Lamp for a vehicle and vehicle including the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a lamp for a vehicle, the lamp including: a light source unit configured to emit light forward; a collimator disposed in front of the light source unit and onto which light emitted from the light source unit is incident; and a multi-faceted lens (MFL) disposed in front of the collimator and onto which light emitted from the collimator is incident. The MFL includes: a plurality of facets; and a stepped portion disposed between the plurality of facets, and each facet connects two adjacent facets. At least some of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets are perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction. The lamp for a vehicle according to the present invention can minimize a glare phenomenon, thereby improving the performance of the lamp.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2021 - 0081135, filed on Jun. 22, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. Technical field

[0003] Exemplary embodiments relate to a lamp for a vehicle and a vehicle including the lamp. More specifically, the exemplary embodiments relate to a lamp for a vehicle equipped with a multifacet lens (MFL) and a vehicle including the lamp. Background art

[0004] Recently, as the demand for the aesthetic impression of the appearance of a vehicle has increased, the demand for the aesthetic impression of an image formed when a lamp for a vehicle is turned on has also increased. To meet these demands, active research has been conducted on lamps for vehicles equipped with a multifacet lens (MFL).

[0005] Compared with a typical aspherical lens, when the lamp is turned on, the MFL significantly has an excellent aesthetic impression, and the MFL has a structure in which a region having a plurality of facets is integrally formed.

[0006] However, according to the related art, some light is emitted in a stepped region at the boundary between the plurality of facets and is refracted upward at the same time. This causes a glare phenomenon and generates glare in the eyes of pedestrians or other drivers. Summary of the invention

[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are for minimizing the glare phenomenon in a lamp for a vehicle equipped with an MFL, thereby improving the performance of the lamp for a vehicle.

[0008] A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a lamp for a vehicle, the lamp including: a light source unit configured to emit light forward; a collimator disposed in front of the light source unit, and light emitted from the light source unit is incident thereon; and a multifacet lens (MFL) disposed in front of the collimator, and light emitted from the collimator is incident thereon. The MFL includes: a plurality of facets; and a stepped portion disposed between the plurality of facets, and each stepped portion connects two adjacent facets. At least some of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets are perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

[0009] The MFL may be spaced apart from the collimator in the forward direction.

[0010] The light is incident on the collimator after being emitted from the light source unit, and it can move downward while being emitted from the collimator.

[0011] The light is emitted to the outside via the collimator and the MFL after being emitted from the light source unit, and the light can form a low beam pattern.

[0012] The MFL may further include bending regions, each of which is disposed between the stepped portion and the facet to connect the stepped portion to the facet and each of which has a predetermined radius of curvature, and the light incident on the bending region after being emitted from the light source unit can move downward while being emitted.

[0013] All the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets provided in the MFL may be perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

[0014] The lamp may further include a housing configured to accommodate the light source unit, the collimator, and the MFL. The housing may include: a first region having a first width (W1) and a first height (H1) and having a space formed therein to accommodate the light source unit; and a second region having a second width (W2) smaller than the first width and a second height (H2) smaller than the first height and having a space formed therein to accommodate the collimator and the MFL.

[0015] The distance between the light source unit and the collimator may be greater than the distance between the collimator and the MFL.

[0016] At least some of the plurality of stepped portions provided between the plurality of facets may be parallel to the ground or have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

[0017] All of the plurality of stepped portions provided between the plurality of facets may be parallel to the ground or have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

[0018] A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle including a lamp for a vehicle. The lamp includes: a light source unit configured to emit light forward; a collimator disposed in front of the light source unit and onto which light emitted from the light source unit is incident; and a multi-faceted lens (MFL) disposed in front of the collimator and onto which light emitted from the collimator is incident. The MFL includes: a plurality of facets; and stepped portions disposed between the plurality of facets, and each stepped portion connects two adjacent facets. At least some of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets are perpendicular to the ground or have an upper region inclined in the forward direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, showing embodiments of the present invention and used in conjunction with the description to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view showing the structure of a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view showing the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure in a state where the housing is removed.

[0022] Figure 3 FIG. is a cross-sectional side view showing the configuration relationship between a light source unit, a collimator, and an MFL in the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure and the propagation path of light. Detailed Description

[0023] Hereinafter, a lamp for a vehicle and the vehicle according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Lights for vehicles

[0025] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view showing the structure of a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure, and Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view showing the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure in a state where the housing is removed. Figure 3 FIG. is a cross-sectional side view showing the configuration relationship between a light source unit, a collimator, and an MFL in the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure and the propagation path of light.

[0026] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , the lamp 10 for a vehicle according to the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as "lamp") may include a light source unit 100 that emits light forward. The light source unit 100 may include a substrate and a light source, such as an LED, fixed to the front side of the substrate.

[0027] The lamp 10 may further include a collimator 200 that is disposed in front of the light source unit 100 and onto which the light emitted from the light source unit 100 is incident. The collimator 200 may be configured to convert the light emitted from the light source unit 100 into parallel light.

[0028] In addition, the lamp 10 may further include a multi-faceted lens (MFL) 300, which is disposed in front of the collimator 200 and onto which the light emitted from the collimator 200 is incident. The MFL 300 includes: a plurality of facets 310; a stepped portion 320, which is disposed between the plurality of facets 310 and each facet 310 connects two adjacent facets 310; and a curved region 330, each curved region 330 being disposed between the stepped portion 320 and the facet 310 to connect the stepped portion 320 to the facet 310 and each curved region 330 having a predetermined radius of curvature.

[0029] According to the present disclosure, the light emitted from the light source unit 100 reaches the MFL 300 via the collimator 200, then passes through the plurality of facets 310 and is emitted to the outside, and thus, a predetermined light beam pattern can be formed. In particular, according to the present disclosure, the unit light beam patterns formed by the light emitted from the respective facets 310 can be combined together to form a single light beam pattern.

[0030] As an example, according to the present disclosure, the light emitted from the light source unit 100 and then emitted to the outside via the collimator 200 and the MFL 300 can form a low beam pattern. That is, the lamp 10 for a vehicle according to the present disclosure can be a headlamp for a low beam.

[0031] Meanwhile, according to the related art, when light is emitted to the outside via the MFL, some of the light is emitted upward. Different from the light that is emitted downward and reaches the ground, the light emitted upward reaches the eyes of pedestrians or drivers of other vehicles and causes glare in the eyes of pedestrians or drivers of other vehicles.

[0032] According to the present disclosure, to solve the above limitations, at least some of the exit surfaces 310a of the plurality of facets 310 can be perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction. More preferably, all of the exit surfaces 310a of the plurality of facets 310 disposed in the MFL 300 of the lamp 10 according to the present disclosure can 1) be perpendicular to the ground or 2) have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction. As an example, Figure 3 The state in which the exit surface 310a of the facet 310 has an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction is shown.

[0033] According to the related art, in a lamp provided with an MFL, the light that causes eye glare, particularly the light emitted upward to the outside, is generally generated by the light passing through the curved region connecting the plurality of facets and the stepped portion. This is because the curved region is formed to protrude relatively upward.

[0034] However, according to the present disclosure, the exit surfaces 310a of the plurality of facets 310 are perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction, so that the curved region 330 formed between the plurality of facets 310 and the stepped portion 320 is formed to protrude relatively downward. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source unit 100 and incident on the curved region 330 can move downward while being emitted.

[0035] In addition, according to the present disclosure, at least some of the plurality of stepped portions 320 provided between the plurality of facets 310 may be parallel to the ground or have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction. More preferably, all of the plurality of stepped portions 320 provided in the MFL 300 of the lamp 10 according to the present disclosure may be 1) parallel to the ground or 2) have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction. As an example, Figure 3 shows a state in which the stepped portion 320 has a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

[0036] Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure as Figure 3 shown, the light incident on the collimator 200 after being emitted from the light source unit 100 can move downward while being emitted from the collimator 200. More specifically, the light incident on the collimator 200 from the light source unit 100 can be emitted in the form of downward parallel light and then reach the MFL 300.

[0037] Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure, the MFL 300 may be spaced apart from the collimator 200 in the forward direction. According to the present disclosure, since the MFL 300 is spaced apart from the collimator 200, there is no need to directly connect and assemble the MFL 300 and the collimator 200 during the manufacturing process of the lamp 10. Therefore, since the area required for assembling the MFL 300 and the collimator 200 is removed from the MFL 300 and the collimator 200, the overall volume occupied by the lamp 10 can be significantly reduced, and when the MFL 300 and the collimator 200 are directly coupled, the influence of the tolerances of the MFL 300 and the collimator 200 on the performance of the lamp 10 can be significantly reduced.

[0038] Continuing to refer to Figure 1 , the lamp 10 according to the present disclosure may further include a housing 400 that houses the light source unit 100, the collimator 200, and the MFL 300.

[0039] The housing 400 may have a stepped structure. More specifically, the housing 400 may include: a first region 410 having a first width W1 and a first height H1 and having a space formed therein to accommodate the light source unit 100; and a second region 420 having a second width W2 smaller than the first width W1 and a second height H2 smaller than the first height H1 and having a space formed therein to accommodate the collimator 200 and the MFL 300. Accordingly, a stepped portion may be formed between the first region 410 and the second region 420.

[0040] Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure as Figure 2 shown, the distance between the light source unit 100 and the collimator 200 may be greater than the distance between the collimator 200 and the MFL 300.

[0041] Vehicle

[0042] A vehicle according to the present disclosure may include a lamp 10 for a vehicle.

[0043] The lamp 10 may include: a light source unit 100 that emits light forward; a collimator 200 disposed in front of the light source unit 100 and onto which light emitted from the light source unit 100 is incident; and a multi-faceted lens (MFL) 300 disposed in front of the collimator 200 and onto which light emitted from the collimator 200 is incident. The MFL 300 includes a plurality of facets 310; and a stepped portion 320 disposed between the plurality of facets 310 and each facet 310 connects two adjacent facets 310.

[0044] Here, according to the present disclosure, at least some of the exit surfaces 310a of the plurality of facets 310 may be perpendicular to the ground or have an upper region inclined in the forward direction. Meanwhile, the detailed description of the lamp provided in the vehicle according to the present invention will be replaced by the previous description of the lamp according to the present invention.

[0045] According to the present disclosure, the glare phenomenon can be minimized to improve the performance of the lamp for a vehicle.

[0046] Although the present disclosure has been described with specific exemplary embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can make various changes and modifications within the equivalent scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lamp for a vehicle, the lamp comprising: a light source unit configured to emit light forward; a collimator disposed in front of the light source unit and onto which light emitted from the light source unit is incident; and a multi-faceted lens (MFL) disposed in front of the collimator and onto which light emitted from the collimator is incident, wherein the MFL includes: a plurality of facets; and a plurality of stepped portions disposed between the plurality of facets, and each stepped portion connects two adjacent ones of the plurality of facets, wherein at least some of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets are perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction, wherein the MFL further includes a plurality of curved regions, each curved region being disposed between a respective one of the plurality of stepped portions and a respective one of the plurality of facets to connect the respective stepped portion to the respective facet and each curved region having a predetermined radius of curvature, and the light that is incident on the curved region after being emitted from the light source unit moves downward while being emitted.

2. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the MFL is spaced apart from the collimator in the forward direction.

3. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light that is incident on the collimator after being emitted from the light source unit moves downward while being emitted from the collimator.

4. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light that is emitted from the light source unit and emitted to the outside via the collimator and the MFL forms a low beam pattern.

5. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein all of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets provided in the MFL are perpendicular to the ground or have an upwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

6. The lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to accommodate the light source unit, the collimator, and the MFL, wherein the housing includes: a first region having a first width and a first height and having a space formed therein to accommodate the light source unit; and a second region having a second width smaller than the first width and a second height smaller than the first height and having a space formed therein to accommodate the collimator and the MFL.

7. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the light source unit and the collimator is greater than the distance between the collimator and the MFL.

8. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of stepped portions disposed between the plurality of facets are parallel to the ground or have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

9. The lamp according to claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of stepped portions disposed between the plurality of facets are parallel to the ground or have a downwardly inclined shape in the forward direction.

10. A vehicle, comprising a lamp for a vehicle, wherein the lamp includes: a light source unit configured to emit light forward; a collimator disposed in front of the light source unit and onto which light emitted from the light source unit is incident; and A multi-faceted lens MFL, which is disposed in front of the collimator and onto which light emitted from the collimator is incident, wherein the MFL includes: a plurality of facets; and a plurality of stepped portions, which are disposed between the plurality of facets, and each stepped portion connects two adjacent facets of the plurality of facets, wherein at least some of the exit surfaces of the plurality of facets are perpendicular to the ground or have an upper region inclined in the forward direction, wherein the MFL further includes a plurality of curved regions, each curved region being disposed between a corresponding stepped portion of the plurality of stepped portions and a corresponding facet of the plurality of facets to connect the corresponding stepped portion to the corresponding facet and each curved region having a predetermined radius of curvature, and the light that is emitted from the light source unit and is incident on the curved region moves downward while being emitted.

Images