Vehicular lighting fixture

Abstract

To prevent a large glare from being imparted to a driver in an oncoming vehicle, while suppressing lowering in lighting fixture efficiency to the minimum, in a vehicular lighting fixture which includes a projection lens.SOLUTION: As a first translucent part 52B of a translucent member 50 which functions as a reflector, an irregularity part 52Bb1 is formed in part of a region of a total reflection surface 52Bb where emission light from a first light emitting element 32B reaches. Thereby, light which causes a large glare to a driver in an oncoming vehicle is prevented from entering an upward reflection surface 60a of a shade 60. Then, thereby, light shielding more than necessary is prevented from being performed just like the case where a constitution is adopted in which a protrusion part is formed which shields part of reflection light from the reflector on the upward reflection surface of the shade so as to achieve glare suppression, just like the conventional one.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a known vehicle lamp for forming a low beam light distribution pattern is configured in such a way that light emitted from a light source located rearward of the rear focal point of a projection lens is reflected toward the projection lens by a reflector located above the light source, and a shade located between the reflector and the projection lens blocks a portion of the reflected light from the reflector, thereby forming a cut-off line of the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a shade configuration for such a vehicle lamp in which an upward-facing reflective surface is formed to reflect light reflected from a reflector upward toward a projection lens, and a protrusion is formed on this upward-facing reflective surface at a position on the vehicle's lane side relative to the optical axis of the projection lens to block a portion of the light reflected from the reflector.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a reflector for a vehicle lamp equipped with such a shade, which is composed of a light-transmitting member having an incident surface onto which light emitted from a light source is incident, a total reflection surface which totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface which emits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-243433 A [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2023 / 054513 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As in the vehicle lamps described in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, by forming an upward reflecting surface on the shade, it is possible to increase the luminous flux utilization rate of the light emitted from the light source, and by forming a protrusion on the upward reflecting surface, it is possible to locally suppress the brightness of the area below the cutoff line on the oncoming lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern. This makes it possible to prevent a large glare from being given to the driver of an oncoming vehicle even when the vehicle pitches.

[0007] However, when such a configuration is adopted, the protrusion blocks a significant amount of reflected light from the reflector other than the light necessary to locally reduce the brightness of the area near the lower side of the cut-off line on the oncoming lane, thereby reducing the efficiency of the lamp.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens that can minimize the decrease in lamp efficiency while preventing excessive glare from being caused to drivers of oncoming vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by improving the structure of the reflector.

[0010] That is, the vehicle lamp according to the present invention is In a vehicle lamp configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern, the lamp includes a projection lens, a light source disposed on the rear side of the rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector disposed above the light source and reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a shade disposed between the reflector and the projection lens and blocking a portion of the reflected light from the reflector to form a cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern, an upward reflecting surface is formed on the shade to reflect the light reflected from the reflector upward toward the projection lens; The reflector is made of a light-transmitting material, the light-transmitting member includes an incident surface onto which light emitted from the light source is incident, a total reflection surface which totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface which exits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface, The total reflection surface is characterized in that an uneven portion is formed in a part of the reflection area which totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface as light directed toward the upward reflection surface of the shade.

[0011] The "upward reflecting surface" is not particularly limited in its specific shape, so long as it is configured to reflect the light from the reflector upward toward the projection lens.

[0012] The above-mentioned "reflector" is not particularly limited in its specific shape as long as it is made of a light-transmitting material and has an incident surface that receives the light emitted from the light source, a total reflection surface that totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface that emits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface.

[0013] The "unevenness" is not particularly limited in its specific arrangement, size, and specific uneven shape, so long as it is formed in a part of the reflection area on the total reflection surface of the light-transmitting member that totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface as light toward the upward reflection surface of the shade. In addition, the "unevenness" may be composed of only concave portions, only convex portions, or a combination of concave portions and convex portions. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The vehicle lamp of the present invention is configured to form a cutoff line of a low beam light distribution pattern by using a shade arranged between the reflector and the projection lens to block a portion of the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector, and the shade is formed with an upward reflective surface that reflects the light reflected from the reflector upward toward the projection lens, thereby increasing the luminous flux utilization rate of the light emitted from the light source.

[0015] In this case, the reflector is composed of a light-transmitting member having an incident surface that receives light emitted from the light source, a total reflection surface that totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface that emits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface, and the total reflection surface of this light-transmitting member is configured so that an uneven portion is formed in part of the reflective area that totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface as light toward the upward reflective surface of the shade, thereby obtaining the following effects.

[0016] In other words, the light reflected by the upward reflective surface of the shade contributes to increasing the brightness of the area below the cut-off line in the low beam light distribution pattern, but in this case, it is preferable to locally suppress the brightness of the area below the cut-off line on the oncoming lane side, from the standpoint of not causing a large glare to the driver of an oncoming vehicle even if the vehicle pitches.

[0017] In this regard, the light-transmitting member that functions as a reflector in the present invention has a configuration in which an uneven portion is formed in a part of the reflection area that totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface as light toward the upward reflection surface of the shade, so that the light that reaches the uneven portion is prevented from becoming totally reflected light toward the upward reflection surface of the shade. This makes it possible to locally suppress the brightness of the area below the cutoff line on the oncoming lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern.

[0018] Moreover, this can be realized by forming an uneven portion on a part of the total reflection surface of the light-transmitting member that functions as a reflector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which light reflected from the reflector other than the light necessary to locally suppress the brightness of the area below the cutoff line on the oncoming lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern is blocked, as in the conventional case where a protrusion that blocks part of the reflected light from the reflector is formed on the upward reflection surface of the shade. This makes it possible to effectively suppress the decrease in lamp efficiency.

[0019] Thus, according to the present invention, in a vehicle lamp equipped with a projection lens, it is possible to minimize the decrease in lamp efficiency and prevent a large glare from being caused to a driver of an oncoming vehicle.

[0020] In the above configuration, if the uneven portion is configured to have a surface shape that causes light that is incident on the incident surface of the light-transmitting member and reaches the uneven portion to be emitted into the external space of the light-transmitting member, it is possible to prevent a situation from occurring in which light emitted from the light source that reaches the uneven portion is emitted from the exit surface as stray light.

[0021] In the above configuration, if the shade is further configured as part of the translucent member and its upward reflective surface is formed by applying a mirror finish to the surface of the translucent member, the number of parts of the lighting fixture can be reduced while still achieving the above-mentioned effects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] View from the direction of arrow II in Figure 1 [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a lamp unit of the vehicle lamp as a single unit. [Figure 4]Cross-sectional view of line IV-IV in Figure 3 [Diagram 5] View of line VV in Figure 3 [Figure 6] Cross section of line VI-VI in Figure 5 [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light distribution pattern formed by light emitted from the lamp unit; [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a second modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a third modification of the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1.

[0025] 1 and 2, the direction indicated by X is the "front of the lamp," the direction indicated by Y is the "left direction" perpendicular to the "front of the lamp" (the "right direction" when viewed from the front of the lamp), and the direction indicated by Z is the "upward direction." This is the same in other figures besides Figs. 1 and 2.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 10 is a headlamp provided at the front end of the vehicle, and is configured such that a lamp unit 20 is housed within a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body 12 and a translucent cover 14.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing the lamp unit 20 alone, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a view taken along line VV in Fig. 3.

[0028] As also shown in Figures 3 to 5, the lighting unit 20 is a projector-type lighting unit that is configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern and a high beam light distribution pattern (which will be described later) by irradiating light emitted from a light source 30 toward the front of the lighting unit via a projection lens 40.

[0029] The projection lens 40 has an optical axis Ax extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp, and forms the above-mentioned light distribution pattern by inverting and projecting the projection image formed on the rear focal plane. Between the projection lens 40 and the light source 30, there are disposed a light-transmitting member 50 that receives the light emitted from the light source 30, and then totally reflects a part of the light to emit it toward the projection lens 40, and a shade 60 that is configured to block a part of the light emitted from the light-transmitting member 50. The projection image is formed by the optical action of the light-transmitting member 50 and the shade 60 (this will also be described later).

[0030] The projection lens 40 is a biconvex aspheric lens having an outer peripheral flange portion 40a, and is made of a colorless and transparent resin material. When viewed from the front of the lamp, the projection lens 40 has a circular lens shape with the upper and lower portions cut off horizontally, and is supported by a lens holder 42 at the outer peripheral flange portion 40a.

[0031] The shade 60 is made of a thin metal plate, and is supported by the lens holder 42 at both left and right ends 62 thereof in a state in which the shade 60 is disposed so as to extend in the left-right direction along a substantially horizontal plane (this will also be described later).

[0032] The lens holder 42 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp, and has a lens support portion 42a formed at its front end portion for supporting the projection lens 40. The lens holder 42 has a light-transmitting member support portion 42b formed therein, which extends along an outer peripheral flange portion 56 of the light-transmitting member 50. The light-transmitting member 50 is supported by the lens holder 42 in a state in which the outer peripheral flange portion 56 abuts against the rear surface of the light-transmitting member support portion 42b of the lens holder 42 and is positioned therein.

[0033] The light source 30 is composed of three first light-emitting elements 32A, 32B, and 32C and a second light-emitting element 34 mounted on a common substrate 36. Each of the first light-emitting elements 32A to 32C and the second light-emitting element 34 is a white light-emitting diode having a rectangular (e.g., square) light-emitting surface, and is disposed with the light-emitting surface facing forward of the lamp.

[0034] The three first light-emitting elements 32A to 32C are configured to light up when forming a light distribution pattern for a low beam, and the second light-emitting element 34 is configured to additionally light up when forming a light distribution pattern for a high beam.

[0035] The three first light-emitting elements 32A to 32C are disposed directly above the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 40 and at equally spaced positions on both the left and right sides thereof, and the second light-emitting element 34 is disposed directly below the optical axis Ax.

[0036] The substrate 36 is supported by a metal heat sink 70 in a state in which it is disposed so as to extend along a vertical plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 40 .

[0037] The heat sink 70 comprises a main body 72 extending along a vertical plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax of the projection lens 40, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 74 extending along the vertical plane from the main body 72 toward the rear of the lamp, and is supported by the lens holder 42 with the main body 72 in face-to-face contact with the substrate 36.

[0038] The light-transmitting member 50 is made of a colorless and transparent resin member. The light-transmitting member 50 includes three first light-transmitting portions 52A, 52B, and 52C for emitting light for a low-beam light distribution pattern, and a second light-transmitting portion 54 for emitting light for an additional light distribution pattern that is added to the low-beam light distribution pattern when forming a high-beam light distribution pattern.

[0039] The three first light transmitting portions 52A to 52C are located near the front of the lamp of the three first light emitting elements 32A to 32C, and the second light transmitting portion 54 is located near the front of the lamp of the second light emitting element 32D.

[0040] The three first light transmitting portions 52A to 52C are configured to emit the light emitted from the three first light emitting elements 32A to 32C in a diagonally downward direction with respect to the front direction of the lamp.

[0041] Furthermore, of the three first light-transmitting sections 52A to 52C, the central first light-transmitting section 52B is arranged facing the front direction of the lamp in a planar view, while the first light-transmitting sections 52A, 52C located on both the left and right sides of it are arranged in a direction inclined toward the optical axis Ax with respect to the front direction of the lamp in a planar view.

[0042] Specifically, each of the three first light-transmitting portions 52A, 52B, 52C has an incident surface 52Aa, 52Ba, 52Ca which receives the light emitted from each of the three first light-emitting elements 32A, 32B, 32C, a total reflection surface 52Ab, 52Bb, 52Cb which totally reflects a portion of the light incident from the incident surface 52Aa, 52Ba, 52Ca, and a common exit surface 52c which emits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surfaces 52Ab, 52Bb, 52Cb toward the front of the lamp.

[0043] Each of the entrance surfaces 52Aa, 52Ba, 52Ca includes a central region 52Aa1, 52Ba1, 52Ca1 formed in a convex curved shape and a peripheral region 52Aa, 52Ba, 52Ca surrounding the central region 52Aa1, 52Ba1, 52Ca1 formed in a conical shape. Each of the entrance surfaces 52Aa-52Ca is configured to collect light emitted from each of the first light-emitting elements 32A-32C toward the exit surface 52c in the central region 52Aa1-52Ca1, and to deflect light emitted from each of the first light-emitting elements 32A-32C toward the total reflection surfaces 52Ab-52Cb in the peripheral region 52Aa-52Ca.

[0044] Each of the total reflection surfaces 52Ab to 52Cb is configured to totally reflect the light incident from the peripheral regions 52Aa to 52Ca of each of the entrance surfaces 52Aa to 52Ca as substantially parallel light.

[0045] The exit surface 52c is formed so as to extend in a concave curved shape on both the left and right sides at a position rearward of the lamp from the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30, thereby configuring the total reflected light from each of the total reflection surfaces 52Ab to 52Cb to be emitted with almost no refraction in the horizontal direction.

[0046] On the other hand, the second light transmitting portion 54 is configured to emit the light emitted from the second light emitting element 34 in a diagonally upward direction with respect to the front direction of the lamp.

[0047] The second light-transmitting portion 54 also has an incident surface 54a which receives the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 34, a total reflection surface 54b which totally reflects a portion of the light incident from this incident surface 54a, and an exit surface 54c which emits the light totally reflected by this total reflection surface 54b toward the front of the lamp.

[0048] The incident surface 54a includes a central region 54a1 formed in a convex curved shape and a peripheral region 54a2 surrounding the central region 54a1 and formed in a conical cylindrical shape. Each incident surface 54a is configured to focus the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 34 toward the incident surface 54c in the central region 54a1, and to deflect the light emitted from the second light-emitting element 34 toward the total reflection surface 54b in the peripheral region 54a2.

[0049] The total reflection surface 54b is configured to totally reflect the light incident from the peripheral region 54a2 of the incident surface 54a as substantially parallel light.

[0050] The emission surface 54c is formed so as to extend along a vertical plane perpendicular to the optical axis Ax at a position rearward of the lamp from the emission surface 52c.

[0051] The shade 60 extends along a horizontal plane from the lower edge of the emission surface 52c of the light-transmitting member 50 toward the front of the lamp, and its upper surface is configured as an upward reflecting surface 60a that reflects the emitted light from the light-transmitting member 50 upward toward the projection lens 40. This upward reflecting surface 60a is configured by performing a mirror finish (e.g., aluminum deposition) on the upper surface of the shade 60.

[0052] 2, the upward reflecting surface 60a is formed with a difference in level between the left and right sides when the lamp is viewed from the front. Specifically, the left side area of ​​the upward reflecting surface 60a, located to the left of the optical axis Ax (the right side when the lamp is viewed from the front), is formed of a horizontal plane including the optical axis Ax, and the right side area, located to the right of the optical axis Ax, is formed of a horizontal plane one step lower than the left side area via a short inclined surface.

[0053] When the lamp unit 20 is incorporated in the vehicle lamp 10, the lamp unit 20 is arranged with its optical axis Ax extending downward at an angle of about 0.5 to 0.6° toward the front of the lamp relative to the horizontal plane.

[0054] 4 and 5, the front end surface 60b of the shade 60 is formed so as to extend in a curved manner toward the front of the lamp in both left and right directions so as to pass through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30. In addition, the rear end surface 60c of the shade 60 is formed so as to extend in a curved manner toward the front of the lamp in both left and right directions along the exit surface 52c of the light-transmitting member 50.

[0055] The shade 60 is formed such that both left and right end portions 62 extend in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis Ax in a plan view. Meanwhile, a pair of left and right cutout portions 42c are formed in the lower half of the lens holder 42, and a pair of left and right horizontal flange portions 42d are formed at the upper end positions of these cutout portions 42c. The shade 60 is supported with both left and right end portions 62 abutting against the pair of left and right horizontal flange portions 42d of the lens holder 42 from below.

[0056] Positioning pins 42d1 protruding downward are formed on the pair of left and right horizontal flange portions 42d of the lens holder 42. Meanwhile, pin insertion holes 62a for inserting the positioning pins 42d1 are formed on both left and right end portions 62 of the shade 60. When both left and right end portions 62 of the shade 60 abut against the pair of left and right horizontal flange portions 42d of the lens holder 42 from below, the pair of left and right positioning pins 42d1 are inserted into the pair of left and right pin insertion holes 62a, thereby positioning the shade 60.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, of the three first light transmitting portions 52A to 52C in the light transmitting member 50, the first light transmitting portions 52B and 52C located in the center and on the left side have uneven portions 52Bb1 and 52Cb1 formed in partial areas of their total reflection surfaces 52Bb and 52Cb.

[0058] The uneven portion 52Bb1 formed on the total reflection surface 52Bb of the first light transmitting portion 52B is formed in a left-side portion of the upper rear region of the total reflection surface 52Bb. The uneven portion 52Cb1 formed on the total reflection surface 52Cb of the first light transmitting portion 52C is formed in a right-side portion of the upper rear region of the total reflection surface 52Cb. Both of these uneven portions 52Bb1 and 52Cb1 have an outer shape that is slightly elongated in the front-rear direction of the lamp.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

[0060] 6, the uneven portion 52Bb1 formed on the total reflection surface 52Bb of the first light transmitting portion 52B has a concave shape that is a substantially semi-elliptical sphere that is slightly elongated in the front-rear direction of the lamp. This point is the same for the uneven portion 52Cb1 formed on the total reflection surface 52Cb of the first light transmitting portion 52C.

[0061] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, of the light that is emitted from the first light-emitting element 32B, enters the first translucent portion 52B through the peripheral region 52Ba2 of the incident surface 52Ba, and proceeds toward the total reflection surface 52Bb, the light that reaches the uneven portion 52Bb1 is emitted to the external space located above the translucent member 50 without being totally reflected at this uneven portion 52Bb1.

[0062] In addition, if the uneven portion 52Bb1 were not formed on the total reflection surface 52Bb, the light that reaches the position of this uneven portion 52Bb1 will reach the exit surface 52c as light directed diagonally downward with respect to the front of the lamp, as shown by the optical path indicated by the dotted line in the figure, just like light that reaches the general area of ​​the total reflection surface 52Bb, and will be emitted from this exit surface 52c toward the upward reflecting surface 60a of the shade 60.

[0063] In this case, the position for forming the uneven portion 52Bb1 on the total reflection surface 52Bb is set so that the emitted light from this exit surface 52c reaches the upward reflecting surface 60a at a position near the rear side of the lamp of the front end surface 60b of the shade 60 and near the left side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30.

[0064] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, of the light that is emitted from the first light-emitting element 32C, enters the first translucent portion 52C through the peripheral region 52Ca2 of the incident surface 52Ca, and proceeds toward the total reflection surface 52Cb, the light that reaches the uneven portion 52Cb1 is emitted into the external space located above the translucent member 50 without being totally reflected at this uneven portion 52Cb1.

[0065] In addition, if the uneven portion 52Cb1 were not formed on the total reflection surface 52Cb, the light that reaches the position of this uneven portion 52Cb1 will reach the exit surface 52c as light obliquely downward relative to the front of the lamp, as shown by the optical path indicated by the dotted line in the figure, just like light that reaches the general area of ​​the total reflection surface 52Cb, and will be emitted from this exit surface 52c toward the upward reflecting surface 60a of the shade 60.

[0066] In this case, the position at which the uneven portion 52Cb1 is formed on the total reflection surface 52Cb is set so that the emitted light from this exit surface 52c reaches the upward reflecting surface 60a at a position near the rear side of the lamp of the front end surface 60b of the shade 60 and near the left side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30.

[0067] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen located 25 m ahead of the vehicle by light emitted from the lamp unit 20 toward the front of the lamp.

[0068] The low beam light distribution pattern PL is a low beam light distribution pattern for left light distribution, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 7, and has cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 with left and right steps at its upper edge. These cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 extend horizontally with left and right steps with a VV line passing vertically through HV, which is a vanishing point in the front direction of the lamp, as a boundary, and the part to the right of the VV line is formed as the oncoming vehicle lane side cutoff line CL1, and the part to the left of the VV line is formed as the own vehicle lane side cutoff line CL2 that is stepped up from the oncoming vehicle lane side cutoff line CL1 via an inclined part.

[0069] In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, the elbow point E, which is the intersection point between the oncoming lane side cut-off line CL1 and the VV line, is located about 0.5 to 0.6° below HV. This is because the optical axis Ax of the lamp unit 20 extends in a downward direction by about 0.5 to 0.6° toward the front of the lamp with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0070] The low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a composite light distribution pattern of three light distribution patterns P1L, P1C, and P1R. In this case, the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed as a horizontally elongated light distribution pattern in which the three light distribution patterns P1L, P1C, and P1R are arranged in the left-right direction so as to partially overlap each other.

[0071] Each light distribution pattern P1L, P1C, P1R is a light distribution pattern formed as an inverted projection image of a projection image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 40 by light from each first light-emitting element 32A, 32B, 32C emitted from the exit surface 52c of the translucent member 50.

[0072] In this case, the thin plate-like shade 60 curves and extends in both left and right directions toward the front of the lamp so that its front end face 60b passes through the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30, so that the low beam light distribution pattern PL has clearly formed cut-off lines CL1 and CL2.

[0073] In the low beam light distribution pattern PL, a region below and near the oncoming vehicle lane side cutoff line CL1 is locally formed as a dark portion D. This dark portion D is formed in a state where a part of the oncoming vehicle lane side cutoff line CL1 is recessed in a substantially horizontally elongated arc shape.

[0074] The dark area D of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed because uneven areas 52Bb1, 52Cb1 are formed on the total reflection surfaces 52Bb, 52Cb of the first translucent sections 52B, 52C in the translucent member 50, so that part of the light emitted from the exit surface 52c does not reach the upward reflecting surface 60a of the shade 60, and therefore no upward reflected light is obtained.

[0075] At this time, due to the formation of the uneven portions 52Bb1 and 52Cb1, the light emitted from the emission surface 52c that does not reach the upward reflecting surface 60a is light that should reach a position near the rear side of the lamp of the front end surface 60b of the shade 60 and near the left side of the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30, so that the dark portion D of the low beam light distribution pattern PL is formed at a position slightly away to the right from the elbow point E. Specifically, the formation position of the dark portion D is set so that it substantially coincides with the position of the oncoming vehicle 2 when the oncoming vehicle 2 approaches to approximately 50 m ahead of the vehicle.

[0076] On the other hand, the high beam light distribution pattern PH is obtained by adding an additional light distribution pattern PA shown by a broken line in FIG. 7 to the low beam light distribution pattern PL shown by a solid line in FIG.

[0077] The additional light distribution pattern PA is a horizontally elongated light distribution pattern that extends above the cut-off lines CL1 and CL2, and is a light distribution pattern formed as an inverted projection image of the projection image formed on the rear focal plane of the projection lens 40 when the light emitted from the light-emitting element 34 is emitted from the exit surface 54c of the second light-transmitting portion 54 in the light-transmitting member 50.

[0078] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0079] The vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment is configured to form cut-off lines CL1, CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL by blocking a portion of the light emitted from the first light-emitting elements 32A, 32B, 32C (light source) reflected by the first light-transmitting portions 52A-52C using a shade 60 arranged between the three first light-transmitting portions 52A, 52B, 52C (reflectors) in the light-transmitting member 50 and the projection lens 40, and further, the shade 60 is formed with an upward reflecting surface 60a that reflects the reflected light from the first light-transmitting portions 52A-52C upward toward the shade 60, thereby increasing the luminous flux utilization rate of the light emitted from the first light-emitting elements 32A-32C.

[0080] In this case, the first light-transmitting portions 52A to 52C are provided with incident surfaces 52Aa to 52Ca which receive the light emitted from the first light-emitting elements 32A to 32C, total reflection surfaces 52Ab to 52Cb which totally reflect the light incident from the peripheral regions 52Aa2 to 52Ca2 of the incident surfaces 52Aa to 52Ca, and an exit surface 52c which emits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surfaces 52Ab to 52Cb. Furthermore, the first light-transmitting portions 52B, 52C located in the center and on the left side of the three first light-transmitting portions 52A to 52C have uneven portions 52Bb1, 52Cb1 formed in partial regions of the total reflection surfaces 52Bb, 52Cb, so that the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

[0081] In other words, the light reflected by the upward reflective surface 60a of the shade 60 contributes to increasing the brightness of the area below and adjacent to the cutoff lines CL1 and CL2 in the low beam light distribution pattern PL. In this case, however, it is preferable to locally suppress the brightness of the area below and adjacent to the cutoff line CL1 on the oncoming lane side, from the viewpoint of preventing a large glare from being caused to the driver of an oncoming vehicle even when the vehicle pitches.

[0082] In this respect, in the present embodiment, the total reflection surfaces 52Bb, 52Cb of the first light transmitting portions 52B, 52C located at the center and the left side are configured such that the uneven portions 52Bb1, 52Cb1 are formed in a part of the total reflection surfaces 52Bb, 52Cb as reflection areas that totally reflect the light incident from the peripheral areas 52Ba2, 52Ca2 of the incident surfaces 52Ba, 52Ca as light toward the upward reflection surface 60a of the shade 60, so that the light that reaches the uneven portions 52Bb1, 52Cb1 does not become totally reflected light toward the upward reflection surface 60a of the shade 60. This makes it possible to form a dark portion D in the lower vicinity area of ​​the cutoff line CL1 on the oncoming lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and to locally suppress the brightness.

[0083] Moreover, this can be realized by forming the uneven parts 52Bb1, 52Cb1 in a part of the total reflection surface 52Bb, 52Cb of the first light transmitting part 52B, 52C of the light transmitting member 50 functioning as a reflector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which light reflected from the reflector other than the light necessary to locally suppress the brightness of the area below the cutoff line CL1 on the oncoming lane side in the low beam light distribution pattern PL is blocked, as in the case of a conventional configuration in which a protrusion that blocks a part of the reflected light from the reflector is formed on the upward reflecting surface of the shade. This makes it possible to effectively suppress the decrease in lamp efficiency.

[0084] As described above, according to this embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 10 equipped with the shade 60, it is possible to minimize the decrease in lamp efficiency and prevent the driver 2 of the oncoming vehicle from being subjected to a large glare.

[0085] In particular, when the shade 60 is made of a thin metal plate, as in the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment, if a configuration is adopted in which a protrusion for blocking part of the reflected light from the reflector is formed in the area near the front edge of the upward reflective surface 60a, the shape of the front end face of the shade 60 will be deformed when this protrusion is press-molded, which will make it impossible to accurately form the cut-off lines CL1, CL2 of the low beam light distribution pattern PL, and therefore it is effective to adopt the configuration of this embodiment.

[0086] In addition, in this embodiment, the uneven portions 52Bb1, 52Cb1 formed on the total reflection surfaces 52Bb, 52Cb of the first light-transmitting portions 52B, 52C have a concave shape that is approximately a semi-ellipsoidal sphere that is slightly elongated in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp, and are configured to emit light incident from the peripheral regions 52Aa2-52Ca2 of the incident surfaces 52Aa-52Ca to the external space above the light-transmitting member 50, thereby preventing the occurrence of a situation in which light emitted from the first light-emitting elements 32B, 32C that reaches the uneven portions 52Bb1, 52Cb1 is emitted as stray light from the exit surface 52c.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the light source 30 is described as having three first light-emitting elements 32A-32C and one second light-emitting element 34, but it is also possible to set the number of each of the first and second light-emitting elements to a number different from that in the above embodiment.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the three first light-emitting elements 32A to 32C are described as being arranged facing the front of the lamp, but it is also possible to arrange the light source facing upward and place a translucent member that functions as a reflector above it, and then configure the upper surface of this translucent member as a total reflection surface with an uneven portion formed in some areas of it.

[0089] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0090] First, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0091] FIG. 8 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a main part of a lamp unit according to this modified example.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 8, the basic configuration of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light-transmitting member 150 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0093] That is, in the light-transmitting member 150 of this modification, the configuration of the uneven portion 152Bb1 formed in a partial region of the total reflection surface 152Bb of the first light-transmitting portion 152B is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0094] Specifically, the concave-convex portion 152Bb1 of this modification has a cross-sectional shape in which a plurality of concaves and convexities are connected in a wave shape and spreads two-dimensionally. In this case, the position of the concave-convex portion 152Bb1 on the total reflection surface 152Bb is the same in this modification as in the above embodiment.

[0095] Even in this modified example, of the light that is emitted from the first light-emitting element 32B, enters the first translucent portion 152B through the peripheral region 152Ba2 of the incident surface 152Ba, and travels toward the total reflection surface 152Bb, most of the light that reaches the uneven portion 152Bb1 is emitted to the external space located above the translucent member 150 at this uneven portion 152Bb1.

[0096] Since the uneven portion 152Bb1 is configured with multiple concave and convex portions connected in a wave shape, depending on the incident position on the uneven portion 152Bb1, the light will be totally reflected by the uneven portion 152Bb1. However, the totally reflected light at that time becomes diffuse light, and therefore reaches the exit surface 152c as diagonally downward light, as shown by the optical path indicated by the two-dot dashed line in the figure (i.e., the optical path assuming that the uneven portion 152Bb1 is not formed on the total reflection surface 152Bb), and almost no light is emitted from this exit surface 152c toward the upward reflecting surface 60a of the shade 60.

[0097] Therefore, even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, substantially the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0098] Moreover, by employing the configuration of this modification, the depth of the uneven portion 152Bb1 formed on the total reflection surface 152Bb of the first light transmitting portion 152B becomes shallow, so that the moldability of the light transmitting member 150 can be improved.

[0099] Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0100] FIG. 9 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a main part of a lamp unit according to this modified example.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 9, the basic configuration of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light-transmitting member 250 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0102] That is, in the light-transmitting member 250 of this modification, the configuration of the uneven portion 252Bb1 formed in a partial region of the total reflection surface 252Bb of the first light-transmitting portion 252B is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0103] Specifically, uneven portion 252Bb1 of this modified example is formed by applying embossing to a partial area of ​​total reflection surface 152Bb. In this case, the position of uneven portion 252Bb1 on total reflection surface 252Bb is the same in this modified example as in the above embodiment.

[0104] In this modification, of the light emitted from the first light-emitting element 32B, incident on the first light-transmitting portion 252B from the peripheral region 252Ba2 of the incident surface 252Ba, and proceeding toward the total reflection surface 252Bb, approximately half of the light that reaches the uneven portion 252Bb1 is emitted as diffuse light at the uneven portion 252Bb1 to the external space located above the light-transmitting member 250, and approximately the remaining half is totally reflected as diffuse light at the uneven portion 252Bb1. At that time, since this totally reflected light becomes diffuse light, it reaches the exit surface 252c as obliquely downward light, as shown in the optical path indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure (i.e., the optical path when the uneven portion 252Bb1 is not formed on the total reflection surface 252Bb), and almost no light is emitted from the exit surface 252c toward the upward reflection surface 60a of the shade 60.

[0105] Therefore, even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, substantially the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0106] Furthermore, by adopting the configuration of this modified example, the uneven portion 252Bb1 formed on the total reflection surface 252Bb of the first light-transmitting portion 252B has a significantly shallow depth, which makes it possible to easily improve the formability of the light-transmitting member 250.

[0107] Incidentally, instead of forming the uneven portion 252Bb1 by applying a embossing process to the surface of the total reflection surface 252Bb as in this modified example, it is also possible to form the uneven portion 252Bb1 by applying a frosting process or the like.

[0108] Next, a third modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0109] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a main part of a lamp unit according to this modified example.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 10, the basic configuration of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the light-transmitting member 350 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0111] That is, in the light-transmitting member 350 of this modified example, the second light-transmitting portion 354 is formed to extend toward the front side of the lamp, and the emission surface 354 c is formed as a vertical surface including the rear focal point F of the projection lens 30 .

[0112] In the light-transmitting member 350 of this modification, the upper surface of the second light-transmitting portion 354 extends along a horizontal plane from the lower edge of the emission surface 354c of the first light-transmitting portion 352B toward the front of the lamp, and this upper surface is configured as an upward reflecting surface 360a that reflects the light emitted from the light-transmitting member 350 upward toward the projection lens 30. This upward reflecting surface 360a is configured by performing a mirror finish (e.g., aluminum deposition) on the upper surface of the second light-transmitting portion 354. That is, in this modification, there is no shade 60 as in the above embodiment, and the light-transmitting member 350 fulfills that function.

[0113] The light-transmitting member 350 of this modification also has a configuration in which an uneven portion 352Bb1 is formed in a part of a reflection area that totally reflects light incident from a peripheral area 352Ba2 of an incident surface 352Ba as light proceeding toward an upward reflection surface 360a as a total reflection surface 352Bb of a first light-transmitting portion 352B. Note that, in this modification, the arrangement and shape of the uneven portion 352Bb1 are similar to those of the uneven portion 52Bb1 of the above embodiment.

[0114] Therefore, even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, substantially the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0115] Furthermore, as in this modified example, by providing a mirror finish on the surface of the light-transmitting member 350 to form an upwardly facing reflective surface 360a, it is possible to reduce the number of parts in the lighting fixture and still achieve the above-mentioned effects.

[0116] It should be noted that the numerical values ​​given as the specifications in the above embodiment and its modified examples are merely examples, and it goes without saying that these may be set to different values ​​as appropriate.

[0117] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiment and its modified examples, and various other modified configurations can be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 2 Oncoming vehicles 10 Vehicle lighting fixtures 12 Lamp body 14 Translucent cover 20 Lighting unit 30 light source 32A, 32B, 32C First light-emitting element 34 Second light-emitting element 36 Substrate 40 Projection Lens 40a Outer periphery flange 42 Lens holder 42a Lens support 42b Translucent member support part 42c Notch 42d Horizontal flange 42d1 Locating pin 50, 150, 250, 350 Translucent material 52A, 52B, 52C, 152B, 252B 1st transparent part (reflector) 52Aa, 52Ba, 52Ca, 54a, 152Ba, 252Ba, 352Ba entrance plane 52Aa1, 52Ba1, 52Ca1, 54a1 central region Areas surrounding 52Aa2, 52Ba2, 52Ca2, 54a2, 152Ba2, 252Ba2, and 352Ba2 52Ab, 52Bb, 52Cb, 54b, 152Bb, 252Bb Total reflection surface 52Bb1, 52Cb1, 152Bb1, 252Bb1, 352Bb1 Uneven part 52c, 54c, 152c, 252c, 354c exit surface 54, 354 2nd transparent part 56 Outer periphery flange 60 Shades 60a, 360a upward reflective surface 60b Front end surface 60c rear end surface 62 Both left and right ends 62a Pin insertion hole 70 Heat sink 72 Main body 74 Heat dissipation fin Ax optical axis CL1 Oncoming lane cut-off line CL2 Cut-off line on own lane D Dark Area E Elbow point F back focus PA additional light distribution pattern PH High beam light distribution pattern PL low beam light distribution pattern P1C, P1L, P1R Light distribution pattern

Claims

1. In a vehicle lamp configured to form a low beam light distribution pattern, the lamp includes a projection lens, a light source disposed on the rear side of the rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector disposed above the light source and reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the projection lens, and a shade disposed between the reflector and the projection lens and blocking a portion of the reflected light from the reflector to form a cutoff line of the low beam light distribution pattern, an upward reflecting surface is formed on the shade to reflect the light reflected from the reflector upward toward the projection lens; The reflector is made of a light-transmitting material, the light-transmitting member includes an incident surface onto which light emitted from the light source is incident, a total reflection surface which totally reflects the light incident from the incident surface, and an exit surface which exits the light totally reflected by the total reflection surface, The total reflection surface is configured such that an uneven portion is formed in a part of a reflection area that totally reflects light incident from the incident surface as light toward the upward reflection surface of the shade.

2. 2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the uneven portion has a surface shape that causes light that is incident from the incident surface and reaches the uneven portion to exit into an external space of the light-transmitting member.

3. The shade is configured as a part of the light-transmitting member, 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the upward reflecting surface is formed by subjecting a surface of the light-transmitting member to a mirror finish.

Images