JPH01159901A - Automobile head light - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable to fit to various kinds of car body shapes, by clearly irradiating a pattern of a cut edge of an upper edge by an upper reflector, a shielding body and a projection lens, and by performing diffused irradiation, to right and left, of a parallel luminous flux formed by a lower reflector, by a lens element installed on a cover lens. CONSTITUTION: Light 14, which is emitted from a light source 12 and reflected on the reflecting face 6 of a lower reflector 4, becomes a luminous flux parallel to an optical axis x-x. And a focus fc of a projection lens 15 arranged in front of a shielding body 9 is positioned on the middle point 10c of a shielding edge 10 of the shielding body 9. Therefore, the projection lens 15 is projected as such an inverted image that the lower side of a beam spot is restricted by the shielding edge 10. Consequently, a central region 17 of a cover lens 16 becomes a simply passing-by part where lens function hardly affects, but plural lens elements 18a are formed on other region 18, so only by controlling them a little bit, a luminous intensity distribution pattern necessary for a dipped beam for an automobile is formed, therefore the role of the cover lens 16 can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The automobile headlamp of the present invention will be explained according to the following items.

A Industrial field of application B Summary of the invention C1 Prior art D Problem to be solved by the invention E Means for solving the problem F, Example F-1 First example [Figures 1 to 4 [Figure] F-2, Second Embodiment [Figures 5 to 8] G1 Effects of the Invention (A, Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a novel automobile headlamp. Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a novel automobile headlamp that can be adapted to various vehicle body shapes by reducing the role of the cover lens in forming a light distribution pattern.

(B. Summary of the Invention) The automobile headlamp of the present invention has a reflecting mirror composed of an upper reflecting mirror and a lower reflecting mirror, and uses the upper reflecting mirror, a light shielding body, and a projection lens to emit light by applying the principle of a projector. The pattern, especially the cut edge pattern on the upper edge, is clearly irradiated, a parallel light beam is created by the lower reflector, and the parallel light beam is diffused to the left and right by a lens element provided on the cover lens. The role of the cover lens in forming the light distribution pattern is reduced so that the cover lens only has to have a diffusion function mainly to the left and right.

(C Prior Art) Conventional automobile headlights form a parallel beam of light using a paraboloid of revolution reflector and a light source placed near its focal point, and control the parallel beam of light with a lens to obtain a desired light distribution. I'm trying to get a pattern.

(D) Problem to be Solved by the Invention By the way, in the conventional automobile headlights described above, only a parallel beam of light can be obtained depending on the reflecting mirror. Lenses had an extremely important role to play in making light useful. In other words, the light reflected by one part of the mirror is diffused to the left and right, the light reflected by another part moves diagonally upward, and the light reflected by another part moves downward and to the right. It is necessary to perform various kinds of control using the lenses, such as moving the lens in both directions, and the rate of change is large.

On the other hand, in modern cars, there are severe restrictions on the size and shape of the headlights, and for car headlights, it is not possible to ensure sufficient vertical width of the cover lens, or the cover lens is tilted. Increasingly, there are restrictions such as having to do things like

In this way, given the large restrictions on the size and shape of the cover lens, it is difficult to achieve the light distribution pattern necessary for automobile headlamps, even though high expectations were placed on the cover lens in terms of forming the light distribution pattern. There is a problem with not being able to do it.

(E. Means for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the automobile headlamp of the present invention reflects light from a light source placed at the focal point using an upper reflector to create a light condensing area. A reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface that focuses light on the
The lower reflecting mirror is a reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface that reflects light from a light source placed at the focal point to form a parallel beam of light, and these two
Two reflecting mirrors have a common focus and are arranged so that their optical axes overlap when viewed from above, a light source is placed at the focal point of the reflecting mirror, and a part of the light is blocked near the condensing area of the upper reflecting mirror. The projection lens is arranged so that its focal point is located on the light-shielding edge of the light-shielding body, and the part of the cover lens disposed in front of the projection lens that corresponds to the projection lens is a material that hardly performs a lens function. A lens element is formed in a portion corresponding to the lower reflecting mirror to diffuse transmitted light in the left and right directions.

Therefore, in the automobile headlamp of the present invention, irradiation is performed by applying the principle of a projector by the upper reflector, the light shielding body, and the projection lens, and the pattern is clear, especially the light shielding of the light shielding body. The upper cut line defined by the edge is clearly formed, and the irradiation is done in a relatively central pattern, and the parallel light beam formed by the lower reflector is reflected by the lens elements provided on the cover lens. The light is then irradiated in a diffused manner to the left and right, resulting in irradiation with a diffusion pattern that spreads left and right. Therefore, the function of the cover lens is mainly to diffuse the parallel light beam formed by the lower reflecting mirror to the left and right, and the role of the cover lens in forming the light distribution pattern can be reduced. .

(F Example) Below, details of the automobile headlamp of the present invention will be explained according to the illustrated example.

(F-1 First Embodiment) [Figs. 1 to 4] Figs. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment 1 of the automobile headlamp of the present invention.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a reflecting mirror, which is formed by integrally forming an upper reflecting mirror 3 and a lower reflecting mirror 4.

The upper reflecting mirror 3 has a reflecting surface 5 having a shape of an ellipsoid of revolution cut in half in the long sleeve direction and leaving half of the surface on the surface,
Further, the lower reflecting mirror 4 has a reflecting surface 6 in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with substantially the lower half remaining. The optical axes XX of each reflective surface 5.6 coincide with each other, and the inner focal point f+ (hereinafter referred to as "first focal point") of the reflective surface 5 is the same as the focal point of the reflective surface 6. in position.

Incidentally, the reflecting surface 6 of the lower reflecting mirror 4 has the optical axis x-x on the right side.
A fan-shaped portion 6a is formed above the horizontal plane 7 including the fan-shaped portion 6a, and the lower portion of the portion on the right side of the exit reflecting mirror 5 is correspondingly smaller.

Further, the angle formed by the horizontal plane 7 and the plane 8 passing through the right end of the lower reflecting mirror 4 and the optical axis xx is approximately 15 degrees.

9 is a light shielding body, and its upper edge 1o serves as a light shielding edge. The right half 10a of the light shielding edge 10 extends horizontally, and the left half 10b is a diagonal edge that moves downward toward the left. The angle formed by the line 11 extending leftward from the horizontal edge 10a and the oblique edge 10b is approximately 15 degrees.

The light shielding body 9 has a horizontal edge 10a and a diagonal edge 10 of its light shielding edges 10.
The midpoint 10c of the reflecting surface 5 where the second reflecting mirror f2 contacts the optical axis XX of the reflecting mirror 2 from below is located slightly behind the second reflecting mirror f2 of the reflecting surface 5.

12 is a light source, for example a filament of a light bulb. This light source 12 is placed at the first focal point f of the reflective surface 5. Further, a light shielding cap (not shown) is placed in front of the light source 12, so that the light from the light source 12 is always reflected by the reflecting mirror 2 and then emitted forward.

Therefore, the light is emitted from the light source 12, and the reflection surface 5 of the upper reflection mirror 3
The reflected lights 13, 13, . . . are condensed at a second focal point f2. Although it is said that the light is focused, the light source 12 is not a point light source, so the light is focused as a spot having a certain size. Then, the spot due to the reflected light 13, 13, . . .
The lower part of the spot is blocked by the light shielding member 9.

Note that the size of the light shielding body 9 is large enough to block a portion of the lower part of the beam spot, which is narrowed down to a fairly small size, and is necessary and sufficient for this purpose.

Next, the light 14, 14, . . . emitted from the light source 12 and reflected by the reflecting surface 6 of the lower reflecting mirror 4 becomes a light beam parallel to the optical axis x-x.

15 is a projection lens placed in front of the light shielding body 9;
The focal point fC is located at the midpoint 10c of the light-shielding edge 10 of the light-shielding body 9. Therefore, since the projection lens 15 focuses on the beam spot at the location where the light shielding body 9 is located, the lower side of the beam spot is focused on the light shielding edge 10 of the light shielding body 9.
The image limited by is projected forward as an inverted image.

A cover lens 16 is arranged in front of the projection lens 15 and so as to cover the front surface of the reflecting mirror 2. Then, a region 1 corresponding to the projection lens 15 at the center of the cover lens 16
7 is a transparent part with almost no lens action, and the transparent part 17
In the other area 18, there are lens elements 18a, 18a, which mainly function to diffuse transmitted light in the horizontal direction for adjusting light distribution.
... is formed.

Thus, in the automobile headlamp 1, a light distribution pattern 19 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed with the cover lens 16 removed.

In FIG. 4, H--H is a horizontal line that intersects at right angles to the optical axis xx and extends horizontally, and V-V represents a vertical line that intersects at right angles to the optical axis xx and extends vertically.

20 of this light distribution pattern 19 is reflected light 13.13 by the upper reflecting mirror 3,... or the light shielding body 9 and the projection lens 15.
There are two parts of the light distribution controlled by
1 is a light-dark boundary line defined by a light-shielding edge 10 of the light-shielding body 9. Of the bright and dark boundary lines 21, 21a is a portion limited by the horizontal line 10a of the light-shielding edge 10, and 21b is a portion limited by the oblique edge 10b of the light-shielding edge 10.

Of the light distribution patterns 19, 22 is a light distribution portion formed by the reflected light 14, 14, . The portion 23 (hatched) is due to light reflected by the fan-shaped portion 6a of the lower reflecting mirror 4.

In this manner, the automobile headlamp 1 forms a light distribution portion 20 with a clear bright and dark boundary line 21 in the central portion where the influence on oncoming vehicles is large, even when the cover lens 16 is not used. And the reflected light 14.14 of the lower reflecting mirror 4,
..., a light distribution portion 2 that is substantially similar to the light distribution portion 21 described above.
Since the light distribution portion 22 is formed on the cover lens 16, the lens elements 18a, 18a, . . .
With a little control, the light distribution pattern required for automotive low beams can be created.

Therefore, the role of the cover lens required to obtain the desired light distribution pattern can be reduced.

(F-2 Second Embodiment) [Figs. 5 to 8] Figs. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment IA of the automobile headlamp of the present invention.

24 is a reflecting mirror, which includes an upper reflecting mirror 25 and a lower reflecting mirror 26.
are integrally formed.

The upper reflecting mirror 25 has a reflecting surface 27 in the shape of an ellipsoid of revolution cut in half in its long axis direction, leaving half of the surface on the road. It has a reflective surface 28 with the remaining shape. The optical axes XX of each of the reflective surfaces 27 and 28 coincide with each other, and the focal point f+ (hereinafter referred to as "first focal point") inside the reflective surface 27 is aligned.

) is located at the same position as the focal point of the reflective surface 28.

29 is a light shielding body, and its upper edge 30 serves as a light shielding edge. The right half 30a of the light shielding edge 30 extends horizontally, and the left half 30b is a diagonal edge that moves downward toward the left. The angle formed by the line 31 extending leftward from the horizontal edge 30a and the oblique edge 30b is about 15 degrees.

The light shielding body 29 has a midpoint 30c of the light shielding edge 30 where the horizontal edge 30a and the diagonal 1i 30b touch, which is slightly behind the second focal point f2 of the reflecting surface 27 and is aligned with the optical axis x-x of the reflecting mirror 24 from below. located so that they are in contact with each other.

32 is a light source, for example, a filament of a light bulb. This light source 32 is placed at the first focal point f of the reflective surface 27. Further, a light-shielding cap (not shown) is placed in front of the light source 32, so that the light from the light source 32 is necessarily reflected by the reflecting mirror 24 before being emitted forward.

Therefore, the light 33, 33, .
to focus the light. The beam spot due to the reflected light beams 33, 33, . . .
The beam spot is slightly larger than that at the focal point f2, and the lower part of the beam spot is blocked by the light shielding body 29.

Next, the light is emitted from the light source 32 and the reflecting surface 28 of the lower reflecting mirror 26
The light reflected by 34.34,... is the optical axis x-x
The light flux is parallel to .

A projection lens 35 is placed in front of the light shielding body 29, and its focal point fc is at the midpoint 30c of the light shielding edge 30 of the light shielding body 29.
It is located in Therefore, the projection lens 35 is
Since the beam spot is in focus at the location where the beam is located, the lower side of the heam spot is projected forward as an inverted image, which is limited by the light shielding edge 30 of the light shield 29.

A mirror 36 is disposed on the reflecting mirror 24 side of the light shielding body 29 and faces the reflecting surface 28 of the lower reflecting mirror 26 . The upper edge of the mirror 36 is located slightly below the light-shielding edge 30 of the light-shielding body 29.

The mirror 36 consists of two left and right parts 36R1361, and these two parts are located on the right and left with a part corresponding to the optical axis XX in between. The right portion 36R faces toward the right rear toward the reflecting mirror 24, and the left portion 36L faces toward the left rear toward the reflecting mirror 24.

37R137L is an intermediate mirror, which is arranged on the side of the mirror 36. The right intermediate mirror 37R faces the right portion 36R of the mirror 36 and faces the forward oblique force. Further, the left intermediate mirror 37L faces the left portion 36L of the mirror 36 and faces the oblique forward force.

Therefore, the reflected light 34.34 by the lower reflecting mirror 26,
...The one on the right side facing the reflecting mirror 24 is the mirror 36.
The right portion 36R1 of the mirror 36 is sequentially reflected by the right intermediate mirror 37R to form a light beam substantially parallel to the optical axis The light beam becomes substantially parallel to the optical axis x-x.

A cover lens 38 is arranged in front of the projection lens 35 to cover the front of the reflecting mirror 24 and the intermediate mirror 37R137L. A region 38a of the cover lens 38 facing the projection lens 35 is a transparent portion having almost no lens function, and a region 38b other than the transparent portion 38a
Reference numeral 138b is formed with lens elements 38c, 38c1, . . . for adjusting light distribution, which mainly function to spread transmitted light in the left-right direction.

Thus, in the automobile headlamp IA, a light distribution pattern 39 as shown in FIG. 8 is formed with the cover lens 38 removed.

Of this light distribution pattern 39, 4o is a light distribution portion formed by the reflected light 33, 33, . It is a light-dark boundary defined by a border 30.

Of the light-dark boundary line 41, 41a is a portion limited by the horizontal edge 30a of the light-shielding edge 30, and 41b is a portion limited by the oblique edge 30b of the light-shielding edge 30.

42 of the light distribution pattern 390 is a light distribution portion formed by reflected light 34, 34, . . . by the lower reflecting mirror 26.

As described above, according to this automobile headlamp IA, even when the cover lens 38 is not used, the light distribution portion 40 has a clear bright and dark boundary line 41 in the central portion, which has a large influence on oncoming vehicles, etc.
is formed, and the reflected light 34.34 of the lower reflecting mirror 26
, . . . , a light distribution portion 42 that spreads left and right below the horizontal line H-H is formed, so all that is left is to use this light distribution portion 42 as a lens element provided in areas 38b and 38b of the cover lens 38. 38c, 38c1, . . ., a light distribution pattern required for a passing beam for an automobile can be formed with just a little control.

Therefore, the role of the cover lens required to obtain the desired light distribution pattern can be reduced.

(G Effect of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the automobile headlamp of the present invention has the lower half of the surface that reflects the light from the light source placed at the focal point and focuses it on the light collection area. an upper reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface having a shape in which is removed, and a lower reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface in a shape in which the upper half of the surface that reflects the light from the light source placed at the focal point to form a parallel beam of light has been removed; a light source, a light shielding body having a light shielding edge and disposed in such a manner that the light shielding edge blocks part of the light at the portion near the light condensing area of the upper reflector, and a focal point on the light shielding edge of the light shielding body. the projection lens, and the cover lens disposed in front of the projection lens.
The two reflecting mirrors share a focal point and their optical axes coincide when viewed from a plane. The light source is placed at the focal point of the reflecting mirror, and the part of the cover lens that corresponds to the projection lens is made a transparent part and the lower part is reflected. It is characterized in that it is a diffuser-transmitting section formed of a portion corresponding to a mirror or a lens element that diffuses transmitted light in the left-right direction.

Therefore, in the automobile headlamp of the present invention, irradiation is performed by applying the principle of a projector by the upper reflector, the light shielding body, and the projection lens, and the pattern is clear, especially by the light shielding edge of the light shielding body. The limited upper cut line is clearly formed, and the irradiation is done in a relatively central pattern, and the parallel light beam formed by the lower reflector is diffused left and right by the lens element installed in the cover lens. Irradiation is performed using a diffused pattern that spreads from side to side. Therefore, the function of the cover lens is mainly to diffuse the parallel light beam formed by the lower reflecting mirror to the left and right, and the role of the cover lens in forming the light distribution pattern can be reduced. Ru.

In each of the above embodiments, an ellipsoid of revolution is shown as a surface that reflects the light from the light source placed at the focal point and focuses it on the condensing area, but the light from the light source placed at the focal point in the present invention It is not limited to a surface that reflects light and focuses it on a light collection area. For example, an ellipse-parabola composite surface that forms an ellipse in a vertical cross section and a parabola in a horizontal cross section, and other various composite surfaces can be used. In addition, the surface that reflects the light from the light source placed at the focal point and creates a parallel beam of light is limited to a paraboloid of revolution.It forms a parabola in the vertical cross section, and a hyperbola with a small degree of diffusion of the reflected light in the horizontal cross section. Various composite surfaces can be used, such as a parabolic-hyperbolic composite surface.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the automobile headlamp of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, FIG. 2 is a schematic horizontal sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view. 4 is a light distribution pattern diagram, and FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the automobile headlamp of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram. FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view, and FIG. 8 is a light distribution pattern diagram. Explanation of symbols 1...Car headlight, 3...Upper reflector, 4...Lower reflector, 5...
Reflecting surface of upper reflecting mirror, 6... Reflecting surface of lower reflecting mirror, 9... Light blocking body, 10... Light blocking edge, 12... Light source, 15... Projection lens, 16... Cover Lens, 17... Transparent part, 18... Diffuse transmission part, 18a
... Lens element, f, ... Focal point, f2 ...
Condensing area, x-x...optical axis, fc...focal point of projection lens, 1A...automobile headlamp, 25...upper reflector, 26...lower reflector, 27...・Reflection surface of upper reflector, 28...Reflection surface of lower reflector, 29...Shade body, 30...Shade edge, 32...
Light source, 35... Projection lens, 38... Cover lens, 38a... Transparent section, 38b... Diffuse transmission section, 38c... Lens element, fl... Other lens, f2
...Focusing area, x-x...Optical axis, fc...Projection lens focal point Application person Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An upper reflector having a reflecting surface with the lower half of the surface removed to reflect the light from the light source placed at the focal point and condense it into a condensing area; and the light from the light source placed at the focal point. a lower reflector having a reflecting surface with the upper half of the surface that reflects the light into a parallel beam of light; a light source; The projector includes a light shielding body arranged to block part of the light, a projection lens whose focal point is located on the light shielding edge of the light shielding body, and a cover lens disposed in front of the projection lens. The above two reflecting mirrors share a focal point and their optical axes coincide when seen in a plane, the above light source is placed at the focal point of the reflecting mirror, and the part of the cover lens that corresponds to the projection lens is a transparent part. An automobile headlamp characterized in that a portion corresponding to the lower reflector is a diffuse transmitting portion in which a lens element is formed to diffuse transmitted light in the left and right directions.