 ... Passing beam lamp, 13A ... Lens, 14 ... Traveling beam lamp, 14A ... Reflector, 14B ... Light source, 18 ... Front lens, 30 ... Clearance lamp, 31 ... Light irradiation surface (light emitting surface), 33 ... Light guide plate, 35 ... Light emitting element, 36 ... Prism surface, 37 ... Projection, 41 ... First Light reflecting surface, 42... Second light reflecting surface, 43... Third light reflecting surface, 50.

Claims (2)

A prism surface is formed on one of the opposing side wall surfaces in the longitudinal side, and comprises a light guide plate having an arc shape with the prism surface on the inside, and a light emitting element disposed on the side wall surface of the end of the light guide plate And
A surface of the light guide plate facing the prism surface is a first light reflecting surface, a light emitting surface formed adjacent to the first light reflecting surface, a second light reflecting surface adjacent to the light emitting surface, The light emitting surface and the third light reflecting surface positioned opposite to the second light reflecting surface are configured by protrusions provided on the light guide plate,
When the light path from which the light from the light emitting element is guided to the other end of the light guide plate is a first optical path, and the optical path from which the light from the light emitting element is guided to the light emitting surface is a second optical path,
The first optical path constitutes an optical path emitted to the prism surface through at least the first light reflecting surface, the second light reflecting surface, the third light reflecting surface, and the first light reflecting surface, The vehicular lamp, wherein the second optical path constitutes an optical path that is emitted to the light emitting surface through at least the prism surface, the first light reflecting surface, and the third light reflecting surface.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the third light reflecting surface is formed with a metal vapor deposition film.

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