JPH11306810A - Vehicular marker lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular marker lamp, whereby the appearance when the lighting fixture is lit on can be improved and realized with low cost and without structural wastage. SOLUTION: A lamp chamber is formed by a lens 12 and a lamp body 14. The lamp chamber has therein lighting fixture units 16 and 18 for table lamp and a lighting fixture unit 20 for stop lamp. The lighting fixture unit 16 comprises a light source unit 22, and a reflector 24. The lighting fixture unit 20 is provided in a forward position of the light source unit 22, so that direct light from the light source unit 22 directed forward is shielded and the light source unit 22 is not seen from the forward of the lighting fixture portion. Only the light reflected by a reflecting surface 24a of the reflector 24 in light emitted from the light source unit 22 is projected forward. Thus, when the lighting fixture unit 16 is observed from the forward side, the lighting fixture 16 is seen as uniformly lit softly through indirect lighting effect. In addition, a light shielding structure which is needed when the lighting fixture 16 is made bright by indirect lighting is used as another lighting fixture unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular marker lamp, and more particularly to a structure for improving the appearance when a lamp is turned on.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a vehicular marker lamp includes a light source, a reflector for reflecting light from the light source forward, and a lens provided in front of the reflector.
In conventional vehicle marker lights, not only the reflected light from the reflector but also the direct light from the light source is radiated forward, so when the lamp is turned on, the appearance when viewed from the outside is mediocre and the appearance of the lamp is mediocre Is not so good.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, a light-shielding film 6 is applied to the inner surface of the lens 2 in front of the light source 4 (or a coating film or the like is formed) to perform a light-shielding process on the lens 2. By blocking direct light from the light source 4 toward the front, only the reflected light from the reflector 8 is radiated to the front, so that the indirect lighting effect makes it possible to uniformly illuminate the lamp with a soft feeling. Thus, the appearance when the lamp is turned on can be improved.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned vehicle marker lamp, it is necessary to perform a light-shielding process on the lens, so that the cost of the lamp is increased by that much, and the portion where the light-shielding process is performed is required. Does not fulfill the function as a lamp, so that there is a problem that the lamp is structurally wasteful.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to improve the appearance at the time of lighting of a lamp by an indirect lighting effect, and at the same time, reduce the cost and the structure without waste. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle marker light that can be realized.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in order to block direct light from a light source toward the front, instead of simply performing a light-shielding process on a lens as in the prior art, another lamp unit is provided. Thereby, the above object is achieved.

That is, a vehicular marker lamp according to the present invention comprises a light source, a reflector for reflecting light from the light source forward, and a lens provided in front of the reflector. In a vehicular marker lamp provided with, another lamp is provided at a position in front of the light source between the reflector and the lens so as to block direct light directed forward from the light source. Things.

The above "other lamp unit" means a lamp unit which performs a lamp function independently of the lamp while sharing the lamp and lens constituted by the combination of the light source, the reflector and the lens. It is. The lamp function of the “other lamp unit” may be the same function as the lamp described above or may be a different function. The position of the "other lamp unit" with respect to the lamp is not particularly limited. For example, the lamp unit may be provided near one of the upper, lower, left and right ends of the lamp, or at the center.

The specific configuration of the "light source" such as the type, number and arrangement is not particularly limited, and examples of the type include an incandescent bulb, a light emitting diode, and a neon tube. The same applies to the light source of the “other lamp unit”.

[0010]

As described above, the vehicular marker lamp according to the present invention is provided with another lamp unit in front of the light source between the reflector and the lens, so that the light source, the reflector and the lens are provided. The first consisting of
And a second lamp comprising the other lamp unit and the lens. However, the other lamp unit is provided so as to block direct light from the light source toward the front. As for the light from the light source, only the light reflected by the reflector is irradiated forward. Therefore, when the first lamp is observed from the front, the first lamp appears to be uniformly shining with a soft feeling due to the indirect lighting effect.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light-shielding structure necessary for illuminating the first lamp with indirect illumination has a function as the second lamp, so that only the light-shielding structure as in the prior art is used. It is possible to prevent a cost increase and a structural waste caused when a light shielding process is performed on the lens.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the appearance when the lamp is turned on can be improved by the indirect lighting effect,
In addition, this can be realized at low cost and structurally without waste.

Further, according to the present invention, when the first and second lamps are simultaneously turned on, the first lamp appears to shine at a position away from the second lamp rearward, so that the lamp has a three-dimensional appearance. Can be provided.

As described above, the configuration of the "light source" is not particularly limited. However, when the "light source" is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes, the reflecting surface of the reflector is provided. Even when the surface shape and external shape of the light emitting device are complicated, light can be uniformly incident on the reflecting surface from the light source, whereby uniform light irradiation by indirect illumination can be easily obtained.

The reflecting surface of the reflector may be a quadratic surface such as a paraboloid of revolution, a free-form surface obtained by deforming the surface, or a reference to these surfaces. Although it may be configured to include a plurality of formed reflective elements, if the reflective surface is configured by a plurality of reflective elements, light from a light source can be reflected by each reflective element and the entire reflective surface can be illuminated discretely. it can. Furthermore, in this case, as described in claim 4, if each of the reflection elements is configured by a diffuse reflection element, the light distribution performance of the lamp can be ensured even when the lens is made transparent. The reflective surface can be clearly seen through the transparent lens, and thereby the indirect lighting effect of the first lamp can be further enhanced.

In the above structure, if a light emitting diode and a small reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light emitting diode in a forward direction are provided at a plurality of positions on the reflecting surface, indirect illumination is achieved. The effect makes it possible to superimpose a bright portion that shines in a scattered manner on the reflective surface that shines uniformly and softly, thereby giving an accent to the appearance when the lamp is lit. In this case, the light emitting diode and the small reflecting surface may be used as a part of the first lamp, or may be used as a lamp unit performing a new lamp function.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle marker light according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II.

As shown in these figures, the vehicle marker light 10 according to the present embodiment is a tail and stop lamp, and a lens 12 and the rear thereof (behind the marker lamp and forward of the vehicle). In the lamp room formed by the lamp body 14), three lamp units 16, 18 are provided.
And 20 are provided.

The lens 12 is a transparent lens, and the function as a tail lamp is integrated in the lamp units 16 and 18, and the function as a stop lamp is integrated in the lamp unit 20 (another lamp unit). ing.

The lamp unit 16 includes a light source unit 22 provided at a rear portion of a lower region in the lamp room, and a reflector 24 provided above the light source unit 22.

The light source unit 22 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 26 (light sources) provided at equal pitches in the left-right direction.
And a PC board 2 supporting these light emitting diodes 26
8, an inner body 30 fixed to the rear wall of the lamp body 14 so as to support the PC board 28, and an inner lens 32 fixed to the upper end of the inner body 30. Each of the light emitting diodes 26 is
The optical axis Ax1 is set upward. The inner lens 32 is formed with a cylindrical lens step 32s extending in the front-rear direction, so that light from each light-emitting diode 26 is diffused and transmitted upward in the left-right direction.

The reflector 24 is fixed to the lamp body 14 at both upper and lower ends. The reflection surface 24a of the reflector 24 is composed of a plurality of diffuse reflection elements 24s formed in horizontal stripes. The vertical cross-sectional shape of each of the diffuse reflection elements 24s is such that the optical axis Ax2 extending in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the emission center of each light-emitting diode 26
, And a convex curve based on each of the multiple parabolas set with the emission center as a common focus. Thus, each diffuse reflection element 24s diffuses and reflects light from each light emitting diode 26 in the vertical direction toward the front.

As described above, in the lamp unit 16,
The light from each light emitting diode 26 is diffused forward and downward and left and right by the inner lens 32 and the reflector 24, and is radiated to the front of the lamp through the lens 12.

The lamp unit 18 includes a reflector 24
A plurality of small reflectors 34 integrally formed in a concave shape at equal pitches in the left-right direction at a substantially central position in the vertical direction of the reflection surface 24a, and projects forward from a small hole formed in the rear top portion of each of the small reflectors 34 It comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes 36 provided as described above and a PC board 38 fixed to the rear wall of the lamp body 14 by screws so as to support the light emitting diodes 36.

Each light emitting diode 36 has its optical axis A
x3 is set to face forward. The small reflecting surface 34a of each of the small reflectors 34 is formed in an elliptical shape when viewed from the front of the lamp, and has a surface shape with the optical axis Ax3 as the center axis and the light emission center of each light emitting diode 36 as the focal point. The object surface is a curved surface deformed toward the optical axis Ax3.

As a result, in the lamp unit 18,
The light from each light emitting diode 36 is diffused and reflected forward and downward and left and right by each small reflector 34,
This is radiated directly through the lens 12 to the front of the lamp.

The lamp unit 20 is provided at a position in front of the light source unit 22 in the lamp room. The lamp unit 20 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 40 provided in a lattice at equal pitches in the vertical and horizontal directions.
(A second light source), a PC board 42 supporting the light emitting diodes 40, and a reflector panel 44 fixed to the lens 12 so as to support the PC board 42.
And is provided.

In the reflector panel 44, a plurality of small reflecting surfaces 44a are formed in a lattice shape, and each light emitting diode 40 projects forward from a small hole formed at the rear top of each small reflecting surface 44a. It has become. The optical axis Ax4 of each of the light emitting diodes 40 is set forward, and the surface shape of each small reflection surface 44a is
, And a paraboloid of revolution having the light emission center of each light emitting diode 40 as a focal point and a curved surface deformed away from the optical axis Ax4.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, a horizontal rib 12a projecting rearward is formed on the inner surface of the lens 12, and a reflector panel 4 is provided on the rear end surface of the horizontal rib 12a.
4 is fixed by welding. Further, the PC board 42 is lance-fixed by lance engagement pieces 44b provided at both upper and lower ends of the reflector panel 44.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the vehicular marker lamp 10 is observed from the front, the lamp chamber can be seen through the transparent lens 12, but another lamp chamber is located below the lamp chamber with the horizontal rib 12a as a boundary. It appears to be formed.

In the tail lamp lighting mode, the lamp units 16 and 18 are turned on.
As shown in (1), the reflection surface 24a of the reflector 24 forming the lamp unit 16 and the light-emitting diodes 36 and the small reflection surface 34a of each small reflector 34 forming the lamp unit 18 appear to shine.

At this time, since the lamp unit 20 is provided in front of the light source unit 22 of the lamp unit 16, the direct light that goes forward from each light emitting diode 26 and the light that is reflected inside the light source unit 22 and goes forward. The stray light is shielded by the lamp unit 20, whereby only light reflected from the reflecting surface 24a of the reflector 24 is emitted forward from the light from each light emitting diode 26. For this reason, when the lamp unit 16 is observed from the front, the reflection surface 24a appears to shine uniformly with a soft feeling due to the indirect lighting effect.

Moreover, since the reflection surface 24a is composed of a plurality of diffuse reflection elements 24s, the reflection surface 24a which shines in a horizontal stripe shape through the transparent lens 12 can be seen clearly.
This further enhances the indirect lighting effect.

Also, the presence of the lamp unit 20 can prevent the light source unit 22 from being seen through the lens 12 from the front of the lamp when not lit.

The cylindrical lens step 32s of the light source unit 22 is used to diffuse the light from each of the light emitting diodes 26 to the left and right to make incident light on the reflecting surface 24a uniform, thereby enhancing the indirect illumination light effect. If the number of light emitting diodes 26 is large, it is not always necessary to provide the cylindrical lens step 32s.

On the other hand, the lamp unit 18 was observed from the front because the direct light from the plurality of light emitting diodes 36 and the light reflected on the plurality of small reflecting surfaces 34a were radiated forward. At this time, each light emitting diode 36 appears to shine with high brightness, and each small reflecting surface 34a
Also appear to shine with relatively high brightness.

In the stop lamp lighting mode, FIG.
As shown in (b), the lamp unit 20 is turned on, and the direct light from the plurality of light emitting diodes 40 constituting the lamp unit and the reflected light from the plurality of small reflecting surfaces 44a are radiated forward. When the light emitting diode 20 is observed from the front, each light emitting diode 40 appears to shine with high luminance, and each small reflection surface 44a also appears to shine with relatively high luminance. FIG.
(B) shows the appearance in the tail & stop lamp lighting mode, and the lamp units 16 and 18 are also lit at the same time.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the light-shielding structure required for illuminating the tail lamp with indirect illumination is provided with a function as a stop lamp, so that the light-shielding process is performed on the lens only for the purpose of light-shielding only. Cost and structural waste can be prevented.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the appearance when the lamp is turned on can be improved by the indirect lighting effect, and this can be realized at low cost and structurally without waste.

Also, in the present embodiment, the presence of the lamp unit 20 can prevent the light source unit 22 from being seen through the lens 12 from the front of the lamp when the lamp is not lit.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the tail lamp is lit, a bright portion that shines in a scattered manner is superimposed on the reflective surface 24a that shines uniformly with a soft feeling due to the indirect lighting effect. Can have an accent. On the other hand, when the tail & stop lamp is turned on, the reflection surface 24a of the lamp unit 16 and each light emitting diode 36 and each small reflection surface 34a of the lamp unit 18 move backward from each light emitting diode 40 and each small reflection surface 44a of the lamp unit 20. Since it appears to be shining from a distance, the lamp can have a three-dimensional effect.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle marker lamp 1
Although the case where 0 is a tail & stop lamp has been described, the lamp unit 16 is used for a tail lamp as shown in FIG. 5A and the lamp unit 18 is used for a stop lamp as shown in FIG. It is also possible to use the lamp unit 20 for a turn signal lamp. In the case of such a lamp configuration, only the illumination by the indirect illumination is performed when the tail lamp is turned on, so that the indirect illumination effect can further emphasize the soft and uniform illuminating feeling.

The above three lamp units 16, 18
And 20 may be turned on at the same time and used for a tail lamp. This makes it possible to always maintain the lighting in a three-dimensional manner when the vehicle is running at night.

Further, various lamp configurations other than those described above can be adopted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the stop lamp of the above embodiment is divided into two right and left parts, and one of them is a turn signal lamp, and as shown in FIG. A lamp configuration in which && stop lamps and turn signal lamps are arranged upside down with respect to the above embodiment, a lamp configuration in which tail & stop lamps and turn signal lamps are arranged on the left and right as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3D, a lamp configuration or the like in which a turn signal lamp is arranged at the lower center and surrounded by a tail and stop lamp can be adopted.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a vehicle marker light according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

As shown in these figures, the vehicular marker lamp 50 according to this embodiment is also a tail & stop lamp, and is provided in a lamp room formed by a lens 52 and a lamp body 54 behind the lens 52. Two lamp units 56 and 58 are provided.

The lens 52 is a transparent lens, and the function as a tail lamp is integrated in a lamp unit 56, and the function as a stop lamp is integrated in a lamp unit 58 (another lamp unit). .

The lamp unit 56 includes a light source unit 60 provided at a rear portion of a lower region in the lamp room, and a reflector 62 provided above the light source unit 60. The reflector 62 is configured as a part of the lamp body 54.

The light source unit 60 includes a pair of left and right incandescent bulbs 64 (light sources) and a pair of left and right reflectors 66 for reflecting light from the respective incandescent bulbs 64 upward. Each of the incandescent bulbs 64 has its optical axis Ax5
Is inserted into the bottom wall of the lamp body 54 so as to face upward. Each of the reflectors 66 is fixed to a rear wall of the lamp body 54 and has a reflection surface 66a.
The surface shape of each incandescent bulb 6
The paraboloid of revolution having the light-emission center of 4 as a focal point has a curved surface that is deformed toward the optical axis Ax5 in the front-rear cross section and deformed away from the optical axis Ax5 in the left-right cross section. Thereby, the light source unit 5
In 6, the light from each incandescent bulb 64 is diffusely reflected upward and backward and left and right by each reflector 66.

The vertical cross section of the reflector 62 is constituted by a parabola whose center is an optical axis Ax6 extending in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the light emission centers of the incandescent bulbs 64 and whose focus is the light emission center. .

Thus, in the lamp unit 56,
Direct light from each incandescent bulb 64 and each reflector 66
The diffused reflected light from the light source is reflected forward by a reflector 62 as parallel light and upper, lower, left and right diffused lights, which are directly radiated through the lens 12 toward the front of the lamp.

The structure of the lamp unit 58 is the same as that of the lamp unit 20 of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the vehicular marker lamp 50 is observed from the front, the lamp room can be seen through the transparent lens 12, but another lamp room is located below the lamp room with the horizontal rib 52a as a boundary. It appears to be formed.

In the tail lamp lighting mode, since the lamp unit 56 is lit, as shown in FIG. 9A, the reflection surface 62a of the reflector 62 constituting the lamp unit 56 appears to shine.

At this time, since the lamp unit 58 is provided in front of the light source unit 60, each incandescent bulb 64 is provided.
The direct light traveling from the front to the front is shielded by the lamp unit 58, whereby only the light reflected from the reflecting surface 62 a of the reflector 62 is emitted forward from the light from each incandescent bulb 64. At this time, the diffusely reflected light from the reflective surface 66a of each reflector 66 is radiated forward as diffusely reflected light by the reflective surface 62a of the reflector 62, while the direct light from each incandescent bulb 64 is reflected by the reflective surface 62a of the reflector 62. Irradiates the light forward as parallel light. Therefore, when the lamp unit 56 is observed from the front, the entire reflecting surface 62a appears to be uniformly shining with a soft feeling due to the indirect lighting effect.

Further, the presence of the lamp unit 58 can prevent the light source unit 60 from being seen through the lens 52 from the front of the lamp when the lamp is not lit.

In the stop lamp lighting mode, since the lamp unit 58 is lit, the appearance is the same as in the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 9B, in the tail & stop lamp lighting mode, The contrast between the high-brightness lamp unit 58 and the lamp unit 56 which looks soft and uniform due to the indirect lighting effect can provide a novel appearance. The lamp can have a three-dimensional effect by offsetting the light emitting position before and after.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the lens 12 is a plain lens has been described, but it is needless to say that a lens having a lens step may be used. At this time, if the lens step is formed discretely, the lamp chamber can be seen from the part where the lens step is not formed. A feeling can be given.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle marker light according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a part III in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views showing the appearance of the vehicular marker lamp according to the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A shows a tail lamp lighting mode, and FIG. 4B shows a tail & stop lamp lighting mode.

5A and 5B are front views showing the appearance of a modification of the first embodiment, in which FIG. 5A shows a tail lamp lighting mode, and FIG. 5B shows a tail & stop lamp lighting mode.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the outline of another modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a vehicle marker light according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front views showing the appearance of the vehicular marker lamp according to the second embodiment, in which FIG. 9A shows a tail lamp lighting mode, and FIG. 9B shows a tail & stop lamp lighting mode.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 vehicle marker light 12 lens 12 a horizontal rib 14 lamp body 16, 18 lamp unit 20 lamp unit (other lamp unit) 22 light source unit 24 reflector 24 a reflection surface 24 s diffuse reflection element 26 light emitting diode (light source) 28 PC board 30 inner Body 32 Inner lens 32s Cylindrical lens step 34 Small reflector 34a Small reflecting surface 36 Light emitting diode 38 PC board 40 Light emitting diode (second light source) 42 PC board 44 Reflector panel 44a Small reflecting surface 44b Lance engaging piece 50 Vehicle marker light 52 Lens 54 Lamp Body 56 Lamp Unit 58 Lamp Unit (Other Lamp Unit) 60 Light Source Unit 62 Reflector 64 Incandescent Bulb (Light Source) 66 Reflector 66a Reflection Surface Ax1, x2, Ax3, Ax4, Ax5, Ax6 optical axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular marker lamp comprising a light source, a reflector for reflecting light from the light source forward, and a lens provided in front of the reflector, wherein the marker light is located in front of the light source between the reflector and the lens. A vehicular marker lamp, wherein another lamp unit is provided at a position so as to block direct light from the light source toward the front. 2. The vehicular marker lamp according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 3. The reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflector comprises a plurality of diffuse reflection elements.
The vehicle marker light as described. 4. A light-emitting diode and a small reflection surface for reflecting light from the light-emitting diode forward at a plurality of positions on the reflection surface.
4. The vehicle marker light according to any one of items 1 to 3.