Vehicle lighting devices

Abstract

To provide a lighting device for a vehicle capable of suppressing mixing of light from a plurality of light sources. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a first light-emitting unit that irradiates light from a first light source, a second light-emitting unit that irradiates light from a second light source, and a wall unit that blocks light irradiated from the second light-emitting unit toward the first light-emitting unit, the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit being arranged in the vehicle width direction, the wall unit being positioned between the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit in the vehicle width direction, and the wall unit having a notch formed therein that allows light irradiated from the second light-emitting unit in the vehicle width direction to pass through.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle lighting device that includes a light source and a light-emitting portion that receives light from the light source and emits light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-133496 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-described vehicle lighting device, when a plurality of light sources are provided, if the plurality of light sources are turned on at the same time, the light from each light source may mix with each other, possibly reducing visibility.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has an object to provide a vehicle lighting device that can prevent light from a plurality of light sources from mixing together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is to a first light emitting unit that irradiates light from a first light source; a second light emitting unit that irradiates light from a second light source; a wall portion that blocks light emitted from the second light emitting portion toward the first light source; Equipped with the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit are arranged in a width direction of the vehicle, the wall portion is positioned between the first light-emitting portion and the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction, The vehicle lighting device is provided, wherein the wall portion has a notch formed therein that allows light emitted from the first light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction to pass therethrough. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, it is possible to prevent light from a plurality of light sources from mixing with each other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1A] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a top view showing a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3A] 1 is a perspective view showing some components of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3B] 1 is a perspective view showing some components of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3C] 1 is a perspective view showing some components of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3D] 1 is a perspective view showing some components of a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1 and 1A are front views showing the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a top view showing the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3A to 3D are perspective views showing some components of the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment.

[0011] As an example of the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, a lighting device used as the left lamp of a pair of left and right rear lamps of a two-wheeled vehicle will be described below.

[0012] The vehicle lighting device of this embodiment includes a substrate 10 on which a light source 11A (first light source) and a light source 11B (second light source) each having a light emitting diode element are mounted, and a housing 20 that covers the substrate 10 from the front (-Y direction) side of the vehicle body. Furthermore, the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment includes an inner cover 30 superimposed on the substrate 10, an inner lens 41 (first light-emitting portion) that irradiates light from the light source 11A toward the rear of the vehicle, and an inner lens 42 (second light-emitting portion) that irradiates light from the light source 11B toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0013] An outer lens (not shown) that irradiates light from the light sources 11A and 11B in the Y direction (rearward of the vehicle body), which is the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the vehicle body, is attached to the housing 20. The substrate 10, the inner cover 30, the inner lens 41, and the inner lens 42 are housed inside the housing 20 and the outer lens.

[0014] Light source 11A functions as a light source for an amber turn lamp, and light source 11B functions as a light source for a red stop lamp. The lighting states of the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment include a state in which only light source 11A is lit (first state), a state in which only light source 11B is lit (first state), and a state in which light source 11A and light source 11B are lit simultaneously (second state). That is, there are a state in which only the turn lamp is lit, a state in which only the stop lamp is lit, and a state in which both the turn lamp and the stop lamp are lit.

[0015] In the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, the light sources 11A and 11B are arranged in the vehicle width direction (X direction) of the vehicle, and correspondingly, the inner lenses 41 and 42 are also arranged in the vehicle width direction (X direction) of the vehicle. The positions of the turn lamps and the stop lamps may be reversed. That is, the inner lens 41 may be used as a lens for a stop lamp that emits red light, and the inner lens 42 may be used as a lens for a turn lamp that emits amber light.

[0016] The inner cover 30 has a wall portion 31 that rises toward the rear of the vehicle (Y direction) to surround the inner lens 42, and a notch 31A is formed in part of the wall portion 31. The wall portion 31 also has a pair of regions 31a that are adjacent to the notch 31A and spaced apart in the up-and-down direction (Z direction) with the notch 31A in between. The regions 31a are positioned between the inner lenses 41 and 42 in the vehicle width direction (X direction) and function to block light that is irradiated from the inner lens 42 toward the inner lens 41.

[0017] The inner cover 30 also has a through hole 32 (FIG. 3C) formed therein that extends in the Y direction and has its center approximately on the optical axis of the light source 11B.

[0018] Next, the function of the wall portion 31 of the inner cover 30 in the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment will be described.

[0019] In the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, the shape of the inner lens 42 is designed so that light from the inner lens 42 is irradiated toward the rear of the vehicle (Y direction) and also toward a desired light distribution range, including a direction close to the vehicle's width direction (-X direction), with a certain degree of intensity. Therefore, the light irradiated from the inner lens 42 is irradiated toward a direction close to the vehicle's width direction (-X direction) (e.g., the direction of arrow L in FIG. 2 ) through the notch 31A sandwiched between the pair of regions 31a. This allows the light from the inner lens 42 to be irradiated over a wide angle, making it possible to easily see the illumination of the left-turn turn lamp, for example, even from the rear left side of the vehicle. Note that the light distribution range may be expanded by using a reflector in addition to the inner lens 42.

[0020] On the other hand, light emitted from the inner lens 42 and directed toward the inner lens 41 is blocked by the area 31a of the wall portion 31, effectively suppressing the incidence of light from the inner lens 42 onto the inner lens 41. Therefore, even when both the turn signal lamp and the stop signal lamp are on, the amber light of the turn signal lamp and the red light of the stop signal lamp can be effectively suppressed from mixing. This improves the ability to distinguish the light color of the rear lamp, allowing the driver's intentions to be properly communicated to those around the vehicle.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1A , when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the inner lens 41 has a curved U-shape with a recess 41A. The area corresponding to this recess 41A is not only an area where the inner lens 41 is absent, but also an area where light from the light source 11A is blocked in the Y direction by the inner cover 30, making it an area that does not emit light even when the turn lamp is on. Meanwhile, the area corresponding to the recess 41A corresponds to an area through which light irradiated from the inner lens 42 to the surroundings of the vehicle via the notch 31A passes. That is, the inner lens 41 has a shape that avoids the area where light from the inner lens 42 is irradiated via the notch 31A. Therefore, even when both the turn lamp and the stop lamp are on, mixing of the amber light of the turn lamp and the red light of the stop lamp can be prevented in the recess 41A. Thus, in the vehicle lighting device of this embodiment, even though the inner lens 41 and the inner lens 42 are close to each other, mixing of the amber light of the turn lamp and the red light of the stop lamp can be effectively suppressed while satisfying the light distribution range condition. In other words, it is possible to achieve a smaller rear lamp and improved design while still achieving the performance necessary to communicate the driver's intentions.

[0022] Note that, for example, the same effect can be obtained when the inner lens 41 has a V-shape with a recess corresponding to the recess 41A when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0023] As described above, according to this embodiment, of the light emitted from the inner lens 42, the light traveling in the direction of the inner lens 41 is blocked by the region 31a of the wall portion 31, so that the incidence of light from the inner lens 42 to the inner lens 41 is effectively suppressed. This effectively suppresses the mixing of the amber light of the turn lamp and the red light of the stop lamp. In addition, the light emitted from the inner lens 42 can be emitted in the desired light distribution direction through the notch 31A.

[0024] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] [Appendix 1] a first light emitting unit (41) that emits light from a first light source (11A); a second light emitting unit (42) that irradiates light from a second light source (11B); a wall portion (31) that blocks light emitted from the second light-emitting portion toward the first light-emitting portion; Equipped with the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit are arranged in a width direction of the vehicle, the wall portion is positioned between the first light-emitting portion and the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction, The wall portion has a notch (31A) formed therein, which allows light emitted from the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction to pass through.

[0026] According to the configuration described in Supplementary Note 1, a wall portion is provided that blocks the light emitted from the second light-emitting portion toward the first light-emitting portion, thereby effectively suppressing the mixing of lighting colors. Also, a notch is formed in the wall portion that passes the light emitted from the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction, allowing the second light-emitting portion to emit light over a wide angle.

[0027] [Appendix 2] 2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting portion has a shape that avoids an area where light from the second light-emitting portion is irradiated in the vehicle width direction through the cutout.

[0028] According to the configuration described in Supplementary Note 2, it is possible to prevent the light from the first light-emitting section and the light from the second light-emitting section from mixing with each other in the region.

[0029] [Appendix 3] 3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the first light-emitting portion has a curved shape having a recess corresponding to the region when viewed from behind the vehicle.

[0030] According to the configuration described in Supplementary Note 3, it is possible to prevent the light from the first light-emitting portion and the light from the second light-emitting portion from mixing with each other in the recess.

[0031] [Appendix 4] 2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit have different emission colors.

[0032] According to the configuration described in Supplementary Note 4, the light emitted from the first light-emitting unit and the light emitted from the second light-emitting unit can be easily distinguished.

[0033] [Appendix 5] 2. The vehicular lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting states of the first light source and the second light source include a first state in which only one of the first light source and the second light source is lit, and a second state in which both the first light source and the second light source are lit simultaneously.

[0034] According to the configuration described in Supplementary Note 5, the lighting state can be easily identified in both the first state and the second state. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 11A, 11B light source 20. Housing 30 Inner cover 31 Wall 31A Notch 41 Inner Lens 41A Recess 42 Inner lens

Claims

1. a first light emitting unit that irradiates light from a first light source; a second light emitting unit that irradiates light from a second light source; a wall portion that blocks light emitted from the second light-emitting portion toward the first light-emitting portion; Equipped with the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit are arranged in a width direction of the vehicle, the wall portion is positioned between the first light-emitting portion and the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction, The wall portion has a notch formed therein, the notch allowing light emitted from the second light-emitting portion in the vehicle width direction to pass therethrough.

2. 2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting portion has a shape that avoids an area where light from the second light-emitting portion is irradiated in the vehicle width direction through the notch.

3. 3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the first light-emitting portion has a curved shape having a recess corresponding to the region when viewed from behind the vehicle.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit emit lights of different colors.

5. 2. The vehicular lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting states of the first light source and the second light source include a first state in which only one of the first light source and the second light source is lit, and a second state in which both the first light source and the second light source are lit simultaneously.

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