Lamp unit for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a lamp unit for vehicles that can suppress reduction in product lifetime of an electronic component for causing emission of light from a light source.SOLUTION: A lamp unit for vehicles 11 comprises a unit body 13 attachable to a vehicle and a light source 14 provided in the unit body 13, the lamp unit configured to apply light from the light source 14 toward a road surface 15. The unit body 13 is provided, as a moving device for relatively moving the light source 14 vertically with respect to the unit body 13, with a telescopic portion 16 and an actuator 17. The actuator 17, when the vehicle surroundings are bright in comparison with when dark, relatively moves the light source 14 downward with respect to the unit body 13 to bring the light source 14 closer to the road surface 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The vehicle lamp unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a unit body and a light source. The unit body can be attached to a vehicle. The light source is provided in the unit body. The vehicle lamp unit irradiates light from the light source onto the road surface when a user approaches the vehicle, allowing the user to see the light irradiated onto the road surface. Such a vehicle lamp unit is used, for example, as a welcome lamp in the vehicle or to indicate to the user the position of a kick sensor for opening the vehicle door. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-13722 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, such as during the day, it is more difficult for the user to see the light emitted by the vehicle lamp unit onto the road surface than when the surroundings are dark, such as at night. To address this issue, it is conceivable to increase the amount of power supplied to the light source so that the light source emits brighter light onto the road surface when the surroundings of the vehicle are bright compared to when the surroundings are dark. However, in this case, the amount of heat generated by the electronic components required to emit light from the light source increases, which may shorten the product life of the electronic components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Next, various aspects of the vehicle lamp unit that solve the above problems will be described. (Aspect 1) A vehicle lamp unit comprising a unit body that can be attached to a vehicle and a light source provided in the unit body, and irradiating light from the light source toward a road surface, wherein the unit body is provided with a moving device that moves the light source relative to the unit body in an up and down direction, and the moving device moves the light source downward relative to the unit body when it is bright around the vehicle compared to when it is dark, thereby bringing the light source closer to the road surface.

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the area around the vehicle is bright, the light source is closer to the road surface than when it is dark, so the light irradiated from the light source onto the road surface appears brighter to the user. Therefore, when the area around the vehicle is bright, the user can easily see the light irradiated onto the road surface without increasing the amount of power supplied to the light source to irradiate brighter light from the light source onto the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of heat generated by electronic components for irradiating light from the light source, which occurs when the amount of power supplied to the light source is increased as described above, and a shortened product life of the electronic components due to such an increase in heat generation.

[0007] (Aspect 2) The moving device is a first moving device, and the unit body can be moved in the vertical direction by a second moving device, and when the light emission from the light source is stopped, the second moving device moves the unit body upward to a position where the unit body is stored in the vehicle (described in embodiment 1).

[0008] According to the above configuration, when the light source is not emitting light, in other words, when the light source is not being used to emit light, the unit body is stored in the vehicle, thereby preventing the unit body from protruding from the vehicle when the light source is not being used to emit light.

[0009] (Aspect 3) The vehicle lamp unit described in (embodiment 2) in which the unit body is equipped with a filter that keeps the light irradiation range on the road surface constant when light from the light source is irradiated toward the road surface.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the light from the light source is irradiated onto the road surface via a filter, so that the irradiation range of the light on the road surface is constant regardless of the distance between the light source and the road surface. (Aspect 4) The moving device is a first moving device, and the unit main body is equipped with a filter that keeps the light irradiation range on the road surface constant when light from the light source is irradiated toward the road surface, and a second moving device that moves the filter relatively in the vertical direction relative to the unit main body, and the second moving device moves the filter so that when the light irradiation from the light source is stopped, the filter is positioned higher than when the light irradiation from the light source is being performed (vehicle lamp unit described in embodiment 1).

[0011] According to the above configuration, when the light source is not emitting light, in other words, when the light source is not being used to emit light, the filter is moved to a higher position than when the light source is emitting light, thereby preventing the filter from protruding downward from the unit body when the light source is not being used to emit light.

[0012] (Aspect 5) A vehicle lamp unit described in any one of (Aspect 2) to (Aspect 4), wherein the unit main body can be attached to the lower part of the body of the vehicle in a location where there are no obstructions between it and the road surface.

[0013] According to the above configuration, since the unit main body is attached to the lower part of the vehicle body at a location where there are no obstacles between the unit main body and the road surface, if the light source or filter protrudes downward from the unit main body while the vehicle is traveling, the light source or filter is likely to hit an obstacle on the road surface. However, when the light source is not emitting light, in other words, when the light source is not being used to emit light, the light source or filter is prevented from protruding downward from the lower part of the vehicle. This prevents the light source or filter from hitting an obstacle on the road surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle lamp unit and its surroundings. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing how a unit body and a light source in the vehicle lamp unit of FIG. 1 move. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle lamp unit and its surroundings. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram showing how a filter in the vehicle lamp unit of FIG. 3 expands and contracts. [Figure 5] 4 is a schematic diagram showing how a light source in the vehicle lamp unit of FIG. 3 moves. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a vehicle lamp unit will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0016] 1 and 2, the vehicle lamp unit 11 includes a unit main body 13 that can be attached to the lower end of a vehicle body 12, and a light source 14 provided in the unit main body 13. The vehicle lamp unit 11 irradiates light from the light source 14 toward a road surface 15. The light source 14 is able to irradiate light toward the road surface 15 by receiving a power supply from electronic components mounted in the vehicle lamp unit 11. Such a vehicle lamp unit 11 can be used, for example, as a welcome lamp in a vehicle.

[0017] The unit body 13 includes an extension / contraction section 16 that can extend downward and contract upward, and an actuator 17 for operating the extension / contraction section 16. The light source 14 is attached to the tip of the extension / contraction section 16 in the extension / contraction direction, i.e., the bottom end in FIG. 1. The light source 14 moves downward relative to the unit body 13 by extending the extension / contraction section 16 downward with the actuator 17. The light source 14 also moves upward relative to the unit body 13 by contracting the extension / contraction section 16 upward with the actuator 17. Therefore, the actuator 17 and the extension / contraction section 16 function as a first moving device that moves the light source 14 vertically relative to the unit body 13.

[0018] The unit body 13 is equipped with a filter 18. The filter 18 has a cylindrical portion 19 attached to the unit body 13 so as to protrude downward, and a limiting portion 20 provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion 19 in the direction of protrusion from the unit body 13. The light source 14 is located inside the filter 18. The limiting portion 20 of the filter 18 transmits light emitted from the light source 14 to keep the illumination range AR of the light on the road surface 15 constant. Therefore, when the light from the light source 14 is irradiated onto the road surface 15 through the limiting portion 20, the illumination range AR of the light on the road surface 15 is kept constant regardless of the relative position of the light source 14 with respect to the unit body 13. The limiting portion 20 also has the function of displaying letters or patterns in the illumination range AR on the road surface 15 when the light from the light source 14 transmits and is irradiated onto the road surface 15.

[0019] The unit body 13 is provided with an actuator 21 as a second moving device. The actuator 21 enables the unit body 13 to move up and down relative to the lower end of the body 12 of the vehicle. When the actuator 21 moves the unit body 13 including the filter 18 and the like downward, the unit body 13 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the body 12. When the actuator 21 moves the unit body 13 upward, the unit body 13 including the filter 18 and the like moves to a position above the lower surface of the body 12, in other words, to a position where it is stored in the vehicle.

[0020] The unit main body 13 is controlled by a computer 22. Various sensors including an illuminance sensor 23 are connected to the computer 22. The illuminance sensor 23 is capable of outputting a signal corresponding to the brightness around the vehicle to the computer 22. The computer 22 controls the operation of the actuators 17, 21 in the unit main body 13 and also controls the turning on and off of the light source 14 in the unit main body 13 based on whether the lighting condition or the extinguishing condition is met.

[0021] <Control of the actuators 17, 21 and the light source 14 by the computer 22> The lighting conditions are conditions that determine whether the user has started to get on or off the vehicle. The computer 22 determines whether the lighting conditions are met, for example, as follows: That is, the computer 22 determines that the user has started to get on the vehicle and that the lighting conditions are met when all of the following conditions are met: (A1) the light emission from the light source 14 has stopped, and (A2) the user is present near the vehicle.

[0022] In addition, when all of the above conditions (A1), (A3) the user is present inside the vehicle, and (A4) the vehicle door is open are met, the computer 22 determines that the user has started to disembark and the above lighting condition is met.

[0023] Based on the determination that the above lighting conditions are met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 21 to move the unit main body 13 including the filter 18 etc. from a position where it is stored in the vehicle to a position where it protrudes downward below the underside of the body 12, as shown in Fig. 2. When the actuator 21 receives the command signal from the computer 22, it moves the unit main body 13 downward as described above.

[0024] Based on the determination that the above lighting conditions are met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the unit main body 13 to cause the light source 14 to emit light toward the road surface 15. Based on the input of the command signal from the computer 22, the unit main body 13 causes the light source 14 to emit light. The light thus emitted from the light source 14 is irradiated onto the road surface 15 through the restricting portion 20 of the filter 18.

[0025] When light is being emitted from the light source 14, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 17 to move the light source 14 downward relative to the unit body 13 when it is bright around the vehicle compared to when it is dark. The computer 22 grasps the brightness around the vehicle based on a signal from the illuminance sensor 23. When the command signal from the computer 22 is input, the actuator 17 extends or contracts the extension / contraction part 16 in accordance with the command signal. As a result, when it is bright around the vehicle, such as during the day, the light source 14 moves downward relative to the unit body 13 and closer to the road surface 15 compared to when it is dark around the vehicle, such as at night.

[0026] The relative position of light source 14 in the up-down direction with respect to unit body 13 can be adjusted in two stages: during the day when the area around the vehicle is brighter than a threshold, and at night when the area around the vehicle is darker than the threshold. It is also possible to move light source 14 so that the relative position of light source 14 with respect to unit body 13 gradually becomes lower as the area around the vehicle becomes brighter.

[0027] The light-off condition is a condition that determines whether the user has finished riding or disembarking. The computer 22 determines whether the light-off condition is met, for example, as follows: (B1) light is being emitted from the light source 14, (B2) the user is present near the vehicle, and (B3) the vehicle door is open. When all of the following conditions are met, the computer 22 determines that the user has finished riding and the light-off condition is met.

[0028] The computer 22 may determine that the user's ride has ended and the above-mentioned light-off condition is met when all of the following conditions are met: (B1) and (B4) the user is present inside the vehicle, and (B5) the vehicle doors are closed. The computer 22 may determine that the user's ride has ended and the above-mentioned light-off condition is met when all of the following conditions are met: (B1) and (B5) the operation of the engine mounted on the vehicle has started.

[0029] Furthermore, when all of the above conditions (B1) and (B6) that the user is not present inside or near the vehicle are met, the computer 22 determines that the user has finished disembarking and that the above-mentioned light-off condition is met.

[0030] Based on the determination that the above-mentioned extinguishing condition is met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 21 to move the unit main body 13 including the filter 18 etc. to a position where it is stored in the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 1. When the actuator 21 receives the command signal from the computer 22, it moves the unit main body 13 upward as described above.

[0031] Based on the determination that the above-mentioned light-off condition is met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the unit main body 13 to stop emitting light from the light source 14 toward the road surface 15. Based on the input of the command signal from the computer 22, the unit main body 13 stops emitting light from the light source 14.

[0032] The computer 22 may be incorporated into the vehicle lamp unit 11, or may be separate from the vehicle lamp unit 11 and mounted on the vehicle. If the computer 22 is separate from the vehicle lamp unit 11 and mounted on the vehicle, it is conceivable that the computer 22 will be connected to the vehicle lamp unit 11 when the vehicle lamp unit 11 is installed on the vehicle.

[0033] The illuminance sensor 23 may be newly provided to control the vehicle lamp unit 11, or may be used in combination with an illuminance sensor mounted on the vehicle to control the vehicle headlamps. If the illuminance sensor 23 is newly provided to control the vehicle lamp unit 11, the illuminance sensor 23 may be incorporated into the vehicle lamp unit 11.

[0034] Next, the operation and effect of the vehicle lamp unit 11 of this embodiment will be described. (1-1) When the area around the vehicle is bright, light source 14 is brought closer to road surface 15 compared to when it is dark, and the light irradiated from light source 14 onto road surface 15 appears brighter to the user. Therefore, when the area around the vehicle is bright, the user can easily see the light irradiated onto road surface 15, even if the amount of power supplied to light source 14 is not increased to irradiate brighter light from light source 14 onto road surface 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of heat generated by electronic components for irradiating light from light source 14, which would occur if the amount of power supplied to light source 14 were increased as described above, and to prevent a shortening of the product life of the electronic components due to such an increase in heat generation.

[0035] (1-2) When the light source 14 stops emitting light, in other words, when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light, the unit body 13 is stored in the vehicle. This prevents the unit body 13 from protruding from the underside of the body 12 of the vehicle when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light.

[0036] (1-3) The unit body 13 includes a filter 18 that keeps the illumination range AR of the light on the road surface 15 constant when the light from the light source 14 is irradiated toward the road surface 15. The light from the light source 14 is irradiated onto the road surface 15 through the limiting portion 20 of the filter 18, so that the illumination range AR of the light on the road surface 15 is constant regardless of the distance between the light source 14 and the road surface 15. The filter 18 moves integrally with the unit body 13. Therefore, when the light source 14 stops emitting light, in other words, when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light, the filter 18 is moved to a higher position compared to when the light source 14 is emitting light. More specifically, the filter 18 is moved upward together with the unit body 13 to a position where it is stored in the vehicle. This prevents the filter 18 from protruding downward from the underside of the vehicle body 12 when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light.

[0037] (1-4) Because the unit main body 13 is attached to the lower end of the body 12 of the vehicle, there is a risk that the light source 14 and the filter 18 may protrude downward from the underside of the body 12 relative to the unit main body 13. If the light source 14 and the filter 18 protrude downward from the underside of the body 12 while the vehicle is traveling, the light source 14 and the filter 18 are more likely to hit an obstacle on the road surface 15. However, when the light source 14 is stopped from emitting light, in other words, when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light, the light source 14 and the filter 18 are prevented from protruding downward from the underside of the vehicle body 12, as described above. This prevents the light source 14 and the filter 18 from hitting an obstacle on the road surface 15.

[0038] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle lamp unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the unit body 13 of the vehicle lamp unit 11 in this embodiment is attached to the underside of the body 12 of the vehicle. The unit body 13 is fixed to the underside of the body 12. The filter 18 of the unit body 13 has an expansion / contraction section 24 that can expand downward and contract upward relative to the cylindrical section 19. The limiting section 20 of the filter 18 is provided at the tip end of the expansion / contraction direction of the expansion / contraction section 24, i.e., at the lower end in Figures 3 to 5.

[0040] The actuator 21 operates to extend and retract the extension / contraction portion 24 of the unit body 13 in the vertical direction as described above. The actuator 21 serves as a second moving device that moves the restriction portion 20 of the filter 18 in the vertical direction relative to the unit body 13. Based on the determination that the above-mentioned lighting condition is met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 21 to extend the extension / contraction portion 24 as shown in FIG. 4. When the actuator 21 receives the command signal from the computer 22, it extends the extension / contraction portion 24, thereby moving the restriction portion 20 downward relative to the unit body 13.

[0041] After the extendable section 24 is extended as described above, the computer 22, based on the determination that the above-mentioned lighting condition is met, outputs a command signal to the unit main body 13 to cause the light source 14 to emit light toward the road surface 15. Based on the input of the command signal from the computer 22, the unit main body 13 causes the light source 14 to emit light. The light thus emitted from the light source 14 is irradiated onto the road surface 15 through the restricting section 20 of the filter 18.

[0042] Furthermore, when light is being emitted from the light source 14, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 17 to move the light source 14 downward relative to the unit body 13 when the area around the vehicle is bright compared to when it is dark. When the command signal from the computer 22 is input, the actuator 17 extends and retracts the extension / contraction part 16 in accordance with the command signal, as shown in Fig. 5. As a result, when the area around the vehicle is bright, such as during the day, the light source 14 moves downward relative to the unit body 13 and closer to the road surface 15 compared to when the area around the vehicle is dark, such as at night.

[0043] Based on the determination that the above-mentioned light-off condition is met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the unit main body 13 to stop emitting light from the light source 14 toward the road surface 15. Based on the input of the command signal from the computer 22, the unit main body 13 stops emitting light from the light source 14.

[0044] Based on the determination that the above-mentioned extinguishing condition is met, the computer 22 outputs a command signal to the actuator 17 to contract the extension / contraction part 16. When the actuator 17 receives the command signal from the computer 22, it contracts the extension / contraction part 16 so that the light source 14 moves upward relative to the unit body 13.

[0045] After moving light source 14 upward relative to unit body 13, computer 22, based on the determination that the above-mentioned extinguishing condition is met, outputs a command signal to actuator 21 to contract expansion / contraction portion 24 of filter 18 upward relative to unit body 13. When actuator 21 inputs the command signal from computer 22, it contracts expansion / contraction portion 24, thereby moving limiting portion 20 of filter 18 upward relative to unit body 13.

[0046] According to the present embodiment described above in detail, in addition to the effect (1-1) of the first embodiment, the following effect can be obtained. (2-1) Light from the light source 14 is irradiated onto the road surface 15 via the limiting portion 20 of the filter 18, so that the irradiation range AR of the light on the road surface 15 is constant regardless of the distance between the light source 14 and the road surface 15. Furthermore, when the light source 14 is not irradiating light, in other words, when the light source 14 is not being used to irradiate light, the limiting portion 20 of the filter 18 is moved to a higher position compared to when light is being irradiated from the light source 14. This makes it possible to prevent the extension / contraction portion 24 and the limiting portion 20 of the filter 18 from protruding downward from the unit main body 13 when the light source 14 is not being used to irradiate light.

[0047] (2-2) Because the unit main body 13 is attached to the lower end of the vehicle body 12, there is a risk that the limiting portions 20 of the light source 14 and the filter 18 may protrude downward from the lower end of the vehicle relative to the unit main body 13. If the light source 14 and the filter 18 protrude downward from the lower end of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, the limiting portions 20 of the light source 14 and the filter 18 are likely to hit an obstacle on the road surface 15. However, when the light source 14 is stopped from emitting light, in other words, when the light source 14 is not being used to emit light, the limiting portions 20 of the light source 14 and the filter 18 are moved upward relative to the unit main body 13. This prevents the limiting portions 20 of the light source 14 and the filter 18 from protruding downward from the lower end of the vehicle, thereby preventing the limiting portions 20 of the light source 14 and the filter 18 from hitting an obstacle on the road surface 15.

[0048] [Other embodiments] The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0049] The unit body 13 does not necessarily have to be attached to the lower end of the body 12 of the vehicle. For example, the unit body 13 may be attached to a lower part of the body 12 other than the lower end, where there is no obstruction between it and the road surface 15. Even in this case, the same effects as those in (1-4) and (2-2) above can be obtained.

[0050] The vehicle lamp unit 11 does not necessarily have to be used as a welcome lamp for the vehicle, but may also be used to indicate to the user, for example, the position of a kick sensor for opening the vehicle door.

[0051] The unit body 13 of the vehicle lamp unit 11 may be attached to the lower end of a door mirror of the vehicle. The restricting unit 20 has the function of displaying letters and patterns in the illumination range AR on the road surface 15 when light from the light source 14 is transmitted and irradiated onto the road surface 15, but does not necessarily have to have this function. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 11...Vehicle lamp unit 12...Body 13...Unit body 14...Light source 15…road surface 16...Extendable part 17...Actuator 18...Filter 19...Cylindrical part 20...Restricted section 21...Actuator 22...Computer 23...Illuminance sensor 24…Telescopic part

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp unit includes a unit body that can be attached to a vehicle and a light source provided in the unit body, and irradiates light from the light source toward a road surface, the unit body includes a moving device that moves the light source relative to the unit body in a vertical direction; The moving device moves the light source downward relative to the unit body when it is bright around the vehicle compared to when it is dark, thereby bringing the light source closer to the road surface.

2. the moving device is a first moving device; the unit body can be moved in the up and down direction by a second moving device, 2. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the second moving device moves the unit body upward to a position where the unit body is stored in the vehicle when the light source stops emitting light.

3. 3. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 2, wherein the unit body includes a filter that makes the irradiation range of the light on the road surface constant when the light from the light source is irradiated toward the road surface.

4. the moving device is a first moving device; the unit body includes a filter that keeps constant the irradiation range of light on the road surface when the light from the light source is irradiated toward the road surface, and a second moving device that moves the filter vertically relative to the unit body, 2. The vehicle lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the second moving device moves the filter so that the filter is positioned higher when the light source is not emitting light than when the light source is emitting light.

5. The vehicle lamp unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the unit main body can be attached to the lower part of the body of the vehicle in a location where there are no obstructions between it and the road surface.

Images