JP6883418B2 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp, and more particularly to a vehicle lamp in which an image pickup device is arranged in a lamp housing.

In vehicles such as automobiles, in order to realize automatic driving control and automatic light distribution control of headlamps, a camera (imaging device) is arranged in the automobile, and the front region of the automobile is imaged by this camera, and the captured image is captured. It has been proposed to analyze and detect other vehicles such as oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles existing in the front region. For example, ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) light distribution control has been proposed as a technique for controlling the light distribution of an automobile headlamp (headlight). This ADB light distribution control is a technology that controls a part of the light distribution pattern of the high beam light distribution of the headlamps so as not to dazzle other vehicles such as oncoming vehicles and preceding vehicles detected from the image captured by the camera. is there.

In this technique, in order to realize highly accurate ADB light distribution control, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique in which a camera is arranged in a lamp housing of a headlamp. According to Patent Document 1, since the camera optical axis is close to the lamp optical axis, the direction of the other vehicle detected from the image captured by the camera, that is, the angle when the other vehicle is viewed from the own vehicle is the headlamp. The angle of the light emitted from the headlamp matches or almost matches the angle of the light emitted from the headlamp, and the ADB light distribution control in the headlamp can be easily and highly accurately performed.

When the camera is arranged in the lamp housing as in Patent Document 1, a part of the light emitted from the lamp unit arranged in the same lamp housing is directly reflected or after being reflected by the translucent cover. It is incident on the lens barrel of the camera, and whiteout due to halation or the like is likely to occur in the image captured by the camera.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-147138 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-164913

In order to prevent the light emitted from the lamp unit from being incident on the camera, in Patent Document 2, a hood portion is formed by surrounding the camera with a part of an extension arranged in the lamp, and the hood portion is formed. Has proposed a technique in which the emitted light of the lamp unit is not incident on the camera.

In Patent Document 2, since there is a gap between the hood portion and the translucent cover, a part of the light emitted from the lamp unit enters the inside of the hood portion through this gap and is incident on the camera. Sometimes. Further, when the light emitted from the lamp unit passes through the translucent cover of the lamp housing, a part of the light is guided through the inside of the translucent cover and travels to the inside of the hood portion, and the inner surface of the translucent cover is reached. May be incident on the camera. Therefore, it is difficult to reliably prevent the occurrence of whiteout in the camera.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp in which light emitted from a lamp unit is prevented from entering the imaging means via a translucent cover.

The present invention is a vehicle lamp in which a lamp unit and an imaging means are arranged in a lamp housing having a translucent cover, and light irradiation of the lamp unit and imaging of the imaging means are performed through the translucent cover. The means is provided with a hood for preventing the light emitted from the lamp unit from entering, and the region of the translucent cover facing the hood reflects or refracts the light guided inside the translucent cover. A light lead-out unit is provided so as to lead the light from the inside of the translucent cover to the outside of the hood.

The first to third forms of the optical derivation unit in the present invention are as follows.
First form: A seat portion having a flat surface in which a region of the translucent cover facing the hood is projected toward the rear of the lamp, and the front end portion of the hood is close to or in contact with the flat surface of the seat portion.
Second form: A convex portion in which a region of the translucent cover facing the hood is projected in front of the lamp, and a front end portion of the hood is arranged inside the convex portion.
The third form state: provided realm facing the translucent cover of the hood, reducing the refractive index of light than the light-transmitting cover, and a foreign material having a light-transmitting internally reflected light at the inner surface ..

According to the present invention, since the light guided through the inside of the translucent cover is led out toward the outside of the hood of the image pickup means at the light extraction unit, it is prevented from being incident on the image pickup means. As a result, the occurrence of whiteout in the imaging means can be prevented, and suitable light distribution control of the lamp unit can be realized.

The front view of a part of the automobile equipped with the headlamp provided with the light lead-out part of Embodiment 1 of this invention. An enlarged cross-sectional view of the right headlamp of FIG. The block block diagram of the lighting control device including the left and right headlamps. The vertical sectional view of the light derivation part of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified example of the optical derivation unit of the first embodiment. The vertical sectional view of another modification of the light derivation part of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of still another modification of the optical derivation unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the optical lead-out portion of the second embodiment. The partially enlarged view for demonstrating the optical derivation of the optical derivation part of Embodiment 2. The front view which shows the modification of the light derivation part of Embodiment 2. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the optical lead-out portion of the third embodiment. The vertical sectional view of the light extraction part of Embodiment 4. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the lamp of the fifth embodiment. The front view of a part of the lamp of the modification of Embodiment 5.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile headlamp, and a right headlamp R-HL is attached to the right front portion of a vehicle body BD of an automobile CAR. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a left headlamp configured symmetrically with the right headlamp R-HL is attached to the left front portion of the vehicle body BD.

In the right headlamp R-HL, a main lamp unit 2 and a sub lamp unit 3 are arranged in the lamp housing 1, and a camera 4 as an imaging means according to the present invention is further arranged. Here, the main lamp unit 2 is arranged at an outer position in the vehicle width direction in the lamp housing 1, the sub lamp unit 3 is arranged inside the main lamp unit 2, and the camera 4 is further arranged inside the main lamp unit 3.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the right headlamp R-HL in the horizontal direction. The lamp housing 1 is composed of a container-shaped lamp body 11 having an opening in the front region, and a translucent cover 12 fixed so as to cover the opening of the lamp body 11. The translucent cover 12 transmits the light emitted from the main and sub lamp units 2 and 3 to irradiate the front region of the automobile. Further, the camera 4 is capable of capturing an image of the front region of the automobile through the translucent cover 12.

An extension 13 is arranged in the lamp housing 1, and the inside of the lamp housing 1 is defined by the main lamp portion, the sub lamp portion, and the camera portion in order from the left side of FIG. There is. The surface of the extension 13 is coated with aluminum or plated with aluminum, and is configured as a pseudo-reflector.

The main lamp unit 2 uses a plurality of white LEDs (light emitting diodes) 21 as light sources, reflects the white light emitted by these white LEDs 21 by the reflector 22, and projects the reflected light to the front of the automobile by the projection lens 23. It is configured as a projector-type lamp unit that illuminates the lamp. As will be described later, by selecting and emitting light from a plurality of white LEDs 21, it is possible to switch the light distribution of the main lamp unit between high beam light distribution and low beam light distribution and control the light distribution. Further, similarly, control by ADB light distribution that selectively does not illuminate a part of the light distribution pattern of high beam light distribution is also possible.

The sub-lamp unit 3 is configured here as a clearance lamp. The clearance lamp 3 uses the white LED 31 as a light source, reflects the white light emitted by the white LED 31 by the reflector 32, and has an inner lens 33 arranged on the front side of the reflector 32 in a required light distribution pattern in front of the automobile. It is configured as a reflector type lamp unit that illuminates.

The camera 4 is configured as a camera including a CCD image sensor and a CMOS image sensor. The camera 4 is arranged on the rear surface side of the extension 13, and the lens barrel 41 provided on the front surface of the camera 4 is arranged so as to face the opening window 131 opened in a part of the extension 13. There is. The lens barrel 41 includes a hood 42 having a quadrangular pyramid shape, and the hood 42 is configured so that the imaging angle of view of the camera 4 can secure a predetermined imaging range. The camera 4 can take an image of the front region of the automobile through the translucent cover 12.

Further, in the lamp housing 1, a lamp ECU (electronic control unit) 5 is arranged at a position not exposed to the outside by the extension 13. The lamp ECU 5 is electrically connected to the main lamp unit 2, the sub lamp unit 3, and the camera 4, respectively, and particularly controls the lighting state of the main lamp unit 2 by ADB light distribution based on the image captured by the camera 4. It has become like.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a lighting control device including left and right headlamps. The lamp ECU 5 includes a main lamp control unit 51, a sub lamp control unit 52, and a camera control unit 53, and receives a control signal from the vehicle ECU 6. The main lamp unit 2, the sub lamp unit 3, and the camera 4 are controlled. The main lamp control unit 51 executes the on-off control of the main lamp unit 2, the high beam / low beam light distribution control, and the ADB light distribution control. The sub-lamp control unit 52 controls turning on and off the sub-lamp unit 3. Further, the camera control unit 53 includes another vehicle detection unit 531 that detects another vehicle existing in front of the vehicle, that is, an oncoming vehicle and a preceding vehicle by analyzing an image obtained by the camera 4, and also includes a camera. Controls related to imaging in 4, for example, control of imaging timing, capture operation of captured images, and the like are controlled.

Here, the main lamp control unit 51 is based on the light distribution setting unit 511 for setting an appropriate light distribution corresponding to the other vehicle detected by the other vehicle detection unit 531 and the set light distribution. A lighting control unit 512 that controls turning on and off of a plurality of white LEDs 21 of the main lamp unit 2 is provided.

When the other vehicle detection unit 531 detects an oncoming vehicle or a preceding vehicle existing in the front region of the own vehicle, the main lamp control unit 51 sets the light distribution of the main lamp unit 2 to a high beam light distribution or a low beam in the light distribution setting unit 511. Set to either light distribution or ADB light distribution. The lighting control unit 512 uniformly or selectively controls the lighting of the plurality of white LEDs 21 in order to realize the set light distribution. As a result, light distribution control that illuminates the front area of the own vehicle as brightly as possible without dazzling the oncoming vehicle or the preceding vehicle is realized.

The configuration of the left headlamp L-HL of the automobile shown in FIG. 3 is symmetrical with that of the right headlamp R-HL, and the high beam light distribution in the main lamp unit also in the left headlamp L-HL. , Low beam light distribution, ADB light distribution control is executed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a region including a hood 42 provided in the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 and a part of the translucent cover 12, that is, a light lead-out portion in the first embodiment. The front end portion 42a of the hood 42 is in contact with or close to the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. Here, the hood 42 has a front end portion 42a located on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel 42, in other words, the optical axis of the camera, and a sheet integrally formed on the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. It is in close contact with the rear surface of the portion 121. The sheet portion 121 is projected so that the region of the translucent cover 12 facing the hood 42 increases in wall thickness toward the rear of the lamp, and the projected rear surface is formed on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera. It constitutes the optical derivation unit in the present invention.

As described above, the left and right headlamps L-HL and R-HL are controlled by the lamp ECU 5 to light the main lamp unit 2 and the sub lamp unit 3, respectively. In particular, the main lamp unit 2 is controlled by a predetermined light distribution. Most of the light emitted from the main and sub lamp units 2 and 3 passes through the translucent cover 12 and is emitted to the front of the automobile. On the other hand, a part of the emitted light L1 (see FIG. 4) is reflected rearward on the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. The reflected light is directed to the camera 4, but most of it is shielded by the hood 42 to prevent it from being incident on the lens barrel 42, that is, the camera 4.

The other part L2 (see FIG. 4) of the light emitted from the lamp units 2 and 3 is guided from the inner surface of the translucent cover 12 while being internally reflected inside. A part of the guided light is guided to a region facing the hood 42, that is, a quadrangular region surrounded by the front end portion 42a of the hood 42, and leaks to the inner surface side of the translucent cover 12 in this region. It may be incident on the inside of the hood 42, in other words, the camera 4 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 4). When light is incident on the camera 4 in this way, it causes the above-mentioned whiteout to occur.

Here, the seat portion 121 is integrally provided in the region of the inner surface of the translucent cover 12 facing the hood 42, and since the rear surface of the seat portion 121 is flat, the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 is provided on the rear surface thereof. Can be brought into close contact. Normally, the translucent cover 12 is formed on a three-dimensional curved surface corresponding to the shape of the vehicle body of an automobile. Therefore, unless the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 has a shape that follows this three-dimensional shape, the front end portion 42a is transparent. Although it cannot be brought into close contact with the inner surface of the optical cover 12, it is sufficient to form the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 on a simple flat surface by providing the seat portion 121, and the hood 42 can be easily manufactured.

In this way, the rear surface of the seat portion 121 and the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 are in close contact with each other, and there is no gap between them. Therefore, a part of the light emitted from the lamp units 2 and 3 is part of the seat portion. It does not enter the inside of the hood 42 through the gap between the rear surface of the 121 and the front end portion 42a of the hood 42, and is not incident on the camera 4.

Further, even if a part of the light L2 guided inside the translucent cover 12 is guided to a region facing the hood 42, the rear surface of the sheet portion 121 is with respect to the optical axis of the lens barrel 41. Since it is configured in a vertical plane, the light L2 that has been guided is totally reflected in the plane, is led out from the light-transmitting cover 12, and is prevented from being incident on the camera 4. This prevents the occurrence of whiteout.

Here, when the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 is not brought into close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121 due to manufacturing errors or the like, rubber, soft resin, or the like is attached to the front end portion 42a of the hood as shown in FIG. 5A. A light-shielding ring 43 made of a translucent member having the elasticity of the above may be arranged to prevent light from entering through the gap. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, a square frame-shaped groove 121a may be recessed on the rear surface of the seat portion 121, and the front end portion 421 of the hood 42 may be inserted into the groove 121a. The labyrinth structure of the groove 121a and the front end portion 42a can prevent light from entering the camera 4.

Further, in the first embodiment, the extension 13 may be used to prevent the emitted light of the lamp units 2 and 3 from being incident on the camera. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a part 132 of the extension 13 is formed in a square cylinder shape so as to cover the outer periphery of the hood 42. In this case, the front end portion 132a of the partial 132 may be brought into close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121, and even if the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 is not brought into close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121, the incident on the camera 4 Can be prevented.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6B, a part 133 of the extension 13 may be formed in a square pyramidal shape, and this may be configured as a hood of the camera 4. By arranging the part 133 so as to surround the lens barrel 41 of the camera 4 and bringing the front end portion 133a into close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121, the hood 42 may not be present or the front end of the hood 42 may be present. Even if the portion is not in close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121, the incident on the camera 4 can be prevented. This example also has the effect of eliminating the need for a separate hood.

Also in the configurations of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the front end portions 132a and 133a of the above-mentioned parts 132 and 133 of the extension 13 are brought into close contact with the rear surface of the seat portion 121, or FIGS. As shown in b), it is preferable to dispose a light-shielding member such as a light-shielding ring 43 and a groove 121a as a labyrinth structure.

The hood may not be attached to the lens barrel, but may have a configuration in which the camera 4A is housed inside the hood 42A having a pyramid-shaped cylinder as shown in FIG. The hood 42A is made of a metal material having high heat conductivity and has a bottom surface, and a substrate 44 made of a material having high thermal conductivity is fixed in the bottom surface, and the hood 42A is used as a small camera module on the substrate 44. The configured camera 4A is mounted. Since the camera module 4A has an image sensor and a lens integrally configured and is already known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here. A heat sink 45 is joined to the outside of the bottom surface of the hood 42A.

In this configuration, the emitted light of the lamp units 2 and 3 is blocked by the hood 42A to prevent it from entering the camera 4A. In addition, the sheet portion 121 provided on the translucent cover 12 prevents the incident of light guided through the translucent cover 12. Further, the heat generated when the lamp units 2 and 3 are turned on is shielded by the hood 42A and the heat sink 45 and dissipated to prevent the heat from affecting the camera 4A. Further, the heat generated by the camera 4A, particularly the image sensor, can be dissipated by the hood 42A and the heat sink 45 to exert a cooling effect, and heat damage to the image sensor can be prevented.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the headlamp of the second embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the light extraction unit provided on the translucent cover 12 is provided on the outside of the translucent cover 12 before the light guided inside the transmissive cover 12 is guided to the region facing the hood 42. It is configured to be derived from. As the light deriving portion, here, a quadrangular region facing the hood 42 of the translucent cover 12 is configured as a convex portion 122 projecting toward the front of the lamp.

The convex portion 122 as the light deriving portion has a peripheral wall 122a having a square frame shape. For convenience, the corner portion on the rear side of the ramp of the peripheral wall 122a is referred to as a first bent portion b1, and the corner portion on the front side of the ramp is referred to as a second bent portion b2. The first and second bent portions b1 and b2 are formed in a cross-sectional shape having a predetermined radius of curvature. Here, the translucent cover 12 is made of polycarbonate having a plate thickness of 3 mm, and the radius of curvature of both bent portions b1 and b2 is formed to be 1 mm or less.

The hood 42 is arranged in a state in which the front end portion thereof is inserted into the region on the inner surface side of the convex portion 122. That is, the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 is positioned in front of the first bent portion b1. Further, the front end portion 42a is arranged in a state of being positioned inside the second bent portion b2 by approximately the thickness of the translucent cover 12.

According to this configuration, the light emitted from the lamp units 2 and 3 is incident on the translucent cover 12 and guided to the facing region of the hood 42 of the translucent cover 12. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part of the convex portion 122, and as shown by the arrow line in FIG. 9A, the guided light L3 is projected onto the inner surface at the first bent portion b1. Since the radius of curvature of the first bent portion b1 is small, the incident angle at the time of internal reflection is smaller than the critical angle of the light guide cover 12, and the reflected light is immediately derived from the inner surface of the light transmitting cover 12 to the outside. .. Therefore, the derived light L3 is projected onto the outer surface of the hood 42 and is not incident on the inside of the hood 42.

The light L4 not derived at the first bent portion b1 is guided by the peripheral wall 122a and projected onto the inner surface at the second bent portion b2. Since the radius of curvature of the second bent portion b2 is also small, the incident angle is smaller than the critical angle, and the incident angle is derived from the outer surface of the translucent cover 12 to the outside. Therefore, the derived light L4 is emitted toward the front of the lamp and is not incident on the inside of the hood 42.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the radius of curvature of the first and second bent portions b1 and b2 is 3 mm or more, the incident angle at the time of internal reflection is critical in these bent portions b1 and b2. It is larger than the corner and guides the inside of the translucent cover 12. Therefore, the light L5 guided through the first bent portion b1 and the second bent portion b2 is derived from the region facing the hood and is incident on the hood 42.

As shown in FIG. 9A, if the radius of curvature of each of the bent portions b1 and b2 is about 1 mm, it becomes difficult to remove the mold when molding the translucent cover 12 with resin. Therefore, considering the total reflection of light at each of the bent portions b1 and b2 and the ease of manufacturing the translucent cover 12, it is preferable to set the radius of curvature of each of the bent portions b1 and b2 in the range of 1 to 3 mm.

In the second embodiment, if the front end portion 42a of the hood 42 can be inserted into the convex portion 122 as the light guiding portion, the convex portion 122 when viewed from the front side of the lamp The shape can be designed arbitrarily. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the roof type may have an upward triangular shape or an acute angle on the upper side of the peripheral wall 122a of the convex portion 122, or may be a polygonal shape, although not shown. Alternatively, it may be an ellipse or a circle as shown in FIG. 10 (b). By doing so, water droplets such as rainwater adhering to the outer surface of the translucent cover 12 do not collect on the upper side of the peripheral wall 122a of the convex portion 122, and the light derivation effect of the convex portion 122 as the light derivation portion is achieved. Can be enhanced.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the optical lead-out portion of the third embodiment, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the light extraction unit provided on the translucent cover 12 is such that the light guided inside the transmissive cover 12 is guided to the region facing the hood 42 before the light is guided to the region of the translucent cover 12. It can be said that it is a modification of the second embodiment in that it is configured to be derived to the outside.

In the third embodiment, the outer region of the translucent cover 12 surrounding the front end portion 42a of the hood 42, that is, the outer peripheral region of the region facing the hood 42, particularly the emitted light of the lamp units 2 and 3 is guided. An optical step 123 is formed in the area on the coming side. The optical step 123 is composed of minute irregularities formed on the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. For example, it is a point-shaped or linear notch having a triangular cross section formed on the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. Alternatively, it may have a moth-eye structure.

By providing the light extraction unit including the optical step 123, the light guided inside the light guide cover 12 is internally reflected in the optical step 123 and emitted from the outer surface of the light transmitting cover 12. As a result, the light that has been guided is not guided to the region where the hood 42 is opposed, and is prevented from being incident on the hood 42.

Although not shown, a light absorbing film may be formed on the inner surface of the translucent cover 12 instead of the optical step or the moth-eye structure. The light absorbing film may be one coated with a light absorbing material or one to which a light absorbing sheet is attached. The light that has been guided inside the light-transmitting cover 12 is absorbed by the light absorption film, and is not guided to the region where the hood 42 faces, and is prevented from being incident on the hood 42. ..

Even if an optical step, a moth-eye structure, a light absorbing film, or the like is provided in the area surrounding the hood 42 of the translucent cover 12, the headlamp formed by the emitted light of the lamp units 2 and 3 is formed. The effect on the light distribution is small.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the optical lead-out portion of the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the region of the translucent cover 12 with which the hood 42 faces is formed of a foreign material 124 different from the other regions. For example, when the translucent cover 12 is manufactured by resin molding, a region facing the hood 42 is formed of a foreign material 124 having a lower light refractive index than the other regions by a method such as two-color molding. The foreign material 124 may be formed in a frame shape or a linear shape in a region along the front end portion 42a of the hood, that is, a region surrounding the hood 42.

In the fourth embodiment, the light guided inside the translucent cover 12 is internally reflected at the interface with the foreign material 124 and emitted to the outside of the translucent cover 12. As a result, the light is not guided to the region where the hood 42 faces, and the emitted light is emitted toward the outside of the hood 42, so that it is prevented from being incident inside the hood 42. Light. Since the foreign material 124 is arranged in the region facing the hood 42, it does not affect the light distribution of the emitted light of the lamp units 2 and 3.

Further, in this form, the foreign material 124 may be formed of a material having a low light transmittance. In this case, the light guided through the translucent cover 12 is attenuated when the foreign material 124 is guided. Therefore, when the light is guided to the region facing the hood 42, the light is dimmed to the extent that it does not affect the camera 4, and even if it is incident inside the hood 42, no problem occurs.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the fifth embodiment in which the forms of the hood and the camera are changed. The fifth embodiment includes any of the optical derivation units of the first to fourth embodiments described above, on which the camera and the hood are configured as a model tank T. That is, the camera 4 constitutes the chassis or the turret of the tank, and the lens barrel 41 and the hood 42 form the turret. The tank T of this model is arranged in the lamp housing 1 and is fixedly supported on the lamp body 11 in a state where the front end portion of the gun barrel, that is, the front end portion of the hood is close to or in contact with the inner surface of the translucent cover 12. .. This tank T is observed from the outside through the translucent cover 12.

Therefore, in the camera 4 imitating the tank T, the light guided inside the translucent cover 12 is incident on the gun barrel, that is, the inside of the hood 42 by the light derivation unit of the first to fourth embodiments. There is no such thing, and whiteout in the camera 4 is prevented.

FIG. 14 is a front view of another embodiment of the fifth embodiment. Here, while the camera 4 is arranged on the rear surface side of the extension 13 as in the first embodiment, a design such as a character, here a design of a dragon D, is drawn on the extension 13, and a position corresponding to the mouth of the dragon D is drawn. An elliptical weight cylinder-shaped hood 42 is arranged in the hood 42. Alternatively, although not shown, a pattern such as petals may be drawn on the entire surface of the extension, and an opening window may be provided in one of the patterns to dispose the lens barrel and hood of the camera.

Also in this embodiment, the light guided through the inside of the translucent cover 12 is guided to the inside of the hood 42 by providing the light deriving portions of the first to fourth embodiments with respect to the region of the translucent cover 12 facing the hood 42. It is prevented from being incident on. Further, in each of the fifth embodiments, the camera and the hood form a part of the design of the headlamp, and these are observed from the outside through the translucent cover, so that the design of the headlamp is enhanced. Can be done.

The optical derivation unit according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the first to fourth embodiments. The light emitted from the lamp unit built in the lamp housing is prevented from being incident on the imaging means by the hood, and the light guided inside the translucent cover is incident on the imaging means from the inside of the hood. Needless to say, if the configuration can prevent this from happening, it can be changed as appropriate.

Further, giving the hood heat dissipation can be adopted for the configurations of the first to third embodiments to the fourth embodiment, and the camera can be protected from heat damage.

The vehicle lamp of the present invention is not limited to the headlamp, and it is required to prevent the light emitted from the lamp unit from entering the camera in the lamp in which the lamp unit and the camera are arranged in the lamp housing. Applicable to lamps that are

1 Lamp housing 2 Main lamp unit 3 Sub lamp unit 4, 4A Camera (imaging means)
5 Lamp ECU
6 Vehicle ECU
7 Monitor 11 Lamp body 12 Translucent cover 41 Lens barrel 42 Hood 51 Main lamp control unit 52 Sub lamp control unit 53 Camera control unit 121 Seat unit (light extraction unit)
122 Convex part (optical lead-out part)
123 Optical step (optical lead-out unit)
124 Heterogeneous material (optical lead-out part)
L-HL, R-HL headlamps

Claims (6)

A vehicle lamp in which a lamp unit and an imaging means are arranged in a lamp housing having a translucent cover, and light irradiation of the lamp unit and imaging of the imaging means are performed through the translucent cover. The means is provided with a hood for preventing light emitted from the lamp unit from entering, and light guided inside the translucent cover is provided in a region of the translucent cover facing the hood. A vehicle lamp, characterized in that a light extraction unit is provided that reflects or refracts the light to be derived from the inside of the translucent cover toward the outside of the hood. The light lead-out portion is a seat portion having a flat surface in which a region of the translucent cover facing the hood is projected toward the rear of the lamp, and the front end portion of the hood is close to or in contact with the flat surface of the seat portion. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the light deriving portion is a convex portion in which a region of the translucent cover facing the hood is projected in front of the lamp, and the front end portion of the hood is arranged inside the convex portion. Vehicle lamps. The light deriving unit, the provided realm opposed to the hood of the translucent cover, the translucent small refractive index of light than the cover, in heterogeneous material having a light-transmitting internally reflected light at the inner surface The vehicle lamp according to claim 1. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the hood has a heat dissipation function. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the imaging means is composed of a model or a character shape or a symbol, the hood is configured as a part of the shape or the symbol, and is arranged so as to be observable through the translucent cover. Vehicle lamps.

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