JP6206062B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that emits blue laser light from a semiconductor laser as white light through a phosphor.

  Conventionally, this kind of vehicle lamp is known (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle lamp will be described.

  The vehicular lamp of Patent Document 1 includes a semiconductor laser light source, a phosphor, and a reflecting surface. When blue light is irradiated to the phosphor from the semiconductor laser light source, the phosphor is excited to emit yellow light, and the blue light and the yellow light are mixed to form white light, and the white light is reflected by the reflecting surface to be predetermined. The light distribution pattern is irradiated in front of the vehicle. The vehicular lamp of Patent Document 1 diffuses blue light specularly reflected on the surface of the phosphor widely in the left-right direction on the reflecting surface, so that the blue color can be reduced and color unevenness of the light distribution pattern can be suppressed. it can.

  The vehicular lamp of Patent Document 2 includes a semiconductor light emitting element, a phosphor, and a projection lens. When the phosphor is irradiated with blue light from the semiconductor light emitting element, the phosphor is excited to emit yellow light, and the blue light and yellow light are mixed to form white light, and the white light is transmitted through the projection lens to be predetermined. The light distribution pattern is irradiated in front of the vehicle. The vehicular lamp of Patent Document 2 diffuses blue light specularly reflected on the surface of the phosphor by the diffusing portion of the projection lens, so that the blue color can be reduced and color unevenness of the light distribution pattern can be suppressed. .

JP 2012-243538 A JP 2012-119173 A

  However, the vehicular lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not applicable to a vehicular lamp that does not include a reflecting surface because it diffuses blue light on the reflecting surface to diminish the blue color. In addition, since blue light is diffused, it is difficult to form a light distribution pattern as designed. Further, the vehicular lamp disclosed in Patent Document 2 is not applicable to a vehicular lamp that does not include a projection lens because it diffuses blue light at the diffusion portion of the projection lens to diminish the blue color. In addition, since blue light is diffused, it is difficult to form a light distribution pattern as designed.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the conventional vehicular lamp cannot be applied to a vehicular lamp that does not include a specific optical member such as a reflecting surface or a projection lens, and forms a light distribution pattern as designed. It is difficult to do.

The inventions includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser beam, be positioned away from the semiconductor laser, and a phosphor to emit a laser beam from a semiconductor laser as a fluorescence of a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors from the phosphor The semiconductor laser is a semiconductor that emits near-ultraviolet laser light. The semiconductor laser radiates near-ultraviolet laser light. The phosphor is a phosphor that emits near-ultraviolet laser light from a semiconductor laser as red light, green light, and blue light, and divides the surface of the phosphor into four regions by two orthogonal lines. A fluorescent material that emits red light is disposed in two regions located diagonally, and a fluorescent material that emits green light and a fluorescent material that emits blue light in the remaining regions. It was arranged, characterized in that.

The inventions may, mixing member, mixing of the portion of the actual situation in between the entrance surface fluorescence of a plurality of colors from the phosphor enters, an exit surface which white light is emitted, the incident surface and an exit surface And 50% or more of fluorescence of a plurality of colors has a length that causes total internal reflection once or more between the entrance surface and the exit surface of the color mixing portion.

The inventions may, phosphor, a phosphor of a reflection type for reflecting the incident surface of the mixing member with laser light as fluorescence of a plurality of colors from the semiconductor laser, characterized in that.

  Since the vehicular lamp according to the present invention mixes a plurality of colors of fluorescent light from the phosphors into white light by the color mixing member, the vehicular lamp having the color mixing member can be used as a reflective surface, Even a vehicular lamp that does not include a specific optical component such as a projection lens can be applied. In addition, it is not designed to eliminate color unevenness as white light by mixing multiple colors of fluorescent light with an optical component, but it is designed to eliminate color unevenness as white light by mixing multiple colors of fluorescent light with a color mixing member. A street light distribution pattern can be formed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a main part showing an embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a phosphor and a color mixing member. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a projected image of light projected on the screen from the projection lens. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the color mixing action of the color mixing member.

  Hereinafter, one example of an embodiment (example) of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the symbol “HL-HR” indicates a horizontal line on the left and right of the screen. The symbol “VU-VD” indicates vertical lines on the top and bottom of the screen. 3A and 4B show projection views of light projected onto the screen through the color mixing member 3, and FIGS. 3B and 4C show the phosphor 2, The projection figure of the light directly projected on the screen from 200 is shown. FIG. 4A is a front view of the phosphor 200 as seen from the direction opposite to the light reflection direction.

(Description of Configuration of Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment will be described. The vehicular lamp is mounted on the left and right sides of the front portion of the vehicle (not shown) or on the left and right sides of the rear portion. The vehicular lamp irradiates the outside of the vehicle with white light as a predetermined light distribution pattern. Examples of the vehicle lamp include a low beam headlamp, a high beam headlamp, a fog lamp, a low beam high beam switching headlamp, a daytime running lamp, a clearance lamp, and a backup lamp.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp includes a lamp housing (not shown), a lamp lens (not shown), a semiconductor laser 1, a phosphor 2, and a color mixing member (integrator, primary optics). 3, a projection lens 4 as an optical member, and a mounting member (not shown).

  The semiconductor laser 1, the phosphor 2, the color mixing member 3, and the projection lens 4 constitute a lamp unit. The lamp housing and the lamp lens define a lamp chamber (not shown). The lamp unit is disposed in the lamp chamber and is attached to the lamp housing via the attachment member. A lamp unit other than the lamp unit may be disposed in the lamp chamber.

  The semiconductor laser (diode laser, laser diode, LD) 1 is a semiconductor laser that emits near-ultraviolet laser light L1 to the surface of the phosphor 2 in this example. The semiconductor laser 1 and the phosphor 2 are arranged apart from each other.

  The phosphor 2 is a phosphor that emits the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 as a plurality of colors of fluorescence L2, in this example, red light, green light, and blue light. The phosphor 2 is a reflective phosphor that reflects the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 as a plurality of colors of the fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) on the surface. The surface of the phosphor 2 has a quadrangular shape. The surface of the phosphor 2 reflects the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 as the fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) of a plurality of colors with an energy distribution (Lambertian) 20. Let

  The phosphor 2 is formed by fixing (supporting) a catalyst of a particulate fluorescent material on a carrier such as a transparent resin. The particulate fluorescent substance as the catalyst is excited by the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light) and emits red light (fluorescence L2), and excited to emit green light (fluorescence L2). It consists of a fluorescent substance that emits light and a fluorescent substance that is excited to emit blue light (fluorescence L2).

  The color mixing member 3 mixes the fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) of a plurality of colors from the phosphor 2 into white light L3. In this example, the color mixing member 3 is made of a transparent resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate. As shown in FIG. 2, the color mixing member 3 includes an incident surface 30 on which the fluorescent light L2 of the plurality of colors from the phosphor 2 is incident, an exit surface 31 from which the white light L3 is emitted, and the incident surface 30. And a solid color (solid) portion 32 between the light emitting surface 31 and the light emitting surface 31.

  The incident surface 30 has a quadrangular shape following the surface of the phosphor 2. The exit surface 31 has a rectangular shape that is substantially the same as the entrance surface 30. As a result, the color mixing member 3 has a solid quadrangular prism shape. Between the entrance surface 30 and the exit surface 31 of the color mixing portion 32, a length in which 50% or more of the fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) of a plurality of colors is totally internally reflected once or more. L.

  The projection lens 4 has a predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, a low beam light distribution pattern, a high beam light distribution pattern, a fog lamp light distribution) using the white light L3 from the emission surface 31 of the color mixing member 3 as the irradiation light L4. The optical member irradiates the outside of the vehicle along the optical axis Z with a pattern, a light distribution pattern for a daytime running lamp, a light distribution pattern for a clearance lamp, and a light distribution pattern for a backup lamp).

(Description of the operation of the embodiment)
The vehicular lamp according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below.

  Near-ultraviolet laser light L <b> 1 is emitted from the semiconductor laser 1 toward the surface of the phosphor 2. Then, the near-ultraviolet laser beam L1 is reflected on the surface of the phosphor 2. At this time, the fluorescent material of the phosphor 2 is excited by the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 to emit red light, green light, and blue light L2.

  The fluorescence L <b> 2 (red light, green light, and blue light) enters the color mixing portion 32 from the incident surface 30 of the color mixing member 3. At least 50% of the fluorescence L <b> 2 (red light, green light, and blue light) that has entered the color mixture portion 32 is totally internally reflected once or more on the side surface of the color mixture portion 32. As a result, the fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) is mixed into white light L3 and emitted from the emission surface 31 of the color mixing member 3.

  White light L3 emitted from the color mixing member 3 passes through the projection lens 4. At this time, the white light L3 is subjected to light distribution control and is irradiated to the outside of the vehicle in a predetermined light distribution pattern as irradiation light L4.

(Explanation of effect of embodiment)
The vehicular lamp according to this embodiment is configured and operated as described above, and the effects thereof will be described below.

  Since the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment mixes the fluorescent light L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) of a plurality of colors from the phosphor 2 with the color mixing member 3, the white light L3 is obtained. If it is a vehicle lamp provided with the color mixing member 3, even if it is a vehicle lamp which is not provided with specific optical components, such as a reflective surface and a projection lens, it is applicable. In addition, the optical component does not mix the colors of multiple colors of fluorescent light so as to eliminate the uneven color as white light. The color mixing member 3 mixes the colors of fluorescent colors L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) to produce white color. Since the color unevenness is eliminated as the light L3, a light distribution pattern as designed can be formed.

  In particular, the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment mixes a plurality of colors of fluorescent light L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) from the phosphor 2 by the color mixing member 3 to obtain white light L3. 3A and FIG. 4B, white light L3 having no color unevenness is obtained as in the projected image PIA (image of the emission surface 31 of the color mixing member 3) PIA.

  Here, a case where the color mixing member 3 is not used will be described. In this case, color unevenness appears as in the projected image (image of the surface of the phosphor 2) PIB shown in FIG. That is, from the fluorescent material that is excited by the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light) and emits red light (fluorescence L2) and from the fluorescent material that is excited and emits green light (fluorescence L2). The green light G and the blue light B from the fluorescent material that emits blue light (fluorescence L2) when excited are projected from the surface of the fluorescent material 2 without being mixed with each other, but in a small circle of the fine-particle fluorescent material. The light passes through the lens 4 and is irradiated to the outside of the vehicle.

  Hereinafter, it will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the surface of the phosphor 200 is divided into four parts in the vertical and horizontal directions along the horizontal line HL-HR on the left and right of the screen and the vertical line VU-VD on the top and bottom of the screen. A rectangular fluorescent material 2R that is excited by near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light) and emits red light (fluorescence L2) is disposed on the upper left portion and the lower right portion of the surface of the phosphor 2. In addition, a rectangular fluorescent material 2G that emits green light (fluorescence L2) by being excited by near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light) is disposed on the lower left portion of the surface of the phosphor 2. Further, a rectangular fluorescent material 2B that is excited by near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light) and emits blue light (fluorescence L2) is disposed on the upper right portion of the surface of the phosphor 2.

  Instead of the phosphor 2 shown in FIG. 1, the surface of the phosphor 200 shown in FIG. 4A is irradiated with near-ultraviolet laser light L1 (excitation light). Then, when there is no color mixing member 3, as shown in FIG. 4C, the red light R in the upper left part and the lower right part, the green light G in the lower left part, and the upper right part The blue light B is irradiated from the surface of the phosphor 200 in the form of the squares of the fluorescent materials 2R, 2G, and 2B without being mixed with each other.

  On the other hand, since the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment uses the color mixing member 3, as shown in FIG. 4B, the red light R in the upper left part and the lower right part, and the lower left part The green light G of the portion and the blue light B of the upper right portion are mixed in the color mixing member 3 and irradiated as white light L3.

  Further, the color unevenness appears more prominently as the surface of the phosphor 2 becomes smaller. This is because, as the surface of the phosphor 2 becomes smaller, the amount of the fluorescent material is relatively reduced, and as a result, a color mixing phenomenon of a plurality of colors of fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light) emitted from the fluorescent material. This is because there are fewer. As described above, the color unevenness occurs contrary to the effect that the phosphor 2 can be miniaturized using the semiconductor laser 1.

  However, since the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment can eliminate color unevenness by using the color mixing member 3, the phosphor 2 can be miniaturized using the semiconductor laser 1.

  Since the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment uses the color mixing member 3 including the solid (solid) color mixing portion 32, the light loss is lower than that of the color mixing member including the hollow (tunnel) color mixing portion. There is very little. That is, in the case of a hollow color mixing member, a light reflection loss occurs each time light is reflected, and the light reflection loss is accumulated as many times as the light is reflected. On the other hand, the solid color mixing member 3 has only light transmission loss and no light reflection loss. Therefore, compared with the hollow color mixing member, the fluorescence L2 from the phosphor 2 is reduced. It is possible to efficiently mix colors as white light L3.

  In the vehicular lamp according to this embodiment, the distance between the incident surface 30 and the exit surface 31 of the color mixing portion 32 of the color mixing member 3 is 50% or more of a plurality of colors of fluorescence L2 (red light, green light, and blue light). Has a length L for total internal reflection at least once. For this reason, the fluorescence L2 of a plurality of colors can be reliably mixed with the white light L3.

  In the vehicle lamp according to this embodiment, the phosphor 2 is a reflective phosphor that reflects near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 as fluorescence L2 of a plurality of colors on the surface. For this reason, there is no case where the near-ultraviolet laser beam L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 is exposed to the outside from the phosphor 2 as compared with the transmission phosphor.

  The vehicular lamp according to this embodiment is a semiconductor laser in which the semiconductor laser 1 emits near-ultraviolet laser light L1, and the phosphor 2 converts the near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 into red light, green light, and blue light. As a phosphor that emits light. For this reason, white light L3 with high output (high luminous intensity, high illuminance, and high light quantity) can be reliably obtained.

(Description of example other than embodiment)
In this embodiment, one semiconductor laser 1 is used. However, in the present invention, a plurality of semiconductor lasers 1 may be used separately from the phosphor 2 for one phosphor 2.

  Further, in this embodiment, the color mixing member 3 has a solid quadrangular prism shape, and the incident surface 30 and the emission surface 31 of the color mixing member 3 and the surface of the phosphor 2 have a rectangular shape. . However, in the present invention, the color mixing member 3 may have a shape other than a solid quadrangular prism shape, and the entrance surface 30 and the exit surface 31 of the color mixture member 3 and the surface of the phosphor 2 are rectangular. Other shapes may be used.

  Further, in this embodiment, the phosphor 2 is a reflective phosphor that reflects near-ultraviolet laser light L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 as fluorescence L2 of a plurality of colors on the surface. However, in the present invention, a transmissive phosphor that transmits the near-ultraviolet laser beam L1 from the semiconductor laser 1 may be used as the phosphor.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, a semiconductor laser 1 that emits near-ultraviolet laser light L1 is used. However, in the present invention, a semiconductor laser other than the semiconductor laser 1 that emits near-ultraviolet laser light L1, for example, a semiconductor laser that emits blue laser light, may be used as the semiconductor laser. In this case, as the phosphor, a phosphor containing a luminescent material that emits yellow light when excited by blue laser light, or a phosphor containing a luminescent material that emits red light and green light when excited by blue laser light. Is used.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the projection lens 4 is used as an optical member. However, in the present invention, an optical member other than the projection lens 4, such as a reflecting surface or a projector, may be used.

1 Semiconductor laser 2,200 Phosphor 20 Energy distribution (Lambertian)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Color mixing member 30 Incident surface 31 Output surface 32 Color mixing part 4 Projection lens L Length of color mixing part L1 Near ultraviolet laser light L2 Fluorescence L3 White light L4 Irradiation light R Red light G Green light B Blue light 2R Fluorescent substance which emits red light 2G Fluorescent substance that emits green light 2B Fluorescent substance that emits blue light PIA, PIB Light projection image HL-HR Horizontal line on the screen VU-VD Vertical line on the screen Z Optical axis

Claims (3)

A semiconductor laser that emits laser light;
A phosphor that is disposed apart from the semiconductor laser and emits the laser light from the semiconductor laser as fluorescence of a plurality of colors;
A color mixing member that mixes a plurality of colors of the fluorescence from the phosphor to form white light;
An optical member that irradiates the white light from the color mixing member to the outside in a predetermined light distribution pattern;
Equipped with a,
The semiconductor laser is a semiconductor laser that emits near-ultraviolet laser light,
The phosphor emits the near-ultraviolet laser light from the semiconductor laser as red light, green light, and blue light,
The surface of the phosphor is divided into four regions by two orthogonal straight lines, the fluorescent material that emits the red light is arranged in two diagonally located regions, and green light is emitted in the remaining regions. A fluorescent substance that emits light and a fluorescent substance that emits blue light are arranged respectively.
A vehicular lamp characterized by the above. The color mixing member is a color mixture of an incident surface on which the fluorescent light of a plurality of colors from the phosphor enters, an exit surface from which the white light exits, and a solid portion between the entrance surface and the exit surface. And between the incident surface and the exit surface of the color mixing portion, the fluorescent light of a plurality of colors has a length that causes total internal reflection at least once.
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1. The phosphor is a reflective phosphor that reflects the laser light from the semiconductor laser to the incident surface of the color mixing member as the fluorescence of a plurality of colors.
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1 or 2.

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