JPH11222073A - Lamp for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a single filament bulb, so that control of an emitting condition of light can be performed. SOLUTION: This headlight is constituted by providing a bulb 1, reflecting plate 3, lens cover 7, dimming member 9 arranged in an inner surface side of the lens cover 7, and a control part controlling the dimming member 9. The dimming member 9 is constituted by interposing a high polymer dispersing type liquid crystal layer between transparent substrates by switching each light shield region A1 to A3 of the dimming member 9 through the control part, between transparent and opaque condition, it is possible to select high and low beam and to cut an upper component of high beam light, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp such as a headlight, a turn signal, a stop lamp, a tail lamp, and a fog lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle-mounted lamp such as a headlight and a stop lamp, a light emission state such as switching between a high beam and a low beam is controlled.

[0003] As a conventional method of controlling the light emission state of such a vehicle-mounted lamp, for example, in the case of switching between a high beam and a low beam in a headlight, dedicated lights are provided for a high beam and a low beam, respectively. A method of switching the lighting state of these lights, a method of providing a high-beam valve and a low-beam valve in one light shared by the high beam and the low beam, and switching the lighting state of these two bulbs, Instead of providing a valve, there is a method of providing a valve having two filaments for a high beam and a low beam.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional method of controlling an illumination state or the like, a plurality of lights,
A plurality of valves or a valve having a plurality of filaments are required, which causes problems such as a complicated circuit configuration for turning on and off each valve and each filament.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of controlling the state of light emission using a single single filament bulb.

[0006]

A technical means for achieving the above object is a vehicular lamp for emitting light emitted from a light source to a vehicle outside through a predetermined light transmitting portion facing the vehicle outside. ,
Two transparent substrates disposed on an optical path of the light from the light source to the light transmitting portion so as to block at least a part of the light, and having transparent electrode layers formed on surfaces facing each other; A light control member having a predetermined liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the light control members, the light control member being capable of adjusting the transmittance of incident light with a change in an applied voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer by the two transparent electrode layers; By controlling the voltage applied between the transparent electrode layers of the light member and adjusting the light transmittance of the light control member, the radiation state of the light emitted outside the vehicle via the light transmitting portion is controlled. And a control unit that performs the control.

[0007] Preferably, the liquid crystal layer is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer in which the scattering state of incident light changes with a change in the applied voltage applied by the two transparent electrode layers.

Preferably, the vehicular lamp is for illuminating the outside of the vehicle, and the light control member is provided with the entirety of the light emitted from the light transmitting portion to the outside of the vehicle, or of the light. It is arranged so as to block only light that illuminates a predetermined illumination area, and the control unit partially or entirely controls the light transmittance of the light control member,
It is preferable to control an illumination area by the light emitted outside the vehicle via the light transmitting unit.

More preferably, the vehicular lamp is a headlight, and the control unit partially or entirely controls the light transmittance of the dimming member.
Switching between the high beam and the low beam is preferably performed.

[0010] Preferably, the control unit partially controls the light transmittance of the light control member, so that the light control member transmits a high beam of the light emitted from the light transmission unit to the light control member. It is preferable that, of the corresponding light, light that illuminates a predetermined upper partial area in the illumination area illuminated by the light corresponding to the high beam is substantially blocked and unblocked.

Further, it is preferable that the dimming member is disposed on an inner surface side of a transparent cover member provided in the translucent portion.

Preferably, the dimming member is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the bulb used as the light source, which emits light.

Further, preferably, the vehicular lamp is:
It is for performing a predetermined signal display by turning on and off, the light control member is disposed so as to cover the light transmitting portion, and the control unit is configured to transmit light of the light control member. It is preferable to control the light emission state of the vehicular lamp by controlling the rate.

[0014] Preferably, the dimming member is provided with a plurality of dimming regions in which light transmittance can be independently adjusted along a predetermined direction. It is preferable to individually control the light transmittance of each light control region of the light control member.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a headlight as a vehicular lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The headlight includes a bulb 1 as a light source, and a reflector 3 that reflects light L emitted from the bulb 1 toward the front of the vehicle.
A lens cover (transparent cover member) 7 having both a function of a lens and a cover provided in a light transmitting portion 5 where the light L reflected by the reflection plate 3 is emitted toward the outside of the vehicle; The light control member 9 is provided on the inner surface side of the cover 7 and a control unit 11 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the light control member 9 is configured.

As the bulb 1, a single filament bulb such as a halogen bulb is used. Note that the bulb 1 may be a high-pressure discharge lamp (HID) such as a mercury lamp having no filament. Various concave mirrors such as a one-focus type having a parabolic mirror surface and a two-focus type having an elliptical mirror surface are used for the reflecting plate 3. The light L emitted from the bulb 1 is provided with directivity by reflecting the emitted light L toward the front of the vehicle.

Here, a one-focus type is used for the reflector 3, and a light emitting portion of the bulb 1 is installed at the focal point.
The light L from the bulb 1 is reflected by the reflection plate 3 so as to become substantially parallel light and is emitted to the front of the vehicle. When a bifocal type is used as the reflector 3, the bulb 1 is installed at the first focal point on the reflector 3 side of the first and second two focal points, and the bulb 1 is provided. After the light L irradiated by 1 is condensed at the second focal point by the reflector 3, the light is transmitted through a predetermined convex lens, changed into substantially parallel light, and emitted toward the front of the vehicle. .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the light control member 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the dimming member 9 includes two sheet-shaped transparent substrates 41 formed of a transparent resin film or the like having transparent electrode layers 41a and 43a such as ITO films formed on surfaces facing each other. 43 and their transparent substrates 41, 4
And a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer 45 interposed therebetween.

The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer 45 is composed of a composite film (composite) of a predetermined polymer and liquid crystal.
(Nematic curvilinear alig
Need phase) type or PN (polymer ne)
2) type liquid crystal is used.

In the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer 45, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 45 is oriented in a random direction, a difference occurs in the refractive index between the polymer and the liquid crystal, and the incident light is scattered. Since the transmittance is greatly reduced, the liquid crystal becomes opaque with a cloudy appearance. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystals are arranged in the direction of the electric field, the refractive indices of the polymer and the liquid crystal match, and the incident light is scattered. The light is transmitted without being transmitted, so that it is in a transparent state.

The light control member 9 configured as described above is a sheet-like member having appropriate flexibility, and as shown in FIG.
Is attached by a method such as bonding with an adhesive so as to cover the entire surface of the light source, that is, to block the entire light L from the bulb 1 passing through the light transmitting part 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light control member 9 includes a plurality of light control areas A1, A2, and A3, each of which can independently adjust the light transmittance. The member 9 is provided so as to be divided into a plurality of upper and lower parts. The upper dimming area A1 and the upper dimming area A2 block the light L of the high beam component transmitted through the upper area 5a of the light transmitting part 5 among the light L irradiated through the light transmitting part 5. The lower dimming region A3 is provided so as to block the light L of the low beam component transmitted through the lower region 5b of the light transmitting portion 5 among the light L irradiated through the light transmitting portion 5. It is provided.

Further, the light control area A1 blocks the light L transmitted through the upper area 5c in the upper area 5a of the light transmitting section 5, that is, the light L of the high beam component among the light L of the high beam component. It is provided so as to block light L illuminating a predetermined upper partial area in the illumination area illuminated by the light. Here, the dimming area A1 is for preventing the light L emitted from the headlights when rain or snow is falling from being reflected on rain or snow and causing poor visibility, and has a high beam component. Is provided so as to cut off the light L of the further upper component of the light L.

The light transmittance of each of the light shielding areas A1 to A3 of the light control member 9 is adjusted, and the light control members A1 to A3 are adjusted.
3 is changed between a transparent state and an opaque state, so that when each of the light shielding areas A1 to A3 is in the transparent state, the light L from the bulb 1 is substantially lost in the light control member 9 without being lost. When the light is radiated outside the vehicle via the light control areas A1 to A3 and the light control areas A1 to A3 are in an opaque state, the light L from the bulb 1 has an effect within the light control areas A1 to A3 of the light control member 9. The light is emitted from the light transmitting portion 5 in a state of being scattered and weakened. As described above, the light L, which is the scattered light scattered and weakened in the light control member 9, is emitted from the light transmitting portion 5 in various directions in all directions, so that the light L is spread on oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. It does not make you feel.

The control section 11 controls each voltage by controlling the voltage applied between the transparent electrode layers 41a and 43a in each of the light control areas A1 to A3 of the light control member 9 based on the operation input from the input section 51. The light areas A1 to A3 are independently switched between a light-shielded state and a light-shielded release state. The control unit 11 also performs on / off control of the headlight.

The input unit 51 is provided with a group of operation switches such as a headlight switch for turning on and off a headlight provided around the driver's seat, a dimmer switch, and the like. When the dimmer switch of the input unit 51 is switched to the low beam, the light control areas A1 and A2 of the light control member 9 are made opaque as shown in FIG. Is blocked by the dimming member 9, while the dimming region A3 is made transparent,
Of the light L emitted from the bulb 1, the light L of the low beam component is transmitted through the light control member 9 and emitted outside the vehicle.

When the dimmer switch of the input unit 51 is switched to the high beam, the light control area A3 of the light control member 9 is made opaque as shown in FIG. The component light L is applied to the light control member 9
On the other hand, the dimming regions A1 and A2 are made transparent, while the light L of the high beam component of the light L emitted from the bulb 1 is transmitted through the dimming member 9 and radiated outside the vehicle.
When the headlight is off, the entire light control member 9 is in an opaque state.

Here, the dimming area A3 is made opaque at the time of the high beam, and the light L of the low beam component is cut off. The light may be emitted outside the vehicle together with the component light L. Further, here, not only the upper region 5a of the light transmitting portion 5 through which the light L of the high beam component passes but also the lower region 5b of the light transmitting portion 5 through which the light L of the low beam component passes are blocked. 9
However, the light control member 9 may be provided so as to block only the upper region 5a of the light transmitting portion 5.

The input unit 51 includes an operation switch for instructing the operation of the wiper, or rain or snow provided outside the vehicle, as input means for controlling the light control area A1 of the light control member 9. A snow / rain detector for detection is included. When the wiper is operating during high beam irradiation, or when it is detected that rain or snow is falling by the snow / rain detector, it is shown in FIG. As a result, the light control area A1 of the light control member 9 is made opaque by the control unit 11, so that the upper component of the light L corresponding to the high beam is cut off. Here,
The light control area A1 of the light control member 9 is automatically switched to the opaque state in conjunction with the operation of the wiper,
The switching may be manually performed by an operation switch provided on the input unit 51.

Further, the input unit 51 includes running state detecting means such as a vehicle speed sensor capable of detecting a moving state or a stopped state of the vehicle. When the headlight is turned on, the running state detecting means is detected. When the means detects that the vehicle is moving, the light control areas A1 to A3 of the light control member 9 are controlled to be transparent or opaque in accordance with the above-described situations, while the running state detecting means is being controlled. When it is detected that the vehicle is stopped, all light control areas A1 to A3 of the light control member 9 are made opaque, and the entire light L emitted from the bulb 1 is controlled by the light control member 9. It is effectively scattered and weakened. As a result, when the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or the like, the headlights are automatically turned off substantially without the need to turn off the headlights in consideration of pedestrians and the like, which is convenient. And the light L from the bulb 1 is appropriately emitted as scattered light via the light control member 9 in an opaque state.
The presence of the own vehicle can be appealed to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, and safety can be improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, each of the dimming regions A1 to A3 of the dimming member 9 disposed so as to cover the translucent portion 5 of the headlight is switched between a transparent state and an opaque state. By switching between the high beam and the low beam, switching between the high beam and the low beam can be performed by using a single single filament bulb 1 as the light source of the headlight.

Further, by using a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer for the liquid crystal layer 45, the dimming member 9 can be formed without using a polarizing plate. The member 9 can be configured.

When the wiper is operating during high beam irradiation, or when rain or snow is detected by the snow / rain detector, the light control member 9
The dimming area A1 is in an opaque state, and the upper component of the light L corresponding to the high beam is cut off, so that the light L of the headlight is reflected on rain or snow, resulting in poor visibility. Can be prevented.

When the headlight is off, the entire light control member 9 is in an opaque state.
The internal structure of the bulb 1 and the like can be prevented from being seen through the lens cover 7 from the outside, and the design of the appearance of the vehicle can be improved. At this time, if the color of the vehicle body and the color of the lens cover 7 are the same, the existence of the headlight itself can be hidden.

In the present embodiment, three light control areas A1 to A3 are provided so as to divide the light control member 9 into three upper and lower parts, but four or more light control areas are provided so as to further divide the light control member 9 into many parts. You may. This makes it possible to make fine adjustments to the irradiation light of the headlights, such as adjusting the irradiation direction (irradiation area) of the high beam and the low beam in response to changes in the inclination angle of the vehicle with respect to the horizontal direction due to loading of luggage and the like. it can.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a headlight which is a vehicular lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The headlight has a dimming member 6 having the same configuration as the dimming member 9 described above.
1 has the same configuration as that of the headlight according to the first embodiment except that it is disposed on the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 instead of being disposed on the translucent section 5, and the corresponding portions are the same. And the description is omitted.

In such a headlight, which part of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 is irradiated with the light L in the illumination area in front of the vehicle depends on the shape of the bulb 1 and the reflector. In this embodiment, a sheet-like dimming member 61 is provided so as to cover the entire periphery of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1. By switching each light control area B1, B2, B3 between a transparent state and an opaque state, a high beam
Switching of a low beam or the like is performed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a single-focus type reflecting plate 3 having a parabolic reflecting surface is used, so that the upper region 63 of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 is used.
The light L emitted from the light source a becomes the light of the high beam component, and the light L emitted from the lower region 63 b of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1.
Becomes light of a low beam component. Also,
In the present embodiment, the light L emitted from a portion closer to the distal end of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 is irradiated to the outside of the illumination area of the headlight.

The light control member 61 is a rectangular sheet-shaped member. Light control regions B1 and B2 and a light control region B3 are provided so as to divide the light control member 61 into two. The light areas B1 and B2 correspond to the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1.
In the area (upper area 63a) from which the light L of the high beam component is emitted, the light control area B3 is provided with the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1.
Are wound so as to be respectively arranged in regions (lower regions 63b) from which the light L of the low beam component is emitted, and are fixed by an adhesive or the like.

In this mounting state, the dimming area B1 and the dimming area B2 are provided so as to divide the area 63a of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 from which the light L of the high beam component is emitted into two front and rear parts. , These two dimming regions B
By setting one of the light control areas 1 and B2 (in this case, the light control area B1 located on the front end side of the bulb 1) to be in an opaque state, the light L of the high beam component is reflected by rain or snow and has poor visibility. The light La of the upper component which is expressed as follows is cut off.

Then, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, based on a command from the input section 51, the control section 11 causes the light control areas B1 to B3 of the light control member 61 to change between a transparent state and an opaque state. And the light L emitted from each part of the outer peripheral surface 63 of the bulb 1 is transmitted to each light control area B of the light control member 61.
By performing light shielding and light shielding release at 1 to B3, it is possible to perform similar illumination state control such as switching between a high beam and a low beam and cutting an upper component of high beam light. The light control regions B1, B2, and B3 of the light control member 61 correspond to the light control regions A1, A2, and A3 of the light control member 9, respectively, and the control contents of the light control regions B1 to B3 are as described above. Since the contents of control are the same as those of the light control areas A1 to A3 described above, description thereof is omitted here. FIG. 5 shows the illumination state of the headlight when the high beam is set, and FIG. 8 shows the illumination state of the headlight when the low beam is set.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the switching between the high beam and the low beam can be performed using a single single filament bulb 1 as the light source of the headlight, as in the first embodiment. Effects can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the light control member 61 is disposed on the entire outer peripheral surface of the bulb 1, but may be disposed only on a portion from which light of a high beam component is emitted.

In this embodiment, the light control member 61 is
Although the light control area is divided into two light control areas B1 to B3, the light control area may be further divided into a large number of light control areas to control the illumination area of the headlight more finely.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the example in which the vehicle lamp according to each embodiment is applied to a headlight has been described. However, the invention is applied to an illumination lamp for another vehicle such as a fog lamp. Is also good.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of a turn signal which is a vehicular lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
0 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the turn signal. The turn signal 70 includes a bulb (light source) 71 such as an incandescent bulb.
A reflecting plate 73 for reflecting light L emitted from the valve 71 to the back side thereof toward the front side to efficiently use the light L;
A lens cover 77 installed to cover the light transmitting portion 75, which is a portion where the light L emitted from the valve 71 is emitted to the outside of the vehicle, and a lens on the inner surface side of the lens cover 77. The light control member 79 is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the cover 77, and a control unit (not shown) that controls on / off of the valve 71 and controls the light control member 79.

Here, the lens cover 77 is
As a lens for uniformly dispersing the light L from the lens, a function to protect the inside of the turn signal 70,
A function as a color filter for converting the color of one light L into a predetermined display color (yellow).

The light control member 79 is a sheet member having the same configuration as the light control member 9 described above, and is installed on the inner surface side of the lens cover 77 by a method such as bonding and fixing. This light control member 7
9 is provided with a plurality of dimming regions 79a so that the dimming member 79 is vertically divided into a plurality.

Each light control area 79a of the light control member 79 can be independently switched between a light transparent state and an opaque state by a control unit.
The light L emitted to the outside through the light 7 can be shielded and unblocked independently for each dimming region 79a. Therefore, when the turn signal 70 is viewed from the outside when the bulb 71 is turned on, only the portion of the lens cover 77 facing the light control member 79a in which the light control member 79 is in a transparent state appears to emit light. It has become. When the turn signal 70 is not operated, the light control member 79 is made to be entirely opaque.

In the turn signal 70 configured as described above, since the on / off control of the light emitting state can be performed for each light adjusting area 79a of the light adjusting member 79, various control methods of the light emitting state can be considered. When an instruction to activate the turn signal 71 is input to the control unit, the valve 71 is turned on, and one of the plurality of dimming regions 79a of the dimming member 79 is changed from an opaque state to a transparent state. It is conceivable to sequentially switch one light control area 79a in the transparent state outward. As a result, when the turn signal 70 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 11, the light emitting area 77a of the lens cover 77 moves sequentially in the direction of the arrow 81, and the visibility is improved by moving the light emitting area. It can be planned. In this case, during the operation period of the turn signal 70,
The movement of the light emitting area 77a from inside to outside is repeated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, each of the dimming regions 79a of the dimming member 79 disposed on the inner surface side of the lens cover 77 is switched between the transparent state and the opaque state, thereby turning the turn signal. Since the light emitting state of the lens 70 is controlled, the light emitting state of the lens cover 77 can be controlled using the single valve 71.

Further, since the light emission state of each portion of the lens cover 77 opposed to each light adjustment region 79a of the light adjustment member 79 can be controlled independently, the light emission region 77 in the lens cover 77 can be controlled.
It is possible to perform an effective signal display that is rich in variations such as moving a and has good visibility.

Further, when the turn signal 70 is not operated, the entire light control member 99 is in an opaque state, so that the internal structure such as the bulb 71 can be prevented from being seen through the lens cover 77 from the outside. Therefore, the design of the appearance of the vehicle can be improved. At this time, if the body color and the color of the lens cover 77 are the same,
The existence of the turn signal 70 itself can also be hidden.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the vehicle lamp according to the present embodiment is applied to a turn signal has been described. However, the present invention is applied to other vehicle lamps such as a stop lamp and a tail lamp for signal display and warning display. May be.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal is used for the liquid crystal layer 45 of the light control members 9, 61, and 79. However, a predetermined polarizing plate is provided on the outer surfaces of the transparent substrates 41 and 43. TN (twist) for changing the polarization direction of the incident light according to the change in the applied voltage to the liquid crystal layer 45.
ed nematic) type or STN (supert)
A liquid crystal layer of a twisted nematic type may be used.

[0056]

According to the first to ninth aspects of the present invention,
A light control member is disposed on the optical path of the light emitted from the light source so as to block at least a part of the light, by controlling the light transmittance of the light control member by the control unit,
Since the emission state of light from the light source emitted to the outside of the vehicle via the predetermined light transmitting portion is controlled, it is not necessary to use a plurality of bulbs for the light source or to use a bulb having a plurality of filaments. By using a single single filament bulb as a light source, it is possible to control a radiation state such as an illumination area and a light emission state of light emitted to the outside of the vehicle via the light transmitting portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by using a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer for the liquid crystal layer, a light control member can be formed without using a polarizing plate. The light control member with a small loss can be formed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the light control member blocks the entirety of the light emitted from the light transmitting portion to the outside of the vehicle, or only the light that illuminates a predetermined illumination area of the light. The control unit partially or totally controls the light transmittance of the light control member, so that the illumination area by the light emitted outside the vehicle through the light transmission unit is controlled. Because of the control, the illumination area can be controlled using a single single filament bulb as the light source.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control section controls the light transmittance of the light control member partially or entirely so that switching between the high beam and the low beam is performed. Therefore, switching between the high beam and the low beam can be performed using a single single filament bulb as the light source of the headlight.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when rain or snow is falling, the light control member is supplied to the light control member through the control unit, and the light corresponding to the high beam emitted from the light transmitting unit is transmitted to the high beam. Preventing the light of the headlight from reflecting on rain or snow and causing poor visibility by substantially blocking the light that illuminates a predetermined partial area above the illumination area illuminated by the corresponding light. Can be.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the light control member is provided so as to cover the light transmitting section, and the control section controls the light transmittance of the light control member, Since the light emission state of the vehicle lamp is controlled, the light emission state of the vehicle lamp can be controlled using a single single filament bulb as the light source.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the light control member is provided with a plurality of light control areas along the predetermined direction in which the light transmittance can be adjusted independently. By individually controlling the light transmittance of each dimming region of the dimming member by the portion, for example, the light-transmitting portion is partially illuminated and the partially illuminated region is adjusted by the dimming member. It is possible to perform an effective signal display that is rich in variations such as movement in the arrangement direction of the light regions and has good visibility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a headlight that is a vehicular lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a light control member used in the headlight of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of the headlight of FIG. 1 at the time of a high beam.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an upper component of the high beam light is cut off at the time of the high beam of the headlight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a headlight which is a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a light control member is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a bulb used in the headlight of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a planar configuration of a light control member used in the headlight of FIG. 1;

8 is a diagram showing a state of the headlight of FIG. 5 at the time of a low beam.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a turn signal which is a vehicular lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the turn signal shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a light emitting state of the turn signal shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 bulb 3 reflector 5 light transmitting part 7 lens cover 9 dimming member 11 control part 41, 43 transparent substrate 41 a, 43 a transparent electrode layer 45 polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer 61 dimming member 70 turn signal 71 valve 75 light transmitting part 77 Lens cover 79 Light control member 79a, A1 to A3, B1 to B3 Light control area

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular lamp that emits light emitted by a light source to the outside of a vehicle via a predetermined light-transmitting portion facing the outside of the vehicle, wherein the optics of the light from the light source to the light-transmitting portion is provided. A predetermined liquid crystal layer disposed on the path so as to block at least a part of the light, and sandwiched by two transparent substrates having transparent electrode layers formed on surfaces facing each other; A light control member capable of adjusting the transmittance of incident light in accordance with a change in an applied voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer by both transparent electrode layers, and controlling a voltage applied between the two transparent electrode layers of the light control member. By adjusting the light transmittance of the light control member,
A control unit for controlling a radiation state of the light emitted outside the vehicle via the light transmitting unit. 2. The liquid crystal layer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer in which a scattering state of incident light changes with a change in an applied voltage applied by the two transparent electrode layers. The vehicle lighting device as described in the above. 3. The vehicle lighting device is for illuminating the outside of the vehicle, and the dimming member is configured to illuminate the entirety of the light emitted from the translucent portion to the outside of the vehicle or a predetermined illumination of the light. The control unit is disposed so as to block only the light that illuminates the area, and the control unit partially or entirely controls the light transmittance of the light control member, through the light transmitting unit. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein an illumination area by the light emitted outside the vehicle is controlled. 4. The vehicular lamp is a headlight, and the control unit partially or totally controls the light transmittance of the dimming member to switch between a high beam and a low beam. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein the vehicular lighting is performed. 5. The light control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit partially controls the light transmittance of the light control member, so that the light control unit controls the light control member to emit light corresponding to a high beam of the light emitted from the light transmission unit. 5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 4, wherein the light that illuminates a predetermined partial area above the illumination area illuminated by the light corresponding to the high beam is substantially blocked and unblocked. 6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein the dimming member is disposed on an inner surface side of a transparent cover member provided in the translucent portion. 7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein the dimming member is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the bulb used as the light source for irradiating light. 8. The vehicular lamp is for displaying a predetermined signal by turning on and off, and the dimming member is disposed so as to cover the translucent portion. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the unit controls a light emission state of the vehicle lighting device by controlling a light transmittance of the light control member. 9. The dimming member includes a plurality of dimming regions in which light transmittance can be independently adjusted along a predetermined direction. 9. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein the light transmittance of each of the dimming regions is individually controlled.