JP6516455B2 - Light distribution lens - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a light distribution lens provided with a lens body that distributes light incident from a light source emitting light in a predetermined direction in a previously designed range and direction.

  Conventionally, as this kind of light distribution lens, for example, one used for a marker light (headlight) attached to a vehicle such as a railway is known. Here, the marker lamp illuminates the front which is the traveling direction of the vehicle at night and the like to improve the driver's visibility. In general, a marker lamp is classified into a high beam and a low beam according to its light distribution characteristic, and the high beam illuminates a distance and the low beam illuminates a vicinity.

  In the recent mainstream LED-type marker lamps, the role of a light distribution lens is particularly important for efficiently emitting the light from the LED forward. As a light distribution lens, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. That is, like a general light distribution lens, it is disposed with the optical axis of the LED as the axis, and is designed to distribute light from the LED straight forward along the optical axis direction, and such light distribution The object of the present invention is to reduce light unevenness.

Patent No. 5269843 gazette

  However, in the conventional light distribution lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, light from the LED can be distributed only straight forward along the optical axis direction. Therefore, when used for high beams, the light source and the light distribution lens can be arranged in the horizontal direction and applied as they are, but when used for low beams, the light source and the light distribution lens are completely different from the arrangement for high beams. The light distribution lens must be placed in the downward position.

  As described above, for the high beam and the low beam, it is necessary to individually arrange the positions of the light sources and the lenses, which is troublesome and time-consuming, which causes a cost increase. In addition, although it may be considered to configure the high beam and the low beam for different lights, there is a problem that not only the cost increase is caused but also the arrangement in a limited vehicle space is difficult.

  The present invention has been made focusing on the problems of the above-described conventional techniques, and it is possible to easily control the light incident from the light source to an ideal low beam distribution, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a light distribution lens in which a light source can be installed in the same direction as the high beam.

The subject matter of the present invention for achieving the objects described above resides in the inventions of the following items.
[1] A light distribution lens (10) including a lens body (20) for distributing light incident from a light source (41) for emitting light in a predetermined direction in a range and direction designed in advance,
The lens body (20) mainly irradiates the light incident from the light source (41) disposed in a state where the optical axis extends in the horizontal plane, below the horizontal plane at the target irradiation position ahead. and then, and is intended to light distribution intensified along downward by a predetermined angle from the optical axis and the optical axis to be above the center of the illumination range,
The lens body (20) is formed in a bowl shape with its top end facing the light source (41), and has an entrance (21) on which light centered on the optical axis of the light source (41) is incident. On the other side of the top end side, an exit surface (22) from which light having passed through a solid bowl-like interior is exited, and on the exit surface (22), the entrance portion (21) is opposed on the optical axis A bottomed hole (23) opened at a position and recessed inward toward the incident portion (21); and a reflective surface (24a) which is an inner surface of a bowl-shaped peripheral wall (24),
The surface of the incident portion (21) and the bottom surface of the hole (23) face each other to form a predetermined lens shape, and light having a center on the optical axis of the light source (41) is formed by the lens shape. And the light from the opening through the hole (23) along the lower side of the optical axis and the optical axis by a predetermined angle.
The light which passes through the incident portion (21) and enters the periphery from the bottom surface of the hole (23) is totally reflected by the reflecting surface (24a), and then does not pass through the hole (23) and the exit surface ( 22) A light distribution lens (10) characterized in that the light is emitted downward from the horizontal plane .

[ 2 ] The incident portion (21) is concentrically centered on the optical axis of the light source (41) and recessed in a rounded cross-sectional shape toward the emission side, and the light source (41) is located at the center bottom of the recessed surface The light distribution lens (10) according to the above-mentioned [ 1 ], characterized in that an incident lens surface (21a) protruding in a rounded cross-sectional shape toward the side is formed.

[ 3 ] Of the bottom surfaces of the holes (23), the upper surface makes the light passing through the incident lens surface (21a) go straight in the direction of the optical axis, with the horizontal plane along which the optical axis intersecting the bottom surface extends. It is formed on the upper emission lens surface (23a), and the lower side is formed on the lower emission lens surface (23b) which causes the light passing through the incident lens surface (21a) to travel downward at a predetermined angle with the optical axis. The light distribution lens (10) according to the above [ 2 ], which is characterized in that

[ 4 ] Of the inner peripheral surface of the hole (23), the upper side extends parallel to the optical axis with the horizontal plane separating the inner peripheral surface up and down, while the lower side is the optical axis The light distribution lens (10) according to the above-mentioned [ 3 ], characterized in that the light distribution lens is inclined downward and intersects at a predetermined angle.

[ 5 ] Of the reflecting surfaces (24a), the upper side of the reflecting surface (24a) divides the reflecting surface (24a) up and down, and the upper side is a light that spreads upward from the bottom surface of the hole (23) And the lower side is to totally reflect the light spreading downward from the bottom surface of the hole (23) downward at a predetermined angle with the optical axis. above, wherein the set to the critical angle [1], [2], the light distribution lens according to [3] or [4] (10).

[ 6 ] A plurality of the lens bodies (20) are integrally formed on a single substrate (11),
The exit surface (22) of each lens body (20) continues on the surface of the base (11), and the bowl-shaped peripheral wall (24) of each lens body (20) bulges from the back surface of the base (11). broth,
The base body (11) is disposed in front of and in parallel with a light source substrate (40) on which a light source (41) corresponding to each lens body (20) is mounted,
Each of the light sources (41) is disposed on the light source substrate (40) in such a manner that the optical axis is directed in the same direction. [1], [2], [3], [[ 4] or the light distribution lens according to [5] (10A).

[ 7 ] A plurality of lens bodies (20) are integrally formed on a single substrate (11),
At least one of the lens body (20), as the lens of a low beam (20), wherein [1], [2], [3], the lens body according to [4] or [5] (20),
At least one of the lens bodies (20) other than the low beam lens body (20) serves as a high beam lens body (20A) for aiming the light incident from the light source (41) to the front It is comprised in the light distribution which radiate | emits in the predetermined irradiation range centering on the optical axis of the said light source (41) in a position,
The exit surface (22) of each lens body (20, 20A) is continued on the surface of the base (11), and the collar-like peripheral wall (24) of each lens body (20) is the back surface of the base (11) More bulging,
The substrate (11) is disposed in parallel to the front of the light source substrate (40) on which the light sources (41) corresponding to the low beam and high beam lenses (20, 20A) are mounted. And
Each of the light sources (41) is disposed on the light source substrate (40) in such a manner that the optical axis is directed in the same direction.

Next, the operation based on the above-described solution will be described.
In the light distributing lens (10) according to the above [1], the light incident from the light source (41) disposed in a state in which the optical axis extends in the horizontal plane by the lens body (20) At the irradiation position, the lower side of the horizontal plane is the main irradiation range, and light distribution is intensively performed along the lower side of the optical axis and the optical axis above the center of the irradiation range by a predetermined angle.

  As a result, the light passing through the lens body (20) is generally directed downward below the horizontal plane through which the optical axis passes, but only in the direction of the optical axis located below the center of the illumination range or below It can be illuminated locally with intense light. Therefore, it is possible to realize an ideal low beam light distribution with sharp.

Said lens body (20) is formed on the light source (41) like a bowl facing the apical side, an incident portion on which light is incident on an optical axis of the light source (41) at its top end (21), A light emitting surface (22) from which light having passed through a solid bowl shape is emitted on the side opposite to the top end side, and a position on the light emitting surface (22) facing the light incident portion (21) on the optical axis And a bottomed hole (23) which is recessed inward toward the incident portion (21), and a reflecting surface (24a) which is an inner surface of a bowl-shaped peripheral wall (24).

Here, the surface of the incident portion (21) and the bottom surface of the hole (23) face each other to form a predetermined lens shape. With this lens shape, light centered on the optical axis of the light source (41) is emitted from the opening through the hole (23) along the lower side of the optical axis and the optical axis by a predetermined angle. In addition, light incident from the bottom surface of the hole (23) through the light incident portion (21) passes around the inside of the solid bowl shape and is totally reflected by the reflection surface (24a), and then the hole The light is emitted downward from the exit surface (22) without passing through (23). According to this configuration, even if the entire light distribution lens (10) is miniaturized, control can be performed to ideal low beam light distribution.

In addition, as described in [ 2 ], the entrance portion (21) of the lens body (20) is concentric with the light axis of the light source (41) and concaved in an R cross-sectional shape toward the emission side In addition, it is preferable to form an incident lens surface (21a) protruding in a rounded cross-sectional shape toward the light source (41) side at the center bottom of the concave surface.
As described above, when the incident portion (21) has a concave shape, light from the light source (41) whose optical axis is orthogonal to the center can be efficiently received without leaking. In addition, the incident lens surface (21a) formed on the center bottom of the entire recess efficiently makes light near the optical axis of the light source (41) a hole (23) paired with the incident lens surface (21a). It can be turned to the bottom.

Further, as described in [ 3 ], among the bottom surfaces of the holes (23), the upper surface passes through the incident lens surface (21a) with the horizontal plane along which the optical axis intersecting the bottom surface extends. It is formed on the upper emission lens surface (23a) to make the light travel straight in the optical axis direction, and the lower side is a lower emission lens to make the light passing through the incident lens surface (21a) travel downward downward crossing the optical axis at a predetermined angle. It is good to form in a surface (23b).

By this, the light having passed through the incident lens surface (21a) can be efficiently advanced along the optical axis and the optical axis by a predetermined angle even in a limited space, and it is generally below the horizontal line. It becomes possible to perform light distribution control for particularly brightly illuminating a specific area above the center of the irradiation range located.

Further, as described in [ 4 ], among the inner peripheral surfaces of the hole portion (23), the upper side extends in parallel with the optical axis with the horizontal surface dividing the inner peripheral surface up and down. On the other hand, the lower side may be formed to be inclined downward and intersect the optical axis at a predetermined angle. Thereby, light emitted downward from the lower emission lens surface (23b) can be prevented from being hit and reflected on the lower side of the inner peripheral surface of the hole (23), and from the opening of the hole (23) It can be led directly to the outside.

Further, as described in [ 5 ], among the reflecting surfaces (24a), the upper surface is above the bottom surface of the hole (23) with a horizontal surface separating the reflecting surface (24a) up and down. Is set at a critical angle to totally reflect the light spreading downward at a predetermined angle, and the lower side crosses the light spreading downward from the bottom of the hole (23) at a predetermined angle with the optical axis It is good to set it to the critical angle that causes total reflection downward.

  As a result, both the light spreading upward from the incident portion (21) and the light spreading downward from the incident portion (21) on the reflecting surface (24a) on the entire periphery of the bowl-shaped peripheral wall (24) are efficiently downward. It can be emitted towards you.

In the light distributing lens (10A) described in the above [ 6 ], the plurality of lens bodies (20) are integrally formed on a single substrate (11). The emission surface (22) of each lens body (20) continues on the surface of the base body (11), and the bowl-shaped peripheral wall (24) of each lens body (20) is from the back surface of the base body (11). Bulge out. Such a base (11) is disposed in a state of facing in parallel in front of the light source substrate (40) on which the light source (41) corresponding to each lens body (20) is mounted. Thereby, it can be handled as one unit provided with a plurality of lens bodies (20).

Furthermore, in the light distribution lens (10A) described in the above-mentioned [ 7 ], a plurality of lens bodies (20, 20A) are integrally formed on one substrate (11), and the lenses of each lens body (20, 20A) At least one of them adopts the one described above as the low beam lens body (20). On the other hand, at least one of the lens bodies (20, 20A) other than the low beam lens body (20) serves as a high beam lens body (20A) in front of light incident from the light source (41). At the target irradiation position, the light distribution is configured to be emitted to a predetermined irradiation range centered on the optical axis of the light source (41).

  Thus, the low beam and the high beam can be realized by the light source (41) mounted in the same direction on one light source substrate (40). As described above, according to the design that the path of a part of the light beams is directed downward by the light distribution lens (10A), the performance to irradiate the lower side is also realized while securing the rectilinearity for illuminating the front. Is possible.

  According to the light distribution lens according to the present invention, it is possible to easily control the light incident from the light source to the ideal low beam light distribution, and furthermore, the light source can be installed in the same direction as the high beam.

It is a perspective view which shows the lens body which is a light distribution lens concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cutting end view showing a lens which is a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a transversely cut end elevation showing a lens which is a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a rear view which becomes an incident side of a lens which is a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a front view used as the radiation | emission side of the lens body which is a light distribution lens which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a right side view of a lens which is a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view of a lens which is a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a longitudinal cutting end view which shows the light distribution state of the light which injected from the light source into the lens which is a light distribution lens which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional end view which shows the light distribution state of the light which injected from the light source into the lens body which is a light distribution lens which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the irradiation range of the lens body which is a light distribution lens which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention from the front. It is the perspective view which looked at the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention from back. It is a transversely cut end view (A-A 'line cutting part end view of FIG. 11) which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-section end view (the B-B 'line cutting part end view of FIG. 11) which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention from the front. It is the perspective view which looked at the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention from back. It is a transversely cut end view (C-C 'line cutting part end view of FIG. 17) which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the light distribution lens which concerns on another embodiment of this invention (D-D 'line cutting part end view of FIG. 17). It is an exploded perspective view showing a marker lamp provided with a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a perspective view showing a marker lamp provided with a light distribution lens concerning an embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment representing the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
The light distribution lens 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with the lens body 20 for distributing light incident from the LED 41 which is a light source for emitting light in a predetermined direction, in a range and direction designed in advance. The light distribution lens 10 may include the lens body 20 as a part of the configuration, or may be captured as the light distribution lens 10 only at the portion of the lens body 20.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, an example in which the light distribution lens 10 is configured only with the portion of the lens body 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the lens body 20 which is the light distribution lens 10 itself is formed in a bowl shape whose top end side faces the LED 41 (see FIG. 8). Here, the LED 41 is, for example, a surface mount type LED chip, and its configuration is general, so a detailed description is omitted, but light is emitted in a radiation range of a predetermined angle around an optical axis L orthogonal to the chip surface It is a type that emits light.

  In principle, the LED 41 is disposed such that the optical axis L extends in the horizontal plane, but “horizontal” does not mean strictly in the strict sense of horizontal but here it is sufficient to be able to see almost horizontally. . In addition, the luminescent color of LED41 is selected arbitrarily. Further, the LED 41 is not limited to the surface mounting type LED chip, but may be an LED lamp in which the chip is embedded in a shell-shaped mold, and further, another lamp or the like may be adopted as a light source.

  The lens body 20 has an incident portion 21 on which light centered on the optical axis L of the LED 41 is incident at the top end side of the bowl shape, and light which has passed through a solid bowl shape inside at the opposite side of the top end An opening 22 at a position facing the light incident surface 21 on the light axis L on the light emission surface 22 and a hole 23 with a bottom that is recessed inward toward the light incident region 21; And a reflecting surface 24 a which is an inner surface of the peripheral wall 24. Such a lens body 20 is integrally formed of, for example, a transparent material such as acrylic or polycarbonate.

Of the lens body 20, the surface of the incident portion 21 and the bottom surface of the hole 23 face each other to form a predetermined lens shape. With this lens shape, light centered on the optical axis L of the LED 41 is emitted downward from the optical axis L and the optical axis L by a predetermined angle through the hole 23 from the opening. In addition, light incident on the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the hole 23 through the incident portion 21 is totally reflected by the reflecting surface 24 a which is the inner surface of the peripheral wall 24, and then does not pass through the hole 23 and the horizontal plane It is emitted downward.

As described above, the lens body 20 which is the light distribution lens 10 sets the light incident from the LED 41 disposed in the state in which the optical axis L extends in the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. In the design that the lower part of the horizontal plane is the main irradiation range at the irradiation position, and the light axis L and the light axis L above the center of the irradiation area are strongly distributed along the lower side by a predetermined angle. It is configured. The predetermined angle is set in the range of, for example, 0 degrees to -30 degrees in the vertical direction with the LED 41 as the center, and extends in the range of ± 25 to 30 degrees in the horizontal direction with the LED 41 as the center. It is set.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the entire lens body 20 is not in the form of a truncated cone, but as shown in FIG. The emitting surface 22 is not a perfect circle. That is, the exit surface 22 has a shape in which the upper edge of the arc shape having a large curvature and the lower edge of the arc shape having a small curvature are surrounded by straight side edges parallel to each other on both sides thereof. It is formed in the shape of a bowl in which the cross-section is gradually reduced in diameter toward the portion 21 while maintaining a similar shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the incident part 21 on the top end side of the bowl shape is concentric with the light axis L of the LED 41 (see FIG. 8) and has an R-shaped cross section toward the emission side. It is formed to be concave. The axis of the recess coincides with the optical axis L of the LED 41, and the incident portion 21 is disposed so as to surround the emission side of the LED 41. In addition, on the center bottom of the concave surface of the incident portion 21, an incident lens surface 21 a is formed, which conversely protrudes slightly toward the LED 41 toward the LED 41 side. The optical axis L of the LED 41 is orthogonal to the center of the incident lens surface 21a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the hole 23 is opened substantially at the center of the emission surface 22, and the hole 23 is formed so as to be recessed inward toward the incident portion 21 along the optical path including the optical axis L. It is done. When viewed from the optical axis L direction, the opening of the hole portion 23 has an upper edge of an arc and a lower edge extending linearly in the lateral direction, and linear side edges parallel to each other on both sides thereof. It has a horseshoe shape as if surrounded by.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom surface of the hole 23 faces the incident lens surface 21a of the incident portion 21 described above to form a predetermined lens shape. In particular, of the bottom surface of the hole 23, the light beam passing through the incident lens surface 21a is made to go straight (collimate) in the direction of the optical axis L with the horizontal plane extending along the optical axis L intersecting the bottom surface. It is formed on the upper exit lens surface 23a. On the other hand, the lower side is formed as a lower emission lens surface 23b which causes the light passing through the incident lens surface 21a to travel downward, which intersects the optical axis L at a predetermined angle.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, of the inner peripheral surface of the hole 23, the upper side has a cross-sectional shape extending parallel to the optical axis L with the horizontal surface separating the inner peripheral surface up and down. On the other hand, the lower side is a downwardly inclined tapered surface 23c which intersects the optical axis L at a predetermined angle. Here, "parallel" does not mean only parallel in a strict sense, but it is sufficient to be able to be recognized almost in parallel.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the reflecting surface 24a, which is the inner surface of the peripheral wall 24 of the lens body 20, mainly does not pass through the incident lens surface 21a of the light incident from the incident portion 21 and spreads around the outside. Light that has been incident, that is, light spreading outward from the bottom surface of the hole 23, is totally reflected downward.

  In particular, of the reflecting surface 24a, the light emitting surface extending upward from the bottom surface of the hole 23 with the horizontal plane separating the reflecting surface 24a up and down intersects the optical axis L at a predetermined angle downward It is set to the critical angle that causes total reflection. On the other hand, the lower side of the reflecting surface 24a is set at a critical angle for totally reflecting the light spreading downward from the tapered surface 23c of the hole 23 downward at a predetermined angle with the optical axis L.

  Here, the upper and lower reflecting surfaces 24a with the horizontal surface in between may be set to reflect light downward at the same angle, or set to reflect light downward at different angles. You may. Note that "with the horizontal plane in between" is not intended to be separate structures up and down with the horizontal plane as the strict boundary, and it is intended that it is sufficient that the horizontal plane is merely located between the upper and lower different structures. . The same applies to the bottom surface of the hole 23 between the upper emission lens surface 23a and the lower emission lens surface 23b.

Next, the operation of the light distribution lens 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the light distribution lens 10 is disposed immediately in front of the LED 41 so that the optical axis L thereof is orthogonal to the incident portion 21 of the lens body 20. Here, the LED 41 itself is disposed in a state in which the optical axis L extends in the horizontal plane. In this state of arrangement, the light emitted from the LED 41 centering on the optical axis L first enters the incident portion 21 on the bowl-like top end side of the lens body 20.

  The incident portion 21 is recessed inward to an R-shaped cross section centered on the optical axis L of the LED 41, the axis of the recess coincides with the optical axis L of the LED 41, and the incident portion 21 surrounds the emission side of the LED 41 Arranged as. Thereby, the light from the LED 41 can be received without leaking to the outside. In addition, for example, the incident portion 21 may be a flat end face in which the top end of the wedge shape is cut off, but the incident efficiency is lower than the above-described recess, and light distribution control as described below is not achieved.

  At the center bottom of the recess of the incident portion 21, there is a small projecting incident lens surface 21a, and this incident lens surface 21a makes light near the optical axis L of the LED 41 a bottom surface of the hole 23 paired with the incident lens surface 21a. Proceed towards. The light incident on the outside of the incident lens surface 21 a spreads around the outside of the bottom surface of the hole 23 and reaches the reflecting surface 24 a which is the inner surface of the peripheral wall 24 as described later. If the incident lens surface 21a is not provided, the light is not converged toward the bottom of the hole 23, and the light is diffused in the entire circumferential direction, and the light emitted from the emission surface 22 is also lost. .

  As described above, the incident lens surface 21 a of the incident portion 21 and the bottom surface of the hole 23 recessed from the emission surface 22 toward the incident portion 21 face each other to form a predetermined lens shape. More specifically, the upper surface of the bottom surface of the hole 23 is formed as the upper emission lens surface 23a with the horizontal surface along which the optical axis L intersecting the bottom surface extends. The light having passed through is collimated (straight) in the direction of the optical axis L as it is. The light passes through the hole 23 as it is, and is emitted to the outside from the opening of the hole 23.

On the other hand, the lower surface of the bottom of the hole 23 with the horizontal plane interposed therebetween is formed as the lower emission lens surface 23b, and the light which has passed through the incident lens surface 21a by the lower emission lens surface 23b is light It travels downward, intersecting with the axis L at a predetermined angle. Such light also passes through the hole 23 as it is, and is emitted to the outside from the opening of the hole 23. Thus, with the lens shape including the surface of the incident portion 21 and the bottom surface of the hole portion 23, light centered on the optical axis L of the LED 41 is distributed along the lower side from the optical axis L and the optical axis L by a predetermined angle. Ru.

Thus, the light incident from the LED 41 can be efficiently advanced along the optical axis L and the optical axis L by a predetermined angle downward even in a limited space. Among the lens shapes, since the incident lens surface 21a is simply a convex lens shape, light is collimated according to the curvature and angle of the upper emission lens surface 23a, while the lower emission lens surface 23b is incident without special light distribution control. The light from the lens surface 21a may be allowed to travel downward as it is. Such light distribution control in different directions may be realized not by the bottom side of the hole 23 but by the setting of the surface side of the incident portion 21.

  Further, if the upper side of the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion 23 is formed to extend in parallel with the optical axis L, the upper emission lens surface 23a does not prevent the progress of light collimated, but the lower side also has an optical axis If it is formed so as to extend in parallel with L, the light traveling downward from the upper emission lens surface 23 a interferes and is reflected. Therefore, by forming the taper surface 23c which inclines especially downward on the lower side of the inner peripheral surface of the hole 23, it is possible to prevent the situation in which the light traveling downward is interfered.

Furthermore, when the bottom surface of the hole 23 approaches the surface side of the incident portion 21, the lens shape becomes thinner accordingly. Therefore, the influence of distortion marks caused when molding the entire lens body 20 is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to design light distribution characteristics more accurately. According to the lens shape according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform light distribution control to strengthen the light along the lower side by a predetermined angle from the optical axis L and the optical axis L accurately even with a limited size efficiently. It becomes.

  Among the light incident from the incident portion 21, the light that has not passed through the incident lens surface 21 a but spreads and enters the outer periphery reaches the reflective surface 24 a which is the inner surface of the peripheral wall 24 and is totally reflected downward. Ru. More specifically, the upper side of the reflecting surface 24a with the horizontal surface interposed therebetween totally reflects the light spreading upward from the bottom surface of the hole 23 downward, intersecting the optical axis L at a predetermined angle. On the other hand, the lower side across the horizontal surface totally reflects the light spreading downward from the bottom surface of the hole 23 downward, which intersects the optical axis L at a predetermined angle.

  As described above, both the light spreading upward from the incident portion 21 and the light spreading downward from the incident portion 21 are efficiently emitted downward at the same angle at the reflecting surface 24 a on the entire periphery of the bowl-shaped peripheral wall 24. It also becomes possible. Therefore, light distribution for low beam becomes possible. The upper and lower reflecting surfaces 24a with the horizontal surface in between may be set to reflect light downward at the same angle, or may be set to reflect light downward at different angles. It is good.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the lens body 20 distributes light to be emitted from the emission surface 22 and the bottom surface of the hole 23 into a substantially elliptical illumination range. The irradiation surface illustrated here is assumed to be a plane orthogonal to the optical axis L at a target irradiation position, for example, 10 m forward with a linear distance from the LED 41. Of the irradiation range E1 on the irradiation surface, as described above, the illuminance is enhanced in the portion E2 along the lower side by the predetermined angle from the optical axis L and the optical axis L.

As described above, according to the light distribution lens 10, the light incident from the LED 41 disposed in the state where the optical axis L extends in the horizontal plane is mainly located below the horizontal plane at the target irradiation position ahead. The light can be distributed along a predetermined angle downward from the optical axis L and the optical axis L above the center of the irradiation range. As a result, the light passing through the lens body 20 is generally directed downward below the horizontal plane through which the optical axis L passes, but only locally in the direction of the optical axis L located below the center of the irradiation range or below It can be illuminated with extremely strong light, and it is possible to realize an ideal low beam light distribution with sharp.

  In addition, although LED41 and the light distribution lens 10 will be distribute | arranged to a predetermined | prescribed height position with respect to the ground, the irradiation surface in the target irradiation position ahead is the ground or the ground located lower than LED41 grade | etc. Or a plane perpendicular to the optical axis L, that is, a plane perpendicular to the ground, or a plane obliquely intersecting the ground. In addition, the distance from the light distribution lens 10 to the irradiation position is a design item that can be determined appropriately.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, as a light distribution lens 10A of another embodiment, in addition to the plurality of lens bodies 20, another lens body 20A is integrally formed on a single base 11. The molded ones will be described. The light distribution lens 10 </ b> A includes a disk-shaped substrate 11, and a plurality of lens bodies 20 and 20 </ b> A corresponding to the respective LEDs 41 are provided on the substrate 11. Here, the substrate 11 is integrally formed of, for example, a transparent material such as acrylic or polycarbonate, as in the case of the lens bodies 20 and 20A.

  Specifically, the plurality of lens bodies 20 and 20A are the lens body 20 described above for the low beam and another lens body 20A for the high beam, and four lens bodies 20 are arranged in tandem in the center of the base 11 The six lens bodies 20A are arranged in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the base 11. Thus, the specific number and arrangement of each lens body 20, 20A are design items that can be determined appropriately, and at least one is a lens body 20 for low beam, and at least one other than this lens body 20 is a lens body 20A. The arrangement is not particularly limited.

  The low-beam lens body 20 corresponds to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, but the high-beam lens body 20A is a light beam incident from the LED 41 at the front target irradiation position. It is comprised in the light distribution radiate | emitted to the predetermined irradiation range centering on the optical axis L of 1. Such a lens body 20A itself has a well-known configuration, and unlike the lens body 20, it is formed in a generally truncated cone shape, and its axis coincides with the optical axis L of the LED 41.

  The incident portion 21 is formed concentrically around the optical axis L of the LED 41 so as to be concaved inward in an R cross-sectional shape toward the emission side on the ridge end side of the lens body 20A. There is no lens surface 21a. In addition, although the emission surface 22 is originally a perfect circle, due to the fact that the lens body 20A has the outer circumference partially overlapping with each other due to its close arrangement in a limited space on the surface of the base 11, It has an arched shape with a bow in between. Although the hole 23 is opened at the center of the emission surface 22, it does not have a special bottom or inner peripheral surface like the hole 23 of the lens body 20 described above, and the lens body 20A itself is well known belongs to.

  The emission surface 22 of each lens body 20, 20A is continuous with the front surface of the base 11, and the ridged peripheral wall 24 of each lens body 20, 20A bulges from the back surface of the base 11 There is. Such a base 11 is disposed in front of and parallel to the LED substrate (light source substrate) 40 on which the LEDs 41 corresponding to the respective lens bodies 20 and 20A are mounted (see FIG. 23). The individual LEDs 41 on the LED substrate 40 are disposed in a state where the optical axis L is directed in the same direction on the LED substrate 40 as described later.

  According to such a light distribution lens 10A, a plurality of lens bodies 20, 20A can be treated as one unit, and the high beam can be obtained by selectively lighting the LEDs 41 corresponding to each lens body 20 or each lens body 20A. Alternatively, low beam illumination can be selectively realized. In particular, the low beam and the high beam can be realized by the LEDs 41 mounted in the same direction on one LED substrate 40.

The specific shapes and configurations of the lens body 20 and 20A, the curved surface of the peripheral wall 24, the incident portion 21 and the exit surface 22, and the hole portion 23 are not limited to those illustrated, and appropriate changes may be made. It is possible. For example, as another modification, as in the light distribution lens 10B shown in FIGS. 17 to 22, the low beam lens body 20B is designed to have a large width, or the high beam lens bodies 20C do not overlap each other. It may be designed in shape.
Furthermore, although not shown, as another embodiment, the same low beam lens bodies 20 and 20B may be integrally formed on one substrate 11.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, a marker lamp 1 including the above-described light distribution lens 10A as a component will be described. The marker lamp 1 is attached to, for example, a leading car of a rail car. As shown in FIG. 21, the marker lamp 1 has a lamp body 2 also serving as a heat sink, an LED substrate 40, and a light distribution lens 10A. The marker lamp 1 is mainly assembled by these three parts, and each part is previously unitized. Note that another light distribution lens 10B may be used instead of the light distribution lens 10A.

  The lamp body 2 is integrally formed of, for example, a metal such as an aluminum alloy, and a cylindrical housing portion 3 for housing the LED substrate 40 and attaching the light distribution lens 10A is provided on the front side. There is. The storage portion 3 is open to the front, and the outer peripheral edge 3 a protrudes like a flange. The bottom of the storage portion 3 forms a flat mounting surface, and although not shown, through holes through which wires for supplying power from a power source mounted on a vehicle are provided at appropriate places. Further, on the back side of the lamp body 2, a heat sink 5 is provided in which a plurality of heat radiation fins 4 extending in parallel with each other are erected.

  The LED substrate 40 is a circle having a size that matches the mounting surface of the bottom of the storage portion 3, a wiring circuit is formed on the surface, and a plurality of LEDs 41 are mounted on the wiring circuit. Here, the LED 41 is a surface mount type LED chip as described above. Each of the LEDs 41 is disposed on the surface of the LED substrate 40 such that the optical axis L is oriented in the same direction orthogonal to the surface.

  The light distribution lens 10A is formed in a size that matches the mounting surface of the bottom of the storage section 3, and each lens body 20, 20A on the base 11 corresponds to each LED 41 on the LED substrate 40. doing. The light distribution lens 10 </ b> A is attached in a state of facing the opening of the storage unit 3 in a state of facing in parallel in front of the LED substrate 40 mounted on the bottom of the storage unit 3.

  According to such a marker lamp 1, the light distribution lens 10 A is designed to direct the path of a part of the light beams downward, thereby securing the straightness for illuminating the traveling direction of the vehicle by the normal lens body 20 A However, the lens body 20 can also realize the performance of irradiating also the lower part on the vehicle track. Further, the number of parts to be configured is small, and the entire apparatus can be miniaturized.

  In particular, with regard to the light distributing lens 10A, since the exit surfaces 22 of the lens bodies 20 and 20A with different light distribution characteristics are formed on the same plane on the surface side of the base 11, the light distributing lens 10A itself is one unit. The configuration and the relative arrangement with the LED substrate 40 can also be simplified. Furthermore, although the parts to be mounted and the positions of the respective LEDs 41 are not particularly limited, they are arranged in a state in which the optical axis L is directed in the same direction on one LED substrate 40 respectively. And can be easily produced.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and changes or additions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also included in the present invention. For example, as described above, the overall shape of the lens body 20, 20A, the curved surface of the peripheral wall 24, the incident portion 21 or the exit surface 22, and the specific shape or configuration of the hole portion 23 are not limited to those illustrated. And can be changed as appropriate. Also, the light distribution lenses 10, 10A, 10B can be used as optical components of various illumination devices as well as the marker lamp 1.

  The light distribution lens according to the present invention can be widely applied as an optical component of various illumination devices.

10: Light distribution lens 10A: Light distribution lens 11: Base body 20: Lens body 20A: Lens body 21: Incident portion 21a: Incident lens surface 22: Emitting surface 23: Hole 23a: Upper emitting lens surface 23b: Lower emitting lens surface 23c: Taper surface 24: Peripheral wall 24a: Reflective surface 40: LED board 41: LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label light 2 ... Light body 3 ... Storage part 4 ... Heat dissipation fin 5 ... Heat sink

Claims (7)

In a light distribution lens provided with a lens body for distributing light incident from a light source emitting light in a predetermined direction in a previously designed range and direction,
The lens body makes light incident from the light source disposed in a state in which the optical axis extends in the horizontal plane the main irradiation area below the horizontal plane at the target irradiation position ahead, and the irradiation area And distribute light distribution along a predetermined angle downward from the optical axis above the center of the optical axis and the optical axis ,
The lens body is formed in a bowl shape in which the top end side faces the light source, and at the top end side, an incident portion on which light centered on the optical axis of the light source is incident, and a solid bowl shape on the opposite side An exit surface through which light having passed through the inside is exited, and a bottomed hole opened at a position on the exit surface facing the incident portion on the optical axis on the exit surface, and recessed inwardly toward the incident portion; And a reflective surface that is an inner surface of the bowl-shaped peripheral wall,
The surface of the incident portion and the bottom surface of the hole face each other to form a predetermined lens shape, and the light having the center of the light axis of the light source is formed from the optical axis and the optical axis by the lens shape. The light is emitted downward from the opening through the hole along the lower side by a predetermined angle,
The light which passes through the incident portion and enters the periphery from the bottom surface of the hole is totally reflected by the reflection surface, and then is not transmitted through the hole and emitted downward from the output surface toward the horizontal surface. Characteristic light distribution lens. The incident portion is concentrically centered on the optical axis of the light source and recessed in an R cross-sectional shape toward the emission side, and an incident lens surface protruding in the R cross-sectional shape toward the light source on the center bottom of the recessed surface The light distribution lens according to claim 1 , wherein the light distribution lens is formed. Among the bottom surfaces of the holes, an upper surface is formed on an upper emission lens surface which allows light having passed through the incident lens surface to travel straight in the optical axis direction, with a horizontal surface extending the optical axis intersecting the bottom surface. 3. The light distribution lens according to claim 2 , wherein the light distribution lens is formed on a lower emission lens surface which allows light having passed through the incident lens surface to travel downward, which intersects the optical axis at a predetermined angle. Of the inner peripheral surface of the hole, the upper side extends parallel to the optical axis with the horizontal plane separating the inner peripheral surface up and down, while the lower side intersects the optical axis at a predetermined angle The light distributing lens according to claim 3 , which is inclined downward. Among the reflecting surfaces, the upper side is a critical point for totally reflecting light extending upward from the bottom surface of the hole downward at an angle with the optical axis, with the horizontal surface separating the reflecting surface up and down. The angle is set to a corner, and the lower side is set to a critical angle that totally reflects the light spreading downward from the bottom surface of the hole downward at a predetermined angle with the optical axis . 2, 3 or the light distribution lens according to 4 were. A plurality of the lens bodies are integrally formed on a single substrate;
The light emission surface of each lens body is continued on the surface of the base body, and the collar-like peripheral wall of each lens body bulges from the back surface of the base body,
The substrate is disposed in parallel and in front of a light source substrate on which a light source corresponding to each lens body is mounted,
Wherein each light source, the light distribution lens according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that disposed in each of the state at the light source on the substrate an optical axis is oriented in the same direction. A plurality of lens bodies are integrally molded on a single substrate,
At least one of the lens body, the lens body for low beam, a lens body according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,
At least one of the lens bodies other than the low beam lens body is a lens body for high beam, and light incident from a light source is centered on the optical axis of the light source at a target irradiation position ahead. Light distribution emitted to a predetermined irradiation range,
The light emission surface of each lens body is continued on the surface of the base body, and the collar-like peripheral wall of each lens body bulges from the back surface of the base body,
The substrate is disposed in parallel and in front of a light source substrate on which light sources corresponding to the low beam and high beam lenses are mounted.
Each of the light sources is disposed on the light source substrate such that the optical axis is directed in the same direction.

Images