Vehicular lighting fixture

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture which has two units each of which forms a light distribution pattern, and which can be miniaturized.SOLUTION: A vehicular lighting fixture 10 includes: a first unit for emitting light from a first light source 21 from a first lens member 13 and for forming a first light distribution pattern; and a second unit for emitting light from a second light source 22 from a second lens member 14 and for forming a second light distribution pattern. The first lens member 13 includes: a first incident part 31 for allowing the light from the first light source 21 to enter; a first emission part 37 for emitting the light; and a first opening part 39 penetrating in the optical axis direction. The second lens member 14 includes: a second incident part 41 for allowing the light from the second light source 22 to enter; a second emission part 45 for emitting the light; and a second opening part 47 penetrating in the optical axis direction. The first opening part 39 corresponds to the light passing the second lens member 14, and the second opening part 47 corresponds to the light passing the first lens member 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle lamps.

Background Art

[0002] In vehicle lamps, it is conceivable to form a passing light distribution pattern with a low beam unit and a driving light distribution pattern with a high beam unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this vehicle lamp, the low beam unit and the high beam unit are arranged side by side to form an integrated configuration.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the above vehicle lamp is simply fixed with the low beam unit and the high beam unit arranged side by side, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of miniaturization.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle lamp having two units each forming a light distribution pattern and capable of being miniaturized.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle lamp of the present disclosure includes a first unit that emits light from a first light source from a first lens member to form a first light distribution pattern, and a second unit that emits light from a second light source from a second lens member to form a second light distribution pattern. The first lens member has a first incident portion that receives light from the first light source, a first emission portion that emits the incident light, and a first opening that penetrates in the optical axis direction. The second lens member has a second incident portion that receives light from the second light source, a second emission portion that emits the incident light, and a second opening that penetrates in the optical axis direction. The first opening corresponds to the light passing through the second lens member, and the second opening corresponds to the light passing through the first lens member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, it has two units that each form a light distribution pattern and can be miniaturized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, Example 1 of the vehicle lamp 10 as an example of the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 9 and 10, in order to facilitate understanding of the state in which the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14 are overlapped, the first lens member 13 is shown in white, and the second lens member 14 is shown in color.

Example

[0010] The vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 according to an embodiment of the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 is used as a headlamp device for a vehicle such as an automobile. This vehicle lamp 10 is provided in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp housing whose open front end is covered with an outer lens on both the left and right sides at the front part of the vehicle. The vehicle lamp 10 is provided in the lamp chamber via a vertical optical axis adjustment mechanism and a horizontal optical axis adjustment mechanism, and appropriately irradiates the front of the vehicle. In the following description, in the vehicle lamp 10, the direction in which the vehicle travels is defined as the front-rear direction (designated as Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the front-rear direction is along the horizontal plane is defined as the up-down direction (designated as Y in the drawings), and the direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction (horizontal direction) is defined as the width direction (designated as X in the drawings). Here, since the vehicle lamp 10 provided on the left side of the vehicle and the vehicle lamp 10 provided on the right side of the vehicle have basically the same configuration but are inverted in the width direction (left and right), hereinafter, the vehicle lamp 10 provided on the right side will be used for description.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 constitutes a projector-type lamp unit in which a light source unit 12, a first lens member 13, a second lens member 14, a projection lens 15, and a frame member 16 are attached to an attachment member 11, with the front-rear direction being the optical axis direction. The attachment member 11 is formed of an aluminum plate, aluminum die-cast, or resin having heat conductivity, and is provided with a plurality of heat dissipation fins 11a. This attachment member 11 functions as a heat sink that mainly releases the heat generated by the light source unit 12 to the outside from each of the heat dissipation fins 11a. This attachment member 11 is fixed to the lamp housing via a bracket (not shown). In the attachment member 11, a cooling fan unit may be appropriately provided to enhance the cooling efficiency. Three screw holes 11b are provided in the attachment member 11. Each screw hole 11b can be fixed by screwing in a screw 19.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 12 includes five first light sources 21, four second light sources 22, a connector terminal 23, and a substrate 24 on which they are mounted. Each of these light sources (21, 22) is composed of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The first light sources 21 are provided on the outside (right side when viewing FIG. 2 from the front) and the lower side of the substrate 24, and five are arranged at substantially equal intervals from the outside, with the two located at both ends being at a higher position than the other three. Also, the second light sources 22 are provided on the inside and the upper side of the substrate 24, and four are arranged at substantially equal intervals from the inside.

[0013] The substrate 24 is in the form of a plate formed of an aluminum substrate. Note that the substrate 24 may be formed of a resin material such as a glass epoxy substrate, or may be formed of other materials. The substrate 24 is provided with a wiring pattern for electrically connecting five first light sources 21, four second light sources 22, and a connector terminal 23. The connector terminal 23 is configured such that a connection connector connected to the lighting control circuit is detachable. This substrate 24 appropriately supplies power from the lighting control circuit via the connector terminal 23 to appropriately light each of the first light sources 21 and each of the second light sources 22.

[0014] The first lens member 13 is provided corresponding to the five first light sources 21 of the light source unit 12 and is formed of a transparent resin. This first lens member 13 is an optical lens that guides the light emitted from each first light source 21 inward and forms a first light distribution pattern in cooperation with the projection lens 15. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first lens member 13 is provided with five first incident portions 31 on the lower side in the vertical direction and on the outer side in the width direction (the right side in FIG. 3). Each first incident portion 31 corresponds individually to each first light source 21 and has optical characteristics (such as the shape of the surface) according to the required light distribution image for each while having basically the same configuration as each other.

[0015] In each first incident portion 31, the portion facing the corresponding first light source 21 protrudes toward the first light source 21 side, and the center thereof is recessed toward the side opposite to the first light source 21, having a first opposed incident surface 32, a first inclined incident surface 33, and a first annular reflection surface 34. The first opposed incident surface 32 is curved convexly toward the first light source 21 side, and the first light source 21 is positioned near the rear-side (the first light source 21 side) focal point (rear-side focal point). The first opposed incident surface 32 makes the light emitted from the first light source 21 enter the first lens member 13 as parallel light traveling substantially parallel to the axis of the first incident portion 31 and makes it travel toward the lower-side internal reflection surface 35 described later. Note that this parallel light (parallel light) refers to light in a collimated state after passing through the first opposed incident surface 32.

[0016] The first inclined incident surface 33 is provided so as to surround the first opposed incident surface 32 in a frustum of a cone shape while protruding from the first opposed incident surface 32 toward the first light source 21 side. Of the light from the first light source 21, the light that does not travel toward the first opposed incident surface 32 is made to enter the first lens member 13. The first annular reflection surface 34 is provided so as to surround the first inclined incident surface 33 in a frustum of a cone shape, and is positioned at a location where the light that has entered the first lens member 13 from the first inclined incident surface 33 travels. The first annular reflection surface 34 reflects the light that has entered from the first inclined incident surface 33, and makes it travel toward the lower inner reflection surface 35, which will be described later, as parallel light that travels substantially parallel to the axis of the first incident portion 31. Note that the first annular reflection surface 34 may reflect light using total reflection, or may reflect light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like.

[0017] The lower inner reflection surface 35 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of each first incident portion 31. The lower inner reflection surface 35 reflects the light that has entered from each first incident portion 31 toward the upper inner reflection surface 36 of the first lens member 13. The lower inner reflection surface 35 is configured by providing a plurality of free-form surfaces based on a paraboloid having the vicinity of the cut-off edge portion 36a of the upper inner reflection surface 36 as a focal point. The lower inner reflection surface 35 reflects the light that has entered from the first incident portion 31, and makes the light travel toward the vicinity of the cut-off edge portion 36a. Note that the lower inner reflection surface 35 may use total reflection, perform a reflection process, or have another configuration as long as it reflects as described above. Further, the lower inner reflection surface 35 may be a single surface, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0018] The upper inner reflecting surface 36 is provided above the lower inner reflecting surface 35 in the vertical direction. This upper inner reflecting surface 36 reflects the light reflected by the lower inner reflecting surface 35 toward the first emitting portion 37 of the first lens member 13. At this upper inner reflecting surface 36, the lower edge portion is a cut-off edge portion 36a. This cut-off edge portion 36a forms a cut-off line and has a shape in which horizontal edges having different heights are joined by inclined edges. This cut-off edge portion 36a is located near the focal point (rear focal point) of the low lens portion 51 described later. Since this upper inner reflecting surface 36 does not reflect the light that has been reflected by the lower inner reflecting surface 35 and has traveled downward from the cut-off edge portion 36a toward the first emitting portion 37, the shape of the cut-off edge portion 36a can be reflected in the light reflected toward the first emitting portion 37. Note that even when the vehicle lamp 10 is provided on the left side of the vehicle, the relationship between the direction of inclination and the height at the cut-off edge portion 36a of the upper inner reflecting surface 36 is not inverted in the width direction. That is, although the vehicle lamp 10 is inverted in the width direction between the right side and the left side of the vehicle, the inclination of the cut-off edge portion 36a of the upper inner reflecting surface 36 is in the same direction for both.

[0019] The first emitting portion 37 is provided in front of the upper inner reflecting surface 36 in the front-rear direction. This first emitting portion 37 protrudes partially forward in the first lens member 13, and the protruding end is the first emitting surface 38. The first emitting surface 38 has a positional relationship of facing the upper inner reflecting surface 36 in the front-rear direction, and is a free-form surface based on a spherical surface set so that the focal point (rear focal point) of the low lens portion 51 described later is near the cut-off edge portion 36a of the upper inner reflecting surface 36. The first emitting surface 38 emits the light reflected by the upper inner reflecting surface 36 forward in the front-rear direction.

[0020] In this first lens member 13, a first opening 39 is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction and on the inner side in the width direction. This first opening 39 has a positional relationship parallel to the first emission surface 38 (first emission portion 37) in the width direction and penetrates the first lens member 13 in the front-rear direction. The first opening 39 is capable of receiving and surrounding four second incident portions 41 of the second lens member 14 described later (see FIG. 9). For this reason, the first opening 39 can allow the light passing through each second incident portion 41 to pass through and corresponds to the light passing through the second lens member 14.

[0021] The first lens member 13 is provided with three screw holes 13a. Each screw hole 13a has a positional relationship corresponding to the three screw holes 11b of the mounting member 11 and is capable of passing a screw 19 to be screwed into each screw hole 11b.

[0022] The second lens member 14 is provided corresponding to the four second light sources 22 of the light source unit 12 and is formed of a transparent resin. This second lens member 14 is an optical lens that guides the light emitted from each second light source 22 inward and forms a second light distribution pattern in cooperation with the projection lens 15. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the second lens member 14 is provided with four second incident portions 41 on the upper side in the vertical direction and on the inner side in the width direction (left side in FIG. 6). Each second incident portion 41 corresponds individually to each second light source 22 and has optical characteristics (such as the shape of the surface) according to the required light distribution image for each, while basically having the same configuration as each other.

[0023] In each second incident portion 41, the portion facing the corresponding second light source 22 protrudes toward the second light source 22 side, and the center thereof is recessed toward the side opposite to the second light source 22, having a second opposed incident surface 42, a second inclined incident surface 43, and a second annular reflection surface 44. The second opposed incident surface 42 is convexly curved toward the second light source 22 side, and the second light source 22 is positioned near the rear-side (second light source 22 side) focal point (rear-side focal point). The second opposed incident surface 42 makes the light emitted from the second light source 22 enter the second lens member 14 as parallel light traveling substantially parallel to the axis of the second incident portion 41 and travel toward a second emission portion 45 described later.

[0024] The second inclined incident surface 43 is provided so as to surround the second opposed incident surface 42 in a frustum of a cone shape while protruding from the second opposed incident surface 42 toward the second light source 22 side. Of the light from the second light source 22, the light that does not travel toward the second opposed incident surface 42 is made to enter the second lens member 14. The second annular reflection surface 44 is provided so as to surround the second inclined incident surface 43 in a frustum of a cone shape, and is the position where the light that has entered the second lens member 14 from the second inclined incident surface 43 travels. The second annular reflection surface 44 reflects the light incident from the second inclined incident surface 43, and makes it travel toward a second emission part 45, which will be described later, as parallel light that travels substantially parallel to the axis of the second incident part 41. Note that the second annular reflection surface 44 may reflect light using total reflection, or may reflect light by adhering aluminum, silver, or the like by vapor deposition, painting, or the like.

[0025] The second emission part 45 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of the second incident part 41. The second emission part 45 protrudes partially toward the front side in the second lens member 14, and the protruding end thereof is the second emission surface 46. The second emission surface 46 has a positional relationship of facing the second incident part 41 in the front-rear direction, and is a free-form surface that expands the light from at least the second incident part 41 in the width direction. The second emission surface 46 emits the light from the second incident part 41 toward the front side in the front-rear direction.

[0026] In this second lens member 14, a second opening 47 is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction and on the outer side in the width direction. The second opening 47 has a positional relationship of being aligned with the second emission surface 46 (second emission part 45) in the width direction, and penetrates the second lens member 14 in the front-rear direction. The second opening 47 is capable of receiving the first emission part 37 so as to surround the first emission surface 38 of the first lens member 13 (see FIG. 10). For this reason, the second opening 47 can allow the light passing through each first emission part 37 to pass through, and corresponds to the light passing through the first lens member 13.

[0027] Further, in the second lens member 14, a shielding wall portion 48 is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction and on the outer side in the width direction. This shielding wall portion 48 is configured to cover from the lower internal reflection surface 35 in the first lens member 13 to the lower side of the first emission portion 37 from the front side in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the shielding wall portion 48 can suppress the light traveling from each first light source 21 to the first lens member 13 from traveling in an unintended direction.

[0028] Furthermore, in the second lens member 14, an annular wall portion 49 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction between the second emission portion 45 (second emission surface 46) and the second opening 47. This annular wall portion 49 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the width direction and surrounds the second emission portion 45 and the second opening 47, and is configured to be able to follow along the inside of the frame member 16 (see FIG. 2 and the like). In the annular wall portion 49, a diffusion portion 49a is provided on the inside. This diffusion portion 49a diffuses the light passing through it, and in the first embodiment, it is formed by arranging long protrusions and depressions that extend in the front-rear direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to it.

[0029] The second lens member 14 is provided with two threaded holes 14a. Each threaded hole 14a has a positional relationship corresponding to the two threaded holes 11b at both ends of the mounting member 11, and is configured to allow a screw 19 to pass through each of the threaded holes 11b.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projection lens 15 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of the first emission surface 38 (first emission portion 37) of the first lens member 13 and the second emission surface 46 (second emission portion 45) of the second lens member 14. This projection lens 15 projects the light emitted from the first emission surface 38 and the light emitted from the second emission surface 46 forward of the vehicle to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. The projection lens 15 is a molded product made of a resin material.

[0031] The projection lens 15 has a low lens part 51 and a high lens part 52. The low lens part 51 is located in front of the first exit surface 38, that is, on the outer side in the width direction of the projection lens 15, and is a convex lens inclined so as to go backward as it goes outward. The low lens part 51 has a focus (rear focus) near the cut-off edge part 36a of the upper internal reflection surface 36. By irradiating the light from the first exit surface 38, the low lens part 51 projects the shape of the upper internal reflection surface 36 including the cut-off edge part 36a onto a screen where a horizontal line and a vertical line intersect with the projection optical axis as the origin. Thereby, on the above screen, the low lens part 51 has a cut-off line on the projection optical axis, and can form an oncoming vehicle lighting distribution pattern that makes the vicinity of the projection optical axis the brightest and brightens a large area in the width direction below the cut-off line.

[0032] The high lens part 52 is located in front of the second exit surface 46, that is, on the inner side in the width direction of the projection lens 15, and is a thick convex lens extending substantially in the width direction, and the exit surface is a convex surface that protrudes greatly forward in the front-rear direction. By irradiating the light from the second exit surface 46, the high lens part 52 can form a driving lighting distribution pattern that irradiates the upper part of the oncoming vehicle lighting distribution pattern while partially overlapping the upper end part of the oncoming vehicle lighting distribution pattern on the above screen.

[0033] Therefore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the five first light sources 21 of the light source part 12, the first lens member 13, and the projection lens 15 function as a low beam unit 17 which is a first unit that forms an oncoming vehicle lighting distribution pattern as a first lighting distribution pattern. Also, in the vehicle lamp 10, the four second light sources 22 of the light source part 12, the second lens member 14, and the projection lens 15 function as a high beam unit 18 which is a second unit that forms a driving lighting distribution pattern as a second lighting distribution pattern.

[0034] The projection lens 15 is provided with a flange portion 15a. This flange portion 15a protrudes outward while surrounding the low lens portion 51 and the high lens portion 52, and can be applied to the front end of the annular wall portion 49 of the second lens member 14.

[0035] The frame member 16 is annular and surrounds the second lens member 14 and the projection lens 15. Two screw holes 16a are provided in this frame member 16. Each screw hole 16a has a positional relationship corresponding to the two screw holes 11b at both ends of the attachment member 11, and it is possible to pass screws 19 that are screwed into each screw hole 11b.

[0036] The vehicle lamp 10 is assembled as shown in FIG. 2. First, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14 are overlapped and combined in the optical axis direction (front-rear direction) in a positional relationship where the first light-emitting portion 37 is inserted into the second opening portion 47 while the shielding wall portion 48 is applied below the first light-emitting portion 37, and four second light-incident portions 41 are positioned in the first opening portion 39. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the projection lens 15 is inserted inward from the rear side in the front-rear direction into the frame member 16. Then, with the flange portion 15a of the projection lens 15 applied to the front end of the annular wall portion 49 of the second lens member 14, a positional relationship is set such that the annular wall portion 49 is inserted inward of the frame member 16. While maintaining those states, the frame member 16, the projection lens 15, the second lens member 14, and the first lens member 13 are arranged and positioned in front of the attachment member 11 to which the light source unit 12 is attached. In that state, two screws 19 are screwed into the screw holes 11b through the screw holes 16a and the screw-through holes 14a and then through the screw-through holes 13a, and one screw 19 is screwed into the screw hole 11b through the lower screw-through hole 13a. Thereby, the light source unit 12, the first lens member 13, the second lens member 14, the projection lens 15, and the frame member 16 are assembled to the attachment member 11 to form the vehicle lamp 10.

[0037] In the low beam unit 17 of this vehicle lamp 10, by lighting five first light sources 21, light from each of them can be emitted from the first lens member 13 and projected by the projection lens 15 to form an oncoming vehicle light distribution pattern. Also, in the high beam unit 18 of the vehicle lamp 10, by lighting four second light sources 22, light from each of them can be emitted from the second lens member 14 and projected by the projection lens 15 to form a driving light distribution pattern that irradiates the upper part of the oncoming vehicle light distribution pattern while partially overlapping the upper end of the oncoming vehicle light distribution pattern.

[0038] In the low beam unit 17 of the vehicle lamp 10 that forms the oncoming vehicle light distribution pattern, since the light from each first light source 21 is made to enter from each first entrance portion 31, the light from each first light source 21 with a spread can be efficiently made to enter the first lens member 13. And since the first lens member 13 forms a cut-off line while totally reflecting the incident light with the lower internal reflection surface 35 and the upper internal reflection surface 36, the oncoming vehicle light distribution pattern can be formed while efficiently using the light.

[0039] Also, in the high beam unit 18 of the vehicle lamp 10 that forms the driving light distribution pattern, since the light from each second light source 22 is made to enter from each second entrance portion 41, the light from each second light source 22 with a spread can be efficiently made to enter the second lens member 14. And since the second lens member 14 makes the incident light travel directly to the second exit surface 46 of the second exit portion 45, the driving light distribution pattern can be formed while efficiently using the light.

[0040] Here, the problems of the conventional vehicle lamp technology will be described. The conventional vehicle lamp has an integrated configuration by arranging a low beam unit that forms a passing light distribution pattern and a high beam unit that forms a driving light distribution pattern side by side. Since this conventional vehicle lamp has an integrated configuration, it facilitates handling and can make the positional relationship between the passing light distribution pattern and the driving light distribution pattern appropriate. However, since the conventional vehicle lamp simply fixes the low beam unit and the high beam unit side by side, there is room for improvement from the perspective of miniaturization.

[0041] On the other hand, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present disclosure has an integrated configuration in which the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14 are overlapped in the optical axis direction (front-rear direction) by inserting the first emission portion 37 into the second opening portion 47 and positioning each second incident portion 41 within the first opening portion 39. In the first lens member 13 of this vehicle lamp 10, the first emission surface 38 (first emission portion 37) and the first opening portion 39 are in a positional relationship arranged side by side in the width direction, and in the second lens member 14, the second emission surface 46 (second emission portion 45) and the second opening portion 47 are in a positional relationship arranged side by side in the width direction. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 can be made into an integrated type with the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 being close to each other while arranging the first emission surface 38 and the second emission surface 46 close to each other and side by side in the width direction, and can be miniaturized. In addition, by assembling the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14, the vehicle lamp 10 can position the low beam unit 17 including the first emission surface 38 and the high beam unit 18 including the second emission surface 46, and can improve the accuracy of the positional relationship.

[0042] In addition, the vehicle lamp 10 forms the main optical system of the low beam unit 17 with the first lens member 13 and forms the main optical system of the high beam unit 18 with the second lens member 14. The vehicle lamp 10 has a first opening 39 in which the first lens member 13 positions each second incident portion 41 inward with respect to the high beam unit 18, and the second lens member 14 has a second opening 47 in which the first emission portion 37 is inserted inward with respect to the low beam unit 17. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can individually perform optical adjustment of each unit (17, 18) by appropriately adjusting the optical characteristics of the corresponding lens member (13, 14). Thereby, the vehicle lamp 10 can appropriately form the first light distribution pattern (the passing light distribution pattern in the first embodiment) and the second light distribution pattern (the traveling light distribution pattern in the first embodiment) while suppressing the manufacturing cost and the complexity of adjustment.

[0043] As an example of the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure, the vehicle lamp 10 can obtain the following respective operational effects.

[0044] The vehicle lamp 10 includes a low beam unit 17 as a first unit that emits light from the first light source 21 from the first lens member 13 to form a first light distribution pattern, and a high beam unit 18 as a second unit that emits light from the second light source 22 from the second lens member 14 to form a second light distribution pattern. The first lens member 13 has a first incident portion 31 for incident light from the first light source 21, a first emission portion 37 for emitting the incident light, and a first opening 39 penetrating in the optical axis direction. The second lens member 14 has a second incident portion 41 for incident light from the second light source 22, a second emission portion 45 for emitting the incident light, and a second opening 47 penetrating in the optical axis direction. The first opening 39 corresponds to the light passing through the second lens member 14, and the second opening 47 has a positional relationship corresponding to the light passing through the first lens member 13. Thereby, since the vehicle lamp 10 can be provided such that the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14 overlap each other, the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 can be integrated in a state of being close to each other, and the size can be reduced.

[0045] Further, in the vehicle lamp 10, the second incident portion 41 is positioned at the first opening 39, and the first emission portion 37 is inserted into the second opening 47. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can be provided such that the first lens member 13 and the second lens member 14 are combined with each other, and can be made into an integral type with the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 closer to each other, and can be made smaller.

[0046] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp 10, the second lens member 14 is formed of a material that permits light transmission, has an annular wall portion 49 surrounding the second emission portion 45 and the second opening 47, and a diffusion portion 49a for diffusing light incident on the inner wall surface facing the second emission portion 45 and the second opening 47 is provided in the annular wall portion 49. Therefore, even when unintended light is generated, the vehicle lamp 10 can make the light less conspicuous by diffusing the light, and can prevent unintended portions from being illuminated. In addition, even when strong light from the outside, such as sunlight, travels inward, the vehicle lamp 10 can prevent a member (the frame member 16 in the first embodiment) that supports the second lens member 14 from being deformed or the like due to the influence of heat. Specifically, it is as follows. First, the light from the outside may be condensed on an unintended portion by an outer lens or the like and travel to the frame member 16, and there is a risk that the portion may be deformed or the like due to the influence of heat. In contrast, since the vehicle lamp 10 is provided with the annular wall portion 49 having the diffusion portion 49a in the second lens member 14, even when the light from the outside travels to the frame member 16, it travels after being diffused by the diffusion portion 49a, so that it is possible to prevent the light from being condensed on an unintended portion. Here, since the second lens member 14 is formed of a material that permits light transmission, it hardly absorbs the light (its energy) that has traveled to itself including the annular wall portion 49, so the possibility of being affected by heat is extremely low.

[0047] The vehicle lamp 10 uses a cut-off line passing light distribution pattern as the first light distribution pattern. The first lens member 13 reflects the light incident from the first incident portion 31 with a lower internal reflection surface 35 and an upper internal reflection surface 36 as internal reflection surfaces in a crossing direction intersecting the optical axis direction, and emits the light from the first emission portion 37. Further, the internal reflection surface (upper internal reflection surface 36) has a cut-off edge portion 36a forming a cut-off line. The second lens member 14 advances the light incident from the second incident portion 41 in the optical axis direction and emits the light from the second emission portion 45. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can be configured to form a cut-off line of the passing light distribution pattern when reflecting with the internal reflection surface, and can be integrated in a state where the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 with different light traveling directions are close to each other.

[0048] In the vehicle lamp 10, the first emission surface 38 (first emission portion 37) and the first opening 39 are arranged in a side-by-side relationship in the width direction in the first lens member 13, and the second emission surface 46 (second emission portion 45) and the second opening 47 are arranged in a side-by-side relationship in the width direction in the second lens member 14. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 can arrange the two emission surfaces (38, 46) close to each other in the width direction while integrating the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 with different light traveling directions in a close state.

[0049] The vehicle lamp 10 is provided with a first light source 21 and a second light source 22 on the same substrate 24. On the substrate 24, the first light source 21 is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction, and the second light source 22 is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction. And the vehicle lamp 10 has a positional relationship in which the first emission surface 38 and the first opening 39 are arranged side by side in the width direction, and a positional relationship in which the second emission surface 46 and the second opening 47 are arranged side by side in the width direction. While arranging the two emission surfaces (38, 46) close to each other in the width direction, the low beam unit 17 and the high beam unit 18 have different light traveling directions. For this reason, the vehicle lamp 10 can arrange the two light sources (21, 22) in a diagonal positional relationship on the substrate 24, and can increase the interval between the two light sources (21, 22) by efficiently using the size of the substrate 24. As a result, the vehicle lamp 10 mounts the two light sources (21, 22) on a single substrate 24, so that the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced, and the interval between the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 can be increased compared to the case of arranging them side by side in the width direction, and the heat from the two light sources (21, 22) can be efficiently dissipated.

[0050] Therefore, the vehicle lamp 10 of Example 1 as the vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure has two units (first unit, second unit) each forming a light distribution pattern (first light distribution pattern, second light distribution pattern), and can be miniaturized.

[0051] As described above, the vehicle lamp of the present disclosure has been described based on Example 1. However, the specific configuration is not limited to Example 1, and design changes, additions, etc. are allowed as long as the gist of the invention according to each claim of the claims is not deviated from.

[0052] In addition, in the above-described Example 1, the first unit is the low beam unit 17, and the second unit is the high beam unit 18. However, as long as the first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern are formed by two units, it is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0053] In addition, in the above-described first embodiment, five first light sources 21 were provided in the low beam unit 17, and four second light sources 22 were provided in the high beam unit 18. However, the number of each light source may be set as appropriate and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described first embodiment.

[0054] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, in the first lens member 13 of the low beam unit 17, the first incident portion 31 was provided below the first emission portion 37. However, it may be above or in other directions and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described first embodiment.

[0055] In the above-described first embodiment, the first unit (low beam unit 17) and the second unit (high beam unit 18) were arranged side by side in the width direction. However, the positional relationship may be set as appropriate and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described first embodiment.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0056] 10 Vehicle lamp 13 First lens member 14 Second lens member 17 Low beam unit (as an example of the first unit) 18 High beam unit (as an example of the second unit) 21 First light source 22 Second light source 24 Substrate 31 First incident portion 35 Lower internal reflection surface (as an example of the internal reflection surface) 36 Upper internal reflection surface (as an example of the internal reflection surface) 36a Cutoff edge portion 37 First emission portion 39 First opening 41 Second incident portion 45 Second emission portion 47 Second opening 49 Annular wall portion 49a Diffusion portion

Claims

1. A first unit that emits light from a first light source from a first lens member to form a first light distribution pattern; A second unit that emits light from a second light source from a second lens member to form a second light distribution pattern, and The first lens member has a first incident portion that receives light from the first light source, a first exit portion that emits the incident light, and a first opening that penetrates in the optical axis direction. The second lens member has a second incident portion that receives light from the second light source, a second exit portion that emits the incident light, and a second opening that penetrates in the optical axis direction. The first opening corresponds to light passing through the second lens member. A vehicle lamp, wherein the second opening corresponds to light passing through the first lens member.

2. The second incident portion is positioned in the first opening, The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first exit portion is inserted into the second opening.

3. The second lens member is formed of a material that permits light transmission and has an annular wall portion that surrounds the second exit portion and the second opening. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the annular wall portion is provided with a diffusion portion on an inner wall surface facing the second exit portion and the second opening for diffusing incident light.

4. The first light distribution pattern is an overlapping light distribution pattern having a cut-off line. The first lens member reflects light incident from the first incident portion at an internal reflection surface in a crossing direction intersecting the optical axis direction and emits the light from the first exit portion. The internal reflection surface has a cut-off edge portion that forms the cut-off line. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second lens member advances light incident from the second incident portion in the optical axis direction and emits the light from the second exit portion.

5. The first lens member has a positional relationship in which the first exit portion and the first opening are arranged side by side in the width direction. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the second lens member has a positional relationship in which the second exit portion and the second opening are arranged side by side in the width direction.

6. The first light source and the second light source are provided on the same substrate. The vehicle lamp according to claim 5, wherein in the substrate, the first light source is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction and the second light source is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction.

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