JP7306224B2 - vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to vehicle lamps.

A known vehicular lamp guides light from a light source in a light guide direction using a light guide, and then causes the guided light to enter an inner lens through a lens entrance surface and exit from the lens exit surface ( For example, see Patent Document 1, etc.).

In this vehicle lamp, the curvature is increased at a portion of the lens incident surface that is larger in the width direction than the light guide. As a result, in this vehicle lamp, the proportion of light that travels directly from the lens entrance surface to the lens exit surface in the inner lens is made substantially equal regardless of the difference in dimension in the width direction of the lens entrance surface. It is possible to illuminate the lens exit surface with approximately the same brightness over the entire length.

JP 2017-33836 A

By the way, in some vehicle lamps, it is required that the lens exit surface of the inner lens be curved with respect to the light guiding direction. As a result, in the vehicle lamp, it becomes difficult to spread the light over the entire light guide direction on the lens exit surface, and it becomes impossible to illuminate the entire length with substantially the same brightness.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp that can illuminate a curved lens exit surface substantially equally in the light guide direction.

A vehicular lamp according to the present disclosure includes an inner lens having a lens entrance surface and a lens exit surface; a light guide having a light guide exit surface facing each other and a light guide reflection surface opposite to the direction of light emitted from the light guide exit surface; and a light source provided facing the light guide entrance surface. , wherein the lens exit surface is curved with respect to the light guide direction, and the light guide entrance surface is a one-side light guide entrance surface provided at one end of the light guide body in the light guide direction. and a second side light guide entrance surface provided at the other end of the light guide in the light guide direction, and the light source is a one side light source corresponding to the one side light guide entrance surface. and a second side light source corresponding to the other side light guide entrance surface, and the light guide reflection surface includes a one side light guide reflection surface located on the one side light guide entrance surface side and the other side light guide reflection surface. a second light guide reflection surface positioned on the light guide incident surface side, wherein the one side light guide reflection surface reflects the light emitted from the other light source and incident from the other light guide incident surface. The light is reflected toward the light guide exit surface, and the other side light guide reflection surface reflects the light emitted from the one side light source and incident from the one side light guide entrance surface toward the light guide exit surface. characterized by

According to the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, the curved lens exit surface can be illuminated substantially equally in the light guide direction.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the vehicle lamp from the side opposite to FIG. 1; Figure 2 is an end view taken along line II of Figure 1; 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 4 showing how light is emitted after being reflected by one side light guide reflecting surface on a reference plane; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 4 showing how light is emitted after being reflected by the other side light guide reflection surface on the reference plane; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 4 showing how light is emitted on the reference plane; 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how light is emitted in the cross section of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 1 showing how each emission point of the vehicle lamp is lit; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 5 showing how light is emitted on a reference plane in a comparative example;

A first embodiment of a vehicle lamp 10 as an example of a vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that FIG. 3 shows, in addition to the end face cut along the line II of FIG. 1, the configuration of the depth thereof by the central projection method. 4, 5 and 9 show the curved apex 11b of the inner lens 11 for guiding light in order to facilitate understanding of the optical setting of the first light guide reflection surface 33 in the first light guide 12. Although it is centered in orientation, it does not necessarily correspond to other figures or actual configurations. Furthermore, FIG. 4 also shows four enlarged portions E1 to E4 which are partially enlarged to facilitate understanding of the configuration of each inclined surface 33b. FIG. 8 shows how the light is emitted from the first lens exit surface 24 after being reflected by each first lens reflection surface 25, and how the light is emitted from the second lens exit surface 27 after being reflected by each second lens reflection surface 28. The appearance of the emitted light is indicated by arrows as emitted light L1 to emitted light L5, but the appearance does not necessarily match the actual appearance. In FIG. 8, hatching of the inner lens 11 (the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22) shown in cross section is omitted in order to facilitate understanding of how the emitted light beams L1 to L5 travel. ing.

A vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 according to one embodiment of the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. The vehicle lamp 10 is used as a lamp for a vehicle such as an automobile, and the first embodiment shows an example of using it for a tail lamp unit. The vehicle lamps 10 are arranged in lamp chambers on both left and right sides of the rear portion of the vehicle. The lamp chamber is formed by covering the open end of the lamp housing with an outer lens. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle lamp 10, the direction in which light is emitted is defined as the emission direction (Z in the drawings, and the emission side is the front side), and the light is mounted in a vehicle. Let the vertical direction be the vertical direction (Y in the drawings), and the width direction (X in the drawings) be the direction orthogonal to the emission direction and the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lamp 10 includes an inner lens 11, a first light guide 12, a second light guide 13, a pair of first light sources 14, and a pair of second light sources. 15 and. The vehicular lamp 10 is provided in a lamp chamber by being appropriately accommodated in a housing in a state in which the respective members indicated by reference numerals 11 to 15 are assembled in the positional relationship shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . Note that the inner lens 11 may be an outer lens in the lamp chamber.

The inner lens 11 is made of a transparent resin material that allows light to pass therethrough, such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate. The inner lens 11 has a first lens portion 21 and a second lens portion 22 . The first lens portion 21 has a thin plate shape extending in the width direction, and the second lens portion 22 has a thin plate shape extending in the width direction below the first lens portion 21 in the vertical direction. In the cross section orthogonal to the width direction, the inner lens 11 has a lens ridge line 11a that protrudes forward in the light emitting direction by connecting front end portions of the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22 in the light emitting direction. It is formed in a substantially L shape (see FIG. 3, etc.). The lens ridgeline 11a is provided over the entire length of the inner lens 11 in the width direction. Further, the inner lens 11 is curved so that the intermediate position in the width direction protrudes most forward in the emission direction in a cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction, and a curved vertex 11b is formed (see FIG. 4, etc.). .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the first lens portion 21 extends from the rear side toward the front side along the output direction, and then, as it extends to the front side in the output direction, it is slanted downward so as to go downward in the vertical direction. It is supposed to extend to The first lens portion 21 has a first lens entrance surface 23 , a first lens exit surface 24 and a plurality of first lens reflection surfaces 25 .

The first lens entrance surface 23 is provided at the rear end of the first lens portion 21 in the emission direction. The first lens incident surface 23 is a flat surface and allows the light emitted from the first light guide 12 to travel into the first lens portion 21 . The first lens exit surface 24 is a surface on the front side in the exit direction at a portion of the first lens portion 21 that extends obliquely downward. The first lens exit surface 24 is curved according to the overall shape of the inner lens 11, and the intermediate position in the width direction is the curved vertex 11b (see FIGS. 1, 4, etc.). Each first lens reflecting surface 25 is provided on the rear side surface in the emission direction at a portion of the first lens portion 21 extending obliquely downward. In Example 1, two first lens reflecting surfaces 25 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction (referred to as an upper lens reflecting surface 25a and a lower lens reflecting surface 25b in order from above). The lower lens reflecting surface 25b is formed in the vicinity of the lens ridge line 11a in the vertical direction (see FIG. 3, etc.). Each first lens reflecting surface 25 extends across the entire length of the first lens portion 21 in the width direction, and is curved so that the distance between them widens in the vicinity of the curved vertex 11b (see FIG. 1, etc.).

The first lens portion 21 guides the light incident from the first lens entrance surface 23 to the front side in the emission direction by using total reflection, and then guides it obliquely downward to each of the first lens reflection surfaces 25 . and proceed. In the first lens portion 21, each first lens reflection surface 25 utilizes total reflection to reflect the light traveling toward itself toward the first lens emission surface 24, and the light is emitted through the first lens. The light is emitted forward in the emission direction from the surface 24 (see FIG. 8). In addition, the first lens portion 21 reflects light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like to the surfaces other than the first lens entrance surface 23 and the first lens exit surface 24, so that the light enters the first lens. Light may be guided from the surface 23 to the first lens exit surface 24 via each first lens reflecting surface 25 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the second lens portion 22 extends obliquely upward so as to move upward in the vertical direction from the rear side to the front side in the emission direction. Further, the second lens portion 22 is curved such that the intermediate position in the width direction protrudes forward in the emission direction. The upper end of the second lens portion 22 extending obliquely upward is connected to the lower end of the first lens portion 21 extending obliquely downward. The second lens portion 22 has a second lens entrance surface 26 , a second lens exit surface 27 and a plurality of second lens reflection surfaces 28 .

The second lens entrance surface 26 is provided at the rear end of the second lens portion 22 in the emission direction. The second lens entrance surface 26 is a flat surface positioned on the same plane, and is curved so as to be furthest forward in the output direction and furthest downward in the vertical direction at an intermediate position in the width direction (Fig. 2), and causes the light emitted from the second light guide 13 to travel into the second lens portion 22 . The second lens exit surface 27 is a surface on the front side in the exit direction of the second lens portion 22 . The second lens exit surface 27 has a curved vertex 11b at an intermediate position in the width direction according to the overall shape of the inner lens 11 (see FIGS. 1, 4, etc.). Each second lens reflecting surface 28 is provided on the surface of the second lens portion 22 on the rear side in the emission direction. In the first embodiment, three second lens reflecting surfaces 28 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction (upper lens reflecting surface 28a, intermediate lens reflecting surface 28b, and lower lens reflecting surface 28c in order from the top). It is Each second lens reflecting surface 28 extends over the entire length of the second lens portion 22 in the width direction, and is curved so that the distance between them widens near the curved apex 11b (see FIG. 1, etc.).

The second lens portion 22 uses total reflection to guide the light incident from the second lens entrance surface 26 obliquely upward to the second lens reflection surfaces 28 . In the second lens portion 22, each second lens reflection surface 28 utilizes total reflection to reflect the light traveling toward itself toward the second lens emission surface 27, and the light is emitted from the second lens. The light is emitted forward in the emission direction from the surface 27 (see FIG. 8). In addition, the second lens portion 22 reflects light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like to the surfaces other than the second lens entrance surface 26 and the second lens exit surface 27, thereby allowing the light to enter the second lens. Light may be guided from the surface 26 to the second lens exit surface 27 via each second lens reflecting surface 28 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first light guide 12 has an elongated cylindrical shape and is provided along the first lens entrance surface 23 of the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11. there is Here, "provided along" means that the directions in which they extend are substantially the same, and the first lens entrance surface 23 and the first light guide 12 (the first light guide exit surface 31 thereof) face each other. If so, it also includes that the distance between the two surfaces (21, 31) is different depending on the position. The first light guide 12 is made of a transparent resin material that allows light to pass therethrough, such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate. The first light guide 12 has a first light guide exit surface 31 , a pair of first light guide entrance surfaces 32 , and a first light guide reflection surface 33 .

The first light guide exit surface 31 is on the front side in the exit direction of the first light guide 12 and faces the first lens entrance surface 23 . The first light guide emission surface 31 is a curved surface curved about its own axis, and emits the light guided into the first light guide 12 toward the first lens entrance surface 23 .

Both first light guide incident surfaces 32 are provided at both ends of the elongated first light guide 12 . Both of the first light guide incident surfaces 32 are flat surfaces and allow the light emitted from the corresponding first light source 14 to travel into the first light guide 12 . When the first light guide incident surface 32 is individually shown, the one provided at one end of the first light guide 12 is referred to as one side light guide incident surface 32A. The surface provided at the other end of is referred to as the other side light guide incident surface 32B.

The first light guide reflection surface 33 is provided on the first light guide body 12 on the side opposite to the direction in which light is emitted from the first light guide emission surface 31 (rear side in the emission direction). The first light guide reflection surface 33 reflects (totally reflects) the light traveling into the first light guide 12 toward the first lens entrance surface 23 . In the first light guide reflection surface 33, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of projections 33a are formed on the surface of the first light guide 12 opposite to the first light guide emission surface 31. As shown in FIG. Each projection 33a has a triangular cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction (when viewed from the front in FIG. 4), and one side of the projection 33a is an inclined surface 33b inclined with respect to the width direction. One side is an upright surface 33c that is upright in the width direction. The first light guide reflection surface 33 reflects the light traveling through the first light guide 12 toward the first lens entrance surface 23 by total reflection of the light by the inclined surfaces 33b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first light guide/reflection surface 33 has one side light guide/reflection surface 33A and the other side guide/reflection surface 33A with a position coinciding with the curved apex 11b of the first lens exit surface 24 as a boundary when viewed in the width direction. It is divided into a light reflecting surface 33B. The one-side light guide reflection surface 33A is positioned closer to the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A than the curved vertex 11b in the width direction, and each inclined surface 33b faces the other side light guide entrance surface 32B ( See enlarged parts E1 and E2). Therefore, the one-side light guide reflection surface 33A reflects the light traveling from the other-side light guide entrance surface 32B toward the first lens entrance surface 23 . In addition, the other side light guide reflection surface 33B is located closer to the other side light guide entrance surface 32B than the curved apex 11b, and each inclined surface 33b faces toward the one side light guide entrance surface 32A (enlarged view). see points E2 to E4). Therefore, the other-side light guide reflection surface 33B reflects the light traveling from the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A toward the first lens entrance surface 23 .

In addition, in the first light guide reflection surface 33 of the first embodiment, the size of the inclined surface 33b in the output direction is the largest in the vicinity of the curved vertex 11b, that is, on the corresponding first light guide entrance surface 32 side. It is made smaller and gradually becomes larger as it goes away from the curved vertex 11b (see enlarged portions E2 to E4 in FIG. 4). That is, the one-side light guide reflection surface 33A has a slope 33b that gradually increases from the curved vertex 11b toward the one-side light guide incident surface 32A. In addition, the other-side light guide reflecting surface 33B has an inclined surface 33b that is gradually enlarged from the curved vertex 11b toward the other-side light guide incident surface 32B. The optical settings of the one-side light guide reflecting surface 33A and the other side light guide reflecting surface 33B will be described later.

The first light guide 12 guides the light incident from both the first light guide incident surfaces 32 to the first light guide reflecting surface 33 while advancing the light in the width direction using total reflection. Therefore, the width direction in which the first light guide body 12 extends is the light guiding direction, and the vertical direction intersecting therewith is the crossing direction. The first light guide body 12 reflects the light guided toward itself by the one-side light guide reflection surface 33A and the other side light guide reflection surface 33B toward the first light guide exit surface 31 . In addition, the first light guide 12 reflects light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like to surfaces other than the first light guide exit surface 31 and both first light guide entrance surfaces 32. Light may be guided from both first light guide entrance surfaces 32 to the first light guide exit surface 31 via the first light guide reflection surface 33 .

Like the first light guide 12 , the second light guide 13 has an elongated columnar shape and is curved along the second lens entrance surface 26 of the second lens portion 22 of the inner lens 11 . It is The second light guide 13 has the same configuration as the first light guide 12 except that the corresponding one is changed from the first lens entrance surface 23 to the second lens entrance surface 26 . The second light guide body 13 includes a second light guide exit surface 34, a pair of second light guide entrance surfaces 35 (one side light guide entrance surface 35A, the other side light guide entrance surface 35B), and a second light guide surface 35A. and a reflecting surface 36 (one side light guiding reflecting surface 36A and the other side light guiding reflecting surface 36B bounded by the position of the curved vertex 11b). The one-side light guiding reflection surface 33A and the other side light guiding reflection surface 33B are optically set in the same manner as the one-side light guiding reflection surface 33A and the other side light guiding reflection surface 33B.

The second light guide body 13 uses total reflection to allow the light incident from both second light guide entrance surfaces 35 to travel in the direction in which the second light guide body 13 extends and to reach the second light guide reflecting surface 36 . and lead. Therefore, the direction in which the second light guide body 13 extends, that is, the direction in which it is curved with respect to the width direction is the light guide direction, and the vertical direction intersecting therewith is the cross direction. Then, the second light guide 13 reflects the light guided toward itself by the one-side light guide reflection surface 33A and the other side light guide reflection surface 33B toward the second light guide exit surface 34 . In addition, the second light guide body 13 reflects light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like to surfaces other than the second light guide exit surface 34 and both second light guide entrance surfaces 35. The light may be guided from both of the second light guide entrance surfaces 35 to the second light guide exit surface 34 via the second light guide reflection surface 36 .

The pair of first light sources 14 are composed of light emitting elements such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), and are mounted on the first substrate 41 respectively. In Example 1, each first light source 14 emits red monochromatic light (having one peak in a graph in which the vertical axis is the light amount and the horizontal axis is the wavelength) in a Lambertian distribution centered on the output optical axis. emit. Each first light source 14 is provided corresponding to each first light guide entrance surface 32 , and the output optical axis is directed to the corresponding first light guide entrance surface 32 . When the first light sources 14 are shown individually, the light source 14A corresponds to the one-side light guide incident surface 32A, and the other light source 14B corresponds to the other light guide incident surface 32B. do. The first substrate 41 is formed in a plate shape, and the corresponding first light source 14 is mounted thereon.

The pair of second light sources 15 is composed of light-emitting elements such as LEDs, and each is mounted on the second substrate 42 . In the first embodiment, each second light source 15 emits red monochromatic light with a Lambertian distribution centered on the emission optical axis. Each second light source 15 is provided corresponding to each first light guide entrance surface 32 , and the output optical axis is directed to the corresponding second light guide entrance surface 35 . When the second light sources 15 are shown individually, the light source 15A corresponds to the light guide incident surface 35A on one side, and the light source 15B corresponds to the light guide incident surface 35B on the other side. do. The second substrate 42 is formed in a plate shape, and the corresponding second light source 15 is mounted thereon.

Each first substrate 41 can appropriately supply electric power from the lighting control circuit to the first light source 14 mounted therein, and appropriately light the first light source 14 . In addition, each second substrate 42 can appropriately supply power from the lighting control circuit to the second light source 15 mounted therein, and appropriately light the second light source 15 . Each of the first substrates 41 and the second substrates 42 is appropriately provided with a heat sink member for releasing heat generated by the light sources (13, 14) mounted thereon to the outside. The first substrates 41 and the second substrates 42 may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum, so that the substrates themselves also function as heat sink members.

Next, optical settings of the one-side light guide reflecting surface 33A and the other side light guide reflecting surface 33B in the first light guide reflecting surface 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. The one-side light guide reflection surface 33A (each inclined surface 33b thereof) reflects the light from the one-side light source 14A incident from the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A toward the first lens entrance surface 23, and reflects the light toward the first lens entrance surface 23. The light reflecting surface 33B (each inclined surface 33b thereof) reflects the light from the other side light source 14B incident from the other side light guiding incident surface 32B toward the first lens incident surface 23. As shown in FIG. Here, the light from each of the first light sources 14 is incident from the first light guide incidence surfaces 32 facing each other in the light guide direction and travels through the first light guide 12, so basically it travels in the light guide direction. (the vector component in the light guide direction is large).

In the first light guide body 12, as shown in FIG. 6, part of the light that is incident from the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A and travels in the light guide direction travels toward the one-side light guide reflecting surface 33A. , and most of the rest proceed to the other side light guide reflecting surface 33B. Here, in the first light guide reflection surface 33 of Example 1, the inclined surface 33b is gradually enlarged as it moves away from the vicinity of the curved vertex 11b, so that light is incident from the one side light guide entrance surface 32A. The proportion of light that travels directly to the other side light guide reflection surface 33B is increased. Also, the light directed toward the one-side light guide reflecting surface 33A is emitted from each of the standing surfaces 33c to the outside of the first light guide body 12. Since the light enters each projection 33a from the inclined surface 33b opposite in direction and travels again through the first light guide 12, most of the light travels to the other side light guide reflection surface 33B as a result. For these reasons, in the first light guide 12, as shown in FIG. 5, most of the light incident from the one-side light guide incident surface 32A travels to the other side light guide reflecting surface 33B. Similarly, in the first light guide 12, as shown in FIG. 6, most of the light incident from the other side light guide incident surface 32B travels to the one side light guide reflecting surface 33A.

The one-side light guide reflective surface 33A and the other side light guide reflective surface 33B (each inclined surface 33b thereof) are the average values of the vector components of the light guided to themselves within the first light guide 12 (hereinafter referred to as The degree of inclination is set for the luminous flux L). Here, since the first light guide reflecting surface 33 reflects the light beams L propagating toward itself by the respective inclined surfaces 33b, the plurality of light beams L are allowed to travel from the first light guide exit surface 31 toward the inner lens 11. .

Here, the first lens exit surface 24 is curved so as to form a curved apex 11 b according to the overall shape of the inner lens 11 , and is curved with respect to the light guiding direction of the first light guide 12 . Being curved with respect to the light guiding direction means that the distance from the first light guide body 12 (its first light guiding exit surface 31) extending in the light guiding direction to the first lens exit surface 24 is It says that it changes depending on the position of Therefore, the first lens exit surface 24 functions as a convex lens having the curved apex 11b as a vertex on the reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. changes in refraction mode.

The first light guide reflection surfaces 33 are dispersed over the entire first lens emission surface 24 of the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 on a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, and are arranged parallel to each other to emit light from the first lens. The degree of inclination of each inclined surface 33 b is set so that each light beam L is emitted from the surface 24 . The degree of inclination of each inclined surface 33b is set in consideration of refraction at the first light guide exit surface 31 of the first light guide 12, the first lens entrance surface 23 of the inner lens 11, and the first lens exit surface 24. be done.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the one-side light guide reflection surface 33A directs each light beam L from the other-side light source 14B incident from the other-side light guide entrance surface 32B to the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A side. The degree of inclination of each inclined surface 33b is set so that the light is dispersed and reflected over the entire one-side light guide incident surface 32A side of the curved vertex 11b of the first lens emitting surface 24 while being inclined to the above. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the other-side light guide reflection surface 33B tilts each light flux L from the one-side light source 14A incident from the one-side light guide entrance surface 32A toward the other-side light guide entrance surface 32B. The degree of inclination of each inclined surface 33b is set so that the light is dispersed and reflected over the entire area on the other side light guide entrance surface 32B side of the curved vertex 11b on the first lens exit surface 24 while being reflected. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the first light guide reflection surface 33 is distributed and diverged in the width direction, centering on the position coinciding with the curved vertex 11b of the first lens exit surface 24. The degree of inclination of each inclined surface 33b is set so that the angle of divergence increases as the distance from 11b increases. As a result, the first light guide reflection surfaces 33 are dispersed over the entire first lens emission surface 24 of the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 and parallel to each other on the reference plane. A luminous flux L is emitted.

Next, operation of the vehicle lamp 10 will be described. The vehicle lamp 10 appropriately supplies electric power from the lighting control circuit to both the first light sources 14 and both the second light sources 15 via the first substrates 41 and the second substrates 42, so that both the first light sources 14 and both the second light sources 15 are turned on.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the one-side light source 14A enters from the corresponding one-side light guide entrance surface 32A, travels in the light guide direction through the first light guide 12, and travels to the other side. It goes to the side light guide reflecting surface 33B. As shown in FIG. 5, the light emitted from the other side light source 14B is incident from the corresponding other side light guide incident surface 32B, travels through the first light guide 12 in the light guide direction, and travels to one side. It goes to the side light guide reflecting surface 33A. As shown in FIG. 7, those lights are reflected toward the first light guide exit surface 31 by the one side light guide reflection surface 33A or the other side light guide reflection surface 33B, and are reflected from the first light guide exit surface 31. The light is emitted to the outside of the first light guide 12 and travels toward the first lens entrance surface 23 of the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 .

The light is incident from the first lens entrance surface 23, guided forward in the emission direction through the first lens portion 21, and then guided obliquely downward as shown in FIG. It progresses toward the surface 25a and the lower lens reflecting surface 25b. Part of the light is reflected by the upper lens reflection surface 25a and emitted from the first lens emission surface 24 (output light L1), and most of the other portion is reflected by the lower lens reflection surface 25b and emitted from the first lens. It is emitted from the surface 24 (outgoing light L2). For this reason, on the first lens incident surface 23, a portion from which the emitted light L1 is emitted and a portion from which the emitted light L2 is emitted are emitted from an emission portion 43 (in order from the top, a first emission portion 43a, a second emission portion 43a, and a second emission portion 43a). 2 emission point 43b). Here, in the first light guide 12, the light reflected by each of the first lens reflection surfaces 25 is directed by the first light guide reflection surface 33 to the entire first lens exit surface 24 on the reference plane. Each luminous flux L is emitted parallel to each other while L is dispersed. Therefore, when the first lens portion 21 is viewed from the front side in the light emitting direction, the two light emitting points 43a and 43b arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the first lens light emitting surface 24 shine with substantially the same brightness over the entire length. visible (see Figure 9).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the one-side light source 15A enters from the corresponding one-side light guide entrance surface 35A, travels in the light guide direction through the second light guide 13, and travels to the other side. It goes to the side light guide reflecting surface 36B. 5, the light emitted from the other side light source 15B is incident from the corresponding other side light guide incident surface 35B, travels in the light guide direction in the second light guide 13, and travels to one side. It goes to the side light guide reflecting surface 36A. As shown in FIG. 7, those lights are reflected toward the second light guide exit surface 34 by the one side light guide reflection surface 36A or the other side light guide reflection surface 36B, and are reflected from the second light guide exit surface 34. The light is emitted to the outside of the second light guide 13 and travels toward the second lens entrance surface 26 of the second lens portion 22 of the inner lens 11 .

The light is incident from the second lens incident surface 26, and as shown in FIG. 8, is guided obliquely upward through the second lens portion 22, and reaches the lower lens reflecting surface 28c, the middle lens reflecting surface 28b, and the like. It progresses toward the upper lens reflecting surface 28a. Part of the light is reflected by the lower lens reflection surface 28c and emitted from the second lens emission surface 27 (output light L5), and the other part is reflected on the intermediate lens reflection surface 28b and emitted from the second lens. It is emitted from the surface 27 (outgoing light L4), and most of the rest is reflected by the upper lens reflecting surface 28a and is emitted from the second lens emitting surface 27 (outgoing light L3). For this reason, on the second lens exit surface 27, a portion from which the emitted light L3 is emitted, a portion from which the emitted light L4 is emitted, and a portion from which the emitted light L5 is emitted are emitted from the emitted portions 43 (to be described separately above). 43c, 43d, and 43e, respectively). Here, in the second light guide 13 , the light reflected by each of the second lens reflection surfaces 28 is directed by the second light guide reflection surface 36 to the entire second lens exit surface 27 on the reference plane. L are scattered and emitted parallel to each other. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, when viewed from the front side in the light emitting direction, the second lens portion 22 has three light emitting points 43c, 43d, and 43e arranged vertically in parallel on the second lens light emitting surface 27 over the entire length. It appears to shine with approximately the same brightness.

Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 turns on both the first light source 14 and both the second light sources 15 so that, as shown in FIG. On the lens exit surface 27), the five exit points 43 (43a to 43e) aligned in the vertical direction can be made to glow red with substantially the same brightness over the entire length. Since each emission point 43 is provided as described above in the inner lens 11 formed of a transparent resin material, it looks like a red line floating in the space. Accordingly, the vehicle lamp 10 can function as a tail lamp with excellent design.

FIG. 10 shows a vehicle lamp 1 as a comparative example. This vehicular lamp 1 differs from the vehicular lamp 10 in the optical settings of the first light guide reflection surface 33P of the first light guide 12 and the second light guide reflection surface 36P of the second light guide 13. Except for this, the configuration is basically the same as that of the vehicle lamp 10, so the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, the first light guide reflection surface 33P and the second light guide reflection surface 36P are optically set to be the same as in the vehicle lamp 10, so the first light guide reflection surface 33P will be explained. , and the second light guide reflecting surface 36P are omitted.

In the vehicle lamp 1, in order to disperse the luminous fluxes L over the entire light guiding direction, the first light guide reflection surfaces 33P are incident from both the first light guide incident surfaces 32 and the first light guide body 12 The light beams L guided inside are made parallel to each other and reflected toward the first light guide exit surface 31 . Then, the light beams L are emitted from the first light guide emission surface 31 while being parallel to each other, enter from the first lens incidence surface 23, and enter the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 in the entire light guide direction. distributed over the Here, the first lens exit surface 24 is curved with respect to the light guide direction of the first light guide body 12, and functions as a convex lens having the curved vertex 11b as a vertex on a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. . Therefore, each luminous flux L guided into the first lens portion 21 is refracted when emitted from the first lens emission surface 24, so that the curved vertex 11b of the first lens emission surface 24 on the reference plane. It is condensed so that it approaches to. For this reason, in the vehicular lamp 1, at each emission point 43 on the lens emission surface of the inner lens 11, the vicinity of the curved apex 11b becomes brightest, and the light becomes darker toward both ends in the light guiding direction. A difference in brightness occurs in each direction.

On the other hand, in the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1, the first light guide reflecting surface 33 of the first light guide 12 (the second light guide reflecting surface 36 of the second light guide 13) is configured as described above. Since they are optically set, the light beams L are emitted from the first lens exit surface 24 in parallel while being dispersed over the entire first lens exit surface 24 on the reference plane. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 has the lens emission surface (the first lens emission surface 24 and the second lens emission surface 27) of the inner lens 11 connected to the light guides (the first light guide 12 and the second light guide 13). Even if it is curved with respect to the light guide direction, each output point 43 of the output surface can be illuminated with substantially the same brightness over the entire length.

In the vehicle lamp 10, the lower lens reflecting surface 25b is formed in the vicinity of the lens ridgeline 11a in the vertical direction in the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 (see FIG. 3, etc.). Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can prevent more than the set number of the output points 43 from linearly shining on the first lens output surface 24 and the second lens output surface 27 . The reason for this is as follows. In the first lens portion 21, as shown in FIG. 8, most of the light incident from the first lens entrance surface 23 is reflected by the upper lens reflection surface 25a or the lower lens reflection surface 25b, and is reflected by the first lens exit surface. 24, and part of the light travels to the vicinity of the lens ridgeline 11a. Similarly, in the second lens portion 22, part of the light incident from the second lens entrance surface 26 travels near the lens ridgeline 11a.

Therefore, in the inner lens 11, the peripheral area Ap of the lens ridgeline 11a, which is the joint between the first lens exit surface 24 and the second lens exit surface 27, is guided by the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22. It glows with a part of the scattered light. In other words, the peripheral area Ap at the joint between the two lens portions (24, 27) is an area that shines as described above. In particular, in the inner lens 11 of Example 1, since the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22 are arranged in a substantially L-shape, it is difficult to completely prevent the peripheral region Ap from shining. be. Then, on the lens exit surface of the inner lens 11, there is a possibility that the peripheral area Ap of the lens ridgeline 11a may shine linearly. There is a risk that it will become However, in the peripheral area Ap, since the vicinity of the lens ridgeline 11a is illuminated by unintended light as described above, the brightness and the way it shines cannot be controlled. It looks uncomfortable.

Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the lower lens reflection surface 25b is formed in the vicinity of the lens ridge line 11a in the vertical direction, so that at least a part of the second emission point 43b of the first lens emission surface 24 is It overlaps with the peripheral area Ap. In other words, the vicinity of the lens ridgeline 11a forming the lower lens reflecting surface 25b is a position at least partially overlapping the peripheral area Ap when viewed in the emission direction. Therefore, even when the peripheral area Ap on the lens exit surface of the inner lens 11 is illuminated, the vehicle lamp 10 can be recognized as the second emission point 43b is illuminated. It is possible to prevent the linear lighting of the locations equal to or more than the number set as . In addition, even when the peripheral area Ap is illuminated, the vehicle lamp 10 can show the second emission point 43b superimposed on the peripheral area Ap. , 43d and 43e can be greatly suppressed.

The vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 can obtain the following effects.

A vehicle lamp 10 includes an inner lens 11, light guides (12, 13), and light sources (14, 15). The inner lens 11 has a lens entrance surface (23, 26) and a lens exit surface (24, 27). The light guide is provided extending in the light guide direction, and includes light guide entrance surfaces (32, 35) at ends in the light guide direction, light guide exit surfaces (31, 34) facing the lens entrance surface, and a guide. and a light guide reflecting surface (33, 36) on the side opposite to the direction in which the light is emitted from the light emitting surface (31, 34). The light source is provided facing the light guide entrance surface of the light guide, and the lens exit surface is curved with respect to the light guide direction. In the vehicle lamp 10, both ends of the light guides (12, 13) are formed into one side light guide entrance surfaces (32A, 35A) and the other side light guide entrance surfaces (32B, 35B). The one-side light sources (14A, 15A) and the other-side light guide incident surface correspond to the other-side light sources (14B, 15B), respectively. In the vehicle lamp 10, the light guide reflecting surface is positioned on the one side light guide incident surface side, and the light emitted from the other side light source and incident from the other side light guide incident surface is directed toward the light guide emitting surface. The one-side light guide reflection surface (33A, 36A) that reflects and the light guide reflection surface (33A, 36A) on the other side are located on the side of the other side light guide entrance surface, and the light emitted from the one side light source and incident from the one side light guide entrance surface is directed to the light guide exit surface. and the other side light guide reflection surface (33B, 36B) that reflects the light. Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 reflects the incident light toward the light guide exit surface by the light guide reflection surface on the side opposite to the light guide entrance surface in the light guide direction. can be reflected to the light guide exit surface without difficulty. Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can spread light more appropriately over the entire width direction while simplifying the structure of the light guide reflection surface, and the lens output surface can be illuminated more evenly and brightly. can be done.

In addition, in the vehicle lamp 10, the one side light guide reflection surfaces (33A, 36A) and the other side light guide reflection surfaces (33B, 36B) are reflected toward the light guide emission surfaces (31, 34). Light emitted from the light sources (14A, 15A) and light emitted from the other side light sources (14B, 15B) reflected toward the light guide emission surface are directed parallel to each other from the lens emission surfaces (24, 27). emitted as Therefore, even if the vehicle lamp 10 has a curved lens exit surface, it is possible to prevent the light from concentrating in a part of the light guiding direction, so that the light can be emitted substantially equally in the light guiding direction.

Further, in the vehicular lamp 10, the one-side light guide reflection surfaces (33A, 36A) and the other side light guide reflection surfaces (33B, 36B) are arranged such that the curved vertex 11b on the lens exit surface (24, 27) in the light guide direction. A boundary is set at a position that coincides with . Here, on the lens exit surface, the direction in which the emitted light is refracted changes to the opposite side with respect to the position that coincides with the curved vertex 11b in the light guiding direction. For this reason, the vehicular lamp 10 may be optically set such that the one-side light guide reflection surface and the other side light guide reflection surface are reversed according to the inclination of the corresponding lens exit surface. Lights parallel to each other can be emitted from the lens emission surface with a simple configuration.

The vehicle lamp 10 has a plurality of output points 43 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction (intersecting direction) that intersects the light guide direction on the lens output surfaces (24, 27). Therefore, the vehicular lamp 10 can illuminate the emission points 43 arranged in the vertical direction on the lens emission surface of the inner lens 11 with substantially the same brightness over the entire length, thereby functioning as a lamp with excellent design. can.

In the vehicle lamp 10, the inner lens 11 has a first lens portion 21 and a second lens portion 22 arranged in the crossing direction, and the first lens portion 21 or the second lens portion 22 has a joint ( At least a part of the lens ridge line 11a) overlaps with one of the output points 43 (the second output point 43b in the first embodiment) in the cross direction. Therefore, even when the peripheral area Ap of the joint is illuminated, the vehicular lamp 10 can be made to recognize that the overlapping emission points 43 are illuminated. can be prevented from linearly shining.

Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 as the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure can make the curved lens exit surfaces (24, 27) emit substantially equal light in the light guide direction.

Although the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described above based on the first embodiment, the specific configuration is not limited to the first embodiment, and is outside the gist of the invention according to each claim. Design changes, additions, etc. are permitted unless

In addition, in Example 1, each light source (13, 14) shall emit red light. However, the colors of the light sources (13, 14) may be appropriately set according to the use of the corresponding emission points 43, and the first light source 14 and the second light source 15 may emit different colors. Well, it is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. For example, each light source (13, 14) emits amber light, so that it can function as a turn lamp, and each light source (13, 14) emits white light. A function of a clearance lamp can be provided. In addition, by emitting different colors from the first light source 14 and the second light source 15, for example, it is possible to combine two functions of a tail lamp, a turn lamp, and a clearance lamp, or to have a different function from them. It can be made to function as a lamp having a design.

Further, in Example 1, the light sources (13, 14) are provided with both ends of the light guides (12, 13) in the light guiding direction as the light guiding incident surfaces (32, 35). However, the light guide incident surface may be provided only at either end of each light guide (12, 13), and the light source (13, 14) may be provided correspondingly. is not limited to In this case, by making the end of each light guide on the side where the light guide entrance surface (light source) is not provided a reflective surface, it is possible to suppress the leakage of light from the end. can efficiently use the light incident on the

Furthermore, in Example 1, five emission points 43 (43a to 43e) are arranged side by side. However, the number, interval and shape of the light emitting portions 43 may be appropriately set as long as the light emitted from the light guides (12 and 13) is emitted from the lens entrance surfaces (23 and 26). , is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

In Example 1, the inner lens 11 has the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22 . However, if the inner lens 11 allows the light guided by the light guides (12, 13) to enter through the lens entrance surfaces (23, 26) and exit from the lens exit surfaces (24, 27), It may have only one of the first lens portion 21 and the second lens portion 22, or may have another shape, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

In Example 1, each emission point 43 emits light reflected by each first lens reflection surface 25 and each second lens reflection surface 28 on the lens emission surface (24, 27) of the inner lens 11. is formed by However, each emission point 43 is a point on the lens emission surface (24, 27) of the inner lens 11 where the light from the light guides (12, 13) that is incident from the lens incidence surface (23, 26) is emitted. There is no limitation to the configuration of the first embodiment.

In Example 1, at least a portion of the second exit point 43b of the first lens exit surface 24 of the first lens portion 21 of the inner lens 11 overlaps the peripheral area Ap. However, if at least a portion of any one of the output points 43 provided on the lens output surface of the inner lens 11 overlaps the peripheral area Ap of the joint in the vertical direction, the output of the second lens unit 22 The location 43 (the third emission location 43c in the first embodiment) may be overlapped, or may have another configuration, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Vehicle lamp 11 Inner lens 11b Curved vertex 12 First light guide 13 Second light guide (light guide) 14 First light source (light source) 15 Second light source (light source) 21 First lens portion 22 Second lens Part 23 First lens entrance surface (lens entrance surface) 24 First lens exit surface (lens exit surface) 26 Second lens entrance surface (lens entrance surface) 27 Second lens exit surface (lens exit surface) 31 First light guide Output surface (light guide output surface) 32 First light guide entrance surface (light guide entrance surface) 33 First light guide reflection surface (light guide reflection surface) 34 Second light guide output surface (light guide output surface) 35 Second Light guide entrance surface (light guide entrance surface) 36 Second light guide reflection surface (light guide reflection surface) 32A, 35A One side light guide entrance surface 32B, 35B Other side light guide entrance surface 33A, 36A One side light guide reflection surface 33B, 36B Other side light guide reflecting surface 43 Output point

Claims (5)

an inner lens having a lens entrance surface and a lens exit surface;
A light guide entrance surface at an end in the light guide direction, a light guide exit surface facing the lens entrance surface, and a side opposite to the direction of light exiting from the light guide exit surface. a light guide body having a light guide reflecting surface of
a light source provided facing the light guide incident surface,
the lens exit surface is curved with respect to the light guiding direction,
The light guide entrance surface is provided at one end of the light guide in the light guide direction and at the other end of the light guide in the light guide direction. and the other side light guide entrance surface,
The light source has a one-side light source corresponding to the one-side light guide entrance surface and a other side light source corresponding to the other side light guide entrance surface,
The light guide reflection surface has a one side light guide reflection surface located on the one side light guide entrance surface side and a other side light guide reflection surface located on the other side light guide entrance surface side,
the one-side light guide reflection surface reflects light emitted from the other-side light source and incident from the other-side light guide entrance surface toward the light guide exit surface;
The vehicle lamp, wherein the other-side light guide reflection surface reflects the light emitted from the one-side light source and incident from the one-side light guide entrance surface toward the light guide exit surface. The one-side light guide reflective surface and the other side light guide reflective surface are composed of the light emitted from the one-side light source reflected toward the light guide emission surface and the light reflected toward the light guide emission surface. 2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the light source on the other side and the light emitted from the light source on the other side are emitted parallel to each other from the lens emission surface. 2. The one-side light guide reflection surface and the other side light guide reflection surface have a boundary set at a position coinciding with a curved vertex of the lens exit surface in the light guide direction. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2. 4. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lens exit surface has a plurality of exit points arranged in parallel in a crossing direction crossing the light guiding direction. The inner lens has a first lens portion and a second lens portion arranged in the cross direction,
3. In the first lens portion or the second lens portion, a peripheral region of the joint and any one of the emission points at least partially overlap in the intersecting direction. 5. The vehicle lamp according to 4.

Images