Light source unit and vehicular lighting fixture

Abstract

To provide a light source unit that can properly shield light emitted from light sources adjacent to each other between the light sources.SOLUTION: A light source unit includes: a first light source 3A and a second light source 3B adjacent to each other; a circuit board 4 on which the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B are mounted; a socket body 7 in which the circuit board 4 is disposed on a front side; and a shade 8 positioned on the front side of the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B and disposed so as to traverse between the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a light source unit and a vehicle lamp. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the number of vehicle lamps using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources has been gradually increasing as LEDs have become brighter and cheaper. LEDs have the advantage of a long life and low power consumption.

[0003] On the other hand, high temperatures result in a decrease in light-emitting efficiency and a shortened lifespan, so it is necessary to use a heat sink to efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the LED to the outside.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below proposes a light source unit in which a circuit board carrying an LED and a drive circuit for driving the LED is mounted on a heat sink, and a socket with a coupler, which is integrally attached to the heat sink and a connector part electrically connected to the circuit board, is removably attached to a mounting hole provided on the back side of the lamp body.

[0005] Furthermore, in vehicle lighting fixtures such as combination lamps (rear combination lamps, front combination lamps, etc.), a plurality of light sources corresponding to different lamp functions may be disposed within the housing of the lighting fixture.

[0006] For example, in the case of a rear combination lamp, a light source that functions as a stop lamp and another light source that functions as a tail lamp are disposed within the housing.

[0007] When arranging such a plurality of light sources in a housing, it is conceivable to mount each of the light sources in a separate socket (LED socket), in other words, a plurality of sockets each including a respective light source are arranged side by side in the housing.

[0008] In this case, however, it is necessary to provide space for arranging the multiple sockets within the housing of the lamp, and as a result, a lamp having such a structure has a problem in terms of saving space.

[0009] In addition, wiring for supplying driving power to each light source must be provided in accordance with the number of light sources (sockets), which may result in a complicated wiring structure within the lighting fixture.

[0010] Incidentally, a light source unit in which different types of light sources are mounted on one board is disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below.

[0011] More specifically, the light source unit described in Patent Document 1 includes six light-emitting element groups densely arranged in two rows and three columns, and one light-emitting element mounted on the same substrate as the light-emitting element groups.

[0012] Moreover, the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1 includes a first light guide facing the six light emitting element groups of the light source unit, and a second light guide facing one light emitting element. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-195099 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] According to the light source unit and vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, different types of light sources are mounted together on one board. That is, a plurality of light sources corresponding to different lamp functions are provided in one socket.

[0015] Therefore, the light source unit (vehicle lamp) described in Patent Document 1 can solve the above-mentioned problems that may arise in the light source unit (vehicle lamp) in which a plurality of sockets are provided for each light source.

[0016] However, when different types of light sources mounted on one board are close to each other, there is a possibility that the light emitted from one light source (first light source) may leak onto the light guide side facing the other light source (second light source).

[0017] In this case, the light emitted from the first light source is guided to a light guide facing the second light source, and there is a risk that the second light-emitting area (e.g., the second inner lens provided for emitting light from the second light source) will emit light rather than the first light-emitting area of ​​the lamp (e.g., the first inner lens provided for emitting light from the first light source).

[0018] Patent Document 1 does not disclose or suggest such problems or means for solving the problems.

[0019] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a light source unit that makes it possible to appropriately block light emitted from adjacent light sources, and a suitable vehicle lamp using such a light source unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A first light source and a second light source adjacent to each other; a circuit board on which the first light source and the second light source are mounted; a socket body having the circuit board disposed on a front side thereof; a shade positioned on a front side of the first light source and the second light source and arranged to traverse between the first light source and the second light source. [2] The socket body has a cylindrical wall portion protruding from a front side thereof so as to surround the first light source and the second light source, The light source unit described in [1] above, characterized in that both ends of the shade are attached to the cylindrical wall portion. [3] A pair of fixing structures for fixing both ends of the shade to the cylindrical wall portion, The light source unit described in [2], characterized in that the fixing structure includes an interlocking portion provided on either the shade or the tubular wall portion, and a locking portion provided on the other of the shade or the tubular wall portion and engaged with the interlocking portion. [4] The light source unit according to [3], wherein the locked portion or the locking portion is provided on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical wall portion. [5] The light source unit described in [3], characterized in that the fixing structure includes an engagement recess provided on one of the shade or the tubular wall portion, and an engagement protrusion provided on the other of the shade or the tubular wall portion and engaged with the engagement recess. [6] The light source unit according to [5], wherein the fitting recess or the fitting protrusion is provided on the inner circumferential side of the cylindrical wall portion. [7] The light source unit according to [5], wherein the fitting recess and the fitting protrusion have asymmetric shapes between one side and the other side of the pair of fixing structures. [8] The light source unit described in [1], wherein the shade has a shape in which, in a cross section in a direction connecting the first light source and the second light source, the dimension on the opposite side facing the first light source and the second light source is larger than the dimension on the opposite side facing the first light source and the second light source. [9] A lamp body and A first light guiding lens and a second light guiding lens arranged inside the light body; The light source unit according to any one of [1] to [8] above, The light source unit is inserted into the inside of the light body through a mounting hole provided on the rear side of the light body, and is removably attached around the mounting hole, the first light source emits a first light toward an incident surface of the first light guiding lens; the second light source emits a second light toward an incident surface of the second light guiding lens, The vehicle lamp is characterized in that the shade blocks the first light traveling from the first light source toward the incident surface of the second light guide lens, and blocks the second light traveling from the second light source toward the incident surface of the first light guide lens.

[10] The vehicle lamp according to [9], characterized in that when the light source unit is attached to the lamp body, the first light source and the second light source are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Effect of the Invention

[0021] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light source unit that enables appropriate blocking of light emitted from adjacent light sources between them, as well as a suitable vehicle lamp using such a light source unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a vehicle lamp including a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the configurations of a light source unit, a first light guiding lens, and a second light guiding lens shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a light source unit shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the light source unit shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the light source unit taken along line AA shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5A is a cross-sectional view of the light source unit taken along line BB shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a circled portion C. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the light source unit shown in FIG. [Figure 8] 2A is a front view showing the state in which the shade of the light source unit shown in FIG. 1 has been removed, (B) is a front view showing an enlargement of a boxed portion D, and (C) is a front view showing an enlargement of a boxed portion E. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a shade included in the light source unit shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 11A is a rear view showing the configuration of the shade shown in FIG. 10, (B) is a rear view in which a boxed portion F is enlarged, and (C) is a rear view in which a boxed portion G is enlarged. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for illustrating a state when the vehicular lamp shown in FIG. 1 is turned on. [Figure 12] 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the shade of the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. [Figure 13] 1. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a modified example of the fixing structure of the shade in the vehicle lamp shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment 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 easier to see, the dimensions of the components may be shown at different scales, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as the actual ones.

[0024] As one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle lamp 100 including a light source unit 1 shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 to 14 will be described.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a vehicle lamp 100 including a light source unit 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1, the first light guide lens 2A, and the second light guide lens 2B. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the light source unit 1 taken along a line segment AA shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6(A) is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the light source unit 1 taken along a line segment BB shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view in which the enclosed portion C is enlarged. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the configuration of the light source unit 1. FIG. 8(A) is a front view showing a state in which the shade 8 of the light source unit 1 is removed. FIG. 8(B) is a front view in which the enclosed portion D is enlarged. FIG. 8(C) is a front view in which the enclosed portion E is enlarged. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the shade 8 included in the light source unit 1. FIG. 10(A) is a rear view showing the configuration of the shade 8. FIG. 10(B) is a rear view in which the enclosed portion F is enlarged. Fig. 10(C) is an enlarged rear view of the enclosed portion G. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the state when the vehicle lamp 100 is turned on. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the shade 8 of the vehicle lamp 100. Fig. 13 is a front view showing a modified example of the fixing structure 20 of the shade 8 in the vehicle lamp 100.

[0026] In addition, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is set, and the X-axis direction is the front-to-rear direction (length direction) of the light source unit 1 (vehicle lamp 100), the Y-axis direction is the left-to-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).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 100 of this embodiment is part of a rear combination lamp mounted on both corners of the rear end of a vehicle (not shown) (the corners on the left rear end in this embodiment), and has a function as a tail lamp TLL that emits red light, and a function as a brake lamp BRL that emits red light brighter than the tail lamp TLL.

[0028] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to 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 reversed from the front, rear, left and right directions.

[0029] Specifically, this vehicle lamp 100 is configured to accommodate the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, rod-shaped first light-guiding lens 2A and second light-guiding lens 2B which serve as inner lenses, and first extension 104A and second extension 104B inside a lamp body 103 which is composed of a housing 101 which is open at the front (anterior face) and a transparent outer lens (cover lens) 102 which covers the opening of the housing 101.

[0030] The lamp 103 has a curved shape from the center to both ends in the vehicle width direction in accordance with the slant shapes provided at both corners on the rear end side of the vehicle. Note that the shape of the lamp 103 is not limited to such a curved shape and can be appropriately changed in accordance with the design of the vehicle, etc.

[0031] The light source unit 1 of this embodiment is a socket with a replaceable coupler, and can be detachably attached through a ring-shaped gasket (O-ring) 105 around the mounting hole 101a provided on the back side of the housing 101 (lamp body 103) with its front side inserted into the inside of the lamp body 103 through the mounting hole 101a.

[0032] As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the light source unit 1 includes a first light source 3A and a second light source 3B adjacent to each other, a circuit board 4 on which the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B are mounted, a heat sink 5 thermally connected to the circuit board 4, a socket body 7 provided with a connector portion 6 electrically connected to the circuit board 4, and a shade 8 located on the front side of the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B and arranged to cross between the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B.

[0033] The first light source 3A and the second light source 3B each have at least one or a plurality (four in this embodiment) of light emitting elements 9 that emit red light (hereinafter referred to as "light") L1, L2.

[0034] The light emitting element 9 is, for example, an LED, mounted on the surface of the circuit board 4 on which a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the LED is provided, and emits light radially toward the front side. A plurality of light emitting elements 9 are provided on the same surface of the same circuit board 4, and emit light L1, L2 radially in the same direction.

[0035] The first light source 3A and the second light source 3B are arranged side by side in one direction (the vertical direction in this embodiment) within the plane of the circuit board 4 with the central axis of the light source unit 1 in between.

[0036] The light source unit 1 has a frame body 10 that surrounds the periphery of the front side of a plurality of light emitting elements 9 that constitute each of the light sources 3A and 3B, and a sealant 11 embedded inside the frame body 10.

[0037] The frame 10 is made of, for example, a cylindrical white resin, and is attached to the surface of the circuit board 4 in a state in which it surrounds the periphery of each of the light sources 3A and 3B. The sealing material 11 is embedded inside the frame 10 and seals each of the light sources 3A and 3B.

[0038] When the multiple light emitting elements 9 are regarded as one light source 3A, 3B, the optical axes of L1, L2 emitted from each of the light sources 3A, 3B are assumed to coincide with the central axis of the multiple light emitting elements 9.

[0039] The light source unit 1 has a structure in which the heat sink 5 and the socket body 7 are integrated by insert molding the heat sink 5 and the socket body 7 .

[0040] The light source unit 1 may have a structure in which the heat sink 5 and the socket body 7, which are separately formed, are integrated by screwing, etc. Furthermore, the heat sink 5 and the socket body 7 may be integrally formed using the same material.

[0041] The heat sink 5 is made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), etc. The socket body 7 is made of an insulating resin material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (PA), etc. The socket body 7 may be made of a resin to which a filler with high thermal conductivity, such as carbon, ceramic, or metal, has been added.

[0042] The heat sink 5 has a substantially circular plate-shaped base portion 5a, a protrusion portion 5b protruding with a substantially square cross section from approximately the center of the front (front) side of the base portion 5a, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 5c protruding in the shape of a vertical plate and aligned in the width direction from the back (rear) side of the base portion 5a.

[0043] The socket body 7 has a substantially disk-shaped base portion 7a, a cylindrical wall portion 7b with a substantially circular cross section that protrudes forward from approximately the center of the front side of the base portion 7a, and a through hole 7c with a substantially square cross section that penetrates the inside of the cylindrical wall portion 7b and the base portion 9a in the front-to-rear direction.

[0044] The packing 105 is attached in a state where it penetrates the cylindrical wall portion 7b and is in contact with the base portion 7a.

[0045] A plurality of claws 7d (two, upper and lower, in this embodiment) and a plurality of protrusions 7e (two, left and right, in this embodiment) are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion 7b, lined up in the circumferential direction.

[0046] Of these, the claw portion 7d is a portion that is inserted into the inside of the light body 103 through a notch (not shown) provided around the mounting hole 101a of the housing 101, and then engaged with a locking receiving portion (not shown) on the housing 101 side by rotating the socket body 7 around the central axis of the mounting hole 101a.

[0047] On the other hand, the convex portion 7e is a portion that prevents the socket body 7 from coming out of the mounting hole 101a of the housing 101 by rotating the socket body 7 around the central axis of the mounting hole 101a after it is inserted into the inside of the lighting body 103 through the notch of the mounting hole 101a.

[0048] Furthermore, the difference in shape of the protrusion 9e serves to prevent erroneous attachment of a coupler-equipped socket of different specifications to the attachment hole 101a.

[0049] The socket body 7 has a through hole 7f located below the through hole 7c and penetrating the inside of the tubular wall portion 7b and the base portion 7a in the front-to-rear direction, and a roughly rectangular tubular fitting portion 7g protruding rearward from the periphery of the through hole 7f on the rear side of the base portion 7a.

[0050] The connector portion 6 has a plurality of lead terminals 12. Each lead terminal 12 is attached integrally to a main body portion 6a of the connector portion 6 in a state in which it penetrates the main body portion 6a of the connector portion 6 in the front-rear direction.

[0051] The connector portion 6 is constructed by fitting the main body portion 6a into the inside of the through hole 7f so that the lead terminal 12 is positioned inside the fitting portion 7g.

[0052] The lead terminals 12 are fixed to the lands around the holes 4a by soldering while passing through the holes 4a that penetrate the circuit board 4 in the thickness direction. In this way, the lead terminals 12 are electrically connected to the circuit board 4.

[0053] The heat sink 5 and the socket body 7 are integrated with each other by fitting the protrusion 5b into the through hole 7c and butting the base portions 5a, 5a of each other. A seal member 13 is disposed between the tip of the protrusion 5b and the through hole 7c to hermetically seal the gap.

[0054] A board mounting portion 14 is provided on the inner front surface of the cylindrical wall portion 7b. The board mounting portion 14 is formed by a flat surface that is continuous with the tip surface of the protrusion portion 5b exposed from the through hole 7c and the inner front surface of the cylindrical wall portion 7b.

[0055] The circuit board 4 is attached to the board attachment portion 14 via a thermally conductive adhesive 15. As a result, the circuit board 4 is thermally connected to the heat sink 5 via the thermally conductive adhesive 15 and the protrusion 5b that constitutes a part of the board attachment portion 14.

[0056] The heat sink 5 dissipates heat generated by the light sources 3A and 3B to the outside via the board mounting portion 14 to which the circuit board 4 is attached. Meanwhile, the circuit board 4 is electrically insulated from the heat sink 5 in this state.

[0057] The shade 8 is made of a colored (for example, black) light-shielding member, and has a substantially flat light-shielding portion 8a and a pair of fixing portions 8b located on both ends of the light-shielding portion 8a.

[0058] The pair of fixing portions 8b each have a groove 81 into which the cylindrical wall portion 7b of the socket body 7 is fitted, and an elastic piece 82 extending rearward from the outside of the groove 81.

[0059] The elastic piece 82 is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the radial direction of the cylindrical wall portion 7b with the bottom of the groove portion 81 as a fulcrum.

[0060] Incidentally, the light source unit 1 of this embodiment has a pair of fixing structures 20 for fixing the pair of fixing portions 8b to the cylindrical wall portion 7b, as shown in FIGS.

[0061] The pair of fixing structures 20 have a pair of engaged portions 21 provided on either the fixed portion 8b or the tubular wall portion 7b (in this embodiment, the fixed portion 8b), and a pair of engaging portions 22 provided on the other (in this embodiment, the tubular wall portion 7b).

[0062] In this embodiment, the pair of locked portions 21 are formed by locking holes provided in the elastic pieces 82 of the pair of fixing portions 8b.

[0063] On the other hand, the pair of locking portions 22 are configured by locking claws provided on the front sides of the protrusions 7e located on both sides in the width direction on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion 7b.

[0064] In the pair of fixing structures 20, a pair of locking portions (locking claws) 22 are engaged with a pair of engaged portions (locking holes) 21, thereby making it possible to fix a pair of fixing portions 8b (elastic pieces 82) to the outer circumferential side of the tubular wall portion 7b.

[0065] Thus, the shade 8 is detachably attached to the cylindrical wall portion 7b (socket body 7). The light-shielding portion 8a of the shade 8 is located on the front side of the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B and is disposed so as to traverse between the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B.

[0066] Furthermore, since the pair of fixing portions 8b of the shade 8 are fixed to the convex portion 7e side of the tubular wall portion 7b, the shade 8 can be properly fixed to the outer circumferential side of the tubular wall portion 7b while maintaining the locked state of the pair of locking portions (locking claws) 22 relative to the pair of engaged portions (locking holes) 21 without being affected by the stress applied to the claw portions 7d when attached around the mounting hole 101a.

[0067] In addition, the pair of fixing parts 8b of the shade 8 are located on the front side of the two protrusions 7e and inside the outer circumferential surfaces of the protrusions 7e. This makes it possible to attach the socket body 7 around the mounting hole 101a of the housing 101 without interference from the shade 8.

[0068] In this embodiment, the interlocking portion 21 is provided on the fixed portion 8b side and the interlocking portion 22 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the tubular wall portion 7b, but the opposite configuration may also be used, i.e., the interlocking portion 21 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the tubular wall portion 7b and the interlocking portion 22 is provided on the fixed portion 8b side.

[0069] Furthermore, the locking structure between the locked portion 21 and the locking portion 22 is not necessarily limited to the structure in which the locking claw is locked into the locking hole described above, and the locking structure can be modified as appropriate.

[0070] The pair of fixing structures 20 have a pair of mating recesses 23a, 23b provided on either the shade 8 or the tubular wall portion 7b (in this embodiment, the tubular wall portion 7b), and a pair of mating protrusions 24a, 24b provided on the other (in this embodiment, the shade 8).

[0071] In this embodiment, the pair of fitting recesses 23a, 23b are located on both sides in the width direction on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion 7b and are configured as arc-shaped recesses in a front view. Moreover, one fitting recess 23a is larger than the other fitting recess 23b.

[0072] In contrast, the pair of fitting protrusions 24a, 24b are positioned on both sides in the width direction of the light-shielding part 8a on the side facing the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B, and are configured as arc-shaped protrusions in a front view. One fitting protrusion 24b is larger than the other fitting protrusion 24a.

[0073] In the pair of fixing structures 20, one mating protrusion 24a is fitted into one mating recess 23a, and the other mating protrusion 24b is fitted into the other mating recess 23b, thereby preventing the shade 8 from rotating around the central axis of the socket body 7 relative to the tubular wall portion 7b.

[0074] Moreover, the fitting recess 23a and the fitting protrusion 24a on one side and the fitting recess 23b and the fitting protrusion 24b on the other side have asymmetric shapes between one side and the other side of the pair of fixing structures 20. This prevents the shade 8 from being attached in the opposite direction to the cylindrical wall portion 7b.

[0075] In this embodiment, the mating recesses 23a, 23b are provided on the inner periphery of the above-mentioned cylindrical wall portion 7b, and the mating protrusions 24a, 24b are provided on the shade 8 side. However, the configuration may be reversed, i.e., the mating recesses 23a, 23b are provided on the shade 8 side, and the mating protrusions 24a, 24b are provided on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 7b.

[0076] Furthermore, the fitting structure between the fitting recesses 23a, 23b and the fitting protrusions 24a, 24b is not limited to the arc shape described above, and the shape can be modified as appropriate.

[0077] Furthermore, the asymmetrical shapes of the fitting recess 23a and the fitting protrusion 24a on one side and the fitting recess 23b and the fitting protrusion 24b on the other side can also be modified as appropriate.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first light guiding lens 2A and the second light guiding lens 2B are made of a long rod-shaped light-transmitting member such as a transparent resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic, or glass.

[0079] The first light-guiding lens 2A and the second light-guiding lens 2B extend in the vehicle width direction and have a curved shape that is curved in a direction that recedes more on the outside than on the inside in the vehicle width direction to match the slant shape given to both corner portions at the rear end of the vehicle.

[0080] The shapes of the first light guiding lens 2A and the second light guiding lens 2B are not limited to such curved shapes, and can be changed as appropriate according to the design of the vehicle, etc.

[0081] The first light-guiding lens 2A receives the first light L1 emitted from the first light source 3A through an incident surface 25a provided on the base end side thereof and guides the first light L1 toward the tip side thereof, and also emits the first light L1 reflected by a plurality of reflection cuts 26a provided on the back side thereof from an exit surface 27a provided on the front side thereof.

[0082] The second light-guiding lens 2B receives the second light L2 emitted from the second light source 3B through an incident surface 25b provided on the base end side thereof and guides the second light L2 toward the tip side thereof, and also emits the second light L2 reflected by a plurality of reflection cuts 26b provided on the back side thereof from an exit surface 27b provided on the front side thereof.

[0083] Each of the incident surfaces 25a and 25b is formed of a flat surface (planar surface) facing each of the light sources 3A and 3B of each of the light guide lenses 2A and 2B.

[0084] Each reflection cut 26a, 26b is not particularly limited in shape, size, number, etc., as long as it reflects light L1, L2 incident on the back side of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B at an angle at which it is emitted (transmitted) from the front side of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B to the outside.

[0085] In this embodiment, each reflection cut 26a, 26b is configured, for example, by cutting out the central portion of the back side of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B in a vertical direction (up-down direction in this embodiment) perpendicular to the axial direction of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B, so that a groove portion having an approximately triangular cross section is aligned in the axial direction of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B (left-right direction in this embodiment).

[0086] The reflection cuts 26a and 26b are provided on the rear side of the light guide lenses 2A and 2B in a range corresponding to the length of each of the emission surfaces 27a and 27b in the axial direction.

[0087] In addition, in order to cause each exit surface 27a, 27b to emit light more uniformly in the axial direction of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B, the spacing between adjacent grooves forming each reflection cut 26a, 26b may gradually narrow from the base end side to the tip end side of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B, or the depth of the grooves forming each reflection cut 26a, 26b may gradually deepen.

[0088] In addition, on both sides of the multiple reflective cuts 26a, 26a of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B, a pair of reflective surfaces (not shown) that reflect the light L1, L2 guided inside each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B may be provided extending in the axial direction of each light-guiding lens 2A, 2B.

[0089] Each of the emission surfaces 27a, 27b extends in the axial direction on the front side of each of the light guide lenses 2A, 2B, and is configured by a convex curved surface that is curved in an arc shape in a cross section (vertical cross section) perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0090] Each of the emission surfaces 27a, 27b may be provided with a plurality of diffusion cuts (not shown) for diffusing the light L1, L2 emitted from the emission surfaces 27a, 27b to the outside.

[0091] Examples of the diffusion cut include a lens cut called a flute cut or a fish-eye cut, and an uneven structure formed by applying a knurling process or a graining process.

[0092] In addition, by adjusting the shape of the diffusion cut, it is possible to control the degree of diffusion of the light L1, L2 emitted from each of the emission surfaces 27a, 27b. Furthermore, a configuration in which a separate diffusion lens is disposed on the front side of each of the emission surfaces 27a, 27b may be adopted.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 1, the first extension 104A and the second extension 104B are made of a colored (eg, black) light shielding member that covers the front side of the first light guiding lens 2A and the second light guiding lens 2B.

[0094] The first extension 104A has an opening 28a corresponding to the emission surface 27a of the first light guiding lens 2A, and blocks the first light L1 emitted from any surface other than the emission surface 27a of the first light guiding lens 2A.

[0095] The second extension 104B has an opening 28b corresponding to the exit surface 27b of the second light guiding lens 2B, and blocks the second light L2 emitted from any surface other than the exit surface 27b of the first light guiding lens 2A.

[0096] In addition, in the vehicle lamp 100 of this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned light source unit 1 and the light guide lenses 2A, 2B that serve as inner lenses, it is possible to combine it with other components, such as another inner lens or a reflector.

[0097] In the vehicle lamp 100 of this embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first light source 3A is turned on as the above-mentioned tail lamp TLL, it is possible to cause an area (opening 28a) corresponding to the exit surface 27a of the first light-guiding lens 2A to emit red light.

[0098] On the other hand, in the vehicle lamp 100 of this embodiment, when the second light source 3B is turned on, the area (opening 28b) corresponding to the exit surface 27b of the second light-guiding lens 2B as the brake lamp BRL can be made to emit a red light brighter than the tail lamp TLL.

[0099] In the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, a first light L1 is emitted from a first light source 3A toward an incident surface 25a of a first light-guiding lens 2A, and a second light L2 is emitted from a second light source 3B toward an incident surface 25b of a second light-guiding lens 2B.

[0100] At this time, the shade 8 blocks the first light L1 traveling from the first light source 3A toward the incident surface 25b of the second light-guiding lens 2B using the shading portion 8a, while blocking the second light L2 traveling from the second light source 3B toward the incident surface 25a of the first light-guiding lens 2A using the shading portion 8a.

[0101] In addition, a portion of the first light L1 traveling from the first light source 3A to the second light-guiding lens 2B passes through the second light-guiding lens 2B, and a portion of the second light L2 traveling from the second light source 3B to the first light-guiding lens 2A passes through the first light-guiding lens 2A.

[0102] On the other hand, since the light does not become the light L1, L2 guided inside the light guiding lenses 2A, 2B, the light does not become the light L1, L2 leaking out from the exit surfaces 27a, 27b of the light guiding lenses 2A, 2B to the outside.

[0103] As a result, in the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent a portion of the first light L1 emitted from the first light source 3A from entering the incident surface 25b of the second light-guiding lens 2B, and to prevent a portion of the second light L2 emitted from the second light source 3B from entering the incident surface 25a of the first light-guiding lens 2A.

[0104] Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 100 including the light source unit 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately block the light beams L1, L2 emitted from the adjacent light sources 3A, 3B between them.

[0105] Therefore, even if the above-mentioned tail lamp TLL and stop lamp STL are turned on separately, it is possible to prevent unintended light L1, L2 from leaking out from the light guiding lenses 2A, 2B to the outside, which would result in a poor appearance when turned on.

[0106] The present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0107] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, in a cross section (vertical cross section) in the direction connecting the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B (in this embodiment, the up-down direction), the light-shielding portion 8a has a shape in which the dimension b on the opposite side (front side) facing the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B is larger than the dimension a on the side (rear side) facing the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B.

[0108] Specifically, the light-shielding portion 8a is provided with a light-shielding wall 8c that protrudes backward from the center of the back side thereof with a width corresponding to the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B. In its vertical cross section, the light-shielding wall 8c has a dimension a that is smaller than the dimension b of the front side of the light-shielding portion 8a.

[0109] In addition, the light-shielding wall 8c is located at a position shifted upward from the center of the light-shielding portion 8a, so that the upper dimension c of the back surface of the light-shielding portion 8a across the light-shielding wall 8c is smaller than the lower dimension d.

[0110] This makes it possible to prevent the shade 8 from coming into contact with the first light source 3A and the second light source 3B, while preventing a portion of the first light L1 emitted from the first light source 3A from entering the incident surface 25b of the second light-guiding lens 2B, and to prevent to the greatest extent possible a portion of the second light L2 emitted from the second light source 3B from entering the incident surface 25a of the first light-guiding lens 2A.

[0111] In the shade 8, on the back side of the above-mentioned shading portion 8a, the upper dimension c across the shading wall 8c is smaller than the lower dimension d. However, for example, as shown in Figure 12(A), the upper dimension c across the shading wall 8c and the lower dimension d may be the same, or as shown in Figure 12(B), the upper dimension c across the shading wall 8c may be larger than the lower dimension d.

[0112] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first light source 3A is configured as a light source for the tail lamp TLL, and the second light source 3B is configured as a light source for the brake lamp BRL. However, the first light source 3A may be configured as a light source for the brake lamp BRL, and the second light source 3B may be configured as a light source for the tail lamp TLL.

[0113] In addition, in the fixing structure 20, in order to prevent the shade 8 from being attached in the opposite direction to the tubular wall portion 7b, the above-mentioned mating recess 23a and mating protrusion 24a on the one side and the mating recess 23b and mating protrusion 24b on the other side have an asymmetrical shape. However, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, the mating position between the mating recess 23a and the mating protrusion 24a on the one side and the mating position between the mating recess 23b and the mating protrusion 24b on the other side may be arranged to be shifted in opposite directions to each other across a horizontal line passing through the central axis of the light source unit 1.

[0114] In the above embodiment, the light source unit 1 that emits the above-mentioned tail lamps TLL and brake lamps BRL is exemplified as the vehicle lamp 100 mounted on both corners of the rear end of the vehicle. However, the present invention can also be applied to a light source unit that emits a tail lamp and a turn lamp that flashes with orange light or a back lamp that emits white light.

[0115] The present invention can also be applied to a light source unit that emits white-light position lamps or daytime running lamps (DRLs) and turn signals as vehicle lighting fixtures mounted on both corners of the front end of a vehicle.

[0116] The light source unit includes a plurality of light emitting elements that can be, for example, laser diodes (LDs) or other light emitting elements in addition to the above-mentioned LEDs. The color of the light emitted by the light emitting elements can be changed appropriately depending on the application, such as white light, red light, orange light, etc.

[0117] The light source unit can be applied to, for example, vehicle interior lighting, accessory lamps, and the like, in addition to the above-mentioned vehicle lamps. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...light source unit 2A...first light guide lens 2B...second light guide lens 3A...first light source 3B...second light source 4...circuit board 5...heat sink 6...connector section 7...socket body 7b...tubular wall section 7d...claw section 7e...projection section 8...shade 20...fixing structure 21...retained section 22...retaining section 23a, 23b...fitting recess 24a, 24b...fitting projection 25a, 25b...incident surface 26a, 26b...reflection cut 27a, 27b...exiting surface 100...vehicle lamp 101...housing 101a...mounting hole 102...outer lens 103...lamp body TLL...tail lamp BRL...brake lamp L1...first light L2...second light

Claims

1. a first light source and a second light source adjacent to each other; a circuit board on which the first light source and the second light source are mounted; a socket body having the circuit board disposed on the front side; a shade located on a front side of the first light source and the second light source and arranged to cross between the first light source and the second light source, the socket body has a cylindrical wall portion protruding from a front side thereof so as to surround the peripheries of the first light source and the second light source, and at least two convex portions provided side by side in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion, a pair of fixing structures for fixing a pair of fixing portions located at both ends of the shade to the cylindrical wall portion; The light source unit is characterized in that the fixing portion is located on the front side of the convex portion and inside the outer peripheral surface of the convex portion when fixed to the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical wall portion.

2. The light source unit described in Claim 1, characterized in that the fixing structure includes an engaging portion provided on either the fixing portion or the tubular wall portion, and an engaging portion provided on the other portion and engaged with the engaging portion.

3. The light source unit according to claim 2 , wherein the locked portion or the locking portion is provided on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical wall portion.

4. The light source unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing structure includes a mating recess provided on one of the shade and the tubular wall portion, and a mating protrusion provided on the other of the shade and mating with the mating recess.

5. The light source unit according to claim 4, wherein the fitting recess or the fitting protrusion is provided on an inner circumferential side of the cylindrical wall portion.

6. The light source unit according to claim 4 , wherein the fitting recess and the fitting protrusion have asymmetric shapes between one side and the other side of the pair of fixing structures.

7. A light source unit as described in Claim 4, characterized in that the mating recess and the mating protrusion are each configured in an arc shape when viewed from the front.

8. The light source unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the shade has a shape in which, in a cross section in a direction connecting the first light source and the second light source, the dimension on the side facing the first light source and the second light source is larger than the dimension on the opposite side.

9. The lighting unit and a first light guiding lens and a second light guiding lens disposed inside the lamp body; The light source unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The light source unit is inserted into the inside of the lamp body through a mounting hole provided on the rear side of the lamp body and is detachably attached around the mounting hole, the first light source emits a first light toward an incident surface of the first light guiding lens; the second light source emits second light toward an incident surface of the second light guiding lens, The shade blocks the first light traveling from the first light source toward the incident surface of the second light-guiding lens, and blocks the second light traveling from the second light source toward the incident surface of the first light-guiding lens.

10. The light source unit has the first light source and the second light source corresponding to different lamp functions, 10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 9, wherein the first light source and the second light source are arranged side by side in the vertical direction when the light source unit is attached to the lamp body.

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