Vehicle lamp

Abstract

In a vehicle lamp provided with a plurality of lamp units for forming a low beam light distribution pattern, glare to a driver of an opposite vehicle is effectively suppressed, and forward visibility of the driver of the vehicle is improved. In each of the first and second lamp units (30A, 30B), light emitted from the light sources (34A, 34) is sequentially reflected by the first additional reflectors (42A, 42B) and the second additional reflectors (44A, 44B), so that an OHS irradiation light distribution pattern is additionally formed in a space above a cutoff line as a low beam light distribution pattern. At this time, the first lamp unit (30A) is configured such that a protrusion (44Ab), which is a light diffusion region, is formed on a reflective surface (44Aa) of a second additional reflector (44A) at a position closer to the lane than a rear focal point (F) of a projection lens (32A). Therefore, the space between the cut-off line and the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern does not need to be brightened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp including a plurality of lamp units for forming a low-beam light distribution pattern. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a configuration of a vehicle lamp configured to form a low-beam light distribution pattern, a configuration including a plurality of lamp units is known.

[0003] Furthermore, as the configuration of each of these multiple lamp units, it is known that one includes a projection lens, a light source arranged at a position farther rearward of the lamp than a rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a shade for blocking a portion of the reflected light from the reflector in order to form a cut-off line of a low-beam light distribution pattern when arranged between the reflector and the projection lens.

[0004] In "Patent Document 1", as a structure of a lamp unit configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern, the following structure is described: a first additional reflector is arranged on the front side of the lamp of the reflector, which reflects the outgoing light from the light source toward the downward direction, and a second additional reflector is arranged at a position closer to the front side and lower side of the lamp than the rear focus of the projection lens, which reflects the outgoing light from the light source after being reflected by the first additional reflector toward the projection lens.

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-32961 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] In the lamp unit described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 1", by utilizing the first and second additional reflectors to sequentially reflect the outgoing light from the light source, it is possible to form an OHS illumination light distribution pattern (i.e., a light distribution pattern for illuminating an overhead sign (Japanese: 頭上標) arranged above the road surface in front of the vehicle) in the space above the light-dark cut-off line relative to the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0010] However, in a vehicle lamp having multiple lamp units, if such a configuration is adopted for each of the multiple lamp units, the space between the cutoff line and the OHS illumination light distribution pattern will become brighter than necessary, potentially causing glare for oncoming vehicle drivers.

[0011] In contrast, if the structure of each of the plurality of lamp units is such that a protrusion or the like is formed at a position on the vehicle lane side of the reflection surface of the second additional reflector relative to the optical axis of the projection lens, it is possible to locally suppress the brightness of the space near the upper side of the cut-off line on the oncoming lane side in the low beam distribution pattern.

[0012] Moreover, by adopting such a structure, it is possible to prevent glare from being caused to the oncoming vehicle driver. However, on the other hand, the space between the cut-off line and the OHS irradiation distribution pattern becomes excessively dark, and the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the host vehicle may be deteriorated.

[0013] The present invention has been completed in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle lamp that can effectively suppress glare for the oncoming vehicle driver and improve the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the host vehicle in a vehicle lamp including a plurality of lamp units for forming a low beam distribution pattern.

[0014] Means for Solving the Problem

[0015] The present invention achieves the above object by devising the structure of the second additional reflector of each of the plurality of lamp units.

[0016] That is, the vehicle lamp of the present invention includes a plurality of lamp units for forming a low beam distribution pattern, and is characterized in that

[0017] each of the plurality of lamp units includes: a projection lens; a light source disposed at a position behind the rear focal point of the projection lens on the rear side of the lamp; a reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source toward the projection lens; and a light shutter that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector in a state of being disposed between the reflector and the projection lens in order to form a cut-off line of the low beam distribution pattern.

[0018] each of the plurality of lamp units has the following structure: a first additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source downward is disposed at the front end of the reflector, and a second additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source reflected by the first additional reflector toward the projection lens is disposed at a position in front of and below the rear focal point.

[0019] a part of the plurality of lamp units has the following structure: a light diffusion region is formed at a position on the vehicle lane side of the reflection surface of the second additional reflector relative to the rear focal point.

[0020] The specific number of the lamp units among the above "plurality of lamp units" that have the structure in which the light diffusion region is formed on the reflection surface of the second additional reflector is not particularly limited.

[0021] The above-mentioned "light diffusion area" means an area having a surface shape that diffuses the reflected light from the first additional reflector compared to the general area (i.e., the area outside the light diffusion area) in the reflecting surface of the second additional reflector. The specific surface shape is not particularly limited. For example, a shape formed as a protrusion or a recess, a shape obtained by matte processing, concavo-convex texture processing, etc., or a shape formed as an area where surface treatment such as aluminum evaporation is not locally performed can be adopted.

[0022] Advantages of the Invention

[0023] Although the vehicle lamp of the present invention has a projection lens, a light source disposed at a position behind the rear focal point of the projection lens on the rear side of the lamp, a reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source toward the projection lens, and a light shutter that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector in order to form a cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern in a state of being disposed between the reflector and the projection lens as the respective configurations of the plurality of lamp units for forming the low beam light distribution pattern, a first additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source downward is disposed at the front end portion of the reflector. In addition, a second additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source reflected by the first additional reflector toward the projection lens is disposed at a position in front of and below the rear focal point of the projection lens. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained.

[0024] That is, by sequentially reflecting the emitted light from the light source using the first and second additional reflectors, an OHS irradiation light distribution pattern can be additionally formed in the space above the cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern as the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0025] Moreover, a light diffusion area is formed in a position on the own lane side of the rear focal point of the projection lens in the reflecting surface of the second additional reflector in a part of the plurality of lamp units. Therefore, the space between the cut-off line and the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern can be prevented from becoming unnecessarily bright, and thus the situation of causing glare to the oncoming vehicle driver can be effectively suppressed.

[0026] At this time, since it is a part of the plurality of lamp units that the light diffusion area is formed in the reflecting surface of the second additional reflector, the space between the cut-off line and the OHS irradiation light distribution pattern can be prevented from becoming overly dark, and thus the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the own vehicle can be prevented from deteriorating.

[0027] In this way, according to the present invention, in a vehicle lamp having a plurality of lamp units for forming a low beam light distribution pattern, it is possible to improve the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the own vehicle on the basis of effectively suppressing glare for the oncoming vehicle driver.

[0028] In the above configuration, if it is further provided that the light diffusion region is composed of protrusions or recesses, it is possible to perform reflection control for preventing the space between the cut-off line of light and darkness and the light distribution pattern for OHS irradiation from being unnecessarily bright with high accuracy.

[0029] In the above configuration, if it is further provided, as the configuration of each of the plurality of lamp units, that a shade has an upward reflecting surface for reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward toward the projection lens on the basis of the configuration in which the reflector is arranged so as to cover the light source from above, it is possible to efficiently irradiate the light emitted from the light source forward of the lamp, and thereby increase the brightness of the light distribution pattern for low beam.

[0030] In the above configuration, if it is further provided that the first additional reflector is formed integrally with the reflector and the second additional reflector is formed integrally with the shade, it is possible to reduce the number of components of the vehicle lamp and improve the accuracy of the positional relationship between the first additional reflector and the reflector and the accuracy of the positional relationship between the second additional reflector and the shade.

[0031] At this time, if it is provided, as the plurality of lamp units, that the reflector is formed integrally and the shade is formed integrally, it is possible to further reduce the number of components of the vehicle lamp. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 is a top view showing a lamp unit assembly of the above vehicle lamp.

[0034] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a sectional view taken along line III-III of

[0035] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of

[0036] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the above lamp unit assembly.

[0037] Figure 6 is Figure 5 a detailed view of part VI of

[0038] Figure 7 is a view of the light distribution pattern for low beam formed by the irradiation light from the above vehicle lamp.

[0039] Figure 8It is a diagram showing the first and second light distribution patterns that constitute the above-mentioned low beam light distribution pattern.

[0040] Figure 9 It shows the first modification of the above-mentioned embodiment and is Figure 6 the same diagram.

[0041] Figure 10 It shows the second modification of the above-mentioned embodiment and is Figure 6 the same diagram. Detailed Embodiment

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 It is a front view of a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, Figure 2 It is a top view of the lamp unit assembly 20 of the vehicle lamp 10.

[0044] In Figure 1 , 2 , the direction indicated by X is "in front of the lamp", the direction indicated by Y is the "left direction" orthogonal to "in front of the lamp" (the "right direction" in the front view of the lamp), and the direction indicated by Z is the "upward direction". The same applies to the diagrams other than Figure 1 , 2 .

[0045] As Figure 1 , 2 shown, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment is a headlamp disposed at the front end of the vehicle and has the following configuration: a lamp unit assembly 20 is housed in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body 12 and a transparent light-transmitting cover 14 attached to the front end opening thereof.

[0046] The lamp unit assembly 20 has the following configuration: the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B for forming a low beam light distribution pattern are integrally formed.

[0047] Both the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B are configured as projection-type lamp units and are arranged in a state of being arranged in the left-right direction (i.e., the vehicle width direction). Specifically, the first lamp unit 30A is located on the right side, and the second lamp unit 30B is located on the left side.

[0048] The first lamp unit 30A includes: a projection lens 32A having an optical axis Ax extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp; a light source 34A disposed at a position behind the rear focal point (specifically, the rear focal point in the vertical cross-section) F of the projection lens 32A on the rear side of the lamp; a reflector 36A that reflects the light emitted from the light source 34A toward the projection lens 32A in a state of covering the light source 34A from above; and a shutter 38A that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector 36A in a state of being disposed between the reflector 36A and the projection lens 32A.

[0049] The second lamp unit 30B also has a configuration including a projection lens 32B, a light source 34B, a reflector 36B, and a shutter 38B, similar to the first lamp unit 30A.

[0050] Next, the specific configurations of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B will be described.

[0051] First, the specific configuration of the first lamp unit 30A will be described.

[0052] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 4 is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the lamp unit assembly 20.

[0053] Also as Figures 3 - 5 shown, the projection lens 32A is a plano-convex aspherical lens with a convex front surface 32Aa and a flat rear surface 32Ab, and projects the light source image formed on the focal plane including its rear focal point F, i.e., the rear focal plane, as an inverted image onto an imaginary vertical screen in front of the lamp. The projection lens 32A has an outer shape of a horizontally long rectangular shape in the front view of the lamp.

[0054] The light source 34A is a light-emitting element (specifically, a white light-emitting diode) having a horizontally long rectangular light-emitting surface 34Aa. And the light source 34A is supported on the substrate 40 in a state where its light-emitting surface 34Aa faces upward on the optical axis Ax.

[0055] The reflector 36A is configured to make the light emitted from the light source 34A incident on the projection lens 32A as light converging in the left-right direction.

[0056] Specifically, the reflecting surface 36Aa of the reflector 36A is formed by a curved surface in a substantially elliptical shape with the light-emitting center of the light source 34A as the first focus, and its eccentricity is set in such a way that it gradually increases from the vertical cross-section towards the horizontal cross-section. And thereby, the reflector 36A converges the emitted light from the light source 34A at a point on the front side of the lamp located at the rear focus F in the vertical cross-section and further shifts the convergence position towards the front side of the lamp in the horizontal cross-section.

[0057] An upward reflecting surface 38Aa is formed on the light shutter 38A to reflect part of the reflected light from the reflector 36A upwards towards the projection lens 32A. The left region of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa located at a position to the left of the optical axis Ax (right side in the front view of the lamp) is constituted by a horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax, and the right region of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa located at a position to the right of the optical axis Ax is constituted by a horizontal plane one level lower than the left region via a short inclined surface. In addition, the front edge 38Aa1 of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa is formed to extend curvedly towards the front side of the lamp from the rear focus F of the projection lens 32A towards both the left and right sides, and the rear edge of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa is also formed to extend curvedly towards the front side of the lamp towards both the left and right sides.

[0058] A first additional reflector 42A is disposed at the front end portion of the reflector 36A. The first additional reflector 42A has a reflecting surface 42Aa formed to extend slightly downwardly inclined towards the front side of the lamp from the front edge of the reflecting surface 36Aa of the reflector 36A. And the first additional reflector 42A is configured to reflect the emitted light from the light source 34A downwardly at its reflecting surface 42Aa towards a space in front of the lamp and closer to the front side than the front edge 38Aa1 of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa of the light shutter 38A. The first additional reflector 42A is integrally formed with the reflector 36A.

[0059] In addition, the front edge of the reflecting surface 42Aa of the first additional reflector 42A is formed at a position behind the rear edge of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa of the light shutter 38A when viewed from above, and thereby it is configured that the light shutter 38A and the reflector 36A do not overlap when viewed from above.

[0060] A second additional reflector 44A is disposed at a position in front of and below the upward reflecting surface 38Aa of the light shutter 38A. The second additional reflector 44A has a reflecting surface 44Aa formed to extend slightly downwardly inclined towards the front side of the lamp from a position near the lower side of the front edge 38Aa1 of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa of the light shutter 38A. And the second additional reflector 44A is configured to reflect the emitted light from the light source 34A reflected by the first additional reflector 42A towards the projection lens 32A at its reflecting surface 44Aa. The second additional reflector 44A is integrally formed with the light shutter 38A.

[0061] Figure 6 is Figure 5 a detailed view of the VI part of

[0062] Also as Figure 6 shown, on the reflecting surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A, a protruding portion 44Ab serving as a light diffusion region is formed at a position on the left side of the optical axis Ax (i.e., at a position closer to the own lane side than the rear focal point F of the projection lens 32A). The protruding portion 44Ab is located near the upper end edge of the reflecting surface 44Aa and has a horizontally long substantially elliptical surface shape. And, the protruding portion 44Ab is configured to diffusely reflect a part of the outgoing light from the light source 34A reflected by the first additional reflector 42A.

[0063] Next, the specific configuration of the second lamp unit 30B will be described.

[0064] As described above, in the second lamp unit 30B, the configurations of the projection lens 32B, the light source 34B, the reflector 36B, and the shutter 38B are also the same as those of the first lamp unit 30A. In addition, the basic configurations of the first and second additional reflectors 42B and 44B are also the same as those of the first lamp unit 30A, but the configuration of the second additional reflector 44B is partly different from that of the first lamp unit 30A.

[0065] That is, in the second lamp unit 30B, the first additional reflector 42B is also disposed at the front end portion of the reflector 36B, and the second additional reflector 44B is disposed at a position in front of and below the upward reflecting surface 38Ba of the shutter 38B. And, it is configured that the outgoing light from the light source 34B is sequentially reflected by the reflecting surfaces 42Ba and 44Ba of the first and second additional reflectors 42B and 44B and is incident on the projection lens 32B.

[0066] However, on the reflecting surface 44Ba of the second additional reflector 44B in the second lamp unit 30B, a protruding portion like the protruding portion 44Ab formed on the reflecting surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A in the first lamp unit 30A is not formed.

[0067] The lamp unit assembly 20 has the following configuration: the light sources 34A and 34B of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B are supported by a metal radiator 50 via a common substrate 40, and the radiator 50 is supported by a resin holder 60.

[0068] The retainer 60 has a horizontal flange portion 60a that extends along a horizontal plane so as to surround the outer peripheral edges of the reflectors 36A and 36B in the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B. Also, the two reflectors 36A and 36B are integrally formed with the retainer 60.

[0069] The radiator 50 has a main body portion 52 that extends in the left - right direction along a horizontal plane and a plurality of heat radiating fins 54 formed to extend downward from the lower surface of the main body portion 52, and the plurality of heat radiating fins 54 are arranged at intervals in the left - right direction. Also, the radiator 50 is supported by the retainer 60 in a state where its main body portion 52 abuts against the horizontal flange portion 60a of the retainer 60 from the lower side.

[0070] The light shields 38A and 38B of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B are also integrally formed with the retainer 60.

[0071] The projection lenses 32A and 32B of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B are supported by the retainer 60 in a state of being integrally formed as a projection lens assembly 22.

[0072] That is, a frame portion 60b that extends along a vertical plane orthogonal to the front - rear direction of the lamp is formed at the front end portion of the retainer 60. This frame portion 60b is formed in a horizontally long U - shape in the front view of the lamp and has an L - shaped cross - sectional shape. Also, the projection lens assembly 22 is supported by the retainer 60 in a state where the peripheral portions of the rear surfaces of the two projection lenses 32A and 32B abut against the frame portion 60b of the retainer 60 from the front side of the lamp.

[0073] In this way, in the lamp unit assembly 20, the reflectors 36A and 36B, the light shields 38A and 38B, the first and second additional reflectors 42B and 44B of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B and the retainer 60 are integrally formed. Thus, the vehicle lamp 10 is configured such that the optical axes of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B are adjusted integrally.

[0074] In addition, in the lamp unit assembly 20, there are no overlapping portions when looking down on the reflectors 36A and 36B, the light shields 38A and 38B, the first and second additional reflectors 42B and 44B, and the retainer 60. Therefore, when molding them as a single injection - molded product, the structure of the mold for this molding is simple.

[0075] The lamp unit assembly 20 is arranged in a state where the optical axes Ax of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B extend in a direction that is inclined downward by about 0.5 to 0.6° with respect to the horizontal plane and toward the front of the lamp when assembled to the vehicle lamp 10.

[0076] Figure 7FIG. 0 is a diagram perspectively showing a low beam light distribution pattern PL formed by the irradiation light from the vehicle lamp 10.

[0077] As Figure 7 shown, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is a left-distributed low beam light distribution pattern, and has light and dark cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 with different heights on the left and right at its upper edge. The light and dark cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 extend horizontally with different heights on the left and right with the V-V line passing through the vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp in the vertical direction, i.e., the H-V, as the boundary. The part on the right side of the V-V line is formed as the oncoming lane side light and dark cut-off line CL1, and the part on the left side of the V-V line is formed as the own lane side light and dark cut-off line CL2 that rises from the oncoming lane side light and dark cut-off line CL1 via the inclined part.

[0078] The low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a combined light distribution pattern of Figure 8 the first light distribution pattern PLA shown in (a) and Figure 8 the second light distribution pattern PLB shown in (b). At this time, the first light distribution pattern PLA is a light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the first lamp unit 30A, and the second light distribution pattern PLB is a light distribution pattern formed by the irradiation light from the second lamp unit 30B.

[0079] In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, the inflection point E, which is the intersection of the oncoming lane side light and dark cut-off line CL1 and the V-V line, is located about 0.5 to 0.6° below the H-V. This is because the optical axes Ax of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B extend in a direction that is about 0.5 to 0.6° downward from the horizontal plane toward the front of the lamp.

[0080] An OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PC is additionally formed in the space above the light and dark cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL. The OHS irradiation light distribution pattern PC is a light distribution pattern for irradiating the overhead sign OHS provided above the road surface in front of the vehicle, and is formed as a horizontally long light distribution pattern that expands in the left and right directions with the V-V line as the center at a position that is separated upward from the light and dark cut-off lines CL1 and CL2.

[0081] Figure 8 The first light distribution pattern PLA shown in (a) is formed by using the projection lens 32A to project the light source image of the light source 34A, which is formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 32A by the outgoing light from the light source 34A reflected by the reflector 36A, onto the above-mentioned imaginary vertical screen as an inverted projection image. Its light and dark cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as the inverted projection images of the front edge 38A1 of the upward reflecting surface 38Aa of the light shutter 38A.

[0082] On the first light distribution pattern PLA, a light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination is additionally formed. The light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination is formed by the emitted light from the light source 34A reflected downward by the first additional reflector 42A, reflected forward by the second additional reflector 44A toward the front of the lamp, and then irradiated forward of the lamp via the projection lens 32A. At this time, by the reflected light from the second additional reflector 44A, a diffusion light distribution pattern Sa is also formed in the space between the light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination and the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 with a brightness weaker than that of the light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination.

[0083] However, in this diffusion light distribution pattern Sa, a dark portion D is locally formed in the vicinity of the upper part of the oncoming lane side cut-off line CL1. This dark portion D is formed by the diffusion reflection of a part of the reflected light from the first additional reflector 42A at the protrusion 44Ab in the area on the own lane side of the reflection surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A.

[0084] At this time, the formation position of the protrusion 44Ab in the reflection surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A is set to a position such that Figure 7 when the oncoming vehicle 2 approaches to around 50 m in front of the own vehicle as shown, the dark portion D substantially coincides with the position of the oncoming vehicle 2.

[0085] On the other hand, Figure 8 The second light distribution pattern PLB shown in (b) is formed by projecting the light source image of the light source 34B formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 32B by the emitted light from the light source 34B reflected by the reflector 36B onto the above-mentioned imaginary vertical screen as an inverted projection image using the projection lens 32B. Its cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 are formed as the inverted projection images of the front edge 38Ba1 of the upward reflection surface 38Ba of the light shutter 38B.

[0086] In the second light distribution pattern PLB, a light distribution pattern PCB for OHS illumination is also additionally formed. In the space between the light distribution pattern PCB for OHS illumination and the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, a diffusion light distribution pattern Sb is formed with a brightness weaker than that of the light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination. However, in this diffusion light distribution pattern Sb, no Figure 8 dark portion D like the diffusion light distribution pattern Sa shown in (a) is formed. This is because no protrusion 44Ab like that of the second additional reflector 44A is formed in the area on the own lane side of the reflection surface 44Ba of the second additional reflector 44B.

[0087] Therefore, as Figure 7 shown, in the light distribution pattern PCA for OHS illumination as Figure 8 shown in (a) and Figure 8In the light distribution pattern PC for OHS illumination formed by combining the light distribution patterns of the second light distribution pattern PLB shown in (b), only the dark portion D of the diffused light distribution pattern Sa among the diffused light distribution patterns Sa and Sb formed thereby exists. And thus, glare is not caused to the driver of the oncoming vehicle 2, and the long-distance visual confirmation on the oncoming lane side in the traveling road ahead of the vehicle can be ensured.

[0088] Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

[0089] The vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment includes the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B, each of which is configured to form the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL by blocking a part of the emitted light from the light sources 34A and 34B reflected by the reflectors 36A and 36B with the shutters 38A and 38B disposed between the reflectors 36A and 36B and the projection lenses 32A and 32B. Therefore, it is possible to easily form the low beam light distribution pattern PL with a desired light distribution using the irradiation light from the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B.

[0090] Moreover, in each of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B, by sequentially reflecting the emitted light from the light sources 34A and 34 using the first additional reflectors 42A and 42B and the second additional reflectors 44A and 44B, it is possible to additionally form the light distribution pattern PC for OHS illumination in the space above the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.

[0091] At this time, the first lamp unit 30A has a configuration in which a protrusion 44Ab serving as a light diffusion region is formed at a position on the vehicle lane side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 32A in the reflection surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the space between the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 and the light distribution pattern PC for OHS illumination from being unnecessarily brightened due to the diffused light distribution patterns Sa and Sb, thereby effectively suppressing the occurrence of glare to the oncoming vehicle driver.

[0092] In addition, since only the first lamp unit 30A is formed with such a protrusion 44Ab, it is possible to prevent the space between the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2 and the light distribution pattern PC for OHS illumination from being excessively darkened, thereby preventing the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the own vehicle from deteriorating.

[0093] Thus, according to the present embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 10 including the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B for forming the low beam light distribution pattern PL, it is possible to improve the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the own vehicle while effectively suppressing glare for the oncoming vehicle driver.

[0094] In particular, in this embodiment, the light diffusion region is formed by the protrusion 44Ab, and therefore, reflection control can be performed with high precision to prevent the space between the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 and the OHS illumination light distribution pattern PC from becoming brighter than necessary.

[0095] In addition, in the present embodiment, as the respective structures of the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B, the reflectors 36A and 36B are arranged in a manner covering the light sources 34A and 34B from the upper side, and the shades 38A and 38B have upward reflecting surfaces 38Aa and 38Ba that reflect a portion of the reflected light from the reflectors 36A and 36B upward toward the projection lenses 32A and 32B. Therefore, the emitted light from the light sources 34A and 34B can be efficiently irradiated toward the front of the lamp, thereby increasing the brightness of the low beam light distribution pattern PL.

[0096] Moreover, in this embodiment, in each of the first and second lamp units 30A, 30B, the first additional reflectors 42A, 42B are formed integrally with the reflectors 36A, 36B and the second additional reflectors 44A, 44B are formed integrally with the shades 38A, 38B. Therefore, the number of components of the vehicle lamp 10 can be reduced, and the accuracy of the positional relationship between the first additional reflectors 42A, 42B and the reflectors 36A, 36B and the accuracy of the positional relationship between the second additional reflectors 44A, 44B and the shades 38A, 38B can be improved.

[0097] Furthermore, since the reflectors 36A and 36B and the shades 38A and 38B are integrally formed in the first and second lamp units 30A and 30B, respectively, the number of components of the vehicle lamp 10 can be further reduced.

[0098] In the above embodiment, as a vehicle lamp 10, a configuration having two first and second lamp units 30A and 30B is described, but it is also possible to configure a configuration in which, in addition to these, a lamp unit having the same configuration as the first lamp unit 30A is additionally configured, and a configuration in which, in addition to these, a lamp unit having the same configuration as the second lamp unit 30B is additionally configured.

[0099] Next, modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described.

[0100] First, a first modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0101] Figure 9 The main part of the vehicle lamp of this modification is shown in FIG. Figure 6 Same picture.

[0102] like Figure 9As shown, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but the configuration of the second additional reflector 144A is partially different from that of the above-described embodiment.

[0103] That is, the second additional reflector 144A of this modified example also has a reflecting surface 144Aa similar to the reflecting surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A of the above-described embodiment, but a recessed portion 144Ab serving as a light diffusion region is formed at a position closer to the own lane side than the optical axis Ax. The recessed portion 144Ab is located near the upper edge of the reflecting surface 144Aa and has a horizontally long substantially elliptical surface shape. And, a part of the emitted light from the light source 34A reflected by the first additional reflector 42A is diffusely reflected by using this recessed portion 144Ab.

[0104] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, by diffusely reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector 42A at the recessed portion 144Ab formed on the reflecting surface 144Aa of the second additional reflector 144A, it is possible to improve the forward visual confirmation of the driver of the own vehicle while effectively suppressing glare for the driver of the oncoming vehicle.

[0105] Next, a second modified example of the above-described embodiment will be described.

[0106] Figure 10 is a view similar to that showing the main part of the vehicle lamp of this modified example Figure 6 as follows.

[0107] As Figure 10 shown, the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but the configuration of the second additional reflector 244A is partially different from that of the above-described embodiment.

[0108] That is, the second additional reflector 244A of this modified example also has a reflecting surface 244Aa similar to the reflecting surface 44Aa of the second additional reflector 44A of the above-described embodiment, but a concavo-convex textured surface 244Ab serving as a light diffusion region is formed at a position closer to the own lane side than the optical axis Ax. The concavo-convex textured surface 244Ab is formed by performing concavo-convex texture processing on a horizontally long rectangular region near the upper edge of the reflecting surface 244Aa. And, a part of the emitted light from the light source 34A reflected by the first additional reflector 42A is diffusely reflected by using this concavo-convex textured surface 244Ab.

[0109] Even in the case of the configuration of this modified example, by diffusely reflecting a part of the reflected light from the reflector 42A at the concavo-convex textured surface 244Ab of the reflecting surface 244Aa formed on the second additional reflector 244A, it is possible to effectively suppress glare for the oncoming vehicle driver and improve the forward visibility for the host vehicle driver.

[0110] In addition, the numerical values shown as specifications in the above-described embodiments and modified examples are merely examples, and of course, they can be appropriately set to different values.

[0111] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-described embodiments and modified examples, and configurations with various other modifications can be adopted.

[0112] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-210877 filed on December 27, 2022, and the entire contents of this Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-210877 are incorporated herein by reference.

[0113] The above description of specific embodiments of the present invention is presented for illustrative purposes. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the described manner. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations can be made in accordance with the above description.

[0114] Description of Reference Numerals

[0115] 2 Oncoming vehicle

[0116] 10 Vehicle lamp

[0117] 12 Lamp body

[0118] 14 Translucent cover

[0119] 20 Lamp unit assembly

[0120] 22 Projection lens assembly

[0121] 30A First lamp unit

[0122] 30B Second lamp unit

[0123] 32A, 32B Projection lens

[0124] 32Aa Front surface

[0125] 32Ab Rear surface

[0126] 34A, 34B Light source

[0127] 34Aa Light emitting surface

[0128] 36A, 36B reflectors

[0129] 36Aa reflective surface

[0130] 38A, 38B shutters

[0131] 38Aa, 38Ba upward reflecting surface

[0132] 38Aa1, 38Ba1 front edge

[0133] 40 substrates

[0134] 42A, 42B 1st additional reflector

[0135] 42Aa, 42Ba, 44Aa, 44Ba, 144Aa, 244Aa reflective surfaces

[0136] 44A, 44B, 144A, 244A second additional reflector

[0137] 44Ab protrusion (light diffusion area)

[0138] 50 radiator

[0139] 52 Main body

[0140] 54 heat sink

[0141] 60 retainer

[0142] 60a horizontal flange

[0143] 60b frame

[0144] 144Ab recessed portion (light diffusion area)

[0145] 244Ab concave-convex textured surface (light diffusion area)

[0146] Ax optical axis

[0147] CL1 opposite lane side light-dark cut-off line

[0148] CL2 lane side light-dark cut-off line

[0149] D dark part

[0150] E inflection point

[0151] F rear focus

[0152] OHS head logo

[0153] Light distribution pattern for PC, PCA, PCB OHS irradiation

[0154] PL low beam light distribution pattern

[0155] PLA's first light distribution pattern

[0156] PLB's second light distribution pattern

[0157] Diffuse light distribution patterns of Sa and Sb

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of lamp units for forming a low-beam light distribution pattern, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of lamp units includes: a projection lens; a light source disposed at a position behind the rear focal point of the projection lens on the rear side of the lamp; a reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source toward the projection lens; and a light shutter that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector in a state where it is disposed between the reflector and the projection lens to form a cut-off line of the low-beam light distribution pattern. Each of the plurality of lamp units has the following configuration: a first additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source downward is disposed at the front end of the reflector, and a second additional reflector that reflects the emitted light from the light source reflected by the first additional reflector toward the projection lens is disposed at a position in front of and below the rear focal point of the lamp. Some of the plurality of lamp units have the following configuration: a light diffusion region is formed at a position on the lane side of the second additional reflector's reflection surface that is closer to the rear focal point.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light diffusion region is formed by a protrusion or a recess.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The reflector is disposed so as to cover the light source from above. The light shutter has an upward reflection surface that reflects a part of the reflected light from the reflector upward toward the projection lens.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first additional reflector is integrally formed with the reflector. The second additional reflector is integrally formed with the light shutter.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plurality of lamp units have the following configuration: the reflector is integrally formed and the light shutter is integrally formed.

Images