JPH0521166A - Lighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the light accurately and to control the light source accurately, in a lighting system in which the light output of a discharge lamp is detected and thereby the lamp is controlled. CONSTITUTION:In order to detect the light, a hole 3 is formed in a housing body of a light source, and a light leading unit 4 is installed to the hole 3 to lead the light to the outside to be used for detection. And at the same time, the hole 3 is blocked by the light leading unit 4 to prevent the invasion of dust and the like to the inside. Since the hole 3 is blocked by the light leading unit 4, the invasion of dusts and the like to the inside through the hole 3 is prevented, a variation of the detecting sensitivity owing to the dirt of the light leading unit 4 is prevented, and the control of the light source can be carried out accurately and constantly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device which detects a part of light from a light source such as a discharge lamp and controls the output of the lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional illuminating device of this type, there is, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-41948, in which an optical fiber or an optical sensor is arranged in the vicinity of a lamp to output a light The catch is disclosed. However, how to guide the light of the part that detects the light is not specifically shown.For example, dirt or dust adheres to the light incident part to the optical fiber or the optical sensor and the light sensitivity changes. There is a risk that

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional device, since the method of guiding light is not specifically shown, the light sensitivity changes due to dirt or dust adhering to the light incident portion. However, there is a problem in that the light source cannot be controlled normally due to the influence of external light, too strong light from the light source, or the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an illuminating device which can accurately detect the light of a light source and can always control the light source accurately.

[0005]

In a lighting device according to the present invention, a hole is provided in a housing for housing a light source, and a light guide body for transmitting a part of light of the light source to the outside of the housing is provided in the hole. As a result, the hole is closed by the light guide.

Further, a light shielding plate is provided in the housing, and the hole is provided between the light shielding plate and the light source to attach the light guide.

Further, the light source is composed of a discharge lamp,
Equipped with a shading piece supported by the lead wire of the discharge lamp,
The light-guiding member is provided by providing the hole at a position on the housing where the direct light from the discharge lamp is blocked by the light-shielding piece.

Further, the above-mentioned light guide body is constructed so as to have an optical characteristic that the light from the light incident portion is condensed or scattered at the light emitting portion.

[0009]

In the lighting device according to the present invention, a part of the light of the light source is transmitted to the outside of the housing by the light guide mounted in the hole provided in the housing, and the hole is closed by the light guide. Therefore, dust or the like does not enter the storage body, the light incident portion of the light guide body is prevented from being contaminated, and the change in light detection sensitivity is prevented.

Further, since the light guide body is attached by providing the hole between the light shielding plate provided in the housing body and the light source, the influence of external light on the light captured by the light guide body can be suppressed.

Further, a light-shielding piece supported by a lead wire of a discharge lamp which is a light source is provided, and the hole is provided at a position on the housing where the direct light from the discharge lamp is blocked by the light-shielding piece. Since the light guide is attached, strong direct light incidence from the light source to the light guide can be prevented.

Further, by constructing the above-mentioned light guide so as to have an optical characteristic that the light from the light incident portion is condensed or scattered at the light emitting portion, the light captured by the light guide is formed. Can be efficiently emitted to the emitting portion, or a detection error due to a mounting position of a member that detects light from the emitting portion can be prevented.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. Example 1. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a discharge lamp as a light source, 2 is a reflector for housing this discharge lamp 1, 3 is a hole provided in this reflector 2, 4 is provided in this hole 3,
It is a light guide that closes this, 41 is a light incident part, and 42 is a light emission part. Reference numeral 5 denotes a photodetection section including the hole 3 and the light guide 4. This device is used, for example, in a vehicle headlight.

In the lighting device configured as described above,
When the discharge lamp 1 is turned on, a part of the light of the discharge lamp enters from the incident part 41 of the light guide 4 and is guided to the emitting part 42 and emitted. The emitted light is detected by a sensor or the like, and a discharge lamp lighting device (not shown) controls the discharge lamp 1 to a predetermined lighting state. In such a device, the hole 3 has the light guide 4
Since it is blocked by, it is possible to reduce the intrusion of foreign matter such as dust from the hole 3. If the photodetector 5 is arranged on the upper side as shown in FIG. 1, the incident portion 41 faces downward, so that there is no accumulation of dust or the like, and there is an effect that it becomes more difficult to stain. Further, when the photodetector 5 is located below the discharge lamp 1, the temperature rise due to the heat generated by the discharge lamp 1 is less likely to be affected. And if they are in the middle, both advantages can be obtained depending on the position. The light guide 4
Need only have a configuration capable of transmitting at least the light of the incident portion 41 to the emission portion 42 by a required amount, but various embodiments are possible.

Example 2. Second Embodiment FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing a second embodiment, and a reflector body 6 including a reflector 2 is shown.
In the case where the hole 3 and the light guide 4 are provided in the reflector body 6, and the light guide 4 is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
Can be attached. At this time, it is also possible to apply the reflector body 6 without the reflector 2 inside.

Embodiment 3. Third Embodiment FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing a third embodiment, which is a case where the present invention is applied to a vehicle headlight commonly called a projector type. In the figure, a reflector body 6 is provided with a lens 8 and a light shielding plate 7, and the light of the discharge lamp 1 mainly illuminates the front lower side. Here, the headlight for LOW BEAM is shown. Here, the photodetector 5 is arranged closer to the discharge lamp 1 than the light shielding plate.
In addition, closing the hole 3 with the light guide 4 is the same.

With such a configuration, the light from the discharge lamp 1 can be detected by the light detecting section 5, and the light shielding plate 7 shields the light incident from the outside of the headlamp.
The light from the discharge lamp 1 can be accurately captured because the light detection unit 5 is less likely to be affected by external light. Light shield 7 is originally LO
What is installed to perform the light distribution control for W BEAM can be used as it is, but a light shield plate may be separately provided to the light detection unit 5 so as to reduce the influence of external light.

Example 4. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an illuminating device showing a fourth embodiment, which is the same device as the third embodiment, except that an optical light distribution design is adopted in order to install the photodetector 5 above the discharge lamp 1. A small light-shielding plate 7 that does not interfere with the above is provided, and the photodetector 5 is installed behind it. At this time, since the light guide 4 is directed to the lower side of the incident portion 41, dirt is not easily attached and the influence of external light is small. Although the above example shows the headlamp, it is clear that the present invention can be applied to a lighting device having a lens in the reflector body for other purposes.

Example 5. FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of a lighting device showing a fifth embodiment, which is applied to a headlamp called a four-lamp type. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the right lamp seen from above as seen from the driver of the automobile. The light for the LOW BEAM is on the outside (lower side in the figure), and the light detection unit 5 of the discharge lamp 1 on the outside is provided on the outside (the side farther from the other discharge lamp) as shown in the figure to detect light. The section 5 is less susceptible to the heat of the other discharge lamp, and the reliability is improved. The structure of the light detecting portion 5 is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the hole 3 is closed. Here, the one in which two discharge lamps are provided on one side is shown, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to one in which two discharge lamps are provided instead of two.

Example 6. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of an illumination device showing a sixth embodiment, which is a case where the one shown in FIG. 5 is applied to what is called a projector type. Also in this embodiment, the light detecting section 5 is provided on the outer side (lower side in the figure) and is positioned between the light shielding plate 7 for LOW BEAM and the discharge lamp 1. By doing so, the photodetector 5 is less susceptible to the heat of the other discharge lamp and has the effect of making it difficult for external light to enter. When two or more discharge lamps are provided on one side, the same application as in the fifth embodiment is possible.

Example 7. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of an illumination device showing a seventh embodiment, in which a light shielding piece 9 is attached to a lead wire 11 that supports the discharge lamp 1. Further, the photodetector 5 is provided on the reflector 2 on the side where the light blocking piece 9 is located when viewed from the discharge lamp 1. That is, the light detection section 5 is placed at a position where the direct light from the discharge lamp 1 is blocked by the light blocking piece 9.
With such a configuration, strong direct light from the discharge lamp 1 does not enter the photodetection section 5, so there is no saturation or the like in the detection element during photodetection, and an appropriate amount of light can be guided. . It goes without saying that the light detecting section 5 closes the hole 3 with the light guide 4 as shown in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram showing an example of the structure of the discharge lamp that can be used in the seventh embodiment. The light shielding piece 9 has, for example, a dish shape, and is connected to the lead wire 11 by means such as welding. can do. In this embodiment, the light-shielding piece 9 is located below the discharge lamp, so the photodetector 5 is provided on the lower side of the lighting device. However, when the light-shielding piece 9 is mounted upward, the light-detecting portion 5 is naturally disposed. It is arranged at the upper position so as to be behind the light shielding piece 9. By arranging it on the upper side, the incident portion 41 of the light detecting portion 5 is further reduced in dirt such as dust.

Example 8. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of an illuminating device showing an eighth embodiment, in which a lens 8 is provided on a reflector body 6, and the light detecting section 5 is arranged behind the light shielding plate 7 and on the light shielding piece 9 side. This prevents strong direct light from the discharge lamp from entering the photodetector 5. Further, the photodetector 5 may be arranged not on the lower side but on the upper side. At this time, even if the light shielding plate 7 is arranged on the lower side, the light shielding piece 9 of the discharge lamp may be arranged on the upper side. . As a result, the light detecting section 5 can prevent strong light from entering and further reduce contamination without providing a special light shielding plate.

Example 9. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of an illuminating device showing a ninth embodiment, in which a cut-and-raised part 11 for attaching the light guide 4 to the hole 3 is provided in the reflector 2 and thereby the light guide 4 is fixed. is there. In the figure, a part of the reflector 2 is cut and bent (bent) to open a hole 3, and the light guide 4 is attached and fixed thereto. For fixing, the cut-and-raised part 11 and the light guide 4 may be adhered, fitted, or fixed with screws or the like. In this way, the light guide 4 can be easily positioned and fixed. In this embodiment, the cut-and-raised portion 11 is provided as the fixing means on the reflector 2, but the fixing means may be provided on the reflector body 6 as shown in FIG. In particular, if the reflector body 6 is made of a resin material, fixing means of various shapes can be formed in the vicinity of the hole of the reflector body, so that the fixing to the light guide body 4 becomes more reliable and easy. Further, the position may be any position with respect to the discharge lamp 1, as described above.

Example 10. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the light guide 4. In the figure, the entrance 41 of the light guide 4 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the hole 3, and the exit 42 has a larger cross-sectional area than the hole 3. Therefore, the discharge lamp 1 (reflector body 6
It is possible to reduce the amount of dust or the like entering the (inner) side from here.

The light guide 4 emits the light of the discharge lamp 1 to the emission section 42.
It may be an optical lens that collects light at a specific place on the side surface. By doing so, the light emitted to the emitting portion 42 can be efficiently detected, and the intensity of the detected light to the optical sensor or the like can be increased, so that the influence of disturbance can be reduced. On the contrary, if the emitting portion 42 is a light diffusing surface, the light intensity of the emitting portion 42 tends to be uniform, and when the optical sensor or the like is arranged in the subsequent stage of the emitting portion 42, it is affected by the mounting angle or the like. The error is reduced. Similarly, the influence of the installation angle error between the discharge lamp 1 and the incident portion 41 can be reduced even when the incident portion 41 is a diffusion surface. Alternatively, the light guide body may be configured as a concave lens so that the incident light is scattered by the emitting portion 42.

Further, if the incident part 41 has an angle such that its incident surface is substantially perpendicular to the discharge lamp 1,
Since much light of the discharge lamp 1 is incident, the influence of external light can be reduced. Providing an appropriate depression or the like on the surface of the emitting portion 42 for facilitating attachment of an optical sensor or the like ensures the position setting. Further, for the convenience of mounting an optical sensor or the like, the emitting portion 42 may be formed with an appropriate angle and the direction thereof may be changed. The detection light is transmitted through the light guide body and is transmitted in the same manner as the transmission principle of the optical fiber.

Although the light guide 4 is not particularly described in the above description, any material having a relatively high light transmittance (for example, polycarbonate or acrylic resin) can be used, and the light intensity of the incident portion 41 can be used. If it has a large value, a material having a relatively low light transmittance can be used. In addition, the light guide 4
Since the incident part 41 is exposed to a relatively high temperature environment inside the reflector body 6, a thermosetting light-transmissive resin (polycarbonate or the like) that withstands high temperature is used, and the exit part 42 is weak to a relatively high temperature. Alternatively, light may be transmitted to a detection element such as an optical sensor by using a flexible plastic optical fiber or the like. In this way, the optical sensor can be installed relatively far away rather than inside the reflector body, so that the detection element can be installed near or inside the lighting device (not shown) for controlling the lighting of the lamp.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a part of the light of the light source is transmitted to the outside of the housing by the light guide attached to the hole provided in the housing and the light is guided through the hole. Since it is blocked by the body, dust etc. do not enter the storage body, the light incident part of the light guide body is prevented from being contaminated, and the change in light detection sensitivity is prevented, so there is an effect that the light source can always be controlled accurately. .

Further, since the light guide is attached by providing a hole between the light shield plate provided in the housing and the light source, the influence of external light on the light captured by the light guide is suppressed, and the light is accurately collected. The effect is that the light source can be controlled.

Further, a light-shielding piece supported by a lead wire of a discharge lamp which is a light source is provided, and the hole is provided at a position on the housing where the direct light from the discharge lamp is blocked by the light-shielding piece. Since it is attached, strong direct light incidence from the light source to the light guide is prevented and an appropriate amount of light can be obtained,
The effect is that the light source can be accurately controlled.

Further, by constructing the above-mentioned light guide so as to have an optical characteristic that the light from the incident part of the light is condensed or scattered at the emission part, the light captured by the light guide is obtained. Is effectively emitted to the emitting portion, or a detection error due to the mounting position of a member that detects light from the emitting portion is prevented, and the light source can be accurately controlled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an illumination device showing Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of a lighting device showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of a lighting device showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of an illumination device showing Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a discharge lamp according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a lighting device showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a light guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 discharge lamp 2 reflector 3 holes 4 Light guide 5 Photodetector 6 reflector body 7 Light shield 8 lenses 9 Light shield

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroyasu             2-14-40 Ofuna, Kamakura-shi Mitsubishi Electric stock             Company Life Systems Research Center

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device having a control means for detecting a light output from a light source and controlling the light source, wherein a hole provided in a housing for housing the light source, and one of the light from the light source attached to the hole. An illuminating device characterized in that a light guide body for transmitting a part to the outside of the housing body is provided, and the hole is closed by the light guide body. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a light shielding plate is provided in the housing, and the hole is provided between the light shielding plate and the light source to attach the light guide. 3. The light source is composed of a discharge lamp, and a light-shielding piece supported by a lead wire of the discharge lamp is provided. The light-shielding piece is located at a position on the housing where direct light from the discharge lamp is shielded. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the hole is provided and a light guide is attached. 4. The light guide body according to claim 1, wherein the light guide body has an optical characteristic that light from an incident portion of the light is condensed or scattered at an emission portion thereof. Lighting equipment.