WO2024057986A1

WO2024057986A1 - Vehicle lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: WO2024057986A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/032174
Authority: WO
Inventors: 貴丈戸塚; 裕一綿野; 雄太丸山
Original assignee: 株式会社小糸製作所
Priority date: 2022-09-15
Filing date: 2023-09-04
Publication date: 2024-03-21

Abstract

A vehicle lighting fixture (10), which is elongated and extends in a lengthwise direction, comprises: a lamp body (12); an optically transmissive cover (14) that is combined with the lamp body (12) to form a lamp compartment (16); at least three light sources (18) that are disposed inside the lamp compartment (16); and at least three rod-shaped light guides (20) that are disposed inside the lamp compartment (16), each receiving light from the corresponding light source (18) among the at least three light sources (18) and outputting the light toward the optically transmissive cover (14). The at least three rod-shaped light guides (20) are linearly arrayed along the lengthwise direction.

Description

Vehicle lights

The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp, for example a vehicular lamp used in a vehicle such as an automobile.

Conventionally, long vehicle lamps have been known that can be used, for example, as horizontally elongated tail lamps that extend in a single line at the center of the rear of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2020-47480A

Long vehicle lights can be used to create visual effects, for example, when the vehicle is stopped or parked, parts of the vehicle are turned on or blinking, or the light-emitting part of the vehicle is operated so that it appears to move in the longitudinal direction. May be used to provide performance. In existing designs, in order to enable this kind of dramatic lighting (especially to achieve a better appearance, such as expressing smooth movement of the light emitting part), it is difficult to It is considered necessary to arrange a large number of light sources, for example, as many as 100 or more.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and one exemplary purpose of a certain aspect of the present invention is to provide a long vehicle lamp that enables various lighting with a relatively small number of light sources. be.

In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle lamp according to an aspect of the present invention is a long vehicle lamp extending in the longitudinal direction, and includes a lamp body and a lamp chamber that is combined with the lamp body. a light-transmitting cover, at least three light sources disposed within the lamp chamber, and at least three light sources disposed within the lamp chamber, each of which receives light from a corresponding one of the at least three light sources and emits the light toward the light-transmissive cover. A rod-shaped light guide. At least three rod-shaped light guides are linearly arranged along the longitudinal direction.

According to this aspect, the rod-shaped light guides are arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction, and the light sources are arranged corresponding to these rod-shaped light guides. Because the longitudinal dimensions of the light sources are typically small compared to the longitudinally extending rod-shaped light guides, the light sources associated with the rod-shaped light guides are arranged relatively sparsely in the longitudinal direction within the lamp. It turns out. By lighting the light sources individually or in conjunction with each other, the corresponding rod-shaped light guides emit light individually or in conjunction with each other. In this way, the vehicle lamp can be illuminated in a variety of ways using a relatively small number of light sources.

The at least three rod-shaped light guides may include a central light guide disposed at the center of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction. The at least three light sources may include a set of light sources that enters the central light guide from opposite ends. In this way, the rod-shaped light guide at the center can emit light symmetrically. This helps to make the vehicular lamp that emits light look symmetrical.

The at least three rod-shaped light guides may include a side light guide disposed on the side of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction. The at least three light sources may include a light source that enters light into the side light guide from one end. In this way, the number of light sources arranged can be reduced compared to the case where the light sources are arranged at both ends of the rod-shaped body or the case where many light sources are arranged inside the lamp as in the existing design. This can lead to lower costs for vehicle lighting.

The side light guide has an end opposite to one end on which light enters, and the opposite end is deviated from the linear arrangement of the at least three rod-shaped light guides. It may be curved. In this way, when light enters from the light source and the side light guide emits light, the flash that may occur at the opposite end of the side light guide from which light does not enter can be avoided in the vehicle lamp. This makes it possible to avoid affecting the appearance of the image.

The vehicle lamp may further include a light diffusing section disposed between the light-transmitting cover and a gap between two longitudinally adjacent rod-shaped light guides among the at least three rod-shaped light guides. In this way, when two rod-shaped light guides adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction emit light together, the break in light that may occur in the gap between them can be made less noticeable, and the appearance of the vehicle lamp can be avoided. becomes possible.

The vehicular lamp may further include a controller configured to turn on at least three light sources in a predetermined order so that the light emitting portion of the vehicular lamp appears to move in the longitudinal direction to a viewer. In this way, it becomes possible to create an animation in which the light-emitting portion appears to move.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a long vehicle lamp that enables various lighting operations using a relatively small number of light sources.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment is attached to a vehicle. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line AA of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a part of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle lamp that emits light. FIGS. 7A to 7E are schematic diagrams showing other examples of vehicle lamps that emit light.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. Identical or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate. Further, the scale and shape of each part shown in each figure are set for convenience to facilitate explanation, and should not be interpreted in a limited manner unless otherwise mentioned. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" used in this specification or the claims do not indicate any order or importance, but are used to distinguish one configuration from another. It is. Further, in each drawing, some members that are not important for explaining the embodiments are omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment is attached to a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the vehicle lamp 10 according to the embodiment. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line AA of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 3.

The vehicle lamp 10 has an elongated shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the lamp (the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 to 3). As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the lamp corresponds to the vehicle width direction when it is mounted on a vehicle. When mounted on a vehicle, the vehicular lamp 10 may extend, for example, at least half, or almost entirely, in the vehicle width direction.

A pair of rear combination lamps 11 are also installed on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle. The rear combination lamp 11 includes a plurality of lamps that provide mutually different functions (for example, a marker lamp function), and in this example, includes a tail lamp 11a, a stop lamp 11b, a turn signal lamp 11c, and a backup lamp 11d.

The vehicle lamp 10 is arranged between the two tail lamps 11a such that its left end is adjacent to the left tail lamp 11a and its right end is adjacent to the right tail lamp 11a. In this embodiment, the vehicle lamp 10 is a center lamp disposed at the center of the rear of the vehicle, and is configured to function as a tail lamp. In appearance, the vehicle lamp 10 extends in the vehicle width direction so as to connect two tail lamps 11a, and together with the two tail lamps 11a, creates a horizontal single-letter light-emitting design that extends over the entire rear part of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

The vehicle lamp 10 includes a lamp body 12 and a transparent cover 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Both the lamp body 12 and the transparent cover 14 have an elongated shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle lamp 10. The transparent cover 14 is combined with the lamp body 12 to form a lamp chamber 16. The light-transmitting cover 14 is attached to the lamp body 12 so as to cover the front opening of the lamp body 12. Typically, the lamp body 12 is made of a suitable material such as a general-purpose resin material, and the light-transmitting cover 14 is made of a suitable light-transmitting material such as a synthetic resin material having light-transmitting properties or glass. The light-transmitting cover 14 is also called an outer lens.

Further, the vehicle lamp 10 includes at least three light sources 18 and at least three rod-shaped light guides 20, which are arranged within the light chamber 16. Each of the rod-shaped light guides 20 is configured to receive light from a corresponding one of the at least three light sources 18 and emit the light toward the light-transmitting cover 14 .

The light source 18 includes at least one light emitting element 18a and a substrate 18b on which the light emitting element 18a is mounted. The light emitting element 18a is, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED). The board 18b is, for example, a circuit board such as a printed circuit board, and is configured to control the light emitting element 18a mounted on the board 18b. The board 18b is connected to a power source outside the vehicle lamp 10 via wiring connected thereto, and is supplied with power. Note that the light source 18 may be a light source of other types.

The rod-shaped light guide 20 is made of a suitable light-transmitting material such as a light-transmitting synthetic resin material or glass. The rod-shaped light guide 20 is, for example, colorless and transparent, but may be colored and transparent. If required, the rod-shaped light guide 20 may contain particulate light diffusing material. The rod-shaped light guide 20 can be manufactured using an appropriate known molding method such as injection molding.

At least three rod-shaped light guides 20 each have a shape that is elongated in the longitudinal direction, and are arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. In the exemplary configuration, the length of each rod-shaped light guide 20 in the longitudinal direction is approximately equal, and the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of each rod-shaped light guide 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are common. The cross-sectional shape of each rod-shaped light guide 20 is, for example, circular and has the same diameter. In this way, the rod-shaped light guides 20 are arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle lamp 10 as a whole.

As an example, in order to match the design of the rear part of the vehicle, the lamp body 12 and the light-transmitting cover 14 are arranged so that the central part in the longitudinal direction is located at the rear of the vehicle relative to both ends (lower in FIG. 3) when viewed from above as shown in FIG. It may have a gentle arc-like shape protruding toward the side). In this case, the rod-shaped light guides 20 may be linearly arranged along this gentle arc shape according to the shapes of the lamp body 12 and the light-transmitting cover 14.

The at least three rod-shaped light guides 20 include at least one central light guide 21 disposed at the center of the vehicle light 10 in the longitudinal direction, and at least two central light guides 21 disposed at the sides of the vehicle light 10 in the longitudinal direction. and a side light guide 22.

Since the vehicle lamp 10 is configured symmetrically with respect to the center in the longitudinal direction (more precisely, line-symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle and passes through the longitudinal center of the vehicle lamp 10), an odd number of When the rod-shaped light guides 20 are arranged in the lamp chamber 16, the number of central light guides 21 is one. When an even number of rod-shaped light guides 20 are arranged in the light chamber 16, two central light guides 21 are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal center position of the vehicle lamp 10. One of the side light guides 22 is arranged on the right side of the vehicle lamp 10 adjacent to the center light guide 21 in the longitudinal direction, and the other one of the side light guides 22 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle lamp 10. is arranged on the left side of the vehicle lamp 10 adjacent to the central light guide 21 in the longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, five bar-shaped light guides 20 are provided, so there is one central light guide 21 and two side light guides 22 are provided on each side of the central light guide 21. It is provided.

The number of rod-shaped light guides 20 arranged in the longitudinal direction may be, for example, at most 7 or 8, or at most 9 or 10.

Each rod-shaped light guide 20 receives light from the corresponding light source 18 at one end or both ends thereof. In this example, the central light guide 21 receives light from both ends, and the side light guides 22 receive light from one end farther from the central light guide 21. Therefore, a set of light sources 18 is provided corresponding to the central light guide 21, and these light sources 18 are arranged so that each light emitting element 18a is directed toward a corresponding end surface of the central light guide 21. Further, one light source 18 is provided for each side light guide 22, and this light source 18 is arranged so that the light emitting element 18a is directed toward the end face of the side light guide 22 that is far from the central light guide 21. ing.

Note that other arrangements of the light source 18 are also possible. For example, one light source 18 may be placed opposite one end of the central light guide 21 so that it receives light from only one end. Further, one light source 18 may be disposed opposite to one end of the side light guide 22 so as to receive light from the end closer to the center light guide 21 . Alternatively, a pair of light sources 18 may be placed opposite each end so that the side light guide 22 receives light from both ends.

The light source 18 may be placed at a position away from the linear light guide arrangement formed by the rod-shaped light guides 20. The light source 18 is arranged between two adjacent rod-shaped light guides 20, and the interval between the two adjacent rod-shaped light guides 20 is made smaller than that in the case where the light source 18 and the rod-shaped light guides 20 are lined up in a row. Can be done. In this case, the end of the rod-shaped light guide 20 that receives light from the light source 18 may be curved toward the light source 18 in order to make the light source 18 and the end of the rod-shaped light guide 20 face each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the light source 18 may be arranged on the lamp body 12 side with respect to the linear light guide arrangement, and the end of each rod-shaped light guide 20 is connected to the corresponding light source 18. It may be curved toward the direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, each rod-shaped light guide 20 may have an optical step 26 on its rear surface (the portion of the light guide circumferential surface facing the lamp body 12 side). The optical step 26 reflects the light guided inside the rod-shaped light guide 20 and emits it toward the light-transmitting cover 14 from the front surface (the portion of the light guide's circumferential surface facing the light-transmitting cover 14 side). , the rod-shaped light guide 20 has an uneven shape formed along the longitudinal direction, and a known structure can be adopted as appropriate.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the vehicle lamp 10 further includes a holding member 30, an inner lens 32, an upper extension member 34, and a lower extension member 36 as elongated lamp components disposed within the light chamber 16. Equipped with

The holding member 30 is disposed between the rod-shaped light guide 20 and the lamp body 12 over almost the entire length of the vehicle lamp 10, and is supported by the lamp body 12. The light source 18 and the rod-shaped light guide 20 are held by a holding member 30. The holding member 30 may be a reflector that reflects light leaking backward from the holding member 30 toward the front. In this case, the holding member 30 may be a white member made of a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, the holding member 30 may include a main body made of a synthetic resin material and a metal layer (for example, an aluminum vapor deposited layer) covering the main body. The holding member 30 may be fixed to the lamp body 12 by suitable fixing means such as screws.

The inner lens 32 is disposed between the rod-shaped light guide 20 and the transparent cover 14 over almost the entire length of the vehicle lamp 10, and is supported by the lamp body 12. The inner lens 32 is arranged so that the light emitted from the rod-shaped light guide 20 toward the transparent cover 14 passes through the inner lens 32. Note that it is not essential to provide the inner lens 32, and the inner lens 32 may be omitted if desired light distribution requirements are satisfied.

In this embodiment, the inner lens 32 is arranged between two rod-shaped light guides 20 that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction (for example, the center light guide 21 and the side light guides 22, or the side light guides 22). It may also function as a light diffusion section placed between the gap and the light-transmitting cover 14. The inner lens 32 is made of a suitable light-transmitting material such as a light-transmitting synthetic resin material or glass, and has an uneven shape on its surface for diffusing light. Alternatively, the inner lens 32 may contain a light diffusing material in addition to or in place of the uneven shape that diffuses light. In this way, when two rod-shaped light guides 20 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction emit light together, the break in light that may occur in the gap between them can be made less noticeable by the diffusion effect of the inner lens 32, and the vehicle lamp It becomes possible to avoid affecting the appearance of 10.

The upper extension member 34 is arranged at the upper part of the lamp chamber 16 over almost the entire length of the vehicle lamp 10, and the lower extension member 36 is arranged at the lower part of the lamp chamber 16 over almost the entire length of the vehicle lamp 10. The light source 18, the rod-shaped light guide 20, the holding member 30, and the inner lens 32 are arranged between the upper extension member 34 and the lower extension member 36 in the vertical direction. These extension members may include a main body made of a synthetic resin material and, if necessary, a metal layer (for example, an aluminum vapor-deposited layer) covering the main body.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a part of the vehicle lamp 10 according to the embodiment. As illustrated, the side light guide 22 is configured such that an end 22b on the opposite side to one end 22a through which light enters from the light source 18 deviates from the linear arrangement of the rod-shaped light guides 20. It may be curved. In this example, the opposite end 22b is curved downward and is covered by the lower extension member 36 when viewed from the front of the vehicle lamp 10 (that is, from the rear of the vehicle).

When the side light guide 22 emits light, some light may leak from the end 22b on the opposite side from the light source 18. If the above-mentioned curvature is not provided at this end 22b and the end 22b is located on the linear arrangement of the rod-shaped light guides 20, light leakage from the end 22b may become a point of light. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the opposite end 22b of the side light guide 22 on which light does not enter is curved so as to deviate from the linear arrangement of the rod-shaped light guides 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent such flashing from affecting the appearance of the vehicle lamp 10. Further, by covering the end portion 22b that can be illuminated with other lamp components such as the lower extension member 36, it is possible to reliably prevent the adverse effect that the illumination may have on the appearance of the vehicle lamp 10.

In addition, when the central light guide 21 receives light only from one end as described above, similarly, the opposite end 22b of the central light guide 21 on which no light enters is a rod-shaped light guide. It may also be curved to deviate from the linear arrangement of the body 20.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle lamp 10 may include a controller 50 that controls the light source 18. The controller 50 may be a lighting ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the vehicle lighting 10. Alternatively, the controller 50 may be a controller such as a vehicle ECU that centrally controls the entire vehicle or a portion thereof. The ECU can be implemented by a combination of a processor (hardware) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer, and a software program executed by the processor (hardware). The controller 50 may be placed outside the vehicle lamp 10, and may be attached to the lamp body 12 outside the vehicle lamp 10, for example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle lamp 10 that emits light. As a normal operation of the vehicle lamp 10 functioning as a tail lamp as described above, the controller 50 may be configured to turn on the light sources 18 all at once, for example, in response to the driver's operation of a light switch. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the array of rod-shaped light guides 20 within the vehicle lamp 10 illuminates over the entire length.

The controller 50 may be configured to enable effect lighting, which is different from the normal lighting as described above, to be performed while the vehicle is stopped. Effect lighting refers to lighting one or more of the various lamps installed on a vehicle, such as headlights and various indicator lights, in a characteristic lighting manner to provide a visual effect. . Typically, a plurality of types of lamps that provide different functions are turned on while the vehicle is stopped (preferably when the vehicle is parked) in a manner that is not turned on while the vehicle is running. For example, a plurality of types of lamps may be linked and lit regularly, such as some or all of the lamps being lit or blinking at the same time, or being lit or blinking in order. An animation-like effect may be performed using multiple types of lamps, such as sequential lighting of multiple types of lamps. Therefore, the controller 50 may be configured to control the rear combination lamp 11 as well as the vehicle lamp 10.

The display lighting may be executed by the controller 50, for example, in response to the driver (or other occupant) unlocking or locking the door of the vehicle. This type of lighting is expected to occur when the driver is outside the vehicle and is about to get into the vehicle, or when the driver has just exited the vehicle. Alternatively, a performance start switch may be installed inside the vehicle so that the driver can operate it inside the vehicle, and the performance lighting may be executed by the controller 50 in response to the driver's operation of the performance start switch. It is envisaged that there will be scenes where the driver uses lighting to greet people outside the vehicle or to create a visual impression. The production start switch may be a physical operating tool such as an operating button, or may be a virtual operating button set on an operating panel such as a touch panel display.

FIGS. 7(a) to (e) are schematic diagrams showing other examples of the vehicle lamp 10 that emits light. The controller 50 may be configured to turn on the light sources 18 in a predetermined order so that the light emitting portion of the vehicle lamp 10 appears to move in the longitudinal direction to the viewer.

For example, in sequential lighting where the light emitting portion flows from the right end to the left end, first the light source 18 corresponding to the right end side light guide 22 is turned on, and this right end side light guide 22 emits light (Fig. 7(a)). At this time, the remaining light sources 18 are turned off, and the rod-shaped light guides 20 corresponding to them are also not lit. Subsequently, the rightmost light source 18 and side light guide 22 are turned off, the light source 18 corresponding to the side light guide 22 adjacent to the left is turned on, and the corresponding side light guide 22 emits light ( (See FIG. 7(b)). Further, the second light source 18 and the side light guide 22 are turned off, the light source 18 corresponding to the adjacent central light guide 21 is turned on, and the central light guide 21 emits light (FIG. 7(c) )reference). Similarly, the side light guide 22 adjacent to the left of the central light guide 21 and the left end side light guide 22 sequentially emit light (see FIGS. 7(d) and (e)).

On the other hand, in reverse sequential lighting where the light emitting portion flows from the left end to the right end, light is emitted sequentially from the left end side light guide 22 to the right end side light guide 22. In this way, an animation effect in which the light-emitting part appears to move left and right is possible.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the rod-shaped light guides 20 are arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction, and the light sources 18 are arranged corresponding to these rod-shaped light guides 20. The light source 18 typically has a small longitudinal dimension compared to the longitudinally extending rod-shaped light guide 20 . Therefore, the light sources 18 are arranged relatively sparsely in the longitudinal direction within the lamp chamber 16. In contrast to existing designs of elongated vehicle lamps, where a large number of light sources, for example up to a hundred or more, may be arranged longitudinally within the lamp, this embodiment uses a relatively small number of light sources 18, Specifically, only six light sources 18 are arranged corresponding to five rod-shaped light guides 20. When the light sources 18 are turned on individually or in combination, the corresponding rod-shaped light guides 20 emit light individually or in combination. In this way, the vehicle lamp 10 can be lit in various modes including normal lighting and dramatic lighting.

In the embodiment, two light sources 18 are provided for the central light guide 21, and light enters both ends of the central light guide 21 from these light sources 18. This allows the central light guide 21 to emit light symmetrically. This helps to make the vehicle lamp 10 that emits light look symmetrical.

The central light guide 21 is provided with two light sources 18, whereas the side light guides 22 are provided with one light source 18. Therefore, the controller 50 may be configured to adjust the brightness of each light source 18 in order to equalize the brightness of the central light guide 21 and the side light guides 22. For example, the two light sources 18 of the central light guide 21 are lit darker than the light sources 18 of the side light guides 22 so that the central light guide 21 and the side light guides 22 appear to shine with the same brightness. may be done.

According to the inventor's study, when the time required for the light emitting portion to move from one end of the vehicle lamp 10 to the other end is set to, for example, one second or less, the vehicle lamp 10 illustrated above can be sequentially lit. Although it has only a small number of light sources 18, it can achieve the same appearance as an existing long vehicle lamp in which a large number of light sources are arranged. Note that the time required for the light emitting portion to move from one end of the vehicle lamp 10 to the other end may be, for example, 0.2 seconds or more.

In order to make the movement of the light emitting part appear smoother, the controller 50 may be configured to perform dimming control to gradually brighten the light source 18 when it is turned on. Further, the controller 50 may be configured to perform dimming control to gradually dim the light source 18 when the light source 18 is turned off.

In order to make the movement of the light-emitting portion appear smoother, two adjacent rod-shaped light guides 20 may temporarily emit light at the same time. That is, the light source 18 of the rod-shaped light guide 20 that emits light first among these two rod-shaped light guides 20 disappears after the light source 18 of the rod-shaped light guide 20 that emits light later starts to emit light. The lighting timing of the light source 18 of the light guide 20 may be adjusted.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and it is also possible to combine the embodiments and modifications, and to add further modifications such as various design changes based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Embodiments and modifications in which such combinations or further modifications are made are also included within the scope of the present invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications, and new embodiments created by combining the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications with the following modifications, combine the effects of the combined embodiments, modifications, and further modifications. Motsu.

In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle lamp 10 is described as an elongated tail lamp disposed at the center of the rear of the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle lamp 10 may be a center lamp disposed at the center of the front of the vehicle, or may be configured to function as a clearance lamp or a daytime running lamp. Alternatively, the vehicular lamp 10 may be applied to other vehicular lamps such as a stop lamp (for example, a high-mounted stop lamp) and a turn signal lamp. Alternatively, the vehicle lamp 10 according to the embodiment may be an accessory lamp installed in a vehicle for decoration, or a lamp for informing the surroundings of the vehicle (pedestrians, other vehicles, etc.) of information related to driving support or automatic driving. It may also be applied to communication lamps that emit light.

Although the present invention has been described using specific words based on the embodiments, the embodiments merely illustrate one aspect of the principles and applications of the present invention, and the embodiments do not include the claims. Many modifications and changes in arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in scope.

Embodiments may also be expressed in the following numbered sections.
1. A long vehicle lamp extending in the longitudinal direction,
lamp body and
a transparent cover that is combined with the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
at least three light sources disposed within the lamp chamber;
at least three rod-shaped light guides arranged in the lamp chamber, each of which receives light from a corresponding one of the at least three light sources and emits the light toward the light-transmitting cover;
The vehicle lamp, wherein the at least three rod-shaped light guides are linearly arranged along the longitudinal direction.
2. The at least three rod-shaped light guides include a central light guide disposed at the center of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction,
2. The vehicle lamp according to item 1, wherein the at least three light sources include a set of light sources that enter light into the central light guide from both ends.
3. The at least three rod-shaped light guides include a side light guide disposed on a side of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction,
3. The vehicle lamp according to item 1 or 2, wherein the at least three light sources include a light source that enters light into the side light guide from one end.
4. The side light guide has an end opposite to the one end on which light enters, and the opposite end is separated from the linear array of the at least three rod-shaped light guides. Item 3. The vehicular lamp according to item 3, which is curved so as to deviate.
5. Item 1, further comprising a light diffusing section disposed between the light-transmitting cover and a gap between two longitudinally adjacent rod-shaped light guides among the at least three rod-shaped light guides. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 4 to 4.
6. Item 1, further comprising a controller configured to turn on the at least three light sources in a predetermined order so that the light emitting portion of the vehicle lamp appears to move in the longitudinal direction to a viewer. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 5 to 5.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in a vehicle lamp, for example, a vehicle lamp used in a vehicle such as an automobile.

10 Vehicle lamp, 12 Lamp body, 14 Translucent cover, 16 Light chamber, 18 Light source, 20 Bar light guide, 21 Center light guide, 22 Side light guide, 50 Controller.

Claims

A long vehicle lamp extending in the longitudinal direction,
lamp body and
a transparent cover that is combined with the lamp body to form a lamp chamber;
at least three light sources disposed within the lamp chamber;
at least three rod-shaped light guides arranged in the lamp chamber, each of which receives light from a corresponding one of the at least three light sources and emits the light toward the light-transmitting cover;
The vehicle lamp, wherein the at least three rod-shaped light guides are linearly arranged along the longitudinal direction.
The at least three rod-shaped light guides include a central light guide disposed at the center of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction,
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least three light sources include a set of light sources that enter light into the central light guide from both ends.
The at least three rod-shaped light guides include a side light guide disposed on a side of the vehicle lamp in the longitudinal direction,
The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least three light sources include a light source that enters light into the side light guide from one end.
The side light guide has an end opposite to the one end on which light enters, and the opposite end is separated from the linear array of the at least three rod-shaped light guides. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it is curved so as to deviate.
Claim further comprising: a light diffusing section disposed between a gap between two longitudinally adjacent rod-shaped light guides among the at least three rod-shaped light guides and the light-transmitting cover. 1. The vehicle lamp according to 1.
10. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to turn on the at least three light sources in a predetermined order so that the light emitting portion of the vehicle lamp appears to move in the longitudinal direction to a viewer. The vehicle lamp according to any one of 1 to 5.