Vehicular lighting fixture

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of improving designability.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture includes: a plurality of light emitting elements 1, 2, 3. 4, 5; a lens for transmitting light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements; and a housing 10e for passing the light which has transmitted the lens. The plurality of light emitting elements includes: at least one first light emitting element 1 arranged on a left end side when mounted on a vehicle; and at least one second light emitting element 5 arranged on a right end side when mounted on the vehicle. First light 11 which has emitted from the first light emitting element 1 and transmitted the lens passes the housing 10e so as to diffuse being deviated into a right direction with a frontward / backward direction when mounted on the vehicle being a reference, and second light which has emitted from the second light emitting element 5 and transmitted the lens passes the housing 10e so as to diffuse being deviated into a left direction with the frontward / backward direction when mounted on the vehicle being a reference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lamp. [Background technology]

[0002] The vehicle lamp described in JP 2017-047815 A (Patent Document 1) includes a first lamp unit for forming a high beam light distribution pattern and a second lamp unit for forming a low beam light distribution pattern. The first lamp unit has five light emitting modules and is disposed closer to the center of the vehicle than the second lamp unit. The second lamp unit has three light emitting modules 46 and is disposed closer to the left end of the vehicle than the first lamp unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-047815 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One of the objects of a specific embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp that can improve design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A vehicle lamp according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: (a) a plurality of light-emitting elements; (b) a lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements; and (c) a housing that transmits the light that has passed through the lens, (d) the plurality of light-emitting elements include at least one first light-emitting element that is arranged on the left end side when mounted on a vehicle and at least one second light-emitting element that is arranged on the right end side when mounted on the vehicle, (e) a first light emitted from the first light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread with a rightward bias based on the fore-and-aft direction when mounted on the vehicle, and (f) a second light emitted from the second light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread with a leftward bias based on the fore-and-aft direction when mounted on the vehicle.

[0006] According to the above configuration, a vehicle lamp capable of improving design can be obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of optical elements of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2(A) and 2(B) are diagrams showing a simplified cross-sectional structure of a vehicle lamp. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp as a comparative example. [Figure 4] Fig. 4(A) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the operation state of the light-emitting element when only a low beam is irradiated, and Fig. 4(B) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the operation state of the light-emitting element when a low beam and a high beam are irradiated. [Diagram 5] 5(A) to 5(E) are diagrams showing light distribution patterns of light emitted from each light-emitting element. [Figure 6] Fig. 6(A) is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern of a low beam, and Fig. 6(B) is a diagram showing light distribution patterns of a low beam and a high beam. [Figure 7]7(A) and 7(B) are diagrams for explaining examples of the configuration of lenses for making the light emitted from a light emitting element spread in a specific direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed embodiment of the lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] 1 is an exploded perspective view of optical elements of a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle lamp 10 according to the present embodiment includes a light source substrate 10a, a heat sink 10b, a lens 10c, and a drive circuit 10d.

[0009] The light source substrate 10a includes a plurality of light emitting elements 1 to 5 arranged along the left-right direction (X direction in the drawing) when mounted on a vehicle. In this embodiment, an LED is considered as an example of each of the light emitting elements 1 to 5, but each of the light emitting elements 1 to 5 may also be a laser element.

[0010] The heat sink 10b is used for dissipating heat from the light source substrate 10a and is disposed on the rear surface side of the light source substrate 10a.

[0011] The lens 10c is disposed on the front side of the substrate 10a, and transmits the light emitted from the light emitting elements 1 to 5 to form a light distribution pattern.

[0012] The drive circuit 10d is connected to the light source substrate 10a and drives the light emitting elements 1-5.

[0013] Of the light emitting elements 1 to 5 of the light source substrate 10a, the light emitting elements 2 and 4 are used to form a high beam, and the light emitting elements 1, 3, and 5 are used to form a low beam. The light emitting elements 1 and 5 are disposed at the left and right ends, respectively. The light emitting element 3 is disposed midway between the light emitting elements 1 and 5. The light emitting element 2 is disposed between the light emitting elements 1 and 3. The light emitting element 4 is disposed between the light emitting elements 3 and 5.

[0014] 2(A) and 2(B) are diagrams showing a simplified cross-sectional structure of a vehicle lamp. As described above, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 of the vehicle lamp 10 is collected by the lens 10c and irradiated forward of the vehicle. A housing (extension) 10e is provided in front of the lens 10c to narrow down the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 to a certain range and pass it through. The light emission surface of the lens 10c is disposed on the side closer to the second opening on the lower side of the housing 10e in the figure. As shown in the figure, this second opening has a smaller diameter than the first opening on the upper side of the housing 10e in the figure.

[0015] Of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 2 to 4, which are arranged between the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 on the left and right ends in the left-right direction (X direction in the figure) when mounted on a vehicle, is concentrated by the lens 10c and spreads out almost symmetrically with respect to the front-to-back direction (Y direction in the figure) when mounted on the vehicle, and is irradiated forward of the vehicle.

[0016] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, light emitted from the light emitting elements 1 and 5 is extracted and the light from the light emitting elements 1 and 5 is emitted from the lens 10c while spreading asymmetrically with respect to the Y direction.

[0017] In detail, the light 11 from the light-emitting element 1 has a component 11a traveling rightward with respect to the Y direction as a reference, which is greater than a component 11b traveling leftward. The light 11 is emitted from the lens 10c so as to spread biasedly in the opposite direction (rightward in the illustrated example) to the position of the light-emitting element 1-5 (leftward in the illustrated example) on the side away from the inner wall of the housing 10e on the side closer to the light-emitting element 1-5.

[0018] Furthermore, the light 15 from the light emitting element 5 has a component 15a traveling leftward relative to the Y direction, which is greater than a component 15b traveling rightward. The light 15 is emitted from the lens 10c so as to spread away from the inner wall of the housing 10e on the side closer to the light 15, biased toward the opposite direction (leftward in the illustrated example) to the position of the light emitting element 1-5 (rightward in the illustrated example).

[0019] These light-emitting elements 1 and 5 are used for forming a low beam, and since it is necessary to emit light at a wider angle, the light spread angle is set to be larger than that of the other light-emitting elements 2 to 4. Nevertheless, by biasing the spread direction, the opening diameter L of the housing 10e can be narrowed.

[0020] 3(A) and 3(B) are diagrams showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp of a comparative example. In each figure, the vehicle lamp 100a, 100b of the comparative example includes light emitting elements 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105, a lens 110c, and a housing 110e. In the vehicle lamp 100a, 100b of each comparative example, the light emitting elements 101 to 103 arranged on the left side of the figure are used for forming a low beam, and the light emitting elements 104 and 105 arranged on the right side of the figure are used for forming a high beam. The light emitting elements 101 to 103 are set to have a larger light spread angle than the light emitting elements 104 and 105.

[0021] 3(A), in order to prevent the light from the light emitting elements 101 to 103 from being blocked by the housing 110e, the opening diameter L1 of the housing 110e is made larger than that of the vehicle lamp 10 of the above-described embodiment. This makes the vehicle lamp 100a more noticeable, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of exterior design.

[0022] On the other hand, when the light-emitting elements 101-105 and the lens 110c are arranged close to the upper opening of the housing 110e in the figure so that the light from the light-emitting elements 101-103 is not blocked by the housing 110e, as in the comparative vehicle lamp 100b shown in FIG. 3(B), the opening diameter L2 of the housing 110e can be made smaller, but the presence of the lens 110c and the light-emitting elements 101, etc. becomes more noticeable, which is undesirable from the standpoint of external design.

[0023] 4(A) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the operation state of the light emitting element when only a low beam is emitted. As shown in the figure, in the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment, the light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 1, 3, and 5 among the light emitting elements 1 to 5 passes through a lens 10c to form a low beam. Each of the light emitting elements 1 and 5 is turned on by applying a driving voltage from a driving circuit 10d.

[0024] 4(B) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the operating state of the light-emitting elements when emitting low beam and high beam. In the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 among the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 passes through the lens 10c to form a low beam, and the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 2 and 4 passes through the lens 10c to form a high beam. Each of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 is turned on by applying a driving voltage from the driving circuit 10d.

[0025] 5(A) to 5(E) are diagrams showing light distribution patterns of light emitted from each light-emitting element. Fig. 5(A) shows a light distribution pattern obtained by passing light emitted from the light-emitting element 5 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern that is irradiated widely, mainly below the horizon, spreading from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle to the left side (L side).

[0026] 5(B) shows a light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 2 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern with a relatively narrow irradiation range that is mainly irradiated from about 5° below (D side) the horizon to about 5° above (U side), and is irradiated in a range of about 10° to the left and right from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle.

[0027] 5(C) shows a light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 3 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern in which the light is mainly irradiated from about 7° below the horizon (D side) to about 4° above (U side), and below the horizon, the light is irradiated in a range of about 15° to the left and right from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle, and above the horizon, the light is irradiated in a range of about 6° to the left and right from the center of the front of the vehicle. This light distribution pattern brightly illuminates a spot at about 10 m from the vehicle in the center of the front of the vehicle.

[0028] 5(D) shows a light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 4 through the lens 10c. Specifically, like the light-emitting element 2 described above, this light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern with a relatively narrow irradiation range that is mainly irradiated from about 5° below (D side) the horizon to about 5° above (U side), and is irradiated in ranges of about 10° to the left and right from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle.

[0029] 5(E) shows a light distribution pattern obtained by passing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 1 through the lens 10c. Specifically, this light distribution pattern is a light distribution pattern that is irradiated broadly, mainly below the horizon, spreading from the center (0°) in front of the vehicle to the right side (R side).

[0030] Fig. 6(A) is a diagram showing a low beam light distribution pattern. This light distribution pattern is obtained by combining the light distribution patterns shown in Fig. 5(A), Fig. 5(C), and Fig. 5(E) above. As shown in the figure, the light distribution pattern mainly illuminates below the horizon, that is, the light distribution pattern mainly illuminates a position relatively close to the vehicle.

[0031] FIG. 6(B) is a diagram showing the light distribution patterns of low beam and high beam. This light distribution pattern (first light distribution pattern) is obtained by combining the light distribution patterns shown in FIG. 5(A), FIG. 5(B), FIG. 5(D), and FIG. 5(E) described above. The light distribution pattern shown in the figure is a superposition of a low beam light distribution pattern that mainly irradiates below the horizon and a high beam light distribution pattern that irradiates the distant area in front of the center of the vehicle. In other words, it is a light distribution pattern that irradiates light to both a position relatively close to the vehicle and a position relatively far from the vehicle.

[0032] 7(A) and 7(B) are diagrams for explaining examples of the configuration of a lens for making the light emitted from a light-emitting element spread in a specific direction. In each diagram, P indicates the light emission point of the light-emitting element 1 (or the light-emitting element 5), and 21 to 23 indicate refractive index boundary surfaces. Among the refractive index boundary surfaces, the area between the refractive index boundary surface 20 and the refractive index boundary surface 21 and the area between the refractive index boundary surface 22 and the refractive index boundary surface 23 are filled with the material of the lens 10c, and the area between the refractive index boundary surface 21 and the refractive index boundary surface 22 is a gap where air exists. The refractive index boundary surface 23 is also the light emission surface of the lens 10c.

[0033] In the lens 10c of the configuration example shown in FIG. 7(A), the curvature is set relatively strong (large) in a portion 22a on the left side of the refractive index boundary surface 22 in the figure. As a result, among the light emitted from the light output point P and incident on the lens 10c, the light component incident on the portion 22a of the refractive index boundary surface 22 is refracted more strongly, and is further refracted at the refractive index boundary surface 23 and travels in a biased direction to the right in the figure. With the lens 10c configured in this way, the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 can be made to travel so as to spread in a biased direction in a specific direction. Note that if each of the refractive index boundary surfaces 20 to 23 is inverted in the X direction in the figure, the direction in which the light is biased can be reversed.

[0034] In the lens 10c of the configuration example shown in FIG. 7(B), the curvature is set to be relatively weak (small) in part of the portion 22b of the refractive index boundary surface 22 on the right side in the figure. As a result, among the light emitted from the light output point P and incident on the lens 10c, the light component incident on the portion 22b of the refractive index boundary surface 22 is refracted weaker, and is further refracted at the refractive index boundary surface 23 and travels biased toward the right in the figure. The lens 10c having such a configuration can also cause the light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 1 and 5 to travel so as to spread biased in a specific direction. Note that if each of the refractive index boundary surfaces 20 to 23 is inverted in the X direction in the figure, the direction in which the light is biased can be reversed.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed embodiment of the lens. The lens 10c of the embodiment is shown in a state where it is incorporated into the housing 10e. Note that hatching is omitted to make it easier to understand the light rays shown by thin lines. As an example, the lens 10c of the embodiment having the refractive index boundary surface described using FIG. 7(B) above is shown. The refractive index boundary surfaces 20 to 23 described above are used as the refractive index boundary surfaces for the light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 1 and 5. Note that although not shown, the refractive index boundary surface described using FIG. 7(A) may be adopted. The refractive index boundary surface 23, which is also the light emission surface of the lens 10c, is disposed on the side close to the second opening on the lower side of the housing 10e in the figure. As shown in the figure, this second opening has a smaller diameter than the first opening on the upper side of the housing 10e in the figure.

[0036] According to the embodiment as described above, a vehicle lamp capable of improving design can be obtained.

[0037] The present disclosure is not limited to the contents of the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. For example, the above-mentioned embodiment shows a vehicle lamp having a configuration in which a light-emitting element for forming a high beam and a light-emitting element for forming a low beam are mixed, but the vehicle lamp may be configured by dividing the light-emitting element into a high beam and a low beam. Specifically, the vehicle lamp can be configured such that all of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 in the above-mentioned embodiment are responsible for forming a high beam. Similarly, the vehicle lamp can be configured such that all of the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 in the above-mentioned embodiment are responsible for forming a low beam.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the light emitting elements 1, 3, and 5 are responsible for forming low beams, and the light emitting elements 2 and 4 are responsible for forming high beams, but these roles may be reversed. Also, the light emitting elements 1 to 5 may be responsible for forming light other than low beams and high beams (for example, fog lamps, tail lamps, etc.). The number of light emitting elements is not limited to five as shown in the embodiment.

[0039] In either case, the light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 1 and 5 corresponding to the left and right directions when mounted on a vehicle is made to spread in a biased manner in a specific direction, thereby improving the design without increasing the opening diameter of the housing 10e. Note that, when the number of light emitting elements is increased, the light emitted from two or more light emitting elements on both the left and right ends when mounted on a vehicle may be made to be biased in a specific direction instead of one light emitting element on each of the left and right ends.

[0040] The present disclosure has the following features. (Appendix 1) A plurality of light emitting elements; a lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements; a housing that transmits the light that has passed through the lens; Including, The plurality of light-emitting elements include at least one first light-emitting element arranged on a left end side when mounted on a vehicle, and at least one second light-emitting element arranged on a right end side when mounted on the vehicle, the first light emitted from the first light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread in a rightward direction with respect to a front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle; The second light emitted from the second light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread biased toward the left with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle lighting fixtures. (Appendix 2) The first light has a component traveling in the right direction based on a front-rear direction when the first light is mounted on the vehicle, the component traveling in the left direction being greater than the component traveling in the right direction, The second light has a component traveling in the left direction relative to a front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle, the component traveling in the right direction being greater than the component traveling in the left direction. 2. A vehicle lamp as described in appended claim 1. (Appendix 3) the housing has a first opening and a second opening having a smaller diameter than the first opening, the lens has a light exit surface disposed on a side of the housing closer to the second opening, and emits the first light and the second light from the light exit surface toward the first opening. 3. A vehicle lamp as described in appendix 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) the plurality of light emitting elements include one or more third light emitting elements disposed between the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element, The third light emitted from the third light-emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread approximately symmetrically with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle. 4. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, (Appendix 5) The first light and the second light are emitted at a wider angle than the third light. 5. A vehicle lamp as described in appended claim 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: light emitting element, 10: vehicle lamp, 10a: light source substrate, 10b: heat sink, 10c: lens, 10d: driving circuit, 10e: housing, 20, 21, 22, 23: refractive index boundary surface

Claims

1. A plurality of light emitting elements, a lens that transmits light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements, a housing that allows the light transmitted through the lens to pass therethrough, and includes the plurality of light emitting elements include at least one first light emitting element disposed on the left end side when mounted on a vehicle, and at least one second light emitting element disposed on the right end side when mounted on the vehicle, the first light emitted from the first light emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread while being deflected to the right with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle, the second light emitted from the second light emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread while being deflected to the left with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle. A vehicle lamp.

2. in the first light, a component traveling in the right direction is more than a component traveling in the left direction with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle, in the second light, a component traveling in the left direction is more than a component traveling in the right direction with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle, The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

3. the housing has a first opening and a second opening having a diameter smaller than that of the first opening, the lens is disposed such that a light emitting surface thereof is on a side closer to the second opening of the housing, and emits the first light and the second light from the light emitting surface toward the first opening side, The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

4. the plurality of light emitting elements include one or more third light emitting elements disposed between the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element, the third light emitted from the third light emitting element and transmitted through the lens passes through the housing so as to spread substantially symmetrically with respect to the front-rear direction when mounted on the vehicle, The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

5. The first light and the second light are emitted at a wider angle than the third light. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4.

6. The plurality of light-emitting elements include one or more third light-emitting elements disposed between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element. The light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements forms a low beam and a high beam by passing through the lens. The light emitted from the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element forms a part of the low beam by passing through the lens. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1.

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