JPH11329013A - Headlight equipped with variable beam particularly suitable for vehicle and headlight device of this kind - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headlight equipped with a variable beam particularly for a vehicle that can generate a high beam having different light distributions by the use of a single light source. SOLUTION: This headlight comprises a first reflector 31 having a generally recessed surface, a lamp 33 that is fixably mounted to the first reflector 31 and supports a light source, and a second reflector 32 received in the recess of the first reflector 31. The second reflector 32 rotatively moves between two positions using the axis X of the first reflector 31 as a center.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headlight with a variable beam which is particularly suitable for vehicles.

In particular, the present invention relates to a projector capable of generating high beams with different light distributions using a single light source.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A projector of this type has already been proposed in patent application FR-A-2 727 497. The main advantage of such projectors is that the distribution of the light they generate is adapted to the driving conditions of the vehicle. In general, the light distribution varies with the speed of the vehicle, with low-speed vehicles illuminating nearby areas (wide beams) and, at high speeds, tapering beams that can illuminate roads as far as possible.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector of the above-mentioned type which has excellent optical performance and a robust construction.

[0005]

To this end, the present invention provides
A first reflector having a generally concave surface having an optical axis, a lamp fixedly mounted to the first reflector for supporting a light source, and a second reflector received in a recess of the first reflector; We propose a headlight, especially for a vehicle, characterized in that the two reflectors are adapted to be rotatable between two positions about the optical axis of the first reflector.

The present invention further has the following features. The second reflector can be moved from one of the two positions to the other by a rotation of an angle of 90 °; The second reflector extends in one of two positions at right angles to the longer direction of the first reflector and, at the other of the two positions, in the longer direction of the first reflector; The second reflector produces an asymmetric beam along an intermediate horizontal straight line different from the optical axis in one of the two positions; The second reflector generates an asymmetric beam along a horizontal horizontal line different from the optical axis in one of two positions and an upwardly directed intermediate beam in the other of the two positions; The second reflector is supported by a ring rotatably mounted on a bearing extending around the lamp hole of the first reflector;

The present invention is also used as a complement to a passing headlight, wherein an asymmetric beam along an intermediate horizontal straight line different from the optical axis of each headlight is directed toward the opposite lane. The present invention proposes headlight devices.

The invention further proposes two headlight devices in which the asymmetric beam along the horizontal straight line of each headlight is substantially symmetric with respect to a vertical plane containing the optical axis.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Throughout the description, the terms vertical and horizontal refer to vehicles equipped with headlights according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the optical elements of a headlight according to the invention, namely a first reflector 11, a second reflector 12 and a light source 13. The light source 13 is here a filament of an H1 type halogen lamp. The light source may comprise a discharge lamp arc.

In general, the optical element is housed in a case whose front is closed by a transparent glass (not shown).

In the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4), the headlight is of a horizontal type, and its wide surface extends along a horizontal straight line. The first reflector 11 is also a horizontal type. Typically, an axial light source 13 is used with this type of reflector.

The first reflector 11 is a paraboloid of revolution, the focal point of which is coincident with the light source 13, and the axis of which is a traveling axis (horizontal). Therefore, the beam generated by the first reflector 11 is a beam oriented along the traveling axis (optical axis X), and its angular spread directly results from the spatial expansion of the light source 13.

The first reflector is also constructed in accordance with the disclosure of patent application FR-A-2 664 677 and produces a slight horizontal spread of the beam itself.

The second reflector 12 is arranged in a concave portion of the first reflector. The second reflector 12
It is a paraboloid of revolution having an axis X (optical axis) and its focal point coincides with the light source 13. Therefore, the focal point of the second reflector 12 is shorter than the focal point of the first reflector 11.

The second reflector 12 comprises two parts 12a and 12b symmetrical with respect to the optical axis X.

The second reflector 12 rotates about the optical axis X between the two positions in the first reflector 11.

In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the so-called "wide beam" position, the second reflector 12 extends horizontally. That is, each of the portions 12 a and 12 b of the second reflector 12 extends to a position on a horizontal plane including the light source 13.

The position of the second reflector 12 is
The reflector 12 extends in the longer direction of the first reflector 11, and has the following two main characteristics on the optical surface. A zone (a small image of the light source 13, that is, a light reaching zone that generates a tapered beam) disposed at a horizontal end of the first reflector 11 is blocked by the second reflector; The second reflector 12 blocks a light beam corresponding to the zone, and reflects the light beam with a remarkable spread because the light source 13 and the second reflector 12 are close to each other.
This spreading is mainly performed on the horizontal straight line because the position of the second reflector 12 is on the horizontal straight line.

These two results combine to form a wide beam.

At the position of the “taper beam” shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second reflector 12 extends in a direction perpendicular to the light source 13. The second reflector 12 extends at right angles to the longer direction of the first reflector 11.

Thus, the second reflector 12 does not block (or only slightly blocks) the light rays emerging from the light source and directed to the first reflector 11.

Thus, in the first reflector 11, the zone located at its horizontal end (light delivery zone) operates optically at the "tapered beam" position. A small image in which these zones occur at the optical axis (small due to the relatively long distance separating the light delivery zone from the light source 13)
Form a tapered beam.

The second reflector 12 moves from the “wide beam” position to the “tapered beam” position by rotating by 90 ° about the optical axis X.

Thus, the beam generated by the second reflector 12 rotates 90 °. In the "tapered beam" position, the second reflector 12 forms a beam that is angularly divergent in the vertical direction but narrow in the horizontal direction.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. As in the previous embodiment, only the optical actuation elements are shown in the figure.

The first reflector 21 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is of an orthogonal type, that is, its longer direction extends along a right angle direction. Thus, the second embodiment is particularly suitable for vertical headlights or headlights that are placed in a vertical position.

Preferably, a light source 23 (generally referred to as a lateral light source) extending horizontally and vertically on the optical axis of the headlight is used with this type of reflector. This relates, for example, to the filament of an H3 lamp mounted in a conventional manner on top of the first reflector 21.

The first reflector 21 itself can generate a tapered beam, that is, a beam that hardly spreads in the angular direction. This may be, for example, a paraboloid of revolution whose focal point coincides with the light source 23, or a slightly angular spread of the French patent application 266467.
No. 7 described above.

The zone located at the vertical end of the first reflector 21 and thus the zone furthest from the light source 23 is:
It produces a light beam with less angular spread (ie, the image on the projection screen is smaller). These zones, the so-called light delivery zones, tend to form a tapered beam.

The second reflector 22 is disposed in a concave portion of the first reflector 21.

When projected onto a plane perpendicular to the optical axis X, the shape of the second reflector 22 is rectangular. The direction of the second reflector 22 is aligned with the longer direction of the rectangle.

Therefore, the fact that the second reflector 22 is horizontal (vertical) means that the second reflector 22 is projected on the vertical plane of the optical axis.
Means that the longer direction of the reflector 22 is horizontal (vertical).

The second reflector 22 rotates about the optical axis X between the two positions in the first reflector 21. The two positions are preferably angularly separated by 90 °.

In the so-called "tapered beam" position shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 9, the second reflector 22 is horizontal.
Therefore, the second reflector 22 is connected to the first reflector 2
1 at right angles to the longer direction.

In the "tapered beam" position, the second reflector 22 does not block the light reaching zone of the first reflector 21, so that the first reflector 21 forms a tapered beam (see the previous embodiment). ).

In the "wide beam" position (FIGS. 6, 8 and 10), the second reflector 22 is vertical and therefore extends along the longer direction of the first reflector 21.

In this position, the first reflector 21
Of light are blocked. The central zone of the first reflector 21, which produces a slightly wider beam in the angular direction, is unshielded and thus operates optically.

Light rays emitted from the light source 23 in the direction of the light reaching zone of the first reflector 21 are blocked by the second reflector 22, and the second reflector 22 generates a horizontally spread beam.

All these produce a wide beam.

At the "wide beam" position, the horizontal angular spread formed by the second reflector 22 is asymmetric, as can be seen in FIG. Thus, at this position, the beam generated by the second reflector 22 (projected on a horizontal plane) has an intermediate direction M different from the optical axis X.

In order to construct a reflector having such characteristics, for example, French Patent Application No. 2732446
Please refer to the issue.

Thus, at the “tapered” beam position, the average direction M ′ of the beam generated by the second reflector 22
Is not parallel to the optical axis X. This intermediate direction M 'is preferably upward. In this way, the formation of light spots on the road in front of the vehicle, which is an obstacle for the driver, is avoided.

By exiting the "wide beam" position and selecting the direction of rotation (AH in the figure), the second reflector 22
Can generate an intermediate upward beam.

The above-mentioned headlights (which constitute an asymmetric beam) can be used in various ways depending on the case.

In the first case, a running headlight is used as a complement to a passing headlight having an asymmetrically cut beam, as described, for example, in French Patent Application No. 2750375.

In this case, one (or more) headlights according to the invention are used. The intermediate direction M of the beam generated by the second reflector 22 of the headlight at the “wide beam” position is directed toward the oncoming vehicle. Thus, the beam of the passing headlight can be naturally supplemented.

Another solution is to use only two headlights according to the invention. In each headlight, a second reflector 22 produces an asymmetric beam at the "wide beam" position.

In this case, the second reflector 22 of each headlight, at the "wide beam" position, causes the two beams generated by the second reflector to be substantially symmetric with respect to a vertical plane containing the optical axis. It is constituted so that it may become.

As described above, the rotation direction of the second reflector 22 is selected for each headlight. The second reflector 22 makes it possible to obtain an upward beam at the "tapered beam" position.

In this way, a beam that is comfortable to travel and that has been properly luminous measured can be obtained at both the "tapered beam" position and the "wide beam" position.

With the lateral light source, the beam thickness (vertical spread) can be minimized by the tapered beam and the wide beam, and the horizontal spread can be maximized. The dimension of the light source to be taken into account is the length of the filament, which is much longer than its diameter.

FIG. 11 shows a mechanism for driving the second reflector 32 to rotate.

The first reflector 31 shown in FIG.
Accommodates the lamp 33 at the position of the lamp holder 41,
The lamp 33 supports a light source.

A bearing 40 integrally formed with the lamp holder and extending near the lamp holder 41 supports the ring 35 rotatably about the optical axis X. The bearing 40 is
The first reflector 31 extends around a lamp hole 43 provided in the first reflector 31. The lamp 33 is fitted into the lamp hole 43. The arm 34 supports the second reflector 32 at an end facing the ring 35.

The motor 36 having a rotational output is fixed to the rear of the first reflector 31. The motor 36 is
The ring 35 is rotationally driven via a drive system 37.

More specifically, the motor 36 drives the gear 38 to rotate, and the gear 38 drives the transmission element 39 to rotate. The rotation of the transmission element 39 passing through the first reflector 31 drives the gear 42 engaged with the toothed outer circumference of the ring 35 to rotate.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and these embodiments are merely examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an optical element of a headlight according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a “wide beam” position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the headlight optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a “tapered beam” position.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view with the optical elements of the headlight according to the second embodiment of the invention in the “tapered beam” position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the optical element of the headlight according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a “wide beam” position.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a rotation mechanism of the second reflector according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 21, 31 First reflector 12, 22, 32 Second reflector 13, 23 Light source 33 Lamp 34 Arm 35 Ring 36 Motor 37 Drive system 38 Gear 39 Transmission element 40 Bearing 41 Lamp holder 42 Gear 43 Lamp hole X Optical axis

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A substantially concave first reflector (11, 12).
1, 31) and the first reflector (11, 21, 31)
A lamp (33) fixedly attached to the light source and supporting the light sources (13, 23);
The second reflector (1) received in the recess of (1, 31)
2, 22 and 32), wherein the second reflector (12, 22, 32) includes a first reflector (12, 22, 32).
A headlight characterized in that it can rotate between two positions about an axis (X) of the reflector (11, 21, 31). 2. A second reflector (12, 22, 32).
2. The headlight according to claim 1, wherein the headlight can be shifted from one of the two positions to the other by a rotation of an angle of 90 [deg.]. 3. A second reflector (12, 22, 32).
Is one of two positions, the first reflector (11,2)
3. The longitudinal direction of the first reflector (11, 21, 31) extends perpendicular to the longer direction of the first reflector (31) and at the other of the two positions. The headlight according to. 4. A second reflector (12, 22, 32).
Generating an asymmetric beam along an intermediate horizontal straight line (M) different from the optical axis (X) in one of the two positions. The headlight according to any one of the above. 5. A second reflector (12, 22, 32)
Decouples an asymmetric beam along an intermediate horizontal straight line (M) that is different from the optical axis (X) in one of the two positions, and an upward intermediate direction (M ′) in the other of the two positions. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein
The headlight according to any one of the above. 6. The second reflector (32) is supported by a ring (35) rotatably mounted on a bearing (40) extending about the ramp hole (43) of the first reflector (31). The headlight according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 7. An asymmetric beam along a horizontal straight line in an intermediate direction (M) different from the optical axis (X) of each headlight is used as a complement to passing headlights. 6. A headlight device comprising two headlights according to claim 4, wherein the headlights are oriented toward the opposite lane. 8. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein an asymmetric beam along a horizontal straight line of each headlight is substantially symmetric with respect to a vertical plane including the optical axis (X). A headlight device including two headlights.