Light source unit for vehicular lighting fixture, and vehicular lighting fixture

Abstract

To provide a light source unit for a vehicular lighting fixture that can enhance light utilization efficiency when performing road surface drawing.SOLUTION: A light source unit for a vehicular lighting fixture comprises: a plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c; a plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c arranged in front of the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c respectively; a circuit board 5 on which the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c are mounted; a heat sink 7 for dissipating heat generated by the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c to the outside via a board fitting part fitted with the circuit board 5; and a socket body 9 constituted integrally with the heat sink 7, and provided with a connector part electrically connected to the circuit board 5. Drawing patterns caused by light emission of the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c are projected toward a road surface by the plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light source unit for vehicle lamps and vehicle lamps.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in vehicle lamps, as the brightness and cost of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have improved, those adopting light-emitting elements such as LEDs as light sources have gradually increased. LEDs have advantages such as long life and low power consumption. On the other hand, since high temperature causes a decrease in luminous efficiency and shortening of life, it is necessary to efficiently radiate the heat generated by the LED to the outside using a heat sink.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a circuit board on which an LED and a drive circuit for driving this LED are mounted is attached to a heat sink, and a coupler socket in which this heat sink is integrally attached with a connector portion electrically connected to the circuit board is provided detachably to a mounting hole provided on the back side of the lamp body. A light source unit has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, in order to improve safety during driving, road surface drawing is performed by the light projected toward the road surface. Specifically, in the vehicle lamp described in this Patent Document 1, a light shielding member provided with a slit through which the light condensed by the condenser lens partially passes is used, and a drawing pattern reflecting the shape of this slit is projected onto the road surface by a projection lens.

[0006] However, in the vehicle lighting device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to separately attach a housing containing a focusing lens, a light-shielding member, and a projection lens in front of the coupler socket, which leads to an increase in the number of parts and a larger size of the lighting unit. In addition, since light other than that passing through the slit is blocked by the light-shielding member, the efficiency of light utilization is reduced.

[0007] This invention has been proposed in view of the above conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a light source unit for vehicle lighting that can improve the efficiency of light utilization when drawing on the road surface, and a vehicle lighting equipped with such a light source unit for vehicle lighting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following means. [1] Multiple light sources, A plurality of lens bodies are arranged in front of each of the plurality of light sources, A circuit board on which the aforementioned multiple light sources are mounted, A heat sink that dissipates heat emitted by the multiple light sources to the outside via a board mounting portion to which the circuit board is attached, The socket body is configured integrally with the heat sink and is provided with a connector portion that is electrically connected to the circuit board, A light source unit for a vehicle lighting device, characterized in that it projects a drawing pattern generated by the emission of light from the plurality of light sources toward the road surface using the plurality of lens bodies. [2] The light source unit for a vehicle lighting device according to [1], characterized in that it projects a drawing pattern that reflects the shape produced by the light emission of the light source toward the road surface. [3] A filter is provided which is placed between the light source and the lens body and has a transmission region that transmits light emitted from the light source, The light source unit for a vehicle lighting device according to [1], characterized in that it projects a drawing pattern that reflects the shape of the transparent region toward the road surface. [4] The plurality of light sources are arranged in a line in one direction within the plane of the circuit board, The plurality of lens bodies are arranged such that each of the light sources aligned in one direction is at a different distance from the light source. A light source unit for a vehicle lighting device according to any one of the above [1] to [3], characterized in that it projects a drawing pattern generated by the emission of light from the plurality of light sources onto the road surface in a front-to-back direction using the plurality of lens bodies. [5] The light source unit for vehicle lighting according to [4], characterized in that the light-gathering power of the plurality of lens bodies is relatively higher as the distance from the light source increases. [6] A light source unit for a vehicle lighting device according to any one of [1] to [5], characterized in that it comprises a lens holding portion that holds the lens body in front of the light source while surrounding the light source. [7] A vehicle lighting device characterized by comprising a light source unit for vehicle lighting devices as described in any one of the above items [1] to [6]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, the present invention makes it possible to provide a light source unit for vehicle lighting that can improve the efficiency of light utilization when drawing on the road surface, and a vehicle lighting device equipped with such a light source unit for vehicle lighting. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a vehicle lighting device equipped with a light source unit for vehicle lighting devices according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a light source unit for vehicle lighting. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a light source unit for vehicle lighting. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape created by the emission of light from multiple light sources in a vehicle lighting light source unit is projected onto the road surface by multiple lens bodies. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape formed by the emission of a plurality of light sources is projected onto a road surface by a plurality of lens bodies as part of a rear lamp from a light source unit for a vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape formed by the emission of a plurality of light sources is projected onto a road surface by a plurality of lens bodies as part of a turn lamp from a light source unit for a vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the light source unit for a vehicle lamp shown in FIG. 2. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, in order to make each component easy to see, the scale of the dimensions may be made different depending on the component, and the dimensional ratios of each component are not necessarily the same as the actual ones.

[0012] [[ID=?]] As an embodiment of the present invention, for example, a vehicle lamp 100 including a light source unit 1 for a vehicle lamp (hereinafter referred to as "light source unit") shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Note that FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the vehicle lamp 100 including the light source unit 1.

[0013] In the drawings shown below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, and the X-axis direction is the front-rear direction (length direction) of the light source unit 1 (vehicle lamp 100), the Y-axis direction is the left-right direction (width direction) of the light source unit 1 (vehicle lamp 100), and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction (height direction) of the light source unit 1 (vehicle lamp 100), respectively.

[0014] The vehicle lamp 100 of the present embodiment includes, for example, a light source unit 1 that performs road surface drawing by light projected toward the road surface when the vehicle reverses, as part of a rear lamp mounted on both corner portions on the rear end side of a vehicle (not shown).

[0015] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" mean the respective directions when the vehicle lamp 100 (light source unit 1) is viewed from the front (rear of the vehicle). Therefore, the respective directions when the vehicle is viewed from the front (front of the vehicle) are the directions with the front-back, left-right reversed.

[0016] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle lamp 100 has a housing 101 with an open front (front surface), and inside a lamp body 103 composed of a transparent lens cover 102 covering the opening of the housing 101, the light source unit 1 of the present embodiment is accommodated.

[0017] The light source unit 1 is a replaceable socket with a coupler. It can be detachably attached via a ring-shaped packing (O-ring) 104 around the mounting hole 101a in a state where its front side is inserted inside the lamp body 103 from the mounting hole 101a provided on the back (rear surface) side of the housing 101 (lamp body 103).

[0018] Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the light source unit 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. Note that FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape due to the emission of a plurality of light sources from the light source unit 1 is projected onto the road surface by a plurality of lens bodies. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape due to the emission of a plurality of light sources from the light source unit 1 as a part of the back lamp is projected onto the road surface by a plurality of lens bodies. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the shape when a drawing pattern reflecting the shape due to the emission of a plurality of light sources from the light source unit 1 as a part of the turn lamp is projected onto the road surface by a plurality of lens bodies. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the light source unit 1A.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the light source unit 1 of this embodiment comprises a plurality of (three in this embodiment) light sources 2a, 2b, 2c; a plurality of (three in this embodiment) lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c positioned in front of each of the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c; a plurality of (three in this embodiment) lens holding parts 4a, 4b, 4c that surround each of the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c and hold each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c in front of each of the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c; a circuit board 5 on which the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c are mounted; a heat sink 7 that dissipates heat generated by the plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c to the outside via a board mounting part 6 to which the circuit board 5 is attached; and a socket body 9 which is integrally configured with the heat sink 7 and has a connector part 8 that is electrically connected to the circuit board 5.

[0020] Each of the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c consists of a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits white light (hereinafter referred to as "light") L1, L2, and L3, respectively. The multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c are mounted on one side (the front in this embodiment) of a circuit board 5 on which a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the LEDs is provided, and are arranged at equal intervals in one direction (the width direction in this embodiment) within the plane of the circuit board 5. As a result, each of the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c emits light L1, L2, and L3 radially toward the front (+X axis side).

[0021] The multiple lens holders 4a, 4b, and 4c are made of, for example, cylindrical white resin and are attached to one side of the circuit board 5, surrounding each of the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c.

[0022] Multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c consist of convex lenses whose focal lengths are adjusted so that their rear focal points coincide with each light source 2a, 2b, and 2c or their vicinity, and are mounted in front of each lens holder 4a, 4b, and 4c.

[0023] Multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c are arranged such that the distances T1, T2, and T3 from each of the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c aligned in one direction are different. Specifically, in this embodiment, when the distance between the lens body 3a and the light source 2a located at one end of the direction is T1, the distance between the lens body 3b and the light source 2b located in the middle of the direction is T2, and the distance between the lens body 3c and the light source 2c located at the other end of the direction is T3, then T1 <T2<T3となっている。

[0024] Furthermore, the light-gathering power of the multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c increases as the distance T1, T2, and T3 from the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c increases. In other words, the greater the distance T1, T2, and T3 from the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c to the multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c, the more they are able to project the light L1, L2, and L3 emitted by the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c further forward.

[0025] The light source unit 1 has a structure in which the heat sink 7 and the socket body 9 are integrated by insert molding. Alternatively, the light source unit 1 may have a structure in which the heat sink 7 and the socket body 9 are formed separately and then integrated by screwing them together or the like.

[0026] The heat sink 7 is made of a highly thermally conductive metal material such as aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), or copper (Cu). The socket body 9 is made of an insulating resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or polyamide (PA). Alternatively, the socket body 9 may be made of a resin to which a highly thermally conductive filler such as carbon, ceramic, or metal has been added.

[0027] The heat sink 7 has a roughly disc-shaped base portion 7a, a projection 7b that protrudes from the roughly central front side of the base portion 7a in a roughly rectangular cross-section, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 7c that protrude vertically in a plate-like shape from the rear side of the base portion 7a, arranged in the width direction.

[0028] The socket body 9 has a substantially disc-shaped base portion 9a, a substantially circular cross-section cylindrical wall portion 9b that protrudes forward from the substantially central part of the front side of the base portion 9a, and a substantially rectangular cross-section through hole 9c that penetrates the inside of the cylindrical wall portion 9b and the base portion 9a in the front-rear direction.

[0029] Furthermore, multiple claws 9d are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion 9b, arranged in the circumferential direction to prevent rotation and detachment from the mounting hole 101a of the housing 101. The packing 104 is installed in a state where it penetrates the cylindrical wall portion 9b and is in contact with the base portion 9a.

[0030] The socket body 9 has a through hole 9e located below the through hole 9c and penetrating the inside of the cylindrical wall portion 8b and the base portion 9a in the front-rear direction, and a substantially rectangular cylindrical fitting portion 9f that protrudes rearward from around the through hole 9e on the rear side of the base portion 9a.

[0031] The connector portion 8 has a plurality of lead terminals 10. Each lead terminal 10 is integrally attached to the main body portion 8a of the connector portion 8, passing through the main body portion 8a in the front-to-back direction. The connector portion 8 is constructed by fitting the main body portion 8a inside the through-hole 9e such that the lead terminals 10 are positioned inside the mating portion 9f.

[0032] Multiple lead terminals 10 are fixed to the land portions around each hole 5a by soldering, while passing through multiple holes 5a that penetrate the circuit board 5 in the thickness direction. In this way, the multiple lead terminals 10 are electrically connected to the circuit board 5.

[0033] The substrate mounting portion 6 is provided on the inner front surface of the cylindrical wall portion 9b. The heat sink 7 and the socket body 9 are integrated by fitting the projection 7b into the through hole 9c and abutting their respective base portions 7a and 9a together. A sealing member 11 is also placed between the tip of the projection 7b and the through hole 9c to hermetically seal the space between them. As a result, in the substrate mounting portion 6, the tip of the projection 7b exposed from the through hole 9c forms a continuous flat surface with the inner front surface of the cylindrical wall portion 9b.

[0034] The circuit board 5 is attached to the front surface of the board mounting portion 6 via a thermally conductive adhesive 12. As a result, the circuit board 5 is thermally connected to the heat sink 7 via the thermally conductive adhesive 12 and a projection 7b that forms part of the board mounting portion 6. On the other hand, in this state, the circuit board 5 is electrically insulated from the heat sink 7.

[0035] In the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, as shown in Figure 4, drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 produced by the light L1, L2, L3 emitted by a plurality of light sources 2a, 2b, 2c are projected in the front-to-back direction toward the road surface T by a plurality of lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c.

[0036] At this time, by projecting light source images that reflect the shape of the light-emitting surfaces of each light source 2a, 2b, and 2c toward the road surface T in front, rectangular drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 are formed in the front-to-back direction of the road surface T, extending toward the front of the road surface T and gradually increasing in width.

[0037] Furthermore, since the distance projected from the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c toward the road surface T is sufficiently greater than the distance between adjacent light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c, it is possible to almost ignore the center displacement in the width direction of the drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3, which are arranged in the front-to-back direction of the road surface T.

[0038] Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, the vehicle lighting fixture 100 equipped with the light source unit 1 of this embodiment can perform road surface drawing by projecting multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 toward the road surface T when the vehicle is reversing, as part of the backup lamps mounted on both corners at the rear end of the vehicle B.

[0039] As described above, in the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, the drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 produced by the light L1, L2, L3 emitted by the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, 2c described above are projected toward the road surface T by multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the light L1, L2, L3 when drawing on the road surface.

[0040] Furthermore, in the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, the utilization efficiency of light L1, L2, L3 can be further increased by projecting drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 that reflect the shapes produced by the emission of light from the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, 2c toward the road surface T.

[0041] Furthermore, in the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, the greater the distance T1, T2, T3 from the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c, the higher the relative light-gathering power of the lens bodies 3a, 3b, 3c. This makes it possible to equalize the brightness (illuminance) of the drawing patterns P1, P2, P3 regardless of the distance projected from the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, 2c toward the road surface T.

[0042] It should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, a case is illustrated in which road surface drawing is performed by projecting multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 toward the road surface T when the vehicle is reversing, as part of a backup lamp. However, as shown in Figure 6, for example, it is also possible to perform road surface drawing by projecting drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3, which are made of orange light L1, L2, and L3 emitted from multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c, toward the road surface T in the front-to-back direction using multiple lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c, as part of a turn lamp mounted on both corners on the front end of the vehicle B.

[0043] This allows, for example, in a scenario simulating an accident involving vehicle B turning at an intersection, to alert motorcyclists, pedestrians, and others in vehicle B's blind spot to the vehicle's turning by projecting multiple drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 onto the road surface T when the turn signal is activated.

[0044] Furthermore, while the above-described light source unit 1 is configured to project drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 that reflect the shapes created by the light emitted from the multiple light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c toward the road surface T, it is also possible to configure the unit as shown in Figure 7, for example, by placing a filter 13 between the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c and the lens bodies 3a, 3b, and 3c, which has a transparent region (a slit in this embodiment) 13a that transmits the light L1, L2, and L3 emitted from the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c, and projecting drawing patterns P1, P2, and P3 that reflect the shape of this transparent region 13a (an arrow in this embodiment) toward the road surface T.

[0045] In this configuration, although light L1, L2, and L3 passing through the transparent region 12a are blocked by the filter 13, the transparent region 13a of the filter 13 is located very close to the light sources 2a, 2b, and 2c, making it possible to improve the utilization efficiency of light L1, L2, and L3 when drawing the road surface compared to conventional methods.

[0046] Furthermore, the light source unit 1 described above can also control the direction of the light L1, L2, L3 projected toward the road surface T by tilting the central axis of each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c with respect to the optical axis of the light L1, L2, L3 emitted from each of the light sources 2a, 2b, 2c described above, or by providing a refractive surface on the rear side of each lens body 3a, 3b, 3c. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 1,1A…Light source unit for vehicle lighting fixtures 2a,2b,2c…Light source 3a,3b,3c…Lens body 4a,4b,4c…Lens holder 5…Circuit board 6…Board mounting part 7…Heat sink 8…Connector part 9…Socket body 10…Lead terminals 11…Sealing material 12…Thermal conductive adhesive 13…Filter L1,L2,L3…Light P1,P2,P3…Drawing pattern 100…Vehicle lighting fixture 101…Housing 102…Lens cover 103…Light body 104…Packing

Claims

1. A plurality of light sources; a plurality of lens bodies disposed in front of each of the plurality of light sources; a circuit board on which the plurality of light sources are mounted; a heat sink that dissipates heat generated by the plurality of light sources to the outside via a board mounting portion to which the circuit board is attached; a socket body that is integral with the heat sink and has a connector portion that is electrically connected to the circuit board; the plurality of light sources are arranged side by side in one direction within a plane of the circuit board, the plurality of lens bodies are arranged in the one direction with the distance from the light source being different for each of the light sources, A light source unit for a vehicle lamp, characterized in that a drawing pattern produced by light emission from the plurality of light sources is projected by the plurality of lens bodies toward a road surface in a longitudinal direction.

2. 2. The light source unit for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a drawing pattern reflecting a shape formed by light emitted from the light source is projected onto a road surface.

3. a filter disposed between the light source and the lens body and having a transmission region that transmits the light emitted from the light source; 2. The light source unit for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a drawing pattern reflecting the shape of the transmission area is projected onto a road surface.

4. 4. The light source unit for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens bodies have a relatively higher light-gathering power as a distance between the lens bodies and the light source increases.

5. 5. The light source unit for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a lens holding portion that holds the lens body in front of the light source while surrounding the periphery of the light source.

6. A vehicle lamp comprising the light source unit for a vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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