Vehicle lighting

Abstract

In a vehicle lighting device equipped with a light guide that guides light from a light source, the light guide is configured to include a rod-shaped light guide and a plate-shaped light guide, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide and enabling uniform light emission. [Solution] The light guide 30 that guides light from the light source 20A comprises a light incident section 32A into which light from the light source 20A is incident, a rod-shaped light supply section 34A that supplies the light incident from the light incident section 32A, a plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36 that branch and guide the light supplied to the light supply section 34A, and a plate-shaped light guide section 40 connected to the tip surfaces 36b of these plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36. Furthermore, the plate-shaped light guide section 40 is configured to guide the light from the light source 20A incident from the plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36 and emit it toward the front of the lamp. This allows for a degree of freedom in the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide section 40 and makes the plate-shaped light guide section 40 emit light substantially uniformly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp provided with a light guide.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in vehicle lamps such as tail lamps and clearance lamps, a configuration including a light guide that guides light from a light source has been widely adopted.

[0003] In "Patent Document 1", a light guide for such a vehicle lamp is described as including a rod-shaped light guide portion and a plate-shaped light guide portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped light guide portion. In addition, in "Patent Document 2", a light guide including a pair of rod-shaped light guide portions that branch and extend in two branches and a plate-shaped light guide portion arranged to connect them is described.

[0004] In the light guide described in "Patent Document 1", light from the light source incident from the incident surface of the rod-shaped light guide portion is guided in the rod-shaped light guide portion and then incident on the plate-shaped light guide portion, and is guided in the plate-shaped light guide portion and then emitted forward of the lamp.

[0005] On the other hand, in the light guide described in "Patent Document 2", light from the light source incident from the incident surface is guided in a pair of rod-shaped light guide portions and a plate-shaped light guide portion and then emitted forward of the lamp.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] As described in "Patent Document 1," by configuring the light guide such that light from a light source that enters the plate-shaped light guide via a rod-shaped light guide is guided by the plate-shaped light guide and emitted toward the front of the lamp, it is possible to make the plate-shaped light guide emit light efficiently. However, it is desirable to make the plate-shaped light guide emit light as uniformly as possible.

[0008] On the other hand, as described in "Patent Document 2," a configuration in which a plate-shaped light guide is placed between a pair of rod-shaped light guides that branch into two makes it possible to make the plate-shaped light guide emit light together with the rod-shaped light guides. However, since the plate-shaped light guide has a wedge-shaped outer shape, the shape of its light-emitting area is naturally constrained.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lighting device equipped with a light guide that guides light from a light source, wherein the light guide is configured to include a rod-shaped light guide and a plate-shaped light guide, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide and achieving uniform light emission. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention aims to achieve the above objective by modifying the structure of the light guide.

[0011] In other words, the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention is In a vehicle lighting device comprising a light source and a light guide that guides light from the light source, The light guide comprises a light incident section for receiving light from the light source, a rod-shaped light supply section for supplying the light incident from the light incident section, a plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections for branching and guiding the light supplied to the light supply section, and a plate-shaped light guide section connected to the tip surface of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections. The plate-shaped light guide section is characterized in that it is configured to guide the light from the light source that enters from the tip surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections and emit it toward the front of the lamp.

[0012] The type of "light source" mentioned above is not particularly limited; for example, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes can be used.

[0013] The "multiple rod-shaped light guides" described above are configured to guide light by branching the light incident from the light incident section, and their arrangement and shape are not particularly limited.

[0014] The "plate-shaped light guide" described above does not need to be particularly specific in its configuration or external shape, as long as it is configured to guide light from a light source that enters from the tip surfaces of multiple rod-shaped light guides and emit it towards the front of the lamp. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The vehicle lamp according to the present invention has a configuration that includes, as a light guide for guiding light from a light source, a light incident part for receiving light from the light source, a rod-shaped light supply part for supplying the light incident from the light incident part, a plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts that branch and guide the light supplied to the light supply part, and a plate-shaped light guide part connected to the tip surfaces of these plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts. Furthermore, the plate-shaped light guide part is configured to guide the light from the light source that has been incident from the tip surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts and emit it toward the front of the lamp, so that the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide part can be made to be flexible and the plate-shaped light guide part can emit light substantially uniformly.

[0016] Thus, according to the present invention, in a vehicle lighting device equipped with a light guide that guides light from a light source, the light guide is configured to include a rod-shaped light guide and a plate-shaped light guide, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the light-emitting region of the plate-shaped light guide and achieving uniform light emission.

[0017] In the above configuration, further, as the configuration of the light guide, with the light supply unit arranged at the upper end or the lower end of the plate-shaped light guide unit, and the front end surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide units being connected to the side end surface of the plate-shaped light guide unit, even when the plate-shaped light guide unit has a horizontally long outer shape, the light from the light source incident from the front end surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide units can be guided over the entire area of the plate-shaped light guide unit and emitted forward toward the front of the lamp, thereby realizing uniform light emission of the plate-shaped light guide unit.

[0018] At that time, as the configuration of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide units, all are formed to extend in an S shape, and the rod-shaped light guide unit extending in a direction away from the light supply unit in the vertical direction is formed to be more curved, so that the light from the light source incident from the light incident portion and reaching the light supply unit can be efficiently guided to the front end surface of each of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide units.

[0019] In the above configuration, further, as the configuration of the light guide, if a plate-shaped connection part for connecting adjacent rod-shaped light guide parts to each other is arranged between the plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts, the strength and the moldability of the light guide can be improved.

[0020] In the above configuration, further, as the configuration of the light guide, a second light incident part for allowing the light from the second light source to be incident and a second light supply part extending in a rod shape in the horizontal direction from this second light incident part are formed at the lower end or the upper end located on the side opposite to the light incident part in the vertical direction, and if it is connected to the plate-shaped light guide part in the second light supply part, the plate-shaped light guide part can be made to emit light more brightly and uniformly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] Front view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 2] Rear view showing the main components of the above vehicle lamp [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2 [Figure 4] Front view showing the above vehicle lamp in a lit state [Figure 5] (a) is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the first modification of the above embodiment, and (b) is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the second modification of the above embodiment

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the main components of the vehicle lamp 10. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 10 according to the present embodiment is a clearance lamp disposed at the left front end of the vehicle, and in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body 12 and a transparent through cover 14 attached to the front end opening thereof, a pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B, a light guide 30 for guiding the emitted light from these light sources 20A and 20B, and an extension panel 50 disposed on the front side of the lamp of the light guide 30 are incorporated

[0025] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the direction indicated by X is the "front" as the vehicle lamp 10 (also the "front" as the vehicle), the direction indicated by Y is the "left direction" orthogonal to the "front" (the "right direction" when viewing the lamp from the front), and the direction indicated by Z is the "upward direction"

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B are both white light-emitting diodes and are disposed outside the vehicle width direction of the light guide 30. These pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B are supported by the lamp body 12 while being mounted on a common substrate 22

[0027] The light guide 30 is a colorless, transparent resin molded product and comprises a pair of upper and lower light incident sections 32A and 32B that receive light from a pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B, a pair of upper and lower rod-shaped light supply sections 34A and 34B that supply the light incident from these upper and lower light incident sections 32A and 32B toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and a plate-shaped light guide section 40 positioned between these upper and lower light supply sections 34A and 34B.

[0028] The light incident section 32A and the light supply section 34A are formed to extend continuously horizontally with a circular cross-sectional shape at the upper end of the light guide 30. These light incident section 32A and light supply section 34A are formed to curve slightly outward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the lamp, and the end region on the outside in the vehicle width direction constitutes the light incident section 32A. The end face 32Aa on the outside in the vehicle width direction of this light incident section 32Aa is a plane that directly faces the light-emitting surface of the light source 20A, and is configured to allow the light emitted from the light source 20A to be incident on this end face 32Aa.

[0029] On the other hand, the light incident section 32B and the light supply section 34B are formed to extend continuously horizontally with a circular cross-sectional shape at the lower end of the light guide 30. These light incident section 32B and light supply section 34B are formed to curve slightly outward in the vehicle width direction and slightly towards the rear of the lamp at a position approximately directly below the light incident section 32A and light supply section 34A, and their end region constitutes the light incident section 32B. The outer end face 32Ba of this light incident section 32B in the vehicle width direction is a plane that directly faces the light-emitting surface of the light source 20B, and is configured to allow light emitted from the light source 20B to be incident on this end face 32Ba.

[0030] The plate-shaped light guide section 40 is positioned in the region closer to the inside in the vehicle width direction between the upper and lower pair of light supply sections 34A and 34B, connecting the lower outer surface region of the light supply section 34A and the upper outer surface region of the light supply section 34B. The plate-shaped light guide section 40 is formed in a substantially flat shape, and its thickness is set to a value slightly smaller than the diameter of each of the upper and lower pair of light supply sections 34A and 34B.

[0031] The light guide 30 has a configuration in which multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 are arranged in a region located between the upper and lower pair of light supply units 34A and 34B, and further outward in the vehicle width direction than the plate-shaped light guide unit 40, to guide the light from the light source 20A supplied to the light supply unit 34A via the light incident unit 32A by branching it.

[0032] Specifically, the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 are composed of seven rod-shaped light guides 36, all of which are formed to extend in an S-shape. In this case, the rod-shaped light guides 36 are formed to curve more sharply the further away they are from the light supply unit 32A.

[0033] The base ends 36a of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 are connected to the outer surface of the light supply unit 34A in a state where they are slightly displaced in the circumferential and horizontal directions. Furthermore, the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 are connected to the outer side end surface 40c of the plate-shaped light guide 40 in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the connection positions between the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 and the side end surface 40c of the plate-shaped light guide 40 are set at positions that are approximately equal in the vertical direction.

[0034] The plate-shaped light guide section 40 is configured to guide the light from the light source 20A, which is incident from the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guide sections 36, toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and then emit it toward the front of the lamp.

[0035] To achieve this, multiple diffusion lens elements 40s1 are formed on the front surface 40a of the plate-shaped light guide section 40, and multiple reflecting elements 40s2 are formed on the rear surface 40b. The multiple diffusion lens elements 40s1 are divided into horizontal stripes, and each of them is formed to extend horizontally with a convex arc-shaped cross-section. The multiple reflecting elements 40s2 are divided into vertical stripes, and each of them is formed to extend vertically with a wedge-shaped cross-section.

[0036] The plate-shaped light guide section 40 guides the light from the light source 20A, which is incident from the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guide sections 36, toward the inside in the vehicle width direction at its outer side end surface 40c in the vehicle width direction. After total internal reflection is performed by multiple reflecting elements 40s2 toward the front of the lamp, the light is emitted as light that is diffused vertically by multiple diffusion lens elements 40s1 (this will be described later).

[0037] The light guide 30 has a plate-shaped connecting portion 42 located between the upper and lower pair of light supply portions 34A and 34B, and further outward in the vehicle width direction than the plate-shaped light guide portion 40. This plate-shaped connecting portion 42 is formed to connect adjacent rod-shaped light guide portions 36 and extends outward in the vehicle width direction to the end faces 32Aa and 32Ba of the upper and lower pair of light incident portions 32A and 32B. This plate-shaped connecting portion 42 is formed in a flat shape with a plate thickness considerably thinner than the plate-shaped light guide portion 40 (specifically, about 1 / 5 to 1 / 4 the thickness). Each of the multiple rod-shaped light guide portions 36 is formed with a cross-sectional shape that protrudes from the plate-shaped connecting portion 42 in a roughly semi-circular arc shape in both the front and rear directions of the lamp.

[0038] The pair of upper and lower light supply units 34A and 34B have a portion of their cross-sectional area connected to the side end face 40c of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40, while the remaining cross-sectional area extends inward in the vehicle width direction on both the upper and lower sides of the light guide body 30. The inner end faces 34Ab and 34Bb of the pair of upper and lower light supply units 34A and 34B, and the inner side end face 40d of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40, are formed to extend in a direction inclined outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vertical plane when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the region along the inner side end face 40d in the vehicle width direction on the rear surface 40b of the plate-shaped light guide portion 40 is configured as a flat flange portion on which no multiple reflective elements 40s2 are formed.

[0040] The extension panel 50 shown in Figure 1 is an opaque resin molded product and is positioned inside the lamp chamber to cover a part of the light guide 20, as well as a pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B and a substrate 22 from the front side of the lamp. The extension panel 50 has an opening 50a formed in the portion of the plate-shaped light guide 40 that is located in front of the lamp when viewed from the front of the lamp. This opening 50a has a parallelogram shape, and its right edge (left edge when viewed from the front of the lamp) extends along the side end surface 40d of the plate-shaped light guide 40, its upper and lower edges extend along the upper and lower edges of the plate-shaped light guide 40, and its left edge's upper corner is located near the side end surface 40c of the plate-shaped light guide 40.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1-3, the light supply portion 34B of the light guide 30 is configured as a bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc in the area located outward in the vehicle width direction from the side end face 40c of the plate-shaped light guide portion 40.

[0042] Next, we will explain how the light guide 30 guides the light emitted from the pair of upper and lower light sources 20A and 20B.

[0043] As shown by the dashed arrows in Figure 2, the light emitted from the light source 20A enters the incident section 32A from its end face 32Aa, and is then guided inward in the vehicle width direction through the light supply section 34A. Much of the light guided through this light supply section 34A enters each of the multiple rod-shaped light guide sections 36 along the way, and is guided along their S-shaped paths. After being guided through each of the multiple rod-shaped light guide sections 36, the light reaches its tip face 36b, enters the plate-shaped light guide section 40 from its side end face 40c, and is guided inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, light incident on the plate-shaped light guide 40 is guided inward in the vehicle width direction, and as it is guided, it undergoes total internal reflection towards the front of the lamp by a plurality of reflective elements 40s2 formed on its rear surface 40b. The light that has undergone total internal reflection by these plurality of reflective elements 40s2 is then emitted towards the front of the lamp as light that is diffused vertically by a plurality of diffusing lens elements 40s1 formed on the front surface 40a of the plate-shaped light guide 40.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2, the light that is guided through the light supply unit 34A without entering the multiple rod-shaped light guide units 36 enters the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 from its upper end during the light guidance process. The light that enters the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 in this way is then totally reflected by the multiple reflecting elements 40s2 formed on its rear surface 40b, and then emitted as diffused light toward the front of the lamp from the multiple diffusion lens elements 40s1 formed on its front surface 40a.

[0046] Furthermore, the light emitted from the light source 20B is also incident on the incident part 32B from its end face 32Ba, then guided towards the inward direction in the vehicle width direction by the light supply part 34B, and incident on the plate-shaped light guide part 40 from its lower end during this guidance process. The light that thus incident on the plate-shaped light guide part 40 is then totally reflected by a plurality of reflective elements 40s2 formed on its rear surface 40b, and then emitted as diffused light toward the front of the lamp from a plurality of diffusing lens elements 40s1 formed on its front surface 40a.

[0047] In this case, the light supply unit 34B is configured as a bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc in the region located outward in the vehicle width direction from the side end face 40c of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 20B and reaching the light supply unit 34B via the incident portion 32B is guided as diffused light through total internal reflection in the bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc. Consequently, the light guided in the light supply unit 34B to the region located below the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 is incident on the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 from its lower end as relatively upward-facing light.

[0048] Figure 4 is a front view showing the vehicle lighting device 10 according to this embodiment in an illuminated state.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the vehicle light fixture 10 appears to light up when the upper and lower pair of light sources 20A and 20B are illuminated, causing the plate-shaped light guide portion 40 of the light guide body 30 to illuminate. At that time, this plate-shaped light guide portion 40 appears to light up almost uniformly in a horizontally elongated parallelogram shape along the opening shape of the opening 50a of the extension panel 50.

[0050] This is primarily because light from the light source 20A, which enters the plate-shaped light guide section 40 from the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guide sections 36 at the outer side end surface 40c in the vehicle width direction, is guided inward in the vehicle width direction by the plate-shaped light guide section 40, undergoes total internal reflection toward the front of the lamp by the multiple reflecting elements 40s2, and then exits as light that diffuses vertically by the multiple diffusion lens elements 40s1.

[0051] In this process, the light supplied through the light supply unit 34A, without entering the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 during the light guidance process, also enters the plate-shaped light guide 40 from its upper end during the guidance process. As this light is emitted from the plate-shaped light guide 40 toward the front of the luminaire, the plate-shaped light guide 40 appears to shine even brighter and more uniformly.

[0052] Furthermore, the light from the light source 20B that reaches the light supply unit 34B via the incident unit 32B enters the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 from its lower end during the light guidance process, and this light is emitted from the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 toward the front of the lamp, making the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 appear to shine even brighter and more uniformly. Moreover, since the light that reaches the light supply unit 34B is guided as diffused light through total internal reflection in the bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc, the light entering from the lower end of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 becomes relatively upward-facing light, which makes the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 appear to shine even more uniformly.

[0053] Next, the effects and advantages of this embodiment will be described.

[0054] The vehicle lamp 10 according to this embodiment is configured as a light guide 30 that guides light from a light source 20A, and includes a light incident section 32A into which light from the light source 20A is incident, a rod-shaped light supply section 34A that supplies the light incident from the light incident section 32A, a plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36 that guide the light supplied to the light supply section 34A by branching it, and a plate-shaped light guide section 40 connected to the tip surfaces 36b of these plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36. Furthermore, the plate-shaped light guide section 40 is configured to guide the light from the light source 20A that is incident from the tip surfaces 36b of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections 36 and emit it toward the front of the lamp, so that the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide section 40 can be made to be flexible and the plate-shaped light guide section 40 can emit light substantially uniformly.

[0055] As described above, according to this embodiment, in a vehicle lighting device 10 equipped with a light guide 30 that guides light from a light source 20A, the light guide 30 is configured to include a rod-shaped light guide portion 36 and a plate-shaped light guide portion 40, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the light-emitting area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide portion 40 and achieving uniform light emission.

[0056] In this embodiment, the light guide 30 has its light supply unit 34A positioned at the upper end of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40, and the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guide units 36 are connected to the side end surface 40c of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40. Therefore, even though the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 has a horizontally elongated external shape, it is possible to guide the light from the light source 20A that enters from the tip surfaces 36b of the multiple rod-shaped light guide units 36 across the entire area of ​​the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 and emit it toward the front of the lamp, thereby achieving uniform light emission from the plate-shaped light guide unit 40.

[0057] Furthermore, each of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 is formed to extend in an S-shape, and the rod-shaped light guides 36 extending away from the light supply unit 34A in the vertical direction are curved more significantly. As a result, the light from the light source 20A that enters from the light incident unit 32A and reaches the light supply unit 34A can be efficiently guided to the tip surface 36b of each of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36.

[0058] Furthermore, in the light guide 30 of this embodiment, plate-shaped connecting parts 42 are arranged between a plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts 36 to connect adjacent rod-shaped light guide parts 36, thereby improving the strength of the light guide 30 and its moldability.

[0059] Furthermore, the light guide 30 has a light incidence section 32B (second light incidence section) at its lower end for receiving light from the light source 20B (second light source), and a light supply section 34B (second light supply section) extending horizontally in a rod shape from the light incidence section 32B. Since the light supply section 34B is connected to the plate-shaped light guide section 40, the plate-shaped light guide section 40 can be made to emit light more brightly and uniformly.

[0060] Furthermore, since the light supply unit 34B is configured with a bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc in the region located outside the side end face 40c of the plate-shaped light guide unit 40 in the vehicle width direction, the light from the light source 20B that reaches the light supply unit 34B via the incident portion 32B is not guided directly to the end face 34Bb on the inside in the vehicle width direction, but is instead totally reflected in a relatively upward direction at the bellows-shaped uneven portion 34Bc, allowing it to be efficiently incident onto the plate-shaped light guide unit 40.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the multiple rod-shaped light guides 36 were described as being composed of seven rod-shaped light guides 36, but it is also possible to configure them with a different number of rods.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the light incident portion 32A is described as extending continuously horizontally from the upper end of the light guide 30, and the light emitted from the light source 20A is incident on its outer end face 32Aa in the vehicle width direction. However, it is also possible to configure it to extend in a direction other than horizontal (for example, downward), and to incident on its end face.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the opening 50a of the extension panel 50 was described as having a horizontally elongated parallelogram shape, but it is also possible to have a configuration with an opening shape other than this.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the light source 20A is positioned at the upper end of the light guide 30 on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the light source 20B is positioned at the lower end of the light guide 30 on the outside in the vehicle width direction. However, it is also possible to configure the light source 20A, 20B and the light guide 30 in an inverted position.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the case in which the vehicle light fixture 10 is a clearance lamp located at the left front end of the vehicle was described. However, regardless of its arrangement or function, the same effects and advantages as in the above embodiment can be obtained by adopting the same configuration as in the above embodiment.

[0066] Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0067] First, a first modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0068] Figure 5(a) is a diagram similar to Figure 3, showing the light guide 130 of the vehicle lighting fixture according to this modified example.

[0069] As shown in Figure 5(a), the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 136 differs from that of the above embodiment.

[0070] In other words, the light guide 130 in this modified example is formed with a cross-sectional shape that protrudes in a substantially semi-circular arc only from the plate-shaped connecting portion 142 towards the rear side of the luminaire, as each of the multiple rod-shaped light guide portions 136.

[0071] In this modified example, the light guide 130 also has the same configuration as in the above embodiment, with a plate-shaped light guide 140 positioned between a pair of upper and lower light supply units 134A and 134B. Multiple diffusion lens elements 140s1 are formed on the front surface 140a of the plate-shaped light guide 140, and multiple reflecting elements 140s2 are formed on the rear surface 140b.

[0072] Even when this modified configuration is adopted, light from the light source 20A (not shown) supplied to the light supply unit 134A is branched and guided by a plurality of rod-shaped light guides 136, and then incident on a plate-shaped light guide 140 connected to the tip surface 136b of these plurality of rod-shaped light guides 136 from its side end surface 140c, and the light is guided by this plate-shaped light guide 140 and emitted toward the front of the lamp, thereby obtaining substantially the same effects as in the above embodiment.

[0073] In this modified example, the light guide 130 has a cross-sectional shape in which each of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 136 protrudes in a substantially semi-circular arc shape only from the plate-shaped connecting portion 142 toward the rear side of the luminaire. Therefore, although the light guiding function of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 136 is reduced compared to the above embodiment, the configuration of the light guide 130 can be simplified.

[0074] Next, a second modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0075] Figure 5(b) is a diagram similar to Figure 3, showing the light guide 230 of the vehicle lighting fixture according to this modified example.

[0076] As shown in Figure 5(b), the basic configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 236 differs from that of the above embodiment.

[0077] In other words, in this modified example, the light guide 230 has multiple rod-shaped light guide portions 236, each of which is formed with a circular cross-sectional shape, and the portion where the plate-shaped connecting portion 42 of the above embodiment was located is configured as a space.

[0078] In this modified example, the light guide 230 also has the same configuration as in the above embodiment, with a plate-shaped light guide 240 positioned between a pair of upper and lower light supply units 234A and 234B. Multiple diffusion lens elements 240s1 are formed on the front surface 240a of the plate-shaped light guide 240, and multiple reflecting elements 240s2 are formed on the rear surface 240b.

[0079] Even when this modified configuration is adopted, light from the light source 20A (not shown) supplied to the light supply unit 234A is branched and guided by a plurality of rod-shaped light guides 236, and then incident on a plate-shaped light guide 240 connected to the tip surfaces 236b of these plurality of rod-shaped light guides 236 from its side end surface 240c, and the light is guided by this plate-shaped light guide 240 and emitted toward the front of the lamp, thereby obtaining substantially the same effects as in the above embodiment.

[0080] In this modified example, since each of the multiple rod-shaped light guides 236 of the light guide 230 is formed with a circular cross-sectional shape, the light from the light source 20A supplied to the light supply unit 234A can be efficiently guided by the multiple rod-shaped light guides 236 and incident on the plate-shaped light guide 240, thereby making the plate-shaped light guide 240 emit light more brightly and uniformly.

[0081] It should be noted that the numerical values ​​shown as specifications in the above embodiments and their modified forms are merely examples, and these may be set to different values ​​as appropriate.

[0082] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments and their modifications, and various other modified configurations can be adopted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 10 Vehicle lighting fixtures 12 Lamp body 14 Translucent cover 20A light source 20B light source (second light source) 22 circuit boards 30, 130, 230 light guides 32A light incidence part 32Aa, 34Ab, 32Ba, 34Bb end face 32B Light incidence part (second light incidence part) 34A, 134A, 234A light supply section 34B, 134B, 234B Light supply section (second light supply section) 34Bc Bellows-like uneven section 36, 136, 236 Rod-shaped light guide 36a Proximal end 36b, 136b, 236b tip surface 40, 140, 240 Plate-shaped light guide section 40a, 140a, 240a front 40b, 140b, 240b rear 40c, 140c, 240c Outer side end surface in the vehicle width direction 40d Side end face on the inner side in the vehicle width direction 40s1, 140s1, 240s1 Diffusion lens element 40s2, 140s2, 240s2 reflective element 42, 142 Plate-shaped connecting part 50 Extension Panel 50a opening

Claims

1. In a vehicle lighting device comprising a light source and a light guide that guides light from the light source, The light guide comprises a light incident section for receiving light from the light source, a rod-shaped light supply section for supplying the light incident from the light incident section, a plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections for branching and guiding the light supplied to the light supply section, and a plate-shaped light guide section connected to the tip surface of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide sections. The vehicle lamp is characterized in that the plate-shaped light guide portion is configured to guide the light from the light source that enters from the tip surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guide portions and emit it toward the front of the lamp.

2. The above-mentioned light supply unit is positioned at the upper or lower end of the plate-shaped light guide unit. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip surfaces of the plurality of rod-shaped light guides are connected to the side end surfaces of the plate-shaped light guides.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of rod-shaped light guides are all formed to extend in an S-shape, and the rod-shaped light guides that extend away from the light supply unit in the vertical direction are formed to be curved more sharply.

4. The vehicle light fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light guide has a configuration in which plate-shaped connecting parts are arranged between the plurality of rod-shaped light guide parts to connect adjacent rod-shaped light guide parts.

5. The light guide has a configuration in which a second light incident portion for injecting light from a second light source into the lower end or upper end located on the upper or lower opposite side of the light supply portion, and a second light supply portion extending horizontally in a rod shape from the second light incident portion, and the second light supply portion is connected to the plate-shaped light guide portion, as described in claim 2 or 3.

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