JP7048220B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp comprising an optical deflector that scans light.

As a vehicle lamp mounted on a vehicle, light from a light source such as a laser is scanned by a light deflector such as MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) to draw a two-dimensional image on a fluorescent screen, and this two-dimensional image is arranged. Some light patterns are projected forward. Since the amount of light required for such a vehicle lamp is not sufficient with the light from one light source, a plurality of light sources are used.

For example, in the vehicle lighting equipment described in Patent Document 1, light is emitted from three light sources toward the light deflection mirrors of the three light deflectors, and the light deflection mirrors are rotated and scanned in this state. It forms three light distribution patterns. By superimposing a part of the three light distribution patterns, a preferable light distribution pattern is obtained as a vehicle lighting tool in which the central portion has high illuminance and the end portion has low illuminance.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-138735

However, in the vehicle lighting equipment described in Patent Document 1, although the central portion can be made high illuminance, the position deviated from the central portion cannot be made high illuminance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle lamp capable of changing the range of high illuminance.

The vehicle lighting equipment of the present invention is a vehicle lighting equipment that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and comprises a plurality of light sources that irradiate light and a plurality of lights emitted from the plurality of light sources. The plurality of lights are reflected by the plurality of light deflection mirrors and the plurality of light deflection mirrors, or by changing the reflection direction of the plurality of lights by the plurality of light deflection mirrors. The light is scanned by a plurality of optical deflectors having the same length in the left-right direction and having the same length at both left and right ends and having different scan ranges in the vertical direction, and a plurality of lights scanned by the plurality of optical deflectors. An optical system that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern, and a control means that controls the illuminance of the plurality of light sources and can change the range of the maximum illuminance in the left-right direction of the light scanned by the plurality of optical deflectors. In the control means, when T is one reciprocating scanning operation time in the left-right direction of the plurality of lights scanned by the plurality of light deflection mirrors and α is an arbitrary integer, the plurality of lights are used. Is (1 / α) T and (1- (1 / α)) T to control the maximum illuminance .

According to the present invention, the control means controls the drive of a plurality of light deflectors that scan a plurality of lights with the same length in the left-right direction and different lengths in the vertical direction, thereby controlling the drive of the plurality of light deflectors. The range of maximum illuminance in the left-right direction of the light scanned by the device can be changed.

Further, the control means includes a storage means that stores a plurality of the predetermined light distribution patterns according to the traveling situation, and the control means reads out one of the plurality of the predetermined light distribution patterns stored in the storage means. It is preferable to control based on the predetermined light distribution pattern read out. Further, the control means gradually lowers the illuminance of the plurality of light sources toward the left-right end of the scanning range from the irradiation position of the highest illuminance, and the plurality of light sources at the left-right end. It is preferable to control the illuminance of the light source to be zero.

According to this configuration, it is possible to form a predetermined light distribution pattern according to the traveling situation.

The perspective view which shows the lighting fixture for a vehicle of this embodiment. Vertical sectional view showing a vehicle lamp. A cross-sectional view in the left-right direction showing a vehicle lamp. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line III-III. A block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp. The perspective view which shows the top light deflector. The figure explaining the operation of the piezoelectric actuator which has a meander structure. The schematic diagram which shows the scanning range in a virtual vertical screen S. Schematic diagram showing the light scanned by the vertical light deflector when the central part is in the high illuminance range. Schematic diagram showing the illuminance in a state where the high illuminance range is shifted from the central part. Schematic diagram showing the light scanned by the vertical light deflector when the position deviated from the center is set as the high illuminance range. The schematic diagram which shows the scanning range in the virtual vertical screen S of 2nd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the illuminance in the state which the high illuminance range of 2nd Embodiment is shifted from the central part. The schematic diagram which shows the light scanned by the vertical light deflector when the position deviated from the central part of 2nd Embodiment is a high illuminance range. The schematic diagram which shows the light before and after the shift of embodiment which shifts light distribution pattern data to the left.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 2 includes a projection lens 3, a lens holder 4 for holding the projection lens 3, a main body cylinder 5 attached to the rear end of the lens holder 4, and a rear main body cylinder 5. It is provided with a bottom lid 6 that closes the opening on the side. In the present embodiment, the vehicle lamp 2 is used, for example, as a vehicle headlight.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle lamp 2 has two-dimensional (horizontal direction and) excitation light from the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 and the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14. It is provided with first to fourth optical deflectors 15a to 15d for scanning in the vertical direction). The drives of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 and the first to fourth optical deflectors 15a to 15d are controlled by a control device 19 (see FIG. 5) described in detail later. In FIG. 2, only the first and fourth excitation light sources 11 and 14 and the first and fourth light deflectors 15a and 15d are shown, and the second and third excitation light sources 12 and 13 and the second and third light sources are shown. The deflectors 15b and 15c are omitted. Further, in FIG. 3, only the second and third excitation light sources 12 and 13 and the second and third light deflectors 15b and 15c are shown, and the first and fourth excitation light sources 11 and 14 and the first and fourth light sources are shown. The deflectors 15a and 15d are omitted.

Further, the vehicle lamp 2 includes first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d for correcting distortion of light scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d (details will be described later), and first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d. It includes a phosphor 18 (projector) on which a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn by the light corrected by the fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d. The two-dimensional image drawn on the phosphor 18 is projected forward by the projection lens 3.

The first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14, the first to fourth optical deflectors 15a to 15d, the first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d, and the phosphor 18 are arranged inside the main body cylinder 5 and are fixed members. It is fixed by (not shown). In addition, fins for heat dissipation may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body cylinder 5.

The first excitation light source 11 collects light from a semiconductor light emitting element 11a such as a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in a blue region (for example, an emission wavelength of 450 nm) as excitation light, and light from the semiconductor light emitting element 11a. It is provided with a condenser lens 11b that collimates light (for example, collimating).

Each of the excitation light sources 12 to 14 includes semiconductor light emitting devices 12a, 13a, 14a and condensing lenses 12b, 13b, 14b, similarly to the first excitation light source 11. The semiconductor light emitting devices 11a to 14a may be semiconductor light emitting devices such as a laser diode that emits laser light in the near ultraviolet region (for example, the light emitting wavelength is 405 nm). Further, each of the semiconductor light emitting devices 11a to 14a may be an LED. Further, a laser irradiator that irradiates a laser beam mixed with RGB may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first excitation light source 11 irradiates a laser beam toward the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the first light deflector 15a, which will be described in detail later. The fourth excitation light source 14 irradiates the laser beam toward the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the fourth light deflector 15d, which will be described in detail later. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second excitation light source 12 irradiates the laser beam toward the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the second light deflector 15b, which will be described in detail later. The third excitation light source 13 irradiates the laser beam toward the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the third light deflector 15c, which will be described in detail later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 are arranged apart at a pitch of 90 ° in the front view.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d is incident on the first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d. The light scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d is distorted due to the influence of the incident angle of the light on the light deflection mirror 20 and the rotation axis of the light deflection mirror 20.

The first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d correct and reflect the distortion of the light scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d, and the reflecting surface is curved.

The phosphor 18 is two-dimensionally scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d, receives the laser light corrected by the first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d, and receives at least one of the laser light. The portion is converted into light having a different wavelength, and the outer shape is formed in a rectangular plate shape (or layer shape). The phosphor 18 is arranged near the focal point of the projection lens 3. In addition, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the thickness of the phosphor 18 is exaggerated.

For example, when a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in the blue region is used as the semiconductor light emitting elements 11a to 14a of the excitation light sources 11 to 14, the phosphor 18 is excited by the laser light in the blue region and is yellow. Those that emit light are used. The phosphor 18 is arranged in a predetermined manner by laser light in the blue region corrected by the first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d after being two-dimensionally scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d. The two-dimensional image corresponding to the light pattern is drawn as a white image. The reason why the two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image is that when the laser light in the blue region is irradiated, the phosphor 18 emits light by the laser light in the blue region and the laser light in the blue region that pass through (pass) the laser light in the blue region. This is due to the emission of white light (pseudo-white light) due to color mixing with (yellow light).

On the other hand, when a laser diode (LD) that emits laser light in the near-ultraviolet region is used as the semiconductor light emitting elements 11a to 14a, the phosphor 18 is excited by the laser light in the near-ultraviolet region to produce red, green, and blue. Those that emit three colors of light are used. The phosphor 18 is predetermined by laser light in the near-ultraviolet region corrected by the first to fourth correction mirrors 17a to 17d after being two-dimensionally scanned by the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d. The two-dimensional image corresponding to the light distribution pattern is drawn as a white image. The reason why the two-dimensional image is drawn as a white image is that when the near-ultraviolet region is irradiated with the laser beam, the phosphor 18 emits light (red, green, and blue) by the near-ultraviolet region laser light. ) Is emitted by emitting white light (pseudo-white light) due to color mixing. It should be noted that the near-ultraviolet laser light may excite the blue phosphor and the yellow phosphor to emit white light.

The projection lens 3 is composed of four lenses 3a to 3d, and each lens 3a to 3d is held by the lens holder 4. Aberrations (curvature of field) are corrected in each of the lenses 3a to 3d so that the image plane becomes flat, and chromatic aberration is corrected. In this case, the phosphor 18 has a flat plate shape and is arranged along the image plane (plane).

The focal point of the projection lens 3 is located near the phosphor 18. With this projection lens 3, it is possible to eliminate the influence of aberration on a predetermined light distribution pattern as compared with the case of using a single convex lens. Further, since the phosphor 18 has a flat plate shape, it is easier to manufacture the phosphor 18 as compared with the case where the phosphor 18 has a curved surface shape. Further, since the phosphor 18 has a flat plate shape, it is easier to draw a two-dimensional image as compared with the case where the phosphor 18 has a curved surface shape.

The projection lens 3 may be configured as a projection lens composed of one aspherical lens in which aberration (curvature of field) is not corrected so that the image plane becomes flat. In this case, the phosphor 18 has a curved shape corresponding to the curvature of field, and is arranged along the curvature of field.

The projection lens 3 projects a two-dimensional image drawn on the phosphor 18 forward, and is arranged at a position about 25 m in front of the virtual vertical screen S (vehicle lamp 2) facing the vehicle lamp 2. ), For example, a high beam light distribution pattern HP is formed as a predetermined light distribution pattern.

The first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d scan the excitation light collected by the condenser lenses 11b to 14b of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 and the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d are connected to a control device 19 that collectively controls the vehicle lamp 2, and are control devices. The drive is controlled by 19.

The first to fourth optical deflectors 15a to 15d are, for example, MEMS scanners. The drive method of the optical deflector is roughly classified into a piezoelectric method, an electrostatic method, and an electromagnetic method, and any method may be used. In this embodiment, a piezoelectric type optical deflector will be described as a representative.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first optical deflector 15a is a two-axis optical deflector, which is manufactured by using a semiconductor process or MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, and emits light incident from a certain direction. It is reflected by the light deflection mirror 20 as a rotating micromirror and emitted as reflected light (laser light).

The first optical deflector 15a includes a first support portion 21, and the first support portion 21 includes an optical deflection mirror 20, semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a, 23b, torsion bars 24a, 24b, and the like. The laser light from the first excitation light source 11 is reflected by the light deflection mirror 20, and the reflected light (laser light) is scanned on the virtual vertical screen S via the first correction mirror 17a, the phosphor 18, and the projection lens 3.

At this time, the control device 19 transmits a control signal to the first light deflector 15a and the first excitation light source 11. The semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b of the first optical deflector 15a are driven by the control signal, and the torsion bars 24a and 24b coupled to the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b are twisted to rotate the optical deflection mirror 20. .. Further, the control signal controls the on / off and the brightness of the laser beam in the excitation light sources 11 and 12.

In the present embodiment, in the two-axis Cartesian coordinate system, the horizontal rotation axis passing through the center of the circular optical deflection mirror 20 is defined as the X axis, and the vertical rotation axis is defined as the Y axis. Further, in FIG. 6, the X-axis is the left-right direction, the Y-axis is the up-down direction, and the thickness direction of the light deflection mirror 20 is the front-back direction.

The first optical deflector 15a includes a rectangular annular second support portion 22, and the first support portion 21 is arranged in the center of the second support portion 22. Further, bellows-shaped piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are arranged line-symmetrically with respect to the Y axis passing through the center of the first support portion 21, and are coupled to the lower end of the side portion of the first support portion 21 and the second support portion 22. are doing. In FIG. 5, the first and second support portions 21 and 22 and the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are collectively referred to as MEMS.

The piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b are formed in a meander structure in which a plurality of cantilever levers are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction and folded back at the end in the vertical direction to be connected in series. Although the details will be described later, by driving the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b by the control signal, the first support portion 21 reciprocates in the horizontal direction, that is, around the X-axis line passing through the center of the optical deflection mirror 20 in the drawing. do.

Further, as described above, by driving the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b, the optical deflection mirror 20 coincides with the axes of the torsion bars 24a and 24b, and around the Y-axis line passing through the center of the optical deflection mirror 20 in the drawing. Is reciprocated.

As a result, when the first light deflector 15a reflects the laser light by the light deflection mirror 20, the light is emitted in front of the first light deflector 15a, and further in two directions of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Can be scanned.

Below the second support portion 22, electrode pads 32a to 32e (hereinafter referred to as electrode pads 32) and electrode pads 33a to 33e (hereinafter referred to as electrode pads 33) are arranged. The electrode pads 32 and 33 are electrically connected so that a driving voltage can be applied to the electrodes of the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b and the semi-annular piezoelectric actuators 23a and 23b.

It should be noted that the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b can be made to function as an optical deflector without the portions. In this case, the portion of the first support portion 21 serves as a support, and the optical deflection mirror 20 constitutes a uniaxial optical deflector that reciprocates around the Y-axis line.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7 by taking the piezoelectric actuator 31a as an example. As described above, the first optical deflector 15a enables the optical deflection mirror 20 to reciprocate around the X-axis line by operating the piezoelectric actuators 31a and 31b.

FIG. 7A is a cut-out view of the piezoelectric actuator 31a arranged on the left side when the first optical deflector 15a is viewed from the front side. The piezoelectric actuator 31a has a shape in which four piezoelectric cantilever are arranged side by side, and the piezoelectric cantilever 31a (1), 31a (2), 31a (3), and 31a (4) are arranged in this order from the side away from the first support portion 21. be.

For example, in the piezoelectric actuator 31a, the first voltage is applied to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantileveres 31a (1) and 31a (3). Further, a second voltage having a phase opposite to that of the first voltage is applied to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantileveres 31a (2) and 31a (4).

By applying the voltage in this way, as shown in FIG. 7B, the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantileveres 31a (1) and 31a (3) are flexed and displaced upward in FIG. 7B, and the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilever 31a ( 2), 31a (4) can be flexed and displaced downward in FIG. 7B.

Like the piezoelectric actuator 31a, the piezoelectric actuator 31b is composed of four piezoelectric cantilever, and is the first, second, third, and fourth piezoelectric cantilever in order from the one closest to the first support portion 21, and is an odd number. The two piezoelectric cantilever levers can be flexed and displaced toward the rear side in FIG. 6, and the two even-order piezoelectric cantilever levers can be flexed and displaced toward the front side in FIG.

As a result, the upper side (torsion bar 24a side) in FIG. 6 of the light deflection mirror 20 becomes the rear side in FIG. 6 from the lower side (torsion bar 24b side) in FIG. 6 of the light deflection mirror 20 (the upper side is the figure). The light deflection mirror 20 can be displaced so as to move in the U direction in 7.

Further, by applying a second voltage to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilever levers 31a (1) and 31a (3) and applying a first voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilever levers 31a (2) and 31a (4). , The light deflection mirror so that the lower side (torsion bar 24b side) in FIG. 6 of the light deflection mirror 20 is the rear side in FIG. 6 from the upper side (torsion bar 24a side) in FIG. 6 of the light deflection mirror 20. 20 can be displaced. By continuously performing these controls, the optical deflection mirror 20 can be rotated (swinged) around the X-axis line.

The second to fourth optical deflectors 15b to 15d are configured in the same manner as the first optical deflector 15a, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As a method of applying the first voltage and the second voltage, there is a method of applying an antiphase voltage that changes on a sine curve or a comb tooth to an odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilever and an even-numbered piezoelectric cantilever. Further, the cantilever is not limited to the case where the cantilever is alternately bent in the vertical direction, and either the upper or lower bending and the non-bending state may be alternately repeated.

When driving the vehicle lamp 2 to form the high beam light distribution pattern HP on the virtual vertical screen S, first, the control device is used to control the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 and the first to fourth light deflections. A control signal is transmitted to the vessels 15a to 15d.

Laser light is output from the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 by the control signal, and the first to fourth light deflectors 15a to 15d are driven to move each light deflection mirror 20 around the X axis and around the X axis. Rotate around the Y axis.

As shown in FIG. 2, the laser beam output from the first excitation light source 11 is incident on the rotation center of the light deflection mirror 20 of the first light deflector 15a, and is horizontally and by the rotating light deflection mirror 20. Scanned vertically. The elliptical dotted line of the light deflection mirror 20 shown in FIG. 6 indicates the laser spot output from the first excitation light source 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the laser light output from the second to fourth excitation light sources 12 to 14 is incident on the rotation center of the light deflection mirrors 20 of the second to fourth light deflectors 15b to 15d. Then, it is scanned in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction by the rotating light deflection mirror 20.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the laser light emitted from the first excitation light source 11 is a solid line of the virtual vertical screen S via the first light deflector 15a, the first correction mirror 17a, the phosphor 18, and the projection lens 3. It is scanned in the first scanning range SR1 shown (a two-dimensional image is projected).

As shown in FIG. 8B, the laser light emitted from the second excitation light source 12 is a solid line of the virtual vertical screen S via the second light deflector 15b, the second correction mirror 17b, the phosphor 18, and the projection lens 3. It is scanned in the second scanning range SR2 shown. The second scanning range SR2 has the same length as the first scanning range SR1 in the horizontal direction, and is shorter than the first scanning range SR1 in the vertical direction. The second scanning range SR2 overlaps so as to be included in the first scanning range SR1.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the laser light emitted from the third excitation light source 13 is a solid line of the virtual vertical screen S via the third light deflector 15c, the third correction mirror 17c, the phosphor 18, and the projection lens 3. It is scanned in the third scanning range SR3 shown. The third scanning range SR3 has the same length as the first scanning range SR1 and the second scanning range SR2 in the horizontal direction, and is shorter in the vertical direction than the first scanning range SR1 and the second scanning range SR2. The third scanning range SR3 overlaps so as to be included in both the first scanning range SR1 and the second scanning range SR2.

As shown in FIG. 8D, the laser light emitted from the fourth excitation light source 14 is a solid line of the virtual vertical screen S via the fourth light deflector 15d, the fourth correction mirror 17d, the phosphor 18, and the projection lens 3. It is scanned in the fourth scanning range SR4 shown. The fourth scanning range SR4 has the same length as the first to third scanning ranges SR1 to SR3 in the horizontal direction, and is shorter than the first to third scanning ranges SR1 to SR3 in the vertical direction. The fourth scanning range SR4 overlaps so as to be included in all of the first to third scanning ranges SR1 to SR3. In addition, the same includes those that are slightly different.

In the virtual vertical screen S, the first to fourth scanning ranges SR1 to SR4 overlap each other.

As shown in FIG. 8E, due to the overlap of the first to fourth scanning ranges SR1 to SR4, the high beam light distribution pattern HP in the virtual vertical screen S has a region P1 in which a single light is scanned and two lights. It is divided into a region P2 to be scanned, a region P3 to scan three lights, and a region P4 to scan four lights. In the present embodiment, as the number of scanned lights increases, the amount of light that can be superimposed increases, so that the luminous intensity can be increased. That is, the luminous intensity of the region P4 in which the four lights are scanned can be maximized.

As shown in FIG. 8F, the illuminance in the left-right direction of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is set so that the central portion in the left-right direction has the highest illuminance and the illuminance decreases toward the left-right end portion. The memory 41 (see FIG. 5) connected to the control device 19 stores data of a plurality of high beam light distribution patterns HP according to the traveling situation. The control device 19 reads one of the data of the plurality of high beam light distribution patterns HP stored in the memory 41 according to the traveling situation, and controls based on the read data of the high beam light distribution pattern HP. I do.

The control device 19 has the highest illuminance near the center of the high beam light distribution pattern HP, the illuminance gradually decreases toward the end, and the illuminance is 0 (no light is output) at both ends. The drive of the fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 is controlled.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, the control device 19 has (1/4) T and (3 / 3 /) when the one reciprocating scanning time of the first to fourth optical deflectors 15a to 15d is T. 4) The driving of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 is controlled so that the illuminance at T is the highest. The light scanned by the first and second optical deflectors 15a and 15b shown in FIG. 9 and the light scanned by the third and fourth optical deflectors 15c and 15d are combined to form the light shown in FIG. 8F. ..

As shown in FIG. 10, when AFS (Adaptive Front-Lighting System), which will be described in detail later, is executed, or depending on the driving situation, the high illuminance range is shifted from the center to the left and right (for example, to the left). It may form an optical pattern HP. In this case, the illuminance at the position deviated from the center is the highest, the illuminance gradually decreases toward the end, and the illuminance is 0 (no light is output) at both ends, depending on the part where the high illuminance range is provided. The drive of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 is controlled so as to be. In this control, as shown in FIG. 11, the control device 19 has the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 so that the illuminance at (1/8) T and (7/8) T is the highest. Control the drive. As a result, the portion deviated to the left from the center of the high beam light distribution pattern HP becomes the high illuminance range (see FIG. 10).

[Second Embodiment]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the third scanning range SR3a and the fourth scanning range SR4a have a range shorter in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction than the first scanning range SR1a and the second scanning range SR2a. The first scanning range SR1a and the second scanning range SR2a are the same as the first scanning range SR1 and the second scanning range SR2 of the first embodiment. The same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D, the fourth scanning range SR4a has the same length as the third scanning range SR3a in the horizontal direction and a shorter range than the first to third scanning ranges SR1a to SR3a in the vertical direction. There is. The third scanning range SR3a and the fourth scanning range SR4a have a horizontal length equal to or longer than the length required for AFS (predetermined length = horizontal scanning angle ± 20 ° or more). Note that AFS is provided in the headlights of automobiles, and is intended to improve visibility by directing the optical axis in the steering steering direction and irradiating light in the traveling direction during cornering while driving. .. When the lengths of the third scanning range SR3a and the fourth scanning range SR4a in the horizontal direction are extremely short, the optical axis cannot be directed to the steering steering direction even if the range of maximum illuminance is changed in the left-right direction. In order to prevent this, the horizontal lengths of the third scanning range SR3a and the fourth scanning range SR4a are defined to be longer than the length required for AFS.

As shown in FIG. 12E, the high beam light distribution pattern HP includes a region P1 in which a single light is scanned, a region P2 in which two lights are scanned, a region P3 in which three lights are scanned, and four. It is divided into a region P4 in which one light is scanned.

As shown in FIG. 12F, the illuminance in the left-right direction of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is set so that the central portion in the left-right direction has the highest illuminance and the illuminance decreases toward the left-right end portion. The maximum illuminance in the high beam light distribution pattern HP of the present embodiment is higher than the maximum illuminance in the high beam light distribution pattern HP of the first embodiment.

Similar to FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, the control device 19 has the highest illuminance near the center of the high beam light distribution pattern HP, the illuminance gradually decreases toward the end, and the illuminance is 0 (light) at both ends. Is not output), the drive of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 is controlled.

In the present embodiment, the control device 19 controls the driving of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 so that the illuminance at (1/4) T and (3/4) T is the highest.

As shown in FIG. 13, when AFS is executed or depending on the traveling situation, a high beam light distribution pattern HP may be formed in which the high illuminance range is shifted in the left-right direction (for example, the left direction) from the central portion. In this case, the illuminance at the position deviated from the center is the highest, the illuminance gradually decreases toward the end, and the illuminance is 0 (no light is output) at both ends, depending on the part where the high illuminance range is provided. The drive of the first to fourth excitation light sources 11 to 14 is controlled so as to be.

In the present embodiment, the light scanned by the first and second light deflectors 15a and 15b (light output from the first and second excitation light sources 11 and 12) and the third and fourth light deflectors 15c, The scanning range in the left-right direction is different from the light scanned at 15d (light output from the third and fourth excitation light sources 13 and 14), and after the scanning is started, the light is emitted to the portion where the high illuminance range is provided. The time to reach is different.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the control device 19, the light scanned by the first and second light deflectors 15a and 15b (light output from the first and second excitation light sources 11 and 12) is (1 /. 8) The driving of the first and second excitation light sources 11 and 12 is controlled so that the illuminance at T and (7/8) T becomes the highest. Further, in the control device 19, the light scanned by the third and fourth light deflectors 15c and 15d (light output from the third and fourth excitation light sources 13 and 14) is (1/16) T and ( 15/16) The drive of the third and fourth excitation light sources 13 and 14 is controlled so that the illuminance at T is the highest. As a result, the portion shifted to the left from the center of the high beam light distribution pattern HP becomes the high illuminance range (see FIG. 13).

The first embodiment and the second embodiment may be combined and carried out. In this embodiment, the first embodiment is used in normal times, and the second embodiment is switched to when it is desired to increase the illuminance at the center of the high beam light distribution pattern HP.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the light distribution pattern is changed by shifting the light distribution pattern data generated for forming the set high beam light distribution pattern HP in the left-right direction (for example, the left direction). You may try to do it. In this embodiment, the light distribution pattern data of the portion shifted to the left and protruding from the left end of the high beam light distribution pattern HP is deleted, and from the right end of the light distribution pattern data to the right end of the high beam light distribution pattern HP. Create new data to use the rightmost data of the light distribution pattern data.

Further, 0 illuminance may be used from the right end of the light distribution pattern data to the right end of the high beam light distribution pattern HP.

The number of optical deflectors and the number of excitation light sources that irradiate one optical deflector with light can be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, a part of the scanning range of the plurality of lights is overlapped, but it may not be overlapped.

In the above embodiment, the virtual vertical screen is irradiated with light by one optical system, but the present invention is not limited to this, and light from a plurality of optical systems may be superimposed on the virtual vertical screen. In this case, at least one of the optical systems may be configured to scan light from a plurality of light sources in different ranges with a single light deflector as in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, an excitation light source is used, but a light source that irradiates the color of the light source itself may be used. In this case, the phosphor (projector) becomes unnecessary, and the light from the light source is irradiated as it is. Further, a translucent diffuser plate may be used instead of the phosphor. Further, the light source may irradiate a single group of light rays, for example, the light may be guided by a fiber. The light guided to the fiber may be white light mixed with RGB.

2 ... Vehicle lighting equipment, 3 ... Projection lens (optical system), 4 ... Lens holder, 5 ... Main body cylinder, 6 ... Bottom lid, 11-14 ... 1st to 4th excitation light sources, 11a-14a ... Semiconductor light emitting elements, 11b to 14b ... Condensing lens, 15a to 15d ... 1st to 4th optical deflectors, 17a to 17d ... 1st to 4th correction mirrors, 18 ... Fluorescent material, 19 ... Control device (control means), 20 ... Light Deflection mirrors, 21 and 22 ... 1st and 2nd support parts, 23a, 23b ... Semi-annular piezoelectric actuators, 24a, 24b ... Torsion bars, 31a, 31b ... Piezoelectric actuators, 32a to 32e ... Electrode pads, 33a to 33e ... Electrodes Pad, 41 ... Memory (storage means)

Claims (3)

A vehicle lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions.
Multiple light sources that irradiate light,
A plurality of light deflection mirrors that reflect a plurality of lights emitted from the plurality of light sources, and
By deflecting the plurality of lights with the plurality of light deflection mirrors or changing the reflection direction of the plurality of lights by the plurality of light deflection mirrors, the plurality of lights can be left and right with the same length in the left- right direction. Multiple optical deflectors that scan at the same position at both ends and scan in different scanning ranges in the vertical direction,
An optical system that forms the predetermined light distribution pattern by a plurality of lights scanned by the plurality of light deflectors, and an optical system.
A control means capable of controlling the illuminance of the plurality of light sources and changing the range of the maximum illuminance in the left-right direction of the light scanned by the plurality of optical deflectors.
Equipped with
In the control means, when T is one reciprocating scanning operation time in the left-right direction of the plurality of lights scanned by the plurality of light deflection mirrors and α is an arbitrary integer, the plurality of lights ( A lighting fixture for a vehicle, characterized in that the maximum illuminance is controlled by 1 / α) T and (1- (1 / α)) T. In the vehicle lamp according to claim 1,
A storage means for storing a plurality of the predetermined light distribution patterns according to a driving situation is provided.
The control means is a lamp for a vehicle, characterized in that one of a plurality of predetermined light distribution patterns stored in the storage means is read out and controlled based on the read-out predetermined light distribution pattern. In the vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2.
The control means gradually lowers the illuminance of the plurality of light sources toward the left-right end of the scanning range from the highest illuminance irradiation position, and the plurality of light sources at the left-right end. A vehicle lighting device characterized by controlling the illuminance to be zero .

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