Vehicle lamp

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes: a light source mounting substrate (41) on which a multi-split LED array is mounted; a control circuit board (32) on which a circuit for controlling the light emission of the multi-segment LED array is mounted; and a projection lens (42) that deflects light emitted from the multi-split LED array. The light source mounting substrate (41) and the control circuit substrate (32) are integrally arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle lamp. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, automotive headlamps have adopted ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam: variable light distribution) control, which prevents glare to vehicles ahead, oncoming vehicles or pedestrians, and improves the lighting effect of the area in front of the vehicle.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a vehicle lamp that uses a multi-segment LED array in which a plurality of micro LED light-emitting elements are arranged in a matrix to perform ADB control. The multi-segment LED array is a lamp in which each micro LED light-emitting element selectively emits light according to a control signal from a lamp driving module, and the light emitted by the micro LED light-emitting elements forms a desired light distribution pattern.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-70295 Summary of the invention

[0007] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0008] In the vehicle lamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, the lamp driver module and the multi-segment LED array are electrically connected via a cable. The control signal from the lamp driver module is sent to the multi-segment LED array via the cable. In such a configuration, the length of the cable and the communication line between the lamp driver module and the multi-segment LED array become longer, so that communication errors between the lamp driver module and the multi-segment LED array are prone to occur. Such communication errors may result in the failure to obtain a desired light distribution pattern.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern with high reliability.

[0010] Methods used to solve technical problems

[0011] In order to solve the above technical problems, a vehicle lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source mounting substrate on which a light source is mounted; a control circuit substrate on which a circuit for controlling the light emission of the light source is mounted; and an optical component for deflecting light emitted from the light source. The light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are configured in an integrated manner.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp capable of forming a desired light distribution pattern with high reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing a state where a headlamp unit and a control circuit board are mounted on a leveling bracket.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing a state where the headlamp unit and the control circuit board are separated from the leveling bracket.

[0017] Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the headlamp unit.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a state where the headlamp unit is mounted on the leveling bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Hereinafter, the scheme for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the description of the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements, and repeated descriptions are appropriately omitted. In addition, in this specification, when words indicating directions such as "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "inside", and "outside" are used, they indicate the directions in the posture when the vehicle lamp is installed on the vehicle.

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle lamp 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The illustrated vehicle lamp 10 is disposed at both left and right end portions of the front portion of a vehicle body, and functions as a headlamp.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle lamp 10 includes a lamp body 12 opened forwardly and a front cover 14 attached to the front portion of the opening of the lamp body 12. The lamp body 12 and the front cover 14 constitute a lamp housing, and a lamp chamber 16 is formed inside the lamp housing.

[0022] A plurality of lamp units are arranged in the lamp chamber 16. The plurality of lamp units include a headlamp unit, a turn signal unit, a width lamp unit, etc. The vehicle lamp 10 is a composite headlamp in which these lamp units are arranged in a lamp housing. In this specification, the headlamp unit that can perform ADB control is mainly described.

[0023] Figure 1The figure shows a headlamp unit 20. The headlamp unit 20 is mounted on the lamp body 12 in a state where the direction of the irradiation optical axis Ax can be adjusted appropriately. The headlamp unit 20 is supported by a leveling bracket 21 in the lamp chamber 16.

[0024] The leveling bracket 21 is supported on the lamp body 12 by a leveling mechanism 26 that can be tilted in the up-down direction. Through the leveling mechanism 26, the leveling bracket 21 is supported on the lamp body 12 by fulcrums 27 and 28 at its upper edge, here, at two locations on the left and right of the upper edge. In addition, a leveling actuator 29 supported by the lamp body 12 is connected to a portion of the lower edge of the leveling bracket 21. The leveling actuator 29 includes a leveling screw 30. A leveling nut 31 mounted on a portion of the lower edge of the leveling bracket 21 is screwed onto the leveling screw 30. When the leveling actuator 29 is driven to rotate, the leveling nut 31 screwed onto the leveling screw 30 is tightened, and accordingly, the lower edge of the leveling bracket 21 moves in the front-rear direction, thereby controlling the change in its forward tilt angle.

[0025] The lamp chamber 16 is provided with extended reflectors 17 and 18. The extended reflectors 17 and 18 are arranged above and below the projection lens in the lamp unit, and cover the structural components in the lamp chamber 16, thereby improving the appearance.

[0026] The leveling bracket 21 supports the headlamp unit 20 and a control circuit board 32 on which a circuit for controlling light emission of a light source in the headlamp unit 20 is mounted.

[0027] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a state where the headlamp unit 20 and the control circuit board 32 are mounted on the leveling bracket 21 . Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing a state where the headlamp unit 20 and the control circuit board 32 are separated from the leveling bracket 21 .

[0028] Here, the structure of the headlight unit 20 will be described in detail. Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the headlight unit 20 .

[0029] The headlamp unit 20 is a so-called direct-beam type lamp unit and includes a multi-segment LED array 40 as a light source, a light source mounting substrate 41 , a projection lens 42 as an optical component for deflecting light from the multi-segment LED array 40 , a front lens frame 44 , and a rear lens frame 43 .

[0030] In this embodiment, the projection lens 42 is composed of three projection lenses. The three projection lenses are fixed by pushing the rear lens frame 43 to the back of the front lens frame 44. The three projection lenses are positioned relative to each other by positioning portions facing the outer side of the optical surface. The rear lens frame 43 applies force to the front side while keeping the outer side of the optical surface of the rearmost projection lens. The rear lens frame 43 is fixed to the front lens frame 44 by a snap structure or the like.

[0031] The headlamp unit 20 further includes a heat sink 45 for dissipating heat generated by the multi-segment LED array 40. The heat sink 45 is formed of a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum, and is composed of a flat base 46 and heat sinks 47 erected at predetermined intervals on the rear surface of the base 46. The shape of the heat sink 47 may be a flat plate, a column, or the like.

[0032] The headlamp unit 20 further includes a fan 48. The fan 48 is disposed behind the fins 47 of the radiator 45. The fan 48 sends air in the lamp chamber 16 to the fins 47, thereby forcibly cooling the fins 47.

[0033] The multi-segment LED array 40 is mounted on the first main surface (front) of the light source mounting substrate 41. The multi-segment LED array 40 is a structure in which a plurality of micro LED light-emitting elements (hereinafter referred to as pixel elements) are arranged in a matrix. The multi-segment LED array 61 is controlled by a control circuit mounted on the control circuit substrate 32, and each pixel element selectively emits light, and the light emitted by the pixel element forms a desired light pattern. The light pattern is projected by the projection lens 42 to form an ADB light distribution pattern, etc. The ADB light distribution pattern is synthesized with a plurality of lighting areas corresponding to each pixel element.

[0034] The light source mounting substrate 41 is mounted on the heat sink 45 so that its second main surface (rear surface) contacts the base 46 of the heat sink 45. When mounted on the heat sink 45, the main surfaces (front and rear surfaces) of the light source mounting substrate 41 are perpendicular to the optical axis Ax of the headlight unit 20.

[0035] In order to effectively transfer the heat generated by the multi-divided LED array 40 to the heat sink 45, the light source mounting substrate 41 may also be formed of a metal with high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. A circuit pattern (not shown) for supplying power to the multi-divided LED array 40 is formed on the light source mounting substrate 41. The method of forming an insulating film on a metal substrate and forming a circuit pattern thereon is well known in the past, and for example, the method described in International Publication No. 2015 / 050164 may be used.

[0036] A socket connector 49 is mounted on the lower end of the light source mounting substrate 41. The socket connector 49 is connected to the multi-division LED array 40 via a circuit pattern formed on the light source mounting substrate 41. The socket connector 49 forms a pair with a plug connector 50 mounted on the control circuit substrate 32 to form a substrate-to-substrate connector (B to B connector) 57.

[0037] The headlight unit 20 constructed as described above is mounted on the leveling bracket 21. Figure 3 As shown, a rectangular fin insertion opening 51 is formed in the leveling bracket 21, into which the fin 47 of the headlight unit 20 can be inserted. Radiator support portions 52 for supporting the radiator 45 of the headlight unit 20 are provided at four corners of the fin insertion opening 51.

[0038] When the headlamp unit 20 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21, first, the fins 47 of the radiator 45 are inserted into the fin insertion opening 51 of the leveling bracket 21, and the base 46 of the radiator 45 is placed on the four radiator support parts 52. Through holes are formed at the four corners of the rectangular base 46. In addition, bolt holes are formed in each radiator support part 52. The through holes of the base 46 are aligned with the bolt holes of the radiator support parts 52, and bolts (not shown) are inserted into the through holes and screwed into the bolt holes, so that the headlamp unit 20 is fixed to the leveling bracket 21. Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a state where the headlamp unit 20 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21 .

[0039] The control circuit substrate 32 is provided with a light emission control circuit 53 for controlling the light emission of the multi-divided LED array 40 in the headlight unit 20. The control circuit substrate 32 may also be a glass epoxy substrate. At the rear end of the control circuit substrate 32, an ECU connector 54 is provided for connecting the ECU (electronic control unit) of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle lamp 10 and the light emission control circuit 53.

[0040] The light emission control circuit 53 performs light emission control of the multi-division LED array 40 to control the shape of the ADB light distribution pattern based on a lamp control signal from the vehicle ECU, that is, selectively causes pixel elements of the multi-division LED array 40 to emit light.

[0041] A plug connector 50 is attached to the front end of the control circuit board 32 . The plug connector 50 is connected to a light emission control circuit 53 via a circuit pattern formed on the control circuit board 32 .

[0042] The control circuit board 32 is mounted on the leveling bracket 21. Figure 3As shown in FIG. 2 , a control circuit board support portion 55 is provided at the lower portion of the leveling bracket 21. The control circuit board support portion 55 is provided below the heat sink insertion opening 51 and the radiator support portion 52. The control circuit board support portion 55 is configured as a rectangular frame with a bottom that can accommodate the control circuit board 32. The control circuit board support portion 55 has a contact portion 55a (see FIG. 5 ) configured to contact the peripheral edge portion of the upper surface 32a of the control circuit board 32 along the inner periphery of the frame. Figure 1 ), bolt holes are formed at the four corners of the abutment portion.

[0043] A connector insertion opening 56 is provided at a portion of the bottom of the control circuit board support portion 55 of the leveling bracket 21. When the headlamp unit 20 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21, the receptacle connector 49 provided at the lower end of the light source mounting substrate 41 is exposed below the leveling bracket 21 through the connector insertion opening 56.

[0044] When the control circuit substrate 32 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21, Figure 5 As shown, after the headlamp unit 20 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21, the control circuit board 32 is accommodated in the frame from below the control circuit board support portion 55, so that the peripheral portion of the upper surface 32a of the control circuit board 32 abuts against the abutting portion. At this time, the plug connector 50 of the control circuit board 32 is engaged with the socket connector 49 of the light source mounting substrate 41 exposed through the connector insertion opening 56. As a result, the control circuit board 32 and the light source mounting substrate 41 are integrated through the substrate-to-substrate connector 57, and the control circuit board 32 and the light source mounting substrate 41 are electrically connected through the substrate-to-substrate connector 57. Then, the bolt holes formed in the abutting portion are aligned with the through holes 32b formed in the four corners of the control circuit board 32, and bolts (not shown) are inserted into the through holes 32b and screwed into the bolt holes. In this state where the socket connector 49 and the plug connector 50 are connected, the control circuit board 32 is fixed to the leveling bracket 21. When the control circuit substrate 32 is assembled to the leveling bracket 21, the control circuit substrate 32 is arranged perpendicularly to the light source mounting substrate 41. Here, the so-called perpendicularity of the control circuit substrate 32 to the light source mounting substrate 41 includes not only the case where it is strictly perpendicular, but also the case where it is approximately perpendicular. That is, it includes not only the case where the angle formed by the control circuit substrate 32 and the light source mounting substrate 41 is strictly 90 degrees, but also the case where the angle formed by the two is offset from 90 degrees by several degrees (for example, about 5 degrees).

[0045] In the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment, Figure 2As shown, when the leveling bracket 21 is assembled with the headlamp unit 20 and the control circuit substrate 32, the light source mounting substrate 41 and the control circuit substrate 32 are integrated via a substrate-to-substrate connector 57 composed of a socket connector 49 and a plug connector 50. By integrating the light source mounting substrate 41 and the control circuit substrate 32 in this way, the distance of the communication line between the multi-divided LED array 40 and the light emission control circuit 53 can be shortened compared to the case of using a cable as in the above-mentioned patent document 1. By shortening the distance of the communication line, it is possible to prevent noise from entering the communication line or reduce signal attenuation, thereby reducing the probability of communication errors. In addition, since no cables are used, communication errors caused by the movement or bending of the cables can be prevented in advance. Therefore, according to the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment, a vehicle lamp that forms a desired light distribution pattern with high reliability can be realized.

[0046] In the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment, a board-to-board connector is used to integrate the light source mounting board 41 and the control circuit board 32. The board-to-board connector can improve the communication reliability between the multi-division LED array 40 and the light emission control circuit 53.

[0047] In addition, in the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment, by vertically arranging and integrating the control circuit substrate 32 with respect to the light source mounting substrate 41, no space is required for processing the excess length of the cable, thereby miniaturizing the device structure, and in particular reducing the size of the device in the vertical direction and the depth direction. By using a substrate-to-substrate connector, it is easy to realize the vertical arrangement of the light source mounting substrate 41 and the control circuit substrate 32.

[0048] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment, both the light source mounting substrate 41 and the control circuit substrate 32 are supported by the leveling bracket 21. Thus, when the headlamp unit 20 is tilted in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the positional relationship between the light source mounting substrate 41 and the control circuit substrate 32 does not change, thereby improving the reliability of communication between the multi-divided LED array 40 and the light emission control circuit 53.

[0049] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are for illustration only, and various modifications can be made to the combination of each component or each process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0050] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a multi-segment LED array is exemplified as the light source, but the light source is not limited to this, and for example, a semiconductor laser or the like may be used.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the receptacle connector is provided on the light source mounting substrate and the plug connector is provided on the control circuit substrate. However, the opposite may be true, where the plug connector is provided on the light source mounting substrate and the receptacle connector is provided on the control circuit substrate.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are integrated by the substrate-to-substrate connector, but the method of integrating the light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate is not limited thereto, and various methods may be employed.

[0053] The embodiment can be expressed by the following items with reference numbers.

[0054] 1. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

[0055] A light source mounting substrate is mounted with a light source,

[0056] a control circuit substrate on which a circuit for controlling the light emission of the light source is mounted, and

[0057] an optical component for deflecting light emitted from the light source;

[0058] The light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are arranged in an integrated manner.

[0059] 2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that:

[0060] The light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are integrated via a substrate-to-substrate connector.

[0061] 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

[0062] The light source mounting substrate is arranged perpendicularly to the control circuit substrate.

[0063] 4. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

[0064] A bracket is also included, which supports the light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate together.

[0065] 5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, characterized in that:

[0066] Also included is a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source,

[0067] The light source mounting substrate is supported by the bracket via the heat sink.

[0068] 6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, characterized in that:

[0069] The bracket comprises:

[0070] a radiator support portion that supports the radiator, and

[0071] a control circuit substrate support portion, which is disposed below the radiator support portion and supports the control circuit substrate;

[0072] The control circuit board is mounted in a state of abutting against the control circuit board support portion from below.

[0073] 7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that:

[0074] The board-to-board connector includes: a socket connector provided on one of the light source mounting board and the control circuit board; and a plug connector provided on the other of the light source mounting board and the control circuit board.

[0075] 8. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:

[0076] The light source is a multi-segmented LED array in which a plurality of micro LED light-emitting elements are arranged in a matrix shape.

[0077] 9. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that:

[0078] The light source mounting substrate is a substrate formed of a metal with high thermal conductivity.

[0079] The control circuit substrate is a glass epoxy substrate.

[0080] Industrial Availability

[0081] The present invention can be used in a vehicle lamp.

[0082] Description of Reference Numerals

[0083] 10 vehicle lamp, 12 lamp body, 20 headlamp unit, 21 leveling bracket, 32 control circuit substrate, 40 multi-division LED array, 41 light source mounting substrate, 42 projection lens, 45 radiator, 49 socket connector, 50 plug connector, 52 radiator support portion, 53 light emission control circuit, 55 control circuit substrate support portion, 57 substrate-to-substrate connector.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp, characterized in that: include: A light source mounting substrate is mounted with a light source, A control circuit substrate is installed with a circuit for controlling the light source to emit light, and an optical component for deflecting light emitted from the light source; The light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are arranged in an integrated manner.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate are integrated via a substrate-to-substrate connector.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The light source mounting substrate is arranged perpendicularly to the control circuit substrate.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A bracket is also included, which supports the light source mounting substrate and the control circuit substrate together.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also included is a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source, The light source mounting substrate is supported by the bracket via the heat sink.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bracket comprises: a radiator support portion that supports the radiator, and a control circuit substrate support portion, which is disposed below the radiator support portion and supports the control circuit substrate; The control circuit board is mounted in a state of abutting against the control circuit board support portion from below.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that: The board-to-board connector includes: a socket connector provided on one of the light source mounting board and the control circuit board; and a plug connector provided on the other of the light source mounting board and the control circuit board.

8. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The light source is a multi-segmented LED array in which a plurality of micro LED light-emitting elements are arranged in a matrix shape.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The light source mounting substrate is a substrate formed of a metal with high thermal conductivity. The control circuit substrate is a glass epoxy substrate.

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