JPH08124407A - Light for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a uniform light intensity distribution even when curved regions are formed in parts of a light emission region by making the diffused angles of a lens constituting a fisheye step same in a curved region and a vertical surface region. CONSTITUTION: Lens elements constituting the fisheye lens step 21 of a front lens 14 are formed in the whole of the light emission region of the lens 14 at a constant curvature in the vertical and the horizontal directions and also at an equal pitch. On the other hand, the lens elements 22a, 22b constituting the fisheye lens 22 of a front lens 15 are formed in the whole of the light emission region of the front lens 15 at an equal pitch in the vertical and the horizontal directions but the surface curvatures in the longitudinal direction of a vertical region 15a, a concave region 15b and the lens elements are different. Namely, the curvature in the longitudinal direction of the element 22b in the region 15b is formed into such a curvature that the diffused angle of light emitted from the region 15b becomes identical to the diffused angle of light emitted from the region 15a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automotive lamp which diffuses and distributes light, which is collimated by a collimated light forming means provided in a lamp chamber, forward by a front lens having a fisheye step formed on the rear surface thereof. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a view showing a conventional lamp of this type. Reference numerals 1 and 2 are container-shaped lamp bodies, reference numerals 3 and 4 are front lenses with fisheye steps 9 formed on the back surface, reference numerals 5 and 6 are parabolic reflectors, and reference numerals 7 and 8 are bulbs. Front chambers 3 and 4 are respectively attached to front opening portions of the bodies 1 and 2 to form lamp chambers A and B, and reflectors 5 which are parallel light forming means are provided in the lamp chambers A and B, respectively. 6 is provided. The light from the bulbs 7 and 8 is reflected by the reflectors 5 and 6 to become parallel light and travels toward the front lenses 3 and 4. The light incident on the front lenses 3 and 4 is diffused vertically and horizontally by the fisheye step 9 and is emitted forward.

Reference numeral 4b is a concave curved surface region whose longitudinal cross section is convex toward the back surface side as compared with the vertical surface region 4a.
This concave curved surface region 4b extending laterally along the upper edge of the front lens 4 looks novel.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the lens elements 9a and 9b forming the fisheye step 9 of the front lens 4 are formed with the same curvature in the entire light emitting region, the luminous intensity distribution is obtained. There is unevenness. That is, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the curvature radius R ₁ of the surface of the lens element 9a in the vertical surface area 4a of the front lens 4 and the curvature radius R ₂ of the surface of the lens element 9b in the concave curved area 4b are the same ( Since R ₁ = R ₂ ), the light L ₂ emitted from the lens element 9b in the concave curved surface region 4b is
Due to the concave lens action of the front lens 4, the light L ₁ emitted from the lens element 9a in the vertical surface region 4a is emitted farther from the optical axis L than the emission direction (the focal length F ₂ of the lens element 9b is the lens element 9b). 9a is longer than the focal length F ₁ ). Therefore, the diffusion angle θ ₂ of the emitted light L ₂ from the concave curved surface area 4b becomes smaller than the diffusion angle θ ₁ of the emitted light L ₁ from the vertical surface area 4a, and the luminous intensity is increased between the concave curved surface area 4b and the vertical surface area 4a. The distribution is different (the concave curved surface area 4b having a small degree of diffusion is the vertical surface area 4a having a large degree of diffusion).
There is a problem that it looks brighter than that) and it looks bad.
In FIGS. 9A and 9B, reference numerals f ₁ , f ₂ and F ₁ , F ₁ represent the focal points and focal lengths of the lens elements 9a, 9b.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to obtain a uniform luminous intensity distribution even in a lamp in which a concave or convex curved surface region is formed in a part of a light emitting region. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a lamp for an automobile.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a vehicle lamp according to a first aspect of the present invention, a light emission having a substantially uniform wall thickness and a substantially straight vertical section is formed in a front opening of a container-shaped lamp body. A front room lens having an area is assembled to form a lamp room, and the light collimated by the parallel light forming means provided in the lamp room is diffused and distributed forward by a fisheye step formed on the back surface of the front lens. In an automotive lamp according to the present invention, a curved surface region having a large curvature, which is concave or convex, is formed in a part of the light emitting region of the front lens as compared with other portions of the light emitting region, and a fisheye step configuration in this curved region is formed. The divergence angle of the lens element is made to be the same as the divergence angle of the fisheye step-constituting lens element in the other part of the light emitting region. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lamp according to the first aspect, the curved surface region has a shape in which the front surface side is concave and the rear surface side is convex, and the radius of curvature of the surface of the fisheye step forming lens element in the curved surface area is:
The radius of curvature of the surface of the fish-eye step-constituting lens element in a region other than the curved region is made smaller. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lamp according to the first aspect, the curved surface region has a shape in which the front surface side is convex and the rear surface side is concave, and the radius of curvature of the surface of the fisheye step component lens element in this curved surface area is a curved surface. The radius of curvature of the surface of the fish-eye step-constituting lens element in a region other than the region is made larger.

[0007]

According to the first aspect, a novel image can be obtained by the curved surface region which is concave or convex toward the front and which is formed in a part of the light emitting region of the front lens. The diffusion angle of the light emitted from the fisheye step forming lens element in this curved surface area and the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the fisheye step forming lens element in the portion other than the curved surface area are the same, and from which portion of the light emitting area The emitted light of has the same diffusion angle. In the second aspect, the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in the curved surface region that is concave toward the front is made smaller than the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in a portion other than the concave curved surface region, and the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the concave curved surface region is The diffusion angle of the light emitted from the region other than the concave curved region becomes the same, and the luminous intensity distribution in the light emitting region of the front lens becomes uniform. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in the curved surface region that is convex toward the front is made larger than the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in a portion other than the convex curved surface region, and the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the convex curved surface region is The diffusion angle of the light emitted from the portion other than the convex curved surface region is the same, and the luminous intensity distribution in the light emitting region is uniform.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention.
Is a front view of a rear combination lamp in which a tail & stop lamp, a backup lamp, and a turn signal lamp are integrated, and Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views of the lamp (see line II-II and line III-III in Fig. 1). FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lamp (a sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1), and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining how the light emitted from the front lens is diffused. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a vertical surface area, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a concave curved surface area.

In these drawings, reference numeral 11 is a tail &
The lamp body of the stop lamp, the reference numeral 12 is the lamp body of the turn signal lamp, and the reference numeral 13 is the lamp body of the backup lamp. These are the lamp bodies of the rear combination lamps whose outer ends wrap around to the rear. Are integrally formed, and front lenses 14, 15, 16 having a predetermined functional color are formed in front opening portions of the respective lamp bodies 11, 12, 13.
Are assembled to form a lamp room S ₁ for a tail and stop lamp, a lamp room S ₂ for a turn signal lamp, and a lamp room S ₃ for a backup lamp.

Bulb insertion holes are provided in the rear walls of the lamp bodies 11, 12, and 13, and the bulbs 17, 18, and 19 are inserted into the bulb insertion holes, and the lamp bodies 11, 12, and 13 are attached. On the inner peripheral surface of the valve 17,1
The front lenses 14 and 1 in front of the light beams 8 and 19 are converted into parallel light beams.
Parabolic reflectors 11a, 12 leading to 5, 16
a and 13a are formed.

Fish-eye steps 21, 22, and 23 are formed on the back surfaces of the front lenses 14, 15, and 16, respectively, and the light reflected by the reflectors 11a, 12a, and 13a and guided to the front (parallel light) is generated. The fisheye steps 21, 22, and 23 diffuse and distribute light forward. Areas of the front lenses 15 and 16 of the turn signal lamp and the backup lamp along the front lens 14 of the tail & stop lamp are formed in a concave curved surface shape in which the vertical cross section is dented inward in an arc shape. The combination lamp has the strip-shaped concave curved surface regions 15b and 16b which cross the front lens in the substantially vertical center in the left-right direction.
The front lens 14 of the tail and stop lamp and the backup lenses and the front lenses 15 and 16 of the turn signal lamp below the front lens 14 have a novel design in which they are vertically separated. Note that reference numeral R. R. Is a reflex reflector formed integrally with the front lens 14.

The lens elements 21a constituting the fisheye step 21 of the front lens 14 are formed with a constant curvature both vertically and horizontally over the entire light emitting area of the front lens 21 and at equal pitches. On the other hand, the lens elements 22a, 22b (23a, 23b) constituting the fish-eye steps 22, 23 of the front lens 15 (16) are vertically and horizontally over the entire light emitting area of the front lens 15 (16). Although formed at equal pitches, the vertical surface area 15a (16a) and the concave curved surface area 15 are formed.
The surface curvature of the lens element in the vertical direction is different from that of b (16b). That is, the lens element 22b (23) that constitutes the fisheye step in the concave curved surface area 15b (16b).
The vertical curvature Rb of b) is the concave curved surface area 15b (16
The diffusion angle θb of the emitted light Lb from b) is the vertical surface area 15a.
It has the same size as the diffusion angle θa of the emitted light La from (16a) (focal length Fb of lens element 22b (23b)).
Is formed to have a curvature that matches the focal length Fa of the lens element 22a (23a). In other words, the radius of curvature Rb in the vertical direction of the lens element 22b (23b) of the concave curved surface area 15b (16b) is the vertical surface area 15a (16a).
Is smaller than the vertical radius of curvature Ra of the lens element 22a (23a) of the fish-eye step in, and the diffusion angle θa of the light La emitted from the vertical surface area 15a (16a) and the concave curved surface area 15a (16a) are emitted. Angle La of diffused light La
Are the same, and the luminous intensity distribution of the light emitted from the front lens 22 (23) is adjusted to be uniform in the entire light emitting area including the concave curved surface area 15b (16b). Note that fa, fb and Fa in FIGS.
Fb indicates the focal points and focal lengths of the lens elements 22a and 22b, and Fb ′ in FIG. 5B indicates the lens element 22b.
The focus is shown when the radius of curvature Ra in the vertical direction is.

Therefore, when the combination lamp is not lit, the red tail-and-stop lamp, the white backup lamp, and the amber turn signal lamp are separated by the concave and curved regions 15a and 16a, respectively, so that the combination of them looks up and down. In addition, at the time of lighting, visibility is also good because the entire light emitting region of the front lens of each lamp has the same luminous intensity distribution in each lamp.

6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the combination lamp, which corresponds to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a view showing how the light emitted from the front lens is diffused, in the first embodiment. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. In the second embodiment, the parallel light forming means provided in the lamp chambers S ₂ and S ₃ , the shape of the curved surface region 16c formed on the front lens 15 (16) and the curved surface region 16c are formed. Radius of curvature Rc of the surface of the lens element 22c
Although it is different from the first embodiment, the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, only different points will be described, and the other elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the parabolic reflectors 12a and 13a are used to form parallel light, but in the present embodiment, the Fresnel step 32 is used.
The inner lens 30 on which is formed the parallel light forming means. That is, the inner lens 30 having the Fresnel step 32 formed therein is provided inside the front lens 15, and the light emitted from the bulb 18 is refracted when passing through the inner lens 30 to become parallel light, which is reflected by the front lens 15. Go to

Further, in the above embodiment, the front lenses 15, 1
In contrast to the concave curved surface regions 15b and 16b formed in No. 6, in the present embodiment, the convex curved surface region 15 is used instead of the concave curved surface region.
c (16c) is formed. That is, the front lens 22 (23) of the turn signal lamp and the backup lamp
A convex curved surface region 15c (16c) that is convex forward and extends in the left-right direction in a strip shape is formed on the upper edge of the, and the combination lamp when not lit is the strip-shaped convex curved surface region 15c (16c) that extends in the lateral direction. The lamp has a novel design in which it is vertically separated.

The lens element of the fisheye step 22 (23) formed on the front lens 15 (16) has a vertical radius of curvature in the vertical surface area 15a (16a) and the convex curved surface area 15c (16c). Is different. That is, the radius of curvature Rc in the vertical direction of the lens element 22c (23c) forming the fisheye step in the convex curved surface area 15c (16c).
Indicates that the diffusion angle θc of the emitted light Lc from the convex curved surface area 15c (16c) is the emitted light L from the vertical surface area 15a (16a).
The same as the diffusion angle θa of a (lens element 22
The focal length Fc of c (23c) is the lens element 22a (23c).
It is formed to have a curvature (corresponding to the focal length Fa of a). In other words, the radius of curvature Rc in the vertical direction of the lens element 22c (23c) of the convex curved surface region 15c (16c)
Is the radius of curvature Ra in the vertical direction of the lens element 22a (23a) of the fisheye step in the vertical surface area 15a (16a).
Is larger than the vertical surface area 15a (16a), and the diffusion angle θa of the light La emitted from the vertical surface area 15a (16a) and the convex curved surface area 15c (16a).
The diffusion angle θc of the light Lc emitted from c) becomes the same,
The luminous intensity distribution of the light emitted from the front lens 22 (23) is adjusted to be uniform in the entire light emitting area including the convex curved surface area 15c (16c).

Therefore, also in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the lamps when not lit are separated into upper and lower parts so that they have a good appearance, and when lit, the entire light emitting area of the front lens of each lamp. Since each has the same luminous intensity distribution in each lamp, the visibility is also good.

[0019]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the vehicle lamp of the first aspect, when the lamp is not lit, a curved surface region which is formed in a part of the light emitting region of the front lens and which is concave or convex toward the front side. A new image is obtained by. Further, at the time of lighting, since the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the fisheye step forming lens element in the curved surface area of the front lens is the same as the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the fisheye step forming lens element in the portion other than the curved surface area. Since the entire light emitting area of the front lens has a uniform luminous intensity distribution, the visibility is improved. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in the curved surface region that is concave toward the front is made smaller than the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in a region other than the concave curved surface region, and the diffusion angle of the light emitted from the concave curved surface region and the concave The divergence angle of the light emitted from the portion other than the curved surface area is the same, and in the third aspect, the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in the curved surface area protruding forward is the radius of curvature of the lens element surface in the portion other than the concave curved surface area. The angle of diffusion of the light emitted from the convex curved surface area is the same as the angle of diffusion of the light emitted from the portion other than the convex curved surface area, and in both cases, the luminous intensity distribution in the light emitting area of the front lens is uniform. Therefore, the visibility is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a rear combination lamp that is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the lamp (a sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the lamp (line III-III shown in FIG. 1).
Cross section along)

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp (a sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1).

5A is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a vertical surface area, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a concave curved surface area.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rear combination lamp that is a second vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a vertical surface area, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state of diffused light in a concave curved surface area.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional automotive lamp.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how the outgoing light is diffused from the vertical surface area and the concave curved surface area of the conventional front lens.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Lamp Body 12a Reflector which is a parallel light forming means 15 Front lens 15a Vertical surface area 15b Concave curved surface area 15c Convex curved surface area 22 Fisheye step 22a, 22b, 22c Fisheye step constituent lens element 32 Fresnel step which is a parallel light forming means Ra, Rb, Rc Radius of curvature S ₂ Lamp room θa, θb, θc Diffusion angle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lamp chamber is formed by assembling a front lens having a light emitting region having a substantially uniform wall thickness and a substantially straight vertical section in a front opening of a container-shaped lamp body to form a lamp chamber, and a parallel lamp provided in the lamp chamber. In an automotive lamp in which light collimated by a light forming means is diffused and distributed forward by a fisheye step formed on the back surface of a front lens, in a part of the light emitting area of the front lens, another part of the light emitting area is provided. A curved surface region that is concave or convex is formed in the front side, which has a larger curvature than that of, and the divergence angle of the fisheye step constituent lens element in this curved surface area is the divergence angle of the fisheye step constituent lens element in other parts of the light emitting area. An automotive lamp characterized by being the same as 2. The curved surface region has a shape in which the front surface side is concave and the rear surface side is convex, and the radius of curvature of the surface of the fisheye step forming lens element in this curved surface area is in a portion other than the curved surface area of the fisheye step forming lens element. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the surface is made smaller. 3. The curved surface region has a shape in which the front surface side is convex and the rear surface side is concave, and the radius of curvature of the surface of the fisheye step constituent lens element in this curved surface area is in the portion other than the curved surface area of the fisheye step constituent lens element. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the curvature radius of the surface is made larger.