Vehicle lighting

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle lighting fixture equipped with a light guide, which improves the aesthetic appeal by reducing the monotonous appearance of the light emission pattern formed when the light is turned on. [Solution] The lamp unit 1 comprises multiple light sources (LEDs) 211-213 and a light guide 3 that guides the light from the light sources and directs it toward the front of the lamp. The light guide 3 comprises a light source light guide section 31 that guides the light from the light sources in the longitudinal direction and a plate-shaped light emission guide section 32 that emits the light guided from the light source light guide section 31 from its end face section 322. Multiple light incidence sections 311-313 are connected to the light source light guide section 31 at required angles with respect to the longitudinal direction of the light source light guide section 31, with at least one of them receiving light of a different color from the others. A linear light emission pattern LP with a gradually changing gradient of color is obtained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp that lights up in a required light emission pattern using a light guide, and particularly to a vehicle lamp with enhanced design effects during lighting.

Background Art

[0002] As a lamp such as a tail lamp of an automobile, a lamp using a light guide has been proposed. In Patent Document 1, a rod-shaped light guide part that guides the light of a light source and a plate-shaped light emitting part connected to the light guide part are integrally formed of a translucent member, and a lamp that emits light from an emission surface provided in the light emitting part is proposed. In this lamp, a linear (line-shaped) light emission pattern is formed by emitting light from the end face of the light emitting part during lighting. Alternatively, as a technology different from Patent Document 1, a desired-shaped light emission pattern is formed by emitting light from an emission step region provided on the surface (plate surface) of the light emitting part. By forming such a light emission pattern, a lamp with high design effects during lighting can be obtained.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The luminaire in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which light is incident from both ends of the light source. Therefore, in areas far from the incident points, the brightness may decrease due to attenuation during light guidance, which poses a challenge in forming a uniform, linear light emission pattern. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 is a technology in which incident points are provided at multiple locations in the light guide, and light is incident from each of the multiple incident points. This allows the effects of attenuation in each light source to be mitigated by each other, and is effective in obtaining a uniform light emission pattern.

[0005] However, while the technology described in Patent Document 2 is effective in terms of the aesthetic effect of improving the uniformity of the brightness of the light emission pattern, in both the technology described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the light emission pattern is formed as a single-color light emission pattern, which inevitably results in a monotonous appearance, leaving room for improvement in terms of aesthetic effect.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting fixture equipped with a light guide that improves the appearance of the light emission pattern formed when the light is turned on, thereby enhancing the design effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp unit comprising a lamp unit having multiple light sources and a light guide that guides the light from the multiple light sources and emits the guided light, illuminating the front of the lamp. The light guide comprises a light source light guide section that guides the light incident from the light sources in the longitudinal direction, and a plate-shaped emission light guide section connected to the light source light guide section that emits the light guided from the light source light guide section from its surface. Multiple light incident sections are connected to the light source light guide section at multiple locations in the longitudinal direction, into which the light from each of the multiple light sources is incident. The multiple light incident sections are connected at a required angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the light source light guide section, and at least one of the multiple light incident sections is incident with light of a different color from the others.

[0008] In the light guide of the present invention, the light-emitting light-guiding portion has a required plate thickness and an end face portion of a required length along the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting light-guiding portion, and the guided light is emitted from the end face portion to form a line-shaped light emission pattern.

[0009] Furthermore, the following embodiments are preferred in the present invention: Multiple light incident sections are connected at different positions along the length of the light source guide, and each light incident section is connected to the light source guide in the same angular direction. Multiple light incident sections are connected at different positions along the length of the light source guide, and some of the light incident sections are connected to the light source guide in a different angular direction than the other light incident sections. Two of the multiple light incident sections are connected to the light source guide at the same position along the length of the light source guide, but in different angular directions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a different color of light is incident on at least one of a plurality of light incident sections connected to the light source light guide section at a predetermined angle, so that this different color of light is mixed with the other colored light and emitted from the light emission guide section. The line-shaped light emission pattern formed by the emitted light has a gradient appearance in which other colored light, different colored light, and mixed colored light are arranged in the line direction, improving the monotonous appearance of the light emission pattern and providing a vehicle lamp with a high design effect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] A conceptual perspective view of an automobile equipped with a rear lamp, which is a vehicle lighting device of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic perspective view showing a portion of the taillight broken off. [Figure 3] A schematic perspective view showing the main components of the rear lamp disassembled. [Figure 4] A schematic cross-sectional view of the rear lamp shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] A schematic perspective view of the lamp unit. [Figure 6] A schematic plan view of the lamp unit. [Figure 7] Enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the lamp unit. [Figure 8] A schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of the linear light emission pattern in the embodiment. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of the linear light emission pattern in Modification Example 1. [Figure 10] A schematic diagram illustrating the appearance of the linear light emission pattern in modified example 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an external view of a car CAR equipped with a rear lamp (tail light) RL to which the present invention is applied. The rear lamp RL is provided on the left and right rear sides of the rear of the car body of the car CAR as the left rear lamp L-RL and the right rear lamp R-RL, and each consists of a fixed rear lamp S provided on a part of the rear fender of the car body and a movable rear lamp M provided on the trunk lid.

[0013] When the fixed rear lamp S and the movable rear lamp M are illuminated, as shown in Figure 1, two linear light emission patterns LP are formed, positioned vertically and extending substantially horizontally (left-right). In this embodiment, the upper and lower linear light emission patterns of the fixed rear lamp S and the movable rear lamp M, i.e., the four linear light emission patterns LP, function as tail lamps TL when illuminated. The lower linear light emission pattern LP of the fixed rear lamp S is configured to function as a turn signal lamp TSL when illuminated, and the lower linear light emission pattern LP of the movable rear lamp M is configured to function as a backup lamp BL when illuminated.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a partial breakaway of the movable-side rear lamp M, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the main part disassembled. Since the structure of the fixed-side rear lamp S is basically the same, hereinafter, the movable-side rear lamp M will be described. Note that the movable-side rear lamp M and the fixed-side rear lamp S may be simply referred to as the rear lamp RL in both cases. Further, hereinafter, the front-rear direction is referred to as the front direction in which light is emitted from the rear lamp RL.

[0015] The lamp housing 100 of the movable-side rear lamp M is attached to a part of the outer surface of the trunk lid of the automobile CAR shown in FIG. 1, and is composed of a lamp body 101 that is opened toward the rear of the automobile CAR, and a translucent colorless outer lens 102 that is attached so as to close the opening of the lamp body 101. This outer lens 102 is formed in a curved surface shape that is curved along the outer surface of the trunk lid.

[0016] And, inside this lamp housing 100, two lamp units 1 arranged vertically and an extension 103 arranged on the front side of the lamp unit 1 are arranged. FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the rear lamp RL shown in FIG. 1, and the two lamp units 1 are arranged vertically at a position closer to the rear inside the lamp housing 100. Further, an extension 103 is arranged on the front side of these lamp units 1.

[0017] Each of the upper and lower lamp units 1 has basically the same structure. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of one lamp unit 1, and FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view. The lamp unit 1 is composed of a light source unit 2 and a light guide 3. The light guide 3 may also be referred to as an inner lens in contrast to the outer lens.

[0018] Figure 7 is a schematic enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of one lamp unit 1. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the light guide 3 consists of a rod-shaped light guide section 31 having a required length and a circular cross-section of a required thickness, and a plate-shaped light guide section 32 extending forward from the light guide section 31. Here, the former light guide section 31 is called the light source light guide section 31 because it directly guides the light from the light source light guide section 2. The latter light guide section 32 is called the output light guide section 32 because it guides the light from the light source light guide section 31 and ultimately emits it as lamp light. These light source light guide section 31 and output light guide section 32 are integrally formed from a translucent resin, glass, or the like.

[0019] The light source light guide section 31 has multiple light incident sections 311, 312, and 313 integrally formed along its length at required intervals. These light incident sections 311, 312, and 313 are formed with substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the light source light guide section 31 and are connected at one end in a branched form with respect to the extension direction of the light source light guide section 31 at a required angle θ (Figure 6). Furthermore, the end faces of the other ends of each light incident section 311, 312, and 313 are formed as flat surfaces and are configured as incident surfaces.

[0020] The light-emitting light guide portion 32 is integrally connected to a part of the circumferential surface of the light source light guide portion 31, extends for a required length along the extension direction of the light source light guide portion 31, and is formed as a flat plate with a required thickness that protrudes in a direction intersecting the extension direction by a required protrusion dimension. This flat plate portion is configured as a plate surface portion 321, and the end face at the tip of the protruding end of this plate surface portion 321 is configured as an end face portion 322.

[0021] Furthermore, in the light-emitting guide section 32, a decorative film 4 having the required light reflectance, light absorption rate, and light transmittance may be formed on the surface of the plate surface 321, that is, the upper surface of the plate surface 321 that is exposed to the outside through the outer lens 102, as shown by dashed lines in Figures 6 and 7, in order to enhance internal reflection at the plate surface. This decorative film 4 may be configured as a film having the required color to enhance the appearance when observed from the outside. In addition, although not shown in the figures, lens steps that emit or diffuse light, such as textured or cylindrical steps, are formed on the end surface 322 of the light-emitting guide section 32.

[0022] As shown in Figure 6, the light source unit 2 includes a three-tiered, stepped frame 20 having three stepped sections 201, 202, and 203 corresponding to the first to third light incident sections 311, 312, and 313 provided on the light source light guide unit 31. The light source light guide unit 31 is integrally supported by this frame 20. The three stepped sections 201, 202, and 203 of the frame 20 are each positioned facing the incident surfaces of the first to third light incident sections 311, 312, and 313, and each stepped section 201, 202, and 203 is equipped with first to third LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 211, 212, and 213, respectively, which serve as light sources. Each LED 211, 212, and 213 is powered and emits light when the lamp unit 1 functions as one of the lamps, and is configured to incident light on the respective incident surfaces of the light incident sections 311, 312, and 313.

[0023] In this embodiment, for the lamp unit 1 positioned above the movable rear lamp M and the fixed rear lamp S, the first LED 211 and the second LED 212 corresponding to the first light incident section 311 and the second light incident section 312, respectively, are composed of red LEDs that emit red light, and the third LED corresponding to the third light incident section 313 is composed of an LED that emits amber light. Alternatively, instead of amber, an LED that emits a different color of light close to amber may be used.

[0024] Although not shown in the diagram, the first to third light-emitting sections 311 to 313 of the lamp unit 1 on the lower side of the movable rear lamp M are each equipped with LEDs that emit white light, along with the first to third LEDs 211 to 213, and are configured to light up when functioning as a backup lamp BL. In addition, the first to third light-emitting sections 311 to 313 of the lamp unit 1 on the lower side of the fixed rear lamp S are each equipped with LEDs that emit amber light, along with the first to third LEDs 211 to 213, and are configured to light up when functioning as a turn signal lamp TSL.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4, the light source section 2 and light source guide section 31 of each of the upper and lower lamp units 1 are located on the rear side of the extension 103. Most of the light emission guide section 32 is exposed protruding to the front side through two horizontally elongated windows 104 opened in the extension 103. As a result, when the rear lamp RL is observed, the light emission guide section 32 of each lamp unit 1, i.e., the plate surface section 321 and the end surface section 322, can be seen through the outer lens 102, and when each lamp unit 1 is lit, a highly aesthetically pleasing linear light emission pattern LP is formed on the end surface section 312 of the light emission guide section 32, as shown in Figure 1.

[0026] When the rear lamp RF with the above configuration is lit, for example, as a tail lamp TL, the first to third LEDs 211 to 213 are illuminated in all lamp units 1. Red light from the first LED 211 and the second LED 212 is incident on the first light incident section 311 and the second light incident section 312, respectively, and amber light from the third LED 213 is incident on the third light incident section 313. The light incident on each light incident section 311 to 313 is guided to the light source light guide section 31 along the direction of the angle θ to which each light incident section 311 to 313 is connected, and is further guided through the light source light guide section 31 to the output light guide section 32. The light guided to the output light guide section 32 is guided through its interior toward the tip, and is finally guided to the end face section 322. Figure 6 schematically shows the optical path at the first light incident section 311.

[0027] The light guided to the end face portion 322 is emitted from the end face portion 322, so the rear lamp RL is illuminated with a red line-shaped light emission pattern LP extending in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 1, and functions as a tail lamp TL. At this time, the light is diverged or diffused by the lens step formed on the end face portion 322, resulting in a light distribution characteristic directed over a wide area.

[0028] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the design effect of this linear light emission pattern LP. In Figure 8, (a) is a schematic plan view of the lamp unit 1, (b) is a diagram showing the characteristics of the light intensity (brightness) from each LED 211 to 213 at the end face portion 322, and (c) is a schematic diagram of the color changes along the line direction of the linear light emission pattern LP.

[0029] In other words, the red light from the first LED 211 and the second LED 212 incident on the first light incident section 311 and the second light incident section 312, respectively, as shown in Figure 8(a), is attenuated as it is guided from the light source light guide section 31 to the light output light guide section 32, resulting in the light intensity along the line at the end face 322 having the characteristics of the solid line in (b). Similarly, the amber light from the third LED 213 incident on the third light incident section 313 has the characteristics of the dashed line in (b). In this example, the light intensity is maximum in the vicinity of the part where each light incident section 311-313 is connected to the light source light guide section 31. Furthermore, relative to this area of ​​maximum light intensity, the light intensity decreases gradually and relatively small on the side in which light is guided (incident) from the light incident sections 311-313 to the light source light guide section 31 (left side of the figure). On the opposite side (right side of the figure), the light intensity decreases rapidly and relatively large.

[0030] Then, at the end face portion 322, the light from the three light incident portions 311 to 313 is mixed (combined) and emitted, so the linear light emission pattern LP changes color gradually along the direction of the line, as shown in (c). In this example, due to the difference in the magnitude of the red light and amber light in (b), the color changes continuously and gradually from left to right, as shown in (c), in the order of (amber), (amber red: amber-tinged red), and (red). As a result, the linear light emission pattern LP has a gradient appearance that changes gradually and continuously from red to amber, resulting in a light emission pattern with a high design effect. The chromaticity range in which this color changes is within the specified color chromaticity range.

[0031] Figure 9 shows a first modified example of the lamp unit 1, and is similar to Figure 8. In this first modified example, the third light incident section 313 is connected to the light source light guide section 31 in the opposite direction to that of the embodiment. Therefore, in the first modified example, as shown in (b) of Figure 9, the light intensity of the amber light from the third LED 213 has characteristics opposite to those of the embodiment.

[0032] As a result, in the first modified example, the light intensity characteristics are as shown in (b), and as shown in (c), the color along the line of the linear light emission pattern LP at the end face portion 322 changes continuously and gradually from left to right in the order of (amber), (red amber: reddish amber), (amber red: amber-colored red), and (red). As a result, the linear light emission pattern LP has a gradient appearance, resulting in a light emission pattern with a high design effect.

[0033] Figure 10 shows a second modified example of the lamp unit 1, similar to Figure 8. In this second modified example, the light source guide section 31 is divided into two regions in the longitudinal direction, with the first light incident section 311 connected to the right end of the right-hand region, and the second light incident section 312 and the third light incident section 313 connected to the boundary portion of the division in opposite directions. Red light and amber light are incident on the respective incident surfaces of the first to third light incident sections 311 to 313 from the first to third LEDs 211 to 213, respectively.

[0034] As a result, in the second modified example, the light intensity characteristics are as shown in (b) in Figure 10, and as shown in (c), the color along the line of the linear light emission pattern LP at the end face portion 322 changes continuously and gradually from left to right in the order of (red), (amber red: amber-tinged red), (red amber: reddish amber), (amber), (amber red: amber-tinged red), (red). As a result, the linear light emission pattern LP has a gradient appearance, resulting in a light emission pattern with a high design effect.

[0035] In addition, in the present invention, as long as it does not affect the gradation in the linear light emission pattern LP, a light control unit 5, such as a recessed hole 51, similar to that in Patent Document 1, may be formed in the boundary region between the light source light guide 31 and the light emission guide 32, as shown by the dashed lines in Figures 6 and 7. This prevents the light about to be emitted from the end face 322 from exceeding the critical angle and reducing the light emission efficiency, thereby increasing the brightness of the linear light emission pattern LP. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7, a design layer 4 with the required colors and patterns may be formed on the surface of the plate surface 321.

[0036] In this invention, although not shown in the figures, the number of light-incident sections is not limited and may be two or four or more. Furthermore, the color of the light incident on the multiple light-incident sections can be appropriately set. In addition, the connection angle (θ in Figure 6) and connection position at the point where the multiple light-incident sections are connected to the light source guide can also be appropriately designed. In particular, by varying the connection angle, the characteristics of the light intensity in the linear direction can be changed. Therefore, by appropriately combining the connection position, connection angle, and the color of the light incident on each of the multiple light-incident sections, the color arrangement of the linear light emission pattern formed on the end face of the light emission guide can be changed, creating an aesthetically pleasing light emission pattern with a gradient of various colored lights. This allows for the construction of a lamp with a high aesthetic effect.

[0037] In the embodiment and modified examples, the upper and lower light guides, which are housed in the same lamp housing and constitute a single lamp, have the same configuration. Therefore, the light emission patterns of the upper and lower light guides are gradients with the same color arrangement. Alternatively, by using the configuration of the embodiment for the upper light guide and the configuration of the modified example for the lower light guide, different color arrangements are achieved for the upper and lower light guides.

[0038] The light source light guide and the light output light guide that constitute the light guide of the present invention are not limited to the shapes and structures described in the embodiments. In particular, the light output light guide does not necessarily have to be a flat plate as in the embodiments, as long as it has an end face portion for forming a line-shaped light emission pattern, and may be a curved or stepped bent plate member.

[0039] In this embodiment, the lamp is composed of two light guides, an upper and a lower one. However, it may be composed of one light guide, or three or more light guides. Furthermore, when the lamp is composed of multiple light guides, each light guide may be configured as a lamp with a different lamp function, such as a backup lamp, a turn signal lamp, or a brake light.

[0040] The lamps to which the present invention is applied are not limited to the tail lamps described in the embodiments, but can also be applied to indicator lights such as position lamps and marker lamps, and signal lights such as stop lamps and turn signal lamps. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1 Lamp Unit 2 Light source section 3. Light guide 31 Light source light guide section 32 Output light guide section 20 frames 100 Lamp Housing 211~213 LED (light source) 311~313 Light incidence part 321 Plate surface part 322 End section RL (L-RL, R-RL) Rear Lamp (Vehicle Lighting) CAR (automobile / vehicle) LP Linear Light Emission Pattern

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising a lamp unit having multiple light sources and a light guide that guides the light from the multiple light sources and emits the guided light, illuminating the front of the lamp, wherein the light guide comprises a light source light guide section that guides the light incident from the light sources in the longitudinal direction, and a plate-shaped emission light guide section connected to the light source light guide section and emitting the light guided from the light source light guide section from its surface, the light source light guide section is connected to multiple light incident sections at multiple locations in the longitudinal direction into which the light from each of the multiple light sources is incident, the multiple light incident sections are connected at a required angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the light source light guide section, and at least one of the multiple light incident sections is incident to light of a different color from the others.

2. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting light guide portion has a required plate thickness and an end face portion of a required length along the longitudinal direction of the light source light guide portion, and the guided light is emitted from the end face portion to form a line-shaped light emission pattern.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of light incident portions is connected to a different position in the longitudinal direction of the light source guide portion, and each light incident portion is connected to the light source guide portion at the same angular direction.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of light incident sections is connected to a different position in the longitudinal direction of the light source guide section, and a portion of each light incident section is connected to the light source guide section in a different angular direction from that of the other light incident sections.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein two of the plurality of light incident portions are connected to the light source light guide portion at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the light source light guide portion but at different angular directions.

6. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of light sources are provided corresponding to the plurality of light incident portions, and each light source emits light of the same color or different colors within a predetermined chromaticity range.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the colored light incident on the plurality of light incident portions is emitted from the end face portion of the light-emitting guide portion in an arrangement in the longitudinal direction.

8. A vehicle light fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 7, configured as an indicator light or signal light for an automobile.

Images