JPS5849961B2 - Vehicle lights - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, and more particularly to a vehicular lamp in which the brightness of a lens surface is made uniform and visibility is improved.

In recent years, this type of vehicle light has been made with a rotating paraboloid shape that takes up space in order to reduce the depth of the light and make it thinner. A vehicle lamp that forms and controls a Fresnel prism has been proposed.

Conventionally, in a vehicle lamp equipped with a front lens formed with a direct-light Fresnel prism, a light source C is disposed in a lamp chamber defined by a housing a and a front lens b, as illustrated in FIG. The front lens b includes an outer lens d having a fisheye prism e formed on its inner surface, and a central portion facing the light source C that controls the emitted light (direct light) from the light source C as a ray approximately parallel to the optical axis X. It consists of a refractive prism g and an inner lens f forming a direct Fresnel prism with reflective prisms h and h' on its outer periphery, and out of the light emitted from the light source C (direct light), the range of angle α is As shown in the figure, the light incident on the inner lens f is converted into a beam substantially parallel to the optical axis X by a direct-ray Fresnel prism, and is condensed by a fisheye prism e of the outer lens d to obtain a desired light distribution pattern. It is composed of L・ru.

However, in such conventional vehicle lamps, the front lens b is formed into a flat shape and is disposed in the housing a, so that the light source C of the direct Fresnel prism formed in the inner lens f is Radiant light (direct light) that enters the refractive prism section g provided in the facing center and the reflective prisms h and h' provided on its outer periphery.
As shown in the figure, is incident only within the range of angle ♂, and therefore the utilization rate of the luminous flux from the light source C is low.As a result, the entire lens surface is dark, especially on the outer periphery of the reflective prisms h and h which are far from the light source C. The light incident on ' is at an angle β1. This is in the range of β2, which is much smaller than the value of the angle ♂.

That is, in the outer peripheral part of the inner lens f that is far from the light source C, the amount of luminous flux from the light source C is small and the luminous flux density decreases, so the central part of the inner lens f facing the light source C appears bright from the outside, but If the outer periphery is dark, it will become a dark area, and the presence of such a dark area will cause uneven brightness on the lens surface, making it impossible to obtain a uniform brightness surface over the entire lens surface. There are drawbacks such as the inability to achieve a sufficient display function and reduced visibility.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and effectively utilizes the luminous flux from the light source, eliminates dark areas that occur on the outer periphery of the lens far from the light source, and uniformizes the brightness of the entire lens surface, thereby improving visibility. The purpose is to provide good vehicular lighting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the implementation of a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The illustrated example in FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part in which the present invention is applied to a tail light for an automobile, in which 1 is a housing, and a light chamber 10 is formed at both bottoms by a lens 2 disposed on the front surface of the housing 1. A light source 5 is mounted inside the holder 52 via a socket 51.

The front lens 2 has a fisheye prism portion 21a on the inner surface.
The inner lens 22 includes an outer lens 21 having an outer lens 21 and an inner lens 22 inside thereof, and the inner lens 22 has a central portion 6 near the optical axis X (reference axis of the lamp) facing the light source 5 on the inner surface thereof. A direct-ray system Fresnel prism unit 22 that refracts and controls the light emitted to the optical axis into a beam substantially parallel to the optical axis X.
a, and the light source 5 around the central portion 60
On the outer surface of the outer circumferential parts 7 and 8, far from the periphery, there is a Fresnel prism part 22b for controlling the refraction of light from the reflecting part 4 of the optical means, which will be described later, into a ray substantially parallel to the optical axis X.

22c is formed at ℃・ru.

The outer peripheral portion 7 of the inner lens 22 that is far from the light source 5,
The optical means for making a large amount of light incident on the light source 8 refracts the light emitted laterally from the light source 5 (side light) into a light beam that is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis Y that is orthogonal to the optical axis X. a side lens 3 which causes the light to enter a reflection part 4 provided on the inner surface of the housing 1; and a reflection part 4 which reflects the light from the side lens 3 toward the outer peripheral parts 7 and 8 of the inner lens 22. It is composed of (・ru.

More specifically, as shown in the figure, the side lens 3 of the optical means includes a right side lens 31 and a left side lens 32 on both sides of the light source 5, which are approximately parallel to the optical axis X and fixed to the housing 1 by appropriate fixing means. It is arranged L・ru.

Further, the left and right side lenses 31 and 32 disposed on both sides of the light source 5 have Fresnel lenses 31 a and 32 respectively centered on the horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the optical axis X on their inner surfaces (on the light source side).
The Fresnel caps 31a and 32a are formed so as to control the refraction of side light emitted from the light source 5 to the side into rays substantially parallel to the horizontal axis Y.

Further, on the outer surface of each of the side lenses 31 and 320, substantially parallel light rays from the Fresnel cuts 31a and 32a formed on the inner surface are reflected by continuously curved reflecting portions 41 and 42 (4) provided on the left and right housings 1. Prism part 31b whose angle is designed for each segment so that light enters the entire area
.

32bb''-formed L.

The reflecting portions 41 and 42 are provided corresponding to the left and right side lenses 31 and 32 disposed on both sides of the light source 50, and
A reflective film is deposited on the inner surface of the housing 1 so that the emitted light from each of the side lenses 31 and 32 is directed toward the entire outer peripheral portion 7.8 of the inner lens 22, and the reflected light is incident thereon.・Ru.

The continuous curved reflecting portions 41 and 42 may be provided as separate reflecting mirrors on the inner surface of the housing 1.

Since the vehicular lamp of the present invention is configured as described above, the optical system when the light source 50 is turned on is as shown in the figure. Among the light emitted from the light source 5, the light emitted forward is shown by the solid line in the figure. As shown in , a Fresnel prism portion 22a is formed on the inner surface of the central portion 6 of the inner lens 22 near the optical axis
is incident on the optical axis X by this Fresnel prism section 22a.
The light beam is refracted into a substantially parallel light beam, passes through the wall thickness, and is emitted toward the outer lens 21.

Furthermore, the light radiated laterally from the light source 5 is transmitted to the Fresnel cut portions 31a and 3 formed on the inner surfaces of the right side lens 31 and the left side lens 32, respectively, as shown by dotted lines in the figure.
2a, the light is refracted into a ray substantially parallel to the horizontal axis Y, and the light passes through the wall thickness and enters the prism parts 31b and 32b formed on the outer surface of each of them, and thus enters the prism parts 31b and 32b. The light rays substantially parallel to the horizontal axis Y are emitted by each segment of the prism portions 31b and 32b so as to be incident on the entire area of the reflecting portions 41 and 42 provided on the inner surface of the housing 1.
．． 42, a large amount of reflected light with a high luminous flux density is emitted toward the outer circumferential parts 7 and 8 far from the light source 5 of the inner lens 22, and is incident on the flat part of the inner surface, transmits through the wall thickness, and is reflected on the outer surface. Optical axis X at Fresnel prism parts 22b and 22c
The light is refracted into substantially parallel light rays and emitted toward the outer lens 21 .

The light emitted from the outer peripheral parts 7, 8 and the central part 6 is refracted and controlled by a fisheye prism part 21a formed on the inner surface of the outer lens 21 so as to be condensed in front of the lens 2, so as to form a desired light distribution pattern. Obtainable.

As described above, in the vehicle lamp of the present invention, out of the direct light emitted from the light source 5, the forward light in the range of angle α01 that enters the central portion 6 near the optical axis X of the inner lens 22 has the same amount of light as the conventional one. In addition, as shown in the figure, the side light from the light source 5 has a range of angle α°2 on the right side and a light flux of angle α03 on the left side of the optical means disposed on both sides of the light source 50. Fresnel cutters (31a) formed on the inner surfaces of each of the parts (32).

32a refracts the sideward emitted light into rays substantially parallel to the horizontal axis Y, and each segment of the prism portions 3 l b and 32 b on the outer surface reflects the reflective portions 41 and 42 on the inner surface of the housing 1.
By the reflecting portions 41 and 42, a large amount of reflected light having a high luminous flux density can be made to enter the entire area of the outer peripheral portions 7 and 8 on both sides of the inner lens 220.

Therefore, in the emitted light from the light source 5, in addition to the forward light angle α01 range, the side light angle α0□+α03 range can be effectively utilized.

In particular, even if the front lens 2 has a water surface shape, the outer peripheral portions 7 and 8 of the lens far from the light source 5 have a high luminous flux density u.
By allowing a large amount of light to enter, the outer peripheral part 7 of the lens
, 8 can be compensated for.

Therefore, the outer circumferential parts 7 and 8 do not have dark parts or uneven brightness as in the conventional case, and the brightness over the entire surface of the lens can be made uniform, making it suitable for use in vehicles with sufficient visibility. There are effects such as being able to obtain lighting equipment.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment (), the inner lens 2
In the above description, the side lenses 3 and the reflecting portions 4 of the optical means for allowing a large amount of light to enter the outer peripheral portions 7 and 8 of the light source 50 are respectively disposed on both sides of the light source 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, depending on the shape of the front lens 2, the light source 5 may be disposed on one side of the light source 5, or on the upper, lower, right, left, and right peripheral sides of the side.

The above embodiment shows an example in which a reflective film is deposited on the inner surface of the housing 1 to form reflective parts 41 and 42 in the shape of a continuous curved surface. It can also be configured by

In other words, in Fig. 3, the reflection section 41°4 is
2, in which continuous curved total reflection surfaces 41c and 42cIJ'' are formed on the outer surface thereof, and prism portions formed on the outer surfaces of the side lenses 31 and 32 are formed on the inner surface. Incident surfaces 41a and 42a that are substantially perpendicular to the incident light from each of the frism segments 31b and 32b;
The output surfaces 41b and 42b, which are substantially perpendicular to the reflected light from the total reflection surfaces 41c and 42c, are configured in a step-like manner.

The rest of the configuration is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, among the side lenses 3 and the reflection portions 4 that reflect the light from the side lenses 3 toward the outer peripheral portions 7 and 8 of the inner lens, the reflection portion 4 is constituted by a total reflection lens. , the outer peripheral parts 7 and 8 can be made to shine more brightly than the embodiment shown in FIG.

As is clear from the above embodiments, in the vehicle lamp of the present invention, a light source is arranged in a lamp chamber defined by a housing and a lens disposed on the front surface of the housing, and the front lens faces the light source. A Fresnel prism portion is formed in a central portion and an outer circumferential portion thereof, and an optical means is disposed corresponding to the outer circumferential portion, and the optical means is disposed on the side of the light source substantially parallel to the optical axis. and a continuously curved reflecting section disposed on the inner surface of the housing so that a large amount of light beams from the side lenses are incident on the entire area of the outer circumference, and A Fresnel cut is formed on the inner surface of the lens to refract the side light from the light source into a ray that is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis perpendicular to the optical axis, and a ray that is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis is reflected from the inner surface of the housing on the outer surface. By forming a prism part that allows light to enter the entire area of the lens, the problems of the conventional method can be eliminated, and by effectively using the emitted light directed from the light source to the side by optical means, the luminous flux density can be increased at the outer periphery of the lens. It has the effect of allowing a large amount of luminous flux to enter the lens, making the brightness uniform over the entire surface of the lens, and providing a good vehicle lamp with sufficiently satisfactory visibility.

It should be noted that, as a matter of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the usage range of the luminous flux of a conventional lamp. FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, and are explanatory diagrams showing the optical path of the optical system and the luminous flux utilization range. 1... Housing, 2... Front lens, 22a,
22b. 22e... Fresnel prism section, 3 (31, 32).
... Side lenses, 31a, 32a... Fresnel cut, 31b, 32b... Prism part, 4 (41, 42)
... Continuously curved reflecting section, 5... Light source, 6...
Center part of the lens, 7, 8... Outer periphery of the lens, X...
・Optical axis, Y...Horizontal axis of the bulb.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source is disposed within a lamp chamber defined by a housing and a lens disposed on the front surface of the housing, and the front lens has a Fresnel prism portion formed in a central portion facing the light source and an outer circumferential portion thereof, and An optical means is disposed corresponding to the outer circumference, and the optical means includes a side lens disposed on the side of the light source substantially parallel to the optical axis, and the optical means directs the light beam from the side lens to the entire area of the outer circumference. a reflecting portion having a continuous curved surface disposed on the inner surface of the housing so as to allow a large amount of light flux to be incident on the inner surface of the housing, and directing side light from the light source to the inner surface of the side lens along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the optical axis. A vehicular lamp characterized in that a Fresnel cut is formed to refract substantially parallel light rays, and a prism part is formed on the outer surface of the prism part to allow the horizontal axis and the substantially parallel light rays to enter the entire area of the reflecting part of the inner surface of the housing.