JPH085062Y2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp using an optical fiber, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp capable of avoiding defective lighting due to a failure of a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vehicular lamps using optical fibers have been proposed. For example, one end of the optical fiber is arranged in the vehicle lamp, while the other end is arranged in the light source, and the light emitted from the light source is introduced from the other end of the optical fiber and led out from one end to turn on the lamp. The configuration is made to let. In this type of lamp, since the light source and the lamp can be arranged separately and separately, there is an advantage that the lamp can be downsized and thinned.

[0003]

However, in the conventional lamp of this type, one light source is provided corresponding to one lamp, and these lamps and light sources are connected by an optical fiber. There is. For this reason, when the light source fails and the light emission becomes defective, the light is not introduced into the optical fiber connected thereto, and the corresponding lamp is not turned on. Therefore, the corresponding lamp is not turned on unless the light source in which the failure has occurred is repaired, which is not preferable in terms of safe operation of the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of ensuring safe operation by avoiding a state in which the lamp is completely turned off even when one light source fails.

[0004]

The vehicle lamp of the present invention comprises:
It is composed of at least two or more independent light sources and a plurality of optical fibers. One end of each optical fiber is arranged on the same line, and the other ends of adjacent optical fibers are bundled as different optical fiber bundles. , Connect the other ends of these optical fiber bundles to different light sources , and
Extends in the direction of the optical fiber array in front of one end of the fiber
A circular rod-shaped collimator lens is provided.

[0005]

According to the present invention, even when a failure occurs in one light source, the light from another light source can be guided to the lamp, and the non-lighted state of the lamp is avoided. Even in that case, circular rod shape
The collimator lens of the
It can be diffused and the optical fiber can be
Lighting condition is uniform without stripes in the array direction of the bar
Brightness and collects light in a direction orthogonal to this
It is possible to perform lighting with a narrow line width.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a high mount stop lamp of an automobile. In the figure, a high mount stop lamp 2 is installed at an upper position of a rear window glass 1 in a vehicle compartment. The lamp body 3 is formed by molding resin or the like into a horizontally long box shape, and the front portion thereof is opened to form a window portion 3a. A mounting piece 4 is integrally provided on the rear surface of the lamp body 3 so as to face upward.
Is fixed to the inner panel 5 of the vehicle body supporting the rear window glass 1 with screws 6, and the front window portion 3a is directed toward the rear window glass 1 side. A rubber material 7 is fitted around the window portion, and the lamp body 3 itself is supported by the rear window glass 1 by elastically contacting the lamp body 3 with the rear window glass 1.

Further, a lens holder 8 is fixed in the lamp body 3 at both ends in its length direction with screws 9.
The lens holder 8 holds one end portions 10 a of a plurality of optical fibers 10 and a collimator lens 11. The one end 10a of the optical fiber 10 is aligned in a line in the horizontal direction. The collimator lens 11 is composed of a cylindrical lens, and the peripheral surface of the collimator lens 11 has one end 1 of the optical fiber 10.
The axis is aligned with the alignment direction of the optical fibers at a position apart from 0a by a small dimension. Further, an outer lens 12 integrally formed with a cylindrical lens is integrally fixed to the front window portion 8a of the lens holder 8 in order to diffuse light in the left-right direction. Incidentally, 13 is a weather strip.

The other end 10b of the optical fiber 10 is guided to the back of the lens holder and is bundled in a state where it is branched into two at the other end. As shown in the conceptual configuration in FIG. 1, the branched optical fiber bundles 10A and 10B are
, And the second light source units 14A and 14B, respectively. In this case, the optical fibers 10 arranged in a line in one row are alternately branched and are connected to the first and second light source units 14A and 14B, respectively.

These light source units 14A and 14B convert the light emitted from the built-in light source into the respective optical fiber bundles 10A and 1A.
It is configured to be introduced at 0B. For example, in the first light source unit 14A, as shown in FIG. 3, the other end 10b of the optical fiber bundle 10A is connected and supported by a transparent fiber holder 15 having a substantially spherical surface. The fiber holder 15 is made of heat-resistant glass, and the inner surface thereof has the other end 10 of the optical fiber.
By contacting b while heating, the other end 10b
And the fiber holder 15 are integrally welded. Further, L-shaped attachment pieces 16 are integrally provided at both ends of the fiber holder 15, and the attachment pieces 16 allow the fiber holder 1 to be attached.
5 is fixed to the opening of the reflecting mirror 17 with a screw 18. The reflecting mirror 17 is formed in a spheroidal shape, and a light source 20 as a light source is attached to a socket 19 penetratingly supported on the bottom thereof. Then, the light emitted from the light bulb 20 is reflected on the inner surface of the reflecting mirror 17 and then projected on the spherical surface of the fiber holder 15, and the other end portion 10 is added to the optical fiber bundle 10A.
It is introduced from b.

In the high mount stop lamp thus constructed, the first and second light source units 14A,
The light emitted from 14B is the optical fiber bundles 10A, 10
It is introduced into each inside from the other end portion 10b of B. Then, in each of the optical fiber bundles 10A and 10B, the light is transmitted inside the respective optical fibers 10 and guided to the one end 10a. Then, the light emitted from the end surface of the one end 10a is output as parallel light having a vertical width dimension substantially equal to the diameter by the collimator lens 11 and further emitted while being slightly diffused left and right by the outer lens 12, and the rear window glass It is injected to the outside through 1. Therefore, a line-shaped light beam having a narrow width substantially equal to the diameter of the collimator lens 11 can be emitted, and it can be used as a stop lamp having an extremely narrow line width.

Further, in this high mount stop lamp, the first and second light source units 14A and 14B are provided.
Therefore, when one of the light source units does not emit light due to a failure or the like, the lighting state of the lamp can be secured by using the optical fiber connected to the light source unit on the light emitting side. At this time, each light source unit 1
Optical fiber bundles 10A and 10B connected to 4A and 14B
Since one end of the light source is alternately lined up, even if one of the light source units is not lit, every other optical fiber connected to the other light source unit is lit up, so that as a whole Even if the light amount is decreased, it is possible to realize the illumination with the uniform light intensity as in the normal time.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conceptual configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to left and right stop lamps of an automobile. In the figure, 1
4A and 14B are the first and second light source units, 1A,
1B is a left stop lamp part and a right stop lamp part, respectively. First and second optical fiber bundles 10C and 10D
Bundle the other end portions of the first and second light source units 14
It is connected to A and 14B. In addition, each optical fiber bundle 10
One end of each of C and 10D is branched into two, one of which is connected to the left stop lamp portion 1A and the other of which is connected to the right stop lamp portion 1B. Then, in the left and right stop lamp sections 1A and 1B, respectively, as in the case of the first embodiment, the first and second optical fiber bundles 10C and 10D, respectively.
The optical fibers are alternately arranged at one end. Actually, in each of the left and right stop lamps, as shown in the vertical sectional view of the left stop lamp 1A in FIG. It is configured to light up. In the figure,
30 is a lamp body, 31 is an optical fiber holder, 32 is a collimator lens, 33 is an inner lens, and 34 is an outer lens.

6 and 7 are front views of a third embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a rear combination lamp and its AA.
It is a line sectional view, and the rear combination lamp 40 integrally comprises a stop lamp 41, a backup lamp 42, a turn signal lamp 43, and a tail lamp 44. A black fiber holder 46 is provided inside the lamp body 45, and a large number of optical fibers 10 whose ends are arranged in a horizontal line are arranged vertically in a large number of rows. A collimator lens 47 is integrally supported with the fiber holder 46 at the front position of each optical fiber 10, and a colorless inner diffusion lens 48 is provided at the front position of the collimator lens 47. The inner diffusion lens 48 constitutes a step of forming a reflex reflector 49 in a part thereof. An outer lens 50 configured as a smoke lens is attached to the front opening of the lamp body 45.

Each of the optical fibers 10 is configured as a predetermined optical fiber bundle, and the other end of each is selectively connected to a plurality of light source units as schematically shown.
In this embodiment, all the optical fibers arranged as the tail lamps 44 are connected to a low brightness red light source unit 51 that outputs red light. The optical fibers arranged as the stop lamps 41 are arranged in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction at every other one of the low-luminance red light source unit 51 and the high-luminance red light source unit 5.
Connected to 2. Similarly, the backup lamps 42 are connected to the low-luminance red light source unit 51 and the white light source unit 53 every other up, down, left and right. Similarly, the turn signal lamp 43 is connected to the low-luminance red light source unit 51 and the amber (yellow) light source unit 54 every other vertically and horizontally.

According to this structure, if only the low-brightness red light source unit 51 is turned on at night, etc., the entire rear combination lamp 40, that is, the stop lamp 41, the backup lamp 42, the turn signal lamp 43, and the tail lamp 44 are turned on. Red light is lit with low brightness over all the lamps. And the high-brightness red light source unit 5
When 2 is turned on, the stop lamp 41 is turned on in red with higher brightness. Further, when the white light source unit 53 is turned on, the backup lamp 42 is turned on in white in addition to the low-intensity red, so that it is turned on in white as a whole. Similarly, when the amber light source unit 54 is turned on, the turn signal lamp 43 is turned on in the amber color as a whole because the amber color is added in addition to the low-intensity red.
Of course, during the daytime, the low-brightness red light source unit 51 is not turned on, and the other high-brightness red light source unit 52 and the white light source unit 5 are not turned on.
3. It is only necessary to turn on the amber light source unit 54.

Also in this configuration, even if one light source unit fails, it is possible to prevent one lamp from being completely turned off by turning on the other light source unit, thus ensuring safe operation of the vehicle. can do.
Further, this embodiment is also advantageous in terms of the design of the rear combination lamp. Although only the left rear combination lamp is shown here, it is also possible to perform compensation between the left and right lamps by combining light source units between the left and right rear combination lamps as shown in FIG. it can.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, among the optical fibers arranged on the same line, adjacent optical fibers are bundled as different optical fiber bundles, and each optical fiber bundle is connected to a different light source. Because of the configuration, even if one light source fails, the light from the other light source is guided to the lamp and the light amount is slightly reduced, but it is possible to secure lighting in a uniform brightness state as usual. In addition, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the lighting state of the lighting fixture and to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle. Also as above
One of the light sources fails in the
Even if the bar is no longer lit,
Diffuse light in the array direction of the optical fiber with a remeter lens
Can be turned on and off in one optical fiber
Depending on the condition, the illumination condition may be striped in the optical fiber array direction.
Can be illuminated with uniform brightness
To prevent deterioration of appearance and secure safe operation of vehicles
You can make sure. In addition, a round rod-shaped collimator
Direction perpendicular to the array direction of the optical fiber
Line-shaped illumination with a narrow line width to focus light on
Can be effectively performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a light source unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a lamp unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 optical fiber 10A, 10B optical fiber bundle 11 collimator lens 14A, 14B light source unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G02B 6/00

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. At least two independent light sources and a plurality of optical fibers are provided, one end of each optical fiber is arranged on the same line, and the other ends of adjacent optical fibers are different from each other. They are bundled as a fiber bundle, and the other ends of these optical fiber bundles are connected to different light sources ,
The optical fiber is placed in front of one end of the optical fiber.
A circular rod-shaped collimator lens extending in the row direction
A vehicle lamp characterized by being provided.