JP6613547B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly, to a vehicular lamp configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally.

  FIG. 63 is a schematic view of a conventional vehicular lamp 600.

  As shown in FIG. 63, conventionally, in the field of vehicle lamps, a laser light source 612, a condenser lens 614, an optical deflector 616 (MEMS mirror), a wavelength conversion member 618 (phosphor panel), and a projection lens 620 are provided. A luminance distribution is formed on the wavelength conversion member 618 by the laser light from the laser light source 612 scanned two-dimensionally by the optical deflector 616, and this luminance distribution is projected forward by the projection lens 620. A vehicle lamp 600 that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern corresponding to the distribution has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-222238 A

  However, in the vehicular lamp 600 described in Patent Document 1, when a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region is formed by light that is two-dimensionally scanned, it is used to form the high beam light distribution pattern. It has not been proposed at all what kind of shape the light (scanning light) spot is desirable and how the desired shape is realized.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. In a vehicular lamp configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally, An object is to make the light-dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction among the light-dark boundary lines surrounding the irradiation region sharper (clear).

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a vehicular lamp configured to form a light distribution pattern for a high beam including a non-irradiated region by light that is two-dimensionally scanned. The spot is characterized by having a vertically long shape in the vertical direction.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally, a light / dark boundary surrounding the non-irradiation region A light / dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction among the lines can be made sharper.

  This is because the spot of the light (scanning light) used for forming the high-beam light distribution pattern including the non-irradiated region has a vertically long shape.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region is formed by the first light scanned two-dimensionally, and the low beam distribution is formed by the second light scanned two-dimensionally. In the vehicular lamp configured to form a light pattern, the first light spot has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction, and the second light spot has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction. It is characterized by that.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally, a light / dark boundary surrounding the non-irradiation region A light / dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction among the lines can be made sharper.

  This is because the spot of the first light (scanning light) used for forming the high-beam light distribution pattern including the non-irradiated region has a vertically long shape.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper end edge (bright / dark boundary line) of the light distribution pattern for low beam can be made sharper.

  This is because the spot of the second light (scanning light) used for forming the low beam light distribution pattern has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a high beam light source, a high beam optical deflector that scans light incident from the high beam light source in a two-dimensional manner, and light scanned by the high beam optical deflector are used for the high beam. A screen member on which a luminance distribution is formed, an optical system that projects the luminance distribution formed on the screen member to the front of the vehicle, a detection unit that detects an irradiation prohibited object in front of the vehicle, and the high beam luminance distribution Control means for controlling the lighting state of the high beam light source so that a non-irradiation area is formed in the area corresponding to the irradiation prohibited object detected by the detection means, and is scanned by the high beam optical deflector. The spot of the light on the screen member has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally, a light / dark boundary surrounding the non-irradiation region A light / dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction among the lines can be made sharper.

  This is because the light spot (spot on the screen member of the light scanned by the first light deflector) used for forming the high-beam light distribution pattern including the non-irradiated region has a vertically long shape. Is due to.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the high beam light source is arranged in a posture in which the spots are vertically long in the vertical direction.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, by arranging the first light source in the posture as described in claim 4, it is possible to realize a vertically elongated spot in the vertical direction.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: a low beam light source; and a low beam optical deflector that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the low beam light source. The screen member is formed with at least one of a high beam luminance distribution by light scanned by the high beam light deflector and a low beam luminance distribution by light scanned by the low beam light deflector, A spot on the screen member of light scanned by the low beam optical deflector has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the upper end edge (bright / dark boundary line) of the low beam light distribution pattern can be made sharper (clear).

  This is because the light spot (spot on the screen member scanned by the second light deflector) used for forming the low beam light distribution pattern has a horizontally long shape.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high beam light source, a high beam optical deflector that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the high beam light source, and light scanned by the high beam optical deflector. A high beam lamp unit comprising a high beam screen member on which a luminance distribution is formed, a high beam optical system for projecting the luminance distribution formed on the high beam screen member to the front of the vehicle, and an irradiation prohibited object in front of the vehicle And a control for controlling a lighting state of the high beam light source so that a non-irradiation region is formed in a region corresponding to the irradiation prohibited object detected by the detection unit in the high beam luminance distribution. Means, a low beam light source, and a low beam light polarization that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the low beam light source. A low beam screen member in which a low beam luminance distribution is formed by light scanned by the low beam optical deflector, and a low beam optical system for projecting the luminance distribution formed in the low beam screen member to the front of the vehicle A spot on the high beam screen member of the light from the high beam light source is vertically elongated in the vertical direction, and the light from the low beam light source is The spot on the low beam screen member has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light scanned two-dimensionally, a light / dark boundary surrounding the non-irradiation region A light / dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction among the lines can be made sharper.

  This is because the light spot (spot on the screen member of the light scanned by the first light deflector) used for forming the high-beam light distribution pattern including the non-irradiated region has a vertically long shape. Is due to.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the upper end edge (bright / dark boundary line) of the low beam light distribution pattern can be made sharper (clear).

  This is because the light spot (spot on the screen member scanned by the second optical deflector) used for forming the low beam light distribution pattern has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.

  According to the present invention, in a vehicular lamp configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by light that is two-dimensionally scanned, a vertical direction of light and dark boundary lines surrounding the non-irradiation region It is possible to make the light and dark boundary line extending to the sharper (clear).

It is a longitudinal section of vehicular lamp 10 which is a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the modification of the vehicle lamp. 1 is a perspective view of a uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201. FIG. (A) The figure of the state which has not applied the voltage to the 1st piezoelectric actuator 203,204, (b) The figure of the state which has applied the voltage. (A) The figure of the state which has not applied the voltage to the 2nd piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, (b) The figure of the state which has applied the voltage. (A) The figure for demonstrating the maximum swing angle centering on the 1st axis | shaft X1 of the mirror part 202, (b) The figure for demonstrating the maximum swing angle centering on the 2nd axis | shaft X2 of the mirror part 202. is there. 1 is a schematic diagram of a test system. It is the graph which plotted the experimental result (measurement result). It is a graph showing the relationship between the swing angle of the mirror part 202 and a frequency. 2 is a configuration example of a control system that controls the excitation light source 12 and the optical deflector 201. FIG. 11 represents a state in which the excitation light source 12 (laser light) is modulated at the modulation frequency f _L (25 MHz) in synchronization with the reciprocating swing of the mirror unit 202, and the middle stage in FIG. 11 represents the first piezoelectric actuator 203. 204, the first and second AC voltages (for example, a 25 MHz sine wave) are applied, and the lower part of FIG. 11 shows the third AC voltage (for example, a 55 Hz sawtooth wave) for the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. ) Is applied. (A) The details of the first and second AC voltages (for example, a 25 MHz sine wave) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like are shown. The details of the third AC voltage (for example, 55 Hz sawtooth wave) applied to the piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 and the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light) are shown. (A)-(c) It is an example of the scanning pattern of the laser beam (spot) which the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (horizontal direction and vertical direction). (A), (b) It is an example of the scanning pattern of the vertical direction of the laser beam (spot) which the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction). 2 is a perspective view of a biaxial non-resonant type optical deflector 161. FIG. (A) The details of the first AC voltage (for example, 6 kHz sawtooth wave) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), etc., and (b) the second piezoelectric actuator. The detail of the 3rd alternating voltage (for example, 60-tooth sawtooth wave) applied to 165,166, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), etc. are represented. It is a top view of the optical deflector 201A of a biaxial resonance type. (A) The detail of the 1st alternating current voltage (for example, 24 kHz sine wave) applied to the 1st piezoelectric actuators 15a and 15b, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), etc. are represented. (B) Details of a third AC voltage (for example, a 12 Hz sine wave) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 17a and 17b, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like are shown. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between temperature change, resonance frequency, and mechanical swing angle (half angle) about the first axis X1 of the mirror section 202. It is the schematic of the vehicle lamp 300 which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicular lamp 300. FIG. It is a front view of the vehicle lamp. It is AA sectional drawing of the vehicle lamp 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vehicular lamp 300 shown in FIG. 23 taken along the line AA. It is an example of the predetermined light distribution pattern P formed on the virtual vertical screen (arranged approximately 25 m ahead from the front of the vehicle) facing the front of the vehicle by the vehicular lamp 300 of the present embodiment. (A) Front view of wavelength conversion member 18, (b) Top view, (c) Side view. (A) A graph showing the relationship between the mechanical deflection angle (half angle) of the mirror unit 202 around the first axis X1 and the drive voltage applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203, 204, and (b) the second axis X2. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the mechanical deflection angle (half angle) of the mirror unit 202 centered on and the drive voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. When the distances between the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 are the same (or substantially the same), the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , It is the table | surface which put together the conditions etc. which should be satisfied in order to change the size of A _Hot . (A) A diagram for explaining “L” and “βh_max” shown in FIG. 28 (a), (b) a diagram for explaining “S”, “βv_max” and L shown in FIG. 28 (b). FIG. This is an example in which the distance between each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is changed. When the drive voltages applied to the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot are the same (or substantially the same), conditions to be satisfied in order to change the sizes of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , A _Hot , etc. Is a table summarizing It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp 300 (modification). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp 400 which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vehicle lamp 400 shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp 300 (modification). 2 is an example of an internal structure of an optical distributor 68. (A) Example of luminous intensity distribution with relatively high luminous intensity in region B1 near the center, (b) Example of drive signal (sine wave) for forming luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 37 (a), (c) FIG. It is an example of the drive signal (a sawtooth wave or a rectangular wave) including the nonlinear area | region for forming the luminous intensity distribution shown to 37 (a). Example of luminous intensity distribution (reference example), (b) Example of drive signal (sine wave) for forming luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 38 (a), (c) Forming luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 38 (a) It is an example of the drive signal (a sawtooth wave or a rectangular wave) including the linear area | region for. It is an example of a luminous intensity distribution in which the luminous intensity of the region B2 near the side e corresponding to the cut-off line is relatively high. (A) Example of luminous intensity distribution with relatively high luminous intensity in the regions B1 and B3 near the center, (b) Drive signal including a non-linear region for forming the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. It is an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a non-linear region for forming the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. Example of luminous intensity distribution (reference example), (b) An example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region for forming the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 41 (a), (c) FIG. ) Is an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region for forming the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. Example of luminous intensity distribution (reference example), (b) Example of drive signal (sinusoidal wave) for forming luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 42A, (c) Forming luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. It is an example of the drive signal (sinusoidal wave) for. (A) An example of an irradiation pattern P _Hot in which the non-irradiation region C1 is formed, (b) An example of an irradiation pattern P _Mid in which the non-irradiation region C2 is formed, (c) An illumination pattern P in which the non-irradiation region C3 is formed An example of _Wide , (d) is an example of a high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi in which a plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are superimposed. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the non-irradiation area | region C1, C2, C3 shifted | deviated mutually. (A) Example of a high beam light distribution pattern PL _Hi formed by the vehicle lamp 300L arranged on the left side of the vehicle front (left side toward the front of the vehicle), (b) The right side of the vehicle front (front of the vehicle) Example of high beam light distribution pattern PR _Hi formed by vehicle lamp 300R arranged on the right side), (c) High beam light distribution pattern in which two high beam light distribution patterns PL _Hi and PR _Hi are superimposed This is an example of P _Hi . It is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle lamp 500 of 7th Embodiment. The vehicular lamp 500 of the seventh embodiment is an example of a high-beam light distribution pattern P _Hi, which is formed on the virtual vertical screen directly opposite to the vehicle front (located 100m ahead from the vehicle front). Is a schematic view showing a relationship between a spot SP on the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and high-beam light deflector 201 wavelength conversion of the excitation light scanned by the mirror portion of the _Hi member 18 (corresponding to the screen member of the present invention) . It is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the wavelength conversion member 18 (the high-beam intensity distribution d) a projection lens 20 and the high-beam light distribution pattern P _Hi. (A) diagram showing how the vertical direction elongated shape non-illuminated region D1 of the high beam light distribution pattern in P _Hi by the spot SP of is formed, (b) cross-section B-B of FIG. 50 (a) in represents a luminous intensity distribution (or the illuminance distribution) in the figure, diagram showing a state in which the non-illuminated region D1' in high-beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is formed by oblong shape of the spot SP' to (c) horizontal direction, (D) It is a figure showing the luminous intensity distribution (or illuminance distribution) in the cross section CC in FIG.50 (c). (A) The figure showing a mode that the non-irradiation area | region D1 is moving, (b) The figure showing a mode that the high illumination intensity part E is moving. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the vehicle lamp 500. FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a vehicular lamp 500. FIG. This is an example of generating a basic light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region using basic light distribution data and mask data. This is a modification of the vehicular lamp 500. It is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle lamp 520 of 8th Embodiment. A high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi and a low beam light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen (arranged 100 m forward from the front of the vehicle) by the vehicular lamp 520 of the eighth embodiment. This is an example of P _Lo . It is a schematic system block diagram of the vehicle lamp 530. This is a modification of the vehicular lamp 530. It is an example of arrangement _| positioning of the lamp unit 520 _Lo for low beams. This is a modification of the vehicular lamp 530. It is a figure showing a mode that the non-irradiation area | region D1 or d1 is formed with the spot SP of the vertically long shape in the perpendicular direction. It is the schematic of the conventional vehicle lamp 600. FIG.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle lamp which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated, referring drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicular lamp 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lamp 10 according to the present embodiment two-dimensionally (in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction) the excitation light Ray from the excitation light source 12 and the excitation light source 12 collected by the condenser lens 14. ) Optical deflector 201 for scanning, wavelength conversion member 18 on which a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn by excitation light Ray that optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction), The vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens 20 that projects a two-dimensional image drawn on the wavelength conversion member 18 forward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical deflector 201, the wavelength conversion member 18, and the projection lens 20 receive excitation light Ray from the excitation light source 12 that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction). The wavelength conversion member 18 is disposed so as to be transmitted from the rear surface 18a to the front surface 18b. That is, the optical deflector 201 is disposed on the rear side with respect to the wavelength conversion member 18, and the projection lens 20 is disposed on the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member 18. Such an arrangement is called a transmission type. In this case, the excitation light source 12 may be disposed on the rear side or the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member 18. In FIG. 1, the projection lens 20 is configured as a projection lens including four lenses 20A to 20D, but the projection lens 20 may be configured as a projection lens including one aspheric lens. Good.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical deflector 201, the wavelength conversion member 18, and the projection lens 20 include excitation light from the excitation light source 12 that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (horizontal and vertical directions). The Ray may be disposed so as to enter the front surface 18 b of the wavelength conversion member 18. That is, both the optical deflector 201 and the projection lens 20 may be disposed on the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member 18. Such an arrangement is called a reflection type. In this case, the excitation light source 12 may be disposed on the rear side or the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member 18. The reflective arrangement shown in FIG. 2 has an advantage that the dimension of the vehicular lamp 10 in the reference axis AX direction can be shortened as compared with the transmissive arrangement shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the projection lens 20 is configured as a projection lens composed of one aspheric lens, but the projection lens 20 may be configured as a projection lens composed of a plurality of lens groups.

  The excitation light source 12 is, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in a blue region (for example, emission wavelength is 450 nm) as excitation light. The excitation light source 12 may be a semiconductor light emitting element such as a laser diode that emits laser light in the near ultraviolet region (for example, the emission wavelength is 405 nm). The excitation light source 12 may be an LED. Excitation light from the excitation light source 12 is condensed (for example, collimated) by the condenser lens 14 and enters the optical deflector 201 (mirror unit).

  The wavelength converting member 18 has an outer shape that receives laser light as excitation light that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) and converts at least a part of the laser light into light having a different wavelength. Is a rectangular plate-shaped (or layered) wavelength conversion member. In FIG. 1, the wavelength conversion member 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the focal point F of the projection lens 20 with the periphery along the outer shape of the rear surface 18 a fixed to the frame body 22. In FIG. 2, the wavelength conversion member 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the focal point F of the projection lens 20 with the rear surface 18 a fixed to the support 46.

  For example, when a laser diode (LD) that emits blue laser light is used as the excitation light source 12, the wavelength conversion member 18 is a plate having a rectangular outer shape that is excited by blue laser light and emits yellow light. Or a layered phosphor) is used. On the wavelength conversion member 18, a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn as a white image by a laser beam in a blue region that is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector 201. . The two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image when the laser beam in the blue region is irradiated, the wavelength conversion member 18 is transmitted by the laser beam in the blue region and the laser beam in the blue region that transmits (passes) the laser beam. This is due to the emission of white light (pseudo white light) resulting from color mixing with light emission (yellow light).

  On the other hand, when a laser diode (LD) that emits near-ultraviolet laser light is used as the excitation light source 12, the wavelength conversion member 18 is excited by near-ultraviolet laser light and emits light of three colors, red, green, and blue. A plate-shaped (or layered) phosphor having a rectangular outer shape for emitting light is used. A two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn as a white image on the wavelength conversion member 18 by a near-ultraviolet laser beam scanned two-dimensionally (horizontal and vertical directions) by the optical deflector 201. The The two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image when the near-ultraviolet laser light is irradiated, the wavelength conversion member 18 emits light by the near-ultraviolet laser light (red, green, and blue). This is due to the emission of white light (pseudo white light) due to the color mixture of the light.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the projection lens 20 is a projection lens composed of a group of four lenses 20A to 20D in which aberration (field curvature) is corrected (and chromatic aberration is corrected) so that the image surface is flat. It is configured. In this case, the wavelength conversion member 18 has a flat plate shape and is disposed along the image plane (plane). The focal point F of the projection lens 20 is located in the vicinity of the wavelength conversion member 18. The projection lens 20 can eliminate the influence of aberrations on the predetermined light distribution pattern as compared with the case of using a single convex lens. In addition, since the wavelength conversion member 18 has a flat plate shape, its manufacture becomes easier as compared with the case where the wavelength conversion member 18 has a curved surface shape. Furthermore, since the wavelength conversion member 18 has a flat plate shape, it is easier to draw a two-dimensional image than when the wavelength conversion member 18 has a curved surface shape.

  Note that the projection lens 20 may be configured as a projection lens including one aspherical lens whose aberration (field curvature) is not corrected so that the image surface is a flat surface. In this case, the wavelength conversion member 18 has a curved shape corresponding to the curvature of field, and is disposed along the curvature of field. The focal point F of the projection lens 20 is located in the vicinity of the wavelength conversion member 18.

  The projection lens 20 projects a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern drawn on the wavelength conversion member 18 to the front, and a virtual vertical screen facing the vehicle lamp 10 (about 25 m ahead of the vehicle lamp 10). A predetermined light distribution pattern (such as a low beam light distribution pattern or a high beam light distribution pattern).

  The optical deflector 201 scans the excitation light Ray from the excitation light source 12 condensed (for example, collimated) by the condenser lens 14 two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction).

  The optical deflector 201 is, for example, a MEMS scanner. The driving method of the optical deflector is roughly divided into a piezoelectric method, an electrostatic method, and an electromagnetic method, and any method may be used. In this embodiment, a piezoelectric optical deflector will be described as a representative.

  The piezoelectric methods are roughly classified into a uniaxial non-resonant type, a uniaxial resonant type, a biaxial non-resonant type, and a biaxial resonant type, but any method may be used.

  First, the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 will be described.

<Uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type>
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the optical deflector 201 of the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201 drives a mirror unit 202 (also referred to as a MEMS mirror) and the mirror unit 202 via torsion bars 211a and 211b. First piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, a movable frame 212 that supports the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 that drive the movable frame 212, and a pedestal that supports the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 215.

  The mirror part 202 has a circular shape, and torsion bars 211a and 211b extending outward from both ends thereof are connected. Moreover, semicircular arc-shaped first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are provided with a gap therebetween so as to surround the mirror portion 202. The first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are connected so that one end of each is opposed to sandwich the one torsion bar 211a, and the other end is coupled to face each other across the other torsion bar 211b. ing. Further, the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are supported by being connected to a movable frame 212 provided outside the center position of the arc portion so as to surround the mirror portion 202 and the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204. Yes.

  The movable frame 212 has a rectangular shape, and a pair of both sides in a direction orthogonal to the torsion bars 211a and 211b are connected to the tip portions of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 facing each other with the movable frame 212 interposed therebetween. In addition, the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 are connected at their base end portions to support base end portions 214 on a base 215 provided so as to surround the movable frame 212 and the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. It is supported.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, each of the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 is a single piezoelectric element having support bodies 203a and 204a, lower electrodes 203b and 204b, piezoelectric bodies 203c and 204c, and upper electrodes 203d and 204d. It has a cantilever.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 are connected so that the six piezoelectric cantilevers 205A to 205F and 206A to 206F are folded at the respective end portions, thereby forming a bellows-like piezoelectric actuator as a whole. It is composed. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers 205A to 205F and 206A to 206F has the same configuration as the piezoelectric cantilevers included in the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204.

  Next, the operation of the mirror unit 202 (oscillation around the first axis X1) will be described.

  4A and 4B are sectional views taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 4A shows a state where no voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and FIG. 4B shows a state where a voltage is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when voltages of opposite polarities ± Vd are applied between the upper electrodes 203d and 204d and the lower electrodes 203b and 204b of the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, respectively, Bend and deform in the opposite direction. By this bending deformation, the torsion bar 211b rotates as shown in FIG. The same applies to the torsion bar 211a. As the torsion bars 211a and 211b rotate, the mirror unit 201 swings about the first axis X1 with respect to the movable frame 212.

  Next, the operation of the mirror unit 202 (oscillation around the second axis X2) will be described.

  5A shows a state where no voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and FIG. 5B shows a state where a voltage is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, a voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator 206 to bend and deform the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 206A, 206C, and 206E upward from the movable frame 212 side, and the even-numbered piezoelectric actuators. The cantilevers 206B, 206D, and 206F are bent and deformed downward. Thereby, in the piezoelectric actuator 206, an angular displacement having a magnitude obtained by adding the magnitude of the bending deformation of each of the piezoelectric cantilevers 206A to 206F is generated. The same applies to the second piezoelectric actuator 205. Due to this angular displacement, the movable frame 212 (and the mirror unit 202 held by the movable frame 212) rotates about the second axis X2 perpendicular to the first axis X1 with respect to the pedestal 215. The first axis X1 and the second axis X2 are orthogonal to each other at the center (center of gravity) of the mirror unit 202.

  Mirror unit support of mirror unit 202, torsion bars 211a and 211b, support of first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, support of movable frame 212 and second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, support base end on pedestal 215 Reference numeral 214 is integrally formed as a single support by shaping the silicon substrate. Further, the pedestal 215 is also formed from a silicon substrate, and is formed integrally with the one support by shaping the silicon substrate. The technique for processing the shape of the silicon substrate in this way is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-40240. In addition, a gap is provided between the mirror unit 202 and the movable frame 212, and the mirror unit 202 can swing up to a predetermined angle with respect to the movable frame 212 about the first axis X1. In addition, a gap is provided between the movable frame 212 and the pedestal 215, and the movable frame 212 (and the mirror unit 202 supported by the movable frame 212) swings with respect to the pedestal 215 to a predetermined angle about the second axis X2. It is possible.

  The optical deflector 201 includes electrode sets 207 and 208 for applying a driving voltage to each of the piezoelectric actuators 203 to 206.

  One electrode set 207 applies an upper electrode pad 207a for applying a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 203 and an odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilever 205A, 205C, 205E from the tip of the second piezoelectric actuator 205. A first upper electrode pad 207b for applying a driving voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 205B, 205D, and 205F from the tip of the second piezoelectric actuator 205, and an upper electrode pad 207a To 207c common lower electrode 207d used as a common lower electrode.

  Similarly, the other electrode set 208 is driven by the upper electrode pad 208a for applying a driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 204 and the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 206A, 206C, 206E from the tip of the second piezoelectric actuator 206. A first upper electrode pad 208b for applying a voltage, a second upper electrode pad 208c for applying a driving voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 206B, 206D, and 206F from the tip of the second piezoelectric actuator 205, and these And the common lower electrode 208d used as a lower electrode common to the three upper electrode pads 208a to 208c.

  In the present embodiment, a first AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 203, and a second AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 204. The first AC voltage and the second AC voltage are AC voltages (for example, sine waves) that are opposite in phase or out of phase with each other. At that time, an AC voltage having a frequency near the mechanical resonance frequency (primary resonance point) of the mirror unit 202 including the torsion bars 211a and 211b is applied to drive the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 to resonance. Thereby, the mirror unit 202 reciprocally swings around the first axis X1 with respect to the movable frame 212, and the laser light as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror unit 202 is in the first direction (for example, horizontal direction). ).

  A third AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, respectively. At that time, an AC voltage having a frequency lower than a predetermined value smaller than a mechanical resonance frequency (primary resonance point) of the movable frame 212 including the mirror unit 202, the torsion bars 211a and 211b, and the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 is applied. This is applied to drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner. Thereby, the mirror unit 202 reciprocally swings around the second axis X2 with respect to the pedestal 215, and the laser light as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror unit 202 is in the second direction (for example, the vertical direction). Scanned.

  The uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201 is arranged in a state where the first axis X1 is included in the vertical plane and the second axis X2 is included in the horizontal plane. By arranging the optical deflector 201 in this manner, a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction and thin in the vertical direction can be easily obtained. It can be formed (drawn). The reason is as follows.

  In other words, in the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201, the maximum swing around the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is greater than the maximum swing angle about the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202. The corner becomes larger. For example, since the reciprocating oscillation about the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is due to resonance driving, the maximum swing angle about the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is as shown in FIG. 10 to 20 degrees, the reciprocal oscillation around the second axis X2 of the mirror part 202 is due to non-resonant driving, so the maximum around the second axis X2 of the mirror part 202 The swing angle is about 7 degrees as shown in FIG. As a result, by arranging the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 as described above, a predetermined light distribution pattern (wide in the horizontal direction and thin in the vertical direction) required for the vehicle headlamp ( It is possible to easily form (draw) a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern.

  As described above, by driving each of the piezoelectric actuators 203 to 206, the laser beam as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical deflector 201 includes an H sensor 220 disposed at the base of the torsion bar 211a on the mirror unit 202 side, and proximal ends of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (for example, a piezoelectric cantilever 205F, 206F) is provided.

  The H sensor 220 is a piezoelectric element (PZT) similar to the piezoelectric cantilever included in the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and generates a voltage corresponding to the bending deformation (displacement amount) of the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204. The V sensor 222 is a piezoelectric element (PZT) similar to the piezoelectric cantilever included in the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and generates a voltage corresponding to the bending deformation (displacement amount) of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

  In the optical deflector 201, as shown in FIG. 19, the first axis X 1 of the mirror unit 202 is centered because the natural frequency of the material constituting the optical deflector 201 changes due to temperature change. The machine swing angle (half angle) changes. This can be suppressed as follows. For example, based on the drive signal (the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204) and the sensor signal (the output of the H sensor 220), the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is centered. The frequency of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 (or the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage itself) so that the mechanical swing angle (half angle) to be achieved becomes a target value. It can suppress by performing feedback control.

  Next, the inventors investigated the present application, the first AC voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, the desired frequency as the frequency of the second AC voltage, and the third frequency to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. A frequency desirable as an AC voltage will be described.

The inventors of the present application conducted experiments and examined the results, and as a result, in the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 configured as described above, the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are used. AC voltage, the frequency of the second alternating voltage (hereinafter referred to as the horizontal scanning frequency f _H), about 4～30KHz (sine wave) is desirable, 27 kHz ± 3 kHz (sine wave) has concluded that more desirable.

  Further, the inventors of the present application consider the high beam light distribution pattern and turn it on and off in increments of 0.1 degrees (or less) in the horizontal direction in the range of 15 degrees to the left and 15 degrees to the right with respect to the vertical axis V. It was concluded that it is desirable to set the horizontal resolution (number of pixels) to 300 (or more) so that it can be turned on and off.

Further, the inventors of the present application conducted experiments and studied the results. As a result, in the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 having the above-described configuration, the inventors applied the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. the frequency of the third AC voltage (hereinafter referred to as the vertical scanning frequency f _V), or 55 Hz (sawtooth wave) is desirable, 55Hz～120Hz (sawtooth wave) is more preferable, 55Hz～100Hz (sawtooth wave) It has been concluded that 70 Hz ± 10 Hz (sawtooth wave) is particularly desirable.

Further, in consideration of a predetermined normal traveling speed (for example, 0 km to 150 km / h), the frequency of the third AC voltage (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is 50 Hz or more (sawtooth) It has been concluded that 50 Hz to 120 Hz (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, 50 Hz to 100 Hz (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, and in particular 70 Hz ± 10 Hz (sawtooth wave) is desirable. Since the frame rate is dependent on the vertical frequency f _V, when the vertical scanning frequency f _V of 70 Hz, the frame rate is 70fps.

When the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 55 Hz or higher, the predetermined light distribution pattern is formed as an image (also referred to as a moving image or video) having a frame rate of 55 fps or higher on the virtual vertical screen. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 55 Hz to 120 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern is formed as an image (also referred to as a moving image or a video) having a frame rate of 55 fps to 120 fps on the virtual vertical screen. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 55 Hz to 100 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern is formed as an image (also referred to as a moving image or a video) having a frame rate of 55 fps to 100 fps on the virtual vertical screen. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 70 Hz ± 10 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern is formed as an image (also referred to as a moving image or a video) having a frame rate of 70 fps ± 10 fps on the virtual vertical screen. The same applies to the case where the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 50 Hz or more, 50 Hz to 120 Hz, 50 Hz to 100 Hz, and 70 Hz ± 10 Hz.

  The vertical resolution (number of vertical scanning lines) is obtained by the following equation.

Vertical resolution (number of vertical scanning lines) = 2 × (vertical scanning use time coefficient: K _V ) × f _H / f _V Based on this equation, for example, horizontal scanning frequency f _H = 25 kHz, vertical scanning frequency f _{When V} = 70 Hz and the vertical scanning utilization time coefficient K _V = 0.9 to 0.8, the number of vertical scanning lines is 2 × 25 kHz / 70 Hz * 0.9 to 0.85 = about 600 lines.

The desirable vertical scanning frequency f _{V described above} is a frequency that has not been conventionally used in vehicle lamps such as a vehicle headlamp, and has been found as a result of experiments conducted by the inventors of the present application. . That is, conventionally, it has been common technical knowledge to use a frequency of 100 Hz or more in order to suppress flickering in the general lighting field (other than vehicle lamps such as automobile headlamps), and vehicle lamps such as vehicle headlamps. In order to suppress flickering, it is common knowledge to use a frequency of 220 Hz or higher, and the desired vertical scanning frequency f _V has not been used at all in conventional vehicle lamps such as a vehicle headlamp. It was.

  Next, in the general lighting field (except for vehicle lamps such as automotive headlamps), the use of a frequency of 100 Hz or more in order to suppress flickering has been used as a common technical knowledge. explain.

  For example, a ministerial ordinance (Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 85 of 1957) that defines the technical standards for electrical appliances states that “the optical output does not feel flicker”. Is 100 Hz or higher and there is no missing part in the optical output or the repetition frequency is 500 Hz or higher. This ministerial ordinance does not cover vehicle lamps such as automotive headlamps.

  In addition, in the Nikkei Shimbun (2010/8/26), “... the frequency of alternating current is 50 Hz. The voltage through the rectifier was repeatedly turned on and off at a frequency of 100 times per second. The change in brightness also occurs with fluorescent lamps, but LED lighting does not have afterglow time like fluorescent lamps, and the brightness changes instantly. It has been introduced that it becomes easy to feel flicker at a frequency of 100 Hz or more.

  In general, in a fluorescent lamp, the blinking cycle in which flicker is not felt is set to 100 Hz to 120 Hz (power supply cycle: 50 Hz to 60 Hz).

  Next, a reference example regarding the point that it has been common technical knowledge to use a frequency of 220 Hz or higher (or a frame rate of 220 fps or higher) in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp. It explains using.

  In general, in an HID (metal halide lamp) used for a vehicle headlamp, the lighting condition is a rectangular wave of 350 to 500 Hz. This is because sound noise can be heard at 800 Hz or higher, HID luminous efficiency is poor at low frequencies, and life is reduced due to the effect of electrode heating and heating at 150 Hz or lower, preferably 250 Hz or higher. It is said that.

  In addition, in the ISAL2013 paper titled “Glare-free High Beam with Beam-scanning” (pages 340 to 347), 220 Hz or higher, 300 to 400 Hz or higher is recommended as the frequency for vehicle lamps such as vehicle headlamps. Has been. Similarly, in the ISAL2013 paper, the title “Flickering effects of vehicle exterior light systems and consequences” (pages 262 to 266), about 400 Hz is described as a frequency in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp.

As described above, conventionally, in the vehicle lamp of the headlight or the like before the vehicle, by using a frequency of 55Hz or higher as the vertical scanning frequency f _V (55Hz~120Hz is desired), the point at which it is possible to suppress the flicker Was not known at all.

Next, experiments and the like conducted by the inventors of the present application when examining the desirable vertical scanning frequency f _V will be described.

<Experiment>
The inventors of the present application conducted an experiment using a test system that imagined a running vehicle headlamp (headlamp), and evaluated the flicker level felt by the subject.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the test system.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the test system has a movable road model using a rotating belt B that can change the rotation speed (a white line or the like imitating an actual road is drawn on the surface of the rotating belt B). Scale 1/5) and a lamp model M similar to the vehicular lamp 10 capable of changing the output (scanning illuminance) of the excitation light source similar to the excitation light source 12 were used.

First, there is a difference in flicker that the subject feels when the surface of the rotating belt B is irradiated with the lamp model M (excitation light source is LED) and when the surface of the rotating belt B is irradiated with the lamp model M (excitation light source is LD). Experimented to see if As a result, the vertical scanning frequency f _V when the surface of the rotating belt B is irradiated by the lamp model M (excitation light source is LED) and when the surface of the rotating belt B is irradiated by the lamp model M (excitation light source is LD). Confirmed that there was no discrepancy in the flicker felt by the subject.

Next, the rotating belt B was rotated so that each traveling speed (0 km / h, 50 km / h, 100 km / h, 150 km / h, 200 km / h) was obtained, and the vertical scanning frequency that the subject felt that did not flicker It was measured f _V. More specifically, the subject changes the vertical scanning frequency f _V by dial operation, stop the dial operation where you feel not flicker, to measure the vertical scanning frequency f _V at that point in time. This measurement is about 30 to 40 meters ahead of the vehicle (area most closely watched when the driver is driving) with the same illuminance (60 lx) as the road surface illuminance, about 10 meters ahead of the vehicle (front area of the vehicle) The measurement was performed under the same illuminance (300 lx) as the road surface illuminance and the same illuminance (2000 lx) as the reflected light from the approaching preceding vehicle or guardrail. FIG. 8 is a graph in which the experimental results (measurement results) are plotted, and shows the relationship between the running speed and the flicker. The vertical axis represents the vertical scanning frequency f _V , and the horizontal axis represents the traveling speed (speed).

  The following can be understood with reference to FIG.

First, the vertical scanning frequency f _V that feels flickering at a road surface illuminance (60 lx) and a traveling speed (0 km / h to 200 km / h) is 55 kHz or more. Considering this (and the fact that the road surface illuminance of the region most watched when the driver is driving is about 60 lx), in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp, It is desirable that the vertical scanning frequency f _V is 55 kHz or more.

Secondly, the vertical scanning frequency f _{V that} is felt not to flicker at a road surface illuminance (60 lx) and a normal travel speed (0 km / h to 150 km / h) is 50 kHz or more. Considering this (and the fact that the road surface illuminance of the region most watched when the driver is driving is about 60 lx), in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp, It is desirable that the vertical scanning frequency f _V be 50 kHz or more.

Third, as the traveling speed increases, the vertical scanning frequency f _V that is felt not to flicker tends to increase. Considering this, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f _V variable in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp. For example, it is desirable to increase the vertical scanning frequency f _V as the traveling speed increases.

Fourthly, as the illuminance increases, the vertical scanning frequency f _V that is felt to flicker tends to increase. Considering this, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f _V variable in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp. For example, it is desirable to increase the vertical scanning frequency f _V as the illuminance increases.

Fifth, the vertical scanning frequency f _V is felt higher when stopped (0 km / h) than when traveling (50 km / h to 150 km / h). Considering this, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f _V variable in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp. For example, when the vertical scanning frequency at the time of stop is f _V 1 and the vertical scanning frequency at the time of traveling is f _V 2, it is desirable that f _V 1> f _V 2 be satisfied.

Sixth, the vertical scanning frequency f _{V that} is felt not to flicker at illuminance (60 lx, 300 lx, 2000 lx) and traveling speed (0 km / h to 200 km / h) should not exceed 70 kHz. Considering this, it is desirable that the vertical scanning frequency f _V is set to 70 kHz or more or 70 Hz ± 10 Hz in order to suppress flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp.

Further, the inventors of the present application consider a mechanical resonance point (hereinafter referred to as a V-side resonance point) of the movable frame 212 including the mirror unit 202, the torsion bars 211a and 211b, and the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204. Then, the frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) of the third AC voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is preferably 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave), and more preferably 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave). The conclusion has been reached. The reason is as follows.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the swing angle and the frequency of the mirror unit 202, where the vertical axis represents the swing angle and the horizontal axis represents the frequency of the applied voltage (for example, a sine wave or a triangular wave).

For example, when a voltage of about 2 V is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (when the low voltage is activated), as shown in FIG. 9, the V-side resonance point exists in the vicinity of 1000 Hz and 800 Hz. On the other hand, when a high voltage of about 45 V is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (at the time of starting high voltage), the resonance point on the V side exists in the vicinity of 350 Hz and 200 Hz at the maximum swing angle. In order to realize stable angle control by periodically oscillating (swinging), the vertical scanning frequency f _V needs to avoid a resonance point on the V side. From this point of view, the frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) of the third AC voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is preferably 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave), and more preferably 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave). . Further, when the frequency of the third AC voltage (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 exceeds 120 Hz, the reliability, durability, life, etc. of the optical deflector 201 are lowered. Therefore, also from this viewpoint, the frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) of the third AC voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is preferably 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave), and 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave). Is more desirable.

The desirable vertical scanning frequency f _V is derived from the knowledge newly found by the inventors of the present application.

  Next, a configuration example of a control system that controls the excitation light source 12 and the optical deflector 201 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a configuration example of a control system that controls the excitation light source 12 and the optical deflector 201.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control system includes a control unit 24, a MEMS power circuit 26, an LD power circuit 28, an imaging device 30, an illuminance sensor 32, and a vehicle speed sensor that are electrically connected to the control unit 24. 34, a vehicle tilt sensor 36, a distance sensor 38, an accelerator / brake sensor 40 for detecting an accelerator / brake operation, a vibration sensor 42, a storage device 44, and the like.

  The MEMS power supply circuit 26 resonates the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 by applying first and second AC voltages (for example, a sine wave of 25 MHz) to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 according to control from the control unit 24. By driving, the mirror unit 202 is reciprocally swung around the first axis X1, and a third AC voltage (for example, a 55 Hz sawtooth wave) is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to perform the second rotation. The piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 function as piezoelectric actuator control means (or mirror part control means) that reciprocally swings the mirror part 202 about the second axis X2 by driving the piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner.

The middle stage in FIG. 11 shows a state in which the first and second AC voltages (for example, a 25 MHz sine wave) are applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and the lower stage in FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which an alternating voltage (for example, a 55 Hz sawtooth wave) is applied. Further, the upper part of FIG. 11 represents a state in which the excitation light source 12 (laser light) is modulated at the modulation frequency f _L (25 MHz) in synchronization with the reciprocating swing of the mirror unit 202. In FIG. 11, shaded portions indicate that the excitation light source 12 does not emit light.

  FIG. 12A shows details of first and second AC voltages (for example, a 25 MHz sine wave) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like. . FIG. 12B shows details of a third AC voltage (for example, a 55 Hz sawtooth wave) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like.

  The LD power supply circuit 28 functions as a modulation unit that modulates the excitation light source 12 (laser light) in synchronization with the reciprocating oscillation of the mirror unit 202 in accordance with control from the control unit 24.

  The modulation frequency (modulation speed) of the excitation light source 12 (laser) is obtained by the following equation.

Modulation frequency f _L = (number of pixels) × (frame rate: f _V ) / (blanking time ratio: B _r )
Based on this equation, for example, when the number of pixels is 300 × 600, f _V = 70, and B _r = 0.5, the modulation frequency f _L is 300 × 600 × 70 / 0.5 = about 25 MHz. When the modulation frequency f _L is 25 MHz, the output of the excitation light source 12 can be turned on / off or the emission intensity can be controlled in multiple steps (for example, multiple steps with 0 being the minimum) every 1/25 MHz second.

  The LD power supply circuit 28 draws a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern on the wavelength conversion member 18 by laser light as excitation light that is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector 201. As described above, the excitation light source 12 (laser light) is modulated based on a predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) stored in the storage device 44.

  Examples of the predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) include a high beam light distribution pattern (digital data), a low beam light distribution pattern (digital data), a highway light distribution pattern (digital data), and an urban light distribution pattern (digital data). Digital data) and various other light distribution patterns are possible. The predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) includes data representing the outer shape and light intensity distribution (illuminance distribution) of each light distribution pattern. As a result, the two-dimensional image drawn on the wavelength conversion member 18 by the laser light as the excitation light that is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector 201 has each light distribution pattern (for example, a high beam). And the light intensity distribution (for example, the maximum light intensity distribution near the center required for the high beam light distribution pattern). The predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) can be switched, for example, by operating a switch provided in the vehicle interior.

  FIG. 13A to FIG. 13C show scanning patterns of laser light (spots) that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction).

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the scanning pattern in the horizontal direction of the laser beam (spot) scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector 201 is bidirectional scanning (reciprocating scanning). As shown in FIG. 13B, there is a pattern for performing unidirectional scanning (scanning only the forward path or scanning only the backward path).

  Further, a scanning pattern in the vertical direction of the laser beam (spot) that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) includes a pattern that scans densely line by line, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, there is a pattern for scanning every other line as in the interlace method.

  Further, in the scanning pattern in the vertical direction of the laser beam (spot) that the optical deflector 201 scans two-dimensionally (horizontal and vertical directions), as shown in FIG. When it reaches the lower end, it returns to the upper end, scans again from the upper end to the lower end, and thereafter repeats this pattern, and as shown in FIG. When it reaches, there is a pattern that scans toward the upper end and repeats this.

  Note that there is a time during which the excitation light source 12 called blanking is not turned on while returning from the left and right ends of the wavelength conversion member 18 (screen) or from the lower end to the upper end.

  Next, another example of control by the control system shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

  According to the control system shown in FIG. 10, various controls can be performed in addition to the above control example. For example, a variable light distribution type vehicle headlamp (ADB: Adaptive Driving Beam) can be realized. This is because, for example, the control unit 28 is subject to irradiation prohibition within a predetermined light distribution pattern formed on the virtual vertical screen based on the detection result of the imaging device 30 that functions as detection means for detecting an object in front of the host vehicle. When it is determined whether or not there is an irradiation prohibited object (for example, a pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle), on the wavelength conversion member 18 corresponding to the irradiation area where the irradiation prohibited object exists. This can be realized by controlling the excitation light source 12 so that the output of the excitation light source 12 is turned off or reduced at the timing when the laser light as the excitation light is scanned in the region.

Further, based on the knowledge clarified by the inventors of the present application, that is, “when the traveling speed increases, the vertical scanning frequency f _V that does not flicker tends to increase”, the vehicle speed sensor 34 attached to the vehicle. The driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for driving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner can be changed based on the traveling speed that is the detection result. For example, the vertical scanning frequency f _V can be increased as the traveling speed increases. This is because, for example, a correspondence relationship (travel speed or travel speed range) between a plurality of travel speeds (or travel speed ranges) and a plurality of vertical scanning frequencies f _V corresponding to a plurality of travel speeds (or travel speed ranges) in advance. The vertical scanning frequency corresponding to the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 34 is read from the storage device 44. Then, the MEMS power supply circuit 26 applies the third AC voltage (the read vertical scanning frequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner. Can do.

In addition, the knowledge clarified by the inventors of the present application, that is, “the vertical scanning frequency f at which the stop (0 km / h) is less likely to flicker than when running (50 km / h to 150 km / h)” Based on “ _V is high”, the vertical scanning frequency f _V when stopped (0 km / h) can be made higher than when traveling (50 km / h to 150 km / h). For example, the vertical scanning frequency f _V 2 for traveling and the vertical scanning frequency f _V 1 for stopping are stored in advance in the storage device 44 (f _V 1> f _V 2), and the vehicle speed sensor 34 Based on the detection result, it is determined whether the vehicle is running or stopped. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, the vertical scanning frequency for traveling is read from the storage device 44, and the MEMS power supply circuit 26 applies the third AC voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (the read vertical traveling frequency). Scanning frequency) to drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second piezoelectric actuator 205 is stopped, the vertical scanning frequency for stopping is read from the storage device 44, and the MEMS power supply circuit 26 This can be realized by applying a third AC voltage (the read vertical scanning frequency for stopping) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner.

Further, based on the knowledge clarified by the inventors of the present application, that is, “when the illuminance increases, the vertical scanning frequency f _V that does not flicker tends to increase”, the illuminance sensor 32 attached to the vehicle. The driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for non-resonant driving of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 can be changed based on the illuminance returning to the driver as the detection result (for example, the illuminance before the driver's eyes). it can. For example, the vertical scanning frequency f _V can be increased as the illuminance increases. This is because, for example, a correspondence relationship between a plurality of illuminances (or illuminance ranges) and a plurality of vertical scanning frequencies f _V corresponding to each of the illuminances (or illuminance ranges) (vertical scanning that increases as the illuminance or illuminance range increases). Are stored in the storage device 44, and the vertical scanning frequency corresponding to the illuminance value detected by the illuminance sensor 32 is read from the storage device 44. Then, the MEMS power supply circuit 26 applies the third AC voltage (the read vertical scanning frequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner. Can do.

Similarly, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for non-resonant driving of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is changed based on the distance from the irradiated object, which is the detection result of the distance sensor 38 attached to the vehicle. Can be made.

Similarly, based on the detection result of the vibration sensor 42 attached to the vehicle, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for driving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner can be changed.

Similarly, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for driving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in a non-resonant manner can be changed according to a predetermined light distribution pattern. For example, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f _V ) for non-resonant driving of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 can be changed between the highway light distribution pattern and the urban light distribution pattern.

As described above, by making the vertical scanning frequency f _V variable, the reliability and durability of the optical deflector 201 can be improved compared to the case where the driving frequency for driving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to be non-resonant is constant. , Lifespan etc. can be improved.

  Instead of the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201 having the above configuration, a biaxial non-resonant optical deflector 161 may be used.

<Biaxial non-resonant type>
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a biaxial non-resonant type optical deflector 161.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the biaxial non-resonant type optical deflector 161 includes a mirror unit 162 (also referred to as a MEMS mirror), piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166 that drive the mirror unit 162, and piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166. And a pedestal 174 are provided.

  The configurations and operations of the piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166 are the same as those of the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the optical deflector 201 of the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type.

  In the present embodiment, a first AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164, respectively. At that time, an AC voltage having a frequency equal to or lower than a predetermined value smaller than the mechanical resonance frequency (primary resonance point) of the mirror part 162 is applied to cause non-resonance driving. Thereby, the mirror part 162 reciprocally swings around the third axis X3 with respect to the movable frame 171, and the excitation light of the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror part 162 is scanned in the first direction (for example, the horizontal direction). .

  Further, a second AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166, respectively. At that time, non-resonant driving is performed by applying an AC voltage having a frequency lower than a predetermined value smaller than the mechanical resonance frequency (primary resonance point) of the movable frame 171 including the mirror part 162 and the first piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166. Let Thereby, the mirror part 162 reciprocally swings around the second axis X4 with respect to the pedestal 174, and the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror part 162 is scanned in the second direction (for example, the vertical direction). .

  FIG. 16A shows details of the first AC voltage (for example, a 6 kHz sawtooth wave) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like. FIG. 16B shows details of a third AC voltage (for example, a 60 Hz sawtooth wave) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like.

  As described above, by driving the piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166, the laser light as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction).

  Further, instead of the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201 having the above-described configuration, a biaxial resonant optical deflector 201A may be used.

<Biaxial resonance type>
FIG. 17 is a plan view of a biaxial resonance type optical deflector 201A.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the biaxial resonance type optical deflector 201A includes a mirror unit 13A (also referred to as a MEMS mirror) and a first piezoelectric actuator 15Aa that drives the mirror unit 13A via torsion bars 14Aa and 14Ab. 15Ab, a movable frame 12A that supports the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab, second piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab that drive the movable frame 12A, and a base 11A that supports the second piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab. Yes.

  The configurations and operations of the piezoelectric actuators 15Aa, 15Ab, 17Aa, and 17Ab are the same as those of the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the optical deflector 201 of the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant type.

  In the present embodiment, a first AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 15Aa, and a second AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 15Ab. The first AC voltage and the second AC voltage are AC voltages (for example, sine waves) that are opposite in phase or out of phase with each other. At that time, an alternating voltage having a frequency near the mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the mirror portion 13A including the torsion bars 14Aa and 14Ab is applied to drive the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab to resonance. Thereby, the mirror unit 13A reciprocally swings around the fifth axis X5 with respect to the movable frame 12A, and the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror unit 13A is scanned in the first direction (for example, the horizontal direction). The

  Further, a third AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuator 17Aa, and a fourth AC voltage is applied as a drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuator 17Ab. The third AC voltage and the fourth AC voltage are AC voltages (for example, sine waves) that are opposite in phase or out of phase with each other. At that time, an alternating voltage having a frequency near the mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the movable frame 12A including the mirror portion 13A and the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab. Is driven at resonance. Thereby, the mirror unit 13A reciprocally swings around the sixth axis X6 with respect to the base 11A, and the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 incident on the mirror unit 13A is scanned in the second direction (for example, the vertical direction). .

  FIG. 18A shows details of the first AC voltage (for example, 24 kHz sine wave) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab, the output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like. FIG. 18B shows details of a third AC voltage (for example, a 12 Hz sine wave) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser light), and the like.

  As described above, the laser light as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by driving the piezoelectric actuators 15Aa, 15Ab, 17Aa, and 17Ab.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a frequency significantly lower than 220 Hz (or a frame significantly lower than 220 fps), which has conventionally been considered to cause flickering in a vehicle lamp such as a vehicle headlamp. The vehicle lamp that can suppress flickering can be provided even when “55 fps or more”, “55 fps or more and 120 fps or less”, “55 fps or more and 100 fps or less”, or “70 fps ± 10 fps” is used.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, a frequency significantly lower than 220 Hz (or a frame rate significantly lower than 220 fps), that is, “55 fps or more”, “55 fps or more and 120 fps or less”, “55 fps or more and 100 fps or less”, or “ Since “70 fps ± 10 fps” can be used, the reliability, durability, life, and the like of the optical deflector 201 can be improved as compared with the case of using a frequency of 220 Hz or higher (or a frame rate of 220 fps or higher).

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the drive frequency for non-resonant driving of the second piezoelectric actuators 205, 206, etc. is made variable by changing the drive frequency for non-resonant driving of the second piezoelectric actuators 205, 206, etc. The reliability, durability, life, etc. of the optical deflector 201 and the like can be improved as compared with the case where is constant.

  Next, as a second embodiment, a vehicular lamp using three uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflectors 201 will be described with reference to the drawings. It goes without saying that the various optical deflectors exemplified in the first embodiment can be used in place of the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201.

  20 is a schematic view of a vehicular lamp 300 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 21 is a perspective view, FIG. 22 is a front view, and FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicular lamp 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vehicular lamp 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is an example of a predetermined light distribution pattern P formed on a virtual vertical screen (disposed approximately 25 m ahead from the front of the vehicle) by the vehicular lamp 300 according to the present embodiment. .

As shown in FIG. 25, the vehicular lamp 300 according to the present embodiment has a relatively high central luminous intensity (P _Hot ), and the luminous intensity is in a gradation according to the direction from there to (P _Hot → P _Mid → P _Wide ). It is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, a high beam light distribution pattern) that is low and excellent in distance visibility and light distribution feeling.

When comparing the vehicular lamp 300 of the present embodiment and the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment, mainly in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. In contrast to the use of the optical deflector 201, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, there are three excitation light sources (wide excitation light source 12 _Wide , middle excitation light source 12 _Mid, and hot excitation light source 12). _Hot ) and three optical deflectors (wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , middle optical deflector 201 _Mid, and hot optical deflector 201 _Hot ) are different from each other.

  Other than that, it is the structure similar to the vehicle lamp 10 of the said 1st Embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference from the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those of the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. .

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, the vehicular lamp 300 includes three excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot and three excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot provided corresponding to the three excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot . Three scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , A _Hot (see FIG. 20) provided corresponding to the three optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot and three optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot A vehicle including a projection lens 20 as an optical system that projects a light intensity distribution formed in each of the three wavelength conversion members 18 and three scanning regions A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P It is configured as a headlight. Of course, the excitation light source 12, the optical deflector 201, and the scanning region A are not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

As shown in FIG. 23, the projection lens 20, the wavelength conversion member 18, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are in this order along a reference axis AX (also referred to as an optical axis) that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Are arranged.

The excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot are fixed to the laser holding unit 46 in a posture in which the respective excitation light Ray _Wide , Ray _Mid , and Ray _Hot are inclined toward the rear and toward the reference axis AX, It arrange | positions so that the reference axis AX may be surrounded.

Specifically, the excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot are fixed to the laser holding unit 46 as follows.

  The laser holding portion 46 includes extensions 50U and 50D extending radially from the upper, lower, left, and right portions of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 48 extending in the reference axis AX direction in a direction substantially orthogonal to the reference axis AX. , 50L, 50R (see FIG. 22). The distal ends of the extension portions 50U, 50D, 50L, and 50R are inclined rearward (see FIG. 23), and between the extension portions 50U, 50D, 50L, and 50R, the heat dissipation portions 54 (radiation fins) are provided. ) Is arranged (see FIG. 22).

As shown in FIG. 23, the wide excitation light source 12 _Wide is fixed to the distal end portion of the extension portion 50D in an inclined posture so that the excitation light Ray _Wide travels in a rearward and upward direction. Similarly, the middle excitation light source 12 _Mid is fixed to the distal end portion of the extension portion 50U in an inclined posture so that the excitation light Ray _Mid travels obliquely downward and backward. Similarly, the hot excitation light source 12 _Hot is fixed to the distal end portion of the extension portion 50L in an inclined posture so that the excitation light Ray _Hot travels obliquely rearward and rightward in a front view.

  The lens holder 56 to which the projection lens 20 (lenses 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> D) is fixed is fixed to the tube portion 48 by screwing the rear end portion thereof to the front end opening of the tube portion 48.

Each of the pumping light source 12 _Wide, 12 _Mid, 12 excitation light Ray _Wide from _Hot, Ray _Mid, Ray _Hot is condensed by each condenser lens 14 (e.g., collimated) each of the optical deflector 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid and 201 _Hot (each mirror unit 202).

As shown in FIG. 24, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are respectively incident with the excitation light from the corresponding excitation light source among the excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _{Hot on} each mirror unit 202. In addition, the excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot are used so that the excitation light as reflected light from each mirror unit 202 is directed to the corresponding scanning area among the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot. It is arranged so as to be close to the reference axis AX and surround the reference axis AX.

Specifically, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are fixed to the optical deflector holding portion 58 and arranged as follows.

  The light deflector holding portion 58 includes a front surface of a quadrangular pyramid shape protruding forward, and the front surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape includes an upper surface 58U, a lower surface 58D, a left surface 58L, and a right surface 58R (not shown), as shown in FIG. Z).

The wide optical deflector 201 _Wide (corresponding to the first optical deflector of the present invention) has a quadrangular pyramid shape with its mirror portion 202 positioned on the optical path of the excitation light Ray _Wide from the wide excitation light source 12 _Wide. Is fixed to the lower surface 58D in an inclined posture. Similarly, the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (corresponding to the second optical deflector of the present invention) is in a state where the mirror unit 202 is positioned on the optical path of the excitation light Ray _Mid from the middle excitation light source 12 _Mid . Of the front surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape, it is fixed in an inclined posture on the upper surface 58U. Similarly, the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot (corresponding to the third optical deflector of the present invention) is in a state where the mirror unit 202 is positioned on the optical path of the pumping light Ray _Hot from the hot pumping light source 12 _Hot . The front surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape is fixed in an inclined posture to the left surface 58L disposed on the left side when viewed from the front.

Each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot is arranged with the first axis X1 included in the vertical plane and the second axis X2 included in the horizontal plane. By arranging each of the light deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot in this way, a predetermined light distribution pattern (in a predetermined light distribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction and thin in the vertical direction, which is required in a vehicle headlamp. A corresponding two-dimensional image) can be easily formed (drawn).

The wide optical deflector 201 _Wide has a wide scanning area A _Wide (corresponding to the first scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Wide that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror 202. A first light intensity distribution is formed in the wide scanning area A _Wide by drawing the first two-dimensional image.

The middle optical deflector 201 _Mid is a middle scanning area A _Mid (corresponding to the second scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Mid that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror unit 202. By drawing the second two-dimensional image in a state where it overlaps with a part of the first two-dimensional image, a second luminous intensity distribution having a luminous intensity higher than the first luminous intensity distribution is formed in the middle scanning area A _Mid .

As shown in FIG. 20, middle scan area A _Mid in a small size than the wide scanning area A _Wide, and overlaps with part of the wide scanning area A _Wide. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the overlapped middle scanning area A _Mid becomes relatively high.

The hot light deflector 201 _Hot is a hot scanning area A _Hot (corresponding to the third scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Hot that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror 202. By drawing the third two-dimensional image in a state where it overlaps a part of the first two-dimensional image and a part of the second two-dimensional image, the luminous intensity is higher in the hot scanning area A _Hot than the second luminous intensity distribution. A third light intensity distribution is formed.

As shown in FIG. 20, the hot scanning area A _Hot small size than the middle scan area A _Mid, and overlaps a portion of the middle scan area A _Mid. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the overlapping hot scanning area A _Hot becomes relatively high.

Each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot is not limited to the area having the rectangular outer shape illustrated in FIG. 20, but is, for example, an area having a circular, elliptical, or other various shapes. Also good.

  26A is a front view of the wavelength conversion member 18, FIG. 26B is a top view, and FIG. 26C is a side view.

  As shown in FIGS. 26A to 26C, the wavelength conversion member 18 has a rectangular plate-like outer shape (for example, horizontal length: 18 mm, vertical length: 9 mm). It is configured as a conversion member (also referred to as a phosphor panel).

  As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the wavelength conversion member 18 is fixed to a phosphor holding portion 52 that closes the rear end opening of the cylindrical portion 48. Specifically, the wavelength converting member 18 has a periphery along the outer shape of the rear surface 18a fixed around the opening 52a formed in the phosphor holding portion 52, and covers the opening 52a.

The wavelength conversion member 18 includes the center line AX ₂₀₂ of the mirror unit 202 of the wide optical deflector 201 _{Wide at} the maximum deflection angle βh_max (see FIG. 29A) and the maximum deflection angle βv_max (see FIG. 29B). It is arranged to fit between the center line AX ₂₀₂ wide optical deflector 201 _wide mirror portion 202 when. That is, the wavelength conversion member 18 is disposed so as to satisfy the following two formulas 1 and 2.

tan (βh_max) ≧ L / d (Expression 1)
tan (βv_max) ≧ S / d (Expression 2)
However, L is 1/2 of the horizontal length of the wavelength conversion member 18, and S is 1/2 of the vertical length of the wavelength conversion member 18.

Next, a method for adjusting the sizes (the horizontal length and the vertical length) of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot will be described.

The sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot are respectively the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength. When the distance to the conversion member 18 is the same (or substantially the same) (see FIGS. 22 and 23), the first AC voltage, the second AC voltage, and the second piezoelectric applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are used. The third AC voltage applied to the actuators 205 and 206 is changed, and the swing range around the first axis X1 and the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 of each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are centered. It can be adjusted by changing the swing range. The reason is as follows.

That is, in the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot , as shown in FIG. 27A, the mechanical deflection angle (half angle, refer to the vertical axis) of the mirror unit 202 around the first axis X1 is The drive voltage (see the horizontal axis) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 increases as the drive voltage increases. In addition, as shown in FIG. 27B, the mechanical deflection angle (half angle, see vertical axis) of the mirror unit 202 with the second axis X2 as the center is also applied to the drive voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (see FIG. It increases with increasing (see horizontal axis).

Therefore, when the distance between each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is the same (or substantially the same) (see FIGS. 23 and 24). ), Changing the first AC voltage, the second AC voltage applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and the third AC voltage applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and changing the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , By changing the swing range around the first axis X1 and the swing range around the second axis X2 of the mirror section 202 of 201 _Hot , the sizes of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , A _Hot (horizontal direction) And the vertical length) can be adjusted.

Next, a specific adjustment example will be described. In the following description, the distance between each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is the same (for example, FIG. 29 (a), FIG. 29 ( It is assumed that d = 24.0 mm in b) and the focal length of the projection lens 20 is 32 mm.

For example, as shown in the row of “WIDE” in FIG. 28A, when 5.41 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ± 9.8 degrees and ± 19.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the wide scanning area A _Wide is adjusted to ± 8.57 mm.

  Note that “L” and “βh_max” illustrated in FIG. 28A represent the distance and the angle illustrated in FIG. Note that “mirror mechanical half angle” (also referred to as mechanical half angle) described in FIG. 28A and the like is an angle at which the mirror unit 202 is actually moved, and is an angle formed from the normal direction of the mirror unit 202. In plus and minus. On the other hand, the “mirror deflection angle” (also referred to as an optical half angle) described in FIG. 28A or the like is an angle formed by the excitation light (light beam) reflected by the mirror portion and the normal direction of the mirror portion 202. Thus, this is also expressed by plus or minus from the normal direction of the mirror unit 202. According to Fresnel's law, the optical half angle is twice the mechanical half angle.

As shown in the row “WIDE” in FIG. 28B, when 41.2 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ± 4.3 degrees and ± 8.6 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the wide scanning area A _Wide is adjusted to ± 3.65 mm.

  Note that “S” and “βv_max” illustrated in FIG. 28B represent the distance and the angle illustrated in FIG.

As described above, 5.41 V _pp is applied as the driving voltage (first AC voltage, second AC voltage) to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , and the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 are applied. driving voltage 41.2V _pp is applied as the (third AC voltage), around the swing range and the second axis X2 around the first axis X1 of the wide optical deflector 201 _wide mirror portion 202 By changing the swing range, the size of the wide scanning area A _Wide (the horizontal length and the vertical length) is adjusted to a rectangle with a horizontal direction of ± 8.57 mm and a vertical direction of ± 3.65 mm. can do.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the wide scanning area A _Wide is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that a rectangular wide distribution of ± 15 degrees in the horizontal direction and ± 6.5 degrees in the vertical direction is displayed on the virtual vertical screen. An optical pattern P _Wide (see FIG. 25) is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in the row of “MID” in FIG. 28A, when 2.31 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ± 5.3 degrees and ± 11.3 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the middle scanning area A _Mid is adjusted to ± 4.78 mm.

Further, as shown in the row of “MID” in FIG. 28B, when 24.4 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ± 2.3 degrees and ± 4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the middle scanning area A _Mid is adjusted to ± 1.96 mm.

As described above, 2.31 V _pp is applied as the driving voltage (first AC voltage, second AC voltage) to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid , and the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 are applied. Is applied with 24.4 V _pp as the drive voltage (third AC voltage), and the oscillation range around the first axis X1 and the oscillation around the second axis X2 of the mirror section 202 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid are applied. By changing the moving range, the size of the middle scanning area A _Mid (the length in the horizontal direction and the length in the vertical direction) is adjusted to a rectangle having a horizontal direction of ± 4.78 mm and a vertical direction of ± 1.96 mm. be able to.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the middle scanning area A _Mid is projected forward by the projection lens 20, thereby forming a rectangular middle having a horizontal direction of ± 8.5 degrees and a vertical direction of ± 3.5 degrees on the virtual vertical screen. The light distribution pattern P _Mid for use (see FIG. 25) is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in the row of “HOT” in FIG. 28A, when 0.93 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ± 2.3 degrees and ± 4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the hot scanning area A _Hot is adjusted to ± 1.96 mm.

As shown in the row “HOT” in FIG. 28B, when 13.3 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot , the first axis X1 And the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ± 1.0 degrees and ± 2.0 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the hot scanning area A _Hot is adjusted to ± 0.84 mm.

As described above, 0.93 V _pp is applied as the driving voltage (first AC voltage, second AC voltage) to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot , and the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 are applied. 13.3 V _pp is applied as a drive voltage (third AC voltage) to the center, and the oscillation range centering on the first axis X1 and the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 of the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot. By changing the swing range, the size of the hot scanning area A _Hot (horizontal length and vertical length) is adjusted to a rectangle with a horizontal direction of ± 1.96 mm and a vertical direction of ± 0.84 mm. can do.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the hot scanning area A _Hot is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that it is a rectangular middle having a horizontal direction of ± 3.5 degrees and a vertical direction of ± 1.5 degrees on the virtual vertical screen. A light distribution pattern P _Hot (see FIG. 25) is formed.

As described above, when the distance between each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is the same (or substantially the same) (FIG. 23, 24), changing the drive voltage (first AC voltage, second AC voltage) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203, 204, the drive voltage (third AC voltage) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205, 206, By changing the swing range around the first axis X1 and the swing range around the second axis X2 of each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot , the scanning region A _Wide , A _Mid and A _Hot can be adjusted in size (horizontal length and vertical length).

Next, another method for adjusting the sizes (the horizontal length and the vertical length) of the scanning regions A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot will be described.

The scan areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot (the horizontal length and the vertical length) have the same drive voltage applied to each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot (or If the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot (center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 are changed (for example, see FIG. 30). can do.

Next, a specific adjustment example will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the drive voltages applied to the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are the same, and the focal length of the projection lens 20 is 32 mm.

For example, as shown in the row of “WIDE” in FIG. 31A, the distance between the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wide (the center of the mirror section 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is 24.0 mm, When a drive voltage of 5.41 V _pp is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , a mechanical deflection angle (half angle: γh_max) about the first axis X1 and a maximum deflection angle (half angle) : Βh_max) becomes ± 9.8 degrees and ± 19.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the wide scanning area A _Wide is adjusted to ± 8.57 mm.

  Note that “L”, “βh_max”, and “d” illustrated in FIG. 31A represent the distance and the angle illustrated in FIG.

Further, as shown in the row of “WIDE” in FIG. 31B, the distance between the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wide (the center of the mirror section 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is 24.0 mm, When 41.2 V _pp is applied as a drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide , the mechanical deflection angle (half angle: γv_max) about the first axis X1 and the maximum deflection angle (half angle) : Βv_max) are ± 4.3 degrees and ± 8.6 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the wide scanning area A _Wide is adjusted to ± 3.65 mm.

  Note that “S”, “βv_max”, and “d” illustrated in FIG. 31B represent the distance and the angle illustrated in FIG.

As described above, by setting the distance between the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 to 24.0 mm, the size of the wide scanning area A _Wide (horizontal direction) And the vertical length) can be adjusted to a rectangle with a horizontal direction of ± 8.57 mm and a vertical direction of ± 3.65 mm.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the wide scanning area A _Wide is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that a rectangular wide distribution of ± 15 degrees in the horizontal direction and ± 6.5 degrees in the vertical direction is displayed on the virtual vertical screen. An optical pattern P _Wide (see FIG. 25) is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in the row of “MID” in FIG. 31A, the distance between the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is 13.4 mm, Similar to the case of the wide optical deflector 201 _Wid as the drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid , when 5.41 V _pp is applied, the mechanical vibration about the first axis X1 is applied. The angle (half angle: γh_max) and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ± 9.8 degrees and ± 19.7 degrees, respectively, as in the case of the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wid . However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is equal to the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength. Since it is shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) from the conversion member 18, the size (horizontal length) of the middle scanning area A _Mid is adjusted to ± 4.78 mm.

Further, as shown in the row of “MID” in FIG. 31B, the distance between the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is 13.4 mm, When 41.2 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid as in the case of the wide optical deflector 201 _Wid , the mechanical vibration about the first axis X1 is applied. The angle (half angle: γv_max) and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ± 4.3 degrees and ± 8.6 degrees, respectively, as in the case of the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wid . However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is equal to the wide optical deflector 201 _Wide (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength. Since it is shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) between the conversion member 18, the size (vertical length) of the middle scanning area A _Mid is adjusted to ± 1.96 mm.

As described above, by setting the distance between the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 to 13.4 mm, the size of the middle scanning area A _Mid (horizontal direction) And the vertical length) can be adjusted to a rectangle with a horizontal direction of ± 4.78 mm and a vertical direction of ± 1.96 mm.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the middle scanning area A _Mid is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that a rectangular mid having a horizontal direction of ± 8.5 degrees and a vertical direction of ± 3.6 degrees on the virtual vertical screen. The light distribution pattern P _Mid for use (see FIG. 25) is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in the row of “HOT” in FIG. 31A, the distance between the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is set to 5.5 mm. as with the wide optical deflector 201 _Wid the first piezoelectric actuator 203 and 204 of the hot optical deflector 201 _hot as the driving voltage, is applied to 5.41V _pp, shake machine around the first axis X1 The angle (half angle: γh_max) and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ± 9.8 degrees and ± 19.7 degrees, respectively, as in the case of the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wid . However, the distance (5.5 mm) between the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is equal to the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength. Since the distance to the conversion member 18 is shorter than the distance (13.4 mm), the size (horizontal length) of the hot scanning area A _Hot is adjusted to ± 1.96 mm.

Further, as shown in the row of “HOT” in FIG. 31B, the distance between the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror portion 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is set to 5.5 mm, When 41.2 V _pp is applied as the drive voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot as in the case of the wide optical deflector 201 _Wid , the mechanical vibration about the first axis X1 is applied. The angle (half angle: γv_max) and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ± 4.3 degrees and ± 8.6 degrees, respectively, as in the case of the wide-angle optical deflector 201 _Wid . However, the distance (5.5 mm) between the hot optical deflector 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 is equal to the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength. Since the distance to the conversion member 18 is shorter than the distance (13.4 mm), the size (vertical length) of the hot scanning area A _Hot is adjusted to ± 0.84 mm.

As described above, by setting the distance between the hot light deflector 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror part 202) and the wavelength conversion member 18 to 5.5 mm, the size of the hot scanning area A _Hot (horizontal direction) And the vertical length) can be adjusted to a rectangle with a horizontal direction of ± 1.96 mm and a vertical direction of ± 0.84 mm.

The luminous intensity distribution formed in the hot scanning area A _Hot is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that a rectangular hot having a horizontal direction of ± 3.5 degrees and a vertical direction of ± 1.5 degrees is displayed on the virtual vertical screen. A light distribution pattern P _Hot (see FIG. 25) is formed.

As described above, when the drive voltages applied to the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot are the same (or substantially the same), the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot ( The size (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot is adjusted by changing the distance between the center of the mirror unit 202 and the wavelength conversion member 18. Can do.

When the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are feedback controlled, the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , Although the drive voltages applied to 201 _Mid and 201 _Hot are not completely the same, even in this case, the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot (the center of the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength By changing the distance to the conversion member 18, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid and A _Hot can be adjusted.

Next, another method for adjusting the sizes (the horizontal length and the vertical length) of the scanning regions A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot will be described.

The sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot are as shown in FIG. 32, and the respective excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot and the respective lights. Between the deflectors 201 _Mid , 201 _Wide , 201 _Hot (or between the respective optical deflectors 201 _Mid , 201 _Wide , 201 _Hot and the wavelength conversion member 18), a lens 66 (for example, a lens having a different focal length). It is also conceivable to adjust by arranging.

  According to the present embodiment, in a vehicular lamp using a plurality of optical deflectors that two-dimensionally scan excitation light, it is possible to reduce the size and reduce the number of components that cause an increase in cost. It becomes possible.

Instead of using a plurality of wavelength conversion members (fluorescent substances) and a plurality of optical systems (projection lenses) as in the prior art, one wavelength is used for a plurality of optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot . This is because the conversion member 18 and one optical system (projection lens 20) are used.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in a vehicle lamp using a plurality of light deflectors that two-dimensionally scan excitation light, a part of the light intensity is relatively high, and the light intensity gradations toward the periphery from there. As shown in FIG. 25, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, the central luminous intensity (P _Hot ) is relatively high, and the luminous intensity is gradation according to the direction from there to (P _Hot → P _Mid → P _Wide ). Therefore, it is possible to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, a high-beam light distribution pattern) that is excellent in distance visibility and light distribution feeling.

This is because, as shown in FIG. 20, middle scan area A _Mid are overlapped with the wide scanning area A smaller size than the _Wide and wide scan area A _Wide, and hot scanning area A _Hot is a middle scanning area a small-sized a and the result of overlap with middle scan area a _Mid than _Mid, first light intensity distribution formed on the wide scanning area a _wide, second light intensity distribution formed on the middle scan area a _Mid The third light intensity distribution formed in the hot scanning area A _Hot becomes higher and smaller in this order, and the predetermined light distribution pattern P (see FIG. 25) is the wide scanning area A _Wide. This is because the first light intensity distribution, the second light intensity distribution, and the third light intensity distribution formed in each of the middle scanning area A _Mid and the hot scanning area A _Hot are projected.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle lamp 300 (lamp unit) can be made thinner in the reference axis AX direction, although it is larger in the vertical and horizontal directions than a vehicle lamp 400 (lamp unit) described later.

  Next, as a third embodiment, another vehicular lamp using three uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflectors 201 will be described with reference to the drawings. It goes without saying that the various optical deflectors exemplified in the first embodiment can be used in place of the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201.

  33 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicular lamp 400 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vehicular lamp 400 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 25, the vehicular lamp 400 according to the present embodiment has a relatively high central luminous intensity (P _Hot ), and the luminous intensity is in a gradation according to the direction from there to (P _Hot → P _Mid → P _Wide ). It is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, a high beam light distribution pattern) that is low and excellent in distance visibility and light distribution feeling.

When the vehicular lamp 400 of the present embodiment is compared with the vehicular lamp 300 of the second embodiment, mainly in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. _{In the present} embodiment, the laser light as the excitation light from the _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot is directly incident on each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot. 33 and 34, after the laser light as the excitation light from the respective excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot is reflected by the respective reflecting surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , 60 _Hot , They are different in that they are configured to be incident on the respective optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot .

  Other than that, it is the structure similar to the vehicle lamp 300 of the said 2nd Embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference from the vehicular lamp 300 of the second embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those of the vehicular lamp 300 of the second embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. .

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the vehicular lamp 400 includes three excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot , and three excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot . Reflective surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , 60 _Hot , three optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot , three optical deflectors 201 provided corresponding to the three reflective surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , 60 _Hot Wavelength conversion member 18 including three scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , A _Hot (see FIG. 20) provided corresponding to _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot , three scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , A _Hot It is configured as a vehicular headlamp including a projection lens 20 as an optical system that projects a luminous intensity distribution formed on each of them and forms a predetermined light distribution pattern P. Of course, the number of the excitation light source 12, the reflection surface 60, the optical deflector 201, and the scanning region A is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

As shown in FIG. 33, the projection lens 20, the wavelength conversion member 18, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are in this order along a reference axis AX (also referred to as an optical axis) that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. Are arranged.

The excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot are fixed to the laser holding portion 46A in such a posture that the respective excitation lights Ray _Wide , Ray _Mid , and Ray _Hot are inclined forward and toward the reference axis AX, It arrange | positions so that the reference axis AX may be surrounded.

Specifically, the excitation light sources 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , and 12 _Hot are fixed to the laser holding unit 46A as follows.

  The laser holding part 46A extends from the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical deflector holding part 58 toward the front obliquely upward, and extends from the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical deflector holding part 58 to the obliquely downward front. Of the outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 46AD and the optical deflector holding portion 58, the extension portion 46AL extending from the left portion toward the front obliquely left direction in the front view, and from the right portion of the outer peripheral surface of the optical deflector holding portion 58 in the front view. An extension 46AR (not shown) extending toward the front diagonal right direction is included.

As shown in FIG. 33, the wide excitation light source 12 _Wide is fixed to the front surface of the extension 46AD so as to be inclined so that the excitation light Ray _Wide travels obliquely forward and upward. Similarly, the middle excitation light source 12 _Mid is fixed to the front surface of the extension 46 AU in an inclined posture so that the excitation light Ray _Mid travels obliquely forward and downward. Similarly, the hot excitation light source 12 _Hot is fixed to the front surface of the extension portion 46AL so as to be inclined so that the excitation light Ray _Hot proceeds obliquely forward and leftward in a front view.

  The lens holder 56 to which the projection lens 20 (lenses 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> D) is fixed is fixed to the tube portion 48 by screwing the rear end portion thereof to the front end opening of the tube portion 48.

Excitation light Ray _Wide , Ray _Mid , R from each excitation light source 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot
The ay _Hot is condensed (for example, collimated) by the respective condensing lenses 14 and reflected by the respective reflecting surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , 60 _Hot , and then the respective optical deflectors 201 _Mid , 201 _Wide , 201 _{Injects into Hot} (each mirror unit 202).

Reflecting surface 60 _Wide, 60 _Mid, 60 _Hot, respectively, the excitation light source 12 _Wide, 12 _Mid, 12 is the excitation light from the corresponding pump light source incident Of _Hot, and each of the reflecting surfaces 60 _Wide, 60 _Mid, The excitation light Ray _Wide , Ray _Mid , Ray _Hot as the reflected light from 60 _Hot is fixed to the reflection surface holding unit 62 in a posture inclined rearward and toward the reference axis AX, and the excitation light source 12 _Wide , 12 _Mid and 12 _Hot are arranged closer to the reference axis AX and so as to surround the reference axis AX.

Specifically, the reflective surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , and 60 _Hot are fixed to the reflective surface holding unit 62 and arranged as follows.

  The reflection surface holding portion 62 includes a ring-shaped extension portion 64 extending from the rear end of the cylindrical portion 48 extending in the reference axis AX direction toward the rear outer side. The rear surface of the ring-shaped extension part 64 is inclined so that the outer side is located rearward from the inner side near the reference axis AX (see FIG. 33).

The wide reflection surface 60 _Wide is fixed to the lower part of the rear surface of the ring-shaped extension 64 in such a posture that the excitation light Ray _Wide as reflected light travels obliquely upward in the backward direction. Similarly, the middle reflecting surface 60 _Mid is fixed to the upper part of the rear surface of the ring-shaped extension 64 in such a posture that the excitation light Ray _Mid as the reflected light travels obliquely backward and downward. ing. Similarly, the hot reflecting surface 60 _Hot (not shown) is inclined such that the excitation light Ray _Hot as the reflected light advances obliquely rearward and rightward when viewed from the front, and the ring-shaped extension 64. It is fixed to the left part of the rear surface in front view.

As shown in FIG. 34, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are respectively provided with excitation light as reflected light from the corresponding reflecting surface among the reflecting surfaces 60 _Wide , 60 _Mid , and 60 _Hot. Reflecting surfaces 60 _Wide and 60 _Mid so that the excitation light incident on the section 202 and the excitation light as reflected light from each mirror section 202 is directed to the corresponding scanning area among the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot. , 60 _Hot is arranged closer to the reference axis AX and surrounding the reference axis AX.

Specifically, the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot are fixedly disposed on the optical deflector holding portion 58 as in the second embodiment.

The wide optical deflector 201 _Wide (corresponding to the first optical deflector of the present invention) is in a state where the mirror unit 202 is positioned on the optical path of the excitation light Ray _Wide as reflected light from the wide reflective surface 60 _Wide. Of the front surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape, it is fixed in an inclined posture to the lower surface 58D. Similarly, in the middle optical deflector 201 _Mid (corresponding to the second optical deflector of the present invention), the mirror part 202 is positioned on the optical path of the excitation light Ray _Mid as reflected light from the middle reflecting surface 60 _Mid. In this state, it is fixed in a posture inclined to the upper surface 58U of the front surface of the quadrangular pyramid shape. Similarly, in the hot light deflector 201 _Hot (corresponding to the third light deflector of the present invention), its mirror portion 202 is positioned on the optical path of the excitation light Ray _Hot as the reflected light from the hot reflective surface 60 _Hot. In this state, the front surface of the quadrangular pyramid is fixed in a posture inclined to the left surface 58L disposed on the left side when viewed from the front.

Each of the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot is arranged with the first axis X1 included in the vertical plane and the second axis X2 included in the horizontal plane. By arranging each of the light deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , and 201 _Hot in this way, a predetermined light distribution pattern (in a predetermined light distribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction and thin in the vertical direction, which is required in a vehicle headlamp. A corresponding two-dimensional image) can be easily formed (drawn).

The wide optical deflector 201 _Wide has a wide scanning area A _Wide (corresponding to the first scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Wide that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror 202. A first light intensity distribution is formed in the wide scanning area A _Wide by drawing the first two-dimensional image.

The middle optical deflector 201 _Mid is a middle scanning area A _Mid (corresponding to the second scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Mid that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror unit 202. By drawing the second 2D image in a state where the second 2D image is partially overlapped with the second 2D image, a second luminous intensity distribution having a luminous intensity higher than the first luminous intensity distribution is formed in the middle scanning area A _Mid .

As shown in FIG. 20, middle scan area A _Mid in a small size than the wide scanning area A _Wide, and overlaps with part of the wide scanning area A _Wide. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the overlapped middle scanning area A _Mid becomes relatively high.

The hot light deflector 201 _Hot is a hot scanning area A _Hot (corresponding to the third scanning area of the present invention) by the excitation light Ray _Hot that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror 202. By drawing the third 2D image in a state where it overlaps a part of the third 2D image and a part of the second 2D image, the luminous intensity is higher in the hot scanning area A _Hot than the second luminous intensity distribution. A third light intensity distribution is formed.

As shown in FIG. 20, the hot scanning area A _Hot small size than the middle scan area A _Mid, and overlaps a portion of the middle scan area A _Mid. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the overlapping hot scanning area A _Hot becomes relatively high.

Each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot is not limited to the area having the rectangular outer shape illustrated in FIG. 20, but is, for example, an area having a circular, elliptical, or other various shapes. Also good.

  The wavelength conversion member 18 is fixed to the phosphor holder 52 as in the second embodiment.

Also in the present embodiment, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot can be adjusted by the same method as in the second embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, in the vehicular lamp using a plurality of optical deflectors that two-dimensionally scan the excitation light, it is possible to reduce the size and increase the cost. It becomes possible to reduce the number of parts.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in a vehicle lamp using a plurality of light deflectors that two-dimensionally scan excitation light, a part of the light intensity is relatively high, and the light intensity gradations toward the periphery from there. As shown in FIG. 25, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, the central luminous intensity (P _Hot ) is relatively high, and the luminous intensity is gradation according to the direction from there to (P _Hot → P _Mid → P _Wide ). Therefore, it is possible to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, a high-beam light distribution pattern) that is excellent in distance visibility and light distribution feeling.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the reflection is increased once compared with the vehicle lamp 300 (lamp unit), the efficiency is slightly reduced, but the vehicle lamp 400 (lamp unit) is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions. The size can be reduced with respect to (horizontal direction and vertical direction).

  Next, a modified example will be described.

In the first to third embodiments, the example in which the semiconductor light emitting element that emits the excitation light is used as the excitation light source 12 (12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot ) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, as the excitation light source 12 (12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot ), as shown in FIGS. 30 and 35, an emission end face Fa of an optical fiber F that emits excitation light may be used. In particular, the excitation light introduced from the incident end face Fb of the optical fiber F is emitted by using the emission end face Fa of the optical fiber F that emits the excitation light as the excitation light source 12 (12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot ). Since the excitation light source (not shown) to be arranged can be arranged at a location separated from the vehicle lamp 10 (vehicle lamp body), the vehicle lamp 10 can be further reduced in size and weight.

  FIG. 35 shows three excitation light sources (not shown), an incident end face Fb on which laser light as excitation light from each excitation light source is incident, and an emission end face Fa from which laser light introduced from the incident end face Fb is emitted. Are combined with three optical fibers F including a core surrounding the core and a clad surrounding the core. For convenience of explanation, the hot optical fiber F is omitted in FIG.

  30 shows one excitation light source 12, an optical distributor 68 that distributes laser light as excitation light from the excitation light source 12 into a plurality (for example, three), and each excitation light distributed by the optical distributor 68. The number according to the number of distributions including the core including the incident end face Fb on which the laser light is incident and the exit end face Fa from which the laser light introduced from the incident end face Fb is emitted and the clad surrounding the periphery of the core (for example, This is an example in which three optical fibers F are combined.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of the internal structure of the optical distributor 68. A plurality of non-deflecting beam splitters 68a, deflecting beam splitters 68b, 1 / 2λ plates 68c and mirrors 68d are arranged as shown in FIG. This is an example of an optical distributor configured to distribute the laser light as the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 collected in step 1 at a ratio of 25%, 37.5%, and 37.5%.

  Also by these modified examples, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

  Next, as a fourth embodiment, a uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 (see FIG. 3) is used in the vehicular lamp 10 (see FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment. A method for forming a light intensity distribution (and a predetermined light distribution pattern with a relatively high light intensity in the partial area) will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 37 (a), as a light intensity distribution (and a predetermined light distribution pattern with a relatively high light intensity in the partial area) of the partial area, an area B1 (see FIG. 37) near the center. A method of forming a light intensity distribution (and a high beam light distribution pattern in which the light intensity in the area near the center is relatively high) of the light intensity of 37 (a) (see the area surrounded by the one-dot chain line) will be described. This technique is not limited to the vehicle lamp 10 described in the first embodiment, but also in the vehicle lamp 400 described in the third embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 300 described in the second embodiment. Of course, it can also be used in various other vehicle lamps.

  In the following description, the vehicular lamp 10 is moved into the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201. A control unit that controls the first actuators 203 and 204 by resonance driving and controls the second actuators 205 and 206 by non-resonance driving so that a two-dimensional image is formed (for example, the control unit 24, FIG. It is assumed that a MEMS power supply circuit 26 and the like are provided. The output (or modulation speed) of the excitation light source 12 is constant, and the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 includes the first axis X1 in the vertical plane and the second axis X2 in the horizontal plane. It shall be arranged in an included state.

  FIG. 37A shows an example of a light intensity distribution in which the area B1 near the center has a relatively high intensity. The excitation light scanned two-dimensionally by the mirror unit 202 is two-dimensionally applied to the scanning area A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. By drawing an image, it is formed in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. Note that the scanning region A1 is not limited to the region having the rectangular outer shape illustrated in FIG. 37A, and may be, for example, a region having a circular, elliptical, or other various shapes.

  The luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 37A is relatively low in the area near the center (and relatively in the area near the left and right ends) with respect to the horizontal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 37A). High), and with respect to the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 37A), the luminous intensity distribution is relatively high in the area B1 near the center (and relatively low in the areas near the upper and lower ends). As a whole, the luminous intensity distribution is relatively high in the area B1 near the center required for the vehicle headlamp.

  The luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 37A can be formed as follows. That is, the control unit controls the first actuators 203 and 204 by resonance driving based on the driving signal (sine wave) shown in FIG. 37B, and includes a driving signal including a nonlinear region shown in FIG. It can be formed by controlling the second actuators 205 and 206 by non-resonant driving based on a sawtooth wave or a rectangular wave. Specifically, the control unit applies a driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in accordance with the driving signal (sine wave) shown in FIG. Thus, it can be formed by applying a drive voltage in accordance with a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown in FIG. The reason is as follows.

  That is, in the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201, when a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in accordance with the drive signal (sine wave) shown in FIG. The reciprocating rocking speed (horizontal scanning speed) about the first axis X1 of the portion 202 is maximized in the region near the center in the horizontal direction of the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18, and the horizontal direction Minimum in the area near the left and right ends. The reason is that, firstly, the drive signal shown in FIG. 37C is a sine wave, and secondly, the control unit performs resonance drive based on the drive signal (sinusoidal wave) to generate the first actuators 203 and 204. By controlling.

  In this case, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively reduced in a region near the center where the reciprocating swing speed around the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively high. In contrast, in the region near the left and right ends where the reciprocating swing speed around the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively slow, the irradiation amount of excitation light per unit area is relatively increased. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 37A has a relatively low luminous intensity in the area near the center (and relatively high luminous intensity in the areas near the left and right ends) in the horizontal direction.

  A distance between a plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 37A represents a scanning distance per unit time of excitation light from the excitation light source 12 scanned in the horizontal direction by the mirror unit 202. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction represents the reciprocating swing speed (horizontal scanning speed) about the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202. The shorter the distance, the slower the reciprocating swing speed (horizontal scanning speed) about the first axis X1 of the mirror unit 202.

  Referring to FIG. 37 (a), the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction is relatively wide in the region near the center (that is, the speed of reciprocating rocking about the first axis X1 of the mirror portion 202 is high). Relatively fast in the region near the center) and relatively narrow in the region near the left and right ends (that is, the reciprocating speed of the mirror 202 around the first axis X1 is relatively high in the region near the left and right ends. It ’s slow.

  On the other hand, in the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201, a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown in FIG. 37C with respect to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. When the drive voltage is applied according to the above, the reciprocating swing speed (vertical scanning speed) about the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is a region B1 near the vertical center of the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. Is relatively slow. First, the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the nonlinear region shown in FIG. 37 (c) is driven by the excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 202. A non-linear region adjusted so that the speed of reciprocating oscillation around the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively slow while a two-dimensional image is drawn in the region B1 near the center in the scanning region A1. Second, the control unit controls the second actuators 205 and 206 by non-resonant driving based on the driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the nonlinear region. It is.

  In this case, in the region B1 in the vicinity of the center where the speed of reciprocating oscillation around the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively slow, the irradiation amount of excitation light per unit area is relatively increased. In the region B1 near the center, the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high. On the contrary, in the region near the upper and lower ends where the reciprocating swing speed about the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively high, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively reduced. Further, in the area near the upper and lower ends, the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is low. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 37A has a relatively high luminous intensity in the area B1 near the center (and relatively low luminous intensity in the areas near the upper and lower ends) with respect to the vertical direction.

  A distance between a plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction in FIG. 37A represents a scanning distance per unit time of excitation light from the excitation light source 12 scanned in the vertical direction by the mirror unit 202. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction represents the reciprocating oscillation speed (vertical scanning speed) about the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202. The shorter this distance, the slower the reciprocating oscillation speed (vertical scanning speed) about the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202, indicating that the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high.

  Referring to FIG. 37 (a), the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the lateral direction is relatively narrow in the region B1 near the center (that is, the speed of reciprocating oscillation about the second axis X2 of the mirror portion 202). Is relatively slow in the region B1 near the center, and relatively wide in the region near the upper and lower ends (that is, the reciprocating swing speed around the second axis X2 of the mirror 202 is relative in the region near the upper and lower ends. It ’s fast).

  As described above, a luminous intensity distribution (see FIG. 37A) in which the luminous intensity of the area B1 near the center is relatively high is formed in the scanning area A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. This luminous intensity distribution is such that the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high in the region B1 near the center where the apparent size of the oncoming vehicle is relatively small, and the apparent size of the oncoming vehicle etc. Since the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is low in the vicinity of the relatively large left and right ends, it is particularly suitable for a high beam light distribution pattern for realizing ADB. Then, the luminous intensity distribution (see FIG. 37A) in which the luminous intensity of the area B1 near the center is relatively high is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that the luminous intensity of the area near the center is projected on the virtual vertical screen. A relatively high light distribution pattern for high beam is formed.

  Next, as a reference example, the control unit applies a driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 according to the driving signal shown in FIG. 38B (the same as the driving signal shown in FIG. 37B), Further, instead of the drive signal including the nonlinear region shown in FIG. 37C for the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, the drive signal including the linear region shown in FIG. 38C (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave). A light intensity distribution (see FIG. 38A) formed in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by applying a drive voltage according to FIG.

  The luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 38A is relatively low in the area near the center (and relatively in the area near the left and right ends) with respect to the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 38A). The luminous intensity distribution is uniform (or substantially uniform) between the upper and lower ends in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 38 (a)), and the luminous intensity distribution is not suitable for a vehicle headlamp. With respect to the vertical direction, the light intensity distribution between the upper and lower ends is uniform (or substantially uniform) because the drive signal shown in FIG. 38C includes a non-linear region as shown in FIG. Rather, it is a drive signal that includes a linear region, resulting in a constant vertical scanning speed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the vehicular lamp using the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant type optical deflector 201 (see FIG. 3) that scans excitation light two-dimensionally, the vehicle It is possible to form a light intensity distribution (see FIG. 37A) in which the light intensity of a partial area (for example, the area B1 near the center) required for a lamp (particularly, a vehicle headlamp) is relatively high.

  This is because the control unit draws a two-dimensional image in a partial region (for example, the region B1 near the center) in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by the excitation light scanned two-dimensionally by the mirror unit 202. This is because the second actuators 205 and 206 are controlled so that the reciprocating swing speed around the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively slow.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, in the vehicular lamp using the uniaxial non-resonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201 (see FIG. 3) that scans the excitation light two-dimensionally, a partial region (for example, A predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, a high-beam light distribution pattern) having a relatively high luminous intensity in the central region B1) can be formed.

  This is because, as described above, it is possible to form a light intensity distribution (see FIG. 37A) in which a partial region (for example, the region B1 near the center) has a relatively high light intensity, and a predetermined light distribution pattern. (For example, a high-beam light distribution pattern) is formed by projecting a light intensity distribution having a relatively high light intensity in this partial region (for example, the region B1 near the center).

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the scanning region A1 has a relatively dense pixel and a high resolution in the region B1 near the center where the apparent size of an oncoming vehicle or the like is relatively small. Since the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is relatively low near the left and right ends where the apparent size of an oncoming vehicle or the like is relatively large, the arrangement for high beams particularly for realizing ADB is increased. Suitable for light pattern.

  In addition, by adjusting a drive signal including a non-linear region that is a basis for controlling the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 (see, for example, FIG. 37C), not only the region B1 near the center but also any region A luminous intensity distribution with a relatively high luminous intensity (and a predetermined light distribution pattern with a relatively high luminous intensity in an arbitrary region) can be formed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 39, the luminous intensity distribution (and the area near the cutoff line) of the area B2 near the side e corresponding to the cutoff line (see the area surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 39) is relatively high. Low beam distribution pattern having a relatively high luminous intensity). This is because the wavelength conversion member 18 is driven by excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 202 as a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a non-linear region as a basis for controlling the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. While the two-dimensional image is drawn in the region B2 near the side e corresponding to the cut-off line in the scanning region A2, the speed of the reciprocating oscillation around the second axis X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively slow. This can be easily realized by using a drive signal including a nonlinear region adjusted as described above.

  Next, as a fifth embodiment, in the vehicular lamp 10 (see FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment, a biaxial nonresonant is used instead of the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201. A method of forming a light intensity distribution (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high light intensity in a partial area) using a light deflector 161 of a type (see FIG. 15) will be described. To do.

  First, as a light intensity distribution (and a predetermined light distribution pattern with a relatively high light intensity in the partial area) of the partial area, as shown in FIG. A method for forming a luminous intensity distribution (and a high beam light distribution pattern in which the luminous intensity in the area near the center is relatively high) having a relatively high luminous intensity (see the area surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 40A) will be described. To do. This technique is not limited to the vehicle lamp 10 described in the first embodiment, but also in the vehicle lamp 400 described in the third embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 300 described in the second embodiment. Of course, it can also be used in various other vehicle lamps.

  In the following description, the vehicular lamp 10 forms a two-dimensional image in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 162 of the two-axis non-resonant type optical deflector 161. As described above, a control unit that controls the first actuators 163 and 164 and the second actuators 165 and 166 by non-resonant driving (for example, the control unit 24 and the MEMS power supply circuit 26 shown in FIG. 10) is provided. To do. The output (or modulation speed) of the excitation light source 12 is constant, and the biaxial nonresonant type optical deflector 161 includes the third axis X3 included in the vertical plane and the fourth axis X4 included in the horizontal plane. It is assumed that it is arranged at.

  FIG. 40A shows an example of a luminous intensity distribution in which the areas B1 and B3 in the vicinity of the center have a relatively high luminous intensity. By drawing a two-dimensional image, it is formed in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. Note that the scanning region A1 is not limited to the region having the rectangular outer shape illustrated in FIG. 40A, and may be, for example, a region having a circular, elliptical, or other various shapes.

  In the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 40 (a), the luminous intensity in the region B3 near the center is relatively high (and the luminous intensity in the region near both left and right ends is relative) in the horizontal direction (left / right direction in FIG. 40 (a)). In the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 40 (a)), the luminous intensity distribution in the region B1 near the center is relatively high (and the luminous intensity in the region near the upper and lower ends is relatively low). Thus, as a whole, the luminous intensity distribution is relatively high in the areas B1 and B3 in the vicinity of the center required for the vehicle headlamp.

  The luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 40A can be formed as follows. That is, the control unit controls the first actuators 163 and 164 by non-resonant driving based on the first driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the first nonlinear region shown in FIG. It can be formed by controlling the second actuators 165 and 166 by non-resonant driving based on the second driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the second non-linear region shown in 40 (c). Specifically, the control unit applies a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164 according to the first drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the first nonlinear region shown in FIG. And it forms by applying a drive voltage with respect to the 2nd piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166 according to the 2nd drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the 2nd nonlinear field shown in Drawing 40 (c). it can. The reason is as follows.

  That is, in the biaxial non-resonant type optical deflector 161, the first drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the first nonlinear region shown in FIG. 40B with respect to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164. When the drive voltage is applied according to the above, the reciprocating swing speed (horizontal scanning speed) about the third axis X3 of the mirror part 162 is a region B3 near the horizontal center of the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. Is relatively slow. First, the wavelength of the first drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the first nonlinear region shown in FIG. 40 (b) is excited by the two-dimensionally scanned light by the mirror unit 162. While the two-dimensional image is drawn in the region B3 near the center in the scanning region A1 of the conversion member 18, the reciprocating swing speed about the third axis X3 of the mirror portion 162 is adjusted to be relatively slow. The second actuator includes a first non-resonant drive based on a first drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the first non-linear region. By controlling 164.

  In this case, in the region B3 in the vicinity of the center where the reciprocating swing speed around the third axis X3 of the mirror part 162 is relatively slow, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively increased. In the region B3 near the center, the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high. On the contrary, in the region near the left and right ends where the reciprocating swing speed around the third axis X3 of the mirror part 162 is relatively high, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively reduced. Further, in the area near the left and right ends, the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is low. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 40A has a relatively high luminous intensity in the area B3 near the center (and relatively low luminous intensity in the areas near the left and right ends) in the horizontal direction.

  A distance between a plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 40A represents a scanning distance per unit time of excitation light from the excitation light source 12 scanned in the horizontal direction by the mirror unit 162. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction represents the speed of reciprocating rocking (horizontal scanning speed) about the third axis X3 of the mirror unit 162. The shorter this distance, the slower the reciprocating swing speed (horizontal scanning speed) about the third axis X3 of the mirror part 162, indicating that the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high.

  Referring to FIG. 40 (a), the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction is relatively narrow in the region B3 near the center (that is, the speed of reciprocating oscillation about the third axis X3 of the mirror portion 162). Is relatively slow in the region B3 near the center, and relatively wide in the region near the left and right ends (that is, the speed of the reciprocating swing around the third axis X3 of the mirror portion 162 is relatively in the region near the left and right ends. It ’s fast).

  On the other hand, in the biaxial non-resonant type optical deflector 161, the second driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the second nonlinear region shown in FIG. 40C with respect to the second piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166. When the drive voltage is applied according to the above, the reciprocating swing speed (vertical scanning speed) about the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162 is the area B1 near the center in the vertical direction of the scanning area A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. Is relatively slow. First, the wavelength of the second drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the second non-linear region shown in FIG. 40 (c) is determined by the excitation light scanned two-dimensionally by the mirror unit 162. While the two-dimensional image is drawn in the area B1 near the center of the scanning area A1 of the conversion member 18, the reciprocating oscillation speed around the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162 is adjusted to be relatively slow. The second actuator 165 by the non-resonant drive based on the second drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the second nonlinear region. By controlling 166.

  In this case, in the region B1 near the center where the reciprocating swing speed around the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162 is relatively slow, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively increased. In the region B1 near the center, the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high. On the contrary, in the region near the upper and lower ends where the reciprocating swing speed around the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162 is relatively high, the irradiation amount of the excitation light per unit area is relatively reduced. Further, in the area near the upper and lower ends, the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is low. As a result, the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 40A has a relatively high luminous intensity in the area B1 near the center (and relatively low luminous intensity in the areas near the upper and lower ends) in the vertical direction.

  A distance between a plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction in FIG. 40A represents a scanning distance per unit time of excitation light from the excitation light source 12 scanned in the vertical direction by the mirror unit 162. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction represents the reciprocating swing speed (vertical scanning speed) about the fourth axis X4 of the mirror section 162. The shorter this distance, the slower the reciprocating oscillation speed (vertical scanning speed) about the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162, indicating that the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high.

  Referring to FIG. 40 (a), the distance between the plurality of lines extending in the lateral direction is relatively narrow in the region B1 near the center (that is, the speed of reciprocating rocking about the fourth axis X4 of the mirror portion 162). Is relatively slow in the region B1 near the center, and relatively wide in the region near the upper and lower ends (that is, the reciprocating swing speed around the fourth axis X4 of the mirror part 162 is relatively in the region near the upper and lower ends. It ’s fast).

  As described above, a luminous intensity distribution (see FIG. 40A) in which the luminous intensity of the areas B1 and B3 near the center is relatively high is formed in the scanning area A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18. This luminous intensity distribution is such that the pixels are relatively dense and the resolution is high in the region B1 near the center where the apparent size of the oncoming vehicle is relatively small, and the apparent size of the oncoming vehicle etc. Since the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is low in the vicinity of the relatively large left and right ends, it is particularly suitable for a high beam light distribution pattern for realizing ADB. Then, the luminous intensity distribution (see FIG. 40A) in which the luminous intensity of the areas B1 and B3 near the center is relatively high is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that the area near the center is projected on the virtual vertical screen. A high beam light distribution pattern having a relatively high luminous intensity is formed.

  Next, as a reference example, the control unit replaces the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region shown in FIG. 40B with respect to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164, instead of the linear drive shown in FIG. A drive voltage is applied in accordance with a drive signal including a region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave), and the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region shown in FIG. 40C is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166. Instead, the light intensity distribution (FIG. 41 (FIG. 41)) formed in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by applying a driving voltage according to the driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the linear region shown in FIG. Reference is made to a).

  The luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 41 (a) is uniform (or substantially uniform) in the horizontal direction (left / right direction in FIG. 41 (a)), and the vertical direction (right / left in FIG. 41 (a)). Direction), the light intensity distribution between the upper and lower ends is uniform (or substantially uniform), and the light intensity distribution is not suitable for a vehicle headlamp. With respect to the horizontal direction, the light intensity distribution between the left and right ends is uniform (or substantially uniform) because the drive signal shown in FIG. 41B includes a non-linear region as shown in FIG. Rather, it is a drive signal that includes a linear region, resulting in a constant horizontal scanning speed. Similarly, with respect to the vertical direction, the luminous intensity distribution between the upper and lower ends is uniform (or substantially uniform) because the drive signal shown in FIG. 41 (c) has a non-linear region as shown in FIG. 40 (c). This is due to the fact that the scanning signal in the vertical direction is constant as a result of the driving signal including the linear region, not the driving signal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the vehicular lamp using the two-axis non-resonant type optical deflector 161 (see FIG. 15) that scans the excitation light two-dimensionally, the vehicular lamp (particularly, A luminous intensity distribution (see FIG. 40 (a)) in which the luminous intensity is relatively high in a partial area (for example, areas B1 and B3 near the center) required for the vehicle headlamp can be formed.

  This is because the control unit generates a two-dimensional image in a partial region (for example, regions B1 and B3 near the center) in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by the excitation light scanned two-dimensionally by the mirror unit 162. During drawing, the first actuators 163 and 164 and the second actuators 165 and 166 are controlled so that the reciprocating swing speed around the third axis X3 and the fourth axis X4 of the mirror unit 162 is relatively slow. It is by doing.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, in a vehicular lamp using a two-axis non-resonant type optical deflector 161 (see FIG. 15) that scans excitation light two-dimensionally, a partial region (for example, near the center) A predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, a high beam light distribution pattern) having relatively high luminous intensity in the regions B1 and B3) can be formed.

  This is because, as described above, it is possible to form a light intensity distribution (see FIG. 40A) in which the light intensity of a part of the regions (for example, the regions B1 and B3 near the center) is relatively high, and a predetermined distribution. The light pattern is formed by projecting a light intensity distribution (see FIG. 40A) with relatively high light intensity in the partial areas (for example, areas B1 and B3 near the center). is there.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the luminous intensity distribution formed in the scanning region A1 has a relatively dense pixel and a high resolution in the region B1 near the center where the apparent size of an oncoming vehicle or the like is relatively small. Since the pixels are relatively coarse and the resolution is relatively low near the left and right ends where the apparent size of an oncoming vehicle or the like is relatively large, the arrangement for high beams particularly for realizing ADB is increased. Suitable for light pattern.

  In addition, by adjusting the first drive signal and the second drive signal including the non-linear region that is the basis for controlling the first actuators 163 and 164 and the second actuators 165 and 166, the adjustment is not limited to the regions B1 and B3 near the center. It is possible to form a light intensity distribution (and a predetermined light distribution pattern with a relatively high light intensity in an arbitrary region) in which an arbitrary region has a relatively high light intensity.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 39, the luminous intensity distribution (and the area near the cutoff line) of the area B2 near the side e corresponding to the cutoff line (see the area surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 39) is relatively high. Low beam distribution pattern having a relatively high luminous intensity). This is because the second drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the second non-linear region that is the basis for controlling the second actuators 165 and 166 has a wavelength by excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 162. While the two-dimensional image is drawn in the region B2 near the side e corresponding to the cut-off line in the scanning region A2 of the conversion member 18, the speed of the reciprocating oscillation around the fourth axis X4 of the mirror unit 162 is relatively high. It can be easily realized by using a drive signal including a non-linear region adjusted so as to be slower.

  Next, as a reference example, in the vehicular lamp 10 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), instead of the uniaxial nonresonant / uniaxial resonant optical deflector 201, biaxial resonant type light is used. Using the deflector 201A (see FIG. 17), the control unit applies a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab according to the drive signal (sine wave) shown in FIG. Luminance distribution formed in the scanning region A1 of the wavelength conversion member 18 by applying a driving voltage to the actuators 17Aa and 17Ab according to the driving signal (sine wave) shown in FIG. 42C (see FIG. 42A). Will be described.

  However, the vehicular lamp 10 is driven by resonance so that a two-dimensional image is formed in the scanning region A by excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror portion 13A of the two-axis resonance type optical deflector 201A. It is assumed that a control unit (for example, the control unit 24 and the MEMS power supply circuit 26 shown in FIG. 10) that controls the first actuators 15Aa and 15Ab and controls the second actuators 17Aa and 17Ab by resonance driving is provided. The output (or modulation speed) of the excitation light source 12 is constant, and the biaxial resonance type optical deflector 201A includes the fifth axis X5 included in the vertical plane and the sixth axis X6 included in the horizontal plane. It is assumed that it is arranged.

  In this case, the luminous intensity distribution shown in FIG. 42A is relatively low in the area near the center (and the luminous intensity in the areas near the left and right ends) with respect to the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 42A). (Relatively high) and with respect to the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 42 (a)), the luminous intensity in the region near the center is relatively low (and the luminous intensity in the region near the upper and lower ends is relatively high). The light intensity distribution is not suitable for vehicle headlamps.

Next, as a sixth embodiment, a plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide in which the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 shown in FIGS. 43 (a) to 43 (c) are formed are superimposed. A method of forming the high beam light distribution pattern PHi (see FIG. 43D) will be described.

Hereinafter, an example of forming the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi (see FIG. 43 (d)) using the vehicle lamp 300 (see FIGS. 20 to 24) described in the second embodiment will be described. Instead of the vehicular lamp 300, the vehicular lamp 400 described in the third embodiment may be used, or a plurality of lamp units each forming a plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide may be used. Of course, various other vehicle lamps or lamp units may be used. Further, the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is not limited to one in which three irradiation patterns (irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , P _Wide ) are superimposed, and two or four or more irradiation patterns are superimposed. Of course, it may be a thing.

  In the following description, the vehicular lamp 300 includes an irradiation prohibition target detection unit (for example, an imaging device such as the camera 30 shown in FIG. 10) that detects an irradiation prohibition target such as a pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle in front of the vehicle. It shall be.

43A is an example of an irradiation pattern P _Hot in which the non-irradiation region C1 is formed, FIG. _{43B is} an example of an irradiation pattern P _Mid in which the non-irradiation region C2 is formed, and FIG. _43C is a non-irradiation. It is an example of the irradiation pattern P _Wide in which the area | region C3 is formed.

The plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are superimposed so that the respective non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 overlap to form a common non-irradiation region C, as shown in FIG. Yes.

The non-irradiated regions C1, C2, and C3 have different sizes as shown in FIGS. 43 (a) to 43 (d). As a result, the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are controlled by the optical deflectors 201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot and the optical axis, respectively. 44, even if they are shifted from each other as shown in FIG. 44, the area of the common non-irradiated region C (see the hatched region in FIG. 44) is prevented from being reduced (as a result, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of glare light for the irradiation prohibited object. This is because the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are not the same in size but different from each other.

The non-irradiation areas C1, C2, and C3 (common non-irradiation areas C) are areas corresponding to the irradiation prohibition targets detected by the irradiation prohibition target detection means for each of the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide. It is formed. That is, the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 (common non-irradiation region C) are formed in different regions depending on the position where the irradiation prohibited object is detected. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the glare light with respect to irradiation prohibition objects, such as a pedestrian ahead of a vehicle and an oncoming vehicle, can be prevented.

The plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide have different sizes, and the smaller the size, the higher the luminous intensity. As a result, the central luminous intensity (P _Hot ) is relatively high, and the luminous intensity decreases in a gradation according to the direction from the surrounding (P _Hot → P _Mid → P _Wide ), which is excellent in distance visibility and light distribution feeling. A high-beam light distribution pattern (see FIG. 43D) can be formed.

The non-irradiated areas C1, C2, and C3 are smaller in size as the irradiation pattern size in which the non-irradiated areas C1, C2, and C3 are formed is smaller. That is, there is a relationship of non-irradiation region C1 <non-irradiation region C2 <non-irradiation region C3. As a result, the non-irradiated region C1 having the minimum size is formed in the irradiation pattern P _Hot having the minimum size (and the maximum luminous intensity), so that the non-irradiated region C1 having the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P _Mid and P _Wide other than the minimum size. Compared with the case where it is done, a wider area | region can be irradiated brightly. Further, since the non-irradiated area C1 of the minimum size is formed in the irradiation pattern P _Hot having the minimum size (and the maximum luminous intensity), the non-irradiated area C1 of the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P _Mid and P _Wide other than the minimum size. Compared to the case, the light / dark ratio in the vicinity of the contour of the common non-irradiation region C can be made relatively high (see FIG. 44). As a result, the contour of the common non-irradiation region C can be sharpened. Of course, the non-irradiated regions C1, C2, and C3 need only have different sizes, and it is of course possible that the relationship other than the non-irradiated region C1 <non-irradiated region C2 <non-irradiated region C3 may be satisfied. By setting the relationship other than the non-irradiation region C1 <non-irradiation region C2 <non-irradiation region C3, the contour of the common non-irradiation region C can be moderately blurred.

The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 of the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide have similar shapes. Thus, even if the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 of the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are shifted in any direction, the area of the common non-irradiation region C (in FIG. 44) It is possible to prevent the hatching area (see the hatching area) from becoming small (as a result, to prevent the occurrence of glare light with respect to the irradiation prohibited object). The non-irradiated regions C1, C2, and C3 may be different in size from each other, may have shapes other than similar shapes, and have the outer shapes illustrated in FIGS. 43 (a) to 43 (c). Of course, the outer shape is not limited to a rectangular region, and for example, the outer shape may be a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a region having various other shapes.

The high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi shown in FIG. _43D is obtained by projecting the luminous intensity distribution formed in each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot forward by the projection lens 20, thereby generating a virtual vertical screen. Formed on top.

In each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot , a luminous intensity distribution is formed as follows.

The wide optical deflector 201 _Wide has a first two-dimensional image in the wide scanning area A _Wide (see FIG. 20) by the excitation light Ray _Wide that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror unit 202. By drawing (a two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P _Wide shown in FIG. 43 (c)), the first light intensity distribution (in the irradiation pattern P _Wide shown in FIG. 43 (c)) is _generated in the wide scanning area A _Wide . Corresponding light intensity distribution).

The middle optical deflector 201 _Mid is a first two-dimensional image in the middle scanning area A _Mid (see FIG. 20) by the excitation light Ray _Mid that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror unit 202. By drawing a second two-dimensional image (a two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P _Mid shown in FIG. 43B) in a state where it overlaps a part of the first light intensity distribution in the middle scanning area A _Mid A second luminous intensity distribution having a higher luminous intensity (luminous intensity distribution corresponding to the irradiation pattern P _Mid shown in FIG. _43B ) is formed.

The hot light deflector 201 _Hot is a first two-dimensional image in the hot scanning area A _Hot (see FIG. 20) by the excitation light Ray _Hot that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror unit 202. By drawing a third 2D image (a 2D image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P _Hot shown in FIG. 43A) in a state where it overlaps a part of the image and a part of the second 2D image, A third luminous intensity distribution (luminous intensity distribution corresponding to the irradiation pattern P _Hot shown in FIG. 43A) having a luminous intensity higher than the second luminous intensity distribution is formed in the scanning region A _Hot .

The first luminous intensity distribution, the second luminous intensity distribution, and the third luminous intensity distribution include non-irradiated areas corresponding to the non-irradiated areas C1, C2, and C3, respectively, and the non-irradiated areas are overlapped and common non-irradiated. In a state of being overlapped so as to form a region, each of the scanning regions A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot is formed.

As described above, the luminous intensity distribution formed in each of the scanning areas A _Wide , A _Mid , and A _Hot is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that the high beam beam shown in FIG. 43 (d) is displayed on the virtual vertical screen. A light distribution pattern P _Hi is formed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, for high beam) in which a plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _{Wide in} which the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 are formed is superimposed. In a vehicular lamp configured to form a (light distribution pattern), when non-irradiated areas C1, C2, and C3 formed in a plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are shifted from each other (see FIG. 44), it is possible to prevent the area of the common non-irradiated region C (see the hatched region in FIG. 44) from being reduced (as a result, to prevent the generation of glare light for the irradiation prohibited object). it can.

This is because the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality of irradiation patterns P _Hot , P _Mid , and P _Wide are not the same in size but different from each other.

Note that, using the two vehicular lamps 300, a high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi (FIG. 45A) in which the two high beam light distribution patterns PL _Hi and PR _Hi shown in FIGS. 45 (a) and 45 (b) are superimposed. 45 (c)) may be formed.

FIG. 45A shows an example of a high beam light distribution pattern PL _Hi formed by the vehicle lamp 300L arranged on the left side of the vehicle front (left side toward the front of the vehicle), and FIG. 44B shows the vehicle front. This is an example of a high beam light distribution pattern PR _Hi formed by the vehicle lamp 300R arranged on the right side (right side toward the front of the vehicle). The light distribution pattern for high beam PL _Hi . PR _Hi is not limited to the one in which three irradiation patterns (irradiation patterns PL _Hot , PL _Mid , PL _Wide , irradiation patterns PR _Hot , PR _Mid , PR _Wide ) are superimposed, Of course, two or four or more irradiation patterns may be superimposed.

As shown in FIG. _45C , the high beam light distribution patterns PL _Hi and PR _Hi have a common non-irradiation region C (non-irradiation regions C1, C2, C3) and non-irradiation regions C4 overlapping with each other. Superimposition is performed so as to form an irradiation region CC.

The common non-irradiation region C (non-irradiation regions C1, C2, C3) and non-irradiation region C4 have different sizes as shown in FIGS. 45 (a) to 45 (c). For example, the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, C3, and C4 have a relationship of non-irradiation region C1 <non-irradiation region C2 <non-irradiation region C3 <non-irradiation region C4. As a result, the non-irradiated region C1 having the minimum size is formed in the irradiation pattern P _Hot having the minimum size (and the maximum luminous intensity), so that the non-irradiated region C1 having the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P _Mid and P _Wide other than the minimum size. Compared with the case where it is done, a wider area | region can be irradiated brightly. Further, since the non-irradiated area C1 of the minimum size is formed in the irradiation pattern P _Hot having the minimum size (and the maximum luminous intensity), the non-irradiated area C1 of the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P _Mid and P _Wide other than the minimum size. Compared to the case, the light / dark ratio near the contour of the common non-irradiation region CC can be made relatively high. As a result, the contour of the common non-irradiation region CC can be sharpened. The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, C3, and C4 only have to be different in size from each other, and may have a relationship other than non-irradiation region C1 <non-irradiation region C2 <non-irradiation region C3 <non-irradiation region C4. Of course it is good. By setting the relationship other than non-irradiation region C1 <non-irradiation region C2 <non-irradiation region C3 <non-irradiation region C4, the outline of the common non-irradiation region CC can be moderately blurred.

  Next, as a seventh embodiment, a vehicle lamp configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiated region will be described.

FIG. 46 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicular lamp 500 according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 47 is an example of a high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi formed on a virtual vertical screen facing the front of the vehicle by the vehicle lamp 500 of the seventh embodiment.

The vehicular lamp 500 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicular lamp 10 of the first embodiment, and is condensed by a high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and a condensing lens 14 _Hi as shown in FIG. The high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi and the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi that scan the excitation light Ray from the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi two-dimensionally (horizontal and vertical directions) are two-dimensionally (horizontal and A wavelength conversion member 18 in which a high beam luminance distribution is formed by excitation light Ray scanned in the vertical direction, a projection lens 20 for projecting the high beam luminance distribution formed in the wavelength conversion member 18 to the front, and the like are provided.

  Hereinafter, it demonstrates centering around difference with the vehicle lamp 10 which is 1st Embodiment, about the structure similar to the vehicle lamp 10 which is 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 48 shows the relationship between the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and the spot SP on the wavelength conversion member 18 (corresponding to the screen member of the present invention) of the excitation light scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi. FIG. In FIG. 48, the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi is omitted for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 48A, the high-beam excitation light source 12 _Hi is a semiconductor laser element including a horizontally long light emitting portion 12d, for example, between the upper and lower cladding layers 12a and 12b and the upper and lower cladding layers 12a and 12b. An active layer 12c sandwiched between the layers. As shown in FIG. 48B, the high-beam excitation light source 12 _Hi is condensed by the condenser lens 14 _Hi , and is scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the high-beam optical deflector 201 _Hi. The upper spots SP (hereinafter simply referred to as spots SP) are arranged in a posture that is vertically long (for example, elliptical) in the vertical direction. For example, the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi (semiconductor laser element) shown in FIG. 48A is arranged in a posture rotated by a predetermined amount about the optical axis AX ₁₂ as shown in FIG. . This point is mainly different from the vehicular lamp 10 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a schematic view showing the relationship among the wavelength conversion member 18 (high beam luminance distribution d formed thereon), the projection lens 20 and the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi .

As shown in FIG. 49 (a), the wavelength conversion member 18 is made of, for example, a rectangular plate-like phosphor of 10 mm length × 20 mm width. Excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction by the mirror unit 202 of the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi (that is, a vertically elongated spot SP) is not irradiated on the wavelength conversion member 18. A high beam luminance distribution d including d1 (for example, a rectangular shape having a length of 0.3 mm and a width of 0.3 mm) is formed.

The projection lens 20 is a projection lens of 2 deg / mm, for example, and projects the high beam luminance distribution d including the non-irradiation region d1 formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 into an angle range of 40 deg × 20 deg. A high-beam light distribution pattern P _Hi including the region D1 is formed.

The non-irradiation region D1 in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is a rectangular region (for example, a rectangular shape of 0.6 deg vertical × 0.6 deg horizontal) and is surrounded by a light / dark boundary line. The non-irradiation region D1 in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is a region on the wavelength conversion member 18 corresponding to the irradiation area where the irradiation prohibited object such as an oncoming vehicle exists (that is, the non-irradiation region in the high beam luminance distribution d). It is formed by controlling the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi so that the output of the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi is turned off or reduced at the timing when the spot SP is scanned in d1). The non-irradiation region d1 may be a region having a luminance value of 0, or may be a region having a luminance value lower than that around the non-irradiation region d1.

In the present embodiment, the vertical 0.6 deg × horizontal 0.6 deg of the non-irradiation region D1 in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi corresponds to the vertical 0.3 mm × lateral 0.3 mm of the non-irradiation region d1 in the high beam luminance distribution d. .

Note that 0.6 deg of the non-irradiation region D1 in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi corresponds to 1 m 100 m ahead from the front of the vehicle (see FIG. 49B).

  Next, the advantage of making the spot SP vertically long in the vertical direction will be described.

FIG. 50A shows a state in which a non-irradiation region D1 in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is formed by a vertically elongated spot SP in the vertical direction, and FIG. 50B shows the state in FIG. The light intensity distribution (or illuminance distribution) in the cross section B-B is shown. FIG. 50C shows a state in which the non-irradiation region D1 ′ in the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi is formed by the horizontally elongated spot SP ′ in the horizontal direction, and FIG. The light intensity distribution (or illuminance distribution) in the cross section CC in FIG. Note that the pitch at which each spot SP in FIG. 50A is formed and the pitch at which each spot SP ′ in FIG. 50B is formed are the same (for example, 50 μm pitch).

Figure 50 (b) and FIG. 50 Referring to (d), the first, extends in the vertical direction are formed in the vertical direction by the elongated shape of the spot SP two right and left horizontal width of the light-dark boundary line CL _V W (the range in which the luminous intensity or illuminance decreases in a gradation) is the horizontal width of the two left and right boundary lines CL _V ′ extending in the vertical direction formed by horizontally elongated spots SP ′. W ′ (range in which the luminous intensity or illuminance decreases in a gradation) becomes narrower, and second, the two left and right boundary lines CL _V extending in the vertical direction formed by vertically elongated spots SP. it is, the range of luminous intensity or illuminance than two right and left light-dark boundary line CL _V 'extending in the vertical direction are formed in the horizontal direction by horizontally long shape of the spot SP' drops gradient form (blurred range) narrow (I.e., W <W') to become sharp (clear), it can be seen.

As described above, by making the spot SP vertically long in the vertical direction, the range in which the luminous intensity or illuminance decreases in a gradation shape compared to the case where the spot SP is horizontally long (that is, a blurred range). ) it is possible to be narrower, vertical sharper (clearer the two left and right light-dark boundary line CL _V extending in) ones and it is possible to, and can be brightly illuminated more extensive. In addition, the non-irradiation region D1 can be moved more smoothly (more finely) following the horizontal movement of an irradiation prohibited object such as an oncoming vehicle (see FIG. 51A). In other words, the irradiation prohibited object such as an oncoming vehicle has a horizontal movement larger than a vertical movement. Therefore, by making the spot SP vertically long in the vertical direction, the spot SP is horizontally long in the horizontal direction. Compared with the case where it does, the non-irradiation area | region D1 can be followed and moved more smoothly (more finely) with respect to the horizontal movement of irradiation prohibition objects, such as an oncoming vehicle. Moreover, the high illuminance portion E can be moved more smoothly (more finely) in the horizontal direction during curve traveling (see FIG. 51B).

One vehicle lamp 500 may be arranged on one side (for example, the left side), or a plurality of vehicle lamps 500 may be arranged on the one side (for example, the left side) as shown in FIG. Further, the number of combinations of the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi may be one or plural, respectively. When a plurality of lamps are arranged, it is desirable that the lamp luminous flux of each vehicle lamp 500 is about 500 lm.

  The vertical dimension of the spot SP may be the same as the vertical dimension of the non-irradiated area d1 (see FIG. 50A) or may be longer than the vertical dimension of the non-irradiated area d1 (see FIG. 62) and may be shorter than the vertical dimension of the non-irradiation region d1. Even if the vertical dimension of the spot SP is longer than the vertical dimension of the non-irradiated region d1, the vertical direction of the spot SP is adjusted by adjusting the vertical movement amount (vertical scanning amount) of the spot SP. A non-irradiated region d1 having a short dimension can be formed (see FIG. 62). For example, even if the vertical dimension of the spot SP is 0.6 deg (0.3 mm on the wavelength conversion member 18), the vertical movement amount (vertical scanning amount) of the spot SP is 0.1 deg (0.05 mm on the wavelength conversion member 18). ), It is possible to form the non-irradiation region d1 whose vertical dimension is shorter than the vertical dimension of the spot SP.

  Next, a system configuration example of the vehicular lamp 500 will be described.

  FIG. 53 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the vehicular lamp 500.

As shown in FIG. 53, the vehicular lamp 500 detects a high beam optical unit 502 _Hi , a video engine CPU 504, a storage device 506, a wavelength conversion member 18 (phosphor plate), a projection lens 20, and an irradiation prohibited object in front of the vehicle. An imaging device 512 such as a CCD is provided as a detecting means.

The high beam optical unit 502 _Hi includes a high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi , a high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi , a high beam deflector driving unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi , a high beam current-enhanced laser driving unit 510 _{Hi, and the} like. Yes.

  The storage device 506 stores basic light distribution data, voltage-deflection angle characteristics (see, for example, FIGS. 27A and 27B), current-brightness characteristics, swing angle data (for example, 40 deg horizontal, 20 deg vertical). ) Etc. are stored.

  The basic light distribution data is a luminance image in which each pixel (pixel) is represented by a plurality of bits (luminance values) (for example, the center or the vicinity of the center has the maximum luminance, and the luminance decreases as it goes to both sides (up, down, left and right). Brightness distribution) and stored in the storage device 506 in advance.

  The basic light distribution data may be generated by a predetermined calculation. For example, basic light distribution data in which a portion corresponding to the rotation direction and rotation angle of the steering wheel has the maximum luminance may be generated by a predetermined calculation. For example, in the example of FIG. 51B, basic light distribution data in which the central high illuminance part E in FIG. It is conceivable that the right side high illuminance part E in 51 (b) generates basic light distribution data having the maximum luminance.

The video engine CPU 504 determines the vertical width and horizontal width of the high beam luminance distribution (luminance distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data (or swing angle data) as the vertical width and horizontal width of the high beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18. Based on the basic light distribution data (and swing angle data and voltage-deflection angle characteristics), the high beam deflector driving unit & synchronization is performed so that the adjusted drive voltage is applied to the high beam deflector 201 _Hi. The signal control unit 508 _Hi is controlled (a drive signal is output to the high beam deflector driving unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi ).

Further, the video engine CPU 504 uses the driving current adjusted so that the high beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 becomes the high beam luminance distribution (luminance distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data. _Based on the basic light distribution data (and current-brightness characteristics), the high-beam current-enhanced laser drive unit 510 _Hi is controlled so as to be applied to _Hi (the drive signal for the high-beam current-enhanced laser drive unit 510 _Hi) Is output).

The high beam deflection device drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi has basic light distribution data in which the vertical width and horizontal width of the high beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 are controlled by the video engine CPU 504 (drive signal). A drive voltage (resonance drive drive voltage and non-resonance drive drive voltage; see, for example, FIG. 11) adjusted to be the vertical width and horizontal width of the high beam luminance distribution represented by (or swing angle data), Applied to the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi .

The high beam current-enhanced laser driving unit 510 _Hi causes the high beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 to become the high beam luminance distribution represented by the basic light distribution data in accordance with control (drive signal) from the video engine CPU 504. The drive current adjusted to (for example, see FIG. 11) is applied to the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi .

  Next, an operation example of the vehicular lamp 500 having the above configuration will be briefly described.

  The following processing is realized mainly by the video engine CPU 504 executing a predetermined program read from the storage device 506 into a RAM (not shown) or the like.

  First, when a headlamp lighting switch (not shown) is turned on, basic light distribution data is read (or generated) from the storage device 506.

  Next, when an image obtained by the imaging device 512 such as a CCD electrically connected to the video engine CPU 504 capturing an image of the front of the vehicle includes an irradiation prohibition target such as a preceding vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, or a pedestrian, the irradiation prohibition target exists. The basic light distribution data including a non-irradiation area with a luminance value of 0 in the area to be generated is generated. For example, as shown in FIG. 54, this is realized by performing a predetermined calculation using basic light distribution data and mask data.

  Next, the voltage-deflection angle characteristic is read from the storage device 506. When the voltage-deflection angle characteristic varies with time, the voltage-deflection angle characteristic may be updated as appropriate.

Next, the video engine CPU 504 controls the high-beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and the high-beam optical deflector 201 _Hi so that the high-beam luminance distribution d including the non-irradiation region d1 is formed on the wavelength conversion member 18.

Specifically, first, the video engine CPU 504 displays a high-beam luminance distribution (luminance distribution) in which the vertical and horizontal widths of the high-beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 are represented by basic light distribution data (or swing angle data). ) Based on the basic light distribution data (and swing angle data and voltage-deflection angle characteristics) so that the drive voltage adjusted to have the vertical and horizontal widths is applied to the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi. The deflection device drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi is controlled (a drive signal is output to the high beam deflection device drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi ).

At the same time, the video engine CPU 504 displays the high beam luminance distribution (non-irradiation region as the high beam luminance distribution d including the non-irradiation region d1) formed by the basic light distribution data. High-beam current-enhanced laser drive based on the basic light distribution data (and current-brightness characteristics) so that the drive current adjusted to have a high-beam brightness distribution) is applied to the high-beam excitation light source 12 _Hi. Control unit 510 _Hi (outputs a drive signal to high beam current-enhanced laser drive unit 510 _Hi ).

Next, the high beam deflection device drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi basically uses the vertical and horizontal widths of the high beam luminance distribution d formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 in accordance with the control (drive signal) from the video engine CPU 504. Drive voltages (resonance drive drive voltage and non-resonance drive drive voltage, for example, see FIG. 11) adjusted to be the vertical and horizontal widths of the high beam luminance distribution represented by the light distribution data (or swing angle data). ) Is applied to the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi .

In synchronization with this, the high-beam current-enhanced laser driving unit 510 _Hi generates a high-beam luminance distribution d (non-irradiation region d1) formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 in accordance with control (drive signal) from the video engine CPU 504. The driving current (for example, see FIG. 11) adjusted so that the high beam luminance distribution d) including the high beam luminance distribution (the high beam luminance distribution including the non-irradiation region) represented by the basic light distribution data is used as the high beam excitation. _Applied to the light source 12 _Hi .

As described above, the results of high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and high-beam light deflector 201 _Hi are controlled in sync, two-dimensionally in horizontal and vertical directions by high-beam light deflector 201 mirror portion 202 of the _Hi The high-beam luminance distribution d (see FIG. 49A) including the non-irradiation region d1 is formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 by the excitation light (that is, the vertically elongated spot SP in the vertical direction). . In this way, the video engine CPU 504 is configured so that the non-irradiation region d1 is formed in a region corresponding to an irradiation prohibited object such as an oncoming vehicle detected by the detection unit (imaging device 512) in the high beam luminance distribution d. It functions as a control means for controlling the lighting state of the high beam light source 12 _Hi .

Then, the high beam luminance distribution d including the non-irradiation region d1 formed on the wavelength conversion member 18 is projected forward by the projection lens 20, so that the high beam distribution including the non-irradiation region D1 is projected on the virtual vertical screen. An optical pattern P _Hi is formed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi including the non-irradiation region D1 is formed by the excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. in the vehicular lamp 500 can be the right and left two dark boundary line CL _V extending in the vertical direction of the light-dark boundary line surrounding the non-irradiated regions D1 and sharper (clearer) ones.

This is because the excitation light spot SP used to form the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi including the non-irradiation region D1 (that is, the excitation light wavelength conversion member 18 scanned by the mirror portion of the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi ). This is because the upper spot SP) has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

In the seventh embodiment, a semiconductor laser device comprising an oblong light emission section 12d as the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi, by arranging the semiconductor laser device in a posture in which the spot SP becomes the vertically long shape in the vertical direction, the vertical Although an example in which the vertically elongated spot SP is formed in the direction has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as an excitation light source 12 _Hi for a high beam, an emission end face of an optical fiber that emits light from a semiconductor laser element (an elongated shape A vertically elongated spot SP may be formed in the vertical direction by condensing the laser light from the exit end face with the condenser lens 14 _Hi . Further, for example, a plate-like member (shade) having a vertically long opening formed in front of the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi is disposed, and the laser light passing through the opening is condensed by the condenser lens 14 _Hi. A vertically long spot SP may be formed in the vertical direction.

  In the seventh embodiment, the example in which the vehicular lamp 500 is configured using the wavelength conversion member 18 and the projection lens 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. Even if the 18 and the projection lens 20 are omitted, a vehicular lamp that forms a high-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region can be realized.

  As described above, in a vehicular lamp configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation region by two-dimensionally scanned light, the spot of the scanned light is vertically long in the vertical direction. The idea of making the light-dark boundary line extending in the vertical direction out of the light-dark boundary line surrounding the non-irradiated region in the high-beam light distribution pattern more sharp (clear) is the shape of the seventh embodiment. Not only the vehicle lamp 500 but also all kinds of vehicle lamps configured to form a high beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiation area by light scanned two-dimensionally (for example, the first to sixth embodiments) The present invention can be applied to the vehicular lamp of the embodiment, the vehicular lamp described in JP 2011-222238 A.

  Next, as an eighth embodiment, a vehicle lamp configured to form at least one of a high-beam light distribution pattern and a low-beam light distribution pattern including a non-irradiated region will be described.

FIG. 56 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicular lamp 520 according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 57 is an example of a high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi and a low beam light distribution pattern P _Lo formed on a virtual vertical screen facing the front of the vehicle by the vehicle lamp 520 of the eighth embodiment.

The vehicular lamp 520 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the vehicular lamp 500 according to the seventh embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 56, a low beam excitation light source 12 _{Lo, a} high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi , and a condenser lens. _Low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo and two-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) scanning of the excitation light from low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo and high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi collected by 14 _Lo and 14 _Hi A high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi , a wavelength conversion member 18, a projection lens 20 that projects the luminance distribution (at least one of the low beam luminance distribution and the high beam luminance distribution) formed on the wavelength conversion member 18, and the like. Yes.

The wavelength conversion member 18 includes a low beam luminance distribution (a two-dimensional image corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern) by excitation light that is scanned two-dimensionally (horizontal and vertical directions) by the low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo, and At least one of the high beam luminance distributions by the excitation light that is scanned two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi is formed.

As in the seventh embodiment, the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi is a spot on the wavelength conversion member 18 of excitation light that is collected by the condenser lens 14 _Hi and scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi. SP _Hi (hereinafter simply referred to as “spot SP _Hi ”) is arranged in a vertically long shape (for example, an elliptical shape). On the other hand, the pumping light source 12 _Lo low beam is condensed by the condensing lens 14 _Lo, spot SP _Lo on the wavelength conversion member 18 of the excitation light scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the low-beam light deflector 201 _Lo (hereinafter, The spot SP _Lo is simply arranged in a posture that is horizontally long (for example, elliptical).

The number of the combination of the low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo and the low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo and the number of the combination of the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi may be one. There may be more than one.

By making the spot SP _Hi used for forming the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi (high beam luminance distribution d) vertically long in the vertical direction, the effect as described in the seventh embodiment can be obtained.

Similarly, when the spot SP _Lo used for forming the low beam light distribution pattern P _Hi (low beam luminance distribution) has a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction, the spot SP _Lo has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction. In contrast, the upper end edge (bright / dark boundary line) of the low-beam light distribution pattern P _Hi can be made sharper (sharp), and a wider area can be illuminated brightly.

  FIG. 58 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the vehicular lamp 530.

As shown in FIG. 58, the vehicular lamp 520 includes a low beam optical unit 502 _Lo in addition to the same configuration as the vehicular lamp 500 according to the seventh embodiment.

The low beam optical unit 502 _Lo is different from the high beam optical unit 502 _Hi mainly in that the basic light distribution data (luminance image) represents a low beam luminance distribution including a light / dark boundary line (cut-off line) at the upper edge. .

The low beam optical unit 502 _Lo includes a low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo , a low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo , a low beam deflection device drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Lo , a low beam current enhancement laser drive unit 510 _{Lo, and the} like. Yes. These are the same as the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi , the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi , the high beam deflector drive unit & synchronization signal control unit 508 _Hi , and the high beam current enhancement laser drive unit 510 _Hi , so the description thereof will be given. Omitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the seventh embodiment, the upper edge (bright / dark boundary line) of the low beam light distribution pattern P _Lo is made sharper (clear). Can do.

This spot SP _Lo of the excitation light used to form the light distribution pattern P _Lo low beam (spot SP _Lo on the wavelength conversion member 18 of the excitation light scanned by the mirror unit 202 of the low-beam light deflector 201 _Lo) This is because of having a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

In the eighth embodiment, a semiconductor laser device comprising an oblong light emission section 12d as a low-beam excitation light source 12 _Lo, by arranging the semiconductor laser device in a posture spot SP _Lo is a laterally long shape in the horizontal direction, The example in which the horizontally long spot SP _Lo is formed in the horizontal direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo , an emission end face (horizontally long light) from which light from a semiconductor laser element is emitted. A horizontally elongated spot SP _Lo in the horizontal direction may be formed by condensing the laser light from the emission end surface with the condensing lens 14 _Lo . Further, for example, a plate-like member (shade) having a horizontally long opening formed in front of the low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo is arranged, and the laser light passing through the opening is condensed by the condenser lens 14 _Lo. Alternatively, a horizontally long spot SP _Lo may be formed in the vertical direction.

Further, in the eighth embodiment, an example in which the vehicular lamp configured to form at least one of the high beam light distribution pattern P _Hi and the low beam light distribution pattern P _Lo is configured by one lamp unit is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 59, a plurality of lamp units such as a low beam lamp unit 520 _Lo and a high beam lamp unit 520 _Hi may be used. One high beam lamp unit 520 _Hi may be arranged on one side (for example, the left side), or a plurality of high beam lamp units 520 _Hi may be arranged on one side (for example, the left side). When a plurality of lamps are arranged, it is desirable that the lamp luminous flux of each high beam lamp unit 520 _{Hi be} about 500 lm. Similarly, one low beam lamp unit 520 _Lo may be disposed on one side (for example, the left side), or a plurality of low beam lamp units 520 _Lo may be disposed on one side (for example, the left side) as shown in FIG. Good. When a plurality of lamps are arranged, it is desirable that the lamp light flux of each low beam lamp unit 520 _{Lo be} about 800 lm. Further, each of the low beam lamp unit 520 _Lo and the high beam lamp unit 520 _Hi may include a plurality of excitation light sources 12 in one lamp unit.

When the high beam distribution pattern P _Hi and the low beam distribution pattern P _Lo are formed by one lamp unit, the low beam distribution pattern P _Lo irradiates a wider range than the high beam distribution pattern P _Hi (wider scan angle). There is a need to. For example, as shown in FIG. 61 (a), the distance between the wavelength conversion member 18 and the low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo is set between the wavelength conversion member 18 and the high beam optical deflector 201 _Hi . This can be realized by setting it longer than the distance. Further, as shown in FIG. 61 (b), it can be realized by arranging a lens 522 between the wavelength converting member 18 and the low beam optical deflector 201 _Lo .

  As described above, the high beam light distribution pattern and the low beam light distribution pattern are formed by scanning light (spots) having shapes suitable for the high beam light distribution pattern. Among the light and dark boundary lines surrounding the non-irradiated area, the light and dark boundary lines extending in the vertical direction are made sharper, and for the low beam light distribution pattern, the upper edge (light and dark boundary line) in the low beam light distribution pattern The concept of making the lighter sharper is not only the vehicle lamp 500 of the eighth embodiment, but also the high beam light distribution pattern including the non-irradiated region by the first light scanned two-dimensionally. For all types of vehicles configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern with a second light that is formed and scanned two-dimensionally It can be applied to the tool.

In each of the above embodiments, the wavelength conversion member 18 (the book) is excited by exciting the wavelength conversion member 18 with the excitation light from the excitation light source 12 (for example, the high beam excitation light source 12 _Hi and the low beam excitation light source 12 _Lo ). Although a white image (for example, a high beam luminance distribution and a low beam luminance distribution) corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed on the screen member of the invention, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, a white light source (for example, a white laser light source) may be used instead of the excitation light source 12. The white laser light source can be configured, for example, by introducing RGB laser light into an optical fiber. Further, it can also be configured by combining an LD element whose emission color is in a blue region and a wavelength conversion member (for example, YAG phosphor) in a yellow region that covers the LD element.

  When a white light source is used instead of the excitation light source 12, wavelength conversion is unnecessary, and therefore a diffusing member can be used instead of the wavelength conversion member 18. In this case, a white image (for example, for a high beam) corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern on the diffusion member (corresponding to the screen member of the present invention) by white laser light from a white laser light source scanned by the optical polarizer 201. Brightness distribution, low beam brightness distribution).

The diffusing member is desirably a diffusing plate (for example, the same shape as the wavelength converting member 18) that diffuses laser light, like the wavelength converting member 18, and the material is not particularly limited. For example, a composite (for example, sintered body) of YAG (for example, 25%) and alumina Al ₂ O ₃ (for example, 75%) in which an activator (also referred to as a luminescent center) such as cerium Ce is not introduced. The diffusion plate may be composed of a composite of YAG and glass, or the diffusion plate may be composed of alumina Al ₂ O ₃ (or glass) in which bubbles are dispersed. Alternatively, the diffusion plate may be made of other materials.

  As described above, in each of the above-described embodiments, a white light source is used in place of the excitation light source 12, and a diffusing member is used in place of the wavelength conversion member 18, so that the luminance distribution (for example, High beam luminance distribution, low beam luminance distribution). As a result, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

  Each numerical value shown in the above embodiment and each modified example is an exemplification, and any appropriate numerical value different from this can be used.

  The above embodiment is merely an example in all respects. The present invention is not construed as being limited to these descriptions. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

_{DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS} 10 ... Vehicle lamp, 12 (12 _Wide , 12 _Mid , 12 _Hot ) ... Excitation light source, 14 ... Condensing lens, 18 ... Wavelength conversion member, 20 ... Projection lens, 22 ... Frame, 24 ... Control part, 26 ... MEMS power supply circuit, 28 ... LD power supply circuit, 30 ... imaging device, 32 ... illuminance sensor, 34 ... vehicle speed sensor, 36 ... vehicle tilt sensor, 38 ... distance sensor, 40 ... accelerator / brake sensor, 42 ... vibration sensor, 44 ... Storage device 46, 46A ... Laser holder, 48 ... Cylinder part, 52 ... Phosphor holder, 52a ... Opening, 54 ... Heat dissipation part, 56 ... Lens holder, 58 ... Optical deflector holder, 60 (60 _Wide) , 60 _Mid , 60 _Hot )... Reflective surface, 62... Reflective surface holding section, 201 (201 _Wide , 201 _Mid , 201 _Hot ).

Claims (3)

A high beam light source,
A high beam optical deflector that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the high beam light source in the vertical and horizontal directions;
A screen member in which a high beam luminance distribution is formed by light scanned by the high beam optical deflector;
An optical system for projecting the luminance distribution formed on the screen member to the front of the vehicle;
Detecting means for detecting an irradiation prohibited object in front of the vehicle;
Control means for controlling the lighting state of the high beam light source so that a non-irradiation region is formed in a region corresponding to the irradiation prohibited object detected by the detection unit in the high beam luminance distribution,
The spot on the screen member of the light scanned by the high beam optical deflector has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction,
A low beam light source,
A low beam optical deflector that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the low beam light source in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction;
The screen member is formed with at least one of a high beam luminance distribution by light scanned by the high beam optical deflector and a low beam luminance distribution by light scanned by the low beam optical deflector,
The spot on the screen member of the light scanned by the low beam optical deflector is a vehicular lamp having a horizontally long shape in the horizontal direction.   The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the high-beam light source is arranged in a posture in which the spot is vertically long in the vertical direction. A high beam light source,
A high beam optical deflector that two-dimensionally scans light incident from the high beam light source in the vertical and horizontal directions;
A screen member in which a high beam luminance distribution is formed by light scanned by the high beam optical deflector;
An optical system for projecting the luminance distribution formed on the screen member to the front of the vehicle;
Detecting means for detecting an irradiation prohibited object in front of the vehicle;
Control means for controlling the lighting state of the high beam light source so that a non-irradiation region is formed in a region corresponding to the irradiation prohibited object detected by the detection unit in the high beam luminance distribution,
The spot on the screen member of the light scanned by the high beam optical deflector has a vertically long shape in the vertical direction,
The control means controls the lighting state of the high beam light source based on light distribution data which is data of the high beam luminance distribution,
The light distribution data including the non-irradiation area is generated by combining the light distribution data of the luminance distribution in a state not including the non-irradiation area and the data of the area corresponding to the irradiation prohibited object detected by the detection unit. And
The light distribution data of the luminance distribution in a state not including the non-irradiation area is data in which the maximum luminance position is in the center during straight running, and the position shifted in the horizontal direction from the maximum luminance position during straight running during corner running A vehicle lamp whose data is the maximum luminance position.

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