WO2020166650A1 - Phare pour véhicules et feu pour véhicules - Google Patents

Phare pour véhicules et feu pour véhicules Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020166650A1
WO2020166650A1 PCT/JP2020/005486 JP2020005486W WO2020166650A1 WO 2020166650 A1 WO2020166650 A1 WO 2020166650A1 JP 2020005486 W JP2020005486 W JP 2020005486W WO 2020166650 A1 WO2020166650 A1 WO 2020166650A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
light
phase modulation
distribution pattern
light distribution
vehicle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2020/005486
Other languages
English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
壮宜 鬼頭
和也 本橋
Original Assignee
株式会社小糸製作所
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 株式会社小糸製作所 filed Critical 株式会社小糸製作所
Priority to JP2020572301A priority Critical patent/JP7403482B2/ja
Publication of WO2020166650A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020166650A1/fr

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
    • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
    • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
    • B60Q1/10—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
    • B60Q1/115—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution by electric means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
    • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
    • B60Q1/12—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to steering position
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/63—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
    • F21S41/64—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by changing their light transmissivity, e.g. by liquid crystal or electrochromic devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp and a vehicle lamp.
  • Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution pattern by diffracting light using a hologram element, which is a type of phase modulation element.
  • a vehicular lamp is used as a vehicular headlamp, and a hologram element is calculated so that diffracted light reproduced by being irradiated with reference light forms a low beam distribution pattern. It is described that it is done.
  • This vehicular lamp used as a vehicular headlamp forms a low-beam light distribution pattern by a hologram element. Therefore, the vehicular lamp used as a vehicular headlamp does not need a shade for blocking a part of the light emitted from the light source to form a low beam light distribution pattern, and can be miniaturized. To be done.
  • any one of a plurality of hologram elements by which a vehicle lamp used as a vehicle headlamp emits reference light, a plurality of hologram elements, and a traveling direction of the reference light are changed. It is described that one of them is provided with a liquid crystal prism for irradiating reference light.
  • a hologram element calculated to form a low-beam light distribution pattern and a light distribution pattern for urban areas whose outer shape is different from the outer shape of the low-beam light distribution pattern are formed on the plurality of hologram elements.
  • another hologram element calculated in is
  • the hologram element for irradiating the reference light is switched, so that the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is a low beam light distribution pattern and a light distribution pattern for urban areas. It is said that it can be changed to and.
  • a vehicle headlamp diffracts light emitted from the light source with a light source and a variable phase modulation pattern, and emits light with a predetermined light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • a control unit wherein the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern and changes the emission direction of light of the predetermined light distribution pattern while maintaining the predetermined light distribution pattern. Is characterized by.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the first aspect can emit light of a predetermined light distribution pattern without using a shade like the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1
  • the vehicle headlight can be downsized as compared with the vehicle headlight using the shade as in the first vehicle headlight.
  • the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern to emit the light having the predetermined light distribution pattern while maintaining the predetermined light distribution pattern. Change direction. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp according to the first aspect can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable as compared with the case where the predetermined light distribution pattern changes, and also changes the traveling direction of the vehicle and the vehicle.
  • the emission direction of light of a predetermined light distribution pattern can be changed according to the inclination in the pitch direction or the like. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp of the first aspect can improve the visibility in the traveling direction.
  • the phase modulation pattern is a pattern that modulates the phase of light incident on the phase modulation element.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the first aspect may further include a projection lens through which the light emitted from the phase modulation element is transmitted.
  • the headlight for a vehicle according to the first aspect can easily adjust the size of the predetermined light distribution pattern, as compared with the case where the projection lens that transmits the light emitted from the phase modulation element is not provided.
  • control unit may adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction to change the emission direction up and down.
  • control unit may adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the speed of the vehicle to change the emission direction up and down.
  • Vehicle headlamps tend to require greater visibility when traveling at high speed than when traveling normally.
  • the light emission direction of the predetermined light distribution pattern may be inclined upward so that the light is emitted farther when traveling at high speed. For this reason, this vehicle headlamp of the first aspect has a visibility in the traveling direction when traveling at high speed, as compared with the case where the emission direction of light of a predetermined light distribution pattern does not change according to the speed of the vehicle. Can improve.
  • control unit may adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the steering angle of the vehicle to change the emission direction to the left and right.
  • the emission direction of the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern changes to the left-right direction in accordance with the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the emission direction of light of a predetermined light distribution pattern does not change according to the change of the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the visibility on a curved road can be improved as compared with the case.
  • the emission direction in the predetermined light distribution pattern before the emission direction is changed is changed.
  • the phase modulation pattern is adjusted so that light different from the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern is irradiated, and the brightness of the light irradiated in the area is The brightness may be darker than the brightness of the region in the predetermined light distribution pattern before the emission direction is changed.
  • the light is irradiated into the area where the light is not irradiated by changing the emission direction of the predetermined light distribution pattern, and the light irradiated in this area is also changed. Is darker than the brightness of this area in the predetermined light distribution pattern before the emission direction is changed. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp of the first aspect, the driver can recognize a predetermined light distribution pattern, and the visibility of the area irradiated with light before changing the emission direction is deteriorated. It is possible to suppress the conspicuousness of a region irradiated with light different from the light having the predetermined light distribution pattern. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp of the first aspect can further suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable when changing the emission direction of the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the emission direction may be gradually changed.
  • the predetermined light distribution pattern gradually moves when changing the emission direction of the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern. For this reason, this vehicle headlamp can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable when changing the emission direction of the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • a vehicle headlamp diffracts light emitted from the light source with a light source and a variable phase modulation pattern, and emits light with a predetermined light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • a control unit wherein the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern and continuously changes the outer shape of the predetermined light distribution pattern so that the predetermined light distribution pattern and the outer shape are changed. It is characterized by having different light distribution patterns.
  • the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern and continuously changes the outer shape of the light distribution pattern to make another light distribution pattern. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp of the second aspect causes the driver to feel uncomfortable as compared to the case where the outer shape of the light distribution pattern changes instantaneously like the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1 above. Can be suppressed to remember.
  • the phase modulation pattern is a pattern that modulates the phase of light incident on the phase modulation element. Further, the change of the outer shape of the light distribution pattern includes the change of the size of the light distribution pattern.
  • control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern according to the speed of the vehicle, and the predetermined light distribution pattern is smaller than the predetermined light distribution pattern. It may be a light pattern.
  • Vehicle headlamps tend to require greater visibility when traveling at high speed than when traveling normally.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the second aspect when traveling at high speed, it is possible to emit light having a light distribution pattern smaller than a predetermined light distribution pattern. Therefore, compared to the case where light of a predetermined light distribution pattern is emitted during high-speed traveling, the line of sight of the driver can be more easily concentrated near the central portion in front of the vehicle, and the visibility in the distance can be improved. ..
  • the emitted light distribution pattern can be set to be a light distribution pattern that is reduced according to the speed of the vehicle, so that it is possible to further suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable.
  • control unit may adjust the phase modulation pattern when the vehicle speed becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and set the predetermined light distribution pattern to a light distribution pattern smaller than the predetermined light distribution pattern. good.
  • the light distribution pattern smaller than the predetermined light distribution pattern during high-speed traveling as in the case where the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern according to the vehicle speed. Of light can be emitted. Therefore, compared to the case where light of a predetermined light distribution pattern is emitted during high-speed traveling, the line of sight of the driver can be more easily concentrated near the central portion in front of the vehicle, and the visibility in the distance can be improved. .. Further, in the vehicle headlamp according to the second aspect, the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern in a specific case, so that the calculation load of the control unit can be suppressed from increasing.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern smaller than the predetermined light distribution pattern may be similar to the outer shape of the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern according to a signal from a turn switch of the vehicle to spread the predetermined light distribution pattern in the left-right direction.
  • a light distribution pattern may be used.
  • the light distribution pattern changes to a light distribution pattern that is widened in the left-right direction in response to a signal from the turn switch of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the second aspect can illuminate the traveling destination at an intersection or the like, compared to a case where the light distribution pattern does not change according to the signal from the turn switch of the vehicle. , Visibility at intersections and the like can be improved.
  • control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern according to a steering angle of the vehicle, and the predetermined light distribution pattern is widened in the left-right direction. It is also good to
  • the light distribution pattern changes to a light distribution pattern that is widened in the left-right direction according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the second aspect can irradiate the traveling destination with light on a curved road, as compared with the case where the light distribution pattern does not change according to the change of the traveling direction of the vehicle, Visibility on the road can be improved.
  • a vehicular lamp includes a light source that emits light, a phase modulation element that diffracts the light into a predetermined light distribution pattern, and one of the light diffracted by the phase modulation element.
  • a light receiving element that receives light from the light receiving section, and a control section, wherein the control section has a light distribution pattern of the light based on a signal from the light receiving element that has received a part of the light. It is characterized by determining whether or not it is a pattern.
  • the control unit determines whether or not the light distribution pattern of the light is the predetermined light distribution pattern, whereby a defect of the phase modulation element can be detected.
  • the light receiving element receives the light propagating in an optical path different from the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicle lamp.
  • the light receiving element can be provided at a position away from the optical path emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicular lamp, and the light receiving element can be omitted on such an optical path, so that the light distribution pattern can be improved. It is possible to effectively detect the light distribution pattern while maintaining it.
  • the phase modulation element emits at least a part of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicle lamp from the phase modulation element.
  • the light may be deflected to an optical path different from the optical path.
  • the optical path of light can be deflected without separately providing optical parts, and the number of parts can be reduced.
  • a spectroscopic unit that disperses a part of the light emitted from the modulation element into an optical path different from the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicular lamp may be further provided.
  • the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element can be deflected more effectively.
  • the light receiving element may be an image pickup element that picks up the image of the light.
  • a change in the light distribution pattern can be detected based on image recognition, and accuracy and precision in determining the light distribution pattern can be improved.
  • the projection is arranged on an optical path different from the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicle lamp.
  • the image pickup device may further include a surface, and the image pickup device may pick up an image of the light projected on the projection surface.
  • the phase modulation element when the light receiving element is an imaging element, changes the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the predetermined light distribution pattern. You may change to a light distribution pattern different from.
  • the light receiving element when the light receiving element receives the light propagating in an optical path different from the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicle lamp, the light receiving element receives the light.
  • the element may be a light amount sensor arranged on an optical path different from the optical path of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicular lamp.
  • the structure of the vehicular lamp can be simplified.
  • control unit constantly determines whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is the predetermined light distribution pattern while the light source is on. May be.
  • control unit may temporarily determine whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is the predetermined light distribution pattern while the light source is on. You may judge.
  • the load on the control unit can be reduced compared to the case where it is constantly determined whether the light distribution pattern is a predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • control unit when the control unit temporarily determines the change in the light distribution pattern, the control unit may control the light source from the light source for a predetermined period of time. It may be determined whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the light distribution pattern is a predetermined light distribution pattern at the timing when the light emission from the light source is started, so that the malfunction of the phase modulation element can be grasped quickly and the safety can be improved.
  • the control unit when the control unit temporarily determines the change in the light distribution pattern, the control unit may control the vehicle for a predetermined period while the vehicle equipped with the light source is stopped. It may be determined whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the light distribution pattern is judged while the vehicle is stopped, so that the safety can be more effectively maintained.
  • the control unit when the control unit temporarily determines a change in the light distribution pattern, the control unit determines whether the light distribution pattern of the light is the predetermined light distribution pattern. May be determined in a period of 1/30 seconds or less.
  • the time resolution of human vision is generally 1/30 second. Therefore, the period in which the control unit determines the light distribution pattern is set to 1/30 seconds or less, whereby the optical path is deflected and the light distribution pattern is changed to a light distribution pattern different from the predetermined light distribution pattern. It becomes difficult for the driver or the like to recognize the fact, and the safety can be more effectively maintained.
  • the phase modulation element when the phase modulation element deflects an optical path of light emitted from the phase modulation element to the outside of the vehicle lamp to an optical path different from the optical path, or When the phase modulation element changes the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the phase modulation element to a light distribution pattern different from the predetermined light distribution pattern, the phase modulation element is an LCOS (Liquid Crystal Crystal OnSilicon). ).
  • LCOS Liquid Crystal Crystal OnSilicon
  • LCOS is a phase modulation element that causes a difference in refractive index in the liquid crystal layer by changing the alignment pattern of liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, if the phase modulation element is LCOS, the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer can be changed to easily change the optical path and the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the phase modulation element. However, since the LCOS is composed of liquid crystal molecules as described above, the collapse of the light distribution pattern in the case of a defect tends to increase. Therefore, by detecting the change in the light distribution pattern as described above, the defect of the phase modulation element can be detected more effectively.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram including a vehicle headlamp in a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the predetermined light distribution pattern in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the control flowchart of the control part in 1st Embodiment of this invention.
  • 8A is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed, and FIG.
  • FIG. 8B is a diagram showing another example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed.
  • (C) is a diagram showing yet another example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed and light different from the low beam is emitted from the vehicle headlamp. It is a figure which shows the optical system unit in 3rd Embodiment of this invention similarly to FIG.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a left enlarged light distribution pattern in which the predetermined light distribution pattern shown in FIG. 6 is spread to the left. It is a figure which shows the table in 4th Embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the optical system unit shown in FIG. 18.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the optical system unit shown in FIG. 18.
  • FIG. 20 is a front view schematically showing the light receiving element shown in FIG. 19.
  • FIG. 19 is a block diagram including the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 18. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern of a low beam. It is a figure which shows an example of the control flowchart of the control part in 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram containing the vehicle lamp in 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the control flowchart of the control part in 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the optical system unit of the vehicle lamp which concerns on 9th Embodiment of this invention from the same viewpoint as FIG.
  • FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a state in which the image of light shown in FIG. 29 is broken. It is a figure which shows the optical system unit of the vehicle lamp which concerns on 10th Embodiment of this invention from the same viewpoint as FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the control flowchart of the control part in 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the vehicle lamp in 11th Embodiment of this invention from the same viewpoint as FIG. It is a figure which shows the light distribution pattern of a high beam.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle headlamp in the present embodiment, and is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross section of the vehicle headlamp.
  • the vehicle headlamp of this embodiment is for an automobile.
  • a vehicle headlamp is generally provided in each of the left and right directions in front of a vehicle, and the left and right headlamps are configured to be substantially symmetrical in the left and right direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, one of the vehicle headlamps will be described.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes a housing 10, a lamp unit 20, an imaging lens 81, and a projection lens 82 as main components.
  • the housing 10 mainly includes a lamp housing 11, a front cover 12, and a back cover 13.
  • the front of the lamp housing 11 is open, and the front cover 12 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close the opening.
  • An opening smaller than the front is formed behind the lamp housing 11, and the back cover 13 is fixed to the lamp housing 11 so as to close the opening.
  • the space formed by the lamp housing 11, the front cover 12 that closes the front opening of the lamp housing 11, and the back cover 13 that closes the rear opening of the lamp housing 11 is a lamp room R.
  • the lamp unit 20, the imaging lens 81, and the projection lens 82 are housed inside.
  • the lamp unit 20 of the present embodiment mainly includes a heat sink 30, a cooling fan 35, a cover 40, and an optical system unit 50, and is fixed to the housing 10 by a configuration not shown.
  • the heat sink 30 has a metal base plate 31 extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and a plurality of heat radiation fins 32 are integrally provided with the base plate 31 on the lower surface side of the base plate 31.
  • the cooling fan 35 is arranged with a gap from the heat radiation fin 32, and is fixed to the heat sink 30.
  • the heat sink 30 is cooled by the air flow generated by the rotation of the cooling fan 35.
  • a cover 40 is arranged on the upper surface of the base plate 31 of the heat sink 30.
  • the cover 40 is fixed on the base plate 31 of the heat sink 30.
  • the cover 40 has a substantially rectangular shape and is made of a metal such as aluminum.
  • the optical system unit 50 is housed in the space inside the cover 40.
  • An opening 40H through which light emitted from the optical system unit 50 can pass is formed in the front portion of the cover 40.
  • the imaging lens 81 is a lens that images the light from the optical system unit 50 emitted from the opening 40H of the cover 40.
  • the imaging lens 81 is arranged in front of the opening 40H of the cover 40, and is fixed to the housing 10 by a configuration not shown.
  • the imaging lens 81 of this embodiment is a lens having an incident surface and an exit surface formed in a convex shape.
  • the projection lens 82 is a lens that adjusts the divergence angle of incident light.
  • the projection lens 82 is disposed in front of the front focus of the imaging lens 81, and is fixed to the housing 10 by a configuration not shown.
  • the projection lens 82 is a lens having an entrance surface and an exit surface formed in a convex shape, and is arranged so that the rear focus of the projection lens 82 is located at the front focus of the imaging lens 81 or near the front focus. To be done.
  • the light imaged by the imaging lens 81 propagates while being diverged after being imaged, enters the projection lens 82, and the divergence angle of this light is adjusted by the projection lens 82.
  • the light whose divergence angle is adjusted by the projection lens 82 in this manner is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 through the front cover 12.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment includes a first light emission optical system 51R, a second light emission optical system 51G, a third light emission optical system 51B, a first phase modulation element 54R, and a first phase modulation element 54R.
  • the 2-phase modulation element 54G, the third phase modulation element 54B, and the combining optical system 55 are provided as main components.
  • the first light emitting optical system 51R includes a first light source 52R and a first collimating lens 53R.
  • the first light source 52R is a laser element that emits laser light in a predetermined wavelength band, and in the present embodiment, it is a semiconductor laser that emits red laser light having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 638 nm.
  • the optical system unit 50 has a circuit board (not shown), and the first light source 52R is mounted on the circuit board.
  • the first collimating lens 53R is a lens that collimates the laser light emitted from the first light source 52R in the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction.
  • the red light LR emitted from the first collimator lens 53R is emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R.
  • a collimator lens that collimates the fast axis direction of the laser light and a collimator lens that collimates the slow axis direction may be separately provided.
  • the second light emitting optical system 51G includes a second light source 52G and a second collimating lens 53G
  • the third light emitting optical system 51B includes a third light source 52B and a third collimating lens 53B.
  • Each of the light sources 52G and 52B is a laser element that emits laser light in a predetermined wavelength band.
  • the second light source 52G is a semiconductor laser that emits green laser light having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 515 nm
  • the third light source 52B emits blue laser light having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 445 nm. It is a semiconductor laser.
  • the three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B emit laser lights of predetermined wavelength bands different from each other.
  • the light sources 52G and 52B are mounted on the circuit board, respectively, similarly to the first light source 52R.
  • the second collimator lens 53G is a lens for collimating the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction of the laser light emitted from the second light source 52G
  • the third collimator lens 53B is the fast axis of the laser light emitted from the third light source 52B. It is a lens that collimates the direction and the slow axis direction.
  • the green light LG emitted from the second collimator lens 53G is emitted from the second light emitting optical system 51G
  • the blue light LB emitted from the third collimator lens 53B is emitted from the third light emitting optical system 51B.
  • a collimator lens that collimates the fast axis direction of the laser light and a collimator lens that collimates the slow axis direction may be separately provided.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are configured to diffract and emit incident light, and change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light and the emission direction of the light forming this light distribution pattern.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are reflection type phase modulation elements that diffract and emit the incident light, and specifically, the reflection type LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon). ).
  • the red light LR emitted from the first light-emitting optical system 51R is incident on the first phase modulation element 54R, and the first phase modulation element 54R diffracts and emits the red light LR.
  • the green light LG emitted from the second light emitting optical system 51G is incident on the second phase modulation element 54G, and the second phase modulation element 54G diffracts and emits the green light LG.
  • the blue light LB emitted from the third light emission optical system 51B is incident on the third phase modulation element 54B, and the third phase modulation element 54B diffracts and emits the blue light LB.
  • the first light DLR of red color is emitted from the first phase modulation element 54R
  • the second light DLG of green color is emitted from the second phase modulation element 54G
  • the blue light is emitted from the third phase modulation element 54B.
  • the third light DLB is emitted.
  • the combining optical system 55 has a first optical element 55f and a second optical element 55s.
  • the first optical element 55f is an optical element that combines the first light DLR emitted from the first phase modulation element 54R and the second light DLG emitted from the second phase modulation element 54G.
  • the first optical element 55f combines the first light DLR and the second light DLG by transmitting the first light DLR and reflecting the second light DLG.
  • the second optical element 55s is an optical that combines the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and the third light DLB emitted from the third phase modulation element 54B. It is an element.
  • the second optical element 55s transmits the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f, and reflects the third light DLB to generate the first light DLR.
  • the DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are combined.
  • a wavelength selection filter in which an oxide film is laminated on a glass substrate can be mentioned. By controlling the type and thickness of the oxide film, a light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined wavelength can be transmitted and a light having a wavelength shorter than this wavelength can be reflected.
  • the light obtained by combining the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB in the combining optical system 55 becomes white light, and this white light is emitted from the combining optical system 55.
  • the first light DLR is shown by a solid line
  • the second light DLG is shown by a broken line
  • the third light DLB is shown by a one-dot chain line, and these lights DLR, DLG, DLB are shown. It is shown offset.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B have the same configuration. Therefore, only the first phase modulation element 54R will be described below in detail, and the description of the second phase modulation element 54G and the third phase modulation element 54B will be appropriately omitted.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing the first phase modulation element shown in FIG. 3 is a front view of the first phase modulation element 54R viewed from the incident surface EFR side on which light is incident, and FIG. 3 is an area where the light LR emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R is irradiated. Spot SR is shown.
  • the first phase modulation element 54R of the present embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front.
  • the first phase modulation element 54R is formed with a plurality of modulation parts MPR arranged in a matrix.
  • Each of the modulators MPR includes a plurality of dots arranged in a matrix, and diffracts the light incident on the modulator MPR and outputs the diffracted light.
  • One or more modulators MPR are formed in the incident spot SR. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an element drive circuit 60R is electrically connected to the first phase modulation element 54R, and this element drive circuit 60R is connected to one short side of the first phase modulation element 54R. It has a scanning line drive circuit and a data line drive circuit connected to one long side of the first phase modulation element 54R.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross section in the thickness direction of the first phase modulation element shown in FIG.
  • the first phase modulation element 54R of the present embodiment includes a silicon substrate 62, a drive circuit layer 63, a plurality of electrodes 64, a reflective film 65, a liquid crystal layer 66, and a transparent electrode 67. , And a transparent substrate 68 as main components.
  • the plurality of electrodes 64 are arranged in a matrix on the one surface side of the silicon substrate 62 in a one-to-one correspondence with the dots.
  • the drive circuit layer 63 is a layer in which a circuit connected to the scan line drive circuit and the data line drive circuit of the element drive circuit 60R illustrated in FIG. 3 is arranged, and is arranged between the silicon substrate 62 and the plurality of electrodes 64.
  • the transparent substrate 68 is arranged on one side of the silicon substrate 62 so as to face the silicon substrate 62, and is, for example, a glass substrate.
  • the transparent electrode 67 is arranged on the surface of the translucent substrate 68 on the silicon substrate 62 side.
  • the liquid crystal layer 66 has liquid crystal molecules 66 a and is arranged between the plurality of electrodes 64 and the transparent electrode 67.
  • the reflective film 65 is arranged between the plurality of electrodes 64 and the liquid crystal layer 66, and is, for example, a dielectric multilayer film.
  • the light LR emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R is incident from the incident surface EFR on the side opposite to the silicon substrate 62 side of the translucent substrate 68.
  • the light LR incident from the incident surface EFR of the translucent substrate 68 on the side opposite to the silicon substrate 62 side passes through the transparent electrode 67 and the liquid crystal layer 66, is reflected by the reflective film 65, and is reflected by the liquid crystal.
  • the light is transmitted through the layer 66 and the transparent electrode 67 and emitted from the translucent substrate 68.
  • a voltage is applied between the specific electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a of the liquid crystal layer 66 located between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 changes.
  • the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 located between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 changes, and the optical path length of the light LR passing through the liquid crystal layer 66 changes. Therefore, when the light LR passes through the liquid crystal layer 66 and is emitted from the liquid crystal layer 66, the phase of the light LR emitted from the liquid crystal layer 66 may change from the phase of the light LR incident on the liquid crystal layer 66.
  • the plurality of electrodes 64 are arranged for each dot DT in each modulator MPR, the voltage applied between the electrode 64 corresponding to each dot DT and the transparent electrode 67 is controlled.
  • the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a changes according to each dot DT, and the amount of change in the phase of the light emitted from each dot DT can be adjusted according to each dot DT. Since the lights having different phases interfere with each other and are diffracted, the lights emitted from the respective dots DT interfere with each other and are diffracted, and the diffracted lights are emitted from the first phase modulation element 54R. For this reason, the first phase modulation element 54R adjusts the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 in each dot DT to diffract and emit incident light, and also set the light distribution pattern of the emitted light to a desired light distribution pattern.
  • the first phase modulation element 54R changes the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 in each dot DT to change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light or change the direction of the emitted light to irradiate the light. You can change the area that is displayed.
  • the same phase modulation pattern is formed in each modulator MPR in the first phase modulator 54R. Further, the same phase modulation pattern is formed in each of the modulation sections of the second phase modulation element 54G, and the same phase modulation pattern is formed in each of the modulation sections of the third phase modulation element 54B.
  • the phase modulation pattern is a pattern that modulates the phase of incident light.
  • the phase modulation pattern is a pattern of the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 in each dot DT, and is also a pattern of the voltage applied between the electrode 64 and the transparent electrode 67 corresponding to each dot DT. It can be understood. By adjusting this phase modulation pattern, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light can be changed to a desired light distribution pattern, or the emission direction of the light of the desired light distribution pattern can be changed.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram including the vehicle headlamp in the present embodiment.
  • the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B, the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B, the light switch 72, the inclination detection device 73, the steering sensor 74, the vehicle speed sensor 75, the storage unit 76, and the like. are electrically connected to the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 may be provided in the lamp unit 20 or may be a part of the electronic control device of the vehicle.
  • the inclination detection device 73, the steering sensor 74, and the vehicle speed sensor 75 may be electrically connected to the control unit 71 via an electronic control device of the vehicle.
  • control unit 71 for example, an integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, an IC (Integrated Circuit), an LSI (Large-scale Integrated Circuit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an NC (Numerical Control) device can be used.
  • the control unit 71 may use a machine learning device or may not use a machine learning device. As described below, some configurations of the vehicle headlamp 1 are controlled by the control unit 71.
  • the element drive circuit 60G is electrically connected to the phase modulation element 54G
  • the element drive circuit 60B is electrically connected to the phase modulation element 54B.
  • the element drive circuits 60G and 60B are connected to the scanning line drive circuit connected to one short side of the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B and to one long side of the phase modulation elements 54R and 54B.
  • the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B adjust the voltage applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the signal input from the control unit 71, and the phase of each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Adjust the modulation pattern. Therefore, it can be understood that the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern of each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B.
  • the respective phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are the first light DLR emitted from the phase modulation element 54R, the second light DLG emitted from the phase modulation element 54G, and the phase modulation element.
  • the third light DLB emitted from 54B is a phase modulation pattern in which a predetermined light distribution pattern is formed by the white light combined by the combining optical system 55.
  • This predetermined light distribution pattern also includes a light intensity distribution. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB overlaps with the predetermined light distribution pattern, and the intensity distribution of each of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB corresponds to the light in the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the intensity distribution is based on the intensity distribution of. Further, in a portion where the light intensity is high in a predetermined light distribution pattern formed by the white light obtained by combining the lights DLR, DLG, DLB, the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. The light intensity of each also becomes high. Since the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B have wavelength dependence, in the present embodiment, the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are different phase modulation patterns.
  • the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B May have the same phase modulation pattern as each other.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are combined by the combining optical system 55, and the combined light is emitted from the opening 40H of the cover 40.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the opening 40H are imaged by the imaging lens 81, then propagate while diverging and enter the projection lens 82, and the divergence angles of these lights DLR, DLG, DLB are projected by the projection lens 82.
  • the light DLR, DLG, DLB light whose divergence angle is adjusted by the projection lens 82 is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 via the front cover 12.
  • these lights DLR, DLG, DLB are lights having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 has a predetermined light distribution. It becomes a light pattern. Further, by adjusting the phase modulation patterns in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, the emission direction of the light of the predetermined light distribution pattern emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained at the predetermined light distribution pattern. You can change it while
  • the power supply circuit 61R shown in FIG. 5 is electrically connected to the light source 52R, the power supply circuit 61G is electrically connected to the light source 52G, and the power supply circuit 61B is electrically connected to the light source 52B.
  • a power supply (not shown) is connected to these power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B.
  • Each of the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, and 61B adjusts the power supplied from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71, and emits laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B. Adjust the light intensity.
  • the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B may adjust the power supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control. In this case, the intensity of the laser light emitted from these light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is adjusted by adjusting the duty cycle.
  • PWM Pulse Width Modulation
  • the light switch 72 is a switch that allows the driver to instruct the vehicle headlight 1 to emit or not emit light. For example, when the light switch 72 is turned on, the light switch 72 outputs a signal instructing emission of light from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the inclination detection device 73 is a device that detects the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction with respect to the road surface.
  • the tilt detection device 73 sends a signal of the detected tilt angle to the control unit 71.
  • Examples of the configuration of the inclination detection device 73 include a configuration using a vehicle height sensor and a configuration using a gyro sensor.
  • the steering sensor 74 is a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle, that is, the steering angle of the vehicle, and sends a signal of the detected steering angle to the control unit 71.
  • the steering sensor 74 detects the steering angle while distinguishing the right steering angle and the left steering angle from different steering angles.
  • the vehicle speed sensor 75 is a sensor that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle, and sends a signal of the detected traveling speed to the control unit 71.
  • the storage unit 76 of the present embodiment stores information about a predetermined light distribution pattern formed by the light obtained by combining the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B and information indicating the vehicle state. A plurality of associated tables are stored. Although the details will be described later, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment is configured to change the emission direction of a predetermined light distribution pattern in accordance with the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction, the steering angle, and the vehicle speed. There is.
  • the information regarding the predetermined light distribution pattern is the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B when the predetermined light distribution pattern is formed, and the information of the predetermined light distribution pattern is obtained.
  • the phase modulation pattern corresponds to the emission direction.
  • the emission direction of the predetermined light distribution pattern includes a reference emission direction, a plurality of directions inclined vertically with respect to the reference emission direction, and a plurality of directions inclined horizontally with respect to the reference emission direction. And a plurality of directions inclined in the up-down direction and the left-right direction with respect to the reference emission direction.
  • the phase modulation pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of emission directions is stored in the storage unit 76 as information regarding a predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • a plurality of tables in which a plurality of phase modulation patterns and the steering angle of the vehicle are associated with each other are provided according to the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction.
  • a plurality of tables according to the inclination angle in the pitch direction are provided in the vehicle according to the speed. Therefore, each phase modulation pattern stored in the storage unit 76 is associated with the vehicle speed, the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction, and the steering angle.
  • the storage unit 76 also stores information regarding the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B.
  • the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is set to a predetermined intensity.
  • the storage unit 76 only needs to be able to hold the stored information, may be a non-volatile memory or a volatile memory, and may be configured to be able to rewrite the stored information. Examples of the storage unit 76 include a magnetic disk represented by HD (Hard Disk), a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, and the like.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a predetermined light distribution pattern in this embodiment.
  • S indicates a horizontal line, and the light distribution pattern is indicated by a thick line.
  • This light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern formed on a vertical plane 25 m away from the vehicle, and the light distribution pattern is emitted.
  • the direction is the reference emission direction.
  • the predetermined light distribution pattern in this embodiment is a low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the region LA1 has the highest light intensity, and the light intensity decreases in the order of the regions LA2 and LA3.
  • the phase modulation pattern in each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is a phase modulation pattern in which the combined light forms a light distribution pattern including the intensity distribution of the low beam.
  • the first light DLR emitted from the first phase modulation element 54R is the red component light of the low beam distribution pattern PL
  • the second light DLG emitted from the second phase modulation element 54G is the low beam distribution.
  • the light of the green component of the pattern PL and the third light DLB emitted from the third phase modulation element 54B is the light of the blue component of the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a control flowchart of the control unit of the present embodiment.
  • Step SP1 In the present embodiment, first, when the light switch 72 is turned on and the signal instructing the emission of light is input from the light switch 72 to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP2. On the other hand, if this signal is not input to the control unit 71 in step SP1, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP3.
  • Step SP2 the control unit 71 emits a low beam from the vehicle headlamp 1, and the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, and the phase modulation element 54R so that the emission direction of the low beam becomes a direction according to the vehicle state. , 54G, 54B are controlled. Specifically, the control unit 71 outputs a predetermined signal to the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B.
  • the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B supply predetermined power from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71.
  • the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B each emit a laser beam of a predetermined intensity
  • the lights LR, LG, and LB of a predetermined intensity are emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B, respectively.
  • These lights LR, LG, LB enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, respectively.
  • the control unit 71 outputs a signal of the traveling speed of the vehicle output from the vehicle speed sensor 75, a signal of the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction with respect to the road surface output from the inclination detection device 73, and a vehicle output from the steering sensor 74.
  • the table stored in the storage unit 76 is referred to based on the steering angle signal.
  • control unit 71 is based on the phase modulation pattern according to the steering angle among the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the table according to the detected vehicle speed and the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction.
  • the signal is output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B.
  • the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B adjust the voltage applied to each dot DT of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on this signal input from the control unit 71.
  • This voltage is a voltage that makes the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on when the control unit 71 outputs a signal.
  • the lights LR, LG, and LB enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, respectively. Therefore, the lights DLR, DLG, DLB based on the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulators 54R, 54G, 54B are emitted from the phase modulators 54R, 54G, 54B, and the combined light of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB is used for the vehicle. The light is emitted from the headlight 1.
  • the predetermined light distribution pattern is the low beam light distribution pattern PL
  • the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are the detected vehicle speed and vehicle pitch direction inclination.
  • the phase modulation pattern corresponds to the angle and the steering angle.
  • the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP1, and when the light switch 72 is in the on state, proceeds to step SP2. Therefore, when the vehicle state changes, that is, when any of the vehicle speed, the pitch angle of the vehicle, and the steering angle changes, the control unit 71 outputs a signal to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B. Is changed according to the vehicle speed, the pitch angle of the vehicle, and the steering angle. Then, the emission direction of the low beam emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is changed.
  • control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the vehicle speed, the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction, and the steering angle, and the low beam light distribution pattern PL. It can be understood that the emission direction of the light of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is changed while maintaining.
  • control unit 71 simultaneously controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B and the light sources 52R, 52G and 52B.
  • control unit 71 may sequentially perform these controls.
  • control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity until the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP3 described below.
  • the control unit 71 outputs the light DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 when the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction, which is one of the information items indicating the vehicle state, is an angle inclined upward.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are controlled so that the emission direction is inclined downward according to the inclination angle. Further, the control unit 71 tilts the light DLR, DLG, and DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 to the upper side in accordance with the tilt angle when the tilt angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction is a downward tilt angle.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are controlled so as to be oriented.
  • the angle tilted according to the tilt angle is small when the tilt angle is small, and is large when the tilt angle is large. That is, the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit 76 are such that the emission directions are as described above. Therefore, the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on such a table to adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the inclination angle of the vehicle, and to control the light DLR, DLG, and DLB of the vehicle. The emission direction from the headlight 1 is changed to the vertical direction.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light DLR, DLG, DLB to emit light from the vehicle headlamp 1 when the steering angle, which is one of the information items indicating the vehicle state, indicates steering to the left.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are controlled so that is inclined to the left according to the steering angle.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light DLR, DLG, DLB to be emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 in a direction inclined to the right according to the steering angle.
  • the angle tilted according to the steering angle is small when the steering angle is small, and is large when the steering angle is large.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on such a table to adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the steering angle of the vehicle, and to control the light DLR, DLG, and DLB of the vehicle.
  • the direction of emission from the headlight 1 is changed to the left and right.
  • the control unit 71 determines that the direction of emission of the light DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 when the vehicle speed, which is one of the information items indicating the vehicle state, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are controlled so that they are tilted upward by a predetermined angle. That is, the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit 76 are such that the emission directions are as described above. Therefore, the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on such a table to adjust the phase modulation pattern according to the speed of the vehicle, and the light DLR, DLG, DLB for the vehicle is adjusted. The emission direction from the headlight 1 is changed to the vertical direction.
  • the vehicle headlights of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB are displayed.
  • the emission direction from the lamp 1 is tilted downward according to the tilt angle and tilted leftward according to the steering angle.
  • the steering angle indicates steering to the right, and the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the vehicle headlights of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB.
  • the emission direction from 1 is a direction that is inclined upward depending on the inclination angle, inclined rightward according to the steering angle, and further inclined upward by a predetermined angle. That is, the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit 76 are such that the emission directions are as described above.
  • FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed
  • FIG. 8B is a diagram showing another example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed
  • 8C is a diagram showing still another example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed.
  • FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is inclined downward depending on the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction.
  • FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is inclined to the left side according to the steering angle of the vehicle.
  • FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is inclined upward depending on the speed of the vehicle.
  • FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show a state before the emission direction of the low beam is changed by a broken line.
  • a line and a region LA2 indicating a boundary between the regions LA1 and LA2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the line indicating the boundary between the area LA3 and the area LA3 is omitted.
  • the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction is an angle inclined upward, and the vehicle is inclined upward with respect to the road surface.
  • An example of such a state is a state in which luggage or the like is loaded on the rear side of the vehicle. Since the vehicle is tilted upward with respect to the road surface, the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam before the emission direction is changed is a state in which the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is moved upward from the position of the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam shown in FIG. Become. However, in this embodiment, in step SP2, the emission direction of the low beam is changed to the direction inclined downward. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
  • the low beam light distribution pattern PL can be brought close to the position of the low beam light distribution pattern PL shown in FIG.
  • the state shown in FIG. 8B is a state in which the vehicle is steered to the left. Therefore, in this embodiment, in step SP2, the emission direction of the low beam is changed to the direction inclined to the left side, and the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is moved to the left side from the position before the emission direction of the low beam is changed.
  • the state shown in FIG. 8C is a state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
  • step SP2 the emission direction of the low beam is changed to a direction inclined upward by a predetermined angle, and the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is moved upward from the position before the emission direction of the low beam is changed. It will be moved.
  • Step SP3 the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B so that the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted.
  • the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B so that the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted.
  • the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B so that the laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G and 52B is not emitted.
  • the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B stop the power supply from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71. Therefore, the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B do not emit laser light, and the vehicle headlamp 1 does not emit light.
  • the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP1.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment changes the emission direction of the low beam according to the inclination angle, steering angle, and speed of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 may change the emission direction of the low beam in accordance with at least one of the inclination angle, the steering angle, and the speed of the vehicle.
  • the emitting direction of the low beam when changing the emitting direction of the low beam according to the speed, the emitting direction of the low beam does not have to be changed according to the steering angle. That is, when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the control unit 71 changes the low-beam emission direction to a direction inclined upward by a predetermined angle according to the vehicle speed, but changes the low-beam emission direction according to the steering angle.
  • the control unit 71 does not have to change the emission direction of the low beam up and down according to the inclination angle when the vehicle inclination angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Therefore, the emission direction of the low beam does not have to be changed to the left-right direction.
  • the control unit 71 decreases the angle of tilting the low beam emission direction upward, and when the vehicle speed is high, increases the angle of tilting the low beam emission direction upward. May be.
  • the vehicle headlamp may change the direction of the light emitted according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle or the inclination of the vehicle in the pitch direction. Therefore, even in a miniaturized vehicle headlamp such as the vehicle lamp used as the vehicle headlamp of Patent Document 1, the light is emitted according to the running state of the vehicle, the inclination in the pitch direction of the vehicle, and the like. There is a demand to improve the visibility in the traveling direction by changing the direction of the light.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes light sources 52R, 52G and 52B, phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B, and a control unit 71.
  • the phase modulation element 54R diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52R with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLR having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • the phase modulation element 54G diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52G with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLG having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • the phase modulation element 54B diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52B with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLB having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • a light distribution pattern PL of a low beam is formed by the light obtained by combining these lights DLR, DLG, DLB, and the low beam is emitted from the vehicle headlight 1.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment emits light of a low beam light distribution pattern PL without using a shade as in the vehicle lamp used as the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1 above. Therefore, it is possible to make the size smaller than the vehicle headlamp that uses the shade similarly to the vehicle lamp used as the vehicle headlamp of Patent Document 1 described above.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, and distributes each of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB.
  • the emission direction of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 is changed while maintaining the light pattern. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable as compared with the case where the low beam light distribution pattern PL changes.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can change the emission direction of the low beam according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle, the inclination in the pitch direction of the vehicle, and the like. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can improve the visibility in the traveling direction.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment does not include a device that integrally rotates or moves the lamp unit 20, the imaging lens 81, and the projection lens 82 with respect to the housing 10.
  • the emission direction of the low beam can be changed, it is possible to suppress the increase in size.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B according to the inclination angle of the vehicle in the pitch direction,
  • the emission direction of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 is changed to the vertical direction while maintaining the respective light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB.
  • the low beam can be emitted in an appropriate direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, even when the vehicle is tilted upward with respect to the road surface, it is possible to prevent the position of the low beam light distribution pattern PL from moving upward.
  • control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the steering angle of the vehicle, and the light DLR, The emission directions of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 are changed to the left and right directions while maintaining the respective light distribution patterns of DLG, DLB.
  • the emission direction of the low beam changes to the left-right direction in accordance with the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can irradiate light to the destination on the curved road WR. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can improve the visibility on the curved road WR, as compared with the case where the emission direction of the low beam does not change in accordance with the change of the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B according to the speed of the vehicle, and the light DLR, DLG. , DLB, while maintaining the respective light distribution patterns of DLB, DLB, the emission directions of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 are changed to the vertical direction.
  • Vehicle headlamps tend to require greater visibility when traveling at high speed than when traveling normally. As shown in FIG. 8(C), the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment is farther away when the low beam emission direction is tilted upward during high-speed traveling at a vehicle speed equal to or higher than a predetermined value. May be illuminated. Therefore, the vehicular headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can improve the visibility in the traveling direction when traveling at high speed, as compared with the case where the emission direction of the low beam does not change according to the speed of the vehicle.
  • the control unit 71 gradually changes the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B to maintain the light distribution pattern of each of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB, while maintaining the light DLR,
  • the emission directions of the vehicle headlamp 1 of DLG and DLB are gradually changed. For example, when the emission direction of the low beam is changed from the reference emission direction to a direction inclined by a predetermined angle to the predetermined direction, the control unit 71 causes the inclination angle in the predetermined direction with respect to the reference emission direction to sequentially increase to the predetermined angle.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are controlled based on the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit 76. That is, the control unit 71 sequentially changes the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B at a predetermined time interval so that the emission direction becomes a direction inclined by a predetermined angle to the predetermined direction. To do. With such a configuration, the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam gradually moves when the emission direction of the low beam is changed, and the driver feels uncomfortable as compared with the case where the emission direction of the low beam can be instantaneously changed. You can suppress remembering.
  • control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, so that the movement of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is recognized as a smooth movement in human vision. It is preferable to sequentially change the phase modulation pattern in each modulator of 54B.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes a projection lens through which the light DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are transmitted.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment has a low-beam light distribution pattern as compared with the case where the vehicle headlamp 1 does not include a projection lens through which the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are transmitted.
  • the size of PL can be easily adjusted.
  • the vehicle headlamp of this embodiment is for an automobile, as in the first embodiment.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle headlamp 1 of the first embodiment.
  • the control flowchart of the control unit 71 of the present embodiment is the same as the control flowchart of the control unit 71 of the first embodiment.
  • the control of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B of the control unit 71 in step SP2 is different from the control in the first embodiment. Therefore, the operation of the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
  • step SP2 the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B according to the tilt angle, the steering angle, and the speed of the vehicle, and While maintaining the respective light distribution patterns of DLR, DLG, DLB, while changing the emission direction of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1, the light different from the lights DLR, DLG, DLB is phase-modulated.
  • the elements 54R, 54G and 54B are caused to emit light, respectively.
  • the phase modulation pattern having the emission direction different from the reference emission direction is the optical DLR. , DLG, DLB, and phase modulation patterns for further emitting light from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, respectively.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on such a plurality of tables, and the vehicle headlamp 1 emits light different from the low beam together with the low beam.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed and light different from the low beam is emitted from the vehicle headlamp.
  • the state shown in FIG. 9 is a state in which the vehicle is steered to the left similarly to the state shown in FIG. 8(B).
  • the state before the emission direction of the low beam is changed is indicated by a broken line. It is shown.
  • a line showing a boundary between the regions LA1 and LA2 and a line showing a boundary between the regions LA2 and LA3 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL are omitted. There is.
  • FIG. 9 shows a diagram showing an example of a state in which the emission direction of the low beam is changed and light different from the low beam is emitted from the vehicle headlamp.
  • the state shown in FIG. 9 is a state in which the vehicle is steered to the left similarly to the state shown in FIG. 8(B).
  • the state before the emission direction of the low beam is changed is indicated by a broken
  • the light different from the low beam does not overlap with the low beam light distribution pattern PL whose emission direction is changed in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed. It is irradiated into AR2.
  • the areas AR1 and AR2 are hatched diagonally. That is, the control unit 71 modulates each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B so that light different from the low beam is irradiated in the areas AR1 and AR2 when changing the emission direction of the low beam according to the steering angle. Adjust the phase modulation pattern in the section. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the light is emitted in the areas AR1 and AR2 where the light is not emitted by changing the emission direction of the low beam.
  • the brightness of the light applied to the area AR1 is made darker than the brightness of the area AR1 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed.
  • the brightness of the light applied to the area AR2 is darker than the brightness of the area AR2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed.
  • the light is emitted in the areas AR1 and AR2 where the light is not emitted by changing the emission direction of the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and
  • the brightness of the light applied to the areas AR1 and AR2 is darker than the brightness of the areas AR1 and AR2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed. Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the driver can recognize the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, and the visibility of the areas AR1 and AR2 to which the light was irradiated before changing the emission direction is improved.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can further suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable when changing the emission direction of the light of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the light different from the low beam is applied to the entire areas AR1 and AR2.
  • the light different from the low beam is preferably emitted when the emission directions of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB from the vehicle headlamp 1 are changed according to the steering angle of the vehicle. It is preferable that the light DLR, DLG, and DLB are not emitted when the emission direction from the vehicle headlight 1 is changed according to the speed.
  • the brightness of the light applied to this area AR1 does not have to be darker than the brightness of this area AR1 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed.
  • the brightness of the light applied to the area AR2 may not be darker than the brightness of the area AR2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL before the emission direction is changed.
  • the light different from the low beam may be applied only to the area AR1 or only the area AR2.
  • the control unit 71 when emitting light different from the low beam, makes the intensity of the light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B higher than that when not emitting the light different from the low beam. , 52G, 52B may be controlled. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the low-beam light distribution pattern PL from unintentionally becoming totally dark.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the optical system unit in the present embodiment similarly to FIG. In FIG. 10, the heat sink 30, the cover 40 and the like are omitted for easy understanding.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment includes one phase modulation element 54S in place of the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and guides light in place of the combining optical system 55.
  • the difference from the optical system unit 50 of the first embodiment is that an optical system 155 is provided.
  • the light guide optical system 155 phase-modulates the light LR emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R, the light LG emitted from the second light emitting optical system 51G, and the light LB emitted from the third light emitting optical system 51B. Guide light to.
  • the light guide optical system 155 of this embodiment has a reflection mirror 155m, a first optical element 155f, and a second optical element 155s.
  • the reflection mirror 155m reflects the light LR emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R.
  • the first optical element 155f transmits the light LR reflected by the reflection mirror 155m and reflects the light LG emitted from the second light emitting optical system 51G.
  • the second optical element 155s transmits the light LR transmitted through the first optical element 155f and the light LG reflected by the first optical element 155f, and reflects the light LB emitted from the third light emitting optical system 51B.
  • the first optical element 155f and the second optical element 155s include a wavelength selection filter in which an oxide film is laminated on a glass substrate. By controlling the type and thickness of this oxide film, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined wavelength is transmitted and light having a wavelength shorter than this wavelength is reflected.
  • the configuration of the phase modulation element 54S is similar to that of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B of the first embodiment.
  • the light LR, LG, LB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B is guided to the phase modulation element 54S by the light guiding optical system 155 and is incident on the phase modulation element 54S.
  • the electric power supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is adjusted so that laser light is emitted alternately for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, and for each of the light emission optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B.
  • Lights LR, LG, and LB are emitted.
  • the first light emitting optical system 51R emits the light LR
  • the second light emitting optical system 51G and the third light emitting optical system 51B do not emit the light LG and LB
  • the second light emitting optical system 51G emits the light LG.
  • the first light-emitting optical system 51R and the third light-emitting optical system 51B do not emit the light LR and LB
  • the third light-emitting optical system 51B emits the light LB
  • the system 51R and the second light emitting optical system 51G do not emit the lights LR and LG.
  • the emission of the laser light for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is sequentially switched, and the emission of the light LR, LG, LB for each of the light emission optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B is sequentially switched. That is, the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B so that the lights LR, LG, LB are emitted in this manner. Therefore, the lights LR, LG, and LB having different wavelength bands emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B sequentially enter the phase modulation element 54S.
  • control unit 71 controls the phase modulation element 54S so that the light DLR, DLG, DLB obtained by diffracting the light LR, LG, LB in accordance with the light LR, LG, LB incident on the phase modulation element 54S is emitted. Control. That is, the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation unit of the phase modulation element 54S is changed according to the light LR, LG, and LB incident on the phase modulation element 54S. Note that, in FIG. 10, these lights DLR, DLG, and DLB sequentially emitted from the phase modulation element 54S are shown as staggered.
  • the emission of light from the phase modulation element 54S of this embodiment will be described. Specifically, a case will be described as an example in which the vehicle headlamp 1 emits the light of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL without changing the emission direction in step SP2.
  • the control unit 71 changes the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54S in synchronization with the switching of the emission of the laser light for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B as described above. Specifically, when the light LR from the light source 52R is incident, the control unit 71 sets the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54S to the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light source 52R, that is, the phase modulation element 54S.
  • the first light DLR emitted from is a phase modulation pattern that becomes the light of the red component of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the phase modulation element 54S emits the first light DLR that is the light of the red component of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 outputs the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54S from the phase modulation element 54S as the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light source 52G.
  • the second light DLG has a phase modulation pattern that becomes the light of the green component of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL. Therefore, when the light LG from the light source 52G is incident, the phase modulation element 54S emits the second light DLG that is the light of the green component of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 When the light LB from the light source 52B is incident, the control unit 71 outputs the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54S from the phase modulation element 54S as the phase modulation pattern corresponding to this light source 52B.
  • the third light DLB has a phase modulation pattern that becomes light of the blue component of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL. Therefore, when the light LB from the light source 52B is incident, the phase modulation element 54S emits the third light DLB that is the light of the blue component of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 changes the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation element 54S according to the wavelength bands of the light LR, LG, and LB incident on the phase modulation element 54S in this way, so that the low-beam red component light is emitted.
  • a certain first light DLR, a second light DLG that is a low-beam green component light, and a third light DLB that is a low-beam blue component light are sequentially emitted from the phase modulation element 54S.
  • These lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are respectively emitted from the opening 40H of the cover 40, transmitted through the imaging lens 81 and the projection lens 82, and sequentially emitted to the outside of the vehicle headlamp 1 via the front cover 12. ..
  • the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are radiated so that the regions irradiated with the respective lights overlap with each other at the focal position separated by a predetermined distance from the vehicle. ..
  • the focal position is, for example, 25 m away from the vehicle. It should be noted that the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB are emitted so that the outlines of the areas irradiated with the respective lights DLR, DLG, DLB at the focus position are substantially the same. It is preferable.
  • control unit 71 causes the emission times of the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B to be substantially the same, and the laser beams emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B.
  • the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are controlled so that the light intensity becomes the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the length of the emission time of each of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB is substantially the same.
  • the emission times of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB are substantially the same, and the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is the same as that of the first embodiment. It is considered to be strength. Therefore, the color of the light combined by the afterimage effect is the same white as the light combined with the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB in the first embodiment. Further, the light distribution pattern of the light in which the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are combined becomes the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam. It becomes the light distribution pattern PL. In this way, the light of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the cycle of repeatedly emitting the laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is preferably 1/15 second or less from the viewpoint of suppressing the flicker of the light combined by the afterimage effect.
  • the time resolution of human vision is approximately 1/30 second. In the case of a vehicle headlamp, it is possible to suppress the flicker of light when the cycle of light emission is about twice. If this cycle is 1/30 seconds or less, it will generally exceed the time resolution of human vision. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the flicker of light. Further, from the viewpoint of further suppressing the flicker of light, the period is preferably 1/60 seconds or less.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can use a common phase modulation element as the phase modulation element that diffracts the light LR, LG, LB from the three light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, the number of parts is reduced. It can be reduced or miniaturized.
  • a vehicle headlamp diffracts light emitted from a light source and a variable phase modulation pattern and emits light having a predetermined light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • a control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern and changes the emission direction of light from the phase modulation device while maintaining a predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the vehicle headlamp having such a configuration can be made smaller than a vehicle headlight that uses a shade. Further, in this vehicle headlamp, it is possible to prevent the driver from feeling uncomfortable, and to output the light in a predetermined light distribution pattern in accordance with a change in the traveling direction of the vehicle, an inclination in the pitch direction of the vehicle, or the like. Can be changed, and the visibility in the traveling direction can be improved.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 emits a low beam
  • the vehicle headlamp as the first aspect of the present invention is not particularly limited.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the first aspect may be configured to emit a high beam, or may be configured to emit light having a light distribution pattern for urban areas suitable for traveling in urban areas.
  • light having a light distribution pattern for bad weather suitable for traveling in rainy weather may be emitted.
  • the storage unit 76 stores information on the phase modulation pattern for emitting the light of such a light distribution pattern.
  • step SP2 the control unit 71 performs the phase modulation of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, 54S so that the light of such a light distribution pattern is emitted based on the information stored in the storage unit 76. Adjust the pattern.
  • the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is changed from a low beam light distribution pattern to an urban light distribution pattern, a bad weather light distribution pattern, a high beam light distribution pattern, or the like. It may be switchable.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B and 54S are reflection type phase modulation elements.
  • the phase modulation element for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal display) which is a liquid crystal panel, a GLV (Grating Light Valve) in which a plurality of reflectors are formed on a silicon substrate, or the like may be used.
  • the LCD is a transmissive phase modulation element. This LCD controls the voltage applied between a pair of electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal layer in each dot to control the phase of the light emitted from each dot, as in the case of the LCOS which is a reflective liquid crystal panel described above.
  • the amount of change can be adjusted to change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, or change the direction of the emitted light to change the area irradiated with the light.
  • the pair of electrodes are transparent electrodes.
  • the GLV is a reflective phase modulation element. By electrically controlling the deflection of the reflector, this GLV diffracts and emits incident light, changes the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, or changes the direction of the emitted light to change the light.
  • the illuminated area can be changed.
  • the light guide optical system 155 includes the reflection mirror 155m, the first optical element 155f, and the second optical element 155s.
  • the light guide optical system 155 may guide the lights LR, LG, and LB emitted from the respective light emission optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B to the phase modulation element 54S, and is not limited to the configuration of the third embodiment.
  • the light guide optical system 155 may not include the reflection mirror 155m.
  • the light LR emitted from the first light emitting optical system 51R is made incident on the first optical element 155f.
  • a bandpass filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength band and reflects light in other wavelength bands may be used for the first optical element 155f and the second optical element 155s.
  • the optical system unit 50 includes the light guiding optical system 155 that guides the light LR, LG, LB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B to the phase modulation element 54S.
  • the optical system unit 50 may not include the light guiding optical system 155.
  • the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B are arranged so that the lights LR, LG, and LB enter the phase modulation element 54S.
  • the first optical element 55f transmits the first light DLR and reflects the second light DLG to thereby generate the first light DLR and the second light DLG.
  • the second optical element 55s transmits the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and reflects the third light DLB to form the first light DLR.
  • the second light DLG and the third light DLB were combined.
  • the third light DLB and the second light DLG are combined in the first optical element 55f
  • the third light DLB and the second light DLB combined in the first optical element 55f are combined in the second optical element 55s.
  • the light DLG and the first light DLR may be combined.
  • the first light source 52R, the first collimator lens 53R, and the first phase modulation element 54R, the third light source 52B, the third collimator lens 53B, and the third phase modulation element 54B may be used in the first optical element 55f and the second optical element 55s. good.
  • the combining optical system 55 may combine the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, respectively. Not limited to.
  • the optical system unit 50 includes the combining optical system 55 that combines the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB.
  • the optical system unit 50 does not have to include the combining optical system 55.
  • the control unit 71 controls the respective phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B so that the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the respective phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are combined.
  • the optical system unit 50 includes a light guide optical system that guides the light LR, LG, LB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. I didn't have it.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the first and second embodiments may include a light guiding optical system that guides the light LR, LG, LB to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 includes the imaging lens 81 and the projection lens 82.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 may not include the imaging lens 81.
  • the phase modulation patterns in the respective modulation sections of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B stored in the storage section 76 are the light DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, respectively.
  • the phase modulation pattern is formed so as to form an image.
  • the control unit 71 causes the phase modulation elements 54R, DLG, DLB to emit images from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on the information stored in the storage unit 76, respectively.
  • the phase modulation pattern in each modulator of 54G and 54B is adjusted.
  • the positions where the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB form images are substantially the same position on the optical system unit 50 side of the projection lens 82.
  • the light beams DLR, DLG, DLB thus formed are propagated while being diverged after being imaged, the divergence angles of the light beams DLR, DLG, DLB are adjusted by the projection lens 82, and the divergence angles are adjusted.
  • DLR, DLG, and DLB light is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 via the front cover 12.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are transmitted, similarly to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the first embodiment.
  • the size of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL can be adjusted more easily than in the case where no projection lens is provided. Further, since such a vehicle headlamp 1 does not include the imaging lens 81, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the vehicle headlamp 1 of the first embodiment.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 may not include the image forming lens 81 and the projection lens 82. However, from the viewpoint of facilitating the adjustment of the size of the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, the vehicle headlamp 1 preferably includes the projection lens 82.
  • phase modulation elements 54R and 54G that correspond to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B in a one-to-one relationship.
  • the optical system unit 50 including 54B has been described as an example.
  • the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B may be integrally formed. Examples of such a configuration of the phase modulation element include a configuration in which the phase modulation element is divided into a region corresponding to the light source 52R, a region corresponding to the light source 52G, and a region corresponding to the light source 52B.
  • the light from the light source 52R enters the area corresponding to the light source 52R
  • the light from the light source 52G enters the area corresponding to the light source 52G
  • the light from the light source 52B enters the area corresponding to the light source 52B.
  • Light enters.
  • the phase modulation pattern of the area corresponding to the light source 52R is a phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light from the light source 52R
  • the phase modulation pattern of the area corresponding to the light source 52G is a phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light from the light source 52G
  • the phase modulation pattern of the area corresponding to the light source 52B is the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the light from the light source 52B.
  • the three light sources 52R, 52G, 52B alternately emit light for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B.
  • at least two light sources emit light alternately for each light source.
  • the light emitted from the phase modulation element on which the light emitted from at least two light sources enters is combined by the afterimage effect, and the light combined by this afterimage effect and the light emitted from other phase modulation elements are combined. Then, light having a predetermined light distribution pattern is emitted.
  • the optical system unit 50 including 54G and 54B has been described as an example.
  • the optical system unit 50 including the three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B that emit laser beams in different wavelength bands and the one phase modulation element 54S has been described as an example.
  • the optical system unit may include at least one light source and a phase modulation element corresponding to this light source.
  • the optical system unit may include a light source that emits white laser light and a phase modulation element that diffracts and emits white laser light emitted from this light source.
  • the optical system unit may include a plurality of light sources and a plurality of phase modulation elements, at least one light source may correspond to each phase modulation element. For example, light obtained by combining lights emitted from a plurality of light sources may be incident on one phase modulation element.
  • a fourth embodiment as a second aspect of the present invention will be described.
  • the same or equivalent components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicate description will be omitted unless otherwise specified.
  • the configuration of the vehicle headlamp 1 in the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the vehicle headlamp 1 in the first embodiment.
  • the light distribution pattern of the light emitted by the vehicle headlight 1 of the present embodiment is different from the light distribution pattern of the light emitted by the vehicle headlight 1 of the first embodiment.
  • the storage unit 76 of the present embodiment stores information about the light distribution pattern formed by the light obtained by combining the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.
  • a table in which is associated with the information indicating the vehicle state is stored.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted according to the steering angle of the vehicle is widened in the left-right direction. Therefore, the storage unit 76 of the present embodiment stores a table in which information about a plurality of light distribution patterns and information about a steering angle as information indicating a vehicle state are associated with each other.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a left expanded light distribution pattern PLL in which the low beam light distribution pattern PL shown in FIG. 6 is expanded to the left.
  • S indicates a horizontal line
  • the light distribution pattern is indicated by a thick line.
  • This light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern formed on a vertical plane 25 m away from the vehicle.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern is defined by, for example, an isointensity line formed by a group of points at which the light intensity has a value of a predetermined ratio with respect to the maximum light intensity value of the light distribution pattern. ..
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern of the present embodiment is defined by an isointensity line formed by a set of points at which the light intensity is 2.5% of the maximum light intensity value in the light distribution pattern. ..
  • the boundary between the low-beam light distribution pattern PL shown in FIG. 6 and the expanded area ARW that is the expanded area is shown by a broken line.
  • the width W in the left-right direction of the expansion area ARW in the left expansion light distribution pattern PLL is the width in the left-right direction from the left end of the low beam light distribution pattern PL to the left end of the expansion area ARW.
  • the light intensity in the enlarged area ARW is set to be substantially the same as the light intensity in the area LA3, which is an area on the outer peripheral side in the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the light intensity in the enlarged area ARW is not particularly limited, and may be higher than the light intensity in the area LA2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the light intensity distribution in the region other than the expansion region ARW in the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL is the light intensity in the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the light intensity distribution in the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL other than the expansion region ARW may be different from the light intensity distribution in the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a table in this embodiment.
  • the table TB of the present embodiment is a table in which the phase modulation pattern in the modulator of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B when forming each light distribution pattern and the information indicating the vehicle state are associated with each other.
  • the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the table TB are phase modulation patterns when forming the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the phase modulation patterns RL1, GL1, BL1 are phase modulation patterns when forming the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL in which the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is expanded to the left, and the phase modulation patterns RL2, GL2, BL2, phase modulation patterns Similarly, the patterns RL3, GL3, BL3... Are also phase modulation patterns when forming the left enlarged light distribution pattern PLL.
  • the width W in the left-right direction of the expansion region ARW in the left expansion light distribution pattern PLL formed based on the phase modulation patterns RL1, GL1, BL1 is the smallest, and the phase modulation patterns RL2, GL2, BL2, and the phase modulation pattern RL3. The width W becomes wider in the order of GL3, BL3....
  • the width W of the enlarged area ARW in the left enlarged light distribution pattern PLL to be formed is increased with reference to the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the phase modulation patterns RL1, GL1, BL1, the phase modulation patterns RL2, GL2, BL2... are arranged.
  • the phase modulation patterns RR1, GR1, BR1 are phase modulation patterns when forming a right expansion light distribution pattern in which the low beam light distribution pattern PL is expanded to the right, and the phase modulation patterns RR2, GR2, BR2, Similarly, the modulation patterns RR3, GR3, BR3...
  • the width W in the left-right direction of the expansion region ARW in the right expansion light distribution pattern formed based on the phase modulation patterns RR1, GR1, BR1 is the narrowest, and the phase modulation patterns RR2, GR2, BR2, phase modulation patterns RR3, GR3. , BR3...
  • the width W becomes wider in this order.
  • the width W of the expansion area ARW in the right expansion light distribution pattern to be formed is increased in order from the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the phase modulation patterns RR1, GR1, BR1, the phase modulation patterns RR2, GR2, BR2... Are arranged.
  • the information indicating the vehicle state associated with the phase modulation pattern is the steering angle of the vehicle.
  • this information is set as a plurality of ranges regarding the steering angle obtained by dividing the range of the steering angle at which the vehicle can be steered.
  • the range ⁇ 0 is a continuous range including zero.
  • the plurality of ranges ⁇ L1, ⁇ L2, ⁇ L3... Are continuous ranges related to the left steering angle
  • the plurality of ranges ⁇ R1, ⁇ R2, ⁇ R3... are continuous ranges related to the right steering angle. ..
  • the lower limit of the range ⁇ L1 is greater than or equal to the upper limit of the left steering angle in the range ⁇ 0, and the upper limit of the range ⁇ L1 is less than the lower limit of the left steering angle in the range ⁇ L2.
  • the lower limit of the range ⁇ L2 is equal to or more than the upper limit of the left steering angle in the range ⁇ L1, and the upper limit of the range ⁇ L2 is less than the lower limit of the left steering angle in the range ⁇ L3.
  • the upper limit and the lower limit of each of these ranges increase in the order of range ⁇ L1, range ⁇ L2, range ⁇ L3,....
  • the lower limit of the range ⁇ R1 is greater than or equal to the upper limit of the right steering angle in the range ⁇ 0, and the upper limit of the range ⁇ R1 is less than the lower limit of the right steering angle in the range ⁇ R2.
  • the lower limit of the range ⁇ R2 is equal to or larger than the upper limit of the right steering angle in the range ⁇ R1, and the upper limit of the range ⁇ R2 is smaller than the lower limit of the right steering angle in the range ⁇ R3.
  • the upper limit and the lower limit of each of these ranges increase in the order of range ⁇ R1, range ⁇ R2, range ⁇ R3,.... Note that the number of continuous ranges regarding the left steering angle and the number of continuous ranges regarding the right steering angle are not particularly limited.
  • the range ⁇ 0 is associated with the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • a phase modulation pattern corresponding to the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL is associated with each of the ranges ⁇ L1, ⁇ L2, ⁇ L3,....
  • the left enlarged light distribution pattern PLL formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with the range ⁇ L2 is larger than the width W of the enlarged region ARW in the left enlarged light distribution pattern PLL formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with the range ⁇ L1.
  • the width of the enlarged area ARW in is large.
  • the width W of the expansion region ARW in the left expansion light distribution pattern PLL formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with each range becomes wider in the order of the range ⁇ L1, the range ⁇ L2, the range ⁇ L3,....
  • 10 sets of phase modulation patterns are associated with each of the ranges ⁇ L1, ⁇ L2, ⁇ L3.
  • the range ⁇ L1 is associated with 10 sets of phase modulation patterns from the phase modulation patterns RL1, GL1, BL1 to the phase modulation patterns RL10, GL10, BL10
  • the range ⁇ L2 is associated with the phase modulation patterns RL11, GL11.
  • BL11 to phase modulation patterns RL20, GL20, BL20 are associated with each other.
  • a phase modulation pattern corresponding to the right expanded light distribution pattern is associated with each of the ranges ⁇ R1, ⁇ R2, ⁇ R3....
  • the expansion in the right expansion light distribution pattern formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with the range ⁇ R2 is larger than the width W of the expansion area ARW in the right expansion light distribution pattern formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with the range ⁇ R1.
  • the width W of the area ARW is made large. Then, the width W of the expansion region ARW in the right expansion light distribution pattern formed based on the phase modulation pattern associated with each range becomes wider in the order of the range ⁇ R1, the range ⁇ R2, the range ⁇ R3,....
  • 10 sets of phase modulation patterns are associated with each of the ranges ⁇ R1, ⁇ R2, ⁇ R3.
  • the range ⁇ R1 is associated with 10 sets of phase modulation patterns from the phase modulation patterns RR1, GR1, BR1 to the phase modulation patterns RR10, GR10, BR10
  • the range ⁇ L2 is associated with the phase modulation patterns RR11, GR11.
  • BR11 to phase modulation patterns RR20, GR20, BR20 are associated with 10 sets of phase modulation patterns.
  • the number of phase modulation patterns associated with the continuous range of the left steering angle and the continuous range of the right steering angle is not particularly limited.
  • the storage unit 76 also stores information about the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B, the initial value of the vehicle steering angle that is information indicating the vehicle state, the reference angle, and the like.
  • the reference angle is an angle which the control unit 71 refers to and rewrites in the control of the vehicle headlamp 1 described later, and is an angle corresponding to the steering angle. Therefore, the reference angle includes the right angle and the left angle.
  • the initial value of the reference angle is the initial value of the steering angle.
  • the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is set to a predetermined intensity, and the initial value of the steering angle is set to zero.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a control flowchart of the control unit of the present embodiment.
  • Step SP51 In the present embodiment, first, when the light switch 72 is turned on and a signal instructing emission of light is input from the light switch 72 to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP52. On the other hand, in this step, if this signal is not input to the control unit 71, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP56.
  • Step SP52 the control unit 71 detects the vehicle state. Specifically, the control unit 71 detects the steering angle of the vehicle based on the signal output from the steering sensor 74. Then, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP53.
  • Step SP53 the control unit 71 determines whether the vehicle state has changed based on the steering angle detected in step SP52, the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, and the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76. To judge. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the range including the steering angle detected in step SP52 and the range including the reference angle are the same among the plurality of ranges regarding the steering angle in the table TB. If the two ranges are the same, it is determined that the vehicle state has not changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP54. On the other hand, if the two ranges are different, it is determined that the vehicle state has changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP55.
  • Step SP54 the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B so that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained. Specifically, the control unit 71 outputs a predetermined signal to the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B.
  • the power supply circuits 61R, 61G, 61B supply predetermined power from the power supply to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B based on the signal input from the control unit 71.
  • the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B each emit a laser beam of a predetermined intensity
  • the lights LR, LG, and LB of a predetermined intensity are emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, and 51B, respectively.
  • These lights LR, LG, LB enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, respectively.
  • the control unit 71 refers to the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, and the phases of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B associated with the range including the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76.
  • a signal based on the modulation pattern is output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B.
  • the control unit 71 When there are a plurality of phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B associated with the range including the reference angle, the low beam phase modulation patterns R0, G0, and B0 are arranged in the order of arrangement of the phase modulation patterns.
  • the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation pattern farthest from. For example, when the range including the reference angle is the range ⁇ L1, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation patterns RL10, GL10, BL10.
  • the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B adjust the voltage applied to each dot DT of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on this signal input from the control unit 71.
  • This voltage is a voltage that makes the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on when the control unit 71 outputs a signal.
  • this voltage is a voltage that makes the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B phase modulation patterns RL10, GL10, BL10.
  • the lights LR, LG, and LB enter the corresponding phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, respectively. Therefore, the lights DLR, DLG, DLB based on the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulators 54R, 54G, 54B are emitted from the phase modulators 54R, 54G, 54B, and the combined light of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB is used for the vehicle.
  • the light is emitted from the headlight 1.
  • the phase modulation pattern is a specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference angle. Therefore, the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference angle is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • step SP53 the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51. Therefore, when it is determined in step SP53 that the vehicle state has not changed, the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76 is used. Continues to emit from the vehicle headlamp 1. Therefore, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained without being changed.
  • control unit 71 simultaneously controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B and the light sources 52R, 52G and 52B.
  • control unit 71 may sequentially perform these controls.
  • control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity until the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP56 described below.
  • Step SP55 the control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54R, so that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 becomes a light distribution pattern according to the vehicle state.
  • 54G and 54B are controlled.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity, similarly to step SP54.
  • the control unit 71 refers to the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, changes the signals output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B at predetermined time intervals to change the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Adjust the phase modulation pattern of.
  • the adjustment of the phase modulation pattern by the control unit 71 will be described according to the relationship between the steering angle detected in step SP52 and the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76.
  • the control unit 71 associates the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B with the range including the steering angle detected in step SP52 from the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference angle. Up to a specific phase modulation pattern, the sequence is sequentially changed according to the arrangement order of the phase modulation patterns.
  • the plurality of phase modulation patterns in the table TB are based on the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and the width W of the enlarged region ARW in the formed light distribution pattern.
  • the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 sequentially changes at a predetermined time interval in accordance with the change of the phase modulation pattern, and the expanded area ARW in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is displayed.
  • the width W is gradually widened or narrowed sequentially. Then, the light distribution pattern of the emitted light becomes a specific light distribution pattern associated with the range including the steering angle detected in step SP52.
  • the control unit 71 sets the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B to the phase modulation patterns.
  • the modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 to the phase modulation patterns RL20, GL20, BL20 are sequentially changed.
  • the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL changes so as to continuously spread to the left at predetermined time intervals. Then, the low beam light distribution pattern PL becomes a left expanded light distribution pattern PLL which is spread to the left.
  • control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the steering angle of the vehicle, and continuously changes the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is a left expanded light distribution pattern PLL that is widened to the left.
  • the control unit 71 causes the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Are sequentially changed from the phase modulation patterns RL20, GL20, BL20 to the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0.
  • the width W of the expansion area ARW of the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL is continuously narrowed at a predetermined time interval, and the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL is a low beam distribution pattern. It becomes PL.
  • the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 changes so as to continuously spread in the left-right direction, and is detected in step SP52.
  • the steering angle is smaller than the reference angle, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 continuously changes in the left-right direction.
  • the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is a light distribution pattern according to the steering angle detected in step SP52.
  • the control unit 71 detects the steering angle detected in step SP52 from the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference angle, of the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Up to a specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the, are sequentially changed according to the arrangement order of the phase modulation patterns.
  • the control unit 71 performs the phase modulation on the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.
  • Patterns RR10, GR10, BR10 to phase modulation patterns RL10, GL10, BL10 are sequentially changed.
  • the width W of the expansion region ARW of the right expansion light distribution pattern is continuously narrowed at a predetermined time interval, the right expansion light distribution pattern becomes the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and further the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Changes to spread to the left. Then, the right expanded light distribution pattern becomes the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the vehicle state, and emits it from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern of light is continuously changed to form another light distribution pattern having a different outer shape from this light distribution pattern.
  • the control unit 71 detects the vehicle state based on the steering angle of the vehicle. Therefore, it can be understood that the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the steering angle. Then, the control unit 71 rewrites the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76 with the steering angle detected in step SP52, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • control unit 71 simultaneously controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B and the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, as in step SP54.
  • control unit 71 may sequentially perform these controls.
  • control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity until the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP56 described below.
  • Step SP56 the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B so that the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted. Specifically, when the signal instructing the emission of light from the light switch 72 is not input to the control unit 71 in step SP51 as described above and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP56, the control unit 71 determines , The light sources 52R, 52G and 52B are controlled so that the laser light from the light sources 52R, 52G and 52B is not emitted. Therefore, the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted. The control unit 71 rewrites the reference angle stored in the storage unit 76 to the initial value of the steering angle, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • the outer shape of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is continuously changed according to the steering angle of the vehicle, and the low-beam light distribution pattern PL can be widened in the left-right direction.
  • the control flow of the control unit 71 is not particularly limited.
  • the inclination detection device 73 and the vehicle speed sensor 75 may not be electrically connected to the control unit 71.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes light sources 52R, 52G and 52B, phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B, and a control unit 71.
  • the phase modulation element 54R diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52R with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLR having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • the phase modulation element 54G diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52G with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLG having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • the phase modulation element 54B diffracts the light emitted from the light source 52B with a changeable phase modulation pattern, and emits the light DLB having a light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and the light distribution pattern emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the external shape of is continuously changed to another light distribution pattern. Therefore, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment is different from the case where the outer shape of the light distribution pattern is instantaneously changed like the vehicle lamp used as the vehicle headlamp described in Patent Document 1 above. It is possible to prevent the driver from feeling uncomfortable.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase so that the change in the light distribution pattern is recognized as a smooth change in human vision. It is preferable to sequentially change the modulation pattern. That is, regarding the number of light distribution patterns in the table stored in the storage unit 76, the width W of the enlarged area ARW in which each light distribution pattern is widened, etc., the change in the light distribution pattern is recognized as a smooth change in human vision. It is preferable that the Here, the outer shape of the light distribution pattern on a plane passing through a predetermined reference point in the light distribution pattern and a specific portion of the vehicle headlamp 1, a straight line passing through the specific portion, the predetermined reference point, and the specific reference point.
  • the angle formed by the reference straight line passing through the part changes according to the change in the outer shape of the light distribution pattern.
  • the specific portion of the vehicle headlamp 1 may be, for example, the center of the projection lens 82 of the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the predetermined reference point in the light distribution pattern for example, there is a point at which the light intensity in the light distribution pattern becomes maximum. If the change amount of the outer shape of the light distribution pattern is large, the change amount of this angle is large, and if the change amount of the outer shape of the light distribution pattern is small, the change amount of this angle is small. Thus, the change amount of the outer shape of the light distribution pattern can be represented by the change amount of the angle.
  • the change amount of this angle when changing the phase modulation pattern is preferably 0.5° or less. It is more preferably 1° or less. That is, the number of light distribution patterns in the table stored in the storage unit 76, the width W of the enlarged region ARW in which each light distribution pattern is widened, and the like can be set so that the amount of change in this angle is as described above. preferable.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B in accordance with the steering angle of the vehicle to distribute the low beam.
  • the light pattern PL is a left expanded light distribution pattern PLL or a right expanded light distribution pattern that is expanded in the left-right direction.
  • the light distribution pattern changes to the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL or the right expanded light distribution pattern in which the light distribution pattern is expanded in the left-right direction according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment can irradiate the traveling destination with light on the curved road WR. Therefore, the visibility on the curved road WR can be improved as compared with the case where the light distribution pattern does not change according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment includes a projection lens 82 through which the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are transmitted.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 has a low-beam light distribution as compared with the case where the projection lens 82 through which the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are transmitted is not provided.
  • the size of the pattern PL can be easily adjusted.
  • the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment is for a vehicle, as in the fourth embodiment.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle headlamp 1 of the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 15 is a block diagram including a vehicle headlamp in the present embodiment.
  • a turn switch 77 is electrically connected to the control unit 71 of the present embodiment in place of the inclination detection device 73, the steering sensor 74, and the vehicle speed sensor.
  • the turn switch 77 may be electrically connected to the control unit 71 via an electronic control unit of the vehicle.
  • the turn switch 77 is a switch that allows the driver to select the state of the turn lamp of the vehicle. For example, the turn switch 77 outputs a signal instructing this state when the left turn lamp blinks and selects this state when the right turn lamp blinks. If a state in which a signal is output and the left and right turn lamps are not lit is selected, no signal is output.
  • the table stored in the storage unit 76 of the present embodiment mainly differs from the table TB in the fourth embodiment in that the information indicating the vehicle state is the turn lamp state.
  • the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL are associated with the state where the left and right turn lamps are not lit. All the phase modulation patterns corresponding to the left expanded light distribution pattern PLL are associated with the state where the left turn lamp blinks. All the right expansion phase modulation patterns are associated with the blinking state of the right turn lamp.
  • the plurality of phase modulation patterns in the table of the present embodiment are formed based on the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL, as in the fourth embodiment.
  • the enlarged regions ARW in the pattern are arranged in the order of increasing width W.
  • the storage unit 76 also stores the initial state of the state of the turn lamp, which is information indicating the vehicle state, the reference state, and the like.
  • the reference state is a state that the control unit 71 refers to and rewrites in the control of the vehicle headlamp 1 described later, and is a state corresponding to the state of the turn lamp.
  • the initial state of the reference state is an initial state of the turn lamp state
  • the initial state of the turn lamp state is a state in which the left and right turn lamps are not lit.
  • the operation of the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment will be described. Specifically, the operation of changing the light distribution pattern of the emitted light according to the signal from the turn switch 77 will be described.
  • the control flow chart of the control unit 71 of this embodiment is the same as the control flow chart of the control unit 71 of the fourth embodiment.
  • the detection of the vehicle state of the control unit 71 in step SP52 of the present embodiment is different from the detection of the vehicle state of the control unit 71 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the judgment of the control unit 71 in step SP53 of the present embodiment is different from the judgment of the control unit 71 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the control of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B of the control unit 71 in steps SP54, SP55 of the present embodiment is different from the control of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, the operation of the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
  • Step SP52 the control unit 71 detects the state of the turn lamp based on the signal from the turn switch 77. Then, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP53.
  • Step SP53 the control unit 71 determines whether the vehicle state has changed, based on the state of the turn lamp detected in step SP52 and the reference state stored in the storage unit 76. Specifically, it is determined whether the turn lamp state detected in step SP52 is the same as the reference state. If the turn lamp state and the reference state detected in step SP52 are the same, it is determined that the vehicle state has not changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP54. If the turn lamp state and the reference state detected in step SP52 are different, it is determined that the vehicle state has changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP55.
  • Step SP54 In step SP54 of the present embodiment, similarly to step SP54 of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, so that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained. 52B and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B are controlled. The control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity. In addition, the control unit 71 refers to the table stored in the storage unit 76, and a signal based on the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B associated with the reference state stored in the storage unit 76. Is output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G and 60B.
  • the control unit 71 When the reference state is a state in which the left or right turn lamp blinks, among the phase modulation patterns associated with the reference state, the low beam phase modulation patterns R0 and G0 are arranged in the order of arrangement of the phase modulation patterns. , B0, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation pattern that is farthest from B0. That is, when the turn lamp whose reference state is left blinks is the reference state, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the left enlarged light distribution pattern PLL in which the width W of the enlarged region ARW is the widest. To do. Further, when the reference state is the state where the right turn lamp blinks, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation pattern corresponding to the right expansion light distribution pattern in which the width W of the expansion region ARW is the widest.
  • the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the reference state is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1. Then, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51. Therefore, when it is determined in step SP53 that the vehicle state has not changed, the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the reference state stored in the storage unit 76 is not used for the vehicle. It continues to emit from the lamp 1. Therefore, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained without being changed.
  • Step SP55 In step SP55 of the present embodiment, as in step SP55 of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 71 causes the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 to be a light distribution pattern according to the vehicle state.
  • the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are controlled.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity.
  • the control unit 71 refers to the table stored in the storage unit 76, changes the signals output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B at predetermined time intervals to change the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B.
  • the phase modulation pattern in each modulator is adjusted. The adjustment of the phase modulation pattern by the control unit 71 will be described according to the relationship between the turn lamp state detected in step SP52 and the reference state stored in the storage unit 76.
  • the control unit 71 associates the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B with the turn lamp states detected in step SP52 from the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Up to a certain specific phase modulation pattern, the phase modulation patterns are sequentially changed according to the arrangement order. As described above, the plurality of phase modulation patterns in the table are formed based on the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL, as in the first embodiment.
  • the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 sequentially changes at a predetermined time interval in accordance with the change of the phase modulation pattern, and the enlarged region ARW in the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is displayed.
  • the width W is gradually increased.
  • the light distribution pattern of the emitted light becomes a specific light distribution pattern associated with the state of the turn lamp detected in step SP52.
  • the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL changes so as to continuously spread to the left at predetermined time intervals. Then, the low beam light distribution pattern PL becomes a left expanded light distribution pattern PLL which is spread to the left.
  • the state of the turn lamp detected in step SP52 is a state in which the right turn lamp blinks
  • the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL changes so as to continuously spread to the right at predetermined time intervals. Then, the low beam light distribution pattern PL becomes a right expanded light distribution pattern which is expanded to the right.
  • the control unit 71 changes the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B from the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the state of the turn lamp detected in step SP52 to a low beam.
  • the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the light distribution pattern PL are sequentially changed according to the arrangement order of the phase modulation patterns.
  • the width W of the expansion area ARW of the left expansion light distribution pattern PLL is continuously narrowed at a predetermined time interval, and the left expansion light distribution pattern PLL is a low beam.
  • Light distribution pattern PL when the reference state is the state where the right turn lamp blinks, the width W of the expansion area ARW of the right expansion light distribution pattern is continuously narrowed at a predetermined time interval, and the right expansion light distribution pattern is a low beam light distribution. It becomes the pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B according to the vehicle state, and emits it from the vehicle headlamp 1.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern of light is continuously changed to form another light distribution pattern having a different outer shape from this light distribution pattern.
  • the control unit 71 detects the vehicle state based on the signal output from the turn switch 77. Therefore, it can be understood that the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the signal from the turn switch 77. Then, the control unit 71 rewrites the reference state stored in the storage unit 76 to the state of the turn lamp detected in step SP52, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • step SP56 of the present embodiment the control unit 71 stores the light in the storage unit 76 after the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted, as in step SP56 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the state is rewritten to the initial state of the turn lamp, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • the control unit 71 continuously changes the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL in response to the signal from the turn switch 77, and the low beam light distribution is performed.
  • the pattern PL is a light distribution pattern that is widened in the left-right direction. For this reason, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can irradiate the traveling destination with light at an intersection or the like, so that the light distribution pattern does not change in response to the signal from the turn switch 77. The visibility at intersections and the like can be improved.
  • the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment is for a vehicle, as in the fourth embodiment.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle headlamp 1 of the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a table in this embodiment.
  • the table TB of the present embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment in that the phase modulation pattern and the vehicle state in the modulation unit of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B when forming each light distribution pattern. And the information indicating the table are associated with each other.
  • the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the table TB are phase modulation patterns when forming the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the phase modulation patterns RS1, GS1, BS1 are phase modulation patterns when forming a reduced light distribution pattern in which the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is reduced to a substantially similar shape.
  • phase modulation patterns RS2, GS2, BS2, the phase modulation patterns RS3, GS3, BS3,... are also the phases for forming a reduced light distribution pattern in which the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is reduced to a substantially similar shape. It is a modulation pattern.
  • the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern formed on the basis of the phase modulation patterns RS1, GS1, BS1 is the largest, and the outer shapes of the phase modulation patterns RS2, GS2, BS2, phase modulation patterns RS3, GS3, BS3... Get smaller.
  • the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern formed based on the phase modulation patterns RS50, GS50, BS50 is the smallest.
  • phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL are used as a reference in the order in which the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern formed becomes smaller.
  • GS1, BS1, and phase modulation patterns RS2, GS2, BS2... are arranged.
  • the number of sets of these phase modulation patterns is not particularly limited.
  • the information indicating the vehicle state associated with the phase modulation pattern is the vehicle speed.
  • this information is a range of the speed of the vehicle, and is a range in which the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined value V1 and a range in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or more than the predetermined value V1.
  • the phase modulation patterns RS50, GS50, BS50 corresponding to the reduced light distribution pattern having the smallest outer shape are associated with the range where the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined value V1.
  • the range where the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined value V1 corresponds to the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL and the reduced light distribution pattern other than the reduced light distribution pattern having the smallest outer shape. All of the phase modulation patterns are associated.
  • the storage unit 76 also stores an initial value of the vehicle speed, which is information indicating the vehicle state, a reference speed, and the like.
  • the reference speed is a speed that the control unit 71 refers to and rewrites in the control of the vehicle headlamp 1 described later, and is a speed corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.
  • the initial value of the reference speed is the initial value of the speed of the vehicle, and the initial value of the speed of the vehicle is zero.
  • the operation of the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment will be described. Specifically, the operation of changing the light distribution pattern of the emitted light based on the speed of the vehicle will be described.
  • the control flow chart of the control unit 71 of this embodiment is the same as the control flow chart of the control unit 71 of the fourth embodiment.
  • the detection of the vehicle state of the control unit 71 in step SP52 of the present embodiment is different from the detection of the vehicle state of the control unit 71 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the judgment of the control unit 71 in step SP53 of the present embodiment is different from the judgment of the control unit 71 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the control of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B of the control unit 71 in steps SP54, SP55 of the present embodiment is different from the control of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, the operation of the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
  • Step SP52 the control unit 71 detects the speed of the vehicle based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 75. Then, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP53.
  • Step SP53 the control unit 71 determines whether or not the vehicle state has changed based on the speed detected in step SP52, the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, and the reference speed stored in the storage unit 76. To judge. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the range including the speed detected in step SP52 and the range including the reference speed are the same. If the two ranges are the same, it is determined that the vehicle state has not changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP54. On the other hand, if the two ranges are different, it is determined that the vehicle state has changed, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP55.
  • Step SP54 In step SP54 of the present embodiment, similarly to step SP54 of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 71 controls the light sources 52R, 52G, so that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained. 52B and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B are controlled. The control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity. Further, the control unit 71 refers to the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, and stores the phases of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B associated with the range including the reference speed stored in the storage unit 76. A signal based on the modulation pattern is output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B.
  • the control unit 71 controls the signals based on the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam among the phase modulation patterns associated with the range including the reference speed. Output. That is, when the reference speed is less than the predetermined value V1, the control unit 71 outputs a signal based on the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam, and when the reference speed is the predetermined value V1 or more, the outer shape is the most.
  • the controller 71 outputs signals based on the phase modulation patterns RS50, GS50, BS50 corresponding to the small reduced light distribution pattern.
  • the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference speed is emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1. Then, the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51. Therefore, if it is determined in step SP53 that the vehicle state has not changed, the light of the light distribution pattern based on the specific phase modulation pattern associated with the range including the reference speed stored in the storage unit 76 is used. Continues to emit from the vehicle headlamp 1. Therefore, the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 is maintained without being changed.
  • Step SP55 In step SP55 of the present embodiment, as in step SP55 of the fourth embodiment, the control unit 71 causes the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 to be a light distribution pattern according to the vehicle state.
  • the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are controlled.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B to emit laser light of a predetermined intensity.
  • the control unit 71 refers to the table TB stored in the storage unit 76, changes the signals output to the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B at predetermined time intervals to change the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B.
  • the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulators is adjusted. The adjustment of the phase modulation pattern by the control unit 71 will be described according to the relationship between the speed detected in step SP52 and the reference speed stored in the storage unit 76.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B from the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL to the phase modulation patterns RS50, GS50, BS50. Change in sequence according to the order of patterns.
  • the plurality of phase modulation patterns in the table TB are arranged in the order in which the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern to be formed becomes smaller with reference to the phase modulation patterns R0, G0, B0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL. Are lined up.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 changes so as to be continuously reduced at a predetermined time interval, and the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam becomes
  • the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 is reduced to a substantially similar shape. That is, the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B and continuously changes the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL to obtain the low beam light distribution pattern PL. It can be understood that the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 is reduced to a substantially similar shape. It should be noted that in FIG.
  • a line indicating a boundary between the regions LA1 and LA2 and a line indicating a boundary between the regions LA2 and LA3 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL are omitted.
  • the position of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS in which the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is reduced to a substantially similar shape is a position where the position of the cutoff line CF does not substantially change.
  • the control unit 71 sets the phase modulation patterns of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B to the phase modulation pattern R0 corresponding to the low beam light distribution pattern PL from the phase modulation patterns RS50, GS50, BS50. , G0, B0 are sequentially changed according to the arrangement order of the phase modulation patterns. Therefore, contrary to the case shown in FIG. 17, the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 emitted from the vehicle headlamp 1 changes so as to continuously increase at a predetermined time interval, and the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50. Is a low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B in accordance with the detected vehicle state in step SP55, and the vehicle headlamp 1 starts.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern of the emitted light is continuously changed to another light distribution pattern having a different outer shape from this light distribution pattern.
  • the control unit 71 detects the vehicle state based on the vehicle speed. Therefore, it can be understood that the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on the speed of the vehicle. Then, the control unit 71 rewrites the reference speed stored in the storage unit 76 with the speed detected in step SP52, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • step SP56 of the present embodiment the control unit 71 stores the light in the storage unit 76 after the light from the vehicle headlamp 1 is not emitted, as in step SP56 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the speed is rewritten to the initial value, and the control flow of the control unit 71 proceeds to step SP51.
  • the tilt detection device 73 and the steering sensor 74 do not have to be electrically connected to the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 performs the phase modulation in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B when the vehicle speed becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined value V1.
  • the pattern is adjusted to continuously change the outer shape of the low-beam light distribution pattern PL, and the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is set to a reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 smaller than the low-beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • Vehicle headlamps tend to require greater visibility when traveling at high speed than when traveling normally.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment can emit the light of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 smaller than the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam when traveling at high speed.
  • the control unit 71 performs phase modulation in the respective modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in a specific case where the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined value V1. Adjust the pattern. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the calculation load of the control unit 71.
  • the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 which is smaller than the low beam light distribution pattern PL, is substantially similar to the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL. For this reason, compared with the case where the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50 smaller than the low beam light distribution pattern PL is not substantially similar to the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL, it is possible to further suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable. ..
  • the outer shape of the reduced light distribution pattern PLS50S smaller than the low beam light distribution pattern PL does not have to be similar to the outer shape of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern in each of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B according to the speed of the vehicle to obtain a light distribution pattern.
  • the outer shape of may be continuously changed to a light distribution pattern smaller than the light distribution pattern.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase of each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B so that the light distribution pattern of the emitted light becomes a smaller light distribution pattern as the vehicle speed increases.
  • the modulation pattern may be adjusted.
  • An example of such a configuration is a configuration in which the range of vehicle speeds associated with the phase modulation pattern in the table TB is three or more.
  • the emitted light distribution pattern can be made smaller according to the speed of the vehicle, so that the driver can be further suppressed from feeling uncomfortable.
  • the second aspect of the present invention has been described by taking the fourth to sixth embodiments as an example, but the second aspect of the present invention is not limited to these.
  • a vehicle headlamp diffracts light emitted from a light source and a variable phase modulation pattern with a variable phase modulation pattern, and emits light with a predetermined light distribution pattern based on the phase modulation pattern.
  • a control unit which controls the phase modulation pattern and continuously changes the outer shape of a predetermined light distribution pattern so that the light distribution is different from the predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the vehicle headlamp having such a configuration can suppress the driver from feeling uncomfortable as compared with the case where the outer shape of the light distribution pattern changes instantaneously.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 emits a low beam
  • the vehicle headlamp as the second aspect of the present invention is not particularly limited. Similar to the first aspect, for example, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the second aspect may be configured to emit a high beam, and emits light of a light distribution pattern for urban areas suitable for running in urban areas. Alternatively, the light may be emitted in a light distribution pattern for bad weather suitable for traveling in rainy weather or the like. That is, the control unit 71 adjusts the phase modulation pattern of the modulation units of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, and 54S so that the light having such a light distribution pattern is emitted.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 can switch the light distribution pattern of the emitted light from a low beam light distribution pattern PL to a light distribution pattern for urban areas, a light distribution pattern for bad weather, a light distribution pattern for high beams, and the like. Is also good.
  • the control unit adjusts the phase modulation pattern and continuously changes the outer shape of the light distribution pattern of the emitted light to set the low beam light distribution pattern PL to the urban area. It may be changed to a light distribution pattern for use in light, a light distribution pattern for bad weather, or the like.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B, 54S are reflection type phase modulation elements.
  • phase modulation element for example, LCD, GLV or the like may be used.
  • the vehicle headlamp as the second mode may have the same configuration as the vehicle headlamp 1 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10. That is, the optical system unit 50 may be configured to include three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B that emit laser lights of different wavelength bands, one phase modulation element 54S, and the light guide optical system 155. .. In this case, the three light sources 52R, 52G, 52B alternately emit light for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, and the phase modulation element 54S switches the emission of light for each of the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B. Change the phase modulation pattern in synchronization with.
  • phase modulation element 54S by combining the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation element 54S by the afterimage effect, for example, the light of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is obtained. Can be emitted.
  • the phase modulation element that diffracts the lights LR, LG, and LB from the three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B can be used as a common phase modulation element, the number of parts is reduced. It can be reduced or miniaturized.
  • the first optical element 55f transmits the first light DLR and reflects the second light DLG to generate the first light DLR and the second light DLG.
  • the second optical element 55s transmits the first light DLR and the second light DLG combined by the first optical element 55f and reflects the third light DLB to form the first light DLR.
  • the second light DLG and the third light DLB were combined.
  • the third light DLB and the second light DLG are combined in the first optical element 55f, and the third light DLB is combined in the first optical element 55f in the second optical element 55s.
  • the third light DLB, the second light DLG, and the first light DLR may be combined.
  • a bandpass filter that transmits light in a predetermined wavelength band and reflects light in other wavelength bands may be used in the first optical element 55f and the second optical element 55s.
  • the combining optical system 55 may combine the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, respectively. It is not limited to the configuration or the above configuration.
  • the optical system unit 50 includes the combining optical system 55 that combines the first light DLR, the second light DLG, and the third light DLB.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the second aspect may not include the combining optical system 55.
  • the optical system unit 50 has a light guide optical system that guides the light LR, LG, LB emitted from the light emitting optical systems 51R, 51G, 51B to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. I didn't have it.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the fourth to sixth embodiments may include a light guiding optical system that guides the light LR, LG, LB to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. good.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 includes the imaging lens 81 and the projection lens 82.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the second aspect may not include the imaging lens 81.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the second aspect may not include the imaging lens 81 and the projection lens 82.
  • the control unit 71 controls the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on the information regarding the phase modulation pattern in the table stored in the storage unit 76. However, the control unit 71 calculates the phase modulation pattern based on the signal from the steering sensor 74, the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 75, the signal from the turn switch 77, etc., and based on the calculated phase modulation pattern, the phase modulation pattern is calculated.
  • the modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B may be controlled.
  • the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is set to a predetermined intensity.
  • the control unit 71 may change the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B according to the change in the phase modulation pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. That is, the control unit 71 may adjust the intensity of the laser light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B according to the light distribution pattern of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. .. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the light distribution pattern of the emitted light from unintentionally becoming dark or bright as a whole.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern emitted according to the steering angle of the vehicle changes, and in the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the fifth embodiment, a signal from the turn switch 77.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern that is emitted changes in accordance with the above, and the outer shape of the light distribution pattern that is emitted is changed based on the speed of the vehicle in the vehicle headlamp 1 in the sixth embodiment.
  • the vehicle headlamp of the second aspect of the present invention may be a combination of these vehicle headlamps 1.
  • the control unit of the vehicle headlamp adjusts the phase modulation pattern according to the steering angle of the vehicle to change the light distribution pattern of the emitted light, and changes the phase according to the signal from the turn switch 77 of the vehicle.
  • the outer shape of the light distribution pattern may be changed by adjusting the modulation pattern.
  • the control unit may change the outer shape of the light distribution pattern by giving priority to the signal from the turn switch 77 of the vehicle over the steering angle of the vehicle.
  • three light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B that emit lights of different wavelengths
  • three phase modulation elements 54R and 54G that correspond to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B in a one-to-one relationship.
  • the optical system unit 50 including 54B has been described as an example.
  • the three phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B may be integrally formed.
  • the optical system unit 50 including 54G and 54B has been described as an example.
  • the optical system unit of the second aspect may include at least one light source and a phase modulation element corresponding to this light source.
  • the optical system unit may include a light source that emits white laser light and a phase modulation element that diffracts and emits white laser light emitted from this light source.
  • the optical system unit includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of phase modulation elements
  • at least one light source may correspond to each phase modulation element.
  • light obtained by combining lights emitted from a plurality of light sources may be incident on one phase modulation element.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a vehicular lamp according to the present embodiment, and is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross section of the vehicular lamp in the vertical direction.
  • the vehicular lamp of the present embodiment is a vehicular headlamp 1.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment mainly differs from the vehicle headlamp 1 of the first embodiment in that it does not include the imaging lens 81 and the projection lens 82.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the optical system unit 50 of this embodiment shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 19, the heat sink 30, the cover 40, and the like are omitted for easy understanding.
  • the optical system unit 50 of this embodiment includes a first light source 52R, a second light source 52G, a third light source 52B, a first phase modulation element 54R, and a second phase modulation element 54G.
  • the third phase modulation element 54B, the combining optical system 55, the first light receiving element 83R, the second light receiving element 83G, and the third light receiving element 83B are provided as main components.
  • the first light source 52R emits a red component laser beam having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 638 nm downward.
  • the second light source 52G emits a green component laser beam having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 515 nm forward
  • the third light source 52B emits a blue component laser beam having a power peak wavelength of, for example, 445 nm backward.
  • electric power is supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B by the control unit 71.
  • These light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are fixed to the cover 40 by a configuration not shown.
  • a first collimator lens 53R is arranged below the first light source 52R.
  • a second collimator lens 53G is arranged in front of the second light source 52G.
  • a third collimator lens 53B is arranged behind the third light source 52B.
  • the fast axis direction and the slow axis direction of the laser light may be collimated by separately providing a collimating lens that collimates the fast axis direction of the laser light and a collimating lens that collimates the slow axis direction.
  • the first phase modulation element 54R is arranged below the first collimator lens 53R in a state of being inclined by approximately 45° with respect to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • the second phase modulation element 54G is disposed in front of the second collimator lens 53G in a state in which the second phase modulation element 54G is tilted by approximately 45° in the direction opposite to the first phase modulation element 54R with respect to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • the third phase modulation element 54B is disposed behind the third collimator lens 53B in a state of being inclined at approximately 45° in the same direction as the first phase modulation element 54R with respect to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is a reflection type phase modulation element that diffracts the light incident from the front surface and emits the light from the front surface. It is referred to as LCOS.
  • a first light receiving element 83R is arranged diagonally above and in front of the first phase modulation element 54R.
  • the first light receiving element 83R is fixed to the cover 40 by a configuration (not shown) while directly facing the first phase modulation element 54R.
  • FIG. 20 is a front view schematically showing the first light receiving element 83R.
  • the first light receiving element 83R has a light receiving surface 83Rf.
  • the first light receiving element 83R is a light amount sensor that converts the light amount of light incident on the light receiving surface 83Rf into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal to the control unit 71, and is, for example, a photodiode.
  • a second light receiving element 83G and a third light receiving element 83B are arranged obliquely above and behind the second phase modulation element 54G and obliquely above and above the third phase modulation element 54B, respectively.
  • These light receiving elements 83G and 83B are fixed to the cover 40 by a configuration (not shown) while facing the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B, respectively.
  • These light receiving elements 83G and 83B also have a light receiving surface similarly to the first light receiving element 83R.
  • the light receiving elements 83G and 83B are light amount sensors that convert the light amount of light incident on these light receiving surfaces into an electric signal and output the electric signal to the control unit 71, and are, for example, photodiodes.
  • the combining optical system 55 has a first optical element 55f and a second optical element 55s.
  • the first optical element 55f is arranged in front of the first phase modulation element 54R and above the second phase modulation element 54G, and is inclined approximately 45° in the direction opposite to the first phase modulation element 54R with respect to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. It is placed in a closed state.
  • the first optical element 55f is, for example, a wavelength selection filter in which an oxide film is laminated on a glass substrate, transmits light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined wavelength, and reflects light having a wavelength shorter than the predetermined wavelength. Thus, the type and thickness of the oxide film are adjusted.
  • the first optical element 55f is configured to transmit the red component light emitted from the first light source 52R and reflect the green component light emitted from the second light source 52G.
  • the second optical element 55s is arranged in front of the first optical element 55f and above the third phase modulation element 54B, and is inclined approximately 45° in the direction opposite to the first phase modulation element 54R with respect to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. Arranged in a state. Like the first optical element 55f, the second optical element 55s is a wavelength selection filter. In the present embodiment, the second optical element 55s transmits the red component light emitted from the first light source 52R and the green component light emitted from the second light source 52G, and the blue component light emitted from the third light source 52B. Is configured to reflect.
  • FIG. 21 is a block diagram including the vehicle headlamp 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment is connected to the control unit 71, the element drive circuit 60R connected to the first phase modulation element 54R, and the second phase modulation element 54G. Element drive circuit 60G, element drive circuit 60B connected to third phase modulation element 54B, power supply circuit 59 connected to light sources 52R, 52G, 52B, storage unit 76, warning unit drive circuit 78, and warning And a part 79.
  • the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B are connected to the control unit 71, and apply a predetermined voltage to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B based on the signal output from the control unit 71.
  • the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer 66 in each dot DT of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is adjusted.
  • each of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B can be made into a predetermined light distribution pattern such as a low beam. ..
  • each optical path of the light DLR, DLG, DLB from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is maintained in a state where a predetermined light distribution pattern is maintained. It may be an optical path toward the opening 40H or an optical path from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B toward the light receiving elements 83R, 83G and 83B.
  • the power supply circuit 59 is connected to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B and the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 controls the power supply circuit 59 so that the power supply circuit 59 supplies power to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B corresponding to the signal. To supply.
  • the storage unit 76 of this embodiment stores reference value data for detecting a defect in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B.
  • this reference value data is obtained in advance as a voltage value generated in each light receiving element 83R, 83G, 83B in a state where the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective.
  • the storage unit 76 outputs this reference value data to the control unit 71.
  • the warning unit drive circuit 78 is connected to the control unit 71 and the warning unit 79.
  • the control unit 71 applies a predetermined voltage to the warning unit 79 via the warning unit drive circuit 78.
  • the warning unit 79 is, for example, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode that emits light by the voltage applied by the control unit 71.
  • the warning unit 79 is incorporated in, for example, a combination meter of a vehicle, and when the warning unit 79 operates, a predetermined portion of the combination meter emits light.
  • the warning unit 79 does not have to be a light emitting element, and may have a configuration that allows the driver or the like to know that the warning unit 79 is operating.
  • it may be a sounding element that emits sound by a voltage applied from the warning unit drive circuit 78, or may be a configuration that includes both a light emitting element and a sounding element.
  • the control unit 71 When a signal indicating that a light switch (not shown) is turned on is input to the control unit 71 via, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, the control unit 71 supplies power to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B from the power supply circuit 59. To supply. As a result, the red laser light is generated from the first light source 52R, the green laser light is generated from the second light source 52G, and the blue laser light is generated from the third light source 52B.
  • ECU electronice control unit
  • the red laser light is emitted downward and is collimated by the first collimator lens 53R.
  • the green laser light is emitted forward and is collimated by the second collimator lens 53G.
  • the blue laser light is emitted rearward and is collimated by the third collimator lens 53B.
  • the control unit 71 controls the element drive circuit 60R to apply a predetermined voltage from the element drive circuit 60R to the phase modulation element 54R. This voltage changes the refractive index of each dot DT of the phase modulation element 54R so that the light distribution pattern of the light emitted from the phase modulation element 54R becomes a low beam light distribution pattern.
  • This light DLR is emitted forward from the phase modulation element 54R.
  • the collimated green laser light and blue laser light propagate forward and backward, respectively, and enter the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B. Similar to the red laser light, the green laser light and the blue laser light are diffracted and reflected by the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B to which a predetermined voltage is applied, so that the light DLG, which has a low beam distribution pattern, It becomes DLB. These lights DLG and DLB are emitted upward from the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B, respectively.
  • the first light DLR which is the light of the red component, passes through the first optical element 55f arranged in front of the phase modulation element 54R as described above.
  • the second light DLG that is the green component light is reflected by the first optical element 55f arranged above the phase modulation element 54G, as described above. Therefore, the second light DLG is redirected by 90 degrees by the first optical element 55f and propagates forward. As a result, the first combined light LS1 including the lights DLR and DLG propagates forward.
  • the second optical element 55s arranged in front of the first optical element 55f transmits the red component light and the green component light as described above. Therefore, the first combined light LS1 passes through the second optical element 55s. Further, the third light DLB that is the blue component light is reflected by the second optical element 55s arranged above the phase modulation element 54B, as described above. Therefore, the third light DLB is redirected by 90 degrees by the second optical element 55s and propagates forward. As a result, the second combined light LS2 composed of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB propagates forward.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB that form the second combined light all have a light distribution pattern that is a low-beam light distribution pattern, as described above. Therefore, the second combined light LS2 emitted from the opening 40H propagates forward by a predetermined distance, and the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB overlap with each other, and the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam that is white light as illustrated in FIG. Can be formed. Note that, in FIG. 22, the light distribution pattern is indicated by a thick line, and the straight line S indicates a horizontal line. Further, the region PLA1 is the region having the highest light intensity, and the light intensity decreases in the order of the region PLA2 and the region PLA3.
  • the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B to the outside of the vehicle headlamp 1 through the opening 40H may be referred to as a standard optical path OPS.
  • a state in which a voltage is applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B so that the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB propagate along the standard optical path OPS to form the low beam light distribution pattern PL Sometimes called standard mode.
  • the control unit 71 changes the voltage applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B to a voltage different from the voltage in the standard mode at a predetermined timing.
  • a state in which a voltage different from the standard mode is applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B may be referred to as a detection mode.
  • the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are changed from the standard optical path OPS while the low-beam light distribution pattern PL is maintained.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B It is deflected to the detection optical path OPE from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B toward the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are incident on the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B, and a signal based on the amount of incident light is input to the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 detects a defect in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on this signal.
  • such a detection process is executed for a predetermined period after the emission of light from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is started.
  • the predetermined period may be 1/30 second or less. The detection process will be described in more detail below.
  • the phase modulation element 54R when the phase modulation element 54R is set to the detection mode in the non-defective state, the light DLR is incident on the inside of the light receiving surface 83Rf of the light receiving element 83R as shown by the solid circle in FIG. The light enters the light receiving element 83R so that the entire Sr is positioned.
  • the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B when the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B are set in the detection mode in a non-defective state, the light DLG and DLB are arranged so that the entire incident spot is located inside the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements 83G and 83B. It is incident on 83G and 83B.
  • the shape of the incident spot Sr is shown as a circle in order to avoid complication of the drawing, but the actual shape of the incident spot Sr is not necessarily circular.
  • FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart showing control of the detection process by the control unit 71 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, the detection process in this embodiment includes steps SP11 to SP15.
  • Step SP11 the control unit 71 operates when the ACC power supply (accessory power supply) of the vehicle is turned on. Therefore, the point in time when the ACC power supply is turned on is the start of FIG.
  • a signal indicating that the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71 via the ECU.
  • the control unit 71 determines that the light switch is on, and advances the detection process to step SP12.
  • the control unit 71 repeats step SP11.
  • “decision” refers to changing the step that proceeds to the next step of the detection process by dividing the case according to the signal thus input.
  • Step SP12 As described above, when the signal in which the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 controls the power supply circuit 59 to supply the power to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B from the power supply circuit 59. As a result, emission of light from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is started. Further, when the signal in which the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 controls the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B to cause the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B to output the phase modulation element 54R, A predetermined voltage is applied to 54B and 54G. This voltage is a voltage different from that in the standard mode, and this voltage causes the vehicle headlamp 1 to enter the detection mode. In this way, the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB become the detection optical path OPE.
  • Step SP13 When the vehicle headlamp 1 is set to the detection mode, the lights DLR, DLG, DLB are incident on the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B. As described above, in the state where the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective, the entire incident spots of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB are located inside the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements 83R, 83B, 83G, respectively. To do. Therefore, when the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are not defective, the light DLR, DLG, and DLB are incident on the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B, respectively. A voltage corresponding to the total amount of light is generated. In this way, from each of the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B, the detection voltage value data corresponding to the light amount of the entire incident spot is input to the control unit 71 as a signal.
  • the control unit 71 When the detection voltage value data is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 reads out the reference value data described above from the storage unit 76, the detection voltage value data input from the light receiving element 83R, and the detection voltage value input from the light receiving element 83G. Each of the data and the detected voltage value data input from the light receiving element 83B is compared with the reference value data. In the present embodiment, this comparison is performed based on whether or not the absolute value of the difference between the detected voltage value data and the reference value data is within a predetermined range. When the absolute value of the difference between the detected voltage value data and the reference value data is within the predetermined range, the control unit 71 determines that the phase modulation element is not defective, and the absolute value is within the predetermined range.
  • the control unit 71 determines that the absolute value of the difference between the detected voltage value data and the reference value data is within the predetermined range. In this way, the control unit 71 determines that the light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB have not changed, respectively, and that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective. As a result, the control unit 71 advances the detection process to step SP15.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective or deviated from a predetermined standard at the time of manufacturing, even if the same voltage as that of the non-defective phase modulation element is applied, the phase modulation element
  • the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a of 54R, 54G, and 54B may be different between the defective phase modulation element and the non-defective phase modulation element. As described above, when the same voltage is applied, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a is different, so that the light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are destroyed, and, for example, as shown by a broken circle in FIG.
  • the outer edge of the incident spot Sr may be blurred, or the position of the incident spot Sr may be displaced, so that part or all of the incident spot Sr may protrude from the light receiving surface 83Rf.
  • the shape of the incident spot Sr when protruding from the light receiving surface Rf is not limited to a circular shape. In this case, as compared with the case where the entire incident spot Sr is not incident on the light receiving element, the amount of light incident on the light receiving element is reduced and the voltage generated from the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B is reduced. Therefore, for example, when only the phase modulation element 54R is defective, the detection voltage value data smaller than the reference value data is input from the light receiving element 83R to the control unit 71. Alternatively, when all of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are defective, the detection voltage value data smaller than the reference value data is input from the respective light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B to the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 When at least one of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B is defective, when the detection voltage value data is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 reads out the reference value data from the storage unit 76 and detects the detection voltage value. Compare the data with the reference value data. As described above, at least one of the detection voltage value data input from the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B to the control unit 71 is smaller than the reference value data. Therefore, when at least one of the absolute values of the differences between the detected voltage value data and the reference value data is not within the predetermined range, the control unit 71 changes the light distribution pattern of at least one of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB. Judge that you are doing.
  • control unit 71 determines that at least one of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is defective. In this case, the control unit 71 controls the warning unit drive circuit 78 so that the warning unit drive circuit 78 outputs a drive signal to the warning unit 79. As a result, the control unit 71 advances the detection process to step SP14.
  • control unit 71 advances the detection process to step SP14 when it is determined that at least one of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B is defective has been described, but the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are described. If at least two of the above are defective, the control unit 71 may advance the detection process to step SP14, or if it is determined that all of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are defective, the control unit 71 May advance the detection process to step SP14.
  • Step SP14 When the drive signal is input to the warning unit 79 from the warning unit drive circuit 78, the warning unit 79 issues a warning based on the drive signal.
  • the warning unit 79 including the light emitting diodes is provided on the combination panel, the warning unit 79 causes a predetermined portion of the combination panel to emit light, and the driver or the like can change the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, The defect of 54B can be grasped.
  • control unit 71 advances the detection process to step SP15.
  • Step SP15 If the warning unit 79 issues a warning in step SP14, or if the control unit 71 determines in step SP13 that all of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective, the control unit 71 causes the element drive circuits 60R, 60G. , 60B are controlled so that the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B apply voltages different from those in step SP12 to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. In this way, the control unit 71 switches from the detection mode to the standard mode. As a result, the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are deflected from the detection optical path OPE to the standard optical path OPS. The control unit 71 ends the detection process after switching from the detection mode to the standard mode.
  • control unit 71 in the present embodiment executes the detection process for a predetermined period after the emission of light from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is started by performing Step SP11 to Step SP15.
  • the control unit 71 detects a change in the light distribution pattern of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B based on the voltage generated from the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the malfunction of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B can be effectively detected.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B are provided on the detection optical path OPE. Can be placed. By doing so, it is not necessary to dispose the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B on the standard optical path OPS in order to detect the light amount of light, and it is possible to prevent the light receiving element from being irradiated with light in the standard mode. It Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively detect the defects of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B while maintaining a good light distribution pattern of the light emitted to the outside.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B are LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon). Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB can be deflected by adjusting the voltage applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B. Therefore, in order to deflect the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB, it is not necessary to separately provide an optical component or the like, and the number of components can be reduced. In addition, since LCOS is composed of liquid crystal molecules, there is a tendency for the collapse of the light distribution pattern to become large when there is a problem. Therefore, by detecting the change in the light distribution pattern as described above, the defect of the phase modulation element can be detected more effectively.
  • LCOS Liquid Crystal On Silicon
  • the control unit 71 temporarily determines whether the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are defective while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are on. To do. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, the load on the control unit 71 is reduced as compared with the case where it is constantly determined whether or not the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective. obtain.
  • the control unit 71 determines whether the light distribution pattern is a predetermined light distribution pattern at the timing when light emission from the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B is started. .. For this reason, the driver or the like can quickly recognize the malfunction of the phase modulation element. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, safety can be effectively enhanced.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B are light amount sensors such as photodiodes, so that the light distribution pattern can be determined based on the light amount data. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, unlike the case where the light receiving element is an image pickup element described later, it is not necessary to determine the light distribution pattern based on image comparison, and the algorithm of the detection process is simplified. Can be Further, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, by using the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B as light amount sensors such as photodiodes, a device such as a camera for acquiring the data of the light distribution pattern is provided. It is not necessary to install it in the vehicle headlamp 1, and the structure can be simplified.
  • the period in which the detection process is executed is set to 1/30 seconds or less.
  • the time resolution of human vision is set to approximately 1/30 second. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, the afterimage effect may occur when the period of the detection process is set to 1/30 seconds or less, and the driver or the like may notice that the image is deflected to the detection optical path OPE. Safety becomes more effective because it becomes difficult to recognize. It is more preferable that the period of the detection process is set to 1/60 seconds or less in order to more effectively generate the afterimage effect.
  • the detection process is performed for a predetermined period after the emission of light from the light source is started, for example, the detection process is performed for a predetermined period after the vehicle is stopped. This is mainly different from the vehicle headlamp 1 in the seventh embodiment.
  • FIG. 24 is a block diagram including the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 24, in the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment, a vehicle speed sensor 75 is connected to the control unit 71.
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart showing control of the detection process by the control unit 71 in the present embodiment.
  • this detection process is performed for a period of 1/30 second or less, for example.
  • this detection process includes steps SP21 to SP27.
  • Step SP21 the control unit 71 operates when the IG power supply (ignition power supply) of the vehicle is turned on. Therefore, the time when the IG power is turned on is the start of FIG.
  • IG power supply ignition power supply
  • the control unit 71 determines that the light switch is on, and advances the detection process to step SP22.
  • the control unit 71 repeats step SP21.
  • Step SP22 Similarly to the seventh embodiment, the control unit 71 controls the power supply circuit 59 based on the signal that the light switch is turned on, and causes the power supply circuit 59 to supply power to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B.
  • Step SP23 When electric power is supplied to the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B, and a signal indicating that the speed is zero is input to the control unit 71 from the vehicle speed sensor 75, the control unit 71 determines that the vehicle has stopped, and the detection process is performed in step SP24. Proceed to. On the other hand, when the signal indicating that the speed is zero is not input, the control unit 71 determines that the vehicle is moving, and returns the detection process to step SP21.
  • Step SP24 When determining that the speed is zero, the control unit 71 controls the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, and 60B to apply a voltage different from the standard mode to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54B, and 54G, as in the seventh embodiment. Let As a result, the vehicle headlamp 1 is set to the detection mode.
  • control unit 71 determines whether or not the phase modulation elements 54R, 54B, 54G are defective by executing steps SP25 to SP27, and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54B, 54G are defective. If it is determined, a warning is issued. Since these steps SP25 to SP27 are the same as steps SP13 to SP15 of the seventh embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.
  • control unit 71 in the present embodiment executes the detection process for a predetermined period after the vehicle stops by performing steps SP21 to SP27.
  • the detection process is executed for a predetermined period after the vehicle is stopped. By doing so, it is possible to effectively detect defects in the phase modulation elements 54R, 54B, and 54G, as in the seventh embodiment.
  • control unit 71 executes the detection process while the vehicle is stopped, so that the safety can be enhanced as compared with the case where the detection process is performed during traveling. ..
  • the period in which the above detection process is performed is set to 1/30 seconds or less. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, the afterimage effect may occur as described above, and it becomes difficult for the driver or the like to recognize that the standard optical path OPS is deflected to the detection optical path OPE.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the seventh and eighth embodiments the example in which the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B are light amount sensors such as photodiodes has been described, but the light receiving element of the present embodiment is an image pickup element. ..
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment mainly differs from the vehicle headlamps 1 of the seventh and eighth embodiments.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment will be described.
  • FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the optical system unit 50 of the vehicular lamp according to the present embodiment from the same viewpoint as FIG. 19.
  • the optical system unit 50 of the present embodiment includes a first light receiving element 83R, a second light receiving element 83G, a third light receiving element 83B, condenser lenses 185R, 185G, 185B, and a condenser.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B are image pickup elements such as CMOS and CCD mounted on an image pickup device such as a camera.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B, the condenser lenses 185R, 185G, 185B, and the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B are fixed to the cover 40 by a configuration not shown.
  • the condenser lenses 185R, 185G, 185B are not essential constituent elements.
  • the condenser lens 185R and the projection surface 184R are arranged on the detection optical path OPE of the first light DLR. Further, the condenser lens 185G and the projection surface 184G are arranged on the detection optical path OPE of the second light DLG. Further, the condenser lens 185B and the projection surface 184B are arranged on the detection optical path OPE of the third light DLB.
  • the first light receiving element 83R is arranged at a position where the image projected on the projection surface 184R can be captured.
  • the second light receiving element 83G is arranged at a position where the image projected on the projection surface 184G can be captured.
  • the third light receiving element 83B is arranged at a position where the image projected on the projection surface 184B can be captured.
  • FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a control flowchart of the detection process by the control unit 71 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 27, this detection process includes steps SP31 to SP35 and is executed in a period of, for example, 1/30 seconds or less, as in the seventh embodiment.
  • step SP31 is the same as step SP11 of the seventh embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.
  • Step SP32 When the signal in which the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 controls the power supply circuit 59 to supply power from the power supply circuit 59 to the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B. Further, when the signal in which the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 controls the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B to cause the element drive circuits 60R, 60G, 60B to output the phase modulation element 54R, A predetermined voltage is applied to 54B and 54G. As a result, the vehicle headlamp 1 is set to the detection mode, and the optical paths of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB are set to the detection optical path OPE.
  • the light distribution pattern of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB in the detection mode is a light distribution pattern in which the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed. Therefore, in this step, the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are condensed by the condenser lenses 185R, 185G, and 185B, respectively, and the images of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB having a shape substantially equal to the low-beam light distribution pattern PL are obtained. It is projected on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, and 184B, respectively.
  • FIG. 28 is a front view schematically showing the projection surface 184R.
  • the optical path of the light DLR by setting the optical path of the light DLR to be the detection optical path OPE, as described above, an image of the light DLR having a shape substantially equal to the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is projected on the projection surface 184R.
  • the image IM shown by the solid line shows the image of the light DLR when the phase modulation element 54R is not defective
  • the image IMa shown by the broken line is the image when the phase modulation element 54R is defective.
  • the image of light DLR is shown.
  • Step SP33 If the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective, the image IM shown by the solid line in FIG. 28 is projected on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B as described above.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B which are image pickup elements, pick up images IM of the light DLR, DLG, and DLB, respectively, and output electric signals of these images IM to the control unit 71.
  • the control unit 71 processes this electric signal to generate detection image data of each image IM of the light DLR, DLG, and DLB.
  • the image data of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB projected on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B when the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective is stored in the storage unit 76 in advance as reference image data. It is stored.
  • the control unit 71 reads the reference image data from the storage unit 76 and compares the detection image data with the reference image data. This image comparison can be done using known methods.
  • the detected image data and the reference image data are respectively associated with two-dimensional coordinates, and how much an arbitrary feature point of the detected image data is separated from the feature point of the reference image data corresponding to the feature point. Based on whether or not the two images match, it is determined whether they match.
  • the control unit 71 estimates that the two images match. In this case, the control unit 71 determines that the light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB have not changed, and as a result, determines that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective. On the other hand, when the separation distance exceeds the predetermined range, the control unit 71 estimates that the images do not match. In this case, the control unit 71 determines that at least one light distribution pattern of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB is changing, and as a result, determines that at least one of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is defective. To do.
  • the control unit 71 estimates that the detected image data and the reference image data match. In this case, the control unit 71 determines that the light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB have not changed, and determines that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective. As a result, the control unit 71 advances the detection process to step SP35.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective, as described above, the light distribution pattern of the light DLR, DLG, and DLB collapses due to the change in the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 66a, and the projection surface 184R, Images displayed on 184G and 184B may be blurred. In this case, on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B, for example, an image that is wider than the image IM, such as the image IMa in FIG. 28, can be displayed.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B capture images IMa of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB, and the electric signals of these images IMa are sent to the control unit 71. Output.
  • the control unit 71 processes this electric signal to generate detection image data of the respective images IMa of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB.
  • the control unit 71 reads the reference image data from the storage unit 76 and compares the detected image data with the reference image data. When the separation distance is not within the predetermined range, the control unit 71 estimates that the detected image data and the reference image data do not match.
  • control unit 71 determines that at least one of the light distribution patterns of the lights DLR, DLG, DLB has changed, and thus determines that at least one of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is defective. To do. As a result, the control unit 71 outputs a drive signal to the warning unit 79 and advances the detection process to step SP34.
  • step SP35 and step SP34 are the same as step SP15 and step SP14 of the seventh embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
  • control unit 71 in the present embodiment executes the detection process for a predetermined period after the emission of light from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is started by performing steps SP31 to SP35.
  • the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B can be configured by the image pickup elements and the detection process can be executed, the light distribution pattern of the light distribution pattern based on the image recognition is executed. The change can be detected, and the accuracy and precision of the determination of the change in the light distribution pattern can be improved.
  • the light receiving element of the seventh embodiment is changed from the light amount sensor to the image pickup element
  • the light receiving element of the eighth embodiment may be changed from the light amount sensor to the image pickup element.
  • the voltage applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B in the detection mode Is set to a voltage such that the light distribution pattern of the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B is different from the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam, and the light distribution pattern PL of the low beam is
  • An image for a detection mode different from the image of may be displayed.
  • An example of such an image for the detection mode is a checkered pattern IP as shown in FIG.
  • the image IP is an image displayed on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B when the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are not defective.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B become defective, the outer edge of the checkered pattern is blurred and, for example, an image like the image IPa as shown in FIG. 30 is projected on the projection surfaces 184R, 184G, 184B. obtain.
  • the outer edge of the image IP is defined as a straight line, the distortion of the image IPa with respect to the outer edge of the image IP can be easily calculated in step SP33.
  • the accuracy and precision of the image comparison can be further improved as compared with the case of displaying the image of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.
  • the period of the detection process is set to 1/30 seconds or less, the afterimage effect described above occurs and the light distribution pattern is changed. This can make it difficult for the driver or the like to recognize the fact.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the seventh to ninth embodiments the example in which the change in the light distribution pattern of the light DLR, DLG, DLB received by the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B is temporarily determined has been described.
  • the change in the light distribution pattern of the light DLR, DLG, DLB received by the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B is always determined while the light source is operating. .. Mainly in this respect, the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment is different from the vehicle headlamps 1 of the seventh to ninth embodiments.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of this embodiment will be described.
  • FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the optical system unit 50 of the vehicular lamp according to the present embodiment from the same viewpoint as FIG. 19.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first spectroscopic section 581R arranged between the first phase modulation element 54R and the first optical element 55f in the front-rear direction, and a vertical direction.
  • a second spectroscopic unit 581G arranged between the second phase modulation element 54G and the first optical element 55f, and a second spectroscopic section 581G arranged vertically between the third phase modulation element 54B and the second optical element 55s.
  • a three spectroscopic unit 581B is, for example, half mirrors configured to transmit 99% of light and reflect 1% of light.
  • the first spectroscopic unit 581R is fixed to the cover 40 in a state of being inclined by approximately 45° in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • the second spectroscopic unit 581G is fixed to the cover 40 in a state in which the second spectroscopic unit 581G is inclined by approximately 45° in a direction opposite to the first spectroscopic unit 581R in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • the third spectroscopic unit 581B is fixed to the cover 40 in a state in which the third spectroscopic unit 581B is tilted approximately 45° in the same direction as the first spectroscopic unit 581R in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.
  • the first light receiving element 83R composed of a photodiode is arranged above the first spectroscopic unit 581R, and the second light receiving element 83G composed of a photodiode is arranged behind the second spectroscopic unit 581G.
  • the third light receiving element 83B including a photodiode is arranged.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B have a three-dimensional structure in which the lights DLR, DLG, DLB emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B have a low beam distribution pattern PL. It is used as a diffraction grating.
  • phase modulation element 54R when light is emitted from the light source 52R, this light is collimated by the collimator lens 53R and then enters the phase modulation element 54R.
  • the light that has entered the phase modulation element 54R becomes a low-beam light distribution pattern PL by passing through the three-dimensional structure of the phase modulation element 54R, and is emitted forward as the first light DLR.
  • these lights when lights are emitted from the light sources 52G and 52B, these lights are collimated by the collimator lenses 53G and 53B and then enter the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B.
  • the light incident on the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B becomes a low-beam light distribution pattern PL by passing through the three-dimensional structure of the phase modulation elements 54G and 54B. In this way, the lights DLG and DLB are emitted upward, respectively.
  • the first light DLR is incident on the first spectroscopic unit 581R arranged in the front. As a result, most of the light DLR passes through the first spectroscopic unit 581R and is emitted forward, and the remaining part of the light DLR is reflected by the first spectroscopic unit 581R and propagates upward. In this way, a part of the first light DLR is split from the standard optical path OPS to the detection optical path OPE.
  • the second light DLG is incident on the second spectroscopic unit 581G arranged above.
  • the second spectroscopic unit 581G As a result, most of the light DLG passes through the second spectroscopic unit 581G and is emitted upward, and the remaining part of the light DLG is reflected by the second spectroscopic unit 581G and propagates backward. In this way, a part of the second light DLG is split from the standard optical path OPS to the detection optical path OPE.
  • the third light DLB is incident on the third spectroscopic unit 581B arranged above. As a result, most of the light DLB passes through the third spectroscopic unit 581B and is emitted upward, and the remaining part of the light DLB is reflected by the third spectroscopic unit 581B and propagates forward. In this way, a part of the light DLB is split from the standard optical path OPS to the detection optical path OPE.
  • the above-mentioned part of the light DLR propagates through the detection optical path OPE and continues to be incident on the light receiving element 83R arranged above. Further, the part of the light DLG propagates through the detection optical path OPE and continues to be incident on the light receiving element 83G arranged in the rear while the light source 52G is operating. Further, the above-mentioned part of the light DLB propagates through the detection optical path OPE and continues to be incident on the light receiving element 83B arranged in front while the light source 52B is operating.
  • FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a control flowchart of the control unit 71 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 32, the detection process in this embodiment includes steps S41 to S44.
  • Step SP41 This step is the same as step SP11 of the seventh embodiment. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.
  • Step SP42 When the signal in which the light switch is turned on is input to the control unit 71, the control unit 71 turns on the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B. Thereby, as described above, most of the light emitted from the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B is emitted to the outside through the opening 40H. On the other hand, a part of the light is dispersed by the spectroscopic units 581R, 581G, 581B and kept incident on the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are in operation. As a result, while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are operating, the detection voltage value data is continuously input to the control unit 71 from the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B.
  • Step SP43 The phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B composed of diffraction gratings have different shapes from those at the time of design due to high temperature or deviation from the standard during manufacturing. , 54B is diffracted differently from the design time.
  • the lights DLR, DLG, and DLB are emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B, these lights can have a light distribution pattern different from that at the time of design.
  • the amount of light incident on the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B may change, and the voltage generated from the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B may change.
  • the control unit 71 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the detected voltage value data and the reference value data is within a predetermined range. to decide. When the absolute value is within the predetermined range, the control unit 71 determines that the light distribution pattern has not changed and the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are not defective. As a result, the control unit 71 returns the detection process to step SP41.
  • control unit 71 determines that the light distribution pattern is changing, and also determines that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are defective. As a result, the control unit 71 outputs a drive signal to the warning unit 79 and advances the detection process to step SP44.
  • Step SP44 When the drive signal is input from the control unit 71 to the warning unit 79, the warning unit 79 issues a warning based on the drive signal.
  • the control unit 71 causes the warning unit 79 to generate a warning, the control unit 71 returns the detection process to step SP41.
  • control unit 71 in the present embodiment repeats the above detection process while the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are on, and constantly determines whether the orientation pattern is a predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the control unit 71 causes the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, and 83B while the light sources 52R, 52G, and 52B are on. Always determines whether or not is a predetermined light distribution pattern. Therefore, the driver or the like can understand that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B have become defective on time.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are diffraction gratings, the step of adjusting the voltage applied to the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is unnecessary. is there. Therefore, the construction of algorithms for the detection process can be facilitated.
  • the spectroscopic unit deflects the standard optical path OPS to the detection optical path OPE. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment, the optical path is deflected by changing the alignment pattern of the liquid crystal molecules 66a of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B as in the seventh to ninth embodiments.
  • the optical path can be deflected to a greater extent than in. Therefore, according to the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment, the light receiving surface or the light receiving element is provided at a position farther from the standard optical path OPS, as compared with the case where the optical path is deflected by the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B. Can be placed.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 in the present embodiment it is possible to more effectively suppress the light propagating in the standard optical path OPS from being applied to the light-receiving surface or the light-receiving element, and to prevent the light distribution pattern from collapsing. It can be effectively suppressed.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B are diffraction gratings
  • the light emitted from the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B is the same as in the seventh to ninth embodiments.
  • a phase modulation element such as LCOS that can change the light distribution pattern of No. 1 from a predetermined light distribution pattern.
  • the phase modulation element is an LCOS in the present embodiment, for example, some components of the light emitted from the phase modulation element propagate in the detection optical path OPE, and other components of the light propagate in the standard optical path OPSE.
  • FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the vehicular lamp according to the present embodiment from the same viewpoint as FIG. 1.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 of the present embodiment has a camera 683 arranged in the lamp chamber R.
  • the camera 683 is arranged outside the cover 40 and is fixed to the housing 10 by a configuration not shown.
  • the camera 683 has a CMOS or CCD that is a light receiving element, and this light receiving element is arranged so as to receive the light propagating through the standard optical path OPS.
  • this light receiving element outputs an image projected on the projection surface to the outside through the standard optical path OPS. Take an image.
  • the control unit 71 of the present embodiment determines, for example, the difference between the images projected on the projection surface, as in step SP33 of the ninth embodiment. By doing so, it is possible to detect whether or not the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective, or whether the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective due to a yielded product or the like.
  • the light receiving element is configured to receive the light propagating in the standard optical path OPS, so that the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are defective. It may be unnecessary to deflect the optical path to the detection optical path OPE in order to detect
  • control unit 71 may always determine whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is a predetermined light distribution pattern while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are on. , You may make a temporary decision.
  • the third aspect of the present invention has been described above by taking the seventh to eleventh embodiments as an example, but the third aspect of the present invention is not limited to these.
  • the timing for operating the detection process is the light source start time
  • the timing is the vehicle stop time.
  • the control unit 71 temporarily determines the light distribution pattern detected by the light receiving elements 83R, 83G, 83B while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are on
  • the timing of this determination is not particularly limited.
  • a change in the light distribution pattern may be detected while the vehicle is traveling. In this case, if the period of the detection process is set to 1/30 seconds or less, the afterimage effect may occur as described above, and the driver or the like may not recognize the discomfort that the optical path is deflected during traveling.
  • the control unit 71 temporarily determines whether the light distribution pattern of the light received by the light receiving element is a predetermined light distribution pattern while the light source is on.
  • the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G and 54B may be diffraction gratings.
  • a spectroscopic unit is provided on the standard optical path OPS to disperse a part of the light to the detection optical path OPE, and at a predetermined time while the light sources 52R, 52G, 52B are operating,
  • the controller 71 may determine the change in the light distribution pattern based on the data. By doing so, even when the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B are diffraction gratings, the change in the light distribution pattern can be temporarily determined.
  • phase modulation element whose refractive index can be changed has been described, but other phase modulation elements whose refractive index can be changed may be used.
  • phase modulation elements whose refractive index can be changed may be used.
  • GLV can be mentioned as such another phase modulation element.
  • a photodiode is used as the light amount sensor
  • a thermistor or the like may be used as another light amount sensor.
  • both the image sensor and the light amount sensor may be provided.
  • the image sensor may receive the light emitted from the light sources 52R and 52G
  • the light amount sensor may receive the light emitted from the light source 52B.
  • phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, 54B have a problem. May be determined. In this case, the number of objects to be judged for defects is reduced, so that the detection process can be simplified.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 has a plurality of light sources
  • by providing a plurality of light sources that emit light of different wavelengths it is possible to generate light of a desired color.
  • the vehicle headlamp 1 as the vehicle lamp is assumed to emit a low beam, but the vehicle lamp as the third aspect of the present invention is not particularly limited.
  • a vehicle lamp according to another embodiment as the third aspect irradiates a region indicated by a broken line in FIG. 22, that is, a region above a region irradiated with the low beam with light having lower intensity than the low beam. May be configured to do so.
  • Such low-intensity light is, for example, light OHS for label recognition.
  • the light emitted from each of the phase modulation elements 54R, 54G, and 54B includes the light OHS for marker recognition.
  • the low beam and the light OHS for sign recognition form a light distribution pattern for night illumination.
  • the term “night” used here is not limited to simply "night” and includes dark places such as tunnels.
  • the vehicular lamp according to another embodiment as the third aspect may be configured to emit a high beam as shown in FIG. 34.
  • the high beam light distribution pattern PH is shown by a thick line, and the straight line S is a horizontal line.
  • the region PHA1 is a region where the light intensity is strong
  • the PHA2 is a region where the light intensity is lower than the PHA1.
  • the vehicular lamp according to the third aspect of the present invention may be applied as one that emits light that constitutes an image.
  • the direction of the light emitted from the vehicular lamp and the mounting position of the vehicular lamp in the vehicle are not particularly limited.
  • a vehicle headlamp capable of improving the visibility in the traveling direction while being downsized, and according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a feeling of strangeness.
  • An obtained vehicle headlamp is provided, and according to the third aspect of the present invention, a vehicle lamp that can detect a defect of the phase modulation element is provided and can be used in the field of automobiles and the like.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

Un phare de véhicule (1) comprend : des sources de lumière (52R, 52G, 52B) ; et des éléments de modulation de phase (54R, 54G, 54B) qui diffractent la lumière (LR, LG, LB) émise par les sources de lumière (52R, 52G, 52B) suivant un motif de modulation de phase variable et émettent de la lumière (DLR, DLG, DLB) suivant un motif de distribution de lumière prescrit sur la base du motif de modulation de phase. Une unité de commande (71) règle le motif de modulation de phase et, tout en maintenant le motif de distribution de lumière prescrit, change la direction d'émission de la lumière (DLR, DLG, DLB) ayant le motif de distribution de lumière prescrit.
PCT/JP2020/005486 2019-02-15 2020-02-13 Phare pour véhicules et feu pour véhicules WO2020166650A1 (fr)

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004210130A (ja) * 2002-12-27 2004-07-29 Ichikoh Ind Ltd 車両用デジタル照明装置、車両用デジタル表示装置、情報表示方法
JP2009042372A (ja) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-26 Seiko Epson Corp プロジェクタ及び投射装置
JP2017505555A (ja) * 2013-10-20 2017-02-16 エムティティ イノベーション インコーポレイテッドＭｔｔ Ｉｎｎｏｖａｔｉｏｎ Ｉｎｃｏｒｐｏｒａｔｅｄ 光照射野プロジェクタおよび方法
WO2018198760A1 (fr) * 2017-04-28 2018-11-01 株式会社小糸製作所 Lampe d'éclairage de véhicule et phare de véhicule

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004210130A (ja) * 2002-12-27 2004-07-29 Ichikoh Ind Ltd 車両用デジタル照明装置、車両用デジタル表示装置、情報表示方法
JP2009042372A (ja) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-26 Seiko Epson Corp プロジェクタ及び投射装置
JP2017505555A (ja) * 2013-10-20 2017-02-16 エムティティ イノベーション インコーポレイテッドＭｔｔ Ｉｎｎｏｖａｔｉｏｎ Ｉｎｃｏｒｐｏｒａｔｅｄ 光照射野プロジェクタおよび方法
WO2018198760A1 (fr) * 2017-04-28 2018-11-01 株式会社小糸製作所 Lampe d'éclairage de véhicule et phare de véhicule

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